cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Greater within-person weight variability during infancy predicts future increases in z-BMI.

OBJECTIVE This study tested the hypothesis that greater weight variability (WV; measured as root mean square error [RMSE]) during the first year of life predicts weight gain at year two and greater WV during the second year of life predicts greater weight gain at year three. METHODS This was a prospective study using mother and offspring data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Infant z-BMI (BMI z score) and WV scores were calculated separately during years one and two. Maternal demographic, weight, and nursing-related measures were also used in analyses. RESULTS Sample sizes in year-one and year-two analyses were 814 (448 male; 366 female) and 783 (432 male; 351 female), respectively. RMSE in year one significantly predicted z-BMI change in year two (β [SE]: 0.32 [0.12]; p = 0.01; adjusted R2 = 0.07), controlling for z-BMI change in year one and z-BMI at birth. Similar significant prediction was found using year-two RMSE for year-three z-BMI (β [SE]: 0.33 [0.14]; p = 0.02; adjusted R2 = 0.10). Maternal characteristics were not related to RMSE in year one or year two. CONCLUSIONS Previous findings that WV predicts subsequent increases in body mass in adults were, for the first time, extended to infants.
Salts in General

§ 1. A salt is a solid substance which dissolves in water and has a noticable taste. [Material from Scheffer’s Lectures proper is set in large (10 characters per inch) type, such as that in this first paragraph.] [Notes by Schufle are enclosed in square brackets.]
The Exciton Boser

An exciton boser is a device that generates a coherent population of nonequilibrium excitons by exploiting Bose statistics. Establishing coherent excitonic populations presents a novel approach to coherent light generation from semiconductor excitons. We study the dynamics of the boser phase-transition in a system of quantum well excitons. Consideration of entropy production in this system establishes a critical density of excitons for the observation of condensation effects (inversion). We define a thermodynamic limit for the boser and demonstrate the critical density for the formation of an ordered excitonic state (threshold) in this limit. After deriving the master equation for the excitons in the Born-Markov approximation, we use a stochastic wave-function approach to demonstrate that an approximately coherent state of excitons is generated from the vacuum state. The quantum theory that we develop allows us to analyze the effects of exciton-exciton interactions on the boser linewidth. Throughout our analysis we develop the analogy between the boser phase-transition and threshold in a laser oscillator.
Undoing Atmospheric Harm: Civil Action to Shrink the Carbon Footprint

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the politics of transformation needed to end the dangerous experiment in climate change now under way due to the failure of industrialized societies. Global climate change represents the major environmental challenge of the modern era. An imposing body of scientific evidence links climate change to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) contributes more than three quarters of GHG emissions from human activity. In turn, more than 95% of global CO 2 emissions are due to fossil fuel burning and land use. Historical data shows that carbon concentrations have increased 35% from pre-industrial levels of 280 parts per million (ppm), to reach the current 380 ppm. An important aspect of future CO 2 emissions involves the location of these emissions. Currently, most fossil fuel-based CO 2 emissions originate in industrialized countries. However, rapid economic development and high population growth are expected to significantly increase the share of such emissions attributed to Southern countries. The need for an explicit commitment to carbon equity is essential to the realization of climate sustainability. Equity has both theoretical and practical groundings in concerns for sustainability. The beneficial economic impacts of renewable energy development can be linked in part to its reliance on “free” fuel inputs, particularly as greater reliance on natural gas-sourced electricity in the US has resulted in growing power price volatility. There is a need to combine global agendas of carbon equity and climate sustainability to successfully address the problem of climate change.
Opening time of parachutes under infinite-mass conditions.

out the region and was rated operationally acceptable by the pilots. The airplane was also decelerated from Mach 1.3 to 0.9 by reducing the throttle to the idle setting without deflection of a drag device. The airplane behaved in the same manner quantitatively and qualitatively as with application of the thrust reverser. However, time to decelerate was longer and there was no initial pitchup with reduction of throttle. Speed instability existed throughout the transonic area. In Fig. 8, deceleration times are presented for an initial Mach number of 1.3 at 30,000 ft in the same manner as for the subsonic decelerations. Again, the thrust-reverser mechanization provided performance and handling qualities superior to those of the speed-brake equipped airplane. Summary
Testing the Economic Value of Asset Return Predictability

Economic value calculations are increasingly used to compare the predictive performance of competing models of asset returns. However, they lack a rigorous way to validate their evidence. This paper proposes a new methodology to test whether utility gains accruing to investors using competing predictive models are equal to zero. Monte Carlo evidence indicates that our testing procedure, that can account for estimation error in the asymptotic variance of the test statistic, provides accurately sized and powerful tests in empirically relevant sample sizes. We apply the test statistics proposed in the paper to revisit the predictability of the US equity premium by means of various predictors.
Marking of active genes on mitotic chromosomes

