cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advanced MCP sensors for UV/visible astronomy and biology

Abstract Microchannel plate-based sensors are currently benefiting from significant advances in basic technology. These include photocathodes such as diamond, GaN and GaAs, silicon microchannel plates, and cross strip, and cross delay line photon counting readouts. Performance enhancements now extend to quantum efficiencies in excess of 50%, background event rates less than 0.02 events cm −2 s −1 , and spatial resolutions of
Routing and network design with robustness to changing or uncertain traffic demands

A new class of network design problems were introduced by Fingerhut et al. [26], and independently by Duffield et al. [20], to address, among other things, the issue of uncertainty in the demand matrix. The so-called hose model (the term was coined in [20]) for demand matrices from [26, 20] was subsequently generalized to the polyhedral model by Ben-Ameur and Kerivin [11, 10]. In a different direction, Raacke [51] showed the existence of good randomized oblivious routings in all undirected graphs. This was followed by a proof of the polynomial time solvability of an optimal oblivious routing scheme [7].One can view the above developments in a common framework of robust optimization. We give a survey of these developments and related work with the aim of providing a unified picture. We also highlight the remaining open problems.
Occipital cortical proton MRS at 4 Tesla in human moderate MDMA polydrug users.

The recreational drug MDMA (3,4, methylenedioxymethamphetamine; sold under the street name of Ecstasy) is toxic to serotonergic axons in some animal models of MDMA administration. In humans, MDMA use is associated with alterations in markers of brain function that are pronounced in occipital cortex. Among neuroimaging methods, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies of brain metabolites N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and myoinositol (MI) at a field strength of 1.5 Tesla (T) reveal inconsistent results in MDMA users. Because higher field strength proton MRS has theoretical advantages over lower field strengths, we used proton MRS at 4.0 T to study absolute concentrations of occipital cortical NAA and MI in a cohort of moderate MDMA users (n = 9) versus non-MDMA using (n = 7) controls. Mean NAA in non-MDMA users was 10.47 mM (± 2.51), versus 9.83 mM (± 1.94) in MDMA users. Mean MI in non-MDMA users was 7.43 mM (± 1.68), versus 6.57 mM (± 1.59) in MDMA users. There were no statistical differences in absolute metabolite levels for NAA and MI in occipital cortex of MDMA users and controls. These findings are not supportive of MDMA-induced alterations in NAA or MI levels in this small sample of moderate MDMA users. Limitations to this study suggest caution in the interpretation of these results.
Design and Evaluation of a Near-Infrared Dispersive Spectrometer that Uses a He–Ne Laser for Automatic Internal Wavelength Calibration

A diffraction-grating near-infrared spectrometer that uses a He-Ne laser for automatic internal wavelength calibration is described. The instrument uses the known location of the higher diffraction orders of the 632.8-nm laser line to perform wavelength calibration in the near-infrared region. The wavelength accuracy of the dispersive spectrometer was compared with that of a Fourier transform near-infrared spectrometer whose wavelength scale was validated by calibration with the known spectrum of ethyne. The average absolute wavelength deviation between the two spectrometers for four isolated bands of trichloromethane was found to be +0.12 nm. The average values of the wavelengths of four isolated bands of trichloromethane obtained with the two spectrometers used in this study were determined to be: 1151.62 ± 0.28 nm (3 ν1), 1410.74 ± 0.52 nm (2ν1 + ν4), 1692.38 ± 0.49 nm (2ν1), and 1860.20 ± 0.16 nm (ν1 + 2ν4).
Biological Response of Soybean and Cotton to Aerial Glyphosate Drift

When glyphosate is applied to glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops, drift on to off-target sensitive crops may cause injury and mortality. An aerial application drift study was conducted in 2009 to determine biological effects of glyphosate on non-glyphosate-resistant (non-GR) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and non-GR soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Glyphosate at 866 g ae/ha was applied using an Air Tractor 402B agricultural aircraft in an 18.3 m spray swath to crops at the two- to three-leaf stage. Visual plant injury, chlorophyll, shikimate, plant height, and shoot dry weight were determined at one, two, and three weeks after application (WAA) of glyphosate. Biological responses differed between crops as a function of downwind drift distance. For example, at 3 WAA soybean was dead 6 m downwind from the spray swath, whereas cotton sustained 85% visual injury. Plant injury was not observed beyond 25.6 m downwind in soybean and 35.4 m downwind in cotton at 3 WAA. Chlorophyll reduction was higher (80%) in soyb...
Development of a staging system for inverted papilloma

