cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A dual vista of the Stackelberg duopoly reveals its fundamental qualitative structure

Abstract In a general setting, the envelope theorem and fundamental comparative statics curvature theorems for the Stackelberg leader and follower are proven in a simple and direct fashion using a dual method. The comparative statics theorems are unconventional from a primal point of view, which explains why they are heretofore undiscovered. The theorems are applied to a classical model of entry deterrence so as to elucidate their economic interpretation. The difference between the qualitative comparative statics properties of the leader and follower allows, in principle, an empirical test of the leader–follower role.
Abortion politics in the United States, 1972-1994: from single issue to ideology.

The political debates about legal abortion in the United States have intensified the ideological content of the issue. At the time that Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nation-wide, conservatives were divided on the issue, as were liberals. By the late 1990s, conservatives had moved toward a pro-life stance while liberals reached consensus on supporting choice. Women began the politicization, beginning to split along ideological lines in the late 1970s; men followed in the 1980s. Attitudes toward women's roles and sexual morality are strongly correlated with opinions about abortion, and they explain about one-third of the recent ideological gap on abortion. They do not account for the trend toward politicization, however.
Scott, Peter and William T. Cavanaugh, eds, The Blackwell Companion to Political Theology

(2006). Scott, Peter and William T. Cavanaugh, eds, The Blackwell Companion to Political Theology. Political Theology: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 253-255.
Assembly of bacteriophage lambda heads: Protein processing and its genetic control in petit λ assembly

Abstract Petit bacteriophage λ is a hollow λ head precursor which is found in λ-infected lysates, including lysates of phage λ carrying mutations in head genes. Wild-type petit λ has a protein composition similar to heads, except that it is missing pD § , a major component of heads. About 95% of the mass of petit λ is pE, the major structural protein of heads, and in addition it has proteins pB, h3, X1, and X2. Tryptic fingerprint analysis shows that h3 is a proteolytic cleavage product of pB, and previous experiments have shown that X1 and X2 are protein fusion products, closely related to each other and containing amino acid sequences of both pC and pE. Petit lambdas derived from infection by phages defective in genes A or D are indistinguishable from wild-type petit λ. B − , C − , or groE − defective petit lambdas show differences from wild-type in protein composition and in extent of protein processing. On the basis of the properties of mutant petit lambdas it is concluded that: (1) the protein processing reactions (cleavage of pB; fusion of pC with pE) occur on the petit λ structure; (2) cleavage of pB requires the functioning of genes C and groE but not A or D ; (3) fusion of pC and pE requires gene groE but not A , B or D ; (4) pNu3 participates directly in petit λ assembly but is lost from the structure by the time assembly is complete. Physical studies of petit λ show that wild-type, A − , B − and D − petit lambdas sediment at 150 S, while C − and groE − petit lambdas sediment at 190 S. Purified petit λ of either class has an ultraviolet absorption spectrum characteristic of pure protein.
High risk of tsunami in the northern Caribbean

The magnitude Mw = 9.3 Sumatra earthquake of 26 December 2004 claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000 people living in coastal areas of seven different countries around the Indian Ocean. This event raised the question of whether similar far-traveled tsunamis generated by plate boundary faulting could affect the estimated 150 million people living in coastal areas of the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Aside from the Pacific plate margin of North America, the North America-Caribbean plate boundary is the closest (∼2000 km) active plate boundary to coastal areas in the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. Atlantic seaboard. Researchers also have proposed that other possible tsunami-generating sources that could affect coastal areas of the United States include slumping of the shelf margin along the Virginia-North Carolina margin [Driscoll et al., 2000] and slumping of volcanic edifices in the Canary Islands [Ward and Day, 2001].
Chip-based size-selective sorting of biological cells using high frequency acoustic excitation

This work presents the size-selective sorting of single biological cells using the assembly process known as templated assembly by selective removal (TASR). We have demonstrated experimentally, for the first time, the selective placement and sorting of single SF9 cells (clonal isolate derived from Spodoptera frugiperda (Fall Armyworm) IPLB-Sf21-AE cells) into patterned hemispherical sites on rigid assembly templates using TASR. Nearly 100% of the assembly sites on the template were filled with matching cells (with assembly density as high as 900 sites per mm2) within short time spans of 3 minutes. 3-D reconstruction of cell profiles and volume analysis of cells trapped inside assembly sites demonstrates that only those cells that match the assembly site precisely (within 0.5 μm) in size are assembled on the template. The assembly conditions are also compatible with the extension of TASR to mammalian cells. TASR-based size-selective structuring and sorting of biological systems represents a valuable tool with potential for implementation in biological applications such as cell sorting for medical research or diagnostics, templating for artificial tissue replication, or isolation of single cells for the study of biological or mechanical behavior.
Affect, performativity, and actually existing poetry

