cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparative assessment of homogeneous propane reforming at intermediate temperatures

Abstract The study compares the performance of different pathways for gas-phase (non-catalytic) fuel reforming between 600 and 1000 °C. Specifically, the conversion of propane to hydrogen-rich syngas was investigated numerically and experimentally for pyrolysis (Py), steam reforming (SR), partial oxidation (POx), and autothermal reforming (ATR). Experiments were conducted in a tubular quartz reactor, where temperatures were imposed externally; reactants were diluted with nitrogen to reduce the impact of endothermic/exothermic reactions on the variation of gas-phase temperatures. In experiments, product concentrations of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and a range of hydrocarbon species were measured at predetermined operating conditions. The performance of each homogeneous reforming process was evaluated and compared by assessing propane conversion and production efficiencies for hydrogen and other species of interest. At 600 °C, propane conversion was low, but increased substantially with temperature; complete conversion was achieved at 1000 °C. Furthermore, findings show improved hydrogen production efficiencies of POx/ATR when compared to Py/SR. Experimental results are substantiated by numerical simulations with detailed chemical kinetics; numerical results are in good agreement with experiments at identical operating conditions. Experimental and numerical results for non-catalytic propane reforming at all tested temperatures (600–1000 °C) imply a negligible impact of steam addition to the process, as results for SR resemble Py results, and ATR closely follows POx characteristics. As such, results clearly show that steam does not play an active role in gas-phase reforming of propane at intermediate temperatures.
An experimental model examining the role of magnesium in the therapy of acute myocardial infarction

In conclusion, considering the results from our model, magnesium infusion is effective as adjunct therapy to enhance myocardial salvage in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. However, its effectiveness may be limited to a subset of patients whose magnesium therapy can be started early and combined with early reperfusion therapy.
Hyperspectral compression-decompression using artificial neural networks

The storage and retrieval of data from the hard disk and transfer speed of data from a microcomputer-based sensor to a personal computer are of critical importance for on-the-go sensing. A neural network-based spectral bands decompression model has been developed to optimize acquisition and retrieval of hyperspectral data. The model decompresses or predicts 201 spectral bands from 25 spectral bands between 407 and 940 nm. The model showed strong correlation between decompressed and actual hyperspectral patterns (coefficient of correlation (r2) equals 0.99 and root mean square error (RMSE) equals 0.0004). The decompressed or predicted hyperspectral reflectance patterns were fed into a neural network-based model that predicts chlorophyll readings. The decompressed hyperspectral reflectance patterns showed good correlation to chlorophyll readings (r2 equals 0.89, RMSE equals 1.32 SPAD units). The spectral bands decompression model reduces the number of hyperspectral bands to be downloaded from the spectrometer, stored, or retrieved from the hard disk by 87%.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A late Holocene chronology of atmospheric mercury.

Abstract An 1100 year record of mercury in the food chain of an insectivorous bat is reported. The results indicate that there have been recent changes in average annual atmospheric burdens of mercury in the study area which may be due to anthropogenic sources. The methods of sample collection, dating, and analysis are discussed.
Development of an Integrated Surface Stimulation Device for Systematic Evaluation of Wound Electrotherapy

Ideally, all chronic wounds would be prevented as they can become life threatening complications. The concept that a wound produces a ‘current of injury’ due to the discontinuity in the electrical field of intact skin provides the basis for the concept that electrical stimulation (ES) may provide an effective treatment for chronic wounds. The optimal stimulation waveform parameters are unknown, limiting the reliability of achieving a successful clinical therapeutic outcome. In order to gain a more thorough understanding of ES for chronic wound therapy, systematic evaluation using a valid in vivo model is required. The focus of the current paper is development of the flexible modular surface stimulation (MSS) device by our group. This device can be programed to deliver a variety of clinically relevant stimulation paradigms and is essential to facilitate systematic in vivo studies. The MSS version 2.0 for small animal use provides all components of a single-channel, programmable current-controlled ES system within a lightweight, flexible, independently-powered portable device. Benchtop testing and validation indicates that custom electronics and control algorithms support the generation of high-voltage, low duty-cycle current pulses in a power-efficient manner, extending battery life and allowing ES therapy to be delivered for up to 7 days without needing to replace or disturb the wound dressing.
State and nation in twentieth-century Japan: toward an interpretive framework

Abstract This article suggests new directions in theories of Japanese nationalism that go beyond current theoretical assumptions that set ethnic (minzoku) and civic (kokumin) forms of nationalism against each other. Arguing that renewed attention to the concept of the state (kokka) is needed, it then explores influential Japanese ideas about the state, particular those of Kawamura Matasuke and Tanaka Kōtarō, along with other theories that argue that social organizations should be seen primarily as moral communities. This perspective, when incorporated into Tanaka's theory of world law, offers a mechanism for rehabilitating the state and the nation, even ethnic nations, for a global community that is accountable to the moral principles of the universal natural law.
A simplified absorber model for nonlinear simultaneous modular flowsheet calculations

