cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bone morphogenetic protein signalling and vertebrate nervous system development

Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signalling, particularly signalling from the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) members of this protein family, is crucial for the development of both the central and peripheral nervous systems in vertebrates. Experimental embryology and genetics performed in a range of organisms are providing insights into how BMPs establish the neural tissue and control the types and numbers of neurons formed. These studies also highlight the interactions between different developmental signals that are necessary to form a functional nervous system. The challenges ahead will be to uncover functions of TGFβ signalling in later stages of CNS development, as well as to determine possible associations with neurological diseases.
Combinatorial Models for Weyl Characters

Abstract We present a set of axioms for combinatorial objects closely related to those for Kashiwara's crystals. We show that any model for the axioms, such as Littelmann's path model, has a character—a nonnegative sum of irreducible characters for a semisimple Lie group or algebra, or more generally, a symmetrizable Kac–Moody algebra. Moreover, there are simple explicit restriction rules and rules for decomposing the product of any such character by an irreducible character.
Perfect Prophets, Helpful Hippos, and Happy Endings: Noah and Jonah in Children's Bible Storybooks in the United States

Abstract This article is based on a study of hundreds of children's bible storybooks available in the United States from 1850 to the present and focuses on the way the biblical stories of Noah and Jonah have been retold for children. These children's bible storybooks lend insight into the American church's changing assumptions about the purpose of the religious education of children and the nature of the Bible and its role in religious instruction. The author suggests that these retellings often change Hebrew Bible stories in ways that rob them of the very features that make them helpful resources for religious education. The author also offers suggestions for future authors, illustrators, and consumers of children's bible storybooks.
Stochastic field-based object recognition in computer vision

This study explores the application of a stochastic texture modeling method toward a machine vision system for log inspection in the forest products industry. This machine vision system uses computerized tomography (CT) imaging to locate and identify internal defects in hardwood logs. To apply CT to these industrial vision problems requires efficient and robust image analysis methods. The paper addresses one aspect of the problem of creating such a computer vision system, i.e., the issue of statistical image texture modeling for wood defect recognition using a stochastic field-based approach. In particular, it describes a parametric model-based method for studying the spatial stochastic processes -- wood grain textures, with each grain texture being modeled by a parametric random field model. A robust algorithm for parameter estimation is applied to obtain model parameters for individual defects occurring inside a log. By making use of the estimated model features, a simple minimum distance classifier is constructed to classify an unknown defect into one of the prototypical defects. Experimental results of the proposed method with CT images from red oaks are given to show the efficacy of the proposed approach.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rate of convergence of approximations of some convex functionals of stochastic differential equations

The rate of convergence of numerical methods for integration of some convex functionals of ordinary stochastic differential equations (SDEs) is discussed. In particular, we answer how rates of p-th mean convergence carry over to rates of weak convergence for non-smooth and convex functionals of SDEs. Qualitative behavior of some numerical approximations such as nonnegativity of balanced implicit Milstein methods (BMMs) is investigated as well. Nonstandard integration techniques such as partial- and linear-implicit ones seem to be the most promissing. As a main result we obtain some justification for the choice of approximation schemes of discounted price functionals and their ingredients of random interest rates and volatility processes involved in dynamic asset pricing.
Is the avian circadian system a neuroendocrine loop

Avian circadian organization is a result of a complex interaction of photoreceptive and oscillatory components. The known components include the pineal gland, the lateral eyes, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), and extraocular brain photoreceptors. The pathways by which these components integrate circadian rhythmicity suggest a neuroendocrine loop in which the SCN inhibits pineal and ocular oscillators during the course of subjective day via a multisynaptic neuronal pathway which includes the superior cervical ganglia (SCG). During the night, the pineal in turn inhibits SCN activity via its secretion of the hormone melatonin into the blood circulation. This neuroendocrine loop, it is proposed, synchronizes multiple oscillators within each component and maintains the stability and precision of the system.
The Online Academy Formative Evaluation Approach to Evaluating Online Instruction

The Online Academy (HO29K73002) was funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to develop online instructional modules in the content areas of reading, positive behavior support, and technology across the curriculum. Targeted to preservice teacher education programs in institutions of higher education (IHE), to date, the modules have been adopted for implementation by 162 institutions. A requirement of the funding agency was that the content of the modules be research based. A total of 75 lessons in 22 online modules and an authoring software tool were developed. Each module is approximately equivalent to a one-semester credit course. This paper describes the formative evaluation processes that were employed in creating the instructional design, design and production processes, content development, usability and navigational features of the modules, and the national implementation process.
A comparison of the effects of reward magnitude and deprivation level on resistance to extinction