During development and differentiation, cellular phenotypes are stably propagated through numerous cell divisions. This epigenetic 'cell memory' helps to maintain stable patterns of gene expression. DNA methylation and the propagation of specific chromatin structures may both contribute to cell memory. There are two impediments during the cell cycle that can hinder the inheritance of specific chromatin configurations: first, the pertinent structures must endure the passage of DNA-replication forks in S phase; second, the chromatin state must survive mitosis, when chromatin condenses, transcription is turned off, and almost all double-stranded DNA-binding proteins are displaced. After mitosis, the previous pattern of expressed and silent genes must be restored. This restoration might be governed by mass action, determined by the binding affinities and concentrations of individual components. Alternatively, a subset of factors might remain bound to mitotic chromosomes, providing a molecular bookmark to direct proper chromatin reassembly. Here we analyse DNA at transcription start sites during mitosis in vivo and find that it is conformationally distorted in genes scheduled for reactivation but is undistorted in repressed genes. These protein-dependent conformational perturbations could help to re-establish transcription after mitosis by 'marking' genes for re-expression.
Molecular phenotyping of the immune system by microarray analysis.

The immune system is a unique network of cells that originate in the bone marrow and recirculate between the blood and lymphatic systems. These cells prepare themselves to guard the peripheral tiss...
Information Retrieval: A Health Care Perspective

As the health care industry becomes increasingly dependent on electronic information, the need for sophisticated information retrieval systems and for knowledgeable people to design, purchase and use them also increases. This book provides an overview of the theory, practical applications, evaluation and research directions of these systems. In addition to bibliographic and full-text literature retrieval, the author discusses clinical records, multimedia and networked applications.
Skin Surface Pressure Beneath an Above-the-Knee Cast: Plaster Casts Compared with Fiberglass Casts*

Complications related to immobilization in a cast after an injury or an operation may be related to the materials used for the cast or to the techniques of application, or to both. To evaluate the widely held clinical opinion that the use of a fiberglass cast is dangerous and inappropriate when subsequent swelling of the extremity is anticipated, we studied the skin surface pressures that were generated beneath above-the-knee casts made with different materials and applied with different techniques. A prosthetic model of the lower extremity was designed with an expandable calf compartment to simulate swelling after an injury or an operation. With use of this model, we measured the skin surface pressure beneath a plaster-of-Paris cast, a fiberglass cast that had been applied with a standard technique, and a fiberglass cast that had been applied with a stretch-relax technique. The highest mean skin surface pressure after application of the cast (p < 0.001) and after simulated swelling of the limb (p = 0.04) was generated by the fiberglass cast that had been applied with a standard technique. The lowest mean skin surface pressure after application of the cast (p = 0.006), simulated swelling of the limb (p < 0.001), and all subsequent steps of the experimental protocol (p < 0.001) was generated by the fiberglass cast that had been applied with the stretch-relax technique. The mean skin surface pressure generated by the plaster cast and by the fiberglass cast applied with the standard technique did not return to the value before application of the cast until anterior and posterior longitudinal cuts had been made in the cast and the cast had been spread at those cuts. When the fiberglass cast had been applied with the stretch-relax technique, the mean pressure returned to the baseline value after only an anterior longitudinal cut and spreading at that cut. The principal pitfall of the use of a fiberglass cast is related to the technique of application. When the fiberglass cast had been applied with the standard technique, it generated a mean skin surface pressure that was higher than that associated with the plaster cast and it accommodated simulated swelling poorly. When the fiberglass cast had been properly applied, with the stretch-relax technique, it generated a mean skin surface pressure that was significantly lower (p = 0.006) than that associated with the plaster cast and it better accommodated simulated swelling without the need to sacrifice the structural integrity of the cast.
Demonstration of a directional sonic prism in two dimensions using an air-acoustic leaky wave antenna

Analysis and experimental demonstration of a two-dimensional acoustic leaky wave antenna is presented for use in air. The antenna is comprised of a two-dimensional waveguide patterned with radiating acoustic shunts. When excited using a single acoustic source within the waveguide, the antenna acts as a sonic prism that exhibits frequency steering. This design allows for control of acoustic steering angle using only a single source transducer and a patterned aperture. Aperture design was determined using transmission line analysis and finite element methods. The designed antenna was fabricated and the steering angle measured. The performance of the measured aperture was within 9% of predicted angle magnitudes over all examined frequencies.
Acoustic field controlled patterning and assembly of anisotropic particles

