cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Space-borne MeV Compton-Telescope background and the means to suppress it

Gamma-ray astronomy in the MeV range suffers from weak fluxes from sources and high background in the nuclear energy range. The background comes primarily from neutron-induced gamma rays with the neutrons being produced by cosmic-ray interactions in the Earth's atmosphere, the spacecraft and the instrument. Compton telescope designs often suppress this background by requiring coincidences in multiple detectors and a narrow time-of-flight (ToF) acceptance window. The COMPTEL experience on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory shows that a 1.5-ns ToF window is insufficiently narrow to achieve the required low background count rate. Furthermore, neutron interactions in the detectors themselves generate an irreducible background. Judicious choices of instrument materials and new spacecraft designs improve the situation. However, large gains come from new scintillator technology that combines intrinsic neutron insensitivity with exceptional speed to reduce the instrument background rate by upwards of 90%, thereby greatly improving the sensitivity of searches and measurements, while simultaneously improving energy and angle resolution.
Medical malpractice reform: noneconomic damages caps reduced payments 15 percent, with varied effects by specialty.

The impact of medical malpractice reforms on the average size of malpractice payments in specific physician specialties is unknown and subject to debate. We analyzed a national sample of malpractice claims for the period 1985–2010, merged with information on state liability reforms, to estimate the impact of state noneconomic damages caps on average malpractice payment size for physicians overall and for ten different specialty categories. We then compared how the effects differed according to the restrictiveness of the cap ($250,000 versus $500,000). We found that, overall, noneconomic damages caps reduced average payments by $42,980 (15 percent), compared to having no cap at all. A more restrictive $250,000 cap reduced average payments by $59,331 (20 percent), and a less restrictive $500,000 cap had no significant effect, compared to no cap at all. The effect of the caps overall varied according to specialty, with the largest impact being on claims involving pediatricians and the smallest on claims invo...
A 3.1–10.6 GHz ultra wide-band impulse radio transmitter with notch implementation for in-band interferers in 90nm CMOS

One of the serious challenges in Ultra Wide-band (UWB) systems is the in-band interferer system in the middle of the UWB band which affects the system performance severely. In this paper an analog in-band interference avoidance IR-UWB transmitter is presented. The fully integrated transmitter generates a novel UWB pulse with a tunable notch at the frequency of 802.11a interferer. The pulse covers the whole UWB spectrum (3.1–10.6 GHz) which makes it suitable for high resolution high data-rate applications. The transmitter has a bi-phase modulation and has been fabricated in IBM 90nm CMOS.
Xenophobia Among Hispanic College Students and Implications for the Criminal Justice System

Immigration, particularly the illegal immigration of Mexicans, has emerged as one of the nation's foremost social problems. This study explores attitudes toward illegal immigrants among a sample of Hispanic college students of primarily Mexican decent ( N = 216). Through an intrarace inquiry strategy, we examine whether illegal immigrants (a) are a growing problem in the United States, (b) contribute to the decline of society, and (c) are more likely than other groups in the United States to break the law. Findings reveal that college students with positive attitudes toward Mexico and the Mexican culture were more likely to hold negative attitudes toward illegal immigrants. Gender, annual household income, and college major were also found to be statistically significant predictors of attitude toward illegal immigrants. As Hispanics constitute the largest voting minority group, the impact of the findings on public policy, including implications for the criminal justice system, are discussed.
The Mozart effect: Arousal, preference, and spatial performance.

A great deal of popular attention has been given to the Mozart effect—an increase in spatial ability following listening to Mozart. Three hypotheses have been advanced to explain this association: Mozart priming the neural pathways used for spatial reasoning, Mozart generally increasing mood and arousal and thus performance, or individuals' preference for Mozart, a different form of music, or even silence leading to an optimal mood for test-taking. The current study sought to differentiate among these three hypotheses. Data were collected from 41 college students (20 male, 21 female) assessed on a spatial relations subtest from the Stanford-Binet following exposure to either music or silence. Participants self-reported how awake they felt and their preference for their particular condition. Results indicated a positive effect of listening to Mozart, although arousal mediated this association. No effect of preference was evident. Implications for theory and application are discussed.
Naval Warfare and the Refraction of China's Self-Strengthening Reforms into Scientific and Technological Failure, 1865-1895'

In the 1950s and 1960s, Chinese, Western, and Japanese scholarship debated the success or failure of the government schools and regional arsenals established between 1865 and 1895 to reform Qing China (1644-1911). For example, Quan Hansheng contended in 1954 that the Qing failure to industrialize after the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64) was the major reason why China lacked modern weapons during the Sino-Japanese War. This position has been built on in recent reassessments of the ‘Foreign Affairs Movement’ (Yangwu yundong) and Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 (Jiawu zhanzheng) by Chinese scholars. They argue, with some dissent, that the inadequacies of the late Qing Chinese navy and army were due to poor armaments, insufficient training, lack of leadership, vested interests, lack of funding, and low morale. In aggregate, these factors are thought to demonstrate the inadequacies of the ‘Self-Strengthening era’ and its industrial programs.
Introduction to Special Issue for 20th Anniversary of the NIA Centers for the Demography and Economics of Aging

