cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Look-ahead computation: Improving iteration bound in linear recursions

The maximum achievable sampling rate of recursive algorithms is inherently bounded due to the computational latency associated with the loop computation. This recursion or feedback in the algorithms destroys the opportunity to pipeline any recursive loop. In this paper, we introduce a technique of look-ahead computation applicable to any linear recursive algorithm (LRA) to achieve equivalent realizations with reduced iteration period and higher sampling rate. The concurrency created by the use of look-ahead computation can be used to obtain pipelined and/or block implementations. We illustrate the applicability of the look-ahead computation technique to obtain high speed VLSI realizations of linear time-invariant, and time-varying systems. A generalized look-ahead computation technique theorem for arbitrary interleaving is also presented. Finally, it is shown that the iteration period in certain synchronous data flow graphs can also be reduced by the use of look-ahead computation.
A note on the fecundity of pallid sturgeon

Summary Fecundity was estimated for two pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus, from the Lower Mississippi River (LMR). Sturgeon measured 827 and 886 mm fork length, weighed <3.2 kilograms and had 16 237 and 17 810 ova per kilogram of body mass (based on mean ovum density) with total fecundity estimates ranging from 43 357 to 58 913. Ovum size in the two sturgeon was 2.5–3.0 mm diameter. Pectoral fin ray sections showed distinct annuli and spawning bands. The smaller sturgeon was aged at 10 and the larger fish at 12 years. Spawning bands were present and suggest the smaller sturgeon first spawned at age 8 and the larger fish at age 9. When compared to published results, the data representing specimens from more northern populations suggest that pallid sturgeon from the LMR mature at comparable ages but at smaller sizes and have greater gonadal mass. These features and greater fecundity per mass unit (number of eggs per kilogram body weight) suggest that LMR pallid sturgeon populations exhibit greater potential for population growth and recovery than other populations with slower growth and lower fecundity.
A least squares formulation for solidification processes: Experimental validations and numerical simulations

The present paper describes a Petrov-Galerki n based Least Squares approach for formulating the transient flow/thermal behavior due to solodification processes. Both single and multiple phase change effects are considered in this study. And, emphasis is placed upon comparisons of the present developments with available experimental results and or results published in the literature. An adaptive time stepping strategy is employed for the trapezoidal family of methods. Applications to practical situations where previous studies have been done are presented. The overall developments agree well and validations are presented in this paper.
Implication operators versus regression analysis: Application to time series data

This article constitutes a study which compares the performance of implication operators to that of linear regression (Ordinary Least Squares—OLS) method. the emphasis of this study is focused on advantages versus disadvantages of each method from the standpoint of practical application of the method. Thus both methods are applied to solve identical problems, and then both—the process of application as well as the consistency of results—are studied. For the purpose of testing the consistency of results, both methods are applied to several ranges of the time series data.1 As the research progressed, it became apparent that conceptual and theoretical advantages of implication operator methodologies over the regression methods2 are countered by the incompleteness of research in that area (of implication operators) as reflected by the unavailability of significance indicators. Thus, both methods have some advantages and some disadvantages. the methodology of implication operators has a potential to become the superior method of the two,3 once the research and development of these techniques is complete, and the problem of significance tests is solved. But until then, the preferred approach is to utilize both methods to extract maximum information about phenomena under investigation, and then to apply common sense to sort out and interpret the results. As a greater number of relevant but independent methods of analysis are applied to the investigation process, the results could either reinforce one another-if they at least approximately point in the same direction-or call for some caution in the case of contradictory outcome. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Association between asthma mortality and isoproterenol aerosols: A review

Abstract Alternative hypotheses explaining a worldwide epidemic of asthma deaths during the 1960s are reviewed and their comparative strengths are evaluated, not only according to how they fit the experimental, clinical, and pharmacologic evidence available, but also according to how consistently they explain both the international variations and the secular changes that were observed. Using data from six countries during 1962 through 1974, a multivariate regression analysis is applied to test hypotheses about the average relation of sales of aerosols containing sympathomimetics to the mortality attributed to asthma. Results point to an association between mortality and the per capita sales of a particularly strong dose preparation of isoproterenol aerosol in conjunction with misuse of the drug by patients in the period when the aerosols were first introduced.
Dissociative effects of true and false recall as a function of different encoding strategies

Goodwin, Meissner, and Ericsson (2001) proposed a path model in which elaborative encoding predicted the likelihood of verbalisation of critical, nonpresented words at encoding, which in turn predicted the likelihood of false recall. The present study tested this model of false recall experimentally with a manipulation of encoding strategy and the implementation of the process-tracing technique of protocol analysis. Findings indicated that elaborative encoding led to more verbalisations of critical items during encoding than rote rehearsal of list items, but false recall rates were reduced under elaboration conditions (Experiment 2). Interestingly, false recall was more likely to occur when items were verbalised during encoding than not verbalised (Experiment 1), and participants tended to reinstate their encoding strategies during recall, particularly after elaborative encoding (Experiment 1). Theoretical implications for the interplay of encoding and retrieval processes of false recall are discussed.
Medical applications of three-dimensional and four-dimensional laser scanning of facial morphology

