cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytical and Physical Modeling of the Buckling Behaviour of High Aspect Ratio Billets

Abstract The buckling of cylindrical specimens during forging is a fairly common occurence when the initial height of the specimen is in excess of about 3 times the diameter. In this study, analytical modeling was undertaken using both elastic-plastic and rigid-viscoplastic, 2D and 3D finite element analysis on two different aluminium alloys. The effect of changing “End Conditions” to delay the onset of buckling was studied. Results obtained from both analytical and physical modeling are summarized in this paper.
Evaluation of an Automated Information Extraction Tool for Imaging Data Elements to Populate a Breast Cancer Screening Registry.

Breast cancer screening is central to early breast cancer detection. Identifying and monitoring process measures for screening is a focus of the National Cancer Institute’s Population-based Research Optimizing Screening through Personalized Regimens (PROSPR) initiative, which requires participating centers to report structured data across the cancer screening continuum. We evaluate the accuracy of automated information extraction of imaging findings from radiology reports, which are available as unstructured text. We present prevalence estimates of imaging findings for breast imaging received by women who obtained care in a primary care network participating in PROSPR (n = 139,953 radiology reports) and compared automatically extracted data elements to a “gold standard” based on manual review for a validation sample of 941 randomly selected radiology reports, including mammograms, digital breast tomosynthesis, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The prevalence of imaging findings vary by data element and modality (e.g., suspicious calcification noted in 2.6 % of screening mammograms, 12.1 % of diagnostic mammograms, and 9.4 % of tomosynthesis exams). In the validation sample, the accuracy of identifying imaging findings, including suspicious calcifications, masses, and architectural distortion (on mammogram and tomosynthesis); masses, cysts, non-mass enhancement, and enhancing foci (on MRI); and masses and cysts (on ultrasound), range from 0.8 to1.0 for recall, precision, and F-measure. Information extraction tools can be used for accurate documentation of imaging findings as structured data elements from text reports for a variety of breast imaging modalities. These data can be used to populate screening registries to help elucidate more effective breast cancer screening processes.
Association of Surgeon Subjective Characterization of Nerve Sparing Quality With Potency Following Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

Purpose: We assessed whether a surgeon self-graded assessment of neurovascular bundle preservation quality predicted potency following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.Materials and Methods: From April 2001 to January 2007 a total of 767 laparoscopic radical prostatectomies were performed by 2 surgeons who graded left and right neurovascular bundle sparing qualities on a scale of 0 to 5. The total number of nerves spared was also recorded. We defined a composite variable, the bilateral sum neurovascular bundle sparing score, to encode 1 independent variable (scale of 0 to 10) for analysis. Multivariate linear regression models were evaluated to assess the significance of the bilateral sum neurovascular bundle sparing score for predicting validated potency outcomes, controlling for significant clinical variables in preoperatively potent men (Sexual Health Inventory for Men 21 or greater). The bilateral sum neurovascular bundle sparing score based model was compared to a model based on the separate number...
Optical and structural characterization of mixed LaF3BaF2 thin films

Abstract Mixed LaF3BaF2 thin films with a range of compositions have been deposited by co-evaporation, with the resulting films being a solid solution of the two constituents. The large tensile stress of pure LaF3 films was greatly reduced by the addition of BaF2. The mixed films exhibit the fluorite crystalline structure of BaF2, with the lattice parameter varying linearly with composition. Several cubic semiconductors can therefore be lattice matched by the appropriate mixed fluoride films. The refractive index of the mixed films was an approximately linear function of stoichiometry, allowing the fabrication of gradient index films by varying the relative deposition rates. The example of an antireflection coating with a sinusoidal refractive index profile is presented.
Nearest-neighbour distance to a trap in a one-dimensional Smoluchowski model

Abstract We consider a one-dimensional Smoluchowski model for the reaction A+T→T, with a single immobile trapping particle and noninteracting A particles which move by diffusion. It is known that when there is an initial density of A particles, the average value of the closest distance between the trap and an untrapped A is asymptotically proportional to t 1 4 . We show that this dependence also holds when the initial distances between adjacent A particles are independent identically distributed random variables with a finite mean. We also consider the case in which the trap is mobile and the A's are immobile. Here it is known that the asymptotic nearest-neighbor distance is proportional to t 1 2 . We show that for this to hold with a general initial distribution of A's one requires both the first and second moments of the initial distances to be finite.
Tooth color measurement using Chroma Meter: techniques, advantages, and disadvantages.

