cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inference for multivariate normal hierarchical models

This paper provides a new method and algorithm for making inferences about the parameters of a two-level multivariate normal hierarchical model. One has observed J p-dimensional vector outcomes, distributed at level 1 as multivariate normal with unknown mean vectors and with known covariance matrices. At level 2, the unknown mean vectors also have normal distributions, with common unknown covariance matrix A and with means depending on known covariates and on unknown regression coefficients. The algorithm samples independently from the marginal posterior distribution of A by using rejection procedures. Functions such as posterior means and covariances of the level 1 mean vectors and of the level 2 regression coefficient are estimated by averaging over posterior values calculated conditionally on each value of A drawn. This estimation accounts for the uncertainty in A, unlike standard restricted maximum likelihood empirical Bayes procedures. It is based on independent draws from the exact posterior distributions, unlike Gibbs sampling. The procedure is demonstrated for profiling hospitals based on patients' responses concerning p = 2 types of problems (non-surgical and surgical). The frequency operating characteristics of the rule corresponding to a particular vague multivariate prior distribution are shown via simulation to achieve their nominal values in that setting.
Computational Hammett analysis of redox based oxy-insertion by Pt(II) complexes.

A computational Hammett analysis of oxy-insertion into platinum–aryl bonds is performed. Modeled transformations involve the two-step conversion of [(Xbpy)Pt(R)(OY)]+ (R = p- or m-X-C6H4; Y = 4- or 3-X-pyridine; Xbpy = 4,4′- or 5,5′-X-bpy; X = NO2, H, OMe, NMe2) proceeding through a Pt–oxo intermediate to form aryloxide [(Xbpy)Pt(OR)(Y)]+, which contrasts a one-step non-redox (Baeyer–Villiger) oxy-insertion. A structural connection is proposed between redox and non-redox transition states, linked to, among other parameters, oxidant identity. The electronic impact of the catalytic components is compared to previous Hammett studies on OMBV transformations. The Hammett sensitivity for aryl migration is diminished for the migrating group (R) and leaving group (Y), components as compared to OMBV transitions, while the bipyridine supporting ligand (Ln) has an increased impact. The Hammett impact of R, Y and Ln upon the aryl migration transition state is small in a global sense, ca. 5 kcal mol−1; therefore, we conclude that the metal and oxidant are the most important factors in controlling oxy-insertion kinetics for these late metal systems. These results also point to a possible mechanistic advantage for redox over non-redox functionalization of hydrocarbons to alcohols.
Steel-plate composite (SC) walls: Out-of-plane flexural behavior, database, and design

Abstract Steel-plate composite (SC) walls consist of exterior steel faceplates that are anchored to the concrete infill using steel headed stud anchors (or shear studs). The steel faceplates are connected to each other using tie bars that are also embedded in the concrete infill. SC walls are being used in the third generation of nuclear power plants and are also being considered for future small modular reactor designs. This paper focuses on the out-of-plane flexural behavior and design of SC walls. The out-of-plane flexural behavior was evaluated experimentally by conducting one-way bending tests on beam specimens that were representative of strips taken in the longitudinal and transverse directions of full-scale SC walls. This paper discusses the fundamental out-of-plane flexural behavior of SC walls, and presents the experimental database of out-of-plane flexural tests conducted on SC beam specimens in Japan, S. Korea, China and the US. The database includes SC beam specimens tested using different loading configurations, and considering different parameters such as shear span-to-depth ratio, steel faceplate thickness (reinforcement ratio), stud anchor spacing, and presence of faceplate stiffeners. The flexural capacities obtained from the tests are compared with nominal strengths calculated using appropriate equations in applicable design codes from Japan, S. Korea and the US. These comparisons indicate that the design code equations estimate the out-of-plane flexural strength of SC walls conservatively and with reasonable accuracy. Strength reduction factors (ϕ) are calculated by conducting reliability analyses, and found to be similar to the ones used for tension-controlled reinforced concrete flexural members in the ACI code.
Relationship of plant density to fruit yield of ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry grown in a pine bark soilless medium in a high-roof passively ventilated greenhouse

