cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Forgotten Employee Benefit Crisis: Multiemployer Benefit Plans on the Brink

This Article provides a first time look at the numerous challenges facing multiemployer or Taft–Hartley benefit plans in the post-global recession and health care reform world. These plans have provided pension, health, and welfare benefits to union members of smaller employers in itinerant industries for over sixty years and even today these plans collectively have over 10 million participants in over 1,500 plans. Multiemployer plans are increasingly mired in financial trouble and are finding it more difficult to continue providing adequate retirement and health benefits to their members. Although they once represented one of the great triumphs in American labor relations, these plans are now becoming just another part of the growing employee benefits crisis confronting the United States. The purpose of this Article is to consider, and respond to, the various financial, healthcare, and judicial challenges that threaten the ongoing viability of these plans. By addressing these challenges in a systematic manner, this Article seeks to provide a more sustainable path forward so that multiemployer benefit plans can continue to provide crucial employee benefits to the next generation of union workers.
Liquid Metering Centrifuge Sticks (LMCS): A Centrifugal Approach to Metering Known Sample Volumes for Colorimetric Solid Phase Extraction (C-SPE)

Phase separation is one of the most significant obstacles encountered during the development of analytical methods for water quality monitoring in spacecraft environments. Removing air bubbles from water samples prior to analysis is a routine task on earth; however, in the absence of gravity, this routine task becomes extremely difficult. This paper details the development and initial ground testing of liquid metering centrifuge sticks (LMCS), devices designed to collect and meter a known volume of bubble-free water in microgravity. The LMCS uses centrifugal force to eliminate entrapped air and reproducibly meter liquid sample volumes for analysis with Colorimetric Solid Phase Extraction (C-SPE). C-SPE is a sorption-spectrophotometric platform that is being developed as a potential spacecraft water quality monitoring system. C-SPE utilizes solid phase extraction membranes impregnated with analyte-specific colorimetric reagents to concentrate and complex target analytes in spacecraft water samples. The mass of analyte extracted from the water sample is determined using diffuse reflectance (DR) data collected from the membrane surface and an analyte-specific calibration curve. The analyte concentration can then be calculated from the mass of extracted analyte and the volume of the sample analyzed. Previous flight experiments conducted in microgravity conditions aboard the NASA KC-135 aircraft demonstrated that the inability to collect and meter a known volume of water using a syringe was a limiting factor in the accuracy of C-SPE measurements. Herein, results obtained from ground based C-SPE experiments using ionic silver as a test analyte and either the LMCS or syringes for sample metering are compared to evaluate the performance of the LMCS. These results indicate very good agreement between the two sample metering methods and clearly illustrate the potential of utilizing centrifugal forces to achieve phase separation and metering of water samples in microgravity.
Mechanism of transcriptional repression at a bacterial promoter by analysis of single molecules

The molecular basis for regulation of lactose metabolism in Escherichia coli is well studied. Nonetheless, the physical mechanism by which the Lac repressor protein prevents transcription of the lactose promoter remains unresolved. Using multi-wavelength single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, we visualized individual complexes of fluorescently tagged RNA polymerase holoenzyme bound to promoter DNA. Quantitative analysis of the single-molecule observations, including use of a novel statistical partitioning approach, reveals highly kinetically stable binding of polymerase to two different sites on the DNA, only one of which leads to transcription. Addition of Lac repressor directly demonstrates that bound repressor prevents the formation of transcriptionally productive open promoter complexes; discrepancies in earlier studies may be attributable to transcriptionally inactive polymerase binding. The single-molecule statistical partitioning approach is broadly applicable to elucidating mechanisms of regulatory systems including those that are kinetically rather than thermodynamically controlled.
IR light emission from charge oscillations in semiconductor double wells

Abstract A microscopic approach to the carrier dynamics in semiconductor heterostructures is used to study structural dephasing and phase breaking due to carrier–carrier interactions in GaAlAs–GaAs double wells. Analysis of interband polarizations allows a quantitative account of the destruction of phase coherence and its consequences on the frequency spectrum of the THz dipole radiation emitted by the carriers.
New Partnership Between Universities and State Departments of Transportation in the Rocky Mountain Area: The TEL8 System

