cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the accuracy of the calculated stress field around a craze

Several recent calculations of the stress field around crazes in glassy polymers have been based on experimentally obtained craze opening displacements. Although various techniques for performing these calculations have been presented (i.e., Fourier transform, boundary integral, and finite element methods), all are based on the solution of the same ill-conditioned boundary value problem. Specific boundary conditions required to calculate the stresses around a craze lead to a large change in the stress field with small changes in the craze profile which are within the reported experimental tolerance.
Co-production of lactic acid and chitin using a pelletized filamentous fungus Rhizopus oryzae cultured on cull potatoes and glucose

Aims: This paper developed a novel process for lactic acid and chitin co-production of the pelletized Rhzious oryzae NRRL 395 fermentation using underutilized cull potatoes and glucose as nutrient source. Methods and Results: Whole potato hydrolysate medium was first used to produce the highest pelletized biomass yield accompanying the highest chitin content in biomass. An enhanced lactic acid production then followed up using batch, repeated batch and fed batch culture with glucose as carbon source and mixture of ammonia and sodium hydroxide as neutralizer. The lactic acid productivity peaked at 2·8 and 3 g l−1 h−1 in repeated batch culture and batch culture, respectively. The fed batch culture had the highest lactate concentration of 140 g l−1. Conclusions: Separation of the biomass cultivation and the lactic acid production is able to not only improve lactic acid production, but also enhance the chitin content. Cull potato hydrolysate used as a nutrient source for biomass cultivation can significantly increase both biomass yield and chitin content. Significance and Impact of the Study: The three-step process using pelletized R. oryzae fermentation innovatively integrates utilization of agricultural residues into the process of co-producing lactic acid and chitin, so as to improve the efficiency, revenues and cost of fungal lactic acid production.
Explanation for the resistivity law in quantum Hall systems.

We consider a 2D electron system in a strong magnetic field, where the local Hall resistivity ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{xy}}(\mathbf{r})$ is a function of position and ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{xx}}(\mathbf{r})$ is small compared to ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{xy}}$. Particularly if the correlations fall off slowly with distance, or if fluctuations exist on several length scales, one finds that the macroscopic longitudinal resistivity ${R}_{\mathrm{xx}}$ is only weakly dependent on ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{xx}}$ and is approximately proportional to the magnitude of fluctuations in ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{xy}}$. This may provide an explanation of the empirical law ${R}_{\mathrm{xx}}\ensuremath{\propto}\frac{\mathrm{Bd}{R}_{\mathrm{xy}}}{\mathrm{dB}}$ where ${R}_{\mathrm{xy}}$ is the Hall resistance, and $B$ is the magnetic field.
Nonmineralized and mineralized bone collagen in bone of immobilized monkeys.

Monkey bones from different time periods of immobilization and reambulation of the monkeys were assessed histologically. The bone was also assessed biochemically for nonmineralized collagen in bone. Results indicate that more non-mineralized bone is present in monkeys that have been immobilized, and upon reambulation, these values tend to be normalized to control bone.
Establishment of a Lunar Unipolar Generator and Associated Shock and Wake by the Solar Wind

The impact of the solar wind on a dynamo- and atmosphere-free body such as the Moon generates two distinguishable current systems denoted as Cowling (Ḃ ≠ 0) and unipolar (Ḃ = 0). The unipolar system representing the steady state must close through the neighbouring plasma and thus has the form of a simple linear unipolar generator. The relationship of the current to the conductivity of the body is investigated for the homogeneous and the radially inhomogeneous Moon. The current density is determined by the power flow in the solar wind and the conductivity of the body. The fundamental equation for the interior potential associated with the unipolar generator is solved for a special case.
Application of air warfare simulation in determining tactical air control system (TACS) effectiveness

This paper discusses the use of SIMATR, a large-scale simulation of air battles over land, to evaluate the effectiveness of various sensor and force deployments in a Tactical Air Control System (TACS). A brief outline of a threat and of several possible TACS configurations is followed by a description of SIMATR and its applications in the context of the NATO air defense of Central Europe. Results showing the relative effectiveness of the various TACS configurations are presented.
The binding energy and vibronic structure of NbXe

Abstract The resonant photodissociation spectrum of NbXe + from 13500 to 16400 cm −1 has been analyzed for the first time. Study of a relatively intense electronic transition, dubbed the B-X system, has yielded an electronic origin, and the excited state vibrational frequency and anharmonicity: T 00 = 13601, ω′ e = 85.2, and ω e x′ e = 0.63 cm −1 . From the convergence of the upper-state vibrational structure and analogy to isovalent molecules, it is found that NbXe + dissociates at 16651 ± 10 cm −1 into Nb + [4 d 3 5 s 1 ( 5 P 2 )] + Xe ( 1 S 0 ) , fragments. This places the diabatic dissociation energies ( D 0 ) of the excited ( 5 Π 1 ) and ground ( 5 Σ 0 + ) electronic states at 3051 ± 10 cm −1 and 5815 ± 10 cm −1 , respectively.
Niacin Deficiency in the Chick as Influenced by Antibiotics