Abstract A simple model has been developed for a multistage, multicomponent, adiabatic absorber. The model uses parameters derived from a rigorous solution of the absorber problem and is intended for use in a simultaneous modular process flowsheet optimization algorithm. The model was tested for three cases including two non-ideal systems. For all three cases the errors in the predictions of the simple model were uniformly small. The difference in mole fraction computed with the simple and rigorous models reached about 0.02 large perturbations from the conditions at which the model parameters were computed.
Population of nuclear energy levels via photon-excited levels

Abstract Energy levels for several nuclei ( 110 Cd, 112 Cd, 118 Sn and 141 Pr) in the 6–8 MeV energy region are excited by neutron-capture gamma-rays from a nuclear reactor. The gamma decays of these levels to low-lying levels in the nuclei were studied using a 30 cc Ge(Li) detector. From angular distribution measurements of the gamma rays, the spins and branching ratios for various levels were deduced. It is shown that such studies extend, as well as complement, the results of other methods used to study the properties of nuclear energy levels.
Genetics and Neuroimaging

diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of numerous diseases [1]. Identification of the genes that are linked to specific neurologic diseases is broadening our knowledge of neurologic health and disease [2]. This issue of the Neuroimaging Clinics of North America focuses on the role of neuroimaging in a select number of diseases in which genetics plays a key role. These diseases are included in articles on the phakomatoses, disorders of cortical development, and inborn errors of metabolism. Fetal imaging of anomalies of the central nervous system and head/neck is included in articles on neurosonography and MR imaging. The final article features advances in molecular imaging, including cellbased herapies that will have novel and exciting future applications. I am grateful to all of the authors who contributed their expertise in writing these excellent articles. In addition, I thank Dr. Burton P. Drayer for inviting me to serve as Guest Editor and Barton Dudlick of Elsevier for his support and guidance. May the
Using Artificial Intelligence as a Strategic Business Tool

structure, ('Y+'Y') and y', which is a common feature of recrystallized P/M nickel base superalloys containing high y' volume precipitates. Due to the fine microstructure retained in the extruded bars, it was possible to forge the bar at the temperature of 1050°C and at the strain rate of 10-/sec. to a plate of 0.8 mm thickness (Figure 3). During the forging the microstructure did not change markedly. The cast material exhibits the incipient melting at about 1240°C, significantly
Effects of acute cannabis use and short-term deprivation on plasma prolactin and dopamine-β-hydroxylase in long-term users

Six long-term cannabis users (10 - 44 years of use) were studied for four days during which cannabis smoking was followed by three days deprivation and smoking on the fourth day. Blood samples were taken at - 30, + 30 and + 120 minutes from each smoking and once in every deprivation day. Pulse rate and blood pressure were measured before each blood sample. Prolactin and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity were estimated in plasma. On the third deprivation day, both prolactin and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase were significantly elevated compared to the pre-smoking values, but returned to them after the second cannabis use. The mean arterial pressure followed the same course. The data suggest that cannabis use in man reduces noradrenergic and enhances dopaminergic activity, while deprivation has the opposite effect, possibly through presynaptic receptor mechanisms.
Solubility of straight‐chain and branched alkyl barbiturates in straight‐chain alcohols

The solubilities of a series of chemically related barbiturates, including some medically useful ones as well as phenobarbital, were determined at 25 degrees in the straight-chain alcohols methanol through butanol. The solubility values are given in both milligrams per milliliter and the mole fraction notation. The solubility in methanol was the highest and decreased nonlinearly for the solubility in 1-butanol. In several cases, mole fraction solubility gave shouldering or peaking as a function of the carbon number of the solvent. This series of barbiturates was broken down into two subsets of straight-chain and branched alkyl barbiturates, and solubility ratios in these subsets were considered.
Change in Inflammatory Markers and Cognitive Status in the Oldest-Old Women from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures

Objectives: To determine the association between interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6 soluble receptor (sR), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (sTNF-R1) and cognitive status in the oldest-old women. Design: Twenty-year longitudinal cohort study. Setting: Four clinical sites in the United States. Participants: Women from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (N = 905; mean age 88.3 ± 2.8 at cognitive status adjudication). Measurements: At Year 20, cognitive status was adjudicated as normal, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia. Inflammatory markers were measured from blood serum at Years 10 and 16 in a random sample of women. Results: Over 10 years, 199 (22.0%) women developed MCI and 145 (16.0%) dementia. There were no significant associations between IL-6 or sTNF-R1 and cognitive status. High IL-6-sR (?37,401.36 pg/mL, highest tertile) at Year 16 was significantly associated with lower risk of dementia (odds ratio (OR) = 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.30�0.97) than in women with lower levels (<37,401.36 pg/mL, lower two tertiles). Women with high IL-6-sR at both time points (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.17�0.89) or who transitioned to a high level (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.14�0.88) had a lower risk of dementia. Conclusion: In this cohort of white, high-functioning oldest-old women, a consistently high or an increasing level of IL-6-sR was associated with lower risk of dementia. Compared with other studies of younger-old adults, this suggests that the effect of inflammation on dementia may differ in younger-old and the oldest-old individuals. Understanding these differences will be crucial in interpreting results from ongoing clinical trials and in targeting therapeutic strategies to the oldest-old individuals.
The Predictive Accuracy of Published Solid Waste Generation Factors

