cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Erosion Control at Construction Sites: The Science–Policy Gap

To test the effectiveness of Michigan's soil ero- sion control law, 30 construction sites were evaluated in the east-central part of the state. The analytical framework lumped nine best management practices (BMPs) most closely related to the law into three categories: slope stabili- zation, soil stabilization, and water management. All sites were in the land clearing or foundation/framing stage of con- struction and were evaluated within 2 days after a rainfall event. Only four of the sites performed above the mean of the scoring scale, with the categorical scoring of BMPs indi- cating the worst performance for slope stabilization mea- sures. The poor results suggest a failure to integrate scien- tific knowledge of erosion control with policy. A fundamental problem is the lack of basic site data on soil, topography, and hydrology, resulting in the incorrect application of BMPs, such as staging, filter fences, and berms. The current institu- tional framework for soil erosion control also provides disin- centives to mitigate local erosion problems. Soil erosion and stream sedimentation are persistent problems in and around construction sites. Though minor compared to cropland in terms of total sediment yield for the United States as a whole, individual construc- tion sites can contribute massive loads of sediment to small areas in short time periods. Although soil loss rates have generally declined in most construction areas since Wolman and Schick (1967) reported loss rates over 100,000 tons/mi 2 /year, many modern construc- tion sites suffer substantial loss rates despite regulation. The effects of soil erosion and sedimentation on streams, lakes, and wetlands are well documented (Graf 1975, Booth 1990). These impacts are expensive in terms of dollar costs and aesthetic costs (Pimentel and others 1995). Sediment is widely considered the princi- pal pollutant in our water systems, a point explicitly recognized in the Clean Water Acts (CWAs) enacted in 1972 and the Food Security Act of 1985. The Food Security Act established a Conservation Reserve Pro- gram, providing an opportunity for farmers to enter into 10-year contracts with the Department of Agricul- ture to take highly erodible land out of production and receive annual rental payments for returning the land to permanent vegetative cover. In the 1987 reauthorization of the CWA all states were required to conduct an assessment of nonpoint sources and develop mitigation strategies. The state of Michigan responded quickly and in 1987 conducted an assessment of nonpoint sources. In 1988, a mitigation plan was developed, which promoted the identification of nonpoint pollution sources at the watershed level, and the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) (MDNR 1988). BMPs are structural, vegetative, or managerial practices used to treat, prevent, or reduce water pollution. In 1992, a revised version of the 1987 BMP list was prepared with yearly updates (MDEQ 1992). Erosion control procedures in Michigan are gov-
Determination of low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids in aqueous samples by gas chromatography and nitrogen-selective detection of 2-nitrophenylhydrazides

Abstract A gas chromatographic method was developed for the determination of low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids in aqueous samples based on a derivatization procedure compatible with aqueous solutions. The technique uses nitrogen-selective detection with a thermionic-specific detector after derivatization of carboxylic acids as 2- nitrophenylhydrazides. The hydrazides were extracted with ethyl acetate prior to injection into the gas chromatograph. The derivatives appear to be stable in ethyl acetate at 0–5° C for long periods and, therefore, can be stored for analysis at a later date. The detection limits of different short-chain acids are in the range 0.8–1.4 pmol per injected sample. The relative standard deviation is less than 10% at the 1 μM level. Examples of the use of the method are given for the determination of carboxylic acids in anoxic marine sediment pore waters, coastal sea water and Black Sea water samples.
FDR-CONTROLLING STEPWISE PROCEDURES AND THEIR FALSE NEGATIVES RATES

Abstract The concept of false discovery rate (FDR), which is the expected proportion of false positives (type I errors) among rejected hypotheses, has received increasing attention recently by researchers in multiple hypotheses testing. A similar measure involving false negatives (type II errors), which we call the false negatives rate (FNR), is considered and an explicit formula of it is developed for a generalized step-up-step-down procedure in terms of probability distributions of ordered test statistics. It is shown that a step-down procedure can be used to control the FNR under certain conditions on the test statistics. Various FDR-controlling procedures that exist in a given multiple testing situation are further studied in terms of the FNR. In particular, an unbiasedness property is defined for an FDR-controlling multiple testing procedure by the inequality FDR+FNR⩽1. The FDR-controlling generalized step-up-step-down procedure considered in Sarkar (Ann. Statist. 26 (2002) 239), in particular the Benjamini and Hochberg (J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. B 57 (1995) 289) step-up procedure, is proved to be unbiased when the test statistics are independent and is conjectured to be so based on simulations when they are dependent. Also conjectured is the unbiasedness of the FDR-controlling Benjamini and Lui (J. Statist. Plann. Inference 82 (1999) 163) step-down procedure with independent as well as dependent test statistics. Different FDR-controlling procedures are investigated based on simulated data from equi-correlated multivariate normals in terms of the quantity 1−FNR−FDR that reflects the strength of unbiasedness.
Cardiac acetylcholinesterase molecular forms and choline acetyltransferase in the Dahl (salt-sensitive) hypertensive strain of rats: a regional study.