Objectives Inverted papillomas of the nose and sinuses are uncommon neoplasms. In the past decade there has been a trend toward the use of endoscopic surgical techniques in the management of these tumors, in contrast to the extensive open procedures recommended previously. This trend has not been without controversy, given the association of inverted papillomas with malignancy. It has been difficult to compare surgical approaches to these neoplasms, because of the absence of a uniformly applied staging system representing the extent of disease. It was the purpose of this study to develop such a system that could be easily applied in outcomes research. Study Design This study involved an integrated literature review and a synthesis of findings from a number of studies. Methods Previous and current clinical studies examining the treatment of inverted papilloma were reviewed. Findings were organized, and a staging system was framed based on this review. Results A simple, easily applied staging system was developed based on the extent of tumor involvement noted on endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity and computed tomography (CT) scan evaluation. Conclusions Stage I disease is limited to the nasal cavity alone. Stage II disease is limited to the ethmoid sinuses and medial and superior portions of the maxillary sinuses. Stage III disease involves the lateral or inferior aspects of the maxillary sinuses or extension into the frontal or sphenoid sinuses. Stage IV disease involves tumor spread outside the confines of the nose and sinuses, as well as any malignancy.
Who shall be hospitalized? Some social and psychological correlates of alternative dispositions of the mentally ill

This study conducted in Cali, Colombia, focuses on the question of why persons sharing similar background characteristics and even the same diagnosis often receive varying prescriptive evaluations which lead to alternative types of psychiatric care: hospitalization, outpatient care and no systematic treatment at all. An index group of 70 hospitalized patients is compared with 53 outpatients and 30 “nonpatients” matched for sex, age, marital status, social class and diagnosis. Interviews were conducted with patients, relatives and the admitting doctors. A selected group of variables representing perceptions, opinions and attitudes of the relatives, subjective evaluations of the patients and perceptions of the admitting physician are examined in terms of their association with the three types of care. It is concluded that interpersonal factors exert a significant influence on the process of assigning cases to alternative types of psychiatric care. Typical profiles for each category are outlined.
The absence of significant biliary excretion of antipyrine or its metabolites in humans.

Three patients with complete bile duct obstructions requiring a percutaneous biliary fistuala were given an oral dose of antipyrine. Drug elimination was assessed through plasma t½ studies and urine and bile excretion of both antipyrine and its metabolites. Urine metabolite patterns were in agreement with reference standards, but analysis of bile revealed no antipyrine metabolites and minimal parent compound (mean of total administered dose excreted from the bile fistulas was 4%). This finding was not predicted from previous experiments in the bile-cannulated rat and suggests caution regarding interspecies extrapolation of data concerning the hepatic disposition of certain commonly used test drugs in clinical pharmacologic studies. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1987) 41, 85–87; doi:10.1038/clpt.1987.14
The role of platelet-activating factor in the pulmonary response to inhaled bacterial endotoxin.

Quantitative morphometric analyses were carried out on animals subjected to aerosols of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) to further define the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the development of pulmonary injury. Hamsters were exposed to either saline aerosol or dilute aerosols of LPS (4 µg/m3) for standard lengths of time. Within each aerosol exposure group, animals were further subdivided into groups receiving either the PAF receptor binding antagonist, RP 48740, or saline injections. LPS inhalation resulted in decreased fixed lung volume, increased sequestration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and platelets in pulmonary capillaries, increased type I epithelial and endothelial cellular volumes, increased cellular interstitium, and increased endothelial pinocytotic vesicles. Treatment with RP 48740 either attenuated or abolished the ability of inhaled LPS to induce these structural alterations. The PAF antagonist also inhibited LPS-induced increases in pulmonary capillary permeability. It is conclude...
Evaluation of Elite Exotic Maize Inbreds for Use in Temperate Breeding

While maize (Zea mays L.) is a highly diverse species, this diversity is not well represented in U.S. maize production acreage. Increased genetic diversity can be obtained through breeding with exotic germplasm, especially tropical-exotic sources. However, the pool of available tropical germplasm is large and diverse, making choices of tropical parents diffi cult. The maize breeding program at North Carolina State University has initiated a large-scale screening effort to evaluate elite exotic maize inbreds, most of which are tropical-exotic in origin. Here we report screening results for 88 inbreds obtained from various international breeding programs. These lines were tested in replicated yield trials in North Carolina as 50% exotic topcrosses by crossing them to a single-cross U.S. tester of stiff-stalk (SS) by nonstiff-stalk (NSS) origin. The more promising lines additionally entered 25% tropical topcrosses with SS and NSS testers and were further evaluated in yield-trials. A handful of tropical inbred lines— CML10, CML108, CML157Q, CML274, CML341, CML343, and CML373—performed well overall. It was further determined that topcrossing to a single SS by NSS tester will suffi ce for initial screening purposes, allowing for elimination of the poorest performing lines. Topcrossing to additional SS and NSS testers may be of value when determining where, in terms of heterotic patterns, the better-performing lines will fi t into a breeding program.
Coronary dissection resulting from angioplasty with slow oscillating vs. rapid inflation and slow vs. rapid deflation.

