cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Language Variation in the Diaspora: Polish Immigrant Communities in the U.S. and the U.K.

Ethnicity has long been known to affect language variation. However, existing studies have overwhelmingly focused on the speech of the largest, non-White minority groups and have rarely investigated within-group variation. In this paper, I review sociolinguistic studies of a White minority group in two different settings and argue that the study of sociolinguistic variation across and within minority groups can help disentangle and systematize the effect of ethnicity on language. I focus on reports of linguistic variation for Polish immigrants in the United States (a case of sustained, long-term immigration) and in the United Kingdom (a case of recent migration with indefinite plans for long-term residence). Through these two case studies, I illustrate that a strong Polish identity affects speakers’ adoption of regional variation in English.
Stability of Novel Oxo- and Chloro-Substituted Trioxanes

The thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of several novel substituted trioxanes have been explored computationally. Our calculations show that concerted ring opening provides the most likely path for dissociation to the building block molecules: CO2, CH2O, and CCl2O. These studies indicate that gem-dichlorotrioxane (C3H4O3Cl2, 1), tetrachlorotrioxane (C3H2O3Cl4, 7), and trioxanone (C3H4O4, 2) should be kinetically stable and are likely candidates for synthesis.
Chromium picolinate supplementation in women: effects on body weight, composition, and iron status.

Abstract Objective This study tested the hypothesis that supplementation of chromium picolinate (CrPic), 200 μg Cr/d, compared with an equivalent amount of picolinic acid (1720 μg) in CrPic and placebo, decreases body weight, alters body composition, and reduces iron status of women fed diets of constant energy and nutrients. Methods We fed 83 women nutritionally balanced diets, used anthropometry and dual x-ray absorptiometry to assess body composition, and measured serum and urinary Cr and biochemical indicators of iron status before and serially every 4 wk for 12 wk in a double-blind, randomized trial. Results CrPic supplementation increased (P Conclusion Under conditions of controlled energy intake, CrPic supplementation of women did not independently influence body weight or composition or iron status. Thus, claims that supplementation of 200 μg of Cr as CrPic promotes weight loss and body composition changes are not supported.
Vicilin Genes of Vigna luteola: Structure, Organization, Expression, and Variation

Two different but related sequences that encode Vigna luteola 7S vicilins were isolated and characterized. The sequences differ by two nucleotide substitutions, each of which results in an amino acid replacement. This low level of divergence suggests that a recent gene duplication has occurred. Both variants are expressed in cDNA populations; therefore, neither gene is a pseudogene. Both copies were present in all individuals (72) analyzed using real-time PCR and TaqMan probes. Segregation was not observed. The two sequences are not independent alleles. Vicilin genomic sequences of 11 specimens from six geographic locations were determined. No polymorphic sites were identified in either of the two gene copies. This lack of polymorphism suggests that either a population bottleneck or selection has occurred. The genetic structure, expression patterns, and protein composition of the V. luteola vicilins were compared to those of other legume vicilins.
Picosecond photochemistry of Cr(CO)6: Solvation and dynamics of the primary intermediate

Abstract Picosecond absorption spectroscopy has been used to examine the primary photoproduct of Cr(CO)6 in both neat and mixtures of THF and cyclohexane. The primary intermediate observed is shown to be the solvated pentacarbonyl in which one solvent molecule occupies the coordination site created by the photoelimination of CO. The rate of exchange of cyclohexane from (cyclohexane)Cr(CO)5 by THF to form (THF)Cr(CO)5 was found to be bimolecular, k = (4 ± 1) × 107 mole−1 s−1, with an enthalpy and entropy of activation of 1 ± 1 kcal/mole and −20 ± 4 eu, respectively.
Burning Weeds in Drainage Ditches to Suppress Populations of Green Peach Aphids and Incidence of Beet Western Yellows Disease in Sugarbeets

Burning the weeds in drainage ditches in a 22-squaremile area near sugarbeet fields during the winter reduced subsequent populations of Myzus persicae a (Sulzer) in the fields by 51-91% and the number of diseased beets by 77-84%. The increase in yield was calculated to be 1.5-2.3 tons of beets per acre. Depending on the condition of the ditches, weeds can be burned at a cost of $75-$185 per mile. The cost per acre of beets protected depends on the number of acres in the area. In this study, the area contained 1435 acres, and the cost ranged from $2.50 to $6.85 per acre.
Phosphoinositide 3-kinase modulation of β3-integrin represents an endogenous “braking” mechanism during neutrophil transmatrix migration

