cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FILTRATION OF FLY ASH USING NONWOVEN GEOTEXTILES: EFFECT OF SAMPLE PREPARATION TECHNIQUE AND TESTING METHOD

The long-term filtration behavior of nonwoven geotextiles with fly ash is investigated using gradient ratio tests [ASTM Test Method for Measuring the Soil-Geotextile Clogging Potential by the Gradient Ratio (D 5101-90)] for the duration of approximately ≈4000 h under an applied hydraulic gradient of 3. In parallel, rigid wall permeability tests under the relatively high hydraulic gradient of 25 are conducted to investigate the potential of expediently simulating the long-term filtration behavior of the geotextile-fly ash system. Four nonwoven geotextiles ranging in apparent opening size from No. 70 to 170 are used with specimens prepared using a dry method and a slurry method of preparation and then back-saturated with deaired water. Results indicated that the fly ash-geotextile systems are stabilized after approximately 2000 h with less piping observed for the slurry specimens. Permeability across the slurry specimens is measured to be 1/2 to 1/3 that of the dry specimens. Testing under a hydraulic gradient of 25 and for the duration of 25 h has yielded a steady state k value similar to those obtained from the GR tests after a testing duration of 4000 h. All the geotextile-fly ash systems are categorized as stable based on the stability limit set for the granular filters with the measured rate of fly ash passing through the geotextiles found to be less than or equal to 0.04 g/cm2.
Hox gene expression reveals regionalization along the anteroposterior axis of the zebrafish notochord

The vertebrate Hox genes have been shown to confer regional identity along the anteroposterior axis of the developing embryo, especially within the central nervous system (CNS) and the paraxial mesoderm. The notochord has been shown to play vital roles in patterning adjacent tissues along both the dorsoventral and mediolateral axes. However, the notochord’s role in imparting anteroposterior information to adjacent structures is less well understood, especially as the notochord shows no morphological distinctions along the anteroposterior axis and is not generally described as a segmental or compartmentalized structure. Here we report that four zebrafish hox genes: hoxb1, hoxb5, hoxc6 and hoxc8 are regionally expressed along the anteroposterior extent of the developing notochord. Notochord expression for each gene is transient, but maintains a definite, gene-specific anterior limit throughout its duration. The hox gene expression in the zebrafish notochord is spatially colinear with those genes lying most 3’ in the hox clusters having the most anterior limits. The expression patterns of these hox cluster genes in the zebrafish are the most direct molecular evidence for a system of anteroposterior regionalization of the notochord in any vertebrate studied to date.
In Silico Genomic Analysis of the Human and Murine Guanylate-Binding Protein (GBP) Gene Clusters

The guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) were among the first interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs) discovered, but until recently, little was known about their functions and even less about the composition of the gene family. Analysis of the promoter of human GBP-1 contributed significantly toward the understanding of Jak-Stat signaling and the delineation of the IFN-γ activation site (GAS) and IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) promoter elements. In this study, we have examined the genomic arrangement and composition of the GBPs in both mouse and humans. There are seven GBP paralogs in humans and at least one pseudogene, all of which are located in a cluster of genes on chromosome 1. Five of the six MuGBPs and a GBP pseudogene are clustered in a syntenic region on chromosome 3. The sixth MuGBP, MuGBP-4, and three GBP pseudogenes are located on chromosome 5. As might be expected, the GBPs share similar genomic organizations of introns and exons. Five of the MuGBPs had previously been shown to be coor...
Probable sequential arrangement of depositional systems on cratons

Depositional systems recorded in cratonic successions are formed by fluvial, eolian, deltaic, wave, storm, and tidal processes. Their spatial and temporal distribution is controlled by tectonic uplift, the areal width over which marine processes inundate cratons, and climate. The craton width of marine sedimentation appears to control the lateral and vertical distribution of sediment depositional systems. For transgressive clastic sequences, craton widths are narrow and are dominated by subtidal and coastal storm-generated and wave-dominated barrier depositional systems, during early phases of transgression. As the craton becomes submerged over a wider area, tidal depositional systems become dominant and include subtidal sand bodies and coastal tidal flats. During regression, fluvial and eolian depositional systems become dominant. Tectonism controls the facies patterns in two ways. If tectonism is active during deposition, cratonic sequences of narrower shelves, dominated by wave and storm depositional systems, seem to be characteristic. If tectonism consists of uplifts confined to the margins of the craton, sediment yield increases onto the craton, favoring regressive fluvial and deltaic depositional systems. Although the climatic variable is more difficult to evaluate, it tends to control the occurrence of clastic sediments (more humid) and carbonate sediments (arid, tropical). In tropical and subtropical latitudes, a carbonate facies distribution is favored, and the stratigraphic development of depositional systems controlled by increasing width of cratonic inundation by marine processes occurs in much the same way as suggested for clastic sediments. If tectonic uplift is active in areas adjoining carbonate cratonic sedimentation, a regressive deltaic clastic wedge occurs, instead of nonmarine eolian sediments, which appear to be normative regressive sediments in carbonate terrains.
Multivariate Stable Densities as Functions of One Dimensional Projections

