cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Terahertz non-destructive sensing of layered materials with curved surfaces

Terahertz (THz) imaging has shown great potential for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of a wide variety of manufactured products. Its ability to penetrate many non-polar dielectrics allows tomographic imaging of an object's 3D structure. The authors' previous work demonstrated the ability to produce 3D THz tomographic images of objects using a single data set collected in a 2D synthetic aperture configuration. This ability was recently expanded to allow imaging to within objects with curved boundaries by employing a split-step Fourier method to numerically back propagate the measured fields to the set of image planes that comprise the 3D tomographic image. This work presents new experimental results that demonstrate the split-step Fourier method's ability to correct for refraction and accurately quantify the thickness of a curved dielectric layer.
Recovering Participant Identities in Meetings from a Probabilistic Description of Vocal Interaction

An important decision in the design of automatic conversation understanding systems is the level at which information streams representing specific participants are merged. In the current work, we explore participant-dependence of low-level interactive aspects of conversation, namely the observed contextual preferences for talkspurt deployment. We argue that strong participant-dependence at this level gives cause for merging participant streams as early as possible. We demonstrate that our probabilistic description of talkspurt deployment preferences is strongly participant-dependent, and frequently predictive of participant identity.
Thermally induced lineations on the asteroid Eros: Evidence of orbit transfer

[1] Several systems of tectonic lineations have been observed on the surface of the asteroid 433 Eros. We suggest that many of these lineations may have resulted from thermal stresses associated with a secular change in surface temperature due to orbit migration. We demonstrate how thermal diffusion can lead to tectonic features and how such features should be oriented with respect to Eros' complex geometry. Comparison to observed lineations suggests that some may be explained by thermal stresses. Such stresses represent a largely unexplored tectonic process on asteroids and could be used to gain rare insight into chaotic orbital dynamics. If correct, our results imply a gross orbital history over the last ∼100 Myr involving slow (>several Myr), inward migration followed by more rapid, outward migration to its present orbit.
The SPRIM Algorithm for Structure-Preserving Order Reduction of General RCL Circuits

In recent years, order-reduction techniques based on Krylov subspaces have become the methods of choice for generating macromodels of large-scale multi-port RCL networks that arise in VLSI circuit simulation. A popular method of this type is PRIMA. Its main features are provably passive reduced-order models and a Pade-type approximation property. On the other hand, PRIMA does not preserve other structures inherent to RCL circuits, which makes it harder to synthesize the PRIMA models as actual circuits. For the special case of RCL circuits without voltage sources, SPRIM was introduced as a structure-preserving variant of PRIMA that overcomes many of the shortcomings of PRIMA and at the same time, is more accurate than PRIMA. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we review the formulation of the equations characterizing general RCL circuits as descriptor systems. Second, we describe an extension of SPRIM to the case of general RCL circuits with voltage and current sources. We present some properties of the general SPRIM algorithm and report results of numerical experiments.
Evaluative Word Locations in Semantic Networks from News Stories about Al Qaeda and Implications for Optimal Communication Messages in Anti-terrorism Campaigns

Research on processing of negative and positive words shows that they are often processed in the same brain locations when arousal is high; that people quickly forget the source and the emotional content remains; and that people pay more attention to negative than to positive information. These factors suggest that information campaigns operating when arousal is low should use messages that are the longest of the shortest paths between "bad" and "good." Semantic network analysis of approximately 7,979 news stories about Al Qaeda in 2008 show "good" and "bad" to be closely linked with many links indicating that this enemy, its leaders, and its actions are "good." It is hypothesized that information campaign messages that incorporate a greater distance between "bad" and "good" will be more effective in reinforcing multiple perspectives that Al Qaeda is indeed bad not good.
Introduction to the Symposium: Neutral Public Administration

This symposium interrogates the notion of neutral public administration. Consistent with Weber’s (1978) description of bureaucracy, administrators are expected to fulfill certain duties and to perf...
From the Firm to the Network: Global Value Chains and Employment Relations Theory

We posit that traditional employment relations theories that focus on individual firms embedded in distinct national institutional contexts are no longer adequate for the analysis of employment relations in a globalized era where production and services are increasingly coordinated across countries and firms. Building on global value chain theory, we introduce a configurational framework that explicitly addresses the employment relations implications of the interconnections within and between firms in the global economy. We argue that different value chain configurations will evidence different employment relations patterns, and we validate our framework by applying it to the study of three contemporary global issues. In sum, the framework permits a shift in the focus of employment relations scholarship away from the individual firm to the global networks in which they belong, and hence provides a new theoretical lens for the analysis of employment relations in the global economy.
Comments on Mössbauer-effect studies on 2-MeV proton-irradiated Nb 3 Sn