Abstract Eight plant densities (8.8, 9.5, 10.4, 11.4, 17.6, 19.1, 20.8, and 22.9 plants m −2 ) in 2001–2002 and 12 plant densities (8.8, 9.5, 10.4, 11.4, 12.7, 14.3, 17.6, 19.1, 20.8, 22.9, 25.4, and 28.6 plants m −2 ) in 2002–2003 were evaluated on growth and fruit yield of ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) grown in a passively ventilated greenhouse. Plant densities were derived by varying within-row plant spacings (PS) (17.5 and 35 cm) with between row spacings (RS) (40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65 cm). Plants were grown in Polygal ® ‘Hanging Bed-Pack’ troughs filled with pine bark and fertigated with a complete nutrient solution. In 2001–2002, total marketable yield (g plant −1 ) or (no. fruit plant −1 ) were not influenced by RS. In 2002–2003, total marketable yield (g plant −1 ) or (no. fruit plant −1 ) were reduced at 40 cm RS, the narrowest RS used in the experiment. Early (November through January) and total marketable yields (g plant −1 ), crown diameter, and leaf number of plants grown at 35 cm PS were significantly greater than those of plants grown at 17.5 cm RS in both experiments. Total and early marketable yield (kg m −2 ) increased linearly as plant density (plants m −2 ) increased in both experiments. Winter strawberry production in a greenhouse using high plant densities and soilless substrates may be a viable alternative to open-field with methyl bromide fumigation production system.
Estimates of marginal survival for dependent competing risks based on an assumed copula

SUMMARY When time to death and time to censoring are associated one may be appreciably misled when the marginal survival functions are estimated using the product-limit estimators, which assume independent censoring. If no assumption about the relationship between the two times is made, the marginal survival functions are not identifiable. A natural function that defines the association between the two random variables is the copula. We show that if this function is known then the competing risks data are sufficient to identify the marginal survival functions and construct a suitable estimator. This estimator is consistent and reduces to the Kaplan-Meier estimator when death and censoring times are independent. This statistic can be used to provide bounds on the marginal survival functions based on a range of possible associations between the competing risks.
Pulmonary Extraction of N-Isopropyl-I-123-p-Iodoamphetamine in the Presence of Propanolol Using Dual Indicator Dilution Technique

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/18-1-11734 In order to determine the sensitivity of the procedure for detecting and measuring pharmacological intervention in the pulmonary endothelial amine receptors, propranolol was administered intravenously to the intact dogs at different dose levels. Pulmonary extraction of N-Isopropyl-I-123-p-lodoamphetamine (IMP) with and without pharmacological intervention was determined by the rapid sequential imaging, following the intravenous injection of a reference tracer and later a test tracer. Input vascular and organ time-activity curves were obtained. The input vascular ond organ curves oj the reference tracer were gamma fitted and were deconvolved. Predicted residue function for the test tracer was determined by convolving the inpuf vascular curve of the test tracer with the impulse response function of rhe reference tracer under stable physiological conditions. The calculated first pass pulmonary extraction values of IMP in the pretreated dogs with propranolol given ten minutes prior to the reference tracer in the dose of 1, 3, 5, 10, /5 and 20mg were 0.81. 0.77. 0.71, 0.62, 0.62, and 0.62, respectively, relative to Tc-99m dextran as a reference tracer, whereas the normal IMP first pass pulmonary extraction was 0.90 ± 0.03. Uptake of IMP may provide a sensitive probe with which to detect and evaluate the physiological interaction of pulmonary endothelial cell in a clinical environment using a noninvasive procedure.
Inclusion of asymptomatic degenerative discs in a two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a decision analysis.

Objective To perform a decision analysis model to compare single-level fusion versus two-level fusion in patients with an asymptomatic disc adjacent to a symptomatic disc. Methods Probabilities and utilities of alternative outcomes in the decision tree were assigned based on systematic review of the literature and expert opinion. Rollback analysis determined the optimal treatment. Sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to identify effects of varying model parameters. Results Rollback analysis provided expected values of 0.92 versus 0.84 in favor of observation as the optimal decision. Sensitivity analysis identified the probability of developing adjacent segment disease (ASD) and the likelihood of surgery given a diagnosis of ASD as the most critical parameters influencing the decision. Observation was the preferred strategy at all values of probability of ASD Conclusions Observation was the preferred strategy for management of asymptomatic adjacent degenerative discs (AADDs) given the probabilities and utilities used in the decision analysis model. The study was limited by unavailability of precise estimates of the probability of development of ASD and the probability of surgery after diagnosis of ASD, the most critical factors influencing the decision. However, the conclusions were robust given wide ranges used for these parameters in the sensitivity analysis.
Advances in Wound Healing: A Review of Current Wound Healing Products

Successful wound care involves optimizing patient local and systemic conditions in conjunction with an ideal wound healing environment. Many different products have been developed to influence this wound environment to provide a pathogen-free, protected, and moist area for healing to occur. Newer products are currently being used to replace or augment various substrates in the wound healing cascade. This review of the current state of the art in wound-healing products looks at the latest applications of silver in microbial prophylaxis and treatment, including issues involving resistance and side effects, the latest uses of negative pressure wound devices, advanced dressings and skin substitutes, biologic wound products including growth factor applications, and hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunct in wound healing. With the abundance of available products, the goal is to find the most appropriate modality or combination of modalities to optimize healing.
Toward a comparative theory of agents

