cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plant-Level Responses to the Economic Crisis in Europe

How are social policy actors in major sectors of the European economy responding to the current economic and financial crisis? This working paper summarises the plant-level responses of social policy actors to the symptoms of the current recession between October and mid January 2009. It examines how, during this period, organised labour and capital responded to the crisis in several key sectors and countries and what collective bargaining and labour market tools were available to deal with the effects of the crisis and safeguard employment. The paper provides an overview of the effects of the crisis on employees and the micro-level responses of the social partners. A summary of the various tools to which crisis-hit companies have resorted such as collective agreements at the sectoral, industry and company/plant level and legal regulations is provided. A particular focus is made on plant-level agreements on working time flexibilisation that are aimed at avoiding redundancies and labour market instruments to regulate short-time working. The working paper concludes with an overview of the scope and effects of the crisis in terms of employment and working time reduction and the highly diversive plant-level responses to the downturn.
Perceptual Integration in Children

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the diverse experimental designs or tasks used in the investigation of children's perceptual integration. The purpose of this synthesis is to find trends and identify persistent problems. The discussion focuses on methodological problems in the study of intermodal integration, to indicate where there are gaps in current knowledge, and to suggest substantive generalizations or hypotheses. From a methodological point of view, the potential usefulness of intra-intermodal experimental designs and sighted-blind comparisons is suggested. Currently available data using the intra-intermodal design are not always consistent from one investigator to another but this is probably because of procedural differences rather than a weakness of the design. Designs in which perceptual behavior, scanning, attending, and so on are studied directly are advocated, as are designs that include qualitative analysis of discrimination errors. It is noted that in localization studies the nature of the response should be taken into consideration along with the nature of the stimulus. Viewing localization as an intermodal task emphasizes the importance of the response modality.
Spectral analysis of irregular samples of multidimensional signals

Summary form only given, as follow. The spectrum of irregular samples of two-dimensional (2-D) signal is derived using nonharmonic Fourier series expansion. The assumption on the set of irregular samples is general except that this set should deviate from a set of uniform samples by a finite amount. The spectral analysis suggests a simple method to reconstruct a 2-D signal from nonuniform samples. The accuracy of the recovery technique increases when the nonuniform samples do not deviate drastically from the uniform sampling set. The same analysis can be extended to n-dimensional signals. >
Object, non-object, transobject, relational object: from "Poesia concreta" to "A nova objetividade"

This articles reexamines concrete poetics in tandem with neo-concrete and new objectivist poetry and art, arguing that a strong continuity exists between the projects, visible in an emphasis on negativity, the void, and immateriality.
Interaction of cholera toxin with cloned human goblet cells in monolayer culture

Exposure of the intestinal mucosa to Vibrio cholerae enterotoxin (CT) results in mucus secretion from intestinal goblet cells. On the other hand, there is evidence that elevation of intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels is not sufficient to induce rapid mucin secretion. To determine whether CT has direct effects on human goblet cells and whether CT alone can elicit rapid exocytosis of apical mucin granules, purified CT was applied to monolayer cultures of well-differentiated HT-29-18 N2 cells, a goblet cell subclone derived from the human colon carcinoma line HT-29. CT bound with high affinity (dissociation constant = 10.5 +/- 1.9 nM) to receptors on these cells (approximately 60,000/apical membrane). Binding of radiolabeled CT was inhibited by excess CT or B subunit but not by A subunit. Preincubation of goblet cells with CT blocked the subsequent CT-specific ribosylation of a 45-kDa protein in membrane fractions of the cells and increased the activity of adenylate cyclase by 2- and 10-fold after 1 and 20 h, respectively. Light micrographs revealed that goblet cells incubated with CT, like control cells, contained abundant apical mucin granules. In contrast, goblet cells incubated with Ca2+ inophore A23187 and phorbol ester were rapidly depleted of mucin granules. Thus CT has direct physiological effects on HT-29 goblet cells, but these do not lead to rapid mucin secretion. These results raise the possibility that CT may accelerate mucin secretion in intact mucosa by an indirect mechanism perhaps mediated by mucosal nerves or other cell types.
Statistical Significance in Biological Sequence Comparison

The chapter reviews the role of statistical significance estimates in biological sequence comparison, focusing on local similarity searches. A brief history of the concept of ‘homology’ is presented, and the relationship between ‘statistical significance’ and ‘biological significance’, is discussed, addressing the question: ‘What biological inferences can be drawn from statistically significant sequence similarity?’ Algorithms and scoring matrices used to quantify local sequence similarity are summarized, and the statistical basis for the use of the extreme-value distribution to describe local similarity scores, both without and with gaps, is presented in outline. Particular attention is given to λ and K, the two parameters of the extreme-value distribution used by Karlin and Altschul, and to the use of bit-scores, and other scale-independent measures of similarity. Strategies that have been used to estimate the significance of local sequence similarity scores are compared using several distant evolutionary relationships. The reliability of statistical estimates for local sequence similarity scores is discussed in detail; it is shown that, with the exception of highly biased protein sequences and sequences with low-complexity regions, real, unrelated protein sequences behave very similarly to sequences generated randomly, so that the assumptions underlying the statistical models are widely applicable and statistical significance estimates are generally reliable. Keywords: local sequence similarity; Smith–Waterman; extreme-value distribution; PAM matrix
Gynecologic presentation of pelvic lymphoma.