Abstract DEFICIENCY symptoms induced in chicks by the omission of biotin or folic acid from a purified diet, were reported by Coates et al. (1951) to be alleviated by penicillin supplementation. Penicillin was without effect on deficiencies of riboflavin, thiamine, pantothenic acid or pyridoxine but accentuated the deficiency of niacin. In contrast, Biely and March (1952) have presented evidence that aureomycin spares dietary niacin. A corn-casein type of diet was used by them while Coates and co-workers used a purified diet with dextrin as the carbohydrate. There are data indicating that aureomycin and penicillin function equally well in alleviating riboflavin deficiency in the rat, while for thiamine deficiency penicillin was more effective than aureomycin and the reverse held true for pantothenic acid, Lih and Baumann (1951). The data presented by Sauberlich (1952) are substantially in agreement with the above. Sauberlich also made the observation that when thiamine, riboflavin or pyridoxine were …
Algorithmic equivalence in quadratic programming, I: A least-distance programming problem

It is demonstrated that Wolfe's algorithm for finding the point of smallest Euclidean norm in a given convex polytope generates the same sequence of feasible points as does the van de Panne-Whinstonsymmetric algorithm applied to the associated quadratic programming problem. Furthermore, it is shown how the latter algorithm may be simplified for application to problems of this type.
Food, Drink, and Herbs: Alternative Therapies and Gout

Gout was first recognized as a distinct clinical entity in antiquity. Our understanding of the epidemiology and treatment of gout has evolved over millennia intertwined with observations about social class and plant and animal sources of food, beverages and medicines. Investigators have identified various aspects of diet that relate to gout risk and recurrence. Some of our most useful medications for the treatment of gout were developed from herbal precursors. Traditional dietary recommendations for gout patients have included limiting high purine meat and alcohol consumption. More recent work suggests diets leading to weight loss through calorie and carbohydrate reductions may be effective for lowering serum urate levels, as well as the risk of gout.
Effects of Parathyroid Hormone Treatment on Circulating Sclerostin Levels in Postmenopausal Women

Context: Intermittent PTH treatment stimulates bone formation, but the mechanism(s) of this effect remain unclear. Sclerostin is an inhibitor of Wnt signaling, and animal studies have demonstrated that PTH suppresses sclerostin production. Objective: The objective of the study was to test whether intermittent PTH treatment of postmenopausal women alters circulating sclerostin levels. Design: Prospective study. Setting: The study was conducted at a clinical research unit. Participants and Interventions: Participants included 27 postmenopausal women treated with PTH (1-34) for 14 d and 28 control women. Main Outcome Measures: Serum sclerostin levels were measured. Results: Circulating sclerostin levels decreased significantly in the PTH-treated subjects, from (mean ± SEM) 551 ± 32 to 482 ± 31 pg/ml (−12.7%, P < 0.0001) but did not change in the control women (baseline, 559 ± 34 pg/ml; end point, 537 ± 40 pg/ml, P = 0.207; P = 0.017 for difference in changes between groups). Bone marrow plasma was obtained i...
Frame Changes and Social Movement Contraction: U.S. Peace Movement Framing After the Cold War

This study analyzes framing processes and their relationships with ongoing social movement change. We examine peace frames found among U.S. peace movement organizations (PMOS) in its period of contraction at the end of the Cold War. On the basis of analysis of a unique two-wave survey of US. peace movement organizations in 1988 and 1992, we assess the extent to which organizational framing of the peace problematic changed. We found an overall shift in emphases from more bilateral frames like the nuclear weapons freeze to frames emphasizing multilateralism and global interdependence. PMO frame transformations that took place between 1988 and 1992 represent a trend towards broader, more radical (or structural) and less exclusive peace movement frames. We describe the frame transformations observed here as the emergence of “retention frames.” Retention frames embody several dimensions of movement abeyance structures and serve to sustain organizational continuity across episodes of movement surges and contraction.
Hydrogen concentration dependence in the 1H spin-lattice relaxation due to motion in amorphous Ni0.33Zr0.67Hx

The motion of hydrogen in the amorphous metal Ni0.33Zr0.67Hx has been studied using nuclear magnetic resonance for 0.25≤x≥1.45 over a temperature range of 170K to 440K. For fixed 1H NMR frequency, the temperature of the motionally induced spin-lattice relaxation rate peak is a non-monotonic function of x. The motion appears fastest at low and high concentrations and slowest for x=0.85. Pulsed field gradient measurements of the diffusion constant show that the measured relaxation is due to long-ranged motion.
Interfacial Tension and Spreading Coefficient of Thin Films: Review and Future Directions