To determine if slow inflation or slow deflation (compared to standard rapid inflation/ deflation) would minimize coronary arterial dissection, we randomized 162 lesions from 136 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty with polyolefin copolymer balloons to slow oscillating (1 atmosphere/20 sec) vs. rapid (over 30 sec) inflation and slow (over 15 sec) vs. rapid deflation. The incidence of any dissection was nearly identical in the four inflation/deflation groups. The incidence of severe dissection, however, was significantly higher for the slow inflation/slow deflation group compared to the other three groups (38% vs. 15%, P = .024). For angioplasty performed with polyolefin copolymer balloons, slow deflation combined with slow oscillating inflation is associated with more frequent severe dissections.
Recall estimation for rare topic retrieval from large corpuses

The problem of finding documents pertaining to a particular topic finds application in a variety of scenarios. Indeed, the demand for topically pertinent documents has led to myriad companies offering services to find and deliver them (perhaps along with sentiment analysis or clustering) to customers for any topics of interest. The methodologies used to uncover relevant documents range from manually curated keyword filters to trained classification models. Any serious topical analysis requires a sound understanding of key metrics behind the retrieval process, two of the most important being precision and recall. While precision can be easily and inexpensively measured by sampling from classified documents and utilizing (paid) human computation to mark incorrectly classified instances, it is not as straightforward to use the same approach for measuring recall. With most topics occurring relatively sparsely, an unbiased sampling approach becomes prohibitively expensive. In this paper, we introduce a recall measurement procedure requiring only relatively few human judgements. The technique makes use of pairs of sufficiently independent classifiers and the paper provides a detailed discussion of how such classifier pairs can be constructed in practice, with a focus on social media classifiers. We report the performance of the proposed method with simple keyword filters as well as with classifiers of progressive levels of complexity and show that under reasonable conditions, recall can be estimated to within 0.10 absolute error and 15% relative error, and often closer with a reduction of cost by a factor of as much as 1000x as compared with unbiased sampling.
Primary Infiltrating Signet Ring Carcinoma of the Eyelids

Abstract A 61-year-old man presented with a five-year history of a swelling initially developing in his right lower lid that progressed to involve the lateral canthal skin and eventually the upper lid and anterior orbit. He was discovered to have an infiltrating, poorly differentiated, muoin-producing carcinoma. Systemic work-up failed to disclose a visceral malignancy, and it was concluded that his tumor was primary in the lids, arising from an adnexal sweat gland. Three other reports in the literature also share almost identical clinical and pathologic features, in that all of the earlier reports dealt with middle-aged or elderly men who had diffusely indurated lids. Histopathologically, the tumor cells grow diffusely in a sclerotic stroma, and resemble the “histiocytoid” variant of metastatic breast carcinoma to the lids in women. Ultrastructural studies in our case point toward an apocrine origin, although earlier authors have favored an eccrine origin. Despite its indolent clinical course, the tumor is capable of producing regional and distant metastases on long-term followup. Complete local excision, possibly necessitating radical surgery, is probably the preferred method of treatment, but local radiotherapy may have a beneficial effect in retarding spread of the disease.
An infra-red pupillometer.

A pupillometer for measuring pupil diameters in total visual darkness has been constructed. It consists of an infra-red electron telescope arranged to observe the eye from a distance of about six inches. An attached light source irradiates the eye with invisible infra-red radiation. A scale is projected into the field of the instrument to measure the pupil diameter directly. The instrument can be used in dim and bright visible light as well as in darkness. Other possible uses of the instrument for infra-red examination of the eye are suggested.
Preparation, purification, and structural characterization of linear oligogalacturonides. An FAB-mass spectrometric and NMR spectroscopic study

Many plants respond to microbial attack by accumulating small lipophilic molecules, called phytoalexins, that have antibiotic activity lm3. Phytoalexins are absent in healthy plants. Molecules (and other stimuli) that signal plants to begin the process of phytoalexin synthesis are called elicitors4,5. A number of different biotic elicitors (e.g., complex carbohydrates isolated from fungal and plant cell walls) and abiotic elicitors (e.g., heavy metal salts and UV light) are known. We are interested specifically in carbohydrate elicitors that originate either from the cell wall of the host plant (“endogenous” elicitors) or the wall of the invading microbe6-9. The endogenous carbohydrate elicitors are released from the plant cell wall by pectic-degrading enzymes secreted by the invading microorganism’0-‘2. It has been demonstrated with in vitro bio-assays that oligogalacturonides [(l + 4) linked oligomers of cw-o-galacturonic acid] of dp 9 to 15 derived by partial acid hydrolysis of plant cell walls and citrus pectin have high elicitor activity8.9,‘3. Complete structural and conformational characterization of these elicitors has not been reported; in particular, the correlation between the size of the oligosaccharides and their biological activity is poorly understood. We report the preparation and purification of milligram quantities of oligogalacturonides of dp 6 to 16 (see Fig. 1). As previously described9y13, partial acid hydrolysis of citrus pectin produces oligogalacturonides in a dp range from monomer to, at least, a hexadecamer. The crude hydrolysis mixtures have been sub-divided by low-resolution anion-exchange chromatography using successive gradient steps into fractions (A, B, and C) with increasing average dps. Fraction C
Inclusive particle production at forward angles from collisions of light relativistic nuclei: Nuclear fragments

