cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relation of Certain Physical Traits and Abilities to Motor Learning in Elementary School Children

Abstract The investigator studied the physical traits and abilities of elementary school children in relation to their ability to learn a ball bounce and a ball toss motor skill. Statistical significances between the fast and slow learners were determined by computation of the t ratios. Regression equations were computed in score form. Many of the physical and motor ability measures differentiated significantly the fast and slow learners. Analysis of the multiple correlations indicate there are some physical traits and abilities which contribute toward motor learning but there are evidently more.
Dietary protein in pregnancy: Effect on anthropometric indices of the newborn infant

The urinary urea nitrogen/creatinine nitrogen ratio (UN/CN), an objective index of the level of dietary protein, was measured serially throughout pregnancy in 870 women. The mean UN/CN ratio was calculated for each subject. Subjects were grouped by mean UN/CN ratios. Those in the lowest decile (mean protein intake, 0.7 gm/kg/day) in comparison with those in the highest decile (mean protein intake, 1.5 gm/kg/day) were of lower socioeconomic class, weighed more before pregnancy, and gained less during pregnancy. However, birth weight and other anthropometric indices of the newborn infant were not related to the level of dietary protein during pregnancy.
Swimming upstream in sustainable design

Sustainability in (Inter)Action provides a forum for innovative thought, design, and research in the area of interaction design and environmental sustainability. The column explores how HCI can contribute to the complex and interdisciplinary efforts to address sustainability challenges. Elaine M. Huang, Editor
Functional food products made from fish protein isolate recovered with isoelectric solubilization/precipitation

Abstract Isoelectric solubilization/precipitation (ISP) allows efficient recovery of fish protein isolate (FPI) that could be used in functional foods. There is an increasing interest in incorporating ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) oils in food with a simultaneous sodium reduction. FPI was recovered from whole gutted trout using ISP. FPI was used as a main ingredient in heat-set gels made with ω-3 PUFAs oils (flaxseed, algae, fish, krill, and blend) and KCl-based salt substitute. The objectives were to determine (1) protein gelation, (2) color and texture, and (3) sodium and potassium content of the developed functional food (i.e., heat-set gels). Color properties were improved except when krill or algae oil was added. Texture profile analysis showed that ω-3 PUFAs generally did not affect texture of trout protein gels. The addition of ω-3 PUFAs oil improved heat-induced protein gelation as demonstrated by dynamic rheology. Elastic modulus increased when ω-3 PUFAs oil was added except krill oil. Salt substitute resulted in reduced sodium and increased potassium content in the heat-set gels. The functional food products developed from FRI were nutritionally enhanced with ω-3 PUFAs, had reduced sodium and increased potassium; while the color and texture properties were good and gelation properties were improved.
Estimation of weighted multinomial probabilities under log-convex constraints

Abstract Many problems in Statistics involve maximizing a multinomial likelihood over a restricted region. In this paper, we consider instead maximizing a weighted multinomial likelihood. We show that a dual problem always exits which is frequently more tractable and that a solution to the dual problem leads directly to a solution of the primal problem. Moreover, the form of the dual problem suggests an iterative algorithm for solving the MLE problem when the constraint region can be written as a finite intersection of cones. We show that this iterative algorithm is guaranteed to converge to the true solution and show that when the cones are isotonic, this algorithm is a version of Dykstra's algorithm (Dykstra, J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 78 (1983) 837–842) for the special case of least squares projection onto the intersection of isotonic cones. We give several meaningful examples to illustrate our results. In particular, we obtain the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator of a monotone density function in the presence of selection bias.
Theoretical Ceiling on Quark Masses in the Standard Model

An unavoidable condition for consistency of the standard model is that all quarks must be lighter than some critical mass. A precise determination of this bound necessitates a complete renormalization group analysis of the scalar potential. Our results, that this critical condition is M q Higgss , differs markedly from previous investigations.
How U.S. Farm Programs and Crop Revenue Insurance Affect Returns to Farm Land

A simulation model incorporating price and yield variability is used to examine the impact of government farm program and crop revenue coverage (CRC) insurance payments on the probability distribution of returns to land. Results indicate that Marketing Loan Program payments have the greatest impact on both the mean and standard deviation of returns. Agricultural Market Transition Act payments shift the distribution of returns without changing the variability, creating a reduction in relative risk. Market loss assistance payments increase the mean, reduce variability, and increase skewness. When combined, farm programs substantially increase the value that risk-averse producers place on the residual returns to land and substantially reduce the certainty equivalent value of CRC.
Power approximation for computing ( s , S ) policies using service level

