cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Positioning your product

H ow should a new brand be positioned? Can a problem brand be revived by a repositioning strategy? Most marketing managers have addressed these and other positioning questions; however, "posit ioning" means different things to different people. To some, it means the segmentation decision. To others it is an image question. To still others it means selecting which product features to emphasize. Few managers consider all of these alternatives. Further, the positioning decision is often made ad hoc, and is based upon flashes of insight, even though systematic, research-based approaches to the positioning decision are now available. An understanding of these approaches should lead to more sophisticated analysis in which positioning alternatives are more fully identified and evaluated. A product or organization has many associations which combine to form a total impression. The positioning decision of ten means selecting those associations which are to be built upon and emphasized and those associations which are to be removed or de-emphasized. The term "posi t ion" differs from the older term "image" in that it implies a frame of reference, the reference point usually being the competit ion. Thus, when the Bank of California positions itself as being small and friendly, it is explictly, or perhaps implicitly, positioning itself with respect to Bank of America. The positioning decision is often the crucial strategic decision for a company or brand because the position can be central to customers ' perception and choice, decisions. Further, since all elements of the marketing program can potentially affect the position, it is usually necessary to use a positioning strategy as a focus for the development of the marketing program. A clear positioning strategy can insure that the elements of the marketing program are consistent and supportive. What alternative positioning strategies are available? How can positioning strategies be identified and selected? Each of these questions will be addressed in turn.
EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT OF WHAT CHARACTERISTIC OF WHOM (OR WHAT) BY WHOM AND WHY

The thesis of this paper is that those who work in educational measurement must provide a wide variety of educational measures if educational decision makers are to have adequate amounts of meaningful and relevant information for the decisions they must make. These are decisions that will be made whether those of us who labor in this vineyard recognize the need and produce or whether we continue in large measure to ignore much of this need. I recognize that I have now posed a strong indictment, but one I believe can be documented. I make it to call attention to the need rather than to downgrade the extensive efforts that have been made to develop increasingly better test produced measures for use by professional educators. My aim is to point up the narrowness of focus of this effort in light of the highly varied needs for information that rest with a wide variety of educational decision makers. There is one aspect of any measurement that is vital to understanding the argument to be made for the thesis. I only mention it to elevate it in the readers' thinking because it is so basic to the whole process that it is usually unconsciously accepted as a given without being made explicit. It is the familiar premise that to date, at least, we have only developed measures of characteristics of people or things and have not as yet achieved measurement of a person or a thing in some sense of a "whole," whether the "measuree," if I may use that term, is a student, a teacher, a group of students, a curriculum or a school system. Schultz, author of the comic strip Peanuts could not have been more timely in dealing with this very issue in a strip that recently appeared in our papers. The setting has Lucy sitting at her school desk holding her coat hanger sculpture and engaging in the following monologue:
Escherichia coli swimming is robust against variations in flagellar number

Escherichia coli is a rod-shaped bacterium commonly found in the lower intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals. While most strains of E. coli are harmless, including most of those found in the human gut, some can cause diseases such as food poisoning. Due to its close association with humans and the fact that it is easy to grow and work with in the laboratory, E. coli has been intensively studied for over 60 years. Many bacteria are capable of ‘swimming’ by using one or more flagella. These rotating whip-like structures are each driven by a reversible motor, and they act a bit like a propeller on a boat. While some bacteria have only a single flagellum, others, such as E. coli, have multiple flagella distributed over the cell surface. Rotating all their flagella in a counterclockwise direction allows the bacterium to swim—and it has been proposed that the clockwise movement of at least one flagellum will cause the bacterium cell to stop swimming and start tumbling. E. coli is able to control the time it spends swimming or tumbling to move towards a nutrient, such as glucose, or away from certain harmful chemicals. However, the details of how the number of flagella and the direction of rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise) influence the motion of the bacterium are not fully understood. Now, Mears et al. have used ‘optical tweezers’ to immobilize individual E. coli cells under a microscope, and then track both their swimming behavior and the movements of their flagella. This revealed that the individual flagella on the same cell tend to move in a coordinated way. Therefore, whilst tumbling could be caused by a single flagellum stopping swimming behavior, it often involved a concerted effort by many of the cell’s flagella. After observing that E. coli cells with more flagella spent less time tumbling than would be predicted if a single flagella always ‘vetoed’ swimming, Mears et al. propose a new mathematical relationship between the number of flagella on the cell, the direction of rotation, and the resulting probability that the cell will tumble. This work shows that swimming behavior in bacteria is less affected by variations in the number of flagella than previously thought—and this phenomenon may provide evolutionary advantages to E. coli. The next step is to explore the mechanism by which bacteria coordinate their flagella.
Relationship between teacher knowledge of concepts and connections, teaching practice, and student achievement in middle grades mathematics

