cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-organization and scaling relationships of evolving river networks

The power spectra S of linear transects of Earth's topography is often observed to be a power law function of wave number k with exponent close to −2: S(k) ∝ k−2. In addition, river networks are fractal trees that satisfy several power law relationships between their morphologic components. A model equation for the evolution of Earth's topography by transport-limited erosional processes which produces fractal topography and fractal river networks is presented, and its solutions are compared in detail to real topography. The model is the diffusion equation for sediment transport on hillslopes and channels with the diffusivity constant on hillslopes and proportional to the three-halves power of discharge in channels. The dependence of diffusivity on discharge is consistent with sediment rating curves. We study the model in two ways. In the first analysis the diffusivity is parameterized as a function of elevation, and a Taylor expansion procedure is carried out to obtain a differential equation for the landform elevation which includes the spatially variable diffusivity to first order in the elevation. The solution to this equation is a self-affine or fractal surface with linear transects that have power spectra S(k) ∝ k−1.8, independent of the age of the topography, consistent with observations of real topography. The hypsometry produced by the model equation is skewed such that lowlands make up a larger fraction of the total area than highlands as observed in real topography. In the second analysis we include river networks explicitly in a numerical simulation by calculating the discharge at every point. We characterize the morphology of real river basins with five independent scaling relations between six morphometric variables. Scaling exponents are calculated for seven river networks from a variety of tectonic environments using high-quality digital elevation models. River networks formed in the model match the observed scaling laws and satisfy Tokunaga side-branching statistics.
Multichannel cochlear implant and electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses in a child with labyrinthitis ossificans

Ossification of the cochlea following meningitis presents a surgical challenge. Electrode mapping, especially in the young child, is difficult given the uncertainty of electrode contact with viable neural elements. This paper reviews surgical technique and the use of auditory brainstem responses to map the electrodes. A 4-year-old child deafened by meningitis at age 20 months had bilateral cochlear ossification by computed tomography. At surgery, a canal wall-down mastoidectomy and closure of the ear canal were performed. A trough around the modiolus was drilled, and the electrode array was placed in it. Post-operatively, the patient gave aversive or no responses to electrode stimulation. To assess electrode function, auditory brainstem responses to individual electrode activation were obtained under general anesthesia. Functioning electrodes could thus be selected for mapping. The patient now responds well to sound.
Loudness “ratios” and “differences” involve the same psychophysical operation

Subjects judged both “atios” of loudness and “differences” in loudness between pairs of tones that varied in intensity. The pairs were constructed from factorial designs, permitting separation of stimulus and response scaling for each subject. Ratings of “differences” and estimations of “ratios” were monotonically related, inconsistent with the hypothesis that subjects perform both subtractive and ratio operations on a common scale. Instead, the data suggest that both tasks involve the same psychophysical comparison operation with different response transformations. If the operation can be represented by the subtractive model, then category ratings involve a nearly linear transformation and magnitude estimations involve a nearly exponential transformation.
-Thalassemia: HiJAKing Ineffective Erythropoiesis and Iron Overload

β-thalassemia encompasses a group of monogenic diseases that have in common defective synthesis of β-globin. The defects involved are extremely heterogeneous and give rise to a large phenotypic spectrum, with patients that are almost asymptomatic to cases in which regular blood transfusions are required to sustain life. As a result of the inefficient synthesis of β-globin, the patients suffer from chronic anemia due to a process called ineffective erythropoiesis (IE). The sequelae of IE lead to extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) with massive splenomegaly and dramatic iron overload, which in turn is responsible for many of the secondary pathologies observed in thalassemic patients. The processes are intimately linked such that an ideal therapeutic approach should address all of the complications. Although β-thalassemia is one of the first monogenic diseases to be described and represents a global health problem, only recently has the scientific community started to focus on the real molecular mechanisms that underlie this disease, opening new and exciting therapeutic perspectives for thalassemic patients worldwide.
3D echocardiography of the atrial septum: anatomical features and landmarks for the echocardiographer.

A detailed understanding of the anatomy of the atrial septum ([1][1]) is increasingly important for the echocardiographer. This relates to the need to assess suitability for device closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs), echocardiographically guided transeptal puncture, and surgical planning for
A comparison of bail amounts for hispanics, whites, and african americans: A single county analysis

Using 1996 data on defendants accused of felony offenses derived from a district court in a Midwestern jurisdiction, the authors employ bivariate and multivariate analyses to examine for significant differences between Hispanics and other racial and ethnic groups in the dependent variable, bail amount set by judge. To predict differences in the bail amount set by judges for Hispanic and other defendants, the multiple regression controls for two independent “legal” variables, prior arrest and seriousness of the instant offense, and for the “extra-legal” variables of age, gender, type of attorney, residency, and race. Our research shows that Hispanics receive higher bail amounts than White or African Americans; leading the authors to cast doubt on the tenets of “legal theory” which has gained attention as a model for explaining why members of racial or ethnic minorities receive harsher treatment at various stages of the criminal and juvenile justice system.
Asthma in humans and cats: Is there a common sensitivity to aeroallegens in shared environments? ☆

