cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Indirect determination of size effect on strength of asphalt mixtures at low temperatures

Low temperature cracking of asphalt pavements is a major distress in cold regions. Accurate assessment of strength of asphalt mixtures at low temperatures is of great importance for ensuring the structural integrity of asphalt pavements. It has been shown that asphalt mixtures behave in a quasibrittle manner at low temperatures and consequently its nominal strength strongly depends on the structure size. The size effect on the strength of asphalt mixtures can be directly measured by testing geometrically similar specimens with a sufficiently large size range. Recent studies have shown in theory that for quasibrittle structures, which fail at the macrocrack initiation from one representative volume element, the mean size effect curve can also be derived from the scaling of strength statistics based on the finite weakest link model. This paper presents a comprehensive experimental investigation on the strength statistics as well as the size effect on the mean strength of asphalt mixtures at −24 °C. It is shown that the size effect on mean structural strength can be obtained by strength histogram testing on specimens of a single size. The present study also indicates that the three-parameter Weibull distribution is not applicable for asphalt mixtures.
Interaction of sine-Gordon kinks with defects: the two-bounce resonance

A model of soliton-defect interactions in the sine-Gordon equations is studied using singular perturbation theory. Melnikov theory is used to derive a critical velocity for strong interactions, which is shown to be exponentially small for weak defects. Matched asymptotic expansions for nearly heteroclinic orbits are constructed for the initial value problem, which are then used to derive analytical formulas for the locations of the well known two- and three-bounce resonance windows, as well as several other phenomena seen in numerical simulations.
Myocardial Tissue Doppler Changes in Patients with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Objective To determine whether tissue Doppler measurements provide sensitive measures of right ventricular function that correlate with the severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Study design 21 subjects (6 control subjects with no/mild BPD, 7 patients with moderate BPD, and 8 patients with severe BPD) underwent limited echocardiograms with standard M-mode, mitral and tricuspid inflow velocities, and tissue Doppler features measured. BPD severity was scored by using the NICHD/NHLBI/ORD workshop rating scale by physicians blinded to the echocardiogram results. Groups were compared by using 1-way analysis of variance with post-hoc testing and linear regression. Results Patients with moderate BPD had a higher early Doppler inflow velocity to the early tissue Doppler velocity ratio (E/E′ ratio; P = .03), corresponding to increased end diastolic pressure, compared with patients with no/mild BPD. Patients with severe BPD had a higher E/E′ ratio ( P = .004) than patients with no/mild BPD. Linear regression demonstrated a correlation between BPD category and right ventricle E/E′ ( P = .007, R 2 = 0.33) and left ventricular myocardial performance index ( P = .02, R 2 = 0.28). Conclusion Increasing right ventricle E/E′ ratio correlates with clinical severity of BPD. Abnormal left ventricular myocardial performance index was noted to correlate with the grade of BPD. Further longitudinal studies of tissue Doppler echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function in premature infants with BPD are needed.
Molecular pathways of steroid receptor action.

Over the past two decades, a great deal of evidence has accumulated in favor of the hypothesis that steroid hormones act at the level of nuclear DNA to regulate gene expression Oensen EV, Suzuki T, Kawashima T, Stumpf WE, Jungblut PW, DeSombre ER, Proc Nail Acad Sci USA 1968; 59:632-638(11; Gorskl J, Toft D, Shyamala G, Smith D, Notides A, Itec Prog Horm Res 1968; 24:45-80 (2]; O’Malley BW, Means AR, Science 1974; 183:610-620 (31;O’Malley BW, Roop DR, Lal EC, Nordstrom JI, Catterall JF, Swaneck GE, Colbert DA, Tsai M.J, Dugalczyk A, Woo SLC, Rec Prog Horm Rca 1979; 35:1-46 (4]). The earliest studies were qualitative and involved experiments showing that steroid hormones (1) cause accumulation of new species of hybridizable RNAs that did not exist prior to stimulation; (2) cause stimulation of synthesis of new specific proteins; (3) cause a corresponding increase In the cellular levels of specific mRNAs; and (4) stimulate the rate of transcription of certain nuclear genes (O’Maftcy BW, McGuire WI, Kohler P0, Korenman SG, Rec Prog Horm Res 1969; 25:105-00015]). At that time, the early 1970s, the primary pathway for steroid hormone action was defined as follows: steroid -� (steroid-receptor) -* (steroid-receptor-DNA) - mRNA -� functional response (Fig. 1) (O’Malley BW, Roop DR, Lai EC, Nordstrom JI, Catterall JF, Swaneck GE, Colbert DA, Tsai M-J, Dugaiczyk A, Woo SLC, Rec Prog Horm Res 1979; 35:1-46 (4J).Steroid enters cells by passive diffusion and allosterically activates receptors in either the cytoplasm or nucleus. The activated receptor binds usually at the 5’-flanking region of target genes and �
MDMA (Ecstacy): Useful Information for Health Professionals Involved in Drug Education Programs.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; “Ecstacy”) is an amphetamine derivative that is related chemically to both amphetamines and hallucinogens. Despite reports of an increase in MDMA usage amon...
Revision of the coroebine genus Coraebosoma Obenberger (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae)

