cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of decision support systems for the efficient selection and design of composites and their products

The tailorability of composites for specific applications has been one of its greatest attractions, and simultaneously one of its most perplexing challenges. The wide choice of materials combinations, processing methods and shapes possible, present bewildering problems of selection. To achieve fast strategic decision making, the problem of selection must be reduced to its main elements through the deselection (or rejection through comparison) of concepts ill–suited to the specific requirements under consideration. The process of deselection (or screening) assists the decision making team (or individual) by reducing the number of viable concepts that would then undergo a detailed analysis for suitability. This allows a rapid movement through the list of alternatives reducing the number of final concepts to only a few. The ultimate purpose is to focus quickly on the most viable and attractive alternatives. In this paper we discuss the stages involved in the composites' product design process whilst emphasizing the development of an electronic environment for a decision support tool to aid the design team towards the successful execution of the product realization process. The basic strategy being reinforced through this system is that of limiting conflict without skimping on quality. Simple, yet powerful tools such as discrimination charts and tables can be used to accelerate the decision making process, even in areas where decisions are highly interrelated. The approach described here favours conflict resultion through deselection, allowing multiple, simultaneous alternatives to be carried forward. The use of comparative rankings allows the decision makers to access alternatives even if the superiority of one cannot be readily quantified.
Nicotinic acid metabolism. II. The isolation and characterization of intermediates in the fermentation of nicotinic acid.

6-Hydroxynicotinic acid was demonstrated to be the first intermediate in the degradation of nicotinic acid by a clostridium. In the presence of pyruvate, other intermediates accumulated; two of these were identified, one as 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-oxonicotinic acid, and the other as α-methyleneglutaric acid. The pathways for nicotinic acid degradation may be considered as involving successive oxidative and reductive steps to 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-oxonicotinic acid, then through some unidentified steps to α-methyleneglutaric acid, which is subsequently converted to propionic and acetic acids and carbon dioxide. Pyruvate and lactate were shown not to be obligatory intermediates in the production of propionate. This microorganism has a high content of B12 coenzyme, but its function in nicotinic acid fermentation is not yet understood.
Informational privacy and moral values

A case from 1996 in Oregon in which citizens' legally public motor vehicle information was disseminated on a World Wide Web site is considered. The case evoked widespread moral outrage among Oregonians and led to changes in the Oregon records laws. The application of either consequentialist or non-consequentialist moral theories to this and other informational privacy cases is found to be inadequate. Adjudication of conflicting desires is offered as the appropriate analytical model for moral disputes. The notion of adjudication offered here diverges from traditional moral theories in its indeterminate nature.
Spatial Impact of Transportation Infrastructure: A Spatial Econometric CGE Approach

This study introduces a new method called Spatial Econometric Computable General Equilibrium (SECGE), which integrates both spatial econometrics with computable general equilibrium modeling to improve the effectiveness of impact analysis on transportation infrastructure. Elasticities of factor substitution for the Constant Elasticity Substitution (CES) production function are estimated in a spatial econometric model with consideration of spatial dependence. CGE simulations adopting different substitution elasticities show a difference between spatial econometric estimation and traditional OLS estimation. Although the differences are relatively small in this aggregate case study, implications for more sensitive disaggregated regional models are clear.
Symptom properties as a function of ADHD type: an argument for continued study of sluggish cognitive tempo.

Inconsistent alertness and orientation (sluggishness, drowsiness, daydreaming) were reported to accompany Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) without Hyperactivity in DSM-III. Such Sluggish Cognitive Tempo items were tested in the DSM-IV Field Trial for ADHD, but were discarded from the Inattention symptom list because of poor negative predictive power. Using 692 children referred to a pediatric subspecialty clinic for ADHD, Sluggish Tempo items were re-evaluated. When Hyperactivity–Impulsivity was absent (i.e., using only cases of Inattentive Type plus clinic controls), Sluggish Tempo items showed substantially improved utility as symptoms of Inattention. Factor analyses distinguished a Sluggish Tempo factor from an Inattention factor. When DSM-IV ADHD types were compared, Inattentive Type was uniquely elevated on Sluggish Tempo. These findings suggest that (a) Sluggish Tempo items are adequate symptoms for Inattentive Type, or (b) Sluggish Tempo may distinguish two subtypes of Inattentive Type. Either conclusion is incompatible with ADHD nosology in DSM-IV.
Biological Assays for Two Mycotoxins Produced by Fusarium tricinctum

