cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Multiple Targets for Fat Cell Receptors

Rat adipocytes contain receptors whose actions, as defined by effects on adenylate cyclase, are either stimulatory (Rs) or inhibitory (Ri), and such receptors are regulated by their respective GTP-binding complexes, Ns and Ni. In the absence of insulin, ligands for Rs (e. g., isoproterenol, ACTH) and Ri (e. g., adenosine, PGE1) receptors control lipolysis exclusively by modulating the cellular cyclic AMP concentration and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) activity. However, in the presence of insulin, ligands for Rs and Ri receptors are shown to control several processes by mechanisms unrelated to cyclic AMP or A-kinase activity. For example, Rs ligands increase and Ri ligands decrease the insulin concentration required for initiation of insulin-mediated antilipolysis (by cyclic AMP-independent processes) and insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity. In insulin-stimulated cells, the intrinsic activity of the glucose transporters in the plasma membrane is increased by Ri ligands and decreased by Rs ligands. Treatment of cells with cholera toxin eliminates the transport effects of Rs ligands, and treatment with pertussis toxin eliminates the transport effects of Ri ligands. Thus, these cyclic AMP-independent actions of Rs and Ri effectors on the glucose transporter are mediated by the N proteins. Moreover, the entire receptor package, both Rs and Ri, linked to adenylate cyclase is also linked to the cyclic AMP-independent processes. It is concluded that adenylate cyclase is but one of a number of proteins which are regulated by a common RsNs · RiNi package in the adipocyte plasma membrane.
The Spectral Finite Element Method for Simulating Wave Propagation in Viscoelastic Soils

The soil material behavior has been widely modeled with viscoelastic material models; however, choosing the actual material properties within a viscoelastic model is not trivial. This paper presents a rigorous methodology for obtaining the damping and stiffness terms in viscoelastic material model for modeling wave propagation in soils. The viscoelastic material model is calibrated for various deformation modes. The calibrated model is then utilized for simulating wave propagation in soils. The boundary conditions in the far field are treated with non-reflecting boundaries. The present model with calibrated data has a great potential in modeling wave propagations in soils.
Social Capital, Knowledge, and the Environment: The Effect of Interpersonal Communication on Climate Change Knowledge and Policy Preferences

This article contributes to the literature on social capital and the environment in two ways. First, we identify a relationship between interpersonal discussion networks and assessed and perceived ...
Policy Issues Regarding Implementations of Cyber Attack Resilience Solutions for Cyber Physical Systems.

Abstract The Internet of Things (IoT) is dramatically increasing complexity in cities, commerce, and homes. This complexity is increasing the risk of cyber threats. To reduce these risks, resilient cyber-physical systems must be able to respond to different types of disturbances (errors; cyber attacks). Organizational, system, and infrastructure security pose new challenges for policy considerations that aim to reduce cyber risks rather than simply react to cyber attacks. Indeed, policies must be crafted to require anticipatory responses able to discriminate between anomalies caused by errors and those driven by cyber attackers for malicious purposes that may result in obvious damage (e.g., equipment destruction, injury, or death) or subtle control (e.g., Stuxnet). We conclude that anticipatory resilience solutions for cyber-physical systems will require teams of government and commercial organizations to address the consequences of cyber attacks, to detect them, and to defend against them.
Obstruction-Free Survival Following Operative Intervention for Malignant Bowel Obstruction in Appendiceal Cancer

Patients with peritoneal metastases from appendiceal cancer are at high risk of malignant bowel obstruction (MBO), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There are no definitive treatment guidelines regarding operative intervention for MBO. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of operative intervention in this population. We identified patients with peritoneal metastases from appendiceal cancer who underwent surgery for MBO at our institution between 2011 and 2018. Baseline characteristics, postoperative complications, and follow-up data were collected. The primary endpoint was obstruction-free survival (OFS). Other endpoints were postoperative recovery of bowel function, 60-day Clavien–Dindo (CD) morbidity, and overall survival (OS). Twenty-six patients underwent operative treatment for MBO, of whom 14 had high-grade (HG) histology and 12 had low-grade (LG) histology. Seven (25.9%) patients had severe (CD grade 3 or higher) 60-day complications, including one (3.8%) postoperative death. All remaining patients had return of bowel function and resumed oral intake during hospitalization. Six (23.1%) patients had repeat admissions for MBO after surgery. Median OFS was 17.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3–31.8), and median OS was 18.5 months (95% CI 3.6–33.3) following surgery. In this carefully selected group of patients with peritoneal metastases from appendiceal cancer, surgery for MBO provided durable palliation with acceptable morbidity.
Personal bits: mining interaction traces for personalized task intelligence

As we work, play, shop, and communicate in digital interfaces, we continuously generate traces of information. To turn such noisy sources of personal data into actual insight, my research introduces Personal Bits, a service that enables personalized task support in various kinds of information tasks such as instant message handling, information retrieval, and text entry. Personal Bits mines a user's interaction traces with web apps and native mobile apps and extracts task-centric entities. I present three example apps for Personal Bits: Deja Wu, MessageOnTap, and ContextBoard, to address inefficiencies presented in these information tasks. Personal Bits acts as the central nexus for intelligence between apps and interaction traces, making it easy for apps to acquire personally relevant task entities in fine granularity.
Face and content validity for the Wheelchair Satisfaction Questionnaire.