Advanced pelvic lymphoma is rarely encountered by the gynecologist. Two cases of pelvic lymphoma involving the reproductive tract are reported. Long-term survival is achieved by minimal surgical intervention, correct histo-logic examination and treatment with local radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapy.
Perfluorocarbon administration during cardiopulmonary bypass in rats: an inflammatory link to adverse outcome?

BACKGROUND:Perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions are artificial oxygen carriers that have been shown to attenuate the effects of air embolism. Cerebral air embolism, known to occur during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), may contribute to adverse cerebral outcomes after cardiac surgery. We designed this stud
Inhalation exposure to smoke from synthetic “marijuana” produces potent cannabimimetic effects in mice

Abstract Background Use of synthetic “marijuana” has increased in recent years, produced adverse effects and prompted the temporary DEA ban of five specific cannabinoid analogs, including JWH-018. The objectives of the current study include determining the chemical content of the herbal product, Buzz, assessing its behavioral effects upon inhalation exposure to mice, determining whether CB1 receptors mediate its pharmacological activity, and ascertaining its biodisposition in blood and various organs. Methods Using a nose-only exposure system, mice were exposed to smoke produced from combustion of an herbal incense product, Buzz, which contained 5.4% JWH-018. Cannabimimetic effects following smoke exposure were evaluated using the tetrad procedure, consisting of the following indices: hypomotility, antinociception, catalepsy, and hypothermia. Additionally, blood and tissues were collected for JWH-018 quantification. Results Inhalation exposure to Buzz produced dose-related tetrad effects similar to marijuana as well as dose-related increased levels of JWH-018 in the blood, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen. The behavioral effects were blocked by rimonabant, a CB1 receptor antagonist. Effects produced by Buzz were similar in magnitude and time-course to those produced by marijuana, though equipotent doses of Buzz and marijuana yielded considerably lower brain levels of JWH-018 than THC for the respective materials. Conclusions Inhalation exposure to a product containing JWH-018 penetrates into the brain and other organs and produces CB1 receptor-mediated behavioral pharmacological effects in mice. The increased potency of JWH-018 compared to THC, the variable amount of drug added to various herbal products, and unknown toxicity, undoubtedly contribute to public health risks of synthetic cannabinoids.
Optimal SCR Control Using Data-Driven Models

We present an optimal control solution for the urea injection for a heavy-duty diesel (HDD) selective catalytic reduction (SCR). The approach taken here is useful beyond SCR and could be applied to any system where a control strategy is desired and input-output data is available. For example, the strategy could also be used for the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) system. In this paper, we identify and validate a one-step ahead Kalman state-space estimator for downstream NOx using the bench reactor data of an SCR core sample. The test data was acquired using a 2010 Cummins 6.7L ISB production engine with a 2010 Cummins production aftertreatment system. We used a surrogate HDD federal test procedure (FTP), developed at Michigan Technological University (MTU), which simulates the representative transients of the standard FTP cycle, but has less engine speed/load points. The identified state-space model is then used to develop a tunable cost function that simultaneously minimizes NOx emissions and urea usage. The cost function is quadratic and univariate, thus the minimum can be computed analytically. We show the performance of the closed-loop controller in using a reduced-order discrete SCR simulator developed at MTU. Our experiments with the surrogate HDD-FTP data show that themore » strategy developed in this paper can be used to identify performance bounds for urea dose controllers.« less
Use of three longer-wavelength fluorophores with the fiber-optic biosensor

Abstract With the availability of fluorescent dyes that are excited above 600 nm and couple easily to proteins, portable biosensors are becoming a reality. The use of diode lasers to excite these days permits systems to be made small and lightweight. An added benefit to switching to the near-infrared (NIR) regime is the reduction in background fluorescence from environmental and clinical samples. Previously, an evanescent wave biosensor was developed at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) using tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate as the fluorescent tag. Using this biosensor, toxins and other proteins have been detected down to 1 ng ml−1 and bacteria to 3000 cells ml−1. In this study, two new biosensors have been constructed using the same design with only selected components changed for detection of other fluorophores. An antigen (goat IgG) is labelled with one of three fluorophores: tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate, Cy5 and a near-infrared dye. The direct binding of each labelled antigen to an antibody-coated fiber-optic probe is measured. Comparisons of signal magnitudes, level of detection achieved, and photo-bleaching have been performed.
Latency of the pupillary response

