cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Double-Crop Soybean Leaf Area and Yield Responses to Mid-Atlantic Soils and Cropping Systems

Double-crop soybean (Glycine max L.) often yields less than full-season soybean, due in part to decreased leaf area development. Information is lacking on the effect of cropping system and plant-available water holding capacity (PAWHC) as affected by soil type on LAI in field-scale environments. The objectives of this research were to (i) determine the effect of three cropping systems and three soil types that vary in PAWHC on double-crop soybean leaf area and yield; and (ii) validate the LAI-yield relationship in a field-scale experiment. Soybean LAI and yield were measured at random geographically located positions during the 1999 to 2001 cropping seasons. During years of early season or little drought stress, LAI and yield were 1.1 to 1.2 units and 480 to 558 kg ha -1 less on the lowest PAWHC soil compared with the soil with the highest PAWHC. Soybean LAI and yield were reduced 0.4 units and 301 kg ha -1 when soybean experience early season drought stress and was not rotated. Under conditions of late-season drought stress, LAI and yield of rotated soybean were 1.6 units and 1350 kg ha -1 less on the lowest PAWHC soil. When soybean was not rotated and under conditions of late-season drought stress, LAI and yield were reduced by 2.9 units and 1770 kg ha -1 for the soil with the lowest PAWHC, and 1.6 units and 760 kg ha -1 for the soil with intermediate PAWHC. Soybean LAI was linearly related to yield only on the lowest PAWHC soil where LAI was low.
R68-43 Two Continuous System Modelling Programs

This paper concerning two IBM programs was written by two IBMers for an IBM publication. This might given reason to question the objectivity of the paper and its value to the general community. In actuality, though, the two programs discussed are of sufficient general interest, if for no other reason than the popularity of the machines for which they have been implemented, and the authors have maintained sufficient perspective to warrant reading of the paper by all persons interested in continuous system stimulation
On Bernard Harrision and Rigid Definite Descriptions

In a recent paper, 'Description and Identification',I Bernard Harrison presents a version of the description theory of proper names. Harrison claims that his theory accommodates Saul Kripke's thesis that proper names are rigid designators. According to Harrison, his theory accommodates the rigidity thesis because it restricts the descriptions that may back uses of names to a class of descriptions that are rigid designators. In this brief paper, I consider one of the descriptions Harrison uses to illustrate his theory and show that it is not a rigid designator. What I have to say about the description I consider applies to the other descriptions that Harrison uses to present his theory. Therefore, if what I have to say about the description I consider is correct, it refutes Harrison's claim that his theory accommodates the rigidity thesis. According to Harrison, the following description is a rigid designator:2
Stability of beamlike lattice trusses

Abstract A simple procedure is presented for predicting the buckling loads associated with general instability of large repetitive beamlike trusses. The procedure is based on replacing the original lattice structure by an equivalent continuum beam model and obtaining analytic solutions for the beam model. The continuum beam model accounts for warping and shear deformation in the plane of the cross section and is characterized by its strain energy and potential energy due to initial stresses from which the governing differential equations are derived. The high accuracy of the buckling predictions of the proposed continuum beam is demonstrated by means of numerical examples.
Unexpected structure in Rh films on Ag(100): implications for magnetic films on noble-metal substrates☆

Abstract We have studied the growth of Rh on the Ag(100) surface using a variety of techniques: LEED, AES, TDS, XPS, UPS, ISS, and Δφ. When Rh is deposited at room temperature or below, the film is rather disordered. Annealing the film at temperatures of 400 K or above results in a Rh film covered by one to two layers of Ag atoms. This occurs for Rh films which are 1 to 20 atomic layers deep. Rh and Ag have very limited miscibilities at these temperatures, so each layer of the resultant AgRhAg sandwich is relatively pure. Such growth is unexpected in light of the three classical modes of growth. We explain this ‘sandwich’ formation in terms of the large differences in surface free energies of Rh and Ag, and the high mobility of Ag. Such growth may be expected in other systems of high surface-free-energy films atop low surface-free-energy substrates, such as FeAg.
Why Are Cancer Drugs So Expensive in the United States, and What Are the Solutions?