My essay takes the occasion of this special issue of Textual Practice to think about how the conjunction of the keywords ‘affect’ and ‘performativity’ in US literary studies encodes a theoretical s...
Paleohydrologic record of spring deposits in and around Pleistocene pluvial Lake Tecopa, southeastern California

Tufa (spring) deposits in the Tecopa basin, California, reflect the response of arid groundwater regimes to wet climate episodes. Two types of tufa are represented, informally defined as (1) an easily disaggregated, fine-grained mixture of calcite and quartz (friable tufa) in the southwest Tecopa Valley, and (2) hard, vuggy micrite, laminated carbonate, and carbonate-cemented sands and gravels (indurated tufa) along the eastern margin of Lake Tecopa. High δ18OVSMOW (Vienna standard mean ocean water) water values, field relations, and the texture of friable tufa suggest rapid nucleation of calcite as subaqueous, fault- controlled groundwater discharge mixed with high-pH, hypersaline lake water. Variations between δ18OVSMOW and δ13CPDB (Peedee belemnite) values relative to other closed basin lakes such as the Great Salt Lake and Lake Lahontan suggest similarities in climatic and hydrologic settings. Indurated tufa, also fault controlled, formed mounds and associated feeder systems as well as stratabound carbonate-cemented ledges. Both deposits represent discharge of deeply circulated, high total dissolved solids, and high p CO2 regional groundwater with kinetic enrichments of as much as several per mil for δ18OVSMOW values. Field relations show that indurated tufa represents episodic discharge, and U-series ages imply that discharge was correlated with cold, wet climate episodes. In response to both the breaching of the Tecopa basin and a modern arid climate, most discharge has changed from fault-controlled locations near basin margins to topographic lows of the Amargosa River drainage at elevations 30–130 m lower. Because of episodic climate change, spring flows may have relocated from basin margin to basin center multiple times.
An industry-driven laboratory development for mixed-signal IC test education

This paper describes a new course on mixed-signal IC test engineering, jointly established by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) of The Ohio State University and Texas Instruments. The course is motivated by the lack of qualified test engineers in industry and the absence of this education at the collegiate level. The course objective is to help student obtain the fundamental skills required for a mixed-signal IC test engineer. The course structure and laboratory developments are covered in details. Students feedbacks based on anonymous survey indicate that the goals are well met.
Processing of Dense ζ-Ta4C3−x by Reaction Sintering of Ta and TaC Powder Mixture

Tantalum carbides are commonly processed by hot pressing, canned hot-isostatic-pressing, or spark plasma sintering because of their high melting temperatures and low diffusivities. This paper reports processing of dense ζ-Ta4C3−x by reaction sintering of a Ta and TaC powder mixture (C/Ta atomic ratio = 0.66). ζ-Ta4C3−x is of interest due to its rhombohedral (trigonal) crystal structure that may be characterized as a polytype with both face-centered-cubic and hexagonal-close-packed Ta stacking sequences interrupted by stacking faults and missing carbon layers. This structure leads to easy cleaving on the basal planes and high fracture toughness. A key step in processing is the hydrogenation of the Ta powder to produce β-TaHx, a hard and brittle phase that enables efficient comminution during milling and production of small, equiaxed Ta particles that can be packed to high green density with the TaC powder. Studies of phase evolution by quantitative X-ray diffraction during sintering revealed several intermediate reactions: (1) decomposition of β-TaHx to Ta; (2) diffusion of C from γ-TaC to Ta leading to the formation of α-Ta2Cy' with the kinetics described by the Avrami equation with an exponent, n = 0.5, and an activation energy of 219 kJ/mole; (3) equilibration of α-Ta2Cy' and γ-TaC0.78 phases; and (4) formation of ζ-Ta4C2.56 from the equilibrated α-Ta2C and γ-TaC0.78 phases with the kinetics characterized by a higher Avrami exponent (n ≈ 3) and higher activation energy (1007 kJ/mole). The sintered material contained ~0.86 weight fraction ζ-Ta4C2.56 and ~0.14 weight fraction γ-TaC0.78 phases. The microstructure showed evidence of nucleation and growth of the ζ-Ta4C2.56 phase in both the α-Ta2C and γ-TaC0.78 parent phases with distinct difference in the morphology due to the different number of variants of the habit plane.
Natriuresis induced by alpha and beta melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) in rats.

