cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geologic controls on foundation damage in north-central Texas

Damaged house foundations in Denton, Texas were evaluated within the context of local geology. Addresses of 78 damaged structures were compiled from local foundation repair companies. The Cretaceous-age Grayson and Woodbine formations outcrop in the study area. Marl and montmorillonitic clay are predominant constituents of the Grayson formation. The Woodbine formation consists of sand and sandstone interbedded with clay. Textural and compositional differences in these parent materials have lead to significantly higher plasticity indices for Grayson residual soils. The distribution of damaged foundations was superimposed on a geologic map to determine the number and spatial density of damages in each formation. A 324 percent higher damage density was calculated for the Grayson formation. Results of this study suggest that (1) expansive soils pose a significant hazard to foundations in Denton, and (2) the magnitude of this hazard is controlled in part by underlying rock formations.
Unraveling the Social Context of Physique and Delinquency

In 1950, Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck published their now classic study, Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency. One of the most frequently cited works in the history of delinquency research, the Gluecks sought to answer a basic and enduring question—what factors differentiate boys reared in poor neighborhoods who become serious and persistent delinquents from boys raised in the same neighborhoods who do not become delinquent or antisocial? To address this question, the Gluecks studied in meticulous detail the lives of 500 delinquents and 500 nondelinquents who were raised in the same low-income environments of central Boston during the Great Depression era (circa 1928–1940).
Economic Value Added (EVA) and the Valuation of Small Businesses

This article presents an overview of the standard asset, market, and income valuation methods generally used to estimate the value of small businesses.
Representing the Rhinoceros: The Royal Society between Art and Science in the Eighteenth Century

Discrepancies between the empirical evidence of single-horned rhinoceroses witnessed by Europeans and references from antiquity regarding double-horned rhinos puzzled members of the Royal Society for decades, particularly the circle of physicians around Drs Richard Mead and Hans Sloane. Three articles published in the Philosophical Transactions proposing solutions to the two-horned dilemma and the kinds of evidence on which they depended raised crucial issues for the Royal Society during the period – antiquarian concerns tied to philology, numismatics, textual emendation and collecting as well as the conceptual overlap between medical theory and the knowledge of the ancient world generally.
Determination of aortic valve area by two-dimensional and doppler echocardiography in patients with normal and stenotic biprosthetic valves

To assess the feasibility and accuracy of determining bioprosthetic aortic valve area from two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic measurements, three partially overlapping groups were selected from 55 patients with such bioprosthetic valves and adequate Doppler studies. These were Group 1, 37 patients with recent aortic valve replacement surgery and no clinical or echocardiographic evidence of valve dysfunction; Group 2, 12 patients with prosthetic valve stenosis documented by cardiac catheterization; and Group 3, 22 patients with both Doppler and catheterization studies in whom noninvasive and invasive determinations of aortic valve area could be directly compared. Left ventricular outflow tract diameter was measured from two-dimensional still frame images. Flow velocity proximal to the aortic valve, transvalvular velocity and acceleration time were determined from pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectra. Aortic valve gradient was calculated with the modified Bernoulli equation and valve area by the continuity equation. In the 37 patients with a normally functioning valve, the calculated mean gradient ranged from 5 to 25 mm Hg (average 13.6 ± 5.2) and valve area from 1.0 to 2.3 cm2(mean 1.6 ± 0.31). Linear regression analysis of prosthetic aortic valve area determined by Doppler imaging and cardiac catheterization demonstrated a high correlation (r = 0.93) between the two techniques. Comparison of the patients with and without prosthetic valve stenosis revealed statistically significant differences in mean gradient (42.8 ± 12.3 versus 13.6 ± 5.2 mm Hg; p = 0.0001), acceleration time (116 ± 15 versus 80 ± 13 ms; p = 0.0001) and valve area by the continuity equation (0.80 ± 0.16 versus 1.6 ± 0.31 cm2; p = 0.0001). Individual ultrasound variables were assessed for their utility in recognizing bioprosthetic valve stenosis. When diagnostic criteria were selected to maintain absolute specificity, either an abnormally high mean gradient or a noninvasively determined valve area 0.35, whereas each of the 12 patients with valve stenosis had a lower ratio. In conclusion, assessment of prosthetic aortic valve area by cardiac ultrasound is highly accurate and can be useful in the diagnosis of bioprosthetic aortic valve stenosis.
Ultrasonographic spectrum of choledochal cysts in children.

Four different sonographic patterns which may be encountered in choledochal cyst are described. The most common form is concentric dilatation of the common bile duct (Type I). Rarely eccentric dilatation of the common bile duct, diverticulum, may be seen (Type II). Both forms of the disease may (Types IB and IIB) or may not (Types IA and IIA) be associated with intrahepatic biliary dilatation.
An Interactive Classroom Demonstration of Propositional and Analogical Representation.