High cancer drug prices are a worsening trend in cancer care and are affecting patient care and our health care system. In the United States, the average price of cancer drugs for about a year of therapy increased from $5000 to $10,000 before 2000 to more than $100,000 by 2012, while the average household income has decreased by about 8% in the past decade. Further, although 85% of cancer basic research is funded through taxpayers’ money, Americans with cancer pay 50% to 100% more for the same patented drug than patients in other countries. Bound by the Hippocratic Oath, oncologists have a moral obligation to advocate for affordable cancer drugs. In this article, we discuss the high cost of cancer drugs, the reasons for these high prices, the implications for patients and the health care system, and potential solutions to the problem.
Spinal epidural lipomatosis in children with hematologic malignancies

Abnormal fat deposition in the epidural space or spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) due to corticosteroid treatment or obesity may cause obstruction to cerebrospinal fluid flow. Little is known about SEL in patients with hematologic malignancies who require frequent lumbar punctures and corticosteroid treatment that places them at risk. Records and radiologic images of patients with SEL and leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) treated at a single institution from 1999–2009 were reviewed. Risk factors were compared with 405 control patients with leukemia. Fourteen patients with leukemia or NHL were diagnosed with SEL. The majority of patients underwent diagnostic imaging after unsuccessful lumbar punctures within 1 month of their primary diagnosis. Prior to SEL diagnosis, all patients received systemic and/or intrathecal corticosteroids. SEL diagnosis led to modification of intrathecal administration in eight patients, including Ommaya reservoir placement in four patients. All patients completed protocol-specified chemotherapy without neurologic symptoms or surgical intervention. Risk factors for developing SEL include older age and high body mass index. Investigation for SEL in leukemia or lymphoma patients with difficult lumbar punctures is warranted. Placement of an Ommaya reservoir may facilitate safe CNS-directed therapy in severely affected patients.
Apoptosis during coronary artery orifice development in the chick embryo

Previous studies regarding the development of proximal segments of the coronary arteries in the chick have demonstrated that these vessels do not develop as angiogenic outgrowths from the aorta. Rather, the proximal segments of the coronary arteries arise from a peritruncal capillary plexus in the epicardium that coalesces around the aortic and pulmonary outflow tracts. Vessels from the peritruncal plexus grow toward and attach to the aorta at about Hamburger and Hamilton (HH) Stage 32 to establish the definitive coronary circulation. Currently, little is known about the process by which patent connections are established between these peritruncal vessels and the aorta. The hypothesis that apoptosis is involved in the formation of the coronary artery orifices was tested in the present study. Aortic and periaortic tissue from HH 29-35 chick embryos was examined using routine light and electron microscopy and TUNEL assays. Apoptotic cells were observed in close spatial and temporal association with the invasion of peritruncal vessels into the aorta (HH 29-31), the initial formation of coronary orifices (HH 32-33), and the further development of the definitive coronary arteries and orifices (HH 34-35). Whereas the origin of these apoptotic cells and the specific factors regulating their death remain unknown, the results of the present study strongly correlate apoptosis with the formation of proximal coronary arteries and their orifices. Our findings suggest avenues for further research and indicate that factors involved in regulating apoptosis should be included in future models of coronary artery development.
Intelligence estimates and US policy toward Laos, 1960–63

(1991). Intelligence estimates and US policy toward Laos, 1960–63. Intelligence and National Security: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 367-394.
House calls: building and maintaining a rule-base

A knowledge-acquisition system was designed and built to help an architectural firm automate their diagnosis of building problems. The system was tailored to the firm's database system and building survey method. Rules are generated from the data by the induction learning algorithms ID3 or AQ11 and the orderly development of the rule-base is ensured by a verification procedure. Architectural diagnostics rely on the expertise of an experienced analyst. Building diagnostic processes require spatial, verbal and numerical reasoning. The rigid data structure imposed by the firm excluded crucial levels of semantic information. Induction methods proved useful tools for organizing data, but the expertise was captured by ad hoc editing of the rule-base. This project identified a need in the building industry to develop a taxonomy and a representation to support the building diagnostic process.
Are there gender differences in self-reported smoking practices? Correlation with thiocyanate and cotinine levels in smokers and nonsmokers from the Pawtucket Heart Health Program.

Objectives: This study compared serum cotinine and thiocyanate in assessment of self-reported smoking behavior among 1400 men and 1809 women from two New England communities. Methods: Serum thiocyanate and serum cotinine levels were analyzed on 2411 and 798 survey respondents, respectively, in an attempt to provide an objective measurement for validation of self-reported smoking behaviors that were obtained through an in-home interviewer-administered questionnaire. Cross-sectional household surveys were conducted with randomly selected men and women, aged 18-65, between 1981 and 1993 as part of the evaluation of the Pawtucket Heart Health Program. Results: Among smokers, the thiocyanate test had similar rates of agreement for women (88.0%) and for men (89.3%). However, among nonsmokers, thiocyanate had higher rates of agreement for women (91.5%) than for men (85.2%). For cotinine, the rates of agreement among smokers were higher for women (91.6%) than for men (89.7%). Similarly, the rates of agreement amo...
Changes in cortical sensory responses with a cryogenic blockade of nucleus ventralis posterolateralis

