cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of nitrogen, volume of media, plant density and module shape on the growth of asparagus seedlings

Abstract There were three experiments in which the seedlings were raised in media contained in plastic cells. In Experiment 1, 150 or 200 mg l −1 N were applied in factorial combination with cell volumes of 20, 32 or 50 cm 3 , There were 6 successional harvests. All cells were 7.5 cm deep and cylindrical in shape. Experiment 2 compared these 3 cell volumes at densities of 983, 1532 or 2440 plants per m 2 . Cell diameters restricted the 50-cm 3 cell to the 983, and the 32-cm 3 cell to the 983 and 1532 plants per m 2 densities. 200 mg l −1 N increased shoot growth, but not root growth. This increase in shoot growth was not considered advantageous. Seedling growth increased with increases in cell volume, but there were no responses to changes in plant density. Experiment 3 compared a cell having an inverted pyramid shape with a cylinder. The cylinder, despite holding 20% less media, produced the larger seedlings.
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over iron-based catalysts in a slurry reactor. Reaction rates, selectivities and implications for improving hydrocarbon productivity

Abstract A promoted iron Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst is used in a slurry reactor to evaluate and compare the selectivity and yields of total hydrocarbons, light alkenes (C2-C3) and intermediate range (C6-C16) linear-α-alkenes for syngas derived from natural gas and coal. The catalyst has a high hydrocarbon yield of 0.6 g (of hydrocarbon)/h-g Fe at high CO conversions (>85%). The syngas derived from coal produces a slightly higher total hydrocarbon yield than natural gas-derived syngas, due to a lower reactor partial pressure of water which inhibits the Fischer-Tropsch reaction rate. The natural gas-derived syngas produces a lighter and more paraffinic hydrocarbon product than coal-derived syngas. The selectivity and yields of light alkenes as well as the intermediate range linear-α-alkenes decrease considerably with reaction time and CO conversion for syngas derived from both sources. The yields of these valuable products can be considerably improved by a lower single-pass reactor CO conversion with recycle of unconverted syngas or by using reactors in series. The syngas derived from coal produces a slightly lower ethylene and propylene yield, but a higher intermediate-range linear-a-alkene yield than that of natural gas-derived syngas.
Osmium–Germanium and Osmium–Germanium–Gold Carbonyl Cluster Complexes: Syntheses, Structures, Bonding, and Reactivity

Reactions of Os3(CO)10(NCMe)2 with HGePh3 have yielded the compounds Os3(CO)10(NCMe)(GePh3)(μ-H) (1) and Os3(CO)10(GePh3)2(μ-H)2 (2) by the sequential replacement of the NCMe ligands and the oxidative addition of the GeH bonds of one and two HGePh3 molecules, respectively, to the osmium atoms of the cluster. Compound 2 exists as two isomers in solution at low temperatures which interconvert rapidly on the 1H NMR time scale at room temperature. When it was heated, 1 was transformed into the pentaosmium complex Os5(CO)17(μ-GePh2) (3), which exhibits a planar raft structure with one bridging GePh2 ligand. Compound 1 reacts with the compound PhAu(PPh3) to yield the compound Os3(CO)8(μ-CO)(μ-O═CPh)(μ-GePh2)(μ-AuPPh3) (4), which contains a bridging O═CPh ligand and a Au(PPh3) group that bridges an Os–Ge bond. A minor product, Os(CO)4(GePh3)(AuPPh3) (5), was also obtained in this reaction. Compound 4 was also obtained from the reaction of 1 with CH3Au(PPh3). Compound 4 reacted with PhC2Ph to yield the complex Os...
A Field Experiment in Charitable Contribution: The Impact of Social Information on the Voluntary Provision of Public Goods