In two experiments, effects of varying reward magnitude were compared with the effects of varying deprivation level. Resistance to extinction under low deprivation was found to be an increasing function of deprivation level during acquisition, whether partial or consistent reward was used, and an increasing function of reward magnitude if partial reward was used in acquisition. If consistent reward was used in acquisition, resistance to extinction was inversely related to acquisition reward magnitude. These experiments indicate that all of the effects of reward magnitude and deprivation level on performance cannot be explained by a single incentive mechanism. Two hypotheses that would account for the data are that reward-related stimuli have stronger control over responding than deprivation stimuli and/or that downshifts in reward size produce frustration, but deprivation shifts do not.
PATTERNS OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION IN WILDFLOWER POPULATIONS OF FIELDS AND WOODS

Fifty-two populations of fifty species of wildflowers characteristic of either field or deciduous forest were analyzed to determine pattens of biomass allocation to component organs. These populations' allocation patterns were used to determine generalized allocation patterns of the herb component of earlier (field) and later (deciduous forest) secondary successional communities. The following patterns were determined: (1) The proportion of dry matter allocated to seed reproductive organs was greater in field populations than in woods populations; (2) The herbs of woodland habitats allocated a greater proportion of their resources to leaves and belowground organs than field habitat herbs; (3) The field annuals allocated a greater proportion of their resources to reproduction than field perennials; (4) Introduced species showed a higher reproductive allocation than native species of fields; (5) Regression analysis showed strong correlations of component organ biomass to total biomass and belowground biomass to shoot biomass.
Safe operations of unmanned systems for reconnaissance in complex environments Army technology objective (SOURCE ATO): a year later

This paper examines the testbed autonomy system, software technologies developed or enhanced, and an overview of the Enhanced Experiment during the second year of the SOURCE ATO. Over the past year, the Safe Operations of Unmanned systems for Reconnaissance in Complex Environments (SOURCE) program continued to make enhancements to LADAR and image based Perception, Intelligence, Control and Tactical Behavior technologies. These are required for autonomous collaborative unmanned systems. The hardware and software technologies are installed on a TARDEC developed testbed, the Autonomous Platform Demonstrator (APD). Ultimately, soldiers will be utilized to conduct safe operation testing scenarios in cluttered dynamic environments using Autonomous Navigation System (ANS) perception and processing hardware as well as software. Soldier testing will take place during October 2012 at Camp Lejeune MOUT facility in North Carolina.
Do Inferior Vena Cava Filters Prevent Death From Pulmonary Embolism

For >4 decades, inferior vena cava (IVC) filters have been used in some fashion for the treatment or prevention of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) [(1)][1]. The rationale is straightforward: trapping venous thrombi in transit without interrupting venous flow would prevent them from obstructing the
Mononuclear cells from dogs with acute lung allograft rejection cause contraction of pulmonary arteries.

PURPOSE Experiments were designed to determine whether or not leukocytes activated by acute pulmonary rejection cause contractions of isolated pulmonary arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS Separate suspensions of (a) polymorphonuclear cells (> 95%) and (b) mononuclear cells (85% lymphocytes/10% monocytes/5% polymorphonuclear cells), respectively, were obtained from the arterial blood of four groups of adult male mongrel dogs: unoperated dogs (controls), dogs with single-lung autotransplants, dogs with rejecting single-lung allotransplants, and unoperated dogs treated with the same immunosuppressants as allotransplanted dogs. These suspensions were added to rings of control intralobar pulmonary arteries suspended in organ chambers for measurement of isometric force. The endothelium was removed mechanically from selected rings. No significant change in basal tension of pulmonary arterial rings occurred by adding suspensions of polymorphonuclear cells from any of the four groups of dogs. Significant cell-number-dependent increases in tension occurred with suspensions of mononuclear cells from unoperated dogs, autotransplanted dogs, and unoperated, medicated dogs. These increases in tension were less in rings with compared to those without endothelium. Addition of a synthetic analogue of L-arginine abolished this difference. Suspensions of mononuclear cells from rejecting allotransplanted dogs caused significantly greater contractions in rings with endothelium than those observed with suspended cells from either unoperated, autotransplanted dogs or unoperated, medicated dogs. Addition of superoxide dismutase plus catalase or an antagonist of endothelin-A receptors (BQ-123) reduced contractions in rings with endothelium but not in those without endothelium to suspensions of mononuclear cells from rejecting allotransplanted dogs. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that mononuclear cells cause contraction of pulmonary arteries, which can be partially inhibited by endothelium-derived nitric oxide. However, if the mononuclear cells are activated by acute pulmonary rejection, contractions are no longer inhibited by the endothelium. Under conditions of rejection, contractions are mediated in part by oxygen radicals and endothelin(s).
Microstructural modification of MoSi2 through aluminum additions