In a recent paper, Herber and Kalish have presented /sup 119/Sn Moessbauer data for Nb/sub 3/Sn irradiated by 2-MeV protons which they interpret in terms of a statistical distribution of site defects rather than interchange of Nb and Sn atoms. Further analysis of these data leads to the conclusion that they are in fact quite consistent with the presence of a substantial amount of radiation-induced site-exchange disorder. This is in agreement with the findings of a number of recent diffraction studies.
Family Functioning and Mental Illness: A Comparison of Psychiatric and Nonclinical Families†

The primary objective of the present investigation was to examine adaptive functioning in the families of patients with a wide range of psychiatric disorders. Seven dimensions of family functioning, as measured by the Family Assessment Device (FAD), were compared across families of patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (n = 61), bipolar disorder (n = 60), major depression (n = 111), anxiety disorder (n = 15), eating disorder (n = 26), substance abuse disorder (n = 48), and adjustment disorder (n = 46). Families in each psychiatric group were also compared to a control group of nonclinical families (N = 353). Results indicated that regardless of specific diagnosis, having a family member in an acute phase of a psychiatric illness was a risk factor for poor family functioning compared to the functioning of control families. However, with few exceptions, the type of the patient's psychiatric illness did not predict significant differences in family functioning. Thus, having a family member with a psychiatric illness is a general stressor for families, and family interventions should be considered for most patients who require a psychiatric hospitalization for either the onset of, or an acute exacerbation of, any psychiatric disorder.
The two-phase Stefan problem: regularization near Lipschitz initial data by phase dynamics

In this paper we investigate the regularizing behavior of two-phase Stefan problem near initial Lipschitz data. A description of the regularizing phenomena is given in terms of the corresponding space-time scale.
Inverse scattering of a layered and dispersionless dielectric half-space, part I: Reflection data from plane waves at normal incidence

An inverse scattering theory and two inversion algorithms for the reconstruction of the dielectric profile of an inaccessible, layered, and dispersionless half-space are presented. The source and receiver are located at a distance above the inaccessible region. The source is an artificial electromagnetic source which is assumed to be capable of radiating plane waves at normal incidence for all the positive frequencies. In this case the receiver measures the reflection coefficient phase and amplitude for all the positive frequencies. Alternatively, the source is radiating an impulsive plane wave and the receiver measures the impulse response of the inaccessible region. From either of these data, the dielectric profile of the inaccessible region is constructed uniquely and exactly. Two numerical algorithms are developed and their performance is examined for the cases of precise and imprecise data. It is also shown that if the inaccessible half-space is made of an inhomogeneous layer of known thickness on top of a uniform half-space of known dielectric constant, then the average value of the refractive index profile of the inhomogeneous layer and the refractive index at the edges of the layer can be estimated from the minimum and maximum values of the reflection coefficient amplitude. Results are given for these estimates for five different inhomogeneous layers.
The union of wisdom and eloquence before the Renaissance: The Ciceronian orator in medieval thought

It is widely supposed among students of Renaissance humanism that one of the unique contributions of the humanists was their ‘rediscoversy’ of the classical, essentially Ciceronian, ideal of the orator as the man who employs both reason and eloquence in order to serve the common good. In turn, this conception of oratory in Cicero's thought is closely aligned with his teaching that human association arises from the awakening of an implicit human gregariousness by means of the eloquence and wisdom of a primitive orator. This paper demonstrates that the Ciceronian idea of oration was a recurrent feature of stochastic thought from the twelfth to the early fourteenth century rather than an innovation of the Renaissance. In support of this claim, a wide range of writings, including the work of Thierry of Chartres, Brunetto Latini, John of Paris and Marsiglio of Padua, is considered. It is shown how these authors all derive from Cicero the lesson that the foundation and maintenance of communal bonds requires the...
Cu(II) complexes of N-methyl-2-picolinamine N-oxide

Abstract Cu(II) complexes have been prepared with N - methyl - 2 - picolinamine N-oxide (MA) employing the tetrafluoroborate, nitrate, chloride and bromide salts. Complexes having 1 : 2 and 1 : 1 metal ion to ligand ratios have been isolated. Characterization has been accomplished primarily by IR, electronic and ESR spectral measurements of the solid state. Significant changes occurred when spectral measurements of acetonitrile solutions of the various solids were attempted indicating alteration of the Cu(II) bonding occurs.
Heterogeneous chemistry on polar stratospheric clouds

Abstract Polar stratospheric clouds play a crucial role in the depletion of stratospheric ozone over Antarctica in the spring months. The cloud particles promote the conversion of the inert chlorine reservoirs HCl and ClONO 2 to Cl 2 , which is photolytically active. Furthermore, the clouds lead to the removal of nitric acid and nitrogen oxides from the gas phase, facilitating the destruction of ozone by catalytic cycles involving chlorine free radicals.
The Effect of Chronic Renal Failure on Plasma Aprotinin Levels During Cardiac Surgery

