cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Limited effects of suburbanization on the genetic structure of an abundant vernal pool-breeding amphibian

Habitat fragmentation and degradation associated with suburbanization can have negative consequences on population persistence through the reduction of dispersal and concomitant gene flow. Using eight polymorphic microsatellite loci, we assessed the effects of forest fragmentation, water quality and hydroperiod on the genetic structure of a vernal pool-breeding amphibian, the wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus), across 20 ponds in an unfragmented, forested landscape and 45 ponds in a landscape fragmented by moderate suburban development. Analyses were performed at the broad scale of the study area and at a fine scale, with spatially independent clusters of ponds selected within each landscape. Bayesian clustering approaches and AMOVA identified little population structure at the scale of the study area. At the fine scale, genetic structure was correlated with geographic distance and the presence of roads in two of the three fragmented clusters. Spatial autocorrelation analyses detected positive spatial genetic structure and restricted dispersal in one of the clusters in the fragmented landscape. We identified barriers associated with roads and suburban development in the fragmented landscape and with large bodies of water and elevation in the unfragmented landscape. Lastly, we found no biologically meaningful effects of water quality or hydroperiod on genetic variation. The results of this study indicate that wood frog populations are well connected, with high gene flow, across the landscape of southeastern New Hampshire, and that fragmenting features of suburbanization to date have a small but detectable impact on fine-scale genetic structure. The potential exists for greater impacts with higher levels of development or longer time scales. Our findings also highlight the importance of replication in landscape genetic studies, as the genetic response we detected varied with a gradient of fragmentation.
Inferring Greenland melt and refreeze severity from SeaWinds scatterometer data

Two SeaWinds radar scatterometers operated in tandem for 9 months in 2003, enabling resolution of the diurnal cycle in Greenland. This dataset provides unprecedented temporal resolution for Ku-band scattering observations of snow and ice melt conditions. As a step towards improved radar-based melt intensity estimation, a simple Markov melt–thaw model is developed to estimate melt and refreeze indices. The melt indices model is evaluated with the aid of a simple geophysical–electromagnetic model and validated by comparing tandem SeaWinds observations against automated weather station data. The new approach is used to analyse the melt conditions over the Greenland ice-sheet in 2003. The strengths and limitations of the approach are considered.
EYE MOVEMENT AMPLITUDES IN IMAGINED PURSUIT OF A PENDULUM WITH EYES CLOSED

Prior claims that subjects imagining an oscillating pendulum with eyes closed can produce eye movements corresponding to those found when the subject's eyes are actually pursuing the moving pendulum are refuted by showing that the apparently smooth movements under imagination are not truly sinusoidal, and tend greatly to exceed the amplitude of the pendulum's excursion.
Calibration of Traffic Flow Models Under Adverse Weather and Application in Mesoscopic Network Simulation

The weather-sensitive traffic estimation and prediction system (TrEPS) aims for accurate estimation and prediction of the traffic states under inclement weather conditions. Successful application of weather-sensitive TrEPS requires detailed calibration of weather effects on the traffic flow model. In this study, systematic procedures for the entire calibration process were developed, from data collection through model parameter estimation to model validation. After the development of the procedures, a dual-regime modified Greenshields model and weather adjustment factors were calibrated for four metropolitan areas across the United States (Irvine, California; Chicago, Illinois; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Baltimore, Maryland) by using freeway loop detector traffic data and weather data from automated surface-observing systems stations. Observations showed that visibility and precipitation (rain-snow) intensity have significant impacts on the value of some parameters of the traffic flow models, such as free-...
Construction of a finite energy momentum tensor

Abstract A non-perturbative approach, postulating the existence of a family of Zimmermann normal products, certain linear relations among field operators, and the Wilson short distance expansion, is used to construct a finite energy momentum tensor. The dependence of the tensor on the field operators is made explicit by a suitable limit procedure. The calculations are performed in a scalar A 4 model as an example. The results obtained are generalizations of the perturbation theory treatment of products of operators.
The Vertical Scale of an Unstable Baroclinic Wave and Its Importance for Eddy Heat Flux Parameterizations

Abstract Linear, quasi-geostrophic waves destabilized by a surface temperature gradient produce eddy potential vorticity fluxes which characteristically extend above the surface to a height where the vertical shear ∂u¯/∂z, static stability N2 and potential vorticity gradient ∂q/∂y of the zonal flow are evaluated at the surface. Utilizing this result and a simple scaling analysis, we argue that the time averaged, vertically integrated, poleward eddy heat flux is proportional to the fifth power of the meridional temperature gradient when h0 is much less than the scale height of the atmosphere.
Dimethyl Sulfide Production from Dimethylsulfoniopropionate in Coastal Seawater Samples and Bacterial Cultures

