cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improve Single-Point Zeroth-Order Optimization Using High-Pass and Low-Pass Filters.

Single-point zeroth-order optimization (SZO) is suitable for solving online black-box optimization and simulation-based learning-to-control problems. However, the vanilla SZO method suffers from a larger variance and slow convergence, which seriously limits its practical application. On the other hand, extremum seeking (ES) control is regarded as the continuous-time version of SZO, while they have been mostly studied separately in the control and optimization communities despite the close relation. In this work, we borrow the idea of high-pass and low-pass filters from ES control to improve the performance of SZO. Specifically, we develop a novel SZO method called HLF-SZO, by integrating a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter into the vanilla SZO method. Interestingly, it turns out that the integration of a high-pass filter coincides with the residual-feedback SZO method, and the integration of a low-pass filter can be interpreted as the momentum method. We prove that HLF-SZO achieves a convergence rate of $O(d/T^{\frac{2}{3}})$ for Lipschitz and smooth objective functions (in both convex and nonconvex cases). Extensive numerical experiments show that the high-pass filter can significantly reduce the variance and the low-pass filter can accelerate the convergence. As a result, the proposed HLF-SZO has a much smaller variance and much faster convergence compared with the vanilla SZO method, and empirically outperforms the state-of-the-art residual-feedback SZO method.
Anti-Catholicism v. Al Smith: An Analysis of Anti-Catholicism in the 1928 Presidential Election

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph. "With few exceptions, the details of past presidential elections are largely forgotten over the course of history. As specific campaigns and elections become more distant from contemporary society, people tend to focus on the larger picture of what that election produced, mainly, who actually became the president. And for the majority of the American public, the presidential election of 1928 is no exception to this. But as Allan Lichtman suggests in his book Prejudice and the Old Politics: The Presidential Election of 1928, ―Presidential elections are central events of American politics, often bearing the detailed imprint of the society in which they occur. The careful study of a single election can test theories of social process and illuminate the meaning of a historical era‖ (Lichtman 25). In this regard, all past presidential elections are American studies‘ in their own right, and are of importance because they provide insight about a specific society at any particular time in our country‘s history." This original essay is available in Verbum: http://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/verbum/vol9/iss1/2 Michael Rooney Anti-Catholicism v. Al Smith: An Analysis of Anti-Catholicism in the 1928 Presidential Election
In welchem wir von Neurologen und Neurochirurgen erfahren, dass sich manche Neurone sehr für Berühmtheiten interessieren, dass das Zerteilen der Großhirnrinde in zwei Hälften keineswegs auch das Bewusstsein halbiert, dass die Welt durch den Verlust einer kleinen corticalen Region alle Farbe verliert und dass uns die Zerstörung eines zuckerwürfelgroßen Stücks Hirnstamm- oder Thalamusgewebe zu einem Untoten macht

Historisch gesehen war die Klinik stets die ergiebigste Quelle fur Erkenntnisse uber Gehirn und Geist. Die Launen der Natur und der Menschen mit ihren Autos, Gewehren und Messern fuhren zu Zerstorungen, die, wenn sie begrenzt sind, die Verbindung zwischen Struktur und Funktion beleuchten und Merkmale aufdecken, die bei guter Gesundheit kaum sichtbar sind. Lassen Sie mich von vier wichtigen Lektionen erzahlen, die uns Patienten und ihre Arzte, Neurologen und Neurochirurgen uber die neuronale Basis des Bewusstseins erteilt haben.
Enzyme probes in vitro.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structure of DNA structure using enzymatic probes. The most widely used enzymatic probes for DNA structure in vitro are endonucleases with little or no sequence specificity, such as the family of zinc-dependent single-strand-specific endonucleases that comprise S1 nuclease, P1 nuclease, mung bean nuclease, and others. In general, double-stranded DNA is cleaved by these enzymes at low rates, whereas single strands are digested rapidly. If structural transitions in the DNA lead to unpairing of complementary bases, the nuclease then cuts at this site. Because this provides a positive signal for a structural transition, nucleases have been extensively used to monitor conformational parameters in nucleic acids. S1 nuclease from Aspergillus oryzae has been widely used to probe structural transitions in DNA. It has a pH optimum in the acidic range (pH 5 and below), which makes it a good probe for the investigation of protonated structures but restricts its use under physiological conditions. P1 nuclease from Penicillium citrium acts in many ways similarly to S1 nuclease. An important difference is its ability to cut DNA well at neutral pH values, although its pH optimum is acidic. The products of P1 nuclease action are oligonucleotides with 5´-phosphates. Mung bean nuclease is related to the S1 and P1 nucleases. The enzyme is highly sensitive to small variations in DNA structure and converts single-stranded DNA to mono- or oligo-nucleotides with 5´-phosphates.
OECD oil demand: Estimated response surfaces for nine world oil models

