cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and motion constraints of part-mating planning in the presence of uncertainties

The authors assume a nominal motion plan for the zero-error situation and devise a simple replanning strategy based on the availability of force, moment, and position sensors to handle errors that may arise during program execution. They develop design constraints relating the parameters of the strategy, parameters of the sensor, control and manufacturing errors, and nominal design parameters. If the constraints are satisfied, the replanning strategy can theoretically be guaranteed to be successful. The constraints are shown to be reasonable in the sense that they do not impose unrealistic conditions on typical design. Simulation results uphold the theoretical derivations and show empirically that the theoretical constraints can be relaxed somewhat with excellent results obtained. >
Non Equilibrium Green's Functions for Dummies: Introduction to the One Particle NEGF equations

Non equilibrium Green's function methods are regularly used to calculate current and charge densities in nanoscale (both molecular and semiconductor) conductors under bias. This method is mainly used for ballistic conduction but may be extended to include inelastic scattering. In this tutorial paper the NEGF equations for the current and charge density matrix are derived and explained in a hopefully clear way.
Sexual aberrance in male adolescents manifesting a behavioral triad considered predictive of extreme violence: some clinical observations.

He who lights a fire during the day will wet his bed that night. (German and Mexican-Spanish proverb) The wisdom of the proverb makers continues to pique our interest as the subtle inter-relationship among the triad of enuresis, fire-setting, and animal cruelty is observed. Elsewhere the authors have reviewed the literature on these behaviors and new clinical evidence concerning the validity and meaning of this predictor is offered [1]. The present paper is limited to a discussion of sexually aberrant behavior, particularly from a developmental point of view, in six male adolescents who manifest the triad.
Effects of mastectomy on composition of peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations in periparturient dairy cows

There is an increased incidence of infectious disease in periparturient dairy cows. During the periparturient period there is a decline in T-lymphocyte cell subsets, which parallels a reduction in functional capacities of blood lymphocytes and neutrophils. Mechanisms responsible for these changes in immune function during the periparturient period are poorly characterized. Ten mastectomized and eight intact multiparous Jersey cows were used to determine whether the periparturient changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations are the result of the physiological demands associated with the onset of lactation or whether they are a result of the act of parturition. Blood mononuclear cells were phenotyped with monoclonal antibodies against T-cell subsets, B-cells, and monocytes. Blood samples were taken frequently from before 4 to 4 wk after parturition. In intact cows, all T-cell subset populations (i.e., CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, and gamma-delta positive cells) decreased at the time of parturition, while the percentage of monocytes increased. Mastectomy eliminated the changes in leukocyte subset populations (CD3-, CD4-, and gamma-delta positive cells, and monocytes) observed in intact cows around parturition. These results indicate that the mammary gland and metabolic stresses associated with lactation influence the composition of peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations in dairy cows during the periparturient period.
Left atrial thrombus predicts transient ischemic attack in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is widely accepted as a direct cause of cardioembolic stroke from left atrial (LA) thrombus formation. However, the relationship between LA thrombus and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in patients with AF is less well established. Methods Two hundred sixty-one adult patients (mean age 66 ± 11 years, 220 men and 41 women) with AF undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were prospectively followed up for TIA (mean duration 30.3 ± 20.6 months). Results LA thrombus was present in 18% (n = 46) and LA spontaneous echocardiographic contrast in 50% (n = 131) of the group. Nineteen of 261 patients had TIA during follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression showed congestive heart failure (CHF) as the only predictor of TIA when a model of clinical variables was constructed (odds ratio [OR] 2.7, P = .04). Age, sex, hypertension, and use of warfarin or aspirin were not predictors. When TEE variables were added to the model, LA thrombus became the only predictor of TIA (OR 7.7, P = .0001). Survival free of TIA (Kaplan-Meier) was significantly less ( P = .0001) in patients with LA thrombus compared with those without, and the annual TIA event rate was 9.2% per year versus 1.9% per year ( P Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study documenting an association between LA thrombus and TIA in patients with AF. Other TEE variables, including aortic atheromata, and clinical parameters were not independently predictive. These data support a likely thromboembolic mechanism for TIA from LA thrombus in patients with AF.
Molecular cloning of the murine PHEX gene promoter.

Abstract We report the novel cloning of the murine PHEX promoter, the gene that is mutated in X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH). Four promoter/reporter gene constructs, −133/+104, −542/+104, −1061/+104, and −2866/+104, showed significant luciferase activity (4.9–13.2-fold over background) when transfected into rat osteogenic sarcoma (UMR-106) cells.
Phylogenetic Placement of Rheopteris and the Polyphyly of Monogramma (Pteridaceae s.l.): Evidence from rbcL Sequence Data

