cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Approximation Algorithms for System Identification, Estimation, and Decomposition of Mixtures

A stochastic approximation procedure that minimizes a mean-square-error criterion is proposed in this paper. It is applied first to derive an algorithm for recursive estimation of the mean-square-error approximation of the function which relates the input signals and the responses of a memoryless system. The input signals are assumed to be generated at random with an unknown probability density function, and the response is measured with an error which has zero mean and finite variance. A performance index for evaluating the rate of convergence of the algorithm is defined and then the optimal form of the algorithm is derived. It is shown that the least-square-error fit of the measured output signals of the systems offers a recursive formula which is a special case of the proposed algorithm. A recursive formula for estimation of a priori probabilities of the pattern classes using unclassified samples is then presented. The rate of convergence is computed. A minimum square-error estimate of a continuous probability density function is also obtained by the same algorithm.
An evaluation of metallic coatings for erosive wear resistance in die casting applications

An accelerated testing procedure with a multi-pin die has been established for the study of the erosive wear of die materials and surface treatments in die casting applications, under production conditions. This test procedure utilizes the wear of core pins as a surrogate measure of die erosive wear, and is used to evaluate the efficacy of coatings and die surface treatments in reducing erosive wear in dies under actual production conditions. Metallic coatings of W, Mo, and Pt deposited on the test pins using the plasma source ion implantation technique (PSII) technology in the ion assisted deposition mode, were then evaluated for erosion resistance using this developed test procedure. The results of this evaluation on the effectiveness of these metallic coatings are presented here along with possible reasons for such coating behavior.
First Report of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora Causing Bacterial Root Rot of Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) in Louisiana.

Bacterial root and stem rot of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) was first fully characterized in the U.S. in 1977 (2). It was thought to be caused exclusively by Erwinia chrysanthemi. Although a previous report described sweetpotato as a host for E. carotovora subsp. carotovora, based on artificial inoculations, others have reported that neither E. carotovora subsp. carotovora nor E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica decay sweetpotato storage roots (1). In October 1995, storage roots of sweetpotato cv. Beauregard were received from St. Landry Parish, LA, that displayed typical bacterial root rot. Isolations from these roots yielded bacteria that showed a similarity of 0.945 to E. carotovora subsp. carotovora with the Biolog GN Bacterial Identification System (version 3.50). This isolate (Ecc-LH) also differed from isolates of E. chrysanthemi (Ech) from sweetpotato and other hosts in that it was insensitive to erythromycin, did not produce phosphatase or lecithinase, and did not produce gas from glucose. Ecc-LH differed from known strains of E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica in that it did not produce reducing substances from sucrose or acid from palatinose. When Beauregard storage roots were inoculated by inserting micropipette tips containing 50 μl of 1.0 × 108 CFU/ml, both Ecc-LH and Ech-48 produced typical bacterial root rot symptoms. However, when they were compared by infectivity titrations at 28 to 32°C, Ecc-LH was less virulent than Ech-48. Ecc-LH had an ED50 of approximately 1.0 × 106 CFU/ml and did not cause appreciable disease below inoculum concentrations of 1.0 × 105, whereas Ech-48 had an ED50 of approximately 1.0 × 108 and caused soft rot at the lowest concentration tested, 1.0 × 103. Similar disease incidence was observed in infectivity titrations at 22 to 24°C, but Ech-48 caused less severe soft rot. E. carotovora subsp. carotovora was reisolated from inoculated storage roots and its identity was reconfirmed by Biolog. When terminal vine cuttings of Beauregard were dipped in 1.0 × 108 CFU/ml and planted in a greenhouse, bacterial stem rot symptoms developed on plants inoculated with Ech-48 at about 4 weeks postinoculation, or when new growth began. However, no symptoms developed on plants inoculated with Ecc-LH. This is the first report of natural occurrence of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora causing bacterial root rot of sweetpotato in Louisiana. E. chrysanthemi remains the most important pathogen causing bacterial soft rot in sweetpotato since it is widely associated with sweetpotato, is more virulent on storage roots and also causes a stem rot. E. carotovora subsp. carotovora can cause root rot, but has been isolated in only one location to date, is less virulent on storage roots, and apparently does not cause stem rot on the predominant cultivar in U.S. sweetpotato production, Beauregard. References: (1) C. A. Clark and J. W. Moyer. 1988. Compendium of Sweet Potato Diseases. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. (2) N. W. Schaad and D. Brenner. Phytopathology 67:302, 1977.
Application of Fixed Point Theory to Uncertain Nonlinear and MIMO Feedback Problems