The purpose of this paper is to address some of the questions on the notion of agent and agency in relation to property and personhood. I argue that following the Kantian criticism of Aristotelian metaphysics, contemporary biotechnology and information and communication technologies bring about a new challenge—this time, with regard to the Kantian moral subject understood in the subject’s unique metaphysical qualities of dignity and autonomy. The concept of human dignity underlies the foundation of many democratic systems, particularly in Europe as well as of international treaties, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Digital agents, artificial organisms as well as new capabilities of the human agents related to their embeddedness in digital and biotechnological environments bring about an important transformation of the human self-appraisal. A critical comparative reflection of this transformation is important because of its ethical implications. I deal first with the concept of agent within the framework of Aristotelian philosophy, which is the basis for further theories in accordance with and/or in opposition to it, particularly since modernity. In the second part of this paper, I deal with the concept of personhood in Kantian philosophy, which supersedes the Aristotelian metaphysics of substance and builds the basis of a metaphysics of the moral human subject. In the third part, I discuss the question of artificial agents arising from modern biology and ICT. Blurring the difference between the human and the natural and/or artificial opens a “new space” for philosophical reflection as well as for debate in law and practical policy.
Evolution and Response of Fluvial System--Sedimentologic Implications: ABSTRACT

A fluvial system ideally has three main components: (1) a drainage basin or sediment- and water-source areas, (2) a river or conduit for the waste of the drainage basin, and (3) a site of sediment deposition in the piedmont End_Page 840------------------------------ or coastal zone. The nature and quantity of sediment produced from the source area determine the morphologic character of the river, and a river can be classified into five patterns dependent on type of sediment load. The (1) straight and the (2) sinuous-thalweg patterns reflect relatively low values of sediment transport, of bed-load to total-load ratio, and of stream power. The (3) meandering pattern reflects relatively low to moderate values of sediment transport, of bed-load to total-load ratio, and of stream power. The (4) meandering-braided transitional pattern and the (5) braided pattern reflect relatively high values of sediment transport, of bed-load to total-load ratio, and of stream power. Throughout geologic time fluvial systems have had complex erosional and sediment-production histories as a result of external and internal influences. The external variables that most significantly affect the fluvial system are tectonic, eustatic, and climatic. The response of the fluvial system to changes in these controls is not necessarily simple; rather a complex response involving both erosion and deposition will ensue and the morphologic character of a river will change as the character of the sediment delivered from the source area changes. The exceeding of intrinsic geomorphic thresholds also produces episodes of high sediment movement. The character of sedimentary deposits (piedmont, deltaic, or nearshore) will reflect the geology, morphology, and erosional history of the source area as well as the type of river transporting the sediment. Abrupt changes in amount and type of sediment reflect not only the complexity of the erosional evolution of the area, but also the dynamics of the sediment-producing and transport zones of the fluvial system. End_of_Article - Last_Page 841------------
Mechanics of debonding and delamination in composites: Asymptotic studies

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss fracture mechanics basis for the analysis of debonding and delamination in composites. Linear elastic interfacial fracture mechanics theories are reviewed, with emphasis on the modelling and characterization of stress and deformation fields near the edges of debonding and delamination. Relations between stress intensity factors and crack-tip strain energy release rate are presented for a variety of cases. Effects of crack growth, material anisotropy, and crack surface contact and friction are considered in detail. Explicit expressions are given for many important results. Implications of the interfacial fracture mechanics theories to the analysis of delamination and debonding in composite materials are discussed.
Price on the Wheeler-Feynman theory

L'A. presente l'argumentation physique developpee par Price contre l'idee de Wheeler et Feynman d'un amortissement des radiations, et reduit a neant cette critique
Spinal cord involvement in a child with raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) meningoencephalitis

A 14-month-old previously healthy boy developed progressively worsening neurological symptoms secondary to eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with myelitis caused by raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) infection. MRI demonstrated T2 hyperintensity and enhancement of the cerebral white matter, cerebellum and spinal cord. Prior case reports have described signal abnormality within the brains of patients with raccoon roundworm neural larva migrans (NLM). This is a unique case in which spinal cord involvement was established by imaging. Knowledge of this combination of imaging findings expands the known imaging phenotype of this noteworthy infection.
Some remarks on general systems

Several fundamental problems are discussed concerning general systems. First, the type function is defined, and the surjectivity of type functions is shown. Second, the cardinal and ordinal functions of general systems are defined, and the surjectivity of the order function and the object set cardinal function is proved. For the concepts of homomorphisms and isomorphisms of systems, it is shown that the set of homomorphisms and the set of isomorphisms of algebras are the same as the set of homomorphisms and the set of isomorphisms of systems, induced by the algebras, respectively. The paper concludes with a study of the existence of the category of general systems and the existence of the functor induced by algebras.
A mechanism for fermion mass generation