Highly-organized particle assembly at the microscale offers the potential to transform fields ranging from medical diagnostics to materials-by-design. Here, we demonstrate tunable ordering and alignment of microscale particles, including ∼10×50 μm glass rods and SU-8 brick and bowtie particles, via acoustic excitation, which produces columns with controlled spacing or highly-regular ‘brick-and-mortar’ packing. The method does not require surface functionalization and is broadly agnostic to colloidal chemistry or particle properties. We show that particle anisotropy promotes alignment and ordering even in the presence of flow, and can be used to increase the efficiency of particle delivery and sorting. Acoustically-assembled microstructures are preserved via photopolymerization of hydrogel matrices or binding with DNA ’mortar;’ the latter provides sufficient stability and flexibility to fold ribbon-like structures in solution by tuning the direction of the acoustic waves. Significant insight into pattern spacing and stability is provided by models which incorporate primary acoustic focusing and secondary acoustic scattering forces. These results suggest that acoustic excitation may be a powerful complement to diffusion-controlled self-assembly and enable hierarchical fabrication; e.g., micron-scale anisotropic crystals formed via self-assembly of smaller particles can be rapidly transported large distances, aligned and packed together to quickly assemble much larger objects.
Table Tents and Food Tasting Engage First Year Medical Students In The Presentation of Cancer Nutrition Concepts

Abstract It has traditionally been difficult to raise the interest of medical students in nutrition because they feel burdened with their basic science course and test load. New ways to engage students and increase their interest in learning nutrition are needed. In order to engage students during learning and highlight current topics of interest in the area of nutrition and cancer, consumer marketing approaches, table tents and food sampling were implemented with the medical students in their required medical nutrition course. New foods were provided for tasting which related to the content of the table tents. Colorful table tents were produced and placed on long student tables before class, with one tent per three students. The content of the table tents included information on "hot" topic foods such as shakes and yogurt fortified with isolated soy protein to increase the isoflavone content. Students were asked to and review the information on the tents and participate in a nutrition break where fortified shakes and yogurt were provided. A questionnaire was given addressing content of the tents and attitudinal questions designed to promote thoughtful consideration about personal recommendations for supplement and functional food use. Out of 45 students, 64% volunteered to complete the questionnaire and participate in the nutrition break. Seventy-two percent of these agreed that table tents provided an easy way to learn facts. The attitude of the students towards functional foods and supplements were addressed. Most students said they paid attention to new foods and would recommend antioxidant and phytochemical enhanced foods to their patients (76% and 86%, respectively). Students were not as comfortable with supplements in pills including antioxidant vitamins and phytochemicals. Almost all students (99%) would recommend patients seek the advice of a registered dietitian to learn about functional foods. We were successful in getting students to engage in learning by providing a user friendly learning style and focusing on "hot" topic foods in the field of diet and cancer. The use of table tents and food tasting to engage students was an unique technique to capture attention and highlight important points.
A Twist on the Copper Center in the Crystal Structure of [Cu(dnpp)2]PF6 and the Charge-Transfer Excited State? (dnpp = 2,9-Dineopentyl-1,10-phenanthroline)

The X-ray structure of [Cu(dnpp)2]PF6, where dnpp denotes 2,9-dineopentyl-1,10-phenanthroline, reveals a flattened tetrahedral copper complex with a dihedral angle between the least-squares planes of the ligands of only 63.4(1)°. Steric interactions involving γ methyl groups of the substituents have an important role in shaping the complex, but lattice forces are ultimately responsible for the flattened geometry. Crystal data: [Cu(C22H28N2)2]PF6, triclinic, P1, a = 10.2755(10) A, b = 13.9750(12) A, c = 16.4354(12) A, α = 79.376(7)°, β = 86.989(7)°, γ = 69.981(7)°, Z = 2. Spectral measurements involving four other Cu(NN)2+ systems, where NN denotes a 2,9-dialkyl-1,10-phenanthroline ligand, reveal that the room-temperature emission maxima fall at shorter wavelengths (20−50 nm) in the solid state as compared with fluid solution. The emission from Cu(dnpp)2+ is unique in that it maximizes at a slightly longer wavelength in the rigid solid (670 nm vs 665 nm in CH2Cl2). The spectral data support the following...
Autotelic Inquiry: A Learning Approach to Attitude Change.

Much of the noncommunicative withdrawal of elderly patients in health care facilities can be traced to underlying staff attitudes toward being old or working with aged individuals. Negative attitudes toward the elderly and toward mental illness have been reported for health care professionals at all levels, and this investigation sought to measure existing attitudes and ways of evoking attitude change. The Attitudes toward Old People (Kogan, 1961) and Opinions about Mental Illness (Cohen & Streuning, 1962) scales were administered as pre‐, post‐, and delayed posttests to 27 graduate nursing students. Two treatment approaches were tested. Persuasive communication and autotelic inquiry methods were instituted in group therapy settings for a total of 16 group sessions. A repeated measures analysis of variance failed to reveal any difference for attitudes toward old people, but a statistically significant difference in opinions about mental illness was found for subjects exposed to the autotelic inquiry learn...
Cresol Isomers: Comparison of Toxic Potency in Rat Liver Slices