Abstract The contribution of nucleus ventralis posterolateralis (VPL) to sensory responses in the cortex of the cat was investigated. Averaged evoked potentials (AEP) were collected in response to paw, click, and light stimuli from primary sensory area S1 and the precruciate (PCA), anterior lateral (ALA), and posterior middle suprasylvian (PMSA) cortical association areas. Activity in VPL was reversibly blocked using a cryoprobe system to produce localized cooling. Reduction in amplitude of the short latency component of the AEP in S1 in response to the paw stimulus indicated that VPL was blocked. The short latency component of responses in the three association cortices was also blocked by cooling VPL, but the latency of this component was 20 msec longer than that of S1. Cross-correlation analyses of AEPs were performed to evaluate waveform similarity. Responses in a single cortical area to two different stimulus modalities or responses in two different cortical areas to one stimulus modality had about the same degree of waveform similarity. The effect of cooling VPL on waveform similarity was minimal and was not consistent for either stimulus pairs or cortical pairs. We concluded that VPL contributes to short latency responses in association cortices, but by a projection system differing from that to S1 since the latency to the changed response component was 20 msec longer than that observed for S1 cortex. Some similarity of sensory response waveform was found, but VPL makes little or no contribution to this similarity. No evidence was found for covariation of response excitability in cortical areas.
Extracting Continuum Electron Dynamics from High Harmonic Emission from Molecules

We show that high harmonic generation is the most sensitive probe of rotational wave packet revivals, revealing very high-order rotational revivals for the first time using any probe. By fitting high-quality experimental data to an exact theory of high harmonic generation from aligned molecules, we can extract the underlying electronic dipole elements for high harmonic emission and uncover that the electron gains angular momentum from the photon field.
Scientific and standardization committee communications: classification and nomenclature of disintegrins isolated from snake venoms

Summary. Viper venoms from the Elapidae, Hydrophiidae, Atractaspididae, Viperidae and Colubridae families contain at least 25 separate classes of biologically active compounds, including enzymes and non-enzymatic molecules. Nomenclature standardization of these by structure and function has been reported for prothrombin activators. No such agreement has been made for the nomenclature and classification of disintegrins. At the 51st Annual SSC Meeting in Sydney Australia (August 2005), we reported the variety of names given to the 78 disintegrins then known, and proposed a nomenclature standardization method for the naming of future members in this protein family. The summary of these recommendations will provide guidance as disintegrin discoveries move beyond high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation methods to mass spectrometry, proteomics and cloned cDNA. View the complete paper on the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis website, http://www.isth.org. (http://www.isth.org/Publications/OfficialCommunications/Exogeneous/Disintegrins.aspx). This abstract is co-published in Toxicon.
Histological and histochemical characterization of the bovine rete ovarii through the estrous cycle and gestation.

Summary The rete ovarii of cattle may be morphologically divided into the intraovarian rete, the connecting rete, and the extraovarian rete. The connecting rete may be subdivided into that portion which lies within the ovary proper and that portion that lies in the mesovarium. The portion of the connecting rete which lies in the mesovarium is connected to the infundibulum of the uterine tube by a patent tubo-retial communication. Mitotic figures were observed in the epithelial cells of the rete ovarii during estrus, during metestrus, following superovulation, and in association with the cystadenomatous change which was observed in one ovary of an estrus cow. The epithelial lining of microcysts appeared to proliferate and produce material which filled the cysts. The occurrence of vesicles in the retial epithelium appeared more commonly during diestrus and gestation. The greatest amount of cells, cellular debris and amorphous luminal material was observed during anestrus, diestrus and gestation.
RT-Link: A global time-synchronized link protocol for sensor networks

For real-time wireless communication in industrial control, surveillance and inventory tracking, we propose RT-Link, a time-synchronized link protocol. RT-Link provides predictable lifetime for battery-operated embedded nodes, bounded end-to-end delay across multiple hops, and collision-free operation. We investigate the use of hardware-based time-synchronization for infrastructure nodes by using an AM carrier-current radio for indoors and atomic clock receivers for outdoors. Mobile nodes are synchronized via in-band software synchronization within the same framework. Through the design and deployment of RT-Link, we identify three key observations: (a) Hardware-based global time-synchronization is a robust and scalable option to in-band software-based techniques. (b) Achieving global time-synchronization is both economical and convenient for indoor and outdoor deployments. (c) RT-Link achieves a practical lifetime of over 2 years. By analysis and simulation, we show that RT-Link outperforms energy-efficient low-power-listen CSMA protocols in terms of node lifetime and end-to-end latency. The protocol supports flexible services such as on-demand end-to-end rate control and logical topology control. We implemented RT-Link on the CMU FireFly sensor platform as a link layer running on the Nano-RK real-time sensor OS. We also discuss deployment experiences using RT-Link in a coal mine safety application.
“Power in Numbers”: Youth Organizing as a Context for Exploring Civic Identity

