cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tables for the extreme roots of the wishart matrix

Abstract : Let (l sub 1) and (l sub p) be respectively the smallest and largest roots of the central pxp Wishart matrix with n degrees of freedom. In the report, the authors gave tables for the exact values of U for p = 2(1)10(2)20, alpha = 0.05, 0.025, 0.01, 0.005 and different values of n where P(U sup-1 < l sub 1 < l sub p < U) = (1-2 alpha). Also, exact lower 1%, 2.5%, 5%, 10% points of the distribution of (l sub p) are given for p = 2(1)10(2)20 and for different values of n.
A Thymine:Thymine Mismatch Enhances the Pluramycin Alkylation Site Downstream of the TBP−TATA Box Complex

The DNA groove interactions of the pluramycins determine the base-pair specificity to the 5‘-side of the covalently modified guanine. The DNA reactivity of these drugs at defined sites can be further increased by structural and dynamic DNA distortion induced by TATA binding protein (TBP) binding to the TATA box. This enhanced drug reactivity has led to the proposal that protein-induced DNA conformational dynamics might be responsible for the more selective biological consequences of the pluramycins. To identify the structural and/or dynamic determinants that account for the enhanced drug reactivity, DNA heteroduplexes that contain base mismatches were examined for enhanced alkylation by altromycin B. The results demonstrate that base mismatches located at the 5‘-side of the target guanine enhance drug reactivity. An analysis of the structural and dynamic properties of the base mismatches demonstrates that the pluramycin reactivities are not only determined by dynamic conformation of the base mismatch, whi...
A truncated Jacobi triple product theorem

Abstract Recently, G.E. Andrews and M. Merca considered a truncated version of Euler's pentagonal number theorem and obtained a nonnegativity result. They asked the same question on a truncated Jacobi triple product identity, which can be found as a conjecture in a paper of V.J.W. Guo and J. Zeng. In this paper, we provide an answer to the question, which is purely combinatorial. We also provide a combinatorial proof of the main theorem in the paper of Andrews and Merca.
Complex-coordinate calculation of D-(1,3) resonances in two-electron systems

Feshbach-type D-(1,3)resonances in two-electron systems, Z = 2-10, have been investigated using the method of complex rotation. These states lie below the n = 2 and 3 thresholds of hydrogenic systems. Wave functions containing up to 1230 Hylleraas functions have been used, giving accurate results for positions and widths. Comparisons between various calculations are given.
Effects of Functional Status Changes Before and During Hospitalization on Nursing Home Admission of Older Adults

Background Functional status changes before and during hospitalization may have important effects on outcomes in older adults, but these effects are not well understood. We determined the influence of functional status changes on the risk of nursing home (NH) admission after hospitalization. Methods Subjects were 551 general medical patients > or = 70 years old (66% female; mean age = 80 years) admitted from home to a large Midwestern teaching hospital. Functional status change measures were based on patients' need for assistance in five personal activities of daily living (ADL) 2 weeks prior to hospital admission, the day of admission, and the day of discharge. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were included in multivariate models predicting NH admission. Results Functional status change categories were: stable in function before and during hospitalization (45% of study patients); decline in function before and improvement during hospitalization (26%); stable before and decline during hospitalization (15%); decline before and no improvement during hospitalization (13%). In multivariate analyses, patients in the decline-no improvement group (odds ratio [OR] = 3.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.46-6.96) and patients in the stable-decline group (OR = 2.77; 95% CI = 1.29-5.96) were at greater risk for NH admission than patients in the stable-stable group. In a multivariate model that controlled for ADL function at hospital discharge, functional status change was no longer statistically significantly associated with NH admission. Conclusions Discharge function is a key risk factor for NH admission among hospitalized older adults. Because functional status changes before and during hospitalization are key determinants of discharge function, they provide important clues about the potential to modify that risk. Functional recovery during a hospital stay after prior functional decline, and prevention of in-hospital functional decline after prior functional stability, are important targets for clinical intervention to minimize the risk of NH admission.
Reactivity-based one-pot total synthesis of fucose GM1 oligosaccharide: a sialylated antigenic epitope of small-cell lung cancer.

The total synthesis of the sialic acid-containing antigenic epitope fucose GM1 (Fuc-GM1) by an improved reactivity-based one-pot synthetic strategy is reported. Based on a thioglycoside reactivity database, three saccharide building blocks, 3, 4, and 5, were designed and prepared to incorporate a descending order of reactivity toward thiophilic activation. Using the reactivity-based one-pot synthetic method, the fully protected Fuc-GM1 glycoside 2 was furnished in a facile manner, which was globally deprotected to give the Fuc-GM1 glycoside 1. In addition, using the promoter system 1-(benzensulfinyl)piperidine/trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, the product yield was improved and the reaction time was reduced in comparison with the N-iodosuccinimide/trifluoromethanesulfonic acid- and dimethyl (thiomethyl) sulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate-promoted systems.
Role of glucocorticoids in expression of the adrenergic phenotype in rat embryonic adrenal gland.

