cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retinol binding protein IV purified from Escherichia coli using intein-mediated cleavage as a suitable replacement for serum sources

Retinol binding protein IV (RBP) functions as the principal carrier of retinol (Vitamin A) in the blood, where RBP circulates bound to another serum protein, transthyretin. Isolation of pure RBP from the transthyretin complex in human serum can be difficult, but expression of RBP in recombinant systems can circumvent these purification issues. Human recombinant RBP has previously been successfully expressed and purified from E. coli, but recovery of active protein typically requires extensive processing steps, such as denaturing and refolding, and complex purification steps, such as multi-modal chromatography. Furthermore, these methods produce recombinant proteins, often tagged, that display different functional and structural characteristics across systems. In this work, we optimized downstream processing by use of an intein-based expression system in E. coli to produce tag-free, human recombinant RBP (rRBP) with intact native amino termini at yields of up to ~15 mg/L off column. The novel method requires solubilization of inclusion bodies and subsequent oxidative refolding in the presence of retinol, but importantly allows for one-step chromatographic purification that yields high purity rRBP with no N-terminal Met or other tag. Previously reported purification methods typically require two or more chromatographic separation steps to recover tag-free rRBP. Given the interest in mechanistic understanding of RBP transport of retinol in health and disease, we characterized our purified product extensively to confirm rRBP is both structurally and functionally a suitable replacement for serum-derived RBP.
Identifying epilepsy psychiatric comorbidities with machine learning.

Objective People with epilepsy are at increased risk for mental health comorbidities. Machine-learning methods based on spoken language can detect suicidality in adults. This study's purpose was to use spoken words to create machine-learning classifiers that identify current or lifetime history of comorbid psychiatric conditions in teenagers and young adults with epilepsy. Materials and methods Eligible participants were >12 years old with epilepsy. All participants were interviewed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) or the MINI Kid Tracking and asked five open-ended conversational questions. N-grams and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) word categories were used to construct machine learning classification models from language harvested from interviews. Data were analyzed for four individual MINI identified disorders and for three mutually exclusive groups: participants with no psychiatric disorders, participants with non-suicidal psychiatric disorders, and participants with any degree of suicidality. Performance was measured using areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AROCs). Results Classifiers were constructed from 227 interviews with 122 participants (7.5 ± 3.1 minutes and 454 ± 299 words). AROCs for models differentiating the non-overlapping groups and individual disorders ranged 57%-78% (many with P Discussion and conclusion Machine-learning classifiers of spoken language can reliably identify current or lifetime history of suicidality and depression in people with epilepsy. Data suggest identification of anxiety and bipolar disorders may be achieved with larger data sets. Machine-learning analysis of spoken language can be promising as a useful screening alternative when traditional approaches are unwieldy (eg, telephone calls, primary care offices, school health clinics).
Innovation for seapower: U.S. Navy strategy in an age of acceleration

A call for innovation as a means to outpace the acceleration of technological change and to bolster capabilities quickly is a central theme of contemporary U.S. Naval Strategy. The need for innovat...
Math track placement and reflected classroom appraisals are related to changes in early adolescents’ math self-concept

Self-perception of academic competence is a strong predictor of students’ achievement striving. We examined adolescents’ beliefs about their math teachers’ perceptions of students (reflected classr...
Processing-Structure-Property Relations for Radiation Tolerance of Relaxor-Ferroelectric Thin Films

This work investigates the role of microstructure on the radiation tolerance of relaxor-ferroelectric, lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate, thin films for piezoelectric microelectromechanical system (MEMS) applications. Thin films comprised of 0.7Pb[Mg1/3Nb2/3]O3-0.3PbTiO3 were fabricated via chemical solution deposition on platinized silicon wafers. Processing parameters, i.e., pyrolysis and annealing temperatures and durations, were varied to change the microstructure of the films. The functional response of the films was characterized before and after exposure to gamma radiation [up to 10 Mrad(Si)]. Within the total ionization dose studied, all films showed a <5% change in dielectric response and polarization and <15% change in piezoelectric response, after irradiation. While all films showed substantial radiation tolerance, those with large columnar grains showed the highest dielectric and piezoelectric response and, therefore, might offer the best approach for enabling piezoelectric MEMS devices for applications in radiative environments.
Allopurinol versus febuxostat hypersensitivity reactions in the US elderly: differences in study outcomes and populations. Response to: 'Correspondence to "Hypersensitivity reactions with allopurinol and febuxostat: a study using the Medicare claims data' by Ma et al.

We appreciate the interest and comments by Dr Ma and colleagues1 on our recent publication.2 Not surprisingly, our study results differ from their previous study.3 We agree with their point regarding the differences in the definition of the main study outcome and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes used to define them and discussed it in our paper.2 We examined the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions using two previously published validated algorithms by Strom et al and Wright et al compared with their ICD algorithms to define cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions;3 we are unable to locate the accuracy statistics of their algorithms in this publication. Differences in study findings with regard to the risk of these adverse outcomes with allopurinol and febuxostat indicate that in future studies, both types of definitions (ours and theirs) need to be examined simultaneously. This would …
Perioperative management of patients with hip fractures and COVID-19: A single institution's early experiences.

