cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental determination of soil characteristics from the parameters of scattered signals at X- and Ka-bands

The results are described of bare soil remote sensing at X- and Kalpha-bands: the angular dependences of the normalized RCS for different test areas, dependence of the normalized RCS on soil moisture and surface roughness, polarization dependences of scattered signal on soil moisture and surface roughness.
Middle Components of the AER to Tone-Pips in Normal-Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Subjects

Tone-pips of 500, 1000, and 3000 Hz were presented at 0-, 10-, 20-, 35-, and 50-dB HL to 10 normal-hearing subjects and at 0-, 10-, 20-, 35-, and 50-dB SL to 10 subjects with conductive, sensorineu...
A survey of social workers' attitudes and use of body and sex psychotherapies

This article has indicated the use, and attitudes toward use, of newer, perhaps questionable, treatment modes by social workers and has considered some related problems. It suggests that it is imperative for the profession to begin exploring these problems and developing forums, instruments, and mechanisms whereby the issues can be addressed and policy formulated and implemented.
NDVI patterns and phytomass distribution in the circumpolar Arctic

Abstract The Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM) was used to analyze the distribution of NDVI and phytomass in the Arctic, providing data for understanding arctic vegetation patterns, assessing change, and calibrating models. The dominant trend in the analysis of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was a decrease from south to north, correlating with bioclimate subzones and vegetation units. NDVI also decreased at higher elevations and with higher substrate pH. In the coldest bioclimate subzone, increased elevation was not correlated with decreased NDVI. In the warmest tundra bioclimate subzone, especially in Alaska, NDVI did not decrease with the first several hundred meters of elevation. NDVI in this subzone varied more by region than by elevation or substrate chemistry, and was lowest in recently glaciated areas such as the Canadian Shield. Phytomass (above-ground plant biomass) was calculated from NDVI using a relationship derived from ground clip-harvest data. Phytomass for the tundra bioclimate subzone was estimated at 2.5 × 1012 kg, with most of this in the warmest subzone, at the lowest elevations, and on acidic substrates.
Catalytic polymerization of a cyclic ester derived from a "cool" natural precursor

(−)-Menthide, a seven-membered lactone derived from the natural product (−)-menthol, was polymerized using a structurally defined zinc-alkoxide catalyst to form an aliphatic polyester. The polymer was fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. The polymerization reaction occurred in a controlled fashion and polymer samples with Mn values up to 90 kg mol-1 were obtained by varying the catalyst loading. Monitoring of the rate of polymerization by in situ FT-IR spectroscopy (ReactIR) revealed a first order dependence on (−)-menthide. The temperature dependence of the observed rate constant between 30 and 90 °C was well described by the Arrhenius equation and gave Ea = 38.4 ± 0.9 kJ mol-1. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔHp° = −16.8 ± 1.6 kJ mol-1, ΔSp° = −27.4 ± 4.6 J mol-1 K-1) for the polymerization of (−)-menthide were also determined by measuring the equilibrium monomer concentration at different temperatures rangi...
Visual Analysis of Particle Behaviors to Understand Combustion Simulations

Simulations of turbulent flames have used particles to capture the dynamic behavior of combustion in next-generation engines. Each particle includes a history of its movement positions and changing thermochemical states. Analyzing such a set of many millions of particles helps scientists understand turbulence. A dual-space method enables effective visual analysis of both the spatial movement and attribute evolution of particles. A cluster-label-classify strategy categorizes particles' attribute evolution curves. Intuitive tools integrate users' domain knowledge to steer the classification. The dual-space method has been used to analyze particle data in combustion simulations and can be applied to other scientific simulations involving particle-data analysis. This video shows an expository movie that combustion scientists have used when discussing their simulation results with colleagues. This simulation employs visual analysis in both the physical space and phase space, with categorization driven by supervised learning.
Effect of biostimulation on the expression of estrus in postpartum Angus cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of biostimulation by bull exposure on the expression of estrus in postpartum Angus cows. Ninety Angus cows and their calves were allocated by parity and body frame to three pens (30/pen). From 1-week post partum, one epididectomized mature Angus bull was placed with Groups A and B (BE), whereas Group C served as a Control (NE). Data for duration of estrus (DE), total mounts received (TMR), and intensity of estrus (IE) were recorded using HeatWatch®. At either the first or second postpartum estrus, there were no differences between BE and NE cows for DE, TMR and IE. However, the period after onset of estrus, cow within treatment and the interaction treatment by period exerted a significant influence on IE. Overall, the greatest IE (P < 0.0001) was observed during the first two periods (6 h). At the first postpartum estrus, IE tended (P < 0.11) to be greater in BE than NE cows during the first 3 h after onset of estrus. However, IE was greater (P < 0.02) in NE cows than BE cows during 4-6 h after onset of estrus. At the second postpartum estrus, IE did not differ between BE and NE cows during the first 3 h after onset of estrus. However, from 4 to 9 h after onset of estrus, IE was greater (P < 006) in NE cows than BE cows. From the results of this study, it was concluded that DE, TMR and IE were not influenced by biostimulation. However, the manner in which mounting activities were distributed across the duration of estrus was influenced by the presence of bulls.
Notes on Neotropical Vaccinieae (Ericaceae). I. Gonocalyx—A genus new to Central America