In 1995, the Mountain-Plains Consortium in the Rocky Mountain area initiated TEL8. TEL8 is a satellite-based telecommunications system serving 10 sites in FHWA's Region 8. Each site consists of in-room audio and video equipment that receives and transmits live sound and picture, coding/decoding compression equipment, and a satellite transmission system. Each site is capable of sending and receiving signals from other sites in several modes of conferencing ranging from broadcast to multipoint two-way conferencing. The goals of TEL8, its development, and lessons learned are presented along with cost data for this cutting-edge technology. The many applications, including formal graduate course work, informally scheduled learning opportunities, and open communication forums, are also discussed. The system provides a network for interaction among the six departments of transportation and four regional universities. A user assessment of this form of distance learning is compared with more traditional forms usin...
Therapy of Established Tumors in a Novel Murine Model Transgenic for Human Carcinoembryonic Antigen and HLA-A2 with a Combination of Anti-idiotype Vaccine and CTL Peptides of Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Induction of potent and sustained antitumor immunity depends on the efficient activation of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Immunization using dendritic cells loaded with tumor antigens constitute a powerful platform for stimulating cellular immunity. Our previous studies suggested that vaccination with an anti-idiotype antibody 3H1, which mimics a specific epitope of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), has the potential to break immune tolerance to CEA and induce anti-CEA antibody as well as CEA-specific CD4+ T-helper responses in colon cancer patients as well as in mice transgenic for human CEA. Here, we have combined the anti-idiotype 3H1 with the CTL peptides of CEA to augment both T-helper and CTL responses in a clinically relevant mouse model, which is transgenic for both CEA and HLA-A2. We have evaluated the potential of two different HLA-A2–restricted epitopes of CEA pulsed into dendritic cells in a therapeutic setting. The overall immune responses and survival were enhanced in groups of mice immunized with agonist peptide for CEA691 (YMIGMLVGV)–pulsed dendritic cells or CAP1-6D (YLSGADLNL, agonist peptide for CAP-1)–pulsed dendritic cells. Mice immunized with peptide-pulsed dendritic cells along with 3H1-pulsed dendritic cells resulted in significant increase in survival compared with mice immunized with peptide-pulsed dendritic cells alone (P
Ultraviolet and optical studies of binaries with luminous cool primaries and hot companions. III - Reticon radial velocities

Radial velocities for 72 stars, most of them known or suspected binaries with F - K giant-supergiant primaries, are derived from Reticon spectra in the region 6005-6235 A at a scale of 7 km/s per diode. Cross-correlation of the spectra normally produces results accurate to better than 1.0 km/s. Eight new radial velocity variables are found (HR 2786, R Pup, HR 3291, HR 4451, HD 114520, HR 5667, HR 7014, and Nu1 Sgr). Improved orbits are determined for 15 known spectroscopic binaries, and provisional orbits are obtained for seven new spectroscopic binaries.
Secondary infinite-period bifurcation of spinning combustion waves near a hydrodynamic cellular stability boundary

Abstract Strong spatial resonance near a cellular stability boundary is capable of generating families of orbitally stable spinning or travelling waves via an infinite-period secondary bifurcation from a steady bimodal solution branch. We illustrate this phenomenon for two problems in combustion theory corresponding to downward-propagating flames and the burning of liquid propellants in vertical channels.
Application of outcomes research in occupational low back pain: the Maine Lumbar Spine Study.

Outcomes research represents an expansion of traditional clinical research to include issues of cost and quality of care in usual clinical practice, emphasizing outcomes that matter most to patients. In low back disorders, outcomes research has focused on the lack of reliable information to support much of clinical practice and has demonstrated marked variability in the treatment of these common problems. The Maine Lumbar Spine Study represents an example of an outcomes research study to investigate the treatment of patients with sciatica in usual clinical practice. Because low back symptoms are a frequent cause of occupational disability. Workers' Compensation patients were explicitly oversampled. Baseline features were significantly different in those patients who were receiving Workers' Compensation versus those who were not. Efforts to compare outcomes by disability status need to control for these differences. Whereas most Workers' Compensation patients were still receiving disability compensation regardless of treatment at 6 months, patients who were treated surgically were more likely to have come off disability and returned to work than nonsurgically treated patients. Long-term follow-up is necessary to determine whether these differences persist. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Phenobarbital promotes the development of adenocarcinomas in the accessory sex glands of MNU-inoculated L-W rats.

Aged Lobund-Wistar (L-W) rats develop : (i) spontaneous and induced metastasizing adenocarcinomas in the prostate and seminal vesicle (P-SV) complex ; and (ii) spontaneous hepatomas and hepatocarcinomas. Within the time-frame of 14 months, similar adenocarcinomas were induced in the P-SV complex in 70-90% of younger L-W rats by a single i.v. inoculation of methylnitrosourea (MNU) which was followed by slow release s.c. implants of testosterone propionate (TP). Within the same time-frame, neither MNU nor TP alone induced significant incidences of P-SV tumors ; and untreated control L-W rats were disease-free. Methylnitrosourea or TP and combinations thereof did not induce liver tumors. However, when MNU-inoculated L-W rats were fed phenobarbital (PB), they developed (i) metastasizing adenocarcinomas in the P-SV complex and (ii) altered cellular foci and nodules in the livers. Methylnitrosourea induced a high incidence of benign lung adenomas which progressed to lung cancers in numbers which were of marginal significance. Thus, dormant MNU-initiated cells in the P-SV complex were activated by phenobarbital, to produce adenocarcinomas in that complex.
Utilizing parental feedback for summer lunch program needs