A comparison of the toxicity of cresol isomers (o-, m-, and p-methylphenol) was carried out using precision-cut rat liver slices as a test system. At equimolar concentrations p-cresol was the most toxic isomer. A 5- to 10-fold higher concentration of either the o- or m-isomers was required to observe the same degree of cell killing as p-cresol. The toxicity of p-cresol was inhibited by the thiol precursor N-acetylcysteine and was enhanced by pretreatment of liver slices with diethyl maleate to deplete glutathione. These treatments, however, had little effect on either o- or m-cresol toxicity. p-Cresol rapidly depleted intracellular glutathione levels, while the o- and m-isomers depleted glutathione to a lesser extent. [14C]p-cresol was metabolized to a reactive intermediate which covalently bound to slice protein and was inhibited by N-acetylcysteine. In microsomal incubations covalent binding of [14C]p-cresol metabolites was also observed. This binding was inhibited by glutathione and resulted in the formation of a glutathione conjugate. In the absence of glutathione, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol was the major microsomal metabolite formed from p-cresol, but this compound was not toxic to liver slices at a concentration of 2 mM. These results demonstrate that p-cresol is the most toxic cresol isomer in rat liver tissue and that its toxicity is dependent on the formation of a reactive intermediate. The results also suggest that the mechanism(s) of toxicity of the o- and m-isomers may differ from that of p-cresol.
Almost sure asymptotic stability of an oscillator with delay feedback when excited by finite-state Markov noise

Abstract An oscillator of the form q ¨ ( t ) + 2 ζ q ˙ ( t ) + q ( t ) = − κ [ q ( t ) − q ( t − r ) ] is unstable when the strength of the feedback ( κ ) is greater than a critical value ( κ c ). Oscillations of constant amplitude persist when κ = κ c . We study the almost-sure asymptotic stability of the oscillator when κ = κ c and the system is excited by a two-state Markov noise. For small intensity noise, we construct an asymptotic expansion for the maximal Lyapunov exponent.
Morphological variance and enzyme heterozygpsity in the monarch butterfly

IT was shown several decades ago that the reduction in genetic heterozygosity produced by inbreeding in domesticated plants and animals is accompanied by an increase in morphological variability1,2. While studies of laboratory populations and results of plant and animal breeding have been instrumental in identifying the relationship between genetic heterozygosity and morphological variability, such investigations often involved substantial changes in genetic heterozygosity, such as are produced when entire chromosomes are made homozygous. For this reason their relevance to the levels of heterozygosity in natural populations is unclear. Until recently attempts to examine this relationship in natural populations were hindered by the inability to routinely estimate levels of genetic heterozygosity in nature. However, determinations of genetic heterozygosity at specific enzyme-loci can now be made by electrophoresis. Recently Mitton3 found that heterozygotes for a set of five enzyme-loci had reduced multivariate variances for a set of morphological characters when compared to homozygotes at the same loci in populations of the killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus. It is very important to determine the generality of this observation for other species populations. I have now examined the relationship between genetic heterozygosity, as identified by electrophoresis, and the variance of morphological characters in the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus. Study of six polymorphic enzyme-loci in the monarch shows that once again heterozygotes have smaller variances for morphological characters when compared to homozygotes at the same locus.
Solutions of inverse problems in population balances—I. Aggregation kinetics

Abstract A mathematical and computational procedure called the inverse problem is developed to extract important rate information from transient particle size distribution measurements. The population balance framework describes the evolution of these transient size distributions. This paper describes an inverse problem for the determination of the size-specific aggregation or agglomeration frequency from the transient particle size distribution measurements when these distributions evolve to a “self-preserving” or similarity distribution. The determination of the agglomeration frequency is an ill-posed problem which means that small uncertainties in the size distributions can make large differences in the determined agglomeration frequency. The ill-posedness is overcome by a Tikhonov regularization. A guideline for the determination of the regularization parameter is given. The basis for this guideline is the asymptotic behavior of the similarity distribution. Several examples of the inverse problem are outlined. The role of uncertainty in the size distributions is investigated.
Near-infrared spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap asteroids: Mineralogical diversity and plausible meteorite parent bodies

Abstract The 3:1 Kirkwood gap asteroids are a mineralogically diverse set of asteroids located in a region that delivers meteoroids into Earth-crossing orbits. Mineralogical characterizations of asteroids in/near the 3:1 Kirkwood Gap can be used as a tool to “map” conditions and processes in the early Solar System. The chronological studies of the meteorite types provide a “clock” for the relative timing of those events and processes. By identifying the source asteroids of particular meteorite types, the “map” and “clock” can be combined to provide a much more sophisticated understanding of the history and evolution of the late solar nebula and the early Solar System. A mineralogical assessment of seven 3:1 Kirkwood Gap asteroids has been carried out using near-infrared spectral data obtained over the years 2006–2009 combined with visible spectral data (when available) to cover the spectral interval of 0.4–2.5 μm. We explore the diversity, uniqueness, and possible links between the asteroids (198) Ampella, (329) Svea, (495) Eulalia, (556) Phyllis, (623) Chimaera, (908) Buda, and (1772) Gagarin, which are located adjacent to the 3:1 resonance, and the meteorite types in the terrestrial collections.
Al Smith, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the New Deal: Some Comments on Perspective