• Good perioperative outcomes seen in patients with COVID-19 that underwent hip fracture repair after 48 hours of admission • Short cephalomedullary nailing should be strongly considered over long nail for symptomatic COVID-19 patients. • Regional anesthesia is preferred over general anesthesia in COVID-19 patients with hip fracture. • COVID-19 affects the immune system by releasing inflammatory proteins that can cause multiorgan failure. • Surgical repair should be reserved for patients with either mild or moderate COVID-19 infection.
Automated inspection in robotic additive manufacturing using deep learning for layer deformation detection

In this paper, an automated layer defect detection system for construction 3D printing is proposed. Initially, a step-by-step procedure is implemented to develop a deep convolutional neural network that receives images as input and is able to distinguish concrete layers from other surrounding objects through semantic pixel-wise segmentation. Using data augmentation techniques, 1M labeled images are generated and used to train and test the CNN model. Then, a defect detection module is developed which is able to detect deformations in the printed concrete layers extracted from the images using the CNN model. The evaluation results based on metrics such as accuracy, F1 score, and miss rate verify the acceptable performance of the developed system.
A Study of the Scrumage Teaching Approach: Student Learning and Attitude Changes

Best practices for teaching a diverse population include incorporating several modes of instruction, providing a variety of resources, and encouraging collaboration. However, traditional classroom management does not necessarily support these best practices. Scrumage (SCRUM for AGile Education) is a recently proposed classroom management technique in which students are given autonomy to choose individually from a variety of pedagogies (e.g., traditional lectures, active learning, a flipped-based approach, etc.), resulting in multiple simultaneous pedagogical methods in a single course. In addition, students in a Scrumage classroom must frequently reflect on the effects of their choices. In this work, we compare Scrumage and traditional sections of an introductory programming course. Scrumage students showed improved attitudes about learning, especially in the areas of Effort Regulation (perseverance in problem solving) and Control of Learning (taking responsibility for learning success). We believe that by promoting positive attitude changes and better content learning, Scrumage has potential for widening the retention of students in Computer Science.
Component Causes of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis—Non-Moraxella Organisms in the Epidemiology of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is a multifactorial disease complex caused by opportunistic pathogens, classically those members of the genus Moraxella. However, IBK in some situations is associated with other potentially pathogenic agents, which include Mycoplasma bovoculi, Mycoplasma bovis, Ureaplasma diversum, bovine herpesviruses, and Chlamydia sp. Ocular infections that may resemble IBK are also caused by Listeria monocytogenes. These agents and their association with IBK are reviewed in this article.
Business responses to environmental and social protection policies: toward a framework for analysis

This conceptual paper seeks to advance neo-institutional work that has tradi- tionally portrayed environmental and social protection policies as constraints followed by businesses. Drawing from the policy sciences literature, we propose that in the United States, businesses tend to show increasing resistance as the protective policy process moves from initiation to selection and growing cooperation thereafter. Most importantly, we also contribute to the neo-institutional theory literature by positing that this inverted U-shaped policy process-business response relationship proposed for the U.S. context may be moderated by variations in the level of democracy, system of interest representation, regulatory approach, and national income.
Cost–Benefit with Risk Analysis

There are a myriad of methods that are available in calculating the design added value (DAV) of given design features. The central methodology we recommend for this purpose is cost–benefit analysis with risk. In this chapter, our mission is to describe specific techniques to implement classic cost–benefit analysis methods that can be effective in analyzing DAV features.
Blast Injury to the Hand: Assessing the Injury Pattern and Functional Outcome of the Thumb.

Background In the United States, approximately 30% of about 10,000 annual blast injuries involve the hand, causing a broad spectrum of injury severity. The first web space is typically most severely affected. As the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is critical to the unique function of the thumb, we evaluated typical patterns of injury to this joint, subsequent salvageability and functional outcomes of the thumb. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review on patients with blast injuries to the hand from January 1995 through July 2019 and excluded penetrating trauma. We assessed hand function as reported in occupational therapy records. Injury severity was classified independently by structures. Results Twenty-one patients were included, two with bilateral injuries, for a total of 23 hands. Eighteen patients had injuries to one or both thumbs, for a total of 20 thumbs evaluated. Average follow-up was 1.58 years. Most injuries qualified as severe in at least one category: soft tissue, neurovascular, or bone/joint. All 10 CMC joint dislocations required surgical fixation and pinning. Eight patients had applicable occupational therapy notes available. Severely injured thumbs had statistically significant decreased range of motion (ROM) at the interphalangeal joint, metacarpophalangeal joint and with radial abduction compared to mildly injury thumbs (P value 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, respectively). Conclusions Blast injury to the hand often results in severe deficits, frequently affecting thumb functionality and irreversibly altering occupational capabilities. Half the patients studied had severe damage to the thumb CMC joint. Objectively, severely injured thumbs had significantly worse ROM than mildly injured thumbs.
The General Orthogonal Expansions