The essence of fixed point theory in feedback design is to replace the difficult parts of the design problem by others involving either uncertain linear time invariant (LTI) elements and/or disturbance sets. Since plant parameter and/or disturbance uncertainty is anyhow the basic problem in feedback design, this eliminates to a large extent the differences between linear and nonlinear systems. If compensators can be found to solve the new equivalent LTI problem, then these same compensators are guaranteed to solve the original much more difficult problem. Three such applications of fixed point theory are presented for generating simple LTI equivalent problems which replace the original nonlinear and MIMO design problems.
Pursuit of Justices: Presidential Politics and the Selection of Supreme Court Nominees

Although the Senate confirmation of Supreme Court nominees is the most public part of the nomination process, the most critical phase - the initial selection of nominees - is usually hidden from view. This book takes the reader behind the scenes of what happens before the Senate hearings to show how presidents go about deciding who will sit on the highest court in the land. David Yalof shows, an intricate web of forces - competing factions within the executive branch, organized interests and the president's close associates - all vie for influence during this phase of presidential decisionmaking. Yalof draws on the papers of seven presidents, from Truman to Reagan, and interviews with key figures, such as Ramsey Clark, Edwin Meese and President Gerald Ford. He documents and analyzes the selection criteria these presidents used, the pool of candidates from which they chose, their strategies and the political pressures affecting their decisions, both successes and failures. Yalof also disputes much conventional wisdom about the selection process, including the widely held view that presidents choose nominees primarily to influence future decisions of the high court. Yalof offers observations about the selections of Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton in his epilogue. By focusing on a neglected area of presidential politics, Yalof offers a glimpse into the intricate world of executive branch decisionmaking and the Supreme Court appointment process as a whole.
Covariate measurement errors and parameter estimation in a failure time regression model

SUMMARY Estimation in Cox's failure time regression model is considered when the regression vector is subject to measurement error. A hazard function model is induced for the failure rate given the measured covariate and a partial likelihood function is derived for the relative risk parameters. This partial likelihood function may involve the baseline hazard function as well as the regression parameter, but useful inference techniques arise for testing whether the regression parameter equals zero and for more general inferences in important special cases. Explicit consideration is given to testing equality of survival curves when group membership is subject to misclassification and to relative risk estimation with normally distributed covariates. Approaches to regression estimation using the overall likelihood function, and a marginal likelihood function based on failure time ranks, are also indicated. Illustration of the possible effect of covariate errors on relative risk estimation is provided.
The Language of Marketplace Rituals: Implications for Customer Experience Management

Abstract The domain of customer experience management (hereafter, CEM) includes every point of customer contact with products, services or businesses ( Grewal, Levy, and Kumar 2009 ). In a recent special issue of the Journal of Retailing, Puccinelli et al. (2009) assert that a key atmospheric element of CEM that can shape customer satisfaction within the retail setting is the “interaction between the customer and employee” (p. 24). In this paper, we delve further into the social-interaction aspects of retail atmospherics, by focusing on how retailers and service providers use language to facilitate a specific type of provider/customer experience that we label the “marketplace ritual.” We use depth interviews and participant observation to: (1) analyze the structure and function of the specific utterances providers identify as salient when creating and executing marketplace rituals; (2) discuss the ways language contributes to perceived strategic CEM-related outcomes; and (3) examine providers’ perceptions of the potentially negative consequences of ritual language for CEM.
Covalency Effects on the 3 d -Charge-Density Distribution in Solid Ferrous Compounds

A phenomenological description of the $3d$-charge-density distribution in solids, based on M\"ossbauer hyperfine interaction data, studies of crystal structures, EPR, neutron scattering and optical spectroscopy, has been developed for divalent iron ions in solids. From this work, it appears that one can obtain an internally consistent picture of the $3d$-charge-density distribution in solids by allowing for large, but distinctly different, modifications of the radial $3d({e}_{g})$ and $3d({t}_{2g})$ electronic wave functions. These modifications vary continuously with covalency on going from the completely ionic to the completely covalent ferrous compounds. They account for the large changes (in order of magnitude) in the mean $3d$ charge (or spin) densities, indicated by the experimental data. These results cannot be explained by theoretical models of bonding based on crystal field and molecular-orbital theories, using free-ion wave functions. The present model emphasizes the importance of the radial modifications of the $3d$ wave functions, thus supporting the point of view that, in self-consistent-field-type theoretical computations, the radial wave functions should be described by variational rather than fixed parameters.
Blood Ties: Chimerism Can Mask Twin Discordance in High-throughput Sequencing