Abstract Recent molecular investigations have elucidated the generic and subgeneric relationships of most vittarioid genera (Pteridaceae sensu lato pro parte). However, the phylogenetic placement of Monogramma and Rheopteris remains to be examined. The inclusion of the monotypic Rheopteris in the vittarioids has been questioned since its description half a century ago, and although the placement of Monogramma within the vittarioids is well supported with nonmolecular characters, its relationship to other members of the vittarioid clade is unknown. We present new phylogenetic evidence from plastid rbcL sequence data indicating that Rheopteris cheesmaniae is well supported as a member of the vittarioid clade, and that Monogramma is polyphyletic. Data from molecular and nonmolecular characters suggest that a clade containing Rheopteris and part of Monogramma (i.e. those species sometimes recognized in the genus Vaginularia) represents the earliest diverging lineage within the vittarioids, and that remaining ...
Infrared limb darkening of the Venus atmosphere

An analysis of the limb darkening component obtained by Ingersoll and Orton [Icarus 21 (1974), 121–128] from the thermal infrared maps of Venus published by Murray, Wildey, and Westphal [J. Geophys. Res. 68 (1963), 4813–4818] and Westphal, Wildey, and Murray [Astrophys. J. 142 (1965), 799–802] shows that the Cytherean cloud tops were close to radiative equilibrium in 1962. A method for obtaining the optical depth, the extinction coefficient, and the extinction scale height from such data is derived and values are extracted from Marov's [Icarus 16 (1972), 415–461] standard model of the Venus atmosphere.
Bending Elasticity of Anti-Parallel β-Sheets

Using a coarse-grained elastic model, we examine the bending properties of anti-parallel β-sheets comprised of uniform amino-acid residues in vacuum as well as in explicit solvent. By comparing the conformational probability of the β-sheet from molecular dynamics simulations with the same quantities obtained from the coarse-grained model, we compute the elastic bending constant, κ. Equilibrium fluctuations of the β-sheet and its response to external forces are well reproduced by a model with a uniform isotropic bending constant. An anisotropic bending model is also investigated, although the computed anisotropy is relatively weak and most of the observed properties are well described by an isotropic model. The presence of explicit solvent also lowers the bending constant. The sequence dependence of our result and its implications in protein conformational dynamics are discussed.
Designing, evaluating, and reacting to a secondary science methods class

Most science educators spend much of their time planning and teaching science methods classes yet there is very little dialogue among science educators concerning what ought to be taught. This study involved a small sample. Readers should think of it as a model for conducting similar self-studies. The instructor of this course has been teaching it since 1966, and each year, he has revised 10–20% of it. These data show that some, but not all, of the revisions have resulted in improvement. This analysis illustrates how helpful the perceptions of methods students can be for initiating and continuing a dialogue among educators regarding the structure of methods courses. Although the question of “What ought to be taught?” has been clarified to a degree, it has and always will remain.
STUDY HABITS AS A FACTOR IN THE LOCUS OF CONTROL-ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT RELATIONSHIP

Although several studies have shown that a relationship exists between locus of control and academic achievement as measured by grade poinr average (GPA) (Warehime, 1972; Hjelle, 19701, no attempt has been made to account for this relationship. The present investigation was conducted to determine if differential study habits between internal and external individuals could be a significant factor in the link between locus of control and academic achievement. The Internal-External (I-E) scale (Roaer, 1966) was administered to 70 female and 36 male undergraduates at Indiana State University. One extra forced-choice item added to the I-E scale required all Ss to select one of the following three alternatives: (A) I usually L e p up with course assignments as they are given, and I rarely cram for a test. (B) I rarely keep u with course assignments as they are given, and most always cram for a test. (C) I rarely teep up with my course assignments as they are given and I also do not cram before a test. Lloyd and Knutzen (1969). in a study involving programmed instruction, found that those individuals who began early and evenly spaced their studying throughout the semester achieved higher grades than those who exhibited dilatory study habits. From this finding it seems that an even distribution of study time is the more efficient mode of preparation for classroom activities. Therefore, ir was predicted that internal Ss would more often select choice A, and the external Ss would more often select choices B or C in the additional forced-choice item. The IE-GPA correlation was small but significanr for males ( r = M.28, p .05). The data were then divided at the median of the I-E scale scores (males 10.5; females 12.9). This yielded a two-way contingency table, with internals and externals on one dimension and choice A and choices B or C on the other dimension, for the analysis of the frequency data. The resulting chi squares were significant for males (x ' = 11.25, p .05). This lends strong support to the previously stated prediction, at least with respect to males. These results, along with supporting previous reports of a sex difference (e.g., Warehime, 1972), indicate that differential study habits are an important factor in the locus of control-academic achievement relationship. Although no measure was taken of the actual time spent srudying, it seems that internally oriented males use this time more efficiently than their externally oriented counterparts which aids earning higher grades. However, IQ! uncontrolled here, may be relevant. It is interesting that, despite no significant correlat~on with GPA, there seems to be no systematic relationship between the I-E scale and study habits for females. Research on the nature and antecedents of this sex difference is needed.
Active accumulation of Sr2+ by rat-liver mitochondria III. Stimulation of respiration by Sr2+ and its stoichiometry