Purpose: Because outcomes studies are known to facilitate effective use of funds, economic realities in lower-resource countries increase the need for outcome measures for wheelchair effectiveness ...
Internet of Things enabled crop physiology sensing system for abiotic crop stress management in apple and sweet cherry

This study discusses development and field validation of an abiotic stress-monitoring system, i.e. crop physiological sensing system (CPSS) for perennial speciality crops. In current form, CPSS acquires and processes the thermal-RGB imagery as well as site-specific weather data through field sensing nodes and predicts apple and cherry crop specific abiotic stress indicators. The system processes the data on a single board computer to perform real-time prediction of the fruit surface temperature (FST, oC), a prominent indicator for sunburn susceptibility in apple and the fruit wetness (%) that is related to cracking susceptibility in sweet cherry. The developed system was validated in the field condition and results indicate that imagery derived apple FST (Ti) had strong correlation (R2 = 0.64) with ground truth measured FST (Tg) with no significant difference. Cherry FST data as a predictor variable also had a strong correlation between actual and predicted wetness (R2 = 0.80). Overall, developed CPSS could be reliably utilized for sunburn and wetness prediction in respective apple and sweet cherry.
The use of laryngeal mask airway for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Abstract Purpose Patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy traditionally receive anesthesia with endotracheal intubation (ETT) for airway management. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) may be used instead and may be associated with less airway stimulation and shorter operating room times. The purpose of this study was to report on a large cohort of patients undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy while using the LMA for airway maintenance during anesthesia. Methods Patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy between January 6, 2017 and January 6, 2020 with a LMA were reviewed for safety outcomes. We compared two cohorts of patients with LMA and ETT to analyze the effect on operating room times. Results Our study identified 1042 patients who met criteria for review. The incidence of cases requiring conversion to ETT (1.2%) and laryngospasm (0.3%) in our cohort is lower than previously suggested by the literature. The patients who underwent surgery with the LMA spent less time in the operating room (p = 0.004) compared to the ETT group. Conclusion The use of the LMA may be a safe and effective option for airway management during tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. There may be a benefit of OR time reduction in patients undergoing anesthesia with an LMA compared to ETT.
Esophageal discoid foreign body detection and classification using artificial intelligence.

BACKGROUND Early and accurate radiographic diagnosis is required for the management of children with radio-opaque esophageal foreign bodies. Button batteries are some of the most dangerous esophageal foreign bodies and coins are among the most common. We hypothesized that artificial intelligence could be used to triage radiographs with esophageal button batteries and coins. OBJECTIVE Our primary objective was to train an object detector to detect esophageal foreign bodies, whether button battery or coin. Our secondary objective was to train an image classifier to classify the detected foreign body as either a button battery or a coin. MATERIALS AND METHODS We trained an object detector to detect button batteries and coins. The training data set for the object detector was 57 radiographs, consisting of 3 groups of 19 images each with either an esophageal button battery, esophageal coin or no foreign body. The foreign bodies were endoscopically confirmed, and the groups were age and gender matched. We then trained an image classifier to classify the detected foreign body as either a button battery or a coin. The training data set for the image classifier consisted of 19 radiographs of button batteries and 19 of coins, cropped from the object detector training data set. The object detector and image classifier were then tested on 103 radiographs with an esophageal foreign body, and 103 radiographs without a foreign body. RESULTS The object detector was 100% sensitive and specific for detecting an esophageal foreign body. The image classifier accurately classified all 6/6 (100%) button batteries in the testing data set and 93/95 (97.9%) of the coins. The remaining two coins were incorrectly classified as button batteries. In addition to these images with a single button battery or coin, there were two unique cases in the testing data set: a stacked button battery and coin, and two stacked coins, both of which were classified as coins. CONCLUSION Artificial intelligence models show promise in detecting and classifying esophageal discoid foreign bodies and could potentially be used to triage radiographs for radiologist interpretation.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE ALTERED BASES IN MUTATED SINGLE-STRANDED DNA. I. IN VITRO MUTAGENESIS BY HYDROXYLAMINE, ETHYL METHANESULFONATE AND NITROUS ACID.