In this and the following two chapters, we shall depart from the typical Gibbs phenomenon in the trigonometric polynomials and the truncated Fourier integrals approximations of functions with jump discontinuities. We will cover similar Gibbs phenomenon in the truncated, orthogonal expansion, or general integral transforms representations of functions with jump discontinuities.
Elimination of redundancy in ontologies

Ontologies may contain redundancy in terms of axioms that logically follow from other axioms and that could be removed for the sake of consolidation and conciseness without changing the overall meaning. In this paper, we investigate methods for removing such redundancy from ontologies. We define notions around redundancy and discuss typical cases of redundancy and their relation to ontology engineering and evolution. We provide methods to compute irredundant ontologies both indirectly by calculating justifications, and directly by utilising a hitting set tree algorithm and module extraction techniques for optimization. Moreover, we report on experimental results on removing redundancy from existing ontologies available on the Web.
Association of integrated metabolic pathways with membranes. II. Electron micrographic studies on glycolytically active preparations from erythrocytes.

Abstract Electron micrographic evidence is presented for the membranous character of glycolytically active particulate fractions isolated from beef erythrocytes. The preparations are characterized by ribbon-like forms, and it is suggested that these forms are membranous tubules. These tubules are attached to bulbar appendages, and sonic irradiation leads to augmented anastomoses between the vesicular (bulbar) and tubular membranes. The tubular forms apparently persist after disaggregation and reassembly of the membranes by a sequence of pH adjustments. A granular surface appearance of the original preparation is accentuated after the pH adjustment procedure. The tubular forms, but not the granular surface appearance, survive extraction of residual hemoglobin and glycolytic enzymes from the membranes. It is suggested that the glycolytic complex of enzymes, together possibly with hemoglobin, may be attached to the interior surface of the erythrocyte stroma as “headpiece” subunits.
Subunit Structure and Chemical Properties of Rabbit Liver Aldolase

Abstract A simple procedure for the isolation of large quantities of crystalline fructose diphosphate aldolase from rabbit livers is described. The enzyme is homogeneous as judged by its electrophoretic and sedimentation behavior. Molecular weight determinations by sedimentation analysis and gel filtration yield a value of 158,000. Upon treatment with guanidine hydrochloride or sodium dodecyl sulfate the enzyme dissociates into monomers of molecular weight of approximately 39,000, indicating a tetrameric quaternary structure. Although the molecular weight and quaternary structure of liver aldolase are similar to those of the muscle enzyme, the two enzymes differ significantly in their chemical properties. The amino acid composition of liver aldolase is distinctly different from that of the muscle enzyme especially with respect to methionine, serine, and aromatic amino acids. Digestion with carboxypeptidase A, as well as hydrazinolysis, indicates that the carboxyl-terminal amino acid is glycine, whereas the carboxyl-terminal residue in the muscle enzyme is tyrosine. Subsequent amino acids liberated by carboxypeptidase also differ from those released from the muscle enzyme. These differences in the COOH-terminal regions of the liver and muscle aldolases may represent a structural basis for their different catalytic properties.
Insulin-like growth factor-I regulates transcription of the elastin gene

Neonatal rat aortic smooth muscle cell cultures were used to investigate the mechanisms by which insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) up-regulates aortic elastogenesis. The addition of IGF-I (50 ng/ml) to quiescent smooth muscle cell cultures resulted in a 5-fold increase in the steady-state levels of tropoelastin mRNA beginning between 2 and 4 h and reaching maximal levels at 8 h. Addition of cycloheximide blocked the effect of IGF-I. Nuclear run-on transcription analyses of nuclei isolated from IGF-I-treated cells showed increased synthesis of new tropoelastin transcripts indicating that transcriptional activation is a major component of IGF-I up-regulation. Transient transfections with deletion constructs containing different portions of the elastin 5'-upstream region localized the IGF-I-responsive area to sequences between -195 and -136 base pairs and further showed that this region contains a negative element. Gel retardation assays using nuclear proteins extracted from control and IGF-I-treated cells demonstrated that IGF-I treatment results in the loss of binding complexes. Footprint analyses of specific binding complexes affected by IGF-I show the deprotection of two closely positioned sequences spanning positions -165 to -137 base pairs. These results suggest that IGF-I up-regulation of elastogenesis involves the abrogation of a negative element functionality.
Computer proof, apriori knowledge, and other minds: The sixth Philosophical Perspectives lecture