Abstract 1. 1. Addition of Sr 2+ to rat-liver mitochondria suspended in a medium of respiratory substrate, Mg 2+ , and phosphate causes a large stimulation of respiration, the duration of which is proportional to the Sr 2+ added. The rate of respiration then returns to the original level. During the period of respiratory stimulations Sr 2+ is accumulated by the mitochondria; when the Sr 2+ of the medium is exhausted, respiration returns to the original low rate. Tests with β-hydroxybutyrate and succinate show that between 1.8 and 2.0 ions of Sr 2+ are accumulated as a pair of electrons traverses each of the three energy-coupling sites of the respiratory chain. 1 atom of extra oxygen was taken up during accumulation of 3.8 moles of Sr 2+ when succinate was the substrate, and 5.5 moles of Sr 2+ when β-hydroxybutyrate was the substrate. Succinate oxidation is stimulated to higher rates by addition of Sr 2+ than is β-hydroxybutyrate oxidation. Accumulation of phosphate accompanies accumulation of Sr 2+ . 2. 2. When phosphate is not present in the medium, Sr 2+ also stimulates respiration, but in this case the return to the inhibited state takes place only with concentrations of Sr 2+ lower than 400–500 μM. The respiration continues indefinitely at the stimulated rate when higher concentrations of Sr 2+ are added. The accumulation of Sr 2+ in the absence of phosphate is much smaller than in its presence. Phosphate is therefore not required for stimulation of oxygen uptake but only for accumulation of large amounts of Sr 2+ ; when the latter is exhausted, the oxygen uptake ceases.
Patterns of aperiodic pulsation

Techniques for deriving amplitude equations for stellar pulsation are outlined. For the simplest such equations with multiple instabilities, the derivation of a map for the patterns of pulsation phases is described. This map gives the time between two successive maxima of pulsation in terms of the time between the previous pair, under suitable conditions. The phase differences can be regular, chaotic or hyperchaotic.
Subjective ratings of odorants by women with chemical sensitivity

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether women with chemical sensitivity rated the intensity and pleasantness of three odorants [peppermint, vanilla, and propylene glycol (PG)] a...
A spatial intensity phase evaluator (SIPHER) for perceptual object detection in images

SIPHER was first revealed in a US Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RIEC) project concerned with polarimetric and SAR processing techniques. It is a means to make objects in a digital image vary in intensity (amplitude) with respect to other objects or backgrounds, in an unusual manner which promotes object or target cognitive perception. We describe this phenomenon as objects being in or out of spatial intensity phase with one another, somewhat analogous to how different signals' amplitudes differ at any instance due to their relative phases. Simple surface reflectivity and a single, static illumination source provide no special means to distinguish objects from backgrounds, other than their reflectivity differences. However, if different surfaces are illuminated from different source positions or with different amplitudes, like from a moving spotlight, different pixels with the same reflectivity may have different amplitudes at different instances within the source's dynamic behavior. The problem is that we cannot necessarily control source dynamics or collect images over sufficient time to benefit from these dynamics. SIPHER simulates source dynamics in a single, static image. It creates apparent reflectivity changes in an image taken at one instance, as if the illumination source's intensity and position was changing, as a function of algorithm threshold settings. This produces a series of processed images wherein object and background pixel amplitudes are out of phase with one another due to their orientation and surface characteristics (flat, curved, etc.), and become more perceptible. Cognitive perception is enhanced by creating a video sequence of the processed image series. This produces an apparent motion effect in the object relative to its surroundings, or renders an apparent threedimensional effect where the object appears to "jump out" from its surroundings. We first define this spatial intensity phase quantity mathematically, then compare it to conventional signal phase relationships, and finally apply it to some images to demonstrate its behavior. We also discuss anticipated enhancement and normalization techniques which may improve the technique in the future.
Spillover Benefits of Agricultural Research: Evidence from U.S. Experience

The institutional design of agricultural research programs is typically responsive to factors inhibiting the spillover of research benefits. A particular research unit, e.g., a state experiment station, directs or "targets" its technology development program to certain locations, usually to its perceived clientele. This design implicitly recognizes that new agricultural technology does not spill freely from one region to another. A vast amount of experimental evidence and farm experience shows that the performance of plants and animals (in which new technology is often embedded) is altered by changes in soil, temperature, moisture, and photoperiod characteristics of the producing environment. Accordingly, new technology embedded in these plants and animals will be inhibited in performance, and its real economic value will be altered by these factors (Evenson 1988).
Detailed Measurements of the Quantized Flux States of Hollow Superconducting Cylinders

We have measured the magnetic flux trapped in superconducting tin cylinders (56-\ensuremath{\mu}m i.d., 0.7- to 5-\ensuremath{\mu}m walls, 24 mm long) and find that for most values of applied magnetic field the entire cylinder is in the same quantized flux state trapping an integral multiple of $\frac{\mathrm{hc}}{2e}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$%. For some applied fields we have evidence that the cylinder exists in a mixed state with bands along the length in states differing by one flux quantum.
The treatment of high-grade soft tissue sarcomas with preoperative thermoradiotherapy.