This special issue of the Journal of Population Ageing celebrates the 20th anniversary of the NIA Centers on the Demography and Economic s of Aging,, publishing a set of five invited papers by distinguished scholars based on their presentations at the 2014 session of the RAND Summer Institute on Aging. We, and the Journal editors, thought that this would be an appropriate and useful tribute to the work of the centers, since the RAND Summer Institute (RSI) is almost the same age as the centers and over the years has attracted center affiliates both as master lecturers and as trainees. The five articles in this issue, though not a comprehensive review of the field, provide a sense both of the advances of the last two decades and of the great work still to be done. The centers program began as supplements to Demography Centers funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which along with the National Institute on Aging is part of the National Institutes of Health. With one exception, housed at the National Bureau of Economic Research, the early centers were very focused on demography, and they were fractionated with few common projects across centers. The idea behind the RSI was to provide basic lectures in each of several areas both to attract new scholars into research on aging and to form a more integrated research program. The first forum was held in Chicago in the afternoon prior to the start of the Annual Meeting of the Population Association. On the plane to Chicago one of us (RS) noticed that Dr. Robert Wallace, a physician epidemiologist, was his way to the University of Iowa, and cornered him and persuaded him to delay his trip and give an impromptu presentation on epidemiology of aging – one of the best that afternoon. The Centers have become much more integrated than at first. They work together on many projects, sharing costs and contributing ideas. They now form the essential infrastructure for the social sciences related to aging. The RSI has undergone a similar Population Ageing (2015) 8:1–5 DOI 10.1007/s12062-015-9114-2
Non-linear overstability in the thermal convection of viscoelastic fluids

Abstract The existence and stability of elastic overstability in the presence of non-negligible inertia for an Oldroyd-B fluid are examined for the Rayleigh-Bernard thermal convection problem. The study is based on the four-dimensional non-linear dynamical system presented by Khayat (J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech., 53 (1994) 227) which constitutes a generalization of the classical Lorenz system for a Newtonian fluid. It is shown that elastic overstability can only set in once the Deborah number exceeds a critical value which depends on the Prandtl number and fluid retardation. Fluid elasticity is found to precipitate the onset of overstability while retardation tends to delay it. The conditions of existence of the corresponding Hopf bifurcation are examined as functions of fluid elasticity, retardation and thermal conductivity. The stability of the periodic orbit (in phase space) is investigated using center manifold theory. It is found that the orbit is asymptotically stable to perturbations about the conductive state, with the initial period of oscillation decreasing with Deborah number, reaching a minimum, and increasing asymptotically toward a constant value.
Low-energy rotational and vibrational-rotational excitation cross sections for H_2 by electron impact

Results are presented for rotational and vibrational-rotational excitation of H2 by electron impact in the static-exchange approximation. We use the T-matrix discrete basis set method introduced by Rescigno, McCurdy, and McKoy. Our approach for vibrational excitation involves solving the fixed-nuclei scattering problem at several internuclear separations. We compare our results with the experimental data of Linder and Schmidt and with other calculated results.
Hyperoxia and the red cell—A form of oxygen toxicity

ALKALOSIS [26], HYPOXIA [9], ANEMIA [23], AND HYPOPHOSPHOTEMIA [19] affect the position of the oxyhemoglobin curve, either by direct means or indirectly by the level of intraerythrocyte organic phosphates. The most important of these indirect affecters has been assumed to be 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (DPG). Measuring DPG levels has been accepted by many investigators as the equivalent of establishing changes in the position of the oxyhemoglobin curve at standard conditions (PsO ) [7, 1416, 18, 201. Under conditions of hyperbar:c normoxia in animals [lo] and hypobaric hyperoxia in man [13], intraerythrocytic DPG levels appear to fall over a period of time. The position of the oxyhemoglobin curve was not examined in these studies, nor was the time sequence of recovery reported. The effects of normobaric hyperoxia on both P,“, and DPG levels have not been established. Since the biochemistry of oxygen transport by the red cell of the canine and human are similar [4, 211 a study was set up to establish the in vivo effects of hyperoxia on canine red cells.
Triads in foetal skeletal muscle.

