cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Reliability and Efficiency of Various Methods for Estimating Spermatozoa Concentration

Abstract A study was conducted of the reliability and the efficiency of four methods to estimate concentration of spermatozoa in chicken semen. The methods used were hemocytometer, Coulter counter, optical density, and spermatocrit. Twenty-four samples of pooled semen (5 males per sample) were used in this experiment. Sperm concentration estimates were determined on each of three subsamples: pure semen, semen diluted 1:1, and semen diluted 1:3. The average time to prepare and evaluate 6 replications of each subsample with the hemocytometer, Coulter counter, optical density, and spermatocrit methods was 9.0, 2.6, 2.3, and 4.4 min, respectively. Correlation coefficients ranged from .78 to .93 between the hemocytometer and either optical density or Coulter counter in both pure and diluted 1:1 and 1:3 samples. However, no significant correlation was observed between the hemocytometer and spermatocrit in the 1:3 dilution. The reliability expressed as coefficient of variation for each technique was: hemocytometer 17.9%, Coulter counter 1.57%, optical density 2.24%, and spermatocrit 9.95%. It is concluded from these results that the optical density and Coulter counter methods are more reliable and more efficient (less time consuming) than either hemocytometer or spermatocrit methods in estimating semen concentrations in chickens.
Cold-pressor pain tolerance in opiate and cocaine abusers: Correlates of drug type and use status

The objective of this study was to describe pain tolerance in drug abusers. Research suggests that drug dependence and pain perception share common neuroanatomical and neurophysiological substrates; thus the abuse of psychoactive drugs was hypothesized to relate to pain tolerance. We examined cold-pressor pain tolerance in 122 male, current and former opioid and cocaine abusers, across use status and primary drug of abuse. Descriptive analyses showed that the ratio of pain-sensitive to pain-tolerant persons was considerably higher than that described in the normative cold-pressor pain literature. Two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect for using status, indicating that current drug use is associated with decreased pain tolerance. The main effect for drug type approached significance, implying that persons who abuse opioids manifest less pain tolerance than cocaine users. The findings emphasize the importance of studying pain tolerance and drug abuse as interrelated phenomena.
Multidimensional scaling used to evaluate students residing in a rehabilitation unit.

Summary.-The Stone-Coles revision of Ekman's "content" model of multidimensional similarity analysis was applied to judgments of person similarity made by four mental health professionals. The person-stimuli evaluated were college student clienrs (d~srurbed Ss) and volunteers (normal Ss). TWO students in the latter category also served as judges. All judges appeared to share a common frame of reference, as only one factor emerged from a factor analysis of interjudge correlations. The factor analysis of a matrix of correlational similarities calculated from a matrix of mean similarities yielded four factors. These factors were first interpreted using clinical judgment and subsequently these interpretations were checked by correlations with MMPI variables. The first three factors were labeled: I. Action-oriented vs Overconuolled, 11. Sex, and 111. Severiry of Disturbance. A small fourth factor was uninterprerable. During the past decade a number of mathematically and quantitatively oriented psychologists have constructed multidimensional scaling models to measure judgment-opinion in multidimensional psychological space. From the viewpoint of applied psychalogy it is unfortunate that almost all the applications and discussions of these models have been limired to rather contrived demonstrations using somewhat "uninteresting," sterile, laboratory-type stimuli (e.g., randomly determined two-dimensional shapes, geometric figures, or alphabetic character^).^ Notable exceptions have been a series of interesting investigations recently conducted in Sweden (cf. Bratfisch & Ekman, 1969; Magnusson, 1969; Magnusson & Ekman, 1968). Although the model employed in these Swedish investigations generated psychologically meaningful results, the methodology utilized has been the subject of a number of mathematical-statistical criticisms ( cf. Coombs, 1964) .
Silencing the Subaltern: Nation-State/Colonial Governmentality and Bilingual Education in the United States

This article introduces the concept of nation-state/colonial governmentality as a framework for analyzing the ways current language ideologies marginalize the language practices of subaltern populations. Specifically, the article focuses on the innate limitations of re-appropriating nation-state/colonial governmentality in an attempt to advocate for the subaltern. It offers the case of bilingual education in the United States to demonstrate this point. It argues that although the struggle for bilingual education in the United States re-appropriated nation-state/colonial governmentality in ways that advocated for language-minoritized populations, this re-appropriation was eventually reincorporated into hegemonic language ideologies that continue to reproduce colonial relations of power that erase the fluid language practices of language-minoritized students. The article ends with some recommendations for moving toward a language ideology that allows subaltern voices to be heard outside of colonial relation...
Antiproton storage materials: Response of neon, argon, and benzene to a negative particle.