This study examines civic identity exploration among African-American and Asian-American urban youth who participated in a grassroots organizing campaign to improve their local high schools. Drawing on 9 months of ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with participants, the study found that the campaign provided a venue for participants to wrestle with contrasting perspectives about the relationship between the individual and the broader public. The first perspective, which I call atomism, described local social relations as individualistic and self-interested. The second perspective, which I call collective agency, emphasized that people should work together toward common goals and that the more people who were involved, the more powerful the effort would be. Implications of youth organizing for civic identity formation are discussed.
Analytic MBPT(2) second derivatives

Abstract The analytical evaluation of second derivatives for the simplest useful correlation method, MBPT(2), is reported. The method is illustrated by application to diazine, N 2 H 2 . We also report comparisons with second derivatives obtained from numerical Cl energy differences and numerical derivatives of analytically computed first derivatives for N 2 H 2 .
Follow-up cervical length in asymptomatic high-risk women and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth

Follow-up cervical length in asymptomatic high-risk women and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth
Short Communication: Effects of Increased Expression of α-Lactalbumin In Transgenic Mice on Milk Yield and Pup Growth

Abstract Lactose synthase (a complex of β 1,4-galactosyltransferase and α -lactalbumin) forms lactose in the Golgi complex of mammary epithelial cells. To determine whether α -lactalbumin is a limiting component in this complex, transgenic mice that expressed bovine α -lactalbumin were studied. Transgenic mice produced 0.5 to 1.5 mg/ml of bovine α -lactalbumin in their milk, 5- to 15-fold more α -lactalbumin than in milk of control mice. Transgenic and control mice produced milk with the same concentrations of lactose, cream, and total solids, and showed similar mammary gland growth, morphology, and histology. Milk from transgenic mice had 0.6% less protein than milk from control mice ( P α -lactalbumin transgenic mice was increased ( P α -lactalbumin could interact with murine β 1,4-galactosyltransferase. Pups reared by lactating transgenic mice showed a 4% increase in growth on d 10 of lactation, suggesting that milk production was increased ( P = 0.06). Milk volume, estimated using the weigh-suckle-weigh technique, tended to be higher (although not significantly) in transgenic mice ( P = 0.11). These results suggest that augmenting α -lactalbumin expression in the dam increases the growth of suckling offspring.
Temperatures within Non-premixed Flames: Effects of Rapid Mixing Due to Swirl

Abstract The addition of swirl to a non-premixed flame is known to increase the fuel-air mixing rate, which can cause local premixing and thereby increase flame temperature. The present paper quantifies how the flame temperature increases as swirl is systematically increased; it also quantifies how the flame temperature decreases as fuel jet momentum is increased. Of particular interest are two limits which have not been studied previously in much detail. At the high swirl limit, the temperature levels and profile shapes in the non-premixed flame become similar to those of the premixed swirl flame studied by Gouldin. Thus the rapid internal mixing makes the non-premixed flame behave like a premixed flame. A second limit of interest is the transition from a cooler "jet-like" flame to a hotter "strongly recirculating" flame; the temperature change during this transition is reported and the critical level of swirl and fuel jet momentum required to cause such a transition is quantified. Temperatures were meas...
Chemical Analyses of the Blood of Chicks Infected or Endointoxicated with Escherichia coli

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE effect of bacterial infections on blood constituents has been investigated. Dooley, Holtman and Jeffries (1958) reported that the blood glucose level decreased when chicks were infected with Salmonella pullorum. Ross et al. (1956) and Dooley et al. (1958) observed that the blood creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels increased when chicks were infected with this organism. The effect of bacterial endotoxins has also been investigated in numerous animal species. Dooley et al. (1958) have found that the concentrations of some components were altered during intoxication by S. pullorum endotoxin. However, avian species do not normally suffer lethal effects from injections of bacterial endotoxins (Ball et al., 1962). Normal values of blood constituents have been recorded by Groebbels (1932), Dyer and Roe (1934), Henry et al. (1934), and Sturkie (1954). Due to differences in breed, age, diet, number of samples, and procedures employed, the data in the literature…
Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates

Isolation of microglia from CNS tissue is a powerful investigative tool used to study microglial biology ex vivo. The present method details a procedure for isolation of microglia from neonatal murine cortices by mechanical agitation with a rotary shaker. This microglia isolation method yields highly pure cortical microglia that exhibit morphological and functional characteristics indicative of quiescent microglia in normal, nonpathological conditions in vivo. This procedure also preserves the microglial immunophenotype and biochemical functionality as demonstrated by the induction of morphological changes, nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB (p65), and secretion of the hallmark proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Pam3CSK4 (Pam) challenges. Therefore, the present isolation procedure preserves the immunophenotype of both quiescent and activated microglia, providing an experimental method of investigating microglia biology in ex vivo conditions.
Ground detection of trans‐ionospheric pulse pairs by stations in the National Lightning Detection Network