A regional study of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecular forms and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the hearts of Dahlsalt sensitive (DS) and salt resistant (DR) rats was performed in animals administered either 8% or 0.35% dietary NaCl. Atria isolated from DS rats, regardless of dietary NaCl intake, had lower activities of all of the AChE molecular forms and ChAT when compared to their dietary-matched DR controls. In the ventricles, the activities of AChE molecular forms and ChAT were lower in DS rats compared to dietary-matched DR rats only when 8% NaCl diets were administered. The percent contribution of each of the molecular forms to the total AChE pool was not affected by animal strain or diet.
Power of the likelihood ratio test on the mean vector of the multivariate normal distribution with missing observations

SUMMARY The noncentral distribution of the generalized likelihood ratio statistic for testing hypotheses on the mean vector of a multivariate normal population is derived when a subset of the variates does not have observations on some sampling units, and is used to derive the power of the test for particular values of the noncentrality parameter. The accuracy of the results is assessed by comparing them with the known power when the sample is complete.
Natural Abundance Variations in Stable Isotopes and their Potential Uses in Animal Physiological Ecology

Abstract Chemical, biological, and physical processes lead to distinctive “isotopic signatures” in biological materials that allow tracing of the origins of organic substances. Isotopic variation has been extensively used by plant physiological ecologists and by paleontologists, and recently ecologists have adopted the use of stable isotopes to measure ecosystem patterns and processes. To date, animal physiological ecologists have made minimal use of naturally occurring stable isotopes as tracers. Here we provide a review of the current and potential uses of naturally occurring stable isotopes in animal physiological ecology. We outline the physical and biological processes that lead to variation in isotopic abundance in plants and animals. We summarize current uses in animal physiological ecology (diet reconstruction and animal movement patterns), and suggest areas of research where the use of stable isotopes can be fruitful (protein balance and turnover and the allocation of dietary nutrients). We argue that animal physiological ecologists can benefit from including the measurement of naturally occurring stable isotopes in their battery of techniques. We also argue that animal physiologists can make an important contribution to the emerging field of stable isotopes in biology by testing experimentally the plethora of assumptions upon which the techniques rely.
A radiometric method for the measurement of L-asparagine synthetase activity: comparison with available methods.

Abstract 1. 1. Four variations of a radiometric method for the measurement of L -asparagine synthetase (EC 6.3.5.4) are compared. Each makes use of bacterial L -asparaginase (EC 3.5.1.1) to hydrolyze newly synthesized L -[4-14C]asparagine to L -[4-14C]aspartate which subsequently is transaminated with 2-oxoglutarate by L -glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1) to [4-14C]oxaloacetate—a compound readily 4-decarboxylated by zinc ions. 2. 2. The advantages of each method in a particular experimental setting arc discussed from the standpoint of speed and convenience. 3. 3. Data also are presented on the reliability and applicability of these techniques. 4. 4. Lastly, the modifications are compared comprehensively with other techniques for measuring L -asparagine synthetase activity
A comparison of alternative variance estimation strategies for estimating the slope of a linear regression in sample surveys

The balanced half-sample, jackknife and linearization methods are used to estimate the variance of the slope of a linear regression under a variety of computer generated situations. The basic sampling design is one in which two PSU's are selected from each of a number of strata . The variance estimation techniques are compared with a Monte Carlo experiment. Results show that variance estimates may be highly biased and variable unless sizeable numbers of observations are available from each stratum. The jackknife and linearization estimates appear superior to the balanced half sample method - particularly when the number of strata or the number of available observations from each stratum is small.
Monoamine reuptake inhibitors enhance the discriminative state induced by cocaine in the rat.