Abstract Purpose: To explore the use of a novel program of preoperative radiation and hyperthermia in the management of high-grade soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Methods and Materials: Eligible patients were adults over 18 with Grade 2 or 3 STS, surgically resectable without a local excision prior to referral to Duke University Medical Center and without distant metastases. Patients were staged generally with CT and/or MR imaging. The diagnosis was established with fine needle aspiration or incisional biopsy. Patients were then treated with 5000 to 5040 cGy, 180–200 cGy per fraction. Chemotherapy was usually not employed. Generally two hyperthermia treatments per week were given with a planned thermal dose of 10–100 CEM 43° T 90 . Invasive thermometry and thermal mapping were done in all patients. Surgical resection was planned 4–6 weeks after the completion of radiation and hyperthermia. Results: Ninety-seven patients were treated on study between 1984 and 1996. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 155 months (median 32). All tumors were high-grade in nature, 44 greater than 10 cm in size (maximum tumor diameter), 43 5–10 cm in size, 10 less than 5 cm. Seventy-eight of the 97 tumors were located in an extremity. Of the 97 patients, 48 remain alive and continually free of disease following initial therapy. Of the remaining 49 patients, 44 have relapsed (34 dead, 10 living with disease), 3 have died secondary to complications of therapy, and 2 have died of unrelated causes. Ten-year actuarial overall survival, cause-specific survival, and relapse-free survival are 50, 47, and 47% respectively. The predominant pattern of failure has been distant metastases with only 2 patients developing local failure alone. Ten-year actuarial local control for extremity tumors is 94%, 63% for the 19 patients with tumors at sites other than the extremity. Of the 78 patients with extremity lesions, 63 have had limb preservation and remain locally controlled. Overall 38 patients experienced 57 major complications. There were 3 deaths, one due to adriamycin cardiomyopathy and two secondary to wound infections. Four patients required amputation secondary to postoperative wound healing problems. Complications directly attributable to hyperthermia occurred in 15 patients with 11 instances of second- or third-degree burns and two instances of subcutaneous fat necrosis. The hyperthermia complications were generally not severe and either healed readily or were excised at the time of surgical resection of the primary tumor. Conclusions: For these aggressive high-grade soft tissue sarcomas, this treatment program of preoperative thermoradiotherapy provided excellent local regional control for extremity lesions (95%) and satisfactory local regional control (63%) of nonextremity sarcomas, but did not appear to influence the rate of distant metastases or survival. Complications were frequent but apart from the direct thermal burns, not too different from those reported for preoperative radiotherapy alone. More effective adjuvant systemic therapy is necessary to impact favorably on survival.
A first-order synaptic relay for taste fibers in the pontine brain stem of the cat

Summary Microelectrode recordings were used to locate taste responsive neurons in a recently discovered area of termination of facial nerve afferents in the pontine brain stem of the cat. The neurons were activated by electrical stimulation of the chorda tympani nerve, followed by stimulation of the tongue with standard taste of solutions. Electrolytic lesions were made to mark the depth of active sites and electrode penetrations were reconstructed from frozen serial sections. The taste neurons were found in a group of cells lying outside and dorsomedial to the main body of the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus. The small size of the taste responsive area and its relationship to typical trigeminal responses lend weight to the existence of a morphologically distinct nucleus intertrigeminails reported elsewhere. The report of an uncrossed dorsal trigeminal tract linking this area to the thalamus would explain the ipsilateral taste projection found in the thalamus of cat and monkey. The contralateral taste projection in the rat would be consistent with the absence of a pontine termination for the facial afferents in that species. The existence of a taste are in the bulbar solitary nucleus of the cat was confirmed and its possible role in taste function is discussed.
Photometric Stereo: A Reflectance Map Technique For Determining Surface Orientation From Image Intensity

This paper introduces a novel technique called photometric stereo. The idea of photometric stereo is to vary the direction of the incident illumination between successive views while holding the viewing direction constant. This provides enough information to determine surface orientation at each picture element. Traditional stereo techniques determine range by relating two images of an object viewed from different directions. If the correspondence between picture elements is known, then distance to the object can be calculated by triangulation. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine this correspondence. In photometric stereo, the imaging geometry does not change. Therefore, the correspondence between picture elements is known a priori. This stereo technique is photometric because it uses the intensity values recorded at a single picture element, in successive views, rather than the relative positions of features.
Two-criteria model assessment shows that foliage maintenance in old-growth Pseudotsuga menziesii requires both delayed and sequential reiteration