The density of a generald-dimensional stable random vectorXis expressed as an integral over the sphere in Rdof a function of the parameters of the one dimensional projections ofX. These formulas give insight into the form of multivariate stable densities and are useful for numerical calculations. Corollaries give simplified expressions for symmetric stable and the?=1 strictly stable densities, relations among the densities in different dimensions, and values of the densities at the location parameter for all cases except the?=1, non-strictly stable ones. Expressions for the densities in the multidimensional analog of Zolotarev's (M) parameterization and a discussion of computational versions of the formulas are also given.
The Effect of Scent on User Recall and Navigation

When designing navigation menus, there are some key tradeoffs that usability professionals struggle with to ensure an easy to use navigation system. In the short term, the menu should support effective user wayfinding and confidence to accomplish the current task. Menus can also achieve longer term benefits by demonstrating the information architecture of the site, providing support for future tasks. For example, users would be more likely to return to the site if they believe a product they need in the future is available there. The effectiveness of menu design hinges on whether these objectives are achieved. The focus of this study was the impact of menu label scent on user performance in navigation tasks. Labels of high and low scent were placed at two menu positions to measure the impact on the short term goal of finding a known item and the long term goal of developing an awareness of the information architecture. The results provide insights that can be used in the design of navigation menus.
Sinks, sources, and spotted owls: A territorial population model with continuous mortality and discrete birth

A model is developed for the dynamics of a territorial population for which mortality and the search for suitable territories are treated as continuous processes and birth occurs as a discrete pulse once each year. It is shown that the trajectories converge either to a fixed annual cycle or to extinction for both groups as long as the individual reproductive success and survival rate for the territorial population exceeds that for those individuals not holding territories. Conditions that determine whether the population will persist are provided.
Autism and Sensory Processing Disorders: Shared White Matter Disruption in Sensory Pathways but Divergent Connectivity in Social-Emotional Pathways

Over 90% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) demonstrate atypical sensory behaviors. In fact, hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment is now included in the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. However, there are children with sensory processing differences who do not meet an ASD diagnosis but do show atypical sensory behaviors to the same or greater degree as ASD children. We previously demonstrated that children with Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) have impaired white matter microstructure, and that this white matter microstructural pathology correlates with atypical sensory behavior. In this study, we use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fiber tractography to evaluate the structural connectivity of specific white matter tracts in boys with ASD (n = 15) and boys with SPD (n = 16), relative to typically developing children (n = 23). We define white matter tracts using probabilistic streamline tractography and assess the strength of tract connectivity using mean fractional anisotropy. Both the SPD and ASD cohorts demonstrate decreased connectivity relative to controls in parieto-occipital tracts involved in sensory perception and multisensory integration. However, the ASD group alone shows impaired connectivity, relative to controls, in temporal tracts thought to subserve social-emotional processing. In addition to these group difference analyses, we take a dimensional approach to assessing the relationship between white matter connectivity and participant function. These correlational analyses reveal significant associations of white matter connectivity with auditory processing, working memory, social skills, and inattention across our three study groups. These findings help elucidate the roles of specific neural circuits in neurodevelopmental disorders, and begin to explore the dimensional relationship between critical cognitive functions and structural connectivity across affected and unaffected children.
High contrast photoacoustic imaging with dual apodization with cross-correlation: ex-vivo study

Photoacoustic (PA) images generally suffer from high clutter levels since only one-way acoustic beam forming is used to reconstruct an image. Several methods have been presented in the ultrasound (US) literature to suppress sidelobes and reduce artifacts due to phase aberrations. Notable is a class of methods using the dual apodization with cross-correlation (DAX) method. Although a very powerful tool, DAX weighting can create artifacts in complex source environments, generally underestimating the strength of weak point scatterers and speckle regions while overestimating noise signals. This fact can work to our advantage, however, in visualizing microvessels or locating regions with a significant concentration of contrast agents using PA imaging. We examined the use of PA imaging combined with DAX processing to obtain high-contrast images of a black dye inclusion placed ex vivo into fresh bovine tissue. The tissue sample was imaged with an interleaved, real-time US/PA system including a pulse laser source operating at 20 Hz. A 5MHz linear array transducer was used both for conventional US imaging and to detect the PA signal at 720 nm wavelength. Results suggest that PA imaging with DAX combined with ultrasound imaging can produce high-contrast and high-spatial-resolution visualization of particle inclusions.
Selective HDAC1/HDAC2 Inhibitors Induce Neuroblastoma Differentiation

While cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the hallmark of cancer treatment, intensive regimens fall short in many malignancies, including high-risk neuroblastoma. One alternative strategy is to therapeutically promote tumor differentiation. We created a gene expression signature to measure neuroblast maturation, adapted it to a high-throughput platform, and screened a diversity oriented synthesis-generated small-molecule library for differentiation inducers. We identified BRD8430, containing a nine-membered lactam, an ortho-amino anilide functionality, and three chiral centers, as a selective class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor (HDAC1 > 2 > 3). Further investigation demonstrated that selective HDAC1/HDAC2 inhibition using compounds or RNA interference induced differentiation and decreased viability in neuroblastoma cell lines. Combined treatment with 13-cis retinoic acid augmented these effects and enhanced activation of retinoic acid signaling. Therefore, by applying a chemical genomic screening approach, we identified selective HDAC1/HDAC2 inhibition as a strategy to induce neuroblastoma differentiation.
Evaluation and reinforcement: What do males and females really want to hear?

This research was designed to note if males and females differ in their choices of the reinforcement and evaluation they assign to others. Thirty-one male and 31 female subjects viewed four videotapes of skilled and unskilled male and female speakers. Subjects assigned 10 of 40 statements varying in reinforcement value to each speaker and completed a five-item evaluation for each speech. Participants also completed a four-item measure to determine if they selected comments that they too would want to receive. Results indicated that males desire more positive reinforcement than females, although the two genders do not differ in their selection of evaluation. Also, subjects agreed that statements they selected were those they would find acceptable if applied to them.
Some fundamentals of equipment-grounding circuit design

An effective equipment-grounding system should, under conditions of maximum ground-fault current flow, accomplish the following objectives: 1. maintain a low potential difference, perhaps 50 volts maximum, between machine frames, equipment enclosures, conductor enclosures, building metallic structure, and metallic components contained therein to avoid electric shock hazard and unwanted circulating current, and 2. incorporate adequate conductance to carry this maximum ground short-circuit current without thermal distress and the attendant fire hazard. There is good reason to believe that current flow in the equipment-grounding system in a-c power systems will not stray far from the power cable over which the outgoing current flows. It follows that the installation of conductive material in an equipment ground system unless properly located can be ineffective and wasteful, and can create a false sense of security. This paper presents the results of a special series of full-scale tests dealing with this specific problem and a general analysis of the circuit behavior.
Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms of Malawian bean lines: further evidence for two major gene pools.

Intraspecific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity was determined in 23 Phaseolus vulgaris genotypes, and compared to previously observed variability of morphoagronomic characters and isozyme loci. Twenty of the lines were collected from Malawian landraces; the other three were pure-bred cultivars. The mtDNAs were digested with eight restriction endonucleases, revealing complex banding patterns. Southern hybridization using cosmid clones covering about 200-kb of the genome showed a considerable amount of uniformity of the mtDNA banding patterns. However, five restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were detected, dividing the bean lines into two groups corresponding to the previously known Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools of P. vulgaris. The cultivar “Mecosta” was separated from the rest of the lines by an additional RFLP. At least two out of the six RFLPs are believed to be due to base-pair mutation events. Our results provide the first evidence that the cytoplasms of the two major germ plasm pools of beans are distinct.
An Emerging Paradigm in Professional Chaplaincy

Using the work of Thomas Kuhn, the author argues that the changes health care chaplains are experiencing represent a paradigm shift in health care chaplaincy. Characteristics of the new paradigm, n...
Linking pay to performance—compensation proposals in the S&P 500☆

We study the proposal of manager-sponsored compensation plans linking pay to performance by SP G34; J33
Book/Market Fluctuations, Trading Activity, and the Cross‐section of Expected Stock Returns

We analyze trading activity accompanying equities’ switches from “growth” (low book‐tomarket ratios (BMRs)) to “value” (high BMRs), and vice versa. We find that a large BMR increase, that is a shift from growth to value, is accompanied by a strongly negative small order imbalance (OIB). Large OIB exhibits weaker patterns across stocks that experience large changes in book/market. The evidence indicates that growth‐to‐value shifts are more strongly related to small traders than large ones. The interaction of BMRs with order flows plays a crucial role in return predictability. Specifically, the predictive ability of BMRs for future returns is significantly enhanced for those stocks that have experienced book/market increases as well as high levels of net selling by way of small orders.
Response to Open Peer Commentaries on 'Compelled Authorizations for Disclosure of Health Records: Magnitude and Implications'

Lee Black and Emilie E. Anderson (2007) make a key point about the important role of physicians in protecting the confidentiality of health records. Regardless of the design features of a health record system, the first requirement of health privacy and confidentiality is trust by patients in their health care providers. If patients lack trust in their physicians’ commitment to protect their sensitive health information, they will not disclose matters essential to their health and they may even forgo medical care altogether.We agree that the ethical duty of physicians to protect the confidentiality of patient health records does not change with the advent of electronic health records.
Towards real-world searching with fixed-wing mini-UAVs