Trans-Ionospheric Pulse Pairs (TIPPs), as detected by the Blackbeard instrument on board the ALEXIS satellite, correlate with signals that the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) classifies as “cloud” lightning with a positive signal polarity (+IC). Correlation is only found for +IC pulses occurring in the 10 ms interval prior to TIPP occurrence. Apart from this single peak, there is no general change in lightning rates around TIPP time. Correlation between TIPPs and +IC strokes is statistically significant with 99.94% confidence. The amplitudes of +IC pulses that are associated with TTPPs are indistinguishable from the amplitudes of pulses that are not. The rise time of +IC pulses correlating with TIPPs, however, does appear to be longer than the noncorrelating +IC pulses, the median value being about 3 times greater than all other +IC pulses. By assuming TIPPs to be generated close to the detecting ground station, we can use the pulse separation time to calculate the source heights for the ground reflection model. The calculated height of TIPPs is consistent with a cloud source.
Numerical simulation of unsaturated flow along preferential pathways: implications for the use of mass balance calculations for isotope storm hydrograph separation

An objective common to many watershed studies is to separate storm hydrographs into two components: water that was present in the watershed prior to a storm event (soil moisture and groundwater) and water which fell on the watershed during the storm. To use this approach, a number of assumptions must be made including that the composition of water in the soil moisture and groundwater reservoirs are constant and known. The objective of this paper is to show that in settings where flow and transport are dominated by preferential pathways for flow, steady state mass balance calculations for quantitative hydrograph separation may be in error. We present field data from a site where flow and transport are dominated by preferential pathways (relict fractures in saprolite of sedimentary rocks) which indicate that the δ18O content of the water in the unsaturated and shallow saturated zones is not constant over the course of a storm event. We use a numerical model to further explore the interactions between the fractures and surrounding matrix. Both the field data and modeling results indicate that the δ18O of the previous storm event(s) has a strong influence on water in the fractures. On the time scale of a storm event, only the water in the matrix immediately surrounding the fracture mixes with water in the fracture, while the bulk of the matrix is isolated from fracture flow. The spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the δ18O in the subsurface and the isolation of the most of the matrix water from flow in fractures make the measurement of a singular δ18O value for subsurface reservoirs problematic and the assumption of a constant value doubtful. Since most near-surface geologic materials have preferential flow paths, we suggest that quantitative hydrograph separation using mass balance techniques is not possible in most situations. Future field and modeling investigations using the approach outlined here could be designed to explore the important temporal and spatial scales of variability in watersheds, and lead to a more quantitative approach to storm hydrograph separation.
The Institutionalization of Modern Literary History in China, 1922-1980:

Literary historiography was a new scholarly subject in China at the beginning of the twentieth century. After Lin Chuanjia published the first book of Zhongguo wenxue shi in 1910, Chinese literary history gradually began to attract academic attention. Between 1910 and 1949, approximately 320 books were published on the subject (Hu Dalei, 1990). After a period of strictly regulated production between 1949 and 1978, literary histories returned in even greater numbers. In the late 1980s, it was no longer an exaggeration to claim that the discipline of literary historiography had become a booming industry in China.' Nevertheless, one should not forget that the concept of literary history was not available in the discourse of traditional Chinese literary criticism.2 According to Zhu Ziqing (1898-1948), literary historiography emerged in modern China under heavy Japanese influence.3 The first group of Chinese literary histories resembled an encyclopedia in that they abounded in concrete detail but lacked in vision (jian), differentiation (shi), and "historical view" (shiguan). From the 1920s onward, Chinese literary historiography began to make steady progress: Hu Shi (1891-1962) published Baihua wenxue shi (A History of Vernacular Chinese Literature) in 1928, Zheng Zhenduo (1898-1958) published Chatuben Zhongguo wenxue shi (An Illustrated History of Chinese Literature) in 1932, and Liu Dajie
Transferable local pseudopotentials for magnesium, aluminum and silicon.

One obstacle in orbital-free density functional theory (OF-DFT) is the lack of accurate and transferable local pseudopotentials (LPSs). In this work, we build high quality LPSs by inverting Kohn–Sham (KS) equations on bulk valence electron densities to obtain an atom-centered local pseudopotential. With this approach, we build LPSs for Mg, Al, and Si, and then test them in KS DFT calculations of static bulk properties for several Mg, Al, and Si bulk structures as well as β″-Al3Mg. Our Mg, Al, and Si LPSs produce correct ground state properties and phase orderings. These LPSs are then tested in KS-DFT calculations of surface energies for several low-index Mg and Al surfaces, point defect properties in hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) Mg, face-centered cubic (fcc) Al, and diamond Si, and stacking fault energies in fcc Al. All of these LPS results agree quantitatively with the results from nonlocal pseudopotentials with errors less than or equal to 40 meV per atom. Finally, we perform OF-DFT calculations for various Mg and Al structures, employing the Wang–Govind–Carter (WGC) nonlocal kinetic energy density functional (KEDF). The OF-DFT results generally agree well with the corresponding KS-DFT results. With our new Mg and Al LPSs and the WGC KEDF, OF-DFT now provides a practical method for accurate, large-scale first principles simulations of main group metals and their alloys.
Employ Five Fundamental Principles to Produce a SOLID, Secure Network