Soulevant la question de la justification empirique et de la justification a priori de la croyance en un theoreme prouve par ordinateur, l'A. developpe une approche rationaliste de la distinction entre la dependance epistemique de l'acquisition de l'information et la dependance epistemique de la justification de notre comprehension de l'information dans le cadre d'une communication avec un interlocuteur. Examinant la notion d'aprioricite et exposant ses presupposes sur la connaissance individuelle des mathematiques, l'A. montre que la question de la justification empirique d'une preuve informatique est lie au probleme de la connaissance des autres esprits et de l'objectivite des perspectives de la premiere et de la troisieme personne
Testing the performance of delta-sigma ADCs

Available test techniques and their suitability for testing delta-sigma analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are reviewed. Two commonly-used dynamic tests, sine-wave curve fitting and discrete finite Fourier transform analysis, are discussed in some detail. It is noted that conventional ADC performance measures such as peak error and integral and differential nonlinearity are not readily applicable to delta-sigma ADCs that employ feedback and oversampling. The sinusoidal minimum-error test method for delta-sigma ADCs, described by B.E. Boser (1988), which is based on spectral estimation techniques, is reviewed. With this method, the error at the output of a converter is determined by minimizing the power of the difference between the output signal and a template comprising a sinusoid at the frequency of the input signal, a DC offset, and explicitly evaluated harmonics. The method is compared with sine wave fitting. >
Computing Equilibria of N-Player Games with Arbitrary Accuracy,

From a variant of Kuhn's triangulation we derive a discrete version of the Global Newton Method that yields an epsilon-equilibrium of an N-player game and then sequentially reduces epsilon toward zero to obtain any desired precision or the best precision for any number of iterations.
It's Not Education by Zip Code Anymore--But What is It? Conceptions of Equity under the Common Core.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a standards-based reform in which 45 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have agreed to participate. The reform seeks to anchor primary and secondary education across these states in one set of demanding, internationally-benchmarked standards. Thereby, all students will be prepared for further learning and work in a competitive global economy regardless of the sociodemographic variation associated with their “zip code,” that is, the location of their neighborhood or school. This article examines the role and meaning of equity within the Common Core at a level beyond “zip code.” It does so using data from interviews with Common Core policy entrepreneurs and qualitative analysis of interview data. Findings are considered against a conceptual framework of equal, equalizing, and expansive views of equity. The findings indicate that policy entrepreneurs hold primarily an equal view of equity, in accord with meritocratic and functional purposes of schooling, more so than equalizing or expansive views. The latter views emphasize compensatory purposes that focus on narrowing achievement gaps. From this analysis, we identify the paradox of equity in education policy: The successful launch of a policy that relies on existing paradigms of standards-based reform and an equal conception of equity helps tether educational outcomes to student background.
Campaign Finance Reform and the 1994 Congressional Elections

Based on partisan arguments regarding the likely effect of campaign finance reform on electoral competition, one might suspect that, had spending limits been in place prior to the 1994 midterm elections, Republicans would not have been able to gain control of the House of Representatives. To examine this proposition, we first create a regression model designed to explain the Democratic percentage of the vote as a function of candidate spending, incumbency, nonincumbent candidate quality, and the underlying partisan leanings of the congressional districts. We then use this regression model to simulate the likely effects of campaign finance reform on the outcome of the 1994 midterm elections. Our results indicate that while spending limits would have limited the number of seats gained by the Republican party, Republicans likely would have gained control of the House of Representatives even if spending limits had been in place prior to the 1994 elections. In addition, our results indicate that campaign finance reform that includes some form of public subsidy in addition to spending limits actually may have enhanced rather than diminished the Republican “earthquake” in 1994.
Decision-Making Phenomena Described by Expert Nurses Working in Urban Community Health Settings.

Decision making by expert community health nurses was explored using qualitative research methods. Each subject described a crucial incident, a clinical situation where their independent decision making made a positive difference in a client's outcome. Subjects were given instructions to record a crucial incident in writing. After completing each written incident, subjects were asked five interview questions related to the incident. Subject's verbal responses to questions were audiotaped. Content analysis methods were used to analyze data. Findings suggest that decision making in clinical practice in both a rational and intuitive process. Themes emergent from data describing decision making included the following: focus, type, and purpose of the decision making; characteristics of the decision maker; sequencing of events; data collection methods; facilitators and barriers to decision making; and nursing roles in the decision-making process. Conclusions of the study include recommendations for continued research of decision making using qualitative methods allowing flexibility necessary to explore phenomena representing the essence of nursing practice. A clearer understanding of decision making is essential now and in the next century as nurses increase independent practice roles in community health settings.
Syzygy, science, and psychotherapy: The Consumer Reports study

Results from a Consumer Reports (CR) survey indicated that psychotherapy has proven to be quite effective and that longer-term therapy has been more effective than shorter-term therapy. Critiques of the methodology of this study have included the claim that (a) the self-selected sample was biased in favor of people who felt that they had benefited from psychotherapy, (b) the use of retrospective accounts led to a further positive bias, and (c) the validity of the outcome assessment was questionable. Supplemental data from other sources, including prospective data from a large sample of psychotherapy patients, are presented to augment the interpretation of the results of the CR study and to illustrate how some critiques of research results can be evaluated systematically.
The Admissibility of a Preliminary Test Estimator When the Loss incorporates a Complexity Cost