The energies of systems composed of a point negative charge (e.g., antiproton, {ital {bar p}}, or negative muon, {mu}{sup {minus}}) and an atom or small molecule (He,Ne,Ar,C{sub 6}H{sub 6}) have been calculated using large-basis-set, correlated {ital ab} {ital initio} electronic-structure methods. By invoking the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, these energies are used to generate potential surfaces for the interaction of a negative particle with an atom or small molecule. The results indicate that the particle-induced polarizations are significant even at 10-bohr separations in neon. Unusual behavior of the dipole moments of both argon and neon was calculated to occur as a function of separation. The molecular-orbital approach used here may also be useful in analyzing recent ionization behavior in low-energy {ital {bar p}}--inert-gas scattering experiments. Furthermore, the calculated large degree of polarization further constrains the design of materials for long-term normal matter storage of antiprotons for advanced energy sources.
Effects of Prior Food Competition On the Rat's Killing Response To the White Mouse

Forty male albino rats were paired and given 15 trials in a dominance test situation where only one animal in a pair could eat at a given time. Length of time in control of the food and frequency of dominant gestures and failures, which involved either success or failure in displacing the other animal from the food source, were the criteria employed in determining the dominance relationship within a pair of animals. A second group of 20 animals, of the same age and strain, did not receive the competitive experience and served as a control group. The day following the termination of the dominance trials, an adult albino mouse was placed in the home cage of each rat in both groups. Results showed that: I. None of the rats in the non-competitive control group killed the mouse they were paired with. 2. Twenty-two of the rats in the competitive group killed. 3. Sixteen of the killer rats in the competitive group were dominant animals while only six were submissive. The results are explained as being due to the difference in past experience of the two groups of rats.
INELASTIC NUCLEAR INTERACTIONS OF HIGH-ENERGY ELECTRONS AND MUONS IN EMULSION.

An experiment has been carried out to examine the inelastic nuclear interaction properties of high-energy electrons and muons in emulsion. A study was made of interactions produced by 10.5-GeV muons and 10.0- and 16.0-GeV electrons. Total and differential cross sections have been measured and compared with calculations carried out with the formulation of Hand and Wilson for inelastic lepton scattering. On the basis of the calculations, the ratio of electron to muon total cross sections was found to be 3.5:1, whereas experimentally the ratio was measured to be 2.18\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.40 for the 10-GeV leptons. To explain the total cross section for electrons, an average scalar-photon contribution equal to 12% of the transverse-photon cross section is needed, which is consistent with other experiments. The muon cross section was found to be significantly larger than expected, and it cannot be explained by a similar scalar-photon contribution. The energy dependence of the total cross sections is in agreement with theory, as are the angular distributions of the scattered leptons.
Socialism and Law in the Ethiopian Revolution

Most contemporary analyses of Third World affairs tend to replicate the patterns of scholarship laid down during colonial times by those who carried their ethno- centric predispositions intact from Europe. Studies written in reaction to this state of affairs are often little better, involving as they do uncritical transplantations of European notions of Marxism or social democracy. For example, Ethiopia just prior to the Revolution was depicted by academics and journalists as a traditional political system successfully and wholesomely perpetuating and modernizing itself.` Little change was foreseen after the demise of the 82-year-old emperor, even by Ethiopian and foreign Marxists. The African "experts" also badly misjudged the Ethiopian military. Ernest Lefever (now US Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights) found a soldier's dedication to promoting social stability under Haile Selassie which was "more patriotic than conspira- tional", "Keynesian rather than Marxist", and pragmatic rather than ideological.2 The Ethiopian military was denied an independent power base or policy voice by Pierre Von den Berghe; its role was seen as the historic one of support ing particular pretenders to the throne during succession crises.3 These extraordinarily bad guesses-they were little more than that-warn us not to venture too far into the thicket of theory and pseudotheory from which they come. We must, rather, trace carefully the pragmatic, the accidental and, above all, the distinctively Ethiopian aspects of an intensely nationalistic military socialism. In order to do this, we must first look briefly at Ethiopia prior to the Revolution.
Diseño curatorial en la poética y política de la etnografía actual: Una Conversación entre Tarek Elhaik y George E. Marcus

En este dialogo, George Marcus y Tarek Elhaik empiezan reexaminando los cambios en la practica investigativa y los paradigmas iniciados hace mas de veinte anos por las deliberaciones de Writing Culture y continuan evaluando el devenir de esos debates en el pensamiento y la practica antropologica contemporanea. Entre una figura clave del momento de Writing Culture y un antropologo formado en el periodo que siguio a esas discusiones se produce un intercambio, una exploracion y un refinamiento de afinidades conceptuales. La conversacion genera un conjunto de conceptos estrategicos clave del repertorio modernista y cosmopolita, apreciado por ambos antropologos (montaje, diseno, instalacion), que influye en la figura emblematica del trabajo de campo. El llamado de Marcus a principios de los 90 por una etnografia como antidoto al realismo desesperanzador de peliculas y textos etnograficos y de los recientes “para-sitios” de performances en el Centro de Etnografia de la Universidad de California en Irvine se combina con la propuesta de Elhaik de la practica curatorial como procedimiento, metodo y modo de produccion teorica que abra la posibilidad para idear y componer un “libro-instalacion”. La conversacion propone tales figuras emergentes y nuevos experimentos como modos alternativos de mediacion de la etnografia en proceso y, quizas, como sustitutos del trabajo de campo en si mismo.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Previously Healthy Working Adults