Functional structural models (FSMs) are valuable tools to explore relationships between plant form and function, yet they lack rigorous methods for development and assessment. We use multi-criteria assessment of an architectural FSM to show that both traumatic sequential and adaptive delayed reiteration (ADR) are necessary components of foliage maintenance in branches of old-growth Pseudotsuga menziesii. ADR has previously been established as a process that maintains foliage in old-growth P. menziesii. We use a simulation model of branch development in the species to evaluate morphogenesis in the context of this ADR. The structure of the model is a theoretical representation of how P. menziesii branch morphology develops throughout the branch lifespan, and this model structure is assessed with two criteria that are optimized simultaneously; the criteria measure foliage demography by the number of foliated shoots, and how those foliated shoots are organized into independent clusters. Assessment results indicated that improvements in model structure were required. Anomalous parameter vectors from the assessment search uncovered an inadequacy in the process of foliage maintenance, and the model was modified to include traumatic sequential reiteration in addition to ADR. The modes of the resulting parameter distributions were consistent with empirical observations. We discuss why the assessment of FSMs is an essential procedure that requires multiple criteria.
In vitro effects of vincristine on arachidonic acid metabolism in human platelets and rat arterial tissue

Abstract We have demonstrated that in vitro addition of vincristine to human platelets: 1) inhibits aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, epinephrine, collagen, thrombin and ADP; 2) inhibits arachidonic acid conversion to thromboxane A 2 ; and 3) inhibits generation of thromboxane A 2 upon stimulation by mechanical agitation, collagen, or thrombin. It is suggested that the inhibitory effect of vincristine on platelet aggregation is due to the inhibition of thromboxane A 2 production. Vincristine has no demonstrable effect on the release of prostacyclin from normal rat aorta.
Microfoil conversion electron detector for Mössbauer spectroscopy

Abstract We have constructed a sequential microfoil conversion electron detector for Mossbauer source experiments with small recoilless fraction and for Mossbauer diffraction experiments with small elastic scattering. Because of high signal-to-noise ratio and high efficiency this counter can reduce counting times by orders of magnitude over convention detectors for systems where the intrinsic effect is small. A procedure for optimizing counting time with the new detector is given.
What determines corporate pension fund risk-taking strategy?

Abstract Corporate sponsors of defined benefit pension plans generally assume low investment risk when they have low funding ratios and high default risk, consistent with the risk management hypothesis. However, for financially distressed sponsors and sponsors that freeze, terminate, or convert defined benefit to defined contribution plans, the risk-shifting incentive (moral hazard) dominates. Pension fund risk-taking is also affected by labor unionization and sponsor incentives to maximize tax benefits, restore financial slack, and justify the accounting choices of pension assumptions. Sponsors shift toward an aggressive risk strategy when their pension plans emerge from underfunding, bankruptcy risk is reduced, or marginal tax rate decreases. Overall, we show that corporate sponsors adopt a dynamic risk-taking strategy in their pension fund investments.
A Subtype-Specific Function for the Extracellular Domain of Neuroligin 1 in Hippocampal LTP

At neuronal excitatory synapses, two major subtypes of the synaptic adhesion molecule neuroligin are present. These subtypes, neuroligin 1 and neuroligin 3, have roles in synaptogenesis and synaptic maintenance that appear largely overlapping. In this study, we combine electrophysiology with molecular deletion and replacement of these proteins to identify similarities and differences between these subtypes. In doing so, we identify a subtype-specific role in LTP for neuroligin 1 in young CA1, which persists into adulthood in the dentate gyrus. As neuroligin 3 showed no requirement for LTP, we constructed chimeric proteins of the two excitatory neuroligin subtypes to identify the molecular determinants particular to the unique function of neuroligin 1. Using in vivo molecular replacement experiments, we find that these unique functions depend on a region in its extracellular domain containing the B site splice insertion previously shown to determine specificity of neurexin binding.
Effects of blood flow reduction and lymphatic ligation on coronary transport in dogs

We studied the effects of reduced-flow coronary ischemia and coronary lymphatic ligation on transcapillary movement of albumin. We infused 125I-albumin intravenously into four groups of five anesthetized, open-chest dogs in which external carotid-to-coronary arterial cannulas had been placed. One group was subjected to both lymphatic ligation and ischemia; a second group to lymphatic ligation only; a third group ischemia only; and the fourth was a control group. After 1 hr, 85Sr-microspheres were injected into the cannula. After 2 hr, the animals were sacrificed. Extravascular albumin activities in heart sections that were perfused from the cannula were normalized to extravascular albumin in normal-flow regions. This variable was greater in the lymph-ligated and ischemic groups than in the control, and greater in the combined lymph-ligated and ischemic group than any other group. Relative increase in coronary vascular resistance over the protocol interval correlated significantly with normalized albumin content in the cannulated sections. Although both ischemia and lymph ligation lead to increased extravascular albumin accumulation, their mechanisms are different. Increased extravascular albumin after ischemia may be due to increased capillary permeability.
Echocardiographic abnormalities in acute rheumatic fever.