During episodes of inflammation, neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMNs]) encounter subendothelial matrix substrates that may require additional signaling pathways as directives for movement through the extracellular space. Using an in vitro endothelial and epithelial model, inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) were observed to promote chemoattractant-stimulated migration by as much as 8 +/- 0.3-fold. Subsequent studies indicated that PMNs respond in a similar manner to RGD-containing matrix substrates and that PMN-matrix interactions are potently inhibited by antibodies directed against beta(3)- but not beta(1)-integrin antibodies, and that PI3K inhibitors block beta(3)-integrin dependence. Biochemical analysis of intracellular beta(3)-integrin uncoupling by PI3K inhibitors revealed diminished beta(3)-integrin tyrosine phosphorylation and decreased association with p72(syk). Similarly, the p72(syk) inhibitor piceatannol promoted PMN transmatrix migration, whereas HIV-tat peptide-facilitated loading of peptides corresponding to the beta(3)-integrin cytoplasmic tail identified the functional tyrosine residues for this activity. These data indicate that PI3K-regulated beta(3)-integrin represents a natural "braking" mechanism for PMNs during transit through the extracellular matrix.
High-Resolution NMR and Computer Modeling Studies of the Cannabimimetic Aminoalkylindole Prototype WIN-55212-2

Aminoalkylindoles (AAIs), although structurally dissimilar from the classical cannabinoids (CCs), are known to be capable of binding to cannabinoid receptors and of evoking cannabimimetic responses. However, their mode of binding remains unknown. In this communication, we have carried out further studies on the AAI prototype (R)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl](1-naphthalenyl)methanone (WIN-55212-2, 1) by the combined use of high-resolution 2D NMR and computer modeling. Our results suggest that the minimum energy conformations of the molecule 1 have distinct pharmacophoric features: (i) The naphthyl ring is oriented off the plane of the benzoxazine ring by approximately 59° with the carbonyl CO group pointing toward the C2−CH3 group. (ii) At the C10-position the axial morpholinomethyl conformation is preferred over the equatorial in order to relieve a steric interaction with the C2-methyl group. The preferred conformer as defined by the three key pharm...
Improvements in tropical cyclone track forecasting in the Atlantic Basin, 1970-98

Abstract Tropical cyclone track forecasts issued by the Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center for the Atlantic basin have improved over the period 1970–98. Improvement is shown at 24, 48, and 72 h. Although this improvement can be shown without any preconditioning of the data, the question of accounting for forecast difficulty is addressed, building upon the work of Neumann. A decrease in the initial position errors over the same period is also shown. Track forecast errors generated by the Atlantic climatology and persistence (CLIPER) model (run in "best–track" mode) are used as a measure of forecast difficulty. Using the annual average CLIPER errors in a regression against the official forecast errors yields an equation giving an expected error for each year under consideration. The expected error (representing forecast difficulty) is then subtracted from the observed official errors. The resulting set of differences can then be examined for long–term trends, difficulty having been account...
"Personalized medicine: elusive dream or imminent reality?": A commentary.

I was invited to comment on the article in this issue by Larry Lesko, “Personalized Medicine: Elusive Dream or Imminent Reality?”,1 especially with respect to three questions. There are several possible approaches to discussing these questions. One is to simply answer the question as directly and succinctly as possible; another is to expand on the questions. For the purpose of this Commentary, I try to do both. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2007) 81, 801–805. doi:10.1038/sj.clpt.6100227
Fatigue crack propagation of metastable beta titanium-vanadium alloys

The fatigue crack propagation behavior of three titanium-vanadium alloys (24, 28, and 32 wt pct V) which have tensile deformation modes ranging from coarse twinning to wavy and planar slip has been measured in laboratory air and correlated with their low cycle fatigue properties and microstructure. The fatigue crack growth rate of alloys with similar microstructures but different deformation modes, and of alloys with similar deformation modes but different microstructures have been compared. Increasing the deformation barrier mean free path and improving low cycle fatigue properties has been observed to reduce the fatigue crack growth rate at low and inter mediate ΔK levels. The fatigue crack growth data have been compared with that calculated from equations which use microstructure and low cycle fatigue parameters. The predictive capability of these equations which contain only measurable parameters has been found to be quite adequate.
The postembryonic cell lineages of the hermaphrodite and male gonads in Caenorhabditis elegans

The ancestry of the cells in the hermaphrodite and male gonadal somatic structures of C. elegans has been traced from the two gonadal somatic progenitor cells (Z1 and Z4) that are present in the newly hatched larvae of both sexes. The lineages of Z1 and Z4 are essentially invariant. In hermaphrodites, they give rise to a symmetrical group of structures consisting of 143 cells, and in males, they give rise to an asymmetrical group of structures consisting of 56 cells. The male gonad can be distinguished from the hermaphrodite gonad soon after the first division of Z1 and Z4. However, the development of Z1 and Z4 in hermaphrodites shares several features in common with their development in males suggesting that the two programs are controlled by similar mechanisms. In the hermaphrodite lineage, a variability in the positions of two cells is correlated with a variability in the lineages of four cells. This variability suggests that cell-cell interaction may play a more significant role in organisms that develop by invariant lineages than has hitherto been considered. None of the somatic structures (e.g., uterus, spermatheca, vas deferens) develops as a clone of a single cell. Instead, cells that arise early in the Z1–Z4 lineage generally contribute descendants to more than one structure, and individual structures consist of descendants of more than one lineage.
A MINI X-RAY SURVEY OF SUB-DAMPED LYMAN-ALPHA ABSORPTION SYSTEMS: SEARCHING FOR ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI FORMED IN PROTOGALAXIES