The genusGonocalyx, hitherto known from Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Dominica, and Colombia is recorded from Central America. Two species are described from Costa Rica, one (G. costaricensis) is new to science. A key to the seven species of the genus is provided.
Of rooting and uprooting: Kabyle habitus, domesticity, and structural nostalgia

Exploring the ethnographic context of the early development of his concepts of habitus and practice, this article critically examines Bourdieu’s representation of the Kabyle house (akham) as a synecdoche for a larger ‘rooted’ socio-cultural totality set against the backdrop of the generalized ‘uprooting’ caused by colonialism and the war of national liberation. The akham is shown to be an object of ‘structural nostalgia’, shared by Bourdieu and his informants alike, for a cultural form understood as explicitly threatened. The article traces how these categories of rooting and uprooting, as appropriated by Bourdieu from French nationalist discourse, have continued to inflect contemporary forms of historical consciousness among the Kabyle diaspora, including contemporary Kabyle cultural politics in France and the transnational Berber Cultural Movement.
Role of electron microscopy and other special techniques in the diagnosis of childhood round cell tumors

A series of case presentations show unique challenges associated with childhood round cell tumors and the role of ancillary techniques in diagnosis. Electron microscopy is shown to be the most powerful individual technique. Immunohistochemistry is less effective but also essential. Other ancillary techniques may provide needed additional diagnostic information. Because this is an area where it is of great importance to secure the most rapid, accurate, and specific diagnosis possible, an integrated multimodal approach is recommended-incorporating light microscopic, electron microscopic, and immunohistochemical studies as a matter of routine, and providing for cytogenetic and/or molecular diagnostic studies as indicated.
Containment of fast breeder reactors — Present status—Remaining problems

Abstract This presentation of fast reactor containment analysis is limited to sodium-cooled fast breeder reactors. The excursion phenomenon that may need containment in a hypothetical accident could initiate at the core for variety of reasons and usually, but not always, propagates inside the primary system, first as a shock wave, second as a sodium momentum, and third as an expanding gas bubble. Primary containment pertains to the absorption and dissipation of explosive effects in the primary system. The primary containment analyses and codes already developed and currently under development at Argonne National Laboratory combine the equations of hydrodynamics with the equations of state. They start with an energy input in the core in the form of temperatures, pressures and internal energy. This is the neutronic input leading to core disassembly. This energy is propagated through the primary system and components (blankets, reflector, grid, reactor vessel, plug, etc.) in a manner so as to provide a constant inventory of the position and deformation of these components at any one time after the start of the excursion. More specifically, the codes' output is in the form of displacements (strains), pressures, velocities, accelerations, densities, and internal energies. Recently work has started to include in the energy input, the continuing effects of fuel-coolant interactions. The subject analyses and computer codes are two-dimensional. The next development step will attempt to modify these codes to provide engineering solutions for three-dimensional (asymmetric) cases. The treatment of the primary system response terminates with the possible dislocation of the reactor plug. The subject codes ultimately will provide, along with plug displacement, an inventory of sodium spillage into the secondary containment. Secondary containment pertains to the confinement of radioactive gases and aerosols which may have escaped the primary reactor system. Secondary containment must be capable of retaining its gas tightness under the pressures and temperatures resulting from sodium spillage fires.
Domains of Postpartum Doula Care and Maternal Responsiveness and Competence

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the domains of postpartum doula care and illustrate how doulas facilitate development of maternal responsiveness and competence. Design Qualitative study using ethnographic method of participant observation. Setting Homes of mothers who received postpartum doula care. Participants Thirteen women and their infants; 4 postpartum doulas. Results Eleven domains emerged: emotional support, physical comfort, self-care, infant care, information, advocacy, referral, partner/father support, support mother/father with infant, support mother/father with sibling care, and household organization. Emotional support was used consistently and in combination with the other domains. Activities in all of the domains were used to facilitate the development of maternal responsiveness and maternal competence with 3 issues: resolution of infant feeding, integrating the infant into the family, and supporting developmental care and attachment. Conclusions Data suggest that by using 11 domains of care, postpartum doulas facilitate maternal responsiveness and competence. Development of a long-term relationship, mother-centered care, and education and support related to infant feeding, integrating the infant into family, and developmental care and attachment may contribute to these outcomes.
A finite element study of a coplanar electrode Josephson junction with respect to electric potential and temperature