In vitro mutation of phage S13 (and ΦX174), which contain single-stranded DNA, was studied with hyclroxylamine, with ethyl methanesulfonate, and with nitrous acid. Both forward and reverse mutations could be studied selectively. It is argued that the reverse mutations studied are genuine reversions to the original genetic types. From the responses to the three mutagens, the following conclusions were obtained. (1) Hydroxylamine only mutates cytosine to thymine, and is the most specific of the three mutagens in its mutagenic action. (2) Ethyl methanesulfonate and nitrous acid mutate all four bases, but to varying degrees. The mutation of guanine to adenine by nitrous acid was established by extensive tests. (3) For each mutation studied, the altered base could be determined from the response to the three mutagens. (4) Mutation tests showed that only one of the two complementary DNA strands exists in the free phage population.
Raising the Roof: The Preferential Pharmacological Stimulation of Th1 and Th2 Responses Mediated by NKT Cells

Natural killer T (NKT) cells serve as a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune systems, and manipulating their effector functions can have therapeutic significances in the treatment of autoimmunity, transplant biology, infectious disease, and cancer. NKT cells are a subset of T cells that express cell-surface markers characteristic of both natural killer cells and T cells. These unique immunologic cells have been demonstrated to serve as a link between the innate and adaptive immune systems through their potent cytokine production following the recognition of a range of lipid antigens, mediated through presentation of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I like CD1d molecule, in addition to the NKT cell's cytotoxic capabilities upon activation. Although a number of glycolipid antigens have been shown to complex with CD1d molecules, most notably the marine sponge derived glycolipid alpha-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), there has been debate as to the identity of the endogenous activating lipid presented to the T-cell receptor (TCR) via the CD1d molecule on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). This review aims to survey the use of pharmacological agents and subsequent structure-activity relationships (SAR) that have given insight into the binding interaction of glycolipids with both the CD1d molecules as well as the TCR and the subsequent immunologic response of NKT cells. These studies not only elucidate basic binding interactions but also pave the way for future pharmacological modulation of NKT cell responses.
The Natural History of Alcoholism

Over the past 55 years, two longitudinal studies have been monitoring the drinking behaviors and their consequences of several hundred men from adolescence and early adulthood to old age. The studies identified co-occurring sociopathy, cultural factors (e.g., ethnicity), and genetic factors (i.e., a family history of alcoholism) as risk factors for alcoholism. n most alcoholics, the disease had a progressive course, resulting in increasing alcohol abuse or stable abstinence. However, some alcoholics exhibited a nonprogressive disease course and either maintained a stable level of alcohol abuse or returned to asymptomatic drinking. Long-term return to controlled drinking, however, was a rare and unstable outcome. Formal treatment, with the exception of attending Alcoholics Anonymous, did not appear to affect the men's long-term outcomes, whereas several non-treatment-related factors were important for achieving stable recovery.
Noel Streatfeild's Second-Hand Shoes: Reading The Whicharts against Its Juvenilization Ballet Shoes

A case study of juvenilization, this essay reads Noel Streatfeild’s 1936 juvenile novel Ballet Shoes against its source text, Streatfeild’s 1931 theatrical novel The Whicharts . An analysis of how the author reworked “unsuitable” material for young readers reveals Ballet Shoes as more than a bowdlerized version of the adult novel. The rewriting of references to work and to sexuality in The Whicharts produces sophisticated and self-aware origin stories, nuanced and historically specific representations of work in its cultural context, and non-judgmental representations of diverse types of sexuality and family relationships in Ballet Shoes .
Photoassisted oxygen doping of C60 films

C60 films simultaneously exposed at T = 300 K to oxygen and visible-ultraviolet light are found to exhibit rapid diffusion of oxygen into the deep bulk of the film. The diffusion rate is found to be ∼10 times faster in the presence of light. Vibrational and optical absorption spectroscopy indicate that the photoassisted reaction of O2 with solid C60 involves two coupled reactions: (i) the photoassisted diffusion of molecular oxygen into solid C60 and (ii) oxidation of C60.
Relative role and extent of marine and groundwater inundation on a dune‐dominated barrier island under sea‐level rise scenarios

Climate change and sea-level rise will have severe impacts on coastal water resources around the world. However, whereas the influence of marine inundation is well documented in the literature, the impact of groundwater inundation on coastal communities is not well known. Here, core analysis, groundwater monitoring, and ground penetrating radar are utilized to assess the groundwater regime of the surficial aquifer on Bogue Banks Barrier Island (USA). Then, geospatial techniques are used to assess the relative roles and extents of groundwater and marine inundation on the dune-dominated barrier island under sea-level rise scenarios of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 m above current conditions by 2100. Additionally, the effects of rising water tables on onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are modelled using the projected sea-level rise scenarios. The results indicate that the surficial aquifer comprising fine to medium sands responds quickly to precipitation. Water-level measurements reveal varying thicknesses of the vadose zone (>3 to 0 m) and several groundwater mounds with radial flow patterns. Results from projected sea-level rise scenarios suggest that owing to aquifer properties and morphology of the island, groundwater inundation may occur at the same rate as marine inundation. Furthermore, the area inundated by groundwater may be as significant as that affected by marine inundation. The results also show that the proportion of land in the study area where OWTS may be perpetually compromised by rising water tables under worst case scenarios may range from ~43 to ~54% over an 86-year-period. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in pituitary gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid content during lactation and after pup removal