The mixed method sequential nested study examines whether and how the cognitive type of teachers’ content knowledge is associated with student achievement, and correlated with teaching practice. In the context of this study, the cognitive type refers to the kind of teacher content knowledge and thinking processes required to accomplish a task successfully, in terms of knowledge of facts and procedures (Type 1), knowledge of concepts and connections (Type 2), and/or knowledge of models and generalizations (Type 3). A sample of 102 middle school mathematics teachers (grades 6–8) was assigned to the study from a number of school districts in an urban area in the Southwestern US. Teachers were tested using the Teacher Content Knowledge Survey. Student level data of about 2,400 middle grades students’ standardized test passing rates including percentage of students meeting the state standards by objectives were collected. The type of teachers’ content knowledge was assessed and tested for association with student achievement on the state-mandated standardized test using multivariate methods including tests for variance and independence. The nested research consisted of three phases. Substudy-1 focused on quantitative analysis of the association between cognitive type of teacher content knowledge and student achievement. Substudy-2 aimed at the correlation between cognitive type of teacher content knowledge and teaching practice. Finally, substudy-3 was a case study on examining middle grades mathematics teachers’ knowledge and understanding of fraction division.
The role of iron and iron binding proteins in lymphocyte physiology and pathology

Knowledge concerning the roles of iron and iron binding proteins in lymphocyte physiology and pathology has developed rapidly over the last few years. The genes for the major iron binding proteins have been cloned and sequenced and are now being studied with respect to transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms. T cells, B cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells appear to differ from one another in the ways in which they synthesize and utilize iron binding proteins and in the amount of iron they take up and store. This suggests that differential modulation of iron-dependent metabolic functions is an intrinsic part of the distinctive physiology of each cellular component of the immune system and that the distribution of iron between those components is a carefully managed facet of the immune response. Since the immune response does not seem to be dramatically impaired by alterations in iron supplies that adversely affect other organs, it may well be that the cells of the immune system are especially adapted to have both high-priority access to iron when supply is low and high-level protection against iron-related toxicity when supply is in excess.
Credit and sharecropping in agrarian societies

This paper considers a model of linkage between land, labor and credit transactions in the context of sharecropping. The paper's objectives are: a) to derive and characterize the equilibrium in a model of a land-scarce, labour-abundant economy under sharecropping, given an infinitely elastic supply of identical sharecroppers at a reservation utility; and b) to demonstrate that in an imperfect market, a landlord may offer credit to his tenant, sometimes even at a subsidized rate of interest, without necessarily insisting that the sharecropper borrow only from him, precluding an involuntary linkage between credit and land transations. It has been demonstrated that regardless of the presence or absence of linkage or any other control by the landlord, as long as he can vary the size of the plot given to a tenant and there are enough potential tenants, in equilibrium contracts a tenants utility under sharecropping will be the same as that which he could have obtained as a full-time wage laborer. This result implies that policies other than land reform will not affect the welfare of tenants.
The TLR4 +896 polymorphism is not associated with lipopolysaccharide hypo-responsiveness in leukocytes

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) is required for detection of Gram negative bacterial infections by binding lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and for the initiation of inflammatory signaling. Recent studies have demonstrated that a nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (Asp299Gly, A+896G) is associated with decreased endotoxin responsiveness and poor outcomes from sepsis. We show that human carriers of this polymorphism show no deficit in LPS induced peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, no reduction in sensitivity to endotoxin, and variable differences in whole-blood inflammatory cytokine production. These results indicate that this mutation is not a primary determinant of human endotoxin sensitivity.
Molecular Dynamics Calculations of the Hard-Sphere Equation of State

The equation of state of the hard-sphere fluid is studied by a Monte Carlomolecular dynamics method for volumes ranging from 25V0 to 1.6V0, whereV0 is the close-packed volume, and for system sizes from 108 to 4000 particles. TheN dependence of the equation of state is compared to the theoretical dependence given by Salsburg for theNPT ensemble, after correction for the ensemble difference, in order to obtain estimates for the thermodynamic limit. The observed values of the pressure are compared with both the [3/2] and the [2/3] Pade approximants to the virial series, using Kratky's value for the fifth virial coefficientB5 and choosingB6 andB7, to obtain a least-squares fit. The resulting values ofB6 andB7 lie within the uncertainties of the Ree-Hoover-Kratky Monte Carlo estimates for these virial coefficients. The values ofB8,B9, andB10 predicted by our optimal [3/2] approximant are also reported. Finally, the Monte Carlo-molecular dynamics equation of state is compared with a number of analytic expressions for the hard-sphere equation of state.
Math Performance in Stressful Situations