In a cognitive psychology demonstration, students see a rat's-eye view of a maze, projected from a computer, and vocally vote for moves through the maze. The class takes false paths in the first run, but it avoids them in the second. The learning can be explained in terms of analogical imagery or in terms of propositions and rules for modifying them. The demonstration achieves three goals: It actively engages students, effectively explains the concepts, and provides a memorable referent for explaining other topics such as algorithms versus heuristics, production systems, and phrase-structure grammar.
Treatment of symptomatic pediatric osteoporosis with cyclic single-day intravneous pamidronate infusions***

Abstract Objectives To examine the response to single-day intravenous pamidronate in a heterogeneous population with symptomatic osteoporosis. Study design Patients (n = 18) 6 to 21 years of age, meeting treatment criteria were offered treatment with a single-day infusion of pamidronate every 3 months. Baseline and follow-up data were recorded and compared between persons with risk factors of progressive chronic illness or ongoing glucocorticoid usage (group 1) and persons with neither risk factor (group 2). We also examined the association between changes in urinary N-telopeptide percentile and spinal bone mineral density (BMD). Results Spinal BMD Z score increased in all patients after 6 months of treatment. Although patients had an average of 1.9 fractures in the year preceding treatment, only 2 patients had fractures once treatment began. No significant differences in baseline data were noted between the two groups. However, group 1 had significantly less gain in BMD ( P =.04) than group 2. No evidence of growth impairment was seen, and no association between changes in urinary N-telopeptide percentile and changes in BMD were noted. Conclusions Single-day intravenous infusion of pamidronate is efficacious and well tolerated in a heterogeneous group of pediatric patients with symptomatic osteoporosis. (J Pediatr 2003;142:417-23)
Analytical epidemiology of genomic variation among Pan Asia strains of foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Summary Genetic data from field isolates of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) have been used to trace the source of recent outbreaks of FMD, to design better vaccines and diagnostic tests for FMDV, and to make conclusions regarding the general variability in the FMDV genome. Though epidemiologic data associated with FMDV isolates are available, these data have been used rarely to explore possible associations of epidemiologic factors with evolution or variation of the FMDV genome. In this study, factors associated with variation in the primary immunogenic peptide gene of FMDV (VP1), for a sample of 147 serotype O, Pan Asia strain sequences were explored using traditional analytical epidemiologic methods: logistic regression and multinomial-response logistic regression. Hypothesized factors included host type (bovine, ovine, buffalo, or porcine) and geographical region (Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe). Results of two regression analyses suggest that host type and region, considered to be possible surrogates for host management, may be associated with selection in the VP1 amino acid sequence in FMDV. For example, isolates from cattle and sheep in South Asia appear to converge with a proposed ancestor sequence, whereas isolates from the same species in the Middle East and Southeast Asia appear to diverge. The methods demonstrated here could be used on a more detailed dataset to explore the selective pressure of host immunity on the evolution of FMDV antigens in an endemic setting. More broadly, epidemiologic methods could be applied extensively to molecular data to explore the causes of genomic variation in disease-causing organisms.
URBAN GROWTH COALITIONS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT POLICY: POSTWAR GROWTH AND THE POLITICS OF ANNEXATION IN METROPOLITAN COLUMBUS

The "political economy of place" has emerged as an important theme in urban research in recent years. Within this theme, scholars have highlighted the role of so-called urban growth coalitions in the creation of conditions favorable for urban economic development. Among their activities, growth coalitions may be interested in jurisdictional organization and, in particular, municipal annexation. This paper examines the conditions that have facilitated annexation as a postwar growth policy in metropolitan Columbus, Ohio, and the role of urban growth coalitions in shaping the policy. The policy has been effective to the extent that annexation to Columbus for municipal purposes has not included decisions on the transfer of school district territory.
Water extraction of polyethyloxazoline from miscible and immiscible polymer blends

Blends of water-soluble polyethyloxazoline (PEOx) with a series of hydrophobic styreneacrylonitrile copolymers (SAN) of varying AN contents were immersed in water to determine the kinetics of water swelling and the extent of PEOx extraction. Copolymers containing 25 and 40% by weight of AN form miscible blends with PEOx; those containing higher and lower amounts of AN form immiscible mixtures with PEOx. A high degree of PEOx extraction was observed for the immiscible blends as expected, whereas surprisingly little PEOx was extracted from the miscible blends over periods up to 2 years in spite of a high degree of water swelling. Similar behavior has been noted for other blends of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers. In the present system, thermal analysis revealed that the sorption of large amounts of water induces a microphase separation of the two miscible polymers to form microdomains of SAN in which, evidently, segments of PEOx are entrapped to form physical cross-links that preclude disintegration of the sample and extraction of the PEOx whose phase is highly swollen by the sorbed water. It is proposed that a similar situation probably occurs for other blend systems exhibiting such behavior.
Discussion of: "Statistical and dynamic analysis of generation control performance standards"