Aprotinin is a naturally occurring serine protease inhibitor with antifibrinolytic and platelet, sparing effects that reduces blood loss and transfusion requirements during cardiac surgery (1). Although plasma concentrations of aprotinin in cardiac surgical patients have been reported (228), no data describing plasma levels in patients with renal insufficiency or dialysis-dependent renal failure undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are available. Because aprotinin is metabolized and excreted by the kidney, renal impairment may produce a decrease in the clearance of aprotinin and an increase in its elimination half-life, resulting in unpredictable and potentially prolonged plasma levels. We describe the time course of plasma aprotinin concentrations in a Jehovah’s Witness with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (I’D) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Challenges and Recent Progress in the Development of a Closed-loop Artificial Pancreas

Pursuit of a closed-loop artificial pancreas that automatically controls the blood glucose of individuals with type 1 diabetes has intensified during the past six years. Here we discuss the recent progress and challenges in the major steps towards a closed-loop system. Continuous insulin infusion pumps have been widely available for over two decades, but "smart pump" technology has made the devices easier to use and more powerful. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology has improved and the devices are more widely available. A number of approaches are currently under study for fully closed-loop systems; most manipulate only insulin, while others manipulate insulin and glucagon. Algorithms include on-off (for prevention of overnight hypoglycemia), proportional-integral-derivative (PID), model predictive control (MPC) and fuzzy logic based learning control. Meals cause a major "disturbance" to blood glucose, and we discuss techniques that our group has developed to predict when a meal is likely to be consumed and its effect. We further examine both physiology and device-related challenges, including insulin infusion set failure and sensor signal attenuation. Finally, we discuss the next steps required to make a closed-loop artificial pancreas a commercial reality.
ParaView Catalyst: Enabling In Situ Data Analysis and Visualization

Computer simulations are growing in sophistication and producing results of ever greater fidelity. This trend has been enabled by advances in numerical methods and increasing computing power. Yet these advances come with several costs including massive increases in data size, difficulties examining output data, challenges in configuring simulation runs, and difficulty debugging running codes. Interactive visualization tools, like ParaView, have been used for post-processing of simulation results. However, the increasing data sizes, and limited storage and bandwidth make high fidelity post-processing impractical. In situ analysis is recognized as one of the ways to address these challenges. In situ analysis moves some of the post-processing tasks in line with the simulation code thus short circuiting the need to communicate the data between the simulation and analysis via storage. ParaView Catalyst is a data processing and visualization library that enables in situ analysis and visualization. Built on and designed to interoperate with the standard visualization toolkit VTK and the ParaView application, Catalyst enables simulations to intelligently perform analysis, generate relevant output data, and visualize results concurrent with a running simulation. In this paper, we provide an overview of the Catalyst framework and some of the success stories.
Regularity and predictability of human mobility in personal space.

Fundamental laws governing human mobility have many important applications such as forecasting and controlling epidemics or optimizing transportation systems. These mobility patterns, studied in the context of out of home activity during travel or social interactions with observations recorded from cell phone use or diffusion of money, suggest that in extra-personal space humans follow a high degree of temporal and spatial regularity – most often in the form of time-independent universal scaling laws. Here we show that mobility patterns of older individuals in their home also show a high degree of predictability and regularity, although in a different way than has been reported for out-of-home mobility. Studying a data set of almost 15 million observations from 19 adults spanning up to 5 years of unobtrusive longitudinal home activity monitoring, we find that in-home mobility is not well represented by a universal scaling law, but that significant structure (predictability and regularity) is uncovered when explicitly accounting for contextual data in a model of in-home mobility. These results suggest that human mobility in personal space is highly stereotyped, and that monitoring discontinuities in routine room-level mobility patterns may provide an opportunity to predict individual human health and functional status or detect adverse events and trends.
Mécanique de Nonéquilibre à la Californienne

Abstract Academic freedom, combined with generous travel grants and tax-supported computing, made possible my 35 years' study of many-body problems. Here I first review some of the many high points of those years. I then describe recent work - with Harald Posch, Oyeon Kum, my wife Carol, Siegfried Hess, and Vic Castillo - which links together particle and continuum mechanics through “SPAM”, Smooth Particle Applied Mechanics.
A measure of total variability for the multivariate t distribution with applications to finance

General expressions for the entropy of the multivariate t and Cauchy distributions are derived, as well as their sample moments, generated functions, cumulant functions, means, and variances. The asymptotic distribution of the multivariate t entropy is also obtained. A real life application for index returns of four different countries is considered, and the analysis of their multivariate variability is analyzed by means of the entropy.
A crescent-shaped cortical visual area surrounding the middle temporal area (MT) in the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus)