UNLABELLED Tooth whitening has become a popular and routine dental procedure, and its efficacy and safety have been well documented. However, the measurement of tooth color, particularly in the evaluation of the efficacy of a system intended to enhance tooth whiteness, remains a challenge. One of the instruments used for assessing tooth color in clinical whitening studies is the Minolta Chroma Meter CR-321 (Minolta Corporation USA, Ramsey, NJ, USA). This article describes the instrument and discusses various measuring procedures and the Chroma Meter's advantages, limitations, and disadvantages. The available information indicates that, although Minolta Chroma Meter CR-321 provides quantitative and objective measurements of tooth color, it can be tedious to use with a custom alignment device. The Chroma Meter data are inconsistent with the commonly used visual instruments such as Vitapan Classical Shade Guide (Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Sackingen, Germany), although in many cases the general trends are similar. It is also questionable whether the small area measured adequately represents the color of the whole tooth. A more critical challenge is the lack of methods for interpreting the Chroma Meter data regarding tooth color change in studies evaluating the efficacy of whitening systems. Consequently, at present the Chroma Meter data alone do not appear to be adequate for determining tooth color change in whitening research, although the quantitative measurements may be useful as supplemental or supportive data. Research is needed to develop and improve the instrument and technique for quantitative measurement of tooth color and interpretation of the data for evaluating tooth color change. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This paper will help readers to understand the advantages and limitations of the Minolta Chroma Meter used for evaluating the efficacy of tooth-whitening systems so that proper judgment can be made in the interpretation of the results of clinical studies.
Commutators on ℓ1

Abstract The main result is that the commutators on l 1 are the operators not of the form λ I + K with λ ≠ 0 and K compact. We generalize Apostol's technique [C. Apostol, Rev. Roumaine Math. Appl. 17 (1972) 1513–1534] to obtain this result and use this generalization to obtain partial results about the commutators on spaces X which can be represented as X ≃ ( ⊕ i = 0 ∞ X ) p for some 1 ⩽ p ∞ or p = 0 . In particular, it is shown that every compact operator on L 1 is a commutator. A characterization of the commutators on l p 1 ⊕ l p 2 ⊕ ⋯ ⊕ l p n is given. We also show that strictly singular operators on l ∞ are commutators.
Finding What You Need in Uganda's Archives

Given the growing scholarly interest in Uganda, we thought it might be useful to provide an update on research conditions in the country and the state of some of the archives. Barrett-Gaines is a historian working on the history of the salt trade in the Great Lakes region while Khadiagala is a political scientist studying the adjudication of women's property rights within the courts of law in Uganda. BarrettGaines still resides in Uganda, while Khadiagala completed her research in August of 1997. In disclosing our discoveries, it is our hope that additional use of the resources by both Western and Ugandan scholars will spur interest in preserving Uganda's rich historical record.
New method of forming F ′ centers in KI

An ${F}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ center represents an $F$ center that has acquired an electron from an ionized $F$ center at low temperature. According to Pick, two $F$ centers are destroyed per ${F}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ center formed, i.e., $2F\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}{F}^{\ensuremath{'}}+\ensuremath{\alpha}$. If the electron to be trapped by an $F$ center originates from a source other than an ionized $F$ center, one $F$ center would be destroyed per ${F}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ center formed. The experimental proof would be the absence of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ centers formation. The formation of ${F}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ centers but no $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ centers was produced by re-x-raying, at 78 K, a pure KI crystal that contained ${F}_{2}$ centers in addition to $F$ and $V$ centers. It is believed that ${F}_{2}$ centers become ionized, rather than ${V}_{k}$ centers being formed, when ${F}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ centers are produced at 78 K in the absence of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ centers.
On the supercooling during freezing of water saturated porous media

Abstract Freezing of water saturated porous media (glass beads and aluminum balls) system has been studied experimentally. The results showed that water was supercooled before nucleation was initiated. This is characteristic of freezing of pure water, but the degree of supercooling and of the subsequent temperature recovery after ice nucleation was initiated was considerably smaller than that observed during the freezing of pure water. The temperature-time response of the aluminum balls-water and glass beads-water systems differed greatly. The difference in behavior between the two systems is explained by the difference in the heat penetration coefficient between aluminum and glass.
FOREST CHANGES IN THE WARNER MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA*

ABSTRACT In the Warner Mountains of California, land use policies of the U. S. Forest Service have resulted in alterations of the vegetation over the last century even within the landscape reserve of the South Warner Wilderness. Fire suppression has led to increasing reproduction of white fir and decreasing establishment of yellow pines. Grazing by domestic livestock has caused an invasion of brush and grass by trees. The acceptance of such alterations within an established wilderness, presumably protecting “natural'’conditions, reflects the difficulty of recognizing the changes as cultural phenomena.
Enhancing Electron Transfer Form Photosynthetic Reaction Centers to Electrodes by Exposing Quinone Binding Pocket