Cats spontaneously develop eosinophilic airway inflammation and airway hyperreactivity that is very similar to human allergic asthma. In addition, household cats share environmental exposures to aeroallergens with humans. We review the scientific literature concerning the pathophysiology of feline asthma, including similarities to human asthma and evidence regarding environmental aeroallergen triggers. Results of pathophysiological studies suggest important similarities between human and feline responses to inhaled allergens. Only a few studies were found that examined the development of disease in cats to environmental aeroallergens. Limited evidence suggests that some environmental allergens can cause disease in both cats and humans. It appears that there is a need for greater communication between human and animal health professionals regarding environmental causes of asthma. Specifically, additional research into linkages between human and feline asthma using both molecular techniques and clinical epidemiological approaches could lead to improved understanding of the environmental risks. Finally, there should be consideration of use of naturally affected and/or experimentally induced (using clinically relevant allergens) asthmatic cats in preclinical trials for novel therapeutic interventions.
Catastrophizing and perceived partner responses to pain

This study examined the relationship between catastrophizing and patient-perceived partner responses to pain behaviors. The Catastrophizing subscale of the Cognitive Coping Strategy Inventory and the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory were completed by 62 adult chronic pain patients. Consistent with past research, catastrophizing and patient-perceived solicitous partner behaviors were positively correlated with negative pain outcomes. The communal coping theory of catastrophizing suggests that catastrophizing might be undertaken to solicit support and empathy from others. However, catastrophizing was not related to perceived solicitous partner behavior in this study. Rather, catastrophizing was associated with perceived punishing partner responses. Implications are that catastrophizing and perceived solicitous partner behaviors are independently associated with pain and that catastrophizing may not be reinforced by empathy from significant others.
Chlorpheniramine Dissolution and Relative Urinary Excretion from Commercial Products

Dissolution profiles were determined for seven commercially available nonprescription solid dosage forms containing Chlorpheniramine (four sustained release and three immediate release). An in vitro pH change method used to simulate Gl transit produced dissolution profiles for some similarly labeled products which were significantly nonequivalent. One product failed to release its Chlorpheniramine even when ground in a mortar and pestle in HCl solution, but did release drug in H3PO4 solution. A small (four subjects) relative bioavailability study based on average cumulative excretion of intact drug in urine gave results in parallel with substantially nonequivalent dissolution data for three products.
Effects of Tai /Chi Exercise on Balance, Functional Mobility, and Fear of Falling among Older Women

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Tai Chi exercise among older women. Multiple regression analysis revealed statistically significant improvements in scores for balance ( p p p
Ferrous-Ferric Ion exchange dosemeter.

In this work a three-dimensional ferrous-ferric ion exchange dosemeter is proposed and the dose response measured. The dosemeter consists of strong acid cation exchange resin beads in the H form in water. Amberlyst 15 Wet beads with a harmonic mean diameter of 0.600-0.850 mm were prepared by soaking them in an aqueous solution of ferrous ammonium sulphate to exchange ferrous ions for H + ions. The beads were rinsed with distilled water and packed in glass vials. Sets of samples with ferrous ion concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 mM were dosed with 6 MV X rays from a Varian 2100C linac. The spin-lattice relaxation time constants (T1) for the samples were measured using an Apollo spectrometer (Tecmag, Houston, TX) interfaced to a 1.5 T magnet (Magnex, Abingdon, UK). Each sample had two T1 values; a long T1 at 1200 ms that did not significantly change with dose and a short T1 that ranged from 56 ms at 0 Gy to 36 ms at 100 Gy. The R1 vs. dose responses were linear with slopes of 0.066 and 0.079 s -1 Gy -1 .
Rb-Sr resonance ionization geochronology of the Duluth Gabbro: A proof of concept for in situ dating on the Moon.