Twin studies have long provided a means to separate the contributions of genetic and environmental factors. A recent pioneering report by Baranzini et al. presented an analysis of the complete genomes and epigenomes of a monozygotic (MZ) twin pair discordant for multiple sclerosis. This failed to find any difference between the twins, raising doubts regarding the value of whole-genome twin studies for defining disease susceptibility alleles. However, the study was carried out with DNA extracted from blood. In many cases, the hematopoietic lineages of MZ twins are chimeric due to twin-to-twin exchange of hematopoietic stem cells during embryogenesis. We therefore wondered how chimerism might impact the ability to identify genetic differences. We inferred the blood chimerism rates and profiles of more than 30 discordant twin cases from a wide variety of medical conditions. We found that the genotype compositions of the twins were highly similar. We then benchmarked the performance of SNP callers to detect discordant variations using high-throughput sequencing data. Our analysis revealed that chimerism patterns, well within the range normally observed in MZ twins, greatly reduce the sensitivity of SNP calls. This raises questions regarding any conclusions of genomic homogeneity that might be drawn from studies of blood-derived twin DNA.
Radiographic evaluation of the complications of long bone allografts

Purpose To study the long-term results of long bone allografts in patients with benign and malignant bone tumors.
The Structure and Interactions of Ca 2+ -ATPase.

Electron crystallographic studies on membrane crystals of Ca(2+)-ATPase reveal different patterns of ATPase-ATPase interactions depending on enzyme conformation. Physiologically relevant changes in Ca2+ concentration and membrane potential affect these interactions. Ca2+ induced difference FTIR spectra of Ca(2+)-ATPase triggered by photolysis of caged Ca2+ are consistent with changes in secondary structure and carboxylate groups upon Ca2+ binding; the changes are reversed during ATP hydrolysis suggesting that a phosphorylated enzyme form of low Ca2+ affinity is the dominant intermediate during Ca2+ transport. A two-channel model of Ca2+ translocation is proposed involving the membrane-spanning helices M2-M5 and M4, M5, M6 and M8 respectively, with separate but interacting Ca2+ binding sites.
Complex point target models for multistatic radar

A mathematical and statistical model for complex point targets is proposed that may be applicable to statistical inference problems in multistatic or MIMO radar systems. Such targets are not resolved in space, but exhibit varying complex reflectivity across different bistatic view angles. The complex reflectivity can be modeled as a complex stochastic process whose index set is the set of all bistatic view angles, and the parameters of this stochastic process follow from an analysis of a target model comprising a number of ideal point scatterers randomly located within some radius of the target's center of mass. Six different models are proposed, with different assumed distributions on the locations of the point scatterers within the target.
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE RISK CHARACTERISTICS

This paper applies discriminant analysis to a relatively large sample of residential mortgages-some of which have defaulted or have been foreclosed and others of which have remained untroubled at least until the date of the last observation-in an attempt to derive a function which would allow mortgage lenders to increase their accuracy of predicting mortgage difficulty. From the data available for testing, no improvement in predictability is obtained, because it is thought that the data may already have been badly biased by the screening process of the loan officers which had already taken place and by the post-loan origination nature of the important variables in mortgage difficulty. The latter is confirmed by discriminant models of post-origination variables which are successful. It is concluded that changes in home value, changes in mortgagor income, mortgage assumption, and regional economic considerations are the major explanations of mortgage difficulty.
Presumed prepatellar fibrosis in collegiate wrestlers: imaging findings and clinical correlation

Knee pain and injury are common complaints of athletes presenting to the orthopedic clinic. Wrestlers are no exception, and may present more commonly with anterior knee pain because of the nature of their sport. Morel–Lavallee lesions and prepatellar bursitis have been described in the prepatellar region of wrestlers. We report a distinctly different prepatellar finding on MRI, focally prominent and discrete fibrosis in three collegiate wrestlers. This characteristic appearance and clinical setting have already been repeated in our clinical practice; thus, other MRI readers are also likely to encounter this finding, which in our experience can be considered a "don’t touch" lesion of no clinical significance.
Dynamics of rodlike macromolecules in semidilute solutions

Experimental data on the rotation and translation of rigid rod macromolecules in the semi-dilute region are discussed in the terms of the Doi-Edwards theory. Available data indicate that the rotational diffusion coefficients vary approximately as the inverse concentration squared and the inverse length to a power between 7 and 8. The absolute value of the decrease of the rotational diffusion coefficient in the semidilute region relative to the infinite dilution value is about two orders of magnitude less than is predicted by the Doi-Edwards theory. Some possible explanations for these deviations include: 1 The constraints on diffusion imposed in the Doi-Edwards theory are too severe even for rigid rods. 2 The molecules studied exhibit some flexibility and thus do not conform to a model for rigid rods.
Behavioral assessment and treatment of accident-related posttraumatic stress disorder: Two case studies

A broad spectrum behavioral assessment and treatment package was utilized with two individuals who met DSM-III criteria for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to transportation accidents. Individualized tripartite (behavioral, cognitive, psychophysiological) assessment procedures revealed differential arousal across response systems and subjects, as well as modest pretreatment and posstreatment differences in reactivity to trauma-relevant stimuli compared to control stimuli. The behavioral treatment packages were effective in decreasing both subjects' self-monitored symptoms of PTSD. Implications of these data for assessment and treatment of PTSD following transportation accidents are discussed.
Two Students Win AGU Scholarships