The coroebine genus Coraebosoma Obenberger is revised for the first time with six new species, five described from the Philippine Islands: C. samarense from Samar Is., C. panayense from Panay Is., C. negrosianum from Negros Is., C. sibuyanicum from Romblon and Sibyan Is., C. violaceum from Mindanao Is. and C. indicum, from southern India. The genus is redescribed with the type-species, C. manilense Obenberger, C. carteri Hoscheck and new species diagnostically described. A key to separate the species, illustrations, and a distribution map are presented along with discussion on the generic relationships. The species are cladistically analyzed and supported by an area cladogram.
The risk of investment in technological innovation

It is shown that the prevalent view that investment in technological innovation is particularly risky is incomplete. Specifically, while such investments may be very risky when viewed from the perspective of a project manager, they are less so when viewed from the perspective of top management (or the firm), and they are no more risky than average when viewed from the perspective of investors.
The ECM protein nephronectin promotes kidney development via integrinα8β1-mediated stimulation of Gdnf expression

Development of the metanephric kidney crucially depends on proper interactions between cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix. For example, we showed previously that in the absence of α8β1 integrin, invasion by the ureteric bud into the metanephric mesenchyme is inhibited, resulting in renal agenesis. Here we present genetic evidence that the extracellular matrix protein nephronectin is an essential ligand that engagesα 8β1 integrin during early kidney development. We show that embryos lacking a functional nephronectin gene frequently display kidney agenesis or hypoplasia, which can be traced to a delay in the invasion of the metanephric mesenchyme by the ureteric bud at an early stage of kidney development. Significantly, we detected no defects in extracellular matrix organization in the nascent kidneys of the nephronectin mutants. Instead, we found that Gdnf expression was dramatically reduced in both nephronectin- andα 8 integrin-null mutants specifically in the metanephric mesenchyme at the time of ureteric bud invasion. We show that this reduction is sufficient to explain the agenesis and hypoplasia observed in both mutants. Interestingly, the reduction in Gdnf expression is transient, and its resumption presumably enables the nephronectin-deficient ureteric buds to invade the metanephric mesenchyme and begin branching. Our results thus place nephronectin and α8β1 integrin in a pathway that regulates Gdnf expression and is essential for kidney development.
Assessment of Existing Demand for Watershed Services in the Panama Canal Watershed

Summary This paper examines the existing demand for watershed services provided by reforestation in the Panama Canal Watershed. The analysis assumes certain watershed services to be potentially marketable (i.e., that these services do indeed exist and are fungible), and focuses on ascertaining the potential demand for dry season flow regulation, nutrient regulation, and sediment filtration. The analysis examines actual and potential demand for these services from five known water consumers: the Panama Canal Authority, private shippers who use the Canal, hydroelectric producers, the Comision Interinstitucional de la Cuenca Hidrografica, and the National Aqueducts and Sewage Institution. We find that actual demand is much lower than the potential indicated by the value each consumer realizes from its water use. We attribute the difference to scientific uncertainty regarding the link between dry season flows and forest conversion and to institutional factors specific to each consumer.
Ethical considerations raised by the provision of freebies to veterinary students

coats have for years been featured in a sort of swearing-in ceremony prior to the start of classes at Colorado State University during which each student signs the Colorado State University veterinary program’s honor code. Despite the popularity of these freebies, questions arise regarding their ethical implications. Specifically, does the provision of these corporate freebies to veterinary students conflict with the professional and ethical obligations veterinarians have to their patients and to society as a whole? It is important to understand the influence these practices might have on the future professional behavior of veterinary students, particularly with regard to impacts on prescribing behavior and recommendations to clients, and to appreciate the possible effects on client perceptions.
Basic principles for selecting phases for high temperature metal matrix composites: interfacial considerations

Il est reconnu que des considerations interfaciales determineront ou non le succes dans l'emploi d'un materiau composite a matrice metallique. On definit ici les principes de base de selection des phases d'un tel materiau
An experimental study of the vibrator in postoperative tracheobronchial clearance

Abstract Thirty-eight piglets underwent thoracotomy and endobronchial installation of thick tenacious material. External vibrations enhanced tracheal bronchial clearance significantly. The study suggests that vibrating the chest in postoperative subjects with an inexpensive commercially available vibrator may be an important aid in the prevention and treatment of postoperative respiratory complications.
Improving user interaction with spoken dialog systems via shaping

Speech-based interfaces offer the promise of simple human-computer communication, yet the current state-of-the-art often produces inefficient interactions. Many inefficiencies are caused by understanding or recognition errors. Such errors can be minimized by designing interaction protocols in which users are required to speak in a standardized way, but this requirement presents additional difficulties: this way of speaking can be unnatural for users, and in order to learn the standardized interface, users must spend time in tutorial mode rather than in task mode. I propose a strategy of shaping that helps users adapt their interaction to match what the system understands best, thereby reducing the chance for misunderstandings and improving interaction efficiency.
The mucopolysaccharidoses (A review)