Abstract Differentiation of the noradrenergic and adrenergic phenotypes was documented in rat embryonic adrenal chromaffin cells in vivo from 12.5 days of gestation (E12.5) to term. The initial appearance of three enzymes in the catecholaminergic pathway, tyrosine hydroxylase (T-OH), dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH), and phenylethanolamine- N -methyltransferase (PNMT) as well as endogenous catecholamines (CA), was followed by immunohistochemistry and histofluorescence. T-OH and DBH, were employed as indices of noradrenergic expression, whereas PNMT, the epinephrine-synthesizing enzyme, was used as an index of adrenergic expression. At E12.5, T-OH, DBH, and CA were present in cells of the sympathetic ganglia at the level of the adrenal anlage. By 13.5 days, cells containing T-OH, DBH, and CA, were observed between the sympathetic ganglia and developing adrenal, and within the adrenal itself. While T-OH, DBH, and CA were present in adrenal medullary cells from the earliest stages of adrenal development, PNMT, in contrast, was undetectable in ganglion primordia, migrating cells, or within the adrenal before 17 days. PNMT initially appeared at E17 in small clusters of cells scattered throughout the adrenal. The number of cells containing PNMT and the intensity of staining increased dramatically from E17 to term. A number of experimental manipulations were employed in vivo to investigate the role of glucocorticoids in differentiation of the adrenergic phenotype. Chronic or acute treatment of mothers and/or embryos with various glucocorticoids, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), or S -adenosylmethionine (SAM) did not result in precocious appearance of PNMT. Moreover, the initial expression of PNMT was not prevented or delayed by embryonic hypophysectomy or by treatment with inhibitors of adrenocortical function. Consequently, the initial expression of PNMT on E17.0 is not dependent on normal glucocorticoid levels, cannot be induced prematurely by glucocorticoids, and is independent of the pituitary-adrenal axis. However, the ontogenetic increase in PNMT levels after initial expression has occurred does require intact pituitary-adrenal function. Our observations suggest that different mechanisms regulate initial expression and subsequent modulation of neurotransmitter phenotype.
Sleep deprivation-induced dermatitis: Further support of nicotinic acid depletion in sleep deprivation

It is noted that some of the manifestations of prolonged sleep deprivation are similar to changes seen in pellagra. Dermatitis is one of the cardinal clinical manifestations of human pellagra. Prolonged sleep deprivation also typically induces a dermatitis in experimental animals. Both dermatidities are histopathologically similar. It is plausible that both may have a similar etiology, i.e. depletion of nicotonic acid and products derived from it.
Differential effects of protoporphyrin and uroporphyrin on murine mast cells

Abstract To investigate the mechanisms responsible for the distinct cutaneous manifestations of erythropoietic protoporphyria and porphyria cutanea tarda, the effects of protoporphyrin (PP) and uroporphyrin (URO), the predominant porphyrins in the respective disease, on mast cells were examined. Release of preformed and generated mediators was assessed by the release of radioactivity from cells labeled with [ 3 H]serotonin and [ 14 C]arachidonic acid, respectively. Clinically relevant doses of PP (25–500 ng/ml) and 396–407 nm irradiation (3–16 × 10 2 J/m 2 ) induced maximal net release of preformed mediators of 44.52 ± 6.6 to 58.01 ± 4.0% (mean ± SE). In contrast, irradiation in the presence of URO (50–5000 ng/ml) resulted in 3 H]Serotonin release induced by PP and irradiation was calcium-independent, and was not enhanced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a known activator of protein kinase C. This release was suppressed by catalase, a scavenger of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, irradiation in the presence of PP, but not in the presence of URO, resulted in perturbation of cell membrane. Irradiation in the presence of PP also resulted in a maximal net release of generated mediators of 9.98 ± 3.5% (mean ± SE), whereas similar treatment in the presence of URO induced
Development of a PCR-Based Molecular Marker to Select for Nematode Resistance in Peanut

The peanut root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood race 1] is a significant pathogen on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Nematode resistant cultivars would reduce yield losses while reducing the use of nematicides in fields where these nematodes occur. Through years of breeding effort, nematode resistance gene(s) have been introgressed into peanut cultivars from their wild relatives, Arachis spp. Molecular markers RKN440 and Z3/265, linked to the resistance gene, previously were identified by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Unfortunately, when these markers were applied to our breeding programs, neither could give a reproducible level of correlation with the phenotype data. In this study, we modified the marker RKN440 based on more complete sequencing data and established a new nematode resistance dominant marker 197/909. This marker is reproducible and shows a high correlation with the phenotype data. It amplifies fragments from both susceptible and resistant samples, but of different molecular weights, avoiding false negative judgment caused by failed reactions with dominant markers. When we applied this marker using a cost-effective, high-throughput DNA extraction method, it remained a robust assay. Plant breeders will be able to use this new marker to hasten efforts to combine nematode resistance with other important characteristics in peanuts.
Numerical simulation of non-circular jets