In the gastrocnemius muscle of the rat foetus longitudinally oriented triads were often seen near A–I junctions. This suggests that there is a change from longitudinal to transverse orientation during the development of skeletal muscle.
Multigrid Algorithms for Inverse Problems with Linear Parabolic PDE Constraints

We present a multigrid algorithm for the solution of source identification inverse problems constrained by variable-coefficient linear parabolic partial differential equations. We consider problems in which the inversion variable is a function of space only. We consider the case of $L^2$ Tikhonov regularization. The convergence rate of our algorithm is mesh-independent—even in the case of no regularization. This feature makes the method algorithmically robust to the value of the regularization parameter, and thus useful for the cases in which we seek high-fidelity reconstructions. The inverse problem is formulated as a PDE-constrained optimization. We use a reduced-space approach in which we eliminate the state and adjoint variables, and we iterate in the inversion parameter space using conjugate gradients. We precondition the Hessian with a V-cycle multigrid scheme. The multigrid smoother is a two-step stationary iterative solver that inexactly inverts an approximate Hessian by iterating exclusively in the high-frequency subspace (using a high-pass filter). We analyze the performance of the scheme for the constant coefficient case with full observations; we analytically calculate the spectrum of the reduced Hessian and the smoothing factor for the multigrid scheme. The forward and adjoint problems are discretized using a backward-Euler finite-difference scheme. The overall complexity of our inversion algorithm is $\mathcal{O}(N_tN+N\log^2N)$, where $N$ is the number of grid points in space and $N_t$ is the number of time steps. We provide numerical experiments that demonstrate the effectiveness of the method for different diffusion coefficients and values of the regularization parameter. We also provide heuristics, and we conduct numerical experiments for the case with variable coefficients and partial observations. We observe the same complexity as in the constant-coefficient case. Finally, we examine the effectiveness of using the reduced-space solver as a preconditioner for a full-space solver.
Uncertainty: The Individual, The Collectivity, and a Consideration of Metapsychology

This paper is an introduction to the work of Janine Puget and to a discussion of her work by Irene Cairo, Rogelio Sosnik, and Eyal Rozmarin. These papers all address the question of how the social and the intrapsychic are integrated and distinguished. The work of Bion is referenced, and the question of collective and individual aspects of identification are considered.
Prediction of fisheries physical habitat values based on hydraulic geometry and frequency distributions of depth and velocity

Abstract We propose a technique that allows the estimation of available physical fish habitat in small sized stream reaches (mean annual flow less than 3.5 m3/s) without the need to acquire and analyze extensive site‐specific data commonly used in many instream flow studies. The technique utilizes a modified form of previously published equations that estimate velocity and depth frequency distributions based on reach average velocity and depth which in turn can be calculated using widely known at‐a‐station hydraulic geometry equations. Velocity and depth frequency distributions are then combined with fish preferences for velocity and depth to produce habitat versus discharge relationships for a desired range of flows. When the resulting physical habitat versus discharge relationships for target fish species and life stages are compared to weighted usable area relationships (habitat versus discharge relationships derived using hydraulic and habitat models) developed from site‐specific studies, the predicti...
The infrared spectrum of allene-1,1-d2

Abstract The infrared spectrum of allene-1,1- d 2 was examined from 1.6 μ to 38 μ with a prism spectrometer and a complete assignment of all fundamentals, overtones and combinations is given. The force constants of allene were calculated by means of a normal coordinate analysis with the frequencies of allene and allene- d 4 . Frequencies calculated for allene-1,1- d 2 support the assignment of fundamentals. One parallel band, ν 6 , was resolved on the grating spectrometer and the rotational constants were found to be B 1 = 0.264 and B 0 = 0.265 cm −1 .
Synthesis, characterization and photochemistry of some monometallic and bimetallic 2,2′-bipyrimidine complexes of chromium and tungsten carbonyls

Abstract Synthesis, electronic absorption spectra, 13C NMR and photochemistry are reported for the complexes M(CO)4bpym (M = Cr or W) and [W(CO)4]2bpym. The electronic absorption spectra indicate, for these complexes, that the lowest lying metal-to-ligand (L) charge transfer (MLCT) excited state is lower in energy than the ligand field (LF) excited states. The 13C NMR spectra showed that the chemical shifts of C(5) and C(6) for the M-bpym complexes move downfield with respect to that of the free ligand, bpym, while C(4) moves upfield upon complexation. Small, wavelength-dependent quantum yields for loss of CO were obtained upon irradiation. These quantum yields were an order of magnitude larger for the Cr-bpym complex than for the W complexes (Φ = 2.4 x 10−2 quanta/min for Cr-bpym, 2.5 x 10−3 quanta/min for W-bpym and 1.1 x 10−3 quanta/min for W-bpym-W, λirr = 366 nm).
Acoustical Behavior and Sexual Success in the Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Male Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) produce two female-directed sounds, the calling and precopulatory songs. Aspects of these were correlated to factors thought important in male sexual success and compared in males that copulated and males that failed to mate. Both sounds became more intense with male size. Larger males tended to have calling songs of lower fundamental frequency, but frequency of precopulatory songs and size was uncorrelated. The calling song's fundamental frequency bandwidth was broader in unsuccessful flies, perhaps reflecting physical disability. Precopulatory songsmay be the last acoustic opportunity for males to demonstrate their “quality” and receive further cooperation from females they have mounted. Unsuccessful precopulatory songs were not as loud and had a broader bandwidth than successful songs. Greater distortion in unsuccessful songs appeared to be due to female movement during rejection. The longer a precopulatory song, the shorter the subsequent mating. This may have been due to males making greater efforts toward less sexually responsive mates. Larger males coupled longer, suggesting a potential conflict of interest between the sexes over copulation duration that bigger males are more apt to win.
Early gender differences in self-regulation and academic achievement.

