cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Library of Babel: Making Sense of Collection Management in a Postmodern World.

The postmodern world is characterized, in part, by the blurring of boundaries, diminishing hierarchy and control, and non-linear thinking. These characteristics challenge and redefine how collections are managed now and in the future. This paper focuses on learning outcomes, collection assessment, and holistic budgeting in liberal arts college libraries.
A computational model of the error detector of human visual accommodation

A mathematical model is proposed for the error detector of the human visual accommodative system. The model supposes that the accommodative error detector derives both the direction and the magnitude of the accommodative error from naturally-occuring oscillations of the lens and their effects on retinal-image contrast. Differential operators take the first derivatives of two time varying functions: lens power and retinal-image contrast. Directional information is obtained by comparing the signs of these two derivatives and magnitude information is obtained by comparing their amplitudes.
Prediction of nuisance periphytic biomass: a management approach

Abstract Model predictions of periphyton biomass, as a function of ambient SRP concentration, were compared against observed biomass accrual on natural and artificial substrates in the Spokane River, Washington. A range in biomass was predicted based on uncertainties due to temperature, velocity, accumulation period and an empirical growth constant. Only 8 of 47 observed biomass values exceed the lowest biomass predictions, which supports the contention that the model represents the maximum potential biomass. Using the SRP concentration that would produce a threshold nuisance biomass (150–200 mg ch α/m 2 ), an approach is proposed for controlling the stream distance for which periphytic biomass exceeds the nuisance level. For the Spokane River, critical distance with biomass exceeding 200 mg chl α/m 2 may exceed 10 km unless SRP is held below 10 μg/l.
The effect of age on relative timing variability and transfer.

The purpose of this study was to investigate potential qualitative differences in relative timing across age both within and across speed conditions. Forty right-handed males performed 48 trials of a five-component coincident-timing task at one speed and then 16 more at a different speed. The independent variables were age (5-7, 8-10, 11-13 years, and adult), speed (slow and fast), and block order (training and transfer). The results indicated that within-speed relative timing consistency improved with increasing age for movement-time and pause-time components, while a cross-speed transfer improved with age only for pause time. Movement velocity emerged as a more stable timing parameter than movement time across speeds for all groups. The last movement-time component correlated highly with the total response times, suggesting that coincident-timing accuracy was controlled to a large degree by a final, fine-tuning correction. These results imply that developmental deficits in relative timing increase the a...
Ballistic Reconstruction of HST Observations of Ejecta Motion Following Shoemaker–Levy 9 Impacts into Jupiter

Abstract We present a detailed analysis of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC 2) images of the first 25 min of the impacts of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 fragments A and G with Jupiter and the post impact ejecta patterns observed 1–2 h after each impact event, with a brief analysis of the available observations of the first 25 min of the E and W events. Via a ballistic model we (i) constrain the initial time of impact and the initial velocity and elevation angle of the apex of each observed impactor; (ii) reproduce the shape and the motion of the sunlit A and G ejecta clouds utilizing the initial velocities constrained for the apex of each ejecta cloud and initial elevation angles ranging from 80° to 60°±5°; and (iii) compare the ejecta pattern generated by particle trajectories consistent with the observed ejecta clouds to the observed postimpact ejecta pattern. We conclude that (i) the crescent patterns can be reconstructed from ballistic ejecta traveling on trajectories of elevation angles ranging from 70° to 45° and initial velocity equivalent to that constrained for the apex of each cloud; (ii) the streaks can be reconstructed from ballistic particles propelled up from the channel at velocities less than 8.5±1 km s −1 ; and (iii) the altitude of the self-luminous radiation detected at the onset of the A, G, and W observations is inconsistent with the ballistic trajectories fit to the apex of the sunlit ejecta clouds. We believe that the discrepancy between the trajectories of the initial HST/WFPC 2 detections and the later images is an indication of distinctly different phenomena associated with the impacts of the comet fragments. The timing of these events indicates that the first event recorded in association with the G impact is consistent with the entry of the bolide and that the self-luminous radiation recorded ∼120 s after the ballistically derived impact time for the A and G impacts may be consistent with the excitation of the jovian atmosphere and/or cometary debris in the path of shock fronts accelerating away from the respective impact fireballs. Given the uncertainty in the ballistically derived impact time, the initial detection of the W event may have corresponded to either the incoming bolide or atmospheric and/or cometary debris excitation initiated by the passing of a shock front associated with the impact fireball.
Chirality of K Particle

In the two-component theory, the neutrino that can exist in nature is characterized by one of the eigen-values of the "chirality" operator, ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{5}$, which anticommutes with the parity operator. The chirality operator is generalized so that it can be applied also to bosons. The $K$ particle that can exist in nature is characterized by a certain condition on the eigenvalues of the chirality operator. There is strong reason to believe that the chirality quantum number thus introduced is closely related to the strangeness quantum number.
Exploring an Online Self-Injury Support Group: Perspectives From Group Members