Abstract An analytical study using finite elements has been performed to characterize the electrical and thermal performance of coplanar Josephson junctions. A finite element formulation was developed for the energy equation which includes the dissipative effects of current flow. The numerical solution indicates that despite the immersion of the junction in liquid helium, under certain modes of operation, hot spots in which the material is in a “normal” state can develop in the junction. This can change the mode of operation of the junction in an unpredicted way.
Perestroika and the quest for peace

Mikhail Gorbachev’s book Perestroika made it clear that a new turn had taken place in soviet thinking. The analysis of the new dimensions of east-west relations in the present chapter was written in the spring of 1988, just after Gorbachev’s book appeared. The point of the exercise was to review the model of the cold war I had developed twenty years earlier in terms of the changing parameters of our times [Wolfson, 1968]. The methodological sections of the 1968 paper are included here as an appendix.
Outdoor Tank and Pond Spawning of Cobia, Rachycentron canadumin Coastal South Carolina

Abstract Research was conducted at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Waddell Mariculture Center to evaluate the potential for captive reproduction of cobia, Rachycentron canadumin outdoor tanks and ponds. In May 2001, adult cobia (3 males, 1 female, and 1 suspected female) obtained from a local high salinity estuary were stocked into an outdoor tank (32,000-L) receiving ambient estuary water. Spawning occurred within 2 days after stocking. Over the course of 3 consecutive days, a total of 3.6 million eggs were collected with roughly equal numbers collected during each 24-hour period. Mean fertilization rate was 58.1%. Hatching occurred at approximately 24 hours after initiation of each spawning event. Mean percent hatch was 27.5%. Fish were relocated to a 0.25-ha circular pond 10 days after tank spawning activity ended. One female received pelleted GnRHa before stocking. Eggs were observed 3 days after stocking and at 12 days after hatching, approximately 50,000 larvae were harvested. In ...
Safety of assisted reproduction, assessed by risk of abnormalities in children born after use of in vitro fertilization techniques.

Despite being used in practice for around 30 years, the safety of assisted reproductive technologies is still questioned. Studies are hampered by issues related to trial design and consistency of reporting. Some long-term data are, however, now available for offspring conceived after assistance by a variety of technologies. This Review aims to summarize the reported risks. Assisted reproductive technologies are increasingly used in the treatment of both male and female infertility. The techniques, including in vitro fertilization, with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection as an adjunctive treatment, represent a tremendous step forward for infertile couples who previously had no treatment options. As we move towards the 30th anniversary of the birth of the first baby conceived by in vitro fertilization, questions about the safety of these procedures linger. We review here the available literature regarding the safety of assisted reproductive technologies; these data are made far more robust by the inclusion of long-term follow-up data from the first generation of children arising after the introduction of these technologies.
Dominance-seeking strategies in primates: an evolutionary perspective

The thesis advanced in this paper is that there are basic social influence strategies and attendant principles that are characteristic of social primates. A model for analyzing and comparing social influence strategies in primates, with particular attention to dominance-seeking strategies, is advanced. The utility of the model is illustrated by reference to studies of social influence strategies in baboons, chimpanzees, and humans. Emphasis is placed on the role of communication as the vehicle for social competence. Speculation is offered about the importance of the evolution of symbolic communication in expanding the repertoire of dominance-seeking strategies in human primates.
Adipsin expression and growth in rats as influenced by insulin and somatotropin

Adipsin is a molecular marker of obesity in rodents. Content of adipsin protein in blood and mRNA in adipocytes is significantly reduced in several genetic and experimentally induced obese models. It has been suggested that this reduction in adipsin is causative to obesity development. Insulin reduces adipsin expression in vitro and is negatively correlated with adipsin expression in vivo. Because bovine somatotropin (bST) opposes many actions of insulin and can reduce body fat content, we tested the hypothesis that bST enhances adipsin expression. In two experiments using 210 rats, bST and a similar hormone, bovine placental lactogen (bPL), both caused a small (14 to 27%) but statistically significant reduction in circulating adipsin protein. Because exogenous bST can increase circulating insulin we next used a diabetic model to test the bST effect on adipsin. In rats treated with streptozotocin and injected daily with insulin (STZ+I), bST had no effect on circulating adipsin. Additional variables related to growth were influenced differently by bST in normal vs. STZ+I animals. In conclusion, the drop in circulating adipsin following bST administration in normal rats is dependent upon the animals' ability to secrete insulin.
FATE OF Salmonella infantis, Staphylococcus aureus, AND Hafnia alvei IN VACUUM PACKAGED BEEF PLATE PIECES DURING REFRIGERATED STORAGE

