cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting cetacean distributions in data‐poor marine ecosystems

Aim Human activities are creating conservation challenges for cetaceans. Spatially explicit risk assessments can be used to address these challenges, but require species distribution data, which are limited for many cetacean species. This study explores methods to overcome this limitation. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are used as a case study because they are an example of a species that have well-defined habitat and are subject to anthropogenic threats. Location Eastern Pacific Ocean, including the California Current (CC) and eastern tropical Pacific (ETP), and northern Indian Ocean (NIO). Methods We used 12 years of survey data (377 blue whale sightings and c. 225,400 km of effort) collected in the CC and ETP to assess the transferability of blue whale habitat models. We used the models built with CC and ETP data to create predictions of blue whale distributions in the data-poor NIO because key aspects of blue whale ecology are expected to be similar in these ecosystems. Results We found that the ecosystem-specific blue whale models performed well in their respective ecosystems, but were not transferable. For example, models built with CC data could accurately predict distributions in the CC, but could not accurately predict distributions in the ETP. However, the accuracy of models built with combined CC and ETP data was similar to the accuracy of the ecosystem-specific models in both ecosystems. Our predictions of blue whale habitat in the NIO from the models built with combined CC and ETP data compare favourably to hypotheses about NIO blue whale distributions, provide new insights into blue whale habitat, and can be used to prioritize research and monitoring efforts. Main conclusions Predicting cetacean distributions in data-poor ecosystems using habitat models built with data from multiple ecosystems is potentially a powerful marine conservation tool and should be examined for other species and regions.
The Relative Effectiveness of Reading in Large Print and with Low Vision Devices for Students with Low Vision

This study explored the value of an objective procedure to evaluate the relative effectiveness of reading large print and reading regular print with low vision devices for six students with low vis...
Low incidence of opportunistic Infections in Lupus Patients treated with Cyclophosphamide and Steroids in a Tertiary care setting.

AbstractBackground:Infection is common cause of morbidity and mortality in SLE. Our objective was to determine incidence and types of infections, particularly opportunistic infections, in SLE patients receiving cyclophosphamide, and to identify contribution of variables like demographics, steroid, other immunosuppressives, white blood cell and absolute neutrophil count to infection risk.Patients and Methods: We did retrospective chart review of SLE patients in our institute over last 10 years, who received minimum six cyclophosphamide infusions. Types of infection, cumulative steroid dose, and maintenance medications were recorded. Statistical analyses were done using SAS software.Results: 87.1% of the 31 patients were female. Mean age was 37.9 years, 48.4% Hispanic, 25.8% African American, 6.4% Asian and 19.4% were Caucasian. No one was on PJP prophylaxis. There were 42 episodes of infection in 31 patients. Different infections were UTI, URI, line sepsis, bacterial pneumonia, PJP, mucocutaneous infections and viral gastroenteritis. Infection frequency was significantly higher among Asians compared to Caucasians (p =0.0152). Infection rate was significantly higher during cyclophosphosphamide induction phase (65.9%) compared to maintenance phase (34.1%) (p value=0.0041). Infection rate was higher with higher cumulative steroid dose and in patients on quarterly cyclophosphamide infusion compared to those on oral azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil. No association found between baseline WBC or ANC and infection rate.Conclusion: We found higher infection rates among Asians and in patients with higher cumulative steroid dose. Single incidence of PJP noted despite absence of prophylaxis. Quarterly cyclophosphamide was associated with higher infection rates. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm our results.
Breathing valve resistance alters physiological responses during a graded exercise test.

To determine the impact of breathing valve resistance on peak aerobic capacity ( $$\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{peak}}$$ ) and running economy (RE) in endurance-trained and recreationally active individuals. Ten endurance-trained males (ETM), 10 endurance-trained females (ETF), 10 recreationally active males (RAM), and 10 recreationally active females (RAF) participated in this study. On two separate occasions, subjects performed identical graded exercise treadmill protocols using either a Hans Rudolph 2700 (high resistance) or a Daniels’ (low resistance) two-way non-rebreathing valve. Parameters obtained from these protocols included energy expenditure (EE), ventilation ( $${\dot {V}_{\text{E}}}$$ ), heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, RE, $$\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{peak}}$$ , and time to exhaustion (TTE). When using the Daniels’ valve, all groups had lower submaximal EE (− 2.4, − 3.4, − 2.7, and − 2.0% for ETM, ETF, RAM, and RAF) and better RE (− 2.7, − 3.5, − 1.9, and − 1.8% for ETM, ETF, RAM and RAF) across all submaximal speeds. Only the ET groups had lower submaximal $${\dot {V}_{\text{E}}}$$ (4.6 and 3.8% for ETM and ETF) when using the Daniels’ valve. TTE increased when using the Daniels’ valve for all groups (6.0, 10.9, 6.2 and 9.8% for ETM, ETF, RAM and RAF), but $$\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{peak}}$$ was unaltered. Compared to the Daniels’ valve, the Hans Rudolph 2700 valve altered the assessment of RE, submaximal EE, and TTE regardless of fitness level or sex, but did not change $$\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{peak}}$$ . Therefore, airflow resistance of a breathing valve must be considered when assessing and comparing EE, RE and TTE in the applied and research settings.
Safety no barrier to test ban