Whether because individuals are made aware of negative stereotypes about how they should perform or are in a high-stakes testing situation, a stressful environment can adversely affect the success people have in solving math problems. I review work examining how unwanted failure in math occurs and individual differences in those most likely to fail. This work suggests that a high-stress situation creates worries about the situation and its consequences that compete for the working memory (WM) normally available for performance. Consequently, the performance of individuals who rely most heavily on WM for successful execution (i.e., higher-WM individuals) is most likely to decline when the pressure is on.
Generation and propagation of pressure waves due to unconfined chemical explosions and their impact on nuclear power plant structures

Abstract In the field of external reactor safety possible violent incidents outside the reactor building need to be assessed with regard to their potential for doing damage to nuclear power plants. This paper deals with the generation and propagation of pressure waves due to unconfined chemical explosions and their impact on nuclear power plant structures. A survey is made of the procedures by which the effects of gas explosions on nuclear power plant structures can be assessed.
Breast papillomas in the era of percutaneous needle biopsy.

Background The significance of breast papillomas detected on core needle biopsy (CNB) remains unclear. While those associated with malignancy or atypia are excised, no clear solution exists for benign papillomas. We sought to determine the indication for surgical excision, incidence of malignancy, significance, and natural history.
Rearrangement of bis(trimethylsilyl)silylene (Me3Si)2Si in the gas phase; new silylene-to-silylene interconversions

Abstract When bis(trimethylsilyl)silylene, (Me 3 Si) 2 Si, is generated in the gas phase by flow pyrolysis of methoxytris(trimethylsilyl)silane, (Me 3 Si) 3 SiOMe, or chlorotris(trimethylsilyl)silane, (Me 3 Si) 3 SiCl, the dominant reaction is rearrangement, producing as the major product in ca. 60% yield 1,1,4,4-tetramethyl-1,2,4-trisilacyclopentane.
Contextual effects on word perception and eye movements during reading

Subjects read passages of text which differed in the extent to which the context constrained or predicted the occurrence of particular target words. In Experiment 1, misspellings were introduced into target words and we examined the extent to which fixation duration and probability of fixating the target word was influenced by contextual constraint and the misspelling. Subjects had a lower probability of fixating the target word in the high-constraint passages than in the low-constraint passages. Furthermore, when subjects did fixate the target, the fixation duration was shorter in the high-constraint passages. In Experiment 2, subjects read passages which included either a predictable target word or a visually similar word which was unpredictable. Fixation durations on the target word were shorter when the predictable word was in the target location than when the unpredictable word was present. The implications of the results for the role of contextual constraint in reading are discussed.
Embryonic stem cell-derived astrocytes: a novel gene therapy vector for brain tumors.

Object. For gene therapy strategies currently in clinical trials, viral vectors are used to deliver transgenes directly to normal and tumor cells within the central nervous system (CNS). The use of viral vectors is limited by several factors. The aim of this study was to assess whether embryonic stem cell (ESC)‐derived astrocytes expressing a doxycyclineinducible transgene can be used as a vector for gene therapy. Methods. The authors generated a pure population of ESC-derived astrocytes carrying a transgene, tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), inserted in the chromosome under the control of a highly regulated doxycycline-inducible expression system. Fully differentiated ESC-derived astrocytes were stereotactically transplanted in the mouse brain, and then cell migration and transgene expression were studied. Results. The ESC-derived astrocytes started to migrate from the transplant site 48 hours after the procedure. They were found to have migrated throughout the brain tissue by 6 weeks. Transplanted ESC-derived astrocytes expressed the TRAIL transgene after doxycycline induction throughout the duration of the experiment. Teratoma formation was not observed in long-term experiments (12 weeks). Conclusions. These data show that ESC-derived astrocytes can be used as delivery vectors for CNS tumors. This technique might have a major impact on the treatment of patients with malignant gliomas and a wide spectrum of other neurological diseases.
The decade and beyond : at a glance

(1991). The Decade and Beyond: at a Glance. Water International: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 127-134.
Clustering in the presence of scatter.

Summary: A new methodology is proposed for clustering datasets in the presence of scattered observations. Scattered observations are defined as unlike any other, so traditional approaches that force them into groups can lead to erroneous conclusions. Our suggested approach is a scheme which, under assumption of homogeneous spherical clusters, iteratively builds cores around their centers and groups points within each core while identifying points outside as scatter. In the absence of scatter, the algorithm reduces to k-means. We also provide methodology to initialize the algorithm and to estimate the number of clusters in the dataset. Results in experimental situations show excellent performance, especially when clusters are elliptically symmetric. The methodology is applied to the analysis of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory reports on industrial releases of mercury for the year 2000.
Effect of substrate temperature on structural and optoelectrical properties of silver doped zinc oxide thin films