The author comments on the original paper ("Statistical and dynamic analysis of generation control performance standards", T. Sasaki et al., see ibid., vol.17 p.476-81, 2002). He argues that the basic concepts of the paper are obscured because they are presented from the implicit perspective of the bundled integrated utility with four hidden assumptions concerning loads mismatch, overscheduled load, the interconnection always just meeting bias obligation and relation between average size of control error and capacity.
Towards autonomous sewer robots: the MAKRO project

Abstract We expose current research and development in information technology that deals with building and controlling autonomous service robots for performing inspection tasks in sewerage systems that are inaccessible for humans. The problem is explained, the physical and legal boundary conditions for operating sewer robots are described, the state of current sewer inspection technology is sketched, and the need for using advanced technology in this area motivated. Respective work that we have been doing for the last four years, and that is currently being pursued in the MAKRO project, is presented. The main technological and control problems are described, and how Artificial Intelligence research and technology may be employed to solve the latter.
Titan's carbon budget and the case of the missing ethane.

The retrieval of data from the Cassini−Huygens mission has revealed much about Titan’s atmospheric-surface system and has precipitated more questions. One of these questions involves the lack of large reservoirs of ethane that were predicted by a variety of studies prior to the arrival of the Cassini−Huygens spacecraft. Using an updated and comprehensive photochemical model, we examine the nature of Titan’s carbon budget, initiated by the destruction of methane, and the role that ethane condensation plays in this budget. Model results show that 40% of methane destruction results in ethane formation, with a net production rate of 2.7 × 109 molecules cm−2 s−1, due primarily to acetylenic catalysis in Titan’s stratosphere. This corresponds to a liquid ethane layer of several hundred meters over geologic time. However, episodic methane outgassing, subsurface sequestration, and chemical processing of Titan’s surface are likely responsible for the limiting of ethane condensate on Titan’s surface to less than 10...
GROUP COHOMOLOGY AND EQUIVARIANT MOORE SPACES

This paper will describe a relation between the homology and cohomology groups of a group rt and the Torand Ext-functors of modules over the integral group ring Zn. This relation will be applied to reformulate the obstruction theory to the existence of equivariant Moore spaces developed in [3] in a manner that may facilitate computation of the obstructions. Although the main theorem of this paper is a consequence of well-known results, I have never seen it explicitly stated before. I am indebted to Henri Cartan and Alex Heller for several important improvements in the statement and proof of the main result. All modules in this paper will be assumed to be left &-modules unless they appear in functors that require Zn to act on the right in which case they will be regarded as right &r-modules via the involution of Zn that maps group elements to their inverses.
Chemical and Spectroscopic Studies Related to the Lewis Acidity of Lithium Perchlorate in Diethyl Ether

Polarimetric studies on camphor (2) as well as IR studies on crotonaldehyde (CA; 1) and benzonitrile (BN; 3) confirm the conclusion of a previously published NMR study on crotonaldehyde that lithium perchlorate (LP) weakly binds to probe bases in diethyl ether (DE). The weak binding is a consequence of the fact that the lithium ion (actually the LP ion pair and higher aggregates), a powerful Lewis acid in the gas phase, competitively binds to ether and the added base. Methylene camphor (5), (E)-1,3-pentadiene (4), camphene, and phenylacetylene (6) do not bind to LP in DE. Shifts to lower energy of the CO modes of CA in ether solutions containing increasing amounts of LP are consistent with moderate increases in solvent polarity. Only small or no shifts are seen in the C⋮N modes of BN and its 1:1 complex with added LP. Because the C⋮N and especially CO modes are blue shifted under external applied pressure, the large internal pressures of LP/DE do not mimic external applied pressure. Likewise, the small or...
Mechanical Property Changes of Barium Titanate (Ceramic) After in Vivo and in Vitro Aging

Since barium titanate (BaTi03) can be made piezoelectric, it may be used to substitute hard tissues directly. As a first step in testing this concept, a series of in vivo and in vitro aging and biocompatibility studies were performed. The mean compressive strength of samples implanted subcutaneously in the backs of rabbits decreased to 138 MPa after 20 weeks from a control value of 281 MPa. Similar, though less drastic losses of strength were seen when specimens were aged in distilled water (182 MPa at 28 weeks) and Ringer's solution (159 MPa at 28 weeks). The most rapid decrease of strength in all cases was seen prior to 4 weeks. Thereafter, the decrease was much slower.Histological evaluation of the tissue surrounding the implant revealed a thin fibrous capsule and no evidence of tissue inflammation.
Effects of excess corticosterone on LKB1 and AMPK signaling in rat skeletal muscle