We study the effect of social information on the voluntary provision of public goods. Competing theories predict that others’ contributions might be either substitutes or complements to one's own. We demonstrate a positive social information effect on individual contributions, supporting theories of complementarities. We find the most influential level of social information is drawn from the 90th to 95th percentile of previous contributions. We furthermore find the effect to be significant for new members but not for renewing members. In the most effective condition, social information increases contributions by 12% ($13). These increased contributions do not crowd out future contributions.
Automated Bicycle Counts: Lessons from Boulder, Colorado

Quantifying bicycle use is fundamental to understanding bicycle travel. Methods of counting bicycles vary from limited-time, manual counts to permanent overhead imaging sensors. One common permanent counting method uses inductive loops embedded in the pavement to count cyclists on paths. Although inductive loop detectors have been found to be a highly accurate method of counting bicycles under ideal test conditions, their accuracy after years of use has not been systematically studied. This study focuses on bicycle counts collected by the City of Boulder, Colorado, since 1998, on multiuse paths with inductive loop detectors. To estimate the accuracy of the devices in use, two individuals manually counted path users at six locations. On average, the loop detectors counted 4% fewer bicycles than the manual counters at the same locations. Of the 22 detector channels with sufficient counts to judge their accuracy, roughly 68% were considered accurate. The most dramatic inaccuracies were caused primarily by de...
Use of contrastive stress in normal, aphasic, and autistic children.

Studies in child language have shown that contrastive stress appears to be an early developing device to mark the topic-comment distinction, and thus is important for the acquisition of pragmatic k...
Resonance fluorescence from a semiconductor quantum dot

Orthogonal optical detection and excitation of quantum dots embedded in a microcavity allows, for the first time, for background-free measurement of their resonance fluorescence. The spectra and photon statistics of single dots were obtained.
Evaluation of Thermomechanical Damage of a Slipper and Rail in a Rocket Sled System

During the rocket sled test, slippers and rail experience high-speed sliding contact causing critical damage on the surfaces. Because of the significant temperature rise on the contacting surfaces, its fracture mechanism relies on the temperature-dependent material properties. In this study, the thermomechanical damage of the slipper and the rail is systematically investigated through 3D finite-element analysis (FEA) model and simulations. The sliding velocity consisted of 20 m/s, 200 m/s, and 1500 m/s, whereas the vertical velocity (bouncing speed of the slippers) was assumed to be 1.1 m/s. The unique method of including the aerodynamic bounce by allowing the rail to move vertically is quite different from other models explored by collaborating authors. The process of material thermal softening by adiabatic and frictional heat generation is applied to the modeling. From the simulation results, it is found that the damage process and pattern of the slipper and the rail asperity is very dependent upon the sliding velocity and the slipper temperature. For the sliding velocity of 20 m/s, the damage rate of the slipper gradually increases with the elapsed contact time, where the slipper surface produces a plowing type of damage pattern (continuous scratch). However, when the sliding velocity increases beyond 200 m/s, the slipper surface starts showing a gouging type of damage pattern along with a chopping material removal in the rail asperity.
American and Israeli Jews: Oneness and Distancing

This paper reviews the two submitted articles on “distancing.” In addition to a review and brief critique of methodological and measurement issues, I present a macro contextual argument to address the question of distancing between American Jews and Israel.
SPLINE APPROXIMATIONS TO VALUE FUNCTIONS: Linear Programming Approach

We review the properties of algorithms that characterize the solution of the Bellman equation of a stochastic dynamic program, as the solution to a linear program. The variables in this problem are the ordinates of the value function; hence, the number of variables grows with the state space. For situations in which this size becomes computationally burdensome, we suggest the use of low-dimensional cubic-spline approximations to the value function. We show that fitting this approximation through linear programming provides upper and lower bounds on the solution to the original large problem. The information contained in these bounds leads to inexpensive improvements in the accuracy of approximate solutions.
Constitutive modeling and characterization of the flow behavior of semi-solid metal alloys slurries—I. The flow response