α- and β-MSH produced a marked natriuretic effect when injected ip in trained, fasted water-loaded rats. Doses of 50 and 90 μg of β-MSH produced a significant natriuresis, kaliuresis, and no change in urine output. Doses of 5, 10, and 50 μg of α-MSH produced a doserelated natriuresis, kaliuresis, and antidiuresis. The low doses of 1 and 2 μg of α-MSH also produced a significant increase in Na+ excretion without affecting K+ excretion or urine output. Since the natriuresis outpaced the kaliuresis, the Na+/K+ ratio increased. A 100 mU dose of oxytocin induced natriuresis, kaliuresis and a slight antidiuresis. The dose of 0.5 mU of lysinevasopressin produced a significant natriuresis and kaliuresis in the 20-40 min sample after injection, but the 1 mU dose was natriuretic and kaliuretic only in the 40-60 min sample. Both doses produced a significant antidiuresis. Treatment with thioglycollate to inactivate any vasopressin or oxytocin contaminating the α-MSH did not alter the natriuretic effect but eliminated...
Chinese initiative in robotic development program

Summary form only given. In the last few decades, a silent revolution is taking place. The exponential growth in microelectronic processing power has been achieved by ever decreasing the size of integrated circuits. These circuits which integrate electrical, mechanical and sometimes optical devices, have evolved from silicon revolution. It replaced big complex, costly systems with small, affordable, high performance microsystems. Microsystems are expected to further enable silicon chips to sense, "think", act, and communicate, in essence, to become intelligent machines. Structures of current microsystems are approaching fundamental limits and the next generation of devices might show unexpected properties due to quantum effects and fluctuations. A new research field is developing in which we pursue understanding of basic physics associated with such quantum structures, explore their controllability, and propose new devices. In this talk, we begin with a summary of engineering problem solving and proceed to discuss the impact of technology on the development of newly emerging discipline of soft computing and computational intelligence. The relationship between technology and intelligent mechatronics are pointed out.
Fibrinogen and factor VIII, but not factor VII, are associated with measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease in the elderly. Results from The Cardiovascular Health Study.

Abstract No studies have examined the associations of coagulation factor levels with measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the elderly. The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) is a prospective, population-based cohort study of CVD in persons older than 65 years. At the baseline examination, we measured fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII levels in 5024 of the 5201 participants of the CHS and examined the associations of these coagulation factors with measures of subclinical CVD in a cross-sectional analysis. Subclinical CVD measures were based on electrocardiography, carotid ultrasonography, echocardiography, and ankle-arm blood pressure measurements (AAI). For analyses, we used the full cohort as well as two mutually exclusive subgroups: those with prevalent clinical CVD at baseline and those without. Fibrinogen and to a lesser extent factor VIII showed positive associations with a variety of subclinical CVD measures. In age-adjusted analyses, fibrinogen and factor VIII were significantly associated with 8 of 10 measures. In multivariate analyses, fibrinogen was significantly associated with carotid artery stenosis, internal (but not common) carotid artery wall thickness, and AAI. Factor VIII was associated with abnormal wall motion and AAI in the full cohort only. Factor VII was not consistently associated with subclinical disease measures. In bivariate analyses that included data from all three groups, there were 5 positive subclinical disease associations and 5 negative associations for factor VII. In multivariate analyses, there were no significant associations between factor VII and subclinical CVD in the full cohort or in either subgroup. We conclude that in these cross-sectional analyses, fibrinogen and to a lesser extent factor VIII are associated with subclinical CVD in the elderly, even in those without symptoms or a history of clinical CVD. Factor VII, however, was not associated with subclinical CVD in the elderly.
Calcium and glycolysis mediate multiple bursting modes in pancreatic islets.

Pancreatic islets of Langerhans produce bursts of electrical activity when exposed to stimulatory glucose levels. These bursts often have a regular repeating pattern, with a period of 10–60 s. In some cases, however, the bursts are episodic, clustered into bursts of bursts, which we call compound bursting. Consistent with this are recordings of free Ca2+ concentration, oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential, and intraislet glucose levels that exhibit very slow oscillations, with faster oscillations superimposed. We describe a new mathematical model of the pancreatic β-cell that can account for these multimodal patterns. The model includes the feedback of cytosolic Ca2+ onto ion channels that can account for bursting, and a metabolic subsystem that is capable of producing slow oscillations driven by oscillations in glycolysis. This slow rhythm is responsible for the slow mode of compound bursting in the model. We also show that it is possible for glycolytic oscillations alone to drive a very slow form of bursting, which we call “glycolytic bursting.” Finally, the model predicts that there is bistability between stationary and oscillatory glycolysis for a range of parameter values. We provide experimental support for this model prediction. Overall, the model can account for a diversity of islet behaviors described in the literature over the past 20 years.
Design and implementation of a comprehensive real-time java virtual machine