Abstract Results are presented of numerical simulations of spatially developing, three-dimensional jets issued from circular and non-circular nozzles of identical equivalent diameters. Elliptic, rectangular and triangular jets are considered with aspect-ratios of 1:1 and 2:1. Flow visualization results show that large scale coherent structures are formed in both cornered and non-cornered jets. The axis-switching phenomenon is captured in all non-unity aspect-ratio jets and also in the equilateral triangular jet. The square jet does not show axis-switching; however, the rotation of its axes by 45 ° is shown to play a significant role in its entrainment characteristics. All the non-circular configurations are shown to provide more efficient mixers than does the circular jet; the isosceles triangular jet is the most efficient one. It is demonstrated that the near field entrainment and mixing is characterized by the mean secondary flow induced by the stream-wise vortices. The transport of a passive Shvab-Zeldovich scalar variable is used to determine the limiting rate of mean reactant conversion in a chemical reaction of the type Fuel + Air → Products. The results show that the largest product formation occurs in the isosceles triangular jet and the lowest occurs in the circular jet. It is also shown that the 2:1 triangular jet has the shortest scalar core whereas the rectangular jet has the longest core.
Extended x-ray absorption fine structure determination of local structure in sol-gel-derived lead titanate, lead zirconate, and lead zirconate titanate

We report on extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements for partially heat-treated gels in the lead zirconate titanate system (PZT). Self-consistent results obtained from the titanium and zirconium K-edges and the lead LIll-edge were used to determine bonding pathways between cations. For lead titantate (PT) and PZT gels, separate networks of predominantly Ti-O-Ti, Zr-O-Zr, and Pb-O-Pb linkages were observed. For lead zirconate (PZ) gels, both Zr-O-Pb and Zr-O-Zr linkages were observed. The results indicate heterogeneity at the molecular level. These findings are discussed in terms of the evolution of structure for PZT materials prepared by our sol-gel method.
Intelligence, Wisdom, and Creativity: Three is Better Than One

Theory, assessment, and instruction in the field of human abilities have tended to emphasize intelligence at the expense of wisdom and creativity. Were these three abilities indistinguishable, such an emphasis would be understandable and acceptable. But a review of the literature as well as data I have recently collected suggest that the three abilities are distinguishable, and that there are important differences among them. Moreover, present measurements and instruction even of intelligence are to a much narrower operationalization of the construct than would be ideal. It is argued that educational psychologists and others need to give more serious attention to all three of these constructs and their interrelationships.
Técnica en doble cañón para preservar las ramas del cayado aórtico durante la reparación endovascular de la aorta torácica

La reparacion endovascular de la aorta toracica (REVAT) puede implicar el recubrimiento inadvertido o deliberado de los vasos del cayado aortico al colocar las endoprotesis aorticas en el cayado. Las ramas vitales pueden preservarse mediante tecnicas de desramificacion (debranching), o colocando implantes adicionales para mantener la permeabilidad del vaso. Presentamos nuestra experiencia con la tecnica del stent en doble canon utilizada para mantener la permeabilidad de las ramas del cayado aortico durante la REVAT. Siete pacientes fueron sometidos a dicha tecnica, con colocacion de stents de ramas en el tronco innominado (n = 3), carotida comun izquierda (n = 3), y subclavia izquierda (n = 1). En todos los casos se utilizaron endoprotesis Gore TAG, y stents autoexpansibles (n = 6) o expansibles con balon (n = 1) para mantener la permeabilidad de las ramas del cayado. En 3 casos se utilizo la tecnica de stent en doble canon para restablecer la permeabilidad de la arteria carotida comun izquierda que se habia cubierto de forma inadvertida. En 4 casos programados se desplego la parte proximal de la endoprotesis aortica en la aorta ascendente con la colocacion de un stent en el tronco innominado (n = 3) y en 1 caso se cubrio la arteria subclavia izquierda con la colocacion de un stent en subclavia (n = 1). La REVAT utilizando el stent en doble canon logro el exito tecnico con el mantenimiento de la permeabilidad de los vasos de las ramas y la ausencia de endofuga de tipo I en los 7 casos. Un caso de colocacion de endoimplante en la zona 0 con un stent en la arteria innominada se complico por un ictus en el hemisferio izquierdo que se atribuyo a un problema tecnico con el bypass carotido-carotideo. Durante el seguimiento a los 2-18 meses, todos los stents ramificados en doble canon y las endoprotesis aorticas mantuvieron la permeabilidad sin endofuga, migracion, o perdida de la integridad del dispositivo. La tecnica del stent en doble canon mantiene la permeabilidad de las ramas aorticas durante la REVAT y proporciona un metodo alternativo para el tratamiento de los aneurismas del cayado aortico. Ademas, la tecnica utiliza dispositivos comercializados y permite el recubrimiento completo del cayado aortico (zona 0) sin necesidad de practicar una esternotomia. Si bien los resultados iniciales son alentadores, se desconoce su durabilidad a largo plazo.
Interactive dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems in the regulation of thirst in the rat.