In this qualitative study, the authors explored an online support group for individuals who self-injure. Twenty members of a private and moderated online group responded to questions about their history of self-injury and experiences with the online self-injury support group. Themes emerged related to the relational and emotional aspects of self-injury, the therapeutic connections in the group, experiences with no triggering norms, and strategies for asynchronous group interaction. The authors provide recommendations for counselors and group leaders.
Effects of a fixed meal pattern on ghrelin secretion: evidence for a learned response independent of nutrient status

Circulating levels of the orexigenic peptide ghrelin increase during fasting and decrease with refeeding. Exogenous ghrelin administration is a potent stimulus for food intake in rodents and humans. In subjects on fixed feeding schedules, ghrelin increases before each meal, raising the possibility that anticipation of meals, in addition to effects of fasting and feeding, contributes to ghrelin secretion. To distinguish among these regulatory influences, plasma ghrelin profiles were generated in freely fed rats and in meal-fed rats trained to consume their daily calories over a 4-h period in the light phase. In freely feeding rats, plasma ghrelin levels increased to a peak of 778 +/- 95 pg/ml just before the onset of the dark. Similarly, in meal-fed rats anticipating a large meal of either chow or Ensure at their usual feeding time, plasma ghrelin increased steadily over the 2 h preceding the meal to peaks of 2192 +/- 218 and 2075 +/- 92 pg/ml, respectively. When freely fed rats were food deprived for a time equivalent to meal-fed rats, there was no peak of plasma ghrelin. In addition, eating-induced suppression of the ghrelin response differed significantly between meal-fed rats and ad libitum-fed rats receiving meals of similar size. These findings indicate that anticipation of eating, as well as fasting/feeding status, influences pre- and postprandial plasma ghrelin levels in rats. Together, these data are consistent with a role for ghrelin in the regulation of anticipatory processes involved in food intake and nutrient disposition.
First-order transition to perfect generalization in a neural network with binary synapses.

Learning from examples by a perceptron with binary synaptic parameters is studied. The examples are given by a reference (teacher) perceptron. It is shown that as the number of examples increases, the network undergoes a first-order transition, where it freezes into the state of the reference perceptron. When the transition point is approached from below, the generalization error reaches a minimal positive value, while above that point the error is constantly zero. The transition is found to occur at ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathrm{GD}}$=1.245 examples per coupling [E. Gardner and B. Derrida, J. Phys. A 22, 1983 (1989)].
Methodological Concerns in Evaluating Early Intervention

Methodological concerns related to the evaluation of early childhood special education programs are discussed using a recently published intervention study as a point of reference. The conservative nature of early intervention research and the role of statistical and measurement assumptions in that research are identified, as are significant changes in evaluation research currently underway in the field. These changes indicate dissatisfaction with research designs and analyses traditionally used in evaluation research and increased emphasis on evaluation studies directed toward an understanding of the interpretation of intervention outcomes.
Origin of matter in the inflationary cosmology

Abstract We propose a new scenario for generating the baryon asymmetry in the universe within the framework of the inflationary cosmology. The decay of the weakly coupled inflaton field via the heavy Majorana neutrinos produces an asymmetry in one or more species of the light neutrinos. The subsequent appearance of rapid fermion-number violating processes due to nonperturbative electroweak effects transforms a specified fraction of this asymmetry to the observed baryon asymmetry. Examples based on the SO(10) model are presented.
Generation of ULF waves by electric or magnetic dipoles

The generation of ULF waves by ground-based magnetic and electric dipoles is studied with a simplified model consisting of three adjoining homogeneous regions representing the groud, the vacuum (free space) region, and the ionosphere. The system is assumed to be immersed in a homogeneous magnetic field with an arbitrary tilt angle. By the use of Fourier techniques and the method of stationary phase, analytic expressions are obtained for the field strength of the compressional Alfven waves in the ionosphere. Expressions are also obtained for the strength of the torsional Alfven wave in the ionosphere and the ULF magnetic field at ground level. Numerical results are obtained for the compressional Alfven-wave field strength in the ionosphere with a nonvertical geomagnetic field and for the ULF magnetic field at ground level for a vertical geomagnetic field.
Multimodal pattern matching for audio-visual query and retrieval

A necessary capability for content-based retrieval is to support the paradigm of query by example. In the past, there have been several attempts to use low-level features for video retrieval. None of the approaches however uses the multimedia information content of the video. We present an algorithm for matching multi modal patterns for the purpose of content-based video retrieval. The novel ability of our approach to use the information content in multiple media coupled with a strong emphasis on temporal similarity differentiates it from the state-of-the-art in content-based retrieval. At the core of the pattern matching scheme is a dynamic programming algorithm, which leads to a significant improvement in performance. Coupling the use of audio with video this algorithm can be applied to grouping of shots based on audio-visual similarity. This is much more effective in constructing scenes from shots than using only visual content to do the same.
Cross-linking of thioredoxin reductase by the sulfur mustard analogue mechlorethamine (methylbis(2-chloroethyl)amine) in human lung epithelial cells and rat lung: selective inhibition of disulfide reduction but not redox cycling.