The authors give an explanation of pupillary latency in terms of nonminimum phase lag. Minimum phase lag is that phase associated with a simple linear lag element; nonminimum phase is associated with a true delay element modeled as exp (-ST). Latency can be accurately modeled by a delay element. The authors experimentally demonstrate that pupillary latency increases with reductions in intensity and increases with frequency of the square-wave stimuli. They summarize these characteristics with a model. >
Archeopyle in Fossil Dinoflagellates: ABSTRACT

Fossil dinoflagellates, the most important marine component of many Mesozoic-Tertiary palynological preparations, are remains of chiefly planktonic organisms. Commonly abundant and well preserved, they can be highly useful in problems of local, regional, and interregional dating and correlation. They have been used less than their potential warrants, at least partly because the unalerted eye, bewildered by the variety of their more spectacular structures, readily overlooks others of greater diagnostic value. This paper draws attention to one morphological feature of fossil dinoflagellates, the archeopyle, a distinctive opening in the test which is usually easy to see and is a significant aid in distinguishing among stratigraphically important genera and species. The archeopyle is formed through release of an operculum along the primary archeopyle suture. The operculum is simple when it consists of a single piece and compound when it is divided into two or more parts by secondary archeopyle sutures; it is free when the primary archeopyle suture completely surrounds it and attached when that suture does not close on itself. Archeopyle shape and position relate to the basic pattern of plate arrangement, or tabulation, which is one of the striking features of dinoflagellates. Accordingly, an archeopyle may be apical, intercalary, precingular, or epithecal, depending upon the part of the test involved in its formation. In all, about 10 distinctive archeopyle types have been recognized. Some fossil dinoflagellates lack an archeopyle entirely and a ew have openings of combined types or of types that do not fit readily into a simple classification. Careful observation of the archeopyle is prerequisite for precise and consistent identification of fossil dinoflagellates. Besides being a character of taxonomic value in its own right, the archeopyle often helps when attempting to determine specimen orientation, girdle and sulcus location, and tabulation. It is especially useful in studying those dinoflagellates with spherical bodies, long processes, and obscure tabulation, called hystrichospheres. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1760------------
Kinetics of free-radical graft polymerization of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone onto silica

The kinetics of aqueous free-radical graft polymerization of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone onto silica activated with vinyltrimethoxysilane was studied with a mechanistic polymerization model and experimental data for a temperature range of 70–90 °C. The polymerization was initiated with hydrogen peroxide with initial monomer concentrations ranging from 10 to 40 vol %. The kinetic model, which incorporates the hybrid cage–complex initiation mechanism, describes the experimental polymerization data for which the kinetic order, with respect to the monomer concentration, varies from 1 to . Surface chain growth occurs by both monomer addition and homopolymer grafting, although the latter contribution to the total polymer graft yield is less significant. Increasing the initial monomer concentration enhances both surface polymer density and average grafted chain length. Increasing reaction temperature, however, produces a denser surface layer of shorter polymer chains. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 26–42, 2002
Optical coherence tomography study of adult vitelliform macular detachment in a patient with basal laminar drusen

To report the morphological data of adult vitelliform macular detachment in a patient with basal laminar drusen using optical coherence tomography (OCT-3) as an observational case report. A 70-year-old man presented with adult vitelliform macular detachment and basal laminar drusen underwent fundus biomicroscopy, fundus fluorescein angiography and OCT-3. Fundus examination showed bilateral yellow subretinal macula deposits with associated basal laminar drusen. Examination with OCT revealed areas of hyper-reflectivity compatible in size with the subretinal deposits below and elevating the photoreceptor layer. This was accompanied by underlying disruption of the OCT signal from retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the more affected left eye. In adult vitelliform macular detachment and basal laminar drusen, OCT may demonstrate that the yellow material is located predominantly below RPE in early disease and between the photoreceptor layer and the retinal pigment epithelium in later disease.
Spatial Imaging of Singlet Energy Migration in Perylene Bis(phenethylimide) Thin Films

The migration length of singlet electronic energy excitations (excitons) in thin films of perylene bis(phenethylimide) (PPEI) has been measured by an imaging technique that incorporates near-field optical excitation and far-field fluorescence imaging. The observed energy migration lengths fall in the range of e50 to ∼500 nm depending on sample morphologies. Sample morphology was controlled by “solvent annealing” and characterized by fluorescence NSOM and scanning force microscopy. The potential role of sample morphology in singlet energy migration is discussed. Additionally, the results reported herein are compared with a previous determination of singlet energy migration in PPEI.
GOALS FOR ACADEMIC WRITING: ESL STUDENTS AND THEIR INSTRUCTORS. Alister Cumming (Ed.) . Amsterdam: Benjamins, 2006. Pp. xii + 204. $42.95 paper.