We have measured the production of charged nuclear fragments in collisions of 1.05 GeV/nucleon and 2.1 GeV/nucleon proton, deuteron, alpha, and carbon projectiles as well as 0.4 GeV/nucleon alpha particles on targets of C, Cu, Pb, and H (from a C${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$---C subtraction), using a double focusing spectrometer. We present single particle inclusive cross sections for the production of $Z=1$ and $Z=2$ fragments in the region $0.5\ensuremath{\le}{(\frac{p}{Z})}_{\mathrm{lab}}\ensuremath{\le}8.7$ GV/c and $0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{\le}{\ensuremath{\vartheta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}\ensuremath{\le}12\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. We discuss the relevance of the concept of limiting fragmentation to our data and point out possible uses of the data to study nuclear structure and particle production mechanisms. A detailed comparison is made with Glauber-type models and hard-scattering models as well as the coalescence model.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+H, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+C, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+Cu, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+Pb, $\frac{E}{A}=400$ MeV/nucleon; p+H, p+C, p+Cu, p+Pb, d+H, d+C, d+Cu, d+Pb, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+H, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+C, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+Cu, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+Pb, C+H, C+C, C+Cu, C+Pb, $\frac{E}{A}=1050$ MeV/nucleon; p+H, p+C, p+Cu, p+Pb, d+H, d+C, d+Cu, d+Pb, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+H, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+C, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+Cu, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$+Pb, C+H, C+C, C+Cu, C+Pb, $\frac{E}{A}=2100$ MeV/nucleon; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\mathrm{p}, \ensuremath{\vartheta})$ for p, d, $^{3}\mathrm{H}$, $^{3}\mathrm{He}$, $^{4}\mathrm{He}$, $^{6}\mathrm{He}$, and $^{8}\mathrm{He}$.
High-Stakes Teaching: What’s at Stake for Teachers (and Students) in the Age of Accountability

High-stakes testing in New York City (NYC) schools has produced a culture of high-stakes teaching. The latter concept emphasizes both the importance of good teachers to the performance of urban students and the threat to keeping good teachers in NYC schools due to measures such as scripted lessons and mandated curriculum. This essay draws upon interviews with beginning NYC teachers in English and social studies, raising questions about whether such measures will exacerbate the already low rates of teacher retention in urban schools.
Sanctions: Some simple analytics

Governments often seek influence beyond their borders. One way is through what Thomas Schelling (1960, 1966) calls "brute force," taking direct physical control. Less extreme methods are to promise rewards for taking desired actions, or to threaten punishments for not carrying them out-"sanctions." Sanctions involve two parties, the sender and the target. (To help identify pronouns' antecedents, we consider a feminine sender and masculine target.) The sender's objective is to influence the target by threatening to impose some measure against him for acting contrary to her interest. Sanctions have long been important in international relations. Athens imposed a trade embargo against Megara, ultimately setting off the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC). Sanctions are central to such international agreements as the United Nations Charter, the World Trade Organization, and the Montreal Protocol governing chlorofluorocarbons. U.S. law prescribes the use of sanctions in circumstances related, for example, to national security, human rights, intellectual property, and international trade.' Do sanctions actually achieve senders' objectives? A common claim is that they usually fail and are costly to senders. Recent U.S. legislation proposes to limit unilateral U.S. sanctions (except trade-related ones), on the grounds that they cost more than they are worth. History provides examples of sanctions that were costly and ineffectual, such as the League of Nations sanctions against the Italian occupation of Abyssinia, or U.S. sanctions against Cuba. United Nations sanctions against Iraq remain in place, having achieved less than full success, to say the least (see Gary Hufbauer et al., 1990). More systematic studies suggest that sanctions often do succeed, particularly when objectives are modest. Hufbauer et al. (1990) examine 116 episodes of sanctions with military or political objectives, deeming about one-third successful. Sanctions imposed under U.S. trade law have worked even better, about three-fourths of the time (see e.g., Sykes, 1992; Thomas Bayard and Kimberly A. Elliott, 1994; Elliott and J. David Richardson, 1997). Here we develop a simple framework to explain how sanctions can worl, and what is required for them to succeed. Our framework exploits advances in the theory of repeated games and bargaining under incomplete information. While a game-theorist would recognize the flavor of our results, the setting here is a fresh one.2 We find success more likely when the threatened measure costs the sender little relative to the gain from modifying the target's behavior, while the damage to the target is large relative to his cost of complying with the sender's will-results consistent with both intuition and empirical evidence (as well as with Adam Smith [1776 Book IV, Ch. I]). Moreover, a more patient sender is more likely to succeed, while the target's patience can work to the sender's disadvantage.3
A pulse radiolysis study of the reaction of ozone with Cl∸2 in aqueous solutions

Abstract Yields of . OH radicals were determined, with the use of the Cl∸2 radical, in perchloric acid solutions (1.0 mM to 1.0 M) saturated with oxygen, nitrous oxide or nitrous oxide and ozone. The Cl∸2 radical, produced by pulse radiolysis in aqueous solutions containing variable amounts of NaCl and HClO4/HCl, reacts with added ozone at k(O3 + Cl∸2) = (9.0 ± 0.3) × 107 dm3 mol-1 s-1. Its molar absorbance at its 340 nm peak is ϵ = (9580 ± 100) dm3 mol-1 cm-1. G(Cl∸2) = (6.4 ± 0.1) in N2O saturated 0.1 mol dm-3 HClO4 containing 0.01 mol dm-3 NaCl and 0.4–6.3 mmol dm-3 ozone. The conversion of the primary reducing radicals (e-aq, H) to . OH radicals by ozone, will facilitate studies of hypervalent oxidation states of metal ions in acid solutions where G(H) > G( . OH).
Critical issues in education : a world agenda

