cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urban planning as a tool of power and social control in colonial Africa

A power theoretical framework is employed to analyse physical and spatial policies in colonial Africa. Officially, the policies were designed to accomplish public welfare goals, such as ensuring sound architectural standards and promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of the built environment. A more critical analysis reveals that the policies constituted part of a meticulous and multifarious agenda on the part of colonial powers to harness and reinforce their grip on the territories they had conquered in Africa. This article shows how planning policies found expression as instruments of power, domination and social control in urban space in colonial Africa.
Towards creative design using collaborative interactive genetic algorithms

We present a computational model of creative design based on collaborative interactive genetic algorithms. We test our model on floorplanning. We guide the evolution of floorplans based on subjective and objective criteria. The subjective criteria consists of designers picking the floorplan they like the best from a population of floorplans, and the objective criteria consists of coded architectural guidelines. We support collaboration by allowing individual designers to view each others' designs during the evolutionary process and the sharing of designs via case injection. This methodology supports team design, and reflects the view of creativity that collaboration accounts for much of our intelligence and creativity. We present a description of the model and a comparative study of floorplans created individually versus collaboratively. Our results show that floorplans created collaboratively were considered to be more “revolutionary” and “original” than those created individually.
Analytical solutions for the reflectivity of homogeneous and graded selective absorbers

Abstract The spectral selectivity of a homogeneous absorbing film on a metal substrate is analyzed under the assumptions of wavelength independent optical constants and optically smooth surfaces. These simplifying assumptions are used to emphasize the impact of interference effects and the inverse wavelength dependence of the absorption coefficient on the spectral selectivity of a homogeneous absorber. In this model the real part of the film's index of refraction and the film thickness are chosen to satisfy the normal quarter wave condition at a wavelength of approximately 1–2 μm, while the imaginary part of the film's index is chosen so as to match amplitudes of a front and back surface reflected wave. The conditions under which zeroes in the reflectivity occur for such a film are investigated with a phasor diagram technique and the effect of varying these conditions on the spectral selectivity is studied. A tradeoff between the solar reflectance and the width of the visible-infrared transition region is shown to be a natural consequence of the conditions placed on the optical constants of the interference film. The effect of grading the film's index on this tradeoff can be treated analytically without approximating the film as a stack of homogeneous layers. The form of the electromagnetic fields in a graded absorbing film are derived and a review of the grading profiles for which analytic solutions to the wave equations exist is presented. Finally, the calculation of a closed form expression for the spectral reflectivity of a graded absorbing film on a metal substrate is outlined.
Mechanisms of Remodeling in Asthmatic Airways

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disorder characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and reversible airflow obstruction. Subgroups of asthma patients develop airflow obstruction that is irreversible or only partially reversible and experience an accelerated rate of lung function decline. The structural changes in the airways of these patients are referred to as airway remodeling. All elements of the airway wall are involved, and remodeled airway wall thickness is substantially increased compared to normal control airways. Airway remodeling is thought to contribute to the subphenotypes of irreversible airflow obstruction and airway hyperresponsiveness, and it has been associated with increased disease severity. Reversal of remodeling is therefore of paramount therapeutic importance, and mechanisms responsible for airway remodeling are feasible therapeutic targets for asthma treatment. This paper will focus on our current understanding of the mechanisms of airway remodeling in asthma and potential targets for future intervention.
BALL INDENTATION TESTS AND THE GRAIN STRUCTURE OF LEAD.

Abstract An investigation of the connexion between the appearance of “hilling” around ball indentations in cast lead and the relationship between the ball indentation pressure and the uniaxial stress behavior of lead reveals a strong influence of grain orientation. Both static and dynamic tests were conducted on lead specimens, and a careful correlation was made between Tabor's indentation constant C and the microstructure of the metal. Experiments conducted by other investigators had established the value of Tabor's constant at approximately 2·8. Such tests, however, were confined to essentially isotropic and homogeneous metal specimens. Present results indicate substantially higher values of the indentation constant for surfaces of polycrystalline lead of either columnar or oriented grain structure, but significantly lower values for less-oriented grain structures. Furthermore, tests of single crystals of lead gave values of Tabor's constant ranging from 2·3 to 5·5, depending on the orientation, with the smallest value resulting from indentations of a (111) or principal slip surface. However, static tests of randomly oriented polycrystalline lead gave a value of 2·9, very near the values obtained by other investigators and predicted on a theoretical basis for isotropic homogeneous materials.
The α-Subunit Regulates Stability of the Metal Ion at the Ligand-associated Metal Ion-binding Site in β3 Integrins

