cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultra-low-mass flexible planar solar arrays using 50-micron-thick solar cells

A conceptual design study has been completed which has shown the feasibility of ultra-low-mass planar solar arrays with specific power of 200 watts/kilogram. The beginning of life (BOL) power output of the array designs would be 10 kW at 1 astronomical unit (AU) and a 55C deg operating temperature. Two designs were studied: a retractable rollout design and a non-retractable fold-out. The designs employed a flexible low-mass blanket and low-mass structures. The blanket utilized 2 x 2 cm high-efficiency (13.5% at 28C deg AM0), ultra-thin (50 micron), silicon solar cells protected by thin (75 micron) plastic encapsulants. The structural design utilized the 'V'-stiffened approach which allows a lower mass boom to be used. In conjunction with the conceptual design, modules using the thin cells and plastic encapsulant were designed and fabricated.
Estimating population abundance of ground squirrels (genus Spermophilus): A review

A variety of techniques are available for estimating the abundance of ground squirrels. These methods can be classified as censuses, relative and absolute density estimates, and mark-recapture methods. At least several methods from each category have been used to estimate ground squirrel densities. There is no one method that is better than others. Instead, a large number of sampling methods are needed to match the variety of research needs in terms of economics, manpower, time, and ecological conditions.
Factors affecting synchronization and conception rate after the Ovsynch protocol in lactating Holstein cows.

Contents Objectives were to evaluate risk factors affecting ovulatory responses and conception rate to the Ovsynch protocol. Holstein cows, 466, were submitted to the Ovsynch protocol [day 0, GnRH-1; day 7, prostaglandin (PG) F2α; day 9, GnRH-2] and 103 cows were inseminated 12 h after GnRH-2. Information on parity, days in milk at GnRH-1, body condition, milk yield, exposure to heat stress, pre-synchronization with PGF2α and the use of progesterone insert from GnRH-1 to PGF2α was collected. Ovaries were scanned to determine responses to treatments. Overall, 54.7%, 10.6%, 2.2%, 81.1%, 9.0%, 91.5% and 36.9% of the cows ovulated to GnRH-1, multiple ovulated to GnRH-1, ovulated before GnRH-2, ovulated to GnRH-2, multiple ovulated to GnRH-2, experienced corpus luteum (CL) regression and conceived, respectively. Ovulation to GnRH-1 was greater in cows without a CL at GnRH-1, cows with follicles >19 mm and cows not pre-synchronized with PGF2α 14 days before GnRH-1. Multiple ovulations to GnRH-1 increased in cows without CL at GnRH-1 and cows with follicles ≤19 mm at GnRH-1. Ovulation before GnRH-2 was greater in cows without CL at PGF2α. Ovulation to GnRH-2 increased in cows that received a progesterone insert, cows with a CL at GnRH-1, cows with follicles not regressing from the PGF2α to GnRH-2, cows with larger follicles at GnRH-2, cows that ovulated to GnRH-1 and cows not pre-synchronized. Multiple ovulations after GnRH-2 increased in cows with no CL at GnRH-1, multiparous cows and cows that multiple ovulated to GnRH-1. Conception rate at 42 days after AI increased in cows with body condition score > 2.75 and cows that ovulated to GnRH-2. Strategies that optimize ovulation to GnRH-2, such as increased ovulation to GnRH-1, should improve response to the Ovsynch protocol.
Phenotype and distribution of T lymphocytes in Peyer's patches of athymic mice.

The distribution and phenotype of T (Thy-1.2−) cells was examined in Peyer's patches of 8 and 16 week old athymic mice by peroxidase and two-color-fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Despite the generally recognized T cell deficiency of nude mice, some T cells consistently occurred in Peyer's patch domes in all mice. However, many Thy-1.2+ lymphocytes lacked cell surface markers for either helper T cells (L3T4) or cytotoxic/suppressor T cells (Lyt-2), indicating that these cells may be an immature subset of T cells. These cells may represent a population of resident T cell precursors delayed in maturation or T cells newly immigrated to Peyer's patches.
Hardware/software codesign in a compact ion mobility spectrometer sensor systemfor subsurface contaminant detection

A field-programmable-gate-array-(FPGA-) based data acquisition and control system was designed in a hardware/software code-sign environment using an embedded Xilinx Microblaze soft-core processor for use with a subsurface ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) system, designed for detection of gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). An FPGA is used to accelerate the digital signal processing algorithms and provide accurate timing and control. An embedded soft-core processor is used to ease development by implementing nontime critical portions of the design in software. The design was successfully implemented using a low-cost, off-the-shelf Xilinx Spartan-III FPGA and supporting digital and analog electronics.
An Algorithm for Robust Inference for the Cox Model with Frailties

Abstract This article proposes a robust method of statistical inference for the Cox's proportional hazards model with frailties. We use the Metropolis—Hastings algorithm and the bootstrap method. We present a computationally efficient algorithm with a customized data structure to implement this method and demonstrate this technique with real data.
Recent advances: HIV infection-II

