cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water-Soluble Factors with Vitamin K Activity from Pig Liver and from Fusiformis nigrescens

Water-Soluble Factors with Vitamin K Activity from Pig Liver and from Fusiformis nigrescens
Aluminum and Its Future in Power Transformers

DURING THE EARLY 1940's copper was in short supply in many countries, with the result that aluminum came into use in power transformer windings as a means of conserving copper. Since that time, there has been a continued interest in aluminum for transformer use. Considerable literature has been published on the use of aluminum in reactors, dry-type transformers, and distribution transformers. Less data has been available on the use of aluminum in power transformers above 10,000 kva. It is these larger sizes that are now under study.
Independent Particle Model and the Nuclear Photoeffect

A simple harmonic oscillator independent-particle model is used for sum-rule calculation of electric dipole transitions in the nuclear photoeffect. First we find the level spacing $\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}=42{A}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{3}}$ Mev for nuclear radius parameter ${r}_{0}=1.2$. Combining this result with the integrated cross section, we find the bremsstrahlung-weighted cross section ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{b}=\ensuremath{\int}(\frac{\ensuremath{\sigma}}{W})dW=0.36{A}^{\frac{4}{3}}$ millibarns. The calculated ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{b}$ is not inconsistent with a preliminary analysis of experimental measurements for He, Be, C, Al, Cu, Mo, Ag, Ta, Pb, and U. We also use the simple harmonic oscillator independent-particle model to calculate the increase in the integrated cross section due to neutron-proton exchange forces. We find that the relative increase is not far from the Levinger-Bethe value of $0.8x$ (where $x$ is the fraction of exchange force) for the closed-shell nuclei ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$, ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$, and ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{40}$, for both Gaussian and Yukawa neutron-proton potentials, and for two values of the radius parameter ${r}_{0}:1.2 or 1.5$.
Neural network-based closure for modeling short-fiber suspensions

Fiber orientation tensors enjoy widespread application in short-fiber reinforced polymer composite simulations because they provide a compact form for describing complex fiber orientation states. The orientation of reinforcing fibers within a short-fiber composite directly affects the mechanical and thermal properties of the processed part, requiring that an accurate and efficient simulation method be available for use in product and process design. It is well understood that the equation of motion for each even-ordered orientation tensor is dependent on the next higher even-ordered orientation tensor, necessitating the use of a closure approximation. This article presents a new class of fitted orientation tensor closures where components of the fourth-order tensor are computed from corresponding second-order tensors using an artificial neural network (ANN). The ANN offers a unique advantage here because it is computationally efficient and is able to represent complex relationships between inputs and outputs where representative mathematical models do not exist. After a brief review of fiber orientation analysis, the new neural network closure (NNET) is defined along with a detailed description of the associated training procedure. The accuracy and computational efficiency of the NNET closure is then demonstrated with both simple and complex flow simulations.It is shown that simulations with the new NNET closure are as accurate as those using current orthotropic fitted closures at a computation cost that approaches the less accurate Hybrid closure. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1125–1141, 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Programming on the move: design lessons from IPRO

Computer programming is often a stationary, solitary task; such tasks do not work well for most novices. This work describes the IPRO project that uses our 'Programming Standing Up' framework (PSU) to reframe programming as a mobile, social game. IPRO is a programming and simulation environment for iOS in which a learner programs a virtual robot to play soccer in a virtual space shared with her cohort. This work presents examples of secondary school students learning with IPRO. We then connect the examples to PSU design principles and evaluate those principles in terms of the examples.
Use of supplements and alternative medicine practitioners: Perceptions of college students in Qatar

Abstract The use of herbal and nutrition supplements is widespread. It has been reported that about 80% of the world's population use herbal medicines [1, 2, 3, 4]. Very few supplement use studies have been conducted in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and neighboring nations (5,6). Supplement use data among young adults is scarce. In one study aimed at determining the use of supplements among athletes in Qatar (5), over 60% of the study participants reported using vitamin supplements. Data regarding attitudes on the use of supplements among young adults is almost non-existent. The data on their perceptions about alternative medicine practitioners is also inadequate. We thus conducted a survey in which we examined the a) prevalence of supplement use among college students in Qatar, and b) their perceptions about the use of supplements and alternative medicine practitioners. We have previously presented our study findings regarding the use of supplements (7). At this meeting we will present our study findings concerning the perceptions of college students about the a) effectiveness and safety of supplements and b) alternative medicine practitioners. References 1. Eisenberg, DM, Davis, RB, Ettner, SL et al. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA 280: 1569-1575, 1998. 2. Farnsworth, NR, Akerele, O, Bingel, AS., Socjata, DD, Eno, Z. Medicinal plants in therapy. Bull World Health Organization 1985: 63: 965-981. 3. Gesler, WM. Therapeutic landscape medical issues in light of the new cultural geography. Soc.Sci. Med. 1992; 34: 735-746. 4. Rafferty, AP, McGee, HB, Miller, CE, Reyes, M. Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use: state-specific estimates from the 2001 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System. Am. J. Public Health 92: 1598-1600, 2002. 5. Knez WL and Peake JM, The prevalence of vitamin supplementation in ultraendurance triathletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2010 Dec;20(6):507-14. 6. Abu-Irmaileh, BE, Affi, F.U. Herbal medicine in Jordan with special emphasis on commonly used herbs. J. Ethnopharmacology 89: 193-197, 2003. 7. Mamtani R, MacRae B, Mahfoud Z, Cheema S , El Hajj M, Lopez T and Lowenfels A. Use of herbal and nutrition supplements among college students in Qatar. American Society of Clinical Nutrition, 2013, Dubai. Acknowledgement: This work is supported by the Biomedical Research Program at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, a program funded by Qatar Foundation.
Applications Of Acoustic Microscopy In The Semiconductor Industry