While reading online forums and frequently asked questions (FAQs) pertaining to network security, inevitably one of the questions asked is “Is my network secure'” The typical answer is that one can never be completely certain that all security measures have been taken to protect a network from intruders. While this may be true, there are ways to increase the confidence of network administrators with regards to protecting the data and resources entrusted to them. This paper will present a strategy that, if implemented, will improve confidence that all necessary precautions in establishing a secure network have been taken.
Mortality forecasting using neural networks and an application to cause‐specific data for insurance purposes

Mortality forecasting is important for life insurance policies, as well as in other areas. Current techniques for forecasting mortality in the USA involve the use of the Lee–Carter model, which is primarily used without regard to cause. A method for forecasting morality is proposed which involves the use of neural networks. A comparative analysis is done between the Lee–Carter model, linear trend and the proposed method. The results confirm that the use of neural networks performs better than the Lee–Carter and linear trend model within 5% error. Furthermore, mortality rates and life expectancy were formulated for individuals with a specific cause based on prevalence data. The rates are broken down further into respective stages (cancer) based on the individual's diagnosis. Therefore, this approach allows life expectancy to be calculated based on an individual's state of health. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Potential for Soybean Cyst Nematode Reproduction on Winter Weeds and Cover Crops in Tennessee

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is a major yield limiting pest of soybean (Glycine max). Current SCN management strategies include resistant soybean varieties and rotation with non-host crops. Increased adoption of the early soybean production system (ESPS) combined with a greater incidence of winter weeds from no-tillage practices may increase the population density of SCN during the noncrop period since several winter weeds and cover crops are hosts for SCN. A field experiment with a split-strip design was conducted over three years to evaluate whether SCN reproduced on weeds and cover crops during the noncrop period. Winter weeds and crimson clover roots were examined for females and cysts with eggs. The soil was sampled to determine if an increase in SCN egg population density occurred. We found no indication of SCN reproduction on winter weeds during the noncrop period or on the cover crop crimson clover.
Effects of acidification on the behavioral response of crayfishes (Orconectes virilis and Procambarus acutus) to chemical stimuli

Abstract We conducted laboratory experiments to determine how crayfish respond to differing concentrations of food-relevant chemicals under low pH conditions. At pH 5.8 the crayfishes Orconectes virilis and Procambarus acutus responded to an amino acid mixture with antennule and feeding movements. Response intensity increased with stimulus intensity. These responses were significantly reduced in both species when the animals were held for 48 h in acidified (pH 4.5 and 3.5) water; the lower the pH, the lower the responsiveness. General activity and amount of food actually consumed, however, were not affected by acidification. O. virilis was generally more sensitive to acidification than P. acutus. These results indicate that acid exposure may interfere specifically and quantitatively with chemoreceptive processes in aquatic crustaceans.
Dynamic Energy Control for Energy Efficiency Improvement of Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Using Markov Decision Process

Greenhouse gas emissions and global warming have become vital problems to human society. About 40% of the carbon dioxide is emitted from electric power generation in the United States. Due to the lack of consideration in the system design and the lack of a real time systematic management method for energy consumption, the energy efficiency of industrial manufacturing systems is extremely low. Most of the existing research work related to energy efficiency improvement only focuses on a single-machine manufacturing system while little work has been done to achieve the optimal energy efficiency for a typical system with multiple machines and buffers. In this paper, an analytical model is developed to establish a systems (or holistic) view of energy efficiency in typical manufacturing systems with multiple machines and buffers that dynamically control energy consumption considering both energy states and production constraints. The complex interaction between the adopted energy control decisions and system state evolutions are modeled by Markov Decision Process. An approximate algorithm for the real time application is introduced to find a near-optimal solution. A numerical case study on a section of an assembly line is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Polarization Gratings: A Novel Polarimetric Component for Astronomical Instruments

Polarization gratings (PGs) have been recently been developed for ultraefficient liquid crystal displays, nonmechanical optical beam steering, and telecommunication devices at optical and near-infrared wavelengths (0.4–2.0 μm). A PG simultaneously acts as both a spectroscopic and polarimetric disperser for circularly polarized light. With the use of a quarter-wave retarder (or analog) to convert linearly to circularly polarized light, these devices can be used as linear polarimetric analyzers. PGs offer high throughput and high levels of birefringence and can currently be constructed inexpensively to diameters of 150 mm, and development projects are in progress to double that size. In this article we report on the characterization of a PG sample at mid-infrared wavelengths (2–40 μm), including the birefringence, throughput, spectral response, and cold cycling survivability. We discuss these devices in the context of astronomical polarimetry, especially as the polarimetric components for a conceptual study of a SOFIA-based polarimeter.
The Rorschach's factor structure: a contemporary investigation and historical review.