A significant fraction of the sub-damped Lyman-alpha (sub-DLA) absorption systems in quasar spectra appear to be metal-rich, including many with even super-solar element abundances. This raises the question whether some sub-DLAs may harbor active galactic nuclei (AGNs), since supersolar metallicities are observed in AGNs. Here, we investigate this question based on a mini-survey of 21 quasars known to contain sub-DLAs in their spectra. The X-ray observations were performed with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. In cases of no detection, we estimated upper limits for the X-ray luminosities of possible AGNs at the redshifts of the sub-DLAs. In six cases, we find possible X-ray emission within ~1'' of the background quasar, which is consistent with the presence of a nearby X-ray source. If these nearby X-ray sources are at the redshifts of the sub-DLAs, then their estimated 0.2-10?keV luminosities range between 0.8 ? 1044 h ?2 and 4.2 ? 1044 h ?2?erg?s?1, thus ruling out a normal late-type galaxy origin, and suggesting that the emission originates in a galactic nucleus near the center of a protogalaxy. The projected distances of these possible nearby X-ray sources from the background quasars lie in the range of 3-7?h ?1?kpc, which is consistent with our hypothesis that they represent AGNs centered on the sub-DLAs. Deeper follow-up X-ray and optical observations are required to confirm the marginal detections of X-rays from these sub-DLA galaxies.
The Get1/2 transmembrane complex is an endoplasmic-reticulum membrane protein insertase

Hundreds of tail-anchored proteins, including soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptors (SNAREs) involved in vesicle fusion, are inserted post-translationally into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane by a dedicated protein-targeting pathway. Before insertion, the carboxy-terminal transmembrane domains of tail-anchored proteins are shielded in the cytosol by the conserved targeting factor Get3 (in yeast; TRC40 in mammals). The Get3 endoplasmic-reticulum receptor comprises the cytosolic domains of the Get1/2 (WRB/CAML) transmembrane complex, which interact individually with the targeting factor to drive a conformational change that enables substrate release and, as a consequence, insertion. Because tail-anchored protein insertion is not associated with significant translocation of hydrophilic protein sequences across the membrane, it remains possible that Get1/2 cytosolic domains are sufficient to place Get3 in proximity with the endoplasmic-reticulum lipid bilayer and permit spontaneous insertion to occur. Here we use cell reporters and biochemical reconstitution to define mutations in the Get1/2 transmembrane domain that disrupt tail-anchored protein insertion without interfering with Get1/2 cytosolic domain function. These mutations reveal a novel Get1/2 insertase function, in the absence of which substrates stay bound to Get3 despite their proximity to the lipid bilayer; as a consequence, the notion of spontaneous transmembrane domain insertion is a non sequitur. Instead, the Get1/2 transmembrane domain helps to release substrates from Get3 by capturing their transmembrane domains, and these transmembrane interactions define a bona fide pre-integrated intermediate along a facilitated route for tail-anchor entry into the lipid bilayer. Our work sheds light on the fundamental point of convergence between co-translational and post-translational endoplasmic-reticulum membrane protein targeting and insertion: a mechanism for reducing the ability of a targeting factor to shield its substrates enables substrate handover to a transmembrane-domain-docking site embedded in the endoplasmic-reticulum membrane.
Chemistry and structure of skeletal growth rings in the black coral Antipathes fiordensis (Cnidaria, Antipatharia)

The skeleton of the black coral Antipathes fiordensis is a laminar structure displaying major and minor growth rings. The skeleton is composed primarily of protein and chitin organized into successive microlayers. Each microlayer is tightly bound to the next by an organic cement that is periodically opaque in section, and occurs as clusters throughout the skeleton. In contrast, the skeletal microlayers themselves are never opaque. The apposition of multiple, opaque cement lines between skeletal layers is primarily responsible for the growth ring pattern.
The effect of measurement error and confusion from vegetation on passive microwave estimates of soil moisture

Abstract When using passive microwave sensors to estimate soil moisture it is important to understand the sensitivity of the estimate to (1) the effects of confusion due to surface roughness and vegetation and (2) the effect of measurement error due to noise. The sensitivity of error in soil moisture estimates to passive microwave measurement error as a function of vegetation is presented using a simple model and measurements. Roughness confusion is not considered. The direct problem is defined as investigating the sensor response as the dependent variable to the parameter of interest while the inverse problem uses the parameter of interest as the dependent variable. The inverse method must be used for operational remote sensing applications. It is shown that this subtle difference becomes very important when both confusion and measurement error are considered. A methodology is also presented whereby the sensitivity to measurement error attributed to vegetation can be estimated from the perpendicular vege...
Analytical approximations to inhomogeneously broadened, radiation damped free precession and echo signals.