Rationale We report new 87Rb-87Sr isochron data for the Duluth Gabbro, obtained with a laser ablation resonance ionization mass spectrometer that is a prototype spaceflight instrument. The gabbro has a Rb abundance and a range of Rb/Sr ratios that are similar to those of KREEP-rich basalts found on the nearside of the Moon. Dating of previously un-sampled young lunar basalts, which generally have a KREEP-rich composition, is critical for understanding the bombardment history of the Moon since 3.5 Ga, which in turn informs the chronology of the solar system. Measurements of lunar analogs like the Duluth Gabbro are a proof of concept for in situ dating of rocks on the Moon to constrain lunar history. Methods Using the laser ablation resonance ionization mass spectrometer we ablated hundreds of locations on a sample, and at each one measured the relative abundances of the isotopes of Rb and Sr. A delay between the resonant photoionization processes separates the elements in time, eliminating the potential interference between 87Rb and 87Sr. This enables the determination of 87Rb-87Sr isochron ages without sophisticated sample preparation that would be impractical in a spaceflight context. Results We successfully dated the Duluth Gabbro to 800 ± 300 Ma using traditional isochron methods like those used in our earlier analysis of the Martian meteorite Zagami. However, we were able to improve this to 1100 ± 200 Ma, an accuracy of <1σ, using a novel normalization approach. Both these results agree with the age determined by Faure et al. in 1969, but our novel normalization improves our precision. Conclusions Demonstrating that this technique can be used for measurements at this level of difficulty makes ~32% of the lunar nearside amenable to in situ dating, which can complement or supplement a sample return program. Given these results and the scientific value of dating young lunar basalts, we have recently proposed a spaceflight mission called the Moon Age and Regolith Explorer (MARE). © 2015 The Authors and Southwest Research Institute. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Going early, going late: The rationality of decisions about suicide in aids

Where assistance in suicide is readily available to those dying of AIDS, as in the west coast gay communities of the United States and in the Netherlands, we must examine the different roles of physicians and friends (including lovers, spouses, family members, religious advisors, members of support groups, and intimate others) in helping a person with AIDS decide about and carry out suicide. This paper makes a central assumption: that where assistance in suicide is available, it is the moral obligation of others to protect and enhance as much as possible the rationality of that choice. Four components are identified in a rational choice about suicide in AIDS-whether it is a choice for or against suicide. Phrased as questions a person with AIDS might ask him- or herself, they are: (1) "Is suicide an option I want to consider?" (2) "Shall I hold out for the chance of a cure?" (3) "How shall I time my suicide?" (4) "What weight shall I give to the welfare and interests of others?" Although physicians often make assertions relevant to (1), they are appropriately involved only in (3); and although friends or intimate partners often provide the patient with anecdotal information relevant to (3), they should be involved primarily in (1). In short, both physicians and friends often intervene in the wrong parts of choices made by a person with AIDS about suicide.
Quasi-Sequential Procedures for the Calibration Problem

The calibration problem has been discussed widely, by many authors adopting different lines of thought: Classical, Bayesian, Structural. We face the problem of a monlinear experimental design problem and we introduce a quasi-sequential procedure to overcome the poor initial knowledge about the parameters we want to estimate. A simulation study provides empirical evidence that significant improvements can be achieved.
Modeling the spread of community-associated MRSA

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) are strains of the bacterium S. aureus that are responsible for skin and soft tissue, blood, bone, and other infections that can be life threatening. CA-MRSA strains are resistant to standard antibiotics related to penicillins and have a high prevalence in the general community, as well as in healthcare facilities. CA-MRSA presents novel challenges for computational epidemiological modeling compared to other commonly modeled diseases. CA-MRSA challenges include modeling activities and contact processes of individuals in which direct skin contact can be an important infection pathway, estimating disease transmission parameters based on limited data, and representing behavioral responses of individuals to the disease and healthcare interventions. We are developing a fine-grained agent-based model of CA-MRSA for the Chicago metropolitan area. This paper describes how we are modeling CA-MRSA disease processes based on variants of standard epidemiological models and individual agent-based approaches.
An agent-based model of income inequalities in diet in the context of residential segregation.

Background Low dietary quality is a key contributor to obesity and related illnesses, and lower income is generally associated with worse dietary profiles. The unequal geographic distribution of healthy food resources could be a key contributor to income disparities in dietary profiles. Purpose To explore the role that economic segregation can have in creating income differences in healthy eating and to explore policy levers that may be appropriate for countering income disparities in diet. Methods A simple agent-based model was used to identify segregation patterns that generate income disparities in diet. The capacity for household food preferences and relative pricing of healthy foods to overcome or exacerbate the differential was explored. Results Absent other factors, income differentials in diet resulted from the segregation of high-income households and healthy food stores from low-income households and unhealthy food stores. When both income groups shared a preference for healthy foods, low-income diets improved but a disparity remained. Both favorable preferences and relatively cheap healthy foods were necessary to overcome the differential generated by segregation. Conclusions The model underscores the challenges of fostering favorable behavior change when people and resources are residentially segregated and behaviors are motivated or constrained by multiple factors. Simulation modeling can be a useful tool for proposing and testing policies or interventions that will ultimately be implemented in a complex system where the consequences of multidimensional interactions are difficult to predict.
Empirical Models for Anomalous High-Frequency Arrivals from Deep-Focus Earthquakes in South America