Abstract The echocardiographic velocity of circumferential fiber shortening and left atrial dimension were measured serially in two groups of children with acute rheumatic fever: Group I, six patients with valve regurgitation without congestive heart failure, and Group II, seven patients with regurgitation and congestive heart failure. In Group I, the initial velocity of circumferential fiber shortening was increased to 1.90 ± 0.31 circumferences per second (circ/sec) (mean ± standard deviation). In Group II, it was decreased (1.18 ± 0.25 circ/sec). In Group I velocity of circumferential fiber shortening subsequently decreased but remained above the normal level; in Group II it increased to exceed the expected normal value. Concurrent changes in left atrial dimension were observed in both groups. The initial left atrial dimension of Group I (2.2 ± 0.75 cm/m 2 ) was slightly increased and returned to normal (1.70 ± 0.32) on follow-up study. The left atrial dimension of Group II was greatly increased initially (2.70 ± 0.81 cm/m 2 ) and remained large (2.50 ± 0.67). Three patients in Group II experienced rebound during corticosteroid withdrawal. In each the velocity of circumferential fiber shortening decreased, suggesting impaired cardiac contractility. The echocardiogram thus facilitates serial assessment of the severity of carditis in acute rheumatic fever.
Root respiration and oxygen flux in salt marsh grasses from different elevational zones

Plants growing in waterlogged environments are subjected to low oxygen levels around submerged tissues. While internal oxygen transport has been postulated as an important factor governing flooding tolerance, respiration rates and abilities to take up oxygen under hypoxic conditions have been largely ignored in plant studies. In this study, physiological characteristics related to internal oxygen transport, respiration, and oxygen affinity were studied in low intertidal marsh species (Spartina alterniflora and S. anglica) and middle to high intertidal species (S. densiflora, S. patens, S. foliosa, a S. alterniflora × S. foliosa hybrid, S. spartinae, and Distichlis spicata). These marsh plants were compared to the inland species S. pectinata and the crop species rice (Oryza sativa), corn (Zea mays), and oat (Avena sativa). Plants were grown in a greenhouse under simulated estuarine conditions. The low marsh species S. anglica was found to transport oxygen internally at rates up to 2.2 μmol O2 g fresh root weight−1 h−1. In contrast, marsh species from higher zones and crop species were found to transport significantly less oxygen internally, although rice plants were able to transport 1.4 μmol g−1 h−1. Under hypoxic conditions, low marsh species were better able to remove dissolved oxygen from the medium compared to higher marsh species and crops. The oxygen concentration at which respiration rates declined due to limited oxygen (Pcrit) was significantly lower in low marsh species compared to inland and crop species; Pcrit ranged from <4 μM O2 in the low marsh species S. anglica up to 20 μM in the inland species corn. Flooding-sensitive crop species had significantly higher aerobic respiration rates compared to flooding-tolerant species in this study. Crop species took up 3.6–6.7 μmol O2 g−1 h−1 while all but one marsh species took up <3.5 μmol O2 g−1 h−1. We conclude that oxygen transport, aerobic demand, and oxygen affinity all play important and interrelated roles in flood tolerance and salt marsh zonation.
Minimal trusted computing base for MANET nodes

Securing any MANET routing protocol requires measures to ensure that routing information advertised by a node (to its neighbors) is consistent with routing information assimilated by a node (from its neighbors). We investigate a minimal trusted computing base (TCB) for MANET nodes to ensure this requirement. We outline low complexity TCB functions which can be executed inside trustworthy boundaries of resource limited trustworthy MANET modules (TMM). The TCB functions are used to maintain a table of active neighbors, create routing records (RR), authenticate RRs to TMMs in neighboring nodes, receive authenticated RRs, and update RRs, subject to simple rules. Even while the dynamic RR database of every node is stored outside the TMM, by storing the root of an index ordered Merkle hash tree (IOMT) the TMMs can ensure that nodes cannot modify, replay or even hide RRs.
Physiology of Morphactins: Effect on Gravi‐ and Photo‐response

Plant roots and shoots respond to gravity and light source in a definite way. Thus, there are typical geotropic and phototropic responses for roots and shoots. When seedlings were grown in presence of morphactins, IT 3233 or IT 3456, on a vertical or a horizontal plane, the roots and shoots lost the capacity to respond to gravity or to unilateral light source. This was true for both monocots and dicots. This suggests that basic mechanism (s) of the two tropic responses are the same in the roots and shoots of the two plant groups. The site(s) of action of morphactins is unknown. The reaction (s) controlling geotropism and phototropism may be closely related as morphactins affected both geotropic and phototropic response of the same organ. Indoleacetic acid and gibberellic acid per se did not modify the effect of morphaclins on geotropism. Growth retardation effect of morphactins appears to be controlled by another mechanism.
High-speed photographic observation of plasma-limiter interactions in ISX-B

High-speed motion pictures confirm that arcing occurs during periods of plasma instability in ISX-B. Various types of plasma-limiter interactions are described and illustrated. Arcing and other visible phenomena are correlated to plasma parameters.
Efficient Coupling reactions of β-Amino and β-Acetamido Radicals with Electron Deficient Alkenes - Aza-Carbofunctionalization of Olefins - A Promising New Tool for Alkaloid Synthesis.