Despite recent impressive advances in antiretroviral therapy and the hope they bring for further delaying the onset of AIDS and even for cure of HIV infection, we are left with the need to prevent and treat the opportunistic complications that come with a diagnosis of AIDS. Worldwide, most people infected with HIV do not have access to antiretroviral drugs or to treatment and prophylaxis for many of the complications of HIV infection. In the developing world, therefore, prevention of HIV infection is receiving attention. This article summarises some recent advances in the aetiology, treatment, and prophylaxis of the opportunistic complications of HIV infection as well as progress in HIV prevention in the developing world. The spectrum of opportunistic infections depends on geography. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, for example, is common in the developed world, but not in Africa, where tuberculosis is by far the most common opportunistic problem.1 Penicillium marneffei infection has recently emerged as a major opportunistic mycosis in northern Thailand,2 and visceral leishmaniasis occurs in several parts of the Mediterranean and Latin America.3 The profile of opportunistic infections has changed since the beginning of the epidemic. In the developed world, survival has improved with the availability of antiretrovirals and prophylactic agents,4 and the opportunistic infections that occur with more advanced immunosuppression, such as cytomegalovirus retinitis and Mycobacterium avium complex infections have become more common.5 6 Furthermore, many opportunistic infections seem to be occurring at lower CD4 counts than earlier in the epidemic,7 highlighting again the successes of prophylactic measures and antiretroviral agents. In 1995, the US Public Health Service published comprehensive guidelines for the prophylaxis of infections in people infected with HIV.8 Prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, tuberculosis, and toxoplasmosis have already been established as important measures that are highly cost effective. …
Imagining Inoculation: Smallpox, the Body, and Social Relations of Healing in the Eighteenth Century

People in colonial New York adopted inoculation for smallpox as quickly and as thoroughly as did people anywhere in the British Atlantic world. Such adoption was not dependent upon the authority of formal medicine, but rather upon everyday epistemology. Inoculation became accepted as local knowledge because ordinary New Yorkers integrated it imaginatively into common ideas about the body and disease, reconceptualized its theological meaning, and incorporated it into familiar social relations of healing.
Sociopolitical Consequences of Organizational Expression

Exploiter les pratiques de communication externe des organisations peut elargir la comprehension du role des organisations dans la societe, et des relations entre organisations et autres interets sociaux, particulierement en periode de changement social. Cet article rapporte une analyse de propos d'un journal relatant un conflit entre deux membres d'une grande administration publique aux Etats-Unis. Selon les comptes rendus de la presse, le chef de l'organisme implique dans l'affaire a essaye de controler la communication externe d'un membre du personnel de l'organisme, dote d'une reputation notoire d'integrite, en le presentant uniquement sous un jour d'opposant organisationnel. Les efforts du chef pour limiter l'autonomie d'expression de cet employe provoquerent une opposition exterieure repandue envers le responsable et presenterent cette opposition socio-politique comme seul moyen d'inflechir la position du chef de l'organisme en le forcant a annuler ses actions et a reinstaurer les droits et statuts du membre du personnel dans leur integralite. Cette etude souligne l'importance d'une meilleure specification du caractere institutionnel des oganisations en interaction avec leur environnement social
Mitigating Monopoly or Preventing Discrimination: Comparing Antitrust to Regulatory Goals in the Interstate Commerce Act

The Interstate Commerce Act and Sherman Antitrust Act were passed within 3 years of each other. Although regulation and antitrust both address market power, the ICA and Sherman Act had different objectives. After a minimal reference to just and reasonable prices, the ICA focused on preventing price discrimination in rail. No posited Sherman Act goal—inequality, consumer welfare, efficiency—is in the ICA. Priority of discrimination in the ICA, however, is predictable. Shippers would care less about absolute rates—which can be passed on to final consumers—and more about preventing rivals from gaining advantages through input price discounts.
Smart fabric adaptive stiffness for active vibration absorbers

Unconstrained magnetorheological-elastomers (MRE) experience a stiffness increase and elastomeric deformation in response to an applied magnetic field. An MRE consists of ferromagnetic particles dispersed in a host elastomer matrix. This study considers whether the stiffness change of MRE springs is due to magnetic particle-to-particle interactions or to elastomer deformation. If the stiffening is attributable to magnetic particle interaction, then it should occur even in the absence of the elastomer. To test this hypothesis, a smart fabric consisting of low-carbon steel thread in one direction and nonmagnetic thread in the other was created. Two extension springs were placed in parallel with this smart fabric, and placed in between two iron masses. An electromagnet coil wound about one of the masses provided the source of magnetic field across the smart fabric. The frequency response of the device was measured when the coil was driven by a DC current, at 0.5 Amp increments, from 0 to 4. The device exhibited a 33% increase in stiffness at 4 Amps compared to the stiffness at 0 Amps. While this shift is not as large as shifts observed in MREs, the design was not optimized for iron content, and only had a 0.6% iron content.
Implicit Integration in Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation is a versatile methodology that has found many applications in materials science, chemistry and biology. In biology, the models employed range from mixed quantum mechanical and fully atomistic to united atom and continuum mechanical. These systems are evolved in discrete time by solving Newton’s equations of motion at each time step. The numerical methods currently in use limit the step size of a typical all atom simulation to 1 femtosecond. This step size limitation means that many steps need to be taken in order to reach biologically relevant time scales. At each time step, an evaluation of the forces on each atom must be performed resulting in heavy computational loads. This work investigates the use of implicit integration methods in MD. Implicit integration methods have been proven superior to their explicit counterparts in classical mechanical simulation, with which MD has many similarities. Longer time steps reduce the number of force evaluations that must be performed and the corresponding computational load. Herein we present results that compare implicit integration techniques with the current standard for molecular dynamics, the explicit velocity Verlet integration scheme. Total energy conservation is used as a metric for evaluating the dependability of simulations in the microcanonical ensemble. In order to understand the nature of the problem, several long simulations were run and analyzed by performing a Fourier analysis on the position, velocity and acceleration signals. Lastly, several methods for improving the viability of implicit integration methods are considered including replacing the Jacobian used in the Quasi-Newton method with a constant, diagonal mass matrix, evaluating the Jacobian infrequently and finding a better prediction of the system configuration to improve the convergence of the Quasi-Newton method.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
On Some Artinian QF-3 Rings