The aspartate in the prototypical integrin-binding motif Arg-Gly-Asp binds the integrin βA domain of the β-subunit through a divalent cation at the metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS). An auxiliary metal ion at a ligand-associated metal ion-binding site (LIMBS) stabilizes the metal ion at MIDAS. LIMBS contacts distinct residues in the α-subunits of the two β3 integrins αIIbβ3 and αVβ3, but a potential role of this interaction on stability of the metal ion at LIMBS in β3 integrins has not been explored. Equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of fully hydrated β3 integrin ectodomains revealed strikingly different conformations of LIMBS in unliganded αIIbβ3 versus αVβ3, the result of stronger interactions of LIMBS with αV, which reduce stability of the LIMBS metal ion in αVβ3. Replacing the αIIb-LIMBS interface residue Phe191 in αIIb (equivalent to Trp179 in αV) with Trp strengthened this interface and destabilized the metal ion at LIMBS in αIIbβ3; a Trp179 to Phe mutation in αV produced the opposite but weaker effect. Consistently, an F191/W substitution in cellular αIIbβ3 and a W179/F substitution in αVβ3 reduced and increased, respectively, the apparent affinity of Mn2+ to the integrin. These findings offer an explanation for the variable occupancy of the metal ion at LIMBS in αVβ3 structures in the absence of ligand and provide new insights into the mechanisms of integrin regulation.
Barriers and incentives to telecommunications investments in developing countries

Abstract This article examines the barriers and incentives to increased trade in telecommunications equipment and services with the developing world. It summarizes developmental benefits of telecommunications, and identifies new technologies particularly appropriate for developing countries. The need for innovative strategies to encourage investment in telecommunications and reduce perceived risk to investors and equipment suppliers is highlighted, and new policies adopted by India and China to stimulate technology transfer are discussed.
MIF-1 and Tyr-MIF-1 fail to alter benzodiazepine-induced hypothermia

Abstract Tyr-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2) and MIF-1 (Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2) can increase GABA-stimulated benzodiazepine binding in brain tissue and can block the hypothermia induced by several other compounds. Since benzodiazepines can also cause hypothermia, colonic temperatures were measured in mice after administration of chlordiazepoxide (CDP) and these two brain peptides. In several experiments involving different doses and times of administration of CDP, MIF-1, and Tyr-MIF-1, there were no significant effects of the peptides in altering the reliable decrease in colonic temperature induced by the benzodiazepine. The results indicate that the interaction of Tyr-MIF-1 and MIF-1 with benzodiazepines does not involve thermoregulation.
Age dependency of androgen and estrogen effects on incorporation of (3H)-thymidine by rat prostates in organ culture.

Organ culture of the rat ventral prostate has been evaluated as a model for studying the biological effects of androgen agonists, androgen antagonists, and estrogens. Explants were cultured for up to 8 days, and incorporation of (3H)-thymidine and (3H)-uridine by the explants was measured. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increased the incorporation of (3H)-thymidine/microgram DNA when compared with the untreated controls at 4 days, P less than .05; and at 6 days, P less than .01. Enhanced uptake in explants from 6 to 8-week old rats also was observed with 10 nM estradiol (P less than .05) and 10 nM cyproterone acetate (P less than .02). DHT (10 nM) caused greater enhancement of uptake in explants from 3-week-old rats than in explants from 6- or 12-week-old rats. In contrast, estradiol (E2) increased incorporation only in prostates from the 6-week-old rats. Since both DHT and E2 can enhance (3H)-thymidine uptake even though they are associated with strikingly different effects on prostate morphology, it suggests that their effects on (3H)-thymidine incorporation are mediated by different cells.
Comparison of correlation effects on the inversion barriers in CF3 and NF3+ from perturbation theory and configuration interaction

Abstract The barriers to inversion in NF 3 + and CF 3 have been studied using fourth-order unrestricted Moller-Plesset perturbation theory and configuration interaction with all single and double excitations relative to UHF wavefunctions. The barriers calculated by the two methods are in agreement to within 1 kcal/mol. Correlation effects are found to increase the barrier in NF 3 + while in the isoelectronic CF 3 species correlation decreases the barrier.
Disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS: findings on chest radiographs.

Our objective was to determine the findings of disseminated histoplasmosis on chest radiographs of patients with AIDS.Chest radiographs of 50 AIDS patients with documented extrapulmonary histoplasmosis were analyzed retrospectively. The radiographs were evaluated for the presence of parenchymal opacities, pleural effusions, adenopathy, cavitation, and calcified granulomas and lymph nodes. A modification of the International Labour Office scheme was used to classify parenchymal abnormalities as nodular, linear or irregular, reticulonodular, or air-space opacities.Abnormalities were present on radiographs in 23 patients. Nodular opacities were present in 10 patients and were diffusely distributed in nine patients. Linear or irregular opacities were present in seven patients, with diffuse distribution in four and limited involvement in three. Air-space opacities were present in seven patients; the distribution varied from segmental to diffuse involvement of the lung. Small pleural effusions were present in f...
Pre-Cooked Fiber-Enriched Wheat Flour Obtained by Extrusion: Rheological and Functional Properties