GOALS FOR ACADEMIC WRITING: ESL STUDENTS AND THEIR INSTRUCTORS. Alister Cumming (Ed.) . Amsterdam: Benjamins, 2006. Pp. xii + 204. $42.95 paper. In universities throughout the world, faculty engage in discussions related to the writing performance of their students—with many concerned about challenges second language (L2) students face in achieving competence in academic writing tasks. Yet, most studies in the field of L2 writing focus on a single area of concern within the learning and teaching spectrum; the collective results of these explorations must often be pieced together by an individual who reviews a large number of separate studies. Cumming's edited volume stems from a more ambitious and data-rich approach; its chapters derive from a 2-year project in which the contributors investigated and compared the learning and teaching goals of several dozen L2 writers and a number of their teachers as the students moved from an intensive English as a second language (ESL) program in Canada to their first year at several Canadian universities.
Near real time in vivo fibre optic confocal microscopy: Sub-cellular structure resolved

We have built a fibre optic confocal reflectance microscope capable of imaging biological tissue in near real time. The measured lateral resolution is 3 micro m and axial resolution is 6 micro m. Images of epithelial cells, excised tissue biopsies, and the human lip in vivo have been obtained at 15 frames s-1. Both cell morphology and tissue architecture can be appreciated from images obtained with this microscope. This device has the potential to enable reflected light confocal imaging of internal organs for in situ detection of pathology.
Some properties of nonoscillating solutions of functional-differential equations ofn-th order

A functional-differential equation ofn-th order is considered, wheren≥2,m≥1 are integers andA t/t: C([t0, ∞), R)→ R, i=1,2,...,m are functionals defined for everyt∈[t 0, ∞). Sufficient conditions have been found for which all bounded non-oscillatory solutions and all non-oscillatory solutions of the functional-differntial equation tend to zero fort→∞.
Short- and long-term follow-up results for cognitive interventions

Follow-up results for two studies are presented. In both studies, learning-set instruction on early concrete operations—unidimensional classification, unidimensional seriation, and, in the second study, conservation—was offered to children who were not making normal progress. Improvements on psychometric tests of intelligence were associated with gains on the concrete operations. These improvements lasted for at least a year in the first study, and, in a reduced form, for 6 years in the second study.
SURVIVAL OF CAPTIVE-REARED PUERTO RICAN PARROTS RELEASED IN THE CARIBBEAN NATIONAL FOREST

Abstract We report first-year survival for 34 captive-reared Puerto Rican Parrots (Amazona vittata) released in the Caribbean National Forest, Puerto Rico between 2000 and 2002. The purpose of the releases were to increase population size and the potential number of breeding individuals of the sole extant wild population, and to refine release protocols for eventual reintroduction of a second wild population elsewhere on the island. After extensive prerelease training, we released 10 parrots in 2000, 16 parrots in 2001, and eight parrots in 2002 ranging in age from 1–4 years old. All birds were equipped with radio-transmitters to monitor survival. The overall first-year survival estimate for the 34 parrots was 41% (CI = 22%–61%). Only one parrot died within the first week postrelease, with most (94%) surviving for at least eight weeks after release. Most (54%) documented mortalities were due to raptor predation, which claimed 21% of all released parrots. A captive-reared bird (male, age one), released in ...
Perfect alignment of self-organized Ge islands on pre-grown Si stripe mesas

Self-organized Ge islands grown on patterned Si(001) substrates have been investigated. Selective epitaxial growth (SEG) of Si is carried out with gas-source molecular beam epitaxy to form Si stripe mesas followed by subsequent Ge island growth. Self-aligned Ge islands with regular spacing are formed on the -oriented ridges of the Si mesas. The regular spacing is driven by the repulsive interaction between the neighbor islands through the substrates. A mono-modal distribution of the islands has been observed on the ridges of the Si mesas. The spatial confinement as well as the preferential nucleation is believed to be the mechanism of this alignment of the self-organized Ge islands.
Beginning and Capping Undergraduate Education