The paper presents an analytic approximation for computing s, S policies for single items under periodic review with fixed ordering costs, linear holding costs and a service level requirement. The replenishment lead time is fixed and unfilled demand is backlogged. The approximation is similar to Ehrhardt's "Power Approximation." However, we do not assume the knowledge of shortage costs, which are difficult to estimate in practice. We define a γ-service level which measures the average backlog relative to the average demand. This quantity is easy to understand and frequently used in practice. The resulting power approximation policies are easy to compute and require only knowledge of the mean and variance of demand. Computational results show that the approximation gives a γ-service level which is within one percentage point of the required service level in most cases. Furthermore, the expected total costs of the approximation, taking into consideration a penalty cost for stockouts, are well within one percent of optimal.
A heart rate index for assessing heat stress

The primary objective of this investigation was to develop an index capable of assessing the magnitude of heat stress imposed on young heat acclimatized men exposed to variable work, climatic condi...
Carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation by moderately thermophilic methanogens

A series of laboratory studies were conducted to increase understanding of stable carbon (13C/12C) and hydrogen (D/H) isotope fractionation arising from methanogenesis by moderately thermophilic acetate- and hydrogen-consuming methanogens. Studies of the aceticlastic reaction were conducted with two closely related strains of Methanosaeta thermophila. Results demonstrate a carbon isotope fractionation of only 7‰ (α= 1.007) between the methyl position of acetate and the resulting methane. Methane formed by this process is enriched in 13C when compared with other natural sources of methane; the magnitude of this isotope effect raises the possibility that methane produced at elevated temperature by the aceticlastic reaction could be mistaken for thermogenic methane based on carbon isotopic content. Studies of H2/CO2 methanogenesis were conducted with Methanothermobacter marburgensis . The fractionation of carbon isotopes between CO2 and CH4 was found to range from 22 to 58‰ (1.023 ≤ α ≤ 1.064). Greater fractionation was associated with low levels of molecular hydrogen and steady-state metabolism. The fractionation of hydrogen isotopes between source H2O and CH4 was found to range from 127 to 275‰ (1.16 ≤ α ≤ 1.43). Fractionation was dependent on growth phase with greater fractionation associated with later growth stages. The maximum observed fractionation factor was 1.43, independent of the δD-H2 supplied to the culture. Fractionation was positively correlated with temperature and/or metabolic rate. Results demonstrate significant variability in both hydrogen and carbon isotope fractionation during methanogenesis from H2/CO2. The relatively small fractionation associated with deuterium during H2/CO2 methanogenesis provides an explanation for the relatively enriched deuterium content of biogenic natural gas originating from a variety of thermal environments. Results from these experiments are used to develop a hypothesis that differential reversibility in the enzymatic steps of the H2/CO2 pathway gives rise to variability in the observed carbon isotope fractionation. Results are further used to constrain the overall efficiency of electron consumption by way of the hydrogenase system in M. marburgensis, which is calculated to be less than 55%. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd.
Iterative thresholding for segmentation of cells from noisy images

We introduce an iterative thresholding algorithm for the segmentation of cells from noisy cell images. The thresholding image, which is initially a constant, changes iteratively with both the previous segmentation and image local activity. Experimental results for both synthesized and real cell images are provided to demonstrate the performance of the algorithm.
Finite difference techniques for ring capacitors

This paper describes finite difference techniques used to calculate the capacitance of a ring capacitor. The determination of capacitance involves the solution of a Dirichlet boundary value problem and the calculation of the gradient of the solution obtained. Circular cylindrical coordinates are used. Nine point difference approximations are used for the Laplacian and the first derivatives of a function. If this function satisfies Laplace's equation and is sufficiently differentiable, the discretization error of each approximation isO(h 4) whereh is the maximum mesh size.
Cross-modal information integration in category learning.

An influential theoretical perspective describes an implicit category-learning system that associates regions of perceptual space with response outputs by integrating information preattentionally and predecisionally across multiple stimulus dimensions. In this study, we tested whether this kind of implicit, information-integration category learning is possible across stimulus dimensions lying in different sensory modalities. Humans learned categories composed of conjoint visual–auditory category exemplars comprising a visual component (rectangles varying in the density of contained lit pixels) and an auditory component (in Exp. 1, auditory sequences varying in duration; in Exp. 2, pure tones varying in pitch). The categories had either a one-dimensional, rule-based solution or a two-dimensional, information-integration solution. Humans could solve the information-integration category tasks by integrating information across two stimulus modalities. The results demonstrated an important cross-modal form of sensory integration in the service of category learning, and they advance the field’s knowledge about the sensory organization of systems for categorization.
Post-mastectomy reconstruction: a risk-stratified comparative analysis of outcomes.