Abstract Econometric response surfaces for nine different world oil models are estimated for aggregate oil demand within the developed countries of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The estimates are based upon scenario results reported for the 1989–2010 period in a recent model comparison study. The response surface approach provides a parsimonious summary of model responses. It enables one to estimate long-run price elasticities directly rather than to infer such responses from 20-year cross-scenario results. It also shows more directly the significant effect of initial demand conditions (in 1988) on future oil demand growth. Due to the dynamic nature of the oil demand response, past prices exert a strongly positive effect on future oil demand in some models, but little or even negative effect in other models. On the basis of this finding, we urge demand modellers to be much more explicit about what their systems reveal about the extent of disequilibrium embedded in their model's starting oil demand conditions.
A VLSI neural network classifier based on integer-valued weights

The VLSI-friendly constraint based decomposition (VCBD) algorithm guarantees construction of neural network classifiers with a user-chosen maximum neuron fan-in and weight values confined to a narrow band of integers. Networks with these characteristics can be efficiently implemented in VLSI. This paper presents the design of a CMOS neuron that fully exploits the characteristics of solutions produced by VCBD. The limited integer weight range enables efficient use of current-mode techniques for addition and multiplication operations within the neuron. Weights are stored in digital form without quantization error. A simple current comparator is used to provide the neuron output. Circuit operation has been verified using SPICE and these simulation results are included.
The steel mill slab design problem revisited

Recently, Gargani and Refalo (G&R) presented an elegant model for the Steel Mill Slab Design Problem (Problem 38 in the CSP LIB). Contrary to earlier approaches, their model does not use 0/1 variables but exploits the traditional expressiveness of constraint programming. G&R indicated that static symmetry-breaking constraints proposed earlier are not effective on this model, as these interact with their heuristic. Instead they use large neighborhood search to obtain solutions quickly. This paper shows that a simple search procedure breaking symmetries dynamically leads to a constraint program solving the problem in a few seconds, while maintaining the completeness of the approach and removing the need for large neighborhood search.
Quasar Spectra: Black Holes or Nonstandard Models?

The “Big Bang” model has ascended to a powerful position in modern cosmology over the past few decades. This position has become so strong that investigation of alternate ideas has almost ceased. Observational counter-evidence certainly exists (for reviews see e. g. Arp 1987; Sulentic 1987; Tifft 1987). The general belief is that this counter-evidence consists of misinterpreted data and false clues. One could easily get the impression that all of the observations fit easily into the accepted model. In fact, at least three new concepts have assumed great importance in preserving the Big Bang against observational and theoretical challenges. In temporal order of acclamation they are: 1) black holes; 2) merger phenomena and 3) dark matter. Gravitational accretion onto supermassive black holes was required as soon as it became generally accepted that the quasar redshifts were cosmological (i. e. proportional to their distance). It provides a mechanism for producing the enormous energies implied by the assumption that quasars are at their redshift distances. Mergers came upon the scene in order to account for nearby peculiar galaxies and for the increasing luminosity and size of many objects at higher redshift. Dark matter helps to bind the groups and clusters of galaxies as well as to explain the flat rotation curves in spirals. In reality, it can help to fit almost any observation into the conventional picture. What is the observational evidence for the above three phenomena?
Fertility Issues for Patients with Hypogonadotropic Causes of Delayed Puberty

Delayed puberty presenting with low gonadotropins has multiple causes. Self-limited delay (constitutional delay) is generally considered benign, but adult height and bone mineral density may be compromised, and fertility has not been studied. Functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to a stressor is thought to resolve with removal of the stressor, but reproductive endocrine dysfunction can sometimes persist. Most but not all patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a typically long-lasting condition, can achieve fertility with exogenous hormone therapy. Future studies are needed to determine fertility outcomes in self-limited delayed puberty and to more clearly define prognostic factors for fertility in functional and idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
Urinary Bother as a Predictor of Postsurgical Changes in Urinary Function After Robotic Radical Prostatectomy

Objective To characterize changes in indices of urinary function in prostatectomy patients with presurgical voiding symptoms. Methods A retrospective analysis of our prostate cancer database identified robot-assisted radical prostatectomy patients between April 2007 and December 2011 who completed pre- and postsurgical (24 months) Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 surveys. Gleason score, margins, D'Amico risk, prostate-specific antigen, radiotherapy, and nerve-sparing status were tabulated. Survey questions addressed urinary irritation/obstruction, incontinence, and overall bother. Responses were averaged to calculate a urinary sum (US) score. Patients were stratified according to the severity of their baseline urinary bother (UB), and changes in urinary indices determined at 24 months. Results A total of 737 patients were included. Postsurgical improvement in urinary obstruction, bother, and sum score was related to baseline UB (P <.001). Men with severe baseline bother had the greatest improvement in US (+9.3), whereas those with asymptomatic baseline UB experienced a decline in US (−2.8). All patients experienced a decline in urinary incontinence of 6.3-8.3 that was independent of baseline bother (P = .507). Patients with severe UB experienced positive outcomes, whereas those at asymptomatic baseline experienced negative US outcomes. Negative urinary incontinence outcomes were unrelated to baseline UB. Age, radiotherapy, and nerve-sparing status were not associated with improved UB (P = .029). However, baseline UB was significantly associated with improvement in postsurgical UB (P = .001). Conclusion Baseline UB is a predictor of postsurgical improvement in urinary function. These data are helpful when counseling a subset of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy patients with severe preoperative urinary symptoms.
Transmission line models of multi-chip module interconnects