Abstract The accuracy of predictions of quantities of solid waste based upon waste generation factors reported in the literature was tested. Estimates of residential, industrial, and commercial solid waste quantities were computed for Brown County. Wisconsin U.S.A. and compared to actual waste quantities received. Predictions were within 20% for residential wastes and for some predictions of commercial wastes but far from the mark for industrial and construction-demolition wastes.
A Simple Model of Protein Folding: From Crystal Structure to the Living Cell

Construction of simple models is an integral part of any scientific investigation, yet it almost never makes it even to the college science curriculum. We developed a series of 4 lessons that uses protein dynamics as a platform to introduce modeling to students at the high school and undergraduate levels. These lessons guide students from a textbook picture of a protein as a rigid crystal structure to a more realistic view: proteins are highly dynamic entities in the crowded environment inside the living cells. Methods of statistics and physical chemistry are employed along the way to investigate a flexible version of a protein that can sample various conformations within the folded ensemble and ultimately unfold into a random coil. Simple mechanical and computer models that evolve in their complexity are at the core of this lesson.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Physiological Auscultatory Correlations: Heart Sounds and Pressure Pulses

Our knowledge of the cause of sounds arising in the heart has depended on indirect evidence of events of the cardiac cycle in man and direct observations made in other animals. The accessibility of the human heart for study in this era of cardiac surgery now permits the direct observation made in animals to be repeated in man and the indirect correlations to be confirmed.
Is the GMO controversy relevant to computer ethics

Computing and information technology professionals have exhibited high standards of engagement with ethical issues relating to privacy, information security and abuse of the technical capabilities they have been responsible for developing. But one can argue that computing capability is implicated in ethical controversies that receive relatively little discussion within the IT community. Stem cell research, nanotechnologies and other controversial areas of science would be impossible without the computational capacity of information processing. In many instances, the downstream applications of computer technology are deeply involved in the issues surrounding contested technologies.
Effects of carotenoids on cells

When added to cells, carotenoids display a variety of properties, including inhibition of mutagenesis, genotoxicity, malignant transformation, and growth of tumor cells. In addition, carotenoids increase cell-cell communication, and may have direct effects as cellular antioxidants.
Template synthesis of graphitic nanotubules

Abstract : We describe a method for preparing monodisperse graphitic nanotubules. These are prepared by synthesizing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) from the monomer, within the pores of a porous alumina template membrane. Because the membrane used has cylindrical pores of uniform diameter, monodisperse PAN tubules are obtained. The PAN tubules are then heated to affect graphitization of the PAN. jg p.2
Magnetic Resonance Molecular Imaging of Plaque Angiogenesis

Neovascular expansion of the vasa vasorum is an early pathological biomarker of atherosclerosis, preceding endothelial dysfunction. Plaque angiogenesis accompanies intraplaque hemorrhage and plaque rupture, precursors of myocardial infarction and stroke. Molecular imaging of angiogenesis aims to map the expression of neovascular biomarkers on a cellular scale, often utilizing paramagnetic or superparamagnetic MRI contrast agents in order to generate sufficient image enhancement. Both clinically approved extracellular contrast agents and experimental targeted nanoparticles have demonstrated MRI signal enhancement that is proportional to the neovascular density in the vessel wall. Furthermore, targeted contrast agents formulated with anti-angiogenic drugs can be used to quantify drug deposition within the plaque and predict subsequent therapeutic effects. Molecular imaging of plaque angiogenesis has shown promise for interrogating the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic lesions rather than just their physical characteristics, with the ultimate goal of identifying the high-risk plaques that are most likely to cause cardiovascular events.
Upper limit for CH/plus/ toward Tau Scorpii

A Fabry-Perot interferometer was used to measure a 2-sigma upper limit of 0.39 mA for CH(plus) toward Tau Sco, a line of sight with a large amount of atomic hydrogen yet only a small amount of molecular hydrogen. The upper limit for the abundance of CH(plus) in a region where hydrogen is primarily atomic shows that no unexpectedly rapid CH(plus) formation processes are occurring and, conversely, that the CH(plus) destruction rate is not smaller than expected. It is argued that either CH(plus) is primarily formed in regions with large amounts of H2 or CH(plus) is formed at least as rapidly as the density-cubes in regions where hydrogen is mostly atomic.
Differential Effects of a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Inhibitor on Human Neutrophil Responses to Chemotactic Factors