The objective of this work was to demonstrate the possibility of influencing one or more aspects of the microstructure of powder processed MoSi[sub 2] via in-situ displacement reactions. Since silica is frequently present in MoSi[sub 2] produced by powder processing followed by consolidation and is generally considered as an undesirable phase, an in-situ process that could eliminate silica was selected. There are three main routes to eliminate or control silica in powder processed MoSi[sub 2] namely (i) silica reduction via a suitable deoxidant, (ii) powder processing and consolidation in extremely clean conditions, and (iii) chemically etching the powder surface prior to consolidation under clean conditions. Although there are a number of elements that can reduce silica, aluminum was selected in this work since it has some solubility in MoSi[sub 2] and, when dissolved in larger amounts, it promotes the formation of the hexagonal (C40), alumino-silicide Mo(SiAl)[sub 2] phase.
The Good, the Bad, and the Invisible: A Critical Look at the MARO Report

American policy on genocide prevention often reads like a children's story or a screenplay for a Hollywood B-movie. The ''bad guys'' (the wolves) are committing horrific acts against innocent civilians (the sheep) out of sheer malice and can only be stopped by the ''good guys'' wearing the uniform of the US Army. The problem is that this approach not only dominates the media, but it has also become popular among academics. Many well-intentioned Americans, outraged at the human suffering shown on network news broadcasts, call for immediate action to ''stop genocide'' at any cost. And because of the media's political agenda, this usually means human rights abuses in the Sudan rather than in Colombia or Sri Lanka. However, this ''buy now'' televi- sion marketing of foreign policy is hardly conducive to serious academic discussions of such a complex and contradictory phenomenon as systematic mass murder.
The Use of Numeric and Non-Numeric Symbols by Preschool Children in Early Addition

This study investigated preschool children's use of numeric and non-numeric symbols in early addition to determine whether children who were successful at adding two sets of dots would be less successful when one or both of the addends were represented by numerals. The sample consisted of 40 children enrolled in a licensed, urban preschool in the midwestern United States. A mixed-methods design was employed. Children drew cards with either two sets of dots, two numerals, or one of each, and represented the total with dinosaur counters. Repeated-measures ANOVA and post-hoc testing showed children scoring significantly higher (p < .0001) when adding dot combinations than when adding combinations with numerals. Qualitative data revealed common error sources involving numerals.
AN EXPEKIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN PITUITARYADRENAL-GONAD RELATIONSHIPS*†

Among the results of experimental hypophysectomy in mammals are loss of weight, or, in the case of young animals, failure to increase in weight; loss of libido sexualis, cessation of estrus, or sexual infantilism; lessened spontaneous activity, lowered metabolism and lowered temperature (14, 7, 12). In amphibia the outstanding external features are a silvery appearance and a failure to undergo metamorphosis (1, 13). Autopsy of the hypophysectomized mammal shows atrophy of the thyroid, adrenal cortex, gonads and secondary sex organs, the thymus, and to a certain extent the kidneys, liver and spleen (15). It is apparent that the hypophysectomized animal is characterized not alone by absence of the pituitary but also by a marked reduction in size, and presumably also in function, of several other highly important endocrine glands.
Melting Around a Horizontal Heated Cylinder: Part II—Numerical Solution for Isothermal Boundary Condition

Solution numerique, utilisant une methode de transformation de coordonnees, du probleme de Stefan de la fusion autour d'un cylindre horizontal chaud isotherme
HUMMINGBIRD BEHAVIOR AND MECHANISMS OF SELECTION ON FLOWER COLOR IN IPOMOPSIS

Apparent associations between flower color and type of pollinator might be explained by correlations between color and other floral traits, rather than by narrow pol- linator preferences for color. To explore this possibility, we obtained flowers varying nat- urally in color, nectar reward, and morphology, from a hybrid zone between Ipomopsis aggregate and L tenuituba in western Colorado, United States. We used aviary and field experiments to study preferences of hummingbirds for unmanipulated flowers and for flow- ers in which we experimentally dissociated color from nectar reward and morphology. Hummingbirds preferred red flowers of L aggregate, which contain superior nectar rewards and have relatively broad corolla tubes, relative to flowers of L tenuituba, which are white, contain small nectar rewards, and have narrow tubes. There was no evidence of flower constancy. When presented with flowers differing only in color, birds showed a spontaneous preference for red. However, this preference could be reversed by making white flowers more rewarding than red. When plants of both parental species and their hybrids were placed in an array in the field, with all flowers painted red, hummingbirds preferred to visit the more rewarding, wider tubed L aggregate. These results suggest that pollinator-mediated selection could act on color, shape, and nectar separately. Experimental manipulations that dissociate these traits are essential to distinguish direct from correlated selection. Also, hummingbird selection favoring red flowers may result from past experience and, thus, may depend on the ecological context.
Indices of hemodynamic and respiratory functions in premature infants at risk for the development of cerebral white matter injury.