Extrusion processing was utilized to pre-cook wheat flours substituted with 0, 10, 20, and 30% wheat bran in order to enhance their rheological properties and functionality with regards to production of cookies and tortillas. Two extrusion conditions, low-temperature-low-shear (LTLS), and high-temperature-high-shear (HTHS) were studied for pre-cooking the flours. Results showed that for all flours, as % bran increased, RVA peak viscosity (PV), mixograph peak time (PTM), and peak height (PH) decreased. At all bran levels, PV, and PH were significantly lower for pre-cooked flours as compared to uncooked. As the percent bran and storage time (4 to 16 d) increased, the quality of cookies (weight and spread factor) and tortillas (specific volume, rollability, and extensibility) deteriorated for both uncooked and pre-cooked wheat flours. The quality of cookies and tortillas from pre-cooked flour were either similar or inferior to those from uncooked flour.
Stuttering and quasi-stuttering in Ga

This report is concerned with an unusual stuttering pattern among the Ga. Ga is a tonal language and is a member of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Approximately 700,000 Ga people live in an area of about 500 square miles within and around the city of Accra, Ghana. The bulk of research on stuttering to date has been done with Indo-European languages; those cross-cultural studies that have been done have dealt primarily with whether or not stuttering is a universal phenomenon (cf. Van Riper, 1971, pp. 4-9). It is of interest to investigate the degree to which stuttering in nonWestern languages follows the same patterns found in English. Recent theorists have emphasized that stuttering cannot be understood without reference to the social relationship between speaker and hearer (Johnson, 1959; Sheehan, 1971): stuttering is seen as a consequence of role conflict that produces anxiety in the speaker concerning the production of speech. In the present report Ga stuttering is investigated in terms of (a) the semantic content of the words on which people stutter, (b) the social situations in which people stutter, and (c) the phonological environments of stuttering. For the purposes of this report, stuttering will be defined as hesitation through either repetition or prolongation of utterance fragments. Stuttering occurs in Ga more frequently than in English or in other European languages with which the author is familiar. Two types of stuttering will be distinguished here on the basis of Ga categories. The first type of stuttering occurs in very high frequency across both time and individuals. It is hardly perceived by Ga people unless it is clearly demonstrated for them in conversation, in which case they identify it as a thoroughly normal occurrence without particular meaning. They do not seem to have a term for this form of stuttering. The second type of stuttering is intensive and consistent. The Ga recognize this behavior as a pathological syndrome and have a name for it, ha’amums, “to stutter”; ha’amuDl2, “stutterer.” They often describe a hciamumds as someone who has to force his words out very hard in order to speak,
Excision of the hook of the hamate: A retrospective survey and review of the literature

Fractures of the hook of the hamate frequently fail to unite. In symptomatic nonunion, surgical excision of the hook has provided relief of pain in the few reported cases. In a survey of surgeons, 133 cases of excision of the hook to treat nonunion were reviewed retrospectively. The complication rate associated with excision is three percent. These complications, such as injury to the ulnar nerve or the superficial palmar arch and median nerve paresthesias secondary to retraction are due more to the surgical exposure than the actual excision.
Relation of blood viscosity to demographic and physiologic variables and to cardiovascular risk factors in apparently normal adults.

Although increased blood viscosity occurs in several cardiovascular diseases, little is known of factors influencing blood rheology in normal adults. Accordingly, we examined the relations of whole blood viscosity (WBV) to its rheologic determinants (hematocrit level, plasma viscosity, protein concentration, and red cell aggregability and rigidity), to demographic and laboratory variables, and to cardiovascular risk factors in 128 normotensive employed adults. Hematocrit levels accounted for 67-84% of variability of WBV at shear rates from 208 to 0.1 sec-1 with lesser contributions from plasma viscosity, red cell aggregability, and rigidity (multiple r = 0.95-0.97); WBV was predicted accurately from standard measurements of hematocrit and total plasma protein levels (multiple r = 0.78-0.92 in "learning" and "test" analysis). Male sex, obesity, dietary Na+ intake, and increasing age had additive effects on WBV (multiple r greater than or equal to 0.59, p less than 0.00001); the last three of these factors and black race independently predicted plasma viscosity (multiple r = 0.36, p less than 0.001). Among regulators of plasma volume, plasma renin activity and urinary Na+ excretion bore independent positive relations to WBV. Diastolic and mean blood pressures were independent predictors of WBV and hematocrit levels (all p less than 0.05). Conventional risk factors (e.g., triglycerides, obesity, and cholesterol levels) were positively related to WBV or plasma viscosity. Thus, in apparently normal adults, 1) WBV or plasma viscosity are increased by male sex, obesity, high sodium intake, aging, and black race, 2) WBV is positively related to plasma renin activity, 3) WBV or plasma viscosity are related to diastolic and mean blood pressures, triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations, and 4) WBV can be predicted from simple measurements of hematocrit and total plasma protein levels.
From Mexico to Iowa: New Immigrant Farmers' Pathways and Potentials