Abstract Introduction Although breast reconstruction following mastectomy plays a role in the psychological impact of breast cancer, only one in three women undergo reconstruction. Few multi-institutional studies have compared complication profiles of reconstructive patients to non-reconstructive. Methods Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement database, all patients undergoing mastectomy from 2006 to 2010, with or without reconstruction, were identified and risk-stratified using propensity scored quintiles. The incidence of complications and comorbidities were compared. Results Of 37,723 mastectomies identified, 30% received immediate breast reconstruction. After quintile matching for comorbidities, complications rates between reconstructive and non-reconstructives were similar. This trend was echoed across all quintiles, except in the sub-group with highest comorbidities. Here, the reconstructive patients had significantly more complications than the non-reconstructive (22.8% versus 7.0%, p Conclusion Immediate breast reconstruction is a well-tolerated surgical procedure. However, in patients with high comorbidities, surgeons must carefully counterbalance surgical risks with psychosocial benefits to maximize patient outcomes. Level of evidence Level 3
Material Combinations for the Piston-Cylinder Interface of Axial Piston Machines: A Simulation Study

Axial-piston pumps and motors which operate at high pressures (above 380 bar) typically incorporate a copper-alloy bushing paired with a steel piston. Manufacturers have a desire to eliminate such nonferrous heavy metals from their designs to reduce manufacturing complexity and cost. This paper explores possible alternatives to this material combination at high pressures. Simulations incorporating thermal and elastic material properties are computed using a Fluid Structure Thermal Interaction (FSTI) model. The results of simulation reveal how material properties interact to affect fluid film thickness and pressure generation during pump operation. An understanding of these phenomena points the way toward the selection of novel material combinations to improve the behavior of the piston/cylinder interface.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Prospects for Astrometry with the Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST), a large optical telescope having an aperture of 2.4 meters and a length of 8.8 meters, is being developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This telescope will be placed into earth orbit by the space shuttle. Astrometric observations with the HST are made using a Fine Guidance Sensor which is capable of measuring the position of one object relative to another with an accuracy of ±0.002 arcseconds. The astrometric user of HST will be provided with an Astrometric Data Reduction Software package (ADRS). The variety of astrometric problems to be investigated with HST is discussed.
Student/teacher interaction via email: the social context of Internet discourse

Abstract While email has been used in L2 composition classrooms as a way to develop fluency, it can also be used as a means of creating and sustaining relationships, as it is often used outside the classroom. This paper examines the way students in a graduate-level ESL course used email on their own initiative to interact with their instructor. The paper examines 120 email messages received by the instructor during the course and categorizes them into four areas: (1) phatic communion, (2) asking for help, (3) making excuses, and (4) making formal requests. From these categories, representative samples were chosen to illustrate what rhetorical strategies the writers used to achieve their purpose for sending the email messages. The results show that the students were able to employ a wide variety of rhetorical strategies to interact with their instructor outside of the traditional classroom setting. For these students, email seemed to be an important means for interacting with their instructor. Moreover, the students exhibited a good ability to switch between formal and informal language, depending upon the rhetorical context of the message. In the conclusion, some of the issues regarding teaching the use of email are discussed.
The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal protein glomalin is a putative homolog of heat shock protein 60

Work on glomalin-related soil protein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (AMF) has been limited because of the unknown identity of the protein. A protein band cross-reactive with the glomalin-specific antibody MAb32B11 from the AM fungus Glomus intraradices was partially sequenced using tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A 17 amino acid sequence showing similarity to heat shock protein 60 (hsp 60) was obtained. Based on degenerate PCR, a full-length cDNA of 1773 bp length encoding the hsp 60 gene was isolated from a G. intraradices cDNA library. The ORF was predicted to encode a protein of 590 amino acids. The protein sequence had three N-terminal glycosylation sites and a string of GGM motifs at the C-terminal end. The GiHsp 60 ORF had three introns of 67, 76 and 131 bp length. The GiHsp 60 was expressed using an in vitro translation system, and the protein was purified using the 6xHis-tag system. A dot-blot assay on the purified protein showed that it was highly cross-reactive with the glomalin-specific antibody MAb32B11. The present work provides the first evidence for the identity of the glomalin protein in the model AMF G. intraradices, thus facilitating further characterization of this protein, which is of great interest in soil ecology.
A comparison of Chinese and the U.S. police cadets' occupational attitudes☆

Abstract While police attitudes and behaviors have been the subject of a large number of studies conducted since the 1960s, very few studies had assessed Chinese police officers’ work-related attitudes and compared them with those of the U.S. police cadets. Using survey data collected from 263 Chinese and American police cadets, the research empirically tested whether Chinese and American police cadet attitudes differed across four attitudinal dimensions: aggressive patrol, order maintenance, legal restrictions, and distrust of citizens. Bivariate and multivariate results showed that Chinese cadets displayed occupational outlooks that distinguished them from their American counterparts. Chinese cadets supported aggressive patrol and were more distrustful of citizens than their American counterparts. American cadets were more favorable of order maintenance activities and more accepting of legal restrictions compared with Chinese cadets. Implications for future research and policy are discussed.
A comprehensive theory for planar bending of composite laminates