This brief report was prepared in response to a letter of July 17, 1990, by the Honorable Dante B. Fascell, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, requesting an assessment of the safety of US nuclear warheads with particular attention to the extent to which additional nuclear explosive tests might be needed to further improve their safety. Chairman Fascell's letter contained five questions. Namely: (1) are our nuclear weapons safe; (2) are there ways to deal with the warhead safety question other than through nuclear testing; (3) should we add insensitive high explosives to all our nuclear weapons - and, if so, why; (4) do we need to increase the number of nuclear tests to ensure the safety of our nuclear arsenal; and (5) what advantages are there to reconfiguring our nuclear testing program so as to make the warhead and delivery vehicle more interchangeable. Mr. Kidder provides answers to these questions, noting that older, less-safe weapons are being retired or retrofitted; further, nearly all of the most important safety improvements can be made with no significant increase beyond the modest number of tests required currently.
Phenotypic and molecular heterogeneity in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute leukemia

Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph1) acute leukemia is a heterogeneous subset of acute leukemia with a poor prognosis. We studied five patients to determine the potential for phenotypic and molecular heterogeneity. Cellular characterization studies included light myeloperoxidase (L-MPO), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), ultrastructural MPO (U-MPO), and immunophenotyping by flow cytometry using T11, T3, T4, T8, Leu 1, B1, Leu 12, HLA-DR (la), CALLA (J5), OKM1, My4, My7, My8, My9, and My10. DNA was analyzed for rearrangements of the breakpoint cluster region (bcr), immunoglobulin heavy chain, joining region (JH), immunoglobulin kappa light chain constant region (C kappa), and T cell receptor (TcR beta). RNA dot blots were hybridized by using molecular probes for MPO and TdT. We found that four of five cases were acute mixed-lineage leukemia (AMLL). One patient had acute unclassifiable leukemia. Of the four patients classified as having AMLL, three showed myeloid and lymphoid features, with one patient showing myeloid, T cell, and B cell features. The last case showed T cell and B cell features only. In one patient MPO/RNA was positive in spite of insufficient L-MPO or U-MPO to diagnose acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), thereby suggesting significant MPO gene expression before the production of sufficient MPO protein to meet the French-American-British criteria for AML. Three of the five patients showed rearrangement of bcr (cases 1, 2, and 5). Studies of these five patients support the concepts of molecular and phenotypic heterogeneity in Ph1 acute leukemia, demonstrate a high incidence of AMLL in this subset of acute leukemia, and support the use of lineage-associated molecular probes to define lineage at an earlier stage than previously possible.
Befriending Anxiety to Reach Potential: Strategies to Empower Our Gifted Youth:

Gifted students can encounter anxiety-provoking stressors throughout their day. Developing effective anxiety management skills allows them to better navigate these challenges. Concepts from neurosc...
Incentive Allocation to Sequential Decision-Making Sensors in Mobile Crowdsensing

In this work in progress, we consider incentive allocation to a set of measurement sensors in the context of mobile crowdsensing. The novelty stems from considering a new model perspective for each sensor, that of a rational sequential decision-maker. At each time slot, each sensor observes the time-varying cost it undergoes for submitting measurements and the advertised reward for submitting measurements to the platform. Its decision policy at each time slot is whether to become active and submit measurements or stay inactive. The sensor decision problem is shown to be described as an optimal stopping one, and the sensor policy that maximizes its expected net benefit over a time horizon is shown to be of threshold nature at each time slot, where the threshold is non-increasing with the elapsed time. With the derived optimal policies for sensors, we next seek to determine the optimal price per time slot paid by the platform to each sensor so as to maximize the expected total quality of collected measurements, subject to a budget constraint. Finally, we introduce the problem of centralized sensor activation in a dynamically varying system so as to maximize the long-term average utility stemming from the quality of collected data. The characterization of distributed sensor equilibrium policies and the assessment of their impact on the global performance metric compared to the optimal centralized policy, are outlined as important directions that warrant further investigation.
Comprehensive evaluation of interventions: eight vital parameters.