Summary Anomalous high-frequency arrivals from deep-focus earthquakes have been observed for epicentral distances of 13–21 degrees in Japan, Tonga and South America. Their arrival times are up to a minute later than those of S, their durations are longer than those of the direct phases and they have an apparent phase velocity of 4.7 km s-1. Isacks and Barazangi have proposed a model which fits the data for arrivals of this type observed at NNA in South America. Their model assumes the existence of structure heretofore not predicted by independent observation. Assuming the uniqueness of their model in its ability to fit the data, they have used it as evidence for the existence of these structures. We have found, however, alternative models which fit the data for arrivals of this type observed at ARE, CUS and TRU in addition to those at NNA. According to these models, a P phase travels from the focus to some discontinuity where it is converted to an S phase which travels on to the station. The conversion points predicted by these models lie near a boundary of the inclined seismic zone which, we speculate, defines a dipping lithospheric slab. We conclude that these anomalous arrivals can be interpreted using seismic-ray calculations based on laterally homogeneous velocity-depth models and a dipping interface.
Have Large Dams Altered Extreme Precipitation Patterns

Dams and their impounded waters are among the most common civil infrastructures, with a long heritage of modern design and operations experience. In particular, large dams, defined by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) as having a height greater than 15 meters from the foundation and holding a reservoir volume of more than 3 million cubic meters, have the potential to vastly transform local climate, landscapes, regional economics, and urbanization patterns. In the United States alone, about 75,000 dams are capable of storing a volume of water equaling almost 1 year's mean runoff of the nation [Graf, 1999]. The World Commission on Dams (WCD) reports that at least 45,000 large dams have been built worldwide since the 1930s. These sheer numbers raise the question of the extent to which large dams and their impounded waters alter patterns that would have been pervasive had the dams not been built.
Ankle spasticity and strength in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

Ankle spasticity and strength in 27 children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) (mean age 9 years, range 3 to 18 years) and a group of 12 children without CP (comparison group) (mean age 9 years, range 5 to 18 years) were observed. To measure spasticity, a KinCom dynamometer dorsiflexed the passive ankle at five different speeds and recorded the resistive plantarflexion torques. Work values for the torque-angle data were calculated at each speed. Using this data, linear regression was used to measure spasticity. To measure strength, the dynamometer rotated the ankle from maximum dorsiflexion to maximum plantarflexion at a speed of 10°/s while the child performed a maximum plantarflexion concentric contraction. The movement was reversed to record maximum dorsiflexion. Maximum torques and work by the plantarflexors and dorsiflexors were calculated. The group with CP had significantly more spasticity in the plantarflexors and significantly less strength in the plantarflexors and dorsiflexors than the group without CP. Results provide objective information quantifying ankle spasticity and strength in children with CP.
Orientation imaging microscopy: application to the measurement of grain boundary structure

The method of orientation imaging microscopy (OIM), which utilizes rapid, direct measurements of local lattice orientation on a grid of points fixed upon flat surfaces sectioned from polycrystals, is described, and connected with established stereological theory. Examples of OIM applied to an Fe-2wt.%Si alloy are presented. Procedures associated with the Sv/PL stereology are extended to obtain a new Sv/f2 stereology linking two-point statistics of lattice orientation with the distribution of grain boundary structure. The chief advantage of the new stereology is that it can be implemented directly from OIM. It is shown that the reliability of the method depends, not only on the number of sectioned surfaces interrogated (as is the case with established Sv/PL stereology), but also on the magnitude of the spacing between grid points.
Semiparametric efficiency bounds

Semiparametric models are those where the functional form of some components is unknown. Efficiency bounds are of fundamental importance for such models. They provide a guide to estimation methods and give an asymptotic efficiency standard. The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to research methods and problems for semiparametric efficiency bounds. The nature of the bounds is discussed, as well as ways of calculating them. Their uses in solving estimation problems are outlined, including construction of semiparametric estimators and calculation of their limiting distribution. The paper includes new results as well as survey material.
Ecological Parameters of Coluber constrictor etheridgei, with Comparisons to Other Coluber constrictor Subspecies

In 1998, we conducted a radio-telemetry study of Coluber constrictor etheridgei (Tan Racer) in the Angelina National Forest in eastern Texas. Individu- als were located once daily from 12 June to 14 August. We determined home-range size, movement distances, movement frequency, and habitat use for this short-term study. We also determined food habits of this population by examination of fecal samples. We compared these parameters to other Racer taxa in Utah (C. c. mormon (Western Yellow-bellied Racer)), Kansas (C. c. fl aviventris (Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer)), and South Carolina (C.c. priapus (Southern Black Racer)). Compared to these populations, Texas Racers exhibited larger home ranges and greater movement frequency and distances during the summer than Utah or Kansas populations, but ap- proximately equal to those of the South Carolina population. Available data on food habits suggests that all populations are consumers of invertebrate and vertebrate prey. We hypothesize that the basic diet of C. constrictor is composed of invertebrates cap- tured by active foraging in areas of abundant herbaceous vegetation, that differences in home-range size and movement distances result from variations in patchiness of suitable foraging habitat across populations, and that the proportion of vertebrate prey in the diet of Coluber populations increases as home-range size and move- ment distances increase due to increasing patchiness of foraging habitat, resulting in increasing encounters with vertebrate prey.
Integrated Collections: Approach to Software Component Reuse