The scanning acoustic microscope has now been under development for several years in university research groups. There has been some interest from the industrial and medical sectors, and commercial versions are starting to appear. This paper is concerned with initial experience with a scanning acoustic microscope in one industrial laboratory, and describes likely future requirements for such instrumentation.
Economic integration in an uneven world: an internationalist perspective

This paper discusses two progressive schools of thought that have evolved in response to international neoliberalism and the consequent competitive pressures in global markets emanating from the low-cost conditions obtained in many less developed countries. The paper identifies these as the ‘competitiveness-enhancing’ and the ‘competition-reducing’ approaches. The former is shown to be ill-suited to present circumstances of the global economy and, in any event, nationalist. The latter seeks to minimize the adverse consequences of international neoliberalism, and comprises proposals for expansive social charters and social tariffs. The paper provides a theoretical basis for this approach, and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each of these proposals. The paper then develops and defends a new multilateral, rule-based trade proposal, called the ‘social index tariff structure’ (SITS), which would reward nations for high levels of development achieved relative to their economic means. Drawing on human ...
Ghana: Progress, Problematics and Limitations of the Success Story

File also includes editorial 'Do stabilisation policies stabilise?' by C. Colcough and R.H. Green.
Conversion between Hexagonal GaN and β-Ga2O3Nanowires and Their Electrical Transport Properties

We have observed that the hexagonal GaN nanowires grown from a simple chemical vapor deposition method using gallium metal and ammonia gas are usually gallium-doped. By annealing in air, the gallium-doped hexagonal GaN nanowires could be completely converted to β-Ga2O3 nanowires. Annealing the β-Ga2O3 nanowires in ammonia could convert them back to undoped hexagonal GaN nanowires. Field effect transistors based on these three kinds of nanowires were fabricated, and their performances were studied. Because of gallium doping, the as-grown GaN nanowires show a weak gating effect. Through the conversion process of GaN nanowires (gallium-doped) → Ga2O3 nanowires → GaN nanowires (undoped) via annealing, the final undoped GaN nanowires display different electrical properties than the initial gallium-doped GaN nanowires, show a pronounced n-type gating effect, and can be completely turned off.
An integrated, valveless system for microfluidic purification and reverse transcription-PCR amplification of RNA for detection of infectious agents

We describe the first miniaturized device capable of the front-end sample preparation essential for detecting RNA-based infectious agents. The microfluidic device integrates sample purification and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) amplification for the identification and detection of influenza A. The device incorporates a chitosan-based RNA binding phase for the completely aqueous isolation of nucleic acids, avoiding the PCR inhibitory effects of guanidine and isopropanol used in silica-based extraction methods. The purified nucleic acids and the reagents needed for single-step RT-PCR amplification are fluidically mobilized simultaneously to a PCR chamber. Utilizing infrared (IR)-mediated heating allowed for a > 5-fold decrease in RT-PCR analysis time compared to a standard thermal cycling protocol used in a conventional thermal cycler. Influenza A virus [A/PR/8/34 (H1N1)] was used as a simulant in this study for virus-based infectious and biowarfare agents with RNA genomes, and was successfully detected in a mock nasal swab sample at clinically relevant concentrations. Following on-chip purification, a fragment specific to the influenza A nucleoprotein gene was first amplified via RT-PCR amplification using IR-mediated heating to achieve more rapid heating and cooling rates. This was initially accomplished on a two-chip system to optimize the SPE and RT-PCR, and then translated to an integrated SPE-RT-PCR device.
Characterization and operation of a liquid crystal adaptive optics phoropter