Cocaine inhibits the reuptake of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT). To investigate the relative role of such reuptake processes in the discriminative stimulus properties of cocaine, male rats (N=16) were trained to discriminate cocaine (10 mg/kg) from saline in a two-lever, water-reinforced drug discrimination task and were administered neuroactive compounds during substitution or combination tests. The DA reuptake inhibitor GBR 12909 (2–16 mg/kg) completely mimicked cocaine. The reuptake inhibitors for NE (desipramine; 2–8 mg/kg) and 5-HT (fluoxetine; 0.625–5 mg/kg) did not substitute for the training drug. A low dose of either desipramine (3 mg/kg), fluoxetine (1.25 mg/kg), or GBR 12909 (2 mg/kg) coadministered with low doses of cocaine (0.625–2.5 mg/kg) enhanced the discriminative stimulus properties of this psychostimulant. The dose predicted to elicit 50% drug-lever responding is reduced (ED50) in the presence of desipramine (0.38 mg/kg), fluoxetine (0.79 mg/kg) or GBR 12909 (0.84 mg/kg) compared to the ED50 for cocaine (1.57 mg/kg) in the absence of any reuptake inhibitor. The finding that GBR 12909 mimics the cocaine cue corroborates the hypothesis that the stimulus properties of cocaine are mediated predominantly by DA systems. The potentiation of the stimulus effects of cocaine by monoamine reuptake inhibitors in rats suggests that these drugs could also amplify the subjective effects of cocaine in humans, a possibility that should be considered given the current use of antidepressants in the treatment of cocaine abusers.
A = 18 NUCLEAR REACTION MATRIX.

The Brueckner reaction matrix for the $A=18$ nuclei is obtained in an accurate fashion from a nonlocal separable potential of the Tabakin type, but possessing a much stronger repulsive core. This potential, as well as those of Tabakin and Yamaguchi, is used in comparative studies of the reaction matrix. Both harmonic-oscillator and plane-wave intermediate states are employed. The results are compared extensively to the work by other authors on the local Hamada-Johnston potential. In the plane-wave treatment, the effect of replacing the kinetic-energy operator by a form (suggested by Baranger) more compatible with the exclusion principle is estimated.
Hamiltonian cycles in the shuffle-exchange network

The usefulness of the shuffle-exchange network in parallel processing applications is well established. The optimal embedding of a shuffle-exchange network of a given size depends on the number of cycles of the shuffle permutation of that size. The cost of one method of adding fault-tolerance through reconfigurability depends upon the number of such cycles, and the manner in which they can be connected to form larger cycles. An exact equation for the number of cycles of a shuffle of size 2/sup W/ is presented. That result is used to demonstrate that it is always possible to form a Hamiltonian cycle on all processors in a shuffle-exchange connected array. From this, it is apparent that there are a large number of ways of sharing spare processors among the members of many cycles. Thus, redundancy can be supplied in any strength, from adding on a spare processor, to adding one for each cycle of the shuffle. >
Introduction to the series “Non-linear waves in chromatography”

Abstract The series of Reviews on “Non-linear waves in chromatography”, to be published in this journal, is outlined.
Consumer and investment demand for manufactured housing units

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize and empirically measure consumer and investment demand for manufactured housing. These measurements are relevant to disaster, energy efficiency, and affordability issues in the housing sector. The demand for immediate housing services by consumers and the demand for investment into new manufactured housing units are estimated in structural econometric models, which are derived from a stock/flow equilibrium framework. The results indicate that elasticities of demand are different for consumers as opposed to investors. Accordingly, policy makers should delineate between the signals sent to consumers and investors when implementing housing programs.
Stable mutants of mammalian cells that overproduce the first three enzymes of pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis.

Abstract Upon exposure to 0.1 mM N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartate (PALA), a transition state analog inhibitor of aspartate transcarbamylase, most cells of a simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed Syrian hamster line are killed within a few days, but resistant mutants form spontaneously with frequency 2–5 × 10 −5 in a stochastic process not dependent upon the presence of the inhibitor. The resistant phenotype is stable for many months in the absence of PALA. Other cell lines also give resistant mutants, but with substantially lower frequencies. Serial selection with PALA at concentrations up to 25 mM has yielded clones with more than 100 times the original aspartate transcarbamylase activity. The activities of carbamyl-P synthetase and dihydroorotase, which co-purify with aspartate transcarbamylase as a three-enzyme complex, increase in parallel with aspartate transcarbamylase activity in each resistant clone tested, but there is no substantial change in the activities of the last three enzymes of the de novo pathway, which are not in this complex. In each of the three resistant clones tested, there is an increase in the number of aspartate transcarbamylase active sites, determined by titration with 3 H-PALA, which closely parallels the increase in enzyme activity. In one resistant clone tested, there is no change in the K i for PALA or the K m for carbamyl-P. The only mechanism detected for achieving resistance to PALA is an increase in the steady state amount of the three enzyme complex.
Triangular powers of integers from determinants of binomial coefficient matrices

