cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Connectionist Architectures for Artificial Intelligence

A number of researchers have begun exploring the use of massively parallel architectures in an attempt to get around the limitations of conventional symbol processing. Many of these parallel architectures are connectionist: The system's collection of permanent knowledge is stored as a pattern of connections or connection strengths among the processing elements, so the knowledge directly determines how the processing elements interact rather that sitting passively in a memory, waiting to be looked at by the CPU. Some connectionist schemes use formal, symbolic representations, while others use more analog approaches. Some even develop their own internal representations after seeing examples of the patterns they are to recognize or the relationships they are to store. Connectionism is somewhat controversial in the AI community. It is new, still unproven in large-scale practical applications, and very different in style from the traditional AI approach. The authors have only begun to explore the behavior and potential of connectionist networks. In this article, the authors describe some of the central issues and ideas of connectionism, and also some of the unsolved problems facing this approach. Part of the motivation for connectionist research is the possible similarity in function between connectionist networks and the neutral networksmore » of the human cortex, but they concentrate here on connectionism's potential as a practical technology for building intelligent systems.« less
Participation, Power, and the Role of Community Psychology in Environmental Disputes: A Tale of Two Nuclear Cities

This paper examines public participation and the role of community psychology in an emerging environmental dispute relevant to global climate change (GCC)—whether nuclear power represents a “green” solution. From a dialectical position, we explore the nuclear debate as it is linked to GCC, and more specifically, how participation in related federally-mandated processes may be shaped by power. We present qualitative data from public meetings in two nuclear communities and analyze these data through a lens of social power and environmental justice, including an examination of nukespeak and telepolitical appeals to highlight the complexity of the issues, how the appearance of successful participation may be deceptive, and how consensus may be manipulated. We argue that CP should consider GCC to be one of the most significant social problems of our time and make every effort to be involved in the search for truly “green” solutions.
Eight-coordinate Schiff-base zirconium polymers: synthesis, characterization and properties

The condensation polymerization of tetrakis(salicylaldhydato)zirconium(IV) (Zr(sal)4) and 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenylmethane, produces the polymer catena-poly [zirconium(IV)(μ-N,N′,N″,N‴-tetrasalicylidene-3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminobiphenylmethanato- O,N,N′,O′: O″,N″,N‴,O‴)] ([Zr(tstm)]n), with a number-average molecular mass Mn above 13 000 based on gel permeation chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance end-group evaluations. Reaction of Zr(sal)4 with 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenylsulfone yields catena -poly- [zirconium(IV)(μ-N,N′,N″,N‴-tetrasalicylidene-3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminobiphenylsulfonato-O,N,N′,O′:O″,N″,O‴)] ([Zr(tsts)]n) with Mn above 8700. The polymers show thermal stability above 400°C ina air. Films of these polymers catena-poly[zirconium(IV)(μ,N,N′,N″,N‴- tetrasalicylidene-3,3′-diaminobenzinato-O,N,N′O′:O″,N″,O‴)] ([Zr(tsdb)]n) and the cerium(IV) analogs, [Ce(tsdb)n, [Ce(tstm)]n and [Ce(tsts)]n cast on chrome-platedsteel were found to be continuous by scanning electron microscopy, and they have conductivities on glass of ∼ 10−7 S cm−1 (increased by a factor of ∼ 104 by I2 doping).
Characterization of a Laser-Generated Perturbation in High-Speed Flow for Receptivity Studies

A better understanding of receptivity can contribute to the development of an amplitude-based method of transition prediction. This type of prediction model would incorporate more physics than the semi-empirical methods, which are widely used. The experimental study of receptivity requires a characterization of the external disturbances and a study of their effect on the boundary layer instabilities. Characterization measurements for a laser-generated perturbation were made in two different wind tunnels. These measurements were made with hot-wire probes, optical techniques, and pressure transducer probes. Existing methods all have their limitations, so better measurements will require the development of new instrumentation. Nevertheless, the freestream laser-generated perturbation has been shown to be about 6 mm in diameter at a static density of about 0.045 kg/cubic m. The amplitude of the perturbation is large, which may be unsuitable for the study of linear growth.
High Sensitivity Laser Spectroscopy with Atoms from a Cooled Helium Jet

We have developed a cryogenic He-jet system which efficiently transports radioactive atoms produced on-line at the Argonne National Lab Tandem-Linac Accelerator away from the production region and forms them into a cool atomic beam. This atomic beam will be probed with high sensitivity laser spectroscopy using the photon burst method. The ultimate goal of this work is to determine the sizes, shapes, and magnetic moments of short-lived nuclei through their atomic hyperfine structure. Preliminary measurements with the He-jet system and the adaption of the photon burst method to this new geometry are described.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Pulsed EPR spectrometer with injection-locked UCSB free-electron laser

We describe the first free-electron laser (FEL)-based pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) system designed to study spin dynamics and structure changes of proteins in aqueous solution with nano-second of time resolution. This novel approach opens up the possibility for high-power sub-THz and THz pulsed EPR spectroscopy.
Three approaches to the psychology of culture: Where do they come from? Where can they go?