Abstract The visuotopic organization of the cortex adjoining the middle temporal visual area (MT) of the owl monkey was determined by relating receptive field locations to microelectrode recording sites. A representation of the contralateral half of the visual field was found in a histologically distinct crescent-shaped area which wraps around MT. The representation in the crescent is not a simple transformation of the visual hemifield like the primary visual area and MT. Instead, the representation of the upper and lower quadrants of the visual field are in the separate ends of the crescent just as the upper and lower quadrants are split along the horizontal meridian and represented in opposite ends of the second visual area (V II) 5 . The posterior border or base of the crescent adjoins V II, and the visuotopic organizations of MT and the crescent together form a miniature mirror-image of the V I–V II system.
Group cognition, membership change, and performance: Investigating the benefits and detriments of collective knowledge ☆

Abstract This study analyzes the effects of group membership change on group cognition and performance to determine how groups can simultaneously leverage oldtimers’ collective knowledge and a newcomer’s expertise. Our analysis focuses specifically on the interrelated effects of the two components of a transactive memory system (TMS)—TMS structure and TMS processes—to explain the cognitive mechanisms through which membership change affects group performance. Results from a laboratory study show that groups that experience partial membership change tend to rely on the TMS structure that oldtimers developed in their original group, and that doing so is ultimately detrimental to performance because it creates inefficient TMS processes. Results from a supplemental study indicate that these TMS process inefficiencies can be avoided when oldtimers are instructed to reflect upon their collective knowledge prior to task execution. We discuss the implications for managing group cognition in organizations where membership change is prevalent.
Formation of alumina fine particles by a magnetron sputtering - gas aggregation method

The alumina particles have been generated by a magnetron sputtering — gas aggregation method. The analyses of transmission electron microscope (TEM) images and electron diffraction patterns revealed some of the particles are tiny crystals of θ-alumina. The dependence of the particle size on the geometry and the temperature of the source exit has been studied.
On the Law of Social Behavior

SCIENCE SEEMS TO BE, among other things, part of man's quest for legitimate extrapolations beyond immediate sense impressions. Though some sociologists seem to think that "going beyond one's data" constitutes a scholarly sort of sin, the whole purpose of a sampling apparatus is precisely to enable a person to make claims regarding parameters from statistical knowledge. Further, the development of scientific theory appears to be of the same order.
Identifying socio-economic differences between high and low income metropolitan areas

Abstract This is an exploratory effort to describe some distinguishing socio-economic characteristics between high and low income metropolitan areas and to identify those regions with atypical socio-economic profiles.
Demonstration of Significant Resolution of Cerebral Sino‐Venous Thrombosis Associated with Intravenous Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator

BACKGROUND Cerebral sino-venous thrombosis (CVT) is commonly treated with anticoagulant therapy. There are reports of response to endovascular thrombolysis with or without mechanical aspiration in patients with clinical deterioration. CASE We present a 29-year-old man with acute onset of severe headache, found to have extensive CVT by magnetic resonance venography (MRV). His atypical presentation led to cerebral angiography that was complicated by global aphasia and right hemiparesis from left middle cerebral artery distribution ischemia. He received intravenous rt-PA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) within an hour of the procedure followed, 24 hours later, by intravenous heparin infusion with significant clinical improvement. The headache severity and CVT, on follow-up MRV, resolved significantly within 2 days. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate clinical and neuroimaging response to systemic rt-PA in CVT. Thrombolysis may have a role in CVT management with an extended therapeutic window.
ANTI-TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-α MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Because it plays a central role in the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), TNF-alpha is an attractive target for immunomodulatory therapy. In a number of rigorous studies, monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for TNF-alpha have proved efficacious in patients with active RA. Data from these studies and issues related to mechanisms of action, potential toxicity, and future directions for this novel therapeutic approach are considered in this review.
Keloid Morphea and Nodular Scleroderma: Two Distinct Clinical Variants of Scleroderma?

Background: For nearly a century, the terms "keloid morphea" and "nodular scleroderma" have been used interchangeably without defined clinical or histologic criteria. Objective: To define the conditions "keloid morphea" and "nodular scleroderma" by correlating the clinical and histologic features. Methods: We retrospectively identified six patients with keloidal lesions and nodules from 70 consecutive patients with scleroderma seen in the dermatology clinic. The clinical presentation and histopathological findings were reviewed. Results: Six of 70 patients with scleroderma (45 systemic and 25 morphea) exhibited keloidal or nodular lesions. All these patients had systemic sclerosis. Clinically one patient (case 1) had nodules; five (cases 2–6) had keloids. The nodular lesions had histologic findings consistent with keloid, while the keloidal plaques were variably keloids or morphea histopathologically. There was no correlation between the clinical morphology and the histologic findings, except for cases 5 and 6. These patients were African–American, with a family history of keloids and typical keloids clinically and histologically that developed from sites with normal skin. Conclusion: Keloid morphea and nodular scleroderma are clinical terms that describe keloidal and nodular lesions in patients most commonly with scleroderma. The clinicopathologic association is variable. Based on a review of the English literature and our series of six patients, we identified two clinical variants; (1) keloidal or nodular lesions arising from sclerodermatous skin with histologic findings of keloid or scleroderma , (2) typical keloids clinically and histologically, arising in normal skin in patients with a family history of keloids. Awareness of these entities is important for proper diagnosis of the cutaneous lesions and for recognizing that the cutaneous findings may be a sign of systemic sclerosis
Curcumin promotes apoptosis, increases chemosensitivity, and inhibits nuclear factor κB in esophageal adenocarcinoma