Lactation is associated with a reduction in pituitary GnRH receptor content (GnRH-R) when compared with diestrus of the estrous cycle. These studies examined whether the changes in GnRH-R during lactation involved alterations in GnRH-R gene expression. GnRH-R messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were assessed by in situ hybridization, using a 35S-labeled antisense riboprobe coding for the transmembrane region of the mouse GnRH-R gene. The area occupied by grains in 20-microns sections of the pituitary was assessed with an image analysis program. The specificity of the probe for GnRH-R mRNA was demonstrated by the presence of only background grains over the pituitary when a sense riboprobe to GnRH-R mRNA was used. Also, there was an absence of clusters of grains over the posterior pituitary, an area devoid of gonadotropes. In lactating rats suckling eight pups on day 10 postpartum, GnRH-R mRNA levels in the anterior pituitary were suppressed by 60% when compared with the levels observed during diestrus. Removal of ...
Altered White Matter Structure of the Dentatorubrothalamic Pathway in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Neuropathological studies have demonstrated decreased Purkinje cells in cerebellar cortex and changes in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum, the projection target for the Purkinje cells, in autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). The dentatorubrothalamic tract is formed by efferents from the dentate nucleus projecting toward the red nucleus with axon collaterals to this nucleus and continuing to innervate the ventral lateral and ventral anterior nuclei of the thalamus. In the current study, we assessed whether the dentatorubrothalamic tract is altered in ASD using Q-ball imaging (QBI). The QBI tractography was performed in 13 children with high functioning ASD (HFA), 11 children with low functioning ASD (LFA), and 14 typically developing children (TD). Regions of interest in dentate nucleus and red nucleus in both hemispheres were objectively placed to sort bilateral dorsal–rostral (DR), dorsal–caudal (DC), ventral–rostral (VR), and ventral–caudal (VC) portions of the dentatorubrothalamic pathway. Group differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and fiber volume of individual pathways were analyzed. Significantly reduced FA was found in children with LFA and HFA, compared to the TD group in tracts originating in all four subdivisions of the right dentate nucleus. Tract-based morphometry (TBM) analysis demonstrated significant reductions of FA in caudal midbrain (p < 0.0001), dorsal–caudal dentate (p = 0.0013), and ventral–caudal dentate (p = 0.0061) on the right in the LFA group. The FA values in TBM segments of right VR and VC pathways were significantly correlated with communication skills in the combined HFA/LFA group, while there was a significant correlation found between TBM segments of right DR pathway and daily living skills (r = 0.76; p = 0.004). Decreased white matter integrity in dorsal portions of the dentatorubrothalamic tract may be related to motor features in ASD, while changes in the ventral portions are related more to communication behavior.
An automated software design evaluator

A prototype automated software design evaluator was implemented as part of a project whose long-term goal is the application of AI techniques to the tools in a software engineering environment. The purposes of undertaking this prototype were to: 1) identify the attributes of a software design that could be captured as design rules, 2) investigate machine-processable representations of a software design, and 3) build a proof-of-principle prototype that demonstrates that an automated design assistant can be built.
Changes in soil chemical properties following a 12-year fallow: A 2-year comparison of conventional tillage and no-tillage agroecosystems

Abstract Soil chemical parameters including total N, exchangeable ammonium, soluble nitrate, and extractable phosphate, potassium, calcium and magnesium, were compared between conventional and no-tillage treatments on land which had been left fallow in old-field vegetation for 12 years. Tillage treatments were also compared to an adjacent old-field which was not cropped. The study was carried out on the Georgia Piedmont for 2 years following the fallow period. Soil nutrient availability was related to chemical concentrations in the soil solution, plant nutrient uptake and litter decomposition. During 1978–1979, soil nitrate concentrations were highest in plowed systems and lowest in the old field. Extractable cation concentrations were generally higher in conventional tillage than in no-tillage soil during the 1st year after fallow (1978). However, during the 2nd year, higher cation concentrations in no-tillage soil prevailed. Nitrate concentrations in the soil solution at 60 cm depth were generally highest in conventional tillage, followed by no-tillage and lowest in old-field systems. During 1978–1979, total nutrient uptake by crops (grain sorghum and rye) and weeds was higher in conventional than in no-tillage systems. From 1978–1979 to 1979–1980, uptake decreased in both cropping systems, but proportionately more in conventional tillage systems so that uptake in 1979–1980 was similar in the two cropping treatments. Higher nitrate concentrations in leachate of conventional than in no-tillage and old-field systems suggested that plowing stimulated nitrification processes.
Personality, Gender, and Family History in the Prediction of College Gambling