During 1975-1995, a total of 2960 healthy adults, 18-60 years of age, were prospectively evaluated for respiratory virus infections. Of these subjects, 211 (7%) acquired respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The infections were symptomatic in 84% of subjects, involved only the upper respiratory tract in 74%, and included lower respiratory tract symptoms in 26%. Overall, 40% of the subjects were febrile. Lower respiratory tract signs developed in 26%. RSV illnesses were more prolonged than non-RSV respiratory illnesses. Compared with influenza, RSV infections were less frequently associated with fever and headache, but were associated significantly more often with nasal congestion, ear and sinus involvement, and productive cough. Absence from work during the acute phase of the illness resulted from 38% of RSV infections and 66% of influenza cases. The mean duration of RSV illness (9.5 days), however, was significantly longer than that of influenza (6.8 days). The occurrence of annual epidemics of RSV, the virus' potential to reinfect all age groups, and the morbidity associated with these reinfections suggest that RSV infections in working adults may result in appreciable costs for medical visits and absence from work.
53Mn-53Cr systematics of carbonates in CM chondrites: Implications for the timing and duration of aqueous alteration

Abstract CM chondrites contain carbonates and other secondary minerals such as phyllosilicates, sulfides, sulfates, oxides and hydroxides that are believed to have formed by aqueous alteration reactions on their parent asteroid. We report in situ Mn–Cr isotope measurements in the highly aqueously altered CM2.1 chondrites QUE 93005 and ALH 83100 using secondary ion mass spectrometry (Cameca ims-1270 ion microprobe). The 53 Cr excesses are correlated with the 53 Mn/ 55 Mn ratio and result from the in situ decay of 53 Mn, a short-lived radioisotope with a half-life of 3.7 Ma. If we assume that carbonate grains in samples QUE 93005 and ALH 83100 are cogenetic, then the excesses define initial 53 Mn/ 55 Mn ratios (( 53 Mn/ 55 Mn) 0 ) of (4.1 ± 1.2) × 10 −6 and (5.1 ± 1.7) × 10 −6 , respectively. These values are comparable to those in carbonates from other CM chondrites as reported in the literature. Initial 53 Mn/ 55 Mn ratios for calculated model isochrones for individual carbonate grains range from (3.8 ± 1.4) × 10 −6 to (4.8 ± 2.1) × 10 −6 for QUE 93005 and from (3.1 ± 1.6) × 10 −6 to (1.3 ± 0.5) × 10 −5 for ALH 83100. A possible interpretation for the ranges in ( 53 Mn/ 55 Mn) 0 could be that alteration in individual CM chondrites was episodic and occurred over an extended period of time. However, isochrones based on the entire set of carbonate grains in each of the CM chondrites imply that the degree of aqueous alteration is roughly correlated with the age of carbonate formation in CM chondrites of different subtypes and that alteration on the CM parent asteroid started contemporaneously with or shortly after CAI formation and lasted at least 4 Ma.
Analytical Method for the Determination of Various Arsenic Species in Rice, Rice Food Products, Apple Juice, and Other Juices by Ion Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry

Recent studies have shown that there are detectable levels of arsenic (As) in rice, rice food products, and apple juice. This has created significant concern to the public, the food industry, and various regulatory bodies. Classic test methods typically measure total As and are unable to differentiate the various As species. Since different As species have greatly different toxicities, an analytical method was needed to separate and quantify the different inorganic and organic species of As. The inorganic species arsenite [As(+3)] and arsenate [As(+5)] are highly toxic. With this in mind, an ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma (IC-ICP/MS) method was developed and validated for rice and rice food products that can separate and individually measure multiple inorganic and organic species of As. This allows for the evaluation of the safety or risk associated with any product analyzed. The IC-ICP/MS method was validated on rice and rice food products, and it has been used successfully on apple juice. This paper provides details of the validated method as well as some lessons learned during its development. Precision and accuracy data are presented for rice, rice food products, and apple juice.
Relationships of eutrophication to the distribution of mercury and to the potential for methylmercury production in the peat soils of the everglades

Elevated mercury concentrations have been reported in fish and wildlife from the Everglades in recent years. The hypothesis that eutrophication caused by the impact of phosphorous- (P) rich agricul...
Testing of Inflatable Structures of Rapidly Deployable Port Infrastructures