Abstract Consider the problem of estimating the mean by using a random sample from a normal population. Let denote the sample mean and consider the estimator that assumes the value zero when and the value when . This is called a preliminary test estimator. For most of the usual loss functions it is inadmissible. In this article we show that for some loss functions, which include a complexity cost, the estimator is admissible. The results are related to Cohen's work on hybrid estimation and hypothesis-testing problems.
Antibodies to Treponema pallidum in serum from subjects with periodontitis: relationship to pathogen‐related oral spirochetes

Pathogen-related oral spirochetes were identified in dental plaque using monoclonal antibodies to putative Treponema pallidum-specific proteins, and serum from subjects with necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis contained immunoglobulin G to molecules thought to be restricted to T. pallidum. The purpose of this study was to determine whether subjects with periodontitis were more likely to have serum antibodies to T. pallidum if pathogen-related oral spirochetes were present. Pathogen-related oral spirochetes were detected in subgingival plaque from 27 of 40 subjects, and 33 subjects had serum antibodies that bound T. pallidum proteins in immunoblots. Subjects with pathogen-related oral spirochetes were no more likely to have IgA, IgG or IgM to 15-, 37- or 47-kDa proteins than were subjects without pathogen-related oral spirochetes. In contrast to subjects with necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, subjects with periodontitis had no detectable antibodies to 37- or 12-kDa proteins. Further research is needed to identify the stimulus for antibodies that cross-react with T. pallidum proteins.
The human Y chromosome suppresses the tumorigenicity of PC-3, a human prostate cancer cell line, in athymic nude mice

The loss of the Y chromosome is a frequent numerical chromosomal abnormality observed in human prostate cancer. In cancer, loss of specific genetic material frequently accompanies simultaneous inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. It is not known whether the Y chromosome harbors such genes. To address the role of genes on the Y chromosome in human prostate cancer, we transferred a tagged Y chromosome into PC-3, a human prostate cancer cell line lacking a Y chromosome. A human Y chromosome was tagged with the hisD gene and transferred to PC-3 by microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. Tumorigenicity of these PC-3 hybrids was tested in vivo and in vitro, and the results were compared with those of the polymerase chain reaction analyses conducted on the PC-3 hybrids using Y chromosome-specific markers. Among 60 mice injected with 12 different PC-3 hybrids (five mice per hybrid), tumor growth was apparent in only one mouse, whereas tumors grew in all mice injected with the parental PC-3 cells. An in vitro assay showed that the Y chromosome did not suppress anchorage-independent growth of PC-3 cells. We found that addition of the Y chromosome suppressed tumor formation by PC-3 in athymic nude mice, and that this block of tumorigenesis was independent of the in vitro growth properties of the cells. This observation suggests the presence of a gene important for prostate tumorigenesis on the Y chromosome.
Movement of xylene through unsaturated soils following simulated spills

A field study was conducted to determine the rapidity and extent of xylene movement after simulated spills on undisturbed soils of diverse texture and structure. To monitor xylene movement, porous ceramic suction cups and newly developed pan samplers were installed at a depth of 61 cm at two locations in each of three soils. A volume equivalent to a depth of 5 cm of dye labeled xylene was spilled on one plot of each soil contained in large lysimeters. Split applications of 1.25 cm depth equivalent were also made 21 days apart on one lysimeter of each of the soils.
Calculation of average multiplicity in a simple scheme incorporating the Harari Pomeron-intercept hypothesis

Abstract Average multiplicities are calculated within a simple finite-energy sum rule sheme assuming (i) the conventional multiperipheral and (ii) the Harari hypothesis about the dependence of the Pomeron intercept on the strength of strong interactions. Case (ii) agrees better with experiment.
First identification of biradicals during thermal [2π + 2π] cyclopolymerization of trifluorovinyl aromatic ethers

The thermal cyclopolymerization of three trifluorovinyl aromatic ether monomers 1,1,1-tris (4-trifluorovinyloxyphenyl)ethane (1), 4,4′-bis(4-trifluorovinyloxy)biphenyl (2) and 2,2-bis(4-trifluorovinyloxy- phenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (3) were monitored in situ using time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy over a temperature range of 150–210 °C. The signals observed during the early stages of perfluorocyclobutyl polymer production suggest the formation of a triplet state corresponding to the proposed biradical intermediate with a strong dipole–dipole interaction. A doublet splitting shows the presence of hyperfine coupling due to fluorine. The characterization of radical species formed during the polymerization of monomer 1 using model compounds and polymerization kinetics of monomer 2 are also presented. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Modified Cabrol shunt after complex aortic surgery