Abstract The mucopolysaccharidoses are a group of genetic diseases characterized by storage of incompletely degraded glycosaminoglycans. Such storage causes marked distortion of many tissues with consequent severe somatic changes and mental retardation. Storage of glycosaminoglycans results from markedly diminished activity of specific hydrolases requisite for the normal degradation of glycosaminoglycans. The specific enzymic defects have been identified in nine different diseases. In some cases evidence has been obtained indicating the existence of additional allelic diseases based on the same enzyme. The knowledge obtained from these studies has made prenatal diagnosis possible and has led to the possibility that therapy may be undertaken utilizing enzyme replacement.
Perception of the esthetic and functional outcomes of duplicate thumb reconstruction

Polydactyly is one of the most frequently encountered congenital anomalies of the hand. Surgery for the duplicate thumb has progressed from a concept of simple ablation [10] to complex reconstruction. Ablative procedures commonly result in complications that include narrowed first web space, scar contracture, thumb angular deformity, and joint stiffness or instability. Wassel in 1969 stated that “ablation of a supernumerary digit can create problems resulting in deformation and functional limitation” [22]. More recently, surgeons have utilized soft tissue spare parts such as tendons and ligaments from the removed component to augment the function of the reconstructed thumb with improved outcomes [1–5, 7, 14, 16, 18]. Unfortunately, unfavorable functional and esthetic outcomes can still occur and secondary corrective procedures are often performed [11]. Only a few published studies assess the surgical outcomes with emphasis on subjective and objective parameters that evaluate the patient’s or family’s perception of the reconstructed thumb [1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 19]. Objective evaluation is typically based upon certain measurable parameters such as thumb length, girth, angulation, and nail properties, characteristics dictated by the investigating surgeon. There is a potential disparity in objective assessments and the parent’s or patient’s perception of the outcome and progress after polydactyly surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the postoperative functional and esthetic outcomes of the reconstructed duplicate thumb in our own series with emphasis on the subjective perception from the parent’s or patient’s perspective.
Diagnostic tool for early detection of ovarian cancers using Raman spectroscopy

With an overall survival rate of about 35 percent, ovarian cancer claims more than 13,000 women in the US each year. It is estimated that roughly 1 in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer. Current screening techniques are challenged due to cost-effectiveness, variable false-positive results, and the asymptomatic nature of the early stages of ovarian cancer. The predominant screening method for ovarian cancers is transvaginal sonography (TVS). TVS is fairly accomplished at ovarian cancer detection, however it is inefficient in distinguishing between benign and malignant masses. Accurate diagnosis of the ovarian tumor relies on exploratory laparotomy, thus increasing the cost and hazard of false- positive screening methods. Raman spectroscopy has been sued successfully as a diagnostic tool in several organ systems in vitro. These studies have shown that Raman spectroscopy can be used to provide diagnosis of subtle changes in tissue pathology with high accuracy. Based on this success, we have developed a Raman spectroscopic system for application in the ovary. Using this system, the Raman signatures of normal and various types of non-normal human ovarian tissues were characterized in vitro. Raman spectra are being analyzed, and empirical as well as multivariate discriminatory algorithms developed. Based on the result of this study, a strategy for in vivo trials will be planned.
The evolutionary transition to sideways-walking gaits in brachyurans was accompanied by a reduction in the number of motor neurons innervating proximal leg musculature.

Abstract The forwards-walking portly crab, Libinia emarginata is an ancient brachyuran. Its phylogenetic position and behavioral repertoire make it an excellent candidate to reveal the adaptations, which were required for brachyuran crabs to complete their transition to sideways-walking from their forwards-walking ancestors. Previously we showed that in common with other forwards-walking (but distantly related) crustaceans, L. emarginata relies more heavily on its more numerous proximal musculature to propel itself forward than its sideways-walking closer relatives. We investigated if the proximal musculature of L. emarginata is innervated by a greater number of motor neurons than that of sideways-walking brachyurans. We found the distal musculature of spider crabs is innervated by a highly conserved number of motor neurons. However, innervation of its proximal musculature is more numerous than in closely-related (sideways-walking) species, resembling in number and morphology those described for forwards-walking crustaceans. We propose that transition from forward- to sideways-walking in crustaceans involved a decreased role for the proximal leg in favor of the more distal merus–carpus joint.
Practice patterns and job satisfaction in fellowship-trained endocrine surgeons