Abstract The coupling reactions of β-amino and β-acetamido radicals prepared by reduction of organomercurials have been examined as a potentially new approach to alkaloid construction.
Systemic and Organizational Obstacles in the Tale of the Reading Coach: A Commentary

In this commentary on Al Otaiba, Hosp, Smartt, and Dole's article (this issue), key strengths, limitations, and systemic issues in the consultation project are identified. It is posited that despite expanded opportunities for school improvement since the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act (2001) and clear evidence that improvement is warranted, school improvement remains an extremely difficult process. Several positive elements in the Al Otaiba project are identified. The need for increased attention to systemic variables, a closer examination of existing district policies and resources, and the need for systematic professional development are identified as project elements that may have improved the outcome.
Syntheses and structures of dinuclear gold(I) dithiophosphonate complexes and the reaction of the dithiophosphonate complexes with phosphines: diverse coordination types.

The dinuclear gold(I) dithiophosphonate complex, [Au2(dtp)2] (1), where dtp = [S2P(R)(OR‘)]- with R = p-C6H4OCH3; R‘= c-C5H9, has been synthesized and its reaction studied with the phosphine ligands PPh3 and Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2 (n = 1−4). Compound 1 contains two gold atoms homobridged by the anionic dithiophosphonate ligand, forming an eight-membered ring complex in a chair form. After the reaction of 1 with diphosphine ligands, the dinuclear open-ring complexes Au2(dppm)(dtp)2 (2), Au2(dppe)(dtp)2 (3), Au2(dppp)(dtp)2 (4), Au2(dppb)(dtp)2 (5) were formed (dppm = diphenylphosphinomethane; dppe = diphenylphosphinoethane; dppp = diphenylphosphinopropane; dppb = diphenylphosphinobutane). The reaction with dppm is stoichiometry-dependent. Thus, when 1 reacts with 2 equiv of dppm, the ionic complex [Au2(dppm)2(dtp)]dtp forms. This dtp counterion was exchanged with tetrafluoroborate to yield [Au2(dppm)2(dtp)]BF4, the crystallization of which afforded two interconvertible isomers, 6-yellow and 7-white. Reaction of 1 ...
SOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT OF ORAL SELF EXPRESSION IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Author's summary.— Ability to express one's self, either in the vernacular or in a foreign language, probably the result of specific practice in the direction of concept-to-expression-unit. Difficult to train in a foreign language because of the priority of neural paths, more or less worn by usage, leading from concepts to native-language expression units. Analysis of forced training in self-expression of an adult cast into a foreign environment. Conclusion is that school conditions should be made to motivate, in so far as possible, the environment just outlined.
The Possibility of Transmitting a Calendra Infestation from Wheat to Macaroni Thru the Processes of Milling and Manufacturing

The question of whether or not a granary weevil infestation could pass directly from the wheat to the macaroni has been of great practical importance to the milling and macaroni industries. In the experiments described in this paper it was shown that (1) no stage of the weevil could survive the process of milling the durum wheat into Semolina from which the marcaroni is manufactured. Even the eggs were unable to survive this process, (2) that the adult weevils would not oviposit in the semolina, (3) even if the weevils or their eggs were present in semolina they could not survive the process of manufacturing the macaroni. It was also found that the weevils are introduced into the factory and lay their eggs on the macaroni while it is drying.
An introduction to model-based imaging.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the distinction between the recognition of form, i.e. pattern recognition, and the interpretation of visual scenes, i.e. image understanding. Pattern recognition is part of image understanding, but the latter also includes cognitive tasks such as learning and inference. The key to developing image-understanding systems is to concentrate on the representation and use of models. This paper is a brief outline of the components of a model-based image-understanding system. First, the notions of iconic, categorical and symbolic knowledge are described. Although they appear to be disparate, the common notion is that the image understanding is based on recognizing concepts and not recognizing form. Next, the notion of a concept is defined, followed by representation techniques and control strategies for using concepts. Last, an example is given of an image-understanding system that learns to recognize concepts such as radiographic projections of teeth in panoramic radiographs.
Response Surface Methodology for Analysis of Protein Interactions in Angel Food Cakes

The effects of variation in levels of various albumen proteins on foaming properties of protein solutions and angel food cake parameters were analyzed by response surface methodology (RSM). A mixture experimental design was used to determine the protein treatment level combinations. Foaming index was positively affected by ovomucin, and interaction of ovomucin with globulins. Interactions of ovomucin with ovalbumin, lysozyme, ovomucoid, and conalbumin had a negative effect on foaminess. Positive effects on cake volume were observed fur ovomucin, lysozyme, and ovalbumin. Interactions of ovomucin with ovalbumin, globulins, and ovomucoid, as well as lysozyme with globulins, ovomucoid, conalbumin, and ovalbumin reduced cake volume. An angel food cake optimized for foaming and volume can be prepared with ovomucin, lysozyme, and globulin levels ranging from 0.2–1.0%, 0.0–1.8%, and 12.2–14.8%, respectively.
Advances in Assessment Through Research: What Have We Learned in the Past 3 Years?