Cushing's syndrome is characterized by marked central obesity and insulin insensitivity, effects opposite those seen with chronic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. This study was designed to determine whether chronic exposure to excess glucocorticoids influences LKB1/AMPK signaling in skeletal muscle. Corticosterone pellets were implanted subcutaneously in rats (hypercorticosteronemia, Hypercort) for 2 wk. Controls were sham operated and fed ad libitum or were sham operated and food restricted (pair-weighted group, Pair) to produce body weights similar to Hypercort rats. At the end of the 2-wk treatment period, rats were anesthetized, and the right gastrocnemius-plantaris (gastroc) and soleus muscles were removed. Left muscles were removed after electrical stimulation for 5 min. No significant differences were noted between treatment groups in ATP, creatine phosphate, or LKB1 activity. The α- and β-subunit isoforms were not significantly influenced in gastroc by corticosterone treatment. Expression of the γ3-subunit decreased, and γ1- and γ2-subunit expression increased. Both α2-AMPK and α1-AMPK activities were increased in the gastroc in response to electrical stimulation, but the magnitude of the increase was less for α2 in the Hypercort rats. Despite elevated plasma insulin and elevated plasma leptin in the Hypercort rats, phosphorylation of TBC1D1 was lower in both resting and stimulated muscle compared with controls. Malonyl-CoA content was elevated in gastroc muscles of resting Hypercort rats. These changes in response to excess glucocorticoids could be responsible, in part, for the decrease in insulin sensitivity and adiposity seen in Cushing's syndrome.
Calnexin Improves the Folding Efficiency of Mutant Rhodopsin in the Presence of Pharmacological Chaperone 11-cis-Retinal

The lectin chaperone calnexin (Cnx) is important for quality control of glycoproteins, and the chances of correct folding of a protein increase the longer the protein interacts with Cnx. Mutations in glycoproteins increase their association with Cnx, and these mutant proteins are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, until now, the increased interaction with Cnx was not known to increase the folding of mutant glycoproteins. Because many human diseases result from glycoprotein misfolding, a Cnx-assisted folding of mutant glycoproteins could be beneficial. Mutations of rhodopsin, the glycoprotein pigment of rod photoreceptors, cause misfolding resulting in retinitis pigmentosa. Despite the critical role of Cnx in glycoprotein folding, surprisingly little is known about its interaction with rhodopsin or whether this interaction could be modulated to increase the folding of mutant rhodopsin. Here, we demonstrate that Cnx preferentially associates with misfolded mutant opsins associated with retinitis pigmentosa. Furthermore, the overexpression of Cnx leads to an increased accumulation of misfolded P23H opsin but not the correctly folded protein. Finally, we demonstrate that increased levels of Cnx in the presence of the pharmacological chaperone 11-cis-retinal increase the folding efficiency and result in an increase in correct folding of mutant rhodopsin. These results demonstrate that misfolded rather than correctly folded rhodopsin is a substrate for Cnx and that the interaction between Cnx and mutant, misfolded rhodopsin, can be targeted to increase the yield of folded mutant protein.
Forcing an entire bifurcation diagram: case studies in chemical oscillators

Abstract We study the finite amplitude periodic forcing of chemical oscillators. In particular, we examine systems that, when autonomous, (i.e. for zero forcing amplitude) exhibit a single stable oscillation. Using one of the system parameters as a forcing variable by varying it periodically, we show through extensive numerical work how the bifurcation diagram of the autonomous system with respect to this parameter affects the qualitative response of the full forced system. As the forcing variable oscillates around its midpoint, its instantaneous values may cross points (such as Hopf bifurcation poiints) of the autonomous bifurcation diagram so that the characterization of the system as a simple forced oscillator is no longer valid. Such a neighboring Hopf bifurcation of the unforced system is found to set the scene for the interaction of resonance horns and the loss of tori in the full forced system as the amplitude of the forcing grows. Our test case presented here is the Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) with periodically forced coolant temperature.
Comparison of amplitude-modulated (direct) and frequency-modulated ambulatory techniques for recording ischemic electrocardiographic changes

Abstract Continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring of ST-segment configuration has become a useful technique for evaluation of myocardial ischemia. Concern that direct or amplitude-modulated (AM) recording and playback systems have inherent limitations that cause inaccurate ST-segment recordings has led to preference for frequency-modulated (FM) devices. To determine the accuracy of AM and FM ambulatory electrocardiographic systems, the signal was compared from the same set of 2 bipolar leads simultaneously recorded by standard electrocardiography and AM and FM recorders in 14 patients during treadmill exercise. Also, simultaneous AM and FM recorders were compared in 9 ambulatory patients in 16 monitoring sessions. The AM recording system accurately reproduced ST segments recorded during treadmill exercise (range 4.0 mm of ST-segment depression to 2.0 mm of ST elevation) when measured at the J point (r = 0.91, p
Adaptation and the Biocultural Paradigm in Medical Anthropology: A Critical Review