Abstract We present a mechanism for fermion mass generation, and apply it to the lepton sector of the Weinberg-Salam model. Extra fields, necessary to produce the large mass splittings of the observed fermions, form bound states more massive than the electroweak scale.
Surgical Resection Versus Palliative Chemoradiotherapy for the Management of Pancreatic Cancer with Local Venous Invasion: A Decision Analysis

Benefit from pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) combined with superior mesenteric-portal vein (SMV-PV) resection in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with local venous invasion remains controversial. Using formal decision analysis, we compared survival associated with PD plus SMV-PV resection when applied to patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma with isolated local venous invasion (Group 1) versus that achieved with palliative chemoradiotherapy when applied to patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (Group 2). Individual studies were identified using Medline. A total of 1,324 and 709 patients were analyzed for Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Patients with distant metastases were excluded. Overall decision analysis favored surgical resection (Group 1) over palliative chemoradiotherapy (Group 2). Sensitivity analyses indicated that this decision is sensitive to the perioperative mortality rate and the percentage of surgical resections with microscopic (R1) or macroscopic (R2) residual tumor at the resection margin. In contrast, sensitivity analysis revealed that the decision is not sensitive to the percentage of cases in which true venous invasion by cancer is documented histologically. Surgical resection may confer a survival advantage over palliative chemoradiotherapy in select patients with pancreatic cancers with presumed local venous invasion.
Fibrillary glomerulonephritis and renal failure in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus

Fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) is a rare immune-mediated glomerulopathy characterized by randomly arranged immunoglobulin (Ig) deposits on electron microscopy. Only seven pediatric cases have been reported, and the incidence in adults is about 1.5%. A 12-year-old boy presented with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with World Health Organization Class IV lupus nephritis. A repeat biopsy carried out due to a poor response to standard immunosuppressive therapy and worsening renal functions revealed diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis with fibrillary deposits. Despite aggressive immunosuppression with plasmapheresis and rituximab, the patient developed end stage renal disease. This is an atypical pediatric case characterized by SLE-associated FGN and a poor prognosis.
An overview of spatial auditory displays

Recent advances in technology have resulted in huge increases in the flow of information to human operators in complex operational environments. Most current interfaces present the information via visual displays, thus placing great demands on the visual information processing capacity of the operator. In an effort to lessen these demands, a great deal of research has been focused on the feasibility of interfaces that present information to other sensory systems. In particular, auditory displays have shown great promise, because the human auditory system is extremely effective as an early warning system, alerting operators to the presence of critical events, especially when they occur outside the visual field of view. However, auditory warnings and communication systems, as currently implemented in most existing operational systems, do not take advantage of the spatial auditory processing capabilities of humans. In other words, auditory displays do not fully exploit the ability of humans to determine the location of a sound source and monitor events at multiple locations simultaneously. Spatial audio (3-D audio) display technologies take advantage of the capabilities of the auditory system by recreating and presenting to an operator the spatial information that would naturally is available in a “real-world” listening environment. The 3-D audio displays are intuitive and impose few additional demands on the information processing capacity of the operator. Furthermore, research suggests that performance on many tasks is vastly improved with 3-D audio displays as compared to performance with standard single-channel audio systems. Thus, in many applied settings, 3-D audio displays have the potential to improve performance, enhance situation awareness, and reduce workload. The Air Force Research Laboratory has worked extensively on generating and testing spatial displays for complex operational environments. This talk will provide a brief overview of generating and applying such auditory displays. In addition, data from our laboratory will also be presented to highlight the utility of these displays to operators in complex environments.
Probabilistic score estimation with piecewise logistic regression

Well-calibrated probabilities are necessary in many applications like probabilistic frameworks or cost-sensitive tasks. Based on previous success of asymmetric Laplace method in calibrating text classifiers' scores, we propose to use piecewise logistic regression, which is a simple extension of standard logistic regression, as an alternative method in the discriminative family. We show that both methods have the flexibility to be piecewise linear functions in log-odds, but they are based on quite different assumptions. We evaluated asymmetric Laplace method, piecewise logistic regression and standard logistic regression over standard text categorization collections (Reuters-21578 and TRECAP) with three classifiers (SVM, Naive Bayes and Logistic Regression Classifier), and observed that piecewise logistic regression performs significantly better than the other two methods in the log-loss metric.
Ceramic Aggregate Sorption and Desorption Chemistry: Implications for Use as a Component of Soilless Media