Abstract We present an internal variable constitutive model for semi-solid metal alloy slurries in this two-part paper. The first part discusses the constant internal structure flow equation and the second part derives the structure evolution equation. The model is valid for low (0.1) to moderate solid fractions (0.5-0.6). We also present a set of experiments on two alloy systems, Sn15% Pb and Al7% Si0.6% Mg, performed on a computer controlled, high temperature Couette rheometer to determine the model parameters. We independently validate the internal variable model through separate, primarily hysteresis, experiments.
Aggregation-prone c9FTD/ALS poly(GA) RAN-translated proteins cause neurotoxicity by inducing ER stress

The occurrence of repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation, an atypical form of translation of expanded repeats that results in the synthesis of homopolymeric expansion proteins, is becoming more widely appreciated among microsatellite expansion disorders. Such disorders include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia caused by a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene (c9FTD/ALS). We and others have recently shown that this bidirectionally transcribed repeat is RAN translated, and the “c9RAN proteins” thusly produced form neuronal inclusions throughout the central nervous system of c9FTD/ALS patients. Nonetheless, the potential contribution of c9RAN proteins to disease pathogenesis remains poorly understood. In the present study, we demonstrate that poly(GA) c9RAN proteins are neurotoxic and may be implicated in the neurodegenerative processes of c9FTD/ALS. Specifically, we show that expression of poly(GA) proteins in cultured cells and primary neurons leads to the formation of soluble and insoluble high molecular weight species, as well as inclusions composed of filaments similar to those observed in c9FTD/ALS brain tissues. The expression of poly(GA) proteins is accompanied by caspase-3 activation, impaired neurite outgrowth, inhibition of proteasome activity, and evidence of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Of importance, ER stress inhibitors, salubrinal and TUDCA, provide protection against poly(GA)-induced toxicity. Taken together, our data provide compelling evidence towards establishing RAN translation as a pathogenic mechanism of c9FTD/ALS, and suggest that targeting the ER using small molecules may be a promising therapeutic approach for these devastating diseases.
Within-adolescent coupled changes in cortisol with DHEA and testosterone in response to three stressors during adolescence

It is hypothesized that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes function together to maintain adaptive functioning during stressful situations differently in adolescence than the characteristic inverse relations found in adulthood. We examined within-person correlated changes (coupling) in cortisol, DHEA and testosterone in response to parent-adolescent conflict discussion, social performance, and venipuncture paradigms. Data are derived from two samples of boys and girls from the Northeastern US (213 adolescents aged 11-16, M=13.7, SD=1.5 years; 108 adolescents aged 9-14, M=11.99, SD=1.55) using different biological sampling vehicles (saliva and blood). Results consistently show that across samples, vehicles, and contexts, cortisol and DHEA and cortisol and testosterone are positively coupled in response to environmental stimuli. Findings underscore the importance of considering the effects of multiple hormones together in order to further our understanding of the biological underpinnings of behavior, especially during adolescence, as adolescence is a developmental transition period that may be qualitatively different from adulthood in terms of hormone functioning.
Critical exponents for the Ising model between one and two dimensions.

Critical exponents are presented for the ferromagnetic Ising model in dimensions between one and two. The exponents are calculated by applying finite-size-scaling methods to numerical transfer-matrix data. The transfer matrix, which is translationally invariant, is written in such a fashion that interpolation to noninteger dimensions is possible. Results are also obtained for the first derivatives evaluated at {ital d}=2 for the critical exponents {ital y}{sub {ital T}} and {ital y}{sub {ital H}} as a function of dimension. All results are compared with series-expansion results in 1{lt}{ital d}{le}2.
Comparing Journal of Consumer Psychology and Journal of Consumer Research

The Journal of Consumer Psychology ( JCP ) was created in 1992 partly in response to what was interpreted by some as a shift in the methodological focus of the Journal of Consumer Research ( JCR ). JCR began to increase its accommodation of postmodern approaches, compared to more positivistic approaches. JCP's mission was thus perceived by some to be more methodologically homogeneous, with a greater focus on traditional experimental psychology in the domain of consumer behavior. Is JCR really more methodologically diverse than JCP ? In what other ways are the two journals similar or different? This article attempts to answer these questions with an in-depth analysis of the articles published in both journals from 1992 to 1998. The articles are reviewed in terms of overall output, authorship, content, research design, and data analysis. Conclusions and implications are included.
Ovarian involvement in the suppression of luteinizing hormone in the incubating turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).