Two-degrees offreedom laser scanning devices offer the advantage ofspeed in data acquisition over three-degrees offreedom devices. Data acquisition on patients especially children requires speed in data gathering instantaneous verification ofdata integrity and more than two degrees offreedom to adequately describe morphology. A technique to generate a pseudo-third degree of freedom scan will be presented. An additional benefit of the technique is the ability to compare data acquired at different times.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Preproenkephalin mRNA in T‐Cells, macrophages, and mast cells

The presence of preproenkephaline mRNA in tumor cell lines derived from myeloid and mast cells was analyzed by RNA dot blot hybridization. A B-cell lymphoma was negative for preproenkephalin mRNA, but several T-cell lymphomas were positive. A mastocytoma and two macrophage cell lines were found to have high levels of preproenkephalin mRNA. Purified natural macrophages and mast cells also possessed easily detectable levels of this mRNA.
Population Growth and Fertilizer Use: Ecological and Economic Consequences in Santa Cruz del Quiché, Guatemala

The population of Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala, has been growing rapidly in recent decades, thereby increasing the demand for agricultural land. Interviews and census data indicate that farmers...
Potentiation by deprenil of l-dopa induced circling in nigral-lesioned rats

Abstract l-Deprenil, a potent inhibitor of type B monoamine oxidase, was a weak inhibitor of 3 H-dopamine uptake as well as a weak releasing agent for previously accumulated 3 H-dopamine in rat neostriatal tissue slices. In similar experiments d-amphetamine was approximately 100 times as potent as l-deprenil as a releasing agent. When deprenil (20 mg/kg IP) was given to rats with a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the substantia nigra, it brought about a moderate but long-lasting ipsilateral rotational behavior. l-Dopa (20–40 mg/kg, IP) by itself caused a considerably stronger rotation in the opposite direction (contralateral). When l-dopa was given to rats 1 hr after l-deprenil, there was a considerably greater contralateral rotation than after l-dopa alone. Clorgyline, a type A monoamine oxidase inhibitor, which by itself at 20 mg/kg caused no rotation, also potentiated the contralateral rotation seen after l-dopa (5–20 mg/kg). In contrast, d-amphetamine, which by itself caused ipsilateral rotation, failed to potentiate the rotation after l-dopa. Possible mechanisms for these observations will be discussed.
Uneven Commercialization: Contradiction and Conflict in the Identity and Practices of American Universities

In this paper, drawing on magazines read by US academic leaders, we explore the spread of commercial language into the world of higher education. We ask whether commercial codes are taken for granted, considered routine, and common sense in academic settings. We develop a multidimensional approach, considering two practices, strategic planning and patenting, and two identities, consumer and product, which come from the world of commerce. We ask: to what extent does the university community considered commercial developments legitimate or illegitimate? In what ways has the legitimacy of commercial developments changed over time, and to what degree are different commercial developments embraced or rejected? Our analysis suggests that the commercialization of US higher education is a complicated, uneven, contradictory, contested, and multifaceted process, rather than a single monolithic outcome state. We find that the extent to which commercial practices and identities are viewed as legitimate varies across time, by institutional type, and by an actor’s social position. We also find that different commercial developments received different amounts of opposition. We use our analysis to contribute to recent thinking in the “new institutionalism” in organizational analysis and to ground our thoughts about political efforts to preserve certain qualities of higher education.
Three-dimensional ladar focal plane array development at Rockwell Scientific: an update

We have developed a three-dimensional (3D) imaging ladar focal plane array (FPA) for military and commercial applications. The FPA provides snap-shot, direct detection, high-resolution range and range-sampled intensity imaging capability on a single chip. The FPA is made of a 64x64 element, 100-μm pixel pitch detector array that is directly bump bonded to a matched CMOS based silicon readout integrated circuit (ROIC) with parallel ladar signal processing at each pixel. A room temperature, SWIR InGaAs detector variant for imaging near 1.5-μm wavelengths and a cooled MWIR HgCdTe detector variant for imaging near 3-μm to 5-μm wavelengths have been fabricated. We have built a prototype SWIR FPA, integrated it to a compact, transportable SWIR flash ladar transceiver, and collected initial range images outdoors. We present the measured performances of the detector, the readout, and the image data collected with the focal plane array.
TU‐D‐AUD C‐04: Response of An Implantable MOSFET Dosimeter to 192Ir HDR Radiation