The surface tension of a very thin film deviates from its thermodynamic thick film analogue. Generalized surface tension expressions can be obtained from intermolecular forces in order to calculate some important parameters such as the spreading coefficient of very thin films and the equilibrium shape and thickness of a pancake drop. These expressions become important for ultrathin films such as those relevant for oil extraction and for some biological calculations (in relation to vesicles and liposomes). We discuss such uses either when a thin surfactant layer covers a surface modifying its effective surface tension as a function of the surfactant layer thickness, or when a thin liquid layer is covering a surface and the thin film itself has a lower surface tension than the bulk value. Possible research directions in the field are outlined.
Theory of Simulated-Skin-Effect Filters a Thin Film Approach to EMI

The theory of a new, ceramic lowpass filter, highly effective at very high frequencies, is discussed. Its excellent performance is based on simulation of the skin effect whereby the VHF, UHF and microwave currents are forced along a thin, electrically permeable resistive film deposited inside a high-? dielectric tube while a large dc current may flow through the coaxial conductor. Theory and experiment are in excellent agreement. In several respects these filters are better than cascaded filters (ferrites and dielectrics combined) which were, thus far, considered the best available. The simulated-skin-effect filter shows great promise of becoming a significant means in combatting conducted electromagnetic interference.
Homelessness Here? A District Administrator Encounters an Unexpected Challenge

This case was developed for use in a variety of leadership courses from contemporary issues to policy analysis or school–community relations. A narrative is presented about a superintendent, Kenny, who is faced with two new cases of student homelessness in his affluent suburban community. Students must consider the federal policy context (the McKinney–Vento Act) to analyze the narrative from the perspective of various stakeholders and develop a leadership response. In response to the case, students are able to demonstrate their understanding of federal policy, to identify the challenges of homelessness, and to formulate solutions.
The influence of learning strategies in the acquisition, retention, and transfer of a procedural task

In order to analyze the effectiveness of various learner strategies upon initial learning, retention, and subsequent transfer of a motor skill, 50 college-aged subjects were randomly assigned to one of five strategy conditions: imagery, chunking, verbalization, informed choice, and control. The task, a serial manipulation apparatus (SMA), required subjects to manipulate a predetermined sequence of buttons and switches. Following learning trials, subjects were administered a retention test. Additionally, a transfer task was administered in order to discern the generalizability of specific strategies. Separate analyses for errors by positions, total errors, and total time revealed that the informed-choice group performed better on the acquisition task than did the chunking, verbalization, or imagery groups, whereas the imagery group performed better on the transfer task than did the chunking, verbalization, and informed-choice groups.
Spin observables and the determination of the parity of Θ + in photoproduction reaction

Spin observables in the photoproduction of the ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}^{+}$ are explored for the purpose of determining the parity of the ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}^{+}$. Based on reflection symmetry in the scattering plane, we show that certain spin observables in the photoproduction of the ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}^{+}$ can be related directly to its parity. We also show that measurements of both the target nucleon asymmetry and the ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}^{+}$ polarization may be useful in determining the parity of ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}^{+}$ in a model-independent way. Furthermore, we show that no combination of spin observables involving only the polarization of the photon and∕or nucleon in the initial state can determine the parity of ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}^{+}$ unambiguously.
Generation of Defects in Heavily Al-Doped 4H-SiC Epitaxial Layers Grown by the Low-Temperature Halo-Carbon Method

Application of the low-temperature halo-carbon epitaxial growth technique to produce heavily doped p-type epitaxial layers was investigated. While growth at 1300°C facilitated Al incorporation, possible degradation of crystalline quality had to be evaluated. A quantitative measure of the defects generated during epitaxial growth was obtained using molten potassium hydroxide (KOH) etching. The trend with increased doping was for an increase in threading dislocations and Al precipitates. The degradation initially involved an increase in generation of threading dislocations, which was followed at higher doping by generation of defects giving rise to smaller KOH etch pits. The properties of the small-etch-pit defects were reminiscent of Al precipitates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to establish that the small-etch-pit defects were localized at various depths inside the epilayers. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) indicated that these small-etch-pit defects contained a higher concentration of aluminum.
Difficulty and interpersonal attraction

Male subjects learned that they would have to perform an easy, moderately difficult, or very difficult memory task in order to qualify for a “learning session” in which they would be accompanied by a moderately attractive female. Subjective measures taken just prior to task performance indicate that subjects viewed the female target as more attractive, sexy, and cute in the Moderately Difficult task condition than in the Easy and Very Difficult task conditions. Results are discussed in terms of a recently proposed model of motivation (Brehm 1979; Brehm, Wright, Solomon, Silka, & Greenberg, 1983), and research on the relation between difficulty and interpersonal attraction.
Multianalyte assay systems in the differential diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Introduction: The efficient triage of women diagnosed with a pelvic mass presents currently an area of unmet need. Unnecessary surgical intervention performed on patients at a decreased risk of malignancy represents a significant source of preventable morbidity, anxiety and cost. Likewise, delayed or overlooked referral of patients harboring malignant tumors is strongly associated with diminished outcomes. Current tools including imaging modalities and the CA 125 blood test are of insufficient accuracy to overcome these challenges. The use of multianalyte assay systems, which include additional biomarkers capable of complementing the performance of CA 125, may offer the best hope of improvement. Areas covered: Recent findings regarding the use of multianalyte biomarker panels for the differential diagnosis of a pelvic mass are reviewed and discussed. Particular attention is paid to the FDA-approved ROMA and OVA1 tests. The development, validation, recent evaluation and comparative performances of these tw...
Design and implementation of a longitudinal ambulatory clerkship in the first-year curriculum at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