The present study examined the degree to which gambling behaviors and gambling-relevant cognitive distortions could be predicted by personality factors, gender, and familial history of substance use and gambling problems in a large sample of college students (N = 581). Results indicate that parental gambling problems and, especially for males, a propensity to experience negative emotions predicted time spent gambling and gambling problems. Negative emotionality, along with parental substance use problems, impulsivity, and being male predicted gambling-related cognitive distortions. The differing pattern for impulsivity with respect to behaviors and beliefs might be explained by the low accessibility of gambling venues for the student population. We compare the present findings with past studies examining gambling behaviors in adult populations.
Mechanism of immunopotentiation by aluminum-containing adjuvants elucidated by the relationship between antigen retention at the inoculation site and the immune response

The relationship between depot formation and immunopotentiation was studied by comparing the retention of antigen at the inoculation site with antibody production in rats. A model (111)In-labeled alpha casein (IDCAS) antigen was formulated into four vaccines: IDCAS adsorbed onto either aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (AH) or aluminum phosphate adjuvant (AP); non-adsorbed IDCAS with phosphate-treated AP (PTAP); and IDCAS solution. Gamma scintigraphy showed the order of retention following subcutaneous administration to be: AH adsorbed>AP adsorbed>non-adsorbed with PTAP=solution. The antibody titers followed the order: non-adsorbed with PTAP=AP adsorbed>AH adsorbed>>solution. The presence of an aluminum-containing adjuvant was essential for immunopotentiation, but retention of the antigen at the inoculation site was not required.
Development of a Reliable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis Model

Abstract The liver is the most frequent and most fatal site of distant spread of colorectal cancer. Most current animal models of liver metastases utilize direct liver or intravascular injection (dissimilar to mechanisms of metastasis) or immunosuppression to establish metastases. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a reliable rat model of liver metastases in immunocompetent hosts, whereby metastases spread hematogenously as in colorectal cancer. Methods: WB-2054 is a poorly differentiated colon adenocarcinoma induced by 1,2 DMH in a WF × BN F 1 hybrid rat. WB-2054-M 0 , M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , and M 4 are successive metastatic variant cell lines obtained through serial application of the Fidler hypothesis. WF × BN F 1 rats were inoculated intrasplenically with 1 × 10 6 (M 0 ) or 5 × 10 6 (M 0 –M 4 ) cells; the spleen was left intact. Animals were evaluated 4 to 12 weeks postinjection and, if no metastases were found, reexplored 1–2 weeks later. Animals with liver metastases were sacrificed, and full abdominal and thoracic zoopsy was performed. Livers were excised and serially sectioned, to determine size, number, and location of liver metastases, and studied histologically to confirm the nature of the metastases. Results: 44% (4/9), 80% (8/10), 86% (65/76), 94% (34/36), and 100% (65/65) of animals inoculated with the M 0 , M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , and M 4 cell lines, respectively, developed liver metastases. Metastases were uniformly spread throughout all lobes of the livers. Conclusion: We have developed an extremely hepatotrophic metastatic colorectal cancer cell line. Intrasplenic injection of WB-2054-M 4 cells is a reliable model for producing colorectal cancer liver metastases without the need for immunosuppression and should prove valuable in colorectal liver metastasis experiments.
Human and management factors in probabilistic risk analysis: the SAM approach and observations from recent applications

Most severe industrial accidents have been shown to involve one or more human errors and these are generally rooted in management problems. The objective of this paper is to draw some conclusions from the experience that we have acquired from three different studies of this phenomenon: (1) the Piper Alpha accident including problems of operations management and fire risks on-board offshore platforms, (2) the management of the heat shield of the NASA space shuttle orbiter, and (3) the roots of patient risks in anaesthesia. This paper describes and illustrates the SAM approach (System-Action-Management) that was developed and used in these studies to link the probabilities of system failures to human and management factors. This SAM model includes: first, a probabilistic risk analysis of the physical system, second, an analysis of the decisions and actions that affect the probabilities of its basic events, and third, a study of the management factors that influence those decisions and actions. In the three initial studies, the analytical links (conditional probabilities) among these three submodels were coarsely quantified based on statistical data whenever available, or most often, on expert opinions. This paper describes some observations that were made across these three studies, for example, the importance of the informal reward system, the difficulties in the communication of uncertainties, the problems of managing resource constraints, and the safety implications of the short cuts that they often imply.
Essential ethics — embedding ethics into an engineering curriculum