The transcription factor, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), plays a central role as a key mediator of cell survival and proliferation, and its activation may confer increased tumor chemoresistance. Curcumin, an orally available naturally occurring compound, has been shown to inhibit NF-kappaB and has a potential role in cancer chemoprevention. We investigated the effects of curcumin on NF-kappaB activity, on cell viability, and as a chemosensitizing agent with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or cisplatin (CDDP) in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Oligonucleotide microarray analysis of 46 cases, consisting of Barrett metaplasia, low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia and EAC, showed increased expression of NF-kappaB and IkappaB kinase subunits and decreased effector caspase expression in EAC compared with Barrett metaplasia. Stromal expression of both IkappaB and phospho-IkappaB was detected in several EAC samples by tissue microarray analysis. Curcumin alone inhibited NF-kappaB activity and induced apoptosis in both Flo-1 and OE33 EAC cell lines as determined by Western blot analysis, NF-kappaB reporter assays, and Caspase-Glo 3/7 assays. It also increased 5-FU- and CDDP-induced apoptosis in both cell lines. These data suggest that activation of NF-kappaB and inhibition of apoptosis may play a role in the progression from Barrett metaplasia to EAC. In addition, curcumin, a well-known inhibitor of NF-kappaB activity, was shown to increase apoptosis and enhance both 5-FU- and CDDP-mediated chemosensitivity, suggesting that it may have potential application in the therapy of patients with EAC.
Myotendinous junction: Morphological changes and mechanical failure associated with muscle cell atrophy

The ultrastructures of the myotendinous junctions of healthy and atrophied twitch fibers from frog semitendinosus muscle are compared. The degree of plasma membrane folding at the junction of these cell types are quantified. The junctional surface area of healthy cells is increased 13.2 times by membrane folding. Calculations indicate that the junctional plasma membrane of these cells bears an average load of 2.6 X 10(4) N X m-2 during maximum isometric tension. The junctional surface area of atrophied cells is similarly increased by a factor of 6.3. The degree of junctional membrane folding does not vary with degree of cell contraction. Ultrastructural findings indicate that mechanical failure of the junction occurs just external to the junctional plasma membrane in atrophied cells. Healthy cells do not exhibit mechanical failure at the junction. These findings suggest that increased stress at the junction is associated with muscle atrophy and may cause failure at the myotendinous junction.
GAZE AVOIDANCE: PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL JUDGMENTS OF PEOPLE WHO AVOID DIRECT FACE-TO- FACE CONTACT

Abstract Some people maintain direct, face-to-face contact during interaction, whereas others avert their gaze or turn their face while interacting. Research on individual differences in gaze avoidance, while sparse, falls into two areas. One concerns the personality and psychopathology correlates of gaze aversion, and the other concerns social judgments made of people who avert their gaze during interaction. The findings generally show that gaze aversion is associated with unfavorable traits (shyness, social anxiety, risk for schizophrenia) and negative social evaluations (gaze averse people are rated as more deceptive and less sincere). The present study took advantage of an archival data set that contained facial photographs from which gaze avoidance could be scored. The correlates of gaze avoidance were different for men and women. Gaze avoidant men tended to be emotionally inhibited and overcontrolled, and reported a high incidence of various psychosomatic and physical symptoms. Gaze avoidant women, on the other hand, were high on measures of psychopathy, hysteria, and traditional femininity, they tended to have fewer physical symptoms. Gaze avoidant women were also viewed by others in a negative light (as being disagreeable, unconscientious, unattractive, and even somewhat lower on intelligence). In males, none of the social judgment variables correlated significantly with gaze avoidance. Results are discussed in terms of sex differences in the meaning and communicative function of this non-verbal social behavior.
Accretion disks in active galactic nuclei - Vertically averaged models

Simple models of accretion disks surrounding supermassive black holes in AGN are constructed. By considering several different opacity laws, it is shown that some conclusions arrived at by previous investigators are model-dependent. A simple technique for solving the full vertically averaged disk equations, taking into account both self-gravity and central object gravity and gas pressure and radiation pressure, is presented. The self-consistency of the standard non-self-gravitating, geometrically thin accretion disk models is discussed, and the findings of Lin and Shields (1986) that such models are valid only in a restricted parameter space are confirmed.
Hemodynamic response to tibolone in reproductive and nonreproductive tissues in the sheep