In response to calls for medical education reform we designed and implemented a new Longitudinal Ambulatory Clerkship (LAC) at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The LAC provides first-year medical students with their initial exposure to clinical medicine during a 12-month experience consisting of weekly clinic sessions with a practicing physician-mentor (preceptor) and longitudinal experience with a population of patients. The LAC allows students to experience firsthand many of the personal, professional, and organizational issues that impact the practice of medicine. This paper reviews the rationale, development, and challenges during implementation of this clerkship.
A longitudinal study of ventricular volume in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

The specific aim of this study was to determine whether progressive brain atrophy could be detected within 18 months of establishing a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Fi...
Cosmic-Ray Positive and Negative Electrons

A determination of the specific ionization of cosmic-ray particles, first, by a count of the number of drops per cm along cosmic-ray tracks on cloud-chamber photographs and, second, by measurements of the energy loss in lead has shown that the great bulk of the cosmic-ray particles of positive charge are positive electrons. The primary ionization was found to be about 31 ion-pairs per cm in air at S.T.P., but the total energy loss represents about 120 ion pairs per cm in air. Approximately the same values of specific ionization were found for the positives as for the negatives. Positive and negative electrons were found to occur in nearly equal numbers and to have similar distributions in energy. Energy distribution curves are given for the positives and negatives. A brief description of the experimental procedure is given, and several track photographs are shown. In view of the discovery that hard gamma-rays of Th C′′ give rise to positives and negatives in pairs, similar to the effects found in cosmic-ray studies, it is concluded that the absorption of the Th C′′ rays is due in part to that by free negative electrons and in part to a nuclear effect which results in the production of pairs of positive and negative electrons, the former effect accounting for the greater part of the absorption of the Th C′′ rays. The symmetry in occurrence of the positive and negative electrons found in the cosmic-ray studies shows that the nuclear effect which results in the production of positive and negative electrons in pairs represents the predominant part of the absorption for the range of energies as high as those of the cosmic rays and that the absorption by free negative electrons is relatively small.
The Locus of Carthage: Compounding Geographical Logic

North Africa’s Phoenician city of Carthage was above all a logical place from which the well-informed maritime Phoenicians colonized and controlled the Western Mediterranean. The leading important factors affecting the founding of Carthage were mostly geographical: overall centrality along the southern coast of the Western Mediterranean; proximity to the island bridge of Italy via Sicily; nascent oceanographic knowledge of water currents and wind gyres as well as shoals such as the Gulf of Sidra and the shelter of the Gulf of Tunis itself; and important local topography and religious landmarks.
Prestin gene expression in the rat cochlea following intense noise exposure

Abstract Noise-induced permanent loss of cochlear amplification was observed previously with the majority of outer hair cells (OHCs) still surviving in the cochlea and even with a normal OHC receptor potential, indicated by CM (cochlear microphonics) recording [Chen, G.D., Fechter, L.D., 2003. The relationship between noise-induced hearing loss and hair cell loss in rats. Hear. Res. 177(1–2), 81–90; Chen, G.D., Liu, Y., 2005. Mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss potentiation by hypoxia. Hear. Res. 200, 1–9]. This study focused on effects of an intense noise exposure (10–20 kHz at a level of 110 dB SPL for 4 h) on the OHC motor protein (prestin) and structural proteins in the OHC membrane skeleton. The noise exposure significantly disrupted CM and CAP (cochlear compound action potential). The injured CM recovered after 1-week resting period. The impaired CAP at frequencies lower than the noise band also recovered. However, the CAP recovery at frequencies of the noise band stopped at a linear line one week after the noise exposure, indicating a permanent loss of cochlear amplification. Gene expression of prestin, β-spectrin, and β-actin was significantly up-regulated after the noise exposure. The elevated gene expression peaked at the 3rd post-exposure day and returned to baseline 4 weeks after the noise exposure. The up-regulated gene expression may be in response to injury of the proteins, which may be responsible for the loss of cochlear amplification.
The fracture properties of a fiber metal laminate based on a self‐reinforced thermoplastic composite material