An experimental investigation of the fluid-structure interaction of a water filled inflatable membrane structure in the near shore environment was performed in the Coastal Marine Engineering Laboratory at the United States Naval Academy. The structure of interest was a 10′ × 2′ × 0.75′ (304.8 × 60.9 × 22.8cm) tubular bag developed at the Center for Innovation in Ship Design (CISD) at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Carderock Division as a proof of concept for the design of a rapidly deployable inflatable structure causeway to be used either as a ship to shore connector or a breakwater. The experiments were performed over a range of test conditions including three incident wave angles, three water depths, and a number of wave heights corresponding to various sea states. Results confirmed that the bag is stable and well grounded for most operational sea conditions. Large amplitude and low frequency waves can induce significant motions of the structure, but the static and dynamic frictional coefficients between the structure and the surface in contact play a critical role in these motions. For conditions where the structure was at an angle of 45° to the incident waves, highly nonlinear wave conditions are produced which created wave over-topping and oscillatory motions of the structure.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
The Immediate and Lingering Effects of Armed Conflict on Adult Mortality: A Time-Series Cross-National Analysis

This research investigates the effect of armed conflict on adult mortality across countries and over time. Theoretical mechanisms are specified for how military violence influences adult mortality, both immediately and over time after conflict. The effects of aggregate conflict, interstate and intrastate conflicts, and conflict severity are explored. The Heckman selection model is applied to account for the conflict-induced missing data problem. A pooled analysis across 84 countries for the period from 1961 to 1998 provides broad empirical support for the proposed theoretical expectations across both genders. This study confirms the importance of both the immediate and the lingering effect of military conflict on the mortality of the working-age population. The immediate effect of civil conflict is much stronger than that of the interstate conflict, while the reverse applies to the lingering effect. Both the immediate and the lingering effects of severe conflict are much stronger than those of minor conflict. While men tend to suffer higher mortality immediately from intrastate conflict and severe conflict, women in the long run experience as much mortality owing to the lingering effects of these conflicts. The mortality data show a strong data selection bias caused by military conflict. The research findings highlight the imperative for negotiating peace. Preventing a contest from escalating into a severe conflict can produce noticeable gains in saved human lives.
Body-size perception, body-esteem, and parenting history in college women reporting a history of child abuse.

Summary.-This study investigated the relations among physical, emotional, and sexual abuse up to adolescence and subsequent perception of body size, detection of changes in body size, and body-esteem. The role of parenting history in abused participants was also examined. 38 college undergraduate women, half of whom had been abused, reported instances of abuse, childhood parenting history, and current bodyesteem. A recently developed software program of Gardner and Boice was used to present a series of distorted frontal profiles of each participant's own body for the women to rate as being too wide or too thin. A psychophysical procedure called adaptive probit estimation was used to measure the amount of over- and underestimation of these ratings and whether these changes were statistically significant. Analysis showed abused participants had distorted perceptions of body size, although the direction of the distortion was not consistent. There was no difference in detection of changes in body size. Abused and nonabused participants differed on measures of body-esteem and on ratings of most parenting experiences, including experiences with both mothers and fathers.
On the Quality of Sampling from Geographic Networks

Abstract We consider the problem of randomly sampling information from a network embedded in two-dimensional space, as characteristic of a physical network. We ask in particular what factor most affects the sampling quality: The distribution of the nodes in the space or the connectivity structure of the links? We hypothesize that, although node distribution is also effective in sampling quality, the link connectivity dominates the sampling quality. Our hypotheses are confirmed via extensive simulations as well as theoretical background on the relationship between eigenvalues of the matrix representing the network and the link connectivity properties. This work has relevance to both the analysis of information dissemination in various networks as well as the engineering of networks to be more efficient and resilient for such.
Racial variations in the childhood electrocardiogram: preliminary observations.

Abstract A comparative ECG study of 64 normal male Negro and Caucasian children revealed deeper S v1 and shorter QRS duration in Negro subjects. These findings suggest that normal ECG standards for children may require adjustment for race. The clinical features of seven subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) determined by voltage are discussed.
Conrad N. Hilton, Innkeeper Extraordinaire, Statesman and Philanthropist

(2004). Conrad N. Hilton, Innkeeper Extraordinaire, Statesman and Philanthropist. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 5-17.
Establishment of a geriatrics curriculum.

In 1977 the Ohio State Legislature directed all Ohio medical schools to establish offices of geriatrics/gerontology supported with specific funds. The offices were given the responsibility to institute curricular changes that would establish a focus upon aging and health problems of the elderly. By 1981, extensive curricular enrichment was apparent at the Medical College of Ohio in all phases of medical education, from the preclinical years through residency training programs and into continuing medical education.
An experimental assessment of genetic tagging and founder representation in hatchery-reared red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) used in stock enhancement