Cultural psychology, cross-cultural psychology, and indigenous psychology are three approaches to the psychology of culture. The author begins by comparing the three approaches ‐ conceptually, methodologically; and historically. She concludes that each approach has contributed knowledge of the ‘‘deep structure’’ of culture to the field of psychology. This ‘‘deep structure’’ consists of the framework of individualism and collectivism; particular cultures are therefore surface forms of one or the other of these basic cultural frameworks. Rather than being universal, classical social and developmental psychology are seen as reflecting a particular indigenous psychology. For the future, a truly universal psychology must offer a theoretical framework that encompasses alternative indigenous psychologies. It was a great honor to be part of this important series on indigenous, cultural, and organized for the Third Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology. My title is ‘‘Three approaches to the psychology of culture: Where do they come from? Where can they go?’’ Before discussing origins and future directions, however, it is necessary to address the question, ‘‘What are they?’’ Therefore, I will begin with a conceptual and methodological analysis of the three approaches.
Cyclosporine augments reactivity of isolated blood vessels.

Summary Administration of cyclosporine (CS) as an immunosuppressive agent in clinical tr a:s plan tation is associated with multiple side effects including nephrotoxicity ald hypertension. These two effect~ could be related in that the renal changes may be secondary to alterations in organ blood flow. The present studies investigate the ability of CS to augment contractile responsiveness in blood vessels from normotensive rats. Isometric force generation was measured in isolated tail arteries and portal x --6 veins. ~ (8.3 I0 M) potent~a ted tail acre cy contractile ces ponses to sympathetic nerve s tin alatiou, exogenous ,:or ep [nephr ine, and incr ea~e~ [,l extr acellular potassium concentration. Portal veins undergo spontaneous co,ltra c tions which are related to the firing of calcium-driven action potentials in the smooth muscle cells. CS significantly increased the frequency of these spontaneous contractile events. These results ~uggest that components of CS to~[city may involve a direct action on vascular s~,~ th mls cle and/or on vascular adrenergic neurot~ns,ni~slon. Cyc los po,-ile (CS), an or ally-act ire endecape pt [ de with potent immunosuppressive properties, has significantly improved survival in organ and bone marrow transplant recipients. Despite this success, the value of the drug has been lessened by its clinically significant side effects. Prominent among these effects, which have been extensively stLldied in both humans and in experimental animals, are nephrotox[c~ty aid hypertension (1-5). Other serious problems include: hepatic dysfunction, tremor, convulsions, hirsutism and gingival hyperplasia (see I, 6-8 for review). Changes in renal function appear rapidly following C$ administration and persist during chronic treatment. Acute intravenous administration of CS (20mg/kg) to rats caused a 26% reduction in glomerular filtration rate and a transient increase in blood pressure (9) as well as a 48% decrease in renal blood flow and an 80% increase in renal vascular resistance (8). An intravenous dose of 10mg/kg caused a 69% iacrease in efferent renal nerve activity (I0), suggesting that at least part of the effect of CS on renal function m~y be indirect. Chronic CS treatment is associated with elevations of serum urea and creatinine, depressed inulin clearance (1,2,5-8,11), and a red, lction in renal blood flow (12). Alth~igh ~tr,Lctural changes have been repo~ted [,~ the proximal tub,le of the rat (I]) and human (13), CS nephrotoxicity appears to be readily ceversible upon withdrawal of the drng.
Cervical myofascial pain and headache

Myofascial pain is a common cause of regional chronic pain. Myofascial trigger points can refer pain to the head and face in the cervical region, thus contributing to cervicogenic headache. When identified properly, cervical myofascial pain is a treatable component of headache management. This article reviews current literature on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of cervical myofascial pain.
Flux Crystal Growth and Structure Determination of K5Y2FSi4O13

Single crystals of K5Y2FSi4O13 were grown out of a molten potassium fluoride flux. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was used to determine the crystal structure. K5Y2FSi4O13 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/m with a = 7.1567(12) A, b = 5.7627(9) A, c = 18.005(3) A, β = 92.396(4)°, and Z = 2. This compound has a complex three-dimensional structure with corner-sharing YO5F and SiO4 polyhedra. Single crystals of K5Y2FSi4O13, which crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21/m, were grown out of a molten potassium fluoride flux and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.
Impact of acute psychosocial stress on peripheral blood gene expression pathways in healthy men.