Abstract Objective: We sought to determine the hemodynamic effects of tibolone in reproductive and nonreproductive tissues in the nonpregnant ovariectomized sheep. Study Design: Six ewes were chronically instrumented for measurement of mean arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, and coronary and uterine blood flow. A dose response curve was generated for intravenous tibolone (1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg) and compared with intravenous 17β-estradiol (1 μg/kg body weight). To determine whether tibolone-related cardiovascular responses were estrogen receptor mediated and produced by nitric oxide, animals were treated on separate days with either estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 or the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L -nitroarginine methyl ester. Results: Tibolone significantly increased coronary blood flow in a dose-related fashion by 5% ± 3%, 9% ± 2%, and 11% ± 2% for the 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg doses, respectively. Uterine blood flow was also increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner by 98 ± 15, 216 ± 59, and 303 ± 56 mL/min, for the 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg doses, respectively. L -Nitroarginine methyl ester attenuated tibolone-induced increases in uterine blood flow by 84% ± 4% and abolished the increase in coronary blood flow. ICI 182,780 inhibited all tibolone-induced cardiovascular responses. Conclusion: Tibolone significantly increases coronary and uterine blood flow in ovariectomized ewes. The coronary and uterine vascular responses are mediated via an estrogen receptor–dependent mechanism and are produced mainly by nitric oxide. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:544-51.)
The Critical Need for CD4 Help in Maintaining Effective Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Responses

For many viral infections, resolution of illness is associated with long-term host control of viremia rather than viral eradication. An example is EBV infection, and the fact that host immune suppression is associated with EBV-induced disease suggests that it is the immune system that is holding the
Ultrasound Elastography using regularized phase-zero cost function initialized with dynamic programming

Elastography, computation of elasticity modulus of tissue is one of medical imaging methods with applications such as tumor detection and ablation therapy. Phase-based time delay estimation methods exploit the frequency information of the RF data to obtain strain estimates [1]. Although iterative Phase zero estimation is more computationally efficient in comparison to methods that seek for the absolute maximum cross-correlation between precompression and postcompression echo signals, it is quite sensitive to noise. The reason for this sensitivity is that for this iterative method an initial guess for the time shift is needed for each pixel. To estimate time shifts for the sample k, the time shift resulted from iterative phase zero method applied on sample k-1 is used as an initial value. This makes the method sensitive to noise because the error is propagating sample by sample and if the method gets unstable for any pixel, it will give unstable result for the following pixels in image line. Proposed strategy in this work to overcome this problem is to first estimate the displacement using Dynamic Programming [2] and use the results from DP as an initial guess of displacement for each pixel in iterative Phase zero method. Recently, regularized methods that incorporate the prior of tissue continuity in time delay estimation have been shown to produce low-noise and high contrast strain images [3,5]. In this work, we also incorporate the prior of tissue motion continuity in the phase zero method to make the zero-phase method more robust to signal decorrelation.
On the spectrum of ionized tellurium, Te II☆

Abstract The Te II spectrum is dealt with under the followings headings: (1) energy levels and classification of the spectrum: 43 odd levels (including 3 doubtful) and 66 even ones (including 18 doubtful); and (2) a comparison of theory and experiment for the 5p 3 and the 5p 2 6p configurations.
High-mobility group box 1 expressions in hypoxia-induced damaged mouse islets.

Introduction Discovering a new, accurate, and useful damage marker for isolated islets is critical for avoiding the transplantation of nontherapeutic preparations. Recently, we have reported that islets that contained uniquely high levels of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein and cytokine induced damaged islets released HMGB1 in a mouse model. Islets are frequently exposed to hypoxic conditions during organ procurement, organ transportation, islet isolation, and islet storage before transplantation. In the present study, we analyzed HMGB1 expressions in hypoxia-induced damaged mouse islets.
Output feedback stabilization of discrete time networked systems with external disturbance

We consider the problem of stabilization and disturbance rejection in discrete time systems with limited feedback information as it is commonly the case in Networked Control Systems. In a networked system, transmission of information is constrained by the network bandwidth and availability. Our goal is to decrease the rate at which a perturbed system needs to transmit feedback information to update its controller node while maintaining stability and disturbance rejection properties. A state-disturbance observation approach is presented and we show in this paper that asymptotic stability can be obtained in the presence of constant disturbances. Additionally, we provide conditions for inter-update performance for both, constant and piece-wise constant disturbances.
Condensed thiophenes from sulfur bridging. I. Phenanthro[4,5-bcd]thiophene

Treatment of phenanthrene with hydrogen sulfide and an alumina catalyst at 630° gives phenthro[4,5-bcd]thiophene (XVII). Spectral properties of XVII, its sulfoxide, and its sulfone are presented. Other examples of the direct insertion of a sulfur bridging atom into an aromatic molecule are reviewed.
Cross-country mobility on various snow conditions for validation of a virtual terrain

