cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Michaelis constants of soil enzymes

Abstract Studies to determine the Michaelis constants (km values) for the arylsulfatase and phosphatase activity in Iowa surface soils showed that the value obtained for either activity was different for different soils. When the incubation technique used to determine km did not involve shaking of the soil-substrate mixture, the km value for arylsulfatase activity in nine soils studied ranged from 1·37 × 10−3 m to 5·69 × 10−3 m , and the km value for phosphatase activity ranged from 1·26 × 10−3 m to 4·58 × 10−3 m . Shaking the soil-substrate mixture during incubation decreased the km value obtained for arylsulfatase or phosphatase activity and reduced the variation in km among soils. The maximum enzyme reaction velocity (Vmax value) for soil arylsulfatase or soil phosphatase activity was markedly different for different soils and usually increased when the soil-substrate mixture was shaken during incubation. The km value for soil arylsulfatase or soil phosphatase activity was not significantly correlated with other soil properties studied (pH, cation-exchange capacity, percentage organic carbon, percentage clay, percentage sand).
Encapsulation of Indocyanine Green within nano-assembled capsules changes its optical properties

Indocyanine Green (ICG) is a photosensitive dye frequently used in clinical settings for retinal imaging and measuring cardiac output function. Its low toxicity, high absorption in the near infrared region, and vascular retention have generated much interest in its utility for several therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Its potential, however, is limited by factors such as rapid circulation kinetics and lack of target specificity. Additionally, the optical properties of ICG vary significantly with a wide range of influences such as concentration, solvent, pH, and temperature. In an effort to overcome these limitations and improve ICG's effectiveness as a chromophore for photothermal treatment, we have developed a novel nanometer-sized capsule system as a delivery vehicle for ICG. In our capsules, the ICG molecules are encapsulated within a polymer-salt aggregate core coated with dextran. In this study, we report how the optical properties of ICG are affected by its entrapment within the nano-assembled complexes (NACs). The absorption profiles of both freely dissolved ICG and encapsulated ICG were recorded under various conditions to determine the effects of encapsulation on ICG's light sensitivity and stability at different temperatures. Dilute preparations of freely dissolved ICG demonstrated more rapid degradation kinetics in response to intense broadband light (360 - 1100 nm, 56 mW/ cm 2 ) than NACs containing ICG. Encapsulated ICG also demonstrated greater stability at room and elevated temperatures than freely dissolved ICG. The results suggest that the entrapment of ICG within the capsules influences its ability to undergo physicochemical transformations, including oligomerization and degradation to leucoforms.
Equilibrium statistical treatment of angular momenta associated with collective modes in fission and heavy-ion reactions

The angular momentum effects in deep inelastic processes and fission have been studied in the limit of statistical equilibrium. The model consists of two touching liquid drop spheres. Angular momentum fractionation has been found to occur along the mass asymmetry coordinate. If neutron competition is included (i.e., in compound nucleus formation and fission), the fractionation occurs only to a slight degree, while extensive fractionation is predicted if no neutron competition occurs (i.e., in "fusion-fission" without compound nucleus formation). Thermal fluctuations in the angular momentum are predicted to occur due to degrees of freedom which can bear angular momentum such as wriggling, tilting, bending, and twisting. The coupling of relative motion to one of the wriggling modes, leading to fluctuations between orbital and intrinsic angular momentum, is considered first. Next the effect of the excitation of all the collective modes on the fragment spin is treated. General expressions for the first and second moments of the fragment spins are derived as a function of total angular momentum and the limiting behavior at large and small total angular momentum is examined. Furthermore, the effect of collective mode excitation on the fragment spin alignment is explored and is discussed in light of recent experiment. The relevance of the present study to the measured first and second moments of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray multiplicities as well as to sequential fission angular distributions is illustrated by applying the results of the theory to a well studied heavy-ion reaction.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Studied angular momentum fractionation along mass asymmetry mode. Investigated effect of collective rotational modes on fragment spins. Equilibrium statistical treatment.
The role of protein kinase C in the regulation of ion channels and neurotransmitter release

Abstract Protein kinase C is an enzyme whose activity depends on its lipid environment and which is activated by the second messenger, diacylglycerol. The high concentrations of protein kinase C in the nervous system compared to many other tissues suggest that this enzyme plays an important role in the regulation of neuronal activity. Its physiological activator, diacylglycerol, is produced transiently in many types of cells in response to synaptic or hormonal stimulation. In intact cells, the activity of protein kinase C can be stimulated by low concentrations of phorbol esters or by synthetic diacylglycerols. Both biochemical and electrophysiological investigations using activators of this enzyme have indicated that protein kinase C regulates calcium, potassium and chloride channels, and that changes in its activity control the amount of neurotransmitter released by nerve cells.
Time-dose relationships in radiation-enhanced integration.