We investigated peripheral blood mononuclear cell gene expression responses to acute psychosocial stress to identify molecular pathways relevant to the stress response. Blood samples were obtained from 10 healthy male subjects before, during and after (at 0, 30, and 60 min) a standardized psychosocial laboratory stressor. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted and gene expression measured by hybridization to a 20,000-gene microarray. Gene Set Expression Comparisons (GSEC) using defined pathways were used for the analysis. Forty-nine pathways were significantly changed from baseline to immediately after the stressor (p < 0.05), implicating cell cycle, cell signaling, adhesion and immune responses. The comparison between stress and recovery (measured 30 min later) identified 36 pathways, several involving stress-responsive signaling cascades and cellular defense mechanisms. These results have relevance for understanding molecular mechanisms of the physiological stress response, and might be used to further study adverse health outcomes of psychosocial stress.
Improved energy density of nanocomposites with aligned PZT nanowires

The use of piezoelectric materials has become more popular for a wide range of applications, including structural health monitoring, power harvesting, vibration sensing and actuation. However, piezoceramic materials are often prone to breakage and are difficult to apply to curved surfaces when in their monolithic form. One approach to alleviate these issues is to embed the fragile piezoceramic inclusion into a polymer matrix. The flexible nature of the polymer matrix protects the ceramic from breaking under mechanical loading and makes the resulting compoistes easier to apply onto curved structure. However, most developed active ceramic composites have relatively low electroelastic coupling compared to bulk piezoceramics. There are two main methods to improve the eletroelastic properties of piezoceramic composites, namely using higher aspect ratio active inclusions and alignment of inclusions in the electric field direction. In this paper, the dielectric and energy storage property of nanowire composites is significantly enhanced by aligning the nanowires in the direction of the applied electrical field. PZT nanowires are hydrothermally synthesized and solutioncast into a polymer matrix, and then aligned using a shear flow based stretching method. The alignment was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy images and it is shown that the nanowires can be successfully aligned in the PVDF. The dielectric constant and energy density of the nanocomposites were tested using Agilent E4980A LCR meter and Sawyer-Tower circuit. This testing result shows that the dielectric constant and energy density of the composites can be increased by as much as 35.7% and 49.3% by aligning the nanowires in the electric field direction. Piezoceramic composites with enhanced energy storage property could lead to broader applications when using this type of materials for polymer based capacitive energy storage.
The newer trace elements.

The application of the concept of a “controlled environment” led to the identification of eight trace elements with a proven or postulated biological function during this decade. Rigorous reduction of metallic contamination from air, drinking water, and diet is necessary to reduce exposure to the element under investigation below requirement levels. An essential function for a trace element is suggested when deficiency is produced, and indepently confirmed, in two or more animal species, and also when the signs of deficiency are prevented or cured by supplements. As yet, a direct role for the “new trace elements” in the human organism has not been demonstrated.
Retinoblastoma protein in growth suppression and death protection

Puzzling new information indicates an inadequacy in our understanding of the retinoblastoma protein (RB). RB and the transcription factor E2F appear to be collaborators. RB-E2F interaction is necessary but not sufficient for growth suppression. Unbecoming of a tumor suppressor, RB has an active role in antagonizing the death response. How RB integrates its multiple functions into a tumor suppression program is still an open issue.
AN MPI PARALLEL IMPLEMENTATION OF NEWMARK'S METHOD

The standard message-passing interface (MPI) is used to parallelize Newmark's method. The linear matrix equation encountered at each time step is solved using a preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm. Data are distributed over the processors of a given parallel computer on a degree-of-freedom basis; this produces effective load balance between the processors and leads to a highly parallelized code. The portability of the implementation of this scheme is tested by solving some simple problems on two different machines: an SGI Origin2000 and an IBM SP2. The measured times demonstrate the efficiency of the approach and highlight the maintenance advantages that arise from using a standard parallel library such as MPI.
A long-range atmospheric tracer field test

Abstract A long-range application of a heavy methane atmospheric tracer system has been carried out using both 12 CD 4 and 13 CD 4 . The experiment had several objectives including testing a newly developed cyrogenic air sampler, testing a new sample handling apparatus and demonstrating the use of heavy methanes over transport distances up to 2500 km and travel times of more than 100 h. A simple diffusion estimation method applied in conjunction with trajectories produced by NOAA from upper air meteorological data yields good agreement with the tracer data on dosage and arrival time. The duration of observed tracer at the long-range stations was longer than estimated with simple concepts.
Pesticides, Productivity, and Farmer Health: Implications for Regulatory Policy and Agricultural Research

Agricultural pesticides pose health hazards to farm family members and farm workers. Methods for safe storage, handling, and use of pesticides exist to mitigate these hazards and are used in many developed countries. In developing countries, however, techniques for the safe use of agricultural pesticides are far less widespread. The case studies of Ecuador by Crissman and Cole, and of the Philippines by Pingali, Marquez, and Palis show that the use of pesticides is associated with adverse health consequences. The key questions, then, are why pesticides are not used safely in the developing countries, and what actions should be taken to address this problem. The design of effective solutions to this problem will require, first, an understanding of why pesticides are not safely used, and second, reliable estimates of the tradeoffs between health
Delayed gastrointestinal complications after combined modality therapy of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma.