(1965). Al Smith, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the New Deal: Some Comments on Perspective. The Historian: Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 366-381.
Editorial: Hot topics in advertising research

In his introduction to IJA Volume 32, Issue 1, Charles R. Taylor summarises the eight topics that are currently considered 'hot' in advertising research. These include how to get people to be attentive to digital ads, enhancing attentiveness to television commercials in the digital video recorder era, new approaches in social media and the interaction of advertising and promotion with nutrition and obesity.
On The Path Towards An Ontology of Sport

(1976). On The Path Towards An Ontology of Sport. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 25-34.
Multilevel global placement with retiming

Multiple clock cycles are needed to cross the global interconnects for multi-gigahertz designs in nanometer technologies. For synchronous designs, this requires retiming and pipelining on global interconnects. In this paper, we present a practical solution for simultaneous retiming and multilevel global placement for performance optimization, based on the theory and algorithms of sequential timing analysis (Seq-TA). We extend the Seq-TA to handle gates/clusters with multiple outputs and integrate it into a multilevel optimization framework for simultaneous retiming and placement. We also develop two speed-up techniques which enable the Seq-TA to be efficiently integrated into a simulated annealing-based multilevel coarse placement for large-scale designs. Experimental results show that (i) retiming can improve the performance (delay) by 14% on average when it is applied after placement; (ii) our approach for simultaneous retiming and placement can outperform the two-step approach (placement followed by retiming) by 10% on average in terms of delay minimization.
Hypothalamic Stimulation of Growth Hormone and Thyrotropin Release in Vitro and Pituitary 3′5′-Adenosine Cyclic Monophosphate1

Studies of the effects of hypothalamic extracts and aminophylline on growth hormone (GH) and thyrotropin (TSH) release and tissue cyclic-AMP concentrations in vitro were carried out. Crude hypothalamic extracts were found to increase release of both hormones and to increase pituitary cyclic-AMP concentration. Greater effects were found with increasing amounts of SME and aminophylline. A close correspondence existed between the time at which elevated tissue cyclic-AMP levels and stimulation of hormone release was observed. Furthermore, doses of hypothalamic extract and aminophylline that failed to stimulate hormone release also failed to increase tissue cyclic-AMP concentrations. Hypothalamic extracts were found to stimulate pituitary adenyl cyclase activity without affecting pituitary cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase activity. Removal of calcium from the incubation medium diminished release of TSH and GH in response to SME and aminophylline, but had no effect on pituitary cyclic- AMP concentration. These resu...
Fully-Developed Thermal Transport in Combined Pressure and Electro-Osmotically Driven Flow in Microchannels

Thermally fully-developed heat transfer has been analyzed for combined electro-osmotic and pressure driven flow in a circular microtube. The two classical thermal boundary conditions of constant wall heat flux and constant wall temperature were considered. Such a flow is established by the combination of an imposed pressure gradient and voltage potential gradient along the length of the tube. The induced flow rate and velocity profile are functions of the imposed potential gradient, electro-osmotic mobility of the fluid, the ratio of the duct radius to the Debye length, the established streamwise pressure gradient, and the fluid viscosity. The imposed voltage gradient neuritis in Joule heating in the fluid, with an associated distributed volumetric source of energy For this scenario, the solution for the fully developed, dimensionless temperature profile and corresponding Nusselt number have been determined
The spetial vectorcardiogram in proved congenital atrial septal defect

Abstract The sVCG was recorded with the equilateral tetrahedral reference system in 20 patients with proved atrial septal defects (8 primum and 12 secundum defects). The QRSsE loops of the patients with primum defects were uniform in configuration, direction of rotation, and orientation. This was also true for the patients with secundum defects. The QRSsE loops of the patients with primum defects were oriented to the left, superiorly and posteriorly, and rotated counterclockwise, whereas those of the patients with secundum defects were oriented essentially 180 degrees away, that is, to the right, inferiorly and anteriorly, and rotated clockwise. Because of the consistency in the findings, and because the differences between the two groups were so readily recognizable, even to the untrained person, the sVCG could be useful in the diagnosis of atrial septal defects.
Sounding board: "the camel's nose--and hump, too!"; the Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976.