A survey was made to detect microorganisms useful for assaying butenolide [4-acetamido-4-hydroxy-2-butenoic acid γ-lactone] and T-2 toxin [4β, 15-diacetoxy-8α-(3-methylbutyryloxy)-12,13-epoxytricothec -9-en-3α-ol]. These mycotoxins produced by strains of Fusarium tricinctum have been implicated in mycotoxicosis of livestock. Although butenolide proved to be a very weak antibiotic, assay discs containing 100 μg of this toxin inhibited Sprillum serpens NRRL B-2052, Vibrio tyrogenus NRRL B-1033, and Xanthomonas campestris NRRL B-1459. T-2 toxin had no effect on 54 bacterial strains but inhibited 6 of 11 fungi. Growth of Rhodotorula rubra NRRL Y-7222 and Penicillium digitatum NRRL 1202 was retarded by assay discs containing 4 μg of T-2 toxin. Solutions with less than 1 μg of T-2 per ml toxin were readily detected by a pea seed germination test. Germination was reduced more than 50% when seeds imbibed solutions of 0.5 μg of T-2 toxin per ml. Butenolide had no effect on pea seed germination at concentrations as high as 200 μg/ml.
The endogenous functional turkey erythrocyte and rat liver insulin receptor is an α2β2 heterotetrameric complex

Previous studies have indicated that turkey erythrocyte and rat liver membranes contain endogenous alpha beta heterodimeric insulin receptors in addition to the disulphide-linked alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complexes characteristic of most cell types. We utilized 125I-insulin affinity cross-linking to examine the structural properties of insulin receptors from rat liver and turkey erythrocyte membranes prepared in the absence and presence of sulphydryl alkylating agents. Rat liver membranes prepared in the absence of sulphydryl alkylating agents displayed specific labelling of Mr 400,000 and 200,000 bands, corresponding to the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric and alpha beta heterodimeric insulin receptor complexes respectively. In contrast, affinity cross-linking of membranes prepared with iodoacetamide (IAN) or N-ethylmaleimide identified predominantly the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric insulin receptor complex. Similarly, affinity cross-linking and solubilization of intact turkey erythrocytes in the presence of IAN resulted in exclusive labelling of the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric insulin receptor complex, whereas in the absence of IAN both alpha 2 beta 2 and alpha beta species were observed. Turkey erythrocyte alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric insulin receptors from IAN-protected membranes displayed a 3-4-fold stimulation of beta subunit autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation by insulin, equivalent to that observed in intact human placenta insulin receptors. Turkey erythrocyte alpha beta heterodimeric insulin receptors, prepared by defined pH/dithiothreitol treatment of IAN-protected membranes, were also fully competent in insulin-stimulated protein kinase activity compared with alpha beta heterodimeric human placenta receptors. In contrast, endogenous turkey erythrocyte alpha beta heterodimeric insulin receptors displayed basal protein kinase activity which was insulin-insensitive. These data indicate that native turkey erythrocyte and rat liver insulin receptors are structurally and functionally similar to alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric human placenta insulin receptors. The alpha beta heterodimeric insulin receptors previously identified in these tissues most likely resulted from disulphide bond reduction and denaturation of the alpha 2 beta 2 holoreceptor complexes during membrane preparation.
Role of Tryptophan Pyrrolase in Endotoxin Poisoning

Using substrate induction as a tool, we attempted to determine the role of tryptophan pyrrolase in the response to endotoxin in mice. Previous results have shown that the administration of the ld 50 of endotoxin lowers tryptophan pyrrolase activity. α-Methyltryptophan was found to maintain tryptophan pyrrolase activity above control levels in endotoxin-poisoned mice without increasing survival. 5-Hydroxytryptophan, by contrast, lowered tryptophan pyrrolase activity but did not sensitize mice to endotoxin. These results suggest that tryptophan pyrrolase per se does not play a unique role in survival of mice poisoned with endotoxin. This enzyme, however, may reflect the fate of other liver enzymes inducible by adrenocorticoids. In mice given concurrent injections of tryptophan and endotoxin, tryptophan pyrrolase activity was elevated to a level intermediate between that of normal mice and that of mice given tryptophan alone. The mice injected with tryptophan and endotoxin also had about the same mortality as mice given endotoxin alone. Mice treated with tryptophan 4 hr after endotoxin, at a time when the substrate did not fully elevate tryptophan pyrrolase activity, died convulsively and in larger numbers than those given endotoxin alone. This effect was reversed by prior treatment with cyproheptadine, an antiserotonin drug. These results indicate that the depression of tryptophan pyrrolase activity previously observed in vitro after injection of endotoxin reflects an actual decrease in the in vivo activity of the enzyme.
Properties of D-hydantoinase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens and its use for the preparation of N-carbamyl D-amino acids.

Abstract Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain 47C expresses an inducible D-hydantoinase that catalyzes the formation of optically pure N-carbamyl D-amino acids from racemic hydantoin precursors. The D-Hydantoinase was shown to be active and stable at elevated temperatures and pH values, thus affording favorable bioreaction conditions that result in the racemization of DL-hydantoins to the utilizable D-isomer. The enzyme demonstrated optimal reaction kinetics at pH 10 and 70°C, was not activated by metal ions, and exhibited a distinctive substrate specificity. A. tumefaciens hydantoinase was most active on 5,6-dihydrouracil and DL-5-methylhydantoin with only slight activity on DL-benzylhydantoin. Extracts or whole cells of A. tumefaciens were used as biocatalyst to mediate the stereospecific conversion of DL-phenylhydantoin or DL-5-methylhydantoin to the respective N-carbamyl D-amino acids. In addition, immobilized cell systems were shown to be useful for biocatalyst reuse.
Novel thin film polarizing beam splitter and its application in high-efficiency projection displays