The fate of Salmonella infantis, Staphylococcus oureus, and Hafnia alvei inoculated onto vacuum packaged and polyvinylchloride (PVC) packaged fresh beef plate pieces after 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of storage at 1.7°C was investigated. Aerobic plate counts (APC's) of representative beef pieces were also monitored during storage and the effect of heat shrinking on both inocula and APC's in vacuum packaged samples determined. APC's of vacuum packaged beef pieces increased slower and attained lower final numbers than did PVC wrapped pieces. Levels of S. infantis in PVC and vacuum packaged samples declined at similar rates during 28 days of storage with overall decreases of 52 and 55%, respectively. The most rapid decreases occured during the first week of storage. S. aureus levels in PVC and vacuum packaged samples declined at similar rates during 28 days of storage with overall decreases of 90 and 80%, respectively. H. alvei increased in numbers by approximately 4.45 and 4.60 log cycles per gram in vacuum and PVC packaged beef pieces, respectively, during 28 days of storage. Levels of inocula in vacuum packaged samples were significantly lower initially and during storage than respective inocula in PVC packaged samples. Heat shrinkage of vacuum packages had no significant effect on levels of inocula or subsequent APC's.
Effect of TMCP Parameters on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cargo Oil Tanks Steel

The effect of TMCP parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cargo oil tanks (COT) steel is investigated. The microstructure characteristics are performed by optical microscope, and the mechanical properties are researched by tensile test at ambient temperature and impact test at different temperatures (-20°C, -40°C). The results show that the microstructures of COT steel are a mixed microstructure consisting of ferrite, granular bainite and pearlite, which are resulted from the special TMCP parameters. The COT steel has good comprehensive mechanical properties by analyzing the experimental data, satisfying the international standard. Furthermore, impact fracture surfaces appear small dimples and a few of large ones, most of the dimple with a certain direction, and the inclusion with the fracture is mainly composed of MnS, CaS and Al2O3 composite product.
Global variation in the 2.7 µm NO overtone limb-emission from the lower thermosphere

The overtone vibration-rotation band (Δv=−2) limb-emission from NO around 2.7 µm observed by the Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle (CIRRIS-1A) at 120 km tangent altitude is shown to arise from the nascent molecule produced by the reactions of N(4S) and N(²D) atoms with O2. Measurement of the 2.7 µm emission from NO therefore permits modeling of the local rate of production of NO, a quantity important in odd nitrogen chemistry in the thermosphere. The 2.7 µm limb-radiance in the nonauroral region is observed, above the instrument noise level, only during the day and shows about a factor of 2 variation indicating a similar variation in the rate of production of NO. In the aurorally dosed region however the observations lead to about an order of magnitude variation in this rate.
Charge Carrier Transfer across the Silica Nanoparticle/Water Interface

We determined the yield of hydrated electrons, e-aq, in irradiated silica suspensions at very high particle concentrations. The initial concentration of e-aq, measured immediately after a pulse of high-energy electrons, increases with the silica loading, proportionately with the dose absorbed by the sample. Therefore, the yield of e-aq per unit energy absorbed remains unaltered even at 50% weight of silica. This observation holds for particles in the range of 7−22 nm in diameter. Under heavy loading of silica, a significant percentage of the energy is absorbed by the silica (essentially equal to the silica weight percent). Thus, our observations imply that energy that is originally deposited in silica crosses the solid−liquid interface and appears in the aqueous phase as solvated electrons. Possible mechanisms for this crossover process are discussed. It is proposed that either every electron that is generated in silica escapes to the water or that highly energetic secondary electrons are ejected from the...
Nitrogen fixation by Achromobacter spp.

Several strains of Achromobacter spp. have been shown to fix nitrogen under aerobic conditions. One strain isolated by Jensen fixes anaerobically as well as aerobically. Apparently the process requires the synthesis of at least one inducible enzyme—a requirement that has been demonstrated previously for the system in Aerobacter aerogenes. Additional similarities to the nitrogen fixing system in other biological systems include the necessity for iron, and probably molybdenum, and the presence of a hydrogenase.
Determination of Excess Gibbs Free Energy from Computer Simulation: Multiple-Parameter Charging Approach

Abstract We devise a general procedure for determining the excess Gibbs free energy from molecular-scale computer simulations of binary mixtures. The method is based upon Kirkwood's coupling-parameter interpretation of the chemical potential. We show that, by a suitable choice of integration path, coupling involving any number of parameters can be represented by a single independent parameter. Thus for (rigid-molecule) solutions made nonideal by differences among several potential parameters, the determination of the excess free energy generally requires little more effort than if all the differences reside in one potential parameter. The development here is an extension of the recent revision of the coupling-parameter approach that avoids the need for the pure component free energies in obtaining the excess free energy of the mixture.
INHOMOGENEOUS CONTACT PROCESSES ON TREES