Iowa needs new farmers as the current generation retires. Moreover, Iowa needs farmers to grow vegetables and livestock to satisfy a growing demand for locally grown foods. This study applies the S...
Sociological versus strategic factors in bargaining

Abstract Most game-theoretic models of strategic interaction, indeed most economic models of any sort, specify potential outcomes entirely in terms of the preferences of the agents, as captured in their (possibly cardinal) utility functions. The underlying assumption is that the outcome of such interactions is determined entirely by these preferences, together with the strategic possibilities available to the agents. The purpose of this paper is to challenge the adequacy of this assumption in general, by investigating it in the specific context of two-person bargaining. In particular, we consider whether certain experimental results reported earlier can be accounted for strictly in terms of players' preferences and strategic possibilities, and we report a new experimental study designed to answer this question. The results strongly support the conclusion that sociological factors, unrelated to what we normally consider to be the ‘economic’ parameters of a game, can decisively influence the outcome of bargaining, in a systematic manner.
Lack of robust LGN label following transneuronal rabies virus injections into macaque area V4.

In primates, retinal inputs are relayed through the magno- and parvocells of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) indirectly to extrastriate visual cortex. The most direct pathway identified to the extrastriate cortex is a disynaptic one that provides robust magno- and parvocellular inputs to the middle temporal area (MT). The inclusion of parvocells in this projection is somewhat surprising because of their importance for color and form vision, whereas MT is more strictly tuned to velocity. This raises the question of whether areas more involved in color and form processing, such as V4, receive similar projections. We report here on experiments that use rabies virus injections into V4 to retrogradely label mono- and disynaptic inputs. We find only a small number of labeled neurons in the LGN in a pattern consistent with monosynaptic labeling of koniocells, rather than disynaptic labeling of magno- and parvocells. The lack of robust magno- and parvocellular label was not due to ineffective viral transport because in the same cases we find hundreds of neurons labeled in the thalamic reticular nucleus, a structure that can only be labeled disynaptically from the cortex. We also find a complete absence of neurons labeled in V1, but thousands in adjacent areas V2 and V3. This result helps explain the absence of labeled magno- and parvocells in the LGN because disynaptic transport from an extrastriate visual area should require a relay through V1. Taken together, these results suggest that ascending magno/parvocellular inputs to V4 are more hierarchically organized than the relatively direct inputs to MT. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:2500–2511, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An integratable unit based computer science distance learning curriculum design for the ACM/IEEE curricula 1991

This paper presents the concept of learning units as a vehicle for curriculum design in computer science that is suited for distance learning. Our emergent view of distance learning is based on desktop and Internet technologies. This emergent view of distance learning is neither bound by time nor by place. This is unlike traditional distance learning programs where satellite uplinks and/or videotapes are the primary method of delivery of course lectures. The learning unit based curriculum described here accounts for all of the guidelines and knowledge units set forth in Curricula 1991 of the ACM/IEEE.
Modeling, simulation, and practice of floor control for synchronous and ubiquitous collaboration

Floor control refers to the need for coordinating activities occurred in synchronously cooperating applications shared among collaborators. We address this for ubiquitous collaboration--the capability of multiple users to link together with disparate access device anytime and anywhere. Floor control has been studied for years but most researchers focus on relaxed coordination mechanisms with stationary devices that allow updates by any user on any object and resolve the uncoordinated updates. In this paper we present a floor control mechanism, called XGSP-Floor, which implements a coordination mechanism at application level for enabling users to consistently share the same resource in real time (synchronous collaboration) in ubiquitous collaboration environment. The implementation platform on cell phone devices may not be new. But we believe the implementation and experiment for XGSP-Floor on cell phone devices is a new challenge in ubiquitous collaboration environment even though the coordination mechanism can intuitively impose a tremendous overhead in worst case. We also describe the results of the modeling of XGSP-Floor and formal verification to prove the correctness of the modeling using Colored Petri Nets. We describe lessons learned and discuss future work.
Comprehensive survey of SNPs in the affymetrix exon array using the 1000 genomes dataset