Background Debates about the difficult job market for young endocrine surgeons are ongoing. This study aimed to analyze the practice patterns and work-related satisfaction levels of recently trained endocrine surgeons. Methods An anonymous survey was utilized. Participants were divided into 3 groups: “Young” ( 5 years). Results Fifty-six of 78 surgeons (72%) responded to the survey. Time in practice ranged from 1 to 9 years (mean, 3.9 ± 0.28). Forty-five (80%) described their practice as academic. Participants performed 244.1 ± 17.8 operations within the last year; 75.4 ± 3.3% were endocrine cases. More surgeons in the “young” group have academic practices (92%) and joined established endocrine surgery groups (54%) versus older surgeons (67% and 42%; P = .05). Of surgeons in the “young” group, 4% started their own practice versus 33% in the “older” group ( P = .04). Level of satisfaction with financial compensation (3.2 on a 4-point scale versus 2.9) and lifestyle (3.6 vs 3.1) was also higher in the younger group ( P = .009). Conclusion Despite widespread speculation about scarcity of academic jobs after fellowship, recently trained endocrine surgeons are more likely to practice in academic settings and join established endocrine surgery practices when compared with older surgeons. Overall satisfaction level is higher among recently trained surgeons.
Model of the αLβ2 integrin I-domain/ICAM-1 DI interface suggests that subtle changes in loop orientation determine ligand specificity

The interaction of the αLβ2 integrin with its cellular ligand the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is critical for the tight binding interaction between most leukocytes and the vascular endothelium before transendothelial migration to the sites of inflammation. In this article we have modeled the αL subunit I-domain in its active form, which was computationally docked with the D1 domain of the ICAM-1 to probe potential protein-protein interactions. The experimentally observed key interaction between the carboxylate of Glu 34 in the ICAM-1 D1 domain and the metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) in the open αL I-domain was consistently reproduced by our calculations. The calculations reveal the nature of the αLβ2/ICAM-1 interaction and suggest an explanation for the increased ligand-binding affinity in the “open” versus the “closed” conformation of the αL I-domain. A mechanism for substrate selectivity among αL, αM, and α2 I-domains is suggested whereby the orientation of the loops within the I-domain is critical in mediating the interaction of the Glu 34 carboxylate of ICAM-1 D1 with the MIDAS. Proteins 2002;48:151–160. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
MR flow imaging in projection through a stationary surround.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging technique is discussed which, by cyclic inversion of the longitudinal magnetization, produces boli of moving material with alternating sign of the magnetization. At periodic spacings along the flow direction, the signal strength from magnetization of positive sign is equal to that of negative sign. This results in a minimum in the intensity distribution. A banded intensity structure results reflecting the distribution of flow velocities across the imaged vessel. The inversion of the longitudinal magnetization causes an inherent suppression of the signal from stationary material allowing the collection of flow images in projection through a stationary surround without the need for image subtraction.
Sources of information about the Soviet Union in U.S. government publications

Abstract U.S. government publishing on Soviet affairs constitutes an important contribution to the literature on the Soviet Union. This article provides an overview of the history of government research in this field and explores the relationship between government and academic research efforts. The government's current publishing program is described, with particular emphasis on unclassified literature produced by the foreign affairs and intelligence agencies. Finally, the article discusses the problems of access to and dissemination of this important source material.
Ultralow-background study of neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge; new limit on the Majorana mass of nu e.

A lower limit of 1.16\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{23}$ yr ($1\ensuremath{\sigma}$) is reported for the half-life of no-neutrino ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ decay of $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$ which results from 3763 h of counting with an ultralow-background, 135-${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ prototype detector located 1438 m underground. A limit of 1.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{23}$ yr ($1\ensuremath{\sigma}$) results from the best combination of our data with that from other experiments. Straightforward application of shell-model matrix elements to this limit implies that $〈{m}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}〉l3.2$ eV ($1\ensuremath{\sigma}$).
Feeding ecology of the copepod Lucicutia aff. L. grandis near the lower interface of the Arabian Sea oxygen minimum zone

Abstract Feeding ecology of the calanoid copepod Lucicutia aff. L. grandis collected in the Arabian Sea at one station during the Spring Intermonsoon and during the Southwest Monsoon of 1995 was studied with transmission electron microscopy of gut-contents. Highest abundances of these animals occurred from ∼400 to 1100 m, near the lower interface of the oxygen minimum zone and at the inflection point where oxygen starts to increase. We expected that their gut-contents would include particles and cells that had sunk relatively undegraded from surface waters as well as those from within the oxygen minimum zone, and that gut-contents would differ between the Spring Intermonsoon and the more productive SW Monsoon. Overall, in both seasons Lucicutia aff. L. grandis was omnivorous, and consumed a variety of detrital particles, prokaryotic and eukaryotic autotrophs, gram-negative bacteria including metal-precipitating bacteria, aggregates of probable gram-positive bacteria, microheterotrophs, virus-like particles and large virus-like particles, as well as cuticle and cnidarian tissue. Few significant differences in types of food consumed were seen among life stages within or among various depth zones. Amorphous, unidentifiable material was significantly more abundant in guts during the Spring Intermonsoon than during the late SW Monsoon, and recognizable cells made up a significantly higher portion of gut-contents during the late SW Monsoon. This is consistent with the Intermonsoon as a time when organic material is considerably re-worked by the surface water microbial loop before leaving the euphotic zone. In both seasons Lucicutia aff. L. grandis had consumed what appeared to be aggregates of probable gram-positive bacteria, similar to those we had previously found in gut-contents of several species of zooplankton from the oxygen minimum zone in the eastern tropical Pacific. By intercepting sinking material, populations of Lucicutia aff. L. grandis act as a filter for carbon sinking to the sea floor. They also modify sinking carbon in several ways: enhancing pelagic-abyssal coupling of carbon from cyanobacteria, eliminating part of the deep-sea microbial loop by direct consumption of bacterial aggregates, and redistributing particulate manganese and iron from association with suspended cells or aggregates to containment in rapidly sinking fecal pellets. Lucicutia aff. L. grandis can be viewed as representative of deep-dwelling detritivorous mesozooplankton. Assessing the magnitude of the effects of such organisms on carbon flux in the Arabian Sea will require data on feeding rates.
Automated Discovery of Loop Invariants for High-Assurance Programs Synthesized Using AI Planning Techniques