Adaptive optics (AO), a mature technology developed for astronomy to compensate for the effects of atmospheric turbulence, can also be used to correct the aberrations of the eye. The classic phoropter is used by ophthalmologists and optometrists to estimate and correct the lower-order aberrations of the eye, defocus and astigmatism, in order to derive a vision correction prescription for their patients. An adaptive optics phoropter measures and corrects the aberrations in the human eye using adaptive optics techniques, which are capable of dealing with both the standard low-order aberrations and higher-order aberrations, including coma and spherical aberration. High-order aberrations have been shown to degrade visual performance for clinical subjects in initial investigations. An adaptive optics phoropter has been designed and constructed based on a Shack-Hartmann sensor to measure the aberrations of the eye, and a liquid crystal spatial light modulator to compensate for them. This system should produce near diffraction-limited optical image quality at the retina, which will enable investigation of the psychophysical limits of human vision. This paper describes the characterization and operation of the AO phoropter with results from human subject testing.
FUNCTIONS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST IN A PSYCHIATRIC SETTING FOR CHILDREN.

This paper describes the functions of an educational psychologist in a psychiatric treatment center for children. This center, the Children's Service of the Langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute, provides inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services for emotionally disturbed and some mentally retarded children (Szurek, 1952). During the past decade and a half, the clinical program of this service has been directed toward a better understanding of the nature of severe emotional disturbances in children, toward developing more effective means of treating such disorders, and toward the improvement of training for dinical personnel in the field of child psychiatry. In its effort to provide training in all aspects of child psychiatry, the Children's Service has maintained a continual interest in the field of mental retardation. Four years ago it applied for and was awarded a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to provide additional faculty to augment its teaching and training program in this field. Although the focus of this additional faculty was on the special problem of mental retardation, each member of the group continued to participate in the broad spectrum of the work of the Children's Service (Philips, et al., 1961).
An integrated methodology for surface mount PCB configuration

An integrated methodology for surface mount printed circuit board assembly configuration is described. The methodology involves component-to-feeder assignment, feeder bay distribution among components, board family formation, and machine program generation. Applications result in significant reduction in setup times and in planning and scheduling times.
Prostacyclin Release by Rat Cardiac Fibroblasts Inhibition of Collagen Expression

Abstract Cardiac fibroblasts, as the source of extracellular matrix for the left ventricle, subserve important functions to cardiac remodeling and fibrotic development following myocardial infarction or with pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy. The fibroblast may be the target cell for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) that are cardioprotective and reverse collagen deposition and remodeling but whose mechanisms of action remain controversial. Because we previously documented phenotypic differences between cardiac fibroblasts from the spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) left ventricle, the present study evaluated whether phenotypic differences also exist in the release of endogenous arachidonic acid metabolites or in the activation of phospholipase D, and the importance of observed differences to the formation of collagen and the mechanism of action of ACEI. The experimental design compared endogenous sources of arachidonic acid with exogenous prelabeling of cells. Angiotensin II stimulated greater arachidonic acid release than bradykinin, and WKY cells were more responsive than SHR. The major prostanoid formed by cardiac fibroblasts was prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), with more prostacyclin production by WKY cells than SHR cells both under nonstimulated conditions and in response to angiotensin II or bradykinin. Beraprost, a PGI2 analogue, was shown to decrease growth rate and DNA synthesis of fibroblasts and to inhibit mRNA expression for collagen types I and III, with SHR cells being less responsive to beraprost than WKY cells. These results potentially implicate eicosanoid metabolism, particularly PGI2, in collagen formation, fibrotic development, and cardiac remodeling, and they imply that the SHR genetic hypertension model may be predisposed to excess cardiac fibrosis.
The basal ganglia as a substrate for the multiple actions of amphetamines

Amphetamines are psychostimulant drugs with high abuse potential. Acute and chronic doses of amphetamines affect dopamine (DA) neurotransmission in the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei that are anatomically positioned to integrate cognitive, motor and sensorimotor inputs from the cortex. Amphetamines can differentially alter the functioning of specific BG circuits to produce neurochemical changes that affect cognition, movement, and drug seeking behavior through their effects on DA neurotransmission. This review focuses on how alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission within distinct basal ganglia pathways can modify their functional output to predict and explain the acute and long term behavioral consequences of amphetamine exposure.
Evaluation of nearly singular integrals in boundary element contour and node methods for three-dimensional linear elasticity

This article addresses the issue of nearly singular integrals that arise in boundary element methods (BEMS) when one tries to evaluate displacements and stresses at points inside a body that lie close to its bounding surface. An efficient new approach is proposed for the evaluation of these integrals. The same issue is then discussed in the context of the boundary contour method (BCM) and the boundary node method (BNM). Finally, numerical results, from both the BCM and the BNM, are presented for an illustrative problem.
A Market Performance Comparison of U.S. Firms Active in Domestic, Developed and Developing Countries