In fall semester 2011, the University of Georgia undertook a comprehensive program to introduce all first-year students to college life through a required, one-credit hour seminar. Named the First-Year Odyssey (FYO), the goals include introducing students to the academic culture of the university in the first weeks of college, providing each student with a faculty-led, small seminar (15–18 students) in the first term and introducing students to the multiple missions of the university and the wide range of disciplines and fields open for study (https:// fyo.uga.edu/about.html). Indeed, we believe that we can make a difference in the college experience for incoming students through this deliberate focus on academics and the broad range of curricular and co-curricular opportunities in the first days of college life. More than 300 seminars are offered each fall (and a few in the spring semester) to accomplish these goals and to ensure 100% participation by all beginning students. Multiple meetings across many months were devoted to considering the goals and structure of the program, criteria for instructors, and incentives for faculty participation. Looking back, the decisions on structure and format appear simple and straightforward; but in the planning phase all possibilities were “on the table” so to speak, and active debates were underway. Following University Council approval of the FYO program, faculty members readily developed courses featuring their disciplinary interests; and a small stipend to teach these introductory courses sealed the deal. An abundance of course proposals meant some were not selected for inclusion in the program, much to the chagrin of the proposer. The amazing array of FYO seminars can be seen by three titles, selected at random: Coffee Technology, Current Issues in Bioethics, and How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization. See https://fyo.uga.edu/BrowseSearchMain.aspx for spring 2014 courses and descriptions. Regular assessments provide information on student learning and point to areas in need of revisions. I imagine many future adjustments will be made as we continue to reshape and refine program and course goals and intended outcomes. The puzzle that remains, at least in my mind, is how to build on the FYO seminar across the four to five years of undergraduate education. What organizational structure would encourage full student engagement both in and outside of the classroom that is manageable, low in cost, and might yield significant outcomes. What outcomes might be most important? My first thought was to launch capstone courses; and of assistance in this consideration was a recent issue of Peer Review (v. 15 no. 4, 2013), which focused on “Capstones and Integrative Learning.” The issue describes capstone experiences at several colleges. In general, the Innov High Educ (2014) 39:91–92 DOI 10.1007/s10755-014-9295-2
Packing Characterization of Granular Composite Media in Two Dimensions

This note summarizes an experiemntal simulation of two phase fibrous composites modeled (in the sense of Hashin, 1983) by an array of parallel cylinders and represented here in a planar transverse cut as equidiameter hard disks. High density compacts were generated using varied edge loading and interdisk conditions and examined for configurational statistics and quantites such as packing density, coordination number and anisotropy
The interpretation of scanning electron micrographs

Abstract The problem of the interpretation of images of biological objects in the scanning electron microscope is discussed. The influence of preparative techniques, drying and coating methods on the final image is illustrated by reference to higher plant protoplasts. Methods for confirming the presence of new structural detail are suggested. An attempt is made to illustrate and introduce the need for a higher standard of interpretative and critical skill in the presentation of results obtained by means of scanning electron microscopy.
Resistance to extinction after partial reinforcement training with blocking of the hippocampal theta rhythm by septal stimulation.

Abstract Rats were implanted with a bipolar stimulating electrode in the medial septal nucleus and bilateral monopolar hippocampal recording electrodes. They were trained to run in a straight alley for water reward on a random 50% partial reinforcement schedule. Experimental rats were given high-frequency (200 Hz) septal stimulation, blocking the hippocampal theta rhythm, during their time in the goalbox on nonrewarded trials, stimulation not being delivered on rewarded trials. The controls were never stimulated. During extinction, stimulation was not delivered was not delivered to either group. Resistance to extinction was reduced in the experimental rats. The immediate response to theta-blocking septal stimulation was an arrest reaction. Termination of the stimulation was often followed by convulsive motor behavior.
Interaction effects on MRP nervousness

SUMMARY Relative performance of decision rules for specific production and inventory control problems has gained attention in the last two decades. One of these areas receiving attention is MRP nervousness. Generally, the issue of MRP nervousness has been examined under highly simplified environments for single decision rule effects. Implications of the results of these previous studies may be misleading in light of interaction effects with different decision rules. Conclusions drawn may not be appropriate when interactions of decision rules are considered under more realistic environments. Statistical interactions have been found and reported (Minifie and Heard 19S5). This paper addresses the managerial implications of these statistical findings and highlights the importance of various features that should be present in simulated MRP environments.
Magnetic and transport properties of CeVO3

Abstract Magnetic data are presented that indicate the VO 3 array of the perovskite CeVO 3 exhibits the same anomalous properties as in LaVO 3 , including (1) a first-order magnetostrictive distortion below a T t T N , (2) a canted-spin ferromagnetism below T N , (3) a reversal of the direction of the vanadium atomic moments on traversing T t , and (4) suppression of T t in an isostructural metastable phase prepared under hydrostatic pressure. The VCe exchange field operating at the Ce 3+ : 4 f 1 configurations below T N does not change sign on traversing T t . The Ce-atom magnetization reduces the field for nucleation of irreversible magnetization processes; both La 0.5 Ce 0.5 VO 3 and CeVO 3 exhibit MH hysteresis loops characteristic of hard ferromagnets, whereas the magnetization of LaVO 3 remains reversible in fields H = ±50 kOe. For x ≥ 0.25, substitution of Sr for Ce in Ce 1- x Sr x VO 3 does not create small-polaron V 4+ ions, but delocalized V-3 d states and an intermediate Ce 4+ /Ce 3+ valence at the Ce atoms. Strong correlations among the itinerant V-π∗ electrons of stoichiometric, metallic SrVO 3 reintroduce long-range magnetic order at low temperatures.
Neuromuscular Modulation in Aplysia. I. Dynamic Model

Many physiological systems are regulated by complex networks of modulatory actions. Here we use mathematical modeling and complementary experiments to study the dynamic behavior of such a network i...
Experimental characterization of crack tip deformation fields in Alloy 718 at high temperatures