BACKGROUND It is critically important to determine the effectiveness of an intervention before it can be translated into clinical practice. However, the future implementation and sustainability of the intervention may be diminished if other intervention parameters are not assessed. This requires obtaining feedback from intervention recipients so interventions will be perceived as appealing, relevant, meaningful and beneficial to them; otherwise recipients may be unlikely to perform them over time, resulting in unsuccessful health outcomes. AIM To propose the addition of two intervention parameters to the existing six-parameter model and provide examples from recent research of how each parameter can be tested. DISCUSSION Definitions of the eight parameters are provided and methods for analysing each of them explained. While some studies show necessity, fidelity and cost have unique distinguishing characteristics, other studies indicate feasibility, acceptability and safety have common features, and efficacy and effectiveness are closely associated. CONCLUSION Researchers frequently examine one or two parameters, but few simultaneously apply the six-parameter model. This model is also missing two vital parameters - efficacy and cost. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Comprehensive and systematic evaluation of all eight intervention parameters is recommended before researchers begin randomised controlled trials and translate them into practice.
Interlingual BRICO

BRICO is a broad-coverage ontology built by combining a variety of on-line resources. The initial English ontology has recently been extended to include Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Dutch, and additional extensions are planned. This paper discusses the creation and extension of the interlingual ontology, together with some prototype applications of the database.
Lipid composition and macromolecular crowding effects on CYP2J2-mediated drug metabolism in nanodiscs

Lipid composition and macromolecular crowding are key external effectors of protein activity and stability whose role varies between different proteins. Therefore, it is imperative to study their effects on individual protein function. CYP2J2 is a membrane-bound cytochrome P450 in the heart involved in the metabolism of fatty acids and xenobiotics. In order to facilitate this metabolism, cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR), transfers electrons to CYP2J2 from NADPH. Herein, we use nanodiscs to show that lipid composition of the membrane bilayer affects substrate metabolism of the CYP2J2-CPR nanodisc (ND) system. Differential effects on both NADPH oxidation and substrate metabolism by CYP2J2-CPR are dependent on the lipid composition. For instance, sphingomyelin containing nanodiscs produced more secondary substrate metabolites than discs of other lipid compositions, implying a possible conformational change leading to processive metabolism. Furthermore, we demonstrate that macromolecular crowding plays a role in the lipid-solubilized CYP2J2-CPR system by increasing the Km and decreasing the Vmax , and effect that is size-dependent. Crowding also affects the CYP2J2-CPR-ND system by decreasing both the Km and Vmax for Dextran-based macromolecular crowding agents, implying an increase in substrate affinity but a lack of metabolism. Finally, protein denaturation studies show that crowding agents destabilize CYP2J2, while the multidomain protein CPR is stabilized. Overall, these studies are the first report on the role of the surrounding lipid environment and macromolecular crowding in modulating enzymatic function of CYP2J2-CPR membrane protein system.
Effect of Population Size on Marital Migration Distance

The author studies the relationship between population size and marital migration distance. He hypothesizes that "small populations draw mates from a relatively local gene pool and that larger populations draw mates from a relatively larger gene pool....The purpose of this article is to test the hypothesis that migration distance increases with population size in populations ranging in size from 500 to 3000. The data used in this study consist of marriage records from four towns in Massachusetts during the period 1740-1849...." (EXCERPT)
How Do Import Refusals for Pathogen Violations Respond to a Recession

Using publicly available import refusal data, this paper examines the extent to which an economic recession affects import refusals for pathogen violations—shipments that appear to violate the laws enforced by the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on adulterated products. Statistically significant differences in the average share of pathogen violations suggest that changes in import refusals by pathogen type were associated with the 2007 to 2009 U.S. recession. Compared to averages before 2007, the average share of pathogen violations increased by 13.4 percentage points for Salmonella, decreased by 8.4 percentage points for Listeria and decreased by 2.7 percentage points for Histamine. While this could have been caused by changes in inspection or by changes in the quality of the food imported the results nonetheless suggest that aligning additional inspection resources immediately following macroeconomic slowdowns towards shipments more susceptible to Salmonella may help minimize the risk of foodborne illness from imported products.
High-Resolution Infrared Imaging of FSC 10214+4724: Evidence for Gravitational Lensing

We present near-infrared observations of the ultraluminous high-redshift (z = 2.286) IRAS source FSC 10214+4724 obtained in 04 seeing at the W. M. Keck telescope. These observations show that FSC 10214+4724 consists of a highly symmetric circular arc centered on a second weaker source. The arc has an angular extent of about 140° and is probably unresolved in the transverse direction. This morphology constitutes compelling prima facie evidence for a gravitationally lensed system. Our images also contain evidence for the faint counterimage predicted by the lens hypothesis. The morphology of FSC 10214+4724 can be explained in terms of a gravitationally lensed background source if the object at the center of curvature of the arc is an L* galaxy at z ≈ 0.7. If FSC 10214+4724 is lensed, then there is significant magnification and its luminosity has been overestimated by a large factor. Our results suggest that FSC 10214+4724 is not a uniquely luminous object but ranks among the most powerful quasars and ultraluminous IRAS galaxies.
The Missing Rung: Challenging Regulatory Barriers to Property Acquisition

This Essay was prepared for the Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Conference honoring Hernando de Soto. It examines his work on the regulatory barriers in developing countries that can prevent large segments of the population from accessing formal property rights. Traditionally, a property right is thought to be necessary to bring a claim challenging some regulatory burden on property. This Essay explores the possibility of “impediment claims,” where the legal challenge is to a regulatory barrier preventing the acquisition of property in the first place. Building on prior work proposing takings liability for government inaction — labeled Passive Takings — the Essay argues that a property regime may create obligations on the government to provide meaningful access to formal property rights.
Survival of Plasmodium falciparum in human blood during refrigeration.