A series of experiments were conducted to elucidate the role of the ovary in incubation behavior-associated luteinizing hormone (LH) suppression. Ovariectomy (Ovx) increased (p 0.05). Ovx had no effect on intramuscularly injected mammalian luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (4 µg/kg i.m. > induced LH in incubating hens, but enhanced the LH response in laying hens. Serum LH and prolactin (Prl) were unaffected by Ovx, and nest deprivation (ND) decreased Prl levels (p
Asian dust storm events of spring 2001 and associated pollutants observed in New England by the Atmospheric Investigation, Regional Modeling, Analysis and Prediction (AIRMAP) monitoring network

[1] Between 18 April and 13 May 2001, three statistically extreme dust aerosol events were observed across the entire northeastern United States. High levels of bulk aerosol water-soluble Ca2+ (range = 42–482 pptv) and PM2.5 elemental Ca (range = 19–156 pptv) were observed simultaneously at Atmospheric Investigation, Regional Modeling, Analysis and Prediction (AIRMAP) and Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) stations. On the basis of Ca2+ concentrations, the average bulk dust concentration for all events across all four AIRMAP stations was estimated to be 7.4 μg/m3. There was no evidence of dust outbreaks in North America large enough to explain these events. However, in April 2001, massive dust storms occurred in the Tarim Pendi basin and in the Gobi deserts of southern Mongolia and China. Comparison of elemental ratios of AIRMAP samples to previously reported Asian dust aerosol samples showed that all AIRMAP samples had a chemical composition similar to Asian dust transported over long distances. Within the dust plumes, strong correlations were observed between absorption, scattering, and CO, indicative of an anthropogenic contribution including elemental carbon and SO42− aerosols. Aerosol NO3− was also highly elevated during event days, most likely due to uptake of HNO3 by the dust during transport. A comparison of dust plumes sampled by AIRMAP to those sampled off the Asian coast during the TRACE-P airborne mission and on the U.S. west coast, strongly suggested entrainment of additional pollutants (e.g., CO, aerosol NO3−, and SO42−) as the dust plumes were transported over North America.
Factors associated with weight concerns in adolescent girls.

Objective This study examined the association of weight concerns with potential risk factors for the development of eating disorders. Method: A self-report survey was given to 103 elementary (Grades 4 and 5) and 420 middle (Grades 6–8) school students in Arizona and California. Of these, 78 elementary and 333 middle school students provided complete data and were used in the analyses. Results: In a multivariate stepwise regression analysis, the importance that peers put on weight and eating was most strongly related to weight concerns in the elementary school girls, accounting for 34% of the variance after adjusting for site differences. Trying to look like girls/women on TV and in magazines as well as body mass index (BMI) entered the final model that accounted for 57% of the variance in weight concerns. In middle school, the importance that peers place on weight and eating was also the strongest predictor accounting for 33% of the variance followed by confidence, BMI, trying to look like girls/women on TV and in magazines, and being teased about weight. Together these variables accounted for 55% of the variance. Discussion: Prevention programs aimed at reducing weight concerns need to address these factors. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 24:31–42, 1998.
Conceptualizations of guilt and the corresponding relationships to emotional ambivalence, self-disclosure, loneliness and alienation