TEXT: School lunch is often the only nutritious meal children receive. When children are not in school, the risk of hunger and poor nutrition increases. Parents are responsible for non-school day meals, thus they are a customer for summer lunch programs. This research explored parents’ needs for their children in a California county where summer lunch was seldom offered. Four elementary schools, eligible for free school lunch, participated. Of the 3100 surveys sent home with children, 18% (n 555) responded. The majority of parents communicated in Spanish (54%). Many siblings were also eligible for free lunch (n 993). The majority were interested in summer lunch (74%). Most children (89%) stayed home during the summer. Slightly less than half (47%) indicated children would miss a lunch meal. Parents described a typical home lunch. Only 20% included milk and only 15% included a fruit/vegetable. Provision of protein foods varied: 36% of the lunch menus included a high fat protein and 12% included a lower fat protein. However, 52% of the menus did not include a protein source. The greatest concern parents had about a summer lunch program was adult supervision and/or transportation to a lunch site. The majority of parents preferred a lunch site at their children’s school (54%) or at a neighborhood park/community center (34%). The data suggests incorporating feedback assists in projecting potential strengths and challenges when planning and promoting a summer lunch program. Research data was used to assist with community strategic planning.
Preoperative atrial fibrillation increases risk of thromboembolic events after left ventricular assist device implantation.

Background Because no series has specifically analyzed the impact of preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) on patients already at higher risk of thromboembolism after implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), we review our experience with these patients. Methods Between July 2003 and September 2011, 389 patients (308 male) underwent implantation of a continuous flow LVAD at University of Michigan Hospital and Mayo Clinic. Median age at implant was 60 years (range, 18 to 79 years). Preoperative AF was present in 120 patients (31%). Outcomes were analyzed for the association of preoperative AF and postoperative thromboembolic (TE) events defined as stroke, transient ischemic attack, hemolysis, or pump thrombosis. Thromboembolic events occurring within the first 30 days were not counted. Results One hundred thirty-eight TEs events occurred in 97/389 patients (25%) for an event rate of 0.31 TE events/patient-years of support. Freedom from a TE event in patients with preoperative AF was 62% at 1 year and 46% at 2 years compared with 79% and 72% at 1 and 2 years, respectively, in patients without preoperative AF ( p p = 0.55). Conclusions Patients with preoperative AF have a lower freedom from TE events after LVAD implant. While overall late survival was not significantly reduced in these patients, refinement in anticoagulation strategies after VAD implant may be required.
Effects of Discrimination Training on Reading Improvement among Adults

This study examined the effects of discrimination training on improving reading skills for young adults. 90 college students (M age = 26.2 yr.), who were identified as low achievers with below average reading skills, were randomly assigned to one of three training conditions: the General Discrimination Group, the Reading Discrimination Group, and the Study Skills Group. Following 10 days of training, the subjects were tested on a standard reading achievement test, a problem-solving test, and a measure of cognitive style. Minimal differences between the pre- and posttraining scores for all three training conditions were noted. These findings contrast with developmental research that has indicated the importance of discrimination ability and suggest distinctive problems of adults with poor reading skills.
Distribution of nutrient salts in the southern North Sea during early 1974

Abstract Nutrient salt surveys in the southern North Sea have shown that the level of phosphate and nitrate off the continental coast during January, 1974 was two to three times higher than during the same period in 1962. The level of phosphate has also increased in the Thames Estuary but to a lesser degree. It is suggested that these increases are related to the discharge of waste material from terrestrial sources and that such changes must be considered in the context of eutrophication in the southern North Sea.
Radioactive ion exchange surfaces, versatile radiation sources.

Abstract A sheet plastic material has been developed which has uniform ion exchange properties restricted to a thin layer of a single surface. With this material it is possible to obtain an infinitely thin source of radioactivity by simply immersing in an appropriate solution of radioactive isotopes.
Effects of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein overexpression in the basolateral amygdala on behavioral models of depression and anxiety

Abstract Background Chronic antidepressant administration increases the cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) in the amygdala, a critical neural substrate involved in the physiologic responses to stress, fear, and anxiety. Methods To determine the role of CREB in the amygdala in animal models of depression and anxiety, a viral gene transfer approach was used to selectively express CREB in this region of the rat brain. Results In the learned helplessness model of depression, induction of CREB in the basolateral amygdala after training decreased the number of escape failures, an antidepressant response. However, expression of CREB before training increased escape failures, and increased immobility in the forced swim test, depressive effects. Expression of CREB in the basolateral amygdala also increased behavioral measures of anxiety in both the open field test and the elevated plus maze, and enhanced cued fear conditioning. Conclusions Taken together, these data demonstrate that CREB expression in the basolateral amygdala influences behavior in models of depression, anxiety, and fear. Moreover, in the basolateral amygdala, the temporal expression of CREB in relation to learned helplessness training, determines the qualitative outcome in this animal model of depression.
Word association: capacity of chronic schizophrenics to follow formal semantic, syntactic, and instructional rules.