Oxidative stress plays a key role in mechlorethamine (methylbis(2-chloroethyl)amine, HN2) toxicity. The thioredoxin system, consisting of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), thioredoxin, and NADPH, is important in redox regulation and protection against oxidative stress. HN2 contains two electrophilic side chains that can react with nucleophilic sites in proteins, leading to changes in their structure and function. We report that HN2 inhibits the cytosolic (TrxR1) and mitochondrial (TrxR2) forms of TrxR in A549 lung epithelial cells. TrxR exists as homodimers under native conditions; monomers can be detected by denaturing and reducing SDS-PAGE followed by western blotting. HN2 treatment caused marked decreases in TrxR1 and TrxR2 monomers along with increases in dimers and oligomers under reducing conditions, indicating that HN2 cross-links TrxR. Cross-links were also observed in rat lung after HN2 treatment. Using purified TrxR1, NADPH reduced, but not oxidized, enzyme was inhibited and cross-linked by HN2. LC–...
Adaptive control of uncertain Hammerstein systems with non-monotonic input nonlinearities using auxiliary nonlinearities

We extend retrospective cost adaptive control (RCAC) with auxiliary nonlinearities to command following for uncertain Hammerstein systems with non-monotonic input nonlinearities. We assume that only one Markov parameter of the linear plant is known and that the non-monotonic input nonlinearity is uncertain. Auxiliary nonlinearities are used within RCAC to account for the non-monotonic input nonlinearity. The required modeling information for the input nonlinearity includes the intervals of monotonicity as well as values of the nonlinearity that determine overlapping segments of the range of the nonlinearity within each interval of monotonicity.
Treatment strategies to reduce radiotherapy late effects in children

Late effects of treatment are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood cancer survivors. The use of radiotherapy has been implicated as a risk factor for the development of many late complications. Several strategies have been employed in pediatric oncology to minimize the late effects of radiotherapy. These have included (1) omitting or delaying radiotherapy until the child is older, (2) decreasing radiotherapy doses and volumes by incorporating chemotherapy in the treatment regimen, (3) alteration of radiotherapy fractionation, (4) use of novel techniques to spare or minimize radiation dose to surrounding normal tissues, and (5) elimination of radiotherapy in favorable subsets of patients. In infants with brain tumors, delaying radiotherapy and giving chemotherapy until the child is 3 years old was a popular approach three to four decades ago with limited success with respect to tumor control. With the advent of modern radiotherapy technology, younger patients are now able to be treated with conformal techniques and reasonable neurotoxicity. Using chemotherapy to reduce doses of radiation therapy has been employed in standard-risk medulloblastoma, intracranial germinoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and Wilms’ tumor. Likewise, the use of chemotherapy to reduce radiotherapy volumes has been employed in intracranial germinoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and neuroblastoma and for the boost portion of treatments for rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. There are a few phase III trials comparing conventional and hyperfractionated radiotherapy, but none of them have shown superiority of one over the other in terms of tumor control and late effects. Current protocols are testing the omission of radiotherapy in the most favorable subset of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and Wilms’ tumor. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is currently used in many children in developed nations. Proton therapy is available in a few centers; clinical results of treatment are accumulating regarding the effectiveness and long-term toxicity of this radiation modality.
Neurotransmitters as Regulators of Tumor Angiogenesis and Immunity: The Role of Catecholamines

The growing tumor employs various strategies to establish its growth, progression and spread in the host. Angiogenesis or formation of new blood vessels from existing ones and escape from immune surveillance are the two critical steps that ensure proper establishment and growth of the newly formed tumor. Thus understanding the novel pathways associated with tumor angiogenesis and immunity may lead to the development of newer therapeutic strategies using the regulators of these pathways to improve patient outcomes. These two pivotal steps in the process of tumorigenesis are governed by plethora of endogenous factors. The neuroendocrine molecules, which include the catecholamine neurotransmitters, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine are of growing interest considering their varied and diverse regulatory roles both in the process of tumor angiogenesis and tumor immunity. This review focuses on the emerging roles of catecholamines in modulating tumor angiogenesis and immunity, and also discusses the probable molecular mechanisms of their actions. Understanding of this new group of endogenous regulators of tumor growth may lead to the development of newer therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer.
Fatty Acid Composition of the Oil in Reciprocal Crosses among Soybean Mutants