Purpose: We have shown that ionizing radiation increases recombination, as manifested by increased stable transduction of both plasmid and adenoviral vectors. This paper reports the duration of increased recombination after irradiation. Materials and methods: A549 or NIH/3T3 cells were transfected at various times after irradiation. Cells were also irradiated with several fractionation schemes and then transfected. Results: Enhanced integration (EI) is a very long-lived process, lasting at least 2-3 days after single radiation fractions. The duration of EI activation is radiation dose-dependent. The efficiency of EI is dependent on radiation dose and independent of fractionation, such that low dose-rate, fractionated and single radiation doses result in similar levels of EI when corrected for diverences in cytotoxicity. Conclusions: Radiation, given with fraction sizes and dose-rates used in clinical radiation therapy, induces a long-lived hyper-recombination state. Since radiotherapy is already a compone...
Sandwich node architecture for agile wireless sensor networks for real-time structural health monitoring applications

In recent years, wireless sensor network (WSN), as a powerful tool, has been widely applied to structural health monitoring (SHM) due to its low cost of deployment. Several commercial hardware platforms of wireless sensor networks (WSN) have been developed and used for structural monitoring applications [1,2]. A typical design of a node includes a sensor board and a mote connected to it. Sensing units, analog filters and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are integrated on the sensor board and the mote consists of a microcontroller and a wireless transceiver. Generally, there are a set of sensor boards compatible with the same model of mote and the selection of the sensor board depends on the specific applications. A WSN system based on this node lacks the capability of interrupting its scheduled task to start a higher priority task. This shortcoming is rooted in the hardware architecture of the node. The proposed sandwich-node architecture is designed to remedy the shortcomings of the existing one for task preemption. A sandwich node is composed of a sensor board and two motes. The first mote is dedicated to managing the sensor board and processing acquired data. The second mote controls the first mote via commands. A prototype has been implemented using Imote2 and verified by an emulation in which one mote is triggered by a remote base station and then preempts the running task at the other mote for handling an emergency event.
Estimating spatially varying effects of urban growth boundaries on land development and land value

Abstract The empirical evidence is mixed on whether urban growth boundaries (UGB) effectively moderate urbanization. The spatially varying effects of a UGB on land development patterns and land value in Eastern Tennessee, USA, were estimated to examine the impacts of the UGB in different submarkets. A simultaneous-equation model was used with an endogenous binary variable to reflect the parcel's state of development and an endogenous continuous variable measuring parcel land value. Submarkets were identified using cluster analysis. The results suggest that the UGB slowed down development in urban submarkets but development accelerated in rural–urban submarket interfaces where the UGB did not play a role in land values.
An Empirical Examination of Investment Banking Reputation Measures

This paper empirically examines the explanatory power of investment banking reputation measures. One of these measures, a nineteen-tier indicator of underwriter reputation, is determined by the relative position of the underwriter's name within the tombstone announcements of security offerings. An alternative measure assigns four ranks according to the investment banking bracket of the underwriter. This “bracket” measure is considerably easier to create than the “tombstone” measure. We employ both measures in identical initial public offering empirical models and assess their relative performance. In all of the models tested, the tombstone measure appears to be superior. Moreover, we find that, unlike the bracket measure, the tombstone reputation indicator significantly explains the initial returns to initial public offerings even when a measure of ex post uncertainty is included in the model.
Sampling designs for regression coefficient estimation with correlated errors

The problem of estimating regression coefficients from observations at a finite number of properly designed sampling points is considered when the error process has correlated values and no quadratic mean derivative. Sacks and Ylvisaker (1966,Ann. Math. Statist.,39, 66–89) found an asymptotically optimal design for the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE). Here, the goal is to find an asymptotically optimal design for a simpler estimator. This is achieved by properly adjusting the median sampling design and the simpler estimator introduced by Schoenfelder (1978, Institute of Statistics Mimeo Series No. 1201, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill). Examples with stationary (Gauss-Markov) and nonstationary (Wiener) error processes and with linear and nonlinear regression functions are considered both analytically and numerically.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Model Perhydrogenated and Perfluorinated Alkyl Chains, Droplets, and Micelles

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to study chain conformation and internal structure for three models of n-alkanes (PHA) and n-perfluoroalkanes (PFA). These systems include single chains of 7−29 identical segments in a solvent of segments, “oil” droplets (aggregates of 24 chains), and micelles (experimental mean-sized aggregates of 24 octyl PHA or 40 perfluoroheptyl PFA chains with “nonionic sulfate head” groups attached to one end). Three different united-atom potential models of PHA chains and five models of PFA chains have been used to study the effect of chain potential. A computationally efficient solvent force field represented segment and headgroup interactions with an aqueous solvent and maintained aggregate sizes and shapes. For single chains, the overall trans bond fraction and distribution were independent of chain length while the scaling exponent for end-to-end distances for longer chains agrees with theoretical scaling laws. Several different statistical analyses showed that...
Modeling and characterization of the moisture-dependent bilinear behavior of regenerated cellulose composites