Due to their potential for bio-energy generation and as bio-sensors, photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) have been characterized quite extensively for their light induced electroactivity on electrode surfaces. Most such studies have depended on the presence of redox mediators to achieve higher current densities. We are aiming to effect direct electron transfer from both the acceptor and donor sides of the RC to electrodes and to determine the distance and orientation dependence of this process. The RC from Rhodobacter sphaeroides is a model system for photosynthesis research and is generally more robust than its counterparts from plants, in vitro. It consists of three subunits, L, M and H. The H subunit is not involved in the scaffold for electron transfer cofactors and can be removed without compromising the light dependent reduction of the primary quinone. We have developed an improved protocol to remove the H subunit, rendering a LM dimer that behaves as previously report (Debus et al. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 2488). Preliminary data suggest that unlike the complete RC, reduced semiquinone in LM dimers can donate electrons to a gold electrode without any redox mediators present. We are now working to obtain direct linkage between electrode and RC, in various orientations, through covalent gold-thiol bonds to site-directed cysteines on the LM surface and by randomly generated and selected peptides that bind RCs in a very different manner. By comparing and modeling the light induced current, we hope to arrive at a quantitative description of the electron transfer events between the RC and electrode.
EIGENVALUES AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS FOR A MODEL OF HIV-1 PATHOGENESIS WITH AN INTRACELLULAR DELAY

During the past decade significant research has been aimed at better understanding for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and the use of mathematical modeling to interpret experimental results has made a significant contribution. However, time-delays, which play a critical role in various biological models, are still not amenable to many traditional analysis methods. In this paper, we apply a recently developed approach using the Lambert W function to handle the time delay in a HIV-1 pathogenesis dynamic model. Dominant eigenvalues in the infinite eigenspectrum of these time-delay systems are obtained and used to understand the effects of the parameters of the model on the immune system. Also, the result is extended to analyze the sensitivity of the eigenvalues with respect to the parameters in the HIV-1 model. The research makes it possible to know which parameters are more influential than others, and the obtained information is used to investigate the HIV-1 dynamic system analytically.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Parameter estimation in regression for long-term survival rate from censored data

In recent years, regression models have been shown to be useful for predicting the long-term survival probabilities of patients in clinical trials. The importance of a regression model is that once the regression parameters are estimated information about the regressed quantity is immediate. A simple estimator is proposed for the regression parameters in a model for the long-term survival rate. The proposed estimator is seen to arise from an estimating function that has the missing information principle underlying its construction. When the covariate takes values in a finite set, the proposed estimating function is equivalent to an ad hoc estimating function proposed in the literature. However, in general, the two estimating functions lead to different estimators of the regression parameter. For discrete covariates, the asymptotic covariance matrix of the proposed estimator is simple to calculate using standard techniques involving the predictable covariation process of martingale transforms. An ad hoc extension to the case of a one-dimensional continuous covariate is proposed. Simplicity and generalizability are two attractive features of the proposed approach. The last mentioned feature is not enjoyed by the other estimator.
X-ray and electron metallographic study of quasicrystalline AlMnSi Alloys

Abstract We present the results of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on spin-quenched flakes of alloys of composition Al 0.94− x Mn x Si 0.06 ( x = 0.20, 0.22, 0.24). From X-ray pinhole photographs of intact flakes we conclude that the alloys are nearly pure single phase and may be indexed using the prescription of Cahn, Schechtman and Gratias as a guide. The grain size is estimated to be between 13 and 18 gmm. From high resolution diffractometer tracings a correlation range of 350–480 A is recorded with an asymmetric profile at the position of the 2-fold peak ( Q ≊ 3.04 A −1 ) which is fit by two Gaussians whose separation in Q is comparable to the inverse correlation range. These short correlation ranges are associated with defects as in a defective Penrose tiling. Both X-ray methods confirm the absence of texture. SEM photos on a fractured flake show a chill zone of 3–4 μm followed by columnar dendritic morphology. The extent of a single dendrite cluster is about the same as the X -ray grain size. At the bottom of the chilled surface distinct geometrical shapes are observed including an occasional pentagonal dodecahedron of about 0.4–0.6 μm in size. TEM micrographs show a cellular structure on the order of 40–100 nm, both near the chill zone and in a dendrite arm, and distinct mottling or speckling on a scale of 2–5 nm.
Burst mode 10 Gbps optical header recovery and lookup processing for asynchronous variable-length 40 Gbps optical packet switching

We demonstrate 10 Gbps asynchronous optical header recovery with less than 20 bits lock time and over 380 bits hold time after the label end. Layer-1(BER) and Layer-2(Header Loss) results are presented for the first time.
A multiple frame advance camera control

Abstract This circuit uses an IC decade unit to count the number of film frame advances. At the designated number, it will stop the camera advancement.
Shedding light onto live molecular targets