The discovery of loop invariants is a great challenge for the independent verification of automatically synthesized programs. This verification is needed to achieve high confidence in the correctness of the synthesized code, i.e., assurance that no latent defects in the synthesizer itself could have led to the synthesis of an incorrect program. To address this problem, we present an automated loop invariant discovery approach for programs synthesized using a combination of AI planning and component-based software development techniques. Specifically, a plan (denoting the synthesized code) is generated by an enhanced Graphplan planner first. The loop invariants can be automatically discovered based on the same planning graph used to synthesize the code. The correctness can be independently verified via standard loop invariant proof steps, including initialization, maintenance, and termination. The proposed approach not only has a rigorous theoretical basis, but is also guaranteed to produce accurate invariants by removing spurious invariants that are independent of the concerned loop. In combination with other loop invariant detection techniques, the proposed approach can produce loop invariants for complex programs and, thus, greatly facilitate high-confidence automated verification of synthesized systems.
Javed and Jasmine

Why did the shop owner slap on my cheek? Why did my uncle burn me with an iron spatula? How come people ask my parents to tie me down or institutionalize me? I do not know the mistakes I did for these kinds of reactions from people. Nobody likes me and just wants to get rid of me.
Expression of Type XII Collagen and Hemidesmosome-Associated Proteins in Keratoconus Corneas

Purpose. Keratoconus is a disease characterized by thinning of the central and paracentral cornea and scarring in advanced cases. This study was performed to examine the expression of type XII collagen, proteins associated with hemidesmosomes, and s1 integrin in keratoconus corneas. Methods. Corneal buttons were collected from normal subjects and patients with keratoconus and other corneal diseases. Immunofluorescence staining was performed on frozen sections for type XII collagen, bullous pemphigoid antigen (BP180), and integrin subunits a6, s4, and s1. Results. To varying degrees, all proteins examined were expressed in normal human corneas. The staining intensity of type XII collagen was diminished in keratoconus corneas in the epithelial basement membrane zone and the stromal matrix. No significant variation was found in either the staining patterns or intensities for BP180, or integrins a6, s4, and s1. Conclusions. The level of type XII collagen was reduced in the epithelial basement membrane zone an...
EFFECTS OF PSEUDOHYPOPHYSECTOMY (UNDERFEEDING), STARVATION, HORMONES AND AGING UPON THE ASCORBIC ACID CONTENT OF THE ADRJENAL GLANDS AND LIVER OF THE RAT

SO-CALLED STRESSES of various kinds produce adrenal enlargement (1). Prolonged complete starvation also results in an increase in the size and weight of the adrenal glands of rats of both sexes. Induced for periods of from 2 (2) to 4–2 (3) days, starvation has been reported to have little or no effect upon the concentration of ascorbic acid in the liver (2–5) or of the adrenals (3, 4). Dosne and Dalton (6) reiterate Selye's claim (1) that hypertrophy of, and loss of lipoid from, the adrenal glands is the result of requirement of ‘excessive amounts of cortical hormones’ during ‘an alarm reaction’ such as severe cold or injections of formaldehyde. Miller and Riddle (7) confirm this in their work on pigeons, but Flexner and Grollman (8) using the reduction of osmic acid as an indicator of adrenal cortical activity in the rat, arrived at opposite conclusions.
A Solution to the Crucial Problem of Population Degeneration in High-Dimensional Evolutionary Optimization

Three popular evolutionary optimization algorithms are tested on high-dimensional benchmark functions. An important phenomenon responsible for many failures - “population degeneration” - is discovered. That is, through evolution, the population of searching particles degenerates into a subspace of the search space, and the global optimum is exclusive from the subspace. Subsequently, the search will tend to be confined to this subspace and eventually miss the global optimum. Principal components analysis (PCA) is introduced to discover population degeneration and to remedy its adverse effects. The experiment results reveal that an algorithm's efficacy and efficiency are closely related to the population degeneration phenomenon. Guidelines for improving evolutionary algorithms for high-dimensional global optimization are addressed. An application to highly nonlinear hydrological models demonstrates the efficacy of improved evolutionary algorithms in solving complex practical problems.
Seeing is Believing: The Use of Data Visualization to Identify Trends for Cycling Safety