We discuss several techniques that assist in the field deployments of fixed-wing mini-UAVs to assist search teams, focusing on automatic takeoff and landing. We also present a real-time flightpath generation routine that performs a spiral search centered on a target point, and a path planner that creates waypoints for searches up mountain canyons.
On the structure of the intermediate phases in the praseodymium oxide system

Abstract The defect crystal structures for two phases in the praseodymium oxide system (Pr 9 O 16 , ζ phase; and Pr 40 O 72 , e phase) are proposed on the basis of the results of a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) study. Dynamical n -beam electron scattering calculations are used to provide a more accurate and reliable interpretation of the experimental micrographs. In addition, electron diffraction studies reveal the unit-cell dimensions for the n = 11 member in the homologous series of phases in this system. The structural relationships among the related praseodymium oxide phases are discussed.
Scientific Computing with GPUs

This special issue attests to the widespread use of GPUs in the scientific computing community. Here the guest editor discusses the articles selected for this issue, and considers how they represent the range of possibilities (and risks) for using GPUs in scientific applications.
Detection of Bovine Pituitary Opioid Precursors During Gel Permeation Using Trypsin and Cyanogen Bromide Treatment Followed by Radioimmunoassay

Abstract An enzymatic-plus-chemical treatment of fraction aliquots has been developed to monitor the presence of opioid peptides and opioid-containing precursors in chromatographic fractions. Aliquots of chromatographic fractions of bovine pituitary are treated with trypsin and CNBr. Homoserine lactone enkephalin is produced in those fractions that contained proenkephalin A- or proopiomelanocortin(POMC)-derived opioid-containing precursors. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) using an antibody that recognizes homoserine lactone enkephalin is used as the detector to identify the opioid precursor fractions. These fractions can be further characterized by mass spectrometry (MS) techniques.
Calculation of ramp response of lossy transmission lines using two-port network functions

In this paper, we present a new analytical approach for computing the ramp response of an RLC interconnect line with a pure capacitive load. The approach is based on the two-port representation of the transmission line and accounts for the output resistance of the driver and the line inductance. The results of our analysis are compared with the results of HSPICE simulations demonstrating the high accuracy of our solution under various values of driver, interconnect, and load impedances.
Barrett's esophagus: a model premalignant lesion for adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the lower esophagus is lined with metaplastic columnar epithelium rather than normal stratified squamous epithelium. It is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Cancers developing in Barrett's epithelium are adenocarcinomas rather than the usual squamous cell esophageal cancers. Barrett's is somewhat unique among premalignant lesions, since it represents an entirely different epithelium from the normal and can therefore be histologically identified with certainty. The abnormal mucosa can be safely accessed repeatedly and its extent quantitated by endoscopy, thereby allowing serial follow-up studies and intervention trials. We are studying Barrett's esophagus as a model premalignant lesion for adenocarcinoma. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was increased in this lesion especially when dysplastic changes were present. Interestingly there was no relationship between polyamine levels and the increased ODC activity. Flow cytometric abnormalities have been demonstrated in Barrett's mucosa. Their significance remains to be determined. Epithelial cells from this lesion have been cultured and characterized. Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities were detected in some specimens. The cultured cells were used to test the effect of drugs on their growth. The ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, α-difluoromethylornithine, significantly inhibited growth even at low concentrations. A clinical intervention trial using 13- cis -retinoic acid has produced no change in the extent of the lesion in 11 evaluable patients. Nevertheless, the successful performance of this clinical study confirms that this lesion can be used for intervention trials aimed at reversing premalignant lesions.
Contrast sensitivity function testing and magnifier lighting preference

Abstract This project is designed to determine if contrast sensitivity function (CSF) testing can be helpful in clinical practice in predicting a patient's magnifier preference.
Characterization of the binding of different conformational forms of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 to vitronectin. Implications for the regulation of pericellular proteolysis.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), the primary physiologic inhibitor of plasminogen activation, is associated with the adhesive glycoprotein vitronectin (Vn) in plasma and the extracellular matrix. In this study we examined the binding of different conformational forms of PAI-1 to both native and urea-purified vitronectin using a solid-phase binding assay. These results demonstrate that active PAI-1 binds to urea-purified Vn with approximately 6-fold higher affinity than to native Vn. In contrast, inactive forms of PAI-1 (latent, elastase-cleaved, synthetic reactive center loop peptide-annealed, or complexed to plasminogen activators) display greatly reduced affinities for both forms of adsorbed Vn, with relative affinities reduced by more than 2 orders of magnitude. Structurally, these inactive conformations all differ from active PAI-1 by insertion of an additional strand into beta-sheet A, suggesting that it is the rearrangement of sheet A that results in reduced Vn affinity. This is supported by the observation that PAI-1 associated with beta-anhydrotrypsin, which does not undergo rearrangement of beta-sheet A, shows no such decrease in affinity, whereas PAI-1 complexed to beta-trypsin, which does undergo sheet A rearrangement, displays reduced affinity for Vn similar to PAI-1.plasminogen activator complexes. Together these data demonstrate that the interaction between PAI-1 and Vn depends on the conformational state of both proteins and suggest that the Vn binding site on PAI-1 is sensitive to structural changes associated with loss of inhibitory activity.
Sixteen computerized perceptual performance tests for psychological assessment courses