In this study, we investigate the tensile mechanical properties of unidirectional Lyocell/epoxy composites under wet and dry conditions using a multi-scale analysis approach. Characterization of the samples shows a bilinear stress–strain behavior of the fibers and composites under tension loading. The bilinear elastic–plastic stress–strain response of the Lyocell fibers is incorporated into a p-version finite element model for presenting a methodology for structural analysis of this composite system. The proposed finite element models were successfully able to relate the micro to macro-mechanical behavior enabling an approach for determining the 3D orthotropic elastic–plastic constants of regenerated cellulose/epoxy composites.
Selective herbivory of ponderosa pine by Abert squirrels: A re-examination of the role of terpenes

Abstract The role of terpenes, soluble sugars and moisture in mediating selective herbivory of Abert squirrels on ponderosa pine was studied. Fourteen terpenes were identified as present in the inner bark of 23 pairs of feed and non-feed trees. Higher total terpene concentration, a greater diversity of terpenes and the presence and concentration of the terpenes myrcene, sabinene, and terpinolene were factors found to be related to squirrel recognition of non-feed trees. No correlation was found in sugar and moisture content of the feed-non-feed pairs. A comparison of the composition of terpenes in resins of Arizona ponderosa pine with those of feed trees in Colorado indicates that Abert squirrels may have adapted to resins of feed trees characteristic of their respective regions.
Grain boundary doping strengthens nanocrystalline copper alloys

Nanoindentation hardness measurements were performed on nanocrystalline (nc-) Cu alloys to test recent molecular dynamics predictions that (i) solute segregation to grain boundaries can lead to significant strengthening and (ii) solutes with large size mismatch with Cu are most effective. Results show that the hardness of nc-Cu90Nb10 is greater than 5 GPa, more than double that of pure nc-Cu, whereas similar additions of Fe solute have nearly no effect. These results are in good agreement with simulations.
Heterostructure field effect transistor with doping dipole in charge control layer

The heterostructure field effect transistors with a doping dipole layer obtained by planar p/sup ++/ and n/sup ++/ layers in charge control layer are proposed and fabricated in AlGaAs/GaAs. The dipole creates a large barrier between the channel and the gate, and this leads to a reduction of the forward biased gate current, a broad transconductance peak, a high maximum drain current, and no negative transconductance in enhancement-mode n-channel devices.
Reply to Feinman and Nicholas: There Is No Frost in the Basin of Mexico?

are particularly critical of the approximations of household size, labor requirements, and maize yields employed in my analysis, which they think led to an overemphasis on risk in explaining the development of small-scale systems of hydraulic agriculture in the Basin of Mexico. Some of the ambiguities can only be resolved through recovery of a larger sample of appropriate archeological data; however, the results presented in the original paper and elaborated on here are consistent with the
EFFECT OF SHORT TERM ALPHA IRRADIATION ON PARATHYROID ACTIVITY AND OSTEOCLAST NUMBERS.

SummaryA study of the distribution of plutonium-239 in bone, and its effects on bone cells has been presented and correlated with endogenous parathyroid activity. There was no measurable effect on the function of existing osteoblasts or osteoclasts during this short term (5 day) experiment. Also, incorporation of plutonium into osteoclasts did not disrupt the ability of parathyroid hormone to maintain normal calcium levels. However, it could be demonstrated that plutonium, for the first 48 hours after administration, affected certain of the undifferentiated bone cells, which in turn prevented the increased osteoclast production normally seen following endogenous parathyroid stimulation.
Communication and organizational cultures

(1982). Communication and organizational cultures. Western Journal of Speech Communication: Vol. 46, Interpretive Approaches to the Study of Organizational Communication, pp. 115-130.
Dual-beam CO2 laser cutting of thick metallic materials

A dual-beam technique involving two CO2 gas lasers with a power capacity of 1.5 kW each, was used to cut steel and superalloy. A comparison with single-beam CO2 laser cutting showed that dual beams were capable of enhancing the cutting thickness and speed without deteriorating the quality of cut. Heat-conduction models, assuming the laser beams as line sources, were used to estimate the cutting thickness and speed as a function of distance between the two laser beams. Experimental data, coupled with theoretical modelling, have provided a new concept, namely stretching the width of the laser beam in the direction of cutting to cut thicker section solids at moderate speeds.
The involvement of the olfactory bulbs in the regulation of gonadal and thyroidal activities of male red-winged blackbirds, exposed to short-day light regime

Surgical removal of the olfactory bulbs (OB) was performed in mature male red-winged blackbirds, maintained under a short-day light regime. Bulbectomy caused hyperphagia, which was not accompanied by obesity. Bulbectomized (OBX) birds had incresaed thyroid follicular activity and had greater developed testes than sham-operated controls. In the adenohypophyses of the OB-removed birds there was an increase in the populations of 4 types of chromophils: alcianophils, PAS-positive basophils, orangeophils and PAS-positive acidophils. The possibility that the OB are involved in the photoperiodic regulation of the activity of the gonads and thyroids is discussed.
The ventral striatopallidal complex: an immunocytochemical analysis of medium-sized striatal neurons and striatopallidal fibers in the basal forebrain of the rat.