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) was produced immediately after the addition of 0.1 to 2 μM β-dimethylsulfonio-propionate (DMSP) to coastal seawater samples. Azide had little effect on the initial rate of DMS production from 0.5 μM added DMSP, but decreased the rate of production after 6 h. Filtration of water samples through membrane filters (pore size, 0.2 μm) greatly reduced DMS production for approximately 10 h, after which time DMS production resumed at a high rate. Autoclaving completely eliminated the production of DMS. The antibiotics chloramphenicol, tetracycline, kanamycin, and vancomycin all had little effect on the accumulation of DMS over the first few hours of incubation, but produced significant inhibition thereafter. The effects of individual antibiotics were additive. Chloroform over a range of concentrations (0.25 to 1.25 mM) had no effects on DMS production. Similarly, organic amendments, including acrylate, glucose, protein, and starch, did not affect DMS accumulation from DMSP. Acrylate, a product of the enzymatic cleavage of DMSP, was metabolized in seawater samples, and two strains of bacteria were isolated with this compound as the growth substrate. These bacteria produced DMS from DMSP. The sensitivity to inhibitors with respect to growth and DMSP-lyase activity varied from strain to strain. These results illustrate the significant potential for microbial conversion of dissolved DMSP to DMS in coastal seawater.
A method for LEFM analysis of RPV during SBLOCA

Abstract A somewhat simplified two-dimensional linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) model of the beltline of a reactor pressure vessel is presented. The fracture mechanics model used tends to be conservative in the sense that it ignores possible beneficial effects of warm prestressing and cladding. For LEFM studies that require a large number of analyses on the same geometry but with different loads and material toughnesses, the superposition principle is an accurate and simple method to determine the stress intensity factor K 1 , provided that K 1 due to a unit load (called K∗ in this paper), acting on an arbitrary point on the crack surface is known. The details of the superposition principle and the procedure used for determining K∗ have been presented. Once these K∗ are determined for a specific geometry, then the determination of K 1 for the same geometry can be made accurately and in a manner that permits parametric studies involving thousands of individual analyses. It is believed that the error in the K 1 values so determined is less than 3·5%. An example of the use of the simplified model for a parametric analysis is also presented.
A time-dependent numerical model of the insulated-gate field-effect transistor

Abstract A new method is described for computing the flow of mobile carriers in a semiconductor device, in two space dimensions plus time. In this method, each variable is updated separately, and in each step only linear systems of equations are solved. The method is stable, independently of the time step. Various current components are resolved by stream functions, and current balance is maintained. A sample computation is included, involving the switching off of an n-channel IGFET.
Statistical distribution of age readings of known-age sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)

Abstract A mark-recapture experiment provided a collection of 172 known-age sablefish from Alaska waters. Otoliths from each fish were read by three readers. The readings have a positive bias among young fish and a negative bias among older fish. Among otoliths of the same age, some tended to give consistently high or low annulus counts, so that the variance of age readings at each true age was about half due to variance among otoliths and half due to variance among replicate readings of individual otoliths. The statistical distribution of age reading errors is well described by an asymmetrical two-sided geometric distribution with age-varying parameters. For comparison, the error distribution was estimated with naive methods that do not use the known ages and that assume the readings are unbiased. These estimated distributions do not match the actual error distributions very well, but they do a surprisingly good job of predicting the distribution of age readings from a stock assessment model's internal estimate of a true age composition. They also produce estimates of recruitment and biomass close to those obtained with the actual error distributions when used in the present sablefish stock assessment.
Negative Refraction In Bulk Anisotropic Metamaterials At Visible Frequency

Bulk metamaterials consisting of silver wire arrays in alumina matrix was fabricated. Electro-magnetic (EM) waves propagating along the nanowires exhibit relatively low-loss negative refraction, at a broad band of frequency for all angles. Experimental results at 660nm and 780nm were shown with incident angle from −30 to 30 degree.
A Subclass of bHLH Proteins Required for Cardiac Morphogenesis

Skeletal muscle development is controlled by a family of muscle-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors. Two bHLH genes, dHAND and eHAND, have now been isolated that are expressed in the bilateral heart primordia and subsequently throughout the primitive tubular heart and its derivatives during chick and mouse embryogenesis. Incubation of stage 8 chick embryos with dHAND and eHAND antisense oligonucleotides revealed that either oligonucleotide alone had no effect on embryonic development, whereas together they arrested development at the looping heart tube stage. Thus, dHAND and eHAND may play redundant roles in the regulation of the morphogenetic events of vertebrate heart development.
Structural equation modeling in marketing: Some practical reminders

The authors review issues related to the application of structural equation modeling (SEM) in marketing. The discussion begins by considering issues related to the process of applying SEM in empirical research, including model specification, identification, estimation, evaluation, and respecification, and reporting of results. In addition to these process issues, a number of other issues, such as formulation of multiple theoretical models, model error versus sampling error, and relating study objectives to the capabilities of SEM, are considered, and suggestions offered regarding ways that SEM applications might be improved.
Impact of balloon atrial septostomy in neonates with transposition of great arteries