Abstract Modern laminated resin matrix composite structures exhibit more pronounced transverse shear deformation than their conventional monolithic counterparts. This is because transverse shear is resin controlled and benefits little from fiber reinforcement. Recent theoretical research shows that there are additional nonclassical influences that also affect bending-related behavior of their composites. They include the consequences of section warping and its concomitant nonclassical axial stress contribution and transverse normal strain. A comprehensive theory for planar of laminates is developed and applied in this paper which accounts for these influences. It is applied to selected benchmark problems which illustrate the significance of these influences and permit comparison with previous theories.
Transatlantic linkages: The interaction between the Norwegian American and Norwegian ‘nations’ during the century of migration, 1825–1920

Rates of emigration from Norway were relatively high and rates of remigration were relatively low. Yet we should not discount the influence of returning emigrants and ideas on Norway. Indeed, this article suggests that a large emigration even without a large return migration is adequate to place its imprint on the homeland. As two locales of permanence, what we might call two ‘nations’, were developing in Norway and the Americas, their economies and cultures were both influenced by the other. Norwegian Americans used their common Norwegian past to create an ethnic institutional structure most notably in the United States. Simultaneously, the people of Norway were influenced not only by the remigration of some one‐sixth of the emigrants, but also by capital from and images of America. Whether they had emigrated or not, Norwegians used these images to foster their economy and imagine changes in relations of social class, reform movements, religious institutions, and their sense of nation.
A note on the conditional moments of a multivariate normal distribution confined to a convex set

Abstract Let Y be an N ( μ , Σ ) random variable on R m , 1 ≤ m ≤ ∞, where Σ is positive definite. Let C be a nonempty convex set in R m with closure C . Let (·,-·) be the Eculidean inner product on R m , and let μ c be the conditional expected value of Y given Y ∈ C . For v ∈ R m and s ≥ 0, let β s ( v ) be the expected value of |( v , Y ) − ( v , μ )| s and let γ s ( v ) be the conditional expected value of |( v , Y ) − ( v , μ c )| s given Y ∈ C . For s ≥ 1, γ s ( v ) β s ( v ) if and only if C + Σ v ≠ C , and γ s ( v ) β s ( v ) for all v ≠ 0 if and only if C + v ≠ C for any v ∈ R m such that v ≠ 0.
Increased sister chromatid exchanges in human cell lines characterized by monosomy X or structural abnormalities of the X chromosome.

In the present investigation we test the hypothesis that deficiencies in the X chromosome affect sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies in human fibroblast cell lines. Our results show increased mean SCE frequencies in cell lines with abnormalities of the X chromosome: 45,X; 46,X,del(X) (q13), 46,X,del(X)(p11), and 46,X,i(Xq); control cell lines were 46,XX. In only one abnormal line [46,X,del(X)(p11)] was the increase not significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. If SCE formation is replication-dependent, the increased SCE frequencies might merely reflect the prolonged cell cycle we reported previously in cell lines with X chromosome abnormalities (Simpson and LeBeau 1981). Other explanations for differences between cell lines are possible, e.g., that deleted loci on the X chromosome affect cellular uptake of bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU). However, specific mechanisms were not explored directly.
A study of low pressure particle impaction processes

Abstract Sonic velocity impactor stages have been investigated by the numerical solution of Euler equations and the equation of motion of the particles using the FEM-FCT (Finite Element Method - Flux Corrected Transport) method. Calculated solutions compare well with published results. The effects of the pressure ratio, χ = P ∞ / P 0 and the jet to plate distance S / D are examined. It is found that at certain jet to plate distances the impinging jet is unstable and the effects of this instability are examined.
Cyclophosphamide-induced severe acute hyponatremic encephalopathy in patients with breast cancer: report of two cases.

Background: Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent widely used in antineoplastic and immunosuppressive therapies. Symptomatic hyponatremia can be a rare but life-threatening complication in patients treated with cyclophosphamide. Case Presentations: We report 2 patients who presented with severe acute hyponatremic encephalopathy after receiving their first cycles of a low-dose cyclophosphamide-containing regimen for breast cancer. In case 1, a 58-year-old female received the combination of docetaxel and cyclophosphamide, and in case 2, a 56-year-old female received the combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. Both patients recovered after correction of their serum sodium concentration without neurological deficits. Future cycles of chemotherapy were well tolerated without recurrence of hyponatremia after cyclophosphamide was discontinued from the respective regimens. Conclusion: Clinicians must always keep in mind that acute hyponatremic encephalopathy can be induced by low-dose cyclophosphamide.
A comprehensive approach using MR imaging to diagnose acute segmental mesenteric ischemia in a porcine model.