Delayed gastrointestinal complications were reviewed following combined modality therapy in 16 children with non-disseminated rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) involving the retroperitoneum. Six patients experienced severe life-threatening enteritis or proctitis which was documented histologically and occurred in the absence of recurrent tumor; 3 patients subsequently died of small bowel obstruction and attendant complications. These results emphasize a major form of treatment morbidity resulting from the combined use of multiple radiopotentiating agents and therapeutic irradiation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Taste-based discrimination evidence from a shift in ethnic preferences after WWI

Abstract This paper uses program notes from the Metropolitan opera to quantify changes in ethnic preferences as a result of news of German atrocities during World War I; these data indicate that the War created a persistent shift in ethnic preferences, which effectively switched the status of German Americans from a mainstream ethnicity to an ethnic minority until the late 1920s. Difference-in-difference analyses investigate whether this shift in preferences triggered taste-based discrimination in one of the world's most elite professional settings: applications to trade at the NYSE. This analysis indicates that changes in preferences more than doubled the probability that applicants with German-sounding names would be rejected. Placebo regressions for other non-German minorities yield no evidence of taste effects. Equivalent regressions that distinguish German Jewish from other Jewish applicants, however, indicate that German Jewish applicants were similarly affected as were other Germans.
Concurrent physical aging and degradation of crosslinked coating systems in accelerated weathering

Coating degradation is a combination of both chemical and physical processes; however, physical processes have not received much attention. Physical aging has a non-negligible effect on coatings’ mechanical properties and permeability etc. through the densification that continues as a polymer approaches its thermodynamic equilibrium below the glass transition temperature, T g. Observations in recent work showed that physical aging affects coatings’ mechanical property response during accelerated weathering and is, itself, affected by the associated chemical degradation. Two crosslinked coating systems were studied in order to compare different chemical compositions, their T g, and their thermal response in accelerated weathering. During thermal cycling, physical aging measured by enthalpy recovery exhibited different trends in the two coatings. A “rejuvenation” mechanism was observed in the coating with a T g between the top and bottom limits of the exposure cycle; continued aging was observed for the coating with a high T g. Stress relaxation tests detected aging and “memory” behavior over periods comparable with accelerated weathering cycles. Both thermal and mechanical responses changed in complicated and different ways as the coatings degraded. Different degrees of coating thickness reduction were observed in both isothermal relaxation and degradation. When various coatings are evaluated, simply judging their performance under the same weathering environment is not reliable since polymer relaxation behavior depends on the relationship between the exposure temperatures and the T g of each polymer.
On pseudo-conservation laws for the cyclic server system with compound Poisson arrivals

Boxma and Groenendijk obtain the pseudo-conservation laws for cyclic server systems, for both the continuous-time system with simple Poisson arrivals, and for the discrete-time system. We extend these laws to the continuous-time cyclic server system with compound Poisson arrivals. In the process we identify an error in Boxma and Groenendijk's analysis of the semi-exhaustive service strategy in the discrete-time cyclic server system.
Trochanteric advancement for premature arrest of the femoral-head growth plate. 6-year review of 30 hips.

Between 1971 and 1985, 30 children (35 hips) with premature closure of the subcapital growth plate were treated with trochanteric advancement. After 6 (3–8) years, 25 children (30 hips) were reviewed. Of the 30 hips, 27 had had one or more operations before the trochanteric advancement. All the trochanters fused without complication. Trendelen-burg's sign was positive in 24 hips preoperatively and became negative postoperatively. The hip abduction was increased in 28 of the 30 hips reviewed.
Satellite cell behavior during skeletal muscle growth and regeneration

Satellite cells play an integral role in normal development of skeletal muscle by providing a source for postmitotic myonuclei and in repair of injured myofibers by serving as the source of myoblasts that participate in the regeneration response. The population of satellite cells in a muscle undergoes an ordered change both in relative and absolute numbers over the course of the postnatal growth period. Quantitative studies have shown that the changes are not the same among muscles or even among the individual myofibers within a muscle. In general, oxidative muscles have a much higher density of satellite cells than do glycolytic muscles. Although the exact reasons for the differences in the population densities are unknown, differences in the growth patterns of muscles or in their activity levels may be related factors. These differences point to the fact that the mechanisms that regulate satellite cell mitotic and fusion behavior are also not the same in all muscles. The activity state of muscle is an important factor in the regulation of satellite cell behavior. Increased functional demand that induces a hypertrophic response results in increased satellite cell mitotic activity, and decreased activity that results in atrophy results in decreased mitotic activity. Finally, elevated satellite cell mitotic activity can be a sensitive indicator of muscle damage, especially when the damage is minimal and difficult to detect by morphological means.
Theoretically modelling the water bilayer on the Al(111) surface using cluster calculations