Abstract Twenty-three hours of fluid deprivation led to elevated plasma levels of corticosterone and free fatty acids, as well as increased whole brain dopamine levels, in rats. Drinking could be initiated in water-replete rats by administration of single doses of the dopamine agonist, pergolide, the dopamine β-hydroxylase inhibitor, diethyldithiocarbamate, the α-adrenergic antagonist, phenoxybenzamine, or the β-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol. In each case, the response to these agents was reduced or ameliorated by cotreatment with the dopamine antagonist, pimozide. Taken together, the results of the stress and pharmacological studies support the concept that drinking is initiated by a dopaminergically mediated thirst drive, which in turn is regulated by a noradrenergically mediated satiety system.
Anisotropic Fokker-Planck Models for the Evolution of Globular Star Clusters: The Core-Halo Connection

We present the results of direct Fokker-Plank simulations of the dynamical evolution of a cluster of identical stars that undergoes core collapse followed by a binary-driven reexpansion phase, including a careful treatment of the effects of velocity-space anisotropy. We have substantially refined the two-dimensional Fokker-Planck code first developed by Cohn to improve the energy conservation by a factor of about 100 and to include energy input from binaries produced by three-body interactions. The treatment of anisotropy allows us to construct realistic models for the evolution of global structure, including the development of a halo by ejection of mass from the central regions. We have focused on the evolution of an isolated cluster, with no tidal boundary, in order to provide a benchmark for comparison with simulations that include tidal mass loss. The overall evolution of the central regions of the cluster resembles that of isotropic Fokker-Planck models, with strongly nonlinear core oscillations observed for total star number N>104. However, radial-orbit-dominated anisotropy becomes significant within the central regions during core collapse phases and is present at large amplitude in the halo at all times. The outer regions of the cluster expand much more rapidly than is observed in isotropic simulations, with the expansion of the radius containing 90% of the cluster mass strongly accelerating at the time of the first core collapse. There is close agreement between the expansion observed here and that seen in the shorter duration direct N-body integrations for N~104 reported by Spurzem & Aarseth and Makino. In contrast, the halo expansion that we observe is more rapid than that seen in the somewhat lower resolution anisotropic Fokker-Planck simulations reported by Takahashi. Our simulations indicate a close connection between the collapsed core and the outer halo: frequent stellar encounters in the dense core rapidly boost stars to large orbital apocenter distances on highly elongated, low angular momentum orbits. These orbits provide an efficient energy and mass transport conduit between the inner and outer regions. This process may lead to more rapid globular cluster dissolution in the Galactic tidal field than had previously been inferred in recent studies based on isotropic Fokker-Planck models.
A limit load criterion to predict crack growth in stainless steel pipes

Abstract In a recent test program, specimens of circumferentially cracked type 304 stainless steel pipes were subjected to dynamic cyclic loading [E. Murakami et al ., in Advances in Fracture and Fatigue for the 1990 s (Edited by G. Yagawa and G. M. Wilkowski), Vol. 4, pp. 115–121 (1989)]. The experimental data indicated a linear correlation between the limit load of the pipe's cross-section, assuming elastic-plastic material behavior, and the logarithm of the number of loading cycles which are required to drive the crack through the pipe's thickness. A similar criterion is postulated to investigate the crack growth behavior observed in a High Level Vibration Test (HLVT) Program performed on a large scale modified model of a pressurized water reactor primary coolant system made of an equivalent stainless material [Y. J. Park et al ., Final Report, NUREG/CR-5585 (May 1991)]. The input motion in the HLVT Program induced inelastic stresses which were responsible for the crack propagation. Reasonable results are obtained in terms of the number of loading cycles required to propagate a part-through circumferential crack through the pipe's thickness.
Managing Declining Businesses

The factory was five years old and was already a strategic misfit. It had become ill‐suited for processing the raw materials the company could hope to buy. Although the factory operated efficiently enough, it could only process those particular grades of crude materials that were becoming increasingly scarce, hence expensive. Faced with insufficient long‐term supplies of the appropriate raw materials, the company's management recognized that the plant—indeed the entire business—was probably doomed to obsolescence within the next fifteen years, but it could not shut down the plant immediately. The company kept the obsolete factory operating while facing an uncomfortably near‐term horizon date and an unpleasant strategic choice regarding its future participation in this industry. While it deliberated, the company tried to avoid losing many of its key workers and valued managers who might leave if they knew that exit or abandonment were being contemplated.
The multimodal music stand

We present the Multimodal Music Stand (MMMS) for the untethered sensing of performance gestures and the interactive control of music. Using e-field sensing, audio analysis, and computer vision, the MMMS captures a performer's continuous expressive gestures and robustly identifies discrete cues in a musical performance. Continuous and discrete gestures are sent to an interactive music system featuring custom designed software that performs real-time spectral transformation of audio.
Autoradiographic study of chromatid distribution of labeled dan in two types of mammalian cells in vitro