Purpose: To characterize the response of implantable MOSFET dosimeters to 192 Ir HDR radiation.Method and Materials: Sicel Technologies, Inc. has developed an implantable MOSFETdetector that is read telemetrically by an inductively coupled antenna. All tests were performed in Virtual Water™ phantoms. To test detector response to dose rates near those delivered by 192 Ir HDR sources,detectors were irradiated at four SADs by a 60 Co source.Detector response to 60 Co relative to 192 Ir energies was tested by alternating fractions between 60 Co and 192 Ir . The effect of accumulated dose was tested with detectors at 3, 4, and 5 cm from an 192 Ir source. The rotational and longitudinal angular responses were tested by irradiating the dosimeters at varying orientations around the source.Results: Differences in detector response due to varying 60 Co dose rates were not statistically measurable. The detectors were more sensitive to 192 Ir than 60 Co energies, and demonstrated a nonlinear accumulated dose effect. This effect was characterized by three third‐order polynomials fit to data from detectors placed at three different distances from the source. The detectors have little angular dependence except when the detector is irradiated with the coil and electronics assembly aligned between the MOSFETs and incident radiation. This orientation causes a −15.3% difference in response. Conclusion: Dose rates between 22 and 84 cGy/min do not measurably affect detector response. The energy response and accumulated dose effect have been characterized. The angular response of the detectors is minimal except when the MOSFETs are irradiated through the coil and electronics assembly. This effect may be minimized by establishing proper orientation in implantation protocols. A calibration curve obtained with 192 Ir would allow the dosimeter to be used for absolute dose measurements with 192 Ir HDR radiation.Conflict of Interest: Funding for this research was provided in part by Sicel Technologies, Inc.
Legitimating Impotence: Pyrrhic Victories of the Modern Environmental Movement

The strengths and limitations of the modern environmental movement are assessed, using a contextual analysis, with a framework drawn from pragmatic analysis. Empirical summaries from recent policy-making supported by the movement: in community-based recycling, local toxic waste movements, and water pollution control document the fact that the movement has indeed developed some “sustainable resistance” in policy-making in the U.S. and at the Rio Conference. But it has also ignored those consequences of “environmental protection” which degrade the living conditions for many people of color and other low-income groups. The movement's failure to form enduring coalitions for linking environmental protection to social justice limits the movement's power, by permitting disempowered groups to be mobilized in opposition to environmental protection. We outline an alternative strategy, built around “sustainable legitimacy”, which will require changes in the composition and program of environmental movement organizations.
Early evaluation of directive-based GPU programming models for productive exascale computing

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)-based parallel computer architectures have shown increased popularity as a building block for high performance computing, and possibly for future Exascale computing. However, their programming complexity remains as a major hurdle for their widespread adoption. To provide better abstractions for programming GPU architectures, researchers and vendors have proposed several directive-based GPU programming models. These directive-based models provide different levels of abstraction, and required different levels of programming effort to port and optimize applications. Understanding these differences among these new models provides valuable insights on their applicability and performance potential. In this paper, we evaluate existing directive-based models by porting thirteen application kernels from various scientific domains to use CUDA GPUs, which, in turn, allows us to identify important issues in the functionality, scalability, tunability, and debuggability of the existing models. Our evaluation shows that directive-based models can achieve reasonable performance, compared to hand-written GPU codes.
Developing culturally congruent weight maintenance programs for African American church members

Objectives. Developing community-based and culturally congruent weight loss maintenance programs is an important component of weight reduction interventions in high-risk populations. This qualitative investigation was conducted to guide development of faith-based weight maintenance programs for African American church members. Design. Twenty African American church members who previously participated in a church-based group weight loss program were recruited to participate in focus groups. This qualitative inquiry focused on the role of faith in maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as healthy eating and regular physical activity. Within these groups, a nominal group process was used to identify activities and language to be included within a faith-based maintenance program. Results. Content analysis identified seven conceptual domains that participants thought were important aspects of a faith-based weight maintenance program: (1) accountability for change targets, (2) programmatic tools, (3) gro...
The use of successive blood-pressure measurements to estimate blood-pressure variability.