Abstract Formulas are obtained for the determinants of certain matrices whose entries are zero and either binomial coefficients or their negatives. A consequence is that, for all integers n ≥ 2 and k ≥ 2, there exists an (n − 1)(k − 1) × (n − 1)(k − 1) matrix M(n,k) whose entries are the alternating binomial coefficients (−1)j+1(jn) and zeros such that det(M(n,k)) = ±ktn−1, where tn−1 is the (n − l)th triangular number. Further, if we form the infinite matrix Download : Download full-size image whose kth row is (0k), (1k), (2k),…, then each of the above mentioned determinants is, up to sign, the determinant of an n × n submatrix A of Download : Download full-size image obtained by selecting the initial n columns, and some choice of n rows of Download : Download full-size image . The matrices M(n,k), and others that we will consider also have the unexpected property that det(|M(n,k)|) = |det(M(n,k)|, where |M| denotes the matrix obtained from M by replacing each entry with its absolute value.
Rethinking Exploitation: A Process-Centered Account

Exploitation has become an important topic in recent discussions of biomedical and research ethics. This is due in no small measure to the influence of Alan Wertheimer's path-breaking work on the subject. This paper presents some objections to Wertheimer's account of the concept. The objections attempt to show that his account places too much emphasis on outcome-based considerations and too little on process-based considerations. Building on these objections, the paper develops an alternative process-centered account of the concept. This alternative account of exploitation takes as its point of departure the broadly Kantian notion that it is wrong to use another as an instrument for the advancement of one's own ends. It sharpens this slippery notion and adds a number of refinements to it. The paper concludes by arguing that process-centered accounts of exploitation better illuminate the ethical challenges posed by research on human subjects than outcome-centered accounts.
A model of suicidal behavior among depressed immigrants.

Immigrants’ voyages to new lands have been among the most exciting and noble of human endeavors [101]. It requires amazing courage to flee oppression, to leave behind everything that is familiar, a...
Laser-Based Multiparameter System for Automatic Sorting of Microscopic Particles

The design, characteristics and experimental results of a Laser-Based Multiparameter system for automatically sorting microscopic particles are described. The system is used mostly for the analysis of biological cells which have been stained with fluorescent dyes and suspended in liquids. The cells, passing in single file through an elliptically focused laser beam, emit fluorescent signals, which are detected by sensors and processed, first in analog fashion and then digitally by a multichannel pulse-height analyzer. The two-color fluorescent and light scatter signals give certain parameters of the particles being measured. Sorting rates of several hundred per second are attainable. The high resolution and good stability of the system ensure fast, reliable and statistically meaningful measurement of particle populations.
Public investment in U.S. agricultural R&D and the economic benefits

Abstract A better understanding of the relationship between public investments in agricultural RD however, a reduction in the growth of spending on public agricultural R&D in recent decades raises concerns about productivity growth in coming decades, which is required to insure an adequate supply of food to meet increasing demand.
Single-incision pediatric endosurgery-assisted ileocecectomy for resection of a NEC stricture

A single-incision pediatric endosurgery (SIPES) has not been typically used for operations in premature infants yet. We report a case of a 3-month-old 25-week premature infant who underwent SIPES-assisted ileocecal resection for a stricture after medically treated necrotizing enterocolitis. The patient recovered uneventfully, and was discharged on full feeds 15 postoperatively with virtually no appreciable scar. SIPES is a reasonable alternative for NEC stricture resection in premature infants. Prematurity should not be considered a contraindication to single-incision endosurgery.
Keeping Behavior in Context: A Dynamic Systems Account of a Transition in Spatial Recall Biases

Abstract In location memory tasks, young children show biases toward reference axes, whereas older children show biases away from axes. As predicted by a dynamic systems model, this transition is gradual and varies across target location (Schutte & Spencer, 2009). Here we tested whether task context would influence the transition by testing children in a sandbox memory task that varied in several ways from Schutte and Spencer's task, with the key difference being the salience of boundaries. In this task context, the transition was delayed but occurred gradually. These results provide further evidence for the context-dependent nature of behavior over development.
Association mapping of brassinosteroid candidate genes and plant architecture in a diverse panel of Sorghum bicolor.

Key message This first association analysis between plant architecture and BR candidate genes in sorghum suggests that natural allelic variation has significant and pleiotropic effects on plant architecture phenotypes.
Intensive RNAi with lentiviral vectors in mammalian cells

RNAi is a powerful technology for analyzing gene function in human cells. However, its utility can be compromised by inadequate knockdown of the target mRNA or by interpretation of effects without rigorous controls. We review lentiviral vector-based methods that enable transient or stable knockdowns to trace mRNA levels in human CD4+ T cell lines and other targets. Critical controls are reviewed, including rescue of the pre-knockdown phenotype by re-expression of the targeted gene. The time from thinking about a potential knockdown target to analysis of phenotypes can be as short as a few weeks.
Modeling the conscious correlates of recognition memory: Reflections on the remember–know paradigm.