A novel high performance thin film polarizing beam-splitter (PBS) is described. This PBS is non-absorbing and has a broad band, a wide angular field and high extinction ratios for both reflected and transmitted beam. Several high efficiency projection displays based on this novel PBS will be presented.
Seasonal Change in Plant-Dwelling Chironomidae and Naididae in a Wisconsin Lake

ABSTRACT We investigated the degree of change in the larval chironomid and naidid communities colonizing the macrophyte Potamogeton nodosus over the plant's growing season. Sampling of plant-dwelling invertebrates at three sites in Eau Galle Lake, Wisconsin near the beginning of the growing season of P. nodosus (June—1987) and at the peak of this macrophyte's development (August—1986 and 1987) revealed dramatic seasonal changes in abundance among the chironomid and naidid species. Non-burrowing chironomid larvae (Paratanytarsus sp., Thienemanniella nr. fusca, and Corvnoneura taris) dominated the June collections, whereas burrowing chironomids such as Polypedilum illinoense, Glyptotendipes dreisbachi, and Endochironomus nigricans dominated the August collections in both years. Naidids also showed a marked change from June to August; e.g. Nais pardalis, the most abundant naidid on P. nodosus in June, was not present in the August collectiona. The striking similarities between the August 1986 and August 1987...
Regioselectivity of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isozymes in flavonoid biotransformation by metal complexation and tandem mass spectrometry

Based on reactions with five flavonoids, the regioselectivities of twelve human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isozymes were elucidated. The various flavonoid glucuronides were differentiated based on LC-MS/MS fragmentation patterns of [Co(II)(flavonoid-H)(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(2)](+) complexes generated upon post-column complexation. Glucuronide distributions were evaluated to allow a systematic assessment of the regioselectivity of each isozyme. The various UGT enzymes, including eight UGT1A and four UGT2B, displayed a remarkable range of selectivities, both in terms of the positions of glucuronidation and relative reactivity with flavanones versus flavonols.
Picturing Feminism, Selling Liberalism: The Case of the Disappearing Holbein

Responding to recent scholarly and activist discussions of the public museum as a site of anti-feminism, this article examines the historical development of ‘feminist museology’ in Britain. Focusing on the mystery and controversies surrounding an anonymous woman’s gift of Hans Holbein’s Christina of Denmark to the National Gallery in 1909, this study investigates the dynamic of art, gender, and citizenship during the prewar Liberal crisis. The Holbein debates marked an important shift in the institutional status of feminism and the gendered parameters of cultural property, and offer a new perspective on our own practices of heritage and patrimony.
Eocene Age of the Adak ‘Paleozoic (?)’ Rocks, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

In 1948, several specimens identified as the plant genus Annularia, a primitive horsetail of Pennsylvanian or Permian age, were found in tuffaceous sandstone exposed near the northern end of Adak Island, Alaska. These beds form the basal part of the Andrew Lake Formation, a newly named sequence of marine sedimentary rocks that is more than 850 m thick, and, in the main, consists of northwest-dipping tuffaceous sandstone, siltstone, shale, and siliceous siltstone and shale interbedded with basaltic flows or penecontemporaneous(?) sills (or both) a few tens of meters thick. This formation rests depositionally(?) on the Finger Bay Volcanics, the massive and intensely altered andesitic and basaltic flows and pyroclastic rocks that form the bulk of Adak Island. Mollusks, foraminifers, sponge spicules, and fish scales and skeletal remains occur in the lower 350 m of the section immediately overlying the basal “Annularia”-bearing beds. Included in this fauna is the pecten Pro-peamussium (cf. P. stanfordensis Arnold), of probable Eocene age; the associated foraminiferal fauna is provincially considered to be of late Eocene (Narizian) age, and the fish scales are similar to those found in the Narizian and Refugian (Eocene and Oligocene) of California. Examination of the matrix surrounding specimens of “Annularia” revealed a substantial dinoflagellate flora—establishing that the “Annularia”- bearing beds are themselves marine units of middle or late Eocene age. The Andrew Lake Formation probably accumulated in a perched basin along the crestal region of an early Tertiary Aleutian ridge. Accordingly, there is no evidence for a Paleozoic Aleutian ridge. There is only scant evidence that the ridge existed in Mesozoic time.
Mapping four genes from human chromosome 4 to porcine chromosome 8 further develops the comparative map for an economically important chromosome of the swine genome