Summary The average generation time and the length of the G1, S, and G2 periods were determined for a line of Chinese hamster cells in vitro. On the basis of this information, cells were labeled with 3H-thymidine and the segregation of radioactive DNA in chromatids at metaphase was studied for four consecutive divisions after labeling. In preparation for autoradiography the metaphase chromosomes were freed of cytoplasm. This technique eliminated beta absorption by overlying cytoplasm and permitted an analysis of 80 to 100 per cent of the chromatids of each cell. Autoradiographs of several thousand chromosome sets of each of the four divisions after labeling were examined. The labeled DNA segregated according to a semiconservative pattern. This finding is in agreement with the work of Taylor and is not in accord with the results of Plaut and Mazia and La Cour and Pelc. The frequency of sister “chromatid exchange” was lower than observed by Taylor in plant chromosomes. The same pattern of semiconservative segregation of DNA was found in human leucocytes in vitro. The frequency of sister “chromatid exchanges” also was low in this material.
Effects of Multiplayer Videogame Contexts on Individuals’ Recall of In-Game Advertisements

Research on the effects of in-game advertising has grown steadily during the twenty-first century. However, most studies have investigated only single-player contexts and have not taken into account the elements of multiplayer settings that are common to many gaming environments. Therefore, the current experimental investigation examined the impact of multiplayer contexts on the effectiveness of in-game advertising. Results indicate that playing with a partner versus playing alone enhanced players’ recall of ads, but the mere presence of a partner was not sufficient in explaining the difference: partner disposition had an impact such that playing with a friendly partner generally elicited the greatest response. Further, attitude toward one's partner mediated the effects of playing mode on ad recall. Practical implications regarding multiplayer game settings are discussed.
Order restricted estimation of distributions with censored data

Consider a finite population of hidden objects, and consider searching for them for one unit of time. Suppose that both the size and the discovery time of the objects have unknown distributions, and that the conditional distribution of time given size is exponential with an unknown non-negative and non-decreasing function of the size as the failure rate. Order restricted M.L.E.'s are derived for this function, other parameters are estimated, and the consistency of the estimates is shown. AMS Subject Classifications: Primary 62605; Secondary 62630.
HOW TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF STRATEGIC PLANNING

Is strategic planning a lasting management tool or just another management fad? Four factors—top management commitment, sound segmentation, training and development, and periodic reviews—will spell success. Planners who ignore them can expect strategic management programs to fail.
STUDIES OF THE THYROID APPARATUS. XXXV. THE RÔLE OF THE THYROID APPARATUS IN THE GROWTH OF THE ADRENALS

The organs which serve as the basis of this study were obtained from the same rats the growth of which in body and in part has been discussed in the preceding papers of this series. Table 1 gives the observed mean weights for the several groups. Table 2 gives the percentage increments of the controls and the tests, and the percentage rate of growth of the tests in terms of that of their controls for each of the age series (23, 30, 50, 65, 75 and 100 days). The charts make possible a visualization of the comparative response. The flat black columns represent control growth (always 100 per cent), while the outline columns represent the growth of the tests in terms of that of their controls (T/C values). The pubertal and post-pubertal retrogression of the thymus in conditions of thyroid and parathyroid deficiency is so extensive that the actual values are not conveniently representable on a chart. Hence the broken columns. The degree of response is not recorded, since the multiplicity of figures is confusing...
Design Studies of Swept Wind Turbine Blades

Abstract The growth of wind energy is sustained by innovation that lowers the cost of energy. One recent innovation is the swept blade, which deflects in operation and lowers loads. With sweep, a design rotor diameter can increase, capturing more power, with the loads remaining within limits. This concept has been demonstrated in a U.S. program and is in commercial production. This paper describes a parametric study of swept blade design parameters for a 750 kW machine. The amount of tip sweep had the largest effect on the energy production and blade loads; other parameters had less impact. The authors then conducted a design study to implement a swept design on 1.5 MW, 3 MW, and 5 MW turbines. An aeroelastic code, previously described, was developed to model the behavior and determine the loads of the swept blade. The design goal was to increase annual energy production 5% over the straight blade, without increasing blade loads. Successful designs were developed for the 1.5 MW and 3.0 MW turbines. The swept 5 MW turbine exhibited a twist instability at high wind speeds. Further study is required to determine if sweep can be implemented for larger turbines, which are approaching flutter boundaries in unswept designs.
An efficient meshless method for fracture analysis of cracks

This paper presents an efficient meshless method for analyzing linear-elastic cracked structures subject to single- or mixed-mode loading conditions. The method involves an element-free Galerkin formulation in conjunction with an exact implementation of essential boundary conditions and a new weight function. The proposed method eliminates the shortcomings of Lagrange multipliers typically used in element-free Galerkin formulations. Numerical examples show that the proposed method yields accurate estimates of stress-intensity factors and near-tip stress field in two-dimensional cracked structures. Since the method is meshless and no element connectivity data are needed, the burdensome remeshing required by finite element method (FEM) is avoided. By sidestepping remeshing requirement, crack-propagation analysis can be dramatically simplified. Example problems on mixed-mode condition are presented to simulate crack propagation. The predicted crack trajectories by the proposed meshless method are in excellent agreement with the FEM or the experimental data.
Sweep-diagram analysis of selective adiabatic pulses