Microarray gene expression data has been used in genome-wide association studies to allow researchers to study gene regulation as well as other complex phenotypes including disease risks and drug response. To reach scientifically sound conclusions from these studies, however, it is necessary to get reliable summarization of gene expression intensities. Among various factors that could affect expression profiling using a microarray platform, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in target mRNA may lead to reduced signal intensity measurements and result in spurious results. The recently released 1000 Genomes Project dataset provides an opportunity to evaluate the distribution of both known and novel SNPs in the International HapMap Project lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). We mapped the 1000 Genomes Project genotypic data to the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Exon 1.0ST array (exon array), which had been used in our previous studies and for which gene expression data had been made publicly available. We also evaluated the potential impact of these SNPs on the differentially spliced probesets we had identified previously. Though the 1000 Genomes Project data allowed a comprehensive survey of the SNPs in this particular array, the same approach can certainly be applied to other microarray platforms. Furthermore, we present a detailed catalogue of SNP-containing probesets (exon-level) and transcript clusters (gene-level), which can be considered in evaluating findings using the exon array as well as benefit the design of follow-up experiments and data re-analysis.
Asymmetric Shielding Mechanisms in the Mixed-Mode Fracture of a Glass/Epoxy Interface

An asymmetric increase in the apparent values of the interfacial fracture toughness with increasing mode II component of loading has been observed by several investigators. In this study, cracks were grown in a steady-state manner along the glass/epoxy interface in sandwich specimens in order to determine the mechanisms responsible for the shielding effect. Finite element analysis using a hydrostatic stress and strain rate dependent plasticity model for the epoxy and a cohesive zone model for the interface shows that plastic dissipation in the epoxy accounts for the asymmetric shielding seen in these experiments which cover a wide range of mode mix. Numerical predictions of normal crack-opening displacements yielded results that were consistent with measured values which were made as close as 0.3 μm from the crack tip.
Landing Fees vs. Harvest Quotas with Uncertain Fish Stocks

A revised version of this paper was published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. Volume 43, Issue 2, March 2002, Pages 325–338
The effect of variable viscosity on hydromagnetic flow and heat transfer past a continuously moving porous boundary with radiation

Abstract The effect of variable viscosity and magnetic field on the flow and heat transfer past a continuously moving porous plate in a stationary fluid taking into account the radiation effect has been analyzed. The fluid viscosity is assumed to vary as an inverse linear function of temperature. By means of the similarity solutions, deviation of the velocity and temperature fields as well as the skin friction and heat transfer results from their constant values are determined numerically by using the shooting method. The effects of variable viscosity, radiation, magnetic and suction (or injection) parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles have been studied.
Reactivity of different oxidases with lignins and lignin model compounds

Abstract Oxidase activities toward lignins and lignin model compounds failed to produce low molecular weight products. Peroxidase and laccase react similarly, and can be distinguished when both enzymes are present on the basis of pH activity differences with syringaldazine as substrate.
Two-state model for outer hair cell stiffness and motility

With discovery of the protein prestin and the gathering evidence linking it to outer hair cell electromotility, the working mechanism of outer hair cells is becoming clearer. Recent experiments have established the voltage-dependent stiffness of outer hair cells and given an insight into the nature of variation of stiffness with respect to voltage. These and earlier experiments are used to analyze and develop models of outer hair cell response. In this article, recent modeling efforts have been reconciled and placed into a common mechanics-based framework. The constitutive models are analyzed with regard to their capability to replicate experimental results. We extend the area motor model to include elastic constants dependent on motor state. The modified model successfully captures stiffness variations of outer hair cells and capacitance changes with respect to voltage.
Update on digital image management and PACS

Information technology is becoming a vital component of all health care enterprises, from managed care services to large hospital networks, that provides the basis of electronic patient records and hospital-wide information. The rationale behind such systems is deceptively simple: physicians want to sit down at a single workstation and call up all information, both clinical data and medical images, concerning a given patient. Picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) are responsible for solving the problem of acquiring, transmitting, and displaying radiologic images. The major benefit of PACS resides in its ability to communicate images and reports to referring physicians in a timely and reliable fashion. With the changes in economics and the shift toward managed and capitated care, the teleradiology component of PACS is rapidly gaining momentum. In allowing remote coverage of multiple sites by the same radiologists and remote consultations and expert opinion, teleradiology is in many instances the only option to maintain economically viable radiologic settings. The technical evolution toward more integrated systems and the shift toward Web-based technology is rapidly merging the two concepts of PACS and teleradiology in global image management and communication systems.
The Distributional Impact of Fiscal Policy in Honduras

This paper uses household survey data to estimate the incidence of tax and spending programs in Honduras. Any such exercise is fraught with difficulty, so our simplifying assumptions are carefully explained. Rather than look at tax and spending completely independently, we evaluate net incidence of major programs - such as health care and pensions - to get a more holistic evaluation of redistribution. Our results show that fiscal policy is, on balance, progressive, but that there is room for significant improvement. In particular, energy subsidies, university education and public pension programs provide disproportionate benefits to higher-income households.
Phoneme based speaker verification