Because porcine chromosome (SSC) 8 has become the focal point of many efforts aimed at identifying quantitative trait loci affecting ovulation rate, genes distributed across human chromosome (HSA) 4 were physically mapped in the pig. A more refined comparative map of this region for these two species was produced. In this study, four genes were selected based on their location in the human genome, the availability of nucleotide sequence and their genomic organization. The genes selected were fibroblast growth factor basic (FGF2; HSA 4q25-27), gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor (GNRHR; HSA 4q13), phosphodiesterase 6 B (PDE6B; HSA 4p16.3) and aminopeptidase S (PEPS; HSA 4p11-q12). Genomic libraries were screened via PCR and clones were physically assigned using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). These four genes from HSA 4 were physically mapped to SSC 8p2.3 (PDE6B), 8p1.1 (PEPS), 8q1.1-1.2 (GNRHR) and 8q2.2-2.4 (FGF2). These assignments provide additional benchmarks for the comparative map and help define the level of gene order conserved between HSA 4 and SSC 8.
Human body clocks and the timing of sleep

The alternation of sleep and wakefulness in humans exhibits surprising regularities during long-term isolation from the usual time-of-day cues. The inferred domination of our consciousness and physiological states by internal clocks may soon have practical implications for medicine and psychiatry.
Therapeutic cell fusion.

This article continues the Journal's 2005 series of leaders highlighting areas where laboratory science meets clinical practice. In it Dr Holger Willenbring of the Oregon Stem Cell Center discusses the promise of therapeutic cell fusion and the difficulties that remain in bringing this technique into clinical practice.
Accuracy of elevation reduction factor

When using state plane coordinates or performing other geodetic computations, the ratio r/(r + h) is the elevation factor commonly used to reduce a horizontal distance to its sea-level or ellipsoidal equivalent. In most cases, an approximation is used for the Earth’s radius while the value of the elevation is usually much better known. This is as it should be, but the question examined in this paper is, What is an acceptable approximation for the Earth’s radius and how accurately must the elevation be known to assure sufficient precision in the answer? An equation that can be used to answer these questions is derived using concepts of error propagation.
Growth of Newcastle disease virus in chicken macrophages.

Summary Chicken macrophages were isolated from chicken peripheral blood, culturedin vitro, and infected with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) after reaching semiconfluence. Infected macrophages supported the growth and replication of NDV. Virus-infected macrophages exhibited features of apoptosis as determined by agarose gel electrophoresis, thymidine release assays and flow cytometry. Electron microscopical examination also showed the appearance of intact virus particles, fragmented chromatin and apoptotic bodies. This evidence demonstrates that NDV infection of chicken macrophages causes chicken macrophages to undergo apoptosis
Structural Studies of IP3R by Cryoem

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) play important roles in a battery of cellular activities. Structural study of the receptors is therefore very important for understanding how they are gated by their natural ligands and are modulated by their intracellular partners. In the past several years, multiple groups have generated very disparate reconstructions of the type 1 IP3R. Striking structural variations have been reported for the receptors in different detergents and for the receptors prepared from native and sf9 cells by the same research groups, suggesting that biochemical preparations of the receptors might have had significant variations and that the heterogeneity in the samples could be a limiting factor in reaching accordant results. To resolve such discrepancies, we developed a three- layered strategy to enhance biochemical homogeneity and structural agreements. We collected two cryoEM datasets of the receptors in the absence and presence of IP3 and Ca2+ and calculated two separate reconstructions. The two structures not only agree with each other in many aspects, but also reveal a conformational change at the top of the cytosolic domain that may lead to some reorganization of the channel pore. In order to verify the structural details and solidify the conformational changes in the pore domain, we need higher resolution structures. We are using the high-end facilities with direct electron detectors to collect near-atomic resolution data in order to further improve the resolutions of our 3D reconstructions.
Polyethylene wear debris and tissue reactions in knee as compared to hip replacement prostheses.

Differences in bearing surface conformity and wear mechanisms suggest that the polyethylene (PE) wear debris generated by total knee replacement (TKR) prostheses should be different than that in total hip replacement prostheses (THR). To address this issue, PE wear debris and the cellular response in periprosthetic tissues from 19 failed TKRs was compared to that from 24 failed THRs using polarized light microscopy and a semiquantitative grading system. The foreign-body inflammatory reaction in the THR cases was characterized by plump macrophages with a diffuse cytoplasmic birefringence when examined under polarized light, indicating the presence of multiple submicron particles of PE. The majority of the PE particles were 10 μm. The foreign-body inflammatory reaction in the TKR cases was characterized by giant cells with fewer macrophages. In the TKR specimens, the size range of PE particles was broader than in the hips. PE particles between 2 and 20 μm were frequent in TKR specimens; particles <1 μm in length were less common than in the THR specimens. Diffuse cytoplasmic birefringence was not a characteristic of the TKR cases. These histologic differences were so consistently distinct that the source of the specimen (i.e., from a THR or TKR) could be blindly determined by light microscopy. The size distribution of the PE wear particles in these cases indicate that THRs generate a higher number of submicron PE particles and relatively few large particles while TKRs generate a broader range of particles that includes fewer submicron particles. The observed differences in the cellular responses is likely a direct result of the differences in the spectrum of PE wear particles. These differences may in part account for differences in periprosthetic bone resorption and loosening in TKRs as compared to THRs. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Synthesis and Evaluation of 17α-20E-21-(4-Substituted phenyl)-19-norpregna-1,3,5(10),20-tetraene-3,17β-diols as Probes for the Estrogen Receptor α Hormone Binding Domain