Abstract Silver doped zinc oxide (ZnAgO) thin films were grown on quartz substrate using pulsed laser deposition technique. The effect of substrate temperature on structural, optical, and electrical properties was studied. The films grown at low temperatures were amorphous in nature, while films grown at high temperatures were crystalline. It is observed that the films are highly oriented along c -axis. The surface roughness of these films is observed to increase with substrate temperature; on the other hand optical transmittance is almost independent of substrate temperature. The mobility of the films increases with an increase in substrate temperature. The highest Hall mobility of 62 cm 2 /V s is observed for the film grown at 600 °C. These highly transparent and high mobility films could be used as bottom electrodes in optoelectronic devices.
Densification of sintered lead zirconate titanate by hot isostatic pressing

The effects of hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) on sintered lead zirconate titanate are presented. Densities up to ∼98% were obtained by HIPing for 1 h at 1300°C with argon gas pressures of either 20.7 or 138 MPa. The microstructural changes observed after HIPing, and the rapid initial kinetics for densification and pore shrinkage, indicate that prssure-enhanced grain rearrangement and solution-precipitation processes are primarily responsible for densification. The persistance of large voids after HIPing suggests that it may be impossible to completely eliminate gross processing-related defects in lead zirconate titanate by HIPing.
Picosecond x-ray absorption spectroscopy of photochemical transient species in solution

A photoinduced FeII spin crossover reaction in solution is studied with ultrafast x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The iron-nitrogen bond lengthens by 0.21±0.03 A in the high-spin transient excited state relative to the ground state.
Clusters in dense-inertial granular flows: two new views of the conundrum

There is a conundrum in the rheological behavior of Dense-inertial granular flows. Dense inertial flows are dominated by clusters of particles which provide a path for internal force transmission through the elasticity of the interparticle contacts. Yet arguably the presence or absence of the clusters have no quantitative effect on the stresses. One possible explanation is that, even though the clusters exist they are mechanically inactive so the flow behaves as if it were a collisional flow. This paper addresses that possibility in two ways. First, computer simulations that assess both the actual contact stress tensor and a parallel collisional stress tensor show that the collisional stresses can be a small fraction of the total stresses until the flow approaches a fully collisional state, supporting the idea that clusters are indeed important. The second method was to compute force correlations between particles that inhabit the same cluster, as a way of assessing the efficiency of the cluster in force transmission. But once again, the results indicate that forces can be well correlated within a cluster and thus do provide an elastic path for force transmission. Both indicate that clusters are important in internal transport within a dense-inertial granular flow and thus shed no light on why clusters do not quantitatively affect the stresses.
Chick aorta pyrophosphatase.

SummaryChick aorta inorganic pyrophosphatase is inhibited by collagen and micromolar amounts of calcium. These effects may be important in the regulation of aorta calcification by controlling the d...
A CT/MR/US Picture Archiving and Communication System

Abstract A picture archiving and communication system (PACS) module for CT, MR, and US images is being developedin our department. The PACS module is composed of three subsystems: (1) image acquisition, (2) data management, and (3) image display. A digital communication network links these subsystems into a functional unit. The systemhardware configuration is described. Daily and yearly totals for the amount of CT, MR, and US images generatedin our department are provided. The software modules for the system operation are presented. We also report onour previous experience with a MR/US PACS module for a single radiology section. 1. Introduction An increasing number of digital images are being generated by radiology departments. These images are distributed over several locations and therefore retrieval of image for a multi -modality patient is not easy. To improve the situation, a centralized archiving system with distributed viewing stations for CT/MR/US images is being implemented in our department. The system hardware configuration is described in the
Inductive Explorations With Class 2 Systems

Wolfram's Cellular Automata and Complexity, an anthology of some of his best work in the area, was published in 1994, and it seems fitting to attempt to explain how his seminal work can be put to good use in laboratory‐based computer science education. This article documents the advantages of using cellular automata (CA) to model complexity theory, chaos, and some aspects of the theory of computation. It explains how CA are constructed, it details the fourfold classification scheme advocated by Wolfram, and it explores in some depth issues associated with induction and Class 2 CA. Several CA are examined with an eye to determining what kinds of empirical evidence count for and against such classifications. The argument is that such lab explorations are pedagogically effective and engaging as an introduction to computer modeling, complexity theory, and related issues in the theory of computation. Software to run the CA simulations has been written by the author and can be downloaded from America Online and...
Studies on the inhibition of fetal androgen formation: testosterone synthesis by fetal and newborn mouse testes in vitro.