Summary Multiplexed microsatellite markers were evaluated as genetic tags for red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) juveniles used in stock enhancement. Offspring were generated from spawns of nine sets of five broodfish (three dams and two sires) in individual brood tanks. Intensive sampling, by trawling, at 2, 7, 8, 10 and 11 days after release of � 192 500 hatchery-raised fingerlings resulted in recovery of a total of 310 fingerlings. All parents and recovered offspring were genotyped for variation at 30 microsatellites combined for simultaneous assay in six multiplex panels. An optimal combination employing three of the six multiplex panels allowed unambiguous parentage assignment of all recovered offspring. Only 21 of 52 possible dam x sire combinations were represented among recovered offspring. The founder equivalent (fe) of the recovered offspring was 8.7 vs the expected fe of 36.0 (95% CI = 33.3–38.4) if reproductive success was randomly distributed among breeders. The significantly lower founder equivalent translated into reduced genetic diversity among the recovered offspring and may reflect differing contributions of individual broodfish to spawning events, differing productivity among brood tanks, and ⁄ or variable survival of families during early larval and ⁄ or juvenile stages.
Deconstructing the association between relationship maintenance and commitment: Testing two competing models

In this study, the author compares 2 models: the information-seeking model, in which perceptions of relationship maintenance predict subsequent commitment, and the motivational model, in which commitment predicts subsequent perceptions of relationship maintenance, by means of a daily, cross-lagged, dyadic design. The moderating effects of relationship length and global commitment are also tested. A sample of 98 same-sex couples from the United States completed an Internet daily diary for 14 consecutive days. The results of 2 hierarchical linear models showed that, as predicted, the information-seeking model was characteristic of couples who had been together for a shorter amount of time whereas the motivational model better characterized couples who had been together longer.
Training Residents in Community Health Centers: Facilitators and Barriers

PURPOSE Training family medicine residents in underserved settings, such as community health centers (CHCs), may provide a solution to the primary care workforce shortage. We sought to describe the facilitators and barriers to creating partnerships between CHCs and family medicine residencies (FMRs). METHODS We conducted 19 key informant interviews and 3 focus groups to identify the key factors in the CHC-FMR relationship. Audiotapes and transcripts were analyzed to identify major themes. Key informant results were validated and expanded in the focus group discussions. RESULTS Four major themes describe the CHC-FMR training partnership: mission, money, quality, and administrative/governance complexity. The CHC-FMR training affiliation is a complex relationship drawn together by a shared mission of service to the underserved, enhanced financial stability, workforce improvement, and greater educational and clinical quality. The relationship is hindered by competing primary missions, chronic underfunding, complex governing institutional regulations, and administrative challenges. In addition, the focus groups offered several policy solutions to address the barriers to CHC-FMR affiliation. CONCLUSIONS A successful CHC-FMR training partnership relies upon the development of a shared mission of education and service, as well as innovation and flexibility by the organizations that govern them.
Approximators characteristics and their effect on training misbehavior in passive learning control

This paper investigates function approximator selection for nonlinear system identification under passive learning conditions. Passive learning refers to the normal situation in which the system inputs cannot be selected freely by the learning system; instead, function approximation must be accomplished using the input/output samples obtained while the plant is in useful operation. Under these conditions, the experimental sample density is not expected to be uniform over the learning domain. This is especially true over short duration windows, where the training samples will cluster in subregions of the learning domain. The effect of the nonuniform sample density on the resulting parameter estimate has been previously analyzed. It has been shown that approximators that have basis elements satisfying certain local support conditions can effectively accommodate nonuniform training sample distributions. Although such approximators require large amounts of memory, parameter estimation algorithms can be implemented efficiently (i.e. the number of computations on the order of that required for a linear adaptive controller for a problem of the same state dimension) in real-time. This paper addresses the effect of local basis elements on training behavior. The article shows that tracking error, the means most often used to demonstrate performance, is not a suitable metric for measuring the learning system performance. Alternative performance measures are suggested. Examples are included.
Gaze awareness for video-conferencing: a software approach

Previous attempts at bringing gaze awareness to desktop videoconferencing have relied on hardware solutions. In this article, the authors describe their software approach, which tracks participants' head and eye movements using vision techniques, then uses this information to graphically place the head and eyes in a 3D environment.
AS EARCH-THEORETIC APPROACH TO COOPERATIVE CONTROL FOR UNINHABITED AIR VEHICLES

This paper explores the problem of cooperative search for stationary targets with multiple uninhabited air vehicles (UAVs). A search-theoretic approach based on “rate of return” maps is used to develop cooperative search plans for UAVs that try to approximate the optimal non-implementable search plan. The approach is illustrated by use of a simulation testbed for multiple searching UAVs and Monte Carlo simulation runs to evaluate our cooperative strategy relative to the optimal plan and relative to a noncooperative strategy.
Contextual Influences on Marriage Implications for Policy and Intervention

Current proposals to promote and strengthen marriage among low-income populations focus on values and behavioral skills as primary targets of intervention. Marital research that examines contextual influences on marriage calls these emphases into question. Ethnographic and survey research reveal no evidence that populations experiencing higher rates of divorce value healthy marriages any less than other populations do. Longitudinal and observational research reveals two mechanisms through which the environment of a marriage may enhance or constrain effective relationship maintenance. First, some environments contain fewer sources of support and pose more severe challenges than others, presenting marriages in those environments with greater burdens than marriages in more supportive environments are faced with. Second, when demands external to the marriage are relatively high, even couples with adequate coping skills may have difficulty exercising those skills effectively. Together, such findings suggest th...
Is FeSi a Kondo insulator