Indices of Hemodynamic and Respiratory Functions in Premature Infants at Risk for the Development of Cerebral White Matter Injury
Translocatable leaf signal autoregulates soybean nodulation

Abstract In soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), expression of the hypernodulation phenotype appears to be controlled by the shoot. The current study attempted to localize the source of the nodulation signal in soybean cv. Wiliams 82 and its hypernodulating mutant NOD1-3. Wedge grafts (replacement of entire shoot) and approach grafts (addition of a shoot) were utilized and the shoot (scion) treatments ranged from complete shoots to various combinations of leaf, cotyledon, and apex removal from the grafted scion. Leaf-bearing wedge-grafted or approach-grafted scion types dictated the nodulation phenotype of the host plant. Scions with more leaves were clearly more effective in altering nodulation. Scions with leaves and without apices were as effective in altering nodulation as were scions with both leaves and apices. This confirmed the report by Delves et al. (Plant Cell Environ., 15 (1992) 249–254), but in neither case are results definitive as new buds continued to form which may provide stimulus for nodulation control. Leaf and shoot cuttings which were stimulated to form roots were also examined for expression of nodulation. Leaf cuttings, which were devoid of any meristematic apices, exhibited nodulation phenotypes similar to that of the shoot cuttints, i.e. leaf and shoot cutting of Williams 82 were normally nodulated while those of NOD1-3 were hypernodulated. The leaf cutting approach definitively showed that the leaf, and not the apex, was the synthesis site of a translocatable signal controlling autoregulation of nodule number.
The Political Economy of Institutional Reform in Korea

In the aftermath of the economic crisis of 1997–98 South Korea has undertaken a number of major institutional reforms. What are these reforms? Why were they undertaken? What is the outcome of the reforms? In answering these questions this paper examines the influence that the ideas of political leaders on political economy had in setting forth the reform agenda and the role that various interest groups have played in implementing the reform. It argues that there was a shift in the developmental paradigm in the early 1980s, that the new paradigm guided reforms in Korea during the 1980s and 1990s but with initial conditions and interest politics influencing the implementation and actual outcome of reform, and that the post-crisis reform was a culmination of the reform process that began in the early 1980s.
Aligned array FETs as a route toward THz nanotube transistors

The development of nanowire and nanotube FETs for high frequency applications faces a challenge of impedance matching, due to the inherent mismatch between the resistance quantum (≈ 25 kΩ) typical of nanodevices, and the characteristic impedance of free space (≈ 377 Ω) typical of RF circuits. One possible solution is to use parallel nanotube or nanowire FETs to decrease the input impedance, and increase the drive current. In this paper, we present our progress towards this goal using aligned arrays of nanotube FETs. Initial studies on randomly oriented CVD grown devices give mobilities of 4 cm 2 /V-s. These initial devices carry ≈ 0.25 mA of current. Even higher mobilities (hence very high operational frequencies up to THz) should be possible with aligned nanotube FETs.
Adrenal steroid influences on the survival of hippocampal neurons

There are multiple mechanisms and agents involved in neuronal destruction or survival, and this article reviews some of the principal mechanisms and discusses them in relation to the contrasting effects of adrenal steroids on cell survival
Decarboxylation exchange reactions in flavonoid glycoside malonates

Abstract Flavonoid malonylglycosides lose carbon dioxide give the corresponding flavonoid acetylglycosides under conditions that are often used in determining their NMR spectra DMSO- d 6 , at 80–100°). If the solvent contains exchangeable deuterium the malonyl methylene protons may exchange trideuterioacetyl derivatives form. The NMR spectra of these substances should be run initially at ambient temperature in the absence of solvents containing exchangeable deuterium.
Computation of Multiphase Mixture Flows with Compressibility Effects

A time-marching computational fluid dynamics method is developed and applied to the computation of multiphase mixture flows. The model accounts for finite acoustic speeds in the constituent phases, which typically lead to transonic/supersonic flow and associated compressibility phenomena such as shock formation in the mixture region. Preconditioning or artificial compressibility methods are devised using perturbation theory to insure that the method retains efficiency and accuracy in both the incompressible and compressible flow regimes. The resulting algorithm is incorporated within an existing multiphase code, and several representative applications are used to demonstrate the capabilities of the method. In particular, our results suggest that the present compressible formulation provides an improved description of cavitation dynamics compared with previous incompressible computations.
Repair of alkylated DNA: Drosophila have DNA methyltransferases but not DNA glycosylases