Ceramic aggregates (Turface® and Profile®) are common soilless media components, but their sorption/desorption chemistry is poorly understood. We investigated: labile (readily desorb-able or readily plant-available) ion concentrations; the effect of rinsing and soaking pretreatments on labile ions; sorption of applied nutrients; and nutrient uptake from the aggregates by plants. Variability in labile ions was extremely high among bags of aggregates. Manganese, boron, magnesium, calcium, sulfur and potassium were most likely to desorb in excess for plants. Phosphorus, iron, copper and zinc were sorbed by the aggregates; only copper was found nearly deficient in plant tissue. Rinsing and soaking pretreatments adjusted labile ions to more suitable concentrations for plants. However, growth data suggested a worst-case scenario of high levels of labile ions may not be mitigated by these pretreatments. With frequent leaching after planting or where the aggregates are a minor component of media, excessive nutrie...
Electromagnetic modeling & simulation for assessing hazards of electromagnetic radiation to personnel (HERP)

CERDEC will be integrating the human body model into vehicle models with high power radiating antennas to determine the HERP for specific configurations. The effect of moving the antennas on platform as well as the effects of adding other ancillary items will be shown. The M&S results will be compared to standard cases that have been field tested to ensure validity. The results could prove very useful in assessing HERP for specific configurations since CERDEC can perform this analysis in fraction of the time and nominal cost when compared to field testing.
A COMPARISON OF INVESTMENT ALLOCATION STRATEGIES FOR DISTRIBUTION INVENTORIES

Management goals in distribution inventories are often expressed in terms of the maximum percentage of aggregate sales that should be back ordered. This paper compares several strategies for allocating total inventory investment to each item stocked in order to meet such goals. Computational results are given from a wholesale distribution inventory. The results show that multi-item strategies (which consider the interactions between items) require substantially less investment to meet management goals than strategies that treat each line item independently. All models in this research are approximations based on the assumptions commonly used in practice.
Radium variability produced by shelf-water transport and mixing in the western Gulf of Mexico

Abstract — 226 Ra and 228 Ra exhibit significant temporal and spatial variability in the near-surface western Gulf of Mexico. Concentrations of both isotopes during March 1976 were on the order of 22 to 26% greater than those observed during February 1973. It is shown that analytical differences cannot account for this increase. Consideration of radium levels in the western Caribbean Sea indicates that there must be an internal source of radium that has a significant but temporally variable influence on near-surface radium concentrations in the western Gulf. Comparisons of radium, salinity, and temperature data from 1973 and 1976 provide evidence that advective transport and mixing of radium-rich shelf water with the interior water column of the western basin is responsible for the variability. By plotting 228 Ra vs 226 Ra from this region, estimates of the apparent shelf-water component in the upper water column can be made. The results indicate 36% over the northern slope, 10 to 18% in the central western Gulf, and 3 to 7% over Campeche Bank. In addition to explaining the observed short-term variations of radium in this region, this information should be useful for environmental impact assessments concerned with industrial discharges on the northern shelf.
Multisensory contributions to low-level, ‘unisensory’ processing

Neurobiologists have traditionally assumed that multisensory integration is a higher order process that occurs after sensory signals have undergone extensive processing through a hierarchy of unisensory subcortical and cortical regions. Recent findings, however, question this assumption. Studies in humans, nonhuman primates and other species demonstrate multisensory convergence in low level cortical structures that were generally believed to be unisensory in function. In addition to enriching current models of multisensory processing and perceptual functions, these new findings require a revision in our thinking about unisensory processing in low level cortical areas.
Whole Family Theraplay: Integrating Family Systems Theory and Theraplay to Treat Adoptive Families

This article regarding the effectiveness of Theraplay for the clinical treatment of adoptive families both outlines a model for integrating family systems theory with Theraplay to create a new approach entitled Whole Family Theraplay (WFT), as well as provides a preliminary report of a pilot study demonstrating the efficacy of that model. WFT integrates Theraplay with family systems approaches (Structural and Experiential Family Therapies) to treat parents and all the siblings within adoptive families. The findings indicate that WFT treatment may lead to statistically significant benefits in regard to family communication, adults’ interpersonal relationships, and children's overall behavioral functioning.
Genomic profiling of restraint stress-induced alterations in mouse T lymphocytes

DNA damage-, DNA repair-, and apoptosis-related gene expression in CD3 + T lymphocytes of BALB/c mice subjected to 2-h restraint stress were compared to that in CD3 + T lymphocytes from control mice. Using targeted cDNA arrays, significant increases in expression of genes serving as sensors of DNA damage, including MSH genes and RAD53, were observed. GADD45g, a gene responsible for regulating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, was significantly induced; as was Pura, a gene involved in cell proliferation. These data suggest that, at the molecular level, stress activates genes responsible for priming the T cell to either undergo apoptosis or proliferation. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Does Direct Moral Judgment Have a Phenomenal Essence