FeSi exhibits a Curie-like susceptibility accompanied by a moderate electronic conductivity at high temperature. At low temperature the magnetic susceptibility goes to zero, and a small charge gap appears. We discuss phenomenological and theoretical aspects of the relationship between FeSi and various rare-earth correlated systems often referred to as Kondo insulators.
Stability and Change in Health Insurance Among Older Mexican Americans: Longitudinal Evidence From the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly

Objectives. This study examined the association between health insurance coverage, medical care use, limitations in activities of daily living, and mortality among older Mexican-origin individuals. Methods. We analyzed longitudinal data from the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE). Results. The uninsured tend to be younger, female, poor, and foreign born. They report fewer health care visits, are less likely to have a usual source of care, and more often receive care in Mexico. Conversely, those with private health insurance are economically better off and use more health care services. Over time, the data reveal substantial changes in type of insurance coverage. Conclusions. The data reveal serious vulnerabilities among older Mexican Americans that result from a lack of private Medigap supplemental coverage. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:1264–1271)
Containing the Contagion: Treating the Virus That Inspired the Film

Postexposure passive immunotherapy protects African green monkeys from lethal challenge with Contagion-related Hendra virus.
Reliability of Electrostatically Actuated RF MEMS Switches

The reliability of electrostatically actuated RF MEMS switches is reviewed with emphasis on recent advancements. Both ohmic and capacitive switches have been operated for more 100-billion cycles without failure. When they do fail, ohmic switches tend to fail catastrophically by stiction, whereas capacitive switches often degrade gradually through charging of their dielectric insulators. Approaches to mitigate and model dielectric charging are then presented.
Novel hopanoid cyclases from the environment

Hopanoids are ubiquitous isoprenoid lipids found in modern biota, in recent sediments and in low-maturity sedimentary rocks. Because these lipids primarily are derived from bacteria, they are used as proxies to help decipher geobiological communities. To date, much of the information about sources of hopanoids has come from surveys of culture collections, an approach that does not address the vast fraction of prokaryotic communities that remains uncharacterized. Here we investigated the phylogeny of hopanoid producers using culture-independent methods. We obtained 79 new sequences of squalene-hopene cyclase genes (sqhC) from marine and lacustrine bacterioplankton and analysed them along with all 31 sqhC fragments available from existing metagenomics libraries. The environmental sqhCs average only 60% translated amino acid identity to their closest relatives in public databases. The data imply that the sources of these important geologic biomarkers remain largely unknown. In particular, genes affiliated with known cyanobacterial sequences were not detected in the contemporary environments analysed here, yet the geologic record contains abundant hopanoids apparently of cyanobacterial origin. The data also suggest that hopanoid biosynthesis is uncommon: < 10% of bacterial species may be capable of producing hopanoids. A better understanding of the contemporary distribution of hopanoid biosynthesis may reveal fundamental insight about the function of these compounds, the organisms in which they are found, and the environmental signals preserved in the sedimentary record.
FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION OF NERVE–SKELETAL MUSCLE CONSTRUCTS ENGINEERED IN VITRO

Previously, we have engineered three-dimensional (3-D) skeletal muscle constructs that generate force and display a myosin heavy-chain (MHC) composition of fetal muscle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional characteristics of 3-D skeletal muscle constructs cocultured with fetal nerve explants. We hypothesized that coculture of muscle constructs with neural cells would produce constructs with increased force and adult MHC isoforms. Following introduction of embryonic spinal cord explants to a layer of confluent muscle cells, the neural tissue integrated with the cultured muscle cells to form 3-D muscle constructs with extensions. Immunohistochemical labeling indicated that the extensions were neural tissue and that the junctions between the nerve extensions and the muscle constructs contained clusters of acetylcholine receptors. Compared to muscles cultured without nerve explants, constructs formed from nerve- muscle coculture showed spontaneous contractions with an increase in frequency and force. Upon field stimulation, both twitch (2-fold) and tetanus (1.7-fold) were greater in the nerve-muscle coculture system. Contractions could be elicited by electrically stimulating the neural extensions, although smaller forces are produced than with field stimulation. Severing the extension eliminated the response to electrical stimulation, excluding field stimulation as a contributing factor. Nerve- muscle constructs showed a tendency to have higher contents of adult and lower contents of fetal MHC isoforms, but the differences were not significant. In conclusion, we have successfully engineered a 3-D nerve-muscle construct that displays functional neuromuscular junctions and can be electrically stimulated to contract via the neural extensions projecting from the construct.
Determination of a coherent wave field after double passage through a diffuser