Direct foreign investment (DFI) may benefit investors through superior cash flows or lower risk relative to purely domestic firms. This paper considers three groups of U.S. firms: those without significant international operations, those with international operations in developed countries, and those with international operations in developing countries. After performing risk-return performance analysis on the three groups, the findings show developing country DFI results in inferior performance, but that there are no statistically significant differences in market performance among the three.
MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS AND NONPROFITS Moving Beyond "Surveillance" to "Service"

Procedures intended to provide accountability in relationships between governments and nonprofit organizations often focus on ways to catch and punish mistakes rather than on ways to improve servic...
Deriving performance measures for transportation planning using ITS archived data

Various modern sensor technologies deployed under the auspices of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for data collection and archiving have helped in accumulating a wealth of transportation data in the form of data archives. Archiving of transportation data obtained from intelligent sources is practiced in most parts of the US under the auspices of the states' departments of transportation. However, recently there is a shift in the focus of archived data management systems (ADMS) from data collection and archiving to data analysis and distribution to stakeholders. This article discusses the use of archived ITS data for the development of performance measures for transportation planning and air quality support service. This service is packaged within a larger ADMS effort called Traffic Management Centers (TMC) Applications of Archived Data, which is also known by its working title ‘ADMS Virginia’. Nine sub-services for computing various performance measures at different spatial and temporal levels of...
Ultrasonic Attenuation in Superconductors

A general treatment of ultrasonic attenuation of both longitudinal and transverse waves in superconductors, valid for an arbitrary mean free path, is given on the basis of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory. The interaction between the ultrasonic waves and electrons is assumed to be given by a self-consistent electromagnetic field. Instead of the customary theory of the attenuation based on the Boltzmann equation, a different formulation is developed using the density-matrix formalism. The ratio of the attenuations in superconducting and normal metals for the longitudinal wave turns out to be approximately independent of the mean free path. The attenuation of the shear wave due to electromagnetic interaction is shown to be very small in the superconducting state.
On the Mesometeorological Field Studies near Flagstaff, Arizona

Abstract During the month of July 1960, a mesometeorological field network was established in an area of 30 by 40 mi centered around San Francisco Mountain, Arizona. Network instrumentation included 33 micro-barographs, 10 hygrothermographs, 10 Beckman-Whitley wind recorders, about 165 nonrecording rain gauges, and 165 hail gauges. Daily precipitation amounts were carefully studied in order to relate them with the characteristics of moisture inflow into the network area. An analysis of the 22 July case over the network area revealed that a very small low-pressure area formed over the heated side of the mountain slope, providing a field of convergence leading to the morning cumulus convection. AS time went on, this low dissipated and cumulonimbus convection occurred. The mesometeorological network was found to be most suitable for the investigation of cumulus to cumulonimbus convection over the San Francisco Mountain area.
Two Sex-Linked Mutants, Blond (bl) and Maroon Eye (mar), in Culex Pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

Two mutants, blond (bl) and maroon eye (mar) , are described in Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae). Both are spontaneous, recessive, fully penetrant, and sex-linked. The gene order is M–bl–mar . The map distances in M–bl and bl–mar are 0.84 to 2.85 and 1.68 to 15.85, respectively. The mutants are evident in late 4th-instar larvae and pupae; bl is associated with somewhat prolonged larval development.
Production of butanol from starch-based waste packing peanuts and agricultural waste.

We examined the fermentation of starch-based packing peanuts and agricultural wastes as a source of fermentable carbohydrates using Clostridium beijerinckii BA101. Using semidefined P2 medium containing packing peanuts and agricultural wastes, instead of glucose as a carbohydrate source, we measured characteristics of the fermentation including solvent production, productivity, and yield. With starch as substrate (control), the culture produced 24.7 g l−1 acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE), while with packing peanuts it produced 21.7 g l−1 total ABE with a productivity of 0.20 g l−1 h−1 and a solvent (ABE) yield of 0.37. Cell growth in starch, packing peanuts, and agricultural wastes medium was different, possibly due to the different nature of these substrates. Using model agricultural waste, 20.3g l−1 ABE was produced; when using actual waste, 14.8 g l−1 ABE was produced. The use of inexpensive substrates will increase the economic viability of the conversion of biomass to butanol, and can provide new markets for these waste streams. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 29, 117–123 doi: 10.1038/sj.jim.7000285
Synthetic Modification of Silica Beads That Allows for Sequential Attachment of Two Different Oligonucleotides

We developed a simple and elegant synthesis strategy that enables us to attach controlled (equimolar) amounts of two different oligonucleotides onto one silica bead. The method involves addition of orthogonally protected lysine followed by activation and derivatization of each amino group with a different moiety. This sequential oligonucleotide attachment enables the use of a combinatorial scheme to generate millions of bead types, each characterized by its two oligo tags. (In our randomly assembled arrays each bead type can then be identified by a series of hybridizations of fluorescently labeled decoder oligos to the address tags.) To demonstrate feasibility of such a scheme we created over 1000 bead types, which were characterized by their two oligo tags. The method enables genotyping or gene expression assays at multiplex levels of hundreds of thousands to millions.
The oxidation of acetyl radicals