This study examined gender differences in self-regulation in the fall and spring of kindergarten and their connection to gender differences in 5 areas of early achievement: applied problems (math), general knowledge, letter-word identification, expressive vocabulary, and sound awareness. Behavioral selfregulation was measured using both an objective direct measure (N = 268; Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task) and, for a subsample of children, a teacher report of classroom self-regulatory behavior (n = 156; Child Behavior Rating Scale). Results showed that girls outperformed boys in both assessments. Although gender differences in self-regulation were clear, no significant gender differences were found on the 5 academic achievement outcomes, as measured by the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement. Self-regulation consistently predicted math and sound awareness, although links were stronger with the direct measure as compared with teacher reports. Implications for understanding the role of gender and self-regulation in early and later academic achievement and the role of self-regulation in particular areas of achievement are discussed.
Injection of local anesthetic in tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy is a commonly performedprocedureintheUnitedStates and is usually associated with significant postoperative pain. The benefits ofdecreasedpainareobvious;ashorter recovery period and faster return to a regular diet and activity level make life much easier for patients and their families. Numerous attempts have been made to reduce postoperative pain; these includeimprovedintraoperative anesthetic pain regimens, use of corticosteroids, adjustmentof surgical technique,andintraoperativeinjection of local anesthetic. The injectionof local anesthetic duringtonsillectomyhasbeenrecommended as an adjunct to general anesthesiatodecreasepostoperativepain. During surgery, pain impulses enter the central nervous system, creating a hyperexcitable state. The processing of afferent information is altered, resultinginareductionofpainthresholds and amplification of normal responses tonociceptive stimuli.These changes outlast the duration of the surgical stimulus and contribute to prolonged postoperative pain. Some clinical studies indicate that producing a pharmacologic blockade of the sensorypathwaysbeforesurgerywith local anesthetic may prevent the nociceptive impulses from reaching the spinal cord, thus decreasing postoperative pain. Many of the recent studies evaluating the use of local anesthetics were done with pediatric patients. Thus, this report will focus on the potential benefits of local anesthetics in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy.
Direct inelastic and trapping-desorption scattering of N2 from polycrystalline W; Elementary steps in the chemisorption of nitrogen

Abstract Scattering of N 2 from a clean polycrystalline W surface is studied with a time-of-flight molecular beam apparatus. The time-of-flight spectra are used to characterize the N 2 -W energytransfer and condensation, allowing inferences to be made about the initial steps of N 2 chemisorption, thought to proceed via a molecular precursor state. The sticking coefficient on our sample for N 2 to chemisorb to an atomic nitrogen bound state was 0.5 ± 0.1 5 for a 600 K beam and a 450 K surface temperature. Unreacted N 2 scattered into direct and trapping-desorption channels. The direct channel is shown to be entirely inelastic with temperature independent differential energy accommodation coefficients that average 0.46 for normal and specular scattering at 45° incidence angle. The fraction of trapping-desorption scattering diminishes significantly with increasing surface and beam temperature. The observed decrease in sticking coefficient with increase in surface temperature is shown to be due to a diminution of the N 2 condensation coefficient as well as an increase in desorption of the N 2 , recursor relative to its migration-chemisorption.
Validation and Reproducibility of Measurement of 5-HT1A Receptor Parameters with [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 in Humans: Comparison of Arterial and Reference Tissue Input Functions

Serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptors are implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate methods to derive 5-HT(1A) receptor parameters in the human brain with positron emission tomography (PET) and [carbonyl-(11)C]WAY 100635. Five healthy volunteer subjects were studied twice. Three methods of analysis were used to derive the binding potential (BP), and the specific to nonspecific equilibrium partition coefficient (k3/k4). Two methods, kinetic analysis based on a three compartment model and graphical analysis, used the arterial plasma time-activity curves as the input function to derive BP and k3/k4. A third method, the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM), derived the input function from uptake data of a region of reference, the cerebellum, and provided only k3/k4. All methods provided estimates of regional 5-HT(1A) receptor parameters that were highly correlated. Results were consistent with the known distribution of 5-HT(1A) receptors in the human brain. Compared with kinetic BP, graphical analysis slightly underestimated BP, and this phenomenon was mostly apparent in small size-high noise regions. Compared with kinetic k3/k4, the reference tissue method underestimated k3/k4 and the underestimation was apparent primarily in regions with high receptor density. Derivation of BP by both kinetic and graphical analysis was highly reliable, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.84 +/- 0.14 (mean +/- SD of 15 regions) and 0.84 +/- 0.19, respectively. In contrast, the reliability of k3/k4 was lower, with ICC of 0.53 +/- 0.28, 0.47 +/- 0.28, and 0.55 +/- 0.29 for kinetic, graphical, and reference tissue methods, respectively. In conclusion, derivation of BP by kinetic analysis using the arterial plasma input function appeared as the method of choice because of its higher test-retest reproducibility, lower vulnerability to experimental noise, and absence of bias.
Thick target corrections for charged particle spectra