Abstract Cluster calculations involving two water molecules are used to theoretically investigate the formation of the water bilayer on the Al(111) surface. In previous calculations we found a single water to molecularly adsorb at an on-top site vertically above an Al atom. We also computed vibrational frequencies which were consistent with data obtained at low water coverage by electron energy loss spectra (EELS). The EELS experiment initially has a peak at 3720 cm −1 which becomes augmented and eventually dominated by a second peak at 3450 cm −1 as the water coverage on the Al(111) surface is increased. In the present calculations we optimized the geometry of two water molecules on Al 10 and Al 15 clusters. The resulting structures appear to be prototypes for the formation of a water bilayer on the Al(111) surface: one of the water molecules again adsorbs on-top of an Al atom, and then the second water hydrogen bonds to the first water molecule, at a height corresponding to the second layer of a water bilayer, vertically above an Al atom neighboring the Al atom bonded to the first layer water. The computed vibrational frequencies for the chemisorbed water dimer have a number of features in common with the EELS results obtained at higher water coverage. Especially striking is that we compute a ∼ 300 cm −1 blue shift in the H-bonded OH stretching mode which matches the splitting observed for the high frequency modes observed in EELS at higher water coverage. These dimer calculations add further support to our previous suggestions that the 3720 cm −1 vibration is due to a symmetric OH stretch in non H-bonded water and that water only molecularly adsorbs on Al(111) at low temperatures. Again we allow for adsorbate induced surface relaxation effects in the cluster calculations.
Sustaining Opportunity in Rural Community Colleges.

This assessment considers the sustainability of initiatives begun as a result of participation in the Rural Community College Initiative (RCCI). Case studies were conducted at eight community colleges, and quantitative data was gathered from the U.S. Census, the Department of Labor, and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Elements that helped the colleges sustain initiatives beyond the funding cycle are discussed.
Free Radical Formation in Reactions of Lecithin with Tetracyanoquinodimethane and Tetracyanoethylene: Relating the Behavior of Membrane-Partitioned Electrochemical Cells to Charge Carrier Using Electron Spin Resonance

Electron spin resonance spectra of solutions used to make conductive bilayer lipid membranes reveal that free radical formation is a precursor to membrane conductivity. Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) forms a stable radical that self-aggregates in nonaqueous media, yet will diffuse into the aqueous phase as a monomer, potentially allowing interfacial exchange. Tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) will undergo hydrolysis via a radical intermediate, and the decomposition product is ESR silent. The electrochemical response of an electrochemical cell partitioned by a membrane modified by these dopants is ionic for TCNE. Although the mechanism is less clear for TCNQ, the role of a stable radical is clearly implicated.
The operator dbar in holomorphic K-theory

The holomorphic (or semi-topological) K-theory of a smooth projective variety sits between the algebraic K-theory of the variety and the topological K-theory of the underlying topological space. We describe how to define a family of dbar operators on holomorphic K-theory in a manner analogous to Atiyah's construction of a family of elliptic operators in topological K-theory. In the process, we prove a result akin to Bott periodicity for holomorphic mapping spaces. These results first appeared in the author's Stanford University Ph.D. thesis under the direction of Ralph Cohen.
Decision tree classification of proteins identified by mass spectrometry of blood serum samples from people with and without lung cancer

A classification and regression tree (CART) model was trained to classify 41 clinical specimens as disease/nondisease based on 26 variables computed from the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and peak heights of proteins identified by mass spectroscopy. The CART model built on all of the specimens (no cross-validation) had an error rate of 4/41 = 10%. The CART model suggests that mass spectra peaks in the 8000-10,000, 20,000-30,000, 45,000-60, 000, and >125,000 m/z ranges may be valuable in distinguishing between the disease/nondisease specimens. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.80 +/- 0.07 for leave-one-out cross-validation.
ULTRASOUND AS A METHOD TO DETECT BUBBLES OR PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE ARTERIAL LINE DURING CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS.

Summary Ultrasound techniques make it possible to accurately detect bubbles or particulate matter in a fluid medium. These techniques have been employed in the present studies to determine the presence and size of bubbles in the arterial line of the extracorporeal circuit. Ultrasound has no apparent ill effect on the blood and is a very accurate method of detecting bubbles of almost any size.
Critical realism and Kantian transcendental arguments

Tony Lawson has made use of transcendental arguments, as developed by Roy Bhaskar, to criticise mainstream economics. This importation of Kantian ideas into economic methodology is commendable, since they offer the best means available for diagnosing and overcoming the empiricism that underlies mainstream economics. This paper argues, however, that instead of using Bhaskar's transcendental arguments, critical realists would do better to employ Kant's own, which are of direct relevance to economic methodology and have greater persuasive force than Bhaskar's. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
Selection of image primitives for general-purpose visual processing