The capacity of mouse testes to synthesize testosterone during fetal development, and the effects on synthesis of an inhibitor of 3- keto-4-steroid formation, 2α-cyano-4,4,17α-trimethyl- 17β-hydroxy-5-androsten-3-one (WIN) were studied. In fetal rats, WIN inhibited testicular 3 (3-hydroxy-5-steroid dehydrogenase activity and retarded development of the external genitalia (Goldman et al., Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 121: 757, 1966). Testes of fetal (14.5 and 17.5 days of gestation) and newborn mice from untreated mothers converted 4-14C-pregnenolone to 14C-testosterone during in vitro incubations. The results demonstrated testicular capacity for steroid metabolism to testosterone during the period of reproductive tract differentiation in mice. WIN, injected at doses of 1.5–7.0 mg/kg body weight into 12.5–15.5 day pregnant mice, exerted no effects on the gross development of the structures of the reproductive tract in either sex or on the conversion of 4-14C-pregnenolone to testosterone by fetal or newborn testes...
laser-based, long path monitoring of ambient gases — analysis of two systems

New long path absorption techniques for measurement of ambient O3 and CO have recently been demonstrated using a CO2 laser and a semiconductor diode laser, respectively. For the CO2 laser system the use of closely spaced wavelengths minimizes system drift and simplifies the determination of ambient O3 concentrations. For the diode laser system, multimoding of commercially available diodes can cause a nonlinear response and frequency detuning can occur unless a proper feedback network is provided. Area monitoring, monitoring along boundaries in regional air pollution studies and model validation are potential applications.
Voice-excited predictive coder (VEPC) implementation on a high-performance signal processor

In this paper, we discuss the implementation of a medium-bit-rate linear prediction baseband coder on an IBM bipolar signal processor prototype having a high processing capacity. We show that the implementation of our algorithm requires a processing load of 5 MIPS, with a program size of 5K instructions. We then discuss the application of our coder in a normal telephone environment, which requires mu-law to linear PCM conversion and other signal processing functions such as voice activity detection, automatic gain control, echo control, and error recovery. Quality evaluation tests are also reported which show that this type of coder, operating at 7.2 kbps, allows the transmission of telephone speech with communications quality. Moreover, obtained intelligibility scores and speaker recognition levels are high enough to demonstrate that this coder is a good candidate for telephony applications such as digital trunk transmissions, satellite speech communications, secure voice communications, and audio distribution systems.
Quantitative laser-induced fluorescence in OH: transition probabilities and the influence of energy transfer

The technique of laser-induced fluorescence is used for measurements of the concentration and population distributions of the important OH molecule in flames. A quantitative analysis of the data obtained with this method requires accurate transition probabilities and knowledge of the influence of energy transfer on the observed signals. Recent experimental and theoretical studies of relative and absolute transition probabilities in the A-X system are discussed, leading to a recommendation of the value (1.10±0.03)×10−3 for the oscillator strength. of the (0,0) band. Experiments are described on excited state rotational population distributions within v′=0, following single-level excitation of OH in the burnt gases of a methane-air flame. The distributions observed are not thermal but show a governance by detailed, state-to-state energy transfer. A simple interpretation indicates that the ratio of the quenching number. Some implications of this energy transfer for quantitative measurement of both absolute concentrations and rotational temperatures are discussed.
Enhancement of reflexes by naloxone in spinal cats.

Abstract Naloxone (0.1–2.0 mg/kg i.v.) increased the amplitude of both monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes in previously untreated acute spinal cats. The reflex enhancement was not secondary to an increase in the number of afferent fibres activated by the stimuli, nor was there evidence based on the effects of naloxone on pre- or postsynaptic inhibition that the reflex enhancement was secondary to decreased tonic inhibition of motor neurones. The observation that reflexes were enhanced in cats four to five weeks following spinal section indicated that the actions of naloxone were independent of tracts descending to the lumbar cord. The reflex enhancement produced by naloxone appears to reflect its actions as an opioid antagonist, since both morphine and oxymorphone depressed reflexes. It is suggested that the action of naloxone may be due to antagonism of an endogenous opioid.
Single-Stage Revision Using an Uncemented, Porous-Coated, Anatomic Endoprosthesis in Two Dogs

Objective—To describe the clinical and radiographic features of septic and aseptic failure of two femoral endoprostheses and their successful revision. Study Design—Case report. Animals or Sample Population—Two skeletally mature male research dogs. Methods—An uncemented porous-coated anatomic (PCA) endoprosthesis was implanted in a single-stage revision procedure after thorough debridement and lavage of the femoral canal. An autogenous cancellous bone graft was used in dog 2 (aseptic loosening). Serial clinical and radiographic examinations were performed postoperatively. The dogs were euthanatized 1 year (dog 1) and 2 years (dog 2) after revision surgery, and necropsy was performed. High-resolution contact radiographs and histopathologic evaluation of femoral sections were obtained. Results—The cause of implant failure was septic loosening in dog 1 and aseptic loosening in dog 2. In both dogs, clinical function returned to normal after revision. Serial radiographic assessment after revision documented disappearance of the bone pedestal and the periprosthetic lucency. Cancellous hypertrophy seen adjacent to the proximal porous-coated region of the implants provided radiographic evidence of bony fixation. Histological evaluation of femoral sections documented successful implant integration with bone and fibrous tissue. Conclusion—Revision with an uncemented implant in a single-stage procedure was successful in the two dogs described in this report. Clinical Relevance—This report provides a detailed description of the clinical course and serial radiographic assessment of septic and aseptic loosening of two femoral endoprostheses. Single-stage revision is a potential treatment for either condition as demonstrated by the successful outcome in these two dogs.
PDF versus LP: An empirical aggregate planning comparison