To examine the impact of balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) on cardio-respiratory status, need for prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and postoperative outcomes in infants with transposition of great arteries (TGA). Single-center retrospective review of consecutive neonates with dTGA. BAS was performed in 42 (70%) infants and resulted in a significant increase in minimum (61 to 76%) and maximum (80 to 90%) oxygen (O2) saturations and a drop in FiO2. BAS was ‘successful,’ that is, PGE1 was discontinued in 16 (38%) infants. Three infants died; four infants developed strokes, all of whom had undergone BAS. The duration of hospitalization, ventilation and O2 need did not differ between infants without BAS, ‘successful’ BAS and unsuccessful BAS. PGE1 duration correlated with duration of hospitalization, ventilation, O2 need and peak respiratory severity score (P<0.03). We speculate that limiting BAS for clinical hypoxemia and aggressive weaning of PGE1 following BAS would improve outcomes.
Zinc alters the kinetics of IGF-II binding to cell surface receptors and binding proteins.

The growth of most tissues is markedly depressed as a result of zinc deficiency by uncharacterized mechanisms that clearly involve the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system. Herein, we describe the mechanism by which zinc (Zn2+) maintains IGF-II in an active form by directly regulating IGF-II binding to IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) and the type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R). The specificity of Zn2+ effects was confirmed by using other cations that can (Cd2+ and Au3+) or cannot (La3+) mimic Zn2+ actions. Human fibroblasts, glioblastoma cells, and murine myoblasts were used to determine the kinetics of IGF-II binding to cell surface IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5, and the IGF-1R, respectively. Zn2+, Cd2+, and Au3+, but not La3+, decreased total binding and the affinity for [125I]IGF-II association with IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5. These effects were a result of lowered rate of ligand association without affecting rate of dissociation. In contrast, Zn2+ enhanced [125I]IGF-II binding to the IGF-1R by enhancing the rate of ligand association and decreasing the rate of dissociation. Our previous work had shown that Zn2+ acts at physiological levels to alter IGF binding. Together with the current work, these findings imply that Zn2+ acts in vivo to prevent secreted IGF-II from binding to IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5, thus maintaining IGF-II in an “active state,” i.e., readily available for IGF-1R association.
Ageing of Neurospora crassa. VIII. Lethality and mutagenicity of ferrous ions, ascorbic acid, and malondialdehyde.

Abstract Ferrous ions were highly lethal and mutagenic to germinated conidia of Neurospora crassa. At comparable survival, treatment with 0.2 mM ferrous ions was 14- and 50-fold more mutagenic than ultra-violet irradiation or X-rays, respectively, in the reversion of an inositol auxotroph. Ascorbic acid alone (2 mM) was not reproducibly lethal and inhibited both the lethality and mutagenicity of ferrous ions. Bovine superoxide dismutase (SOD) completely inhibited the residual lethality of ferrous ascorbate. Protection by ascorbic acid and SOD indicates that superoxide radicals, generated by oxidation of Fe(II), are directly or indirectly mutagenic and lethal. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was lethal and appeared to be mutagenic; however, its action is probably different from that of superoxide. Therefore, superoxide-mediated production of endogenous MDA by way of peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids is probably not an alternate mutagenic pathway, at least in the reversion of the allele of the in1 locus examined. These results and the demonstration of superoxide-mediated decrease in the synthetic fidelity of DNA polymerase in vitro (Rana and Munkres, in preparation) warrant additional exploration of the hypothesis that endogenous cellular free radicals, generated by pre- and post-senescent metabolism, may enter into lethal and mutagenic reactions.
Biochemical and biophysical properties of two strains of mosquito iridescent virus

Abstract Properties of “R” and “T” strains of mosquito iridescent virus (MIV) were investigated. Several differing biophysical properties of the two strains were observed due to size differences. The electrophoretic mobility curves of the two strains were somewhat different although the isoelectric points of pH 3.15 and pH 3.30 for RMIV and TMIV, respectively, were similar. The two strains appeared to be antigenically identical but the per cent protein, DNA, and lipid of the two were dissimilar. Other than size variation, no morphological differences between RMIV and TMIV could be detected.
Angiocidin promotes pro-inflammatory cytokine production and antigen presentation in multiple sclerosis