Uncontrollable hemorrhage during complex aortic surgery was controlled by a new modification of the Cabrol shunt, which is reported here.
Numerical modeling of laboratory corefloods

Abstract This paper describes a procedure for scaling laboratory coreflood experiments in order to generalize their results to other systems. The procedure combines numerical modeling with laboratory imaging experiments. The corefloods were imaged by computed tomography (CT) to obtain their saturation distributions in time and space. The saturation data were transformed by a self-similar dimensionless variable to obtain the characteristic dimensionless response curves. The characteristics response curves were calculated numerically using fine-grid numerical simulation and compared with the experimental curves. The numerical simulation was repeated with adjusted parameters until the experimental and the computed response curves were in good agreement. After successfully matching the experimental response curves, the well-tuned numerical model was used to scale the results of the laboratory coreflood experiments to other systems by changing the appropriate dimensionless scaling groups in the model. This procedure was used to scale the results of laboratory corefloods of unstable immiscible displacements with excellent results. It was found that using appropriate relative permeability and capillary pressure curves, the dimensionless response curves for unstable immiscible displacements were accurately simulated numerically. It was also found that the simulation of the dimensionless response curves in the corefloods automically simulated the experimental recovery curves as well. The results show that the numerical simulation of the dimensionless response functions of corefloods is a powerful technique for scaling the results of laboratory corefloods to other systems.
The FERET database and evaluation procedure for face-recognition algorithms

Abstract The Face Recognition Technology (FERET) program database is a large database of facial images, divided into development and sequestered portions. The development portion is made available to researchers, and the sequestered portion is reserved for testing facerecognition algorithms. The FERET evaluation procedure is an independently administered test of face-recognition algorithms. The test was designed to: (1) allow a direct comparison between different algorithms, (2) identify the most promising approaches, (3) assess the state of the art in face recognition, (4) identify future directions of research, and (5) advance the state of the art in face recognition.
Peanut leaf area index, light interception, radiation use efficiency, and harvest index at three sites in Texas

Abstract Stability of parameters describing crop growth of peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) is important because of the diversity of climatic conditions in which peanuts are grown and is valuable when developing simulation models for this species. In contrast, variability in the same parameters is desirable for plant breeders working to develop improved cultivars. This study seeks to quantify key parameters for biomass and yield production of some common peanut cultivars at three sites in Texas. We measured leaf area index (LAI), light extinction coefficient ( k ) for Beer's law, and harvest index (HI) for four cultivars at Stephenville, TX and one cultivar near Gustine, TX, and for LAI and biomass on four cultivars at Seminole, TX. Mean radiation use efficiency (RUE) values were 1.98 g MJ −1 at Stephenville, 1.92 at Gustine, and 2.02 at Seminole. Highest RUE values were for the Low-Energy Precise Application (LEPA) irrigation treatment at Seminole. Maximum LAI values ranged from 5.6 to 7.0 at Stephenville, from 5.0 to 6.2 at Seminole, and was 5.3 at Gustine. Mean k values ranged from 0.60 to 0.64 at Stephenville and was 0.77 at Gustine. The overall mean HI was 0.36, with a mean of 0.33 for Stephenville, 0.44 for Gustine, 0.53 for spray irrigation at Seminole, and 0.58 for LEPA irrigation at Seminole. Values of RUE, k , and HI for the cultivars in this study and similarities between this study and values reported in the literature will aid modelers simulating peanut development and yield and aid breeders in identifying key traits critical to peanut grain yield improvement.
Student attitudes towards internship experiences: From theory to practice

Traditionally, internships have provided a unique way for criminal justice students to gain work experience while earning academic credit. Questions remain, however, as to whether a student's educational experiences adequately reflect the realities of internship (and other work-related) experiences. As part of a larger study, we sought to explore student views and attitudes regarding their undergraduate curriculum and its relevance to their experiences at the criminal justice agencies. Through the use of self-report surveys, findings were two-fold, indicating tremendous support for internship programs. Moreover, (1) students felt their undergraduate curricula adequately reflected the practical realities of criminal justice operations, and (2) internships were regarded as invaluable in preparing students for criminal justice careers.
Clinical observations on a new antihypertensive drug, 2-(2,6-dichlorphenylamine)-2-imidazoline hydrochloride