Big data sets can be cumbersome and difficult to understand. User-centered and interactive graphical displays help communicate messages from large and complex data as well as provide a new method to identify data trends outside of tabular or statistical analysis. Human factors researchers can utilize data visuals to not only develop but also answer questions that previously proved difficult through visual exploration. This approach is especially relevant to the field of surface transportation research where complex plots can incorporate both temporal and geospatial data in an easy-to-digest format. As a proof of concept, this paper demonstrates how bike-sharing and historical bicycle collision incidents can meaningfully merge to produce graphical displays that readily identify and communicate potential infrastructure problems for safety. Through the use of Bayesian modeling and geospatial mapping, our analysis identifies two primary trends worth further consideration and research to consider for cyclist s...
Ionospheric effects on synthetic aperture radar at VHF

Synthetic aperture radars (SAR) operated from airplanes have been used at very high frequency (VHF) because of their enhanced foliage and ground penetration compared to radars operated at higher frequencies. A satellite-borne VHF SAR would have considerable utility but in order to operate with high resolution it would have to use both a large relative bandwidth and a large aperture. The presence of the ionosphere in the propagation path of the radar will cause a deterioration of the imaging because of dispersion over the bandwidth. In this paper we present calculations of the effects of a deterministic ionosphere on SAR imaging for a radar operated with a 100 MHz bandwidth centered at 250 MHz and over an angular aperture of 23/spl deg/. A daytime ionosphere induces a point spread function with an approximate width of 100 m in slant-range compared to the nominal resolution of 1.5 m.
Integration of geographic information systems and simulation model for watershed management

Simulation models are powerful tools in support of watershed analysis and assessment of management scenarios at the watershed scale. This paper integrates geographic information systems (GIS) and agricultural nonpoint source pollution model (AGNPS) to analyze the effect of land use change on nonpoint source pollution in a study watershed. ArcView nonpoint source pollution modeling (AVNPSM), an interface between ArcView GIS and AGNPS is developed to facilitate agricultural watershed modeling. The interface consists of six modules: a parameter generator, input file processor, model executor, output visualizer, statistical analyzer, and land use simulator. The interface requires input databases of soil, climate, digital elevation model, land use/cover, hydrography, and management practices. It was applied to study the watershed to simulate the impact of land use change on runoff, sediment, and nutrient yields based on a 25-year, 24-h period of single storm event of 114 mm. The simulation results show that expansion of urban land is likely to lead to an increase in surface runoff, peak flow, and soil erosion. The magnitude of the effect is related to the extent and proximity of proposed land use change to water bodies in the watershed.  2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Objective.— To deal with public and professional concern regarding possible overprescription of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications, particularly methylphenidate, by reviewing issues related to the diagnosis, optimal treatment, and actual care of ADHD patients and of evidence of patient misuse of ADHD medications. Data Sources.— Literature review using a National Library of Medicine database search for 1975 through March 1997 on the termsattention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, methylphenidate, stimulants, and stimulant abuse and dependence. Relevant documents from the Drug Enforcement Administration were also reviewed. Study Selection.— All English-language studies dealing with children of elementary school through high school age were included. Data Extraction.— All searched articles were selected and were made available to coauthors for review. Additional articles known to coauthors were added to the initial list, and a consensus was developed among the coauthors regarding the articles most pertinent to the issues requested in the resolution calling for this report. Relevant information from these articles was included in the report. Data Synthesis.— Diagnostic criteria for ADHD are based on extensive empirical research and, if applied appropriately, lead to the diagnosis of a syndrome with high interrater reliability, good face validity, and high predictability of course and medication responsiveness. The criteria of what constitutes ADHD in children have broadened, and there is a growing appreciation of the persistence of ADHD into adolescence and adulthood. As a result, more children (especially girls), adolescents, and adults are being diagnosed and treated with stimulant medication, and children are being treated for longer periods of time. Epidemiologic studies using standardized diagnostic criteria suggest that 3% to 6% of the school-aged population (elementary through high school) may suffer from ADHD, although the percentage of US youth being treated for ADHD is at most at the lower end of this prevalence range. Pharmacotherapy, particularly use of stimulants, has been extensively studied and generally provides significant short-term symptomatic and academic improvement. There is little evidence that stimulant abuse or diversion is currently a major problem, particularly among those with ADHD, although recent trends suggest that this could increase with the expanding production and use of stimulants. Conclusions.— Although some children are being diagnosed as having ADHD with insufficient evaluation and in some cases stimulant medication is prescribed when treatment alternatives exist, there is little evidence of widespread overdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of ADHD or of widespread overprescription of methylphenidate by physicians. JAMA. 1998;279:1100-1107
Synthesis of Polyfluorenes with Pendant Silylcarboranes