The genotype of the embryo, maternal parent, or cytoplasm may influence the expression of seed composition traits in soybean [ (L.) Merr.]. The objective of this study was to evaluate the above effects on the genetic control of fatty acid composition of the oil of six recently identified soybean mutants. Fatty acid composition of soybean oil was determined from seed of reciprocal F and F populations produced from crosses among the six soybean mutants and the parent, ‘Century’. Differences were consistently present for oleic and linoleic acid percent in seed from reciprocal crosses. These differences were due to maternal influence rather than to cytoplasmic inheritance. The genotype of the embryo also affected levels of oleic and linoleic acid in these mutants. No differences were observed for palmitic or stearic acid percentages in any reciprocal crosses or for linolenic acid percentage in two of three reciprocal crosses. Determining fatty acid composition of individual F seeds from F plants is appropriate for inheritance and selection studies of palmitic, stearic, and linolenic acid percentages, but not of oleic and linoleic acid percentages in crosses with these mutant lines.
Second Law Analysis of Direct Energy Conversion Devices

The use of direct energy conversion devices to convert waste heat into useful power has been the focus of extensive research for many years. Optimization of the performance of power harvesting systems has led to various models of the irreversibilities occurring in these devices. The majority of these models are based on dimensionless parameter referred to as the irreversibility factor to account for the entropy generating effects occurring within a generic heat engine. The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of the exergetic or second law efficiency to characterize these non-ideal effects and to describe how this approach may be used in the design and optimization of power harvesting or waste heat recovery systems. The use of a thermoelectric generator in a power harvesting system is considered to illustrate the proposed model.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
CREEP OF A DISPERSION STRENGTHENED STEEL

Abstract The creep behavior of a quenched and tempered Fe-Mo-C steel was investigated over the range of the magnetic Curie transformation from 875° to 1075°K. The apparent activation energy for creep was insensitive to the applied stress and had the same value over the primary and secondary stages. It exhibited the same type of hump at the Curie transformation temperature as that observed for the apparent activation energy for creep of α-Fe, which it exceeded by about 11,000 cal/mole. The secondary creep rate of this alloy increased with the 6.8 power of the applied stress in complete agreement with similar trends for α-Fe. The secondary creep rate, however, was about 10−3 that of α-Fe due principally to its higher activation energy for creep.
Use of dialogue, pragmatics and semantics to enhance speech recognition

Abstract Current, state-of-the-art speaker-independent continuous-speech recognizers are able to achieve word recognition rates in excess of 94 percent using lexicons of 1000 words or less and grammars or language models with perplexity 60 or less. Performance of these systems decreases rapidly as the perplexity of the grammar increases. As we allow users the flexibility to speak naturally, using constructions of their own choosing, perplexities increase more than an order of magnitude. Fortunately, knowledge of the domain and of communicative and problem solving behaviors can be used to dynamically decrease perplexity and allow more natural interaction given the current state of speech recognition technology. The perplexity reduction from knowledge results in speech performance equal to that demonstrated by speech recognizers using an equivalently low perplexity language model in the same or different domains. This paper addresses how knowledge of domain semantics, dialog, communication conventions and problem solving behavior are used to enhance automatic speech recognition and understanding. Included is a discussion of the system's basic principles and descriptions of the important knowledge sources and heuristics employed by the minds system. Prior perplexity reduction results are reviewed, demonstrating the system's ability to dynamically reduce perplexity and enhance recognition performance. This is followed by a brief analysis of some of the heuristics which do not have to be reimplemented across domains. Specifically addressed are why the heuristics are effective, and how much each can be expected to reduce entropy and average branching factor in any possible application domain.
An integral hidden in Gradshetyn and Ryzik

Abstract We provide a closed-form expression for the integral N 0,4 (a;m):= ∫ 0 ∞ dz (z 4 +2az 2 +1) m+1 where m ∈ N and a ∈ (−1,∞): N 0,4 (a;m)= π 2 m+3/2 (a+1) m+1/2 P m m+1/2,-m-1/2) (a) = π 2 3m+ 3 2 (a+1) m+ 1 2 x ∑ k=0 m 2k 2m−2k m−k m+k m (a + 1) k . Here P m (m+ 1 2 ,−m− 1 2 ) (a) is the Jacobi polynomial Pm(α,β)(a) with parameters α=m+ 1 2 and β=−(m+ 1 2 ) .
No more shoulders: Technical modification of Byars' flaps

The repair of midshaft or more proximal hypospadias generally leads to a deficiency of ventral penile skin. Transposition of dorsal/lateral skin flaps may lead to redundant skin folds or shoulders. In most cases, redundant skin can be avoided by appropriate tailoring and positioning of the flaps. We describe a simple method to correct these folds when they are unavoidable.
A kinetic study comparing the light-reversal properties of carbon monoxide inhibition of ethylmorphine, benzphetamine, and 7-ethoxycoumarin dealkylation with those of hydroxylation of 17-hydroxyprogesterone and testosterone☆