The Congress recently has passed and the President has signed into law the Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976 (PL 94–484, 94th Congress). This act is a complex piece of legislation authorizing federal support for a variety of educational programs in many of the health professions, including medicine. Its most controversial provisions involve the requirements related to the health-professions schools' eligibility for capitation grants. In our opinion those requirements are a unique and precedent-setting departure from what previously has been understood to be an appropriate federal role in support of developing the nation's health-manpower resources. They now represent a . . .
USE OF TRACERS TO QUANTIFY SUBSURFACE FLOW THROUGH A MINING PIT

Three independent tracer experiments were conducted to quantify the throughflow of water from Herman Pit, an abandoned mercury (Hg) mine pit adjacent to Clear Lake, California, USA. The tracers used were Rhodamine-WT, sulfur hexafluoride, and a mixture of sulfur hexafluoride and neon-22. The tracers were injected into Herman Pit, a generally wellmixed water body of 81 000 m2, and the concentrations were monitored in the mine pit, observation wells, and the lake for 2-3 months following each injection. The results for all three experiments showed that the tracer arrived at certain observation wells within days of injection. Comparing all the well data showed a highly heterogeneous response, with a small number of wells showing this near-instantaneous response and others taking months before the tracer was detectable. Tracer was also found in the lake on four occasions over a onemonth period, too few to infer any pattern but sufficient to confirm the connection of the two water bodies. Using a simple mass balance model it was possible to determine the effective loss rate through advection for each of the tracers and with this to estimate the through-flow rate. The through-flow rate for all three experiments was 630 L/s, at least 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than previous estimates, all of which had been based on geochemical inferences or other indirect measures of the pit through-flow. © 2008 by the Ecological Society of America.
Intrinsically motivated exploration via intrinsic value calculation

Intrinsically motivated exploration is an emerging topic in the area of exploration in reinforcement learning agents, and many authors have proposed methods of implementing intrinsically motivated (or curious) exploration paradigms. However, these implementations accomplish their exploration through the addition of an intrinsic reward to the existing reward which is received by the agent. The limitations of such intrinsic reward schemes are identified in this study and an alternative intrinsic value scheme is proposed which addresses these limitations.
Cervical Corpectomy: Complications and Outcomes

Objective Previously, information on cervical corpectomy complication rates has been obtained from retrospective analysis of single-institution data. The aim of this study was to report 30-day mortality and complication rates after cervical corpectomy using multicenter prospective data from the Veterans Affairs National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify 1560 patients who underwent cervical corpectomy in United States Veterans Affairs hospitals from 1997 to 2006. Multivariate analysis was performed to analyze the effects of patient and hospital characteristics on morbidity and mortality rates. Results A total of 1560 patients underwent corpectomy, with an overall in-hospital mortality rate of 1.6%, a complication rate of 18.4%, and a mean length of stay of 6 days. Multivariate analysis identified age older than 80 years (odds ratio [OR], 21.24), history of Type 1 diabetes (OR, 2.36), American Society of Anesthesiologists class greater than 3 (OR, 6.93), and dependent functional status (OR, 3.17) as the most significant preoperative predictors of complications. Three or more corpectomy levels (OR, 2.46) and operative duration longer than 6 hours (OR, 3.45) were also found to be significant predictors of postoperative complications. Patients who underwent 3 or more levels of corpectomy had a return-to-operating room rate of 17.9% and a graft/instrumentation failure rate of 5.4% compared with those who underwent single-level corpectomy, who had rates of 6.2 and 1.87%, respectively. Patients who were returned to the operating room had significantly higher mortality rates (7.0 versus 1.2%) and accounted for 39.9% of the total number of complications. Multivariate analysis identified age, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, history of disseminated cancer, and diabetes as the most significant predictors of mortality. Patients with Type 1 diabetes had 4-fold higher mortality rates compared with patients with no history of diabetes or diet-controlled diabetes. Conclusion We have analyzed the morbidity and mortality data on the largest series of corpectomy reported to date. We have demonstrated the impact of age, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and number of operated levels on complication rates. Type 1 diabetes was established as a strong risk factor for 30-day mortality after cervical corpectomy.
NANOG induction of fetal liver kinase-1 (FLK1) transcription regulates endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis

NANOG is a master transcription factor associated with the maintenance of stem cell pluripotency. Here, we demonstrate that transcription factor NANOG is expressed in cultured endothelial cells (ECs) and in a subset of tumor cell lines. Importantly, we provide evidence that WNT3A stimulation of ECs induces the transcription of NANOG which mediates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, also known as fetal liver kinase-1 (FLK1). We defined ATTA as a minimal binding site for NANOG. Accordingly, a luciferase reporter assay showed that NANOG binds to and activates 4 ATTA binding sites identified in the FLK1 promoter after WNT3A stimulation. Consistent with this data, we found that, under basal conditions and in response to WNT3A stimulation, NANOG binding to these ATTA sequences markedly induced the expression of FLK1. Thus, our data indicate an essential role in angiogenesis for NANOG binding to these 4 ATTA sites. Surprisingly, NANOG depletion not only decreased FLK1 expression but also reduced cell proliferation and angiogenesis. These findings show the necessary and sufficient role of NANOG in inducing the transcription of FLK1 to regulate the angiogenic phenotypes of ECs.
Ion beam modifications of near-surface compositions in ternary alloys☆