Ethical decision-making is essential to professionalism in engineering. For that reason, ethics is a required topic in an ABET approved engineering curriculum and it must be a foundational strand that runs throughout the entire curriculum. In this paper the curriculum approach that is under development at the Padnos School of Engineering (PSE) at Grand Valley State University will be described. The design of this program draws heavily from the successful approach used at the service academies — in particular West Point and the United States Naval Academy. As is the case for the service academies, all students are introduced to the “Honor Concept” (which includes an Honor Code) as freshmen. As an element of professionalism the PSE program requires 1500 hours of co-op experience which is normally divided into three semesters of full-time work alternated with academic semesters during the last two years of the program. This offers the faculty an opportunity to teach ethics as a natural aspect of professionalism through the academic requirements for co-op. In addition to required elements throughout the program, the students are offered opportunities to participate in service projects which highlight responsible citizenship. These elements and other parts of the approach will be described.
A comparative study of status signalling in sparrows (genus Zonotrichia)

In three tests of status signalling predictions, Harris' sparrows (Zonotrichia querula) were shown to support ‘status signalling’ theory when compared to groups of monomorphic white-crowned sparrows (Z. leucophrys). However, within Harris' sparrow groups, extreme age-related variation in plumage might explain the results, rather than small degrees of plumage differences used to signal specific dominance ranks. Further tests indicated that plumage variability may be important for increased individual recognition in all groups of Harris' sparrows, including groups of adults in alternative plumage, but not in groups of white-crowned sparrows. Finally, comparisons with a third congeneric species, the white-throated sparrow (Z. albicollis), supported previous findings because this species behaved as if plumage variability was important in individual recognition, but not in status, or even age signalling. I suggest that signals functioning in individual recognition are present in both Harris' and white-throated sparrows, and that signals functioning in age-class recognition are present in Harris' and white-crowned sparrows.
X‐ray Scattering from Films of Semiconducting Polymers

A review of recent studies of X‐ray scattering from films of semiconducting polymers is presented with an emphasis on materials used for thin film transistors. Common types of scattering experiment...
COMPENSATING BALANCES AND FOREIGNERS' DOLLAR DEPOSITS IN UNITED STATES BANKS

Over the past 15 years, foreigners have been holding increasing quantities of dollars in United States banks. Since returns on Eurodollars consistently have been higher than returns in the United States, and since foreign exchange risk to foreigners is the same in both dollar markets, the quantities are not likely to represent portfolio choices. Some holdings probably are related to dollar transactions needs, but the data indicate that growth in trade is not adequate to explain the growing quantities held. This paper investigates empirically compensating balance requirements as a motive for foreigners holding dollars in the United States and finds these requirements to be important determinants of quantities held.
Study of Top Triangular Nano-Grating on Solar Cell Using Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis

This paper presents the simulation results of top nano-grating on solar cell using rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) method. However, compared to other simulation results, we calculated weighted total transmission of solar cell according to Sun spectrum and Silicon photo detector responsivity. Our optimization shows that the top grating with period 200nm, width 40nm, and height 150nm is the optimization structure. This case has 0.45544 total weighted transmission powers and is about 70.9% improvement compared to the non-grating case.
Comprehensive quantitative analysis of purines and pyrimidines in the human malaria parasite using ion-pairing ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Targeted metabolite profiling has aided in the understanding of a variety of biological processes in the malaria parasite as well as in drug discovery. A fast and sensitive analytical method, based on ion-pairing reversed phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (IP-RP-UPLC-MS/MS), was optimized for the simultaneous analysis of intracellular levels of 35 purine and pyrimidine nucleobases, nucleosides, and nucleotides. This analytical method allows for chromatographic separation of highly polar metabolites using reverse phase chemistry within 15 min. The analytical performance of the method was evaluated and successfully applied to the quantification of purines and pyrimidines in Plasmodium falciparum and its host cell, the human erythrocyte. In addition, this method can be customized to include other related metabolites such as NADPH and NADP, among others.
X-ray photoelectron, X-ray emission and UV spectra of SiO2 calculated by the SCF Xα scattered wave method

Abstract Photoionization, X-ray emission and UV excitation energies are calculated for SiO 2 by the SCF Xα method and the transition-state procedure. In all cases agreement between calculation and experiment is good. The SiO 4− 4 cluster is found to be adequate for describing localized excitations in quartz. The valence orbitals of this cluster are found to be naturally separable into three sets (1) 3t 2 and 4a 1 ; O 2s, nonbonding: (2) 5a 1 and 4t 2 ; Si 3s, 3p and O 2p, sigma bonding: (3) 1e, 5t 2 , 1t 1 ; O 2p nonbonding. The participation of Si 3d-type functions in the high-energy O 2p nonbonding orbitals is found to be very small.
Quantitative genetic models of female choice based on "arbitrary" male characters.