Abstract Researchers examining guilt using the Test of Self-Conscious Affect (TOSCA) have suggested that guilt is an adaptive emotion that drives people to take reparative actions such as confessing or apologizing for one’s transgressions. These researchers have found guilt to be inversely related to negative emotions such as anger, hostility, and resentment. Other researchers claim that the TOSCA measure does not capture the complexity of the guilt construct and that it does not address some of the maladaptive aspects of guilt. O’Connor and her colleagues developed a more encompassing measure of guilt, the Interpersonal Guilt Questionnaire-67 (IGQ-67). They argue that guilt can be linked to irrational beliefs, may be maladaptive, and can lead to emotional distress. The present study examined the relationship between the two conceptualizations of guilt to psychological outcomes. The results indicated that TOSCA guilt was negatively related to loneliness and this relationship was mediated by self-disclosure. IGQ-67 guilt was positively related to loneliness and alienation; these relationships were mediated by emotional ambivalence. The findings provide researchers with a clearer understanding of the guilt construct and its emotional and behavioral correlates.
Theory of Piezo-Phototronics for Light-Emitting Diodes

Devices fabricated by using the inner-crystal piezopotential as a "gate" voltage to tune/control the carrier generation, transport, and recombination processes at the vicinity of a p-n junction are named piezo-phototronics. Here, the theory of the photon emission and carrier transport behavior in piezo-phototronic devices is investigated as a p-n junction light-emitting diode. Numerical calculations are given for predicting the photon emission and current-voltage characteristics of a general piezo-phototronic light-emitting diode.
Selection of number of dose levels and its robustness for binary response data

Muller & Schmitt (1990) have considered the question of how to choose the number of doses for estimating the median effective dose (ED50) when a probit dose-response curve is correctly assumed. However, they restricted their investigation to designs with doses symmetrical about the true ED50. In this paper, we investigate how the conclusions of Muller & Schmitt may change as the dose designs become slightly asymmetric about the true ED50. In addition, we address the question of the robustness of the number of doses chosen for an incorrectly assumed logistic model, when the dose designs are asymmetric about the assumed ED50. The underlying true dose-response curves considered here include the probit, cubic logistic and Aranda- Ordaz asymmetric models. The simulation results show that, for various underlying true dose-response curves and the uniform design density with doses spaced asymmetrically around the assumed ED50, the choice of as many doses as possible is almost optimal. This agrees with the results...
Volumetric properties for {x1CO2+x2CH4+ (1 −x1−x2)N2} at the pressures (19.94, 39.94, 59.93, and 99.93) MPa and temperatures (323.15, 373.15, 473.15, and 573.15) K

Abstract The densities for { x 1 CO 2 + x 2 CH 4 + (1 − x 1 − x 2 )N 2 } were measured at the pressures (19.94, 39.94, 59.93, 99.93) MPa and temperatures (323.15, 373.15, 473.15, 573.15) K using a custom-designed, high pressure, high-temperature vibrating-tube densimeter. Excess molar volumes V m E were calculated from the experimental results. Although V m E is generally positive, negative deviations are observed in ternary mixtures with compositions close to those of binary mixtures that exhibit negative deviations. V m E generally decreases as pressure increases from 20 MPa to 100 MPa. V m E is typically less than ±4 per cent of the total volume of the mixture. V m E increases substantially as ( p , T ) conditions approach the critical point of CO 2 . Predictions of V m E for ternary mixtures may be made from experimental results for the binary subsystems. Comparisons with experimental results indicate that these methods are reasonably accurate for estimating the volumetric properties of ternary gas mixtures.
Running on Empty: The Operating Reserves of U.S. Nonprofit Organizations

Operating reserves allow nonprofit organizations to smooth out imbalances between revenues and expenses, helping to maintain program output in the presence of fiscal shocks. We know surprisingly little about why nonprofits might save operating reserves and what factors explain variation between organizations' savings behavior. Findings suggest that operating reserves are reduced in the presence of concentrated public funds, access to debt, fixed assets, and endowment. However, size is not an important predictor, indicating that the lack of reserves is not limited to small nonprofit organizations but is instead a sectorwide issue. Significant numbers of nonprofits maintain no operating reserves at all. One potential explanation is that organizations discount the benefits of reserves because they are evaluated on spending, focusing instead on the “benefits of costs.” This preference for spending over reserving may also help explain the general lack of liquidity in the sector beyond operating reserves alone.
Richard Phillips Feynman. 11 May 1918 15 February 1988