The results of psychophysical experiments suggest the existence of a hierarchy of visual features based on the relations between image contours. The human visual system appears to be preattentively, selectively sensitive to image contours which contain certain of these features. These results can be used to develop computer vision algorithms for: (1) the selective enhancement of image contours which correlate with their perceptual significance; and (2) the segmentation of boundary images into sets which have a high probability of depicting a single object. The extreme simplicity of the algorithms, as well as their ability to generate perceptually significant results, demonstrate the advantages of using psychophysical results to uncover image invariants which correlate with the structure of the physical world that is of value for visual perception.
Parametric investigations for extrapolation of a log-linear creep model

The mathematical modelling of certain nonlinear physical phenomena has traditionally been expedited by transforming an equation of the general form y=a+bx^n to a linear one by logarithms and solving for the parameters by graphical techniques or least-squares linear regression. This paper investigates the significance of variations in the parameter ''a'' in the determination of the best parameters for a model of the time-dependent deformation (creep) behavior of materials under stress. In this context, x and y are time and strain, respectively, ''a'' is an initial strain, and ''b'' and ''n'' are parameters. It is shown that the parameter ''a'' for the best fit approaches a constant value as increasing amounts of data are considered, and that the parameters ''b'' and ''n'' vary in a consistent manner as ''a'' varies, regardless of the amount of data considered. The paper illustrates that a minimum test length for the extrapolation of best-fit curves can be estimated by accumulating data until the value of ''a'' for the best fit stabilizes. Alternatively, if a proper value of ''a'' has been predetermined, data from a short test can be extrapolated using the values of ''b'' and ''n'' associated with the known value of ''a'', even though that model does not represent the best-fit curve for the short test data. The method utilizes a numerical technique and computer graphics.
Primary in vitro stimulation of antibody production by rainbow trout lymphocytes.

Trinitrophenylated (TNP) forms ofE. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) were used to produce antigen specific plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses with rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) splenocytes from unprimed fishin vitro. The culture system that was developed is described and characterized with respect to the kinetics and dose responses for both the haptenated and unhaptenated forms of the carriers. The induction of the PFC response to TNP-LPS was inhibited with TNP-lysine. Exposure to graded levels of gamma-radiation demonstrated a low dose augmentation of the PFC response with both antigens. Antigen addition experiments reveal that both antigens appear to stimulate the same population of antibody-producing B lymphocytes.
Energy Systems for Rural Communities in Peru

Integration of renewable energy resources in rural communities is the basis to improve life quality due to two important factors: the first one is the necessity of energy, considering the difficulty to be connected to the national grid due to high installation costs and low electricity demand by potential consumers; the second factor is that preliminary studies have showed that it is possible to make use of about 1.052 kWh/m2 /year in these places. Some windmills have been made with local technology design, construction and installation based on the knowledge, skills and material available to local communities, but now it seems necessary to make a first step to integrate modern equipment suited to local needs. Wind energy at the north desert coast rural areas in Peru is capable to develop sustainable projects based on wind energy systems, in order to revitalize rural communities, and help to feed the regional energy needs.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Voting on Europe: The Potential Pitfalls of a British Referendum

As Britain prepares for a possible referendum on continued membership of the European Union, it is essential that more careful thought is paid to the dynamics of referendums. Polling data reveal the existence of a substantial knowledge deficit in the UK and other parts of the EU: large numbers of voters simply do not understand the EU. There is also reason to question the conventional view that voters can correct for such a deficit by using cues from opinion leaders and the media. The experience of recent referendums in other EU member states suggests that many voters will take part in the proposed British referendum without independent and informed knowledge of the issues at stake, that many will have been swayed by partisan elite opinion, and that many will decide on the basis of their views about domestic politics rather than their views about Europe.
A randomized prospective trial comparing full dose chemotherapy to 131I antiferritin: An RTOG study

A previously reported Phase I/II multimodality program for non-resectable hepatocellular cancer began with external beam-radiation and chemotherapy, followed by administration of 131I antiferritin-specific radioimmunoglobulin and led to a 48% remission (7% complete remission and 41% partial remission). Survival and response depended on alpha fetoprotein status. AFP+ patients had a median survival of 5 months; AFP- patients had a median survival of 10.5 months. No acute effects occurred relative to treatment with radiolabeled antibody. A randomized prospective study was designed to compare full dose chemotherapy consisting of 60 mg/m2, doxorubicin and 500 mg/m2 of 5-fluorouracil administered every 3 weeks, to 131I antiferritin administration every 8 weeks and allowed for crossover treatment if tumor progression occurred. Overall, radiolabeled antibody administration and full dose chemotherapy led to equivalent partial remission rates (22-30% vs 23-25%) and survival rates compared to chemotherapy (6 month median; AFP+ 5 months; AFP- 10 months). The most important new observations were the response in AFP- patients who, following chemotherapy failure, achieved remission using 131I radiolabeled antibody (7/11) and a subset of patients (7%) who were treated with radiolabeled antibody and converted from non-resectable to resectable status followed by surgical excision.
Comparative Research and Electoral Systems:: Lessons from France and Italy