Multiple daily, self-determined blood-pressure measurements were obtained from 254 hypertensive patients for 1 month. In an effort to establish a practical and reliable technique for estimating blood-pressure variability, standard deviations from three (at one time of day) or nine (throughout the day) successive self-determinations were compared with a reference value, taken to be the standard deviation for the entire month (252 determinations per subject). Neither the standard deviation of three measures taken on one occasion nor that of nine measures taken throughout the day correlated well with the reference value (average R3 = .21 for SBP, .20 for DBP; average R9 = .39 for SBP, .38 for DBP). However, when a sample consisting of 12 measures (taken three at a time, at the same time of day, weekly for 4 weeks) was used, the average correlation rose to .60 for SBP and .54 for DBP. Thus, it appears that 12 samples taken in this way provide a reliable estimate of the standard deviation for an entire month, and it is suggested that this sampling technique also would enhance the reliability of conclusions drawn from assessments of the prognostic value of blood-pressure variability.
First‐Year Survival and Growth of Steelhead Stocked as Fry in Lewis Creek, Vermont

Abstract The survival and growth of juvenile steelhead (Salmo gairdneri) stocked in Lewis Creek, Vermont were investigated in 1980 and 1981. Steelhead stocked in May 1980 as fry at rates of 84 per 100-m 2 unit, and 176 per unit occurred in October at densities of 9-18 and 19 per unit, respectively. The mean density 1 year after stocking was 4 per unit, or 4% of the number of fry originally stocked. The high losses between October and the following May might have resulted from unusual weather conditions and some downstream movement in the spring. At the lower stocking density, mortality was high during the first month following release, low during the rest of the growing season, and high over the winter. Numbers declined more slowly during the growing season in the section stocked at 176 per unit. However, the resulting density and biomass in October and the following May were similar to that observed within the area stocked at 84 per unit. By the end of the growing season, the average length, weight, and ...
On tailoring a strategic planning system to its context: Some empirical evidence

Based on a survey of 111 senior executives this study finds that tailoring a firm's strategic planning system to its context is not a popular practice, despite its presumed importance. Moreover, the lack of fit between a firm's strategic planning system and its context appears to be inconsequential to how managers rate their planning systems. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Variable emissivity plates under a three-dimensional sky background

The infrared exitance of steel plates with several emissivities are modeled using PRISM 3.0 and LOWTRAN7 under sky backgrounds representative of Middle East desert conditions in the summer. LOWTRAN7 is used to calculate the downward thermal radiance of a desert haze atmosphere with multiple scattering. PRISM 3.0 incorporates the results from LOWTRAN7 into annular rings that represent the temperature gradiant of the sky dome and predicts the apparent temperature of the plates in the 8 to 14 micron band. This study is part of a preliminary look at the issue of passive low observable technology for application to ground vehicles and an illustration of state-of-the-art computer-based background modeling and thermal simulation.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Competitive hybridization with brain RNA fails to confirm new RNA induced by learning.

MUCH circumstantial evidence implicates protein and RNA synthesis in memory consolidation and increasing interest in work directed toward elucidating the macromolecular chemical processes underlying learning1,2. A derepression model has been advocated by Bonner3, who also suggested a method by which the model might be tested. Newly induced RNA molecules would be gene products, present in the brains of learning animals but not naive animals, and they should be able to be pulse labelled and detected by competitive hybridization experiments.
Carbon dioxide regime, species identity and influence of species initial abundance as determinants of change in stand biomass composition in five-species communities: an investigation using a simplex design and RGRD analysis

Summary 1 The effect of elevated CO2 on species’ performance was investigated in communities composed of five annual weeds that are characteristic of early old field succession in central Europe: Centaurea cyanus L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Silene noctiflora L., Papaver rhoeas L. and Legousia speculum-veneris (L.) Chaix. 2 The experiment was based on a simplex design, repeated at two overall levels of initial stand density, to give a wide range of five-species communities across which the initial composition and species abundance varied systematically. 3 A multivariate method, based on analysing the differences in relative growth rates (RGRD) between pairs of species, was extended for use with more than two species, in order to assess the relative importance of various determinants of change in stand biomass composition. 4 On average, Centaurea (54.6% of final yield) gave the highest yield, followed by Matricaria (22.9%), Silene (16.9%), Legousia (3.1%) and Papaver (2.7%). 5 The major determinants of change in community structure were species identity and CO2 level. Elevated CO2 significantly changed community composition towards the previously more poorly performing species Silene, Legousia and Papaver. 6 Despite strong effects of intra- and interspecific competition on individual species performance, species’ initial abundance had relatively little impact on the change in community composition. Most cases where such effects were significant involved Silene: performance of Papaver was poorer in communities with higher initial presence of Silene and higher initial abundances of Centaurea and Matricaria always facilitated performance of Silene. 7 These new methods proved a powerful system for identifying the biotic and abiotic factors determining change in biomass composition in multispecies communities.
Clozapine: balancing safety with superior antipsychotic efficacy.