A series of fracture mechanics tests were conducted at temperatures of 650 C and 704 C in air, using Inconel 719. A noncontacting measurement technique, based on computer vision and digital image correlation, was applied to directly measure surface displacements and strains prior to and during creep crack growth. For the first time, quantitative comparisons at elevated temperatures are presented between experimentally measured near-crack-tip deformation fields and theoretical linear elastic and viscoelastic fracture mechanics solutions. The results establish that linear elastic conditions dominate the near-crack-tip displacements and strains at 650 C during crack growth, and confirm that K{sub 1} is a viable continuum-based fracture parameter for creep crack growth characterization. Postmortem fractographic analyses indicate that grain boundary embrittlement leads to crack extension before a significant amount of creep occurs at this temperature. At higher temperatures, however, no crack growth was observed due to crack tip blunting and concurrent stress reduction after load application.
Granular polymer solution.

Granular matter consists of macroscopic particles ~balls, beads, grains, sand, etc.! that can be agitated into fluidlike motion by external forces @1#. Recently, there has been interest in velocity fluctuations in granular gases @2‐4 # and knots in granular chains @5#. In these experiments, the motion of the grains ~steel spheres! is driven by vibrating the container. In this paper, we study a granular polymer solution, consisting of a chain of plastic spheres surrounded by a fluid of self-propelled balls. The motion of the chain is driven by the random collisions of the balls against the chain. This Brownian-like force of agitation mimics the natural driving force of molecular motion. The granular solution represents a mechanical model of a linear polymer in a planar solvent. The granular chain is an experimental realization of a selfavoiding random walk, which is the theoretical model for a polymer with excluded volume. Theoretical studies of the self-avoiding random walk in two dimensions are abundant, but experimental tests of the two-dimensional theories are scarce. A molecular polymer can be confined to a region that is at best quasi-two-dimensional and tends to uncoil ~expand! when adsorbed onto a flat surface. Our granular polymer is flexible and exactly two-dimensional. It is an experimental system that is architecturally equivalent to the theoretical model.
Achieving the Health Objectives for the Nation in Higher Education.

Abstract In 1985, the American College Health Association (ACHA) formed the Task Force on Achieving the Health Objectives for the Nation in Higher Education to address the national health objectives for students in colleges and universities. This document describes the health objectives for the nation as set forth in Healthy People: The Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. It also reports on the work and future plans of the Task Force. Currently, college and university populations have no way to monitor their progress toward meeting the national health objectives nor have they a coordinated approach to assessing the health risks of students. A database of all college and university health programming is proposed to track activities that meet the health objectives for the nation in higher education. Involvement of the college and university health sector in setting and refining the national health objectives for the year 2000 is planned. The participation and cooperation of ...
Chronology of cenozoic igneous and tectonic events in the central Chilean Andes — latitudes 35° 30' to 36°S

Abstract Sixty-six KAr dates from igneous rocks in the central Chilean Andes between 33° and 38°S are reported in this study. From these results and observed field relations, major Cenozoic volcanic and intrusive rock units are divided into chronologic groups representing igneous events. Volcanic units of Oligocene (33.3–27.9 m.y.) and Early Miocene (20.2 m.y.) age have been dated west of the present range at 33°S but neither the magnitude nor extent of these volcanic events has yet been established. Extensive Middle to Late Miocene volcanism (15.3–6.4 m.y.) followed by regional folding is recognized in the map area between 35° 20′ and 36°S. Partly contemporaneous Middle Miocene volcanism (18.4–13.7 m.y.) also followed by regional folding is recorded in the Andes between 37° 30′ and 38°S. General volcanic quiescence from 6.4 to 2.5 m.y. is observed in the map area but whether this volcanic hiatus is of regional significance is not known. The majority of the KAr dates document a history of nearly continuous volcanism throughout the last 2.5 m.y. in the map area. The abundant and diverse sequences of volcanic strata formed during this time, have been divided into four successive age groups which as map units show the evolution and distribution of latest volcanic activity. Landforms preserved by this volcanic series show that topographic relief similar to the present has prevailed during this time. Deep incision of rivers into young volcanic terrain, estimated to be on the order of 1–2 m/1000 years, has produced a complex volcanic and morphologic record. Four plutons dated in this study give ages of 62.0, 41.3, 19.5, and 7.0 m.y. No spatial pattern of emplacement is observed in the map area where three of these plutons are represented. Similarities in structural style, orientation and degree of deformation of Miocene and Mesozoic strata suggest that Late Miocene regional folding may have accounted for a significant part of the observed deformation in older basement strata previously ascribed to earlier orogenies. A regional comparison of ages of recognized igneous and tectonic event at different latitudes in the central and southern Andes shows the gross chronology of Cenozoic events which can be correlated with sea-floor spreading and subduction events.
Chip-scale platform for quantum interference-based slow light in atoms

Hollow-core waveguides form the foundation of a new class of atomic spectroscopy chips that allows for large light-matter interactions at ultralow power levels. We will review the development of a chip-scale platform for large quantum interference effects in hot rubidium vapor.
Re-Assessing the Relationship between the Fortune Reputation Data and Financial Performance: Overwhelming Influence or Just a Part of the Puzzle?