Free word associations with pressure to respond fast were compared for actively psychotic, but tranquil, chronic schizophrenics of two categories and closely matched hospital employees. The stimulus words were homonyms that were equated among other factors for availability of responses in the various response tendencies characterized as idiodynamic sets, e.g., to define or explain the stimulus, or to give a syntactic response. Comprehensive scoring schema included separate semantic-syntactic, grammatical and affective dimensions. Qualitatively, the controls and schizophrenics had similar aberrant or faulting behavior, but the schizophrenics gave significantly more of three kinds of faults: (1) failure to “play the game or follow the instructions,” viz., no response, repeating the stimulus, or giving a multi-word; (2) mishearing the stimulus, i.e., a distant response to the intended stimulus but that is closely related to a phonetically similar word, and (3) distant experiential relationships, e.g., Pan-Kn...
Warding off terrorism and revolution: Moroccan religious pluralism, national identity and the politics of visual culture

This article examines the mobilisation of expressive culture as a powerful vector for social cohesion and disputation; I first discuss the implications of the symbiotic relationship between henna and the Hand of Fatima in nationalistic fine arts, and then analyse the state response to the 2003 Casablanca bombings and the 2011 Arab Spring. I argue that the endurance of the Moroccan nation throughout regional unrest is due, in no small part, to the careful use of resonant tropes from the visual culture of popular Islam.
Adaptive control in adaptive optics for directed-energy systems

This paper presents an adaptive control scheme for adaptive optics. Adaptive compensation is needed in many adaptive optics applications because wind velocities and the strength of atmospheric turbulence can change rapidly, rendering classical fixed-gain reconstruction algorithms far from optimal. The paper also presents a method for generating frequency-weighted deformable-mirror modes, which are important for optimal performance of the adaptive control scheme. The performance of the adaptive control scheme is illustrated by simulations of a directed-energy system with a high-energy laser propagating through extended turbulence.
Some Staining Methods for Bacteria and Yeasts

For staining flagella of bacteria use actively motile organisms 20 to 24 hours old, allow to diffuse in sterile water 20 to 30 minutes, transfer droplets of the suspension to clean slides and let evaporate without spreading. Then treat 2 to 4 minutes with the following mordant: tannic acid 10 or 20%, 50 cc.; ferric chloride 5%, 10 to 15 cc.; carbol fuchsin (Ziehl-Nielson), 5 cc.; hydrogen peroxide 3%, 6 to 8 cc. Wash and stain 2 to 3 minutes with a mixture of basic fuchsin, saturated alcoholic, 10 cc.; anilin oil (1 part) and 95% alcohol (3 parts) mixed, 5 cc.; distilled water, 30 cc.; acetic acid, 4%, 1 cc. Wash thoroly with water.
Novel Zn2+ coordination by the regulatory N-terminus metal binding domain of Arabidopsis thaliana Zn(2+)-ATPase HMA2.

Arabidopsis thaliana HMA2 is a Zn2+ transporting P1B-type ATPase required for maintaining plant metal homeostasis. HMA2 and all eukaryote Zn2+-ATPases have unique conserved N- and C-terminal sequences that differentiate them from other P1B-type ATPases. Homology modeling and structural comparison by circular dichroism indicate that the 75 amino acid long HMA2 N-terminus shares the βαββα folding present in most P1B-type ATPase N-terminal metal binding domains (N-MBDs). However, the characteristic metal binding sequence CysXXCys is replaced by Cys17CysXXGlu21, a sequence present in all plant Zn2+-ATPases. The isolated HMA2 N-MBD fragment binds a single Zn2+ (Kd 0.18 μM), Cd2+ (Kd 0.27 μM), or, with less affinity, Cu+ (Kd 13 μM). Mutagenesis studies indicate that Cys17, Cys18, and Glu21 participate in Zn2+ and Cd2+ coordination, while Cys17 and Glu21, but not Cys18, are required for Cu+ binding. Interestingly, the Glu21Cys mutation that generates a CysCysXXCys site is unable to bind Zn2+ or Cd2+ but it binds...
Thermal behavior of full and ventilated disc brakes of vehicles

Braking is a process which converts a vehicle’s kinetic energy into mechanical energy which must be dissipated in the form of heat. During the braking phase, the frictional heat generated at the interface of the disc and pads can lead to high temperatures. This phenomenon is even more important than the tangential stress. The relative sliding speeds during contact are also important. The prediction of surface temperature for a brake rotor is regarded as an important step in studying brake system performance. The frictional heat generated on the rotor surface can influence excessive temperature rise which, in turn, leads to undesirable effects such as thermal elastic instability (TEI), premature wear, brake fluid vaporization (BFV) and thermally excited vibrations (TEV). The objective of this study is to analyze the thermal behavior of the full and ventilated brake discs of the vehicles using computing code ANSYS. The modeling of the temperature distribution in the disc brake is used to identify all the factors and the entering parameters concerned at the time of the braking operation, such as the type of braking, the geometric design of the disc and the material used. The results obtained by the simulation are satisfactory compared to those of the specialized literature.
A geometrical polarization effect in some transfer reactions involving heavy ions