Abstract Production Decision Framework (PDF) is a recently introduced heuristic method for solving the aggregate planning problem. The algorithm was developed and tested over a wide range of deterministic demand patterns and cost parameters. The decision by Wayn-Tex Inc., to adopt the methodology provided a real world opportunity to evaluate the performance of PDF under uncertainty over a one year's operating period. This paper concentrated on a study of (1) the effectiveness of the model in selecting a suitable rolling planning horizon, and (2) the performance of PDF as compared to a linear program solution using the same length horizon. The monthly sales forecast used in the study, developed by the sales department, took into consideration trend, seasonality, and known market conditions. The results were gratifying. Management has indicated their desire to continue using PDF as a guide in the production planning process through the use of the computerized program available.
An investigation of image fusion algorithms using a visual performance-based image evaluation methodology

It is believed that the fusion of multiple different images into a single image should be of great benefit to Warfighters engaged in a search task. As such, more research has focused on the improvement of algorithms designed for image fusion. Many different fusion algorithms have already been developed; however, the majority of these algorithms have not been assessed in terms of their visual performance-enhancing effects using militarily relevant scenarios. The goal of this research is to apply a visual performance-based assessment methodology to assess four algorithms that are specifically designed for fusion of multispectral digital images. The image fusion algorithms used in this study included a Principle Component Analysis (PCA) based algorithm, a Shift-invariant Wavelet transform algorithm, a Contrast-based algorithm, and the standard method of fusion, pixel averaging. The methodology used has been developed to acquire objective human visual performance data as a means of evaluating the image fusion algorithms. Standard objective performance metrics, such as response time and error rate, were used to compare the fused images versus two baseline conditions comprising each individual image used in the fused test images (an image from a visible sensor and a thermal sensor). Observers completed a visual search task using a spatial-forced-choice paradigm. Observers searched images for a target (a military vehicle) hidden among foliage and then indicated in which quadrant of the screen the target was located. Response time and percent correct were measured for each observer. Results of this study and future directions are discussed.
Barriers to healthcare as reported by rural and urban interprofessional providers

The research literature is replete with reports of barriers to care perceived by rural patients seeking healthcare. Less often reported are barriers perceived by the rural healthcare providers them...
Safety Assessment of SiC Cladding Oxidation under Loss-of-Coolant Accident Conditions in Light Water Reactors

An experimental assessment was conducted of the silicon carbide (SiC) cladding oxidation rate in steam under conditions that are representative of loss-of-coolant accidents in light water reactors ...
Exploring allosteric activation of LigAB from Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6 through kinetics, mutagenesis and computational studies

The protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase (LigAB) from Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6 is the defining member of the Type II extradiol dioxygenase superfamily (a.k.a. PCA Dioxygenase Superfamily or PCADSF) and plays a key aromatic ring-opening role in the metabolism of several lignin derived aromatic compounds. In our search for alternate substrates and inhibitors of LigAB, we discovered allosteric rate enhancement in the presence of non-substrate protocatechuate-like aldehydes such as vanillin. LigAB has the broadest substrate utilization profile of all protocatechuate (PCA) 4,5-dioxygenase described in the literature, however, the rate enhancement is only observed with PCA, with vanillin increasing kcat for LigAB by 36%. Computational docking has identified a potential site of allosteric binding near the entrance to the active site. Examination of a multiple sequence alignment reveals that many of the residues contributing to this newly identified allosteric pocket are highly conserved within the LigB family of the PCADSF. Point mutants of Phe103α and Ala18β, two residues located in the putative allosteric pocket, display altered rate enhancement as compared to LigAB-WT, providing support for the computationally identified allosteric binding site. Further investigation of this binding site may provide insight into the mechanism of this never before observed allosteric activation in extradiol dioxygenases.
Cumulative pregnancy probabilities among couples with subfertility: effects of varying treatments