Reputation has emerged as an important concept in organizational research. One measure of reputation is Fortune Magazine's annual ‘America's Most Admired Companies’ survey. Despite its widespread use, there are concerns that the data are strongly influenced by a firm's previous financial performance. This has led some scholars to conclude that there is little new to be learned from the series that cannot be ascertained from traditional financial performance data. Results of a study conducted by Brown and Perry using the Fortune survey from 1991 are often cited as evidence of the strong correlation between financial performance and the Fortune data. The goal of this study is to analyze more recent Fortune reputation data than that used in Brown and Perry in order to examine whether the relationship between Fortune's reputation measures and financial performance has changed. We also examine the impact of industry level controls on this relationship. The main finding of our study is that the strong relationship between measures of financial performance and the Fortune overall ratings is far weaker when more recent data are examined. We also find that controlling for industry effects is important when using the Fortune data. The implication for future research is that Fortune Magazine's ‘America's Most Admired Companies’ list can continue to be a useful and valid source of data to explore the considerable variance in organizational reputation that remains unexplained.
THE RELATION OF BLOOD PRESSURE TO THE AMOUNT OF RENAL TISSUE

The removal or destruction of about 70 per cent of the kidney tissue in rabbits does not produce hypertension even when prolonged renal insufficiency results.
Oral anticoagulant therapies: balancing the risks.

Purpose To describe the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and rate of bleeding complications from warfarin and target-specific oral anticoagulants; methods for assessing the risk for thromboembolism and bleeding in patients receiving oral anticoagulants or temporarily interrupting such therapy to undergo elective invasive procedures or surgery; therapeutic strategies for balancing these risks; and coagulation assays used to monitor oral anticoagulation therapy. Summary The target-specific oral anticoagulants have a more specific mechanism of action and shorter elimination half-lives than warfarin, but the half-lives of these target-specific agents may be prolonged in patients with renal impairment or elderly patients, resulting in the potential for drug accumulation and bleeding complications. The rate of bleeding complications in the community setting may be higher than in the clinical trial setting. In patients receiving oral anticoagulants or temporarily interrupting oral anticoagulant therapy to undergo elective invasive procedures or surgery, the risks for thromboembolism and bleeding should be assessed by using validated risk scoring systems and patient stratification schemes. The time during which an oral anticoagulant should be withheld before an invasive procedure or surgery and the time until resumption of therapy after the procedure depend on the drug, risk of thrombosis, type of procedure (i.e., risk for bleeding), and patient-specific variables, especially renal function for the target-specific agents. New coagulation assays are in development for use in monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy. Conclusion An individualized approach is needed to balance the risks for thromboembolism and bleeding in patients receiving oral anticoagulants.
Reproductive output of a meiobenthic copepod exposed to sediment-associated fenvalerate

The benthic harpacticoid copepod, Amphiascus tenuiremis, was cultured through one generation at four concentrations (600, 300, 150, and 0 μg/kg) of sediment-associated fenvalerate, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, to assess effects on reproductive output and age structure. Two static renewal experiments with four replicates of each treatment were conducted. At the end of 21 days, surviving copepods were sorted and counted into adult males, adult females, copepodites, and nauplii. Fenvalerate was extracted from the sediment and measured by GC-MS.
Use of a marker plasmid to examine differential rates of growth and death between clinical and environmental strains of Vibrio vulnificus in experimentally infected mice

Vibrio vulnificus is Gram-negative bacterium that contaminates oysters, causing highly lethal sepsis after consumption of raw oysters and wound infection. We previously described two sets of V. vulnificus strains with different levels of virulence in subcutaneously inoculated iron dextran-treated mice. Both virulent, clinical strains and attenuated, environmental strains could be recovered in high numbers from skin lesions and livers; however, the attenuated environmental strains required significantly higher numbers of colony-forming units (cfu) in the inoculum to produce lethal infection. Using some of these strains and an additional clinical strain, we presently asked if the different abilities to cause infection between the clinical and environmental strains were due to differences in rates of growth or death of the bacteria in the mouse host. We therefore constructed a marker plasmid, pGTR902, that functions as a replicon only in the presence of arabinose, which is not present in significant levels in animal tissues. V. vulnificus strains containing pGTR902 were inoculated into iron dextran-treated and untreated mice. Measuring the proportion of bacteria that had maintained the marker plasmid recovered from mice enabled us to monitor the number of in vivo divisions, hence growth rate; whereas measuring the number of marker plasmid-containing bacteria recovered enabled the measurement of death of the vibrios in the mice. The numbers of bacterial divisions in vivo for all of the strains over a 12-15 h infection period were not significantly different in iron dextran-treated mice; however, the rate of death of one environmental strain was significantly higher compared with the clinical strains. Infection of non-iron dextran-treated mice with clinical strains demonstrated that the greatest effect of iron dextran-treatment was increased growth rate, while one clinical strain also experienced increased death in untreated mice. V. vulnificus inoculated into iron dextran-treated mice replicated extremely rapidly over the first 4 h of infection with doubling times of approximately 15-28 min. In contrast, one of the environmental strains exhibited a reduced early growth rate. These results demonstrate that differences in virulence among naturally occurring V. vulnificus can be explained by diverse abilities to replicate rapidly in or resist defences of the host. The marker plasmid pGTR902 should be useful for examining virulence of bacteria in terms of differentiating growth verses death in animal hosts for most Gram-negative bacteria.
Using targeted conferences to recruit women into computer science