Abstract In the conventional perspective of adiabatic fast passage (AFP), the slice profile is considered to be the result of energy deposited in a sweep of instantaneous frequency through a specific bandwidth. We introduce an efficient and powerful technique for analyzing selective adiabatic pulses. One need only draw the excitation trajectory at all offset frequencies of interest. The drawings predict the final orientation of the magnetization vectors at the end of a selective adiabatic pulse. AFP pulses' insensitivity to RF variations is obvious when viewed in a sweep diagram. Furthermore, the sweep-diagram technique has facilitated the design of several new AFP pulses. Here, we illustrate the design of two selective 2π pulses, a selective and nonselective 0 pulse, and a selective spin-echo pulse.
Single Particle Measurements of the Optical Properties of Small Ice Crystals and Heterogeneous Ice Nuclei

Dust aerosol and ice crystals are two major types of nonspherical particles in the atmosphere which have significant roles in cloud-aerosol interactions and the radiative budget. The presence of dust and ice often coincide in the atmosphere because dust particles are efficient ice nuclei. The size and composition dependence of the scattering properties of dust and ice are needed to assess their individual contributions to the optical scattering of sunlight. Here we present a new measurement technique used to determine the single particle forward scattering, backscattering, and depolarization ratio (at a wavelength of 680 nm) for representative nonspherical atmospheric particles. The Texas A&M University Continuous Flow Diffusion Chamber (CFDC) was used as an ice crystal generator to produce ice crystals via both homogenous and heterogeneous nucleation mechanisms under well-controlled laboratory conditions. Optical scattering properties of mineral dusts and small ice crystals (0.6 μm to 50 μm optical diame...
An algorithm to stabilize a sequence of thermal brain images

Complex challenges of optical imaging in diagnostics and surgical treatment require accurate image registration/stabilization methods that remove only unwanted motions. An SIAROI algorithm is proposed for real-time subpixel registration sequences of intraoperatively acquired infrared (thermal) brain images. SIAROI algorithm is based upon automatic, localized Subpixel Image Autocorrelation and a user-selected Region of Interest (ROI). Human expertise about unwanted motions is added through a user-outlined ROI, using a low-accuracy free-hand paintbrush. SIAROI includes: (a) propagating the user-outlined ROI by selecting pixels in the second image of the sequence, using the same ROI; (b) producing SROI (sub-pixel ROI) by converting each pixel to k=NxN subpixels; (c) producing new SROI in the second image by shifting SROI within plus or minus 6k subpixels; (d) finding an optimal autocorrelation shift (x,y) within 12N that minimizes the Standard Deviation of Differences of Pixel Intensities (SDDPI) between corresponding ROI pixels in both images, (e) shifting the second image by (x,y), repeating (a)-(e) for successive images (t,t1). In experiments, a user quickly outlined non-deformable ROI (such as bone) in the first image of a sequence. Alignment of 100 brain images (25600x25600 pixel search, after every pixel was converted to 100 sub-pixels), took ~3 minutes, which is 200 times faster (with a 0.1=ROI/image ratio) than global auto-correlation. SIAROI improved frame alignment by a factor of two, relative to a Global Auto-correlation and Tie-points-based registration methods, as measured by reductions in the SDDPI.
Use of Spectra from Foil-Excited Heavy-Ion Beams to Interpret Radiation from Plasmas

Spectra from foil-excited heavy ion beams can be used to investigate the relative abundance and charge state composition of heavy metal contaminants which cause severe radiative energy losses in tokamak-produced plasmas. The degree of ionization of these metals in the tokamak plasma is not well known because of uncertainties in ionization and recombination rates and particle confinement times. Only a few stages of ionization are typically prominent in foil-excited spectra, however, and both the most probable charge state and distribution width are well known. Highly ionized heavy ions (e.g., Ti, Mo, W and Au) which span the range of charge states found in present tokamaks were produced by passing beams from the Brookhaven MP tandem Van de Graaff accelerator facility through 20 ?g/cm2 carbon stripping foils. EUV radiation was recorded with a grazing incidence spectrometer. Comparisons of the beam-foil spectra with radiation from plasmas, and recent direct determinations of atomic oscillator strengths for principal resonance lines of such highly ionized species as Li-like iron (Fe23+), Na-like bromine (Br24+), and Cu-like iodine (I24+) are discussed.
Methods to Assess the Development and Recovery of Locomotor Function after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

The ability to assess recovery of function after spinal cord injury is a very important part of spinal cord injury research. Recent progress has been made in a number of avenues of treatment designed to ameliorate the consequences of spinal cord injury and enhance recovery of function. This potential for intervention to modify the sequellae of spinal cord injury requires stringent criteria for methods used to evaluate the effects of injury and subsequent recovery of function. Methods which rely on composite ratings of an animal's overall performance, while appropriate for screening groups of animals with spinal cord injury, are not sufficient to demonstrate whether a particular treatment has had a specific effect on motor function or the degree to which function is affected. We have designed a series of sensitive quantitative methods to assess the recovery of locomotor function in rats. The methods examine specific reflex responses and specific components of motor behavior and are sensitive to subtle differences in the pattern of locomotion and individual limb movements. Several of the tests can be used to assess the development of locomotor function as well as the mature response. Postural reflex testing and locomotor function under conditions of graded difficulty are examined and the motor capacity of individual limbs is assessed. Animals are trained to cross runways, to walk on a treadmill, and to climb onto a platform. The animals' performance is videotaped for subsequent quantitative analysis. The pattern of overground and treadmill locomotion is also examined by footprint analysis. Spinal cord injury alters an animal's reflex responses and deficits are evident in locomotor function. Examples are given of the quantitative measurements obtained from analysis of the animals' performance on each of the tests. No single test is sufficient to assess recovery of function after spinal cord injury. Rather, a combination of tests, each examining particular components of normal and recovered motor function, is required. The methods used to assess recovery of locomotor function are specific, are sensitive, and allow individual limb movements to be isolated. Such specific methods allow one to begin to address the mechanisms underlying recovery of function following spinal cord injury.
High speed diffusion imaging in the presence of eddy currents