As part of our program to develop probes for the hormone binding domain of the estrogen receptor α (ERα), we prepared a series of 4-para-substituted phenylvinyl estradiol derivatives using a combination of solution and solid-phase Pd(0)-catalyzed methods. The compounds 5a−j were evaluated for their binding affinity using the ERα hormone binding domain (HDB) isolated from transfected BL21 cells. The results indicated that although the new compounds were somewhat lower in relative binding affinity (RBA at 25 °C is 1−60%) than estradiol (100%), most had higher affinity than the unsubstituted parent phenylvinyl estradiol (RBA = 9%). Because the substituents did not generate a structure−activity relationship directly based on physicochemical properties, the series was evaluated using molecular modeling and molecular dynamics to determine key interactions between the ligand, especially the para substituent, and the protein. The results suggest that the observed relative binding affinities are directly related t...
Congenital anomalies in children with Wilms' Tumor. A new survey

From 68 hospitals in the National Wilms' Tumor Study, records of 547 patients showed six patients with aniridia, 16 with hemihypertrophy, and 24 with genitourinary abnormalities. Multiple cases of Wilms' tumor occurred in three families. The results confirm high frequencies of aniridia and genitourinary anomalies in patients with Wilms' tumor, and show that concurrence with hemihypertrophy may be more often recognized or recorded now than it was ten years ago. The results demonstrate the desirability of developing checklists for other childhood neoplasms some of which have their own constellation of anomalies.
The relationship of neuroticism and urgency to negative consequences of alcohol use in women with bulimic symptoms

The purpose of this study was to test hypotheses regarding why eating disordered college women report more frequent negative consequences of alcohol use than controls. Thirty-two women with eating disorder (ED) symptoms and 34 women without eating disorder symptom were individually administered structured clinical interviews regarding alcohol abuse/dependence and the eating disorders examination. They also completed self-report measures of neuroticism, urgency, sensation seeking, planning, and persistence. Women with ED symptoms reported more negative consequences of alcohol use, and higher levels of neuroticism and urgency. However, the two groups did not differ on any other personality variable. The presence of high levels of trait urgency moderated the effect of neuroticism on the negative consequences of drinking such that women with high levels of both traits reported the most consequences related to alcohol use. Rash affect regulation may be a characteristic of ED women and influence consequences of alcohol use.
Identification and characterization of selenate- and selenite-responsive genes in a Se-hyperaccumulator Astragalus racemosus.

Plants with capacity to accumulate high levels of selenium (Se) are desired for phytoremediation and biofortification. Plants of genus Astragalus accumulate and tolerate high levels of Se, but their slow growth, low biomass and non-edible properties limit their direct utilization. Genetic engineering may be an alternative way to produce edible or high biomass Se-accumulating plants. The first step towards this goal is to isolate genes that are responsible for Se accumulation and tolerance. Later, these genes can be introduced into other edible and high biomass plants. In the present study, we applied fluorescent differential display to analyze the transcript profile of Se-hyperaccumulator A. racemosus treated with 20 μM selenate (K2SeO4) for 2 weeks. Among 125 identified Se-responsive candidate genes, the expression levels of nine were induced or suppressed more than twofold by selenate treatment in two independent experiments while 14 showed such changes when treated with selenite (K2SeO3). Six of them were found to respond to both selenate and selenite treatments. A novel gene CEJ367 was found to be highly induced by both selenate (1,920-fold) and selenite (579-fold). Root- or shoot-preferential expression of nine genes was further investigated. These identified genes may allow us to create Se-enriched transgenic plants.
STRUCTURAL MODELS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF TRAVELER ATTITUDE-BEHAVIOR RELATIONSHIPS.

Traveler attitudes and behavior have been shown to correlate in numerous previous studies. However, the correlation by itself leaves open the nature of the interrelationships between traveler attitudes and behavior. For example, attitudes could either cause or be caused by behavior. In fact, both options are concurrently possible. Structural equations are applied to a set of data gathered from Los Angeles central business district workers to ascertain the direction and nature of interrelationships between attitudes and behavior with respect to frequency of taking the bus to work. A mutual dependence between attitudes and behavior is demonstrated in the context of this dataset and behavioral choice situation; behavior and attitudes concurrently cause each other. In addition, it is found that two attitudinal components, perceptions of and affect toward a mode, function differently with respect to travel behavior.
Quadratically constrained adaptive beamforming in coherent interference environments

In linearly constrained minimum variance (LCMV) adaptive beamforming, signal cancellation often results if coherent interferers are present. The authors propose adding a constraint to prevent such signal cancellation. The additional constraint limits the beamformer output mean squared error to be less than a specified level for a set of likely interference scenarios and is thus a quadratic constraint. For a properly chosen constraint, it is shown that the original LCMV adaptive beamformer's signal cancellation can be reduced to an arbitrarily small level without interference cancellation degradation. This approach does not require a uniform array structure and is applicable to both broadband and narrowband signals. Its effectiveness is illustrated through simulation results. >
Synthesis Of Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Films For Lithium Battery Application