The synthesis of a novel silylcarborane-containing fluorene monomer is reported in the present paper. Homo- and copolymerization via microwave-assisted Ni(0)-mediated coupling are described, and the influence of sterically crowded silylcarboranes on the polymerization outcome is assessed. The fluorescence spectra and thermal characteristics of the resulting polymers are analyzed and compared to determine the impact of carborane cages. Pendant carboranes are shown to improve the stability of annealed thin films, and potential implications in sensing devices and neutron detection are discussed.
Carotid Endarterectomy: A Nine-Year Review of Procedures Performed in a Community Hospital

This review was conducted to compare the results of carotid endarterectomy in a community hospital with those of the same surgery performed in larger medical centers.In all, 166 carotid surgeries were performed over a nine-year period by the same surgeon. There were no operative or perioperative deaths. The operative stroke rate was 1.2%. No other significant complications were noted. Recurrence requiring a second surgery was noted in 1 patient.These results compare favorably with those of larger institutions and support carotid endarterectomy in a smaller community hospital. ,
Adaptive coordinated control of multiple manipulators handling a constrained object

Adaptive motion, internal force, and external contact force control of multiple manipulators handling a constrained object is achieved. Parametric uncertainties may exist in the manipulator and in the object as well as in the friction coefficients of contact surfaces. A set of transformed dynamic equations are obtained in the joint space, in which internal force and external contact force have the same form and, thus, can be dealt with in the same way. Based on some particular properties of a reformulated motion and force equation, and adaptive algorithm is developed with unknown parameters updated by both motion and force tracking error. The controller guarantees asymptotic motion and force tracking without any persistent excitation condition and has a proportional-integral (PI) force feedback control structure with a low P-gain, so that acausality is avoided. Robustness to bounded velocity and force measurement noise as well as to disturbances of the controller is discussed. >
Atomic layer deposition of perovskite oxides and their epitaxial integration with Si, Ge, and other semiconductors

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a proven technique for the conformal deposition of oxide thin films with nanoscale thickness control. Most successful industrial applications have been with binary oxides, such as Al2O3 and HfO2. However, there has been much effort to deposit ternary oxides, such as perovskites (ABO3), with desirable properties for advanced thin film applications. Distinct challenges are presented by the deposition of multi-component oxides using ALD. This review is intended to highlight the research of the many groups that have deposited perovskite oxides by ALD methods. Several commonalities between the studies are discussed. Special emphasis is put on precursor selection, deposition temperatures, and specific property performance (high-k, ferroelectric, ferromagnetic, etc.). Finally, the monolithic integration of perovskite oxides with semiconductors by ALD is reviewed. High-quality epitaxial growth of oxide thin films has traditionally been limited to physical vapor deposition techniques (e.g., molecular beam epitaxy). However, recent studies have demonstrated that epitaxial oxide thin films may be deposited on semiconductor substrates using ALD. This presents an exciting opportunity to integrate functional perovskite oxides for advanced semiconductor applications in a process that is economical and scalable.
Paradoxes of Privilege

Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul's School, by Shamus Rahman Khan. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2011. 232 pp. $29.95 cloth. ISBN: 9780691145280. A great deal has been written about the micro-macro link and its role in sociology (Alexander et al., eds. 1991; Huber 1987). The discipline has produced admirable stud ies that focus either on micro-level phenom ena or developments at the macro level. Even more challenging, however, is to estab lish convincing connections between what happens on the ground and the big picture. Shamus Rahman Khan, a young scholar who writes with a distinctive voice, has pro duced a study that skillfully brings together these two levels of analysis. Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul's School opens with an account of Khan's family background, a signal to the reader that this is no ordinary scholarly book. Born into a family with a father from rural Pakistan and a mother from
THE EFFECT OF CALCIUM ON GANGLIOSIDE SOLUBILITY

— Gangliosides were extracted by various procedures from acetone powder prepared from grey matter of cattle brain. The mixtures of gangliosides, containing 24–26% N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), were dissolved in chloroform-methanol. Upon addition of aqueous solutions of Ca2+, the amount of gangliosides (and Ca2+) passing into the lower phase of the two-phase solvent system was a linear function of the product of the initial concentrations of Ca2+ and ganglioside-NANA. It was also a function of the initial stoichiometric ratios of ganglioside-NANA to Caa+. In accordance with previous reports, no gross differences of composition between the initial mixture of gangliosides and the calcium-solubilized portion could be detected by glass-fibre chromatography.
Cu and Zn adsorption to a heterogeneous natural sediment: Influence of leached cations and natural organic matter.