Objective To model the cumulative probability of pregnancy among couples with subfertility without a definitive diagnosis, according to different treatment strategies. Design A beta distribution of fecundity was fitted that reproduced the cumulative probability of pregnancy in prospective studies of natural fertility, and this distribution was applied to simulated cohorts starting with one million couples each. Probabilities of pregnancy were generated for each cycle of each couple. Setting Simulation study. Patient(s) Hypothetic subfertile population. Intervention(s) After 2 or 4 years of attempting pregnancy and diagnostic evaluation to exclude anovulation, tubal obstruction, and severe male factor, simulated treatments were applied to the remaining nonpregnant couples, with treatment effects based on published literature. Main Outcome Measure(s) Simulated cumulative probability of pregnancy. Result(s) Initially, the cumulative probability of pregnancy was highest for early treatment with IVF, but over time, conservative treatment or frequent intercourse approached the same cumulative probability. Conclusion(s) In couples without clear indications for IVF, the main benefit of early IVF may be to shorten time to pregnancy, a benefit that must be weighed against costs and potential adverse outcomes. Couples should be encouraged to maintain regular intercourse to maximize chances of pregnancy, even after unsuccessful treatment attempts.
Molecular structure and transport dynamics in perfluoro sulfonyl imide membranes

We report a detailed and comprehensive analysis from classical molecular dynamics simulations of the nanostructure of a model of hydrated perfluoro sulfonyl imide (PFSI) membrane, a polymeric system of interest as a proton conductor in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. We also report on the transport dynamics of water and hydronium ions, and water network percolation in this system. We find that the water network percolation threshold for PFSI, i.e. the threshold at which a consistent spanning water network starts to develop in the membrane, is found to occur between hydration levels (λ) 6 and 7. The higher acidity of the sulfonyl imide acid group of PFSI compared to the sulfonic acid group in Nafion, as computationally characterized in our earlier ab initio study (Idupulapati et al 2010 J. Phys. Chem. A 114 6904–12), results in a larger fraction of 'free' hydronium ions at low hydration levels in PFSI compared to Nafion. However, the calculated diffusion coefficients of the H3O + ions and H2O molecules as a function the hydration level are observed to be almost the same as that of Nafion, indicating similar conductivity and consistent with experimental data.
Development of evoked potentials in specific brain systems after neonatal administration of estradiol.

Abstract The effects of neonatal administration of estradiol on the development of the transcallosal response (TCR) and the thalamically evoked relayed pyramidal response (RPR) were studied in rats by analyzing evoked potentials at several ages. Estradiol-treated animals generally showed a lower threshold, shorter peak latency, and greater peak amplitude of the TCR at the younger ages studied, indicating accelerated development at these ages. The maximal effect on peak amplitude occurred at a different age than that of threshold and peak latency. The RPR was only slightly affected. The data also suggest that the effects of estradiol may be mediated by increased neuronal excitability, precocious myelination, and precocious development of synaptic connections. These findings extend those of other investigators by indicating that hormones act selectively upon specific systems as well as generally upon the whole brain.
Cardiac dual-source CT for the preoperative assessment of patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Aim To assess the diagnostic value of coronary dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) as a comprehensive, non-invasive tool in the preoperative cardiac evaluation of patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Materials and methods Thirty consecutive obese [average body mass index (BMI): 45 ± 7.6, range: 35–59] patients (24 women; six men; median age: 52 ± 15 years) were enrolled in this institutional review board (IRB)-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)-compliant prospective study. Calcium scoring (CaS) and electrocardiography (ECG)-gated images of the coronary arteries were obtained with a large body habitus protocol (120 kV; 430 mAs; 100 ml iodinated contrast medium at 7 ml/s injection rate) on a DSCT machine. Qualitative (four-point: 1 = excellent to 4 = not delineable) coronary segmental analysis, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements were performed. The presence and degree of vascular disease (four-grade scale: mild to severe) was correlated with CaS and cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification blood tests. In patients with severe stenosis (>70%), findings were compared with cardiac nuclear medicine imaging (single photon-emission computed tomography; SPECT) imaging. Results The average HR, enhancement, and quality score were 64 ± 7 beats/min, 288 ± 66 HU and 1.8 ± .5, respectively. Ninety-three percent (417/450) of the coronary segments were rated diagnostic. The SNRs and CNRs were 17 ± 9 and 12 ± 7 for the right coronary artery; 17 ± 8 and 12 ± 7 for the left main coronary artery; 16 ± 9 and 11 ± 7 for the left anterior descending coronary artery; and 15 ± 7 and 10 ± 6 for the left circumflex coronary artery. Ten of the 30 patients (33%) demonstrated coronary artery disease (CAD) of which two (6%) showed three-vessel disease. Four (13%) patients showed severe disease: in three of which the presence of significant stenosis was confirmed by SPECT and by catheter angiography in the fourth patient. Neither the CaS, nor the CV risk stratification tests showed significant correlation with presence or degree of CAD (p > 0.05). Conclusions Coronary DSCT is a robust alternative imaging tool in the preoperative assessment of patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
Infinitesimal Hecke algebras of sl2 in positive characteristic

Abstract We describe centers of infinitesimal Hecke algebra of sl 2 in positive characteristic. In particular, we show that these algebras are finitely generated modules over their centers, and the Azumaya and smooth loci of the centers coincide.
1659 MURINE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION OP FETAL BRAIN AGGREGATES