BACKGROUND: Transfusion-transmitted malaria remains a serious concern for blood safety. Viable Plasmodium parasites must be present in human blood to transmit malaria, but their survival in blood over time stored under refrigeration has never been carefully investigated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We spiked leukoreduced normal human blood with Plasmodium falciparum (3D7 strain) asexual ring-stage parasites and stored it at 4°C for 28 days, taking samples at different days intervals. We evaluated the samples for parasitemia by blood film microscopy and by culturing red blood cells (RBCs) to allow further development of parasites. RESULTS: We observed a significant reduction in parasitemia (0.5% vs. 0.12%) after only 1 day in storage at 4°C. Thereafter, reduction in parasitemia was relatively gradual. Microscopically detectable parasites were present even after 28 days of storage. However, after storing for more than 14 days at 4°C, parasites no longer replicated when cultured in vitro. CONCLUSION: Although the storage of asexual blood-stage P. falciparum parasites at 4°C is detrimental to their survival (a 7.1-fold reduction in parasitemia after 14 days in storage), parasites remained microscopically detectable for 28 days, the end time point of our study. Further in vitro and in vivo studies will be needed to confirm loss of viability of P. falciparum after 14 days in storage, but our initial efforts repeatedly failed to show maturation and development of the parasites in cultured RBCs after that time.
7 – From Metapopulation Dynamics to Community Structure: Some Consequences of Spatial Heterogeneity

Publisher Summary This chapter uses variants of the standard metapopulation model to examine several interlinked questions in community ecology. Classical metapopulation theory assumes that landscapes are comprised of a large number of patches available for colonization. This chapter examines how landscape heterogeneity influences the composition of local communities. Straightforward extensions of standard metapopulation models have been used in this chapter to examine the raised questions. The focus remains on theory development and the articulation of hypotheses which warrant empirical scrutiny. The chapter uses variants of the Levins metapopulation model to examine some potential consequences for community structure of habitat heterogeneity. The theoretical results suggest that sparse habitats in a heterogeneous landscape are likely to sustain a biased array of species, including habitat specialists with unusually high colonization or low extinction rates, and habitat generalists sustained via spillover from more abundant habitats.
Ultrasonic Wave Propagation through Nozzles and Pipes with Claddings around their Inner Walls

The inner walls of pipes and nozzles used in nuclear power plants are susceptible to degradation by mechanism such as stress corrosion cracking. To protect these inner walls against excessive corrosion and the formation of cracks, a cladding layer is used. The clad layer generally has anisotropic elastic properties and complex surface topology.
Native Orientalists in Pakistan

The Orientalist enterprise of Western writers has received a great deal of critical attention since the publication of Edward Said’s Orientalism in 1978. As Western academics have learned to bring more objectivity and empathy to their study of the Islamicate, a growing number of Muslim academics, novelists and journalists – in their home countries and the diaspora – have started looking at themselves through new Orientalist constructs that serve the interests of Western powers. This native Orientalism was a minor affair during the Cold War but it has grown dramatically since the launching of the West’s so-called global war against terror. This essay examines the manner in which native Orientalists in Pakistan – writing mostly in the English language – have been supporting America’s so-called global war against terror.
Computer Aided Multivariable Control System Design Package

A computer aided multivariable control system, design (CAMCSD) package has been developed to design controllers for multi-input, multi-output, linear, and time-invariant systems of up to 30th order. The package utilizes an interactive and asynchronously controlled computer graphics system which provides a friendly user environment and allows solution and analysis of control problems interactively through many design techniques.
Optimal tilings and best basis search in large dictionaries

We develop a new framework of multitree dictionaries which include many previously proposed dictionaries as special cases. We show how to efficiently find the best object in a multitree dictionary using a recursive dynamic programming algorithm. We apply our framework to find the best rectangular tiling of an image domain.
Strategic Implications of Intermediaries Upon Leasing and Selling of Durable Goods