Text-independent speaker verification systems typically depend upon averaging over a long utterance to obtain a feature set for classification. However, not all speech is equally suited to the task of speaker verification. An approach to text-independent speaker verification that uses a two-stage classifier is presented. The first stage consists of a speaker-independent phoneme detector trained to recognize a phoneme that is distinctive from speaker to speaker. The second stage is trained to recognize the frames of speech from the target speaker that are admitted by the phoneme detector. A common feature vector based on the linear predictive coding (LPC) cepstrum is projected in different directions for each of these pattern recognition tasks. Results of tests using the described speaker verification system are shown. >
The local eigenvalues of a bipartite distance-regular graph

Abstract We consider a bipartite distance-regular graph Γ with vertex set X , diameter D ≥ 4 , and valency k ≥ 3 . For 0 ≤ i ≤ D , let Γ i ( x ) denote the set of vertices in X that are distance i from vertex x . We assume there exist scalars r , s , t ∈ R , not all zero, such that r | Γ 1 ( x ) ∩ Γ 1 ( y ) ∩ Γ 2 ( z ) | + s | Γ 2 ( x ) ∩ Γ 2 ( y ) ∩ Γ 1 ( z ) | + t = 0 for all x , y , z ∈ X with path-length distances ∂ ( x , y ) = 2 , ∂ ( x , z ) = 3 , ∂ ( y , z ) = 3 . Fix x ∈ X , and let Γ 2 2 denote the graph with vertex set X = { y ∈ X ∣ ∂ ( x , y ) = 2 } and edge set R = { y z ∣ y , z ∈ X , ∂ ( y , z ) = 2 } . We show that the adjacency matrix of the local graph Γ 2 2 has at most four distinct eigenvalues. We are motivated by the fact that our assumption above holds if Γ is Q -polynomial.
Multiple routes for vortex depinning in amorphous thin film superconductors

ffWe present simulations of vortex dynamics in amorphous two-dimensional thin film superconductors, using a new exact method to evaluate long range interactions between vortices. We find that the onset of vortex motion is dominated by filamentary channels of flow. There are multiple patterns of filamentary flow which are stable in a wide range of bias current. As a consequence, there are multiple steps in the differential resistance, each step corresponding to a different pattern of filamentary flow. This results in a strong history dependence of the depinning current and current voltage characteristics. Our results are in agreement with recent experiments on amorphous Mo{sub 77}Ge{sub 23} thin films.
Metal micromechanical filter-power amplifier utilizing a displacement-amplifying resonant switch

Power gain up to 13.8 dB has been generated by a 23-MHz switched-mode power amplifier circuit employing an Al metal micromechanical slotted resonant switch (a.k.a., resoswitch). Here, slots in the resoswitch structure that amplify displacement along a chosen axis similar to that of [1] are key to preventing input axis impacts that plagued a previous such power amplifying resonant switch [2]. In addition, the use of a low temperature Al sur-face-micromachining process to fabricate the switch allows this PA to be integrated directly over advanced CMOS. This work demonstrates for the first time RF power gain via a metal micromechanical displacement-amplifying resonant switch, and in doing so inches this technology towards not only the possibility of near 100% efficient power gain when used in a Class-E configuration [3] in RF transmitters, but also realization of a channel-selecting filter-LNA function that could substantially lower receive path power consumption.
Use of a Moisture Sensor for Monitoring the Effect of Mixing Procedure on Uniformity of Concrete Mixtures

The present research is to explore a new approach to monitoring uniformity of concrete mixtures. A given concrete mix was subjected to three different mixing procedures. A moisture sensor was installed inside a pan mixer to monitor moisture content of the concrete mixtures during mixing. The concrete mixtures were considered as uniformly mixed when stable moisture content was detected by the moisture sensor. The concrete workability and strength were then evaluated, and the concrete's microstructure (pore distributions and aggregate-paste interface) was examined. The preliminary results indicated that the moisture sensor provided reliable test results describing moisture distribution in concrete mixtures. The sensor readings well captured the subtle changes, such as the loading sequence of concrete materials, in the concrete mixing process. The material loading sequence, mixing time, and aggregate moisture condition had significant influences on the concrete workability, air void system, and strength. These research results provide researchers and engineers with insight into the control of concrete mixing quality and the optimization of mixing procedures in the lab and field.
Daylight visible/NIR whole-sky imagers for cloud and radiance monitoring in support of UV research programs

Measurements of UV radiation at the earth’s surface may be highly impacted by the presence of clouds. In order to provide support for UV research, a Daylight Visible/NIR Whole Sky Imager was developed to provide cloud fraction assessment over the whole sky, as well as measurements of the radiance distribution over the full sky in several spectral bands. Radiances are determined in approximately 700,000 directions simultaneously with a given optical filter. Data may be acquired in seven spectral bands that may be selected for the application. The current instrument uses filters near 450 and 650 nm, open-hole, filters in the blue-green broadband and NIR long-pass, and two polarizers. Opaque and thin cloud fraction is determined from images acquired in the blue and red wavelengths. A more sophisticated version of the algorithm to detect thinner clouds and enable aerosol assessment is in development, and will be based on use of the NIR data in conjunction with the blue and red data. This paper will provide an overview of the instrument design and calibration, and sample sky radiance results. The cloud algorithms for determination of cloud fraction will be discussed, and the cloud imager results will also be presented.
Failure of aluminum foams under multiaxial loads