We consider an inhomogeneous contact process on a tree\(\mathbb{T}_k \) of degreek, where the infection rate at any site isλ, the death rate at any site in\(S \subset \mathbb{T}_k \) isδ (with 0 4, if\(S = \mathbb{T}_\sigma \), a subtree embedded in\(\mathbb{T}_k \), with 1 ⩽σ ⩽ √k, then three existsδcσ strictly between (\(\lambda _c (\mathbb{T}_k )/\lambda _c (\mathbb{T}_\sigma )\)) and 1 such that (\(\theta (\delta ,\lambda _c (\mathbb{T}_k )) = 0\)) whenδ >δcσ andϑ(δ, λc(\(\theta (\delta , \lambda _c (\mathbb{T}_k )) > 0\)) > 0 whenδ <δcσ; ifS={o}, the origin of\(\theta (\delta , \lambda _c (\mathbb{T}_k )) = 0\), then\(\theta (\delta , \lambda _c (\mathbb{T}_k )) = 0\) for anyδ e (0, 1).
Domain Consensus in Alabama Health Systems Agencies An Empirical Assessment

The literature on organization behavior suggests four types of influences on domain consensus of organizations: (1) organizational design, (2) routine patterns of technical interorganizational contacts, (3) persuasive efforts by organizational leaders, and (4) organizational environment. In this study, conducted prior to the phase-out of health systems agencies (HSAs) in Alabama by the governor, responses from questionnaires to administrators of HSAs and hospitals in the state were used to compute a measure of HSA domain consensus. This measure served as the dependent variable in a regression analysis, with measures of the four types of influences as independent variables. The analysis suggests that one major influence on domain consensus was persuasion by HSA officials, particularly subtle, long-term efforts; a second major influence was organizational environment, specifically the experience and training of hospital administrators interacting with HSAs.
Window materials for high power gyrotron

The room temperature application of sapphire as window material at higher frequencies is not feasible since its absorption coefficient increases almost linearly with increasing frequency in the millimeter wavelength region. At cryogenic temperature the absorption coefficient value decreases only by a few factors (factor of 2 to 3) in the 90 – 200 GHz region. The earlier reported temperature squared dependence (decrease) in the absorption coefficient or the loss tangent value is totally absent in our broad band continuous wave data we are reporting here (at 6.5 K, 35K, 77K and 300K) and one we reported at conferences earlier. Our results are verified by another technique. We utilize our precision millimeter wave dispersive Fourier transform spectroscopic techniques at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures The extra high resistivity single crystal compensated silicon is no doubt the lowest loss material available at room temperature in the entire millimeter wavelength region At higher millimeter wave frequencies an extra high resistivity silicon window or an window made with extra high resistivity silicon coated with diamond film would certainly make a better candidate in the future. A single free standing synthetic diamond window seems to have higher absorption coefficient values at millimeter wavelength region at this time although it is claimed that it possesses good mechanical strength and higher thermal conductivity characteristics. It certainly does not rule out the use of diamond film on a single crystal high resistivity silicon to improve its mechanical strength and thermal conductivity
Comparative genomics of pAKD4, the prototype IncP-1δ plasmid with a complete backbone

Plasmids of the incompatibility group IncP-1 are important agents of horizontal gene transfer and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance and xenobiotic degradation within bacterial communities. Even though some prototype plasmids have been studied in much detail, the diversity of this plasmid group was still greatly underestimated until recently, as only two of the five currently known divergent sub-groups had been described. To further improve our insight into the diversity and evolutionary history of this family of broad-host-range plasmids, we compared the complete nucleotide sequence of a new IncP-1delta plasmid pAKD4 to the genomes of other IncP-1 plasmids. Plasmid pAKD4 was previously isolated by exogenous plasmid isolation from an agricultural soil in Norway. Its 56,803bp nucleotide sequence shows high similarity in gene sequence and gene order to both plasmids pEST4011 and pIJB1, the only other IncP-1delta plasmids sequenced so far. While all three plasmids have a typical IncP-1 backbone comprising replication, transfer, and stable inheritance/control genes, the low sequence similarity in some regions and presence/absence of some backbone genes compared to other IncP-1 plasmids cluster them in a divergent sub-group. Therefore this study validates the presence of a real IncP-1delta clade with multiple plasmids. Moreover, since both pEST4011 and pIJB1 are missing a portion of their transfer genes, pAKD4 represents the first completely sequenced self-transferable plasmid with a complete IncP-1delta backbone. We therefore propose it to be the prototype IncP-1delta plasmid.
Comparison of artificial neural network models for hydrologic predictions at multiple gauging stations in an agricultural watershed