AGU is pleased to announce the winners of two scholarships. Marc Neveu is the recipient of the 2013 David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship, which recognizes a student of the Earth sciences whose academic work exhibits interest and promise. Hima Hassenruck-Gudipati is the 2013 recipient of the David E. Lumley Scholarship, which recognizes a high-achieving student who is working on problems of global importance in the energy and environmental sectors of industry and academia.
(Invited) Interface Trap Densities and Admittance Characteristics of III-V MOS Capacitors

High-k/III-V interfaces in metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor structures with In0.53Ga0.47As channels exhibit certain admittance characteristics that are almost universally observed, independent of the specific high-k material or deposition technique used. These include a "hump" in the capacitance-voltage curves at negative biases (depletion region) and low frequencies for n-type channels, and pronounced frequency dispersion in accumulation. The paper discusses both features in the context of the high density of non-uniformly distributed interface trap states in the semiconductor band gap that is typical of these interfaces.
Toward a Human-Like Approach to Face Recognition

Recently Behrooz et al., (2006) proposed an approach for capturing a human similarity measure within a classifier, e.g., an artificial neural network, for face recognition. This is done by automatically generating and labeling arbitrarily large sets of morphed images (typically tens of thousands) in agreement with a human critic. One set is composed of images with reduced resemblance to the imaged person, yet recognizable by humans as that person (positive exemplars); the second set consists of images with some resemblance to the imaged person, but not enough to be recognizable as that person (negative exemplars). For each person of interest, a dedicated classifier is developed. From a practical point of view, it appears that the most challenging aspect of that approach is to completely enclose the decision region belonging to the person of interest. Because of the high dimensionality of the human face space, this is not simple matter especially for certain subjects. In this paper, we propose a new operator that morphs the image of the target person away from those of others. The new operator when applied together with the previous operator (morphing toward) helps to close the constructed decision region. Also, in this paper we propose the utilization of two networks for each target person; the added network covers not just the eyes and nose, but practically the entire face though in a coarse fashion. The second network, FaceNet, screens images before they are presented to the first network, EyeNet. The new developments have reduced the false accept rate by orders of magnitude with minimal impact on false reject rate. It now appears, more than before, that the following important and long desired goal is within reach: "The similarity measure used in a face recognition system should be designed so that humans' ability to perform face recognition and recall are imitated as closely as possible by the machine" .
Optimizing Radioactive Material Transport: Transport Risk Management

Abstract The safety of nuclear transport is essential to the AREVA Group as it is to the nuclear industry at large. Because transport or radioactive materials is performed in the public domain, it is sensitive to the public and its environment. In order to optimize transport safety of the AREVA Group the Logistics Business Unit of AREVA has setup, since 2006, a specific organization with a dedicated team, specific IT tools and processes: the “Transport Risk Management”. “Transport Risk Management” covers all nuclear materials and contaminated equipment representing a specific risk to the group. Approximately 10 000 radioactive shipments per year are covered by this process. This paper will introduce the approach the AREVA Group has taken to develop and implement “Transport Risk Management” with its Logistics BU. The approach is composed of three steps: – Identification of transport flows and risk analysis, – Mitigation proposals often involving the supply chain, – Decisions on priorities for implementation, anticipation and preparation (such as for emergency response), and control. The risk analysis and risk management is evaluated for each transportation flow: the occurrence or probability of an event during transport and the consequence of any potential event provides a Risk Level which is evaluated against the current Level of Management for the same transport flow. Control and continuous improvement are key to the process. Decision making for implementing the proposed mitigation plans and scheduling is based on the above risk analysis and evaluation. “Transport Risk Management” provides for improved safety, image as well as performance.
Red—Far Red Reversibility of Anthocyanin Synthesis in Dark-Grown and Light-Pretreated Seedlings

The rate of escape from red—far red reversibility for anthocyanin synthesis is lower in dark-grown than in light-pretreated seedlings of Brassica oleracea L. Red Acre, Secale cereale L. Cougar, and Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Beefsteak. This observation is consistent with the suggestion that there might be two pools of phytochrome, a labile one, characterized by fast disappearance of phytochrome—far-red absorbing form, and a stable one, characterized by slow disappearance of phytochrome—far-red absorbing form, and that the proportion between the two pools might be different in dark-grown and light-pretreated seedlings.
A wildfire hazard assessment and map for La Plata County, Colorado, USA