Chemotactic factors, i.e., an N-formyl peptide, C5a, interleukin-8, and leukotriene B4, induced neutrophils to activate mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, as defined by the tyrosine phosphorylation and decrease in electrophoretic mobility of immunodetected 44-, 42-, and 40-kDa proteins. PD 98059, an inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase activation, blocked these changes. The drug likewise blocked neutrophil chemotaxis but did not alter superoxide anion production and paradoxically enhanced degranulation responses to the stimuli. The MAP kinase pathway appears to have a highly selective role in mediating motility but not other cellular responses.
A "radically new method": balloon buoy communications of the Baldwin-Ziegler Polar Expedition, Franz Josef Land, June 1902

The history of lighter-than-air operations in the Arctic between 1896 and 1930 has focused almost exclusively upon four expeditions. These are the balloon voyage of the Swede Salomon Andree in 1896–97, and the dirigible expeditions of the American Walter Wellman in 1906–09, the Norwegian Roald Amundsen with the Italian Umberto Nobile in 1926 and the Nobile expedition of 1928. Largely invisible in this lineage are the aeronautical operations of the Baldwin–Ziegler Polar Expedition on Alger Island in the Franz Josef Land Archipelago in 1902. This article traces expedition leader Evelyn Briggs Baldwin’s interest in aeronautical exploration in the Arctic, which began early in life, led to a failed attempt to join Andree in 1897 and culminated in his use of message buoys attached to balloons in June 1902. These operations, the fate of its balloon buoys and the historical archaeology of Baldwin’s operational bases in Franz Josef Land and north-east Greenland are examined. Baldwin’s poor planning and bad luck wi...
Effect of seed piece removal on yield and agronomic characteristics of Russet Burbank potatoes

There is inadequate information available to ascertain the length of time seed pieces contribute to the yield and agronomic characteristics of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) under field conditions. Previous studies have not accounted for root system disturbance during seed piece removal. In 1994, 1995, and 1997 a field study was conducted using Russet Burbank to determine whether seed piece removal at each of three growth stages affects yield and agronomic characteristics. A trowel was used to tunnel into the side of potato hills to remove seed pieces by hand either at emergence, at 20- cm plant height, or at first bloom. Control plots consisted of plants with root systems disturbed on the same date as seed removal (disturbed control) or not treated (non-disturbed control). Seed pieces were analyzed for solids, sucrose, and reducing sugars before planting and after removal at each growth stage in 1997. Removing seed pieces or disturbing roots at all growth stages significantly decreased total and U.S. No. 1 yields compared with non- disturbed control. Total yield from plots disturbed at emergence was 37.8 Mg ha-1 compared to 22.1 Mg ha-1 when the seed pieces were removed. Disturbing seed pieces at emergence resulted in U.S. No. 1 yield of 21.2 Mg ha-1 compared with 10.6 Mg ha-1 when seed pieces were removed at the same growth stage. For U.S. No. 1 yield, a difference between removing the seed pieces and disturbing the root systems was still evident at the 20-cm plant height growth stage (15.4 Mg ha-1 vs 20.3 Mg ha-1, respectively). Disturbing plants at emergence or at 20-cm plant height growth stage reduced the number of tubers per plant to 8.8 for both treatments compared to 9.7 for the non-disturbed control. Removing seed pieces at these same growth stages further reduced tubers per plant to 6.9 and 7.6, respectively. Vines of plants with seed pieces removed at emergence were shorter and remained green later into the season compared with disturbed and non-disturbed control treatments. Percent solids in seed pieces decreased from 20.68 at planting to 5.03 at first bloom. Seed piece percent sucrose remained constant from planting through the 20-cm plant height growth stage and then fell to nearly zero at first bloom. Reducing sugar in the seed pieces atplanting and emergence was 0.67%, rose to 1.08% at the 20-cm plant height growth stage, and then decreased to 0.89% at first bloom.
Effects of a gravitomagnetic field on pure superconductors.

We report the results of an investigation of the effects of a pure superconductor on external gravitomagnetic and magnetic fields ${\mathrm{B}}_{g,0}$ and ${\mathbf{B}}_{0}$, respectively. We find that the internal fields are given by $\mathrm{B}(z)\ensuremath{\approx}\ensuremath{-}(\frac{{m}^{2}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{g}}{{q}^{2}\ensuremath{\mu}}){\mathrm{B}}_{0}\ensuremath{-}(\frac{m}{q}){\mathrm{B}}_{g,0}$, ${\mathrm{B}}_{g}(z)\ensuremath{\approx}{\mathrm{B}}_{g,0}+(\frac{{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{g}m}{\mathrm{qu}}){\mathrm{B}}_{0}$, where ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{g}$ and $\ensuremath{\mu}$ are the gravitomagnetic and magnetic permeabilities of the superconductor. These results show that a small residual uniform magnetic field will pervade the superconductor and that the external fields mutually "induce" additional small internal perturbation fields. The sum of the fields $\mathrm{B}+(\frac{m}{q}){\mathrm{B}}_{g}$ falls exponentially to zero over a characteristic distance $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, which is consistent with previous findings that $\mathrm{B}+(\frac{m}{q}){\mathrm{B}}_{g}=0$ inside a pure superconductor.
An ultrafast wavelength conversion using temporal gratings