Clozapine is often referred to as the gold standard for the treatment of schizophrenia and yet has also been described as the most underutilized treatment for schizophrenia supported by solid evidence-based medicine. In 2008, it was used to treat only 4.4% of patients with schizophrenia in the U.S., which is ~10–20% of those with approved indications for clozapine for which there is no alternative of equal efficacy. Its use is much higher in Scandinavian countries and China. The primary indications for clozapine are: 1) treatment-resistant schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, defined as persistent moderate to severe delusions or hallucinations despite two or more clinical trials with other antipsychotic drugs; and, 2) patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who are at high risk for suicide. Concerns over a number of safety considerations are responsible for much of the underutilization of clozapine: 1) agranulocytosis; 2) metabolic side effects; and, 3) myocarditis. These side effects can be detected, prevented, minimized and treated, but there will be a very small number of fatalities. Nevertheless, clozapine has been found in two large epidemiologic studies to have the lowest mortality of any antipsychotic drug, mainly due to its very large effect to reduce the risk for sui cide. Other reasons for limited use of clozapine include the extra effort entailed in monitoring white blood cell counts to detect granulocytopenia or agranulocytosis and, possibly, minimal efforts to market it now that it is largely generic. Awareness of the benefits and risks of clozapine is essential for increasing the use of this lifesaving agent.
Real-space calculations of nonspherically averaged charge densities for substitutionally disordered alloys.

Based on screening transformations of muffin-tin orbitals introduced by Andersen et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 53, 2571 (1984)], we have developed a formalism for calculating the non-spherically averaged charge densities of substitutionally disordered alloys using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent potential approximation (KKR CPA) method in the atomic-sphere approximation (ASA). We have validated our method by calculating charge densities for ordered structures, where we find that our approach yields charge densities that are essentially indistinguishable from the results of full-potential methods. For substitutionally disordered alloys, where full-potential methods have not been implemented so far, our approach can be used to calculate reliable non-spherically averaged charge densities from spherically symmetric one-electron potentials obtained from the KKR-ASA CPA. We report on our study of differences in charge density between ordered AlLi in L10 phase and substitutionally disordered Al 0.5 Li 0.5 on a face-centered cubic lattice.
Robustness of covariance controllers for discrete systems

Many types of performance and stability robustness are shown to be directly related to properties of the closed-loop covariance matrix. Such robustness properties include: robustness to uncertain disturbances, to uncertain structured parameters, to uncertain unstructured parameters, and to L/sub infinity / performance requirements. Covariance controllers assign a specified covariance matrix to the closed-loop system. Hence, they can deliver a prescribed degree of robustness with respect to disturbance rejection and structured and unstructured parameter changes. >
Behavior of laminated orthotropic viscoelastic plates.

T date, much of the work on viscoelasticity has been devoted to isotropic viscoelastic materials. The principal solution technique for solving viscoelastic problems is the correspondence principle, which is an analogy between the viscoelastic and the equivalent elastic problems. Alfrey employed this technique by setting up an analogy using separation of variables. Additional analogies based on this mathematical method have been given by Tsien and Hilton et al.' Analogies predicated on integral transforms have been presented by Read (Fourier) and Lee (Laplace). In using integral transforms, the transformed viscoelastic material properties are substituted into an equivalent elastic solution and inversion of this solution is needed to recover the time-dependent viscoelastic response. Sternberg has extended the transform analogy to treat thermal effects in homogeneous, isotropic bodies. Isotropic viscoelastic plate and shell problems have also received some attention; e.g., Mase considered the flexural response of plates subjected to both quasi-static and dynamic loads ; Pister studied a viscoelastic plate resting on a viscoelastic subgrade; Naghdi and Orthwein gave the response of shallow shells under axisymmetric loads; and Tang investigated the response of a cylindrical shell under moving loads. Anisotropic viscoelasticity has received considerably less attention. Biot extended the correspondence principle to treat anisotropic viscoelastic problems. Hilton and Dong gave a similar analogy and discussed the infeasibility of separation of the operational constitutive laws into volumetric and deviatoric parts as is normally done in isotropic viscoelasticity. In this note, the governing equations for the extension and flexure of laminated orthotropic viscoelastic plates are developed. The primary dependent variables are taken to be the components of the reference surface displacement vector. Specialization of the theory to homogeneous plates is made. In connection with the case of homogeneous orthotropic plates, the quasi-static as well as the dynamic flexural response will be given. Well-known plate solution techniques are employed. Fig. 1 Diagram of the laminated plate.
Characterizing measurability, distribution and weak convergence of random variables in a Banach space by total subsets of linear functionals☆

Consider a generalized random variable X assuming values in a Banach space X with conjugate space X∗. For separable or reflexive X the measurability, probability distribution, and other properties of X are characterized in terms of a collection of real random variables {a∗(X) : a∗ ∈ A} and their linear combinations, where A is a total subset of X∗, i.e., A distinguishes points of X. Convergence in distribution of a sequence {Xn} is characterized in terms of uniform convergence of finite-dimensional distributions formed from {x∗(Xn) : x∗ ∈ X∗} (for X separable) or from {a∗(Xn) : a∗ ∈ A} (for X separable and reflexive). These results extend earlier ones known for the special cases A = X∗ or X = C[0, 1]. The proofs are based on theorems of Banach, Krein, and Smulian characterizing the weak∗ closure of a convex set in X∗. An application to random Fourier series is given.
Avian osteoclasts as estrogen target cells.