The emergence of standards for programming real-time systems in Java has encouraged many developers to consider its use for systems previously only built using C, Ada, or assembly language. However, the RTSJ standard in isolation leaves many important problems unaddressed, and suffers from some serious problems in usability and safety.As a result, the use of Java for real-time programming has continued to be viewed as risky and adoption has been slow.In this paper we provide a description of IBM's new real-time Java virtual machine product, which combines Metronome real-time garbage collection, ahead-of-time compilation, and a complete implementation of the RTSJ standard, running on top of a custom real-time multiprocessor Linux kernel.We will describe the implementation of each of these components, including how they interacted both positively and negatively, and the extensions to previous work required to move it from research prototype to a system implementing the complete semantics of the Java language. The system has been adopted for hard real-time development of naval weapons systems and soft real-time telecommunications servers. We present measurements showing that the system is able to provide sub-millisecond worst-case garbage collection latencies, 50 microsecond Linux scheduling accuracy, and eliminate non-determinism due to JIT compilation.
A Multilevel Analysis of the Relationship between Labor Surplus and Pretrial Incarceration

It is often proffered that as a fiscal crisis worsens, the capitalist state increasingly relies on incarceration to better manage labor surplus. Using a multilevel study design, we analyze the interplay between the employment status of male criminal defendants charged with burglary and armed robbery and the unemployment rate on pretrial incarceration. We theorize that in cities with high unemployment, unemployed criminal defendants will be more likely to be incarcerated before trial. Additionally, because the state's punitive apparatus is thought to be geared specifically to control that segment of the surplus labor population which is most threatening to established interests, we examine whether unemployed African-American defendants are more apt to be incarcerated before trial in cities with a high unemployment rate. Results show that the unemployment rate moderates the relationship between employment status and pretrial incarceration. In cities with high unemployment, unemployed defendants have a substantially higher probability of pretrial detention. This effect withstands the introduction of control variables measuring a variety of individual and contextual factors. No support is found for the social dynamite thesis. That is, unemployed African-American defendants do not face a higher probability of pretrial confinement in cities with a high unemployment rate. We conclude that pretrial incarceration is determined, to a large extent, by the interaction between a defendant's employment status and aggregate labor market conditions.
An evolutionary perspective on panic disorder and agoraphobia

Panic, when viewed ethologically, is not pathological in itself, it is rather an adaptation that evolved to facilitate escape in dangerous situations. Patients with panic disorder have panic with normal form, but the attacks occur in the absence of real danger. The agoraphobia syndrome can be understood as a related adaptation that is expected after repeated panic attacks. These hypotheses account for many aspects of panic and agoraphobia that are diicult for proximate theories to explain, and they suggest new research questions and strategies.
Temperature and process invariant MOS-based reference current generation circuits for sub-1V operation

Measurements on a prototype chip, implemented in a 150 nm logic process technology, validate the theories for two sub-1V MOS reference current generator circuits and show that /spl sim/2/spl times/ reduction in current variation is achievable across extremes of both process and temperature.
Physiology of gastric circulation

The sections in this article are: 1 Anatomy 1.1 Supplying Vessels 1.2 Microvessels 1.3 Modification of Stomach Wall Blood Flow 1.4 Gastric Lymphatic System 2 Techniques for Measuring Gastric Blood Flow 2.1 Gross Flow 2.2 Mucosal Blood Flow 2.3 Techniques for Studying Gastric Microvasculature 3 Control of Gastric Blood Flow 3.1 Neural 3.2 Biogenic Amines 3.3 Gastrointestinal Hormones 3.4 Prostaglandins 3.5 Leukotrienes 4 Gastric Mucosal Blood Flow in Gastric Physiology 4.1 Acid Secretion 4.2 Autoregulation 4.3 Eating 4.4 Changes in Gastric Blood Flow With Age 4.5 Gastric Motility 4.6 Pulse Pressure 5 Gastric Mucosal Blood Flow in Gastric Pathophysiology 5.1 Effect of Disruption of Gastric Mucosal Barrier to Acid Backdiffusion 5.2 Prevention of Mucosal Injury 5.3 Role of Oxygen-Derived Free Radicals in Ischemic Gastric Injury 5.4 Effect of Local and Systemic Hypothermia 5.5 Effect of Portal Hypertension 5.6 Effect of Nicotine and Cigarette Smoke 5.7 Measurement of Gastric Hemodynamics in Humans
Physical aging behavior of a series of biodegradable polymers as a function of the pendent-chain length

The physical aging behavior of a series of tyrosine-containing polyarylates was investigated as a function of the length of the alkyl pendent chain. The experiments were performed in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) at corresponding aging temperatures. It was found that the physical aging efficiency was strongly affected by small changes in the length of the pendent chain (2, 6, or 8 methylene units). For similar cooling rates from above T/sub g/ to below T/sub g/ and identical aging times, the enthalpy relaxation decreased with the length of the pendent chain. A free volume based explanation is suggested. >
SIMULATION OF ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL DIFFERENCES NEAR A CONTAMINANT PLUME EXCITED BY A POINT SOURCE OF CURRENT