Moral phenomenology has enjoyed a resurgence lately, and within the field, a trend has emerged: uniform rejection of the idea that the experience of making ‘direct’ moral judgments has any phenomenal essence, that is, any phenomenal property or properties that are always present and that distinguish these experiences from experiences of making non-direct-moral judgments. This article examines existing arguments for this anti-essentialism and finds them wanting. While acknowledging that phenomenological reflection is an unstable pursuit, it is maintained here that phenomenological essentialism about a certain domain of direct moral judgment, namely direct judgment of obligation and prohibition, is more credible than has been recognized. The positive proposal is to rehabilitate something close to Maurice Mandelbaum’s essentialism, specifically to maintain that direct moral judgment’s phenomenal essence is arguably its felt categorical demand. The key to making this argument is to assume a ‘rich view’ of moral consciousness, the view that phenomenal features of moral judgment might be present even when they are not attended to. This assumption is controversial, but it is warranted by two considerations. First, though controversial, the rich view is intuitively plausible. Second, it reveals that the existing arguments against the kind of essentialism defended here appear to tacitly presuppose an equally controversial – and arguably less intuitive – rejection of the rich view.
Reproducible fabrication of PuO2 fuel

Abstract PuO2 fuel pellets with stable microstructures at 80 to 90% theoretical density for use at temperatures up to 1400°C can be fabricated by a granulation and hot pressing process. Three interdependent factors which must be controlled for reproducible fabrication of microstructure and density to ±0.5% are: particle size and morphology of plutonium oxalate precipitate, particle size of calcined PuO2 powder after ball milling, and temperature at which granules made from milled powder are presintered prior to hot pressing. Relationships are presented between each of these factors and their effect on the density and integrity of the fuel form.
Shell-model study of the elastic proton decay widths of the 89Y and 91Nb analog states

Abstract The elastic proton escape width Γ↑ and the damping width Γ↓ of the 1 2 + , 3 2 + , and 5 2 + analog levels in 89Y and 91Nb are calculated in a basis of one-particle, 2p-1h and 3p-2h states. In particular, a two-body delta function residual interaction is employed in a 2p-1h basis to produce the levels at the observed experimental energies. The same interaction strength is then used to obtain the widths. The Coulomb interaction is taken into account by using neutron and proton wave functions with different radial forms. The damping widths are obtained using (i) a Lorentz distribution and (ii) a box distribution. The latter gives somewhat smaller damping widths, but when added to the proton escape widths, both weighting functions produce total widths that are in very good agreement with the corresponding experimental values. This lends support to the doorway interpretation of intermediate structure. The results for the two nuclei are compared
Adaptive forms: an interaction paradigm for entering structured data

Many software applications solicit input from the user via a “forms” paradigm that emulates their paper equivalent. It exploits the users’ familiarity with these and is well suited for the input of simple attribute-value data (name, phone number, ...). The paper-forms paradigm starts breaking down when there is user input that may or may not be applicable depending on previous user input. In paper-based forms, this manifests itself by sections marked “fill out only if you entered yes in question 8a above”, and simple electronic forms suffer from the same problem much space is taken up for input fields that are not applicable. One possible approach to making only relevant sections appear is to hand-write program fragments to hide and show them. As an alternative, we have developed a form specification language based on a context-free grammar that encodes data dependencies of the input, together with an accompanying run-time interpreter that uses novel layout techniques for collapsing already-entered input fields, for “blending” input fields possibly yet to come, and for showing only the applicable sections of the form.
Group learning capacity: the roles of open-mindedness and shared vision

Open-mindedness (OPM) is a construct that is considered a key foundational aspect of learning in individuals, groups and organizations. Also known as critical inquiry or reflection, OPM is believed to increase learning through examination of prior beliefs, decisions and mistakes, and also through openness to new ideas. Renowned theorists including Dewey and Argyris have emphasized the relationship between OPM and learning, yet little quantitative research has tested it or examined moderators of the linkage. The setting for the current study is that of endowment investment committees at U.S. universities and colleges who need to make knowledgeable and well-reasoned decisions about the composition of investment portfolios. Findings indicate that OPM has a positive, significant effect on group learning capacity (LCAP) and also that shared vision, which represents the group's collective purpose and direction, moderates that relationship. The literature review and discussion offer insights about how OPM is related to the research on group conflict, and how shared vision (SHV) differs from concepts such as interpersonal cohesiveness and conformity that have been associated with groupthink. A review of relevant research from the fields of organizational learning, group dynamics, and absorptive capacity provides context for the development of the hypotheses and the discussion of findings.
Comments on the determination of the absorption coefficient of thin semiconductor films

A method for determining the absorption coefficient near the fundamental absorption edge of a real semiconductor thin film from the transmittance and reflectance at normal incidence is proposed. The effect of surface and volume imperfections present in the real sample on the results of optical measurements is discussed. It is included in calculations of the absorption coefficient and is shown to be important. It is suggested that volume imperfections are the main reason for the strong background absorption generally observed below and near the fundamental absorption edge of polycrystalline semiconductor thin films.
NFκB and AP-1 mediate transcriptional responses to oxidative stress in skeletal muscle cells