Abstract The oxidation of acetyl radicals at 25 °C was studied by photolyzing azomethane in the presence of acetaldehyde and oxygen. The quantum yields of methanol, carbon dioxide, dimethylperoxide and peracetic acid were obtained for the four isotopic combinations of CH3N2CH3 or CD3N2CD3 with CH3CHO or CD3CDO. The initially formed methylperoxy radicals are self-annihilated by the reactions: The results from this study indicate that ka/k1, k1b/k1, and k1c/k1 = 0.43, 0.50 and 0.07, respectively, for CH3O2 and 0.45, 0.41 and 0.14, respectively, for CD3O2. the methoxy radical is scavenged by either arcetaldehyde or O2: Under most of our conditions, [CH3CHO]/[O2] > 0.5 and reaction (3) is negligible. At lower values of the ratio, reaction (3) plays some role and k2/k3 ≈ 10 – 20. The acetyl radical oxidizes entirely by addition: since CO is not a product, and all the CO2 is shown to come from the reactions: with k8/(k1k7) 1 2 = 2.8 ± 0.4 regardless of whether the radicals are protonated or deuterated.
Militarized Compellent Threats, 1918–2001:

The study of military coercion is a central topic in international relations, and in recent years research on coercive threats has yielded a long list of important theoretical innovations. In 1960, Thomas Schelling drew a distinction between threats meant to deter and those designed to compel, but empirical research about coercion has paid much more attention to deterrence than compellence. This is problematic because deterrence and compellence are thought to operate according to different dynamics. This article introduces the Militarized Compellent Threats dataset, which is designed specifically to help test hypotheses about the use and effectiveness of compellent threats in international politics. I describe the rationale behind the dataset, present coding procedures and basic descriptive statistics, and offer comparisons to several related datasets.
Coupled Proteolytic and Mass Spectrometry Studies Indicate a Novel Topology for the Glycine Receptor

Members of the heteropentameric ligand-gated ion channel superfamily rapidly mediate signaling across the synaptic cleft. Sequence analysis and limited experimental studies have yielded a topological model containing four transmembrane α-helices, labeled M1 to M4, and a large soluble, extracellular N-terminal domain. This model persists to date despite some recent structural studies that suggest it may be inappropriate. In this study, the topology of the glycine receptor was probed by limited proteolysis coupled to mass spectrometry. Of particular note, accessible cleavage sites within the putative M1 and M3 transmembrane helices were identified. Membrane-associated fragments within the postulated globular extracellular N-terminal domain were also observed. This report presents several key details incorporated in a new topological model and is the first direct experimental evidence that a subset of the transmembrane regions are too short to be membrane-spanning α-helices; rather, these regions are proposed to be a mix of α-helices and β-sheets. This report is also the first to exploit the capability of mass spectrometry to probe critically the topology of a class of membrane proteins of unknown structure.
Organizational learning during internationalization: acquiring local institutional knowledge

Organizational learning plays an important role for firms entering new international markets. Acquiring knowledge of a foreign market helps firms to decrease uncertainties, misunderstandings and risks, allowing them to plan and achieve project expectations more accurately. Little is known, however, about how real estate developers, contractors and engineering firms initially collect important local knowledge for their international projects. This study uses qualitative research methods to explore the sources firms use to acquire different types of local knowledge. The results indicate that organizational learning is a complex process, and although similarities exist, different types of firms use different sources to collect needed knowledge. The research contributes to theory by responding to requests for additional research on how firms actually acquire and develop institutional knowledge. In addition, by understanding the sources used to acquire different types of institutional knowledge, company manage...
Modernization, cultural change, and the persistence of traditional values.

Modernization theorists from Karl Marx to Daniel Bell have argued that economic development brings pervasive cultural changes. But others, from Max Weber to Samuel Huntington, have claimed that cultural values are an enduring and autonomous influence on society. We test the thesis that economic development is linked with systematic changes in basic values. Using data from the three waves of the World Values Surveys, which include 65 societies and 75 percent of the world's population, we find evidence of both massive cultural change and the persistence of distinctive cultural traditions. Economic development is associated with shifts away from absolute norms and values toward values that are increasingly rational, tolerant, trusting, and participatory. Cultural change, however, is path dependent. The broad cultural heritage of a society - Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Confucian, or Communist - leaves an imprint on values that endures despite modernization. Moreover, the differences between the values held by members of different religions within given societies are much smaller than are cross-national differences. Once established, such cross-cultural differences become part of a national culture transmitted by educational institutions and mass media. We conclude with some proposed revisions of modernization theory
All-weather perception for man-portable robots using ultra-wideband radar