The present research program has studied the fracture properties of a Fiber-Metal Laminate (FML) system constituted by aluminum alloy and a high-impact self-reinforced composite material. Here, the self-reinforced composite system consists of a polypropylene matrix reinforced with polypropylene fibers. Initial testing has shown that a though adhesion can be achieved between the aluminum layers and the composite material by incorporating a thermoplastic adhesive interlayer at the common interface. The adhesion at the metal–composite interface has been studied under a wide range of strain rate conditions using a Single Cantilever Beam test geometry, and it has been shown that the interfacial fracture toughness is loading rate sensitive. Interlaminar delamination tests of the plain composite have also been studied and it was shown that their fracture toughness is also loading rate sensitive. Additional tensile tests have shown that the tensile strength and moduli of the FMLs are linearly influenced by the volume fraction of their constituent materials as well as are successfully predicted using a simple rule of mixture. Low velocity impact tests have also shown that the FMLs based on a self-reinforced polypropylene composite yielded specific perforation energies well above the 30 J m2/kg. It was also shown that by increasing the number of metal and composite plies in the FMLs, resulted in hybrid structures capable of absorbing higher specific low velocity impact energies. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:427–434, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Polymorphic microsatellite markers developed from 454 pyro-sequencing in the cold water coral-associated squat lobster species, Eumunida picta (Chirostylidae: Eumunididae)

Eighty-three putative microsatellite loci were screened from two 454 shotgun genomic libraries from Eumunida picta (Chirostylidae:Eumunididae), a species of squat lobster closely associated with cold-water coral reefs. Sixteen loci amplified consistently and nine proved sufficiently polymorphic and in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium in one or both sampling sites from Vioska Knoll 826 in the Gulf of Mexico and off of Cape Lookout, North Carolina. The average number of alleles per locus was 17.3 and observed heterozygosity ranged from 18.8–93.3 % with an average of 64.4 %. These genetic markers will be utilized to determine genetic connectivity among cold water coral reef communities of E. picta off the coast of the southern continental US and in the Gulf of Mexico. This will be the first attempt to examine E. picta population differentiation within and between fragmented reef habitats.
Application of Dirac's generalized Hamiltonian dynamics to atomic and molecular systems

Dirac's generalized Hamiltonian dynamics (GHD) is a purely classical formalism to describe mechanical systems with constraints, which it incorporates into the Hamiltonian. We show how quantization information can be included by choosing the integrals of motion as constraints, and demonstrate the construction of this novel classical Hamiltonian by applying GHD to electron motion in a hydrogenic atom.
Characteristics of Prevention Services and Prevention Counseling Programs in New York State

The purpose of this study is to describe the activities and characteristics of prevention providers in New York. Data collection method was mail survey research, with a response rate of just over 53%. More than 564,500 students were served by general prevention programs and more than 43,000 were evaluated for prevention counseling (PC). More than 25% of the general prevention providers' time is spent providing counseling, while 47% of the PC students are receiving individual counseling. Large numbers of students are seen by prevention providers, with many receiving counseling, though the nature and structure of this counseling is largely unexplored.
Robust regression applied to estimation of object parameters from astronomical speckle interferometry

We use robust nonlinear regression techniques to estimate the separation, brightness ratio, and orientation of binary stars. We perform the regression by fitting a binary-star model to a measurement of the object complex visibility obtained from infrared speckle data. Examination of χ2 for subplanes of the parameter range provides predictions of the accuracy required in the initial guesses at the parameters. We use the predictions to design an effective global search. The results of the global least-squares fit provide the necessary starting point for the robust regression. Using observational data, we show the robust regression solution to be superior to the conventional least-squares solution.
Pseudo-Cerebrospinal Fluid Sign on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Patient with a Presumed Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma

A 45-year-old man developed visual loss in the right eye, associated with clinical evidence of an anterior optic neuropathy. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an enlarged right optic nerve shadow with changes suggesting accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the orbital portion of the nerve; however, ultrasonography revealed solid thickening of the nerve, and a diagnosis of presumed optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM) was made. The “pseudo-CSF sign” has been well-described in patients with optic nerve gliomas in the setting of neurofibromatosis; however, to our knowledge, it has not been described in patients with ONSMs.
Determinations of DPN (TPN) Thiamine, Amino Acids and Amino Sugars in Blood of Animals with Experimental Myocardial Infarction

An investigation was made of the possible release from heart muscle of substances of small molecular weight following experimental myocardial infarction. These resulting chemical changes in coronary vein blood may be due to metabolic alterations of the cell which would either precede cell death or take place in cells with reversible metabolic changes. The coronary arteriovenous differences of pyridine nucleotides, thiamine and its phosphorylated derivatives, amino acids and amino sugars were investigated. No changes from the control were found. The negative results may have been caused by the rapid turnover of these substances in blood.
Delay discounting of money and alcohol in actively using alcoholics, currently abstinent alcoholics, and controls.