In spite of the fact that many durable products are sold through dealers, the literature has largely ignored the issue of how product durability affects the interactions between a manufacturer and her dealer(s). We seek to fill this gap by considering a durable goods manufacturer that uses an independent dealer(s) to get her product to consumers. If the manufacturer sells her product to the dealer, then the dealer can either sell or lease it to the final consumer. On the other hand, if the manufacturer leases her product to the dealer, then the dealer is forced to lease it to the consumer. We first characterize the equilibrium for a manufacturer who distributes through a single dealer as a function of the costs of production and distribution. Among other things, we show that the selling and leasing decisions of the two channel partners should balance operational efficiency against the mitigation of time inconsistency. Subsequently, we characterize the equilibrium for a manufacturer who distributes through multiple dealers as a function of the intensity of inter-dealer competition. One of our more interesting findings is that, when the level of competition among dealers is high, the manufacturer prefers to lease the product to her dealers, which forces them to lease to consumers. This complements existing results that show that when suppliers of durable goods interact directly with consumers, then selling becomes the dominant strategy when competitive intensity is high.
Single-incision technique for placement of tunneled internal jugular vein vascular access in children.

Background Central venous access is indispensable in caring for children with infections, malignancies and chronic illnesses, and image-guided placement of central venous access devices (CVAD) is increasingly used. A single-incision technique for placement of tunneled central venous access devices at the internal jugular vein has been described; however the technique has not been described exclusively in children.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Depth Distribution of Spin-Labeled Phospholipids within Lipid Bilayer

Spin-labeled lipids are commonly used as fluorescence quenchers in studies of membrane penetration of dye-labeled proteins and peptides using depth-dependent quenching. Accurate calculations of depth of the fluorophore rely on the use of several spin labels placed in the membrane at various positions. The depth of the quenchers (spin probes) has to be determined independently; however, experimental determination of transverse distributions of spin probe depths is difficult. In this Article, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the membrane behavior and depth distributions of spin-labeled phospholipids in a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayer. To probe different depths within the bilayer, a series containing five Doxyl-labeled lipids (n-Doxyl PC) has been studied, in which a spin moiety was covalently attached to nth carbon atoms (where n = 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14) of the sn-2 stearoyl chain of the host phospholipid. Our results demonstrate that the chain-attached sp...
Inequivalence of five-dimensional relativity and Brans-Dicke theory

We present a static spherically symmetric solution to the field equations R/sub A/B = 0 in five-dimensional relativity and use it to demonstrate a significant inequivalence between five-dimensional relativity and the Brans-Dicke scalar-tensor theory.
Micro-Supercapacitors Based on Interdigital Electrodes of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Carbon Nanotube Composites with Ultrahigh Power Handling Performance

A novel method for fabricating micro-patterned interdigitated electrodes based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and carbon nanotube (CNT) composites for ultra-high power handling micro-supercapacitor application is reported. The binder-free microelectrodes were developed by combining electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) and photolithography lift-off methods. Without typically used thermal or chemical reduction, GO sheets are readily reduced to rGO during the ESD deposition. Electrochemical measurements show that the in-plane interdigital design of the microelectrodes is effective in increasing accessibility of electrolyte ions in-between stacked rGO sheets through an electro-activation process. Addition of CNTs results in reduced restacking of rGO sheets and improved energy and power density. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements show that the specific capacitance of the micro-supercapacitor based on rGO–CNT composites is 6.1 mF cm−2 at 0.01 V s−1. At a very high scan rate of 50 V s−1, a specific capacitance of 2.8 mF cm−2 (stack capacitance of 3.1 F cm−3) is recorded, which is an unprecedented performance for supercapacitors. The addition of CNT, electrolyte-accessible and binder-free microelectrodes, as well as an interdigitated in-plane design result in a high-frequency response of the micro-supercapacitors with resistive-capacitive time constants as low as 4.8 ms. These characteristics suggest that interdigitated rGO–CNT composite electrodes are promising for on-chip energy storage application with high power demands.
A Mild Hybrid Engine-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Vehicle Configuration Using a Continuously Variable Power-Split Transmission

This paper focuses on a mild hybrid vehicle configuration design using a continuously variable power-split transmission (CVPST) with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) as an auxiliary power unit (APU), which can provide electrical energy to an electric motor, recharge batteries and when necessary, supply energy to the vehicle’s electrical features. The advantage of this configuration design is that the IC (internal combustion) engine will use all its power capacity to only propel the vehicle and will not need to divert power for extra devices. When more power is needed, as in hills, extra load or highway acceleration pass, the electric motor can assist with an amount of power. Another advantage and interesting feature from the SOFC is that it is compatible with conventional petroleum fuels with a simple partial oxidation reforming process. It has less stringent requirements for reformate by using carbon monoxide (CO) directly as a fuel and has less sensitivity to contaminants. Mild hybrid vehicles are the probable primary candidates for near term mass market due to the low incremental costs, which is accomplished by minimizing the electrical machines and battery size. Yet, it is also considered that it improves fuel consumption and efficiency as a result of using a smaller IC engine. The mild hybrid may have the potential to provide the right cost and benefit balance in the short term, until the development of full hybrids and fuel cell vehicles can compete with standard IC engine vehicles in the market. Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) have an infinitely variable input-output speed relationship, which allows the IC engine to operate more time in the optimum range. Continuously variable power-split transmissions were developed in order to reduce the fraction of power passing through the variator and consequently, expand its power capacity. In this paper a CVPST is used in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) application. This type of transmission has a planetary gear train (PGT), which can provide a branch for an electric motor that can be used in the mild hybrid electric fuel cell vehicle configuration proposed in this paper. This electric motor can either be powered by a SOFC and/or a battery.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
The rational geoscientist