Carl Faith in 2003 introduced and investigated an interesting class of rings over which every cyclic right module has Σ-injective injective hull (abbr., right CSI-rings) [5]. Inspired by this we investigate rings over which every cyclic right R-module has a projective Σ-injective injective hull. We show that a ring R satisfies this condition if and only if R is right artinian, the injective hull of R R is projective and every simple right R-module is embedded in R R . We also characterize right artinian rings in terms of injective faithful right ideals and right CSI-rings.
Zinc induced apoptosis in bone marrow and splenic B-lineage lymphocytes of the mouse

Abstract Recently, our lab discovered that moderate concentrations of zinc could induce apoptosis in CD4 + CD8 + TCR lo murine thymocytes. To determine if B-lineage lymphocytes demonstrated similar sensitivity, bone marrow and splenic B-lymphocytes were treated with zinc at a concentration range of 100 to 200 μM for 8 hrs and analyzed by flow cytometry for apoptotic death in the B220 + IgM − and B220 + IgM + subsets of the bone marrow and the IgM + and IgG + subsets of the spleen. B220 + IgM + B-lineage cells in the bone marrow and IgM + B-cells in the spleen were found to be most susceptible exhibiting 38% and 25% levels of zinc-induced apoptosis. B220 + IgM − bone marrow B-lineage cells and IgG + B-cells in the spleen were found to be less sensitive to zinc treatment than IgM-bearing cells. Thus, it is possible that zinc might initiate apoptosis in some cells of the immune system due to fluxes of the metal in cells or the presence of intracellular pools of zinc.
Measuring follower confidence in top leadership direction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to define the construct of confidence in top leadership and to develop a brief measure of that construct.Design/methodology/approach – Two studies were conducted in which 674 working adults completed measures of work‐related attitudes. In both studies, the scale demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity with like and unrelated constructs.Findings – The results provide evidence for the construct validity of the new measure.Research limitations/implications – Respondents were relatively young and drawn predominantly from a working student population in a single region of the USA. Additional research should be conducted with additional working populations, especially in the context of addressing organizational change.Practical implications – The short five‐item scale would be useful as a diagnostic tool for assessing the confidence of organizational members in their top leadership.Originality/value – This study supports a concept, confidence in top leadership, t...
The aurora kinases in cell cycle and leukemia

The Aurora kinases, which include Aurora A (AURKA), Aurora B (AURKB) and Aurora C (AURKC), are serine/threonine kinases required for the control of mitosis (AURKA and AURKB) and meiosis (AURKC). Since their discovery nearly 20 years ago, Aurora kinases have been studied extensively in cell and cancer biology. Several early studies found that Aurora kinases are amplified and overexpressed at the transcript and protein level in various malignancies, including several types of leukemia. These discoveries and others provided a rationale for the development of small-molecule inhibitors of Aurora kinases as leukemia therapies. The first generation of Aurora kinase inhibitors did not fare well in clinical trials, owing to poor efficacy and high toxicity. However, the creation of second-generation, highly selective Aurora kinase inhibitors has increased the enthusiasm for targeting these proteins in leukemia. This review will describe the functions of each Aurora kinase, summarize their involvement in leukemia and discuss inhibitor development and efficacy in leukemia clinical trials.
Synaptonemal complex damage as a measure of genotoxicity at meiosis.

Synaptonemal complex aberrations can provide a sensitive measure of chemical-specific alterations to meiotic chromosomes. Mitomycin C, cyclophosphamide, amsacrine, ellipticine, colchicine, vinblastine sulfate, and cis platin exposures in mice have been shown to cause various patterns of synaptonemal complex structural damage and synaptic irregularity. These effects are suggestive of abnormal homologue pairinglsynapsis/recombination effects which, theoretically, could be implicated in mechanisms leading to aneuploidy and other potentially heritable chromosomal disorders.
First Impressions: Children's Knowledge of Words Gained from a Single Exposure.