Software reuse has yet to offer well-defined methodologies and mature technologies for developing applications with reuse. Implementing a successful reuse initiative to realize the perceived benefits of reuse requires initial investment that makes the cost of reuse prohibitive for many organizations. The most common form of reusable assets is source code. In some estimates, domain-specific components represent up to 65% of the application size. One approach to effective reuse practices focus on domain-specific components. This work investigates software reuse practices and presents an integrated approach to component-based development to motivate domain-specific component reuse with emphasis on source code artifacts. The approach defines collections of reusable components that are integrated into the development environment. The concept of generic interface is also utilized to define a wrapper interface mechanism to manage and control the interfacing of reusable collections with applications in the domain of interest. The approach is mainly based on programming effort and does not require additional effort dealing with the managerial and organizational aspects of implementing comprehensive reuse initiatives
Regulation of chaperone/effector complex synthesis in a bacterial type III secretion system

Type III protein secretion systems (T3SSs), which have evolved to deliver bacterial proteins into nucleated cells, are found in many species of Gram-negative bacteria that live in close association with eukaryotic hosts. Proteins destined to travel this secretion pathway are targeted to the secretion machine by customized chaperones, with which they form highly structured complexes. Here, we have identified a mechanism that co-ordinates the expression of the Salmonella Typhimurium T3SS chaperone SicP and its cognate effector SptP. Translation of the effector is coupled to that of its chaperone, and in the absence of translational coupling, an inhibitory RNA structure prevents translation of sptP. The data presented here show how the genomic organization of functionally related proteins can have a significant impact on the co-ordination of their expression.
Prediction of peptide conformation by multicanonical algorithm: new approach to the multiple-minima problem

We apply a recently developed method, the multicanonical algorithm, to the problem of tertiary structure prediction of peptides and proteins. As a simple example to test the effectiveness of the algorithm, metenkephalin is studied and the ergodicity problem, or multiple-minima problem, is shown to be overcome by this algorithm. The lowest-energy conformation obtained agrees with that determined by other efficient methods such as Monte Carlo simulated annealing. The superiority of the present method to simulated annealing lies in the fact that the relationship to the canonical ensemble remains exactly controlled. Once the multicanonical parameters are determined, only one simulation run is necessary to obtain the lowest-energy conformation and further the results of this one run can be used to calculate various thermodynamic quantities at any temperature
A six-phase multilevel inverter for MEMS electrostatic induction micromotors

The construction of miniaturized rotating electric machines through microfabrication techniques is becoming a reality. Applications of such micromotors include miniaturized pumps, compressors, fans, coolers and turbogenerators. However, the characteristics of these devices make the design of power electronics for them challenging. These characteristics include high-voltage and high frequency operation, tightly constrained operating waveforms and timing, and capacitive input impedances. This paper explores the design of power electronics for microfabricated electrostatic induction machines. The authors describe the structure and operation of these machines, and establish the operating requirements of power converters for them. They provide a comparison of inverter topologies for this application, and propose an appropriate architecture. The design and experimental evaluation of a prototype six-phase, five-level inverter for this application is presented. The inverter operates at frequencies up to 2 MHz and at voltages up to 300 V, and meets the stringent waveform and timing constraints posed by this application.
Nonlinear vibrations of rectangular laminated thin plates

Using the basic assumption of thin-plate theory, including nonlinear terms in the von Karman sense, the free flexural large-amplitude vibrations of arbitrarily laminated rectangular plates are studied. Full-mode displacement formulation with the aid of Galerkin's approximation is treated for more accurate analyses. The Duffingtype equation is solved by the method of harmonic balance with sufficient number of terms in time series, which is compared with the method of direct numerical integration. The convergence of the number of half waves in the x and y directions and that of time series is established. The nonlinear frequencies for the simply supported with movable edges and fully clamped with immovable edges are compared with the available solutions in the literature.
Capital Controls: Theory, Evidence and Policy Advice

Books reviewed in this article: Edwards, Sebastian, ed., (2000), Capital Flows and The Emerging Economies Haggard, Stephan (2000), The Political Economy of the Asian Financial Crisis Schulze, Gunter G. (2000), The Political Economy of Capital Controls
Chemical Vapor Deposition of Titania/Silica and Zirconia Films