An overview of the important transmission line properties of circuit interconnects is given, and it is shown how these properties can affect the operation of high speed and high density multichip modules (MCMs). Both frequency and time domain issues are addressed. The effects of line-caused delay and signal noise on MCM layouts are reported. >
1.55 μm hybrid waveguide laser made by ion-exchange and wafer bonding

Distributed Feed Back (DFB) lasers working in the third telecom window are essential for optical communications, eyesafe sensors and lab-on-chip devices. Glass integrated optics technology allows realizing such devices by using rareearth doped substrates. Despite their good output power and spectral characteristic, DFB lasers still present some reliability issues concerning the Bragg grating protection. Moreover Erbium doped glasses are not compatible with the realization of passive optical functions. In order to solve the DFB lasers reliability issues and to ensure a monolithic integration between active and passive functions, we propose an hybrid-device architecture based on ion-exchange technology and wafer bonding. The Ag + /Na + ion-exchange in the silicate glass wafer is used to realize the passive functions and the lateral confinement of the electromagnetic field. Through a second ion exchange step, a slab waveguide is made on the Erbium-Ytterbium doped glass wafer. The Bragg grating is processed on the passive substrate and the two glasses are bonded. The potential of this structure has been demonstrated through the realization of a DFB hybrid laser with a fully encapsulated Bragg grating.
Diversification within embryonic chick somites: Differential response to notochord

Abstract The tissue interaction between the notochord and the somites of the vertebrate embryo establishes the proper shape and constitution of the vertebral cartilage. Soon after somite formation, the somite differentiates into a cartilage-forming part, the sclerotome, and a muscle and skin-forming part, the dermamyotome. These components of the somite were dissected from 3 1 2 - day-old chick embryos (stage 18 1 2 –19 and cultured in vitro in the presence or absence of notochord. It was found that the sclerotome cells respond to the notochord by an increased incidence of hyaline cartilage nodules, greater accumulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycans, synthesis of larger aggregates of proteoglycans, increased DNA accumulation, and accelerated DNA synthesis. The dermamyotome did not show these changes. These results indicate that the notochord enhances cartilage differentiation in the sclerotome. Under these conditions, the notochord did not elicit cartilage formation in the dermamyotome.
Age, sex, and hypertension-related remodeling influences left ventricular torsion assessed by tagged cardiac magnetic resonance in asymptomatic individuals: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Background—The aim of the present study was to evaluate how torsion is influenced by left ventricular (LV) remodeling associated with age, sex, and hypertension in a large community-based populatio...
Resistance of castrated male horses to attempted establishment of the carrier state with equine arteritis virus.

Summary Twelve geldings all became infected when inoculated intranasally with the KY-84 strain of equine arteritis virus (EAV), a strain previously shown to be capable of establishing the carrier state in the stallion. With the exception of one animal that showed no effects other than pyrexia, all of the geldings developed clinical signs characteristic of equine viral arteritis (EVA). The geldings were febrile for varying periods within the range of 2–10 days after inoculation. Viraemia occurred from day 2 onwards, for periods varying from 9 to at least 19 days. Nasal shedding of virus began 2–4 days after inoculation and persisted for periods ranging from 7–14 days. All geldings “seroconverted” to EAV by day 11, with serum neutralization titres ranging from 8 to 64. The titres ranged from 8 to 32 after 4 weeks. Low concentrations of EAV were detected in the kidney and blood of one gelding killed 30 days after inoculation and in the blood of another killed after 57 days. Virus was not isolated from any tissue or fluid sample collected from the remaining 10 geldings, all of which were killed between days 30 and 148. The findings confirm that persistent EAV infection is unlikely to occur in geldings and support the results of previous studies, which demonstrated that testosterone plays an essential role in the establishment and maintenance of the carrier state.
Response to Comment on “Functional Traits and Niche-Based Tree Community Assembly in an Amazonian Forest”