Angiocidin was originally identified as a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo. In addition to its involvement in the regulation of carcinogenesis, recent studies indicate that angiocidin may also play a significant role in immune system modulation. This report describes the expression and potential function of angiocidin in multiple sclerosis (MS), a severe demyelinating, inflammatory and autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). We demonstrated that angiocidin and interleukin-7 (IL-7) are over-expressed in brain lesions of MS patients. Angiocidin-treated monocytes, peripheral blood T cells and primary astrocytes secreted various cytokines and chemokines including, IL-6, IL-7, GM-CSF, and MCP-1. Addition of recombinant angiocidin to cell cultures was able to promote differentiation of monocytes into a macrophage-like cell, induce MHC class I and class II gene expression and activate CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Consistent with these findings, angiocidin induced mononuclear phagocyte migration and adhesion as well as increased the IL-2 response by antigen-specific T cells to myelin basic protein peptide presented to them by autologous mononuclear phagocytes. Furthermore, we examined STAT3 expression in angiocidin stimulated mononuclear phagocytes, T cells, and primary astrocytes. We found that angiocidin markedly stimulates STAT3 expression in these cell populations. Angiocidin, therefore appears to play a previously unappreciated and potentially important role in the regulation of immune response during the clinical course of MS.
A New Complication Related to Laser Bronchoscopy in a Single Lung Transplant Recipient

We report a nearly complete obstruction of the left mainstem bronchus by a fibrinomyxoid plaque about 12 h after laser resection of scar/granulation tissue at a left bronchial anastomosis 27 days after a left single lung transplant. The formation of this plaque was associated with respiratory failure. The plaque was removed by grasping the plaque with biopsy forceps inserted through a fiberoptic bronchoscopy that was placed into the left mainstem bronchus via an endotracheal tube while the patient was receiving manual ventilation under general anesthesia. The respiratory failure resolved with removal of the plaque. To our knowledge, this is a complication that has not been reported previously.
Growth of mm-thick orientation-patterned GaAs for IR and THZ generation

Abstract Low-pressure hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) is being used for the regrowth of thick GaAs on orientation-patterned templates for nonlinear optical frequency conversion. We have achieved epitaxial growth rates of 200 μm/h and produced millimeter-thick films in 10-h-long growth runs. A critical problem in the HVPE regrowth of orientation-patterned GaAs is the preservation of the original patterned structure—during thick growth, the domain walls often bend and annihilate. Measurements indicated that the domain wall bending decreased as the growth temperature was reduced. The substrate miscut and the orientation of unpatterned regions also affect the vertical propagation of domain walls. In this paper we discuss the process improvements which have facilitated the production of millimeter-thick layers with nearly vertical domain walls.
Acute multiple trauma: Analysis of the spectrum of radiologic workup and time requirement

As part of a prospective study of 140 patients who had sustained multiple trauma and were treated in the emergency department, we recorded the times needed for conventional radiography, sonography, and/or computed tomography (CT) for each patient, including the diagnostic-free intervals comprising the times for transporting and moving the patient and for waiting. Conventional radiography (on average, 8.5 radiographic films per patient) was performed in 98.6% of the patients, sonography in 78.6%, and CT in 67.8%. The average duration was 20.3 minutes (range, 1–80 minutes) for conventional radiography, 6.5 minutes (range, 2–15 minutes) for sonography, and 16.9 minutes (range, 12–135 minutes) for CT. The average cumulative total time consumed for diagnostic imaging in the emergency department was 78.4 minutes for all modalities (including CT) and 49.1 minutes for conventional radiography and sonography (excluding CT). The cumulative diagnostic-free time (i.e., time passing without actual performance of the imaging procedure) for all imaging modalities (including CT) was 31.9 minutes and for conventional radiography and sonography (without CT) 19.2 minutes of the total time. The average time for transporting the patient to and from the CT scanner and for positioning the patient for the CT examination was 14.5 minutes. When CT is added to the workup in the emergency department, transportation and waiting considerably prolong the time needed for diagnostic imaging.
METHYL TESTOSTERONE I., ANDROGENIC EFFECTS AND THE PRODUCTION OF GYNECOMASTIA AND OLIGOSPERMIA

NINETEEN MEN have been treated with oral methyl testosterone for periods ranging from two weeks to ten months. Of these, 11 have been treated for 4 months or more and 6 for 2 months or less. There were 11 cases of testicular deficiency : 9 of eunuchoidism, 1 of infantilism and 1 of a suprasellar cyst. In addition, there were 7 cases of functional impotence, 1 of which had associated severe Grave's disease. The remaining case was of pseudohermaphrodism. Androgen assays were normal in all of the 7 cases treated only for impotence. There was no clinical evidence of endocrine disorder in any of these except in the one with hyperthyroidism. In none was the impotence improved by treatment. The dose of methyl testosterone (1) has varied from 25 to 300 mg. per day in 25 mg. tablets.
Universal emergency access under managed care: universal doubt or mission impossible?