Abstract Changes in the surface and subsurface compositions of ternary alloys during elevated-temperature sputtering with inert-gas ions were investigated. Theoretically, a comprehensive kinetic model which includes all the basic processes, such as preferential sputtering, displacement mixing, Gibbsian segregation, radiation-enhanced diffusion and radiation-induced segregation, was developed. This phenomenological approach enabled to predict the effects of each individual process or of a combination of processes on the compositional modification in model alloys. Experimentally, measurements of compositional changes at the surface of a Ag-(40 at.% Au)-(20 at.% Cu) alloy during 3 keV Ne+ bombardment at various temperatures were made, using ion scattering spectroscopy. These measurements were interpreted on the basis of the results of theoretical modeling.
Searching and encoding for infinite ordered sets

We consider the relationships between binary search algorithms and binary prefix encodings of infinite linearly ordered sets. It is known that each search algorithm determines a prefix code, and in three cases we show to what extent the converse is true. For sets similar to the natural numbers we show that search-related codes are as flexible as all prefix codes, while for general ordered sets they are only asymptotically as flexible.
New Solution Method for Steady-State Canopy Structural Loads

A new computer code has been written to perform structural analysis of canopies. Although an existing code, CANO, has been available, the new code has better convergence reliability, is more understandably written, and is easier to use. The equations have been reformulated for the new solution method. The new code assumes a symmetric canopy, a steady-state condition, and no strength in the vertical direction. It computes the inflated shape, loads in the horizontal members, radial members, vent lines, suspension lines, and total drag. Constructed geometry, material properties, dynamic pressure, and pressure distribution are required as input.
Modeling frequency-dependent GPR

This article addresses the frequency dependence of ground penetrating radar (GPR) propagation due to dispersion caused by frequency dependent material properties. Dispersion is often used loosely to mean any frequency dependent phenomena. In this paper, dispersion only means frequency dependent phase velocity according to the strict, traditional definition.
Diagnosis of branched-chain ketonuria (maple syrup urine disease) by gas chromatography

Abstract A relatively simple method is described for the quantitative determination of the diagnostically significant aliphatic keto and hydroxy acids in the genetic disease branched-chain ketonuria. This method involves the extraction of the acids from a salt-saturated acidified sample of urine, and the preparation of methyl esters with diazomethane, followed by gas chromatography with the aid of an internal standard.
Substitution experiments in U3Cu3Sn4 and U3Au3Sn4

Abstract The results of specific heat and magnetic measurements on samples of the solid solution series U 3 (Cu 3 Au 1− x ) 3 Sn 4 with 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1 are presented. For all samples, except U 3 Au 3 Sn 4 , the susceptibility shows a peak similar to that seen in antiferromagnets. U 3 Au 3 Sn 4 shows no indication of a magnetic transition either in the specific heat or susceptibility data. Below 1 K c/T increases very rapidly, which is typical for heavy fermion systems. However, only the specific heat for U 3 Cu 3 Sn 4 shows a sharp transition. Samples with Au substitution into the Cu sites in U 3 Cu 3 Sn 4 exhibit no long range order in the specific heat. Even a small amount of Au (10%) destroys the peak in the specific heat of U 3 Cu 3 Sn 4 , due to antiferromagnetic order.
A comparison of African-American versus Caucasian men screened for an alcohol administration laboratory study: recruitment and representation implications.

African-Americans are under-represented in alcohol research, especially alcohol administration laboratory studies. Specific recruitment of African-Americans into laboratory studies, however, may also inadvertently affect the generalizability of the findings. In the current study, we compared all African-American young adult men (n = 53) who volunteered and met criteria for an alcohol administration study to a sample (n = 50) of Caucasian men recruited for the same study. Groups were compared on variables including demographics, quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption and other substance use, consequences of use and psychopathology. Compared to their Caucasian counterparts, African-American men reported less drinking frequency and quantity, less use of other substances and fewer negative consequences, but their alcohol and drug use was more likely to be associated with various measures of psychopathology. Results suggest that even when recruiting participants using criteria that should minimize differences (i.e. all participants were “social drinkers”), differences on key variables were evident. These differences may have important implications for alcohol research.
Do nothing…. make no pamphlets, no t-shirts, no videos, no websites, no ball-point pens, no caps… until…

Over the past 20 years I have worked in about 50 countries on health communication programs. I am amazed and astonished at how health communication remains fixated on the production of IEC (Informa...
A quantitative assessment of utility reporting practices for reporting electric power distribution events