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a lethal disease that lacks a noninvasive diagnostic test. We evaluated the abilities of contrast-enhanced MR angiography, MR oximetry, and real-time interactive MR imaging to diagnose segmental mesenteric ischemia in a porcine model.Segmental mesenteric ischemia was created by subselective Gelfoam embolization of the mesenteric circulation in eight pigs. Conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA), MR oximetry, and real-time interactive MR imaging of the small bowel were performed before and after embolization. Changes in the perfusion pattern seen on DSA established the regions of true ischemia. Postembolization DSA and MR angiography were compared with this gold standard.Both MR angiography and DSA had high sensitivity (91% and 100%, respectively) for detecting ischemic regions. The difference was not statistically significant (p > .2). MR angiography yielded lower specificity than DSA (80% and 90%, respectively; p < .01). After embolization, the oxygen saturation in...
An electrophile responsive element (EpRE) regulates beta-naphthoflavone induction of the human gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase regulatory subunit gene. Constitutive expression is mediated by an adjacent AP-1 site.

Exposure of HepG2 cells to β-naphthoflavone (β-NF) results in time- and dose-dependent increase in the steady-state mRNA levels for both the catalytic (GCSh) and regulatory (GCS1) subunits of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the de novo synthesis of the cellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH) (Mulcahy, R. T., Wartman, M. A., Bailey, H. B., and Gipp, J. J. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 7445–7454). Cloning and sequencing of the GCS1promoter region is reported. Regulatory sequences mediating basal and β-NF induced expression of the GCSl gene were identified using a series of promoter/reporter fusion genes transfected into HepG2 cells. Sequences directing basal and β-NF induced expression were localized between nucleotides −344 and −242 (numbered relative to the translation start site). Mutational analyses indicate that basal expression of the GCSl gene is directed by a consensus AP-1-binding site located 33 base pairs upstream of a consensus electrophile responsive element (EpRE) sequence; both cis -elements are capable of supporting β-NF inducibility. Elimination of the inducible response requires simultaneous mutation of both sequences, however, in the presence of an intact EpRE the upstream AP-1 site is irrelevant to induction. Regulation of expression of both human GCS subunit genes in response to β-NF is therefore mediated by cis -elements satisfying the consensus core EpRE motif.
Two Twists in Economic Methodology: Positivism and Subjectivism

. AS the contradictory evidence gathered by other social scientists has continued to accumulate, two new twists have been added to the methodology of neoclassical economics. From Milton Friedman's positivism came the twist that “unrealistic” assumptions can be ignored, prediction is all that really matters. From the Austrian School's subjectivism came the twist that since economic theory is the a priori logic of subjective individual choice, the theory cannot be tested in the scientific sense at all. Neither qualitative historical evidence nor quantitative prediction can yield a scientific test of theory. At least Friedman's positivism allows for predictive testing, even though decisive tests are seldom found in social science. But Austrian subjectivism insulates economic theory completely from scientific testing. Neither methodology is conducive to scientific progress.
Management of coalition sensor networks

The management of sensor networks in coalition settings has been treated in a piecemeal fashion in the current literature without taking a comprehensive look at the complete life cycle of coalition networks, and determining the different aspects of network management that need to be taken into account for the management of sensor networks in those contexts. In this paper, we provide a holistic approach towards managing sensor networks encountered in the context of coalition operations. We describe how the sensor networks in a coalition ought to be managed at various stages of the life cycle, and the different operations that need to be taken into account for managing various aspects of the networks. In particular, we look at the FCAPS model for network management, and assess the applicability of the FCAPS model to the different aspects of sensor network management in a coalition setting.
The effect of nitrogen dioxide on the photochemical and nonphotochemical degradation of pyrene and benzo[A]pyrene adsorbed on coal fly ash

Abstract Nitration by NO 2 of pyrene or benzo[a]pyrene adsorbed from the vapor phase onto six coal ashes, alumina, and silica substrates is not observed if the NO 2 is thoroughly purged of nitric acid. Also, the photochemical transformation of pyrene or benzo[a]pyrene adsorbed on these substrates is not detectably influenced by the presence of nitric acid-free NO 2 . Photochemical production of nitro derivatives of adsorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of NO 2 does not appear to be a significant process unless appreciable concentrations of nitric acid, or perhaps strong oxidants such as ozone, also are present.
Multifaceted treatment of compulsive hair pulling.

Abstract This paper reports on the successful use of a multifaceted behavioral approach to treating compulsive hair pulling. Specifically, this approach involves heightening the client's awareness to maladaptive overt and covert behaviors. The client is then taught to use newly learned coping self-instructions, self-statements and behaviors. The couse of treatment is discussed, and the techniques employed.
Design of a novel high-efficiency UHF RFID antenna on flexible LCP substrate with high read-range capability

In this paper, the design and development of a unique high read-range high-efficiency (95%) radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna for the 915 MHz UHF band is discussed. The RFID exceptional characteristics are investigated in terms of antenna-IC matching and radiation efficiency. This 915 MHz passive tag is a 3" /spl times/ 3" omnidirectional tag and yielded a read range of 31 feet compared to a 4" /spl times/ 4" leading commercial design of 26 feet tested range in lab. This tag also possesses higher read power range (-7 dBm to 30 dBm) than the leading commercial design (-5 dBm to 30 dBm). The proposed RFID antenna was fabricated on 50.8 micron thick liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and the read range of the proposed RFID tags was experimentally verified.
Progress in polarization ray tracing