This paper describes two schemes for fast diffusion imaging on a 1.5T MRI unit with unshielded gradients and 10-mT/m gradient system. The prepared longitudinal magnetization is sampled by a turbo fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequence. The first scheme involves modifications to a diffusion-weighted driven-equilibrium preparation sequence that yields quantitative diffusion imaging. The second scheme consists of four 90 degree pulses that form the preparatory period with diffusion gradients applied between the first and last two 90 degrees pulses. Sufficient time is allowed between the diffusion gradients and the beginning of the echo readout to allow eddy currents to decay to an acceptable level. Phantom studies show agreement between diffusion coefficients in the literature with those determined using the above schemes. The potential application of these sequences in monitoring temperature is demonstrated in phantoms. Artifact-free quantitative diffusion-weighted images of the brain using the second scheme are presented.
Thermodynamics of association to a molecule immobilized in an electric double layer

Abstract A thermodynamic theory of association to a molecule immobilized near a surface has been developed. Exact equations for the binding enthalpy, entropy and equilibrium reaction constant for an immobilized complex are derived. Using linear Poisson–Boltzmann theory of the electric double-layer interaction between an ion-penetrable sphere and a hard plate allows a closed form evaluation. We briefly discuss application of the theory to a DNA chip at high (1 M NaCl) and low (0.01 M NaCl) ionic strength for dielectric and metallic substrates. Predicted strong electrostatic effects suggest the feasibility of electronic control of DNA hybridization and design of chips avoiding the DNA folding problem.
Relationships between parenting stress and developmental functioning among 2-year-olds

Abstract The purpose of this article was to specify the relation between parenting stress and the early behavioral organization of 2-year-olds. Twenty-seven families provided assessments of parental stress and child behavior problems. In addition, observations of toddler pretend play and autonomy development were conducted. Mothers who reported higher level of stress within areas of life related to parental adjustment (e.g., relationship with spouse, social isolation, health) had toddlers who exhibited more externalizing and total behavior problems. In addition, mothers who reported higher levels of stress in relation to their toddler (e.g., perceptions of reinforcement from child) were more likely to have toddlers who exhibited behavior problems, less pretend play, and less usage of self-assertion during home observations. Finally, fathers who reported higher levels of stress in relation to their toddler also reported more behavioral problems.
Closure of Type I Endoleaks and Landing Zone Preparation of the Thoracic Aorta

Type I endoleaks occasionally persist after endovascular repair of thoracic aneurysms. A technique for repair is described using dimensions obtained from preoperative imaging, in which the aorta is banded at the endograft attachment zone. Aortic remodeling and aortic dimensional stability are the mainstays of the approach. Measured banding has also proved to be useful for the preparation of a landing zone prior to endograft placement during hybrid procedures.
Computer graphics input methods for building energy analysis

Abstract An interactive computer graphics system for the determination of the thermal loads of residential structures is presented. This Graphic Load Analysis System, GLAS, consists of the graphical input routines, a weather simulation model, a dynamic thermal-analysis program and automated graphic output routines, all linked by a common database. The paper describes in detail the graphical input routines required to describe a building's thermal envelope.
Interval kinetic gravimetric sorption of acetone in random copolymers of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate)

Interval sorption kinetics of acetone in solvent cast films of random poly(ethylene terephthalate)-co-(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PET-co-PEN) are reported at 35°C and at acetone pressures ranging from 0 to 7.3 cm Hg. Polymer composition is varied systematically from 0% to 50% poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate). Equilibrium sorption is well described by the dual-mode sorption model. Interval sorption kinetics are described using a two-stage model that incorporates both Fickian diffusion and protracted polymer structural relaxation. The incorporation of low levels of PEN into PET significantly reduces the excess free volume associated with the glassy state and, for these interval acetone sorption experiments in ∼ 5 μm-thick films, decreases the fraction of acetone uptake controlled by penetrant-induced polymer structural relaxation.
Alcoholics anonymous and relapse prevention as maintenance strategies after conjoint behavioral alcohol treatment for men: 18-month outcomes.