The ability to induce cellular defense mechanisms in response to environmental challenges is a fundamental property of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. We have previously shown that oxidative challenges lead to an increase in antioxidant enzymes, particularly glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT), in mouse skeletal muscle. The focus of the current studies is the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms responsible for these increases. Sequence analysis of the mouse GPx and CAT genes revealed putative binding motifs for NF kappa B and AP-1, transcriptional regulators that are activated in response to oxidative stress in various tissues. To test whether NF kappa B or AP-1 might be mediating the induction of GPx and CAT in muscle cells subjected to oxidative stress, we first characterized their activation by pro-oxidants. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that oxidative stress led to increases in the DNA binding of NF kappa B in differentiated muscle cells. The NF kappa B complexes included a p50/p65 heterodimer, a p50 homodimer, and a p50/RelB heterodimer. AP-1 was also activated, but with slower kinetics than that of NF kappa B. The major component of the AP-1 complexes was a heterodimer composed of c-jun/fos. To test for redox regulation of NF kappa B- or AP-1-dependent transcriptional activation, muscle cells expressing either kappa B/luciferase or TRE/luciferase reporter constructs were subjected to oxidative stress. Pro-oxidant treatment resulted in increased luciferase activity in cells expressing either construct. To test whether NF kappa B mediates oxidant-induced increases of GPx and CAT expression, we transfected cells with either a transdominant inhibitor (I kappa B alpha) or a dominant-negative inhibitor (Delta SP) of NF kappa B. Both inhibitors blocked the induction of antioxidant gene expression by more than 50%. In summary, our results suggest that NF kappa B and AP-1 are important mediators of redox-responsive gene expression in skeletal muscle, and that at least NF kappa B is actively involved in the upregulation of the GPx and CAT in response to oxidative stress.
Large-angle positron scattering

Using the Thomas-Fermi distribution for the electronic charge in an atom, Landau and Lifshitz have shown that Born's formula for scatterng applied to the elastic scattering of electrons yields the scattering cross section sigma = (const)(Z/sup 4/3//v/sup 2/), where v is the ve locity of the incident electrons. This relation gives, for the Z dependence of the transmitted intensity of electrons from a radioactive source through different absorbers an equation of the form t/A = KZ/sup -4/3/, where t is the thickness in mg/cm/sup 2/ of the absorber needed to obtain a given transmitted intensity, A is the mass of the atom of the absorber, and K is a constant. Experimental results for ihe scattering of positrons by atoms in their passage through thin metallic foils indicate that the same relation is also valid for positron scattering in the range 300 keV to 2 MeV. A simple interpretation of this relationship is also given. (auth)
The group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, LY379268, decreases methamphetamine self-administration in rats.

Background Given the problems associated with the escalation in methamphetamine (METH) use, the identification of more effective treatment strategies is essential. Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) have been suggested to be a novel therapeutic target for psychostimulant addiction. We sought to test the ability of the selective group II mGluR agonist LY379268 to reduce METH self-administration in rats.
Differential coating objective

A novel concept on the construction of high-resolution objectives is outlined. Although similar to binary optics technology, this approach brings additional degrees of freedom to the optical design as far as achieving a finer balance of phase curvature via refractive properties and relative thickness of the multilayer stack. The differential coating objective can be used in conjunction with diffractive surfaces to optimize the transmission efficiency and control the secondary spectrum correction. The basic equations describing the monochromatic and three- color achromat predesign are presented.
Comparison of the compositions of Aroclor 1242 and Aroclor 1016.

Abstract The complete polychlorinated biphenyl compositions of two American products, Aroclor 1242 and its more modern replacement, Aroclor 1016, have been determined by gas—liquid chromatograhy (GLC) on twelve liquid phases of differing selectivities. Attempts were made to determine the degree of contamination of these Aroclors with chlorinated naphthalenes, using GLC with multiple ion-monitoring mass spectrometry. Chlorinated dibenzofurans, indectable in Aroclor 1016, were tentatively identified by negative chemical-ionization mass spectrometry and their retention times relative to dieldrin on two GLC liquid phases. Quantitation of the dibenzofurans was initially accomplished using an electron-capture detector, and confirmed by negative chemical-ionization mass spectrometry. Aroclor 1242 contained less than 0.05 mol.% chloronaphthalenes, while Aroclor 1016 contained less than 0.06 mol.% of these compounds. Aroclor 1242 had approximately 150 ppb of chlorinated dibenfurans, of which 43% was the toxic 2,3,7,9-tetrachloro isomer.
Learning unions of boxes with membership and equivalence queries