Abstract It is shown that the very geometry of direct transfer reactions in which the transferred fragment occupies an l = 1 state in the projectile or the ejectile gives rise to large polarizations or asymmetries.
Shuttle Mounted Sensors For The Analysis Of Ocean Phenomena

The Space Shuttle has proven to be an excellent platform for testing sensors for the analysis of ocean phenomena. The Shuttle provides a manned, stable platform that can be precisely navigated. The ocean monitoring sensors are operated, retrieved, evaluated in the laboratory and reflown. Of major importance is the ability of the astronaut/oceanographer to use his intellect and visual acuity to recognize valuable ocean phenomena and then to interact directly with the sensors. This interaction can include real-time sensor pointing, tuning, and coordination with the ground and ship stations. In the complex task of identifying ocean features from space, man can: make rapid interpretation, evaluate ocean color changes, filter out cloud affects, make geographic location decisions and assess the contrast of subtle ocean features from background. Optional sensor mounting methods have been designed to reduce flight costs and turnaround times necessary for continuing sensor demonstration schedules. The Shuttle platform permits space testing of ocean monitoring sensors without the commitment of long range, expensive, systems programs necessary for stand-alone satellite sensor testing.
Imperial State Formation in Inner Asia: The Early Turkic Empires (6th to 9th Centuries)

One of the most prevalent theories of imperial state formation in Inner Asia argues that steppe empires rose and fell in conjunction with powerful Chinese empires because of important economic and military relationships between the two. The present article examines the application of this theory to the early Turkic states of Inner Asia (6th to 9th centuries) and concludes that this theory is not appropriate for the Turkic cases. The early Turkic states did not rise and fall together with strong Chinese dynasties; therefore, other factors must be considered in understanding their histories.
A two-player stochastic pursuit-evasion differential game

Due to the increasing use of autonomous aerial vehicles in military applications such as search, surveillance and reconnaissance of mobile targets, the study of (multi-player) pursuit-evasion (PE) differential game has revived. As a basis for studying multi-player games, we focus on a two-player stochastic PE game. Based on the classical differential game theory, we derive the analytical value function for a two-player stochastic PE game using the Dubin's car model. Moreover, we address the issue of the finite expectation of the capture time in both the perfect and the imperfect state information cases. Sufficient conditions are provided in terms of the players' speeds, measurement accuracy and the capture range of the pursuer. These results can provide insight for stochastic PE game problems and are useful for solving multi-player games.
Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Older Adults in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin The Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study

There are no recent population-based data on the prevalence of hearing loss in older adults using standard audiometric testing. The population-based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study was designed to measure the prevalence of hearing loss in adults aged 48-92 years, residing in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Hearing thresholds were measured with standardized protocols using pure-tone air- and bone-conduction audiometry in sound-treated booths. The examination also included an otoscopic evaluation, screening tympanogram, and a questionnaire on hearing-related medical history, noise exposure, other potential risk factors, and self-perceived hearing handicap. Of the 4,541 eligible people, 3,753 (82.6%) participated in the hearing study (1993-1995). The average age of participants was 65.8 years, and 57.7% were women. The prevalence of hearing loss was 45.9%. The odds of hearing loss increased with age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.88 for 5 years, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.80-1.97) and were greater for men than women (OR = 4.42, 95% CI 3.73-5.24). The male excess of hearing loss remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, education, noise exposure, and occupation (OR = 3.65). These results demonstrate that hearing loss is a very common problem affecting older adults. Epidemiologic studies are needed to understand the genetic, environmental, and sex-related determinants of age-related hearing loss and to identify potential intervention strategies.
Amyloid β-protein precursor is associated with extracellular matrix

Abstract The ultrastructural distribution of the amyloid β-protein precursor (ABPP) in cultures of a neuronal cell line is examined. ABPP is associated with the extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) secreted by these cells. The possible role of matrix associated ABPP in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is discussed.
Carbohydrate and Chlorophyll Content of Leaves of Digitalis Purpurea L. and Digitalis lutea L. After Freeze-drying and Oven-Drying*

The sugar and chlorophyll content of alcoholic extracts of oven-dried and lyophilized leaves of Digitalis purpurea and Digitalis lutea are reported. Freeze-drying preserves more total chlorophyll and chlorophyll “a” than oven-drying. Little difference in chlorophyll “b” was observed with material dried by either method. Oven-drying increases the-amount of sugars extracted with alcohol U. S. P. from Digitalis lutea. Freeze-drying does not have any more effect than oven-drying on the amount of carbohydrate material extracted with alcohol U. S. P. from Digitalis purpurea.
Hyperspectral image quality for unmixing and subpixel detection applications