Two experiments examined factors affecting the initial phase of word learning. Four- to 11-year-olds heard new words in three presentation conditions: A conversation, a story, and paired with a definition. Overall the results indicate that children at all ages could identify the new words as “words,” were sensitive to correct usage, and could acquire a partial semantic representation from a single exposure. Older children benefited more than younger ones from explicit definitions, suggesting that metalinguistic awareness and memory strategies affect word learning. Evidence also suggests that meanings for new words are better learned if the exemplar is peripheral to previously named categories than if the word is central to a previously named category.
Synthesis of Group 4 Organometallic Complexes That Contain the Bis(borylamide) Ligand [Mes2BNCH2CH2NBMes2]2-

Titanium and zirconium derivatives of the new chelating bis(borylamido) ligand [Mes2BNCH2CH2NBMes2]2- ([Ben]2-) are prepared by treating MCl4(THF)2 (M = Ti, Zr) with (Ben)Mg(THF)2. Nitrogen−boron π-interactions in (Ben)TiCl2 and (Ben)ZrCl2(THF) result in one mesityl group in each BMes2 unit occupying space roughly above and below the MCl2 plane. (Ben)TiCl2 is smoothly alkylated by Grignard reagents in dichloromethane to give (Ben)Ti(R)Cl (R = CH2Ph, CH2CMe3) and (Ben)TiR2 (R = Me, CH2Ph), while unstable (Ben)ZrMe2 can be prepared from (Ben)ZrCl2(THF) and methyllithium in toluene. An X-ray study of (Ben)Ti(CH2Ph)Cl confirms the proposed ligand conformation and features a highly distorted “η2” benzyl ligand with a Ti−Cα−Cipso angle of only 87.0(5)°. (Ben)MMe2 complexes cleanly decompose by metalation of the ortho methyl groups from mesityl rings on different borons at room temperature (for Zr) or upon heating (for Ti). An X-ray crystal structure of (TwistBen)Zr shows it to be a dimer in which the two zircon...
Pattern matching for double patterning technology-compliant physical design flows

ABSTRACT A pattern-based methodology for guiding the generation of DPT-compliant layouts using a foundry-characterized library of difficult to decompose patterns with known corresponding solutions is presented. A pattern matching engine scans the drawn layout for patterns from the pattern library. If a match were found, one or more DPT-compliant solutions would be provided for guiding the layout modifications. This methodology is demonstrated on a sample 1.8 mm 2 layout migrated from a previous technology. A small library of 12 patterns is captur ed, which accounts fo r 59 out of the 194 DPT-compliance check violations examined. In addition, the methodology can be used to recommend specific changes to the original drawn design to improve manufacturability. This methodology is compatible with any physical design flows that use automated decomposition algorithms. Keywords: Pattern matching, double patterning, decomposition, design flow, design rule check, DRC Plus, automated decomposition algorithm, DPT
Optimal Design of Supercavitating Vehicles Based on Trimmed Flight Performance

Supercavitating vehicles exploit supercavitation as a means to reduce drag and increase their underwater speed. The dynamic behavior of this class of vehicles is very complex as a result of the coupling between vehicle and cavity dynamics and of their strong interactions. In addition, the hydrodynamic stability of supercavitating vehicles needs to be carefully addressed as the loads are completely different from those on conventional submerged bodies. As a supercavity completely envelops the vehicle, most of its surface is acted upon by almost negligible water-vapor forces, and only a small percentage of it is wetted. As a result, the center of pressure is always ahead of the center of mass, thus violating a fundamental principle of hydrodynamic stability. To this date, a number of basic issues need to be addressed regarding configurational design and operating conditions of supercavitating vehicles. This paper presents a preliminary investigation, where the vehicle configuration is evaluated for optimal performance during trim, level flight. The dynamic behavior of the vehicle is investigated through a 6 degrees of freedom rigid body model. In the considered formulation, the vehicle is acted upon by gravity and propulsion and by loads generated by the control surfaces of the vehicle and by the interactions with the cavity. The control surfaces include 4 fins and the cavitator disk at the nose, which produces the cavity. Trimmed conditions for assigned velocity and vehicle configurations are evaluated by solving a nonlinear system of equations resulting from the vehicle’s equation of motion. The vehicle performance is defined in terms of achievable range of operation, which is used as an objective function in an optimization problem, where basic configurational and operational parameters are considered as design variables. The presented results show that proper selection of the vehicle configuration can significantly improve the selected performance index. The simulation of the vehicle dynamic behavior in trim conditions and its response to small perturbations with respect to the trim values show the challenges associated to the limited stability of the vehicle and provide indications for future investigations.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Crystallography and magnetism of zirconium-doped (Sm, Pr)2Co17 alloys☆

Abstract Magnetic properties (Curie temperatures, saturation magnetizations and anisotropy fields) of alloys of the composition Sm2 − xPrxCo16.4Zr0.6 are presented. The ternary system Sm2Co16.4Zr0.6 is hexagonal and hence contains samarium in the 2b and 2d positions. Partial substitution of samarium by Pr3+ was carried out in an attempt to increase the anisotropy field. This will occur only if the substituent preferentially occupies the 2d site. Anisotropy fields are weakened by alloying with praseodymium, indicating that occupancy is random.
Assessing professionalism and ethics knowledge and skills: preferences of psychiatry residents.