DNA methyltransferase activity has been identified in crude extracts of Drosophila melanogaster pupae for the removal of methyl groups from O-6 methylguanine appearing in alkylated DNA. Additionally, N-7 methylguanine and 3 methyladenine appear to the uniquely susceptible to methyltransferase activity that resides in Drosophila pupae. Consistent with this, tests to detect DNA glycosylase activity for the repair of the latter two modified bases was unsuccessful, even though a substantial loss of methyl groups from these bases was observed. Conversely, the repair of methylated purines was not detected in extracts of Drosophila embryos. The removal of methyl groups from methylated purines was dependent upon incubation temperature and was proportional to the amount of protein added to reaction mixtures. Results indicate that the methyl group is attached to protein during the repair of methylated DNA, suggesting that it is similar to the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase identified in other organisms. Although other explanations are possible, the inability to detect DNA glycosylase activity suggests that Drosophila may not rely on base excision repair for the removal of modified or nonconventional basis in DNA.
Mass transfer enhancement in microchannel reactors by reorientation of fluid interfaces and stretching

Abstract The poor mixing in microchannel reactors, most especially in liquid-phase reactions, primarily due to the inherently diffusion-dominated laminar flow characteristic of microreactors has attracted the attention of many researchers. The aim of this research study is to investigate mass transfer enhancement in microchannel reactors, through a theoretical mixing study of the currently utilized standard, single-channel T-junction configuration as well as four proposed multi-channel, microreactor configurations. The mass transfer enhancement in the proposed configurations is achieved via ‘reorientation and stretching of fluid interfaces’ by imposing some geometric constraints on these microreactor configurations. These configurations are studied for their mixing performance by performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of pulse tracer and flow visualization experiments, and using residence time distribution (RTD) and species mass fraction distribution (SMFD) as mixing characterization measures, respectively. Based on the criteria of low pressure drop as well as high mixing performance, the best enhanced-mixing configuration is identified and subsequently optimized. This theoretical study on laminar mixing problem in micromixers/reactors shows CFD simulations as a very useful tool for the design and optimization of micromixing/reaction configurations.
Test of hypotheses in panel data models when the regressor and disturbances are possibly non-stationary

This paper considers the problem of hypothesis testing in a simple panel data regression model with random individual effects and serially correlated disturbances. Following Baltagi et al. (Econom. J. 11:554–572, 2008), we allow for the possibility of non-stationarity in the regressor and/or the disturbance term. While Baltagi et al. (Econom. J. 11:554–572, 2008) focus on the asymptotic properties and distributions of the standard panel data estimators, this paper focuses on testing of hypotheses in this setting. One important finding is that unlike the time-series case, one does not necessarily need to rely on the “super-efficient” type AR estimator by Perron and Yabu (J. Econom. 151:56–69, 2009) to make an inference in the panel data. In fact, we show that the simple t-ratio always converges to the standard normal distribution, regardless of whether the disturbances and/or the regressor are stationary.
Design and test of a passive planar labyrinth micromixer for rapid fluid mixing

Abstract In this paper, we explore the possibility of improving the efficiency of Dean vortex-based mixers by only employing smooth-walled simple two-dimensional (2D) geometries. Numerical simulation results reveal that the symmetries of Dean flows in the prevalent “S-shaped” mixers can be broken up by adding a simple 180° turn between two consecutive curved channels. A planar labyrinth micromixer that is composed of multiple such mixing units is designed for improved mixing. The mixer is fabricated in a single lithography step and the labyrinth has a footprint of 7.32 mm × 7.32 mm. Experiments using fluorescein isothiocyanate solutions and deionized water demonstrate that our design achieves fast and uniform mixing within 9.8 s to 32 ms for Reynolds numbers (Re) between 2.5 and 30. For the first time, multiple fluid bands are observed at Re = 5 in a simple 2D microchannel design without using obstructions or split-and-recombine features. An inverse relationship between mixing length and mass transfer Peclet number (Pe) is observed. Due to the simple planar structure, the micromixer can be easily integrated into lab-on-a-chip devices where passive mixing is needed.
Calculated Temperature Dependence of Mobility in Silicon Inversion Layers

Calculations of the temperature dependence of mobility have been carried out for silicon (001) inversion layers in which Coulomb scattering and surface roughness scattering, but not phonon scattering, are included. The wave-vector and temperature dependence of screening contribute to a temperature-dependent part of the scattering rate that increases approximately linearly with temperature from 0 to 40 K. The results are supported by recent experiments of Cham and Wheeler.
A principle for convergent upper and lower bounds

Summary A principle relating to convergent upper and lower bounds in certain continuous boundary value problems is presented. The procedure is discussed in detail for a fin temperature problem in which there is internal heat generation. A numerical example is considered, and numerical and graphical results are given. Convergence characteristics are shown
Countercurrent extraction of the rare-earth acetylacetonates

Abstract The countercurrent distribution behaviour of the rare-earth acetylacetonates in different solvent systems has been studied. Solubilities of the chelates in various solvents were determined in order to obtain data on the partition coefficients. The hydrated rare-earth acetylacetonates hydrolyze upon dissolving in benzene. Excess acetylacetone prevents hydrolysis and lowers the solubility of the chelates in the organic phase. A four-component system using acetylacetone, chloroform, methanol and water was developed. The acetylacetone in the chloroform phase suppressed hydrolysis and the methanol in the aqueous phase increased the solubilities of the chelates by a factor of ten over the solubilities in the water-acetylacetone system.
Bad Science, Bad Policy?