That intuition can lead us astray is obvious and well-known, but watch for examples of people relying on intuition to solve a problem and you will see it everywhere. When people talk of a hunch or gut feeling, they're talking about using their intuition.
The Histochemical Response of the Human Epidermis to Controlled Injury; Glycogen

INTRODUCTION Both the clinical dermatologist and the basic science investigator are constantly attempting to correlate structure and function; more and more one thinks of morphology in terms of physiology and chemistry. This study was undertaken in an attempt to arrive at a better understanding of the dynamic processes of growth that occur in the human skin and its appendages. In such a study the responses of the normal human epidermis play an important role.
New techniques for evaluating innovative interfaces with eye tracking

Computer interfaces are changing rapidly, as are the cognitive demands on the operators using them. Innovative applications of new technologies such as multimodal and multimedia displays, haptic and pen-based interfaces, and natural language exchanges bring exciting changes to conventional interface usage. At the same time, their complexity may place overwhelming cognitive demands on the user. As novel interfaces and software applications are introduced into operational settings, it is imperative to evaluate them from a number of different perspectives. One important perspective examines the extent to which a new interface changes the cognitive requirements for the operator.This presentation describes a new approach to measuring cognitive effort using metrics based on eye movements and pupil dilation. It is well known that effortful cognitive processing is accompanied by increases in pupil dilation, but measurement techniques were not previously available that could supply results in real time or deal with data collected in long-lasting interactions. We now have a metric-the Index of Cognitive Activity-that is computed in real time as the operator interacts with the interface. The Index can be used to examine extended periods of usage or to assess critical events on an individual-by-individual basis.While dilation reveals when cognitive effort is highest, eye movements provide evidence of why. Especially during critical events, one wants to know whether the operator is confused by the presentation or location of specific information, whether he is attending to key information when necessary, or whether he is distracted by irrelevant features of the display. Important details of confusion, attention, and distraction are revealed by traces of his eye movements and statistical analyses of time spent looking at various features during critical event.Together, the Index of Cognitive Activity and the various analyses of eye movements provide essential information about how users interact with new interface technologies. Their use can aid designers of innovative hardware and software products by highlighting those features that increase rather than decrease users' cognitive effort.In the presentation, the underlying mathematical basis of the Index of Cognitive Activity will be described together with validating research results from a number of experiments. Eye movement analyses from the same studies give clues to the sources of increase in cognitive workload. To illustrate interface evaluation with the ICA and eye movement analysis, several extended examples will be presented using commercial and military displays. [NOTE: Dr. Marshall's eye tracking system will be available to view at Tuesday evening's joint UIST-ICMI demo reception.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase as an alternative to enumeration of total and viable CD34+ cells in autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation

We validated the correlation of aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDHbr cells with total and viable CD34+ cells in fresh and thawed hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) products, and looked for a correlation with time to white blood cell (WBC) and platelet engraftment after autologous transplantation, using simple linear regression analyzes. We found a significant correlation between pre-freeze ALDHbr cell numbers and pre-freeze total CD34+ (P < 0.001), viable CD34+ (P < 0.001) and post-thaw viable CD34+ (P < 0.001) cell numbers. We suggest that ALDHbr may be substituted for CD34+ cell numbers when evaluating HPC. As post-thaw viability testing apparently adds no significant information, we suggest that it may not be necessary. Finally, neither marker correlated with time to engraftment in our patients, supporting previous data suggesting the existence of a threshold dose for timely engraftment around 2.5 × 106 cells/kg.
Modeling of Epitaxial Silicon Thin‐Film Growth on a Rotating Substrate in a Horizontal Single‐Wafer Reactor

The effect of substrate rotation on transport of reactive gases and epitaxial growth rate is investigated for a horizontal single-wafer reactor using a model and experiments. The governing equations for gas velocity, temperature, and chemical species transport are solved for the SiHCl 2 -H 2 system for Si thin-film preparation. The rotating substrate causes a circulating gas flow region above itself in which an asymmetric and nonuniform SiHCl 3 distribution is formed by thermal diffusion and species consumption due to the surface chemical reaction, even when the growth rate profile on the substrate surface is nearly uniform. The thickness of a thin-film grown at any position is obtained by an integral of the local growth rate along a concentric circle on the substrate surface. The good uniformity in the film thickness observed in calculation and measurement is mainly attributed to the averaging effect by integrating the local growth rate, and partially by the species concentration distribution change, both of which are caused by the rotating motion of the substrate.
Payoff asymmetries in contests among male brown-headed cowbirds