Background Professionalism is one of the fundamental expectations and a core competency in residency education. Although programs use a variety of evaluative methods, little is known about residents’ views of and preferences regarding various methods of assessment.
Step-Scan FT-IR Monitoring of Transient HCO Radicals in a Room Temperature Zeolite

Formyl radical has been detected in zeolite NaY at room temperature by step-scan FT-infrared spectroscopy upon photodissociation of glycolaldehyde or acetaldehyde precursor. Identification was made...
Underexploited African Grain Crops: A Nutritional Resource

The African grain deficit is projected to surpass its current production of 50 times 106 metric tons/year by the turn of the century. The biodiversity of the African continent, on which there are more native cereals than on any other continent, can serve to reduce the vulnerability of that continent's populations at serious risk of food shortages. Traditional grain and root crops have provided the energy underpinning for Africa since the emergence of bipedal hominids. By resurrecting some of these “lost crops” in their native areas, the food security of those areas can be enhanced. In addition, some of these crops lend themselves to introduction into other nutritionally challenged areas of the world with similar geoclimatic characteristics.
Bad for Men, Better for Women: The Impact of Stereotypes During Negative Campaigns

In this paper, we examine whether the impact of negative advertising on citizens’ evaluations of candidates depends on the gender of the candidates. Given common gender stereotypes, we expect negative campaigning aimed at women candidates will affect citizens differently than negative campaigning against male candidates. The results of our study, derived from a survey experiment conducted on a nationwide sample of more than 700 citizens, demonstrate that negative commercials are less effective at depressing evaluations of woman candidates, compared to male candidates. The findings are consistent and strong, across a range of forces that people use to assess competing candidates (i.e., affect and trait evaluations, people’s beliefs about issues, anticipated vote choice). The tight control of the experimental design, including randomization of respondents into different conditions that vary in only one way, demonstrates that the gender of the candidate influences people’s reactions to different types of negative commercials.
Ovarian response to gonadotrophins, optimal method for oocyte retrieval and pregnancy outcome in patients with vaginal agenesis

The aim of this study is to characterize the ovarian response to stimulation and the optimal method of oocyte retrieval in patients with vaginal agenesis (Mayer- Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome) in a gestational carrier programme. Twelve patients underwent gonadotrophin stimulation and hormonal monitoring. Forty-nine treatment cycles were initiated; seven cycles were cancelled secondary to poor stimulation. Five patients had undergone surgical neovagina construction; seven patients had utilized vaginal dilators. Oocyte retrieval was achieved in one cycle via transvesical ultrasound, in two cycles via transabdominal ultrasound, in nine cycles via laparoscopy and in 30 cycles via transvaginal ultrasound. Ten pregnancies were achieved which included two clinical pregnancies, two biochemical pregnancies, three singleton births and three sets of twin births. A live birth rate of 45.5% was achieved per patient. Hormonal response to gonadotrophin stimulation in this population was similar to that of patients with normal pelvic anatomy. Pregnancy outcome was comparable to other patients utilizing gestational carriers within the same program (i.e. surgically absent uterus, anatomically non-functioning uterus, etc.). The surgical creation of a neovagina makes transvaginal retrieval technically more difficult than when dealing with a dilator-created vagina, and may require laparoscopy or transabdominal ultrasound for oocyte retrieval.
The global distribution of nitric oxide at 200 km

Measurements of nitric oxide at 200 km by the ultraviolet nitric oxide experiment on Atmosphere Explorer D are used to demonstrate the dependence of NO on latitude, longitude, and magnetic activity. NO is more abundant in the summer hemisphere than in the winter hemisphere and is more abundant during magnetically active times than during quiet times. A simple photochemical theory is used to show that the knowledge of local composition and temperature is sufficient to explain the variations of nitric oxide at this altitude.
Phosphotyrosine-containing proteins isolated by affinity chromatography with antibodies to a synthetic hapten.

Tyrosine-specific protein kinases seem to be involved critically in cellular transformation by tumour viruses1–4, and may also be involved in the cellular response to epidermal growth factor5. To facilitate the identification and isolation of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins (PT-proteins) we have sought to develop as a general reagent anti-O-phosphotyrosine antibodies. We show here that affinity chromatography with these antibodies is effective for the small-scale isolation of some PT-proteins, including p120, the transforming protein of Abelson murine leukaemia virus, and several unidentified proteins from Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed mouse fibroblasts.
The range of VCSEL wearout reliability acceleration behavior and its effects on applications

For nearly twenty years most models of VCSEL wearout reliability have incorporated Arrhenius activation energy near 0.7 eV, usually with a modest current exponent in addition. As VCSEL production extends into more wavelength, power, and speed regimes new active regions, mirror designs, and growth conditions have become necessary. Even at more traditional VCSEL 850-nm wavelengths instances of very different reliability acceleration factors have arisen. In some cases these have profound effects on the expected reliability under normal use conditions, resulting in wearout lifetimes that can vary more than an order of magnitude. These differences enable the extension of VCSELs in communications applications to even greater speeds with reliability equal to or even greater than the previous lowerspeed devices. This paper discusses some of the new applications, different wearout behaviors, and their implications in real-life operation. The effect of different acceleration behaviors on reliability testing is also addressed.
Incidence and rate of disappearance of retinal hemorrhage in newborns.