This paper focuses on women's representation in the French National Assembly and in the Italian Chamber of Deputies since 1946 and attempts carefully to elucidate the relationships among electoral ...
Survival of outpatients with Alzheimer-type dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical course of Alzheimer-type dementia and those factors that might predict or influence the length of survival. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and twenty-six patients diagnosed with Alzheimer-type dementia were selected from among 200 consecutive outpatients evaluated for suspected dementia from 1980 to 1982. All 126 patients had at least 6 years of follow-up. SETTING: All patients were initially seen as outpatients at a university hospital. MEASUREMENTS and MAIN RESULTS: Survival analysis was done using Kaplan-Meier estimates and the Cox proportional hazards model. The mean age at symptom onset was 73.9 years and at enrollment in the study, 77.6 years. The median survival from time of enrollment in the study was 5.3 years (range, 0.2 to 7.2+ years) and from symptom onset, 9.3 years (range, 1.8 to 16+ years). Dementia severity, as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), was strongly associated with survival (P less than 0.001); the median survival of patients with scores of 18 or below was 3 years less than that of patients with scores above 18 (relative risk, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6 to 4.4). Comorbid conditions and symptom duration were not related to survival. A multivariate analysis of age at symptom onset and of historical features showed that the combination of wandering and falling (relative risk, 2.1; 95% CI, 0.9 to 5.2) and the presence of behavioral problems (relative risk, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.7 to 2.9) at the time of evaluation appeared to adversely affect survival. CONCLUSIONS: Length of survival in patients with Alzheimer-type dementia is highly variable; severity of disease (not duration), the combination of wandering and falling, and behavioral problems are associated with shorter survival. Our findings, if confirmed, may provide prognostic information for families and professionals and suggest areas in which interventions to improve survival might be focused. Language: en
Semantic Distinctions in Huichol (Uto-Aztecan) Kinship

TERMINOLOGICAL systems group the kin types defined by links of procreation and cohabitation and by differences of sex into a relatively small number of kin classes according to culturally prescribed semantic features. These semantic features are in themselves of interest to the ethnolinguist, and, insofar as they provide a framework for understanding differences in nonverbal behavior, to the anthropologist. The study of culturally defined kin classes in terms of common features in a semantic field owes its stimulus to the methodological work of Lounsbury (1956) and Goodenough (1956). Romney and Epling's paper on Kariera (1958) is also valuable; in it not only are kin classes distinguished by common semantic features, following Lounsbury, but larger semantic groupings of kin classes are also recognized. It seems premature, however, to assume that the principles of kinship organization uncovered in the relatively few structural studies that have been made to date are the only ones that could prove fruitful. This study accordingly attempts to explore the notion of distance (Murdock 1949) as a useful structural dimension.1 Furthermore, this study attempts to operate without assuming that sharp boundary-setting criteria are a priori necessary (Wallace and Atkins 1960: 60). Though there is a cover term for kinsmen as opposed to nonkinsmen that was useful in blocking out the field of study, the final analysis does not deal directly with all terms within that boundary; only those that are amenable to simple structural treatment within the boundary need be analyzed, while the residue (all of which contain the suffix -wari) can be treated as semantically shifted forms of terms in the analyzable set.
The association of hypocalcemia with recurrent apnea of prematurity

Serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and total proteins were determined at 8 hour intervals during the first 48 hours of life in 27 neonates weighing under 1750 grams at birth, who were monitored for apnea. 14 babies developed recurrent apnea during the first 72 hours of life. The remaining 13 neonates had no distress. None of the 27 babies received calcium during the period of sampling. Calcium values were grouped into 9 consecutive 5 hour intervals and the mean value of the calcium levels in each intervals was plotted using the mid-point of the 5 hour interval for time. Using the standard polynomial regression for a quadratic response, the apneic subjects showed a decrease in calcium values to a level of 5.9 mgm./100 ml. at 32 hours of age. The minimum mean calcium value for the non-apneic babies was 8.3 mgm./100 ml. at 32 hours of age. Apenic babies had higher phosphorus values and lower total serum proteins than the non-apneic babies. Recurrent apnea was associated with an increased maternal age and a higher incidence of previous abortion. Apneic babies had higher incidence of 1 min. Apgar below 5 (75% vs. 30%). Apneic spells developed in most of the cases during the first 24 hours of life (22.1 hours average). Thus, for the most part of the onset of apnea precedes the development of hypocalcemia. Calcium urinary losses were similar in both groups. Calcium therapy appeared to reduce the number of apneic spells in 6 out of the 14 infants.
Seasonal flooding, nitrogen mineralization and nitrogen utilization in a prairie marsh