The paper gives a summary of what is known on the contribution of education in the development process and discusses what could be done to address a number of critical issues in this area. They are: (i) how to increase primary school coverage; (ii) how to enhance school quality; (iii) how to finance educational expansion and; finally, (iv) how to improve equality of access. The paper further discusses what international agencies could do to assist a country's educational development effort, such as the monitoring of student performance, the development of local analytical capacity and the sharing of cross-country experiences.
Application of assembly line balancing techniques to installment lending operations of commercial banks

Abstract Assembly line balancing techniques, originally developed for the manufacturing environment, can be applied to installment lending operations of commercial banks. A case study is presented. The Assembly Line Balancing Module of the STORM Decision Support Software is used in the case study.
Simulation of a metallic glass surface via AB initio calculations

A model of the surface of Pd 80 Si 20 metallic glass is presented. The bulk simulation is similar to Gaskell's procedure. The roughness of the surface is described in terms of coordination numbers (CN), the distribution of CN ranging from 4 to 11, with the average value 5.96. This distribution is compared to the distribution function for the surface atoms in small particles and high-Miller indexed planes. The amorphous surface is displayed via computer graphics. The roughness of the surface is also described by a fractal dimension, D , which was found to be 2.3 (the value for the Brownian island). A theoretical reconstruction of the surface was carried out under the assumption that on the clean surface the bond lengths between the atoms in the first and second layer are shorter than the bond lengths in the bulk. The reconstruction was considered as a function of coordination number. It was found that the lower the coordination of a particular site, the greater the tendency for surface segregation. In the case of Pd 80 Si 20 the segregation of silicon takes place preferentially at sites with coordination numbers 4 to 6. The vacuum model has been extended by considering physical adsorption of helium on the glass surface. The helium adsorption did not introduce any reconstruction.
ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS: QUANTUM CAPTURE and ENERGY STORAGE

Organized systems are described to achieve separation of the charges produced by quantum absorption in a sensitizer, and their stabilization in separated chemical form. These systems involve phase boundary charge separation by both membranes and charged particles, in both cases simulating the natural system.
Comparison of the pressor effect of tyramine after treatment with phenelzine and moclobemide in healthy male volunteers.

This study was conducted to establish the safety, tolerability, side effects, and pressor effects of tyramine on subjects treated with moclobemide, a short-acting reversible and preferential monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and to compare these responses with the responses of subjects treated with phenelzine. Twelve healthy male volunteers participated. An oral tyramine sensitivity test was performed on all subjects 24 hours before the start of a 28-day open-label treatment with phenelzine or moclobemide. A tyramine challenge was performed on day 28 on four subjects treated with phenelzine. The mean dose of oral tyramine required to increase systolic blood pressure by 30 mm Hg was 15 mg. The mean dose of tyramine that produced a clinical response (day 28) in subjects treated with moclobemide was 240 mg. No subject receiving moclobemide responded clinically on day 31 after receiving hourly doses of 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 mg, respectively. These findings suggest that moclobemide may be used without stringent dietary precautions. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1992) 52, 286–291; doi:10.1038/clpt.1992.143
Electrical resistance tomography for real-time mapping of the solid-liquid interface in tanks containing optically opaque fluids

The visualization of settled solid layers in vessels have many applications, of interest here is for facilitating the efficient retrieval of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) from underground storage tanks at Department of Energy sites. Visualization of the solids interface with opaque liquid above can’t be accomplished by regular optical imaging methods and hence our interest in using Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT). The ideal arrangement for 3-D ERT imaging inside tanks is to use a multiple ring electrode system, which is complex and expensive. This research describes ERT imaging done with a single linear array as a benchmark study to ascertain the viability of its imaging of the interface. Experiments focused upon systematic analysis of many ERT tomograms of two simple settled solids layers (horizontal, 30o) using pulverized kaolin clay (10μdia) and water. Visualization was done using commercial ERT software. Injection current and electrode orientation were the two system parameters varied and analyzed. Reproducibility, accuracy and reliability of this ERT system will be presented.
Shurchip: a new scab resistant processing potato variety.

Shurchip is a slightly russeted, round to oblong chipping variety of medium maturity. It is resistaant to common scab (Streptomyces scabies) and tolerant to Fusarium (F. solani var. eumartii) and Verticillium (microsclerotial type) wilts. The vines are susceptible and the tubers are highly susceptible to late blight. In Nebraska, Shurchip is high yielding, moderately high in specific gravity, lower in reducing sugars and of good to excellent chipping quality when compared with the standard varieties Haig, Kennebec and Platte. The yield and specific gravity obtained with Shurchip in the 12 states in the North Central Regional Trials and in Texas and Alabama were equal to or greater than those obtained with the standard chipping varieties in the trials.
A prediction of dislocation‐free CdTe/CdS photovoltaic multilayers via nano‐patterning and composition grading