Abstract Objective To determine the prevalance, associated biometric factors, and rate of disappearance of neonatal retinal hemorrhage. Design Cross-sectional and natural history study. Methods Healthy newborns (n = 149) at an urban hospital were examined using indirect ophthalmoscopy within 30 hours of birth. Newborns with retinal hemorrhage were reexamined biweekly until hemorrhage resolved. Main outcome measures Neonatal and maternal biometric factors, and incidence and rate of resolution of retinal hemorrhage. Results Intraretinal hemorrhage was present in 34% of newborns and varied from a single dot hemorrhage in one eye to bilateral widespread hemorrhages, occasionally with white centers. The incidence of hemorrhage was higher for vacuum-assisted (75%) than for spontaneous vaginal deliveries (33%) and was least for infants delivered by cesarean section (7%). The mean maternal age was greater for infants with retinal hemorrhage. By 2 weeks after birth, retinal hemorrhage resolved in 86% of eyes, and at 4 weeks no intraretinal hemorrhage was detected, although a single subretinal hemorrhage persisted until 6 weeks after birth. Conclusions Intraretinal hemorrhages are common in the immediate postnatal period and resolve by 1 month of age. Retinal hemorrhage in infants older than 1 month should heighten suspicion that the hemorrhage is associated with factors other than birth.
Chemical structural studies of natural lignin by dipolar dephasing solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract Two natural lignins, one from a gymnosperm wood the other from angiosperm wood, were examined by conventional solid-state and dipolar dephasing 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. The results obtained from both techniques show that the structure of natural lignins is consistent with models of softwood and hardwood lignin. The dipolar dephasing NMR data provide a measure of the degree of substitution on aromatic rings which is consistent with the models.
Automatic clustering of multispectral imagery by maximization of the graph modularity

Automatic clustering of spectral image data is a common problem with a diverse set of desired and potential solutions. While typical clustering techniques use first order statistics and Gaussian models, the method described in this paper utilizes the spectral data structure to generate a graph representation of the image and then clusters the data by applying the method of optimal modularity for finding communities within the graph. After defining and identifying pixel adjacencies to represent an image as an adjacency matrix, a recursive splitting is performed to group spectrally similar pixels using the method of modularity maximization. The careful selection of pixel adjacencies determines the success of this spectral clustering technique. The modularity maximization process uses the eigenvector of the modularity matrix with the largest positive eigenvalue to split groups of pixels with non-linear decision surfaces and uses the modularity measure to help estimate the optimal number of clusters to best characterize the data. Using information from each recursion, the end result is a variable level of detail cluster map that is more visually useful than previous methods. Additionally, this method outperforms many typical automatic clustering methods such k-means, especially in highly cluttered urban scenes. The optimal modularity technique hierarchically clusters spectral image data and produces results that more reliably characterize the number of clusters in the data than common automatic spectral image clustering techniques.
Influence of Metabolism on Epigenetics and Disease

Chemical modifications of histones and DNA, such as histone methylation, histone acetylation, and DNA methylation, play critical roles in epigenetic gene regulation. Many of the enzymes that add or remove such chemical modifications are known, or might be suspected, to be sensitive to changes in intracellular metabolism. This knowledge provides a conceptual foundation for understanding how mutations in the metabolic enzymes SDH, FH, and IDH can result in cancer and, more broadly, for how alterations in metabolism and nutrition might contribute to disease. Here, we review literature pertinent to hypothetical connections between metabolic and epigenetic states in eukaryotic cells.
Anti-Bg antibodies in sera used for red cell typing.

Summary. A number of sera used to type red cells for various blood group antigens have been examined for the simultaneous presence of anti-Bg antibodies. Of 65 scra prepared from single donor sources 15 (23%) have been shown to contain anti-Bg. Of 62 reagents purchased commercially 21 (33.8%) have been shown to contain anti-Bg. The significance of the presence of these antibodies is discussed.
Disassembly analysis before assembly

ABSTRACTThis paper develops a computational methodology that allows decision-makers to calculate the disassembly costof a product before it is built. The methodology makes it simple to perform "what if" scenarios fairly quickly. AJava based application has been developed to implement this methodology and it uses computational algorithmsand a graphical user interface to enable designers to simulate product designs. The front end user interface is aJava based application while the back-end is the combination of a data parser and disassembly engine, which also makes use of Java and XML technologies. The disassembly engine performs calculations based on datarepresented in an XML data store and runs as the back-end component of the computational tools. The user interface has the ability to display a dynamically configurable disassembly tree. The disassembly knowledge is represented in XML format to allow robust and scalable parsing and processing of the various disassembly alternatives that correspond to the configurable disassembly tree. Examples are presented to demonstrate theimplementation and capabilities of the computational design methodology presented in this paper.Keywords: Design for Disassembly, Decision tree, Disassembly Tool, XML, Java Parser, Binary Tree.
Distribution of invasive plants in a spatially structured urban landscape