The Rorschach Inkblot Test was factor analyzed to assess for a two-dimensional structure that was expected to reflect the traditional interpretation of many scores, as well as two dimensions that have become a basic paradigm for studying self-reported personality and mood. In my sample (N = 268), Comprehensive System scores had a four-dimensional structure. These factors replicated many earlier findings but were independent of self-report measures. Two of the Rorschach dimensions were strongly defined by response frequency (R) and reflect the powerful impact that R has on determining scores and their intercorrelations. A third dimension was comprised of form-dominant shading determinants and partially corresponded to a hypothesized factor of dysphoria. The fourth dimension was comprised of holistic nonform-dominant color and shading determinants and appears to reflect Shapiro's (1965) description of the hysterical mode of cognition. This study suggests it is necessary to expand our conceptualization of th...
Development of high-energy neutron imaging for use in NDE applications

We are currently developing a high-energy (10–15 MeV) neutron imaging system for use in NDE applications. Our goal is to develop an imaging system capable of detecting cubic-mm-scale voids or other structural defects in heavily-shielded low-Z materials within thick sealed objects. The system will be relatively compact (suitable for use in a small laboratory) and capable of acquiring tomographic image data sets. The design of a prototype imaging detector and multi-axis staging system will be discussed and selected results from recent imaging experiments will be presented. The development of an intense, accelerator-driven neutron source suitable for use with the imaging system will also be discussed.
Dependence of ink jet dynamics on fluid characteristics

Measurements of jet velocity, separation length, and stream stability (freedom from random fluctuations in drop position) were made for several fluids, including two inks. The data were then compared with modified fluid flow and jet stability equations. In one case velocity is related to applied pressure drop through a flow equation that depends primarily on the shape and size of the nozzle and on fluid viscosity. In the other case Weber's equation is modified to include forced oscillation, so that separation length is related to the voltage applied to a piezoelectric crystal, to disturbance growth rate, and to velocity. These two equations were applicable to “normal” liquids (those having good stream stability) having viscosities between 0.9 and 4.3 grams/(second · meter) and dynamic surface tensions between 20 and 60 grams/s 2 , but not to dilute solutions of a high molecular weight polymer, owing to their viscoelastic character. Furthermore, the stream stability of the polymer solutions was poor and depended inversely on concentration and molecular weight.
Mobilizing Resources for Public Services: Financing Urban Governments

ABSTRACT: This article examines potential sources of revenue needed to finance urban services. In formulations for resolving the US urban crisis, answers are unclear and several policy guidelines are suggested. First, political candidates must assess reasonably the cost of public services and avoid blanket assurances of no new or increased taxes. Second, urban local governments must have access to the fiscal resources of the full urban area for which they have been assigned responsibility for providing public services. Third, urban governments must coordinate and cooperate: Fiscal mercantilism is not productive public policy. Fourth, urban local governments must give greater priority to infrastructure maintenance and development in their financial plans. Fifth, urban local governments must improve property tax structure and administration with appropriate assistance from state governments. Finally, urban local governments must make better use of charge financing and must expand use of broad-based sales and income taxes in cooperation with their states. The authors conclude that urban local governments need to look for resources themselves; prospects for major intergovernment assistance, especially federal, are dim.
Importance of β-Catenin in glucose and energy homeostasis

In settings of increased insulin demand, failure to expand pancreatic β-cells mass leads to diabetes. Genome-wide scans of diabetic populations have uncovered several genes associated with susceptibility to type 2 diabetes and a number of them are part of the Wnt signaling. β-Catenin, a Wnt downstream effector participates in pancreatic development, however, little is known about its action in mature β-cells. Deletion of β-Catenin in Pdx1 pancreatic progenitors leads to a decreased β-cell mass and impaired glucose tolerance. Surprisingly, loss of β-catenin made these mice resistant to high fat diet because of their increased energy expenditure and insulin sensitivity due to hyperactivity. The complexity of this phenotype was also explained in part by ectopic expression of Cre recombinase in the hypothalamus. Our data implicates β-Catenin in the regulation of metabolism and energy homeostasis and suggest that Wnt signaling modulates the susceptibility to diabetes by acting on different tissues.
Interplanetary shock waves generated by solar flares