To inspire women to major in CS, take them to the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing.
PHYSICAL INVARIANTS OF BIOSIGNATURES

Abstract Biosignature is one of the most important evidences of life available to researchers. However, many complex physical and chemical phenomena can mimic prints of life so closely that special methods are required to make the distinction. In addition to that, life, in principle, can be composed of components which are fundamentally different from those known on Earth. That is why identification of biosignatures should be based upon some phenomenological invariants. Such invariants, within the framework of Newtonian formalism, are introduced and discussed.
Large-Scale Roll-to-Roll Fabrication of Ordered Mesoporous Materials using Resol-Assisted Cooperative Assembly

Roll-to-roll (R2R) processing enables the rapid fabrication of large-area sheets of cooperatively assembled materials for production of mesoporous materials. Evaporation induced self-assembly of a nonionic surfactant (Pluronic F127) with sol–gel precursors and phenolic resin oligomers (resol) produce highly ordered mesostructures for a variety of chemistries including silica, titania, and tin oxide. The cast thick (>200 μm) film can be easily delaminated from the carrier substrate (polyethylene terephthalate, PET) after cross-linking the resol to produce meter-long self-assembled sheets. The surface areas of these mesoporous materials range from 240 m2/g to >1650 m2/g with these areas for each material comparing favorably with prior reports in the literature. These R2R methods provide a facile route to the scalable production of kilograms of a wide variety of ordered mesoporous materials that have shown potential for a wide variety of applications with small-batch syntheses.
Bi-3 C 2 polar subdivision

Popular subdivision algorithms like Catmull-Clark and Loop are C2 almost everywhere, but suffer from shape artifacts and reduced smoothness exactly near the so-called "extraordinary vertices" that motivate their use. Subdivision theory explains that inherently, for standard stationary subdivision algorithms, curvature-continuity and the ability to model all quadratic shapes requires a degree of at least bi-6. The existence of a simple-to-implement C2 subdivision algorithm generating surfaces of good shape and piecewise degree bi-3 in the polar setting is therefore a welcome surprise. This paper presents such an algorithm, the underlying insights, and a detailed analysis. In bi-3 C2 polar subdivision the weights depend, as in standard schemes, only on the valence, but the valence at one central polar vertex increases to match Catmull-Clark-refinement.
Plant utilization of iron solubilized by oat phytosiderophore

Abstract Responses to Fe‐deficiency stress have been classified as Strategies I and II. “Iron‐efficient”; cultivare within each strategy exhibit one or more of a combination of specific physiological responses to Fe‐deficiency stress, while “Fe‐inefficient”; cultivars do not. Iron‐efficient Coker 227 oat (Avena byzantina C. Koch.) is a Strategy II plant which produces an Fe‐chelating compound (phytosiderophore) in response to Fe‐deficiency stress. The objective of this paper is to summarize the results of studies in which the abilities of several plant species to utilize Fe solubilized by oat phytosiderophore were determined. Experiments were conducted in which Fe‐deficiency stressed oat plants were grown in hydroponic solutions (1.2 mg Fe L‐1 unchelated) in combination with three different species of both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants which represented a wide range of Fe‐efficiency. The cultivars varied in response to the oat phytosiderophore as follows: (a) WF9 maize (Zea mays L.), TAM 0–31...
PERIODIC CORRELATION IN STRATOSPHERIC OZONE DATA

. A 50-year time series of monthly stratospheric ozone readings from Arosa, Switzerland, is analyzed. The time series exhibits the properties of a periodically correlated (PC) random sequence with annual periodicities. Spectral properties of PC random sequences are reviewed and a test to detect periodic correlation is presented. An autoregressive moving-average (ARMA) model with periodically varying coefficients (PARMA) is fitted to the data in two stages. First, a periodic autoregressive model is fitted to the data. This fit yields residuals that are stationary but non-white. Next, a stationary ARMA model is fitted to the residuals and the two models are combined to produce a larger model for the data. The combined model is shown to be a PARMA model and yields residuals that have the correlation properties of white noise.