Abstract Realistic simulation of on- and off-road vehicle performance in all weather conditions is needed by the U.S. Army for virtual training of personnel on existing vehicles, and for new vehicle design. The virtual test site is a computer simulation representing an actual terrain defined as having spatially distributed terramechanics properties and terrain interaction with vehicles. We developed a virtual test site for Ethan Allen Firing Range (EAFR) in northern Vermont. The virtual test site for EAFR is composed of terramechanics properties including spatially distributed snow depth and density, soil type, drainage class, slope, and vegetation type. Snow depth and density were spatially distributed with regard to elevation, slope, and aspect using a surface energy balance approach. This paper evaluates whether the terramechanics representation of a virtual test site is improved by adding spatially distributed snow and soil properties, rather than using uniform properties. The evaluation was accomplished by conducting a cross-country vehicle performance analysis using the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Reference Mobility Model (NRMM) to validate the new algorithms for realistic spatial distribution of snow properties. The results showed that the percentage of No-Go areas for uniform snow is lower than the distributed snow by 4% for the CIV (CRREL Instrumented Vehicle), 8% for the HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), and 5% for the Stryker vehicle. For both light vehicles, approximately 12% of the No-Go areas are classified as such because of slopes ⩾29%. These results imply that spatial distribution of snow properties provides realistic vehicle response as opposed to having the snow properties distributed uniformly throughout the entire terrain. This represents an improvement over previous versions of the terramechanics properties.
The Effect of Sex of the Subject, Sex of the Experimenter, and Reinforcement Condition On Serial Digit Learning

Summary In an investigation of the effects of sex of the S, sex of the E, and verbal reinforcement condition on serial digit learning 60 male and 60 female Ss were randomly and equally assigned to one of two male or two female Es. An equal number of Ss participated in conditions of reward, punishment, or neutral treatment. There were no significant differences found. Results are compared to previous learning studies that utilized verbal material.
Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS): Design of the Energetic Particle Investigation

The Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS) is a complete science investigation on the Solar Probe Plus (SPP) mission, which flies to within nine solar radii of the Sun’s surface. ISIS comprises a two-instrument suite to measure energetic particles over a very broad energy range, as well as coordinated management, science operations, data processing, and scientific analysis. Together, ISIS observations allow us to explore the mechanisms of energetic particles dynamics, including their: (1) Origins—defining the seed populations and physical conditions necessary for energetic particle acceleration; (2) Acceleration—determining the roles of shocks, reconnection, waves, and turbulence in accelerating energetic particles; and (3) Transport—revealing how energetic particles propagate from the corona out into the heliosphere. The two ISIS Energetic Particle Instruments measure lower (EPI-Lo) and higher (EPI-Hi) energy particles. EPI-Lo measures ions and ion composition from ∼20 keV/nucleon–15 MeV total energy and electrons from ∼25–1000 keV. EPI-Hi measures ions from ∼1–200 MeV/nucleon and electrons from ∼0.5–6 MeV. EPI-Lo comprises 80 tiny apertures with fields-of-view (FOVs) that sample over nearly a complete hemisphere, while EPI-Hi combines three telescopes that together provide five large-FOV apertures. ISIS observes continuously inside of 0.25 AU with a high data collection rate and burst data (EPI-Lo) coordinated with the rest of the SPP payload; outside of 0.25 AU, ISIS runs in low-rate science mode whenever feasible to capture as complete a record as possible of the solar energetic particle environment and provide calibration and continuity for measurements closer in to the Sun. The ISIS Science Operations Center plans and executes commanding, receives and analyzes all ISIS data, and coordinates science observations and analyses with the rest of the SPP science investigations. Together, ISIS’ unique observations on SPP will enable the discovery, untangling, and understanding of the important physical processes that govern energetic particles in the innermost regions of our heliosphere, for the first time. This paper summarizes the ISIS investigation at the time of the SPP mission Preliminary Design Review in January 2014.
Fatty Acid Composition of Milk Phospholipids of Mice with and without the Mammary Tumour Virus

WHILE considerable effort on the part of many investigators has been directed toward the isolation and purification of the mammary tumour virus (MTV)1, little attention has been given to the effects of the virus on metabolism.
A wave packet based statistical approach to complex-forming reactions.