Autonomous man-portable robots have the potential to provide a wide range of new capabilities for both military and civilian applications. Previous research in autonomy for small robots has focused on vision, LIDAR, and sonar sensors. While vision and LIDAR work well in clear weather, they are seriously impaired by rain, snow, fog, and smoke. Sonar can penetrate adverse weather, but has limited range outdoors, and suffers from specular reflections indoors. For the Daredevil Project, we have investigated the use of ultra-wideband (UWB) radar to provide obstacle detection capabilities for man-portable robots. Our research shows that UWB radar can effectively penetrate adverse weather, including dense fog, and detect obstacles that would be undetectable by vision or LIDAR under the same conditions. We have developed filtering algorithms that process the raw radar returns to eliminate reflections from ground clutter and make obstacles easier to detect. We have tested this system on an iRobot PackBot equipped with both UWB radar and LIDAR, and we have demonstrated how UWB radar can be used for obstacle detection in obscured environments.
Sulfasalazine inhibits reperfusion injury and prolongs allograft survival in rat cardiac transplants

Abstract Introduction: Reperfusion injury is an inflammatory cell-mediated response that causes tissue damage immediately following transplantation, and has been implicated in the development of acute and chronic rejection. NF-κB is a transcription factor that upregulates adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and ELAM-1 following reperfusion. We hypothesized that treatment with sulfasalazine, a potent inhibitor of NF-κB, would decrease adhesion molecule expression, decrease reperfusion injury, and prolong allograft survival in rat cardiac transplants. Methods Heterotopic rat heart transplants were performed. Donor allografts were treated with saline, sulfasalazine (SSA), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent inducer of NF-κB activity. Reperfusion injury was assessed with cardiac edema (percent wet weight), neutrophil infiltration (MPO activity), and histologic damage (contraction band necrosis). Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze protein expression. Acute rejection was determined by daily palpation. Results Treatment with a single 100 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection of sulfasalazine decreased reperfusion injury compared to saline controls (MPO activity, saline: 2.1 ± 0.3, SSA: 1.2 ± 0.31, P Conclusion Treatment with sulfasalazine is an effective method to decrease reperfusion injury and prolong allograft survival in a rat cardiac transplantation model.
Hidden consequences of olfactory dysfunction: a patient report series

Background The negative consequences of olfactory dysfunction for the quality of life are not widely appreciated and the condition is therefore often ignored or trivialized.
Determinants of Urban Migration: Evidence from Chinese Cities:

This study seeks the causes of variation in the amount of migration to Chinese cities over the period of 1995-99. We use a city fixed-effect model with lagged values of 'pull' factors for each city...
Fast and slow life histories of mammals

ABSTRACT Studies of life histories often compare species to discern patterns in the evolution of traits. Major components of life histories appear to involve important aspects of species biology, and the first such component appears to be body size. We tested whether the second major component of variation in life histories of mammals is a continuum from species with short lives to long lives, the “fast–slow continuum.” Mammalian populations (n = 143) representing 109 species were examined, and life histories were summarized using 5 key variables that reflect reproduction and survival. Body size and phylogeny were significant influences on life histories. Once these influences were removed statistically, a major axis of life history variation that reflected the fast–slow continuum was revealed in a principal components analysis. This component of life history was poorly but significantly associated with indices of the fast–slow continuum, such as the ratio of reproduction to age at maturity and generation...
Perivascular nitric oxide and superoxide in neonatal cerebral hypoxia-ischemia

Decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) has been observed following the resuscitation from neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury, but its mechanism is not known. We address the hypothesis that reduced CBF i...
Using Earth Science Research Projects to Develop Collaboration Between Scientists at a Research University and K-12 Educators: Insights for Future Efforts

The main goal of this pilot project was to improve collaboration between scientists at a large research university and K-12 educators. By involving scientists and K-12 educators in Earth systems re...
Characterization of differential gene expression profiles in diabetic embryopathy using DNA microarray analysis.