Just as Josiah Willard Gibbs was assuredly the greatest American physicist of the nineteenth century, Richard Phillips Feynman was arguably the greatest American-born theoretical physicist of the t...
Modeling Guided Waves for Damage Identification in Isotropic and Orthotropic Plates Using a Local Interaction Simulation Approach

In this paper, a numerical simulation technique based on the local interaction simulation approach (LISA)/sharp interface model (SIM) is used to study the propagation of Lamb waves in aluminum and orthotropic plates and wave interactions with damage. The LISA/SIM model allows for accurate and fast simulations of sharp changes in material properties across interfaces associated with damage or specimen boundaries. Damage in the form of holes and changes in density and/or stiffnesses are studied for three different plates. These local changes in density and stiffness have dimensions not exceeding the wave length of the interrogating wave form. Wave scatter from these damage sites is shown at different time instants and at specific spatial locations. Multiple site damage cases are studied for all the plate structures. The different scatter patterns associated with intersecting and nonintersecting surface cracks are also studied. Results obtained from a combination of single site damage cases are compared with the composite multiple site damage case to study the usability of commonly applied algorithms for identifying damage. The benefits of observing multiple directions of the displacement field are demonstrated. It is shown that the out-of-plane measurements give a clearer indication of damage sites than the in-plane measurements.
The conundrum of xeroderma pigmentosum - A rare disease with frequent complexities

Abstract This article examines the genetic and clinical complexity of xeroderma pigmentosum, including the possible genetic for its association with the hereditary diseases. Cockayne syndrome and trichothiodystrophy.
Hume's Dialogues and Paradise Lost

Soulignant l'influence des images litteraires dans la formulation conceptuelle de la philosophie de Hume, en general, l'A. etudie la place particuliere des references au «Paradis perdu» de J. Milton dans les «Dialogues sur la religion naturelle», qui presentent une forme epistolaire differente du style philosophique de Hume. Alors que les deux oeuvres partagent le meme but qui est de decrire la relation entre Dieu et les hommes a travers la question du mal, l'A. montre qu'elles empruntent des voies differentes : l'une, sous une forme epique classique, tend a defendre la divinite (l'avocat de Dieu), l'autre, dans une veine plus subversive, vise le theisme naturel et toute forme de superstition (l'avocat du diable)
CLASS OF EXACT SOLUTIONS OF NONISENTROPIC, ONEDIMENSIONAL MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC FLOW

The one-dimensional unsteady motion of an ideal, inviscid, perfectly conducting, compressible fluid subjected to a transverse magnetic field is investigated. (C.E.S.)
A measure of aliasing energy in multiresolution signal decomposition

An analysis of band energy distributions in perfect reconstruction (PR) multirate systems is presented, and the effects of aliasing are evaluated. A performance measure called nonaliasing energy ratio (NER) is defined. The merit of the new measure is emphasized with performance comparisons of the popular block transforms and two-band PR-QMF based hierarchical filter banks. It is shown that the new measure complements the widely used energy compaction measure and is consistent with the subjective performance results. >
The influence of the composition of the medium upon the sedimentation rate of proteins. III. Studies on crystalline botulinum A toxin protein.