Abstract The borders of the ventral striatum and ventral pallidum of the rat brain have been studied with immunocytochemistry for two protein markers that are present in these regions. One of these, DARPP-32 (dopamine and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein, M r , 32,000), is specifically enriched in medium-sized spiny neurons of the neostriatum and in the projection of these neurons upon pallidal regions. The second protein, synaptophysin, a marker for nerve terminals, effectively labels pallidal synapses. In the ventral striatum, neurons strongly immunoreactive for DARPP-32 were densely packed throughout its three components, i.e., the fundus striati and the nucleus accumbens septi, the olfactory tubercle, and the cell bridges that connect the tubercle with the overlying caudatoputamen and the nucleus accumbens. In the ventral pallidum, axons and axon terminals immunoreactive for DARPP-32 and axon terminals immuno-reactive for synaptophysin were clearly delineated. As defined by these markers, the ventral pallidum was traced rostroventrally from the globus pallidus to the superficial layers of the olfactory tubercle, medially to the insula Calleja magna and the lateral septum, laterally to the pyriform cortex, and caudally to the anterior amygdaloid area. The ventral striatum and pallidum were densely intermingled in parts of the olfactory tubercle and medial forebrain bundle regions, and clearly separated in more caudal regions. The insulae Callejae did not contain typical striatal or pallidal staining patterns. Our results indicate that the ventral striatopallidal complex in the rat extends both rostrocaudally and dorsoventrally, in a highly complex, intermingled fashion, throughout most of the basal forebrain.
Ring expansion of azetidinium ylides: rapid access to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids turneforcidine and platynecine.

Azetidinecarboxylate esters react readily with metallocarbenes in an inter- or intramolecular fashion to generate azetidinium ylides. Efficient [1,2]-shift by the ester-substituted carbon furnishes ring-expanded pyrrolidine products. In the case of substrate 1, this provides access to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids turneforcidine and platynecine via a high-yield, five-step sequence starting with readily available methyl 1-benzylazetidine-2-carboxylate.
Technology and communication in the future

A new technology is emerging from the convergence of computers and communications. It has probable and important uses in the home, office, factory, community, school, and library. It may amplify cognition, regulate affect, and improve communication and control in social interactions. This would help people to meet better such basic needs as survival, security, and sense of belonging. The likely long-term change in the structure of existing service institutions is further decentralization, up to a degree. New service units are likely to emerge. Overriding all other considerations is the need for persons, rather than the momentum of technological change, to shape the use of technology now with primacy given to the human aspects of home and office systems of the future.
Relation of cholanate structure to inhibition of14C-26-cholesterol oxidation by mitochondria from rat liver

Eight bile acids and 20 of their derivatives, of known purity, were compared for inhibitory effect upon oxidation of cholesterol in vitro by rat liver mitochondria. All inhibited oxidation of14C-26-cholesterol; none inhibited oxidation of14C-1-octanoate. The α-mono-hydroxy- and α-dihydroxycholanic acids were more potent inhibitors than α-trihydroxycholanic acid and trioxocholanic acid. Most were more potent than their derivatives. In general, the relative inhibitory potency of derivatives was: methyl esters > free alcohols > glycine conjugates > taurine conjugates. Mitochondria from rats subjected to 4 hr alternate light-dark periods were less susceptible to the inhibitory action of cholanate conjugates than were mitochondria from rats under normal day-night conditions. These experiments with compounds of known purity show that the hydroxylation pattern is the determining factor in cholanate inhibition of the cholesterol oxidation.
Effect of dietary restriction on the fidelity of DNA polymerases in aging mice.

DNA polymerases purified from hepatic tissues of C57BL/6 mice showed an age-related decrease in both specific activity and fidelity of the various enzyme forms. Polymerases from dietary restricted mice exhibited less of a decline in specific activity and copied synthetic DNA templates with relatively higher fidelity than did enzymes from animals fed ad libitum. Polymerases treated with inositol-1,4-biphosphate [I(1,4)P2] showed varying levels of increased activity, with fidelity increases up to 3-fold. These data indicate that aging is associated with decreases in both specific activity and fidelity of DNA polymerases isolated from a nondividing tissue, and that dietary restriction impedes the age-related decline in both specific activity and fidelity of these polymerases. The data further indicate that DNA polymerases may interact with phosphoinositide hydrolysis products resulting in increased specific activity and fidelity of the enzymes. Phosphoinositide interactions with polymerases could constitute an important mechanism moderating the age-related decrease in function and accuracy of DNA polymerases.
Femtosecond time-resolved stimulated Raman reveals the birth of bacteriorhodopsin's J and K intermediates.