Amorphous thin films of composition TixSi1−xO2 have been grown by low pressure chemical vapor deposition on silicon (100) substrates using Si(OEt)4 and either Ti(OiPr)4 or anhydrous Ti(NO3)4 as the sources of SiO2 and TiO2, respectively. The substrate temperature was varied between 300 and 535°C, and the precursor flow rates ranged from 5 to 100 sccm. Under these conditions growth rates ranging from 0.6 to 90.0 nm/min were observed. Films were amorphous to X-rays as deposited and SEM micrographs showed smooth, featureless film surfaces. Cross-sectional TEM showed no compositional inhomogeneity. RBS revealed that x (from the formula TixSi1−xO2) was dependent upon the choice of TiO2 precursor. For films grown using TTIP-TEOS x could be varied by systematic variation of the flow of N2 through the precursor vessels or the deposition temperature. For the case of TN-TEOS x remained close to 0.5. The results suggested the existence of a specific chemical reaction between TN and TEOS prior to film deposition. The CVD of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) films from zirconium tetra-tert-butoxide {Zr[OC(CH3)3]4} is also described. The films, which were deposited on Si(100), were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ellipsometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). Deposition was studied between ∼380 and 825 °C, and at precursor pressures between 4 × 10−5 and 1 × 10−4 Torr. The kinetics for steady-state growth were studied as functions of temperature and precursor pressure. Results were fit to a two-step kinetic model involving reversible precursor adsorption followed by irreversible decomposition to ZrO2.
SIGNIFICANCE OF RATE OF RESPONSE OF BASAL METABOLIC RATE AND SERUM CHOLESTEROL IN HYPERTHYROID PATIENTS RECEIVING NEOMERCAZOLE AND OTHER ANTITHYROID AGENTS.

The response rate of 76 patients receiving neomercazole for thyrotoxicosis was analyzed. The fall of the BMR with time was found to be a single exponential function in this series. The fall of the BMR following surgery and other antithyroid drug therapy has also been described as a single exponential function. Furthermore, the rate of fall of the BMR is essentially the same for each of these forms of treatment. The rise of the serum cholesterol with time was multiexponential. Analysis of the data indicated that the rate of fall of the BMR may be the index of choice in the intercomparison of the effectiveness of various antithyroid agents, and that clinical indices such as the “interval to euthyroid” were not so reliable. Since there appeared to be no essential difference between rate and character of response of hyperthyroid patients to various forms of antithyroid treatment, it is concluded that the method of choice for therapy would, at present, seem to depend upon drug toxicity and morbidity, and not u...
Mechanism of cGMP contribution to the vasodilator response to NO in rat middle cerebral arteries.

This study examined the mechanism by which cGMP contributes to the vasodilator response to nitric oxide (NO) in rat middle cerebral arteries (MCA). Administration of a NO donor, diethylaminodiazen-...
Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Sleep Disturbances in Older Adults

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are frequently used for the treatment of sleep disorders, but in many cases patients do not discuss these therapies directly with their health care provider. There is a growing body of well-designed clinical trials using CAM that have shown the following: (1) Melatonin is an effective agent for the treatment of circadian phase disorders that affect sleep; however, the role of melatonin in the treatment of primary or secondary insomnia is less well established. (2) Valerian has shown a benefit in some, but not all clinical trials. (3) Several other modalities, such as Tai Chi, acupuncture, acupressure, yoga, and meditation have improved sleep parameters in a limited number of early trials. Future work examining CAM has the potential to significantly add to our treatment options for sleep disorders in older adults.
A 90nm CMOS Doherty Power Amplifier with Integrated Hybrid Coupler and Impedance Transformer

An OFDM capable Doherty PA is implemented in 90 nm CMOS with integrated quadrature hybrid and impedance transformer. The two amplifiers are optimized to minimize AM-PM distortion. The PA achieves 25 dBm Psa, using 1.4 V supply with 24% PAE, and operates over 1 GHz of frequency range (from 4 GHz to 5 GHz). 3 dB to 6 dB back-off from P1dB is required to achieve -25 dB measured EVM across this band, making it suitable for WLAN and WiMAX applications. The measured AM-PM distortion varies from 4deg to 12.5deg across the 1 GHz range.
Nucleosomes are not necessary for promoter-proximal pausing in vitro on the Drosophila hsp70 promoter

RNA polymerase II has been found to pause stably on several metazoan genes in a promoter-proximal region located 20-40 nt downstream from the start site of transcription. Escape of polymerase from this paused state has been proposed to be a rate limiting step in transcription of some genes. A study of the human hsp70 promoter showed that a nucleosome positioned downstream from the transcription start was a key component in establishing a stably paused polymerase in one cell-free system. We tested whether these results could be extended to the Drosophila hsp70 promoter in a Drosophila cell-free system and found that polymerase paused stably on the promoter even when the length of DNA downstream from the transcription start was not sufficient for assembly of a nucleosome. Our results indicate that a downstream nucleosome is not a universal requirement for stably pausing RNA polymerase in the promoter-proximal region.
A STUDY OF $B^0\bar B^0$ OSCILLATIONS WITH FULLY RECONSTRUCTED B MESONS WITH THE BABAR DETECTOR