Optical sensing of specific molecular targets and pathways deep inside living mice has become possible as a result of a number of advances. These include design of biocompatible near-infrared fluorochromes, development of targeted and activatable 'smart' imaging probes, engineered photoproteins and advances in photon migration theory and reconstruction. Together, these advances will provide new tools making it possible to understand more fully the functioning of protein networks, diagnose disease earlier and speed along drug discovery.
Absence of photoregulation of abundant mRNA levels in Euglena

Abstract Exposure of dark grown resting Euglena to light in the presence or absence of 84 mN ethanol, a specific inducer of glyoxysomes and catabolite repressor of chloroplast development, did not alter the relative levels of any of the 300 most abundant mRNAs as determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the translation products synthesized in a nuclease-treated rabbit reticulocyte lysate.
The evolution of the laterophysic connection with a revised phylogeny and taxonomy of butterflyfishes (Teleostei: Chaetodontidae)

The higher-level relationships of butterflyfishes were examined using 37 morphological characters. This analysis combines characters derived from a histological study describing variation in the morphology of the laterophysic connection (an association between the swim bladder and the lateral-line canals) with previously described morphological characters. The phylogenetic analysis resulted in four equally parsimonious trees that only differed in the placement of two of the 11 chaetodontid genera (Amphichaetodon and Forcipiger). We compare our analysis with previous hypotheses, present a new taxonomy consistent with the proposed cladistic relationships, and diagnose Chaetodon with five unreversed synapomorphies, including the evolution of characters composing the laterophysic connection. A new character-based diagnosis of Chaetodon is provided and species are allocated accordingly; Chaetodon now includes the former Parachaetodon ocellatus and excludes the former subgenera Prognathodes and Roa. The evolution of the laterophysic connection is examined by optimizing character-state transformations on the new hypothesis of relationships.
Effects of mu, kappa and sigma opioids on fixed consecutive number responding in rats

Responding in rats was maintained under a fixed consecutive number 20 schedule. Under this schedule, at least 20 consecutive responses were required on one lever before a response on a second lever produced food. Morphine, buprenorphine, ethylketocyclazocine (ECK), N-allylnormetazocine (NANM) and d-cyclazocine all caused dose-dependent decreases in response rate. With the exception of buprenorphine and EKC, each drug also produced a decrease in the percent of reinforced runs. Differences among the drugs were more apparent, however, on the basis of the conditional probability of switching to the second lever after any given run length on the first lever. Morphine increased the probability of premature switching and decreased the probability of switching after run lengths greater than 20. Buprenorphine decreased the probability of switching at all run lengths and EKC produced occasional increases in premature switching. In sharp contrast to the other opioids tested, NANM and d-cyclazocine generally increased the probability of switching at all run lengths. Thus, it appears that the fixed consecutive number schedule may be a sensitive procedure for distinguishing among the behavioral effects of various opioid agonists.
A Single-Molecule Engine

In physical systems, mechanical energy usually flows from the large to the small in the form of dissipation into the random thermal motion of the molecules and atoms in the system. In biology, many natural systems have evolved to reverse this trend, enabling the flow of energy from the small to the large, with examples including photosynthesis ( 1 ) or motor protein motion ( 2 ). The desire to recreate this ability in artificial systems motivates a search for strategies and concepts that enable energy harvesting from very small subsystems. On page 779 of this issue, Lotze et al. ( 3 ) now show how the motion of a macroscopic cantilever beam can be excited using the driven motion of only a single molecule. In this case, a single hydrogen molecule is trapped between a copper surface and a scanning tunneling microscopy tip mounted on a flexible springlike cantilever. The authors find that when a particular bias voltage between the tip and copper is applied, the electric current causes the hydrogen to switch stochastically between two different positional states and the cantilever begins to oscillate spontaneously.
Creating Healthcare Simulation Training Systems: A Designer’s Forum

Healthcare simulation systems have had a transformational effect on the training and education of clinical providers. Although members of the human factors community have begun to study issues surrounding the use of healthcare simulation training systems, there has been less emphasis on the development of the technology itself. The objective of this session is to bring together some of the leading designers and developers of healthcare simulation training systems to discuss some of the challenges associated with creating this technology. Each member of the panel has extensive experience designing and creating physical and virtual simulation systems for a wide range of medical procedures including general surgery, endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures, emergency medicine, and trauma care. Specifically, the session is focused on some of the unique human factors issues that impact the development of effective healthcare simulator systems.
Using Landsat Imagery and Census Data for Urban Population Density Modeling in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

This research uses the most recent (2003) census data and a Landsat ETM+ image to build a population estimation model for Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The purpose of the study is to establish the linkage of population density with remotely sensed surface reflectance signals of an urban area, and use that to estimate population when census data are not available in a timely fashion. The research begins with deriving subpixel vegetation-impervious surface-soil (VIS) fractions derived from the Landsat ETM+ multispectral bands, and then uses the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to examine how the variation of population density can be explained by the VIS variables and their derivatives. With comparison to the ordinary least square (OLS) model, the GWR model accounts for spatial non-stationarity in the relationship between population patterns and land characteristics in the study area. The study reveals that three VIS variables are significant in explaining population density: the mean value of houses...
Radiochemical separation of rhenium with crown ether for neutron activation analysis in rocks