A coherent wave field U(x, y) scattered by a thin random diffuser cannot normally be imaged. However, if the scattered wave field is reflected by an ordinary mirror back through the same diffuser and an average over an ensemble of diffusers is taken, enhanced backscatter processes result in a wave field containing sufficient information that U(x, y) can be determined to within a complex proportionality constant. Specifically, by making spatial coherence measurements on the doubly scattered wave field (using, for example, a Young’s two-pinhole interferometer), a complex quantity proportional to U(x1, y1)U*(x2, y2) can be determined, allowing recovery of U(x, y) to within a proportionality factor.
Indelign: a probabilistic framework for annotation of insertions and deletions in a multiple alignment

Motivation: A quantitative study of molecular evolutionary events such as substitutions, insertions and deletions from closely related genomes requires (1) an accurate multiple sequence alignment program and (2) a method to annotate the insertions and deletions that explain the 'gaps' in the alignment. Although the former requirement has been extensively addressed, the latter problem has received little attention, especially in a comprehensive probabilistic framework. Results: Here, we present Indelign, a program that uses a probabilistic evolutionary model to compute the most likely scenario of insertions and deletions consistent with an input multiple alignment. It is also capable of modifying the given alignment so as to obtain a better agreement with the evolutionary model. We find close to optimal performance and substantial improvement over alternative methods, in tests of Indelign on synthetic data. We use Indelign to analyze regulatory sequences in Drosophila, and find an excess of insertions over deletions, which is different from what has been reported for neutral sequences. Availability: The Indelign program may be downloaded from the website http://veda.cs.uiuc.edu/indelign/ Supplementary information: Supplementary material is available at Bioinformatics online. Contact: [email protected]
Chemical Vapor Deposition of Boron Phosphide Thin Films

Boron Phosphide (BP) is a promising material for use as a room temperature semiconductor detector of thermal neutrons. The absorption of a thermal neutron by a 10B nucleus in BP can yield 2.3MeV of energy which in solid state BP can yield ~0.5 million electron-hole pairs that would be detectable with minimal amplification in a device. BP thin films are grown according to the net reaction below in a cold wall chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor: % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9 % vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x % fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeOqamaaBa % aaleaacaqGYaaabeaakiaabIeadaWgaaWcbaGaaGOnaaqabaGccqGH % RaWkcaaIYaGaaeiuaiaabIeadaWgaaWcbaGaaG4maaqabaGccqGHsg % IRcaaIYaGaaeOqaiaabcfacaqGRaGaaeOnaiaabIeadaWgaaWcbaGa % aeOmaaqabaaaaa!44EA! $${{\text{B}}_{\text{2}}}{{\text{H}}_6} + 2{\text{P}}{{\text{H}}_3} \to 2{\text{BP + 6}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}$$ Thin film depositions are performed using diborane and phosphine with a balance of hydrogen gas at near atmospheric pressure with RF induction heating. The resultant BP films are characterized by Raman, XRD, SEM, TEM and TEM-EELS for chemical composition, surface and bulk morphology. BP growths on Si and SiC substrates are compared. SiC provides reduced lattice mismatch for growth of BP and growth of heteroepitaxial BP on SiC will be discussed.
Gliosis and ganglion cell death in the developing cat retina during hydrocephalus and after decompression

Abstract Even after surgical decompression, infantile hydrocephalus often results in permanent neurological symptoms, including visual deficits. However, little is known about the cellular changes that may be responsible for these effects. The present study was designed to analyze the retinae of normal, midly hydrocephalic, severely hydrocephalic and surgically decompressed kittens to determine if changes occur in the density and size of retinal ganglion cells. Hydrocephalus was induced in 10 day old kittens by intra-cisternal injection of kaolin. Kittens were allowed to survive from 7 to 28 days after injection. Animals that were decompressed received ventriculoperitoneal shunts 10–15 days after the induction of hydrocephalus and were sacrificed 10–14 days after shunt placement. The density and area of neuronal and glial cells were determined within a sample area in peripheral nasal retina. Total cell density was significantly increased in midly and severely hydrocephalic animals but returned to normal following decompression. This change represents a significant increase in the glial population. In addition, there was a significant loss of ganglion cells in both the severely hydrocephalic and the shunted groups. Based on these findings, we conclude that gliosis occurs as a result of cell death in the retina following severe hydrocephalus, and decompression is unable to reverse these effects. Furthermore, gliosis occurs in mild cases of hydrocephalus, and may be an early indication that cellular degeneration will follow.
The SFRA: a corner-turn FPGA architecture