Time-dependent B{sup 0}{bar B}{sup 0} flavor oscillations are studied in e{sup +}e{sup -} annihilation data collected with the BABAR detector at center-of-mass energies near the {Upsilon}(4S) resonance. We report a preliminary result for the time-dependent B{sup 0}{bar B}{sup 0} oscillation frequency, {Delta}m{sub d} = 0.512 {+-} 0.017 {+-} 0.022 {Dirac_h} ps{sup -1}.
The behavioral and dendritic growth effects of focal sensorimotor cortical damage depend on the method of lesion induction.

Abstract Using different models of focal cortical injury in adult rats, the neural structural and behavioral outcomes of unilateral lesions of the forelimb representation of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) were assessed. Lesions were produced using either electrolytic, aspiration, or combined (‘electroaspiration’) techniques. Measurements of dendritic arborization in layer V of the motor cortex opposite the lesion revealed a growth of pyramidal neuron dendritic processes following electrolytic lesions in comparison to shams. This effect was not found in either the aspiration or electroaspiration lesion groups. Behaviorally, animals in all lesion groups developed a hyper-reliance on the forelimb ipsilateral to the lesion and proportionate disuse of the contralateral (impaired) forelimb for postural support behaviors. In comparison to sham-operated animals, the initial asymmetries in behaviors expressed during movement were similar between lesion groups, but were less enduring following electrolytic lesions than following aspiration and electroaspiration lesions. Furthermore, both aspiration lesion groups had more prevalent adduction of the impaired forelimb than the electrolytic-only lesion rats. Thus, cortical aspiration resulted in more severe and enduring forelimb impairments than the electrolytic lesions, despite similar lesion sizes, as assessed using cortical volume measures. These findings suggest that the aspiration lesion procedures, at least as performed in the present study, exacerbate the behavioral effects of focal cortical injury and limit compensatory plasticity in the contralateral cortex.
Experts: Which Ones Should You Trust?

1. Expertise and Testimony Mainstream epistemology is a highly theoretical and abstract enterprise. Traditional epistemologists rarely present their deliberations as critical to the practical problems of life, unless one supposes-as Hume, for example, did not-that skeptical worries should trouble us in our everyday affairs. But some issues in epistemology are both theoretically interesting and practically quite pressing. That holds of the problem to be discussed here: how laypersons should evaluate the testimony of experts and decide which of two or more rival experts is most credible. It is of practical importance because in a complex, highly specialized world people are constantly confronted with situations in which, as comparative novices (or even ignoramuses), they must turn to putative experts for intellectual guidance or assistance. It is of theoretical interest because the appropriate epistemic considerations are far from transparent; and it is not clear how far the problems lead to insurmountable skeptical quandaries. This paper does not argue for flat-out skepticism in this domain; nor, on the other hand, does it purport to resolve all pressures in the direction of skepticism. It is an exploratory paper, which tries to identify problems and examine some possible solutions, not to establish those solutions definitively. The present topic departs from traditional epistemology and philosophy of science in another respect as well. These fields typically consider the prospects for knowledge acquisition in "ideal" situations. For example, epistemic agents are often examined who have unlimited logical competence and no significant limits on their investigational resources. In the present problem, by contrast, we focus on agents with stipulated epistemic constraints and ask what they might attain while subject to those constraints. Although the problem of assessing experts is non-traditional in some respects, it is by no means a new problem. It was squarely formulated and addressed by Plato in some of his early dialogues, especially the Charmides. In this dialogue Socrates asks whether a man is able to examine another man
Rocking promotes differentiated properties in LLC-PK cells by improved oxygenation

Previous studies from our laboratory indicated that in contrast to cells cultured under still conditions, LLC-PK cells cultured under conditions of continuous rocking exhibit pH-modulated ammonia production and also manifest lower levels of lactate dehydrogenase activity. In the present studies, we assessed whether other metabolic features and parameters of differentiation are modified by rocking. Rocked, as contrasted with still, cultures exhibited decreased medium lactate production and increased cellular ATP content consistent with heightened oxidative metabolism. Still cultures did not exhibit either dome formation or sodium-dependent alpha-methylglucoside uptake until the cultures reached full confluency. By contrast, rocked cultures underwent dome formation as well as enhanced alpha-methylglucoside uptake during the growth phase, and these parameters were quantitatively greater than in still culture even after full confluency was achieved. Thus rocking promotes several functions, which can reflect differentiation in LLC-PK cells. To determine whether provision of adequate oxygen accounts for the enhancement of cellular metabolism and differentiated functions by rocking, still cultures grown in a high oxygen concentration of 36% were compared with standard cultures grown in 18% oxygen. The high oxygen environment resulted in the development of pH-modulated ammonia production, a decrease in lactate dehydrogenase activity, lower medium lactate formation, increased ATP levels, more copious dome formation, and increased alpha-methylglucoside uptake. Thus rocking promotes cellular metabolism and differentiated functions by the provision of adequate oxygenation.
Not just for males: females use song against male and female rivals in a temperate zone songbird