Sixteen perceptual performance test programs, written in BASICA for administration by IBM-PCs and clones, are described. These programs, a subset of four dozen verbal and performance tests designed for psychological and educational testing courses, have also been used in research projects concerned with perceptual-motor skills and problem solving. A diskette containing the pro- grams, and a descriptive manual, are available at no charge from the author.
Extracellular proteolysis: developmentally regulated activity during chick spinal cord histogenesis.

The present study was performed to identify at which stages during spinal cord histogenesis the extracellular proteolysis (i.e. the plasmin-generating system) is expressed by the developing tissue. We report that the embryonic chick spinal cord in the course of its histogenesis produces the protease, plasminogen activator. Specific activity of plasminogen activator in the developing embryo was monitored daily, in whole cords (from day 4 until hatching) and in the ventral and dorsal halves of the cord (6-17 days) and was biochemically determined by the fibrinolytic assay. The enzyme-specific activity of the developing cord was found to be very low at early embryonic stages when neuroblasts proliferate and it is markedly enhanced (14-fold at its maximal level) at later stages when the neurons are postmitotic and only the glial cells proliferate. The pattern of plasminogen activator specific activities does not remain at a constant level: it appears to be developmentally regulated, since it is decreased and enhanced during 3 temporal stages of the spinal cord histogenesis. These coincide with the stages when a transient increase in cell proliferation, presumably of glia, was monitored as determined daily by the spinal cord DNA content (microgram DNA/mg protein). Furthermore, on days 7-9 of embryonic age, the two halves of the cord differ in their plasminogen activator specific activities; activity levels of the ventral halves were found to be higher than their dorsal counterparts with significant difference on day 7. These correspond with the well-established differentiation gradient in the ventral-to-dorsal axis of the cord.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Stochastic continuum simulations of structural relaxations in solids

Abstract A simple numerical model is presented which is based on the notion of local inelastic transformations (LITs) developing stochastically in the elements of a 2-D linear elastic continuum. Although, the chosen geometry of LITs was somewhat arbitrary, it became clear that the fundamental condition that assured non-trivial behavior of the model solid was that account was taken of the long-range elastic interactions of LITs. A dynamic Monte Carlo method was used to study the kinetic and structural aspects of relaxations in the model solid represented by a hexagonal aggregation of interacting elements of the 2-D continuum. Results are presented of simulations related to the order-disorder transition, undercooling, isothermal relaxations, etc., both with and without externally applied stress. The general success of the proposed model is furnishing good qualitative descriptions of relaxations in solids emphasizes the important role of long range elastic interactions between LITs.
A strict infertility diagnosis has poor agreement with the clinical diagnosis entered into the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology registry

Based on a recent review of the medical literature, a clinical diagnosis of infertility may not agree with strict criteria. Standardized definitions of diagnostic categories are essential for accurate patient prognosis and future research.
Analysis of responses of Long Beach, California residents to the Smoke-free Bars Law.

Summary Objectives We investigated survey responses to the Smoke-free Bars Law by residents of Long Beach, California (population 460 000), a city that reflects the state's diverse population. The research specifically aimed to determine: (1) residents' approval for the 1998 California Smoke-free Bars Law when it was implemented; and (2) changes in approval between baseline and 2-year follow-up. Data were also assessed for the demographic characteristics of the respondents and whether the respondents were self-acknowledged smokers or non-smokers. Study design A random telephone survey was conducted in 1998 and 2000 in Long Beach to determine the degree of community support for the 1998 state law that prohibited smoking in all workplaces including alcohol-serving establishments. The numbers analysed were 784 in 1998 and 1237 in 2000. Methods Statistical analyses used in this research included univariate frequency distributions and logistic regression for 1998 and 2000. Results The major findings were as follows. Overall community approval for the 1998 state law increased from 65.2% in 1998 to 72.6% in 2000. Over this period, the rate of approval by smokers increased from 20.6% to 37.1%, and the rate of approval by non-smokers increased from 74.5% to 80.3%. Conclusions The general public in a large city in California strongly approve of the prohibition of smoking in all indoor public places. This strong endorsement has major public health implications.
Batch distillation employing cyclic rectification and stripping operations