Appropriate concerns about cost and unequal access to healthcare have resulted in the creation of powerful managed networks seeking to share the risks of high healthcare costs among plans, providers, and patients. Much to their credit, these managed networks have slowed the rise in healthcare spending by as much as 44% in markets with high HMO penetration. However, whether these savings will materially improve access and quality remains to be seen.
Inflation and Contact Predictions of Composite Tire Shell Carcass

A passenger car tire is analyzed by treating it as a laminated, anisotropic thin shell that deforms according to the classical Love hypothesis. The tire is modeled using a high-order, doubly curved, quadrilateral thin-shell finite element. The element employs variable-order polynomials for the definition of geometry of the structure and, thus, provides an accurate modeling of the initial profile of the tire, which significantly affects the response of the tire. The material properties of the cord-rubber system forming the tire carcass are assumed as piecewise homogeneous and are obtained by employing the fundamentals of composite material theory. The effect of geometric nonlinearity is included in the formulation to account for stiffening or weakening of the carcass due to deformation. A detailed investigation of deformation and stresses in the tire due to inflation is first made using a load increment algorithm. The inflated tire is next brought into static contact against a rigid surface in a displacement increment procedure to study 1) the displaced profile of the tire in contact, 2) the redistribution of resultant forces and moments in the tire due to contact, 3) the force required to bring the tire in contact, and 4) the footprint of the tire. The developments discussed in this paper may be applied to the study of deformation mechanics in aircraft tires.
Curriculum on design automation at the University of Southern California

During the 1969--70 academic year we introduced a course here at USC dealing with the use of computers in the design of digital system. This was probably the first such course of its kind instituted on a regular basis in the United States. The idea for such a course came from my colleagues in the special interests group on Design Automation of the IEEE Computer Group. Their primary goal for such a course was to instill the basic concepts of computer aided design into our new graduates. This paper reviews the major aspects related to this course on computer design. Hopefully, other schools will be motivated to develop similar courses. It is interesting to note that in a recent issue of Spectrum [5], W. R. Beam states that"... every digital designer needs to know something about design automation, even if he's only going to build a single system." For this reason, a book on design automation [1] is one of his eleven essential books for the digital designer's reference and study library.
Relation of Perceptual and Body Image Dysfunction to Activities of Daily Living of Persons After Stroke

Perceptual and body image disturbances are common sequelae in persons who have had stroke. There is much evidence to substantiate a relationship between impaired perceptual functioning and impaired functioning in activities of daily living (ADL). In regard to body image dysfunction, the linking of unilateral neglect and poor ADL functioning has been widely examined; however, the relationship of other body image disturbances, such as somatoagnosia, to ADL has received little examination. Research on the above relationships are reviewed in this article. The Behavioral Inattention Test and Arnadottir OT-ADL Neurobehavioral Evaluation are discussed as two assessments that determine perceptual and body image dysfunction through ADL. The literature on intervention for perceptual and body image dysfunction in relation to ADL primarily concerns the difference between the restorative and functional retraining approaches and treatment suggestions. Because specific gaps are noted in this area of study, future research ideas are suggested. Language: en
Simulation and Experiment of Fourier Transform Digital Holographic Adaptive Optics

Fourier transform digital holographic adaptive optics imaging system is described. The results from the simulation and experiment are reported that demonstrate the feasibility of this adaptive optics system.
A quasi-optical receiver with angle diversity

A quasi-optical receiver front end consisting of a 10-GHz lens amplifier antenna array and three self-oscillating grid mixers is presented. The lens amplifies incoming plane waves incident from different directions and focuses them to three points where the mixers are placed. Because of the angle-preserving nature of the amplifier, the mixers generate independent IF signals from three incident directions. The resulting angle diversity is useful for reducing multipath fading in communications.
A 5-Year Analysis of Four Selected Special Education Periodicals

The special education periodical literature was examined, drawing from 4 major journals over a 5-year period. The procedure required a team of 4 reviewers to classify each article in the 4 periodicals from 1972 to 1977 according to the variables of process, content, category, audience, and exceptionality. The clearest distinction among journals can be made in the area of exceptionality. Generally, the American Journal of Mental Deficiency is devoted to a broad disciplinary spectrum promoting communication among scientists-researchers in mental retardation. The Journal of Special Education is written to the academic special educator, providing a forum for professional and philosophical issues. Exceptional Children tends to address a diverse audience and describes a potpourri of current issues and limited research. It focuses on descriptions of service-delivery systems and social/political factors that influence special education. The Journal of Learning Disabilities reports on a wide range of content and p...
Pseudohypertension Secondary to Aortic Valve Prosthesis

A 57-year-old woman was suspected of having systemic hypertension two years after replacement of her aortic valve with a Starr-Edwards prosthesis. The opening and closing sounds of the prosthesis were audible in the antecubital fossa with the blood pressure cuff inflated to 300 mm Hg. Further physical examination and phonocardiography clarified the origin of the sounds leading to the correct diagnosis of pseudohypertension secondary to aortic valve prosthesis. This adds one more cause to the list of possible errors in measuring blood pressure by auscultation.
Agile Integration Modeling Language (AIML): A conceptual modeling grammar for agile integrative business information systems