Light-activated proton translocation in halobacteria is driven by photoisomerization of the retinal chromophore within the membrane-bound protein bacteriorhodopsin. The molecular mechanism of this process has been widely debated due to the absence of structural information on the time scale of the reactive dynamics (the initial 0.1−1 ps). Here we use tunable femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy to obtain time-resolved resonance Raman vibrational spectra of bacteriorhodopsin’s key J and K photoisomerization intermediates. The appearance of the J state is delayed by ∼150 fs relative to the zero of time and rises after this dwell with a 450 fs time constant. The J state is characterized by a 16 cm−1 red-shifted C═C stretch, which blue shifts by 5 cm−1 coincident with the rise of the K state. The delayed 3 ps rise of the C15−H HOOP mode with enhanced intensity in K reveals the appearance of strain near the Schiff’s base once the 13-cis configuration is fully formed. The delay in the initial appearance of...
New free-wake analysis of rotorcraft hover performance using influence coefficients

Free-wake analyses of helicopter rotor wakes in hover using time stepping have been shown to encounter instabilities which preclude convergence to valid free-vortex solutions for rotor-wake geometries. Previous work has demonstrated that these convergence difficulties can be overcome by implementing a new free-wake analysis method based on the use of influence coefficients. The present paper reviews this approach and documents its incorporation into a hover performance analysis called Evaluation of Hover Performance using Influence Coefficients (EHPIC). The technical principles underlying the EHPIC code are described with emphasis on steps taken to develop the single-filament wake models used in previous work into a multifilament wake valid for realistic hover performance predictions. The coupling of the wake model to a lifting surface loads analysis is described, and sample problems are solved that illustrate the robustness of the method. Performance calculations are also undertaken for hover to illustrate the utility of EHPIC in the analysis of rotorcraft performance.
THE MOVEMENT OF WATER THROUGH SOME SUBMERGED PLANTS

Numerous data are available regarding the amount of water nmoving through land planlts, but very little is known concerning the movement of water through submerged plants. The current of water moving through the water-conducting system of a plant, regardless of the force or forces causing the movement, has been termed the " transpiration stream." Using the term in this broad sense, rooted submerged hydrophytes as well as ordinary land plants have a "transpiration stream." In land plants this stream is associated primarily with the evaporation of water from the leaves. If other forces are involved, it must be admitted that little is known about their relative significance. In submerged plants under normal conditions the factor of evaporation from the leaves is absent. In these plants, then, it is possible to measure the amount of the "transpiration stream " in the absence of evaporation. The object of the present study was (i) to obtain data as to the amount of water moving through submerged plants and (2) to locate, if not determine, the force or forces active in causing the water movement.
Deviations in the Thermal Properties of Ultrathin Polymer Network Films

Cross-linked epoxy network films were cast onto silicon wafers with a variety of surface treatments. X-ray reflectivity was used to characterize their electron density and thermal expansion in the rubbery state. A transition from “bulk” to “confined” expansion occurs in the range of 200−400 A, where thinner films exhibit smaller rubbery expansion coefficients. The thermal expansion behavior of the epoxy films was independent of the substrate surface treatment, which varied in both surface energy and the strength of bonding interactions with the polymer. The thickest epoxy films displayed typical rubbery thermal expansion values for temperatures above the bulk polymer glass transition temperature. The thinnest epoxy films (<120 A) exhibited typical glassy expansion values even at temperatures 20−40 °C above the bulk polymer glass transition temperature, independent of the surface treatment.
Electrocardiographic signs of chronic cor pulmonale: A negative prognostic finding in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background—Chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) is a strong predictor of death in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aims of this study were to assess the prognostic role of individual ECG signs of CCP and of the interaction between these signs and abnormal arterial blood gases. Methods and Results—Two hundred sixty-three patients (217 men) with COPD, mean age 67±9 years, were grouped according to whether they had no ECG signs (group 1, n=100) or ≥1 ECG signs (group 2, n=163) of CCP and were followed up for 13 years after an exacerbation of respiratory failure. The median survival was significantly shorter in group 2 than in group 1 (2.58 versus 3.45 years, respectively; Mantel-Cox test, 9.58; P=0.002). The Cox regression analysis identified S1S2S3 pattern, right atrial overload (RAO), and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (Pao2−Pao2) >48 mm Hg during oxygen therapy as the strongest predictors of death, with hazard rate (HR)=1.81 (95% CI, 1.22 to 2.69), HR=1.58 (95% CI, 1.15 to 2.18), and HR=1.96 (9...
Application of data mining techniques to determine patient satisfaction