Polarization ray tracing is a collection of methods that extend geometrical ray tracing allowing the calculation of the evolution of polarization states along ray paths and the determination of the intrinsic polarization properties, such as diattenuation and retardance, associated with ray paths. This paper compares the suitability of the Jones, Mueller, and 3D polarization ray tracing calculi, examining the issues of local vs. global coordinates, amplitude vs. phase representations, inclusion of the wavefront aberration function, partially polarized light, measurements of images by polarimeters, and diffraction image formation by low and high numerical aperture beams.
Effect of acoustic cavitation on platelets in the presence of an echo-contrast agent.

Abstract A suspension of human platelets in autologous plasma or buffer solution with and without a microbubble echo-contrast agent was exposed in vitro to 730 W/cm 2 (I SPPA ) ultrasound pulses of duration 40–160 μs at 1 MHz and 20-Hz pulse repetition frequency. Inertial cavitation occurring within the samples was monitored during the exposures and a measure of average cavitational activity was calculated for each 5-min exposure. This quantity, with the other acoustic parameters, accounted for up to 75% of the variation in the destruction of platelets as measured by Coulter counter and 83.5% of the release of bound radiolabel using a multiple-interaction statistical model. When the echo-contrast agent was absent, negligible cavitation occurred and the amount of platelet destruction was statistically indistinguishable from sham (no-ultrasound) exposures. Therefore, microbubble echo-contrast agents may interact with ultrasound to cause platelet lysis through the mechanism of inertial cavitation.
OVARIAN DEVELOPMENT IN CULEX NIGRIPALPUS AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR DISEASE TRANSMISSION

Ovarian development was investigated in wild and colonized Culex nigripalpus Theobald females. Blood-seeking females with morphologically distinct nulliparous, parous and “resorbed ovarian follicles” (as opposed to females with degenerating follicles) were collected from the field all year, indicating year around gonoactivity. During the cooler months a larger number of females with “resorbed follicles” were collected from the field than in warmer months. Laboratory experiments showed that “resorbed ovarian follicles” occurred in sucrose fed females when deprived of a blood meal after emergence. These “resorbed ovarian follicles” were functional, since most of them began to develop and mature after the females took a blood meal to repletion. Among females fed a partial blood meal, some did not begin ovarian development and, therefore, exhibited gonotrophic dissociation. Females fed partial blood meals had similar patterns of ovarian development, irrespective of temperature at which they were maintained. Implications of occurrence of females with “resorbed ovarian follicles” and disease transmission are discussed. RESUME LE DEVELOPPEMENT OVARIEN DE CULEX NIGRIPALPUS THEOBALD (DIPT. CULICIDAE) ET SON INFLUENCE SUR LA TRANSMISSION DE GERMES PATHOGENES Le developpement Ovarien de Culex nigripalpus Th. a ete etudie sur des femelles sauvages ou d‘elevage. Des femelles cherchant a s'alimenter de sang, — morphologiquement identifiables comme ayant ou non jamais pondu, a “follicules ovariens resorbes” (par oppostion aux femelles a follicules degeneres) — ont ete recoltees toute l'annee dans la nature, ce qui a revele le cycle annuel d'activite ovarienne. Un plus grand nombre de femelles avec des “follicules resorbes” a ete recolte pendant les mois les plus froids que pendant les mois les plus chauds. Des experiences de laboratoire ont montre que les “follicules ovariens resorbes” s'observent chez des femelles alimentees en sucroses quand elles sont privees d'un repas de sang a l’emergence. Ces “follicules ovariens resorbes” etaient fonctionnels, puisque la majorite d'entre eux ont commence a se developper et a murir apres alimentation en sang jusqu‘a satiete. Les femelles, apres un repas de sang partiel, ont des types semblables de developpement Ovarien, independemment de la temperature a laquelle elles etaient conservees. Les implications de la presence de femelles avec des “follicules ovariens resorbes” sur la transmission des germes pathogenes ont ete discutees.
eBizSearch: a niche search engine for e-business

Niche Search Engines offer an efficient alternative to traditional search engines when the results returned by general-purpose search engines do not provide a sufficient degree of relevance. By taking advantage of their domain of concentration they achieve higher relevance and offer enhanced features. We discuss a new niche search engine, eBizSearch, based on the technology of CiteSeer and dedicated to e-business and e-business documents. We present the integration of CiteSeer in the framework of eBizSearch and the process necessary to tune the whole system towards the specific area of e-business. We also discuss how using machine learning algorithms we generate metadata to make eBizSearch Open Archives compliant. eBizSearch is a publicly available service and can be reached at [3].
Extended Applications of the Hot‐Wire Anemometer