Summary form only given.The capability of rapid wavelength tuning and conversion is a long-sought-after goal in a fiberoptic communications networks. This need specially rises in designing and managing future all optical networks (AON) and ever increasing channels in fiberoptic communication systems. Currently, there are techniques for add/drop switching, however the speed of these devices (about 2 KHz) are not suitable to cover the need of the future AONs. In this paper, we report a new wavelength conversion method by utilizing an array of coherent pulses which acts as temporal grating in a dispersive medium such as an optical fiber. To describe the new method, we refer to the analogy between spatial diffraction and temporal dispersion.
A structural result for delayed sharing information structures

The n-step delayed sharing information structure is investigated. This information structure is a link between the classical information structure, where information is shared perfectly among the controllers, and a non-classical information structure, where there is no “lateral” sharing of information among the controllers. A structural result for optimal control policies in systems with such information structures is presented. A methodology for sequentially finding optimal policies is also established. The solution approach provides an insight for identifying structural results for general decentralized stochastic control problems.
Why Is There Debate About Whether Economics Applies to Pensions

Measures of the economic value of liabilities are essential inputs to analysis of the balance sheet of any entity that has a balance sheet. They are also essential inputs to measuring the cost of new financial commitments. Despite these facts, plan sponsors and actuaries often respond defensively to attempts on the part of economists to promote the use of economic valuation of pension liabilities. This article illustrates how pension liability valuation rules are inconsistent with the principles of economics, describes an opaque decision environment, which impedes the consideration of economics by pension decision makers, and makes suggestions for action.
Use of n-cubes in the design of logic circuits

A method of visualising n-cubes is presented, which may make n-cubes more convenient in logic design than the more usual Karnaugh maps.
The impact of a 6-week resistance training program with pre- and post-exercise performance supplementation on cardiovascular risk, blood lipids, and fasting blood glucose in resistance trained men

Background Nutritional supplements intended for consumption in proximity to resistance exercise are extremely popular among young males and athletes. Common components of these products include caffeine, creatine monohydrate, b-Alanine (BA), citrulline, L-arginine, branched chain amino acids (BCAA), and whey protein in proprietary blends. To date, there have been no investigations of the potential health risks or benefits associated with consumption of these products over the course of a resistance training (RT) regimen despite anecdotal reports to health complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the commercial sports nutritional supplements NO-Shotgun ® (SHOT) and NO-Synthesize ® (SYN) (Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Davie, FL) on cardiovascular risk, blood lipids, and glucose in resistance trained men following 6weeks of supplementation and concurrent resistance exercise. Methods Eight resistance trained men completed 6 weeks (3d/ week)of periodized resistance training (RT) including one day eachfor arms/shoulders, legs/core, and chest/ back. The participants were assigned to 1 of 2 groups (based on maximal voluntary contraction of the quadriceps (Biodex) to lean mass ratio). Group 1 (n=5; Performance Supplement; PS) consumedone serving of SHOT before and 1 serving of SYN immediately after each RT session and on non-RT days. Group 2 (n=3; Placebo; PL) consumedan isocaloric maltodextrin placebo (PL) before and immediately after each RT session and on non-RT days. Measurements included pre- and post-RT resting heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (SBP and DBP), fasting blood lipoproteinprofile and glucose (Cholestech LDX Analyzer; Cholestech Corp, Hayword, CA). Statistical analysis was conducted using a 2 x 2 repeated measures analysis of variance. Significance is set at p<0.05 and values reported as mean ± SE. Results
A Trust Region and Affine Scaling Interior Point Method for Nonconvex Minimization with Linear Inequality Constraints

A trust region and affine scaling interior point method (TRAM) is proposed for a general nonlinear minimization with linear inequality constraints in [8]. In the proposed approach, a Newton step is derived from the complementarity conditions. Based on this Newton step, a trust region subproblem is formed, and the original objective function is monotonically decreased. Explicit sufficient decrease conditions are proposed for satisfying complementarity, dual feasibility and second order optimality. The objective of this paper is to establish global and local convergence properties of the proposed trust region and affine scaling interior point method. It is shown that the proposed decrease conditions are sufficient for achieving complementarity, dual feasibility and second order optimality respectively. It is also established that a trust region solution is asymptotically in the interior of the proposed trust region subproblem and a damped trust region step can achieve quadratic convergence.
Threonine-89 Participates in the Active Site of Bacteriorhodopsin: Evidence for a Role in Color Regulation and Schiff Base Proton Transfer†