The quality of remotely sensed hyperspectral images is not easily assessed visually, as the value of the imagery is primarily inherent in the spectral information embedded in the data. In the context of earth observation or defense applications, hyperspectral images are generally defined as high spatial resolution (1 to 30 meter pixels) imagery collected in dozens to hundreds of contiguous narrow (~100) spectral bands from airborne or satellite platforms. Two applications of interest are unmixing which can be defined as the retrieval of pixel constituent materials (usually called endmembers) and the area fraction represented by each, and subpixel detection, which is the ability to detect spatially unresolved objects. Our approach is a combination of empirical analyses of airborne hyperspectral imagery together with system modeling driven by real input data. Initial results of our study show the dominance of spatial resolution in determining the ability to detect subpixel objects and the necessity of sufficient spectral range for unmixing accuracy. While these results are not unexpected, the research helps to quantify these trends for the situations studied. Future work is aimed at generalizing these results and to provide new prediction tools to assist with hyperspectral imaging sensor design and operation.
Sound, stress, and seahorses: The consequences of a noisy environment to animal health

Abstract We examined stress responses to chronic noise exposure in a popular aquarium fish, the lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus). Thirty-two animals were housed individually in either loud (123.3 ± 1.0 dB re: 1 μPa total RMS power at mid-water, 137.3 ± 0.7 dB at bottom) or quiet (110.6 ± 0.58 dB at mid-water, and 119.8 ± 0.4 dB at bottom) tanks for one month. Weekly behavioral observations were scored and compared between treatment means, as well as treatment variances, because stressed populations often exhibit increased variance in measures. At the end of each trial, animals were euthanized, assessed, and means and variances of the following measures were compared between treatments: weight change (ΔWt), change in Fulton condition factor (ΔK), hepatosomatic index, gonadosomatic index, leukocyte count and differential, packed cell volume, heterophil to lymphocyte (H:L) ratio, blood glucose concentration, plasma cortisol concentration, parasite presence/absence and number of organs infected, and presence/absence of bacterial infection. Among behavioral results, tail adjustments and reduced or variable percentage of time spent stationary were interpreted as irritation behaviors. Animals in loud tanks were more variable in the number of tail adjustments made; this difference was especially significant in week one, when loud tank animals also made significantly more adjustments. Animals in loud tanks also demonstrated greater variation in the percentage of time spent stationary in the first week. Variability in these measures subsided after the first week, presumably due to habituation. Piping and clicking were considered pathological and distress behaviors (respectively). Animals piped and clicked more variably in loud tanks; this variability was especially pronounced in week 4. Other behaviors were unremarkable. Among physiological results, animals in loud tanks declined in morphological indices more precipitously; these differences were significant in ΔWt and ΔK. Animals in loud tanks demonstrated significant and variable heterophilia and significantly higher and more variable H:L ratios. Plasma cortisol concentrations were higher among animals in loud tanks. Kidneys were significantly more affected by parasites in loud tanks. Other physiological measures were unremarkable. Seahorses exposed to loud ambient noise in aquaria exhibit primary, secondary, and tertiary stress responses at behavioral and physiological levels, necessitating allostasis at costs to growth, condition, and immune status. Aquarists and aquaculturists are thus advised to incorporate soundproofing modifications during design and set-up of facilities to improve fish health, and growth in culture.
Crystal structures of heptakis(2,6-di-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)cyclomaltoheptaose, heptakis(2-O-methyl-3,6-di-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)cyclomaltoheptaose and heptakis(2-O-methyl)cyclomaltoheptaose

Crystal structures of heptakis(2,6-di-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)cyclomaltoheptaose, heptakis(2-O-methyl-3,6-di-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)cyclomaltohep taose and heptakis(2-O-methyl)cyclomaltoheptaose were determined from X-ray diffraction patterns obtained for single crystals of the title compounds grown from ethyl acetate and ethanol, respectively, as solvent. The crystal structures prove conclusively that quantitative migration of the tert-butyldimethylsilyl group from the 2-O- to the 3-O-position [D. Icheln, B. Gehrcke, Y. Piprek, P. Mischnick, W.A. Konig, M.A. Dessoy, A.F. Morel, Carbohydr. Res., 280 (1996) 237-250] was achieved during methylation of heptakis(2,6-di-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)cyclomaltoheptaose by iodomethane-sodium hydride.
IEA biomass thermal gasification project

Abstract The Biomass Thermal Gasification Project was started in late 1989 as Activity 4 of the IEA Bioenergy Agreement Task VII, Biomass Conversion. This paper reviews the project activities since its beginning, addressing biomass resources, state-of-the-art gasification technology, research needs, and the future project activities that are especially relevant to the nine (9) participating countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Impact of Electronic Data Interchange Technology on JIT Shipments

We investigates the degree to which increasing vertical information integration using Electronic Data Interchange technology enhances shipment performance of suppliers in a Just-in-Time environment. Our analysis of shipment data in the automobile industry suggests that shipment performance degrades substantially due to increases in part variety and trading partners from diverse industries. However, investments in information technology to support both the sharing of JIT schedules and the establishment of integrated information links are related to significant reduction in the level of shipment discrepancies.
Continuous quality improvement.