Lake and Ostling address several issues that they suggest could influence our analyses of tropical forest community assembly. Some of the issues have already been considered, whereas others appear to arise from misunderstandings. We offer clarification of our analyses and additional discussion of our results.
Optical detection of liquid-state NMR.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is used in a broad range of applications, from NMR imaging to protein structure studies. These applications usually involve the measurement of the bulk magnetic field outside the samples, so NMR signals from specific atomic nuclei acting as tiny magnets are generally not revealed. To tease out interesting information about a sample, sophisticated tricks are required. Researchers at Princeton now show that NMR signals of liquids can be detected by simply shining light through the sample and measuring the rotation of light polarization induced by the 'atomic magnets'. This new detection method will make it possible to take 'snapshots' of nuclear magnetism and study which atoms in a complex chemical are responsible for its colour and other optical properties. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in liquids and solids is primarily detected by recording the net dipolar magnetic field outside the spin-polarized sample. But the recorded bulk magnetic field itself provides only limited spatial or structural information about the sample. Most NMR applications rely therefore on more elaborate techniques such as magnetic field gradient encoding1 or spin correlation spectroscopy2, which enable spatially resolved imaging and molecular structure analysis, respectively. Here we demonstrate a fundamentally different and intrinsically information-richer modality of detecting NMR, based on the rotation of the polarization of a laser beam by the nuclear spins in a liquid sample. Optical NMR detection has in fact a long history in atomic vapours with narrow resonance lines3,4, but has so far only been applied to highly specialized condensed matter systems such as quantum dots5. It has been predicted6 that laser illumination can shift NMR frequencies and thus aid detection, but the effect is very small and has never been observed. In contrast, our measurements on water and liquid 129Xe show that the complementary effect—the rotation of light polarization by nuclear spins—is readily measurable, and that it is enhanced dramatically in samples containing heavy nuclei. This approach to optical NMR detection should allow correlated optical and NMR spectroscopy on complex molecules, and continuous two-dimensional imaging of nuclear magnetization with spatial resolution limited only by light diffraction.
Carbohydrate sources in a coastal marine environment

Abstract Individual neutral sugars in sediments, sediment trap materials and major biological sources of a coastal marine environment (Dabob Bay, Washington State) were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography of equilibrated isomeric mixtures. Plankton, bacteria, and vascular plant tissues of different types yielded reproducible and biochemically consistent compositional patterns. These patterns, when expressed in simple parameters, allowed distinctions between marine and terrestrial carbohydrate sources as well as among the major different types of vascular plant tissues. Plankton and bacteria, due to their compositional diversity, were not further distinguishable by carbohydrate compositions alone. Carbohydrate compositions of Dabob Bay sediments and sediment trap materials, interpreted using source-indicator parameters, indicate a predominantly marine origin with increased relative input of terrestrially-derived carbohydrates in winter periods of low phytoplankton productivity. Both plankton and grasses are indicated as major carbohydrate sources during spring. Glucose yield enhancement factors, determined by comparative acid pretreatments, confirm the general predominance of α-cellulose-poor marine polysaccharides and increased levels of α-cellulose-rich vascular plant remains in winter sediment trap samples.
On constructing the solution to the exterior Dirichlet problem for the Helmholtz equation

Abstract In this paper a method is given for constructing the solution to the exterior Dirichlet problem for the Helmholtz equation in three dimensions. This method is modeled after the procedure of Colton and Kleinman (Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. 86A(1980) , 29–42) for solving the corresponding two-dimensional problem. The scattering problem is reformulated as an integral equation and it is shown that its solution can be represented as a convergent Neumann series for small values of the wave number. Comparisons are made between the present method and known results. Examples are given which illustrate the method.
The Effects of Practice on Limb Kinematics in a Throwing Task

The effect of practice on limb kinematics in a dart-throwing task was examined to test three current hypotheses regarding limb control: trajectory formation; end-point control; and coordinated joint-space control. Practice was given to both the relatively well-practiced dominant and the relatively unpracticed non-dominant limbs of 5 male subjects to permit analysis of the early phase of coordination acquisition. The nondominant limb demonstrated high absolute joint cross-correlations with high variability throughout practice and consistency in the hand trajectory. The dominant limb exhibited a significant decrease in wrist-elbow and wrist-shoulder cross-correlations over practice while also maintaining a consistent hand trajectory and significantly higher scoring performance. The findings demonstrate that practice effects can be seen in both coordination mode and variability of various parameters of limb motion, but the changing relationship between the variables suggests that control cannot be ascribed t...
An ecological perspective on physical education.

This paper reviews the use of the classroom ecology paradigm in teaching research in physical education. The review traces the development of a research program beginning in the United States at th...
Does DHE imaging insight into the inaccuracy of EKG's?

Methods We reviewed a total of 106 unselected, consecutive patients who underwent CMR with DHE and had an EKG performed within 1 day of CMR. EKGs were screened for the presence of a Q wave and compared to those with a positive DHE regardless of the myocardial post-gadolinium pattern. Then we divided the patients into 3 subgroups: 1) one group with only positive DHE (DHE+) pattern of ischemia 2) the other group with other DHE (DHE+/-) patterns or 3) negative DHE (DHE-). Furthermore, we divided the ischemic group (DHE+) into transmural vs. endocardial.
Menzation of mono ethenoid acids during hydrogenation