Abstract The light-reversal properties of carbon monoxide (CO) inhibition of the dealkylation of benzphetamine, ethylmorphine, and 7-ethoxycoumarin by microsomes from phenobarbital (PB)-induced rat livers were compared with those of the 6β-, 7α-, and 16α-hydroxylations of testosterone by the same rat hepatic microsomes and C-21 hydroxylation of 17-OH progesterone by steer adrenal microsomes. CO inhibited all reactions studied to essentially the same degree. The significant finding was that the dealkylations were reversed most effectively by light of wavelengths between 440 and 445 nm, rather than around 450 nm, the optimal wavelength for steroid hydroxylations. Moreover, the dealkylations required several-fold higher light intensities for equivalent light reversal. These studies suggest that the heme protein-CO complex responsible for dealkylations has a spectrum corresponding to the shape of the pass band of the 445-nm filter, whereas that of the steroid hydroxylations has its light-reversal maximum at 450 nm and appears to be broader. The measurable differences in the light-reversal properties between the monooxygenations of two groups of substrates, (i) dealkylations and (ii) hydroxylations of lipid substrates, furnish biophysical properties that allow a better characterization of microsomal monooxygenases which should be of value in forwarding progress in the study of these systems.
Hypothalamic unit activity in the cat: effects of estrogen and vaginal stimulation.

Unit activity of single neurons in the anterior and posterior hypothalamic areas was studied in response to cervical stimulation in the adult female cat under the following conditions: anestrus ovariectomized and estrogen-treated ovariectomized. 35 mature female cats were used. Tungsten microelectrodes measuring .5 to 1.5 mcm at the tips were used for recording extracellular unit activity from the anterior and posterior hypothalamic nuclei. The stereotaxic coordinates used were based on Snider and Niemers Stereotaxic Atlas of the Cat Brain. After passing through a high impedance cathode follower the responses were amplified with a preamplifier and displayed on a dual-beam oscilloscope simultaneously stored on magnetic tape. Stimulation of the vaginal cervix consisted of short repeated movements of a lubricated Teflon probe. The results showed that cells in the anterior and posterior hypothalamus were influenced by stimulation of the vaginal cervix. There was a greater tendency for increased firing rates in the anterior as compared to the posterior hypothalamus. Estrogen treatment did not change the responsiveness of cells in the anterior hypothalamus but was associated with a general depression of unit activity in the posterior hypothalamus. The units which responded to vaginal cervix stimulation were not influenced by non-sexual stimulation (e.g. pinching the tail) used as a control. The findings suggest that the posterior hypothalamus may play a role in the regulation of ovulation and expression of sexual behavior in the cat.
The role of hippocampus and frontal cortex in age-related memory changes: A PET study

The purpose of this study was to examine the neuroanatomical correlates of explicit retrieval of episodic memories in older and young adults. We used an experimental paradigm that allowed us to separate the effort involved in attempting to retrieve a recently studied word from the actual recollection of the item. Both older and younger adults showed hippocampal blood flow increases in association with recollection of a studied word. In contrast, younger but not older adults showed bilateral blood flow increases in anterior prefrontal cortex during retrieval attempts: older adults showed more posterior frontal lobe activations during attempted retrieval. We conclude that the hippocampus activations may reflect a commonality in the way that older and younger adults remember past events, whereas differences in frontal activation may reflect age-related changes in their retrieval strategies.
Multiple-collector semiconductor devices in molecular electronics

A theoretical analysis is presented on the operation of a computer logic component exhibiting current commutation between two hook collectors. A quantitative theory is established for the current-multiplying hook collector and for many factors contributing to the interaction between such collectors. Appropriate equations are presented in graphical form throughout a range of physical and geometrical parameters encountered in the design of a typical 2-collector structure.
Do Franchise Systems Advertise Enough? U.S. Restaurant Expenditures and Performance 1989 to 1998

Abstract A recent article has raised the question “Do Franchised Systems Advertise Enough?” (Michael 1999), showing that franchised restaurant and hotel systems expend a significantly lower amount of advertising as a percent of sales than do corporate chains. This article examines this concern by using longitudinal data from franchised restaurant chains' advertising expenditures from 1989 through 1998. First, the article examines the proportions of expenditures recorded in Ad $ Summary, showing that the amounts expressed as percentage of sales, are quite variable both within and across franchise systems, in contrast to how the advertising budgets are established. Second, an analysis shows a substantial amount of variance in these expenditures can be attributed to the size, ownership, and contractual nature of the franchise system. Last, a withinsystem analysis of advertising expenditures and store performance indicates the majority of franchises systems are at a stage with few returns to advertising. Whil...
Outcomes of gynecologic oncology patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic procedures in a university setting.