Objective The molecular mechanisms by which maternal diabetes impairs embryogenesis are not established. This study aimed to determine the developmental genes and molecular pathways that are involved in diabetic embryopathy, by comparing gene expression profiles in the yolk sacs between the embryos of diabetic and control rats by using DNA microarray analysis. Study design Diabetes was induced in female rats by injecting streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) intravenously. Glucose levels were controlled by subcutaneously implanting insulin pellets. The female rats were mated with normal male rats. At gestation day 4, the insulin pellets were removed from a group of animals, making them hyperglycemic. The animals with insulin pellets served as controls. At gestational day 12, embryos were explanted, and yolk sacs were collected. Total RNA, free of DNA contamination, was extracted from the yolk sacs. Complementary DNA probes were synthesized, labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 fluorescent dyes, and used to hybridize rat oligo-array containing 10,000 genes. Data were analyzed by using 1-sample t test on log 2 ratios, with P Results Five microarray experiments produced consistent results. A total of 101 genes were found to be differentially expressed between the embryos of diabetic and control rats. Analyses that used PathwayAssist (Ariadne Genomics, Rockville, MD) revealed a number of potential signaling pathways and genes involved in insulin signaling and stress response (insulin 2, insulin-binding protein 1, GST π1), cell growth (GAP43, CSF1R, HGF), calcium signaling (calbindin 3, CBP A6), and PKC signaling (PKCBP β15, FABP5), in concert with prior biochemical and molecular findings. Conclusion These observations show significant alterations in expression of developmental and stress response genes in diabetic embryopathy, and demonstrate, for the first time, that the yolk sac cells express insulin during early development. In addition, these data also demonstrate that hyperglycemia induces altered gene expression, resulting in aberrant cell signaling, morphogenesis, and embryopathy.
Validation of a noninvasive method to measure brain temperature in vivo using ^1H NMR spectroscopy

The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential of using the difference between the 1H NMR frequencies of water and N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA) to measure brain temperature noninvasively. All water-suppressed and non-water-suppressed 1H NMR spectra were obtained at a field strength of 4.7 T using a surface coil. Experiments performed on model solutions revealed a decrease in the difference between NMR frequencies for NAA and water as a linear function of increasing temperature from 14 to 45 degrees C. Changing pH in the range 5.5-7.6 produced no discernible trends for concurrent changes in the slope and intercept of the linear relationship. There were minor changes in slope and intercept for solutions containing 80 or 100 mg of protein/ml versus no protein, but these changes were not considered to be of sufficient magnitude to deter the use of this approach to measure brain temperature. The protein content of swine cerebral cortex was found to remain constant from newborn to 1 month old (78 +/- 12 mg/g; n = 41). Therefore, data collected for the model solution containing 80 mg of protein/ml were used as a calibration curve to calculate brain temperature in eight swine during control, hypothermia, ischemia, postischemia, or death, over a temperature range of 23-40 degrees C. A plot of 61 temperatures determined from 1H NMR versus temperatures measured from an optical fiber probe sensor implanted 1 cm into the cerebral cortex showed excellent linear agreement (slope = 1.00 +/- 0.03, r2 = 0.96). We conclude that 1H NMR spectroscopy presents a practical means of making noninvasive measurements of brain temperature with an accuracy of better than +/- 1 degree C.
Some experiments on the organization of a class of imitative behaviors.

A retarded child was taught to imitate diverse demonstrations made by an experimenter, until new demonstrations were imitated correctly upon first presentation without direct training. These imitations could be maintained without reinforcement, when they were distributed among other reinforced imitations. Factors responsible for the continued performance of these unreinforced imitations were examined. When subjected to massed extinction trials, unreinforced imitations eventually disappeared; they reappeared when again interspersed among reinforced imitations. In addition, the stimulus function of “similarity of response between subject and experimenter” was examined. The subject was taught a set of non-imitative responses, through discriminative stimuli controlled by the experimenter, and a comparable imitative set. Unreinforced non-imitations, like reinforced imitations, were maintained only when interspersed among reinforced imitations. When all reinforcement was discontinued, all responses extinguished similarly, indicating that reinforcement was necessary to maintain the response-class organization, but not confirming an essential role for “similarity” as such.
Differential effects of early hemisphere damage on lexical comprehension and production

Abstract The effects of early hemisphere damage on lexical development were investigated in 33 children with unilateral left (n = 21) or right (n = 12) hemisphere damage and 16 normal healthy controls. Single-word naming was assessed using the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test (EOW) and lexical comprehension was assessed using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R). Left lesion subjects (LL) performed comparable to controls in naming, but scored lower than controls on the PPVT-R. Right lesion subjects (RL) scored lower than controls and LL subjects on both the EOW and the PPVT-R. The unexpected superiority of LL in comparison to RL children on the EOW and the PPVT-R argues against a simple left hemisphere dominance for early lexical development. RL subjects' significant comprehension deficits failed to correlate with more general measures of verbal intelligence, supporting a specialized role of the right hemisphere in mediating the acquisition of word meaning.
Concurrently examining unrealistic absolute and comparative optimism: Temporal shifts, individual-difference and event-specific correlates, and behavioural outcomes

Researchers have spent considerable effort examining unrealistic absolute optimism and unrealistic comparative optimism, yet there is a lack of research exploring them concurrently. This longitudinal study repeatedly assessed unrealistic absolute and comparative optimism within a performance context over several months to identify the degree to which they shift as a function of proximity to performance and performance feedback, their associations with global individual difference and event-specific factors, and their link to subsequent behavioural outcomes. Results showed similar shifts in unrealistic absolute and comparative optimism based on proximity to performance and performance feedback. Moreover, increases in both types of unrealistic optimism were associated with better subsequent performance beyond the effect of prior performance. However, several differences were found between the two forms of unrealistic optimism in their associations with global individual difference factors and event-specific factors, highlighting the distinctiveness of the two constructs.
Bivariate response distributions in visual detection and discrimination