Abstract The Dirac–Frenkel–Maclachlan (DFM) variation of parameters approach to approximately solving the time dependent Schrodinger equation is used to generate free precession and echo signals from the Bloch equations corrected for the effects of radiation damping and inhomogeneous broadening. Following a brief description of how the DFM method can be applied to the non-linear Bloch equations, two figures of merit designed to evaluate how a DFM optimized approximation compares with the exact solution is provided. This framework is used to optimize and evaluate the performance of six trial functions describing inhomogeneously broadened, radiation damped free precession and echo signals. The trial functions are then used to analyze the resolution enhancement and signal attenuation produced by pulse sequences that suppress radiation damping.
Human retinal capillary basement membrane leaflets are morphologically distinct: a correlated TEM and SEM analysis.

Because retinal capillaries and their associated basement membranes (BMs) are significantly altered in a number of diseases (most notably diabetic retinopathy), the human retinal microvasculature is of interest to both basic scientists and clinicians. Consequently, numerous TEM studies centered primarily on cellular elements of retinal microvessels have been carried out. Ultrastructural studies emphasizing retinal capillary extracellular matrix (ECM) materials including BMs however, are nearly non-existent. Accordingly, the current correlated TEM/SEM investigation was undertaken. The study shows that retinal capillary walls are comprised of a continuous layer of endothelial cells and a discontinuous layer of intramural pericytes which are in frequent contact. These are underlain and/or surrounded by a retinal capillary BM complex which includes pericytic matrix, fibrillar collagen, and subendothelial, pericytic and Muller cell BM leaflets. Following sequential detergent treatment, all retinal cells are solubilized. Vessel ECM components, however, maintain their in vivo histoarchitectural relationships. Moreover, on the basis of substructure, susceptibility to non-specific proteases and anionic site density, BM leaflets are morphologically distinct. In addition, high-resolution SEM studies show that BM surface characteristics are tissue specific. It is concluded that retinal capillary BM complexes are comprised of structurally unique subcomponents the characteristics of which should be considered in future studies of retinal capillary BM structure, composition and function and particularly in investigations in which retinal capillaries are pathologically altered.
Laser tissue welding analyzed using fluorescence, Stokes shift spectroscopy, and Huang‐Rhys parameter

Near infrared (NIR) continuous wave laser radiation at the 1,450 nm wavelength was used to weld porcine aorta and skin samples via the absorption of combitional vibrational modes of native water in the tissues. The fluorescence spectra were measured from the key native molecules of welded and non-welded tissues at specific excitation and emission wavelengths from collagen, elastin, and tryptophan. The changes in the fluorescence intensities and differences in Stokes shift (Δνss) of key native fluorophores were measured to differentiate the Huang-Rhys parameter values (S) of the chromophores. The strength of coupling depends on the local electron-vibration intra-tissue molecular environment and the amount of polar solvent water surrounding the net charges on collagen, elastin, and tryptophan. The S values for both non-welded and welded tissues were almost the same and less than 3, suggesting minimal changes in the local molecular environment as a result of welding. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The Budget and Consumer Sovereignty

THE AIM of this exploratory study is to investigate consumer sovereignty in the public sector of the economy. If the consumer is to be sovereign he must control both the public and private sectors. He must dominate macroeconomizing as well as microeconomizing. Size alone is a clear indicator of the importance of the federal budget. But much more than size is involved. This budget, for example, is described as the "key instrument in national policy making," as the means by which "the Nation chooses what areas it wishes to leave to private choice and what services it wants to provide through government," and as determining what "should be provided at the federal rather than the state or local level."'
Gene regulation: Towards a circuit engineering discipline

Genetic circuits can now be engineered that perform moderately complicated switching functions or exhibit predictable dynamical behavior. These 'forward engineering' techniques may have to be combined with directed evolution techniques to produce robustness comparable with naturally occurring circuits.
Resonance in a piston-driven cavity

Abstract Direct finite difference techniques utilizing an artificial dissipation method are applied to the flow generated in a cavity. The cavity is a cylinder closed at one end and sealed with an oscillating wall at the other end. The gas dynamic equations are transformed to Lagrangian coordinates and an artificial dissipation is introduced via an artificial pressure which is negligible except near a shock. Von Neumann and Richtmeyer's method for differencing is applied and a solution is obtained by means of an explicit algorithm. Typical results are presented for a resonance and a non-resonance condition. The theoretical model shows that three to four oscillations of the moving wall are needed from time equal to zero to establish a resonance condition. The theory adequately describes the physical process which has been observed in cylindrical tubes and the results are in agreement with Sturtevant's experiments.
Polyaniline: a conductive polymer coating for durable nanospray emitters