Abstract The drug 2-(2,6-dichlorphenylamine)-2-imidazoline hydrochloride, available as Catapres, was given to 16 patients with established hypertension. Six patients were studied for one month to detect abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism. None were found. Ten severely hypertensive patients were maintained for from 5 to 11 months on Catapres and diuretics. In a single dose, Catapres invariably lowered the blood pressure significantly, but without producing orthostatic hypotension. The maximum effect occurred between 2 and 3 hours after ingestion of the drug. The duration of drug action was 4 to 6 hours. In long-term treatment of ten patients, Catapres, combined with a diuretic, proved to be as effective as a diuretic plus guanethidine or Aldomet, which the patients had previously been taking. A dose of 0.400 to 1.200 mg. of Catapres was equivalent to 1.5 to 2.0 Gm. of Aldomet or 50 to 100 mg. of guanethidine. The chief side effect of the drug was drowsiness, but this was not incapacitating, it did not require cessation of treatment, and it became less prominent with the passage of time. In patients who had experienced severe orthostatic hypotension on other drug regimens, the condition was considerably relieved by Catapres. No signs of toxicity were noted, as judged by carbohydrate tolerance, BUN, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase, and hematologic determinations.
Sharing best practices in teaching biomedical engineering design

In an effort to share best practices in undergraduate engineering design education, we describe the origin, evolution and the current status of the undergraduate biomedical engineering design team program at Johns Hopkins University. Specifically, we describe the program and judge the quality of the pedagogy by relating it to sponsor feedback, project outcomes, external recognition and student satisfaction. The general pedagogic practices, some of which are unique to Hopkins, that have worked best include: (1) having a hierarchical team structure, selecting team leaders the Spring semester prior to the academic year, and empowering them to develop and manage their teams, (2) incorporating a longitudinal component that incudes freshmen as part of the team, (3) having each team choose from among pre-screened clinical problems, (4) developing relationships and fostering medical faculty, industry and government to allow students access to engineers, clinicians and clinical environments as needed, (5) providing didactic sessions on topics related to requirements for the next presentation, (6) employing judges from engineering, medicine, industry and government to evaluate designs and provide constructive criticisms approximately once every 3-4 weeks and (7) requiring students to test the efficacy of their designs. Institutional support and resources are crucial for the design program to flourish. Most importantly, our willingness and flexibility to change the program each year based on feedback from students, sponsors, outcomes and judges provides a mechanism for us to test new approaches and continue or modify those that work well, and eliminate those that did not.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 55

Abstract The 1970 version of Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 55 has been revised on the basis of experimental data received prior to March 1, 1976. Results from approximately 220 papers and communications have been included in the present evaluation. Data on five A = 55 nuclei are presented. The decay schemes for 55 Cr, 55 Fe, and 55 Co are well established. Many excited levels are known in 55 Cr, 55 Mn, 55 Fe, and 55 Co from a variety of decay and reaction experiments. Many firm or tentative spin assignments are made, and many half-lives for excited levels in 55 Mn, 55 Fe, and 55 Co have been measured. An uncertainty in the level scheme for 55 Mn occurs near 1290 keV, where the number of distinct levels and their spins cannot be unambiguously determined. The nucleus 55 Ni has been observed for the first time in the ( 3 He, 6 He) reaction, but the decay of 55 Ni has not yet been observed.
Multiwavelength output from a Nd:YAG/Cr:LiSAF hybrid laser

A prototype solid-state, multispectral hybrid laser has been designed and tested. The laser provides simultaneous outputs at several wavelengths. The hybrid-laser concept is based on the efficient use of flash-lamp-pump energy distributed between two complementary lasing materials, Nd:YAG and Cr:LiSAF, that share the same pump cavity. The prototype Q-switched hybrid laser provides dual-fundamental-wavelength output at 850 and 1064 nm as well as frequency-doubled output at 532 nm. The laser achieved 3.6% slope efficiency (combined) in free-running operation and 2.4% when Q switched. Higher efficiencies can be obtained with improvements in laser crystal quality and pump cavity configuration.
Synthesis of a Novel [125I]Neonicotinoid Photoaffinity Probe for the Drosophila Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

The insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is the target for the major insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) and for the first candidate photoaffinity probe described here. Addition to 1-[(6-chlo...
Effects of Postharvest Onion Curing Parameters on Enterobacter Bulb Decay in Storage