Bacteriorhodopsin (bR) functions as a light-driven proton pump in the purple membrane of Halobacterium salinarium. A major feature of bR is the existence of an active site which includes a retinylidene Schiff base and amino acid residues Asp-85, Asp-212, and Arg-82. This active site participates in proton transfers and regulates the visible absorption of bacteriorhodopsin and its photointermediates. In this work we find evidence that Thr-89 also participates in this active site. The substitution Thr-89 --> Asn (T89N) results in changes in the properties of the all-trans retinylidene chromophore of light-adapted bR including a redshift of the visible lambda(max) and a downshift in C=N and C=C stretch frequencies. Changes are also found in the M and N intermediates of the T89N photocycle including shifts in lambda(max), a downshift of the Asp-85 carboxylic acid C=O stretch frequency by 10 cm(-1), and a 3-5-fold decrease in the rate of formation of the M intermediate. In contrast, the properties of the 13-cis retinylidene chromophore of dark-adapted T89N as well as the K and L intermediates of the T89N photocycle are similar to the wild-type bacteriorhodopsin. These results are consistent with an interaction of the hydroxyl group of Thr-89 with the protonated Schiff base of light-adapted bR and possibly the N intermediate but not the 13-cis chromophore of dark-adapted bR or the K and L intermediates. Thr-89 also appears to influence the rate of Schiff base proton transfer to Asp-85 during formation of the M intermediate, possibly through an interaction with Asp-85. In contrast, the hydroxyl group of Thr-89 is not obligatory for proton transfer from Asp-96 to the Schiff base during formation of the N intermediate.
Describing behavior in small groups with the Datamyte event recorder

A technology for coding and analyzing behavior in human groups is described. The behavior code is based on the scoring of verbal and physical contacts, emotional affect, and commands and complies. The code is reasonably valid and produces sufficiently high levels of observer agreement. Currently available computer programs for analyzing frequencies, rates, and proportions of behavior, as well as equity and reciprocity in behavioral transactions, are discussed. The development of programs for analyzing more microscopic features of interaction is also noted.
Teaching behavioral therapists to conduct brief preference assessments during therapy sessions

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine group classroom instruction and the need for in vivo feedback when teaching 11 behavioral therapists how to conduct a brief paired-stimulus preference assessment, when to conduct preference assessments, and how to interpret the data during regular therapy sessions. Group classroom instruction, consisting of lecture, video modeling, role-play and feedback with a simulated client, was sufficient for seven participants and in vivo feedback was necessary for four participants. Accurate performance was maintained at a 4 week follow-up for 8 participants. Data show that following skill acquisition there was an increase in the variety of stimuli assessed which presents an opportunity to identify diverse preferences. Additionally, each brief paired-stimulus preference assessment took less than 30 s to complete, suggesting that it is practical for therapists to regularly assess preference during their therapy sessions.
Balancing network connectivity and the life-time of sensors through percolation and consensus

Due to replacement infeasibility, methods to extend the life-time of sensors have been an issue in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and these should consider network connectivity simultaneously. Controlling the sleep/awake of sensors is one simple way to reduce their energy consumption. However, this causes a network connectivity degradation by varying network connection topology. For this reason, we propose a simple and autonomous sensor sleep/awake method to achieve their balance. The size of clusters can be a metric to measure network connectivity in that a path exists among any cluster node. From percolation theory, we observe that a cluster size suffers a sharp transition based on edge connection patterns. This allows us to design a sensor sleep/awake algorithm which has an immense simplicity, but still requires global topology information. In many cases, sensors are not aware of the global topology. Further, managing the information becomes challenging under physical topology changes such as sensor add/drop. We show that the global knowledge requirement can be resolved by using a consensus algorithm. Through several graph tests, we show that our method achieves a network balancing between connectivity and life-time with preserving its simplicity. Also, the balancing is autonomous even under physical topology variations.
Thyroid carcinoma occurring in Graves' disease.

THYROID carcinoma occurring with Graves' disease has been rarely reported and is not commonly considered in persons with hyperthyroidism. However, on the basis of statistical studies, it has been suggested that there is a greater incidence of thyroid carcinoma in hyperthyroid than in euthyroid states. 1 Since 131 I and antithyroid drugs are common means of treating hyperthyroidism, it is possible that cases of carcinoma occurring in hyperthyroid persons are going undetected, and consequently, untreated. Report of a Case A 21-year-old male Negro was first seen because of exophthalmos of three to four months' duration. Symptoms of weight loss despite a good appetite, fatigue, and mild nervousness were elicited. There was no past history of radiation exposure to the neck area and no family history of thyroid disorder. Physical examination revealed a well-nourished man, 6 ft 1 in (185.5 cm) tall, weight 186 lb, pulse rate 100 per minute. The
Understanding the Adoption and Timing of Economic Development Strategies in US Cities Using Innovation and Institutional Analysis