In response to the needs of local fire managers, we developed a map of wildfire hazard for La Plata County in southwestern Colorado, USA. Our measure of fire hazard had two components: (i) the probability, should fire occur under dry weather conditions, that fire behavior will be extreme, and (ii) the human values that may be lost or damaged if extreme fire behavior occurs. Using a classification approach in a GIS environment, we developed quantitative indices of potential heat release, flame length, and rate of spread for each vegetation type in the County. This is based on output of the Behave fire behavior system and adjusted for effects of slope and aspect. We then overlaid a map of residential developments to identify locations where homes are most vulnerable to wildfire damage. Results revealed a zone in the central part of the county where extensive exurban development is occurring within pine, juniper, and oak vegetation, leading to a high potential for extreme fire behavior. This assessment is notable in that (1) it treats a wide range of land ownership types including public lands, private lands, and American Indian reservations; (2) it encompasses substantial variability in vegetation/fuel types, from low-elevation semi-arid grasslands and woodlands to alpine forests and meadows to cultivated and residential lands; and (3) it maps wildfire hazard at relatively fine resolution (1 ha) for a large area (ca 4,500 km2) based on quantitative indices of wildfire behavior. Formal validation of this kind of map is nearly impossible, but we tested the final product by asking local experts to evaluate our interpretations for specific locations with which they were familiar. Feedback from the experts led us to revise some of our initial fire behavior indices, by developing custom fuel models. The same experts concluded that the final product was very accurate. By developing a relatively simple mapping algorithm, and drawing upon spatial data sources readily available to local land managers, our wildfire hazard map for La Plata County provides a template for more extensive fire hazard mapping throughout southwestern Colorado and portions of adjacent states, for use in prioritization of fire mitigation treatments and public education.
Neuronal integration and the depolarizing effects of axonal GABA(A) receptors.

Despite their presence throughout the central nervous system, the impact of axonally expressed gamma-amino-butyric acid type-A receptors (GABAARs) on neuronal signaling is just beginning to be unde...
NFATc1 controls skeletal muscle fiber type and is a negative regulator of MyoD activity.

Skeletal muscle comprises a heterogeneous population of fibers with important physiological differences. Fast fibers are glycolytic and fatigue rapidly. Slow fibers utilize oxidative metabolism and are fatigue resistant. Muscle diseases such as sarcopenia and atrophy selectively affect fast fibers, but the molecular mechanisms regulating fiber type-specific gene expression remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that the transcription factor NFATc1 controls fiber type composition and is required for fast-to-slow fiber type switching in response to exercise in vivo. Moreover, MyoD is a crucial transcriptional effector of the fast fiber phenotype, and we show that NFATc1 inhibits MyoD-dependent fast fiber gene promoters by physically interacting with the N-terminal activation domain of MyoD and blocking recruitment of the essential transcriptional coactivator p300. These studies establish a molecular mechanism for fiber type switching through direct inhibition of MyoD to control the opposing roles of MyoD and NFATc1 in fast versus slow fiber phenotypes.
Integration of Information From Design and Manufacture Through Decision Support Problems

Effectively addressing life-cycle considerations early in the design process and a reduction in design cycle time are key issues in concurrent engineering. They require making good design decisions in the face of uncertainty, ambiguity and incomplete information. In this paper an overview of our research concerning the integration of material selection and manufacturing considerations with dimensional synthesis of a component is presented. The integration is achieved by formulating appropriate Decision Support Problems and using multiobjective optimization for solution in order to provide decision support. Our approach facilitates concurrent handling of a number of issues associated with designing for manufacture and enables a reduction in the number of iterations in the process of designing. This has been shown through case studies dealing with the design of structures made of composite materials.
Reactive oxygen species: Roles in blood pressure and kidney function

Oxidative stress in blood vessels and the kidney in hypertension can be induced by diverse vasoconstrictor mechanisms, including blockade of nitric oxide synthase and activation of angiotensin II type I receptors and thromboxane receptors. It can cause vasoconstriction via bioinactivation of nitric oxide, and by nitric oxide synthase independent mechanisms that include increased generation of endothelin-1 and the effects of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide on vascular smooth muscle cells. Oxidative stress can accompany hypertension in many models including the spontaneously hypertensive rat, the angiotensin II-infused rat, renovascular hypertension, the deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt model, and obesity-related hypertension. In the kidney, NADPH oxidase-generating superoxide anion is expressed in the vasculature, interstitium, juxtaglomerular apparatus, and the distal nephron. Much progress has been made in defining the pathways that intervene between agonist stimulation of blood vessels and reactive oxygen species-mediated contractile and renal functional responses in animal models in hypertension.
A Qualitative Study of Backcountry Recreationists’ Perceptions on Cougar-Related Interpretive Media

Although several studies have examined attitudes towards cougars, little research has been done to specifically address the perceptions on cougar-related interpretive media. The purpose of this study was to examine whether hikers read the available signage pertaining to cougars and examine the hikers’ perceptions of current signs and cougar–human interactions in general. A qualitative approach was employed in which a number of themes emerged from interviews with people recreating in and around the City of Fort Collins, Colorado. The four main themes that emerged were: responsibility, recognition, familiarity, and general education and interpretation. Study participants believed that cougar-related education could be extended and varied to better educate hikers from all backgrounds.
Characteristics of the amino acid transport system in the mucosal border of rabbit ileum.