This study evaluated intraoperative complications and postoperative outcomes of gynecologic oncology patients undergoing robotic-assisted (RA) laparoscopic procedures in a university setting. A retrospective chart review evaluated all gynecologic oncology patients at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who underwent attempted RA procedures between August 2006 and October 2011. Patient demographics, medical/surgical history, intraoperative complications, postoperative outcomes, conversion rates, readmission rates, and length of stay were examined. Total complication rates were assessed over time for each surgeon. 681 patients underwent planned RA procedures by seven gynecologic oncologists. The mean body mass index was 33.5 kg/m2 (range 16.6–71.0 kg/m2). 61.4 % were diagnosed with malignancy. The most common procedure was RA hysterectomy with unilateral/bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (37.2 %). Robotic staging was performed in 291 patients (45.1 %). Mean estimated blood loss was 75 ml (range 5–700 ml). 36 patients (5.3 %) were converted to laparotomy. The most common reason for conversion was adhesions (30.1 %), followed by uterine size (22.2 %). In 107 cases, a surgical modification was required for specimen removal including mini-laparotomy (24), extension of accessory port (36), morcellation (9), and difficult vaginal delivery (38). 3.7 % had intraoperative complications; 6 patients had a cystotomy and 5 had a vascular injury. Postoperatively, 20 patients had a febrile episode, 9 had wound complications, and 3 had a vaginal cuff dehiscence. 27 (4.2 %) patients were readmitted within 30 days. Complication rates and conversion rates were similar per surgeon. Total complication rates for evaluable surgeons were similar between the first 10 cases and subsequent 50 cases. Although patients undergoing RA procedures in a university setting are high risk, the conversion rate to laparotomy is low and intraoperative and postoperative complications are acceptable. Total complication rates for each surgeon were not impacted by the number of cases performed.
Neuristor analysis techniques for nonlinear distributed electronic systems

Neuristor propagation analysis techniques apply to a wide variety of nonlinear distributed electronic devices and wave propagation phenomena. This paper brings together and reviews these techniques. A specific example, the superconductive tunnel junction stripline, is modeled by a distributed equivalent circuit described by nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations. The neuristor pulse propagates at constant velocity with a fixed waveshape; mathematically, this reduces the partial differential equations to ordinary differential equations which are solved by phase-plane topology analysis. Poincare's index rule and Bendixson's negative criterion prescribe the pulse velocity and waveform. Analytical results agree with experiment. Pulse waveform stability is studied using eigenfunction expansion of the perturbation equations and Lyapunov theory, but complete results are not obtained. Lyapunov theory provides estimates of excitation thresholds for launching a neuristor pulse, which are consistent with experiment. Determining the nature of pulse interactions may for some systems be accomplished using the Backlund transformation or perturbation series techniques, but generally requires complete computer solution of the dynamical equations.
Association of chicken mitochondrial creatine kinase with the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Abstract The stoichiometry and dissociation constant for the binding of homogeneous chicken heart mitochondrial creatine kinase (MiMi-CK) to mitoplasts was examined under a variety of conditions. Salts and substrates release MiMi-CK from mitoplasts in a manner that suggests an ionic interaction. The binding of MiMi-CK to mitoplasts is competitively inhibited by Adriamycin, suggesting that they compete for the same binding site. Fluorescence measurements also show that Adriamycin binds to MiMi-CK so that the effect of Adriamycin on the binding of MiMi-CK to mitoplasts is not simple. Titrating mitoplasts with homogeneous MiMi-CK at different pH values shows a pH-dependent equilibrium involving a group(s) on either the membrane or the enzyme with a pKa = 6. Extrapolating these titrations to infinite MiMi-CK concentration gives 14.6 IU bound/ nmol cytochrome aa3 corresponding to 1.12 mol MiMi-CK/mol cytochrome aa3. Chicken heart mitochondria contain, after isolation, 2.86 ± 0.42 IU/nmol cytochrome aa3. Titrating respiring mitoplasts with carboxyatractyloside gives at saturation 3.3 mol ADP/ ATP translocase/mol cytochrome aa3. Therefore, chicken heart mitoplasts can maximally bind about 1 mol of MiMi-CK per 3 mol translocase; in normal chicken heart mitochondria about 1 mol of MiMi-CK is present per 13 mol translocase.
Determination of optimal hyperalimentation infusion rate.