The extraction behavior of perrhenate with crown ethers has been studied and methods for the separation and determination of rhenium have been developed. Perrhenate anion can be quantitatively extracted into nitrobenzene by benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) from 2M potassium hydroxide and back-extracted by sodium phosphate buffer solution. The molar ratio of B15C5 to KReO4 in the extracted species is probably 2∶1. Rhenium was satisfactorily determined by neutron activation method in rock samples.
The Accuracy of Sonography in Predicting Steatosis and Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C

The accuracy and clinical significance of sonography (US) in demonstrating fatty liver and hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are rarely reported. US had sensitivity 71.1%, specificity 72.9%, 58.7% positive predictive value (PPV), and 82.3% negative predictive value (NPV) in demonstrating histological steatosis > or =5%. US had sensitivity 85.7%, specificity 60.4%, 13% PPV, and 98.4% NPV in demonstrating histological steatosis > or =30% with clinical significance in predicting prognosis and therapeutic response in CHC. Subjects with fatty liver on US had a greater prevalence of body mass index (BMI) > or =25 kg/m2, inflammation-necrosis grade >2, and total bilirubin <1.2 mg/dl in multivariate analyses. US had sensitivity 27.4%, specificity 62.5%, 71.9% PPV, and 19.7% NPV in demonstrating histological fibrosis of stage II or above, and sensitivity 13.6%, specificity 66.3%, 9.4% PPV, and 75.0% NPV in demonstrating fibrosis of stage III or above. There was no correlation between fibrotic sonographic patterns and histological stage of fibrosis (r = -0.167, P = 0.083). Besides hepatic steatosis, clinicians should be alert to the possibility of advanced necrosis-inflammation grade in interpreting a report of bright liver on gray-scale US. Gray-scale US cannot replace liver biopsy as the optimal diagnostic procedure for the prediction of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis prior to initiating therapy for CHC.
A novel approach to a low cost, high-gain television intermediate frequency amplifier

A new tube, consisting of a dual control and a sharp cut-off pentode in the same envelope has been developed. Development of the tube, the Y-1187, makes possible a one-tube, two-stage, IF amplifier that attains the same performance level as most three-stage IF amplifiers that are used in black and white television receivers at considerably less cost. The input section of the Y-1187 is similar to the 6GK7, while the output section is similar to the 6DK6. The problem of interelectrode capacitances that results from placing two such high performance tubes in the same envelope is minimized by applying special shielding techniques within the tube. Experimental results indicate that the Y-1187 when operated as a two-stage IF amplifier, yields excellent gain, response, and AGC characteristics. Some of the primary features of the tube are: 1. Low-cost construction. 2. High-transconductance and low-capacitanee in each section 3. AGC applied to suppressor grid of the input section, which allows control grid bias to remain reasonably constant. 4. Additional gain obtained by the elimination of the need for unbypassed cathode resistors, and by the use of a quadrature-boost circuit. 5. Circuit costs and space requirements reduced by the elimination of one tube socket and a portion of the associated circuitry and circuit components. The writers wish to acknowledge the assistance of W.F. Cullen of the Tube Department, and W.P. Kimker, formerly of the Tube Department, without whom this paper could not have been prepared.
Increased Response to Glutamate in Small Diameter Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons after Sciatic Nerve Injury

Glutamate in the peripheral nervous system is involved in neuropathic pain, yet we know little how nerve injury alters responses to this neurotransmitter in primary sensory neurons. We recorded neuronal responses from the ex-vivo preparations of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) one week following a chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in adult rats. We found that small diameter DRG neurons ( 30 µm) were unaffected. Puff application of either glutamate, or the selective ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and kainic acid (KA), or the group I metabotropic receptor (mGluR) agonist (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), induced larger inward currents in CCI DRGs compared to those from uninjured rats. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced currents were unchanged. In addition to larger inward currents following CCI, a greater number of neurons responded to glutamate, AMPA, NMDA, and DHPG, but not to KA. Western blot analysis of the DRGs revealed that CCI resulted in a 35% increase in GluA1 and a 60% decrease in GluA2, the AMPA receptor subunits, compared to uninjured controls. mGluR1 receptor expression increased by 60% in the membrane fraction, whereas mGluR5 receptor subunit expression remained unchanged after CCI. These results show that following nerve injury, small diameter DRG neurons, many of which are nociceptive, have increased excitability and an increased response to glutamate that is associated with changes in receptor expression at the neuronal membrane. Our findings provide further evidence that glutamatergic transmission in the periphery plays a role in nociception.
Diffusion–reaction processes involving interacting dipoles on Euclidean vs. fractal architectures