Multivariate, quantitative genetic models are developed for the evolution of female mating preferences in situations where males contribute only their gametes to their progeny. Although female mating preferences may not be directly subject to selection, they can evolve via genetic correlations with other characters that are undergoing evolutionary change. The first set of models examines the evolutionary origin of mating preferences directed at one or more traits that may or may not be expressed only in males. When several selected characters possess additive genetic variance, an indirect selective force exists for the evolution of multivariate mating preferences. The magnitude of this force is proportional to the covariance between a female's relative preference for a given male's phenotype and the expected viability of his progeny. The contribution of any single character to this covariance determines its potential value as a mate choice criterion. The pattern of genetic and phenotypic covariation may cause selectively unimportant traits to be useful in mate choice. In the extreme, selectively neutral characters may become the objects of mating preferences, if they are relatively immune to random environmental variation and genetically correlated with selectively important characters. The second set of models examines the dynamic evolution of such a selectively neutral (“arbitrary”) character that is both the object of a mating preference and genetically correlated with a third trait that affects viability. The outcome of evolution in this three character system is highly indeterminate. As in other sexual selection models, there exists a line of neutral equilibria wherein the mean of the criterion character matches the mean level of mating preference within the population, while the viability trait equilibrates at the phenotypic value conferring maximum viability. This line of equilibria, however, is not likely to be stable unless females choose mates according to absolute mating preferences. Thus, mating preferences that initially may arise as a mean of increasing offspring viability may nevertheless lead to indeterminate and potentially maladaptive evolutionary outcomes.
Determination of cadmium in seawater using automated on-line preconcentration and direct injection graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract An on-line preconcentration method for the determination of cadmium in seawater was developed for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) using deuterium lamp background correction. The technique was adapted from a previously reported technique and was fully automated. Automated preconcentration of cadmium reduced the concentrations of matrix elements in samples to levels that did not interfere with the determination of cadmium at ultratrace levels. The soluble ligand, 1-pyrrolidinecarbodithioic acid (APDC), was mixed with the sample in a continuous flow system to form a non-polar metal complex which was absorbed onto a C18 column. The metal complex was then eluted from the column directly into the graphite furnace. The addition of an in-line nitric acid rinse step between sample load cycles allowed for the determination of cadmium with one elute cycle. Other modifications included laboratory purification of the ammonium acetate rinse solution, a non-buffered APDC ligand solution, and a computer-activated load cycle to reduce sample consumption. The average column recovery was 73% with a sample loading flow rate of 2.2 ml/min and 55 s preconcentration time. Sample throughput was approximately 15 samples/h with 2 ml of sample preconcentrated and analyzed every 4 min. The small sample volume required made this method useful where sample volumes are limited. The 3σ limit of detection for replicate blanks was 42 pM Cd (n=5) for a 2 ml sample. The effectiveness of the method was demonstrated for the determination of Cd in certified open ocean reference materials NASS-3 and NASS-4. Analysis of Cd in equatorial Pacific seawater demonstrated that the system produces oceanographically consistent results.
9.2.1 RELAAy — A Tool to Guide HSI Requirements

Archives of Air Force mishap investigation reports provide a large data set of documented system failures. In this paper, we present a tool that analyzes human-related errors in these mishaps and quantitatively predicts focus areas for new system development. Even new systems have similarities, either in structure or function, to legacy systems. Knowing what design induced errors have plagued past human-machine interactions can guide new Human Systems Integration (HSI) requirements generation. This is accomplished using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) as the underlying data. Our tool, with a novel method of using the entire mishap data set over the last five years is demonstrated through its application for a next generation unmanned aerial system (UAS). Lastly, the HFACS data is mapped to the domains of HSI for program office consumption.
K x-ray absorption in aluminum

The band structure of Al was obtained over a 4.2-Ry range from the bottom of the conduction band using the augmented-plane-wave (APW) method. The $K$ x-ray-absorption coefficient (and simultaneously the $K$-emission spectrum) was calculated with the inclusion of matrix elements using the APW wave functions. The energies were interpolated by a pseudopotential scheme. Structures in the unbroadened density of states and absorption coefficient were identified with critical points in the Brillouin zone. A comparison was made between the calculated absorption broadened by the appreciable $K$-level width and the measured spectra over a 22-eV range above threshold. The principal peak in the data at 5.5 eV is reproduced accurately by the calculations while a series of calculated peaks extending from 11 to 17 eV are not resolved in the measurements which exhibit a huge hump with its maximum at about 13 eV. It is shown that two weak peaks at about 1.4 and 2.4 eV above the edge cannot be explained in the one-electron approximation. We propose that they result from a two-electron process involving the excitation of a conduction as well as a core electron and the fact that there is structure in the density of states at about 1 and 2.5 eV below the Fermi level.
Constraint conflict: The source of an unusual error pattern

Certain phonological error patterns have been judged to be "unusual" or "idiosyncratic", posing a number of theoretical and clinical problems. This paper reconsiders an especially challenging case of an unusual error pattern documented by Leonard and Brown (1984). T (age 3;8) replaced all word-final consonants (except for labial stops) with [s] but more importantly inserted [s] after word-final vowels. Our purpose is to show that optimality theory offers a fresh perspective on this error pattern and its course of development by providing an account of the facts that is entirely consistent with general principles relevant to the description of fully developed languages and acquisition.
Pyridine nucleotides in normal and diabetic rat lenses.