Finite-difference simulations of electrical excitation of conductive contaminant plumes indicated that the approximate dimensions of a plume and the approximate location of its center of mass can be derived, under specified circumstances, from the resulting electrical potential fields. Direct electrical excitation of a contaminant plume by a point current source was simulated for homogenous and isotropic conditions as well as in the presence of conductive clay layers and lenses. When a very shallow water table was assumed, changes in the electrical potential field between baseline (preplume) conditions and conditions that included a developing plume graphically formed a difference dipole. Simulations suggested that electrical flow is channeled preferentially through the negative difference pole at the approximate location of the center of mass in a dispersive contaminant plume. Electrical flow was channeled directly through the negative difference pole at the terminal end of a conductive clay lens. Simulations showed that even in the presence of conductive clays, the approximate location of the center of mass of an evolving contaminant plume could be delineated. This illustrates the potential future value of this approach, assuming continued technological advances in the field. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A03BX002 00003
Computation intelligence method to find generic non-coding RNA search models

Fairly effective methods exist for finding new non-coding RNA genes using search models based on known families of ncRNA genes (for example covariance models). However, these models only find new members of the existing families and are not useful in finding potential members of novel ncRNA families. Other problems with family-specific search include large processing requirements, ambiguity in defining which sequences form a family and lack of sufficient numbers of known sequences to properly estimate model parameters. An ncRNA search model is proposed which includes a collection of non-overlapping RNA hairpin structure covariance models. The hairpin models are chosen from a hairpin-model list compiled from many families in the Rfam non-coding RNA families database. The specific hairpin models included and the overall score threshold for the search model is determined through the use of a genetic algorithm.
Novel mechanism of blood pressure regulation by forkhead box class O1-mediated transcriptional control of hepatic angiotensinogen

The renin-angiotensin system is a major determinant of blood pressure regulation. It consists of a cascade of enzymatic reactions involving 3 components: angiotensinogen, renin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme, which generate angiotensin II as a biologically active product. Angiotensinogen is largely produced in the liver, acting as a major determinant of the circulating renin-angiotensin system, which exerts acute hemodynamic effects on blood pressure regulation. How the expression of angiotensinogen is regulated is not completely understood. Here, we hypothesize that angiotensinogen is regulated by forkhead transcription factor forkhead box class O1 (Foxo1), an insulin-suppressed transcription factor, and thereby controls blood pressure in mice. We generated liver-specific Foxo1 knockout mice, which exhibited a reduction in plasma angiotensinogen and angiotensin II levels and a significant decrease in blood pressure. Using hepatocyte cultures, we demonstrated that overexpression of Foxo1 increased angiotensinogen expression, whereas hepatocytes lacking Foxo1 demonstrated a reduction of angiotensinogen gene expression and partially impaired insulin inhibition on angiotensinogen gene expression. Furthermore, mouse angiotensinogen prompter analysis demonstrated that the angiotensinogen promoter region contains a functional Foxo1-binding site, which is responsible for both Foxo1 stimulation and insulin suppression on the promoter activity. Together, these data demonstrate that Foxo1 regulates hepatic angiotensinogen gene expression and controls plasma angiotensinogen and angiotensin II levels, modulating blood pressure control in mice.
Differing patterns of electrodermal and finger pulse responsivity in schizophrenia and depression.

Non-response of the autonomic orienting response (OR), as indexed jointly by deficient skin conductance (SCR) and finger pulse amplitude responding (FPAR), has been shown to occur with excessive frequency in the schizophrenic population. The present study is an attempt to replicate earlier evidence that SCR-OR and FPAR-OR, when measured in concert, could distinguish schizophrenic from depressed patients (Bernstein et al. 1988). This issue is critical of the question of diagnostic specificity of OR non-responding, since reduced SCR has been found repeatedly in depression as well as in schizophrenia. We examined SCR and FPAR concurrently in 69 schizophrenic, 45 depressed, and 67 normal subjects. SCR non-responding was more frequent in both schizophrenics and depressives than in normal controls, while only the schizophrenics displayed excessive FPAR non-responding. Moreover, among SCR non-responders, concordant OR non-responding — defined as non-responding indexed simultaneously in both the SCR and FPAR components — was most common in the schizophrenic sample. These findings support our previous conclusion that OR non-responding in depression, may have distinct peripheral origins. Our results also suggest that measuring multiple biochemically distinct components of the OR may be more sound methodologically than obtaining a single channel recording.
Colloidal Silica Transport through Liquefiable Porous Media

Mitigation of liquefaction potential in loose granular soil can theoretically be achieved through permeation and subsequent gelation of dilute colloidal silica stabilizer. However, practical application of this technique requires efficient and adequate delivery of the stabilizer to the liquefiable soil prior to gelation. The purpose of this research was to evaluate colloidal silica transport mechanisms and to determine if an adequate concentration can be delivered to a soil column prior to gelation. The laboratory work consisted of grouting 15 short (0.9 m) columns tests packed with Nevada No. 120, Ottawa 20/30, or graded silty sand to identify the variables that influence stabilizer transport through porous media. It was found that colloidal silica can be successfully delivered through 0.9-m columns packed with loose sand efficiently and in an adequate concentration to mitigate the liquefaction potential. Transport occurs primarily by advection with limited hydrodynamic dispersion, so Darcy's law can be used to predict flow. The Kozeny-Carmen equation can be used to include the effect of increasing viscosity on transport by incorporating the power law mixing rule of Todd. The primary variables influencing stabilizer transport were found to be the viscosity of the colloidal silica stabilizer, the hydraulic gradient, and the hydraulic conductivity of the liquefiable soil.
Measured plate efficiencies and values predicted from single‐phase studies