heard the cannonk report or seen the handbills announcing the new order.." The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) announced its Agenda for Change in 1986, and has stated that the "philosophical context" for the Agenda for Change is set by the theories of Continual Quality Improvement (CQI).1 During the past six years, the JCAHO has convened a number of expert panels to develop the necessary tools to systematically review and revise the standards by which hospitals are accredited, and to develop methods for the implementation of CQI in hospitals. Many of these efforts are expected to be reflected in the 1994 Accreditation Manual for Hospitals, to be published in less than two years. What is CQI, and why is it being promoted? For many years, efforts to assure the quality of hospital care depended on simple, predominantly structural standards that gauged whether hospitals were organized in such a way that quality care could be provided. The second era, incorporating the 1970s and 1980s, has been marked by the enumeration of complex standards by the government, insurers, and others. When these procedural standards were met, care was considered to be of acceptable quality and no further action was indicated. When a standard was not met, the response often was to seek a miscreant who could be punished for the transgression. Attention was directed almost exclusively to the performance of physicians, with little recognition given to the roles of other participants in the process or to the organization of the process itself. The definitions of quality rarely encompassed such considerations as patient satisfaction or the needs of families, employers, or other healthcare providers. An alternative approach to attaining quality has achieved widespread use and acceptance over the past 50 years, although it remains unknown to most healthcare workers. This alternative approach is often referred to as continuous quality improvement, total quality management, total quality control, or industrial quality control.
6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase and D-fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activities in mung bean seedlings

Abstract 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase (ATP: D -fructose-6-phosphate-2-phosphotransferase) and D -fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activities have been found in extracts prepared from etiolated mung bean seedlings. The activity of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase exhibits a sigmoidal shape in response to changes in concentrations of both substrates, D -fructose 6-phosphate and ATP ( S 0.5 values of 1.8 and 1.2 mM, respectively). Inorganic orthophosphate (P i ) has a strong stimulating effect on the 2-kinase activity ( A 0.5 at about 2 mM), moderately increasing the V max and modifying the response into hyperbolic curves with K m values of 0.4 and 0.2 mM for fructose 6-phosphate and ATP, respectively. 3-Phosphoglycerate ( I 0.5 about 0.15 mM) partially inhibited the kinase activity by counteracting the P i activation. In contrast, the activity of D -fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase ( K m 0.38 mM) is strongly inhibited by P i ( I 0.5 0.8 mM) lowering its affinity to fructose-2,6- P 2 ( K m 1.4 mM). 3-Phosphoglycerate activites the enzyme ( A 0.5 at about 0.3 mM) without causing a significant change in its K m for fructose-2,6- P 2 . The activities of both of these enzymes in relationship to the metabolic role of D -fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in the germinating seed is discussed.
Short-term caloric restriction augments age-related decreases in gastrin content and release

Abstract Aging is assciated with significant structural and functional changes in the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrin, a hormone produced by G cells in the antrum of the stomach, stimulates proliferation of gastric mucosa; its synthesis appears to decrease with age. Life-long restriction of caloric intake is the only experimental manipulation that has been shown to retard aging processes in rats. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of short-term caloric restriction (CR) on the production and release of the hormone gastrin with aging. Aging causes a fall in both fasting plasma levels of gastrin and antral content of gastrin in Fischer 344 rats; short-term CR appears to augment this age-related decrease. Steady state levels of antral gastrin mRNA were decreased with aging, and short-term CR resulted in an augmented decrease in aged, but not in young rats. Our findings indicate that gastrin release, synthesis and gene expression decrease with age. Restriction of the caloric intake for a short period (i.e. 8 weeks) augments this age-related decrease in antral gastrin and fasting plasma levels. Short-term CR appears to decrease the production of gastrin at the level of gene expression.
Midface reconstruction with the fibula free flap.

Objective To evaluate the use, indications, and outcomes of the fibula osteocutaneous free flap when reconstructing the midface. Design Retrospective review of a case series. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients We evaluated all patients requiring midface reconstruction after tumor resection between January 1, 1994, and January 1, 2000. Twenty-seven individuals who lacked sufficient retentive surfaces and/or teeth to support a conventional prosthesis were offered vascularized bony reconstruction. Interventions All patients underwent fibular osteocutaneous free flap reconstruction of the midface: 16 primarily, 11 secondarily. Main Outcome Measures Success of free tissue transfer, perioperative complications, oral diet, speech, type of dental reconstruction, and cosmesis. Results Twenty-six of 27 flaps survived. Four patients had wound complications managed successfully with local wound care. Fourteen patients achieved a regular diet and 13 patients maintain a soft diet. Eighteen patients had osseointegrated implants placed, and 14 patients used an implant-borne prosthesis. Cosmetic results were judged to be excellent in 14 patients; good in 8; fair in 4; and poor in 1. Conclusions Use of the fibula osteocutaneous free flap to reconstruct the midface is highly reliable and our flap of choice for lower maxillary defects requiring bony reconstruction. However, when orbitozygomatic support is the primary objective, the utility of this flap is limited. Because of the complexity of this procedure, the choice of midface reconstruction technique should be individualized for each patient.
Squeezing experiments in sodium vapor