The gist of Gerald R. Fink's editorial “Bureaucrats save lives” ([1 Mar., p. 1213][1]) is that, in 1977, National Science Foundation (NSF) administrator Herman Lewis found a way to circumvent the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recombinant DNA guidelines' prohibition on doing certain cloning experiments in yeast. Fink writes that he and his co-workers were able to do the experiments literally years before they would have been able to otherwise, which accelerated research leading to the ultimate development of a much improved, second-generation hepatitis B vaccine (of which I was one of the Food and Drug Administration reviewers). Other U.S. researchers who lacked a governmental good Samaritan were stymied for years by regressive, unnecessarily restrictive federal regulatory policies, delaying all manner of important research. Using the Lewis anecdote as an example of the exception that proves the rule, Fink could have observed that bad science makes bad policy, and bad policy has real-world impacts. While scientifically oriented institutions like NIH and NSF may, indeed, have “a legion of gifted public servants who possess invaluable knowledge and experience gained at the forefront of science,” there are precious few at the regulatory agencies, and their policies often reflect it. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.271.5253.1213
On the photoconductivity of vitreous GeO2

Abstract Photoconductivity experiments on vitreous GeO 2 were carried out and the results are described in terms of current models. The photocurrent was measured as a function of wavelength, frequency of the applied field and sample temperature. The derivative of the photocurrent with respect to wavelength was measured by a modulation technique and the results are compared with optical absorption data. The current-voltage relation appears to be non-Ohmic and there is evidence for a space charge controlled conductivity process.
An Integrated Decision Analysis for the Sustainable Product Design

Engineering designers consider many aspects surrounding a product’s life in order to meet safety, reliability, quality, manufacturing, and cost requirements. Most of the time this is done in an excellent way and the resulting products offers broad functionality with high quality and reasonable price. However serious considerations of integration of environmental requirements are often missed in the product development process. All products contribute to a range of environmental problems. These problems arise through the entire life cycle of products from the creation to the disposal of products. Design for environment (DfE) is the systematic consideration of design performance with respect to environmental, health, and safety objectives over the full product and process life-cycle. It takes place early in a product’s design or upgrade phase to ensure that the environmental consequences of a product’s life cycle are considered. The key issue to success is how to select the most appropriate and effective strategy for a particular product to reduce environmental impacts without disregarding the business strategies in the decision making process. In this paper, a general framework is proposed to integrate the life cycle assessment and decision analysis for prioritizing the design for environment strategy by considering uncertainty issues exist in the decision making process. A case study is illustrated focusing in the product upgrade phase. The ultimate goal is to provide a design advisory tool for product designers in the hopes of facilitating their complex decision making processes by considering the environmental issues in mind.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Designing testable, heterogeneous software environments

Abstract Over the last 8 years, our group has focused on developing techniques for designing, testing, and evaluating several new computer technologies, including knowledge-based systems (KBSs). However, even as we speak, the technologies that we need to contend with are changing; rarely to these new technologies come alone. Instead, we are in an era where the problems we are working on demand large software environments with tool sets and libraries composed of often very different types of components. We see fuzzy controllers combined with knowledge bases and neural nets, and all of these combined with standard graphic programs, user interfaces, computer algorithms, spreadsheet programs, editors, data base management systems, etc. In this article we introduce a methodology for constructing large heterogeneous software environments in such a way as to make them “testable” and maintainable. The article is divided into two parts. First, we introduce our “wrapping” approach to engineering software environments. In wrapping, we create machine-processable descriptions for all the software resources in a system. These descriptions include not only the usual protocol and input requirements for applying a software resource, but also metaknowledge about the appropriate content for applying a resource and adapting a resource to different problems. In the second part of the article, we briefly review the verification and validation methods we have developed for testing KBSs, discuss how these methods can be directly applied to the data bases that hold the “wrappings,” and use the verification and validation methods to analyze a simple example.
The Influence of Sn Orientation on Intermetallic Compound Evolution in Idealized Sn-Ag-Cu 305 Interconnects: an Electron Backscatter Diffraction Study of Electromigration