Plate efficiencies measured on 18-in.-diam. sieve plates are reported for the acetic acid-water system and for the methyl isobutyl ketone-water system at atmospheric pressure. In the former system the major resistance to mass transfer is in the gas phase; liquid-phase resistance to mass transfer is controlling in the latter. Efficiencies are also reported for the aniline-nitrobenzene system (gas-phase resistance controlling) at 5 mm. Hg absolute on 6-in.-diam. sieve plates. Pure gas- and liquid-phase efficiencies for both plate designs were determined by the adiabatic humidification of air and the desorption of oxygen from water into air. Predicted values of plate efficiency for each of the binary systems studied were computed from the pure phase efficiencies according to the procedure outlined by Gerster et al. A comparison between measured and predicted efficiencies is presented as a guide for future research in this field.
Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Chemicals by Air Sampling for Comparison With Limit Values: The Influence of Sampling Strategy

This study was aimed at quantifying the impact of sampling duration and the number of measurements taken on the quality of assessing occupational exposure to toluene. To this end, a measurement database was built, based on four campaigns carried out in an industrial printing facility. Five homogeneous exposure groups (HEGs) were set up and between 120 and 290 individual measurements lasting from 2 to 8 h were collected for each of them. These measurements were performed with the objective of comparing them to the 8-h Occupational Exposure Limit (8-h OEL). The resulting data were used to define a reference exposure profile per HEG: the 'gold standard'. This exposure profile corresponds to a log-normal distribution of measurements from which compliance/non-compliance with the 8-h OEL decision is derived. To simulate the possible sampling strategies used by industrial hygienists, six scenarios were defined, each containing a different number of measurements: 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 measurements performed per HEG, over different working days and different seasons of the year. The measurement values per scenario were simulated by sampling from the real measurement per HEG. For each scenario, 1000 simulated exposure profiles and corresponding simulated compliance decisions were computed. They were compared to the gold standard compliance decision using statistical indicators. Three methods were used for computing the simulated compliance decision: (i) the 95th percentile must be lower than the 8-h OEL, (ii) the exceedance fraction with respect to the 8-h OEL must be <0.1% (as defined by standard CEN 689, Appendix D), and (iii) the 70% upper confidence limit of the exceedance fraction with respect to the 8-h OEL must be <5% (as defined by French regulations). The results show that exposure assessment quality increases with both the number of measurements and sampling duration when using the 95th percentile and exposure assessment based on French regulations, whereas it decreases when using the standard. Moreover, guidelines for the efficient evaluation of chemical exposure in the workplace can be drawn up to help professional occupational hygienists. Indeed, boundaries can be recommended regarding the number of measurements and sampling duration necessary to obtain a reliable exposure assessment while minimizing effort devoted to sampling and analysis.
Incorporation of sexed semen into reproductive management of cow–calf operations

The objective of this experiment was to compare reproductive performance and weaning outcomes of beef cows inseminated with sexed or conventional semen. Over 2 con- secutive years, lactating AngusHereford cows were assigned to an estrus synchroniza- tion þartificial insemination (AI) protocol. At the time of AI, cows were ranked by parity and assigned to be inseminated with conventional non-sorted semen (CONV; n¼454) or with semen sorted for male sperm (SEXED; n¼439). Beginning 18 days after AI, cows from both treatments were grouped and exposed to mature bulls for 50 days (1:25 bull to cow ratio). Cow pregnancy status to AI was verified by detecting a fetus via transrectal ultrasonography 40 days after AI. Calf birth date, sex, and birth BW were recorded during the subsequent calving season. Cows that were diagnosed as pregnant during the transrectal ultrasonography exam and gave birth during the initial 2 weeks of the calving season were considered pregnant to AI. Pregnancy rates to AI and final pregnancy rates (AIþbull breeding) were reduced (Pr0.05) in SEXED compared with CONV cows. The proportion of male calves born to AI or AIþbull breeding was greater (Po0.01) in SEXED compared with CONV cows. No treatment effect was detected (P¼0.34) for weaning rate, whereas SEXED cows had a greater (Po0.01) proportion of steers in the weaned calf crop compared with CONV cows. Steers and heifers from SEXED cows were younger (Po0.01), whereas only SEXED heifers were lighter (P¼0.05) at weaning compared with cohorts from CONV cows. Across genders, calves from SEXED cows had reduced (Pr0.01) weaning age and BW compared with calves from CONV cows. Cows assigned to SEXED had greater (P¼0.05) kg of steer weaned/cow exposed to breeding, but reduced kg of heifer weaned/cow exposed to breeding (Po0.01) compared with CONV cows. Across genders, SEXED cows tended (P¼0.09) to have reduced kg of calf weaned/ cow exposed to breeding compared with CONV cows. In summary, inseminating beef cows with sexed semen reduced pregnancy rates, but increased the proportion of steers weaned and kg of steers weaned/cow exposed to breeding. However, overall kg of calf weaned/cow exposed to breeding was not improved by the use of sexed semen, particularly because of its negative impacts on weaning age and BW of the heifer progeny.
Segmentation of Images from Fourier Spectral Data