Abstract A method is presented which allows charged particle spectra from thick targets to be corrected for energy and particle loss in the target. The method is applied to the (n, xα ) reaction in carbon and to alpha decay in uranium.
Quantification of CH4 loss and transport in dissolved plumes of the Santa Barbara Channel, California

Abstract Methane (CH 4 ) emitted into the coastal ocean faces two primary fates: escape to the atmosphere or prolonged dissolution that allows sufficient time for oxidation by methanotrophic bacteria. The partitioning of CH 4 between these fates is modulated by physical, chemical and biological factors, including the distribution of CH 4 in the water, temperature, wind speed, water movement, and the biological CH 4 oxidation rate. Because of the underlying complexity, studies rarely quantify all of these factors in unison, thereby leaving gaps in our understanding of CH 4 biogeochemistry in the coastal ocean. In this study we estimated the partitioning of CH 4 between transport, microbial oxidative loss, and sea–air transfer in a defined plume of dissolved CH 4 originating from one of the world's largest seep fields, near Coal Oil Point (COP) in the Santa Barbara Channel, California. Depth distributions of CH 4 concentration, biologically mediated oxidation rate, and current velocity were quantified at 12 stations in a 198 km 2 area down-current from COP on July 4–5, 2007. Six stations were sampled again on July 7, 2007 to evaluate temporal plume variability. The observed CH 4 distribution revealed two distinct CH 4 plumes: a shallow plume centered at ∼40 m and a deeper plume centered at ∼200 m. The shallow plume originates at COP; the source of the deeper CH 4 plume is not known. Cross-sections of both plumes were used to calculate transport and loss terms for dissolved CH 4 . The results indicate that the majority of the dissolved CH 4 is advected and diffuses horizontally by turbulence whereas microbial oxidation, sea–air gas transfer, and vertical turbulent diffusion are less significant. Based on rates estimated in the study area, a model was developed to simulate the fate of the dissolved CH 4 . The model results suggest that 60% of the CH 4 of the sampled plumes will ultimately be microbially oxidized and 40% will be transferred to the atmosphere by sea–air gas exchange under the sampling conditions. These results illustrate the significance of microbial CH 4 oxidation in coastal oceans.
Electrical conduction in sputtered Si:Al films

Abstract The d.c. electrical resistivity ϱ(x, T) has been measured for a series of granular SixAl1−x sputtered films for 0.25
Metal vapor gain media based on multiphoton dissociation of organometallics

The authors have observed multiphoton induced emission from supersonic nozzle beams of Cr(CO)6 and (C6H6)Cr(CO)3 which is extremely intense and longlived. Certain types of emission lasting many tens of microseconds, which the authors have definitively assigned as due to transitions originating at a 7D manifold of J levels in neutral chromium atoms, can only be observed using (C6H6)Cr(CO)3 and other arene chromium tricarbonyls. This situation only occurs because of structure dependent intramolecular dynamics in (C6H6)Cr(CO)3 which occur during the multiphoton dissociation and which do not occur during multiphoton dissociation of Cr(CO)6. Taken together; the precise wavelength needed to produce these levels, the very low amount of focusing needed to observe the emission, and the high vapor pressures attainable using organometallics strongly suggest that this discovery could lead to the development of a new class of lasers, optical amplifiers and parametric oscillators. In this case, lasers operating near 465 nm and 1.3 micrometers may be feasible. The scheme could also be utilized to produce 'metal vapor' type lasers using a wide variety of refractory metal atoms as the basis of the gain media.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mathematical Wit and Mathematical Cognition

The published works of scientists often conceal the cognitive processes that led to their results. Scholars of mathematical practice must therefore seek out less obvious sources. This article analyzes a widely circulated mathematical joke, comprising a list of spurious proof types. An account is proposed in terms of argumentation schemes: stereotypical patterns of reasoning, which may be accompanied by critical questions itemizing possible lines of defeat. It is argued that humor is associated with risky forms of inference, which are essential to creative mathematics. The components of the joke are explicated by argumentation schemes devised for application to topic-neutral reasoning. These in turn are classified under seven headings: retroduction, citation, intuition, meta-argument, closure, generalization, and definition. Finally, the wider significance of this account for the cognitive science of mathematics is discussed.
Familial total anomalous pulmonary venous return: A large Utah-Idaho family

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a rare form of cyanotic congenital heart disease which, without surgical correction, has a high mortality rate in the first year of life. It usually occurs without a family history, and is generally thought to have a low recurrence risk. However, 15 instances of familial TAPVR have been reported previously, suggesting a genetic cause in some cases. We report on a large family in which TAPVR appears to be determined multifactorially or as an autosomal dominant trait with variable expressivity and reduced penetrance.
Effects of deflazacort on aspects of bone formation in cultures of intact calvariae and osteoblast-enriched cells.