Methyl petroselinate, methyl oleate, and methyl erucate were hydrogenated under conditions used in industry for selective hydrogenation. The resulting products were separated into saturated esters andtrans- and cis-unsaturated esters on a silver nitrate impregnated silicic acid column. The positional isomers in the total hydrogenated samples and the cis andtrans-fractions were determined by oxidation with permanganate-per-iodate and GLC analysis of the resulting di-carboxylic fragments. Positional isomers were found in bothtrans andcis-fractions with equal shifting of the bond toward and away from the carboxyl group, regardless of whether the bond was originally in the 6,9, or 13 position. The ratio oftrans tocis-form in the positional isomers in all cases was higher than the reported equilibrium proportions of 2:1.
New host records from Ecuador and Venezuela for the genus Acanthoscelides (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

New host and distribution records are reported for 28 species of Acanthoscelides from Ecuador and Venezuela. Of particular interest is that the distribution and hosts of A. zeteki, which sometimes feeds in the seeds of the economically important pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), are reported. Of the 28 species, 3 feed in the seeds of the Tiliaceae and 25 in the seeds of the Leguminosae. Fifteen species feed in the legume subfamily Papilionoideae, eight in the Mimosoideae and two in the Caesalpinioideae.
Conflict and cooperation in environmental administration

Cleavages exist between agencies on the implementation of environmental policies and the management of environmental programs. Although these cleavages are not deep enough to cause an agency immobilisme, they slow down the pace of pollution control. Within the agencies, much time is wasted when environmental specialists quibble on regulatory matters, when relationships between environmental scientists and resource managers are strained, and when regional units suffer from the stultifying effect of divided loyalties. To compound the problem, cooperative programs that are supposed to maximize the outcome of environmental protection leave much to be desired. In light of these problems, the time has come to re-invent the whole spectrum of environmental bureaucracy and recharge the entire subsystem of environmental policy making.
Molecular genetic aspects of cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathies are a major cause of mortality and morbidity and this spectrum of disorders tops the list of diseases leading to cardiac transplantation. While significant gains have been made during the past decade clinically, knowledge of the molecular aspects of these disorders has taken longer to advance. During the past 5 years, however, molecular genetic information on a variety of primary cardiomyopathies, such as familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy, has been obtained. Other primary and secondary myocardial diseases are now under study with advances occurring more regularly. The purpose of this review is to outline the major advances thus far described for some primary and secondary cardiomyopathies, as well as detailing the slower progress seen for others.
Moving T memory stem cells to the clinic

In this issue of Blood , Cieri and colleagues elucidate the instructive signals that guide naive T lymphocytes to differentiate into memory stem cells (TSCM) in vitro, paving the way for a rapid translation of TSCM into new clinical trials.[1][1] Memory T lymphocytes play a critical role in the
Sociology without knowledge : The atrophy of a concept

En 1963, dans Invitation to sociology Peter Perger insistait sur le caractere socialement construit du savoir, considere comme une composante socialement distribuee de la culture. Cet article examine un indicateur de la place occupee par le savoir dans la sociologie d'aujourd'hui a travers l'analyse de manuels d'introduction a la sociologie. Apres avoir montre la diffusion du concept de P. Berger, l'A. plaide pour une sociologie de la connaissance en examinant quelques consequences possibles d'une sociologie qui n'incluerait pas l'etude du savoir
Measurement Uncertainties Analysis in the Determination of Adiabatic Film Cooling Effectiveness by Using Pressure Sensitive Paint (PSP) Technique

Pressure sensitive paint (PSP) is useful for measurements of wall pressure in high speed flows, but can be used in an alternative manner in low-speed flows as a gas species concentration detector. Film cooling technology studies have been greatly aided by this use of PSP through use of a mass transfer analogy to determine the adiabatic film cooling effectiveness. The PSP technique allows measurements that have high spatial resolution at high enough sampling rate that a good statistical mean can be determined rapidly. Due to the potential of this technique to deliver high quality adiabatic effectiveness measurements, a detailed analysis of its associated uncertainty is presented herein. In this study, an ambient temperature low speed wind tunnel drives air as the main flow while carbon dioxide (CO2, DR=1.5) is used as the “coolant” gas, though the experiments are done under isothermal conditions. A detailed analysis of the technique is performed here with focus on the measurement uncertainty and process uncertainty for a film cooling study using an array of five cylindrical holes spaced across the span of a flat test plate at a spacing of three diameters center-to-center. The final analysis indicates that the total uncertainty depends strongly on the local behavior of the coolant, with near-field uncertainty as high as 5% at isolated points. In the far-field, the total uncertainty is more uniform throughout the measurement domain and generally lower, at about 3%.© 2014 ASME
Modeling laser performance of scalable side pumped alkali laser

Diode pumped alkali lasers (DPAL) offer the potential for high power and efficient operation. The extremely low quantum defect of the alkali system minimizes thermal management requirements. At the same time DPALs keep advantages of gas lasers (no thermal stresses, high intrinsic beam quality). Side pumped geometry simplifies system design, separating laser and pump light and providing physical space for a large number of diode stacks needed for power scaling. The three-level nature of these lasers complicates modeling, making numerical simulation the most viable option for system studies in this geometry. We have built a simplified numerical code for simulation of CW laser performance in different side pumped geometries and studied performance of a rubidium DPAL with helium and methane buffer gases at high pump power. We observed dramatic differences in pump absorption with the laser turned off compared to an operating laser. Cell temperature is a key parameter that controls effective absorption length. If pump density is sufficiently high, we can find an operating point with optical to optical efficiency above 60% with reasonably homogenous spatial laser output profile even for a single side pumped laser cell.
Maximum likelihood estimation for mixed continuous and categorical data with missing values