The proliferation of newer agile integrative business information systems (IBIS) environments that use the software agent and the multiagent systems paradigms has created the need for a common and well-accepted conceptual modeling grammar that can be used to efficiently, precisely, and unambiguously, model agile IBIS systems at the conceptual level. In this paper, we propose a conceptual modeling grammar termed Agile Integration Modeling Language (AIML) based on established ontological foundation for the multiagent-based integrative business information systems (MIBIS) universe. The AIML grammar provides adequate and precise constructs and semantics for modeling agile integration among participating work systems in terms of quickly building and dismantling dynamic collaboration relationships among them to respond to fast-changing market needs. The AIML grammar is defined as a formal model using Extended BNF and first order logic, and is elaborated using a running example in the paper. The grammar is also evaluated in terms of its syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic qualities and is found to exhibit a high degree of quality on all these three dimensions. In particular, the pragmatic quality of AIML measured in terms of grammar complexity evaluated using complexity metrics indicates that AIML is much easier to learn and use as compared to the Unified Modeling Language (UML) for modeling agile integration of work systems in organizations.
Mechanics and Quasi-Static Manipulation of Planar Elastic Kinematic Chains

In this paper, we study quasi-static manipulation of a planar kinematic chain with a fixed base in which each joint is a linearly elastic torsional spring. The shape of this chain when in static equilibrium can be represented as the solution to a discrete-time optimal control problem, with boundary conditions that vary with the position and orientation of the last link. We prove that the set of all solutions to this problem is a smooth three-manifold that can be parameterized by a single chart. Empirical results in simulation show that straight-line paths in this chart are uniformly more likely to be feasible (as a function of distance) than straight-line paths in the space of boundary conditions. These results, which are consistent with an analysis of visibility properties, suggest that the chart we derive is a better choice of space in which to apply a sampling-based algorithm for manipulation planning. We describe such an algorithm and show that it is easy to implement.
The case for methodological pluralism

Abstract Ecology and economics share the same Greek root. Both address complex systems. Ecology consists of numerous approaches to understanding natural systems: energetics, population biology, food-web models, hierarchy theory to mention just a few. Within ecology, field knowledge and the reporting of new observations are well respected. Economics, on the other hand, is dominated by one pattern of thinking and standard of “proof”, the market model and econometrics. Within economics, field knowledge and observations per se are little valued. Agreement on a correct method is frequently taken as an indication of the maturity of a science. The argument is developed in this paper that all the aspects of complex systems can only be understood through multiple methodologies. The agreement on method within economics, however, seems to reflect stronger pressures within the discipline for conformity than for truth relative to ecology. Since ecological economics seeks to understand a larger system than either economics or ecology seeks to understand, a diversity of methodologies is appropriate and pressures to eliminate methodologies for the sake of conformity should be avoided.
Regional Cerebral Metabolism in Female Alcoholics of Moderate Severity Does Not Differ From That of Controls

It is generally believed that women are more vulnerable to alcohol's toxic effects than men. Studies in male alcoholics have consistently shown reductions in brain glucose metabolism. However, such studies have not been done in female alcoholics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if similar or worse brain metabolic abnormalities occurred in female alcoholics. For this purpose, we measured regional brain metabolism with positron emission tomography and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose in 10 recently detoxified female alcoholics and compared it with that in 12 age-matched female controls. There were no differences between alcoholics and control females in regional brain glucose metabolism whether we used regions of interest analysis or statistical parameter maps methods. These results do not support a higher toxicity for the effects of alcohol in the female brain, as assessed with regional brain glucose metabolism, because metabolic values in female alcoholics did not differ from those of controls, whereas metabolic values in male alcoholics are generally lower than those in controls. However, this study is confounded by the fact that the severity of alcohol use in these female alcoholics was less than that of the male alcoholics previously investigated in positron emission tomography studies. Future studies in male subjects with alcoholism of moderate severity are required to address gender differences in sensitivity to alcohol effects in brain metabolism.
Forecasting Performance of Corn and Soybean Harvest Futures Contracts

In contrast to earlier periods, post 1973 spring prices of December corn and November soybean futures contracts have not been good forecasts of harvest price. Regression analysis of price forecast variance before and after 1973 indicates that the decline in forecasting accuracy is related to increased yield forecast errors and to reduced interference of government loan rates on market price determination. Since these futures are poor forecasts, producers should not rely on futures prices alone to allocate resources at planting time unless they simultaneously forward price.
Measurements of the electron density and collision frequency of a one atmosphere uniform glow discharge plasma (OAUGDP/spl trade/) generated in a parallel plate reactor