FPGAs normally operate at whatever clock rate is appropriate for the loaded configuration. When FPGAs are used as computational devices in a larger system, however, it is better to employ fixed-frequency FPGAs operating at a high clock frequency. Such fixed-frequency arrays require pipelined interconnect structures, which are difficult to support in a traditional FPGA architecture. We have developed a novel approach, called a "corner-turn" interconnect, based on a Manhattan array of logically depopulated S-boxes with full connectivity but limited routability. This interconnect supports new polynomial-time routing techniques while maintaining conventional placement and other upstream toolflow. We have used the corner-turn interconnect to define a fixed-frequency FPGA architecture, the SFRA, that is largely compatible with the Xilinx Virtex while providing higher speed, pipelined operation. Our tools automatically repipeline designs to operate at the SFRA's intrinsic clock frequency. Since the arrays are largely compatible, we directly compare the SFRA with the Virtex on four benchmark designs. On these benchmarks, the SFRA offers higher throughput and competitive throughput per area. The SFRA routing and retiming tools also run one to two orders of magnitude faster than their Xilinx counterparts.
Relationships between the thermal stability, friction, and wear properties of reactively sputtered Si–aC:H thin films

The friction and wear performance were correlated with the thermal stability of reactively sputtered Si–aC:H thin films containing various Si and H concentrations. The average steady-state friction coefficients as measured by dry sliding pin-on-disk tests decreased with increasing Si and H content. Furthermore, the films with high Si and H formed thick transfer films as compared to the films with little or no Si and H content. Minimums in average ball abrasion rate and average film wear rate were observed at the Si/C = 0.10 film composition. The most intense and distinct “graphitic” Raman peaks were collected from the Si/C = 0.10 transfer film debris. In addition, the Si/C = 0.10 film also had the most distinguishable graphitic Raman signature after annealing in air at 500 °C compared to the other Si–aC:H films, suggesting a possible relationship between the nature of transfer films resulting from dry sliding in air and the bulk films that were annealed in air.
Nanoscale Al-Al and Cu-Cu Contacts

This paper reports that the forces needed to break Al and Cu native oxide are 0 to 3 muN, and 0 to 0.5 muN, respectively, remarkably less than the previously reported 0.1 N force requirement of breaking Al native oxide. Our modeling and experimental results indicate that nanoscale contact resistance is dominated by local hardening instead of contact force as in conventional contact theories. A microswitch featuring a 60 to 80 nm thick contact electrode is fabricated to demonstrate nanoscale Al contacts.
HEMT models for large signal circuit simulation

Two new large signal HEMT models have been developed. The models have been implemented in both parameter extraction and circuit simulation software, and validated using an automated load-pull system. Both models show significant improvement in performance prediction capability compared to conventional models available in nonlinear simulation software. The validation procedure makes use of an InP based HEMT operating into both matched and un-matched load states at several power levels along with a uniquely defined nonlinear error metric. >
Reliability analysis of electric supply including standby generators and an uninterruptible power supply system

This paper presents a methodology for the reliability analysis of standby and emergency power systems. The techniques are illustrated using an example of standby generators and an uninterruptible power supply system. >
Tuning Nickel with Lewis Acidic Group 13 Metalloligands for Catalytic Olefin Hydrogenation.

A series of bimetallic complexes pairing zero-valent nickel with group 13 M(III) ions is reported. Stronger Ni→M(III) dative bonds that render Ni more electron-deficient are seen for larger ions (In > Ga > Al). The larger Ga and In ions stabilize rare, nonclassical Ni–H2 adducts that catalyze olefin hydrogenation. In contrast, neither the Ni–Al complex nor a single nickel center enables H2 binding or olefin hydrogenation. By comparison of the structures, redox properties, and catalytic activities of the Ni–M series, the electronic and steric effects of the supporting metal ion are elucidated.
Is cardiac stress testing appropriate in asymptomatic adults at low risk

This test is most useful in patients who have chest pain and shortness of breath on exertion.
Formation of Nanoparticles in a Carbon ARC

Details of the carbon-coated nanoparticle growth mechanism are revealed by a comparison of product morphology and reactor parameters. Carbon-coated metal or metal carbide clusters nucleate in the gas phase, grow to characteristic sizes, and deposit on surfaces within the reactor. The surface temperature determines the crystallinity of the nanoparticles and the surrounding carbon. Tungsten carbide nanoparticles show that the carbon coating arises due to phase segregation when the nanoparticle has a lower melting point than that of graphite.
Sealing Deep Freezing Bedrock Shaft Frozen Hole Bursting Water Technology with Water Diversion Grouting

For the frozen hole bursting water technical problems of deep freezing bedrock shaft in West area of China,taking water disasters control project in Hujiahe main shaft freezing hole as engineering background,on the basis of analyzing annular conduit water channels formation and bursting water mechanism of the frozen hole,the paper innovatively presents the water diversion grouting sealing technology.Through engineering practice verification,the analysis conclusion is valid.The technology could control the frozen hole bursting water disaster effectively and quickly.
Study of the Ancient Capital city of Luoyang since 1950s

The study of the ancient capital city of Luoyang has been an important part in historical research.Great achievements have been made of it since the liberation,especially from 1980s.The paper summarizes and comments on these achievements so far and finds out their limitations.This will be significant for the further study to the ancient capital city of Luoyang.