In this paper, we describe a novel methodology which employs machine learning as an alternative means to explore hospital characteristics and client satisfaction, for decision making and improved quality of care. We applied well known feature selection and data mining algorithms such as forward selection and Naive Bayes respectively, to determine patient satisfaction, which is an important indicator of quality of care in hospital settings. Our dataset comprised of three types of data, (i) patient perception about received care, (ii) nurse perception about the working environment and (iii) organizational attributes of the hospital. Our experimental results exhibited high classification accuracy (87%), allowing valid conclusions to be reached about the organizational and workforce factors which attribute to patient satisfaction. Our findings were validated using traditional statistical methods such as binomial correlation and linear regression.
STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS IN TEXAS TRANSPORTATION SECTOR

Texas is the nation's highest energy consumer, and it is the highest emitter of carbon dioxide. Texans consume 23 percent more energy per capita on transportation than the nation as a whole. The state's contribution to global climate stabilization and local environmental quality requires reexamination of its transportation system. In this study, four scenarios were constructed reflecting different energy strategies that Texas could pursue to address these issues. These alternative scenarios were measured against a reference scenario that reflects current trends in transport policy. The first alternative, a "roll-back" scenario, examined the consequences of revoking the current alternative fuels programs. Moderate, aggressive and visionary scenarios were also developed consisting of increasingly aggressive policies to reduce energy consumption and emissions. Included in the analyses are various transportation control measures, employee trip-reduction programs, broader use of telecommunications technologies...
An Approach to the Design of Socially Acceptable Robots for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Investigation into technology-assisted intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has gained momentum in recent years. Research suggests that robots could be a viable means to impart skills to this population since children with ASD tend to be fascinated by robots. However, if robots are to be used to impart social skills, a primary deficit for this population, considerable attention needs to be paid to aspects of social acceptability of such robots. Currently there are no design guidelines as to how to develop socially acceptable robots to be used for intervention for children with ASD. As a first step, this work investigates social design of virtual robots for children with ASD. In this paper we describe the design of a virtual environment system for social interaction (VESSI). The design is evaluated through an innovative experiment plan that combines subjective ratings from a clinical observer with physiological responses indicative of affective states from the participants, both collected when participants engage in social tasks with the social robots in a virtual reality environment. Two social parameters of importance for this population, namely eye gaze and social distance, are systematically varied to analyze the response of the participants. The results are presented to illustrate how experiments with virtual social robots can contribute towards the development of future social robots for children with ASD.
From data warehouse to information craft shop: The changing shape of information support for environmental protection

Abstract Strategies of environmental protection in the U.S. are undergoing significant change. Emphasis is shifting from measures of productivity to measures of environmental quality; from pollution abatement to pollution prevention; from a traditional enforcement mentality to a more creative risk-identification and problem-solving orientation. These shifts in the organizational culture and strategies of U.S. environmental protection agencies have profound effects on the nature of the relationships between federal and state agencies, and upon the kind of information support required. This study examines the State/EPA Data Management Program, a major and nationwide initiative to transform the style of information management within the environmental community. In particular, this study tests the extent to which this initiative serves the emerging strategies, and its effect on interagency cooperation.
Content Analysis of the Professional School Counseling Journal: The First Ten Years:

The authors conducted a content analysis of the articles published in the first 10 volumes of the Professional School Counseling (PSC) journal, beginning in October 1997 when The School Counselor merged with Elementary School Counseling and Guidance. The analysis coded a total of 571 articles into 20 content categories. Findings address the frequency of article types, methodology and analysis, topics, populations discussed, and author affiliations. The article also discusses suggestions for future contributions to the journal.
Air quality standards for the protection of farm animals from fluorides.

The ingestion of forages contaminated with inorganic fluorides from industrial sources constitutes an air pollution problem for domestic livestock. In cattle, which have been studied most extensively, the syndrome is characterized by dental and skeletal lesions, lameness, chemical evidence of increased fluoride ingestion, and in severe cases by effects on appetite and milk production. The only practical basis for a standard appears to be one based on forage fluoride concentrations. It is concluded that a standard should protect cattle from loss of milk production and from severe dental fluorosis, but need not be set so low that the animals will be protected against any discernible deviations from normal which do not influence their general health, productive ability, or the soundness and wearing quality of their dentition. As there may be wide seasonal variations in forage fluoride concentrations, the basic standard should be expressed as a yearly average of the forage fluoride concentration. However, as ...
The effect of preservatives based on propionic acid on the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn silage and a total mixed ration