Deflazacort, a synthetic glucocorticoid reported to have bone-sparing properties in vivo, and Cortisol were compared for their effects on bone formation in vitro. Deflazacort and Cortisol were studied for their effects on DNA and collagen synthesis in cultures of intact fetal rat calvariae and of osteoblast-enriched (Ob) cells from 21- to 22-day-old fetal rat parietal bone. Both steroids were also examined for their effects on skeletal insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I production, which is decreased by Cortisol and appears relevant to its mode of action. After 24 h of culture, deflazacort and Cortisol had limited effects on the parameters studied, although Cortisol at 100 nM decreased [3H]proline incorporation into collagen in intact calvariae. In contrast, after 72 h deflazacort and Cortisol at 1–100 nM inhibited the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA and at 100 nM decreased the incorporation of [3H]proline into collagen and noncollagen protein in intact calvariae. Deflazacort and Cortisol at 10–1000 nM decreased calvarial collagen degradation to a similar extent. Both steroids had a similar activity, and at 100 nM for 72 h they decreased IGF-I production by calvariae; however, Cortisol at 10 nM was somewhat more effective than deflazacort in decreasing IGF-I levels. Deflazacort and Cortisol had analogous effects in Ob cell cultures. After 24 h of treatment, deflazacort at 100–1000 nM and Cortisol at 10–1000 nM decreased the labeling of DNA, and both steroids at 100–1000 nM caused a similar decrease in [3H]proline incorporation into collagen in Ob cells. In addition, deflazacort and Cortisol at 100 nM decreased IGF-I levels by about 60% in Ob cell cultures. In conclusion, deflazacort and Cortisol have similar inhibitory actions on bone DNA and collagen synthesis, collagen degradation, and IGF-I concentrations in vitro.
Functional vanishing point estimation via a filtered-Radon operator

When available, vanishing points in a scene are a key factor in effectively recovering absolute camera orientation, thus simplifying the structure-from-motion problem. We present a novel method for estimating vanishing points without explicitly detecting line features. This approach first maps images into line-space with a filtered- Radon operator, allowing subtle line textures to contribute, and improving the angular resolution of broken or occluded segments of the same line. Then, we use a robust coarse-to-fine method to jointly estimate the three vanishing points. We evaluate our method on video sequences, demonstrating robustness to clutter lines as well as the ability to effectively utilize subtle edge-texture information.
Carcinogenicity of 1-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene and its electrophilic sulfate ester 1-sulfooxy-3-methylcholanthrene in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Abstract Previous experiments have demonstrated that the carcinogen 1-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene is a metabolite of 3-methylcholanthrene. 1-Sulfooxy-3-methylcholanthrene, prepared by chemical synthesis from 1-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene, was shown to be a direct acting electrophilic mutagen and DNA damaging agent. These results imply that 1-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene could be metabolically activated to an ultimate electrophilic and carcinogenic form of 1-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene and 3-methylcholanthrene in a reaction catalyzed by 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate-dependent sulfotransferase activity. 1-Hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene and its aralkylating reactive ester, 1-sulfooxy-3-methylcholanthrene, were individually administered to groups of 12 female Sprague-Dawley rats at a 0.2 μmol dose, three times weekly, for 20 doses. 1-Sulfooxy-3-methylcholanthrene induced sarcomas at the site of injection in 8 of 12 rats (66%) by 52 weeks, whereas 1-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene induced sarcomas at the site of injection in 5 of 12 rats (42%) by 52 weeks. These results, taken together with the results of previous experiments, strongly support the hypothesis that the activated electrophilic mutagen 1-sulfooxy-3-methylcholanthrene plays a major role as an ultimate electrophilic and carcinogenic form of 1-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene, a major metabolite of 3-methylcholanthrene.
Using Degree-Days to Predict Cereal Leaf Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Egg and Larval Population Peaks

To improve cereal leaf beetle scouting efficiency and encourage the use of thresholds, temperature-based degree-day models were developed and tested to determine their accuracy to predict the date of egg and larval peaks. Previously published cereal leaf beetle temperature development data were used to create the degree-day model. This model of 182 DD using a base development temperature of 8°C was validated using cereal leaf beetle sampling data from four locations in Virginia and North Carolina in 2010, and six locations in 2011. In both years, the degree-day model predicted the average egg peak within 3 d of the observed calendar date. There was also a consistent period between egg and larval peaks averaging 17.5 d. Given the accuracy of this model, historical high and low temperature data were used to create a predictive map of the calendar week that different areas of Virginia and North Carolina would exceed 182 DD, and was validated using survey data from 60 field sites in 2010 and 65 sites in 2011 throughout Virginia and North Carolina. Finally, correlation and linear regression analyses were performed using data from all cereal leaf beetle study populations in 2010 and 2011, as well as previously collected data to determine if the number of eggs at peak could be used to predict larval peak numbers. There was a significant positive linear relationship between egg peak density and larval peak density, explaining 94% of the variation seen in larval peaks, indicating that egg peaks could reliably predict larval infestation levels.
Whey Protein Solution Coating for Fat-Uptake Reduction in Deep-Fried Chicken Breast Strips