Several strategies have been proposed to increase the operating efficiency of batch distillation. In this study, conventional batch rectification and inverted batch stripping are used cyclically to promote high product flow rates for a binary fractionation. Process controls are implemented to maintain constant product purity specifications by varying the slope of the operating line. While rectifying, the light component is removed as distillate, concentrating the heavy component in the reboiler. As a result, the distillate rate decreases with time. The column is then changed from rectification to stripping modes, and the heavy component is removed as bottoms product, concentrating the light component in the distillate drum. This causes the bottoms rate to diminish with time, and the column is once again converted back to rectifying mode. Cyclic operation, transitioning from batch rectifying to stripping back to rectifying, continues until all of the initial charge is fractionated or is combined with a new charge. The fractionation of ethanol and 1-propanol using the proposed operating strategy is shown to provide several advantages including energy and time savings when compared to conventional batch or inverted batch distillation alone.
Unsafe health care in Africa: a joint statement of the research agenda.

This letter to the editor focuses on injection safety in Africa with specific attention to its relation to HIV/AIDS.
Autoradiographic localization of newly synthesized octopamine to retinal efferents in the Limulus visual system.

The biogenic amine octopamine is synthesized from both tyrosine and tyramine in the lateral, median, and ventral eyes of Limulus. The auto-radiographic studies presented here were designed to locate the sites of octopamine synthesis in the ventral and lateral eyes. We found that efferent fibers, which project to ventral and lateral eyes from the central nervous system, became intesely and selectively labeled during in vitro incubationswith 3H-tyramine. In the ventral eye, more than 95% of the efferent fibers were labeled. Results of biochemical analyses suggested that most of the radioactive substance within these efferent fibers was newly synthesized octopamine. The selective labeline of efferent fibers during incubation with 3H-tyramine was used as anatomical tool to study me number ana distribution of efferent fibers within the ventral eye. Light microscopic (LM) reconstructions of the distribution of label in serial longitudinal sections through ventral optic nerves together with electron microscopic (EM) au-toradiographic analyses revealed between 70 and 200 efferent axons. The results of these studies and of reconstructions of efferent innervation to photoreceptor somata suggest that each ventral photoreceptor cell or each small cluster of cells is innervated by a separate efferent fiber. Both LM reconstructions and EM analyses showed that efferent fibers ramify extensively and specifically in and near the internal rhabdom of ventral photo-receptor cells. In EM autoradiographs of lateral eyes incubated with 3H-tyramine, the silver grains that were located over ommatidia were concentrated exclusively over efferent fibers. All of these efferent fibers, which lay near rhab-doms and in partitions between retinular cells, were labeled. The results of our present studies support our hypothesis that octopamine is a neurotransmitter in Limulus retinal efferent fibers. This amine may modulate the biochemistry and physiology of ventral photoreceptor cells and may mediate many of the known effects of circadian efferent innervation to the lateral eye.
Preschool children can learn to transfer: learning to learn and learning from example.

Abstract In a series of seven experiments we examined preschool children's ability to learn and transfer across problems that shared a common underlying structure but differed in surface manifestations. The problems involved novel uses of familiar tools or simple biological themes such as mimicry as a method of defense. In the first three studies, we examined children's ability to learn to transfer after being exposed to a variety of transfer situations. Three-year-olds benefit from conditions that encourage them to reflect upon relational similarity; four-year-olds show a learning to learn effect without prompts to look for similarity. Both ages rapidly form a mind set to look for analogous solutions across problems. In Studies 4 to 7, we looked at preschoolers' learning from examples. When required to explain why an example is an illustration of a general theme, transfer to other instances of that theme is rapid, often occurring on the basis of only one example. Explanations and elaborations provided by the children, either spontaneously or in response to prompts, are much more effective at promoting transfer than those provided by an experimenter. The data are discussed in terms of explanation or analysis-based models of both machine and human learning.
Does day-long absolute hypoinsulinemia characterize the patient with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus?☆

Abstract Plasma glucose and insulin responses to a standard oral glucose tolerance test (75 g of glucose) and to mixed meals were compared in 15 normal subjects and 15 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Fasting plasma glucose levels were above 140 mg/dL in all patients with NIDDM, and the two groups were weight matched. Plasma glucose levels were significantly higher in patients with NIDDM throughout the glucose tolerance test, and this was associated with a marked reduction in plasma insulin response. Plasma glucose levels were also higher in patients with NIDDM when measured hourly from 8 am to 5 pm (mixed meals were consumed at 8 am and 12 pm ), but the plasma insulin concentration of the two groups were similar. Thus, the day-long circulating insulin levels of patients with NIDDM are not reduced. Consequently, these patients cannot be considered to be absolutely insulin deficient.
A multi-position magnetic core driver using electron-beam switched P-N junctions