For 3 successive yr, whole-plant corn was ensiled in laboratory silos with low percentages of silage preservatives, the primary active ingredient of which was propionic acid. Preservatives were added to forage just prior to ensiling at rates of 0.1 to 0.2% of the fresh forage weight. In all 3 yr, treatments had minor effects on fermentation end products, except that the concentration of propionic acid was greater because of its addition. The mean low and high percentages of preservatives increased aerobic stability of the treated silages by 19 and 57 h, respectively, in Experiment 1 and by 17 and 38 h, respectively, in Experiment 2. In Experiment 3, aerobic stability was improved by >90 h by preservatives (0.2% addition). In a lactation study, a total mixed ration (46% dry matter) was mixed without or with (0.2 or 0.3%) a stabilizer that was designed to prevent spoilage in the feed bunk. The high dose resulted in orts with a lower pH and temperature after 24 h in the feed bunk. However, dry matter intake and milk production were unaffected by treatments. Chemical preservatives based on propionic acid added at low rates did not affect fermentation but were effective in the reduction of heating in corn silage and in a total mixed ration.
Linear Programming to Improve Raw Coal Blending: A New Twist to an Old Tool

A traditional linear programming technique is offered to optimize raw coal blending for a given plant with known performance characteristics. The model matches raw coal feed rates to a plant's assumed optimum "target" feed, subject to quality and quantity constraints. The technique's usefulness is enhanced by a novel computer program for optimizing clean coal sampling frequency. This program analyzes a plant's current sampling scheme, models alternatives, and compares results. The user is presented a menu of feasible sampling schemes which can improve plant economics significantly. Adoption of these improved sampling programs provides the plant operator with a clearer view of the cleaning potential of the plant, permitting tighter quality control of clean coal output.
Thermal Conductivity of Solids IV: Resonance Fluorescence Scattering of Phonons by Donor Electrons in Germanium

The scattering of phonons from donor electrons in germanium is computed and applied to the problem of heat conduction below the low-temperature maximum. The effective-mass approximation is used for the electronic wave function. The calculation is analogous to that of the dispersive scattering of light by atoms. Since the ground state is split into a singlet and a triplet with a separation of energy within the thermal phonon distribution, anomalous effects due to resonance scattering occur. Apart from these, our results are similar to previous work by Keyes. Taking into account the boundary and isotopic scattering as well as the electron-phonon interaction, excellent quantitative agreement with thermal conductivity data is obtained, with no adjustable parameters, for Sb and As donors in Ge. Certain discrepancies at higher temperatures can be traced to the inadequacy of the effective-mass approximation. In addition, anomalies in the "phonon drag" thermoelectric power can be understood on the basis of our theory. A by-product of our calculation is the lifetime broadening of the triplet state. The slightly different case of $n$-type Si is worked out while a more qualitative treatment of our resonant scattering mechanism is given for $p$-type semiconductors and samples under uniaxial strain.
Red cell binding of gamma heavy chains isolated from polyalanylated anti-Rho IgG.

To extend biochemical studies of isolated anti-Rh IgG subunits (unpublished results of S. J. G.), experiments have been designed in which human anti-Rh0 heavy chains rendered soluble in neutral aqueous solution show binding specificity for the Rh determinant. Antigenicity of the solubilized heavy chains remains partially intact when tested with homologous rabbit antisera.
Ablation of epicardial ventricular arrhythmias from nonepicardial sites.

Background Idiopathic epicardial ventricular arrhythmias can be targeted from the coronary venous system or the pericardial space, the endocardium, or the aortic sinus cusps. Objective The purpose of this study was to analyze systematically the contribution of ablation at sites other than the epicardium to eliminate an arrhythmia originating in the epicardium. Methods In a consecutive patient series of 33 patients (14 women, age 51 ± 14 years, ejection fraction 51% ± 9%) with epicardial ventricular arrhythmias, mapping and ablation was performed via the cardiac venous system/pericardial space, the aortic sinus cusp, and the left ventricular endocardium. An arrhythmia was defined as epicardial if the earliest onset of activation and a matching pace-map (≥10/12 leads) were identified in the epicardium. Results In 12/33 patients (36%), either an endocardial approach alone (n = 3) or a combined endocardial/epicardial (n = 6), cusp/endocardial (n = 1), or cusp/epicardial (n = 2) approach was required to eliminate the ventricular arrhythmias. In 10 of 33 patients (30%), epicardial ablation alone was effective in eliminating epicardial ventricular arrhythmias. Ablation was ineffective due to failure to reach the site of origin with the ablation catheter in 5 of 33 patients (15%), the site of origin was too close to an epicardial artery or the phrenic nerve in 3 patients (6%), and power delivery was insufficient in 3 patients (9%). Conclusion About one-third of epicardial arrhythmias require ablation from sites other than the epicardium to eliminate the arrhythmia focus.
Mot3 is a transcriptional repressor of ergosterol biosynthetic genes and is required for normal vacuolar function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae MOT3 gene encodes a nuclear protein implicated in both repression and activation of transcription. However, a mot3Δ mutation causes only mild phenotypes under normal growth conditions. To learn more about Mot3 function, we have performed a synthetic lethal screen. This screen identified PAN1, a gene required for normal endocytosis, and VPS41, a gene required for vacuolar fusion and protein targeting, suggesting a role for Mot3 in the regulation of membrane-related genes. Transcriptional analyses show that Mot3 represses transcription of ERG2, ERG6 and ERG9, genes required for ergosterol biosynthesis, during both aerobic and hypoxic growth. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that this repression is direct. Ergosterol has been shown to be required for endocytosis and homotypic vacuole fusion, providing a link between Mot3 and these processes. Consistent with these results, mot3Δ mutants have a number of related defects, including impaired homotypic vacuole fusion and increased sterol levels. Taken together, our data suggest that proper transcriptional regulation of ergosterol biosynthetic genes by Mot3 is important for normal vacuolar function and probably for the endocytic membrane transport system.
Isolation and Characterization of an Equine Adenovirus