The specificity of the neutral amino acid transport system in the brush border was examined by studying the ability of amino acid analogues to inhibit the unidirectional influx of phenylalanine from mucosal solution into the cells. Effects were evaluated in terms of the affinity of various substrates for the amino acid site in the transport system. The affinity of amino acids for the site was proportional to the number of carbon atoms in the side chain. Electron-withdrawing substituents in the ring of phenylalanine increased affinity and electron-releasing groups decreased affinity. Removal of the α-amino group from phenylalanine decreased affinity by a factor of approximately 50 and removal of the carboxyl group decreased affinity 12-fold. Effects on affinity of variations in the side chain of the amino acid can be comparable in magnitude to that of the carboxyl group. The effect of sodium ion on the transport system appears to be similar for all compounds tested.
Metabolism of n-butyrate by the adult goat.

Abstract N-butyrate-1-C 14 was injected intravenously into four adult goats. Observations were made on the subsequent incorporation of C 14 into liver and muscle glycogen and into various organic acids of blood, taken either from the jugular vein or simultaneously from both the carotid artery and ruminal vein. Though several acids were labeled with C 14 , β -hydroxybutyrate exhibited the highest specific activity. Ruminal vein blood contained over twice as much β -hydroxy-butyrate as did blood from the carotid artery. The concentration of n-butyrate in ruminal vein blood was frequently lower than that of iso-butyrate, even though the ratio of these two acids in the rumen fluid was approximately 7:1. This suggests that β -hydroxybutyrate is a normal intermediate in the metabolism of n-butyrate absorbed from the rumen and that the rumen epithelium is a major site of this conversion. The lactate of ruminal vein blood was slightly greater in concentration but several times higher in specific activity than lactate of arterial blood. Glucose from both liver and muscle glycogen was labeled with C 14 predominantly in Carbons 3 and 4, the ratio of labeling between these two carbons being approximately 1:1.
Rape: a complex management problem in the pediatric emergency room.

Insufficient attention has been paid to the difficult problem of dealing in the emergency room with child victims of alleged rape. The authors, who are child psychiatrists, consulted to the pediatric emergency room on 9 cases. The presenting complaint of alleged rape did not in itself constitute a diagnosis or thereby imply a specific medical treatment, such as a pelvic examination. Complex factors presented by the patient, the police, the family, and the hospital itself interfered with the physician's efforts at making an adequate diagnosis and formulating an appropriate treatment plan. By elucidating these factors and considering them, the physician can be in a position to manage the case in the patient's best interest.
Desirability of Personality Dimensions: Auto- and Heteroperceptions by American and German College Students

Summary A total of 240 male and female American and German college students responded to six personality scales (Achievement, Affiliation, Autonomy, Defendance, Dominance, Order) and two social desirability scales (Edwards, Marlowe-Crowne) under one of four desirability sets (Personal Desirability, Social Desirability, Heteronation-Social Desirability, Projected Heteronation-Social Desirability). Instruction (4) by Sex (2) by Nation (2) analyses of variance resulted primarily in a large number of Nation and Sex effects. Two aspects of the findings are particularly surprising. First, cross-national evaluations did not result in marked unfavorable misperceptions, nor did they produce the usual cross-national stereotypes. Contrary to expectation, for example, German college students assigned higher desirability to Autonomy and lower desirability to Achievement, Dominance, and Order than their American counterparts. Second, sex differences were obtained primarily for Americans which indicates that sex is more...
Echocardiography in the invasive laboratory: utility of two-dimensional echocardiography in performing transseptal catheterization.

• Objective To evaluate the potential utility of transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography as an aid in the technique of transseptal catheterization. • Design We performed a prospective study of 58 patients (29 men and 29 women; mean age, 64.2 years) referred for cardiac catheterization, in whom a systematic approach was used with selective application of two-dimensional echocardiography. • Material and Methods The study group of 58 patients had the following diagnoses: mitral stenosis in 17, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 13, dilated cardiomyopathy in 13, aortic stenosis in 13, and prosthetic valve dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension in 1 each. With use of only fluoroscopic guidance, initial gentle pressure on the dilator alone was attempted for left atrial access. If the catheter resisted entry into the left atrium, two-dimensional echocardiography was performed to assess the catheter's position relative to the atrial septum, and adjustments were made accordingly. Transseptal puncture with a Brockenbrough needle was performed only after confirmation of the catheter position at the region of the fossa ovalis with two-dimensional echocardiography. • Results The catheterization procedure was performed without complication in all 58 patients; the mean time to catheter placement was 5.6 ± 3.5 minutes (range, 3 to 20). Two-dimensional echocardiography was used in 33 patients (57%) when left atrial access was not obtained. On the basis of echocardiographic images, the transseptal catheter had to be repositioned in 16 of these 33 patients (48%). • Conclusion Two-dimensional echocardiography offers value in demonstrating catheter position during transseptal catheterization and may be used in some patients to ensure transseptal puncture at the region of the fossa ovalis.
Low-pass filter for computing the transition density in digital circuits