Rationale: Impulsivity is implicated in alcohol dependence, and discounting of delayed rewards may be an objective indicator of impulsiveness. Objectives: This study evaluated delay discounting functions in alcoholics and controls. It compared discounting rates between different magnitudes ($1000 and $100) and different types (money and alcohol) of rewards. Methods: Active alcoholics (n=19), currently abstinent alcoholics (n=12) and controls (n=15) indicated preferences for immediate versus delayed rewards using a titration procedure that determined indifference points at various delays. Four conditions were presented, and the delayed rewards in the four conditions were $1000, $100, 150 bottles of an alcoholic beverage, and 15 bottles of an alcoholic beverage. Results: In all three groups across all four conditions, hyperbolic discounting functions provided a good fit of the data. Linear contrasts, predicting the most rapid discounting rates in active alcoholics, intermediary rates in currently abstinent alcoholics, and the least rapid rates in controls, were significant for three of the four conditions. Alcohol was discounted more rapidly than money. Conclusions: These data provide further evidence of more rapid discounting of delayed rewards in alcohol abusers compared to controls, and especially steep discounting among current users. Rapid discounting of delayed rewards may be a feature related to addictive disorders. A better understanding of how delaying rewards in time impacts their value may have implications for treatment.
BaZr 0.9 Yb 0.1 O 3-δ -modified bi-electrode supported solid oxide fuel cells with enhanced coking and sulfur tolerance

Abstract Among different designs of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), bi-electrode supported cells (BSC) offer great prospects for superior specific power density due to low weight and volume. This BSC architecture is used as a platform for an anode surface modification study to increase the anode's coking and sulfur poisoning resistance when operating under common hydrocarbon-containing fuels. Here we report a Ni anode modified by BaZr 0.9 Yb 0.1 O 3− δ particles that demonstrates stable performance in CH 4 (without coking) and decreased sulfur poisoning. The anode was fabricated by infiltrating Ni precursor into a porous YSZ scaffold in combination with small amounts of Ba, Zr, and Yb nitrates. The electrochemical performances of the modified anodes were compared with blank Ni anodes infiltrated in the same manner. In addition, the structure, morphology, and phase composition of the anodes were studied using X-ray diffraction, microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
Variability in the acoustic response of shallow-water marine sediments determined by normal-incident 30-kHz and 50-kHz sound

Abstract To quantify the variability in the acoustic response of typical shallow-water marine sediments, a series of high-frequency (30 and 50 kHz), normal-incident measurements were made at six sites within the Ship Island Test Bed off Gulfport, MS, USA. These measurements were made using the Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Acoustic Seafloor Classification System (ASCS) in sediments ranging from silty clay to medium sand, and with sediment structures ranging from layered, to unlayered, and methane gas-charged. A broadband, narrow-beamwidth transducer was mounted on a remotely movable trolley suspended from a horizontal I-beam connected to a pair of legs at each end of the beam. This ‘swingset’ was lowered to the seafloor with the transducer mounted at normal incidence and at an altitude of 3.0 m above the sediment surface. Measurements were made at both 30 and 50 kHz at each of up to eight positions 0.3 m apart along the beam. A coefficient of variation was calculated for each horizontally corresponding sample of the 16-bit, 125-kHz sample rate A/D at each of the positions along the transect. Variability was determined at ∼6-mm depth intervals in the sediment to the limit of significant signal return. These measurements indicate that the greatest variability in acoustic response occurs in the upper 0.5 m of the sediment column with muds ranging from 18 to 31%, whereas sands ranged from 23 to 26%. Acoustic response variability was found to decrease with increased depth for both muds and sands. Below 1.0 m, the sediment depth limit of bioturbation variability, decreases to 6–13% for muds and to 18% for sands. Methane gas-charged sediment located approximately 3.0 m below the sediment–water interface produced a variability of 20%. For all sediment types, the 50-kHz acoustic response was consistently more variable than the 30-kHz acoustic response.
Kinetic isotope effects as probes of the mechanism of galactose oxidase.

Galactose oxidase (GO) is a member of the family of radical-coupled copper oxidases, enzymes containing a free radical coordinated to copper in the active site. In catalysis GO cycles between an oxidized state (comprising Cu(II) with a unique cysteinyl-tyrosine radical) and a reduced state (comprising Cu(I) with the singlet cysteinyl-tyrosine) as it catalyzes the two-electron oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and the subsequent reduction of O2 to H2O2. A ping-pong mechanism involving radical intermediates has been proposed for GO catalysis. Previous steady-state kinetics studies have demonstrated a KIE of 7−8 that was attributed to substrate oxidation, a process involving the stereospecific abstraction of the pro-S hydrogen from the 6-hydroxymethyl group of galactose. We have used rapid kinetics methods to measure the anaerobic reduction of GO substrate at 4 °C and carry out enzyme-monitored turnover experiments using 6-protio and 6-deutero substrates, both in H2O and D2O. At concentrations below Km, the...
Section newsletter rejected

At the SPR Executive Committee Meeting last December, some interest was expressed in having a section newsletter, but limited time prevented full discussion of the issue. Later, some of the interested attendees decided to take a sample poll of the SPR membership at the Spring Meeting this year to determine the level of enthusiasm for the project. Although no other section has a separate newsletter at this time, AGU has set guidelines for proposing and publishing them, and the outcome of the poll was to determine whether or not a proposal should be submitted. The text of the poll form is repeated below. “Proposal for a Solar-Planetary Relationships Newsletter
Insulin resistance in chronic kidney disease: a step closer to effective evaluation and treatment