We describe our efforts to observe squeezing, and related nonclassical effects, in three forward four-wave mixing experiments using sodium vapor as a nonlinear medium. In a single-beam experiment with homodyne detection, we found optically phase-sensitive noise, which was radio-frequency phase insensitive, in a cw dye-laser beam that had propagated through sodium vapor. The minima of the phase-sensitive noise were always at or above the coherent-state value. In our forward four-wave mixing experiment with probe–conjugate-beam direct detection and correlation, we found that the sodium-vapor interaction produced positive noise correlation between the probe and conjugate beams. The correlation, however, did not exceed the excess noises on these beams, so that a nonclassical behavior was not demonstrated. Finally, our forward four-wave mixing experiment with probe–conjugate-beam combination and homodyne detection did demonstrate the generation of squeezed-state light in our setup. Optically phase-sensitive noise with a minimum falling 4% below the coherent-state level was observed.
Probability learning in immature and adult rats

Adult and immature rats were studied in two probability learning tasks. In a black-white Y-maze problem both groups maximized, choosing the majority stimulus about 95% of the time. In a brightness discrimination employing automated procedures, however, both groups matched the reward ratios but matching was found to be partly a function of systematic patterns of response and partly an artifact of averaging.
Early Identification of Reading Comprehension Difficulties

Most research on early identification of reading disabilities has focused on word reading problems and little attention has been given to reading comprehension difficulties. In this study, we investigated whether measures of language ability and/or response to language intervention in kindergarten uniquely predicted reading comprehension difficulties in third grade. A total of 366 children were administered a battery of screening measures at the beginning of kindergarten and progress monitoring probes across the school year. A subset of children also received a 26-week Tier 2 language intervention. Participants’ achievement in word reading was assessed at the end of second grade, and their performance in reading comprehension was measured as the end of third grade. Results showed that measures of language ability in kindergarten significantly added to the prediction of reading comprehension difficulties over and above kindergarten word reading predictors and direct measures of word reading in second grade...
New and missing proteins in the electromagnetic and thermal stimulation of biosynthesis

Electromagnetic (EM) or thermal stress (HS) result in altered patterns of biosynthesis that are characterized by new and missing proteins. With both EM and HS stresses, proportionally more new low molecular weight (MW) proteins are synthesized and the distribution of their mass is skewed to lower molecular weights. These observations suggest that the new proteins could be the result of an interruption (i.e., early termination) of biosynthesis. The missing proteins are distributed as the control proteins in unexposed samples and are largely negative for all molecular weights. In contrast, the new proteins are distributed symmetrically with regard to 6.0 < pI < 6.5, and smaller molecules are more highly charged, both positively and negatively. The number of new proteins divided by the amount of new protein, a measure of diversity of product, increases with the frequency or repeat rate of the EM stimulation while the number of missing proteins decreases. These data are in accord with the electrochemical model in that interference should increase with both the frequency of the EM and the charge on the molecules, and result in smaller polypeptides than in the control cells. The results on HS appear to follow the same pattern as the EM experiments, indicating that electrochemical properties affect the responses to thermal stimuli.
Siblings' adjustment in middle childhood: Links with mother-child relationships

Abstract Associations between siblings' behavior problems and mother-child relationships were examined when older siblings were approximately 7 years old and 3 years later when younger siblings reached the same age. Children's behavior problems were positively associated with mothers' controlling behavior and negatively associated with mothers' affectionate behavior. Both different-age differential maternal behavior—differences in mother's behavior to siblings assessed at the same point in time when siblings were different ages-and same-age differential maternal behavior—differences in mothers' behavior to siblings assessed across a 3-year interval when siblings were the same age—were associated with children's adjustment. Children who received more maternal control and less maternal affection than their siblings had more behavior problems than other children. The magnitude of difference between siblings in behavior problems was correlated with the extent of maternal differential treatment but was not significantly associated with age or gender differences between siblings.
Solid state carbon-13 and proton NMR studies of carbonate-containing calcium phosphates and enamel

Carbonate ions which replace phosphates—type B—and hydroxide ions—type A—in bone and synthetic apatites were studied by 13C and 1H solid state NMR spectroscopy. Heated apatites and dipolar suppression experiments have been employed to assign the spectra lines. Two overlapping peaks around 170 ppm which behaved differently on heating were assigned to type B carbontes. Pure type A carbonate gave a sharp signal at 166.5 ppm, and we were able to identify this signal in type AB apatite and in a presumably pure type B carbonate apatite. Amorphous calcium phosphate carbonates gave a broad gaussian peak of about 3 ppm at full width half-maximum with a center of gravity at about 168 ppm. The same resonance line, but with lower intensity, was also observed for apatites containing type A and B carbonates. Magic angle spinning 1H NMR spectra of these apatites showed resolved OH− and H2O signals but were inconclusive in identifying specific structural and adsorbed H2O groups. Implications of the NMR data to the crystal structure of carbonate apatites is discussed.