Estimating the power dissipation and the reliability of integrated circuits is a major concern of the semiconductor industry. Previously, we showed that a good measure of power dissipation and reliability is the extent of circuit switching activity, called the transition density (see ibid., vol. 12, no. 2, p. 310-23, 1993). However, the algorithm for computing the density in the afore-mentioned paper is very basic and does not take into account the effect of inertial delays of logic gates. Thus, as we will show in this paper, the transition density may be severely overestimated in high-frequency applications. To overcome this problem, we model the effect of gate delay on logic signals in the form of a conceptual low-pass filter module that does not allow unacceptably short logic pulses to propagate. Using a stochastic model of logic signals, we then derive the equations required to propagate the transition density through the filter. We will present experimental results that illustrate the validity and importance of these results. >
Nonlinear dynamic analysis of speech from pathological subjects

Nonlinear dynamic methods are employed to describe the complexity of speech from healthy and pathological subjects with vocal polyps. The analysis demonstrates the low-dimensional dynamic characteristics of normal and pathological voices as well as their statistically significant differences. The potential clinical application of nonlinear dynamics in speech signal processing of pathological voices is suggested.
An investigation of the optical constants and band gap of chromium disilicide

Optical properties of polycrystalline thin films of CrSi2 grown by the diffusion couple method on silicon substrates were investigated. An analysis of the energy dependence of the absorption coefficient indicates that the material is an indirect forbidden gap semiconductor with a band-gap value of slightly less than 0.35 eV. This result was confirmed by measurements of the temperature dependence of the intrinsic conductivity. The value of the bandgap corresponds well to an important window of transparency in the earth's atmosphere (3-5 microns), which makes the material of potential interest for IR detector applications.
Precise calibration method for time-to-amplitude converter

Accurate calibration of systems using time‐to‐amplitude converters can be difficult and time consuming. A simple and quick method for calibrating such systems is described. The method has wide operating range and high precision and uses equipment which is commonly available in the laboratory.
Effects of Subsurface Boron and Phosphorus on Surface Reactivity of Si(001): Water and Ammonia Adsorption

Using density functional slab calculations with planewave basis set and pseudopotentials, we have examined the effect of subsurface boron and phosphorus on the surface chemical properties of Si(001). We compare the adsorption behaviors of water and ammonia between B- or P-modified and clean Si(001) surfaces. On the B-modified surface, the charge polarization of two B-connected dimers is altered significantly. Our calculation shows that approximately one electron is transferred from the local surface to the subsurface boron, thereby leading both buckled-up and -down atoms of B-connected dimers to be electron-poor (electrophilic). On the other hand, subsurface P brings about no significant change in surface electronic structure. Only about one-tenth of an electron is transferred from the subsurface P to the local surface. As a result, relative to the clean surface, the adsorption properties of water and ammonia change noticeably on the B-modified surface while varying insignificantly on the P-modified surface.
Surface dynamics dominated by bulk thermal defects: The case of NiAl ( 110 )

We find that small temperature changes cause steps on the NiAl(110) surface to move. We show that this step motion occurs because mass is transferred between the bulk and the surface as the concentration of bulk thermal defects (i.e., vacancies) changes with temperature. Since the change in an island's area with a temperature change is found to scale strictly with the island's step length, the thermally generated defects are created (annihilated) very near the surface steps. To quantify the bulk/surface exchange, we oscillate the sample temperature and measure the amplitude and phase lag of the system response, i.e., the change in an island's area normalized to its perimeter. Using a one-dimensional model of defect diffusion through the bulk in a direction perpendicular to the surface, we determine the migration and formation energies of the bulk thermal defects. During surface smoothing, we show that there is no flow of material between islands on the same terrace and that all islands in a stack shrink at the same rate. We conclude that smoothing occurs by mass transport through the bulk of the crystal rather than via surface diffusion. Based on the measured relative sizes of the activation energies for island decay, defectmore » migration, and defect formation, we show that attachment/detachment at the steps is the rate-limiting step in smoothing.« less
Suspension and protoplast culture of U.S. rice cultivars.