Accurate measurements are needed to target insulin resistance in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Among older men with and without moderate CKD, Jia and colleagues compared insulin resistance estimated from glucose and insulin concentrations obtained while fasting or during an oral glucose tolerance test vs. insulin resistance measured by the gold-standard hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and tested associations of each with mortality. These findings move forward the study of insulin resistance in CKD and generate new questions for future work.
The reproductive biology of the horse mackerel Trachurus trachurs (L.) in the North Sea and English Channel

In the horse mackerel the gametes develop asynchronously and are released in batches. The maturity cycle is characterized by a rapid post-spawning recovery period and a relatively long period of oocyte maturation. Mean gonad weight reached a peak in June and intraovarian hyaline oocytes occurred from May to August. Determination of fecundity was complicated by resorption of oocytes both before and after spawning, and by the fact that resting and developing oocytes were not clearly separated by size. An estimate of‘potential fecundity‘was obtained by a combination of histology and oocyte measurement. Plankton surveys showed that a major spawning area exists in the Southern Bight of the North Sea, with eggs occurring from May to late August. An estimate of annual egg production was combined with the fecundity data to give an estimate of stock size of about 500 000 tons.
Constitutive activation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcriptional regulator Ste12p by mutations at the amino-terminus.

The transcriptional activator Ste12p is required for the expression of genes induced by mating pheromone in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We identified mutations in the amino-terminal DNA-binding domain of Ste12p that lead to constitutively high-level transcription of pheromone-induced genes. The behaviour of these mutant proteins is consistent with an enhanced DNA-binding ability. Cells carrying these hyperactive proteins retain their sensitivity to pheromone treatment, and their phenotype is largely dependent on the presence of at least one of the MAP kinases (Fus3p or Kss1p) and the scaffold protein Ste5p. Deletion of either FUS3 or KSS1 leads to a marked increase in Ste12p activity, consistent with a negative regulatory role for Fus3p, similar to that described for Kss1p. The properties of the constitutive mutants support the idea that the pheromone response pathway plays a role in basal as well as pheromone-induced transcription. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of Calcium and Available Phosphorus Requirements for Laying Hens by Response Surface Methodology

Abstract A 3 × 3 factorial experiment with 324 laying hens was conducted for 280 days to examine the effect of calcium and available phosphorus on biological responses associated with egg production. Calcium levels were 2.50, 3.75, and 5.00% and available phosphorus levels were .35, .50, and .65%. The data were analyzed quantitatively using response surface methodology. Results showed that within the range of the experimental design, there were no significant effects of the two minerals on hen-day egg production, final body weight, or average egg weight. A trend was shown for improvement in feed conversion at the 2.5 and 3.75% calcium as the available phosphorus percent was reduced. This trend was not evident at the 5% calcium level. Cumulative mortality was related to low dietary levels of calcium. Eggshell percentage was significantly affected by calcium and available phosphorus levels. A second order equation was found to describe the mineral and percent eggshell relationship with an R2 value of .77. Optimal levels of calcium and available phosphorus for the percent eggshell were calculated to be 4.73 and .48, respectively. A confidence area and interval were described for the predicted optimal response. The high calcium and available phosphorus were postulated to be associated with the strain of hen used in the experiment.
Carbide formation in Al–Ti mechanical alloys

Abstract Formation of aluminum and titanium carbides was observed in Al–Ti mechanical alloys prepared with stearic acid as process control agent. Thermal analysis showed that Al 4 C 3 forms as a result of carbon contamination together with Al 3 Ti phases, which react at ∼900 °C to form TiC 1− x and Al melt. This transition causes a previously unexplained equilibrium transition.
The Uncertainty in the True End Point of a Fossil's Stratigraphic Range When Stratigraphic Sections Are Sampled Discretely

Stratigraphic sections are often sampled at well-defined discrete points. Because of the incompleteness of the fossil record, a particular species may not be observed even when it is extant at a sampling point. We introduce a model and Bayesian analysis for estimating the true time of disappearance of a lineage from a section in the face of the possibility that failure to find the species beyond its observed stratigraphic range may represent false negatives. We incorporate proper prior information, including an estimated longevity of the species and the probability that it will be observed if extant. Our analysis produces a posterior density for the true extinction time of the species. Summaries of this probability distribution provide a point estimate of the extinction time, a standard deviation for the uncertainty in the estimate, and confidence intervals for the time of extinction. We apply our model to stratigraphic ranges of benthic foraminifera collected from the early Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian and Turonian) from Eastbourne, England.
Time-series based features for EMG pattern recognition: Preliminary results

A summary of results for features obtained from upper limb electromyographic (EMG) signals is given. The features are based on the autoregressive (AR) model and include model coefficients, reflection coefficients, and cepstral coefficients. Some of these coefficients demonstrate potential for pattern recognition of upper limb movements for a EMG controlled prosthesis. >
Impact of experimentally manipulated sleep on adolescent simulated driving.