UNLABELLED This study investigated the use of whey protein, as an additional coating, in combination with basic, well-described predust, batter, and breading ingredients, for fat-uptake reduction in fried chicken. Chicken breasts were cut into strips (1 x 5 x 10 cm) and coated with wheat flour (WF) as a predust, dipped in batter, coated with WF as a breading, then dipped in 10% denatured whey protein isolate (DWPI) aqueous solution (wet basis). A WF-batter-WF treatment with no DWPI solution dip was included as a control. Coated chicken strips were deep-fried at 160 degrees C for 5 min. A Soxhlet-type extraction was performed to determine the fat content of the meat fraction of fried samples, the coating fraction of fried samples, raw chicken, and raw coating ingredients. The WF-batter-WF-10% DWPI solution had significantly lower fat uptake than the WF-batter-WF control, by 30.67% (dry basis). PRACTICAL APPLICATION This article describes applied research involving fat reduction in coated deep-fried chicken. The methods used in this article were intended to achieve maximized fat reduction while maintaining a simple procedure applicable to actual food processing lines.
A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS COMPLICATION WITH SWAN-GANZ CATHETER PLACEMENT BY THE PERCUTANEOUS INTERNAL JUGULAR ROUTE

Percutaneous insertion of a Swan-Ganz catheter through the internal jugular vein is presumed to have resulted in lodgement of the catheter tip in the wall of the internal carotid artery.
Lathe Turning of Titanium Using Pulsed Laser Deposited, Ultra‐Hard Boride Coatings of Carbide Inserts

Despite several years of research and development, titanium machining remains a challenging task that is currently carried out by the use of straight WC/Co and polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tools. Commercially available coated tools tend to react chemically with titanium, while ceramic tools suffer from chipping and notching. Advancements in cutting tools, particularly coated carbides, are needed to reduce tool wear in machining of titanium alloys. In this work, a recently developed, ultra‐hard AlMgB14–20%TiB2 composite material was applied as a coating on WC/6%Co tool inserts by a pulsed laser (excimer) deposition technique. The coating was smooth, continuous, and fairly uniform in thickness. The average coating thickness was 0.7 μm for a deposition rate of 0.08 nm per pulse. Nanoindentation tests revealed that the hardness of the coating was approximately twice that of the WC/6%Co substrate. Dry machining tool wear tests, conducted with a CNC lathe by turning bar stocks of heat‐treated Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy, ...
A disturbance rejection based control approach for hysteretic systems

A disturbance rejection based control approach, active disturbance rejection control (ADRC), is proposed for hysteretic systems with unknown characteristics. It is an appealing alternative to hysteresis compensation because it does not require a detailed model of hysteresis, by treating the nonlinear hysteresis as a common disturbance and actively rejecting it. The stability characteristic of the ADRC is analyzed. It is shown that, in the face of the inherent dynamic uncertainties, the estimation and closed-loop tracking errors of ADRC are bounded, with their bounds monotonously decreasing with the observer and controller bandwidths, respectively. Simulation results on two typical hysteretic systems further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Detection of Cryptosporidium sp. in Two New Seal Species, Phoca vitulina and Cystophora cristata, and a Novel Cryptosporidium Genotype in a Third Seal Species, Pagophilus groenlandicus, from the Gulf of Maine

Abstract: Data on the geographic distribution and host specificity of Cryptosporidium spp. are critical for developing an understanding of likely transmission patterns in nature. During a molecular-based survey of fecal samples from 293 terrestrial and aquatic animals in Maine, USA, we detected Cryptosporidium sp. in 11 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), 1 hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), and 1 harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus). None of the terrestrial or freshwater mammal fecal samples or bird samples tested positive for Cryptosporidium sp. However, the sequencing results of the small subunit (ssu) rRNA gene indicate that the seals were infected with an undescribed species of Cryptosporidium, previously isolated only from ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in northern Quebec, Canada. In addition, the Cryptosporidium sp. detected in the harp seal is significantly different from the previously observed Cryptosporidium sp. in other seals. We confirmed the genetic distinctiveness of this Cryptosporidium genotype ...
Choosing a filter structure: component sensitivity and design-for-testability

The choice of filter structure and its effects on circuit test and implementation sensitivity are examined. Preliminary results have shown the lattice structure to often have a low relative structure-algorithm time constant, making it a strong candidate for implementation in many applications. Since the parameters of such systems can be easily determined from input/output data, and the system design is insensitive to the design parameters, such structures can be used to advantage where design-for-testability is needed. >
A point explosion in a cold exponential atmosphere