Two patterns can sometimes be discriminated from one another better than they are detected. A Signal Detection analysis of the information used to perform these psychophysical judgments suggests that properties exist in the visual system which favor the ability to discriminate over the ability to detect. Two candidate properties are inhibition and/or correlated noise between tuned spatial frequency analyzers. The extent to which such processes occur is reflected by the parameters defining sensory response distributions in a Signal Detection model of pattern perception. A method by which these parameters can be estimated is described, and several alternative response spaces are discussed. Language: en
Development and validation of a patient-centered knowledge scale for left ventricular assist device placement.

Background A central tenet of patient-centered health care advocated by the Institute of Medicine and the American Medical Association is to enhance informed decision-making in a way that incorporates patient values, knowledge and beliefs. Achievement of this goal is constrained by a lack of validated measures of patients' knowledge needs. Methods In this study we present a comprehensive and valid methodology for developing a clinically informed and patient­centered measure of knowledge about left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy to facilitate discussion and measure candidate understanding of treatment options. Using structured interviews with patients, caregivers, candidates for LVAD treatment (New York Heart Association Class III and IV) and expert clinicians ( n = 71), we identified top patient decisional needs and perspectives on essential knowledge needs for informed decision-making. From this list, we generated 20 knowledge scale question items to refine in cognitive interviews ( n = 5) with patients and patient consultants. Results Good internal consistency and reliability of the knowledge scale (Cronbach's α = 0.81) was seen in 30 LVAD patients and candidates. Knowledge was higher among patients currently with LVADs than candidates, regardless of receiving standard education (with education: 69.9 vs 50.1, adjusted p = 0.02; without education: 69.9 vs 37.6, adjusted p Conclusion The LVAD knowledge scale may be useful in clinical settings to identify gaps in knowledge among patient candidates considering LVAD treatment, and to better tailor education and discussion with patients and their caregivers, and to enhance informed decision-making before treatment decisions are made.
A New Interpretation of Marketing Functions

IN ORDER to get at a proper understanding of the marketing functions it is necessary to consider the meaning of market and marketing. In whatever sense the term market has been used, the occurrence of two groups of actions called buying and selling has been implied or expressed. Marketing is the carrying out of these and certain related conditional actions. In the strict sense of the word, a market does not exist unless there occur certain actions which culminate in the transfer of title or rights and the giving and receiving of payment. Four axioms of marketing are: (I) Every purchase has a complement sale and vice versa. (2) In every purchase and sale the basic marketing functions are performed at some time. (3) Unless a given function is performed in every purchase and sale, it is not a basic marketing function but it is a conditional marketing function. (4) The basic marketing functions are performed in the purchase and sale of services as well as in the purchase and sale of commodities. A survey of the discussions of marketing functions reveals deficiencies which have resulted from incomplete analysis. Clark,1 Converse and Huegy,2 Maynard, Weidler, and Beckman3 have three com-
How Langston Hughes Used the Blues

When Alfred Knopf published Fine Clothes to a Jew1 in 1927, Langston Hughes became one of the most innovative voices in American poetry and the first poet in the world to transform the idioms of blues and jazz into poetic verse. He himself was demonstrating what he had called for in "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain," published in 1926. Hughes suggested that creative individualism should be the guiding esthetic value for the black artist. Speaking on behalf of his contemporaries of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes proclaimed:
The Epidemiology of Leprosy in Zhushan County from 1955to 2012

Objectives Through analyzing of the epidemiology of leprosy in Zhushan County from 1955to 2012,scientific references are put forward for control and prevention measures after officially elimination of leprosy.Methods Annual leprosy records were collected and analyzed.The discovery rate,incidence,prevalence of leprosy were compared and analyzed by descriptive statistical method.Results Cases of leprosy were found in 17towns and villages,mostly in 4towns and villages in the Southeast.The life span for cases was between 4and 74.Most cases(42.28%)occurred between 20and 39.Male cases were more than female ones with a ratio of men to women of 1.73∶1.Most cases were farmer(83.74%).The source of infection were mainly family members,friends and neighbors.The hygiene status and living condition were responsible for the occurrence of cases.After years of active prevention and treatment,leprosy was controlled effectively.Conclusions The adverse impact of leprosy couldn't be extinguished in a short time.The prevention and treatment of leprosy should be included in basic national public health service and financial aid should be provided.The training of medical staffs should be enhanced to their ability of discovering leprosy.Relatives and close contacts of patients should be monitored under the longest incubation period(10years)to timely discover,isolate and treat leprosy patients,so as to reduce incidence of deformation and disability and to control the transmission.