This paper designs a segmentation method for an image based on its Fourier spectral data. An edge map is generated directly from the Fourier coefficients without first reconstructing the image in pixelated form. Consequently the internal boundaries of the edge map are not blurred by any (filtered) Fourier reconstruction. The edge map is then processed with an edge linking segmentation algorithm. We include examples from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our results illustrate some potential benefits of using high order methods in imaging. AMS subject classifications: 42A50, 65D17, 68U10
Circadian variation in exhaled nitric oxide in nocturnal asthma.

Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and shows a circadian variation with nocturnal exacerbations. Because exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) measurement appears to be a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation, we examined the hypothesis that ENO would increase at night. In five nocturnal and five non-nocturnal asthmatics, ENO was measured at 4 P.M., 10 P.M., and 4 A.M. before and after bronchodilator. Both pre- and post-bronchodilator ENO (mean pre- and post-bronchodilator +/- SEM, ppb) unexpectedly fell significantly in nocturnal asthma from 4 P.M. (77.2 +/- 8.2) compared to 10 P.M. (68.4 +/- 8.7, p < 0.003) and 4 A.M. (66.0 +/- 8.5, p < 0.001) with no significant difference between 10 P.M. and 4 A.M.. In contrast, there were no significant differences in mean ENO at 4 P.M., 10 P.M., and 4 A.M. in non-nocturnal asthma. (51.3 +/- 10.8, 57.7 +/- 13.4, 53.8 +/- 12.5 ppb, respectively). Following bronchodilator, ENO rose significantly by 10.5 +/- 1.8 ppb in the nocturnal asthma group alone. The circadian rhythm of ENO differed greatly between nocturnal and non-nocturnal asthma. The significant decrease in ENO in nocturnal asthma may reflect an important chronobiological defect in the endogenous production and/or increased disposition of nitric oxide, which in view of its bronchodilator action, could play a role in nocturnal exacerbations of asthma.
Certain characteristics of under‐achievers and over‐achievers

Among educators and laymen a great deal of emphasis has been placed on meeting the individual needs of children. Interest in this problem is not of recent origin, but the problem has been intensified in recent years because of world conditions. Numerous approaches have been taken in studying the various intellectual ability groups and whether the curriculum, materials, and teaching methods are designed in favor of, or more effective with, a particular intellectual ability
High-voltage 4H-SiC PiN rectifiers with single-implant, multi-zone JTE termination

A novel multi-zone junction termination extension (MZJTE) is presented for high-voltage 4H-SiC pin junction rectifiers. Unlike the conventional multi-implantation or SiC etching approaches, our new termination technique utilizes multiple masking oxide etching steps to achieve a single-implant MZJTE structure that maintains surface planarity. Numerical device simulations have been performed to examine the process sensitivities, compared to single-zone JTE, and yielded breakdown voltages close to 90% of the ideal parallel-plane breakdown voltage. High voltage (V/sub BR//spl ap/8 kV) rectifiers were fabricated and experimental characteristics have been measured.
Concept Maps: Practice Applications in Adult Education and Human Resource Development.

Concept maps can be used as both a cognitive and constructivist learning strategy in teaching and learning in adult education and human resource development. The maps can be used to understand course readings, analyze case studies, develop reflective thinking and enhance research skills. The creation of concept maps can also be supported by the use of the CmapTools software. Concept maps, a teaching and learning strategy developed by Novak and Gowin (1984) based on the work of David Ausubel, (1963, 2000), have been used in education for over 25 years. There is an in-depth theoretical and research base that supports the use of concept maps in facilitating student learning across age groups, professional disciplines, educational contexts and geographic contexts (Canas, Coffey, Carnot, Feltovich, Hoffman, Feltovich, & Novak, 2003; Novak & Canas, 2006a). In addition, for the past six years concept mapping research from around the world has been presented at the International Concept Mapping Conference (see: http://cmc.ihmc.us/). Yet, the use of concept maps in adult education and human resource development (AE/HRD) has been limited to date. The purpose of this essay is to describe concept maps as a teaching and learning strategy and to discuss their potential application to graduate programs in AE/HRD. Concept Maps: What are They? Concept maps can be considered both a cognitive and constructivist learning strategy. Based on Ausubel, Novak and Hanesian's (1986) view of cognitive learning, when learners create concept maps they are focusing on determining relationships between and among concepts within their cognitive structures. They are also adding newly learned concepts to their existing cognitive structures. When the focus of the map is on depicting the relationships between concepts, a cognitive view of learning is operationalized. However, the focus of the map can also include linking concepts to lived experiences or linking lived experiences to each other. When the learner takes this approach the map tends to be more of a constructivist learning strategy that can be used to foster reflective thinking and analysis.
Role of the dorsal medulla in the neurogenesis of airway protection.