Understanding how memory processes contribute to the conscious experience of memory is central to contemporary cognitive psychology. Recently, many investigators (e.g., Gardiner, 1988) have examined theremember-know paradigm to understand the conscious correlates of recognition memory. A variety of studies have demonstrated that variables have different effects on remember and know responses, and these findings have been interpreted in the context of dual-process models of recognition memory. This paper presents a single-process model of the remember-know paradigm, emphasizing the dependence of remember and know judgments on a set of common underlying processes (e.g., criterion setting). We use this model to demonstrate how a single-process model can give rise to the functional dissociations presented in the remember-know literature. We close by detailing procedures for testing our model and describing how those tests may facilitate the development of dual-process models.
Semiautomatic segmentation of the heart from CT images based on intensity and morphological features

The incidence of certain types of cardiac arrhythmias is increasing. Effective, minimally invasive treatment has remained elusive. Pharmacologic treatment has been limited by drug intolerance and recurrence of disease. Catheter based ablation has been moderately successful in treating certain types of cardiac arrhythmias, including typical atrial flutter and fibrillation, but there remains a relatively high rate of recurrence. Additional side effects associated with cardiac ablation procedures include stroke, perivascular lung damage, and skin burns caused by x-ray fluoroscopy. Access to patient specific 3-D cardiac images has potential to significantly improve the process of cardiac ablation by providing the physician with a volume visualization of the heart. This would facilitate more effective guidance of the catheter, increase the accuracy of the ablative process, and eliminate or minimize the damage to surrounding tissue. In this study, a semiautomatic method for faithful cardiac segmentation was investigated using Analyze - a comprehensive processing software package developed at the Biomedical Imaging Resource, Mayo Clinic. This method included use of interactive segmentation based on math morphology and separation of the chambers based on morphological connections. The external surfaces of the hearts were readily segmented, while accurate separation of individual chambers was a challenge. Nonetheless, a skilled operator could manage the task in a few minutes. Useful improvements suggested in this paper would give this method a promising future.
Quantitative measurement of deuterium labels by carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract A progressive saturation method is proposed for the quantitative measurement of deuterium-labeled carbon atoms that does not require resolution of signals from corresponding carbons labeled to different extents, and which optimizes the sensitivity versus time limitations that are inherent in CMR. While the theory is generalized to all types of carbon, practical considerations limit the method to those containing a single replaceable proton, which is the most commonly occurring situation where alternative methods of NMR assay are inapplicable. The method is applied to a problem of typical complexity; and the general nature of the theory is verified on the basis of measured relaxation properties.
Tensions in the palmar ligaments of the wrist. I. The normal wrist.

We developed a method for measurement of the in situ tensions in the ligaments of the palmar side of the wrist in cadaver specimens. The technique is based on deflecting the ligaments transversely (i.e., perpendicular to their longitudinal axis) using an instrumented probe. Based on measurement of the load required to deflect the ligament, magnitude of the transverse deflection, and axial length of the ligament, the axial tension in the ligament can be determined without otherwise disturbing it. The tensions in 8 palmar ligaments in 10 functional positions of the wrist in each of 5 fresh cadaver specimens were assessed. The position of the wrist was monitored, but the specimen was not loaded. We concluded that (1) the palmar ligaments are in tension, even with the wrist in neutral position and unloaded; (2) the following ligaments act as passive stabilizers: in neutral the triquetrocapitate and distal part of the radioscaphocapitate, in radial deviation the radiolunate, in ulnar deviation the ulnolunate, in pronation the proximal part of the radioscaphocapitate, in supination the ulnolunate, and in extension the ulnolunate, radiolunate, and radioscaphocapitate; (3) in any position some ligaments are in a state of greater tension than others. The radiolunate, ulnolunate, radioscaphocapitate had the greatest tension; and the lunotriquetral, trapeziocapitate, and scaphocapitate had the least.
The Mean Residual Lifetime Function

Necessary and sufficient conditions for a function to be a mean residual lifetime function of a random variable with finite mean are given.
Introduction to TES Physics

Superconducting Transition Edge sensors (TES) devices are now in use across a broad range of applications including dark matter searches, gamma ray and x-ray spectroscopy, UV-optical-IR spectroscopy, IR bolometry and CMB bolometers. We summarize the effects that must be taken into account in the design of TES devices. These include determining time constants, maintaining voltage bias, avoiding electrothermal oscillations, critical current limitations, saturation and preventing normal-superconducting phase separation. We summarize our understanding of excess noise seen in most TES devices.
Interchain disulfide bonds at the COOH-terminal end of procollagen synthesized by matrix-free cells from chick embryonic tendon and cartilage.