Summary form only given, as follows. The One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP/spl trade/) is capable of operating at one atmosphere in air and other gases. The applications of OAUGDP/spl trade/ include surface sterilization and decontamination, plasma etching at one atmosphere, and aerodynamic flow control. The OAUGDP/spl trade/ can be produced in a wide range of geometrical configurations, ranging from slab plasma between parallel plates to surface plasma that can cover a flat or curved surface. We introduce a new and simple diagnostic technique to measure the electron number density and the collision frequency of the OAUGDP/spl trade/ in a quantitative and non-perturbing way. The key idea is using a microwave network analyzer to simultaneously measure the attenuation and the phase shift of a microwave signal when the signal propagates through the plasma.
A New Magnetic Flux Meter

THE MEASUREMENT of magnetic fields in air gaps by the existing methods, is almost as cumbersome as light measurements were before the introduction of the photronic cell or photoelectric tube into that field. This paper describes a meter for the measurement of magnetic flux which seems to parallel the advance made in the lighting field.
Infected viabahn stent graft in the superficial femoral artery

We present a case of an infected stent graft in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). A 67-year-old woman underwent excision of an infected Viabahn stent graft. At exploration there was no apparent artery around the majority of the stent graft, suggesting that the SFA had been autolysed. Infected stents and stent grafts are rare in the SFA position. The risk of infection is likely minimised with standard treatments including drainage of infection prior to stent graft placement and periprocedural antibiotic administration. Successful management will, in most cases, require excision of the stent graft and adjunctive arterial reconstruction, as necessary.
Increase in Endocervical CD4 Lymphocytes among Women with Nonulcerative Sexually Transmitted Diseases

To assess associations of nonulcerative sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ‐ susceptible leukocytes on female genital mucosa, cervicovaginal specimens from 32 HIV-negative STD clinic patients with gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, or trichomoniasis were compared with specimens from 32 clinic patients without these infections. Twenty-eight patients had single infections (15 gonorrhea, 10 chlamydial infection, 3 trichomoniasis), and 4 had dual infections. A saline vaginal wash and saline suspensions of vaginal wall scrapings, ectocervical scrapings, and endocervical brushings were analyzed by flow cytometry. Specimens from the endocervix had the highest proportions of lymphocytes, monocytes, and Langerhans’ cells. The median number of endocervical CD4 lymphocytes/10,000 cells was greater among patients with STDs than among those without (476 vs. 245; P o .001). These data suggest that the endocervix may have a particularly important role in heterosexual HIV transmission and that nonulcerative STDs may facilitate HIV transmission by increasing the presence of CD4 lymphocytes at this site.
Comment on "Search, Money, and Capital: A Neoclassical Dichotomy" by S. Borag ùan Aruoba and Randall Wright

Before giving my general comments on the paper, I think that it would be useful to describe the evolution of monetary search models for those who have not followed recent developments in the literature. In this way, one has a better sense of the contribution made by Aruoba and Wright (2003, this issue of JMCB). Most people are familiar with the basic monetary search model developed by Kiyotaki and Wright (1989, 1993), and for many this may be the extent of their knowledge of money search models. In this first generation of models, goods and money are indivisible and agents can only hold one unit of goods or money. The key contribution of the models was to carefully describe the decentralized trading environment that gives rise to a double coincidence of wants problem and to endogenize the decision to accept money as payment for goods and services. In all search models, assumptions regarding anonymity of trading histories and imperfect record keeping mean that credit is not feasible, thus money is "essential" for trade, i.e., better allocations can be achieved through the use of money than without it. While analyzing the decision to accept money as a medium of exchange does not hinge on indivisibilities or inventory restrictions, other questions such as how
Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for kelp bass, Paralabax clathratus, amplified in three multiplex polymerase chain reaction sets

Kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, is an important sport fishery of California, USA and Baja, Mexico. Here we describe eight microsatellite loci developed for this species. Two loci were derived from known primers for other species in the family, Serranidae and six were developed anew using a clone enrichment protocol. Loci were arranged into three multiplex PCR (polymerase chain reaction) sets for fast throughput; 564 individuals from nine populations across the species’ range were genotyped. Polymorphism ranged from four to 47 alleles and all populations at all loci displayed Hardy–Weinberg and linkage equilibrium.
Rapid Emergence of Protease Inhibitor Resistance in Hepatitis C Virus

About 170 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The current standard therapy leads to sustained viral elimination in only approximately 50% of the treated patients. Telaprevir, an HCV protease inhibitor, has substantial antiviral activity in patients with chronic HCV infection. However, in clinical trials, drug-resistant variants emerge at frequencies of 5 to 20% of the total virus population as early as the second day after the beginning of treatment. Here, using probabilistic and viral dynamic models, we show that such rapid emergence of drug resistance is expected. We calculate that all possible single- and double-mutant viruses preexist before treatment and that one additional mutation is expected to arise during therapy. Examining data from a clinical trial of telaprevir therapy for HCV infection in detail, we show that our model fits the observed dynamics of both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant viruses and argue that therapy with only direct antivirals will require drug combinations that have a genetic barrier of four or more mutations.
An application of the Krylov-Bogoliubov method to linear time-varying systems†