This paper reports on an evaluation of the use of artificial neural network (ANN) models to forecast daily flows at multiple gauging stations in Eucha Watershed, an agricultural watershed located in north-west Arkansas and north-east Oklahoma. Two different neural network models, the multilayer perceptron (MLP) and the radial basis neural network (RBFNN), were developed and their abilities to predict stream flow at four gauging stations were compared. Different scenarios using various combinations of data sets such as rainfall and stream flow at various lags were developed and compared for their ability to make flow predictions at four gauging stations. The input vector selection for both models involved quantification of the statistical properties such as cross-, auto- and partial autocorrelation of the data series that best represented the hydrologic response of the watershed. Measured data with 739 patterns of input–output vector were divided into two sets: 492 patterns for training, and the remaining 247 patterns for testing. The best performance based on the RMSE, R2 and CE was achieved by the MLP model with current and antecedent precipitation and antecedent flow as model inputs. The MLP model testing resulted in R2 values of 0·86, 0·86, 0·81, and 0·79 at the four gauging stations. Similarly, the testing R2 values for the RBFNN model were 0·60, 0·57, 0·58, and 0·56 for the four gauging stations. Both models performed satisfactorily for flow predictions at multiple gauging stations, however, the MLP model outperformed the RBFNN model. The training time was in the range 1–2 min for MLP, and 5–10 s for RBFNN on a Pentium IV processor running at 2·8 GHz with 1 MB of RAM. The difference in model training time occurred because of the clustering methods used in the RBFNN model. The RBFNN uses a fuzzy min-max network to perform the clustering to construct the neural network which takes considerably less time than the MLP model. Results show that ANN models are useful tools for forecasting the hydrologic response at multiple points of interest in agricultural watersheds. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ship-in-a-bottle formation of Pd13(CO) x clusters in zeolite NaY

FTIR spectra of CO adsorbed on gently reduced Pd/NaY show very sharp bands and are markedly different from the familiar broad band CO/Pd/support spectra. New bands are formed when part of the CO is removed. It is proposed that Pd13(CO)x clusters are formed with singly and multiply bonded CO, including a butterfly configuration. Very similar spectra are obtained, if Pd ions are initially located in the sodalite cages or in the supercages.
Platelet counts in healthy premature infants.

Summary Fatal myocardial infarction occurring in the first day of life is reported. Coronary artery occlusion resulted from a paradoxical embolus, the thrombus having arisen in the ductus venosus. Severe circulatory failure resulted in profound metabolic acidosis, and death occurred at the age of 23 hours.
The current spectrum of infection in cancer patients with chemotherapy related neutropenia

Despite advancements in the treatment and supportive care of patients with malignant disorders, neutropenia remains the major side effect of most antineoplastic regimens. Infections occur frequently in neutropenic patients and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The spectrum of infection continues to change, and is influenced by various factors including local epidemiology, the use of chemoprophylaxis, and the use of central venous catheters and other medical devices. Bacterial infections are common in the early stages of neutropenia, with fungal infections emerging if neutropenia persists beyond 7–10 days. Gram-positive organisms cause most bacteremic infections (although this trend appears to be changing), whereas infections at other sites are often caused by Gram-negative bacilli or are polymicrobial, especially if deep tissue infection is present. Candida spp., and Aspergillus spp., remain the most common fungal pathogens, although several opportunistic fungi have emerged. Resistance to antimicrobial and antifungal agents commonly used for the prevention and treatment of infections in neutropenic patients has become a significant problem. The prompt administration of appropriate, empiric, antimicrobial therapy, prior to the availability of microbiological culture results, is the standard of care. Up to date knowledge of the spectrum of infection and local susceptibility/resistance patterns, is critical. In this report, we describe the current spectrum of infection in patients with malignancies and neutropenia, and emphasize the fact that local and geographic differences are not infrequent. We recommend that individual institutions conduct periodic epidemiological surveys in order to have the latest data available for the optimal management of their patients.
Response of laboratory rodents to selected avian delayed neurotoxicants.

The response of rodents to organophosphorus ester induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) and to an analogous carbamate induced neuropathy was investigated using several dosage regimens in outbred rats and mice. In no case were either rats or mice overtly ataxic 30 days after treatment with any of the compounds tested, even with intramuscular or intraperitoneal administration.
Potential of Transdermal Drug Delivery in Parkinson’s Disease

There has been a growing recognition that pulsatile stimulation of dopamine receptors may be an important mechanism in the generation of the motor fluctuations that often develop and compromise the effectiveness of long-term levodopa administration in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This has prompted investigation of treatment approaches that might provide more constant, and therefore physiological, dopamine receptor stimulation. Frequent levodopa administration, controlled-release levodopa preparations, inhibitors of levodopa metabolism, and duodenal, subcutaneous and even intravenous infusions of levodopa or dopamine agonists have all been employed with this goal in mind, but all have limitations. Transdermal drug delivery is a treatment approach that is not only capable of providing a constant rate of drug delivery, but is also non-invasive and relatively simple to use. However, developing a drug to be delivered transdermally for the treatment of PD has been anything but easy. Levodopa and many dopamine agonists are not sufficiently soluble to be administered via the transdermal route, and blind alleys have been encountered thus far in the investigation of suitably soluble drugs. Nevertheless, investigation continues and yet another candidate drug, rotigotine (N-0923), is currently under active investigation. Techniques designed to enhance skin permeation and thus improve the effectiveness of transdermal drug delivery are also potential sources for future treatment advances.
The Ovid Java Client Interface: A Comparison with the Ovid Web Gateway and Windows Client Interfaces