Despite the tremendous sensitivity and lower sample requirements for nanospray vs. conventional electrospray, metallized nanospray emitters have suffered from one of two problems: low mechanical stability (leading to emitter failure) or lengthy, tedious production methods. Here, we describe a simple alternative to metallized tips using polyaniline (PANI), a synthetic polymer well known for its high conductivity, anticorrosion properties, antistatic properties, and mechanical stability. A simple method for coating borosilicate emitters (1.2 mm o.d.) pulled to fine tapers (4 ± 1 μm) with water-soluble and xylene-soluble dispersions of conductive polyaniline (which allows for electrical contact at the emitter outlet) is described. The polyaniline-coated emitters show high durability and are resistant to electrical discharge, likely because of the thick (yet optically transparent) coatings; a single emitter can be used over a period of days for multiple samples with no visible indication of the destruction of the polyaniline coating. The optical transparency of the coating also allows the user to visualize the sample plug loaded into the emitter. Examples of nanospray using coatings of the water-soluble and xylene-soluble polyaniline dispersions are given. A comparison of PANI-coated and gold-coated nanospray emitters to conventional electrospray ionization (ESI) show that PANI-coated emitters provide similar enhanced sensitivity that gold-coated emitters exhibit vs. conventional ESI.
NMR Imaging and Spectroscopy of the Mammalian Central Nervous System after Heavy Ion Radiation

NMR imaging, NMR spectroscopy, and histopathologic techniques were used to study the proton relaxation time and related biochemical changes in the rodent brain after in vivo helium beam irradiation with single doses of 10, 20, 30, and 50 Gy. Two-dimensional Fourier transform spin-echo imaging and saturation recovery with projection reconstruction were used to measure the NMR relaxation parameters. These parameters were correlated with proton spectroscopy and histopathology. Additional high resolution in vitro proton spectroscopy was performed on brain extracts to observe chemical changes that could not be seen in vivo. The major findings from these experiments were that at 4-14 days postirradiation, image intensity and T1 relaxation time decreased on the irradiated side and increased on the nonirradiated side relative to nonirradiated control animals. In vivo surface coil proton spectroscopy methods demonstrated changes in lipid and phosphatidylcholine (p-choline) peaks. In vitro studies of the aqueous fraction of brain extracts showed radiation-induced changes in lactate, 4-aminobutyric acid, and p-choline peak areas. In the organic fraction, radiation-induced changes were observed in phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine. With histology and Evans blue injections, blood-brain barrier alterations were seen as early as 4 days after a dose of 50 Gy.
The praxis of art's deschooled practice

Art's relationship with education is often characterised by paradox. Yet art is often reified within an education system that refuses to see the pedagogical strengths of paradox. This article approaches art education from three positions. The first is that art is a construct that is neither natural nor necessary. The second is that there are no aesthetic or pedagogical imperatives, but that art education is the recognition of groundlessness where paradox facilitates learning. The third approach is to reposition art with regards to its relationship with learning, education and schooling. Here it is argued that art's only choice is to deschool learning. The latter is moved by an underlying dilemma as to whether art, considered as an autonomous human act, could ever engage with systems of learning without being turned into a tool or a thing. Unless art education is deschooled, the teaching and learning of art remains trapped between the assumptions of process and product. So the idea of art and education as shared practices within schooling remains somewhat dubious unless art's practices are recognised in parts perceived as wholes and where conclusions are marked by open-endedness. No possibilities for art or learning could ever emerge unless a radically different set of conditions give way to a state of affairs where knowledge is a matter to be discovered but never determined, and where a fixed ground is transformed into a wide horizon.
Intercontinental Impacts of Ozone Pollution on Human Mortality

Ozone exposure is associated with negative health impacts, including premature mortality. Observations and modeling studies demonstrate that emissions from one continent influence ozone air quality over other continents. We estimate the premature mortalities avoided from surface ozone decreases obtained via combined 20% reductions of anthropogenic nitrogen oxide, nonmethane volatile organic compound, and carbon monoxide emissions in North America (NA), East Asia (EA), South Asia (SA), and Europe (EU). We use estimates of ozone responses to these emission changes from several atmospheric chemical transport models combined with a health impact function. Foreign emission reductions contribute approximately 30%, 30%, 20%, and >50% of the mortalities avoided by reducing precursor emissions in all regions together in NA, EA, SA, and EU, respectively. Reducing emissions in NA and EU avoids more mortalities outside the source region than within, owing in part to larger populations in foreign regions. Lowering the...
Studies on the quantitatiye nature of the Feulgen stain.

Bacterial suspensions were stained with Schiff's reagent according to the procedure suggested in essence by Dondero et al. (1954). Cell suspensions, Schiff's reagent, supernatant fluids and stained cells were analyzed by a micro-Kjeldahl procedure in an effort to quantitate the Feulgen reaction. The concentration of the bacterial suspension, type of fixative, time of hydrolysis and pH of cells and dye were varied and the effects analyzed quantitatively. While the cells were often stained deeply as determined by visual observation, the quantity of dye nitrogen in the cells was not large enough to be measured with the procedure employed. Significant quantitative results were obtained consistently only when the pH of the Schiff's reagent was raised. Feulgen reactions with solutions of formaldehyde and with solutions of DNA were also analyzed quantitatively after removing the colored compounds with charcoal. The analyses indicated that the DNA solution and the formaldehyde solution reacted differently with th...
Hybrid Extended Kalman Filtering Approach for Traffic Density Estimation Along Signalized Arterials