Singer (1989a) recently critiqued biocultural studies in medical anthropology and concluded that adaptation was a virtually useless concept since it could not incorporate the role of social relations in explaining health-related behavior. However, as I point out here, Singer's objections to biocultural research and the concept of adaptation in particular are founded on a misinterpretation of biocultural studies and need not lead to their dismissal. Instead, evolutionary explanations can provide a prehistorical as well as a historical perspective, and adaptation can reflect the dynamic relationship between the environment, individuals, and communities, when the environment is more broadly defined and more precisely specified. I argue that adaptation is an active process that engages individuals and groups in the struggle for their health; as such it is a process of compromise, not perfection. What is adaptive behavior for one group can easily result in changes in the adaptability of other groups or individuals. Biocultural studies should not be seen as deterministic or static; instead, they make an important contribution to the pluralism of theoretical approaches in medical anthropology.
Interband transition distributions in the optical spectra of InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots

The interband optical spectra of InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots (SAD) are investigated with a three-dimensional eight-band k⋅p technique involving strain and piezoelectric effect. We show that the separation between hole states contributes to a significant fraction of the interband transition energy, thereby invalidating the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator model for the electronic structures of SADs. Moreover, aside from the threshold low energy peak which results from the strong ground state electron–hole transition, the major photoluminescence peaks observed experimentally are made of a significant number of equal-strength optical transitions.
Thermoreflectance imaging of defects in thin-film solar cells

We have identified and characterized various defects in thin-film a-Si and CIGS solar cells with sub-micron spatial resolution using thermoreflectance imaging. A megapixel silicon-based CCD was used to obtain noncontact thermal images simultaneously with visible electroluminescence (EL) images. EL can be indicative of pre-breakdown sites due to trap assisted tunneling and stress induced leakage currents. Physical defects appear at reverse bias voltages of 8V in a-Si samples. Linear and nonlinear shunt defects are investigated as well as electroluminescent breakdown regions at reverse biases as low as 4.5V. Pre-breakdown sites with electroluminescence are investigated.
The impact of institutional net price on student demand for public and private higher education

Abstract This study investigates the impact of institutional net prices on the probability that a student matriculates at a public college. Maximum likelihood estimates of a binomial logit model are derived for a sample of 8,818 students who were admitted to at least one public and one private institution. The results indicate that while public and private institutions are substitutes for one another, the substitution effect is relatively weak. Further, students from lower income families are more sensitive to relative net prices than students from middle or upper income families, with the exception of those students considering low-cost institutions.
Statistical connection of binomial photon counting and photon averaging in high dynamic range beam-scanning microscopy

Data from photomultiplier tubes are typically analyzed using either counting or averaging techniques, which are most accurate in the dim and bright signal limits, respectively. A statistical means of adjoining these two techniques is presented by recovering the Poisson parameter from averaged data and relating it to the statistics of binomial counting from Kissick et al. [Anal. Chem. 82, 10129 (2010)]. The point at which binomial photon counting and averaging have equal signal to noise ratios is derived. Adjoining these two techniques generates signal to noise ratios at 87% to approaching 100% of theoretical maximum across the full dynamic range of the photomultiplier tube used. The technique is demonstrated in a second harmonic generation microscope.
Acute isovolemic hemodilution during major hepatic resection--an initial report: does it safely reduce the blood transfusion requirement?

Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment for patients with hepatic tumors, despite the associated morbidity including the need for blood transfusion. Acute isovolemic hemodilution (AIH) has been shown to decrease the transfusion requirement for cardiac, urologic, and orthopedic procedures. However, the reported experience with AIH during hepatic resections is limited. Seven patients underwent major hepatic resection from July 1992 to June 1994 with standard AIH. Their clinical parameters were compared with those of nine matched control patients during the same time period. AIH and control patients had similar preoperative laboratory values (hematocrit, bilirubin, and coagulation studies), extent of liver resection, and pathologic diagnoses. Mean tumor diameters were larger in the AIH group (9.3 cm vs. 5.8 cm). Most important, patients managed with AIH required homologous blood transfusions significantly less often than the control group (14% vs. 67%;P=0.05). Furthermore, if they did receive transfusions, AIH patients needed fewer units of red cells (0.1±0.1 units vs. 1.7±0.6 units). There was no morbidity associated with AIH. AIH can be safely performed in patients undergoing major hepatic resection for malignancy. AIH appears to reduce the number of patients requiring homologous blood transfusion as well as the number of units transfused per patient. This technique warrants further study in a larger prospective, randomized trial.
Synthesis of ETS-4/TiO2 composite membranes and their pervaporation performance