Abstract A viral agent was isolated from lung tissue obtained upon necropsy of an Arabian foal which had exhibited clinical signs of pneumonia. The virus is 75 nm in diameter, cubic in symmetry, and resistant to chloroform and low pH (3.0). It contains deoxyribonucleic acid and has a buoyant density of 1.31 g/cm3 in cesium chloride. These findings indicate that the virus is a member of the adenovirus group.
Effects of Ethnic Membership, Socioeconomic Status, and Home Language on LD, EMR, and EH Placements.

Proportions of special education placements for Anglos, Blacks, and Hispanics were compiled for a large elementary school district in the Southwest. Also, types of placements were examined for each group within the context of socioeconomic status (low or mid-high) and home language (Spanish or English). Results showed significant ethnicity x socioeconomic status interaction effects, with mid-high Spanish-speaking Hispanics being placed at the highest rate and mid-high Blacks being placed least frequently. Further examination of the data revealed that the learning disability category was by far the most frequently assigned placement. The article contains a discussion of the factors which may have influenced the results and implications for placement decision making.
A Maximum Entropy Based Scalable Algorithm for Resource Allocation Problems

In this paper, we propose a scalable algorithm for solving resource allocation problems on large datasets. This class of problems is posed as a multi-objective optimization problem in a maximum entropy principle framework. This algorithm solves a multi-objective optimization problem that minimizes simultaneously the coverage cost and the computational cost by appropriate recursive prescription of smaller subsets required for a 'divide and conquer' strategy. It provides characterization of the inherent trade-off between reduction in computation time and the coverage cost. Simulations are presented that show significant improvements in the computational time required for solving the coverage problem while maintaining the coverage costs within pre- specified tolerance limits.
Predicted Lung Cancer Risk Among Miners Exposed to Diesel Exhaust Particles

Several quantitative risk assessment models have been published for occupational and environmental exposures to diesel exhaust particles (DEP). These risk assessment models are reviewed and applied to predict lung cancer risks for miners exposed to DEP. The toxicologically based unit risk estimates varied widely (from 2 to 220 3 10 26 per mg/m 3 ). The epidemiologically based unit risk estimates were less variable and suggest higher risks (from 100 to 920 3 10 26 per mg/m 3 ). The wide range of risk estimates derived from these analyses reflects the strong assumptions and large uncertainties underlying these models. All of the models suggest relatively high risks (i.e., .1/1,000) for miners with long-term exposures greater than 1,000mg/m 3 . This is not surprising, given the fact that miners may be exposed to DEP concentrations similar to those that induced lung cancer in rats and mice, and substantially higher than the exposure concentrations in the positive epidemiologic studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 34:207‐219, 1998. r 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc. †
High-performance carry chains for FPGAs

Carry chains are an important consideration for most computations, including FPGAs. Current FPGAs dedicate a portion of their logic to support these demands via a simple ripple carry scheme. In this paper we demonstrate how more advanced carry constructs can be embedded into FPGAs, providing significantly higher performance carry computations. We redesign the standard ripple carry chain to reduce the number of logic levels in each cell. We also develop entirely new carry structures based on high performance adders such as Carry Select, Carry Lookahead, and Brent-Kung. Overall, these optimizations achieve a speedup in carry performance of 3.8 times over current architectures.
STONE PAVEMENTS IN SOILS OF CAERNARVONSHIRE, NORTH WALES

Summary In Caernarvonshire, North Wales, some soil profiles contain a concentration of stones as a layer, a single stone thick, which separates lower horizons of glacial drift from upper colluvial horizons. These layers, stone pavements, are believed to have formed as lag deposits (erosion pavements) on eroded drift surfaces which were then covered by colluvium. The formation and burial of the pavements may be attributed to periglacial and solifluction processes in the Late Glacial period. Local preservation of stone pavements suggests more widespread distribution of soils in which horizon differentiation results in part from depositional rather than pedological processes.