Adsorption of heavy metals by natural sediments has important implications to the fate and transport of contaminants in subsurface environments. Although the importance of major multivalent cations and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in heavy metal adsorption had been previously demonstrated, the leaching of major cations and DOM from sediments and its influence on heavy metal adsorption have not been fully examined. In this study, the concentrations of Ca, Mg, Al, Fe, and natural organic matter that leached from a natural sediment in Cu and Zn adsorption experiments were measured and used in surface complexation models to elucidate their effects on Cu and Zn adsorption. Experimental results showed that the leaching of cations and DOM was substantial and pH-dependent. The leached concentrations of Ca and Mg were reasonably simulated based on BaCl2 extractable Ca and Mg at pH 6 due to formation of Cu-DOM aqueous complexes, but increase Zn adsorption at pH 4-7 due to formation of aqueous complexes between DOM and major cations, which reduced competition from these cations against Zn for binding sites on the sediment.
Differential Item Functional Analysis by Gender and Race of the National Doctoral Program Survey

One way that policies get enacted in higher education is through educational research. In 2000 the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students conducted the National Doctoral Program Survey (NDPS) in an effort to learn more about doctoral students’ experiences and to influence doctoral education policy at both the local and national level. However, the National Doctoral Program Survey (NDPS) have only been reported in the aggregate. This aggregate reporting is appropriate if the items on the survey are measuring the same construct with the same level of accuracy across all respondents, but if this is not the case, then the veracity of the study results can be severely compromised. The purpose of this study was to examine the NDPS instrument using differential item functioning (DIF) analysis to determine if survey items functioned differently across gender and race/ethnicity. We identified 29 of the 48 items as displaying DIF, meaning women and students of color were either more likely or less likely to agree with their Caucasian male peers on certain items. Therefore, some caution may need to be exercised when interpreting the NAGPS data for diverse groups of students.
Standardized Patients: Potential to Improve Student Training in Aural Rehabilitation

Hearing loss is a growing public health concern. The multifaceted consequences of hearing loss are far reaching and include reduced audibility, well-being, and quality-of-life. Audiologists require...
A comparison of two programs for the control of behavioral experiments.

Two of the most widely used programs for the control of behavioral experiments are Med Associates’ MedState Notation and Coulbourn Instruments’ Graphic State 2. The two systems vary considerably in their approach to programming and data recording, with Graphic State 2 using a point-and-click interface that appeals to non-programmers while MedState Notation requires the typing of programming code. Graphic State 2 provides many data analysis routines, while MedState Notation allows the user to embed simple data analysis within the behavioral protocol. Graphic State 2 is simpler to use, but MedState Notation is more versatile.
Democracy v. Concentrated Wealth: In Search of a Louis D. Brandeis Quote

On June 25, 2000, Ralph Nader used a little known quote by Louis D. Brandeis in his acceptance statement for the Green Party presidential nomination. Nader was apparently so enamored of the quote that he proceeded to repeat it in nearly every subsequent speech he made on the campaign trail. History has yet to determine whether any of Nader’s other statements in his speeches will make any lasting impact, but the Brandeis quote has certainly caught on. Over the years since 2000, the quote has been repeated so often in books, in articles and on the Internet that it has arguably become Brandeis’ most well-known quote. Unfortunately, there is no evidence he ever actually said it.
Nuclei, Nucleic Acids and Protein in Sporangiospores of Mucor bacilliformis and Other Mucor Species

The sporangiospores of Mucor bacilliformis (NRRL 2346) were compared to those of Mucor fragilis (ATCC 10777), Mucor hiemalis (ATCC 1205), Mucor mucedo (ATCC 7941), Mucor racemosus (ATCC 1216a) and ...
Primitive Roots Satisfying a Coprime Condition

(1976). Primitive Roots Satisfying a Coprime Condition. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 83, No. 9, pp. 720-723.
The role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia associated with atelectasis in children

Objective Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the main pathogens of community-acquired pneumonia in children and teenagers,which may cause mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia( MPP). Atelectasis is one of the most common manifestations of MPP. The aim of the article was to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic value of fiberoptic bronchoscopy( FB) in children with MPP associated with atelectasis. Methods Retrospective analysis were made on clinical data and FB records of 99 cases of hospitalized children with MPP associated with atelectasis from August 2010 to December 2012. Results The positive rate of MP-DNA was 92. 9%( 92 /99) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid( BALF),and the positive rate of MP-Ab-IgM in serum was 68. 7%( 68 /99). All patients showed obviously bronchial mucosa congestive edema during FB examination. The results are as follows: bronchial phlegm blocking in 31 cases( 31. 3%),lumen inflammatory stenosis in 22 cases( 22. 2%),mucosal ulcer change in 7 cases( 7. 1%) and mucous nodular change in 3 cases( 3. 0%). 4 weeks after being treated with bronchoalveolar lavage( BAL),only 3 cases remained in atelectasis,the partial and complete re-expansion rate reaching 96. 5%( 82 of 85). Conclusion The positive rate of BALF MP-DNA detection technology for the diagnosis of MP infection is higher than that of serum MP-Ab-IgM examination. Early interventional therapy by FB can shorten the course of disease and promote the lung re-expansion in children with MPP associated with atelectasis.