Abstract Aluminum foams are currently being considered for use in lightweight structural sandwich panels and in energy absorption devices. In both applications, they may be subject to multiaxial loads. The designer requires a criterion to evaluate the combination of multiaxial loads which cause failure. Here we measure the failure of one open- and one closed-cell aluminum foam under biaxial and axisymmetric triaxial loading. The data are compared with three yield criteria for metallic foams. The first criterion is based on analysis of the failure mechanisms of an ideal foam. It overestimates the measured foam yield surface: the discrepancy can be related to imperfections in the foam structure. The other two criteria are phenomenological: one is based on the well-known Drucker–Prager criterion while the other is based on a recently developed yield surface for compaction of powders. Both phenomenological yield surfaces give a good description of the multiaxial failure of the aluminum foams tested in this study.
Agents, vendors, and farmers: Agricultural technology transfer in Ecuador

Abstract As part of a 1986 regional analysis of public and private sector agricultural technology transfer in Imbabura Province, Ecuador, interviews were conducted with 41 of the 47 extension agents employed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and with owners of 17 of the 23 area farm stores. Presented here are those study results that bear on relationships among extension agents, farm input vendors, and farmers, and a discussion of which groups of farmers are the likely recipients of services from both the public and private sectors.
Probing the origin of carboxylate migration selectivity in Rh 2 (II)-catalyzed N -heterocycle formation from trisubstituted styryl azides

Exposure of trisubstituted styryl azides to Rh2(II)-carboxylate catalyst triggers a tandem 4π-electron-5-atom electrocyclization–migration reaction. Herein we illustrate that the innate preference for selectivity of the carboxylate migration to form 3H-indoles can be overcome by steric pressure to produce only 1,2,3-trisubstituted indoles.
Engineered virus-like nanoparticle heparin antagonists

Virus nanoparticles provide a self-assembling, reproducible multivalent platform that can be chemically and genetically manipulated for the presentation of a wide array of epitopes. Presented herein are engineered bacteriophage Qβ nanoparticles that function as potent heparin antagonists. Three successful approaches have been used: 1) chemically appending poly-Arg peptides; 2) point mutations to Arg on the virus capsid; 3) incorporation of heparin-binding peptides displayed externally on the virus surface. Each approach generates particles with good heparin antagonist activity with none of the toxic side effects of protamine, the only drug currently FDA-approved for clinical use as a heparin antagonist.
27. CEBOCEPHALY:A Report of Three New Cases

Summary Three cases of cebocephaly with no extracranial anomalies are reported. In two cases chromosomes were examined. The karyotype was found normal in both cases. No abnormal aminoacids in cerebrospinal fluid were detected.
Development of a Precision Scanning Optical Pulser for Low-Temperature Particle Detectors

Gamma-ray spectroscopy using low-temperature microcalorimeter arrays has demonstrated breakthrough energy resolution, establishing an important new technique for the precise characterization of radioactive samples. However, the extraordinary dynamic range of these pixels, spanning tens of electronvolts to hundreds of kiloelectronvolts, places stringent requirements on the calibration accuracy of each pixel. In this report, we describe the design, development, and initial reflectivity-map testing of a new optical pulser intended for the precise determination of energy calibrations of microcalorimeter pixels and pixel arrays. A high-resolution XYZ scanner combined with 3 K optics achieving a 3-μm focused spot permit in situ imaging and precise placement of the energy deposition on the detector. Absolute absorbed power can be calibrated via a precision measurement of detector thermal stand-off.
Design of a reversible polarity LTD for electron beam diode research

Linear transformer driver accelerator designs have been proposed and constructed for a number of pulsed power experiments. The accelerators are typically optimized for one type of load with a specific load impedance profile. A LTD accelerator has been designed that is capable of generating -3.5-MV pulses for self-magnetic pinch diode experiments, and +2.5-MV pulses for rod pinch diode experiments. In positive polarity, the field stress on the outer cathode conductor is below the electron emission threshold and the output transmission line is a vacuum insulated line without electron flow. Conversion from positive to negative polarity requires a simple change of power supply polarity. A prototype cavity has been designed.
Extending Bilingual Education into the Home

Several studies have stressed the learning advantage of young children, especially before age three, and described successful reading by children aged two or three. Bilingual/bicultural education can benefit from tapping the learning potential of preschool-aged children-either by a lowered school-entering age or by extending the school into the home. Theoretically, out-of-school learning has the advantage of involving grandparents as a source of traditional folk materials, parents as active users of the non English language, and older children as tutors. The school also has responsibilities for providing daily bilingual television programs, mobile classrooms, trained home visitors, educational toys, books, and other materials; and for helping to organize, monitor, and evaluate such programs. Such out-of-school learning could suggest new principles and strategies for the enrichment of bilingual education and help provide children with two media of learning as they begin their formal schooling.
Catalytic micropumps: microscopic convective fluid flow and pattern formation.