Abstract Although in vivo effects of 17 beta-estradiol (estrogen) on bone turnover have been shown to occur mainly through influences on osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, the mechanism by which estrogen reduces bone resorption is unclear. To approach this question, we have examined authentic osteoclasts for evidence of a direct osteoclast response to estrogen in vitro. Highly purified (greater than (90%) viable avian osteoclasts from birds maintained on a low calcium diet were obtained using an osteoclast-specific monoclonal antibody coupled to magnetic beads. Isolated cells were either analyzed directly for estrogen receptor (ER) levels or cultured to assess the biological effects of estrogen. Northern blot analysis revealed a 5.2-kilobase mRNA that hybridized with a cDNA to human ER mRNA in the osteoclasts. An anti-human ER antibody recognized proteins of 66 kDa and 140 kDa in osteoclast extracts by Western blot analysis. The 66-kDa size is in close agreement with the reported size of the human ER. Nuclear binding of estrogen to intact viable osteoclasts was steroid-specific and saturable, with 5662 +/- 1420 molecules bound per nucleus (mean +/- SEM). In vitro estrogen responses in osteoclasts included a dose-dependent decrease in resorption as well as an increase in nuclear protooncogene mRNA levels. These observations indicate that osteoclasts are capable of directly responding to estrogen in vivo.
Reflections on the Vocation of a Religious Educator.

This article is the author’s reflection on forty years as a religious educator. Vocation reveals itself to be the distinctive life and work of an individual in so far as it contributes to the service of others in community and society. Vocation has both an individual and a social meaning; it can be viewed in religious or secular terms. It is characterized by commitment, sacrifice service, and passionate devotion. Through a number of scenarios, the author’s vocation is revealed in a number of distinctive ways: instructor and spiritual guide, adult educator, critical pedagogue, builder of faith sharing communities, social educator, mentor, and loving friend.
FOOD STAMPS, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES AND FOOD HARDSHIPS IN THREE AMERICAN CITIES

We examine how participation in the Food Stamp and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Programs is associated with self-reported household food hardships, using data from a longitudinal survey of low-income families living in Boston, Chicago and San Antonio. In addition to the measures of hardships and program participation, the survey includes measures of income, wealth, social resources, disability, physical health and family structure, measures that help us to account for selection between recipient and non-recipient households. For our multivariate analyses, we estimate multiple indicator multiple cause models that are modified to incorporate discrete outcome variables and to account for longitudinal data. Estimates from these models reveal that participation in the Food Stamp Program is associated with fewer food hardships, while participation in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program has no detectable association with hardships.
Modification of gastrointestinal symptoms following irradiation by low dose rate technique

Tolerance of patients receiving 1000 rad total body irradiation at the low dose rate of 5 rad/min prior to bone marrow transplantation is presented. The striking gastrointestinal tolerance is stressed and, as a result of this experience, results in five patients with ovarian carcinoma receiving total abdominal irradiation with similar low dose rate irradiation are presented. Possible explanations for these results are presented and other potential applications of this technique are suggested.
Half-life of 254Es

Abstract The half-life of the 254Es ground state was measured by following the decay of the daughter 250Bk (3·1 hr) γ-rays in radioactive equilibrium with 254Es. An isotopically enriched 254Es sample was used and the γ-rays were counted with a high resolution 25 cm3 Ge(Li) spectrometer. 137Cs activity, fixed to the 254Es sample, was used as an internal calibration source to correct for the variations in the source-to-detector geometry. The decay of the γ-ray spectrum was followed for 2 yr. A least-squares fit to the areas of the 989·0 and (1028·6 + 1031·8) keV photopeaks gave a half-life of 275·7 ± 0·5 d for 254Es.
Synthesis of thiol-clickable and block copolypeptide brushes via nickel-mediated surface initiated polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs).