Abstract Plants that are invasive in conservation land also exist as ‘wild’ elements within planned urban landscapes. We investigated the relationship of the abundances of 10 invasive species to variables of urban spatial structure [land use (houses, apartments, commercial/industrial, or vacant), impervious surface, distance from city center, distance from forest preserve, income] at an individual block scale of analysis. Eighty blocks (about 2 ha each) distributed along a 15-mile (24 km) transect from the center of Chicago, IL, USA west to the county line were inventoried for abundance of three woody species, five biennial forbs and two grasses. Nine of the ten invasive species were found, with an average of 2.74 of our 10 species per block. Collectively, abundance was negatively related to percent impervious surface, and presence was negatively related to local income. No invasive species’ abundance was structured by distance and only one of the 10 species, burdock, had any significant correlations with land use. This general lack of connection to urban land use is surprising and suggests most plant species find opportunities for colonization and reproduction independent of land use in the built urban environment. There is also evidence that the built urban environment may be a sink for these invasive plant species, with populations in forest preserves sending more propagules into the built environment than they receive from it.
Evidence that gallbladder epithelial mucin enhances cholesterol cholelithogenesis in MUC1 transgenic mice.

Background & Aims: The gel-forming mucins play an important role in the early stage of cholesterol gallstone formation. We investigated whether the gallbladder epithelial mucin encoded by mucin gene 1 (MUC1) influences susceptibility to gallstones. Methods: Gallbladder motility and cholesterol absorption, gallstones and expression of the mucin genes in gallbladders, and secretion rates and compositions of biliary lipids were determined in male C57BL/6J mice transgenic for the human MUC1 gene (MUC1.Tg) and wild-type mice before (day 0, on chow) and at 4 weeks on a lithogenic diet containing 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid. Results: On chow, expression levels of the gallbladder mucin genes were essentially similar between MUC1.Tg and wild-type mice. The lithogenic diet induced 3-fold higher expression levels of Muc1, Muc3, Muc4, Muc5ac, and Muc5b messenger RNA in MUC1.Tg mice compared with wild-type mice. Gallbladder cholesterol absorption and size were significantly greater in MUC1.Tg mice than in wild-type mice regardless of whether the chow or the lithogenic diet was fed. Gallbladder emptying in response to exogenously administered cholecystokinin-8 was significantly reduced in MUC1.Tg mice but not in wild-type mice. At 4 weeks on the lithogenic diet, mucin accumulation was found in all MUC1Tg mice and in 60% of wild-type mice. Consequently, these alterations greatly accelerated cholesterol crystallization and gallstone formation in MUC1.Tg mice. However, biliary lipid secretion rates and cholesterol saturation indices of gallbladder biles were comparable in MUC1.Tg and wild-type mice. Conclusions: Increased gallbladder epithelial MUC1 mucin enhances cholelithogenesis by promoting gallbladder cholesterol absorption and impairing gallbladder motility in mice.
Development of an Instrument to Measure Perspectives of Engineering Education Among College Students

The number of engineering students has been declining for decades and attracting qualified students has become an urgent task for engineering schools in The United States. Perspectives students hold towards engineering play an important role in their college major selection. An effective standardized instrument measuring general perspectives about engineering among college students is designed in this project and survey development, instrument administration, and factor analysis are presented. The statistical analysis reveals that college students in general agree that engineering is beneficial to the society; however, they tend to believe that it takes too much effort to gain an engineering degree and that engineering is a demanding career. Further, they are neutral about the personal benefits of pursuing a degree in engineering, and finally, they do not feel that studying engineering or making engineering as their profession is particularly interesting. These findings provide a good explanation to the declining enrollment and increasing dropout rates in engineering schools in the United States.
A gradient feature weighted Minimax algorithm for registration of multiple portal images to 3DCT volumes in prostate radiotherapy.

Purpose: To develop an accurate, fast, and robust algorithm for registering portal and computed tomographic (CT) images for radiotherapy using a combination of sparse and dense field data that complement each other. Methods and Materials: Gradient Feature Weighted Minimax ( GFW Minimax ) method was developed to register multiple portal images to three-dimensional CT images. Its performance was compared with that of three others: Minimax , Mutual Information, and Gilhuijs' method. Phantom and prostate cancer patient images were used. Effects of registration errors on tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) were investigated as a relative measure. Results: Registration of four portals to CTs resulted in 30% lower error when compared with registration with two portals. Computation time increased by nearly 50%. GFW Minimax performed the best, followed by Gilhuijs' method, the Minimax method, and Mutual Information. Conclusions: Using four portals instead of two lowered the registration error. Reduced fields of view images with full feature sets gave similar results in shorter times as full fields of view images. In clinical situations where soft tissue targets are of importance, GFW Minimax algorithm was significantly more accurate and robust. With registration errors lower than 1 mm, margins may be scaled down to 4 mm without adversely affecting TCP and NTCP.
Formation of hemoglobin and albumin adducts of benzene oxide in mouse, rat, and human blood.