Estimation of densities on freeways and arterials is critical to traffic control and management. Most previous work, however, focused on freeway density estimation based merely on detector data. This study attempts to estimate traffic density along a signalized arterial by using data from both detectors and a global positioning system (GPS). The approximation to the previously developed MARCOM (Markov compartment) model is adapted to describe arterial traffic states. A hybrid extended Kalman filter is then implemented to integrate the approximated MARCOM with detector and GPS measurements. The proposed model is tested on a single signal link simulated by using VisSim. Test results show that the hybrid extended Kalman filter with GPS data can significantly improve density estimation.
Thermal transformation of δ-MnO 2 nanoflowers studied by in-situ TEM

In-situ transmission electron microscopy in combination with a heating stage has been employed to real-time monitor variations of δ-phase MnO2 nanoflowers in terms of their morphology and crystalline structures upon thermal annealing at elevated temperatures up to ∼665 °C. High-temperature annealing drives the diffusion of the small δ-MnO2 nanocrystallites within short distances less than 15 nm and the fusion of the adjacent δ-MnO2 nanocrystallites, leading to the formation of larger crystalline domains including highly crystalline nanorods. The annealed nanoflowers remain their overall flower-like morphology while they are converted to α-MnO2. The preferred transformation of the δ-MnO2 to the α-MnO2 can be ascribed to the close lattice spacing of most crystalline lattices between δ-MnO2 and α-MnO2, that might lead to a possible epitaxial growth of α-MnO2 lattices on the δ-MnO2 lattices during the thermal annealing process.
Use Of Thermal-Inertia Properties For Material Identification

It is noted that a knowledge of the thermal inertia of the earth's surface can be used in geologic mapping as a complement to surface reflectance data as provided by Landsat. Thermal inertia, which is a body property, cannot be determined directly but can be inferred from radiation temperature measurements made at various times in the diurnal heating cycle, combined with a model of the surface heating processes. A model of this type is developed and applied along with temperature measurements made in the field and by satellite to determine thermal properties of surface materials. An example from a test site in western Nevada is used to demonstrate the utility of this technique.
Effects of distraction upon central versus incidental recall: Developmental trends

Forty children from each of four grades (first, third, fifth, and seventh) were tested for recall of material relevant to a central task, and also for recall of incidental material. Half the children at each age level were tested with a “distractor” which contained a cue for which the subjects were required to remain vigilant. The other half were tested without distraction. The major findings were: (1) Recall of central (task-relevant) material increased regularly with age. (2) Recall of irrelevant material did not increase through the first-to-fifth-grade age range, and declined between the fifth and seventh grades. (3) Distraction had a clear effect upon the acquisition of task-relevant information, lowering the central scores at all the age levels studied. (4) Distraction did not have a significant effect upon incidental recall, although there was a tendency for the incidental scores to be lower under distraction at the higher age levels. (5) There was no evidence that under distraction older children achieve greater efficiency on a central task by means of excluding incidental information. Scores on the central and incidental tasks were independent.
Oscillator strengths in first row neutral, singly and doubly ionized atoms: Comparison of recent theoretical and experimental values

Abstract Using correlated wave functions, oscillator strengths for transitions of the type 1s 2 2s 2 2p n → 1s 2 2s2p n +1 in neutral, singly and doubly ionized B, C, N, O and F atoms are calculated. Such oscillator strengths are extremely sensitive to the details of electronelectron interactions. Comparison with results for other many-body calculations and beam-foil, phase-shift, emission and Hanle spectroscopies shows an overall agreement in the case of ionized atoms but an occasional discrepancy in the case of the neutrals. It appears that, assuming experiment is correct, in these cases one still needs a better understanding of electron correlation and its effect on oscillator strengths.
Potential use of capillary zone electrophoresis in size characterization of quantum dots for environmental studies

Abstract Quantum dot (QD) nanoparticles (NPs) are of great interest to various researchers due to their wide range of applications, from photovoltaic sensitizers to in vivo fluorescent probes. There is a need to characterize environmental fate, degradation, and ecotoxicity of QDs because these NPs may be introduced into the environment upon disposal of waste products containing QDs following the anticipated increase in their production and use. Because the properties of QDs are defined primarily by their composition and size, it is imperative that QD size be measured accurately and quickly. Current methods for measuring the size of QDs tend to be relatively slow, require large amounts of sample and may not be suitable for environmental or biological samples. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), with its inherently high separation efficiency based on the size-to-charge ratio of analytes, holds promise for efficient size determination of NPs in aqueous samples. This review examines the potential use of CZE in characterizing and separating QDs compared to the conventional methods employed in determining size distribution of NPs. We briefly discuss the advantages and the limitations of commonly used techniques for size characterization. In addition to published literature, we present results from our laboratory using CZE with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to examine the effect of natural organic matter and buffer composition on the electrophoretic mobility of QDs. The use of CZE in environmental studies can provide insights into the degradation and the potential impacts of QDs upon exposure to environmental and biological matrices.
Geotaxis and beyond: commentary on Motz and Alberts (2005).