We demonstrate a controlled growth of nitrogen-doped graphene layers by liquid precursor based chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. Nitrogen-doped graphene was grown directly on Cu current collectors and studied for its reversible Li-ion intercalation properties. Reversible discharge capacity of N-doped graphene is almost double compared to pristine graphene due to the large number of surface defects induced due to N-doping. All the graphene films were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Direct growth of active electrode material on current collector substrates makes this a feasible and efficient process for integration into current battery manufacture technology.
The semantics of frege's grundgesetze

Quantifiers in Frege's Grundgesetze like are not well-defined because the part Fx & Gx stands for a concept but the yoking conjunction is horizontalised and must stand for a truth-value. This standard interpretation is rejected in favor of a substitutional reading that, it is argued, both conforms better to the text and is well-defined. The theory of the horizontal is investigated in detail and the composite reading of Frege's connectives as made up of horizontals is rejected. The sense in which the Grundgesetze has a many-valued but classical logic is explained by proving that its propositional fragment (under the standard interpretation) and Bochvar's 3-valued logic are instances of the same metatheoretic methods. Historically, the paper argues for a more naive but well-defined reading of the text. Theoretically, it provides a formally adequate statement of that semantics, as well as developing the abstract metatheory which embraces Bochvar's language and the Fregean fragment.
Effects of 28 days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on aerobic power, ventilatory and lactate thresholds, and time to exhaustion

The effect of beta-alanine (beta-Ala) alone or in combination with creatine monohydrate (Cr) on aerobic exercise performance is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 4 weeks of beta-Ala and Cr supplementation on indices of endurance performance. Fifty-five men (24.5 +/- 5.3 yrs) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study and randomly assigned to one of 4 groups; placebo (PL, n = 13), creatine (Cr, n = 12), beta-alanine (beta-Ala, n = 14), or beta-alanine plus creatine (CrBA, n = 16). Prior to and following supplementation, participants performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine VO(2peak), time to exhaustion (TTE), and power output, VO(2), and percent VO(2peak) associated with VT and LT. No significant group effects were found. However, within groups, a significant time effect was observed for CrBa on 5 of the 8 parameters measured. These data suggest that CrBA may potentially enhance endurance performance.
Extrusion rates and hearing results in ossicular reconstruction.

Abstract Objectives: To examine hearing results, extrusion rates, and factors likely to affect outcome in patients who underwent ossicular chain reconstruction with Plasti-Pore and hydroxylapatite total ossicular replacement prostheses (TORPs) and partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORPs). Study Design and Setting: Retrospective chart review was used. Subjects were 1210 consecutive tympanoplasties with or without mastoidectomy that involved ossicular reconstruction with TORPs (n = 560) or PORPs (n = 650) performed in a tertiary referral neurotologic private practice. Only 20% of the cases were primary surgeries, with the majority planned second stage or revision procedures. Results: Average last postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was 19.2 dB with closure of the ABG to within 20 dB in 62.9%. Hearing results were better for cases who had not had previous surgery, in those with a diagnosis other than chronic otitis media, when a cartilage graft was used, and for Plasti-Pore rather than hydroxylapatite. Extrusion was known to occur in 4%. Conclusion: After more than 25 years of use in our clinic, Plasti-Pore ossicular replacement prostheses continue to provide reliable hearing results with a low rate of extrusion. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;125:135-41.)
Dynamics of a poly(isoprene)/poly(vinyl ethylene) blend revisited : Component polymer relaxation and blend behavior

Abstract Motivated by recent molecular dynamics simulation studies of miscible blends of dynamically disparate polymers, we have revisited the experimentally measured dielectric relaxation in a 50/50 blend of poly(isoprene) and poly(vinyl ethylene) (PI/PVE). In contrast to efforts to explain the dielectric loss in PI/PVE blends in terms of a distribution of local environments leading to a broad distribution of segmental relaxation times (the so-called concentration fluctuation model), our analysis indicates that there is no evidence for significant broadening of the relaxation processes in the component polymers upon blending. Rather, we find that the dielectric loss of the 50/50 PI/PVE blend can be represented as a sum of α- and β-relaxation processes for the component polymers represented with Havriliak–Negami functions whose shape and relaxation strength are consistent with those obtained for the pure PI and PVE melts. The α-relaxation process for the PVE component was found to be dramatically influenced by blending, moving to much higher frequency with moderate narrowing, while the α-relaxation process for the PI component shifted to somewhat lower frequency with slight broadening, consistent with our MD simulations of a model blend and 2D NMR measurements on PI/PVE blends. In contrast, the β-processes in the PVE and PI components were found to be essentially uninfluenced by blending, with the latter accounting for the significant high-frequency loss observed in the PI/PVE blend.
The surgical significance of hyperosmolar coma