Defects in multilayered films have long been a performance-limiting problem for the semiconductor industry. For instance, CdTe/CdS solar cell efficiencies have had significant improvement in the past 15years or more without addressing the problem of high misfit dislocation densities. Overcoming this stagnation requires a fundamental understanding of interfacial defect formation. Herein, we demonstrate a new first principles-based CdTe bond-order approach that enables efficient molecular dynamics to approach the fidelity of density functional theory. Stringent quantum-mechanical verification and experimental validation tests reveal that our new approach provides an accurate prediction of defects that earlier methods cannot. Using this new capability, we show that misfit dislocations in CdTe/CdS multilayers can be significantly reduced via nano-patterning and composition grading and more importantly, dislocation-free multilayers naturally arise when the pattern dimension is reduced below 90nm. Our predictive methods are generally applicable to other materials, highlighting a rational approach towards low-defect semiconductor films. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lexicon-driven handwritten word recognition using optimal linear combinations of order statistics

In the standard segmentation-based approach to handwritten word recognition, individual character-class confidence scores are combined via averaging to estimate confidences in the hypothesized identities for a word. We describe a methodology for generating optimal linear combination of order statistics operators for combining character class confidence scores. Experimental results are provided on over 1000 word images.
Spinal cord injury in experimental thoracic aortic occlusion: investigation of combined methods of protection

Abstract The efficacy of combined methods of spinal cord protection during thoracoabdominal aortic reconstruction was evaluated because a recent clinical study failed to substantiate the value of cerebrospinal fluid drainage when used alone in the prevention of paraplegia. The effect of cerebrospinal fluid drainage and aortofemoral shunting were analyzed with regard to neurologic outcome and spinal cord blood flow in a model of thoracic aortic occlusion. In addition, we studied the use of motor-evoked potentials as compared with somatosensory-evoked potentials in monitoring cord perfusion. Thirty-two dogs underwent proximal and distal thoracic aortic Occlusion for 60 minutes. The control group (n = 8) underwent thoracic aortic cross-clamping only. Spinal cord protection was used in three groups: cerebrospinal fluid drainage alone (n = 8), aortofemoral shunting alone (n = 8), and cerebrospinal fluid drainage and aortofemoral shunting (n = 8). Neurologic outcome improved in all treatment groups as compared with controls (p J Vasc Surg 1992;15:789–99.)
RFID applications in tourism

This paper provides an overview of the wide range of ways that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is being applied to improve tourism processes in hotels, cruise ships, resorts and theme parks. The better operations and marketing made possible by RFID can lower costs, increase revenues and enhance guest experiences. Numerous examples are employed to spark the imagination of how RFID can be used, raise awareness of practical issues concerning the technology and motivate managerial suggestions to help companies better use it and avoid pitfalls. Future research opportunities are also identified.
Facilitation of Hoffmann Reflexes of Ankle Muscles in Prone but Not Standing Positions by Focal Ankle-Joint Cooling

Context: Focal ankle-joint cooling (FAJC) has been shown to increase Hoffmann (H) reflex amplitudes of select leg muscles while subjects lie prone, but it is unknown whether the neurophysiological cooling effects persist in standing. Objective: To assess the effects of FAJC on H-reflexes of the soleus and fibularis longus during 3 body positions (prone, bipedal, and unipedal stances) in individuals with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI). Design: Crossover. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: 15 young adults with CAI (9 male, 6 female) and 15 healthy controls. Intervention: All subjects received both FAJC and sham treatments on separate days in a randomized order. FAJC was accomplished by applying a 1.5-L plastic bag filled with crushed ice to the ankle for 20 min. Sham treatment involved room-temperature candy corn. Main Outcome Measures: Maximum amplitudes of H-reflexes and motor (M) waves were recorded while subjects lay prone and then stood in quiet bipedal and unipedal stances before and imme...
Do We Teach Disciplines or Do We Teach Students? What Difference Does It Make?

As a student deeply immersed in nineteenth-century British studies and literary criticism, I certainly expected at the end of my doctoral labors to be effortlessly translated, like Enoch, into a higher kind of academic heaven-haven, levitated up and out of my library carrel at Chicago, hur tled toward success down [an] acoustically lined tube, and gently low ered into another library carrel at good old Research U, presumably in a beautiful city with a good symphony and affordable housing, where I would be a faculty member adored by a handful of student researchers who would hang breathlessly on each of my well-polished, professionally impeccable words. (2 0)
Adenosine A2A analogue reduces long-term neurologic injury after blunt spinal trauma.

Background ATL-146e is an adenosine A 2A agonist that has recently been demonstrated to improve neurological outcome in spinal cord injury in animals. In the current study, we extended the treatment paradigm and tested neurobehavioral functioning out to 1 week after injury to assess if early neurological improvement is sustained long term by an adenosine analogue. Materials and methods New Zealand White rabbits (3.0–3.5 kg) sustained mid-thoracic blunt spinal cord injury using a weight-drop model (10 g weight dropped from 6 cm directly onto dura). Animals received either (1) 3 h iv infusion of saline carrier (Trauma, N = 21); (2) 3 h iv infusion of 0.06 μg/kg/min ATL-146e followed by intraperitoneal bolus of 10.8 μg/kg ATL-146e at 3 h postinjury (ATL, N = 14); or (3) 3 h iv infusion of 0.06 μg/kg/min ATL-146e followed by intraperitoneal bolus injection of 10.8 μg/kg ATL-146e at 3, 12, and 24 h postinjury (ATL-PLUS, N = 11). Fourteen animals underwent sham injury. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored and hind limb motor functioning was assessed by Tarlov scores (0 = paralyzed to 5 = normal hop) for 7 days after injury. Results ATL-146e significantly improved Tarlov scores of ATL-146e groups compared with saline-treated controls ( P Conclusions ATL-146e given immediately after blunt spinal cord trauma significantly improves neurological outcome, which is sustained through 7 days. Early adenosine A2A receptor agonism may be critical since additional IP administration afforded no further neurological improvement. The current data further support the potential clinical utility of adenosine A 2A agonists in the treatment of spinal cord injury.
Active QQQ Covered Call Strategies