Abstract The Ovid Java interface is compared with the Ovid Web Gateway and Ovid Windows Client. The focus is on functionality from the user's perspective. The Java version draws upon both the earlier Web and Windows versions, thus combining the worlds of the Web and application programs. It is concluded that Ovid Java offers enhanced functionality and requires high-end hardware and browser software to run well. Additional enhancements are forthcoming, some dependent upon the further development of Sun Microsystems' Java programming language.
Modeling discussion topics in interactions with a tablet reading primer

CloudPrimer is a tablet-based interactive reading primer that aims to foster early literacy skills and shared parent-child reading through user-targeted discussion topic suggestions. The tablet application records discussions between parents and children as they read a story and leverages this information, in combination with a common sense knowledge base, to develop discussion topic models. The long-term goal of the project is to use such models to provide context-sensitive discussion topic suggestions to parents during the shared reading activity in order to enhance the interactive experience and foster parental engagement in literacy education. In this paper, we present a novel approach for using commonsense reasoning to effectively model topics of discussion in unstructured dialog. We introduce a metric for localizing concepts that the users are interested in at a given moment in the dialog and extract a time sequence of words of interest. We then present algorithms for topic modeling and refinement that leverage semantic knowledge acquired from ConceptNet, a commonsense knowledge base. We evaluate the performance of our algorithms using transcriptions of audio recordings of parent-child pairs interacting with a tablet application, and compare the output of our algorithms to human-generated topics. Our results show that words of interest and discussion topics selected by our algorithm closely match those identified by human readers.
Lifetimes in the B2Πi state and the heat of formation of NCO

Abstract Using laser-induced fluorescence in a low-pressure flow system, the lifetimes of the 00 1 0 and 10 1 0 vibrational levels of the B 2 Π i state of NCO have been measured. The results, 63 and ≤10 ns respectively, indicate that the dissociation limit to N( 2 D) + CO lies between these levels. This corresponds to a dissociation energy D 0 0 ≤ 1.68 eV and an enthalpy of formation Δ H f,298 0 ⩾ 48 kcal/mole for NCO, and Δ H f,298 0 (HNCO) ⩾ −14 kcal/mole.
Bacterial Cystitis is Accompanied by Increased Peripheral Thermal Sensitivity in Mice

Purpose: Visceral inflammation and pain associated with chemical cystitis produce increased sensitivity to noxious stimuli in the sacral dermatomes. We determined whether a similar sensitization occurs in response to bacterial cystitis.Materials and Methods: Bacterial cystitis was induced by intravesical instillation of Escherichia coli 1677 in female C57BL/6N and C3H/OuJ mice (Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, Maine). C3H/HeJ mice (Jackson Laboratories) served as a control because C3H/HeJ mice lack functional toll-like receptor 4, which is an essential component of cellular recognition of bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Hind paw sensitivity to thermal stimulus was quantitatively determined 1, 2, 7 and 14 days after infection.Results: Intravesical instillation of E. coli produced infection in all strains of mice. Infection persisted in all C3H/OuJ and C3H/HeJ mice but it spontaneously cleared in some C57BL/6N mice. Increased sensitivity to thermal stimuli was observed in C57BL/6N and C3H/OuJ mice starting 1...
Optical ranging techniques in turbid waters

In this paper simulation and experimental results are presented for two hybrid lidar-radar modulation techniques for underwater laser ranging. Both approaches use a combination of multi-frequency and single frequency modulation with the goal of simultaneously providing good range accuracy, unambiguous range, and backscatter suppression. The first approach uses a combination of dual and single frequency modulation. The performance is explored as a function of increasing average frequency while keeping the difference frequency of the dual tones constant. The second approach uses a combination of a stepped multi-tone modulation called frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) and single frequency modulation. The FDR technique is shown to allow simultaneous detection of the range of both the volumetric center of the backscattered “clutter” signal and the desired object. Experimental and simulated results are in good agreement for both techniques and performance out to ten attenuations lengths is reported.
Stabilities of some complexes of 2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane-N,N,N′,n′,-tetra-acetic acid with divalent metal ions

Abstract The solution stabilities of the complexes of 2-dydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane-N,N,N′,N′-tetra-acetic acid with Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ have been determined at 25°C and μ = 0·1 (KNO3). It is shown that both normal and protonated species exist and that the neglect of the latter has contributed to the widely discordant results which have previously been published for the alkaline earths. The values obtained are compared to those for trimethylene-diaminetetra-acetic acid and it is concluded that in theses complexes, with the possible exception of the strontium and barium complexes, there is no participation of the —OH group in the bonding to the metal ion.
Racial Differences in Survival of Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Patients in North Carolina