Summary The syndrome of nonketotic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar coma is described in six patients and the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for production of the abnormalities are discussed. Attention is directed to the surgical significance of this disorder and the frequency with which diagnosis was delayed and or inadequate or inappropriate therapy was given. Early recognition and treatment of this disorder should result in improvement in the reported 40 to 50 per cent mortality.
Vivaldi Antenna Arrays for Wide Bandwidth and Electronic Scanning

Vivaldi antenna arrays can be designed for operation over 10:1 bandwidths. Simulated results for an infinite array of stripline-fed Vivaldi elements on ɛr=6 substrate performs well for scan to 45° and frequency 1.8-18 GHz. Vivaldi antenna elements are typically 2-3 wavelengths long at the highest frequency of the array. The addition of a properly designed cover (radome) to an array of relatively short Vivaldi antennas can improve its performance over bandwidths on the order of 2:1. Broadside and scanned performance are improved by the cover. Gaps between elements of the array would be desirable so the array can be assembled and repaired by inserting independent modules. However, gaps between the elements cause resonances that destroy the array's wideband performance. The balanced antipodal VIvaldi antenna (BAVA) can be fabricated in modules and by introducing double mirroring, undesirable resonances can be controlled to provide two octaves of frequency operation. The use of Vivaldi antenna arrays for very short pulse systems requires that the antenna not only be well matched over a wide band of frequencies but it must also preserve pulse shape. The dispersive properties of Vivaldi arrays have been investigated and it is found that dielectric substrates, which improve the VSWR bandwidth of the antenna, slightly increase the array's delay dispersion. (6 pages)
The ecology of Qatari barchan dunes

The mobile Barchan dunes in Qatar are restricted to the southeastern region of the country. They are currently a disappearing natural habitat, due to the northwesterly Al Shamal winds which are scouring the landscape and spreading desertification as they pass. The study's aim was to understand the ecology of an active dune, in terms of resident species and their populations. Traps were placed along three dunes and animals were collected over a period of three months. Species captured included the skink (Sincus mitranus), a number of Tenebrionidae beetles, in addition to geckos, scorpions, and spiders. The skinks were PIT tagged in order to estimate population size, along with life history data. Recapture data showed that there has been no migration between dunes, indicating that each dune represents it's own self-contained ecosystem. We are currently sequencing skink DNA to determine familial relationships between skink populations on individual dunes. It has been observed that skinks exhibit colonial beh...
Critical exponent β for nickel and nickel-copper alloys

Abstract A linear extrapolation of the plot of the square of the applied magnetic field versus break-point temperature is shown to lead to an erroneous Curie temperature, which, in turn, can result in two values of the critical exponent β. Careful determinations of Curie temperatures result in a value for β of about 0.34 for nickel and nickel-copper alloys.
Tunable Conductivity of Collapsed Sandia Octahedral Molecular Sieves

The structure−property relationship between atomic cation substitution and bulk-scale conductivity in perovskites has been studied systematically. A series of Na−Nb perovskites has been synthesized via two methods, (1) ion exchange or (2) synthetic metal doping of microporous Sandia Octahedral Molecular Sieve (SOMS, Na2Nb2-xMxO6-x(OH)x·H2O, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) phases, followed by calcination to the perovskite phase. We show that the oxygen conductivity can be altered by substitution of the A- and B- site cations in the perovskite structure Na1-xAxNb1-yMyO3-d, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1). Furthermore, we are able to show improved ion conductivity over that of yttria-stabilized zirconia with the Na0.9Mg0.1Nb0.8Ti0.2O3-y phase with our highest conductivity observed (0.176 S/cm) at 1173 K. These fundamental studies allow us to develop perovskites with optimal electric properties.
English and Hebrew consonant memory span related to the structure of the written language

Abstract Israeli subjects performed significantly better on consonant memory span but not on digit memory span than English subjects of similar intelligence. Israelis are, by virtue of their vowel-less script, better able to chunk and thus retain consonant sequences.
Creative Interventions Using Chairs: Going Beyond Gestalt

In this article, we present numerous ways in which chairs can be used to enhance the counseling process beyond the traditional Gestalt use of chairs. Counselors can use chairs to help clients bring issues into the present, make issues more clear and concrete, understand how interactions unfold, and understand how past experiences affect present-day functioning.
Randomized Controlled Trial of the Combined Effects of Web and Quitline Interventions for Smokeless Tobacco Cessation.

Background Use of smokeless tobacco (moist snuff and chewing tobacco) is a significant public health problem but smokeless tobacco users have few resources to help them quit. Web programs and telephone-based programs (Quitlines) have been shown to be effective for smoking cessation. We evaluate the effectiveness of a Web program, a Quitline, and the combination of the two for smokeless users recruited via the Web.
Hypersensitivity to tetanus toxoid.