SUMMARY Maximum likelihood procedures for analysing mixed continuous and categorical data with missing values are presented. The general location model of Olkin & Tate (1961) and extensions introduced by Krzanowski (1980, 1982) form the basis for our methods. Maximum likelihood estimation with incomplete data is achieved by an application of the EM algorithm (Dempster, Laird & Rubin, 1977). Special cases of the algorithm include Orchard & Woodbury's (1972) algorithm for incomplete normal samples, Fuchs's (1982) algorithms for log linear modelling of partially classified contingency tables, and Day's (1969) algorithm for multivariate normal mixtures. Applications include: (a) imputation of missing values, (b) logistic regression and discriminant analysis with missing predictors and unclassified observations, (c) linear regression with missing continuous and categorical predictors, and (d) parametric cluster analysis with incomplete data. Methods are illustrated using data from the St Louis Risk Research Project. Some key word8: Cluster analysis; Discriminant analysis; EM algorithm; Incomplete data; Linear regression; Logistic regression; Log linear model; Mixture model.
Lymphoproliferative disorder presenting as pulmonary nodules after bone marrow transplantation.

Lymphoproliferative disorder presenting as pulmonary nodules after bone marrow transplantation
Living history biography

A living history biography is presented of Theodore T. Puck. This history is intimately involved with the progress towards mapping of the human genome through research at the forefront of molecular cytogenetics. A review of historical research aims such as human genetics studies based on somatic cells, isolation of mutants as genetic markers, complementation analysis, gene mapping and the measurement of mutation is presented. 37 refs., 4 figs.
T cell virological synapses and HIV-1 pathogenesis

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is the cause of a modern global pandemic associated with progressive acquired immune deficiency. The infection is characterized by the loss of the primary target of viral infection, the CD4+ T cell. The measurement of plasma viremia in patients can predict the rate of CD4+ cell decline; however, it is not clear whether this cell-free plasma virus represents the engine that drives viral spread. Active viral replication is mainly observed within lymphoid tissues that are hotbeds of cell–cell interactions that initiate and organize immune responses. It is well established that cell–cell interactions enhance viral spread in vitro. Dendritic cell–T cell interactions, which lie at the heart of adaptive immune responses, enhance viral infection in vitro. Interactions between infected and uninfected CD4+ T cells are a dominant route of viral spread in vitro and are likely to play a central role in viral dissemination in vivo. Future studies will test existing paradigms of HIV-1 dissemination to determine whether virus-transmitting contacts between infected and uninfected T cells called virological synapses are the dominant mode of viral spread in vivo. Here, we review the status of our understanding of this mode of infection with a focus on T cell–T cell interactions and examine how it may explain resistance to neutralizing antibodies and or the generation of genetic diversity of HIV.
Natural resource exploitation in Latin America espoiliation or tool for development

The exploitation of natural resources in Latin American countries has become one of the most controversial issues of contemporary development. Three positions arise: 1) a position that opens the development of natural resources to foreign priorities and capitals; 2) a position that opposes any kind of development if it is not conducted by the state, even if the state lacks the financial resources to do so; and 3) a position that sees advantages in negotiating the development of resources with external partnership but reserves for the state the determination of priorities and the leading role in the exploitation. The third position assumes the existence of a responsible government commited to safeguarding national interests. Unfortunately, this last assumption is not very operative with Latin American governments which seldom have standing policies concerning natural resources, which leaves them open to assaults from private national and international interests. Contrary to opposite views, it has been demonstrated that the development of natural resources brings about stimulation of regional economies and relocation of populations toward resource frontiers. Opposing the development of such areas of resources is to negate the concept of progress and to deepen chronic poverty.
Tidal amplitude and activity in the pulmonate limpets Siphonaria normalis (Gould) and S. alternata (Say)

Abstract The timing and extent of activity of homing limpets in different populations of Siphonaria normalis (Gould) at Enewetak Atoll and S. alternata (Say) in Bermuda were studied on tides of varying amplitude. Two distinct behavioural patterns were found. At sites where the first pattern was the rule, movement began just as limpets were exposed to air by falling tides or were wet by rising tides. These animals were less active on spring tides than on neap tides: they spent less time moving and in some cases did not move as far. On spring tides at some sites fewer animals were active. In the second pattern of behaviour, activity did not change with tidal amplitude. Limpets maintained relatively high levels of activity on spring ebbing tides by either continuing to move for relatively long periods after aerial exposure or by starting to move before they were exposed to air. The degree of environmental rigour at a site may determine what resident limpets do. Limpets with the first sort of behaviour all lived in places where water drained rapidly from rocks at low tide and/or places where the splash from waves was considerable at high tide. In contrast, limpets resident at more benign sites fell into the second behavioural category. Limpets at rapidly draining sites also tended to be more active on rising tides than on falling tides near the spring end of the tidal spectrum while limpets at other sites either divided activity equally between ebb and flood tides or were more active on ebbing tides.
Reliability Application of the Alpha Distribution

This paper describes the alpha distribution and its applicability as a model for accelerated life testing.
Heterologous reinnervation of the iris from sympathetic ganglia in organ culture.