Abstract A process for the fabrication of supported films and membranes of the microporous crystalline titanosilicate molecular sieve ETS-4 is reported for the first time. It involves the formation of a seed layer on a support by direct hydrothermal synthesis followed by secondary growth of the seed layer under appropriate hydrothermal synthetic conditions. The synthesized films and membranes can exhibit desirable b-out-of-plane preferred orientation that corresponds to the eight-member ring channels of ETS-4 oriented perpendicular to the substrate. Membranes consisting of thin intergrown films of Na-ETS-4 on porous titania supports are highly water permselective with selectivities as high as 400 and a corresponding water flux of 0.01 mol/m2 s in room temperature pervaporation experiments using 1:1 water/ethanol mixtures. This performance, along with electron microscopy examination, suggests that the synthetic procedure can lead to well intergrown films with no large inter-crystalline defects. With increasing water content in the feed solution (in the range of 10–90%) the water flux is increasing linearly, whereas the selectivity does not change significantly. A temperature increase from room temperature (r.t.) to 50°C leads to an increase in the water flux by factor of three with no significant effect on selectivity. The selectivity of the ETS-4 membranes is similar to the highest reported for Na-X and Na-Y membranes, about 10 times lower than the selectivities of zeolite Na-A prepared in our laboratory and up to100 times lower than the highest selectivities reported in the literature (for zeolite Na-A membranes). The flux of water through Na-ETS-4 membranes is comparable or higher than that through all zeolite A, X and Y membranes. Na-ETS-4 membranes may find applications in pervaporation as well as separation of permanent gases.
Radar observations of artificial E-region field-aligned irregularities

Abstract. Artificial E region field aligned plasma density irregularities (FAIs) were generated using HAARP in four different experimental modes and observed with a coherent scatter radar imager located 450 km to the southwest where it could detect field-aligned backscatter. The experiments were conducted in July of 2008, during the Polar Aeronomy and Radio Science Summer School (PARS), during quiet conditions in the daytime when the E layer was dense and absorption was modest. The echoes observed during zenith and magnetic zenith heating experiments were deflected from their nominally anticipated horizontal positions toward the midpoint position. The occurrence of hysteresis when heating with amplitude modulated pulses implied the development of the resonance instability, although the threshold for the onset of instability appeared to be higher than what has been predicted theoretically. Heating experiments involving pump frequencies slightly above and below the second electron gyroharmonic frequency produced no significant differences in the observed echoes. Finally, heating with a pump frequency slightly above the E region critical frequency appears to have produced FAIs at two distinct altitudes where the upper-hybrid resonance condition could be satisfied.
On Empirical Bayes Testing for Reliability

Abstract This article deals with the empirical Bayes testing problem for the reliability of an exponential distribution at age t 0. An empirical Bayes test is proposed and its associated asymptotic optimality is investigated. It is shown that the proposed empirical Bayes test is asymptotically optimal at a rate , where n is the number of past data available when the current decision problem is considered.
Urethral function after cystectomy: a canine in vivo experiment.

To study the function of the pelvic floor and the isolated urethra after removal of the bladder, 5 male and 5 female mongrel dogs were used in an acute in vivo experiment. Urethral pressure changes secondary to unilateral stimulation of the pelvic and pudendal nerves were recorded. After baseline data of the intact system were documented, the following procedures were carried out: separation of the urethra from the bladder neck (prostate), nerve-sparing cystectomy (cystoprostatectomy), and cold-knife incision through the entire length of the proximal urethra. Pressure recordings were repeated after each step of surgery. Pudendal nerve stimulation resulted in rapid and large pressure rises in the distal urethra (reaction typical of striated muscle). This response remained unchanged after all three surgical steps. Pelvic nerve stimulation provoked pressure rises within the urethra of a pattern typical of smooth muscle. The findings persisted after separation of the urethra from the bladder neck (prostate) and after cystectomy, but were not observed after urethrotomy. Contractions secondary to pudendal nerve stimulation were inhibited by curare, which did not affect the reaction to pelvic nerve stimulation. Our experiments demonstrate that in the dog the continuity of bladder and urethra is not required for the function of urethral closure mechanisms. The contractile potency of the urethral smooth muscles remains intact after nerve-sparing cystectomy. We believe that problems with the baseline continence of surrogate bladders should mainly be ascribed to a lack of surgical caution in preserving the autonomic nerves of cystectomy. A poor response to stress conditions cannot be explained by damage to the neural pathway of the striated sphincter, as the pudendal nerve is not at risk during nerve-sparing cystectomy. In our opinion mechanical malfunction of the striated muscle components secondary to scarring at the site of the anastomosis is the main reason for stress incontinence after orthotopic bladder replacement.
THIRD NORTHEAST REGIONAL OPERATIONAL WORKSHOP

The First Northeast Regional Operational Workshop, focusing on hydrometeorology in the northeastern United States, was held 21–23 September 1999 in Albany, New York. Sessions in local and mesoscale modeling, lake-effect snow, hydrology, heavy precipitation forecasting and events, operational techniques, and northeast severe convection were presented. A summary of workshop presentations is provided.
Heterogeneity of the small ribosomal subunit and mechanism of chain initiation in eukaryotes.