Previous research showed the relationship between Sn grain orientation and the intermetallic growth rate in Sn-Ag-Cu (SAC)305 interconnects. Samples with the Sn c-axis aligned parallel to the current flow have an intermetallic compound growth rate significantly faster than samples with the c-axis perpendicular to the current flow. This study continues the previous research by investigating intermetallic growth in polygranular joints and in joints that have a thin Ni layer at the cathodic or anodic interface of the interconnect. Planar SAC305 interconnects were sandwiched between two Cu pads (sometimes incorporating a thin Ni layer at the interface) and subjected to uniaxial current. The crystallographic orientation of Sn in these samples was characterized with electron backscatter diffraction before and after electromigration testing. The results show that polycrystalline joints have relatively slow intermetallic growth rates, close to those found in single-crystal joints with the c-axis perpendicular to the current. When a Ni layer was present on the anode side, the intermetallic grew at a rate comparable to that in samples without a Ni layer. However, when the Ni layer was on the cathode side, the intermetallic growth was significantly retarded. The measured growth rates of the intermetallic, combined with literature values for the diffusion of Cu in Sn, were used to calculate values for the effective charge, z*, which is significantly smaller for samples with current parallel to the c-axis than for either polycrystalline samples or samples with the c-axis perpendicular to the electron flow.
Surgical management of malignant colorectal polyps

The anatomic landmarks of the depth of invasion for pedunculated lesions (Haggitt level) and the Sm system for the sessile lesions give excellent objective information in the management of malignant colorectal polyps. Malignant polyps with low risk of lymph node metastasis include pedunculated lesions with invasion into Haggitt levels 1, 2, and 3. Level 4 pedunculated lesions and sessile lesions in which the invasion is into Sm1 or Sm2 level also have low risk if there are no adverse factors. These lesions can be treated by a complete local excision. Lesions that have high risk of lymph node metastasis are those with invasion into the lower third of the submucosa (Sm3), lesions that contain lymphovascular invasion, and lesions sited in the lower third of the rectum. These lesions require an oncologic colorectal resection. For lesions in the distal third of the rectum, a per anal full-thickness excision followed by an adjuvant chemoradiation may be an alternative. The box below summarizes malignant colorectal polyps requiring oncologic bowel resections:
Efficacy of an aiming device for the placement of distal interlocking screws in trochanteric fixation nailing.

Introduction Locked intramedullary nailing continues to be the surgical treatment of choice for most long bone fractures. Performing distal interlocks can be a technical challenge. Free hand (FH) technique remains to be most popular. Radiation exposure, particularly to the surgeon still remains a concern with this technique.
Lac repressor–operator interaction: N‐terminal peptide backbone 1H and 15N chemical shifts upon complex formation with DNA

When the lac repressor tetramer is bound to its DNA operator, methylation protection shows the nearly symmetric operator half-sites are contracted asymmetrically. This asymmetric binding results from the DNA sequence/structure. The reported structure of lac repressor N-terminal fragment and an 11 base-pair operator left half-site provides no information concerning the effect of asymmetric binding, from left operator half-site to right half-site, upon the polypeptide backbone. We isolated uniformly 15N labeled 56 amino acid wild-type (HP56WT) and 64 residue mutant [Pro3 > Tyr3] (HP64tyr3) lac repressor N-terminal DNA binding fragments for 1H/15N NMR studies with the left and right operators separately. Spectral coincidence of these longer fragments, indicating structural similarity with a protease derived 51 amino acid fragment for which the amide correlations are assigned, allows for assignment of the common amide resonances. For both HP56WT and HP64tyr3, spectral overlap of the amide correlation peaks reveals the polypeptide backbones of the uncomplexed polypeptides are structurally similar. Likewise the complexes of the peptides to the 11 base-pair lac left operator half-site are similar. On the other hand, complexes of HP56WT and the left compared to the right lac operator half-site show different residues of the polypeptide are affected by binding different half-sites of the operator. Thus, the DNA sequence/structure transmits asymmetry to the polypeptide backbone of the interacting protein.
Toward automatic subpixel registration of unmanned airborne vehicle images

Many applications require to register images within subpixel accuracy like computer vision especially super-resolution (SR) where the estimated subpixel shifts are very crucial in the reconstruction and restoration of SR images. In our work we have an optical sensor that is mounted on an unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) and captures a set of images that contain sufficient overlapped area required to reconstruct a SR image. Due to the wind, The UAV may encounter rotational effects such as yaw, pitch and roll which can distort the acquired as well as processed images with shear, tilt or perspective distortions. In this paper we propose a hybrid algorithm to register these UAV images within subpixel accuracy to feed them in a SR reconstruction step. Our algorithm consists of two steps. The first step uses scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) to correct the distorted images. Because the resultant images are not registered to a subpixel precision, the second step registers the images using a fast Fourier transform (FFT) based method that is both efficient and robust to moderate noise and lens optical blur. Our FFT based method reduces the dimensionality of the Fourier matrix of the cross correlation and uses a forward and backward search in order to obtain an accurate estimation of the subpixel shifts. We discuss the relation between the dimensionality reduction factors and the image shifts as well as propose criteria that can be used to optimally select these factors. Finally, we compare the results of our approach to other subpixel techniques in terms of their efficiency and computational speed.
Performance of seeds embedded in hydroxyethyl cellulose sheets