Abstract Matrix-free cells from tendons and cartilage of chick embryos were incubated in suspension, and the procollagens secreted by the cells were isolated in the presence of protease inhibitors. Tendon procollagen was shown to contain both NH 2− and COOH-terminal extensions and interchain disulfide bonds were located in the COOH-terminal region. A disulfide-linked fragment previously isolated after digestion of the molecule with bacterial collagenase was shown to originate from the COOH-terminal end. Cartilage procollagen was also shown to contain interchain disulfide bonds in the COOH-terminal region.
Antecedents, Severity of Abuse, and Response to Treatment in Substance-Abusing Schizophrenic Individuals

The authors assessed the characteristics of disadvantaged, dually diagnosed schizophrenic individuals, antecedents of their substance abuse, and their treatment outcome. Forty hospitalized inpatien...
Buddhism in the Sung

The study of Buddhism during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) has lagged behind that of other periods of Chinese history. One reason for the neglect of this important aspect of Sung society is undoubtedly the tenacity of the view that the Sung marked the beginning of an inexorable decline of Buddhism in China that extended down through the remainder of the imperial era. As this work asserts, however, new research attests that, far from signalling a decline, the Sung was a period of great efflorescence in Buddhism. The studies presented in the volume focus largely on elite figures, elite traditions, and interactions among Buddhists and literati. The contributors include Ali Borrell, Chi-wah Chan, T. Griffith Foulk, Ding-hwa E. Hsieh, Miriam Levering, Koichi Shinohara, Albert Welter and Brook Ziporyn.
Carboxyl functionalization of carbon fibers through a grafting reaction that preserves fiber tensile strength

Abstract Composite materials can be enhanced by grafting a secondary material to a functional group on the surface of the reinforcing fibers to improve thermal, electrical or mechanical properties. Grafting secondary materials onto carbon fibers is often limited by the low reactivity of graphitic carbon and there is strong demand to create novel grafting methods with versatile functional groups. One desirable functional group is a carboxylic acid, which strongly interacts with many organic and inorganic materials. In this work, the surface of carbon fibers is functionalized by a reaction of naturally existing surface hydroxyl groups with isopropylidene malonate to graft terminal malonic esters, effectively creating a carboxyl functionalized surface. The reaction does not employ pre-oxidation to generate functional groups prior to grafting and is shown to preserve the tensile strength and morphology of the fiber. The surface functionalization is quantified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which shows that the relative surface coverage by carboxylic acid groups is increased from an initial 5.2% up to 9.2%. The effects of solvent, temperature, concentration and reaction time on the quantity of surface carboxylic acid groups are studied. This functionalization opens up new opportunities as a precursor reaction for further grafting reactions without sacrificing fiber strength.
Should engineering ethics be taught

Should engineering ethics be taught? Despite the obvious truism that we all want our students to be moral engineers who practice virtuous professional behavior, I argue, in this article that the question itself obscures several ambiguities that prompt preliminary resolution. Upon clarification of these ambiguities, and an attempt to delineate key issues that make the question a philosophically interesting one, I conclude that engineering ethics not only should not, but cannot, be taught if we understand “teaching engineering ethics” to mean training engineers to be moral individuals (as some advocates seem to have proposed). However, I also conclude that there is a justification to teaching engineering ethics, insofar as we are able to clearly identify the most desirable and efficacious pedagogical approach to the subject area, which I propose to be a case study-based format that utilizes the principle of human cognitive pattern recognition.
Symmetry-breaking effects induced by intense laser fields.

We consider the interaction of an intense laser field with an ensemble of electrons confined by a symmetric potential well, and show that, for times shorter than the dephasing time, the laser field can break the symmetry of the system regardless of its initial conditions, resulting in optical rectification and even-harmonic generation. In particular, we show that relatively moderate fields can give rise to significant even-harmonic generation, even if the system is initially in thermal equilibrium, with no need for pulse shaping, suggesting that the detection of symmetry-breaking effects may be experimentally accessible.
Glycemic Control Promotes Pancreatic Beta-Cell Regeneration in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Background Pancreatic beta-cells proliferate following administration of the beta-cell toxin streptozotocin. Defining the conditions that promote beta-cell proliferation could benefit patients with diabetes. We have investigated the effect of insulin treatment on pancreatic beta-cell regeneration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, and, in addition, report on a new approach to quantify beta-cell regeneration in vivo.
A new paradigm hidden in steganography

Abstract : We discuss how steganography, in contrast to similar disciplines, requires a new paradigm based upon discontinuities and the absence of noise as a detection deterrent.
Transition probability parameters of the band systems of CO