Abstract The relative importance of nearest-neighbor and non-nearest-neighbor excursions of a dipolar species interacting with a fixed target molecule in the presence of a constellation of N fixed dipoles is explored. Particular attention is paid to the topology of the reaction space, and we contrast the results obtained for reactive processes confined to the d =2 surface of a Cartesian shell vs. those obtained for a fractal solid, here the D =2.7268 Menger sponge. The relevance of the results obtained to experimental studies on the lifetime of reactive species diffusing in/on the surface/interior of a zeolite is brought out.
Steam-drying of coal. Part 1. Modeling the behavior of a single particle

Abstract Steam-drying of coal is an attractive technology that offers, besides reduction of fire and explosion hazards, improved thermal efficiency. In addition, steam-dried coals appear to be less prone to spontaneous combustion. In this paper, a single-particle model has been developed to simulate the drying of granular media in superheated steam. The calculations from the model are compared with experimental data reported in the literature on the steam-drying of ceramic spheres and water droplets. The validated model is then used to investigate, parametrically, the effects of system variables on the drying behavior of coal in steam. The model can be extended with ease to compare results for steam-drying with those for drying of coal in humidified air (or any other inert gas medium). Calculations are presented to illustrate the effects of thermo-physical properties and operating variables on the inversion point temperature; above this temperature, the vaporization rate in steam is greater than that in air. This single-particle model is the first step in the development of a mathematical model, described in an accompanying paper, for the simulation of the operation of a large-scale fluidized bed dryer.
Primary migration of a mini-implant under a functional orthodontic loading

The objective of this study was to examine whether cortical bone thickness and bone mineral density (BMD) can explain the primary migration of a mini-implant under a functional orthodontic tangential loading at the early stage following implantation. Mini-implants were installed in human mandibular sections. A constant tangential load (2 N) was applied to the mini-implant under hydration. Creep, which is a time-dependent viscoelastic displacement in the bone surrounding the mini-implant, was assessed as the change in displacement during 2 h of loading. The total migration was measured as a maximum displacement that combined an initial elastic displacement and creep. After removal of the mini-implant, all specimens were scanned together by cone beam computed tomography. Cortical bone thickness and BMD were measured for the bone voxels surrounding the implant site. BMD had significant correlations with the displacement parameters (p 0.272). Permanent bone deformation adjacent to the implant was observed to be resulting from substantial creep development under the orthodontic functional loading level. BMD controls the primary migration of the mini-implant system in mandibular bone. Viscoelastic creep can develop at a small constant functional loading level, leading to migration of the mini-implant. The current results indicated that mini-implant migration can develop under the small level of functional orthodontic load used in clinic. If the active bone remodeling around the mini-implant accelerates the migration, the risk of causing damage in vital organs next to the mini-implant increases.
DEGENERATE AND RESONANT FOUR-WAVE MIXING IN PLASMAS

The status of degenerate and resonant four-wave mixing in plasmas is reviewed. For the degenerate case in a collisional plasma, the theory predicts and experiments demonstrate that the thermal-force contribution to the signal reflectivity dominates over the ponderomotive-force contribution. In the resonant case, the reflectivity can be enhanced over the degenerate level. Experiments show that collisions can lead to a narrow spectral width of the ion-acoustic resonance, but the effects of convection and laser heating can limit the enhancement of the reflectivity below the expected value.
Commensurations of Out(Fn)

Let Out(Fn) denote the outer automorphism group of the free group Fn with n>3. We prove that for any finite index subgroup Γ<Out(Fn), the group Aut(Γ) is isomorphic to the normalizer of Γ in Out(Fn). We prove that Γ is co-Hopfian: every injective homomorphism Γ→Γ is surjective. Finally, we prove that the abstract commensurator Comm(Out(Fn)) is isomorphic to Out(Fn).
Father-Child Transmission of Antisocial Behavior: The Moderating Role of Father's Presence in the Home

ABSTRACT Objective To demonstrate an environmental effect of being raised by an antisocial father and to test whether the transmission of antisocial behavior from father to child is moderated by the father's presence in the home. Method A community sample of male and female 11- and 17-year-old twins and their biological parents participating in the Minnesota Twin Family Study was used. A series of hierarchical linear regression models was used to examine the relationship between father antisociality and his children's externalizing psychopathology and to determine whether the father's time spent in the home moderated this relationship. Models controlled for the child's sex. Results A significant main effect of both father's antisociality and father's presence on the children's externalizing psychopathology was found: Children born to antisocial fathers evidenced higher rates of externalizing behavior, and children raised without their biological father in the home exhibited more externalizing behaviors. The interaction was also significant such that the association between father and child antisociality was stronger when the father was present for a longer period of the child's life. Furthermore, when fathers show high levels of antisociality, fathers' presence appears to have deleterious rather than beneficial effects on child behavior. Conclusions The present results suggest the transmission of antisociality from father to child is at least partially environmentally moderated.
Quantitative genetic study of maximal electroshock seizure threshold in mice: evidence for a major seizure susceptibility locus on distal chromosome 1.