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can severely damage the developing nervous system and cause major neuropathologic abnormalities including cerebral necrosis, cerebral calcification and defects in neuronal migration. To study CMV infection of developing neural tissues, we infected fetal mouse brain cell cultures in vitro with the Smith strain of murine CMV (MCMV). Aggregating brain cell cultures were prepared from late-term fetal mice and after 21 to 28 days in culture were inoculated with 1.0 plaque-forming unit (pfu) of MCMV per 103 viable cells. MCMV could be recovered from culture fluids 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after infection, and titers of MCMV rose steadily: mean of 4.0 pfu of MCMV/ml of culture fluid on day 1, 6.7 × 101 pfu of MCMV/ml on day 3, 4.3 × 103 pfu of MCMV/ml on day 5 and 7.6 × 103 pfu of MCMV/ml on day 7. Assay of washed brain aggregates 7 days after infection yielded 4.6 × 102 pfu of MCMV per aggregate, and immunofluorescence staining confirmed the presence of MCMV antigens. Electron microscopic studies of MCMV-infected aggregates demonstrated intranuclear inclusions and numerous intranuclear and intracytoplasmic virus particles in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. These results indicate that MCMV replicates in fetal mouse brain aggregates and produces ultrastructural changes typical of CMV infections. These studies provide an in vitro method by which to investigate the effects of CMV infection on developing neural tissues.
The Ocean as a Unique Therapeutic Environment: Developing a Surfing Program

Educational aquatic programming offers necessary physical activity opportunities to children with disabilities and the benefits of aquatic activities are more pronounced for children with disabilities than for their able-bodied peers. Similar benefits could potentially be derived from surfing in the ocean. This article describes an adapted surfing program that was designed to develop and enhance the children's strength, flexibility, range of motion, coordination, balance, and psychosocial development. Throughout the program, the children and their surf instructors were encouraged to set realistic individual goals. Many positive outcomes were derived from the project, including gains in social development and self-confidence.
Body Volume and Fat-Free Mass Determinations by Acoustic Plethysmography

ABSTRACT: An acoustic plethysmograph designed to measure body volumes of infants is described. This method uses the principle of the Helmholtz resonator in which the resonant frequency of a chamber is inversely proportional to the square root of the volume of air inside the chamber. After an object is placed inside the chamber, the change in resonant frequency is used to measure the volume of the object. The coefficient of variation of repeated measures of body volumes of 13 miniature piglets (5 to 18 days old, body weights 1253 to 2631 g) ranged from 0.3 to 3.2%. Body volumes measured by the acoustic method agree closely with those calculated from carcass analysis in which body volume is the sum of the volumes of total body water, fat, protein, and minerals. Fat-free mass computed from densitometry using a four-compartment model and body volume measurements from the acoustic method agrees with fat-free mass obtained from carcass analysis. The mean difference between methods was not significant: 1 ml for body volume and 3 g for fat-free mass. The limits of agreement between methods was ± 75 ml for body volume and ± 214 g for fat-free mass. Our results indicate that the acoustic method can measure a change in body volume of 75 ml and a change in fat-free mass of 214 g in a 2000 g infant.
The isolation and examination of the essential oil of the kumquot (F. margarita (Lour.) Swingle).

Abstract 1. The essential oil of the kumquot was isolated from the epicarp of the ripe fruit by steam distillation. 2. The whole oil was examined by means of gas—liquid chromatography and a number of the components present were tentatively identified. 3. The whole oil was deterpenated and the terpene and terpenoid fractions were examined individually by gas—liquid chromatography. 4. The data for gas—liquid chromatographic examinations are presented in the form of corrected relative retention volumes ( VoR/ VoR) employing two stationary liquid phases, LAC-2-R446 and LAC-4-R777. 5. The oil was found to contain large amounts of d-limonene, some α-pinene, myrcene, terpene esters, aldehydes, a ketone, and some free alcohols. 6. The physical constants for the oil, i.e., refractive index, optical rotation, etc., are presented.
Adult Age Differences in Semantic and Episodic Memory

In 2 experiments, performance was compared on memory tests taken by older and younger adults for information that had been rated as more memorable for older adults or more memorable for each age group by adults in that age group. In Experiment 1, semantic knowledge was tested by having the participants recognize or recall information from memory (e.g., name as many states as you can). The older adults performed significantly better; thus, hypotheses of superior knowledge and ease of retrieval of that knowledge for that age group were supported. In Experiment 2, lists of presidents and states were presented to the participants, followed by recognition and recall tests of episodic memory. The younger adults performed significantly better. The older adults studied familiar items on the lists for less time and made many more errors. Thus, the hypothesis of an encoding deficit influenced by item familiarity for older adults was supported.