OBJECTIVE This study seeks to determine whether lower survival of black versus white oral and pharyngeal cancer patients is due to, or differs by, stage at diagnosis. METHODS Subjects identified through the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry included all black and white North Carolina residents diagnosed from 1987 to 1990 with malignant squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or pharynx. Proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios for all-cause mortality during the first 18 months after diagnosis, adjusting for age, reported histologic grade, site, and several time-dependent interactions. RESULTS Within the first two months after diagnosis, the black/white hazard ratio for mortality among those with localized disease was 11.8 (95% CI = 3.7, 37.5), compared to 6.4 (95% CI = 2.6, 15.8) for those with advanced disease. During months 3 to 18 after diagnosis, black/white hazard ratios were 2.07 (95% CI = 1.03, 4.18) among those with localized disease and 1.12 (95% CI = 0.85, 1.47) for those with advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS In the first 18 months after diagnosis, blacks with oral and pharyngeal cancer have higher all-cause mortality than whites diagnosed at the same stage of disease. Racial differences are greater among those with localized disease than for those with more advanced conditions.
Stock returns and product market competition: beyond industry concentration

The main purpose of this paper is to provide direct evidence that product market structure affects stock returns. This is not only through industry concentration, as found in Hou and Robinson (J Finance 61:1927–1956, 2006), but also based on firms’ product substitutability and industry market size. Furthermore, the predictive power of product substitutability and market size for stock returns is not subsumed by industry concentration. Our results highlight the multi-dimensional structure of product market competition and its impact on asset prices.
Increased glucose production following neurotensin administration

Abstract Neurotensin (NT), a recently isolated extract from bovine hypothalami, has been shown to have a hyperglycemic effect when injected into fed rats. This hyperglycemia has been attributed entirely to glycogenolysis, but no evidence is available regarding the effect of NT on the rate of glucose production and uptake. We have therefore used the primed-constant infusion of 6- 3 H-glucose technique to evaluate the effect of an intravenous injection of NT (1.2 nmole/kg) on glucose production in vivo in 48-h starved, conscious rats (n=10). NT induced a progressive rise in plasma glucose concentration from the control value of 101 ± 2.3 to 162.2 ± 10.8 mg/dl at 30 min. Glucose production was significantly (p
From Global Sustainability to Inclusive Education: Understanding urban children’s ideas about the food system

The purpose of this paper is to report our findings from a qualitative study intended to develop our understandings of: what high‐poverty urban children understand and believe about food and food systems; and how such children transform and use that knowledge in their everyday lives (i.e. how do they express their scientific literacies including content understandings, process understandings, habits of mind in these content areas). This qualitative study is part of a larger study focused on understanding and developing science and nutritional literacies among high‐poverty urban fourth‐grade through sixth‐grade students and their teachers and caregivers.
CONJOINABLE PIECES AND SITE FORMATION PROCESSES

Evidence provided by conjoined bone and lithic fragments from Old World sites such as Gombe Point, Meer II. Terra Amata, and Hortus shows that disturbance during burial, or following deposition, may affect archaeological assemblages to a much larger extent than previously imagined. The existence of an apparently undisturbed matrix, or of a finely stratified sequence, is not enough to rule out vertical displacement of artifacts and, in the case of multilevel sites, mixture of assemblages. As a result, many inferences based on fine stratigraphic controls may be open to question. Conjoined pieces can be used to test the presence and extent of stratigraphic disturbances that have not left clear, macroscopic traces in archaeological sediments and which have, therefore, few chances of being recognized. Before all things, brethren, we admonish and command you … that when you hear an exposition of the mystery of the Scriptures telling of things that took place, you believe what is read to have actually taken place as the reading narrates; lest undermining the foundation of actuality, you seek, as it were, to build'in the air. St. Augustine
Preoperative radiation and chemotherapy for localized squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a RTOG study

Forty-one evaluable patients with localized squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus were treated by a course of radiation therapy (3000 cGy in 3 weeks), 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and Cis-platinum (Pt). This was followed by an esophagectomy in medically eligible patients who agreed to the procedure and who had no evidence of extrathoracic tumor. If tumor was found in the specimen, an added 2000 cGy of radiation therapy and additional 5-FU and Pt were given. One-year survival was 44%, 2-year survival 15%, and 3-year survival 8%. All 3-year survivors had tumor-free specimens, but one patient with tumor in the thorax and subdiaphragmatic metastasis survived 2 years.
A fuzzy logic controller for the application of skin pressure

A new defuzzification method known as Sparus, has shown some promise in testing, but has not been utilized in a real-world environment. In order to test this new design of a FLC (fuzzy logic controller), an experimental medical research device for testing pressure induced hyperemia was modified to utilize fuzzy logic. The FLC directly controls a regulator that uses air to apply direct pressure via a pneumatic piston to the tissue of a human subject. The device also encompasses components such as a blood perfusion monitor and analog to digital converters for data collection and pneumatic valves and sensors for controlling air flow. As the paper shows, the utilization of a FLC has greatly improved the performance and accuracy of this experimental device and that this new defuzzification method can be effectively deployed in real-world scenarios.