The use of the hot‐wire anemometer has been extended to include the measurement of temperature fluctuation level as well as temperature‐velocity correlation, in a turbulent flow with heat transfer.Secondly, the hot wire can be used for the determination of mean relative concentration in the mixing of two gases of different known thermal characteristics.Finally, the instantaneous response of a hot wire in a turbulent flow with mixing of two gases of different thermal characteristics has been computed. This permits measurement of the concentration fluctuation level as well as the concentration‐velocity correlation.
Detection of π-µ Coulomb Bound States

We have observed atoms consisting of a pion and a muon produced in the decay \({\rm{k}}_{\rm{L}}^{\rm{O}} \to \,{{\rm{(\pi \mu )}}_{{\rm{ATOM}}}}\nu\). This represents the first observations of an atom composed of two unstable particles and of an atomic decay of an elementary particle.
Marine gastrotrichs from the sand beaches of the northern Gulf of Mexico : species list and distribution

In this meio-faunistic survey along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, gastrotrichs were found in sand collected mostly from beaches on barrier islands. Sediment from Florida and Alabama contained the largest species number. South Texas collecting sites also hosted a very diverse gastrotrich fauna. Paucitubulate Chaetonotida, previously unreported from the area, accounted for about one half of the 45 species encountered. After comparing local specimens also with high resolution videosequences of individuals collected from distant geographic regions, the amphi-Atlantic and/or cosmopolitan distribution of 27 of these species, is confirmed.
Development of a Coupled Leaf and Canopy Model for the Simulation of Plant-Atmosphere Interaction

Abstract A numerical scheme was developed to couple a multilayer canopy radiation model, a photosynthesis model for C3 species, and a leaf stomatal conductance model with a single-leaf energy balance equation. This coupled leaf and canopy model was used to simulate the responses of a horizontally uniform forest canopy to its ambient microenvironment, using micrometeorological data collected from field measurements in a forest canopy. Emphasis was placed on issues associated with modeling the transient responses of plant leaves. For example, thermal storage was found to be important in modeling transience of leaf temperature, which in turn influenced the transient heating or cooling of the atmosphere by plant leaves. In addition, modification of the Ball-Berry leaf stomatal conductance model, using an exponential formula with an empirical time lag, yielded more realistic transient leaf stomatal conductances, which were important for estimating evaporation and CO2 assimilation.
Hominid paleoecology: The competitive exclusion principle and determinants of niche relationships

Author(s): Winterhalder, B | Abstract: Some paleonanthropologists invoke the competitive exclusion principle programmatically in support of a single‐species (or lineage) hypothesis of hominid evolution. Others apparently accept the association between competitive exclusion and a single species view, and develop multi‐species interpretations using only taxonomic concepts. This paper demonstrates that the competitive exclusion principle itself is too assumption‐bound to be appropriate for analyzing questions of hominid coexistence. Especially, the principle does not establish the ecological validity of the single‐species hypothesis. Contrary to its immediate appearances, the principle has developed historically and analytically to predict and explain the evolution and maintenance of diversity in communities. Used in this manner it constitutes an important basis for the study of hominid paleoecology. Niche concepts necessary to demonstrate this are introduced, and competition and other factors that may have influenced the realized niches of sympatric hominid species are discussed. Nearly all modifications of the competitive exclusion principle that make it more realistic also illuminate factors that generate stable coexistence among competing species. These factors and their organizing theory establish the relevance of a broad data base to the analysis of hominid paleoecology; they should help to guide research on the ecology of early homonid species and their interrelationships. Copyright © 1980 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company
Preliminary Analysis of the Rocket Plug Nozzle Combined Cycle (RPNCC) Propulsion System

This paper presents research in the development of a new type of Rocket Based Combined Cycle Propulsion System at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The Rocket Plug Nozzle Combined Cycle (RPNCC) configuration integrates an air-breathing propulsion system within a rocket-driven plug nozzle so that t he air-breathing system exhausts through the plug base. Research is focused on assessing th e feasibility of the RPNCC for space access and high-speed atmospheric flight. Analysis of thi s unique propulsion system is performed using analytical and computational methods combined with NASA wind tunnel data. An analytical method-of-characteristics code is curren tly being modified to model the airbreathing engine plume exhausting through the plug base. The modified code will be used to predict RPNCC performance and complement the computational predictions. The modified code will also become part of a suite of codes to d esign and optimize flight vehicles at a variety of flight conditions and thrust levels. Th e RPNCC concept is described and results are presented of the computational studies of the r ocket and air-breathing plume interactions. The modifications to the analytical code are described and a preliminary assessment of the impact of the RPNCC system on the overall propulsion design of a highspeed missile is discussed.
Action-Implicative Discourse Analysis