A matrix of back biased p-n junction diodes, irradiated, one at a time, by a 10-30 KV electron beam can be used as a high-speed, high-current, multiposition driver. The operating characteristics of this device can be made to be compatible with its use as a decoder and driver in an ultra-fast, magnetic-core, memory system. The diodes, switched by the electron beam, can be designed to have better elctrical charactristics than the conventional common-emitter transistor switch circuits. For a given current density, the transistor switching speed is limited by discharge of the base-collector capacity and charge neutralization of the excess minority carriers in the base. Because the electron beam creates hole-electron pairs in the diode, the excess minority carriers are automatically neutralized and it is this characteristic that allows the diode design to give either higher back voltage, or faster rise time characteristics. In this paper, simple design procedures, for diodes to operate in the 5-50 nsec range and with 1 amp output will be presented. Experimental results, obtained with diffused silicon junctions, will be discussed.
Effect of mating on response of female Photuris firefly.

Abstract Laboratory cultured virgin fireflies (Photuris versicolor) answered triple flashes of intervals 200 to 550 ms significantly more frequently than field-captured femmes fatales, while the latter answered double flashes of 600 to 1950 ms significantly more frequently. Laboratory cultured virgins mated to sterile males did not answer double or triple flashes of any interval class but maintained the courtship posture. It is suggested that mating terminates virgin answering behaviour but something transferred by the male is necessary to induce femme fatale behaviour.
Tight Certification Techniques for Digit-by-Rounding Algorithms with Application to a New 1/sqrt(x) Design

Digit-by-rounding algorithms enable efficient hardware implementations of algebraic functions such as the reciprocal, square root, or reciprocal square root, but certifying the correctness of such algorithms is a nontrivial endeavor. Traditionally, sufficient conditions for correctness are derived as closed-form formulae relating key design parameters. These sufficient conditions, however, often prove stricter than necessary, excluding correct and efficient designs. In this paper, we present a rigorous, computer-aided method for correctness certification that better approximates the necessary conditions, lowering the risk of rejecting correct designs. We also present two specific applications of this method. First, when applied to a conventional digit-by-rounding reciprocal square root design, our method enabled a fourfold reduction in lookup table size relative to the minimum dictated by a standard sufficient condition. Second, our method certified the correctness of a novel reciprocal square root design that we developed to parallelize two computational steps whose sequential execution lies on the critical path of conventional designs. The difficulty in deriving closed-form sufficient conditions to ascertain this design's correctness provided the original motivation for development of the new certification method.
Chunks of charge: effects at play in the assembly of macromolecules at fluid surfaces.

Large macromolecules with hydrophobic backbones are known to assemble at the interface between immiscible liquids. This assembly is often unpredictable because of the subtle interplay among hydrophobic interactions, hydrophilic solvation, structural constraints, and the thermodynamics of adsorption. In these studies, we employ vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy and interfacial tension measurements to study the assembly of a simple polyelectrolyte, poly(methacrylic acid), as it assembles at the interface between two immiscible liquids, specifically, carbon tetrachloride and water. By adjusting the polyelectrolyte charge through pH studies and the polymer size through molecular weight studies, we demonstrate that charge accumulation in segments of the polymer chains is a critical factor in macromolecular interfacial adsorption and desorption. The results have implications for related charged macromolecules whose ability to assemble between two immiscible fluid media is essential for many biological proc...
Pathobiology and genetics of Neural tube defects

Summary: Purpose: Neural tube defects (NTDs), including spina bifida and anencephaly, are common congenital malformations that occur when the neural tube fails to achieve proper closure during early embryogenesis. Based on epidemiological and clinical data obtained over the last few decades, it is apparent that these multifactorial defects have a significant genetic component to their etiology that interacts with specific environmental risk factors. The purpose of this review article is to synthesize the existing literature on the genetic factors contributing to NTD risk. Results: To date, there is evidence that closure of the mammalian neural tube initiates and fuses intermittently at four discrete locations. Disruption of this process at any of these four sites may lead to an NTD, possibly arising through closure site–specific genetic mechanisms. Candidate genes involved in neural tube closure include genes of the folate metabolic pathway, as well as those involved in folate transport. Conclusions: Although extensive efforts have focused on elucidating the genetic risk factors contributing to the etiology of NTDs, the population burden for these malformations remains unknown. One group at high risk for having children with NTDs is epileptic women receiving antiepileptic medications during pregnancy. Efforts to better understand the genetic factors that may contribute to their heightened risk, as well as the pathogenesis of neural tube closure defects, are reviewed herein.
Proton Beam Induced Modifications in Multi-Functional Polyethylene-Based Carbon Nanotubes Composites

The space applications of composites obtained by dispersing carbon nanotubes within high-density polyethylene are analyzed. Electron spin resonance investigations on proton-irradiated composites are reported. The effect of ionizing radiation of the parameters of electron spin resonance spectra is studied. A radiation-induced increase of the concentration of uncoupled electronic spins delocalized over the conducting domains of carbon nanotubes is reported. It is concluded that radiation-induced modifications in such composites are weak.
The a-factor pheromone of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is essential for mating.