Abstract [35S]Met-tRNAF has been incubated with a crude rabbit reticulocyte ribosomal preparation in the presence of cycloheximide. Binding to a heavy component of the small ribosomal subunit has been observed. Addition of the AUG codon leads to a shift of the [35S]Met-tRNAF into an 80-S complex. These results suggest that the heterogeneity of small ribosomal subunits in sucrose gradient sedimentation previously reported may be explained by the binding to some of them of initiator tRNA. A model of chain initiation is proposed, in which one of the first steps is the binding of initiator tRNA to the small ribosomal subunit; this binding does not require the presence of messenger RNA.
Uranium (VI) solubility in carbonate-free ERDA-6 brine

When present, uranium is usually an element of importance in a nuclear waste repository. In the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), uranium is the most prevalent actinide component by mass, with about 647 metric tons to be placed in the repository. Therefore, the chemistry of uranium, and especially its solubility in the WIPP conditions, needs to be well determined. Long-term experiments were performed to measure the solubility of uranium (VI) in carbonate-free ERDA-6 brine, a simulated WIPP brine, at pC{sub H+} values between 8 and 12.5. These data, obtained from the over-saturation approach, were the first repository-relevant data for the VI actinide oxidation state. The solubility trends observed pointed towards low uranium solubility in WIPP brines and a lack of amphotericity. At the expected pC{sub H+} in the WIPP ({approx} 9.5), measured uranium solubility approached 10{sup -7} M. The objective of these experiments was to establish a baseline solubility to further investigate the effects of carbonate complexation on uranium solubility in WIPP brines.
Spectral discrimination of dynamical chemical signals with fourier microfluidics

We report the design and fabrication of microfluidic Fourier band-pass filters which are capable of separating dynamic chemical signals based on differences in their frequency-domain spectral characteristics. The filters were prepared using a double-layer PDMS stamp process with on-chip pneumatic valves. All fluidic channels were formed using silicon wafer micro-molds with a cross section of 6 mum times 25 mum. The measured transfer function shows clear peaks at discrete frequencies of 0.17 Hz, 0.34 Hz, and 0.51 Hz, when analyte was injected at 15 psi consistent with the result of the computer simulations.
Institutions Rule: The Primacy of Institutions Over Integration and Geography in Economic Development

We estimate the respective contributions of institutions, geography, and trade in determining cross-country income levels using recently developed instruments for institutions and trade. Our results indicate that the quality of institutions 'trumps' everything else. Controlling for institutions, geography have at best weak direct effects on incomes, although it has a strong indirect effect through institutions. Similarly, controlling for institutions, trade has a negative, albeit, insignificant direct effect on income, although trade too has a positive effect on institutional quality. We relate our results to recent literature, and where differences exist, trace their origins to choices on samples, specification, and instrumentation.
Beliefs and values as possible correlates of ethical awareness in business

The relationship between retailing students' beliefs and values about life and their reactions to and perceptions of ethical dilemmas in retailing settings was investigated. One hundred and two male and female college students majoring in retailing were asked to complete the Beliefs and Values Questionnaire (BVQ) and to indicate their agreement with a variety of actions taken in retailing situations. Participants were also asked to indicate the extent to which the scenarios presented were representative of ethical problems or issues. With a few exceptions, results of this exploratory study did not support the contention that beliefs and values, as a measure of ethical orientation, are related to one's perception of retailing scenarios as either ethical or unethical. Discussion focuses on the need for more rigorous, systematic research to identify the correlates of ethical or unethical behavior and also the need for more direct investigation of the link between ethical decision making and students' ethical orientation. It is argued that such research is necessary as a prerequisite to ethics education.
The Source of Long-Distance Backscatter

This paper describes a method of determining the source of the long-distance backscatter and the results obtained using this method at frequencies of 9, 12, 16, and 22 mc.
Do Institutional Investors Exacerbate Managerial Myopia

This study analyzes corporate expenditures for property, plant and equipment (PP&E) and research and development (R&D) for over 2,500 firms from 1987 to 1994. We document a positive relation between expenditures for PP&E and R&D and institutional share ownership. This relation is robust to a variety of specifications. We examine the link between firm-level expenditures and institutional ownership by using lead-lag structures and changes in institutional ownership. The data do not support the contention that institutional investors cause corporate managers to behave myopically. Indeed, the data indicate that the presence of institutional shareholders allows managers to invest more in PP&E and R&D than would individual shareholders.
Metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5 subcellular distribution and developmental expression in hypothalamus

The metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5 is a G-protein coupled receptor that plays a key role in release of Ca2+ from internal stores via inositol triphosphate mobilization. Western and Northern blot analyses revealed a greatly enhanced expression of mGluR5 in rats during early stages of hypothalamic development compared with the adult. This enhanced developmental expression provides an explanation for the dramatic physiological response of developing neurons to metabotropic glutamate receptor activation and supports the argument that metabotropic glutamate receptors may play an important role in hypothalamic development. During development, expression of the mGluR5 gene was reduced, not only in the hypothalamus but also in other regions of the brain. A differential decrease in mGluR5 protein was found in different brain regions with Western blot analysis. The hypothalamus showed a sixfold decrease in mGluR5 with dovelopment, whereas the cortex showed only a threefold decrease. Immunocytochemistzy with an afflnity-purified antibody against a peptide deduced from the cloned mGluR5 gene revealed selective expression in some regions in the adult hypothalamus. In the adult and developing (postnatal day 10) brain, immunoreactive neurons were found in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, preoptic area, lateral hypothalamus, and mammillary region, areas where the related metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1 is also found. In contrast, the ventromedial nucleus, an area critically involved in the regulation of food intake and metabolic balances, showed strong mGluR5 immunoreactivity but no mGluR1 immunoreactivity. Little or no mGluR5 staining was found in the neurosecretory neurons of the paraventricular, supraoptic, and arcuate nuclei. Ultrastructurally, mGluR5 was associated with the cytoplasmic face of the plasmalemma on hypothalamic dendrites, dendritic spines, and neuronal perikarya in the adult. The strongest immunoreactivity was found in patches on the membrane, sometimes associated with the postsynaptic side of synapses and sometimes associated with nonsynaptic dendritic or perikaryal membrane. Intense immunostaining was found on some astrocyte processes surrounding synaptic complexes containing asymmetrical synapses. These astrocytes would be in an ideal position to receive excitatory signals from glutamatergic axons. Unlike the punctate appearance of immunolabeling on neuronal membranes, astrocytes showed continuous staining along the plasma membrane. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Data integration in legal evaluations: Can clinicians deliver on their premises?

Clinicians often claim to base their conclusions on configural analysis and integration of most or all of the data. However, research suggests that subjective beliefs about complex interpretive strategies and their resultant success are largely illusory. Studies show that: (1) access to more data does not necessarily improve judgmental accuracy, (2) clinical judgments, which purportedly depend on configural analyses, can usually be duplicated by simple linear models, (3) individuals often have difficulty deciphering interactions or patterns among just two or three variables, and (4) actuarial methods, even those that simply add variables together, almost always equal or exceed the accuracy of clinicians who purport to integrate large amounts of information. Corrective suggestions are discussed that may help the clinician better manage large data sets.
Narrow-band microstrip bandpass filters with low radiation losses for millimeter-wave applications

Microstrip lines are attractive for the lower millimeter-wave ranges, but use of relatively thick substrates would be desirable in order to minimize losses. On such substrates the usual types of microstrip narrowband bandpass filters (formed from, e.g. coupled line segments with open ends) tend to radiate strongly giving very poor performance. It has been found that a grating technique initially developed for use with dielectric waveguides can be adapted for microstrips to obtain narrowband millimeter-wave microstrip filters with little radiation and strong filter characteristics. The stopbands are broad, the second passband occurring at three times the frequency of the first passband. These filters use parallel-coupled gratings with a single grating in cascade at each end. The modifications to the dielectric waveguide filter theory that are necessary for use with microstrips are detailed. Experimental results from microstrip realizations, which demonstrate their potential for millimeter-wave microstrip applications, are also presented. >
Parental Preferences for Boarding Locations When a Children's Hospital Exceeds Capacity

Study objective Our objective is to determine parental preferences for boarding locations when a children's hospital is at full capacity. We also assess parental interest in transfer to a general hospital when a children's hospital is experiencing crowding. Methods Eligible patients were surveyed within 24 hours of admission. Surveys were completed in emergency department (ED) and inpatient areas. Previous admission was not required; children with chronic illnesses were included. Parents were asked whether they would prefer their child to board in an ED hallway or inpatient hallway or whether they had no preference. Parents were also asked the maximum acceptable waiting time for an inpatient bed and whether they would prefer to be transferred to another hospital should the children's hospital not have a bed available. Responses were hypothetical and confidential and did not affect care. Results A total of 382 patients met enrollment criteria and 359 (94%) were enrolled; 58.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 53.5% to 63.9%) preferred boarding on inpatient hallways, 11.1% (95% CI 8.2% to 15.0%) preferred ED hallways, and 30.1% (95% CI 25.4% to 35.2%) had no preference. Seventy percent (95% CI 65.2% to 74.9%) of parents preferred to wait at a children's hospital despite crowding. Most parents believed that the maximum acceptable waiting time was less than or equal to 3 hours. Conclusion Parents of pediatric patients prefer boarding on inpatient hallways over ED hallways. The majority of parents prefer to remain at a children's hospital despite crowded conditions, but some parents may be amenable to transfer. These results may help institutions develop strategies to improve patient satisfaction when hospital capacity is exceeded.