Efficient protoplast culture and plant regeneration of five U.S. rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) - Mercury, Lacassine, Maybelle, Cypress, and Lemont - were obtained from suspension cells maintained in modified General Medium. Embryogenic suspension cells were developed from calli grown on the original callus induction medium for 10-20 weeks without subculture. Weekly subculture of the suspensions for five to eight weeks yielded cells suitable for protoplast isolation. After 2 weeks, rate of colony formation from protoplasts varied among the cultivars and ranged from 2.5 to 6.8%. Improvement of plating efficiencies to as high as 13.7% was obtained by conducting a second cycle of protoplast culture. A total of 525 plants were regenerated from the cultivars studied.
Traffic analysis and simulation performance of incomplete hypercubes

The incomplete hypercube with arbitrary nodes provides far better incremental flexibility than the complete hypercube, whose size is restricted to exactly a power of 2. After faults arise in a complete hypercube system, it is desirable to reconfigure the system so as to retain as many healthy nodes as possible, often leading to an incomplete hypercube of arbitrary size. In this paper, the highest traffic density over links in an incomplete hypercube under uniform message distribution is shown to be bounded by 2 (messages per link per cycle), independent of its size and despite its structural nonhomogeneity. As a result, it is easily achievable to construct an incomplete hypercube with sufficient link communication capability where any potential points of congestion are avoided, ensuring high performance. Simulation results for the incomplete hypercube reveal that mean latency for delivering messages is roughly the same in an incomplete hypercube as in a compatible complete hypercube under both packet-switching and wormhole routing. The incomplete hypercube thus appears to be an attractive and practical architecture, since it shares every advantage of complete hypercubes while eliminating the restriction on the system size.
Pharmacodynamic characterization of gemcitabine cytotoxicity in an in vitro cell culture bioreactor system.

Gemcitabine, a pyrimidine nucleoside, is approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic carcinoma, and breast cancer. Chemotherapy regimens are determined experimentally with static tissue culture systems, animal models, and in Phase I clinical trials. The aim of this study was to assess for gemcitabine-induced cell death following infusion of drug under clinically-relevant conditions of infusion rate and drug exposure in an in vitro bioreactor system. To estimate an appropriate harvest time for cells from the bioreactor after drug treatment, we estimated the temporal relationship between gemcitabine treatment for 1 h and cell death at a later time point with monolayer growth assays (i.e., static culture). Afterward, 5.3 mg gemcitabine was infused over 0.5 h in the bioreactor, followed by mono-exponential decay, simulating patient concentration–time profiles (n = 4). Controls were run with drug-free media (n = 4). Cells were harvested from the bioreactor at a later time point and assessed for cell death by flow cytometry. According to monolayer growth assay results, cytotoxicity became more apparent with increasing time. The E Max for cells 48 h after treatment was 50% and after 144 h, 93% (P = 0.022; t test), while flow cytometry showed complete DNA degradation by 120 h. Gemcitabine was infused in the bioreactor. The gemcitabine area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) was 56.4 μM h and the maximum concentration was 87.5 ± 2.65 μM. Flow cytometry results were as follows: the G1 fraction decreased from 65.1 ± 4.91 to 28.6 ± 12% (P = 0.005) and subG1 increased from 14.1 ± 5.28 to 42.6 ± 9.78% (P = 0.004) relative to control. An increase in apoptotic cells was observed by TUNEL assay. The in vitro bioreactor system will be expanded to test additional cell lines, and will serve as a useful model system for assessing the role of drug pharmacokinetics in delivery of optimized anticancer treatment.
Opiate dependence alters central reward of nalbuphine or pentazocine plus tripelennamine

The threshold lowering effects of the coadministration of tripelennamine plus nalbuphine or tripelennamine plus pentazocine on the threshold for rewarding electrical intracranial stimulation, a model of drug-induced euphoria, was determined in rats physically dependent to morphine. Although tripelennamine plus nalbuphine had threshold-lowering effects similar to tripelennamine plus pentazocine in non-opiate-dependent subjects, tripelennamine plus nalbuphine failed to lower the threshold for rewarding stimulation in morphine-dependent animals. To the extent that these data may be applied to human addicts, it suggests that opiate-dependent addicts are unlikely to use the combination of tripelennamine plus nalbuphine but are likely to use tripelennamine plus pentazocine.
A technique to measure the components of root water potential using screen-caged thermocouple psychrometers

This paper describes a simple method which uses screen-caged thermocouple psychrometers to measure the water potential components of the roots of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown in pots of sand or nutrient solution. Water stress was imposed by withholding irrigation from the sand-grown plants. Sampling was conducted inside a humidified chamber to prevent evaporative losses. The results obtained were within the range expected and comparable to the few published values for other plants. The technique enabled the demonstration of osmotic adjustment in cotton leaves and roots.