Little is known about the formation and disposition of benzene oxide (BO), the initial metabolite arising from oxidation of benzene by cytochrome P450. In this study, reactions of BO with hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin (Alb) were investigated in blood from B6C3F1 mice, F344 rats, and humans in vitro. The estimated half-lives of BO in blood were 6.6 min (mice), 7.9 min (rats), and 7.2 min (humans). The following second-order rate constants were estimated for reactions between BO and cysteinyl residues of Hb and Alb [in units of L (g of Hb- or Alb-h)-1]: mouse Hb = 1.16 × 10-4, rat Hb = 15.4 × 10-4, human Hb = 0.177 × 10-4, mouse Alb = 2.68 × 10-4, rat Alb = 4.96 × 10-4, and human Alb = 5.19 × 10-4. These rate constants were used with BO-adduct measurements to assess the systemic doses of BO arising from benzene in vivo in published animal and human studies. Among rats receiving a single gavage dose of 400 mg of benzene/kg of body weight, the BO dose of 2.62 × 103 nM BO-h, predicted from Alb adducts, was quit...
Ecology, Infestation Levels, and Populations of AnthonomusWeevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Malpighia glabrain Mexico

The ecology, infestation levels, and populations of Anthonomus weevils were documented in a diflubenzuron (Dimilin)-treated Malpighia glabra (L.) grove in El Trapiche, Mexico, from January 1995 to March 1998 and in an untreated grove in El Petacal (≈42 km away) from June 1997 to April 1998. Anthonomus caracasius (Faust) comprised 50-87% of the adult weevils from July 1997 through March 1998 in El Trapiche. A. sisyphus Clark comprised 3-25% of the weevils during the same period and A. alboscutellatus Champion 0-22%. A. caracasius was not found in El Petacal, and A. sisyphus represented 38-100% of adults at this site from June 1997 to April 1998. A. alboscutellatus represented 0-50% of adults during this period in El Petacal. A. unipustulatus Champion was rare at both sites. A. sisyphus developed only in fruits. A. unipustulatus developed inside wild Malpighiaceae fruit. A. caracasius and A. alboscutellatus developed only in flower buds. Up to 30 and 15% of fruits from El Trapiche and El Petacal, respectively, were positive for weevil eggs in 1997. Eggs normally occurred singly on the lower half of fruits. Up to 74 and 97% of fruits from El Trapiche and El Petacal, respectively, were infested with larvae, pupae, and adults in 1997. A. sisyphus, A. caracasius, and A. alboscutellatus were found throughout the year on M. glabra, but numbers were highest during the rainy season, from June to November, in El Trapiche from 1995 to 1998. M. glabra fruit production was highest from April to June, before the time when weevils were most abundant. There were no correlations between adult weevil population densities and fruit yields during these 3 yr, probably because of unnatural flowering cycles caused by year-round irrigation.
Response of Adrenalectomized Rats to Chronic Exercise1

Once pilot studies had indicated that adrenalectomized rats would perform and survive repeated bouts of treadmill exercises, an 80–day training study was initiated with 16 trained and IS non—trained male rats maintained on a 0.9% saline solution. Rats were subjected to an exercise load that was progressively increased throughout the experimental period. Water tests were performed before and after the termination of the study. In addition, blood samples were obtained before sacrifice to determine 11–OCHS levels. These results indicated that the adrenal glands had been effectively removed. Resting and exercise heart rates obtained after surgery indicated an excessive response by the sympathetic nervous system. Comparisons between trained and nontrained groups showed that the trained animals had lighter body weights, less cardiac accelerations after an injection of atropine sulfate, lower exercise heart rates, higher rates from isolated hearts that were perfused with a Krebs—Henseleit solution containing iso...
Quantification of the Nitrogen Cycle in a Prairie Stream

Nitrogen (N) was added for 35 days in the form of 15NH4Cl to Kings Creek on Konza Prairie, Kansas. Standing stocks of N in key compartments (that is, nutrients, detritus, organisms) were quantified, and the amount of labeled N entering the compartments was analyzed. These data were used to calculate turnover and flux rates of N cycling through the food web, as well as nutrient transformation rates. Inorganic N pools turned over much more rapidly in the water column of this stream than in pelagic systems where comparable measurements have been made. As with other systems, the mass of ammonium was low but it was the key compartment mediating nutrient flux through the ecosystem, whereas dissolved organic N, the primary component of N flux through the system, is not actively cycled. Nitrification was also a significant flux of N in the stream, with rates in the water column and surface of benthos accounting for approximately 10% of the total ammonium uptake. Primary consumers assimilated 67% of the inorganic N that entered benthic algae and microbes. Predators acquired 23% of the N that consumers obtained. Invertebrate collectors, omnivorous crayfish (Orconectes spp.), and invertebrate shredders dominated the N flux associated with primary consumers. Mass balance calculations indicated that at least 23% of the 309 mg of 15N added during the 35 days of release was retained within the 210-m stream reach during the release. Overall, the rates of turnover of N in organisms and organic substrata were significantly greater when C:N was low. This ratio may be a surrogate for biological activity with regard to N flux in streams.