This article examines QQQ covered call strategies from January 2002 through January 2012 and finds that downside risk-adjusted returns are attractive both on an absolute basis and relative to those of long QQQ positions. The study then presents a framework that partitions covered call positions into delta neutral short call and long equity positions, which highlights the separability of decisions about delta neutral short option and long equity exposure within a broader class of short call strategies that includes covered calls. The author then demonstrates that selling QQQ call options and buying QQQ shares on a delta neutral basis both without and with delta rebalancing offers attractive risk?reward tradeoffs. He then constructs out-of-sample implied volatility fitted values and examines the performance of covered call and delta neutral short call strategies when estimates indicate that implied volatility is more overpriced than usual. These conditions substantially enhance the performance of covered call strategies as well as short delta neutral call strategies.
Microscopic Insights into the Sputtering of Ag{111} Induced by C60 and Ga Bombardment

Molecular dynamics computer simulations have been utilized to compare the differences in the mechanism of sputtering of Ag{111} by kiloelectronvolt Ga and C 6 0 projectiles. The calculated kinetic energy distributions of Ag monomers and Ag 2 dimers compare favorably with experimental results. The damage caused by the C 6 0 particle left in the sample is less than the depth of material that the next impinging C 6 0 particle would remove, thus supporting the preliminary experimental observations that molecular depth profiling is possible with C 6 0 projectile beams.
Characterization of the Creep Deformation and Rupture Behavior of DS GTD-111 Using the Kachanov–Rabotnov Constitutive Model

Creep deforrnation and rupture experiments are conducted on samples of the Ni-base superalloy directionally solidifies GTD-111 tested at temperatures between 649°C and 982°C and two orientations (longitudinally and transversely oriented). The secondary creep constants are analytically determined from creep deformation experiments. The classical Kachanov―Rabotnov model for tertiary creep damage is implemented in a general-purpose finite element analysis (FEA) software. The simulated annealing optimization routine is utilized in conjunction with the FEA implementation to determine the creep damage constants. A comparison of FEA and creep deformation data demonstrates high accuracy. Using regression analysis, the creep constants are characterized for temperature dependence. A rupture prediction model derived from creep damage evolution is compared with rupture experiments.
An Observational Study of the Spatial and Temporal Scales of Transient Eddy Sensible Heat Fluxes

The preferred spatial and temporal scales of transient baroclinic waves that are responsible for the transport of sensible heat in midlatitudes are evaluated as a function of pressure, season, and hemisphere. The 7-level initialized ECMWF operational global analyses for the years 1980‐88 are used in this study. A clear seasonal cycle in the spatial scales of the baroclinic waves is seen in the Southern Hemisphere lower troposphere. The scale selection and phase relationships of the baroclinic waves are observed to be similar in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, indicating that the same mechanism may be responsible for the transport of heat in both hemispheres even though there are very large differences in the magnitude of the heat transported by stationary waves and in the structure of baroclinic zones. The secondary heat flux maximum at 200 hPa is dominated by large-scale wavenumbers 2‐3 in the winter and spring in both hemispheres. This may be an indication that there is a mechanism that is responsible for the heat transport at 200 hPa that is different from the mechanism at the primary heat flux maximum, at 850 hPa where intermediate-scale waves dominate.
The Prostaglandin Forming Cyclooxygenase of Ovine Uterus: Relationship to Luteal Function

The activity of the prostaglandin forming cyclooxygenase was measured in uterine microsomes prepared from 26 ewes distributed over Days 3, 8, 11, 13, 14 and 15 (estrus = Day 0) of an estrous cycle. The specific enzyme activity was higher on Days 13-15 than earlier in the cycle (P<0.01), reaching a maximum on Day 14 (P<0.05). Immunochemical equivalence points of the cyclooxygenase measured using anticyclooxygenase serum remained the same during the estrous cycle. indicating that increases in enzyme activity on Days 13-15 result from increases in the concentration of cyclooxygenase protein. In a second experiment, cyclooxygenase activity was measured in microsomal preparations of myometrium, intercaruncular endometrium and caruncles dissected from the uteri of 21 ewes distributed over Days 3, 11 and 14 of an estrous cycle. A 3-fold increase in the specific activity of the cyclooxygenase in caruncular microsomes occurred on Day 14 of the cycle, but no cyclical changes were observed in the activity of the cyclooxygenase in microsomes from other uterine regions. Thus, both temporal and anatomical correlations exist between the changes in the uterine cyclooxygenase activity and the previously reported changes in the secretion of the uterine luteolysin PGF2 �. The authors suggest that the onset of luteolysis depends on an increase in the concentration of the caruncular cyclooxygenase and, thus, on the efficiency with which arachidonic acid is converted to PG H2, the endoperoxide precursor of PGF20. An immunocytofluorescence procedure was used to establish that cyclooxygenase containing cells in the uterine caruncles include the luminal epithelium, vascular endothelium and caruncular stroma. One of these cell types, possibly the caruncular stromal cells, is the site of the cyclical changes in cyclooxygenase activity and may be the luteolysin producing cell of the ovine uterus.
Aristotle on Episteme and Nous: The Posterior Analytics