We describe the synthesis of homo-, block, and clickable copolypeptide brushes from low surface area substrates using nickel-mediated surface-initiated polymerization of α-aminoN-carboxyanhydrides.
The interdependence of physical parameters for infrared transmitting glasses

Abstract Glasses based on sulfur and selenium were carefully characterized to establish the interdependence between chemical composition and the magnitudes of physical parameters related to their use as infrared optical materials. Parameters considered in this paper are density, volume-expansion coefficient, glass-transition temperature, thermal conductivity, elastic moduli, and Poisson's ratio.
Preimplantation genetic analysis of translocations: case-specific probes for interphase cell analysis

Carriers of balanced translocations show an increased risk of infertility and spontaneous abortions, because of errors in gametogenesis, and constitute a significant fraction of patients seeking assisted reproduction. The objective of this study was to design approaches for preimplantation diagnosis of chromosome translocations and to apply such techniques to the selection of chromosomally normal or balanced embryos prior to their transfer to the mother’s womb. Three slightly different approaches were assessed by means of chromosome-specific, non-isotopically labeled DNA probes and an assay based on fluorescence in situ hybridization- to score and characterize chromosomes in single blastomeres biopsied from embryos on their third day of development. The three approaches were used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis involving four couples who had enrolled in our IVF program and in which one of the partners was a carrier of one of the following translocations: 46,XX,t(12;20)(p13.1;q13.3), 46,XY,t(3;4) (p24;p15), 45,XY,der(14;15)(10q;10q), and 46,XY,t(6;11) (p22.1;p15.3). A total of 33 embryos were analyzed, of which 25 (75.8%) were found to be either unbalanced or otherwise chromosomally abnormal. Only a single embryo could be transferred to patients A and D, whereas three embryos were transferred to patient B in a total of two IVF cycles. Transfer of two embryos to patient C resulted in an ongoing pregnancy. Re-analysis of non-transferred embryos with additional probes confirmed the initial results in 95% (20/21) of the cases. In conclusion, case-specific translocation tests can be applied to any translocation carrier for the selection of normal or chromosomally balanced embryos prior to embryo transfer. This is expected significantly to increase the success rates in IVF cycles of translocation carriers, while preventing the spontaneous abortion or birth of abnormal offspring.
The repair paradigm and application to conservation laws

Repair is a conservative, post-processing procedure to be used in numerical methods for hyperbolic conservation laws in order to preserve certain qualitative characteristics of the numerical solution, such as positivity of density and internal energy, by means of redistribution of conserved quantities such as mass, momentum and total energy among the cells of the mesh. In this paper we describe the repair paradigm and prove several theorems which form a theoretical foundation for the repair procedures. We consider two applications of repair and present corresponding numerical results. The first application deals with improving properties of the remapping (conservative interpolation) stage of arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) methods for the gas dynamics equations, in which the solution is conservatively transferred from one mesh to another. One requirement for remapping is that the interpolated density and internal energy on the new mesh have to stay positive. Another desirable property is that the remapping procedure should not create new extrema for the velocity field. For various reasons these properties may not be satisfied, especially for high-order methods. Repair plays a supplemental role by bringing gas dynamics quantities into physically justified bounds. Another application of repair is to improve the quality of numerical methods for advection of some scalar tracer field with prescribed divergence-free velocity field, in which case the advection equation can be written as a conservation law, and therefore the total amount of tracer is conserved. We show how the repair procedure allows us to reduce oscillations in a numerical solution obtained by a formally high-order method. Repair offers an alternative to more classical methods of reducing oscillations and maintaining positivity.
High-density nuclear matter with nonlocal confining solitons

An infinite system of nonlocal, individually confining solitons is considered as a model of high-density nuclear matter. The soliton-lattice problem is discussed in the Wigner-Seitz approximation. The cell size is varied to study the density dependence of physical quantities of interest. A transition to a system where quarks can migrate between solitons is found. We argue that this signals quark deconfinement. The model is applied to the calculation of selected in-medium properties.
On the Design of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine for Use in Rural Communities

The paper describes the design specifications for a hand built wind turbine that is optimally used in regions such as North East China. The authors have developed a design for a home sized wind turbine. A region with some of the highest wind speeds in the world, North East Jilin is an ideal site for vertical axis wind power. Because of its ability to generate power best in high winds, a Darrieus-type turbine is the modified and tested design. Since it is low to the ground, it can be raised and lowered for maintenance and repair without need of expensive equipment or cranes. The design employs a direct drive shaft that can attach to a water pump, an air compressor, or a car alternator. In this way the owner of the turbine can pump water, compress air, or generate electricity depending on personal need. The turbine was designed considering probable implementation locations, and therefore all materials and fabrication techniques are easily accessible by the rural Chinese. The turbine was constructed and raised, and testing was begun.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
MYSTERY OF CALLISTO : IS IT UNDIFFERENTIATED ?

Abstract The Galileo-determined moment-of-inertia factor for Callisto of 0.406 ± 0.039 (1σ) is consistent with only a small amount of ice–rock differentiation (
Competency champions in the clinical competency committee: a successful strategy to implement milestone evaluations and competency coaching.