Abstract We conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping study to dissect the multifactorial nature of maximal electroshock seizure threshold (MEST) in C57BL/6 (B6) and DBA/2 (D2) mice. MEST determination involved a standard paradigm in which 8- to 12-week-old mice received one shock per day with a daily incremental increase in electrical current until a maximal seizure (tonic hindlimb extension) was induced. Mean MEST values in parental strains were separated by over five standard deviation units, with D2 mice showing lower values than B6 mice. The distribution of MEST values in B6×D2 F2 intercrossed mice spanned the entire phenotypic range defined by parental strains. Statistical mapping yielded significant evidence for QTLs on chromosomes 1, 2, 5, and 15, which together explained over 60% of the phenotypic variance in the model. The chromosome 1 QTL represents a locus of major effect, accounting for about one-third of the genetic variance. Experiments involving a congenic strain (B6.D2-Mtv7a/Ty) enabled more precise mapping of the chromosome 1 QTL and indicate that it lies in the genetic interval between markers D1Mit145 and D1Mit17. These results support the hypothesis that the distal portion of chromosome 1 harbors a gene(s) that has a fundamental role in regulating seizure susceptibility.
GridG: generating realistic computational grids

A realistic workload is essential in evaluating middleware for computational grids. One important component of that workload is the raw grid itself: an annotated graph representing the network topology and the hardware and software available on each node and link within it. GridG is an extensible synthetic generator of such graphs that is implemented as a series of transformations on a common graph format. The paper provides a definition of and requirements for grid generation. We then describe the GridG process in two steps: topology generation and annotation. For topology generation, we have both a model and a mechanism. We leverage Tiers, an existing tool commonly used in the networking community, but we extend it to produce graphs that conform to recently discovered power laws of Internet topology. We also contribute to the theory of network topology by pointing out a contradiction between two laws, and proposing a new version of one of them. For annotation, we have developed a mechanism, the requirements for a model, and identified the open problem of characterizing the distribution and correlation of hardware and software resources on the network.
Two 11α-Acetoxysterols from the Palauan Soft Coral lobophytum cf. Pauciflorum

Abstract A specimen of Lobophytum cf. pauciflorum from Palau yielded two new sterols, 11α -acetoxy-24-methylenecholesta-3β,5α,6β-triol (1) and 11α-acetoxy-24R-methylcholesta-3β,5α,6β-triol (2), three known sterols and three known terpenes. The structures of the new 11α-acetoxy sterols were elucidated by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those of known compounds.
California's regulatory forest carbon market: Viability for northeast landowners

Carbon markets have the potential to reward landowners for improved forest management and forest conservation. To date, the Over the Counter (OTC) voluntary market represents the greatest opportunity for forest landowners to participate in carbon transactions. However, lack of a consistent carbon price signal and sporadic demand coupled by high transaction costs has prevented widespread participation from family forest landowners. Adoption of a U.S. based cap-and-trade program reduces price risk and may provide incentives for sustainable forest management across large areas. Yet few studies have examined the supply side of carbon offsets and factors affecting project financial viability. To address this gap, we assessed how (1) property characteristics (i.e. stocking level, forest type, size etc.); (2) silvicultural treatments; and (3) protocol and legislative requirements affect the financial viability of compliance forest offset projects, focusing on California's Air Resource Board (ARB) program due to its significance as the world's second largest carbon market. We used forest inventory data from 25 properties in the northeastern United States to examine the viability of the sites as ARB offset projects. We utilized the U.S. Forest Service Forest Vegetation Simulator for our growth and yield simulations. To examine the factors that influence project viability, we used a classification and regression tree analysis performed in S-Plus software. Results indicate C stocking and property size are the most important property characteristics driving return on investment. However, protocol requirements and legislative assumptions impacting long-term monitoring costs are also important factors. While reduced price risk in a compliance carbon market has the potential to improve forest management in North America; high initial project development costs, long-term monitoring obligations, and legislative uncertainty are significant barriers that will limit family forest landowner market participation. The model developed here can be used by U.S. landowners to assess the financial viability of their property as a compliance offset project and can be utilized by policymakers to develop cost-effective climate change policy.
UPTAKE OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE AFTER INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF TRACER DOSES