In its original conceptualization, geotaxis was defined as an automatic, stimulus-bound, reflexive response that results in a directional movement with or against the force of gravity [15]. When first described in invertebrates [4,13], geotaxic responses were shown to serve critical adaptive orientating functions [15] that are mediated by identifiable receptors and organs [14,29]. In contrast, the notion that negative geotaxis is exhibited by infant rats [10] has been challenged by four different laboratories over the last 78 years [1,16,17,20]. With Motz and Alberts [24], we agree that in infant rats, ‘‘negative geotaxis’’ is not an automatic, stimulus-bound response, that its ecological validity is questionable, and that the neural substrates that might mediate this response are undefined [1,20]. Despite doubts concerning negative geotaxis in infant rodents, it remains a popular behavioral metric. In reviewing some of the work published over the past five years [3,8,9,11,19,21–23,25,28], we found that the methods used to assess negative geotaxis in infant rats and mice have not been standardized. Specifically, six different testing angles (20-, 25-, 30-, 40-, 45-, 90-) and many different ages (postnatal day 2–21) have been used. Most surprising is the method used in the SHIRPA [26] in which the animal is placed on a grid in the horizontal plane and the grid is then rotated 90-. This method comprises several features – including the use of a severe incline and the addition of rotational forces – that mark a significant departure from the methods of Crozier and Pincus [10], Fox [12], and Altman
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and GnRH receptor gene expression in human myometrium and leiomyomata and the direct action of GnRH analogs on myometrial smooth muscle cells and interaction with ovarian steroids in vitro.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether GnRH and GnRH receptor are expressed in myometrium and leiomyomata, and if GnRH analogs alone or in the presence of ovarian steroids can modulate the rate of DNA synthesis, proliferation, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) production in myometrial smooth muscle cells in vitro. Reverse transcription-PCR revealed that leiomyomata, unaffected myometrium, and isolated myometrial smooth muscle cells express GnRH and GnRH receptor messenger ribonucleic acid. Furthermore, in a dose-dependent manner, GnRH agonist (leuprolide acetate) inhibited, but GnRH antagonist [D-pGlu1,D-Phe2,D-Trp3.6] (GnRH-Ant1) stimulated, the rate of [3H]thymidine incorporation into myometrial smooth muscle cells (P < 0.05), whereas GnRH-Ant2 (Ac-D-P-Cl-Phe1.2,D-Trp3,D-Arg6,D-Ala10) had no effect. 17 beta-Estradiol (E2) medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), and E2 plus MPA (1 micromol/L) stimulated the rate of DNA synthesis by smooth muscle cells (P < 0.05), which wa...
The relationship of impulse to response timing error.

This paper examines the relationship between response impulse and timing error in 200 msec discrete timing responses over a range of movement velocities and system masses. The results from two experiments showed that variable timing error decreased as both movement velocity and the mass of the system to be moved increased. The variability of force proportional to force (measured either as impulse or peak force) decreased curvilinearly as force output increased. The correlations between each of these parameters and variable timing errors, calculated on a group mean basis, ranged between .91 and .95. The ability to predict the movement time outcome of each individual trial from impulse-related parameters was considerably reduced, although the relationship between the various kinematic and kinetic parameters did strengthen as the movement velocity approached maximum. Collectively, the findings show that size of impulse is related to movement timing error, although it is premature to argue that impulse variab...
Pion scattering lengths

The current commutation ${\mathrm{relations}}^{1}$ and partially conserved axial-vector current (PCAC) ${\mathrm{assumption}}^{2,3}$ allow the calculation of the matrix elements for emission and absorption of any number of soft ${\mathrm{pions}}^{4}$ and, therefore, in particular, determine the scattering length of a pion on any target particle. In this note we give a simple formula for pion scattering on any particle but a ${\mathrm{pion}}^{5}$, and then extend this result to the more difficult case of pion-pion scattering.
Operational problems with large induction motors connected to a small power system

Abstract This paper deals with the problem of starting a large induction motor connected by a medium- or short-length transmission line to a comparatively small power system built mainly for oil pumping purposes. The associated problems of dynamic stability and bus transfer are discussed. It is shown that the recommended reduced-voltage techniques for starting induction motors may fail, but that it is possible to start the motor directly on-line. It is concluded that the system as a whole must be considered when designing the induction motor and specifying its starting procedure. Simulation results and field experiences are reported.
Screening for giftedness with the Slosson and the scale for rating behavioral characteristics of superior students