Increased attention is being paid to the proper nutrition of critically ill surgical and medical patients. The effects of prolonged starvation or semistarvation on morbidity and mortality are well recognized [7, 14,261. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) techniques [18, 291 and oral chemically defined diets [12, 34, 381 have made it possible to feed patients in most disease states. Indications for the use of these therapies have become widespread [I, 20, 22, 341. Most complications related to TPN are well recognized and their incidence can be reduced by the creation of hospital nutritional services that include interested staff, hyperalimentation nurse, therapeutic dietitian, and pharmacy. Proper guidelines have been developed for the management of central vein catheterrelated complications [36, 401, fluid and electrolyte, acid-base derangements [19, 37, 441 and septic complications [4, 16,431.
Evaluation of solid propellant ballistic properties

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Are former prisoners with drug disorders ready for mutual-help?

Aims: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are common among community-returning prisoners. Reentry programs recommend that formerly-incarcerated individuals attend 12-step groups. However, little is known about this population’s 12-step attitudes or behaviors.We compared formerlyto never-incarcerated clients entering SUD treatment on 12-step-related attitudes and attendance. Methods: Of 321 individuals, 46% (N=153) had no incarceration history, and 54% (N=181) had at least one jail or prison stay. Participants completed baseline assessments (Addiction Severity Index (ASI); Addiction Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire), on which we compared groups.We also compared groups onASI severity indices (controlling for baseline) and 12-step meeting participation at a 1-year follow-up. Results: At baseline, the formerlyand never-incarcerated groups did not differ on demographics. The incarcerated group had more severe drug, legal, and employment problems, and less severe alcohol problems. They also had attitudes that were more consonantwith12-stepphilosophy: commitment toAA, belief in ahigher power, identification with other addicted people, commitment to abstinence, and intent to avoid high-risk situations. Further, they were more likely to participate in 12-step groups during the postbaseline year. At the 1-year follow-up, the two groups did not differ on ASI severity measures with baseline values controlled. Conclusions: Results support recommendations of reentry programs that formerly-incarcerated individuals with SUDs should participate in 12-step groups. Formerly-incarcerated clients were functioning more poorly at treatment intake, but had attitudes fitting with 12-step philosophy. They were more likely to participate in 12-step groups over the following year, and achieved reduced drug problem severity that was equivalent to that of clients who had never been incarcerated. Reentry programs for former prisoners should encourage and facilitate 12-step group participation for those with drug use disorders. Financial support: Dept of Veterans Affairs Office of Research & Development (CSR&D, HSR&D).
Comparison of Models for Describing; Corn Yield Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer

Decisions concerning optimum rates of fertilization directly or indirectly involve fitting some type of model to yield data collected when several rates of fertilizer are applied. Although several different models are commonly used to describe crop yield response to fertilizers, it is seldom explained why one model is selected over others. The objective of the work reported here was to compare and evaluate several models (linear-plus-plateau, quadratic-plus-plateau, quadratic, exponential, and square root) commonly used for describing the response of corn (Zea mays L.) to N fertilizer. The evaluation involved 12 site-years of data, each having 10 rates of N appied preplanting. AH models fit the data equally well when evaluated by using the R² statistic. All models indicated similar maximum yields, but there were marked discrepancies among models when predicting economic optimum rates of fertilization. Mean (across all site-years) economic optimum rates of fertilization as indicated by the various models ranged from 128 to 379 kg N ha⁻¹ at a common fertilizer-to-corn price ratio. Statistical analyses indicated that the most commonly used model, the quadratic model, did not give a valid description of the yield responses and tended to indicate optimal rates of fertilization that were too high. The quadratic-plus-plateau model best described the yield responses observed in this study. The results clearly show that, especially amid increasing concerns about the economic and environmental effects of overfertilization, the renson for selecting one model over others deserves more attention thun it has received in the past. Journal Paper J-I3I40 of the Iowa Agric. and Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Ames. Project 2741. This work was supported in part from the Fertilizer Trust Account of the Iowa Dep. Agric. and Land Stewardship and in part by the Integrated Farm Management Demonstration Program of The Agricultural Energy Management Fund, State of Iowa, through the Iowa Dep. Agric. and Land Stewardship.
Climatic analysis to determine where to collect and release Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis for biological control of yellow starthistle

Abstract Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis is an autoecious rust fungus that is native to areas of Afro-Eurasia with a Mediterranean climate. An isolate collected near Sivas, Turkey was released for classical biological control of yellow starthistle (YST), which is an invasive alien weed in California, USA. The fungus has been released throughout California, but long-term establishment rates are generally low, apparently because this ecotype is not well adapted to the climate where the weed is most invasive. Using a site with excellent establishment as a target, the Match Climates function in CLIMEX climate modeling software identified similar sites in and around the San Francisco Bay Area, east to the Central Valley and Sierra foothills, and along the coast of Southern California. Similar sites in other states include Walla Walla, Washington, Pendelton, Oregon and Salt Lake City, Utah. A Compare Locations model based primarily on experimentally measured temperature and humidity requirements of the rust p...
Experiment planner for strategic experimentation with an automated chemistry workstation