As innovations continue to be made in the fields of microfluidics and the colloidal assembly, new strategies for moving particles and fluids may be needed. Heterogeneous catalysis provides means of locally converting the stored chemical energy of fuels to mechanical energy. We report an ambient temperature stationary “pump” that generates a proton concentration gradient through the bipolar electrochemical decomposition of hydrogen peroxide on patterned silver−gold surfaces. The resulting electric field drives convective fluid flow and pattern formation of colloidal tracer particles at the microscopic level by a combination of electroosmotic and electrophoretic forces.
Intracerebroventricular injection of corticotropin-releasing hormone in the pig: acute effects on behavior, adrenocorticotropin secretion, and immune suppression

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) has been implicated as an important mediator of behavior, immune, and neuroendocrine systems in animals experiencing stress, but its effects on these systems have not been evaluated in an integrated whole animal model. In this experiment we injected porcine and rat CRH (pCRH and rCRH) intracerebroventricularly (icv) and simultaneously and chronologically monitored acute changes in behavior, endocrine, and immune function in the pig. PBS or CRH (15, 50, and 150 micrograms pCRH and 15 and 150 micrograms rCRH) was injected icv, and serial blood samples were collected via an indwelling jugular catheter so that behavior could be monitored simultaneously. The central administration of pCRH and rCRH induced immediate dose-dependent behavioral and physiological responses. Pigs receiving 15 micrograms of either pCRH or rCRH had increased plasma ACTH and were hyperactive and vocal. However, when higher doses (i.e. 50 or 150 micrograms) were administered icv, the endocrine and behavioral responses were accompanied by a profound suppression of Concanavalin-A-induced lymphocyte proliferation. For example, pigs receiving 150 micrograms pCRH had increased plasma ACTH and motor activity at 10 min (P < 0.01) and suppressed lymphocyte proliferation at 30 min (P < 0.001). Whereas ACTH secretion declined after 40 min, the lymphocyte suppression and increased motor activity were sustained, suggesting different control mechanisms. It is suggested that although ACTH and cortisol may have negative feedback effects on ACTH secretion, they did not have these effects on the behavioral action of CRH. Furthermore, although the lowest dose of CRH (15 micrograms) induced motor activity and ACTH secretion, higher doses (50 or 150 micrograms) were necessary for suppression of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation. These findings demonstrate that CRH in the pig brain is active for inducing simultaneous changes in behavioral and physiological systems and are, therefore, consistent with the hypothesis that brain CRH is important in mediating the interaction among behavior, endocrine, and immune systems in animals experiencing stress.
EMG-based hand gesture recognition for realtime biosignal interfacing

In this paper the development of an electromyogram (EMG) based interface for hand gesture recognition is presented. To recognize control signs in the gestures, we used a single channel EMG sensor positioned on the inside of the forearm. In addition to common statistical features such as variance, mean value, and standard deviation, we also calculated features from the time and frequency domain including Fourier variance, region length, zerocrosses, occurrences, etc. For realizing real-time classification assuring acceptable recognition accuracy, we combined two simple linear classifiers (k-NN and Bayes) in decision level fusion. Overall, a recognition accuracy of 94% was achieved by using the combined classifier with a selected feature set. The performance of the interfacing system was evaluated through 40 test sessions with 30 subjects using an RC Car. Instead of using a remote control unit, the car was controlled by four different gestures performed with one hand. In addition, we conducted a study to investigate the controllability and ease of use of the interface and the employed gestures.
Structural transitions in the synaptic SNARE complex during Ca2+-triggered exocytosis

The synaptic SNARE complex is a highly stable four-helix bundle that links the vesicle and plasma membranes and plays an essential role in the Ca2+-triggered release of neurotransmitters and hormones. An understanding has yet to be achieved of how this complex assembles and undergoes structural transitions during exocytosis. To investigate this question, we have mutated residues within the hydrophobic core of the SNARE complex along the entire length of all four chains and examined the consequences using amperometry to measure fusion pore opening and dilation. Mutations throughout the SNARE complex reduced two distinct rate processes before fusion pore opening to different degrees. These results suggest that two distinct, fully assembled conformations of the SNARE complex drive transitions leading to open fusion pores. In contrast, a smaller number of mutations that were scattered through the SNARE complex but were somewhat concentrated in the membrane-distal half stabilized open fusion pores. These results suggest that a structural transition within a partially disassembled complex drives the dilation of open fusion pores. The dependence of these three rate processes on position within the SNARE complex does not support vectorial SNARE complex zipping during exocytosis.