Abstract Objective/Background Sleep restriction (SR) impairs adolescents' attention, which could contribute to high rates of driving crashes. Here, we examine the impact of experimental SR on adolescent drivers, considering whether that impact is moderated by the nature of the drive (urban/suburban vs. rural) or how vulnerable each adolescent is to attentional decline after SR. Participants/Methods A total of 17 healthy 16–18-year-old licensed drivers completed two five-night sleep conditions: SR (6.5 h in bed) versus extended sleep (ES; 10 h in bed) in counterbalanced order. After each, participants completed rural and urban/suburban courses in a driving simulator, and parents rated participants' attention in day-to-day settings. Vulnerability to SR was computed as cross-condition change in parent ratings. Dependent variables included standard deviation (SD) of lateral lane position (SDLP), mean speed, SD of speed, and crashes. Multivariate models examined the main and interaction effects of sleep condition, driving environment, and vulnerability to SR, covarying for years licensed. Results Although the effects for the other outcomes were nonsignificant, there were three-way interactions (sleep × drive × vulnerability) for mean speed and SDLP ( p 0.02). During the rural drive, adolescents had less consistent lateral vehicle control in SR than ES, despite slower driving among those reported to be vulnerable to SR. During the urban/suburban drive, SR worsened SDLP only among adolescents reported to be vulnerable to SR. Conclusions These preliminary findings suggest that even a moderate degree of SR may be a modifiable contributor to adolescent driving problems for some. This impact is widely present during monotonous rural drives and in a subgroup during interesting urban/suburban drives.
Ambidexterity in Technology Sourcing: The Moderating Role of Absorptive Capacity

A firm's organizational and technological boundaries are two important demarcation lines when sourcing for technology. Based on this theoretical lens, four possible combinations of exploration and exploitation emerge. Applying an ambidexterity perspective to a firm's technology sourcing strategy, we hypothesize that a curvilinear relationship exists between a firm's technology sourcing mix and its performance. We further introduce a contingency element by proposing that a firm's absorptive capacity exerts a positive moderating effect on this relationship. We empirically test these hypotheses on a random, multi-industry sample of U.S. manufacturing companies. We find support for the notion that the relationship between technology sourcing mix and firm performance is an inverted U-shape. Moreover, higher levels of absorptive capacity allow a firm to more fully capture the benefits resulting from ambidexterity in technology sourcing.
Treating Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Active Substance Users

Although injection drug users represent the majority of new and existing cases of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), many lack access to treatment because of concerns about adherence, effectiveness, and reinfection. On the basis of on a small but increasing body of evidence showing that injection drug users can undergo treatment for HCV infection successfully, the 2002 National Institutes of Health Consensus Statement on Hepatitis C has recommended that substance users be treated for HCV infection on a case-by-case basis. However, the criteria on which these treatment decisions should be made are unclear. The duration of pretreatment abstinence, concurrent psychiatric illness, intervening drug use, and the potential for injected interferon to cause relapse of drug use may all influence results of treatment for HCV infection. This overview presents preliminary data on the impact of these potential barriers on outcomes of treatment for HCV infection.
Sorting Nexin 27 regulates basal and stimulated Brush Border Trafficking of NHE3

Sorting nexin 27 (SNX27) contains a PDZ domain that is phylogenetically related to the PDZ domains of the NHERF proteins. Studies on nonepithelial cells have shown that this protein is located in endosomes, where it regulates trafficking of cargo proteins in a PDZ domain–dependent manner. However, the role of SNX27 in trafficking of cargo proteins in epithelial cells has not been adequately explored. Here we show that SNX27 directly interacts with NHE3 (C-terminus) primarily through the SNX27 PDZ domain. A combination of knockdown and reconstitution experiments with wild type and a PDZ domain mutant (GYGF → GAGA) of SNX27 demonstrate that the PDZ domain of SNX27 is required to maintain basal NHE3 activity and surface expression of NHE3 in polarized epithelial cells. Biotinylation-based recycling and degradation studies in intestinal epithelial cells show that SNX27 is required for the exocytosis (not endocytosis) of NHE3 from early endosome to plasma membrane. SNX27 is also required to regulate the retention of NHE3 on the plasma membrane. The findings of the present study extend our understanding of PDZ-mediated recycling of cargo proteins from endosome to plasma membrane in epithelial cells.
C 2-Cofiniteness of the Vertex Operator Algebra When L Is a Rank One Lattice

Abstract Let L be a rank one positive definite even lattice. We prove that the vertex operator algebra (VOA) satisfies the C 2 condition. Here, is the fixed point sub-VOA of the VOA V L associated with the automorphism lifted from the −1 isometry of L.