Linear time-varying systems transient responses prediction, using Krylov-Bogoliubov method and parameter plane analysis
An Examination Of Faculty Beliefs Concerning P&T Decisions

According to Schuster and Finkelstein (2006) faculty workloads have been increasing dramatically. Besides the additional hours worked by faculty the composition of work has changed as well (Schultz et al., 1989). Studies on research, teaching and service components of promotion and tenure (P&T) decisions at colleges and universities have largely focused on the research and teaching aspects. Research and teaching are consistently given considerably more weight in the P&T decisions (Alshare et al., 2007 and Tripathy and Ganesh, 1996). The purpose of this study is to examine whether faculty believe the perceived weighting of service in P&T decisions is appropriate. A survey was sent to randomly selected business faculty. Participants were asked a series of questions related to the current perceived and desired levels of the significance of service in P&T decisions. The results indicate that in all P&T decisions service should be of greater importance than the current perceived level incorporated into those decisions. Additional analyses revealed that demographic factors appear to affect the significance of the desired level of importance of service.
Modeling size effects on the transformation behavior of shape memory alloy micropillars

The size dependence of the thermomechanical response of shape memory alloys (SMAs) at the micro and nano-scales has gained increasing attention in the engineering community due to existing and potential uses of SMAs as solid-state actuators and components for energy dissipation in small scale devices. Particularly, their recent uses in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have made SMAs attractive options as active materials in small scale devices. One factor limiting further application, however, is the inability to effectively and efficiently model the observed size dependence of the SMA behavior for engineering applications. Therefore, in this work, a constitutive model for the size-dependent behavior of SMAs is proposed. Experimental observations are used to motivate the extension of an existing thermomechanical constitutive model for SMAs to account for the scale effects. It is proposed that such effects can be captured via characteristic length dependent material parameters in a power-law manner. The size dependence of the transformation behavior of NiFeGa micropillars is investigated in detail and used as model prediction cases. The constitutive model is implemented in a finite element framework and used to simulate and predict the response of SMA micropillars with different sizes. The results show a good agreement with experimental data. A parametric study performed using the calibrated model shows that the influence of micropillar aspect ratio and taper angle on the compression response is significantly smaller than that of the micropillar average diameter. It is concluded that the model is able to capture the size dependent transformation response of the SMA micropillars. In addition, the simplicity of the calibration and implementation of the proposed model make it practical for the design and numerical analysis of small scale SMA components that exhibit size dependent responses.
Measuring negative emotionality using the infant behavior questionnaire-revised very short form in a low income, diverse sample

Infant temperament, particularly negative emotionality, is a frequently studied construct in infancy given its links with later child outcomes and family functioning. For example, heightened negative emotionality in infancy is associated with later problem behaviors in young children such as internalizing and externalizing symptoms (Rothbart & Bates, 2006). In addition, infant negative emotionality is associated with greater parenting stress, depression, and marital difficulties, and with less sensitive parental behavior particularly when other risks are present (Crockenberg & Leerkes, 2003). Therefore, it is important to adequately measure negative emotionality early in life. Negative emotionality has been described as a dimension of temperament that includes the frequency and intensity with which infants experience emotions such as sadness, frustration/anger, fear, and discomfort (Rothbart & Bates, 2006).
The effects of long-term administration of 3H-digoxin to the pregnant ewe upon the cardiovascular hemodynamics of the fetal lamb

Placental transfer of tritiated digoxin in the ewe and its effect upon the left ventricular output (LVO) of the exteriorized fetal lamb were studied. Seven ewes were given 6 μg per kilogram of body weight of tritiated digoxin daily (20 per cent of total digitalizing dose 0.03 μg per kilogram of body weight) during their entire pregnancies. The fetuses were exteriorized between 130 and 140 days of gestation, and the LVO was determined serially by the dye-dilution technique for one hour. The mean tissue concentrations in millimicrograms per gram for the ewes were: heart, 5.7 ± 1.76; liver, 3.38 ± 1.38; kidney, 01.9 ± 12.3. Corresponding values for the fetuses were: 1.55 ± 1.01, 0.78 ± 0.35, and 2.48 ± 1.18. The mean serum level for the ewe at the end of one hour was 1.65 ng. per milliliter ± 0.48, and that for the fetus was 1.22 ± 0.20. The amniotic fluid contained 1.45 ng. per milliliter ± 0.27. At the end of one hour, the mean LVO of the fetus had decreased by 39 ± 15 per cent of its control value. Although the fetal serum level of tritiated digoxin was similar to that found in the mother and the amniotic fluid contained a significant amount of tritiated digoxin, the fetal tissue concentration of tritiated digoxin was not sufficient to produce any demonstrable inotropic effect.