Abstract Franck-Condon factors and r -centroids have been computed for the comet-tail, the first negative and the Baldet-Johnson systems of CO + by using the vibrational wave functions appropriate to the RKR potential energy curves. The variation of electronic transition moment with the internuclear separation, the smoothed relative band strengths and the relative intensities at infinite temperature, have been calculated for the comet-tail bands. The Einstein A coefficients, the absolute band strengths and the band oscillator strengths have also been presented for these bands.
A longitudinal assessment of relationship characteristics that predict new parents' relationship satisfaction

Drawing on the relational turbulence model, this study queries whether it is the amount of relational uncertainty and partner interference in a relationship, or the magnitude of an increase in these mechanisms over time, that accounts for decreased relationship satisfaction for new parents. To test these competing hypotheses, a longitudinal study of 78 couples was conducted in which both partners completed surveys about their relationship at 4 time points during the transition to parenthood. Multilevel modeling revealed that the amount and the increase of relational uncertainty and partner interference were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction when considered separately, but when evaluated in combination, the magnitude of an increase in these variables was the stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction.
Education for Creative Potential

One trend in the creativity literature is towards unambiguous expressions of talent. This trend follows from an interest in scientific rigour, but if we are interested in children, it is creative potential that is the primary concern, rather than unambiguous creative performance. Educators and others working with children should define creativity in very literal terms, as thinking or problem solving that involves the construction of new meaning. This in turn relies on personal interpretations, and these are personal and new for the individual, not on any larger scale. This approach is consistent with the educational premise 'to understand is to invent', and it allows educators to target self-expression. The emphasis is thus on the individual, the self. Equally significant for educators is that this view of creativity posits that creativity is widely distributed. A wide distribution is implied because virtually every individual has the mental capacity to construct the personal interpretations that are invo...
Zooplankton recovery after fish removal: Limitations of the egg bank

The Allee effect, operating via mate limitation, theoretically reduces the probability of recovery from local extinction of dioecious zooplankton relative to species that can reproduce asexually. We removed fish from four alpine lakes in the Sierra Nevada in which both Hesperodiaptomus shoshone(a calanoid copepod) and Daphnia middendorffianawere historically present but had become locally extinct after fish stocking. After complete fish removal, D. middendorffianareturned to all four lakes, whereas H. shoshone failed to return in any of the lakes, despite diapausing eggs observed in the sediments of two lakes and a few individuals in the water column of one lake during the first summer after fish removal. We estimated the potential magnitude of the Allee effect, as it may have affected the recovery of H. shoshone, by comparing estimates of minimum founding population size of H. shoshone with estimates of actual founding population sizes of D. middendorffiana.It took 4 yr for D. middendorffianato recover to detectable levels in one of the four lakes, which we suggest was the result of a very small founding population. The latter was three to four orders of magnitude smaller than the minimum founding population size we calculated for H. shoshone, indicating the potential for a large effect of mate limitation on the copepod’s ability to recover. H. shoshone might never return to these lakes without human intervention because of the combined effects of mate limitation and low rates of overland dispersal.
Mechanism of HVDC wall bushing flashover in nonuniform rain

A model which assumes a dry zone of changing length is used to determine conditions which may lead to flashover of HVDC wall bushings in nonuniform rain. The key parameter in the proposed mechanism is the ratio of the resistance per unit length of the wet region to the resistance per unit length of the drier region. Measurements of the surface resistivity are presented for horizontal insulators, including wall bushings, with different surface conditions subjected to rain. Such measurements can be utilized to evaluate the potential capability of various materials to prevent wall bushing surface flashover in nonuniform rain. >
Efficient implementation of a 3-dimensional ADI method on the iPSC/860

A comparison is made between several domain decomposition strategies for the solution of three-dimensional partial differential equations on a MIMD distributed memory parallel computer. The grids used are structured, and the numerical algorithm is alternating direction implicit (ADI). Important implementation issues regarding load balancing, storage requirements, network latency, and overlap of computations and communications are discussed. Results of the solution of the three-dimensional heat equation on the Intel iPSC/860 are presented for the three most viable methods. It is found that the Bruno-Cappello decomposition delivers optimal computational speed through an almost complete elimination of processor idle time, while providing good memory efficiency.
A review of the federal government's health activities in response to asbestos-contaminated ore found in Libby, Montana

Vermiculite ore is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral widely used in various consumer products, such as attic insulation, lawn and garden products, and fireproofing material. While most vermiculite ore and products do not pose a health hazard, the vermiculite mined from Libby, MT was contaminated with naturally occurring asbestos. The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has documented a significant number of asbestos-related deaths among Libby residents. Additionally, as part of the ongoing investigation, ATSDR has learned that this contaminated ore was shipped to hundreds of locations around the United States for processing. While the Libby mine is now closed, studies from ATSDR and elsewhere show that people who worked in the Libby mine or vermiculite processing facilities may have been exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos while the facilities were in operation. People who lived or worked near these sites also may have been exposed to asbestos if they came into contact with contaminated vermiculite. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can cause serious and life-threatening health conditions, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. In response, ATSDR has initiated 10 different activities to help evaluate the potential health effects among Libby residents and populations throughout the United States who might have been exposed to the asbestos-contaminated ore found in Montana. Some of these activities include conducting environmental exposure evaluations, health statistics reviews, community screenings, and disease-specific surveillance. This article presents the various follow-up activities that have been conducted to date by ATSDR and partnering state health departments.
A numerical study of global bifurcations in chemical dynamics