Recent observational and theoretical studies of interplanetary shock waves associated with solar flares are reviewed. An attempt is made to outline the framework for the genesis, life and demise of these shocks. Thus, suggestions are made regarding their birth within the flare generation process, MHD wave propagation through the chromosphere and inner corona, and maturity to fully-developed coronal shock waves. Their subsequent propagation into the ambient interplanetary medium and disturbing effects within the solar wind are discussed within the context of theoretical and phenomenological models. The latter — based essentially on observations — are useful for a limited interpretation of shock geometric and kinematic characteristics. The former — upon which ultimate physical understanding depends — are used for clarification and classification of the shocks and their consequences within the solar wind. Classification of limiting cases of blast-produced shocks (as in an explosion) or longer lasting ejecta (or ‘piston’-driven shocks) will hopefully be combined with the study of the flare process itself. The theoretical approach, in spite of its contribution to clarification of various concepts, contains some fundamental limitations and requires further study. Numerical simulations, for example, depend upon a non-unique set of multi-parameter initial conditions at or near the Sun. Additionally, the subtle but important influence of magnetic fields upon energy transport processes within the solar wind has not been considered in the numerical simulation approach. Similarity solutions are limited to geometrical symmetries and have not exploited their potential beyond the special cases of the blast and the constant-velocity, piston-driven shock waves. These continuum fluid studies will probably require augmentation or even replacement by plasma kinetic theory in special situations when observations indicate the presence of anomalous transport processes. Presently, for example, efforts are directed toward identification of detailed shock structures (as in the case of Earth's bow shock) and of the disturbed solar wind (such as the piston). Further progress is expected with extensive in situ and remote monitoring of the solar wind over a wide range of heliographic radii, longitudes and latitudes.
Development of a low-cost student-built multi-spectral sensor for the International Space Station

Built by students and faculty at the University of North Dakota (UND), the International Space Station (ISS) Agricultural Camera (ISSACTM) is a multi-spectral Earth-imaging sensor currently onboard the ISS. Capabilities include three spectral bands (green, red, near-infrared), medium (~20m) spatial resolution, and off-nadir pointing (+/-30 degrees) for episodic rapid-response imaging. We describe the low-cost electro-optical design approach, which utilizes a studentcentered design and operations team and relies on modified commercial components operating within a passive vibration isolation mounting, installed inside the Window Observational Research Facility, viewing the Earth through the US Laboratory Science Window. Interfaces, safety, and other factors unique to the human-rated operational environment of the ISS are outlined. Pre-launch sensor characterization results, including spatial distortion and radiometric measurements, indicate Earth remote sensing using such a sensor is a viable approach for demonstrative operational missions. An element of the ISS National Laboratory, ISSAC was launched on HTV-2 to the ISS in January 2011. Initial operations began in June 2011. Methods of sensor operations are described, using a student staff working within the ISS operational environment. Some initial early imaging results are shown.
Effect of stereostructure on glass transition temperatures of poly(methyl methacrylate)

The volume-temperature curves of a number of poly(methyl methacrylate) fractions produced by various forms of catalysis have been investigated. It was confirmed that the isotactic samples have a much lower Tg than has conventional polymer. The highly syndiotactic polymer, however, was found to have a Tg not markedly different from that observed for conventional polymer in contrast with earlier published reports. The latter polymers show a more marked β transition.
Computational Investigation of Experimental Interaction Impedance Obtained by Perturbation for Helical Traveling-Wave Tube Structures

Conventional methods used to measure the cold-test interaction impedance of helical slow-wave structures involve perturbing a helical circuit with a cylindrical dielectric rod placed on the central axis of the circuit. It has been shown that the difference in resonant frequency or axial phase shift between the perturbed and unperturbed circuits can be related to the interaction impedance. However, because of the complex configuration of the helical circuit, deriving this relationship involves several approximations. With the advent of accurate three-dimensional (3-D) helical circuit models, these standard approximations can be fully investigated. This paper addresses the most prominent approximations made in the analysis for measured interaction impedance by Lagerstrom (1957) and investigates their accuracy using the 3-D simulation code MAFIA. It is shown that a more accurate value of interaction impedance can be obtained by using 3-D computational methods rather than performing costly and time consuming experimental cold-test measurements.
Customary rights and societal stakes of large-scale tobacco cultivation in Malawi

The recent surge in land-based investments in the global South has been seen as both an opportunity for rural economic development and as a trend that poses significant social and environmental risks. This study sheds light on this debate through a look at the tobacco industry in Malawi. We employ a case study approach to investigate how rights, property, and authority associated with land and forest resources have shifted in the context of expanded investments in tobacco, and the stakes for both local land users and citizens. Findings point to the need to broaden the metric of risks and trade-offs associated with large-scale land acquisitions, and to engage in a deeper reading of how these are borne out throughout history.