AFTER division of a sympathetic nerve, reinnervation occurs by growth of axons from neurones located in the sympathetic ganglia. These ganglia survive in artificial media, and the neurones continue to respond to acetylcholine for more than 1 week after their isolation in vitro1. A rat iris placed in contact with a superior cervical ganglion in organ culture is ramified by nerve fibres emanating from the ganglion cell bodies2. The catecholamine histochemical method has shown that nerve fibres begin to enter the iris from the ganglion as early as the second day in culture in the presence of exogenous nerve growth factor2.
An adaptive fuzzy C -means algorithm for image segmentation in the presence of intensity inhomogeneities

Abstract We present a novel algorithm for obtaining fuzzy segmentations of images that are subject to multiplicative intensity inhomogeneities, such as magnetic resonance images. The algorithm is formulated by modifying the objective function in the fuzzy C-means algorithm to include a multiplier field, which allows the centroids for each class to vary across the image. First and second order regularization terms ensure that the multiplier field is both slowly varying and smooth. An iterative algorithm that minimizes the objective function is described, and its efficacy is demonstrated on several test images.
Psychological Reactance and Violence within Dating Relationships

86 male and 127 female undergraduates were classified into either nonviolent or violent groups based on their self-reported conflict-resolution behaviors within their dating relationships. Using the four subscales of Hong's Psychological Reactance Scale to define the dependent variables, multivariate analyses indicated that individuals in mutually violent relationships had significantly higher scores on all four of the reactance subscales than did those in nonviolent relationships. Men had higher scores than women only on the reactance to conformity subscale. These findings may suggest that both partners in violent dating relationships may be more protective of their personal sense of freedom and more sensitive to perceived threats to these freedoms and that psychological reactance as related to interpersonal control may be an important variable in violent behavior.
Determinants of Food Retailing in Developing Economies: The Case of Turkey:

The relationship among economic development, public policy, and the food retailing structure is studied using historical data from Turkey. It is found that small food stores are the dominant form of food retailing in Turkey, although the stage of eco nomic development predicts "the supermarket age." It is argued that country-specific demand-side variables, such as consumption patterns and shopping habits; supply-side variables, such as marketing functions performed by stores and market entry conditions; competitive factors; and public policy play important roles beyond the stage of economic development in determining the food retailing structure in developing countries.
Verbing Communication: Mandate for Disciplinary Invention

L'A. s'interesse a la theorisation de la communication dans les sciences sociales. Il constate que les chercheurs se concentrent sur des types de theorisation qui ne relevent pas de la communication en elle-meme mais sur des types de theorisation sociologique, psychologique, anthropologique etc. L'A. souhaite voir se developper une « theorie de la communication communicante ». Les science sociales doivent pour cela abandonner les strategies theoriques qui empechent de regarder la communication de maniere communicative pour pouvoir developper une theorie de la communication pure
PROTHROMBIN DEFICIENCY AND THE BLEEDING TENDENCY IN LIVER INJURY (CHLOROFORM INTOXICATION)

The bleeding tendency in acute chloroform intoxication is due to deficiency in both plasma fibrinogen and plasma prothrombin. If the disorder is mild, no bleeding occurs. However, the prothrombin falls to rather low levels, although the fibrinogen falls only moderately. A bleeding tendency may also be produced by giving small repeated doses of chloroform. In such experiments, the hemorrhagic tendency is due to a deficiency in prothrombin alone. The fibrinogen level is unaffected. The relation of the liver injury to the plasma prothrombin level indicates that the liver is concerned in the manufacture of prothrombin. Prothrombin formation appears to be more easily interfered with than does fibrinogen formation.
Trehalose synthesis in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum.