Global bifurcations are frequently encountered in the dynamic behavior of chemically reacting systems and their models. They cause dramatic qualitative changes in the system response, such as the birth and death of oscillations and even the onset of chaos. They involve entire regions of the system phase space, and due to their nature they are in general not predictable by standard local bifurcation methods, analytical or numerical. Special methods and algorithms must therefore be developed to locate and analyze them in parameter space. This paper presents such methods and algorithms and illustrates them through standard chemical engineering examples. Test cases include lumped chemical reactor models (homogeneous and heterogeneous, autonomous and periodically forced), a problem of compressible gas flow in porous media, and a case of two coupled oscillators. The phenomena discussed include infinite-period bifurcations, saddle connections, frequency locking, and the creation and extinction of multifrequency responses through global manifold interactions (homoclinic tangles).
An Examination of Rater Drift within a Generalizability Theory Framework.

The present study examined the long-term usefulness of estimated parameters used to adjust the scores from a performance assessment to account for differences in rater stringency. Ratings from four components of the USMLE R � Step 2 Clinical Skills Examination data were analyzed. A generalizability-theory framework was used to examine the extent to which rater-related sources of error could be eliminated through statistical adjustment. Particular attention was given to the stability of these estimated parameters over time. The results suggest that rater stringency estimates obtained at a point in time and then used to adjust ratings over a period of months may substantially decrease in usefulness. In some cases, over several months, the use of these adjustments may become counterproductive. Additionally, it is hypothesized that the rate of deterioration in the usefulness of estimated parameters may be a function of the characteristics of the scale. During recent years considerable attention has been given to procedures for scaling and equating tests that include complex performance-based formats. In many situations, these tasks are scored by having trained raters review and rate the responses. One concern with this approach is that a rater’s individual tendency to be relatively strict or lenient may result in an unfair advantage or disadvantage for some examinees. Unless all tasks are rated by the same raters, this factor may pose a nontrivial threat to the validity of score interpretations and the reliability of the assessment. Although raters are commonly trained to apply standardized criteria, “ ... raters are human and they are therefore subject to all the errors to which humankind must plead guilty” (Guilford, 1936, p. 272).
Tracheotomy and Swallowing

The issue of tracheotomy tubes and swallowing has been a topic of ongoing interest and concern for clinicians who work with this patient population. The following article will review evidence regarding the effects of tracheotomy tubes on swallowing as well as information to guide clinicians who perform swallowing evaluations with patients with tracheotomy tubes.
Congenital arteriovenous malformation of the finger resulting in cardiac decompensation: A case report

Congenital arteriovenous malformations of the hand may be hemodynamically significant in the neonate. Progressive cardiac decompensation is an indication for surgical intervention. The cause and classification of congenital vascular lesions of the hand are discussed.
The role of lymphoid cells in bone resorption: Cellular immunological competence in ia rats

The ia (incisors absent) rat is a naturally occurring mutant that has osteopetrosis resulting from reduced bone resorption. A number of in vestigators have reported that other osteopetrotic mutant rats (op) and mice (mi and op), in addition to demonstrating the skeletal manifestations of the disease, have cellular immunological defects. In light of the fact that bone resorption has been demonstrated to be controlled by hematopoietic tissues and more specifically by mononuclear cells isolated from lymphoid organs, it seemed appropriate to investigate immunological competence in the ia rat, to determine whether or not it had this defect in common with the op rat. Contrary to the results presented for other osteopetrotic mutants, we found that the thymuses in our ia mutants had a normal cellular composition and the T-cell-dependent zones in the lymph nodes were not deficient in lymphocytes. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the response of ia rats to oxazolone, which produces one type of T-cell-dependent immune response, delayed hypersensitivity. The results of these studies indicate that ia rats at 18 days of age have the ability to develop delayed hypersensitivity, as shown by both a blastogenic response in the lymph node draining the site of sensitization and a positive skintest. The magnitudes of these responses were similar in ia and normal littermates, both histologically and quantitatively. Therefore, the ia mutant does not appear to have a defect of the thymus-dependent immune system, and further studies should be carried out to investigate other parameters of immunological competence in these animals.