Local governments in the United States have adopted a variety of economic development tools and strategies to revitalize and compete. This research considers two questions. First, what factors influenced early and late adopters of strategic economic development policy tools, and second, how are the factors that influence policy adoption in the latter period of time different from the factors that influence early adoption? The article develops a framework developed from literatures in strategic management, institutional analysis, and policy innovation to develop hypotheses which are tested with local government data from 1999 to 2004. The study finds strong support for the role of community attributes, internal capacity, and formal institutions as contributors for adoption of economic development tools, with stronger influence on adoption of some in 1999 than in 2004, and the factors in 1999 are different from the later adopters in 2004, especially with regard to form of government.
Conditions for formation of electron pairs in a metal

Abstract In an isotropic model of the electron system of metal that is presented by the Frohlich’s initial Hamiltonian, in the approximation of a weak electron–phonon interaction at T = 0, first time, we show that the ground state of the system is the state with pairing correlations of electrons (the pair correlations of occupied electron states). In contrast to the BCS approach, the initial point in our approach is not electron pairing but is the maximum reduction of the energy of the considered system due to virtual processes of the electron–phonon interaction and to the exchange effect for the indirect electron–electron interaction (which is induced by certain phonon modes separately from others). In contrast to the BCS approach, we take into account the portion of the energy of the electron system that is connected with the above exchange effect. In the BCS approach, the corresponding portion is missed, and its role is prescribed to the portion that does not relate to the electron pairing. We show that expectation values of the above Hamiltonian for different wave functions for two interacting electrons above the Fermi sea of the non-interacting system (with interaction between the electrons that is induced by different phonon modes separately from others) are minimum for a certain structure of these functions and simultaneously for phonon modes that can induce the transitions of the interacting electrons between electron states in which they are (without violation of the Pauli exclusion principle and at everything else being equal). On the basis of the above results, the mechanism of the maximum reduction of the energy of the considered electron system is considered. In this mechanism each electron interact with the very different phonons, but in such way that give the maximum-possible negative contribution to the energy of the considered electron system. The theme of the article is conditions for the formation of electron pairs in a metal. This requires our understanding for the mechanism of the formation of electron pairs in a metal. The absence of this understanding is the main drawback of the BCS theory. The considered mechanism gives the solution. If this mechanism is feasible for a metal at T = 0, the electron system of this metal can be described by the Hamiltonian that is similar to the BCS reduced Hamiltonian and the ground-state wave function is similar to the BCS ground-state wave function. The considered mechanism combines the simplicity and universality of the BCS model with giving wide opportunities to study conditions for the formation of the state of the electron system in a metal with the pair correlation of conduction electrons near the Fermi surface and with a gap in the spectrum of electronic excitations of this system and to study the dependence of these conditions on crystalline structure and structure of the conduction band of metals. It is so, because the considered mechanism has the universal nature but the above dependence is largely determined by the nature of virtual pairs in a metal.
Using Similarity Scoring to Improve the Bilingual Dictionary for Sub-sentential Alignment

We describe an approach to improve the bilingual cooccurrence dictionary that is used for word alignment, and evaluate the improved dictionary using a version of the Competitive Linking algorithm. We demonstrate a problem faced by the Competitive Linking algorithm and present an approach to ameliorate it. In particular, we rebuild the bilingual dictionary by clustering similar words in a language and assigning them a higher cooccurrence score with a given word in the other language than each single word would have otherwise. Experimental results show a significant improvement in precision and recall for word alignment when the improved dicitonary is used.
Reduced Spatial Sensitization on Nonuniform Backgrounds

Spatial sensitivity (Westheimer) functions, when measured on nonuniform backgrounds made up of light dots of 12 min arc, were found to differ in shape, depending on the polarity of the central area on which the test spot was placed. When thresholds were measured on the dark centre between light dots, ie on the adapting-field illumination, the resulting curve was similar to the control curve, measured on a uniform background equated for flux. In comparison, thresholds measured on a central light dot, serving as a pedestal, peaked at larger background diameters and showed much less sensitization compared to the control function.
The largest singular value of e/sup X/A/sub 0/e/sup -X/ is convex on convex sets of commuting matrices

A short and direct proof of the convexity property is given. It is shown that the theorem applies to any convex, commuting set of matrices in R/sup nXn/, where A/sub 0/ in R/sup nXn/ is fixed. It is also shown that the result does not hold if X is permitted to be a general square matrix. A counterexample is supplied for noncommuting matrices. >
No evidence for association to the G72/G30 locus in an independent sample of schizophrenia families

No evidence for association to the G72/G30 locus in an independent sample of schizophrenia families
Platynini (Coleoptera : Carabidae) of Vanuatu: Miocene diversification on the Melanesian Arc