Flooding can be an important control of nitrogen (N) biogeochemistry in wetland ecosystems. In North American prairie marshes, spring flooding is a dominant feature of the physical environment that increases emergent plant production and could influence N cycling. I investigated how spring flooding affects N availability and plant N utilization in whitetop (Scolochloa festucacea) marshes in Manitoba, Canada by comparing experimentally spring-flooded marsh inside an impoundment with adjacent nonflooded marsh. The spring-flooded marsh had net N mineralization rates up to 4 times greater than nonflooded marsh. Total growing season net N mineralization was 124 kg N ha−1 in the spring-flooded marsh compared with 62 kg N ha−1 in the nonflooded marsh. Summer water level drawdown in the spring-flooded marsh decreased net N mineralization rates. Net nitrification rates increased in the nonflooded marsh following a lowering of the water table during mid summer. Growing season net nitrification was 33 kg N ha−1 in the nonflooded marsh but < 1 kg N ha−1 in the spring-flooded marsh. Added NO3 −1 induced nitrate reductase (NRA) activity in whitetop grown in pot culture. Field-collected plants showed higher NRA in the nonflooded marsh. Nitrate comprised 40% of total plant N uptake in the nonflooded marsh but <1% of total N uptake in the spring-flooded marsh. Higher plant N demand caused by higher whitetop production in the spring-flooded marsh approximately balanced greater net N mineralization. A close association between the presence of spring flooding and net N mineralization and net nitrification rates indicated that modifications to prairie marshes that change the pattern of spring inundation will lead to rapid and significant changes in marsh N cycling patterns.
Preliminary testing of a proposition from the Roy Adaptation Model.

Objective: To test a framework based on a proposition of the Roy Adaptation Model predicting the relationships of severity of illness, perceived control over visitation (PCV), hardiness, state anxiety, and length of stay in an intensive care unit (ICU). Design: Descriptive-correlational. Population, Sample, Setting: Convenience sample was 60 general medical-surgical ICU patients admitted to one regional medical center in the Southeastern U.S.A. Patients completed data collection instruments after a minimum of 20 hours in the ICU during January-March 1994. Methods: Instruments included the PCV Scale, the State Anxiety Inventory, the Health Related Hardiness Scale, and the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation II, Model testing and path analysis were done. Findings: The study variables explained 18% of the variance in length of stay in the ICU, with anxiety and hardiness being the major contributing variables. The path between hardiness and PCV was the only path in the model supported by the data. Conclusions: The proposed model had inadequate support in this preliminary testing. However, interventions that increase a patient's feelings of control and hardiness could decrease length of stay in ICU's.
The History and Rationale of the American Urological Association Residency Matching Program

Abstract Introduction Before the AUA Urology Residency Match Program medical students and residency programs would pair up without the aid of a centralized system. We report the history and rationale of this program. Methods AUA archives regarding the AUA Urology Residency Match Program were searched. Interviews were done with physicians and AUA personnel involved in the creation/facilitation of the Urology Match, including Drs. Eugene Carlton, August Colenbrander and Carl Olsson, and Randy Berndt. Results Before 1985 there were significant problems in the urology residency job market as a result of not having a formal matching system. An offer/counteroffer system existed that was inequitable, produced suboptimal pairings and created tremendous anxiety for applicants and program directors. The first AUA match was implemented in 1985. The match was done using a deferred acceptance algorithm, which matched applicants and programs according to preferences. Key figures who facilitated the match included Director of Education Dr. Eugene Carlton, Assistant Director of Education William Brubaker, Data Processing Manager Randy Berndt and Dr. August Colenbrander, an ophthalmologist who established the Ophthalmology Residency Matching Program. Although the Urology Match has been a success, a single mismatch occurred in 2005. Dr. Carl Olsson, the AUA Secretary, investigated the erroneous match and led a committee that initiated additional match safeguards. The AUA Residency Match Program has run smoothly since. Conclusions The AUA Urology Residency Match Program has taken away the problems associated with the offer/counteroffer system that existed before the Urology Match, setting into motion the career trajectories and lives of thousands of urologists.
Conceptual, Methodological, and Policy Issues in the Study of Teaching: Implications for Improving Instructional Practice at Scale

The [classroom environment] data obtained in such records are … selective, inconsistent, and usually incomparable with other records. This is due to the tremendous complexity of any social behavior...
Isospin and macroscopic models for the excitation of giant resonances and other collective states

Abstract Recently there has been some confusion over the excitation of “isovector” giant resonances by isoscalar probes. We present a unified theoretical description of macroscopic models that may be used to calculate the excitation of giant resonances by inelastic scattering so as to clarify this and related questions. Particular attention is given to the relative phase of the Coulombic and hadronic contributions. After describing models for the transition densities that are based upon certain sum rules, a folding model and a deformed optical potential model for the transition potentials are discussed. Applications are made to some examples of inelastic α-particle scattering and the two models are compared. Folding yields cross sections for the breathing-mode monopole resonance that are smaller than those from the potential model by almost a factor of two, so that the measured values appear to require more than 100% depletion of the sum rule. It is suggested that this might be due to neglect of density dependence in the effective interaction.