AFTER oral administration of radioactive iodine, the uptake of the tracer by the thyroid gland is abnormally high in most cases of untreated hyperthyroidism (1, 2, 3). However, a significant overlap exists between the normal range of uptake and the range in hyperthyroidism (4, 5); cases with uptakes in the range of overlap must be considered borderline. Since it is in these borderline cases that the clinician has most difficulty in establishing the correct diagnosis, any safe procedure which would reduce the area of overlap would be welcome. It seemed desirable to determine if this purpose might be accomplished by administering the tracer intravenously, thereby eliminating the variables of rate and amount of gastrointestinal absorption. It was also hoped that the intravenous method would offer the additional advantages of rapidity and convenience.
Below-cutoff ions in the heavy ions in space experiment

In January 1990, the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) spacecraft was retrieved after nearly 6 years in space in a 28.4 deg orbit at a mean altitude of 476 km. Onboard LDEF was NRL's Heavy Ions In Space (HIIS) experiment, comprising large thick stacks of plastic track detectors with a total collecting power of 2.0 sq m-sr. We report preliminary results on the observation of stopping Fe-group ions at energies far below the geomagnetic cutoff for fully-ionized galactic cosmic rays.
Analysis and interpretation of TIROS-N AVHRR infrared imagery, western Gulf of Mexico

Abstract The early morning (0300 local time) 5 December 1978 TIROS-N overpass across the Gulf of Mexico coincided with the mild cold-air outbreak of 4–6 December. In the dry cloud-free region behind the cold front, the channel 4 data (thermal infrared 10.5–11.5 μm) of the TIROS-N Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) provided excellent radiometric data on the sea-surface temperature patterns. An AVHRR data calibration program has been developed to convert the thermal data to temperature in degrees Celsius and data from visible radiation channels into percent albedo. Digital interactive analysis of the calibrated channel 4 data in the cloud-free region behind the front revealed a series of oceanographic features in the sea-surface temperature patterns. Temperature differences of 6–8°C occurred between the inner shelf and deep Gulf waters. Estuarine discharge plumes 2°C cooler than shelf waters and a large cyclonic eddy with isothermal core are discernible in the enhanced 0.25°C thermal resolution, 1.1-km spatial resolution imagery. The radiometric sea-surface temperatures are 2°C below surface measurements made by two NOAA data buoys anchored along the 26°N parallel in the deep Gulf. Under these atmospheric and oceanic conditions, the satellite data available from the digital archives of the National Climatic Center are a valuable record of continental shelf and near-surface deep-ocean processes.
Indications for Propensity Scores and Review of their Use in Pharmacoepidemiology

Use of propensity scores to identify and control for confounding in observational studies that relate medications to outcomes has increased substantially in recent years. However, it remains unclear whether, and if so when, use of propensity scores provides estimates of drug effects that are less biased than those obtained from conventional multivariate models. In the great majority of published studies that have used both approaches, estimated effects from propensity score and regression methods have been similar. Simulation studies further suggest comparable performance of the two approaches in many settings. We discuss five reasons that favour use of propensity scores: the value of focus on indications for drug use; optimal matching strategies from alternative designs; improved control of confounding with scarce outcomes; ability to identify interactions between propensity of treatment and drug effects on outcomes; and correction for unobserved confounders via propensity score calibration. We describe alternative approaches to estimate and implement propensity scores and the limitations of the C-statistic for evaluation. Use of propensity scores will not correct biases from unmeasured confounders, but can aid in understanding determinants of drug use and lead to improved estimates of drug effects in some settings.
Monte Carlo Simulation of Protein-Induced Lipid Demixing in a Membrane with Interactions Derived from Experiment

Lipid domain formation induced by annexin was investigated in mixtures of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), and cholesterol (Chol), which were selected to mimic the inner leaflet of a eukaryotic plasma membrane. Annexins are ubiquitous and abundant cytoplasmic, peripheral proteins, which bind to membranes containing PS in the presence of calcium ions (Ca2+), but whose function is unknown. Prompted by indications of interplay between the presence of cholesterol in PS/PC mixtures and the binding of annexins, we used Monte Carlo simulations to investigate protein and lipid domain formation in these mixtures. The set of interaction parameters between lipids and proteins was assigned by matching experimental observables to corresponding variables in the calculations. In the case of monounsaturated phospholipids, the PS-PC and PC-Chol interactions are weakly repulsive. The interaction between protein and PS was determined based on experiments of annexin binding to PC/PS mixtures in the presence of Ca2+. Based on the proposal that PS and cholesterol form a complex in model membranes, a favorable PS-Chol interaction was postulated. Finally, protein-protein favorable interactions were also included, which are consistent with observations of large, two-dimensional, regular arrays of annexins on membranes. Those net interactions between pairs of lipids, proteins and lipids, and between proteins are all small, of the order of the average kinetic energy. We found that annexin a5 can induce formation of large PS domains, coincident with protein domains, but only if cholesterol is present.