The oxidized and reduced forms of diphospho- and triphosphopyridine nucleotide were measured fluorometrically. In the normal rat lens, DPN is largely oxidized and decreases in concentration with age. The reduced form may decrease proportionately. TPN accounts for less than one-quarter of the total nucleotide. Over half of the TPN exists in the reduced form and the levels do not change with age. Alloxan diabetes causes an increase in the total concentration of reduced nucleotide and perhaps an equivalent loss of oxidized form. Known metabolic changes possibly leading to changes in nucleotide oxidation-reduction balance are discussed.
The Effects of Beveling the Margins of Articular Cartilage Defects in Immature Dogs

Eight 4 month old crossbred puppies underwent surgery simulating treatment of osteochondritis dissecans. Both humeral heads were exposed by a caudal approach to the shoulder joint. In one, an 8 mm circular, full-thickness cartilage defect was created so that the remnant cartilage margin was perpendicular to the joint surface. In the other, a similar 8 mm defect was created with the chondral margins beveled at approximately 45 degrees. There was no clinical lameness in any of the dogs. At necropsy after 16 weeks, the cartilage defects with beveled edges were significantly larger (11.0 +/- 0.6 mm SD) than those with perpendicular edges (8.0 +/- 0.1 mm SD), because of the beveling (p = 0.0039). Fibrocartilage was present but did not always completely fill the defects. Articular surfaces of the glenoid cavities suffered erosion and fibrillation more frequently opposite beveled defects than opposite defects with vertical walls (p = 0.0312). This was presumably due to the larger apposing defect. It was concluded that the cartilage margins surrounding a chondral defect should not be beveled.
Joint Sensing and Power Allocation in Nonconvex Cognitive Radio Games: Quasi-Nash Equilibria

In this paper, we propose a novel class of Nash problems for Cognitive Radio (CR) networks composed of multiple primary users (PUs) and secondary users (SUs) wherein each SU (player) competes against the others to maximize his own opportunistic throughput by choosing jointly the sensing duration, the detection thresholds, and the vector power allocation over a multichannel link. In addition to power budget constraints, several (deterministic or probabilistic) interference constraints can be accommodated in the proposed general formulation, such as constraints on the maximum individual/aggregate (probabilistic) interference tolerable from the PUs. To keep the optimization as decentralized as possible, global interference constraints, when present, are imposed via pricing; the prices are thus additional variables to be optimized. The resulting players' optimization problems are nonconvex and there are price clearance conditions associated with the nonconvex global interference constraints to be satisfied by the equilibria of the game, which make the analysis of the proposed game a challenging task; none of classical results in the game theory literature can be successfully applied. To deal with the nonconvexity of the game, we introduce a relaxed equilibrium concept - the Quasi-Nash Equilibrium (QNE)- and study its main properties, performance, and connection with local Nash equilibria. Quite interestingly, the proposed game theoretical formulations yield a considerable performance improvement with respect to current centralized and decentralized designs of CR systems, which validates the concept of QNE.
Ethanol and Sucrose Seeking and Consumption Following Repeated Administration of the GABAB Agonist Baclofen in Rats

Background: Baclofen, a GABAB agonist, has been found to decrease alcohol craving in humans and to nonselectively decrease ethanol intake in some rodent models. This experiment assessed the effects of repeated administration of baclofen on reinforcer seeking and consumption using the sipper tube appetitive/consummatory model of ethanol access. Methods: Subjects were divided into 2 groups and trained to make 30 lever press responses that resulted in access to either 10% ethanol or 2% sucrose in a sipper tube-drinking spout for 20 minutes. Three doses of baclofen were tested (0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg) and each drug treatment was assessed using the following schedule: Monday, saline; Tuesday to Thursday, baclofen; and Friday, saline. Results: The low dose of baclofen had no effect on the seeking or intake of either sucrose or ethanol, and the 1.0 mg/kg dose also had no effect on the appetitive, seeking response. However, the 1.0 mg/kg dose significantly decreased sucrose intake (from an average of 0.56 to 0.41 g/kg) and significantly increased ethanol intake (from an average of 0.77 to 1.00 g/kg). Similarly, the high dose (3.0 mg/kg) decreased sucrose intake and had a tendency to increase ethanol intake while decreasing both sucrose seeking and ethanol seeking. Conclusions: Overall, baclofen treatment affected reinforcer intake at doses that had no effect on reinforcer seeking, and effective doses decreased both sucrose seeking and ethanol seeking. Moreover, the effects on reinforcer intake were disparate, in that baclofen increased ethanol drinking and decreased sucrose drinking. The nonspecific effects of baclofen suggest that the GABAB system may be involved in general consummatory or drinking behaviors and does not appear to specifically regulate ethanol-motivated responding.