Vanuatu supports 11 resident species of the carabid beetle tribe Platynini: five indigenous species shared with other Pacific islands and Australia and six newly described precinctive species. Notagonum delaruei, sp. nov. represents a single descendant species of one colonisation event. Helluocolpodes, gen. nov. (type species Colpodes helluo Darlington of New Guinea) is proposed to accommodate a monophylum comprising the type species plus Helluocolpodes discicollis, sp. nov., H. mucronis, sp. nov., H. multipunctatus, sp. nov., H. sinister, sp. nov. and H. vanemdeni, sp. nov., all from Vanuatu. Generic assignments are informed by cladistic analysis of anatomical characters for a variety of Pacific platynine taxa. Metacolpodes Jeannel is redefined cladistically to include seven Pacific and Asian species. Biogeographic relationships among island areas housing platynine taxa on the Australian and Pacific Plates are investigated using a chrono–area cladogram, i.e. a taxon–area cladogram for which terminals are dated based on geological evidence and internal nodes based on non-reversible temporal optimisation. Conclusions reached by constraining the ages of areas within the context of phylogenetic relationships of their resident taxa include: (1) Vanuatu has supported resident platynine taxa since the Middle to Late Miocene; (2) the Hawaiian Blackburnia first colonised that archipelago in the Miocene, long before the present oldest high island, Kauai, came into existence; (3) the New Zealand Ctenognathus most likely arose from Miocene colonisation of New Zealand via Fiji; and (4) the low diversity of the Tahitian platynine fauna is due to relatively recent, Pliocene or later, colonisation of the Society Island chain by this group, also from a Fijian source.
Supporting inferences in semantic space: representing words as regions

Semantic space models represent the meaning of a word as a vector in high-dimensional space. They offer a framework in which the meaning representation of a word can be computed from its context, but the question remains how they support inferences. While there has been some work on paraphrase-based inferences in semantic space, it is not clear how semantic space models would support inferences involving hyponymy, like horse ran → animal moved. In this paper, we first discuss what a point in semantic space stands for, contrasting semantic space with Gardenforsian conceptual space. Building on this, we propose an extension of the semantic space representation from a point to a region. We present a model for learning a region representation for word meaning in semantic space, based on the fact that points at close distance tend to represent similar meanings. We show that this model can be used to predict, with high precision, when a hyponymy-based inference rule is applicable. Moving beyond paraphrase-based and hyponymy-based inference rules, we last discuss in what way semantic space models can support inferences.
Are Advanced Psychiatry Residents More Skillful Than Beginning Residents in the Conduct of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

The psychotherapy skills of psychiatry residents were assessed by using a structured-response supervisor inventory, the Supervisor Report (SR). Longitudinal data on the same resident across time showed a small but positive trend toward the acquisition of skill in doing psychodynamic psychotherapy. Mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons between ratings of the beginning residents and advanced residents demonstrated a significant, but small, increase in skill over the course of outpatient training. SR score changes also corroborated observational data on individual residents. While these findings suggest the utility of the SR in measuring changes in psychotherapy skill, the results must be considered in light of the relatively poor interrater reliability and only somewhat better test-retest reliability.
Dietary patterns of children in American Samoa: Multivariate analysis of food groups and household associations

This report presents the findings of a dietary survey among 63 children aged five to seven years, on the island of Tutuila, American Samoa. Twenty‐four hour recall interviews were conducted with the children and household food preparers to estimate kinds and frequencies of foods consumed. The foods were aggregated into 19 groups, and a principal components analysis was performed to determine patterning among the groups. Four factors, acounting for two thirds of the variability in frequency of food group usage, are reported on. The first two factors focused on introduced foods that are primarily purchased in the markets: breakfasts of milk, eggs and cereal or bread and butter; lunches and dinners with sandwiches, chicken and non‐traditional vegetables, as well as snacks (cookies, candy, sodas, chips and similar foods). The next two factors focused on mostly traditional Samoan foods that have been combined in prestige meals for centuries (meat, fish, taro, breadfruit and bananas). Analyses of covariance on ...
Managing new product time to market using time-cost trade-off methods

Abstract The timing of a new product introduction is critical to the success of the product. A late product will not have as great a return on investment if it enters a saturated market, contains outdated technology or incurs increased development costs. To maintain the planned market entry of a product network techniques such as time-cost trade-off may be used. The time-cost trade-off method, however, does not explicitly include the costs of late market entry. The method presented here incorporates the marketplace costs within the time-cost trade-off framework.
Investigating Shifts in Diverse Family Structures in Newbery Award and Honor Books Utilizing U.S. Census Data, 1930-2010.

Newbery Award and Honor books are a representation of children’s literature, but family structures portrayed in them have not previously been studied. This prescriptive content analysis considered 87 contemporary realistic fiction Newbery winners and runners-up since the 1930s that portray families in English-speaking, Western settings. The family structures included in these books were compared with the various family structures reported in U.S. Census records. Results showed that the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s did not represent the actual family structures of their time periods. After the Age of New Realism began in the mid 1960s, the family structures in the books more closely matched family structures in the Census. The most recent books include many diverse family structures, but do not include traditional families.