Abstract To prepare “seed sheets”, seeds of cultivar ‘Heinz 1350’ tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and cultivar ‘Kewpie Orange’ celosia (Celosia cristata L.) were placed at 1.5 × 1.5 cm spacing in drying solutions of 5% (wt./vol.) hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC, Natrosol 250 LR™) plasticized with 0.35% (vol.vol.) triacetin. After planting in a peat-lite medium, emergence characteristics and seedling shoot weights from unprimed and primed seeds stored in the sheets for 4 weeks were similar to those of seeds not stored in sheets. After 4 weeks of storage in HEC sheets, primed tomato seeds (−1 MPa polyethylene glycol, 15°C, 1 week) gave earlier seedling emergence and greater seedling shoot fresh weight than unprimed seeds stored for 4 weeks in HEC sheets. Whilst 200–1600 mg N l−1 in the HEC had no effect on tomato seedling emergence or shoot fresh weight, 1600 mg N 1−1 reduced the rate and synchrony of celosia seedling emergence. “Seed sheets” prepared from HEC provided a rapid and practicable means of sowing many seeds at predetermined spacing.
Detection of Staphylococcus aureus using 15N-labeled bacteriophage amplification coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A novel approach to rapid bacterial detection using an isotopically labeled (15)N bacteriophage and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is introduced. Current phage amplification detection (PAD) via mass spectrometric analysis is limited because host bacteria must be inoculated with low phage titers in such a way that initial infecting phage concentrations must be below the detection limit of the instrument, thus lengthening incubation times. Additionally, PAD techniques cannot distinguish inoculate input phage from output phage which can increase the possibility of false positive results. Here, we report a rapid and accurate PAD approach for identification of Staphylococcus aureus via detection of bacteriophage capsid proteins. This approach uses both a wild-type (14)N and a (15)N-isotopically labeled S. aureus-specific bacteriophage. High (15)N phage titers, above our instrument's detection limits, were used to inoculate S. aureus. MALDI-TOF MS detection of the (14)N progeny capsid proteins in the phage-amplified culture indicated the presence of the host bacteria. Successful phage amplification was observed after 90 min of incubation. The amplification was observed by both MALDI-TOF MS analysis and by standard plaque assay measurements. This method overcomes current limitations by improving analysis times while increasing selectivity when compared to previously reported PAD methodologies.
Optimization of real phase-mask performance

Classical phase mask lithography designs can be understood by the application of Fourier optics to the phase mask pattern. For maximum resolution, the mask design for a circularly symmetric contact hole will have a Fourier pattern with most of the energy near the edge of the system aperture. The inverse Fourier transform of an ideal annular Fourier plane pattern is the Bessel function, Jo. This function consists of a central lobe and an infinite number of rings, with each ring having equal energy and alternating phase shifts. This function is a solution to the wave equation in cylindrical coordinates. A characteristic of this solution is that the field has the same transverse profile, independent of the position along the axis. Therefore, the diameter of the central lobe of an ideal Bessel beam will have infinite depth of focus. Although approximations to such diffraction free beams have been reported for coherent light, the depth of focus depends on the number of outer lobes of the Bessel function that can be produced. Practical mask design and imperfect coherence limit the number of lobes that are actually useful. However, a coarse approximation to the Bessel beam can be created with only one or two phase shifted lobes. This is what is attempted in the optimized "outrigger" patterns. The ideal design, however, is one in which one phase- edge is placed at the zero of the Jo function, and a second is placed so that the power in the outer lobe approximates that of the Bessel function. Masks were fabricated with such designs, and the wafer exposures show that the image is significantly brighter than with other techniques, and the depth of focus is also significantly increased.
Relativistic corrections to the Bethe sum rule.

Relativistic corrections to the Bethe sum rule have been obtained for a one-electron system. The relativistic sum is first derived assuming completeness by employing the Dirac Hamiltonian. Then, a semirelativistic approach to order v-squared/c-squared is presented following the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation scheme to exclude the contributions from the negative-energy states. The results have wide applications in high-Z systems at large momentum transfers.
Bifurcation, perturbation of simple eigenvalues, itand linearized stability

Abstract : The eigenvalue of minimum modulus of the Frechet derivative of a nonlinear operator is estimated along a bifurcating curve of zeroes of the operator. This result is applied to the study of a number of differential equations. Parallel results are developed for a class of nonlinear eigenvalue problems of positive type. (Author)
Apparent Concentration Quenching of Morphine Fluorescence

Fundamental fluorescence equations were examined. Deviations from the theoretical were observed by varying the light path length to determine effects on "apparent" fluorescence. It was found that the decrease in emission of morphine solutions with the increase in concentration was caused by absorption effects that prevented excitation of the whole system.