Ninety men with alcohol problems and their female partners were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 outpatient conjoint treatments: alcohol behavioral couples therapy (ABCT), ABCT with relapse prevention techniques (RP/ABCT), or ABCT with interventions encouraging Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) involvement (AA/ABCT). Couples were followed for 18 months after treatment. Across the 3 treatments, drinkers who provided follow-up data maintained abstinence on almost 80% of days during follow-up, with no differences in drinking or marital happiness outcomes between groups. AA/ABCT participants attended AA meetings more often than ABCT or RP/ABCT participants, and their drinking outcomes were more strongly related to concurrent AA attendance. For the entire sample, AA attendance was positively related to abstinence during follow-up in both concurrent and time-lagged analyses. In the RP/ABCT treatment, attendance at posttreatment booster sessions was related to posttreatment abstinence. Across treatment conditions, marital happiness was related positively to abstinence in concurrent but not time-lagged analyses. Research on the development and testing of potentially effective treatments for alcohol use disorders has yielded several psychosocial treatments with strong evidence for efficacy (Chambliss et al., 1998; McCrady & Nathan, in press). Despite positive findings from randomized clinical trials, aggregate rates of continuous abstinence after treatment are well below 50% (reviewed in McCrady & Nathan, in press), and relapses are more common than abstinence, suggesting the need for continued efforts to develop more effective ways to maintain positive change. The present article reports the long-term results of a study of two methods of maintaining gains after alcohol behavioral couples therapy (ABCT)—relapse prevention and involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)—and it tests hypothesized mediators of change in prospective, cross-lagged analyses.
Molecular Determination of H Antigens of Salmonella by Use of a Microsphere-Based Liquid Array

Received 29 June 2010/Returned for modification 23 August 2010/Accepted 3 December 2010 Serotyping of Salmonella has been an invaluable subtyping method for epidemiologic studies for more than 70 years. The technical difficulties of serotyping, primarily in antiserum production and quality control, can be overcome with modern molecular methods. We developed a DNA-based assay targeting the genes encoding the flagellar antigens (fliC and fljB) of the Kauffmann-White serotyping scheme. Fifteen H antigens (H:a, -b, -c, -d, -d/j, -e,h, -i, -k, -r, -y, -z, -z10 ,- z29 ,- z35, and -z6), 5 complex major antigens (H:G, -EN, -Z4, -1, and -L) and 16 complex secondary antigens (H:2, -5, -6, -7, -f, -m/g,m, -m/m,t, -p, -s, -t/m,t, -v, -x, -z15 ,- z24 ,- z28, and -z51) were targeted in the assay. DNA probes targeting these antigens were designed and evaluated on 500 isolates tested in parallel with traditional serotyping methods. The assay correctly identified 461 (92.2%) isolates based on the 36 antigens detected in the assay. Among the isolates considered correctly identified, 47 (9.4%) were partially serotyped because probes corresponding to some antigens in the strains were not in the assay, and 13 (2.6%) were monophasic or nonmotile strains that possessed flagellar antigen genes that were not expressed but were detected in the assay. The 39 (7.8%) strains that were not correctly identified possessed an antigen that should have been detected by the assay but was not. Apparent false-negative results may be attributed to allelic divergence. The molecular assay provided results that paralleled traditional methods with a much greater throughput, while maintaining the integrity of the Kauffmann-White serotyping scheme, thus providing backwards-compatible epidemiologic data. This assay should greatly enhance the ability of clinical and public health laboratories to serotype Salmonella.
Transcriptomic and metabolic responses of mycorrhizal roots to nitrogen patches under field conditions

Background Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi contribute to plant nutrient uptake in systems managed with reduced fertilizer and pesticide inputs such as organic agriculture by extending the effective size of the rhizosphere and delivering minerals to the root. Connecting the molecular study of the AM symbiosis with agriculturally- and ecologically-relevant field environments remains a challenge and is a largely unexplored research topic.
Self extension and the desire to preserve digital possessions

Developed from psychology and sociology, the concept of self extension means that an individuals' concept of his or her own self can extend outside the body (Belk, 1988). While studies in the context of consumer behavior have explored many applications of self extension to material objects, self extension to digital objects has yet to be explored. Further, self extension to possessions can influence behavior and may therefore influence maintaining behavior, or the actions associated with saving or personal information for the long term. This pilot study uses Q method to explore the extension of self to digital possessions and the implications for maintaining digital possessions for the long term.
Effect of Water Temperature on Experimental Edwardsiella ictaluri Infections in Immersion‐Exposed Channel Catfish

Abstract The effect of water temperature on the progress of enteric septicemia of catfish was examined in channel catfish after immersion exposure to Edwardsiella ictaluri. Mortalities due to the bacterium were evaluated among experimentally infected fish held at 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C. One of the two replicate groups held at each temperature was shifted to 25°C water 60 d after exposure, and all groups were held for an additional 30 d. The greatest mortality occurred among E. ictaluri-exposed groups at 25°C (97.8%), but significant mortality also occurred among infected fish at 20°C (46.6%) and 30°C (25.0%). There was a lower mortality at 35°C (4.0%), and there was no mortality among fish at 15°C or among control fish at any temperature. There were no mortalities during the last 30 d of the experiment in any group shifted to 25°C or in the groups that were not transferred. The highest antibody titers among fish exposed to the bacterium were detected in fish held at 20°C; antibody titers were lower but ...