Soulevant le probleme epistemologique de l'evidence des premiers principes de la connaissance saisie par le nous dans les «Seconds analytiques» d'Aristote, l'A. etudie le statut de l'induction, de la demonstration et de la justification dans la conception de l'episteme comme ce qui ne peut etre autrement. Distinguant l'interpretation orthodoxe de l'interpretation non-orthodoxe de la definition aristotelicienne de la connaissance scientifique, l'A. montre qu'Aristote developpe une methodologie scientifique empirique selon laquelle le nous est toujours vrai en raison de notre connaissance inductive des propositions empiriques universelles
PCR amplification of the 3' external transcribed and intergenic spacers of the ribosomal DNA repeat unit in three species of Saccharomyces

Two spacer regions outside the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcriptional unit in three species of Saccharomyces, S. cerevisiae, S. carlsbergensis and S. pastorianus, were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. These regions were composed of the 3' external transcribed spacer (ETS) and the intergenic spacer (IGS). Primers were developed from sequence alignments and by taking the reverse complement of a previously described sequence. The region amplified spanned base position 3110 on the 26S rRNA to base position 27 on the 5S rRNA of S. cerevisiae. Nine of the twelve strains used in this study exhibited different restriction profiles, showing that the spacers are highly variable between species. The results suggest that PCR fingerprinting of the non-coding spacer regions can be used to distinguish between closely related Saccharomyces species and may have potential in DNA profiling of other yeasts.
Formation of protective surface layers during silicate-mineral weathering under well-leached, oxidizing conditions

Formation of a protective surface layer [a layer of products through which transport (diffusion) of aqueous reactants or products is rate-determin ing] during silicate-mineral weathering requires that (1) elements normally considered immobile (e.g., Al, Fe) behave conservatively; and (2) the volume ratio of product to reactant be greater than one. Mineral suites involving most major rock-forming silicates (feldspars, pyroxenes, amphiboles, and olivines) weathering to common oxides and 1:1 clays are characterized by F prod Freacl (Fprod/FreacI > 1). Weathered almandine and spessartine commonly exhibit laterally continuous, nonporous surface layers underlain by smooth, rounded reactant-mineral surfaces. The rate-determining step during weathering in these instances is diffusion through the surface layer of weathering products. Elemental mobility in the weathering environment and product-reactant volume ratios determine the occurrence of surface features (etch pits vs. protective surface layers) and associated rate-determining mechanisms (interface- vs. transport-controlled kinetics).
3-D Finite Element Simulation of a Phase-change Random Access Memory Cell with a Self-insulated Structure

In this paper, we proposed a phase-change random access memory (PCRAM) cell with a self-insulated structure (SIS), which is expected to have better thermal efficiency than the conventional structures. 3-D finite element simulation is used to study the most power consuming RESET process for both SIS and conventional normal bottom contact (NBC) cells driven by a MOSFET. Instead of programming current, power consumption is investigated to give a more fundamental comparison between the two structures. Thermal proximity effect for both kinds of cells is directly analyzed by simulating a 3×3 device array. The potential slow-quenching issue of SIS is also discussed.
Dynamic inversion and model-following control

The similarities and differences of dynamic inversion control and model-following control laws are examined. For the forms of these control laws assumed in this paper it is shown that dynamic inversion may be considered a special case of model-following. For any given dynamic inversion control law there is a model-following control law that achieves exactly the same response and therefore is in every way equivalent to it. This same model-following control law may be modified in its error dynamics without changing the desired response implied by the dynamic inversion law. The modification in error dynamics may be used to improve the tracking of the desired response in the presence of modeling errors. (Author)
Experimental Study of A Crossed-Field MHD Accelerator Coupling with Microwave Plasma

MHD accelerators use direct electromagnetic body force for acceleration. The experimental investigations of MHD accelerators coupled with a microwave thruster for potential inspace propulsion applications are underway at the UAH Propulsion Research Center. The microwave-generated plasma, which is in highly non-equilibrium, is expanded through a thermodynamic nozzle to a 2 inches long continuous electrode crossed-field accelerator for further acceleration and ionization. The test results of the crossed-field accelerator with a 100 amps discharge current are presented. The detailed measurements of electron temperature and density at the entrance and the exit of the MHD channel were obtained by using quadruple Langmuir probes. The construction of a laboratory type applied-field MPD thruster is underway for testing coupling with the microwave plasma.