Metrics for reliability, such as the frequency and duration of power interruptions, have been reported by electric utilities for many years. This study examines current utility practices for collecting and reporting electricity reliability information and discusses challenges that arise in assessing reliability because of differences among these practices. The study is based on reliability information for year 2006 reported by 123 utilities in 37 states representing over 60% of total U.S. electricity sales. We quantify the effects that inconsistencies among current utility reporting practices have on comparisons of System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) and System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) reported by utilities. We recommend immediate adoption of IEEE Std. 1366-2003 as a consistent method for measuring and reporting reliability statistics.
Application of high energy ion channeling to GaAs(110), Au-GaAs(110) and Pd-GaAs(110)

Abstract The first application of high energy ion channeling to the atomically clean GaAs(110) surface and metal-GaAs interfaces is reported. Questions of sample preparation, background correction and computer simulation are addressed. It is found that the Ga and As atoms at the clean surface are laterally displaced ⩽ 0.1 A from the ideal bulk-like sites. The implications of this result to current LEED models are discussed. Au overlayers, deposited at room temperature, do not seem to produce lateral displacements of the substrate for coverages below ≈ 5 monolayer (ML). However, ≈ 0.9 ML of the substrate are expanded or contracted upon Au deposition; this process is completed at a coverage of 0.5 ML. Neither an indication of any order in the Au film is found, nor seems a significant (≳ 5%) fraction of Au atoms to occupy substitutional sites. In contrast, room-temperature deposition of Pd disorders the substrate substantially, without threshold coverage, even at very small film thicknesses.
Does the loss of welfare income increase the risk of involvement with the child welfare system

Abstract This analysis is based on administrative, survey, and qualitative data from a study of welfare recipients in the Chicago metropolitan area. A relationship between welfare income reductions and child welfare risk is tested, and employment is found to moderate this relationship. Respondents who lacked employment income when their welfare grants were substantially reduced faced greater odds of child welfare system involvement than those with intact grants and those with employment income, controlling for various child welfare risk factors. This relationship is also partially mediated by environmental hardships such as food, housing, and utility service problems. Other stressful life events slightly compounded child welfare risk when combined with welfare grant reductions. In light of these findings, a discussion is offered on the potential impact of welfare reform policies on child welfare systems.
Establishing a faculty computing resource library

The Tulane Computing Services (TCS) Faculty Computing Resource Library contains computing resources which can be borrowed on a short-term basis by Tulane University faculty. Library holdings include microcomputer software and documentation, mainframe computer documentation, computing books and periodicals, and computing hardware (microcomputers, modems and cables).The Library was established to provide faculty with access to a central repository of computing resources for evaluation and short-term, occasional use. Holdings are listed in a regularly updated catalog. One of the computing services staff consultants serves as Library Coordinator with assistance from student employees and the TCS Consultants Bureau secretary.All faculty are eligible to become members of the Faculty Computing Resource Library. To become a member, the individual must sign a User's Agreement acknowledging copyright and licensing laws and accepting responsibility for lost or damaged software, documentation and equipment.Holdings for the Library are purchased from vendors as permitted by the Computing Services budget. Many items have been donated to the Library, both by vendors and by the dean's offices of the University's schools and colleges. The University Library provides advice on aspects of library management and acquisition of holdings.
Quality and reliability assurance systems in IBM semiconductor manufacturing

Soon after semiconductor manufacturing began it was realized that classical process control techniques were needed for the control of quality, reliability, and yield. The discovery and control of yield, quality, and reliability detractors have been pursued continually by IBM manufacturing engineers ever since, and the resulting evolution of process control techniques has grown into a highly disciplined state. Inferential methods were added later to augment the classic techniques. This paper, in addition to providing a brief overview of semiconductor manufacturing control techniques and placing them into historical perspective, discusses a method of feed-forward control based on statistical distributions which is used in the VLSI FET memory device line. This is followed by a description of a process profile technique which is used in bipolar logic manufacturing. The importance of the system aspects in both techniques is emphasized.
Discovery and selection protocols for multi-hop wireless internet access

Discovery and selection of mobile services are essential functions in mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs). Particularly, connecting MANETs to the Internet in order to provide mobile nodes with multi-hop wireless Internet access depends on the interface between both networks. Our proposed architecture uses mobile gateways as "moving" access points to connect MANET nodes to the edge of the Internet. The purpose of this paper is to propose a location-based discovery protocol of mobile gateways and a selection technique used by MANET nodes to register with these gateways and get Internet access. While the discovery protocol is based on the geometrical properties of Voronoi diagrams, the selection technique uses a hybrid criterion based on the normalized weighted sum of the Euclidean distance between MANET nodes and mobile gateways, and the load of mobile gateways.