Abstract An automation system capable of modifying its actions based on experimental data will serve as a useful assistant to the scientist. In order to achieve flexibility in experimentation, we have developed a software system for stating experimental protocols that involve decision-making based on experimental data. These decision-making capabilities enable strategic experimentation, where experiments are altered or terminated based on prior or newly acquired data. An experiment planner provides for experimentation in an automated chemistry workstation using the simplex algorithm or a decision-tree programming approach. The composite modified simplex algorithm is used for optimization experiments. Simplex experiments are planned through a series of menus. The simplex algorithm can be altered in sophistication by turning features on or off in software. The simplex algorithm is well-suited for optimizations but provides no general decision-making capabilities. A general decision-tree programming module enables the composition of diverse experimental protocols which capture the logic of experimentation. Experimental protocols written with a text editor are converted by an interpreter to a set of procedural events. Experimental protocols can be composed that execute incisive actions based on data from ongoing experiments. Protocols have been written for automatically matching samples with analytical instruments and performing an automated dye titration. Resource consumption cannot be predicted in advance in closed-loop experimentation, thus a static resource manager is used with each simplex cycle and a dynamic resource manager is used in decision-tree experimentation. The resource managers and strategic decision-making features empower the workstation to function autonomously in pursuit of the research objectives stated by the scientist.
Effect of crystal-growth conditions on charge-density-wave pinning in NbSe 3

I describe a systematic study of the effects of vapor-transport growth conditions on the properties of ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_{3}$. Pinning of charge-density waves (CDW's) in ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_{3}$ that is not intentionally doped is primarily by impurities rather than by intrinsic defects. A substantial fraction of these impurities may be derived from sources other than the Nb and Se starting materials. Oxygen, which is present in the starting Nb and Se, getters impurities from all sources, including those which are intentionally added. Consequently, impurity types and concentrations in transported crystals may differ significantly from those in the starting materials. I describe growth procedures that provide reasonable control over doping, and that yield high-quality ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_{3}$ crystals with residual resistance ratios ${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{R}}$\ensuremath{\sim}400 and bulk threshold electric fields ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{T}}$(T=50 K)1 mV/cm. These results help to explain large inconsistencies between previous studies of CDW pinning in ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_{3}$.
Fast-growing trees for cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) suppression and enhanced colonization of understory plant species on a phosphate-mine clay settling area

Abstract Native plants rarely occur in cogongrass ( Imperata cylindrica ) dominated phosphate-mine clay settling areas (CSA) in central Florida. This is primarily due to the allelopathic nature and strong competitiveness of cogongrass and frequent fires in these grasslands. This study examined the performance of fast-growing 2.5-year-old cottonwood ( Populus deltoides ) and 2–3.5-year-old eucalypts ( Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus amplifolia ) in suppressing cogongrass in an old CSA near Lakeland, Florida. Understory vegetation was studied in two-row cottonwood and one-row, two-row, and four-row E. grandis cultures in the commercial planting and a clone-configuration-fertilizer study (SRWC-90). Cogongrass was still dominant in two-row cottonwood and the first four treatments of study SRWC-90. A total of 57 herbs and 26 shrubs, mostly native, were present in the understory. More herbs and shrubs occurred in the commercial planting than in the cogongrass-dominated study SRWC-90. Stand age and proximity to natural areas positively affected species recruitment. Cogongrass importance value index (IVI) decreased with increasing stand density, cottonwood basal area in the commercial planting and with both E. grandis and E. amplifolia basal area in study SRWC-90. Fast-growing trees with good survival on intensively prepared CSAs produce early and permanent canopy closure and appear to suppress cogongrass.
Peatlands and global climate change: Insights from comparative studies of sites situated along a latitudinal gradient

Sphagnum-dominated peatland ecosystems that are structurally and functionally similar to their boreal and subarctic counterparts are found as far south as West Virginia. Completed, ongoing, and preliminary studies conducted at Bog Run Bog, WV, Bog Lake Bog, MN, and Wetland 307 of the Experimental Lakes Area, Ontario have included 1) a reciprocal transplant of dominant hummock and hollowSphagnum species, examining growth in length, 2) a reciprocal transplant of peat, with periodic retrieval of transplanted samples and analysis of CO2 and CH4 production under anoxic and oxic conditions at field temperature and at 22°C, 3)14C-labeling of vegetation in hollow, hummock, and shrub plots, following the fate of a single day’s photosynthetic fixation through aboveground and belowground components over time, and 4) a preliminary analysis of13C ratios in peat and of the CH4 that is produced and emitted. Collectively, these studies provide support for the premise that comparative studies of northern (cooler climate) and southern (warmer climate) peatland sites may provide insights into potential functional changes in boreal peatlands under predicted scenarios of global climate change.