Objectives To create a clinical competency committee (CCC) that (1) centers on the competency-based milestones, (2) is simple to implement, (3) creates competency expertise, and (4) guides remediation and coaching of residents who are not progressing in milestone performance evaluations. Design We created a CCC that meets monthly and at each meeting reviews a resident class for milestone performance, a competency (by a faculty competency champion), a resident rotation service, and any other resident or issue of concern. Setting University surgical residency program. Participants The CCC members include the program director, associate program directors, director of surgical curriculum, competency champions, departmental chair, 2 at-large faculty members, and the administrative chief residents. Results Seven residents were placed on remediation (later renamed as coaching) during the academic year after falling behind on milestone progression in one or more competencies. An additional 4 residents voluntarily placed themselves on remediation for medical knowledge after receiving in-training examination scores that the residents (not the CCC membership) considered substandard. All but 2 of the remediated/coached residents successfully completed all area milestone performance but some chose to stay on the medical knowledge competency strategy. Conclusions Monthly meetings of the CCC make milestone evaluation less burdensome. In addition, the expectations of the residents are clearer and more tangible. “Competency champions” who are familiar with the milestones allow effective coaching strategies and documentation of clear performance improvements in competencies for successful completion of residency training. Residents who do not reach appropriate milestone performance can then be placed in remediation for more formal performance evaluation. The function of our CCC has also allowed us opportunity to evaluate the required rotations to ensure that they offer experiences that help residents achieve competency performance necessary to be safe and effective surgeons upon completion of training.
Gastrobronchial fistula : An unusual complication of Nissen fundoplication

Gastrobronchial fistula is a rare complication of antireflux surgery. Presentation can be subacute, with only productive cough. Endoscopy often fails to visualize these fistulae. Barium in the bronchial tree during postoperative upper gastrointestinal series is diagnostic, but can be confused with that appearing due to aspiration. Every case reported after antireflux surgery has followed intrathoracic Nissen fundoplication.
Redox reactions between oxomolybdenum(IV) and tetratolylporphinatoiron(III) complexes

Abstract The coupling of an Mo VI O 2 →Mo IV O oxygen atom transfer reaction to a one-electron reoxidation of the resulting Mo(IV) center by an Fe(III) porphyrin center has been investigated in an attempt to model the first two redox steps in the catalytic cycle of the enzyme sulfite oxidase. Reaction of LMo VI O 2 Cl (L=hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate) with excess tri-phenylphosphine in DMF rapidly and cleanly generates LMo IV OCl(DMF). This Mo(IV) species reacts more slowly with Fe III Cl(TTP) (TTP=tetratolylporphyrin) to give LMo V OCl 2 and Fe II (TTP) as the final products. The kinetics of this one-electron redox reaction have been followed by electronic spectroscopy and by 1 H NMR. The reaction is zero-order in Fe(III), first-order in Mo(IV), and independent of added chloride ion. The first-order rate constant determined by these methods ranged from 1.7−4.6×10 −5 s −1 . An inner-sphere (halogen transfer) mechanism is shown to be most consistent with the data.
Limitations of Transient Seepage Analyses for Calculating Pore Pressures during External Water Level Changes

AbstractExternal water level variations, such as rapid drawdown or flood loading, change the internal pore pressures in an embankment as a result of changes in the boundary conditions. Three different effects result: (1) changes in water pressure on the slope change the seepage boundary conditions, (2) changes in the total stress applied by the weight of the water on the slope change the confining pressure on the soil, and (3) changes in the stabilizing load from the reservoir cause changes in shear stress. Uncoupled transient seepage analyses, which consider only the first effect, are increasingly being advocated as an appropriate means to calculate pore pressures for effective stress stability analyses following water level changes. This paper discusses the limitations of uncoupled transient seepage analyses for calculating pore pressures during drawdown, explains the requirements for more appropriate analyses, and gives examples that show the errors incumbent on the use of uncoupled analyses.
Reactive Oxygen Species and Colorectal Cancer

Several agents used for treatment of colon and other cancers induce reactive oxygen species (ROS), and this plays an important role in their anticancer activities. In addition to the well-known proapoptotic effects of ROS inducers, these compounds also decrease expression of specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 and several prooncogenic Sp-regulated genes important for cancer cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. The mechanism of these responses involves ROS-dependent downregulation of miR-27a or miR-20a (and paralogs) and induction of two Sp repressors, ZBTB10 and ZBTB4, respectively. This pathway significantly contributes to the anticancer activity of ROS inducers and should be considered in the development of drug combinations for cancer chemotherapy.
ac susceptibility measurements and the irreversibility line of high-temperature superconductors.

The irreversibility line for high-temperature superconductors has been reported in the literature both from dc magnetization measurements and from ac susceptibility measurements. The latter, determined from the temperature of the peak of the absorptive component of the susceptibility, are controversial because the magnetic-field-energy absorption can be interpreted in different ways