A wave packet based statistical model is suggested for complex-forming reactions. This model assumes statistical formation and decay of the long-lived reaction complex and computes reaction cross sections and their energy dependence from capture probabilities. This model is very efficient and reasonably accurate for reactions dominated by long-lived resonances, as confirmed by its application to the C(1D)+H2 reaction.
A Facile Synthesis of Tetracycles of the γ-Lycorane Type

Abstract When an attempted application of the general scheme of alkaloid synthesis, based on the partial hydrogenation of 1 -alkyl-3-acylpyridinium salts and acid-induced cyclization of the resultant 2-piperideines,2 to the construction of an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid system failed in the cyclization step, i.e. the transformation of dihydroisoquinoline 4a (prepared by the treatment of ester 2a 3 with 5-bromo-2 -pentanone ethylene ketal, followed by hydrogenation of the salt over palladium-charcoal) into a tricyclic ketal ester,4 an alternate, route of synthesis still utilizing a previously prepared isoquinoline precursor (3b) was investigated. The initial observation of the easy conversion of 3b into N-methyl (1a) and O-ethyl products (2b) was helpful in this connection.
Role of teacher characteristics and school resources in early mathematics learning

The authors investigated the degree to which school-level teacher characteristics and resources are related to the mathematics learning of kindergarten children using a sample drawn from a large US database. Kindergarten-level teacher characteristics were operationalised as collective teacher efficacy, teacher experience and teacher preparation; kindergarten resources were operationalised as efforts that schools make to reach out to parents, classrooms with mathematics manipulatives, and classroom technology. Kindergarten students learned more in mathematics over a year in schools where teachers’ collective efficacy was high. School resources yielded a range of significant yet mixed results in young children’s mathematics achievement. Notably, younger students and students entering kindergarten with lower levels of mathematical skills benefited greatly from classroom resources. Overall, the presence of classroom technology as a school-level resource was positively related with older kindergarten students’ learning. Based upon the findings, organisational and policy implications are discussed.
Who bankrolls high-tech entrepreneurs?

Abstract Where do new technology-based firms (NTBFs) raise outside equity capital? To answer that question, financial histories were collected from 284 technology-based firms founded in New England between 1975 and 1986. Financial histories included the year of each round of financing, the source, the amount, and the stage of the financing. The 284 firms represented 27% of 1,073 New England NTBFs founded between 1975 and 1986 contained in CorpTech's Corporate Technology Database. One hundred seven (38%) were launched with no outside equity investors. One hundred seventy-seven firms (62%) raised $671 million in 445 rounds of equity financing. Private individuals (excluding the founding management team and their relatives) were the most common source of equity capital, providing 177 rounds of financing for 124 firms. Ninety firms raised equity from venture capital funds in 173 rounds of financing. Fewer than 40 firms raised capital from any other single source (nonfinancial corporations, public stock offerings, and “other”). The sample firms raised $76 million from private individuals, but almost five times that amount, $370 million, from venture capital funds. Public stock offerings accounted for $122 million. For all investors the size of a round of financing tended to increase with the stage of the financing. Overall, a typical round of individual investor financing was under $500,000. A typical round of financing from venture capital funds was between $1 million and $3 million. Public stock offerings typically exceeded $4 million. Seed and start-up financing accounted for 60% of the rounds and 54% of the dollars provided by private individuals as compared to 28% of the rounds and 20% of the dollars provided by venture capital funds. The most significant outcome of this research is the conclusion that private individuals and venture capital funds play complementary rather than competing roles in the financing of NTBFs. This complementary relationship has two dimensions—size and stage. At all stages venture capital funds tend to invest substantially more dollars per round than do private individuals. Second, compared to a significantly higher propensity to invest at the seed and start-up stages than other investors. Private investors appear to have longer exit horizons and less risk aversion. In fact, private individuals provided the seed capital that launched the majority of NTBFs in the sample.
Parental preferences and considerations of cost in the selection of school-age child care

Abstract Eighty percent of single mothers and seventy-two percent of married mothers with children between the ages of six and thirteen are employed full-time. Inasmuch as there is little indication that this labor force participation is likely to diminish, the policy debate around the expansion of services for school-age children promises to deepen and intensify. This study of 836 school-age children examines child care costs and their relationship to parental resources, current care arrangements and preferences. Findings shed new light on the amount parents are willing to pay for child care services for this age group and how that amount is influenced by programmatic content. Policy implications of the findings are also discussed.
Evaluation of Mini/Micro-Pumps for Micro-Chem-Lab™

The performance of a selective group of mini and micro-pumps has been evaluated for use in gas phase detection for the Micro-Chem-Lab™. Our major assessment criteria are: flow rate, pressure drop across the pump, and electrical current drawn by the pump. Two pumping configurations have been investigated: (1) upstream pumping to build up pressure head and (2) downstream pumping to draw vacuum. Four mini-pumps (T-Square, SP 250 EC, SP 135 FZ-4, and KNF Neuberger) have been studied. Each of these pumps has been tested to determine whether they meet our requirements of high head pressure, high flow rate, and low power consumption. We have also assessed different mechanisms for pumping gas in micro-domains — specifically, a valveless diffuser/nozzle micro-pump, a LIGA diaphragm micro-pump and a micro drag pump. However our preliminary findings reveal that these micro-pumps do not meet our minimal requirements for use in the μChemLab™.Copyright © 2002 by ASME