Action-implicative discourse analysis is the name for a new type of discourse analysis, developed to be useful in the critique and cultivation of communicative practices in society. Developed within the metatheoretical framework of grounded practical theory, an extension and formalization of Craig's earlier ideas about communication as a practical discipline, action-implicative discourse analysis seeks to characterize the communicative problems, conversational techniques, and situated ideals of communicative practices. After overviewing the method's metatheoretical framework, the article proceeds to highlight what is distinctive about this new method. By comparing and contrasting action-implicative discourse analysis with four markedly different discourse analytic approaches-conversation analysis, interactional sociolinguistics, critical discourse analysis, and discursive psychology-the article seeks to make the methodological approach's distinctive character visible. The article's final section explicate...
On the data and analysis of the research output of India and China: India has significantly fallen behind China

An analysis of the number of research papers from India and China in the fields of sciences and engineering between the years 1975 and 2012 is presented. The results show that while Indian research output has increased steadily, the Chinese research output has been increasing at a rate far outpacing that of India. The research output of China has been increasing with distinct inflection points that show an acceleration in output growth. The research output for India shows periodic inflection points that show either an acceleration or deceleration in output growth. The possible reasons for the inflection points are discussed. Simple statistical analyses are used to analyze the trends in output. Although multiple factors affect a nation's research output, this paper highlights that the government programs targeted to increase the research output from universities may create inflection points resulting in a rapid increase in the research output. The article also highlights that India has fallen far behind China in terms of scientific and engineering research output, providing important clues for the future growth of the two countries.
Determination of reaction resistances for metal-hydride electrodes during anodic polarization

The anodic polarization process in metal-hydride electrodes occurs via the following consecutive steps: (i) diffusion of absorbed hydrogen from the bulk to the surface of the electrode, (ii) hydrogen transfer from absorbed state to adsorbed state at the electrode surface, and (iii) electrochemical oxidation of the adsorbed hydrogen on the electrode surface. A theoretical treatment is presented to account for the dependencies on these three consecutive steps, of the reaction resistances, anodic limiting current, cathodic limiting current, and exchange current. The theoretical analysis predicts that the total resistances measured from linear micropolarization is the sum of the charge-transfer, hydrogen-transfer, and hydrogen-diffusion resistances, which is in contradiction with the generally accepted idea that the resistance measured from linear micropolarization is only the charge-transfer resistance. For a metal-hydride electrode with a flat pressure plateau at a low state of discharge (SOD), the resistance measured from linear micropolarization is approximately equal to the sum of three resistances measured from AC impedance, namely, charge-transfer, hydrogen-transfer and hydrogen-diffusion resistances; however, when the SOD is high, the resistance measured from linear micropolarization is higher than total resistances measured from AC impedance.
On the origin of certain symmetrical patterns of atmospheric convection

In a recent issue of this journal KRUEGER & FRITZ (1961) have presented a group of extremely interesting photographs obtained by the meteorological satellite TIROS I that show cumulus clouds arranged in remarkably uniform rings surrounding symmetrically distributed clear areas, thirty to fifty miles in diameter. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1962.tb00129.x
Cognitive Dimensions of Wilderness Solitude

Information-processing theory is offered as a basis for understanding the issue of solitude and the many realms of privacy humans seek during wilderness experiences. It is suggested that wilderness users do not mean complete isolation when they speak of wilderness solitude, but rather, an environmental situation in which they have some control over the information they must process and the attention required of them to process it. An empirical test involving 109 wilderness campers lends support to the theory. Factor analysis of twenty items characterizing various aspects of wilderness solitude resulted in four factors, in which the "natural environment" that provides an element of "cognitive freedom" was found most important.
Caries Resistance as a Function of Age in an Initially Caries-free Population

Using data from the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia Study, we examined variability in susceptibility to dental caries among children and adolescents in rural Appalachia. Among 210 participants who were caries-free at the initial visit, age at the baseline visit can be used as a proxy for the degree of caries resistance; probability of caries development at the tooth level decreased as age at the baseline visit increased. Participants who stayed caries-free for a longer period during childhood and adolescence experienced less extensive caries, as measured by the number of carious teeth. However, the probability of becoming caries-positive did not correlate with age at the baseline visit. For children between 1 and 18 years of age, there was not a “threshold age” after which a caries-free child’s risk of caries onset is significantly reduced.
Efficient utilization of scratch-pad memory in embedded processor applications

Efficient utilization of on-chip memory space is extremely important in modern embedded system applications based on microprocessor cores. In addition to a data cache that interfaces with slower off-chip memory, a fast on-chip SRAM, called Scratch-Pad memory, is often used in several applications. We present a technique for efficiently exploiting on-chip Scratch-Pad memory by partitioning the application's scalar and array variables into off-chip DRAM and on-chip Scratch-Pad SRAM, with the goal of minimizing the total execution time of embedded applications. Our experiments on code kernels from typical applications show that our technique results in significant performance improvements.