Morphometric analyses and behavioral observations of a marked population of brood parasitic brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) revealed several male attributes correlated with dominance. Males that won larger percentages of the contests in which they were involved tended to be older and larger than other males. Dominant males arrived earlier on the breeding grounds and became engaged in more contests than subordinate males. If a female was present during a contest among males, the male which she was accompanying (her “consort”, and mate in most cases) was more likely to win the contest than were any of his opponents. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine any significant partial effects of these attributes on male dominance. Age and involvement in more contests exerted significant partial effects in some analyses, but only the presence of a female consort did so consistently. I suggest that the female is a resource of greater value to the male with whom she is consorting than to other males. Her value is greater in terms of present and future benefits because he has already expended some or all of the effort necessary to establish a pair bond. He will have to expend less future effort to remain her mate than would another male to become her mate. Her presence during contests induces him to persist (or escalate) and to dominate his male opponents.
Measured Soil Response to EPB Shield Tunneling

The first earth pressure balance (EPB) shield project in the United States, a 3,000 ft (915 m) long, 12.1 ft (3.7 m) diameter, tunnel is described. It is located in San Francisco and passes beneath a heavily trafficked commercial area known as Fisherman's Wharf. The soil profile consists of 20 ft (6.1 m) of rubble fill which overlies a 30 ft (9.1 m) layer of Bay Mud. A colluvium layer underlies the Bay Mud. The tunnel section is located within the Bay Mud, and has a cover of approximately 30 ft (9.1 m); water heads above the crown are typically 15 ft (4.5 m). The EPB shield was designed to deal with these difficult ground conditions without the use of compressed air or dewatering, and to cut through numerous abandoned wooden piles along the route. Surface and sub‐surface ground movements were monitored along the alignment during and after shield passage. The shield was found to initially heave the soil aside slightly as the face passed, but movements thereafter were towards the tunnel. Settlements were ty...
Thermodynamics of binary and ternary solutions containing one interstitial solute

The activity of a very dilute interstitial component is proportional to the ratio of filled to unfilled interstitial sites. In a liquid solution in which solvent and solute atoms are strongly bonded to form in effect molecules of a soluteABb, each solvent atom is regarded as providingb sites forB atoms. The activity of the solute and other properties of the solution are treated by the same equations as those describing the interstitial solution. Concentrations are stated in terms of the ratiosyi = ni/(n1 +n2) where components 1 and 2 are lattice atoms andi represents any component. The activity coefficient of the interstitial component is defined as Ϋ3 =a3/z3 where z3 = Y3J(1 —y3/b). Henry’s law for the solute at great dilution is Ϋ3 = constant. Examples are cited in which log Ϋ3 is a linear function ofy3 or in other cases ofz3. A simple form of the Gibbs-Duhem relation for ternary solutions is used to deduce the effects of an interstitial solute on the activities of the individual lattice components.
Measuring information in possibilistic logic

We provide an overview of the theory of approximate reasoning and discuss the measurement of information in this reasoning system using specificity. It is then shown how to represent the binary propositional logic in the framework of approximate reasoning. Using the measure of specificity we show how to measure the information contained in the propositions of binary logic. Our measure essentially measures the proportion of possibilities eliminated by the proposition. Next we turn to the possibilistic logic and show how to represent this within the framework of approximate reasoning. We again, using specificity, provide for a measure of information of propositions in this logic. Finally we turn to the issue of quantified statements and show how to represent general quantified statements involving predicates within these two logics. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Structure and stoichiometry of "0001… 4H-SiC/oxide interface

The 4H–SiC/SiO2 interface is a major obstacle that hampers SiC device applications. The nature of the transition region stoichiometry and structure need to be elucidated to both understand and improve such devices. In this paper, we use medium energy ion scattering on device grade structures to examine critical aspects of this dielectric/semiconductor structure. Our findings indicate no excess C greater than 1.8×1014 cm−2 from the oxide surface down to a few monolayers beneath the SiC/SiO2 interface, setting limits on the previously predicted nonstoichiometric transition region on the dielectric side.
Dynamics of Bitumen Fractions by Thin-Layer Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detection

Thin-layer chromatography/flame ionization detection (TLC/FID) allows for the fractionation of bitumen into four fractions, namely, the saturates, the aromatics, the resins A and the resins B (SARAB). The technique is rapid and economical, but it lacks reproducibility. The effect of chromarod aging on reproducibility was investigated along with that of the time between bitumen dissolution and its analysis (time lapse effects). It is found that chromarod aging causes a 2−5% variation in SARAB content, and that time lapse causes a 50−75% variation in the aromatics and resins A content. The effect of time lapse stems from the aging of bitumen in solution. A mechanism for this aging is provided. It is demonstrated to be a physical rather than a chemical transformation of bitumen that reveals itself as a conversion of aromatics into resins. The physical nature of aging is shown by the absence of oxidation and aromatization in solution and by the successful modeling of aging after a reversible process. The conv...
Breakfast consumption affects adequacy of total daily intake in children