The current article reviews research published in Assessment for Effective Intervention during the past 3 years. A total of 57 research articles were published during that period, with a current rejection rate of approximately 78%. A close examination of the pool of articles revealed seven overarching themes: behavioral assessment tools, group differences, interventions to improve student outcomes, legal and professional issues, conceptual models for practice, predictive validity, and psychometric properties of assessment tools. Although the category with the most articles (n = 19, 33%) was interventions to improve student outcomes, only 2 studies provided assessment data that evaluated the effectiveness of interventions. There were considerable data regarding the potential instructional implications of spelling assessment during this 3-year period, as well as an increase in studies that examined the diagnostic accuracy of various measures. The review of research and the proposed conceptual models for pra...
Anesthetic management in a child with Rolland-Desbuquois type dyssegmental dysplasia

A case of a 17-month-old boy with dissegmental dysplasia of the Rolland-Desbuquois type, who was scheduled for bilateral inguinal herniotomy, is presented. Preoperative assessment showed limited mouth opening, head extension, and kyphosis. Intubation with a size 4 mm endotracheal tube (ETT) was achieved with fiberoptic bronchoscopy, after which surgery proceeded uneventfully and the ETT was carefully removed. Copious airway secretions required frequent suctioning. On the second postoperative day, respiratory status stabilized, and the patient was discharged home.
Net protein catabolic rate after kidney transplantation: impact of corticosteroid immunosuppression.

Protein catabolic rate (PCR) was measured during the first 3 to 7 weeks after kidney transplantation in nine nondiabetic patients (16-52 yr old) who were receiving azathioprine and corticosteroid immunosuppression. Five of the patients received additional amounts of corticosteroids to treat rejection episodes. The PCR paralleled the amounts of corticosteroids administered initially as prophylactic immunosuppression and later as treatment for rejection episodes. In spite of a diet containing 1.2 g of protein per kg ideal body weight, net urea generation reflected severe lean body mass breakdown, roughly equivalent in magnitude to a 50% body surface area full-thickness burn. This catabolism was accompanied by a fall in serum albumin without significant weight loss. Hypercatabolism in the early posttransplant period is severe. After transplantation diet should be modified to try to satisfy these nitrogen demands. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition10:453-455, 1986)
Polymerization and Copolymerization Studies of Orthoacrylates: A Novel Class of Acrylic Esters

Abstract Although ortho-esters constitute a well-known class of organic compounds, the orthoacrylates were unknown prior to a report from these laboratories in 1972. To date, this novel class of acrylic esters has not been investigated as polymerization monomers. We report here polymerization and copolymerization studies of representative members of this class of compounds. Although the orthoacrylates studied did not polymerize in the presence of conventional cationic initiators nor radical initiators, they did respond to radical-initiated copolymerization with a variety of conventional vinyl monomers. Their corresponding reactivity ratios were determined, as well as the Q and e parameters. Monomer syntheses and characterization are reported, as well as structural and properties studies on the copolymers.
Influence of Temperature and Holding Time on the Interaction of V, Al, and N in Microalloyed Forging Steels

A medium-carbon vanadium microalloyed steel (38MnSiVS5) with three different aluminum levels (0.006, 0.020, and 0.03 wt pct) was used to examine the interaction of vanadium, aluminum, and nitrogen during the heating and cooling cycle for forging. The thermal cycle was simulated using a Gleeble® 1500. Hold times varied from 5 to 45 minutes and temperature varied from 1323 K to 1523 K (1050 °C to 1250 °C). Thermal simulation specimens and as-received material were characterized by quantitative metallography, hardness, and chemical analysis of electrolytically extracted precipitates. The hardness was observed to be relatively constant for all aluminum levels after all thermal simulations at and above 1423 K (1150 °C). Hardness, pearlite fraction, and austenite grain size decreased with increasing aluminum content at the two lowest temperatures examined, which were 1323 K and 1373 K (1050 °C and 1100 °C). The amount of vanadium precipitated in the lowest aluminum steel was very consistent, approximately 70 pct, for the thermal simulations. The amount of precipitated vanadium decreased with increasing amount of aluminum nitride for the 0.03 wt pct Al level.
Extracting microphysical impacts in large-eddy simulations of shallow convection

AbstractA simple methodology is proposed to extract impacts of cloud microphysics on macrophysical cloud-field properties in large-eddy simulations of shallow convection. These impacts are typically difficult to assess because of natural variability of the simulated cloud field. The idea is to use two sets of thermodynamic variables driven by different microphysical schemes or by a single scheme with different parameters as applied here. The first set is coupled to the dynamics as in the standard model, and the second set is applied diagnostically—that is, driven by the flow but without the feedback on the flow dynamics. Having the two schemes operating in the same flow pattern allows for extracting the impact with high confidence. For illustration, the method is applied to simulations of precipitating shallow convection applying a simple bulk representation of warm-rain processes. Because of natural variability, the traditional approach provides an uncertain estimate of the impact of cloud droplet concen...