Schroeder, B. K., and du Toit, L. J. 2010. Effects of postharvest onion curing parameters on Enterobacter bulb decay in storage. Plant Dis. 94:1425-1430. Enterobacter bulb decay is a recently described storage disease of onion (Allium cepa) bulbs caused by Enterobacter cloacae. The disease is generally considered minor but, on occasion, can cause significant losses for onion producers. The impact of postharvest curing temperature and duration on Enterobacter bulb decay of onion was evaluated by inoculating bulbs of the cultivars Redwing and Vaquero with E. cloacae after harvest, curing the bulbs at 25, 30, 35, or 40°C for 2 or 14 days, and storing the bulbs at 5°C for 1, 2, or 3 months. Noninoculated bulbs and bulbs injected with sterile water served as control treatments. The trial was completed using bulbs harvested from commercial onion crops grown in the semi-arid Columbia Basin of central Washington in each of 2008–09 (center-pivot irrigated crop) and 2009–10 (drip irrigated crop). Severity of bulb rot was assessed by cutting each bulb down the center from the neck to the basal plate, and rating the percentage of cut surface area with bacterial rot symptoms. Bulb rot severity was negligible for noninoculated bulbs (mean of 0.3% in the 2008–09 storage trial and 1.0% in the 2009–10 storage trial) and bulbs injected with water (0.8% in the 2008–09 trial and 1.3% in the 2009–10 trial) compared to bulbs inoculated with E. cloacae (15.3% in 2008–09 and 23.3% in 2009–10). Severity of Enterobacter bulb decay was affected significantly (P < 0.05) by season (trial), cultivar, curing temperature, curing duration, and storage duration, with significant interactions among these factors. Enterobacter bulb decay was significantly more severe for bulbs cured at 40°C than for bulbs cured at 25, 30, or 35°C. This effect was even greater when bulbs were cured for 14 days versus 2 days prior to cold storage, and in bulbs stored for 2 or 3 months after curing compared to bulbs stored for 1 month. The increase in bulb rot severity caused by curing bulbs at 40°C for 14 days compared to lower temperatures and shorter durations was greater for Vaquero than Redwing, particularly in the 2008–09 trial. The results suggest that curing temperatures ≤35°C should significantly reduce the risk of Enterobacter bulb decay in storage for these cultivars. If higher curing temperatures are used in order to dry onion necks for long-term storage and reduce the risk of fungal diseases such as neck rot (caused by Botrytis spp.), a shorter curing duration may be necessary to minimize the risk of Enterobacter bulb decay in storage.
A continuum theory of nonlinear viscoelastic deformation with application to polymer processing

A continuum theory of nonlinear viscoelastic behavior has been developed which is applicable to the quantitative description of the rheological properties of high polymeric materials. Particular classes of deformations have been investigated. Special emphasis has been placed upon nonlinear effects in viscoelastic fluids such as normal stresses and variable viscosity. Two new classes of flows are defined: sufficiently smooth flow and isoelastic flow.
Formation of austenite in laser-processed Fe-0.2%C-20%Cr alloy

Abstract Laser surface alloying of chromium on a 0.2% C steel was performed using a 1200 W continuous wave CO 2 gas transport laser to produce an alloy containing 20% Cr. The effects of rapid melting and subsequent quenching on the microstructure and microhardness of this alloy were then investigated. A single-pass laser melting was employed to produce a penetration depth of 600 μm. The microstructure, characterized by scanning and thin foil transmission electron microscopy, consisted of austenite needles embedded in a ferritic matrix. The factors governing the formation of austenite and its substructure are discussed and some evidence for the mechanism is presented.
Photoconductor Pulse Generators And Sampling Gates For Characterization Of High-Speed Devices And Transmission Lines

We describe photoconductive semiconductor devices developed for application in diagnostics of high-speed electronic devices and circuits. Both pulse generation and sampling functions are provided by these ultrafast photoconductors. The photoresponse of different semiconductor materials (GaAs, InP, Si) that have been ion bombarded (Ar, H, He, Ne, 0, Si) was investigated and characterized. Response times as short as 1 picosecond have been observed. High frequency propagation characteristics of microstrip and coplanar waveguide transmission lines have been studied and modelled. Application of this measurement technique to the characterization of a microwave GaAs transistor is presented.
Changing spectrum of geomagnetic intensity variations in a fragmented 12 My sediment record from the Oligocene

Abstract Time series of relative geomagnetic paleointensity variations derived from marine sediments can be calibrated using absolute data derived from igneous materials. The resulting records may be suitable for spectral analysis of geomagnetic dipole variations. This work re-evaluates the 12 My (22.74–34.77 Ma) sediment record from Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 73, Site 522, that is a key data set for determining the paleomagnetic power spectrum in the frequency range 1–100 My−1. The 12 My record is marred by uneven sampling, with the interval between samples ranging from 1 to 640 ky, and contains several gaps that are considered too long to interpolate. The relative intensity data are calibrated using 129 globally distributed absolute paleointensity data from the same time interval. The power spectrum of the resulting time series is estimated using direct multi-taper spectral estimation with prolate data tapers adapted to deal with missing sections in the time series. The longest record available for analysis is thereby extended from 5.3 to 12 My. The new paleomagnetic power spectrum confirms the presence of a broad spectral peak at around 8 My−1 for the early Oligocene and uncovers a peak around 2.5 My−1 in the late Oligocene. Both peaks may be linked to tiny wiggles in marine magnetic anomalies. The new analysis unambiguously verifies that there is lower overall power in the younger part of the record, where the reversal process appears to dominate the power spectrum of the paleosecular variation. A comparison of the late Oligocene spectrum with that of PADM2M, a model of paleomagnetic axial dipole variations for 0–2 Ma, reveals some broad similarities; both time periods have similar power levels and a reversal rate of 4 My−1. During the early Oligocene the reversal rate is about a factor of two lower, the field strength is higher, and the secular variation is stronger, suggesting that a strong magnetic field inhibits reversals but produces more variability in field strength.