Abstract Breakfast consumption patterns were assessed for 467 10-year-old children (59% white, 50% girls), who were interviewed in 1984–1985 or in 1987–1988. Consumption patterns were then related to mean daily nutrient intake patterns. More whites (56%) and more girls (46%) ate breakfast at home, whereas more blacks (58%) and more boys (49%) ate breakfast at school. Results indicated that 16% of all children skipped breakfast; the highest percentage was in black girls (24%). Breakfast consumption made a significant contribution to the child's mean daily nutrient intake. The average total energy intake was significantly lower for children who did not consume breakfast (mean = 1,821 kcal) and for children who consumed breakfast at home (mean = 2,098 kcal) compared with children who consumed breakfast at school (mean = 2,326 kcal). A similar pattern was noted for macronutrient contribution. Percentage of total energy from fat was lower in children who did not eat breakfast (34%) compared with those who did (37% to 39%), yet percentage of energy from carbohydrate was higher (53%) in children who did not eat breakfast. Children who skipped breakfast did not make up the differences in dietary intakes at other meals. A higher percentage of children who did not consume breakfast compared with those who ate breakfast did not meet two thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamins and minerals. These data confirm the importance of breakfast to overall dietary quality and adequacy in school-age children.
Expression Cloning and Characterization of PREB (Prolactin Regulatory Element Binding), a Novel WD Motif DNA-Binding Protein with a Capacity to Regulate Prolactin Promoter Activity

Previous studies have implied that a transcription factor(s) other than Pit-1 is involved in homeostatic regulation of PRL promoter activity via Pit-1-binding elements. One such element, 1P, was employed to clone from a rat pituitary cDNA expression library a novel 417-amino acid WD protein, designated PREB (PRL regulatory element binding) protein. PREB contains two PQ-rich potential transactivation domains, but no apparent DNA-binding motif, and exhibits sequence-specific binding to site 1P, to a site nonidentical to that for Pit-1. The PREB gene (or a related gene) is conserved, as an apparently single copy, in rat, human, fly, and yeast. A single approximately 1.9-kb PREB transcript accumulates in GH3 rat pituitary cells, to levels similar to Pit-1 mRNA. PREB transcripts were detected in all human tissues examined, but the observation of tissue-specific multiple transcript patterns suggests the possibility of tissue-specific alternative splicing. RT-PCR analysis of human brain tumor RNA samples suggested region-specific expression of PREB transcripts in brain. Western and immunocytochemical analysis implied that PREB accumulates specifically in GH3 cell nuclei. Transient transfection employing PREB-negative C6 rat glial cells showed that PREB is as active as, and additive with, Pit-1 in transactivation of a PRL promoter construct, and that PREB, but not Pit-1, can mediate transcriptional activation by protein kinase A (PKA). Expression in GH3 cells of a GAL4-PREB fusion protein both strongly transactivated a 5XGAL indicator construct and yielded a further stimulation of expression of this construct by coexpressed PKA, implying that PREB can mediate both basal and PKA-stimulated transcriptional responses in pituitary cells. These observations imply that PREB will prove to play a significant transcriptional regulatory role, both in the pituitary and in other organs in which transcripts of its gene are expressed.
The cyclic AMP cascade is altered in the fragile X nervous system.

Fragile X syndrome (FX), the most common heritable cause of mental retardation and autism, is a developmental disorder characterized by physical, cognitive, and behavioral deficits. FX results from a trinucleotide expansion mutation in the fmr1 gene that reduces levels of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Although research efforts have focused on FMRP's impact on mGluR signaling, how the loss of FMRP leads to the individual symptoms of FX is not known. Previous studies on human FX blood cells revealed alterations in the cyclic adenosine 3′, 5′-monophosphate (cAMP) cascade. We tested the hypothesis that cAMP signaling is altered in the FX nervous system using three different model systems. Induced levels of cAMP in platelets and in brains of fmr1 knockout mice are substantially reduced. Cyclic AMP induction is also significantly reduced in human FX neural cells. Furthermore, cAMP production is decreased in the heads of FX Drosophila and this defect can be rescued by reintroduction of the dfmr gene. Our results indicate that a robust defect in cAMP production in FX is conserved across species and suggest that cAMP metabolism may serve as a useful biomarker in the human disease population. Reduced cAMP induction has implications for the underlying causes of FX and autism spectrum disorders. Pharmacological agents known to modulate the cAMP cascade may be therapeutic in FX patients and can be tested in these models, thus supplementing current efforts centered on mGluR signaling.