Abstract Trehalose synthetase (UDPglucose: D -glucose-6-phosphate I -glucosyl-transferase, EC 2.4.1.15) activity was demonstrated in extracts of Dictyostelium discoideum. The specific activity of this enzyme appears to be quite low in cells at anearly stage of development and rises considerably during the course of fruiting body construction.
Clinical Preparation of Teachers in the Context of a University-Wide Community Engagement Emphasis

In this article, we describe development of a clinical model of teacher education connected to a community engagement commitment of the university known as the Signature Partnership Initiative. The current clinical model builds upon previously established collaborations of the College of Education and Human Development with district and school partners to offer a more authentic, comprehensive, and systemic approach to preparing new teachers and supporting the continued learning of experienced teachers. The development and implementation of the clinical model in two elementary schools and one middle school have provided evidence of both benefits and challenges. The article provides three descriptive narratives that elaborate on these and offers insights about essential components and research possibilities needed for improving the quality and outcomes of university–school clinical partnerships for teacher education.
Propene Adsorption on Clean and Oxygen-Covered Au(111) and Au(100) Surfaces

The adsorption of propene on Au(111) and Au(100) was investigated using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and high-resolution energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). A desorption activation energy of 9.4 kcal/mol and very small shifts of the vibrational frequencies from their gas-phase values indicate that the interaction of propene with the surface is weak. Energy loss spectra suggest that propene adsorbs with its molecular plane tilted slightly with respect to the surface plane. Atomic oxygen, chemisorbed on the gold surfaces, was characterized using TPD and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), and its reaction with propene investigated. Propene desorption from the oxygen-covered surface occurs at 150 K with a shoulder at 200 K. Only propene and its total oxidation products desorbed from a one monolayer (1 ML) oxygen-covered surface. At an oxygen coverage of ∼0.4 ML, the higher temperature propene desorption feature at 200 K was maximized. HREEL spectra of propene giving rise to the 200 K desorption...
Bis­[1,2‐bis(p‐ethyl­benzene)­phosphino]­benzene

In the solid state, the title compound, 1,2-{(p-Et-C6H4)2P}2(C6H4) or C38H40P2, does not exhibit its molecular C2v symmetry. It crystallizes in the space group P\overline 1, with a full mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit.
A phenomenological model for a local Regge pole-regge cut interaction

Abstract In the context of the multiperipheral model, we use an effective-range approximation and the formula for the discontinuity of the partial-wave amplitude across the AFS cut to construct a model amplitude that incorporates the reggeon-pomeron cut in addition to the simple Regge pole. We use this amplitude in an attempt to explain the structure of the high-energy differential cross section at small t, as observed at ISR. The model explains in addition the discrepancy between the values for the rho-intercept obtained from the differential cross section on the one hand and the difference of π±p total cross sections, at high energy, on the other. We can also understand the absence of such a discrepancy in the case of the omega trajectory.
DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF AN LC-MS/MS METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF THE VINYL CHLORIDE-INDUCED DNA ADDUCT N2,3-ETHENOGUANINE IN TISSUES OF ADULT AND WEANLING RATS FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO [13C2]-VC

In the 1970s, exposure to vinyl chloride (VC) was shown to cause liver angiosarcoma in VC workers. We have developed a new LC-MS/MS method for analyzing the promutagenic DNA adduct N(2),3-ethenoguanine (eG) and have applied this to DNA from tissues of both adult and weanling rats exposed to 1100 ppm [(13)C(2)]-VC for 5 days or 1100 ppm VC for 1 day. This assay utilizes neutral thermal hydrolysis and an HPLC cleanup prior to quantitation by LC-MS/MS. The number of endogenous and exogenous eG adducts in DNA from tissues of adult rats exposed to [(13)C(2)]-VC for 5 days was 4.1 ± 2.8 adducts/10(8) guanine of endogenous and 19.0 ± 4.9 adducts/10(8) guanine of exogenous eG in the liver, 8.4 ± 2.8 adducts/10(8) guanine of endogenous and 7.4 ± 0.5 adducts/10(8) guanine of exogenous eG in the lung, and 5.9 ± 3.3 adducts/10(8) guanine of endogenous and 5.7 ± 2.1 adducts/10(8) guanine of exogenous eG in the kidney (n = 4). Additionally, the data from weanling rats demonstrated higher numbers of exogenous eG, with ∼4-fold higher amounts in the liver DNA of weanlings (75.9 ± 17.9 adducts/10(8) guanine) in comparison to adult rats and ∼2-fold higher amounts in the lung (15.8 ± 3.6 adducts/10(8) guanine) and kidney (12.9 ± 0.4 adducts/10(8) guanine) (n = 8). The use of stable isotope labeled VC permitted accurate estimates of the half-life of eG for the first time by comparing [(13)C(2)]-eG in adult rats with identically exposed animals euthanized 2, 4, or 8 weeks later. The half-life of eG was found to be 150 days in the liver and lung and 75 days in the kidney, suggesting little or no active repair of this promutagenic adduct.
Writing Anxiety Groups: A Creative Approach for Graduate Students

This article discusses a creative project designed by the first author to help graduate students in the dissertation-writing process cope with writing anxiety. Writing anxiety is a condition that affects writers and causes heightened stress and anxiety during the writing process. Graduate students often take on multiple responsibilities in their lives and academic studies. These tasks increase students’ perceived stress and prevent them from completing their writing projects on time. Although writing a dissertation is a stressful process that generates high anxiety, writing itself can be used to release internalized stress and reduce writing anxiety. This article presents a writing anxiety group that is designed to utilize the therapeutic power of writing and the group dynamics of a support group to assist graduate students in coping with writing anxiety.