Abstract The Saccharomyces cerevisiae pheromone a-factor is produced by a cells and interacts with alpha cells to cause cell cycle arrest and other physiological responses associated with mating. Two a-factor structural genes, MFA1 and MFA2, have been previously cloned with synthetic probes based on the a-factor amino acid sequence (A. Brake, C. Brenner, R. Najarian, P. Laybourn, and J. Merryweather, cited in M.-J. Gething [ed.], Protein transport and secretion, 1985). We have examined the function of these genes in a-factor production and mating by construction and analysis of chromosomal null mutations. mfa1 and mfa2 single mutants each exhibited approximately half the wild-type level of a-factor activity and were proficient in mating, whereas the mfa1 mfa2 double mutant produced no a-factor and was unable to mate. These results demonstrate that both genes are functional, that each gene makes an equivalent contribution to the a-factor activity and mating capacity of a cells, and that a-factor plays an essential role in mating. Strikingly, exogenous a-factor did not alleviate the mating defect of the double mutant, suggesting that an a cell must be producing a-factor to be an effective mating partner.
Varactor-tuned active notch filter with low passband noise and signal distortion

The frequency-tunable band-reject filter described in this paper is designed to suppress signal interference in receivers of frequency-agile systems, while offering maximum transparency at passband frequencies. The presented solution is based on a new channelized-active-filter architecture in which the portion of the circuit that determines passband behavior is free of semiconductor devices. This permits passband residual noise and intermodulation distortion to be reduced to that of a simple nonresonant passive network. The concept is demonstrated with a varactor-tuned hybrid-integrated filter whose 40-dB-deep rejection notch of constant 70-MHz width can be tuned over a 9.5-10.5-GHz frequency span. Included are measurements of pertinent small-signal transfer characteristics and noise properties, as well as detailed assessments of nonlinear effects, such as third-order intermodulation distortion and compression of notch depth as a function of drive level.
IPSec Offload Performance

This paper presents the results of a case study that tested the performance of IPSec Offload feature of Microsoft Windows 2000 Server using 3COM 10/100 Mbps PCI Server NIC 3XP Processors. Based on the results of the benchmark, it was concluded that, in a few cases, a fast CPU with ample RAM and CACHE could yield better performance than a 3DES NIC using the IPSec Offload feature of Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. In most cases, with the IPSec Offload turned on, there was improvement in overall performance of the system. This paper concludes that in order to yield and maintain peak performance, the selection of encryption protocols and devices ought to be dynamic and based on runtime environmental factors.
Method of image fusion and enhancement using mask pyramid

Image fusion is an important visualization technique of integrating coherent spatial and temporal information into a compact form. Laplacian fusion is a process that combines regions of images from different sources into a single fused image based on a salience selection rule for each region. In this paper, we proposed an algorithmic approach using a mask pyramid to better localize the selection process. A mask pyramid operates in different scales of the image to improve the fused image quality beyond a global selection rule. Several examples of this mask pyramid method are provided to demonstrate its performance in a variety of applications. A new embedded system architecture that builds upon the Acadia® II Vision Processor is proposed.
Biomass Power and Conventional Fossil Systems with and without CO 2 Sequestration - Comparing the Energy Balance, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Economics

Lifecycle analysis of coal-, natural gas- and biomass-based power generation systems with and without CO2 sequestration. Compares global warming potential and energy balance of these systems.
A computerized perinatal data system. The Arizona experience.

The development of a regional data system was one of the major objectives of the Arizona Perinatal Program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To achieve this objective, a decision was made to adopt and expand a perinatal data system under development at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. This shift from what was planned as a highly sophisticated single hospital system, which would include real-time data storage as well as paper acquired data, required certain sacrifices and resulted in certain problems as well as significant gains for the region. The data system is made up of two major components — (1) a paper record system in which the documents completed by physician or nurse serve both as the official medical record and a computer-input document and (2) a computer using the Meditech Interpretive Information System (MIIS) version of the MUMPS operating system and language. Programs to achieve the goals and objectives established for the system are described; Lessons learned from this experienc...
FUSION OF COLOR AND GEOMETRIC INFORMATION

We present two approaches for finding large man-made objects in outdoor scenes through the fusion of color and geometric information. We have tested our methods on images of concrete bridges. Both methods use a priori knowledge and models of bridges.