Birdsong in temperate zone passerines is a trait under sexual selection in males. Female song is still thought to be rare in this group. Here we show that female song is common in a temperate zone population of house wrens, Troglodytes aedon, and we provide evidence for its functional role in defending against male and female conspecifics. We observed that females sang most frequently at the onset of egg laying, with song becoming less common as incubation approached. Thus, females sang most during the time when eggs were left unguarded and susceptible to conspecific attack. We also conducted playback experiments to test whether conspecific stimuli would induce female song in focal individuals. Playback from both male and female conspecifics elicited strong song responses from resident females, who often vocalized independently from their partners. However, females were more physically aggressive towards female songs than male songs. Finally, females that sang more during these simulated conspecific intrusions ultimately lost fewer eggs to house wren ovicide. These results suggest that female house wren song may have evolved, at least in part, for use in intra- and intersexual competition. These results also highlight how investigating these traditionally male behaviours in female animals can lead to key insights regarding the evolution of sexual dimorphism.
Groups of positive operators

1. Introduction. Semi-groups of bounded positive operators on certain function spaces enter the theory of stochastic processes of the diffusion type in an essential way. It is a matter of experience that these semi-groups cannot be imbedded in groups of positive operators, or, in more special terms, that the solution of a diffusion equation does not define a one-parameter group of positive operators on the natural function space.
The Diffusion of Local Bill of Rights Resolutions to the States

Local officials engage in activism by passing laws in defiance of state and/or federal authority. Their intent is to stimulate policy change or, at least, to force a higher government response. What effect, if any, do their actions have? This study employs event history analysis, seeking to determine whether there is a relationship between local activism and state response as it pertains to the local Bill of Rights movement. In this movement, some localities and states passed resolutions or ordinances in opposition to the USA PATRIOT Act. While legislative professionalism is related to state resolution activity, the stronger predictor is the breadth of diffusion among localities.
Hydrodynamic overstability experiments in high-power laser-driven radiative blast waves

We report experiments on high power laser driven radiative blast waves. By focusing 100J – 1 kJ laser pulses onto pin targets immersed in gases we attempted to produce the pressure-driven thin shell overstability thought to play a major role in supernova remnant hydrodynamics.
NASA Technology for Next Generation Vertical Lift Vehicles

The next generation of vertical lift vehicles will push the state-of-the-art in many technology areas to meet high-speed and high-efficiency performance requirements while enabling affordable and environmentally friendly operations. This paper describes the NASA Rotary Wing research results, on-going research and future technology directions that demonstrate the viability of advanced technology at the component, sub-system and system level. Technologies that particularly pertain to structural dynamics challenges in the disciplines of propulsion, aeromechanics, impact loading of composites, and design optimization are emphasized.
A Study of the Dynamics of the Electron-Hole-Liquid Free-Exciton System In Ge Using No-Phonon Luminescence

The no-phonon luminescence mediated by impurities upon which electron-hole-droplets are bound is used to probe the decay of the free exciton-electron hole droplet system. This powerful new probe enables the determination of the number and size of droplets as a function of time and other experimental parameters. A detailed characterization of the dynamics of the decay of an electron-hole-liquid free-exciton system is presented.
Unclarity confusion and expiration date labels in the United States: A consumer perspective

Abstract This paper discusses findings from a qualitative study about the role played by unclarity confusion related to expiration dates in the purchase of perishable grocery products from the perspective of consumers in the United States. Participants emphasized that expiration dates provide important point-of-purchase information that facilitates consumer decision-making at the shelf when tasting or smelling the product for freshness is not an option. Issues related to understanding the meaning of expiration dates, confusion caused by varying formats and how this confusion produces affective, cognitive, and behavioral consequences are also highlighted. Based on these findings, this paper presents a conceptual framework explicating the role of unclarity confusion surrounding expiration dates on the consumers’ path to purchasing perishable grocery products. We expect that our findings and proposed framework will allow for more exploration of the use of expiration dates, highlight the consequences faced because of unclarity confusion caused by expiration dates, and call attention to opportunities for retailers and manufacturers to play a larger role in ensuring consumers can make better informed decisions at the grocery shelf.