Abstract A high incidence of cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to tetanus toxoid, 63 per cent immediate, 32 per cent Arthus type, and 74 per cent delayed reactions, were found in 70 tetanus-immunized individuals who had no history of clinical hypersensitivity to tetanus toxoid. No statistically significant differences in tetanus antibody levels or cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions were noted between age groups from 6 months to 49 years. The mean natural logarithm of the antibody titers (± S. E. M.) decreased significantly (p
Opposed-flow flame spread across n-propanol pools

A computational study is made of the effects of forced, opposed air flow on pulsating and uniform flame spread across n-propanol pools at either normal or zero gravity conditions. The numerical model incorporates finite-rate chemical kinetics, variable properties, and an adaptive gridding scheme in the direction of flame spread. In zero gravity, the combination of forced, opposed flow and thermocapillary-driven concurrent flow can cause a gas-phase recirculation cell to form ahead of the flame and thus lead to flame pulsations. The pulsation mechanism, in this case, is essentially the same as that previously detailed for pulsating flame spread in normal gravity without forced flow [1]. In either normal gravity or zero gravity, increasing the opposed air speed (Uopp) causes a transition from uniform flame spread to pulsating flame spread. The value of Uopp that corresponds to this transition increases with initial pool temperature (Tc). Unlike with normal gravity flame spread, the mean flame spread rate (Ūfl) in zero gravity decreases significantly because of this transition for Tc
Photon-noise-limited performance for a hybrid wavefront sensor operating in strong turbulence

Adaptive optics (AO) systems on airborne platforms must be able to sense fields degraded by strong turbulence often over long horizontal propagation paths. This paper presents results of simulated hybrid-wavefront-sensor performance when measuring optical fields due to propagation of a distant point source through Kolmogorov turbulence. The hybrid-wavefront-sensor simulation combines Shack-Hartmann and self-referencing-interferometer (SRI) measurements degraded by photon noise and produces higher-resolution wavefront estimates that are less susceptible to noise than either sensor acting alone and that inherit the SRI's insensitivity to scintillation.
Discrete-time extensions of mixed-μ bounds to monotonic and odd monotonic nonlinearities

Using the parameter-dependent Lyapunov function framework of Haddad and Bernstein this paper extends and connects some of the classical absolute stability results on discrete-time systems with monotonic and odd monotonic feedback nonlinearities to modern robust stability and performance problems for constant real parameter uncertainty. As in the continuous-time case, it is shown that an immediate application of this framework provides a generalization and reformulation of discrete-time mixed μ theory in terms of Lyapunov functions and Riccati equations while blending H 2 robust performance within the μ framework.
The maturation of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) brain

Abstract 1. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) stores have been estimated in gerbil cerebral hemispheres and brainstem between one day postpartum and adulthood. 2. Although patterns of 5-HT and 5-HIAA maturation were similar in part to those of the rat and mouse, there was significant difference in the pattern of postnatal 5-HIAA.
The integral field unit for Echellette Spectrograph and Imager at Keck II

We report on the design, development and commissioning of an Integral Field Unit (IFU) that has been built for the Echellette Spectrograph and Imager (ESI) at the W.M. Keck Observatory. This image slicer-based IFU, which was commissioned in the spring of 2004 covers a contiguous field of 5.65 x 4.0 arcseconds in 5 slices that are 1.13 arcseconds wide. The IFU passes a spectral range of 0.39-1.1 um with a throughput of between 45% and 60% depending on wavelength and field position. The IFU head resides in an ESI slit mask holder, so that ESI may be converted to the IFU mode remotely by selecting the appropriate slit mask position. This IFU is the first of a family of designs for the spectrograph, providing a range of field-coverages and dispersions.
Marked abnormal quadruple screen in a patient with severe preeclampsia at 20 weeks with a triploid fetus

Severe preeclampsia rarely occurs prior to 20 weeks of gestation except in pregnancies with triploidy. The patient reported herein is a 29-year-old primigravida who developed severe preeclampsia at 20 weeks of gestation. Evaluation of the pregnancy demonstrated a markedly abnormal quadruple screen. Amniocentesis demonstrated a fetus with triploidy, despite a normal appearance.
A computational framework for ontologically storing and analyzing very large overhead image sets

We describe a computational approach to remote sensing image analysis that addresses many of the classic problems associated with storage, search, and query. This process starts by automatically annotating the fundamental objects in the image data set that will be used as a basis for an ontology, including both the objects (such as building, road, water, etc.) and their spatial and temporal relationships (is within 100 m of, is surrounded by, has changed in the past year, etc.). Data sets that can include multiple time slices of the same area are then processed using automated tools that reduce the images to the objects and relationships defined in an ontology based on the primitive objects, and this representation is stored in a geospatial-temporal semantic graph. Image searches are then defined in terms of the ontology (e.g. find a building greater than 103 m2 that borders a body of water), and the graph is searched for such relationships. This approach also enables the incorporation of non-image data that is related to the ontology. We demonstrate through an initial implementation of the entire system on large data sets (109 -- 1011 pixels) that this system is robust against variations in different image collection parameters, provides a way for analysts to query data sets in a more natural way, and can greatly reduce the memory footprint of the search.