We present two algorithms that use membership and equivalence queries to exactly identify the concepts given by the union of s discretized axis-parallel boxes in d-dimensional discretized Euclidean space where there are n discrete values that each coordinate can have. The first algorithm receives at most sd counterexamples and uses time and membership queries polynomial in s and logn for any d constant. Further, all equivalence queries made can be formulated as the union of O(sdlogs) axis parallel boxes.Next, we introduce a new complexity measure that better captures the complexity of a union of boxes than simply the number of boxes and dimensions. Our new measure, s, is the number of segments in the target polyhedron where a segment is a maximum portion of one of the sides of the polyhedron that lies entirely inside or entirely outside each of the other halfspaces defining the polyhedron. We then present an improvement of our first algorithm that uses time and queries polynomial in s and logn. The hypothesis class used here is decision trees of height at most 2sd. Further we can show that the time and queries used by this algorithm are polynomial in d and logn for s any constant thus generating the exact learnability of DNF formulas with a constant number of terms. In fact, this single algorithm is efficient for either s or d constant.
Anatomy of the pharynx, pertinent to swallowing

This gross anatomical illustration and summary are pertinent to the clinical evaluation of the pharynx. The principal concerns in this article are with the pharynx in reference position, although the mechanisms and directions of its motions during swallowing and speech are noted.
Alteration of basaltic glasses from north-central British Columbia, Canada

The process of palagonitization in basaltic glasses from Pleistocene subglacial volcanics in the north-central British Columbia, Canada, is examined on the basis of results obtained from samples from three volcanoes located in the Tuya Range of Cassiar mountains: Ash Mountain, Southern Tuya, and Tuya Butte. The compositional changes from glass to palogonite, in particular with respect to Al content are described. Results of this study suggests that palagonitization is an isovolumetric replacement process in the British Coumbia hyaloclastites, in which glass is replaced by amorphous colloidal palagonite; the process is explained by the precipitation of insoluble material as critical nuclei under the conditions of supersaturation in the near-glass environment.
An investigation of the origin and growth of annealing twins

The nucleation and growth of twins in a 78% Ni-Fe alloy were investigated by electron transmission microscopy. The twins nucleated at migrating grain boundaries during primary recrystallization, in the form of stacking faults or a small packet of stacking faults. Stacking faults gliding into the recrystallized grain constituted edgewise growth, and the nucleation of contiguous layers of stacking fault at the grain boundary constituted sidewise growth. In the final stage of growth the partial dislocations which border the stacking faults interact to form planar low energy interfaces, the so-called “non-coherent twin boundary.” The non-coherent twin planes were of the type {531}, {353}, and {110}. It is pointed out that annealing twins occur without a shape change, and consequently, the a1/6＜112＝ partial dislocations which produce the stacking faults are equally distributed among the three partial dislocations which are glissile in the same {111} twinning plane. Also, once the first twin nucleus forms, the energy associated with the coherent interface is essentially independent of thickness. The driving force for twinning is simply generated by the net reduction in grain boundary energy associated with twinning. The stacking fault which first nucleates the twin is probably generated by the process of dislocation annihilation which occurs in the vicinity of the migrating grain boundary. No evidence for a pole mechanism was observed and on theoretical grounds, a pole mechanism is not expected to exist.
Currents in submarine canyons

Abstract Earlier work indicated that currents move alternately up and down the floors of submarine canyons with greater average speeds and longer duration downcanyon. Now we find there are roughly synchronous movements up to at least 34 m above the canyon floors. The speeds decrease somewhat with height above the canyon floors and upcanyon flows are more significant. The patterns of up- and downcanyon flow at adjacent stations usually can be matched, indicating that the currents are related to internal waves. Crosscanyon flow occurs, particularly during periods of strong crosscanyon winds and usually has a definite sequence of repetition related to the tidal cycle. The strongest and longest transverse flows were in the broadest floored canyon. During storms with strong onshore winds, there are violent downcanyon flows that have carried current meters with them and eroded the floors, but the speeds are unknown.
Successful replacement of the tricuspid valve 10 years after traumatic incompetence.

Abstract We have reported the case of a 45 year old man with traumatic tricuspid incompetence of 10 years' duration. Following insertion of a tricuspid Starr-Edwards valve there was diuresis, a weight loss of 18 lb. and disappearance of the signs of tricuspid incompetence and of the symptoms of low cardiac output. The patient died suddenly of an acute cerebrovascular accident nine months later. The hemodynamic consequences of severe tricuspid incompetence include low cardiac output, equal right atrial and right ventricular pressures, increased blood volume but normal end-diastolic pressure in the right ventricle. Rupture of the tricuspid valve is less common than that of the mitral valve, yet the clinical course is more benign.
Why Is the School Psychologist Involved in the Evaluation of Struggling Readers

This piece addresses the role of the school psychologist in the evaluation of children experiencing significant difficulties in reading. It is written from my perspective as a university reading cl...