The dorsal medulla encompassing the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) and surrounding reticular formation (RF) has an important role in processing sensory information from the upper and lower airways for the generation and control of airway protective behaviors. These behaviors, such as cough and swallow, historically have been studied in isolation. However, recent information indicates that these and other airway protective behaviors are coordinated to minimize risk of aspiration. The dorsal medullary neural circuits that include the NTS are responsible for rhythmogenesis for repetitive swallowing, but previous models have assigned a role for this portion of the network for coughing that is restricted to monosynaptic sensory processing. We propose a more complex NTS/RF circuit that controls expression of swallowing and coughing and the coordination of these behaviors. The proposed circuit is supported by recordings of activity patterns of selected neural elements in vivo and simulations of a computational model of the brainstem circuit for breathing, coughing, and swallowing. This circuit includes separate rhythmic sub-circuits for all three behaviors. The revised NTS/RF circuit can account for the mode of action of antitussive drugs on the cough motor pattern, as well as the unique coordination of cough and swallow by a meta-behavioral control system for airway protection.
The Language Arts as Foundational for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics

To what extent are the language arts relevant, useful, and self-sustaining in an era of rapid technological and scientific innovation? Historically, the language arts have been influenced by three curricular models—competency-based instruction, the Heritage Curriculum, and the process approach. The suitability of these curricular models for the future, the myriad ways that the language arts support and extend innovation, and the unique attributes of 21st century literacies are discussed.
Strontium isotopes delineate fine-scale natal origins and migration histories of Pacific salmon

Highly migratory organisms present major challenges to conservation efforts. This is especially true for exploited anadromous fish species, which exhibit long-range dispersals from natal sites, complex population structures, and extensive mixing of distinct populations during exploitation. By tracing the migratory histories of individual Chinook salmon caught in fisheries using strontium isotopes, we determined the relative production of natal habitats at fine spatial scales and different life histories. Although strontium isotopes have been widely used in provenance research, we present a new robust framework to simultaneously assess natal sources and migrations of individuals within fishery harvests through time. Our results pave the way for investigating how fine-scale habitat production and life histories of salmon respond to perturbations—providing crucial insights for conservation.
Looking At a New Strategy to Save the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Water supply, flood control, and environmental management are fundamental challenges for the western United States. California’s unique development patterns, with nearly 20 million of its residents living in water starved southern California, has resulted in a system of water transfers and aqueduct systems that rely on water being pumped, collected and transferred from Northern California through an extensive and damaging pumping and aqueduct system. The Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta (the Delta) is the heart of California’s water source and the center of the transfer system. The Delta is an 837,594 acres area where the Sacramento and San Joaquin River join before entering the San Francisco Bay and then the Pacific Ocean. Water is pumped from the Delta through a system of aqueducts to agricultural users in the San Joaquin Valley and urban centers of the San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles and other communities throughout southern California. Unsustainable pumping of vast amounts of water yearly from the Delta has caused the collapse of several fish populations and has forced a rethinking of the federal and state water policies. United States federal and state river and water policies for the past 150 years have relied on maximizing conversions of wetlands for agricultural uses while placing a high priority on flood control on major rivers like the Mississippi, Missouri and Sacramento. As we move well into the 21 st century the historic water policies of flood control and water exports have left the Delta facing an imminent collapse that threatens the massive California water transfers and the delta fisheries if immediate action is not taken. The effect of the collapse is potentially the loss of water to the 20 million California residences and the agricultural economy of the California San Joaquin Valley. Fortunately, the Delta provides a new laboratory for water policies and improved habitat and water quality while addressing the need for flood control. Images of the Delta will help to illustrate the multiplicity of interests that form the heart of the debate over California’s water future. Author’s Note Julia Fredenburg is a student in the Masters Program in Public Administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Previously, she worked for the City Council of Kansas City, Missouri and worked as a photojournalist throughout rural Missouri. She received a B.A. in Mathematics and Fine Arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2008. Robert Fredenburg is a Consultant to the California State Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. He has worked for more than thirty years for the California State Assembly to improve the state of California's environment.