The problem considered is that of a strong shock propagating from a point energy source into a cold atmosphere whose density varies exponentially with altitude. An explicit analytic solution is obtained by taking the flow field as ‘locally radial’ and using an integral method with an energy constraint. A scaling law is given which eliminates the parametric dependence of the solution on the explosion energy, scale height, and atmospheric density at the point of the explosion. The scaling law also transforms the infinity of solutions for various polar angles into two distinct solutions which show that all motions of the ascending portion of the shock may be scaled from the vertically upward behaviour and all motions of the descending portion of the shock may be scaled from the vertically downward behaviour. The limit in the lateral direction of both of the fundamental solutions corresponds to the case of the uniform density atmosphere. The results for the uniform density atmosphere show remarkable agreement with the exact Taylor—Sedov results. Comparison with finite difference calculations of Troutman & Davis for the vertically upward and downward directions shows excellent agreement with respect to the prediction of shock propagation velocity, position, and the flow variables behind the shock. A scaling law for the time, shock velocity, and pressure for different values of the adiabatic exponent γ is proposed which correlates the results of the present analysis for different values of γ over the entire range of shock positions where the analysis applies. The solution shows that, contrary to the result obtained by Kompaneets, there is no theoretical limit as to how far downward a strong shock may propagate. The far field behaviour of the shock wave in the upward and downward directions is found to be of the same form as the self-similar asymptotic solutions obtained by Raizer for a plane shock. It is shown by relaxing the energy constraint in the vertically downward direction that the asymptotic result obtained agrees closely with that obtained by Raizer. The energy constraint, however, is the appropriate one for all but the far field behaviour. The far field limit of the present solution in the upward direction is found to compare favourably with the approximate asymptotic calculations of Hayes for an ascending curved shock. The empirical concept of ‘modified Sachs scaling’ for calculating the overpressure is considered and shown within this model to have a justification in the downward direction but a limited range of applicability in the upward direction.
Theory of direct-detection lightwave receivers using optical amplifiers

A simple theory is presented for analyzing the sensitivity and bit-error rate (BER) performance of direct-detection lightwave receivers using optical amplifiers. The analysis provides closed-form expressions for the BER and receiver sensitivity, and includes the impact of phase noise. Furthermore, the proposed theory predicts the optimum filter bandwidth values required for linewidths of practical interest (up to 100% of the bit rate). For the special case of zero linewidth, the average signal energy predicted by this work is 42.3 photons/b at BER=10/sup -9/. This result is within 0.47 dB of the sensitivity predicted by more accurate techniques. >
Advective mixing in a nondivergent barotropic hurricane model

This paper studies Lagrangian mixing in a two- dimensional barotropic model for hurricane-like vortices. Since such flows show high shearing in the radial direction, particle separation across shear-lines is diagnosed through a Lagrangian field, referred to as R-field, that measures trajec- tory separation orthogonal to the Lagrangian velocity. The shear-lines are identified with the level-contours of another Lagrangian field, referred to as S-field, that measures the average shear-strength along a trajectory. Other fields used for model diagnostics are the Lagrangian field of finite-time Lyapunov exponents (FTLE-field), the Eulerian Q-field, and the angular velocity field. Because of the high shearing, the FTLE-field is not a suitable indicator for advective mixing, and in particular does not exhibit ridges marking the location of finite-time stable and unstable manifolds. The FTLE-field is similar in structure to the radial derivative of the angu- lar velocity. In contrast, persisting ridges and valleys can be clearly recognized in the R-field, and their propagation speed indicates that transport across shear-lines is caused by Rossby waves. A radial mixing rate derived from the R- field gives a time-dependent measure of flux across the shear- lines. On the other hand, a measured mixing rate across the shear-lines, which counts trajectory crossings, confirms the results from the R-field mixing rate, and shows high mixing in the eyewall region after the formation of a polygonal eye- wall, which continues until the vortex breaks down. The lo- cation of the R-field ridges elucidates the role of radial mix- ing for the interaction and breakdown of the mesovortices shown by the model.
Spatial Distribution of Phyllophaga implicita (Horn) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Larvae in Relation to Distance from the Adult Food Source

The spatial distribution of the Phyllophaga implicita (Horn) larval population in relation to the distance from the adult food source was investigated. Commercial soybean fields with 1 of 4 different shelterbelt arrangements were sampled in the fall of 1993, 1994, and 1995 to assess P. implicita distribution and density. Larvae were found only in fields with bordering shelterbelts. Ninety percent or more of the specimens were collected within 55 m of the shelterbelts. Exponential models indicated a significant relationship between larval density and distance from the shelterbelts, with densities declining as distance increased. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess models for predicting the probability of finding larval infestations. A positive association between the probability of finding larvae (pX) and the distance from the shelterbelt was found. With P. implicita having a 3-yr life cycle, the 1993 season was the flight year for the largest of the 3 broods. Sampling guidelines based on higher densities of larvae nearer the shelterbelts are discussed.