Children who had been nominated as potential candidates for gifted programs were assessed to determine the relationships among certain behavioral and intellectual characteristics. Records were compiled listing 132 first- through eighth-grade children's race, sex, age, grade level, Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) IQ scores, Scale for Rating Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students (SRBCSS) scores, and WISC-R IQs. Only children achieving SIT IQs of 130 or higher were included. A regression equation for the prediction of a WISC-R Full Scale IQ score from a given SIT score was computed and compared to that developed for predicting the WISC-R IQ in another study. All variables except SIT IQ were poor predictors of WISC-R IQ scores. A moderate correlation was computed between SIT and WISC-R Verbal and Full Scale IQ scores. A somewhat lower, but still significant, degree of relationship was found between SIT and WISC-R Performance IQ scores. Some difficulties with using the SIT as a screen for gifted programs are discussed.
Lactobacillus jensenii sp.nov., a New Representative of the Subgenus Thermobacterium

SUMMARY: Seven strains of homofermentative Lactobacillus newly isolated from human sources were found to possess all of the usual phenotypic characters of Lactobacillus leichmannii. However, a subsequent comparative study of the electrophoretic mobilities of their lactic dehydrogenases showed that these seven newly isolated strains were markedly different from collection strains of L. leichmannii. Determination of the mean DNA base composition of a representative sample of the new isolates (36.1 ± 1.2 moles % G + C) clearly indicates that they cannot be considered as L. leichmannii (50.8 ± 0.5 moles % G + C). The newly isolated strains have been assigned to a new species, L. jensenii.
Adhesion of Tablets in a Rotary Tablet Press I. Instrumentation and Preliminary Study of Variables Affecting Adhesion

This study describes instrumentation to Measure the adhesion of tablets to the lower punch face by means of a strain gaged cantilever beam affixed to the feed frame in front of the sweep-off blade....
Quality evaluation of watermarked video

Watermarks not specifically designed to be visible should be imperceptible to maintain image or video quality. Watermark characteristics that affect visibility include watermark magnitude, the visual masking model used to determine relative magnitude values, watermark frequency content, and the degree of temporal variation of the watermark between frames. Video characteristics that affect the visibility of a watermark include subject and camera motion, color, resolution, texture, and patterns. We have investigated the effects of these characteristics on watermark visibility for MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and both uncompressed and compressed high-definition video. The average watermark strength that can be added to a video is determined by increasing the average watermark magnitude through the sequence in order to observe the point at which the watermark becomes perceptible. The first artifact to become visible depends on video and watermark characteristics.
Development of axonal membrane specializations defines nodes of Ranvier and precedes Schwann cell myelin elaboration.

Abstract The development of the node of Ranvier has been previously described using thin-section electron microscopy. Using freeze-fracture, we have examined the development of glial and axonal membrane specializations before and during myelination. The spinal roots of the newborn rat are composed of bundles of unmyelinated and partially myelinated axons. At this early stage of development, the axons are engulfed by Schwann cells, while certain axons are segregated into a one to one relationship with myelinating cells. Patches of uniformly shaped 150- to 300-A particles are readily distinguished against a relatively nonparticulate axonal E face. Patches of less uniform particles are found in the axonal P face, however, they are difficult to distinguish from a particulate background. Thin processes are found closely applied to the axonal membrane on the sides of a particle patch. While engulfing the axon with one or two noncompacted windings, the Schwann cell is predominantly restricted to one side of such a particle patch. As the number of windings covering the axon increases, so does the size of the particle patch, until an annulus of particles, similar to that of an adult node, is observed. The paucity of isolated particle patches in axolemma suggests that recognition and segregation of axons by Schwann cells are followed by a rapid initiation of myelination. Throughout the early periods of myelination there is evidence of endocytotic and exocytotic events at the nodal membrane associated with the appearance of 230-A dimeric particles in the axolemma. Despite the paucity of windings and complete absence of compaction, the fracture faces of the glial and axonal membranes show linear organizations of particles. Scalloped regions in the P face of the nodal axolemma display dimeric-particle rows oriented along the scallop. These rows adopt a more circumferential orientation when the overlying glial process is wound into a paranodal location. While the spacing of dimeric-particle rows is maintained at a constant 360 A, the number of rows per scallop necessarily decreases with compaction of the paranodal loops until a state similar to that of the adult, in which there are approximately two rows per scallop, is reached. In regions of close apposition between axon and Schwann cell, a linear arrangement of 160- and 75-A particles in the glial fracture faces occurs prior to the appearance of tight junctions between glial loops and prior to compaction. Though the paranodes on each side of most nodes observed developed symmetrically, some asymmetric half-nodes have been observed.
Inflationary expectations with heterogeneous information: ‘generational expectations’

This paper proposes a modified theory of expectation formation. The hypothesis of generational expectations (GE), unlike the widely accepted hypothesis of rational expectations, assumes that agents from their inflationary expectations using the most economical information set – their personal experience with inflation. The GE hypothesis incorporates the realistic assumptions of heterogenous information sets and bounded rationality. Several alternative expectational hypotheses are compared in terms of properties of inflation forecasts and estimates of a version of natural-rate aggregate supply functions and age-group-specific Phillips curves. It is shown that GE performs just as well or even better than other methods.