Abstract Crystalline botulinum A toxin protein was sedimented in sucrose solutions of different densities buffered to pH 3.95. The product of solution viscosity and sedimentation rate was found to be a linear function of solution density. From the intercept corresponding to the density of water at 20 °, the sedimentation constant of the toxin protein at infinite dilution was calculated to be 16.6 × 10−13 cm./sec./unit field. From the intercept corresponding to zero sedimentation rate, it was calculated that 1 g. of toxin protein in sucrose solution is associated with 0.24 ml. of water.
Contact Metasomatic Iron Deposits of California

Iron deposits of California that cluster around small intrusive bodies and are localized in metamorphosed limestone or dolomite show varying degrees of mineralogic complexity. Minerals present along with those that more commonly occur in contact metasomatic deposits in the United States include chondrodite, humite, clinohumite, ludwigite, ilvaite, idocrase, spinel, and forsterite. One deposit is characterized by the very simple mineral assemblage calcite, antigorite, and magnetite except within a few feet of an intrusive body. Generally, pyroxene, garnet, chondrodite, humite, and clinohumite formed early; antigorite, magnetite, specularite, and goethite formed late. The writer suggests several sequences of mineral deposition and compares them with sequences determined by others. Addition of material and replacement were prominent in the formation of these deposits. Iron was added during the formation of magnetite, hematite, and goethite and probably also during the formation of hedenbergite, andradite, ludwigite, ilvaite, and epidote; fluorine during the formation of chondrodite, humite, and clinohumite; boron during the formation of ludwigite; and probably magnesium during the formation of chondrodite, humite, clinohumite, and antigorite. Some recrystallized limestone was replaced by magnetite and antigorite; some antigorite was replaced by magnetite; some pyroxene, minerals of the humite group, and spinel were replaced by magnetite. The writer classes the deposits as contact meta-somatic but suggests that the mineralogy indicates a temperature range from high contact metamophic to moderate hydrothermal activity.
Swarm optimization techniques for multi-agent source localization

In this paper, we address the problem of seeking a source that emits signal described by a function that is radially symmetric, and decays with increasing distance. Electromagnetic signals, acoustic signals, vapor emission, etc, are examples of such signals. We analyze a scenario in which a team of mobile agents, called seekers, try to locate the source without any prior knowledge about the decay profile. In contradistinction to existing techniques, we use a non-gradient based technique known as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to overcome the difficulties posed due to lack of a mathematical model for the decay profile in real scenarios. We study two variations of PSO and implement on a real noisy source. We compare their mechanism and performance. Finally, we validate our conclusions through experiments.
Orbital and Conformational Preferences in Rearrangements of 1-Phenyl-1-Propylidenes

Abstract The stereochemistry of rearrangement of substituted 1-phenyl-1-propylidene to trans and cis -propenylbenzenes is substituent dependent.
Management caveats for measuring and assessing public responsibility performance

Abstract More and more, stakeholders are demanding company performance information in the areas of public responsibility. Unfortunately, as companies report these activities, stakeholders, rather than being satisfied, are increasingly demanding additional information. Management is then left wondering why actions meant to satisfy lead instead to greater dissatisfaction. Often, managers do not understand what steps to take in developing good measurement and assessment plans and communicating performance results. This article presents fourteen caveats in a checklist for managers to use as they go through this process. Recommendations for deciding what to measure, developing and interpreting appropriate metrics, setting benchmark standards, building learning systems, developing policies for inclusion of external stakeholders, and communication are given.
The effects of an aromatization inhibitor on the reproductive behavior of male zebra finches

Recent evidence indicates that aromatizable androgens are more effective than nonaromatizable androgens in restoring normal levels of sexual behavior in castrated male zebra finches (Poephila guttata). To determine whether the efficacy of treatment with aromatizable androgens, is in part due to their conversion to estrogens, castrated male finches were treated with androstenedione (AE), an aromatizable androgen, and their sexual and aggressive behavior was compared with that of castrates treated with AE plus 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD), an aromatization inhibitor. Males treated with AE + ATD showed less courtship activity and less copulatory behavior than AE-treated males, and were unlikely to have nests. Estradiol (E), when given concurrently with AE + ATD, reversed the inhibitory effects of ATD and restored levels of courtship and copulation to those observed in AE-treated males. Only AE- and AE + ATD + E-treated males displayed aggressive behaviors, but the frequency of such behaviors was so low that there were no significant differences across groups. These data affirm the importance of estrogen in the control of reproductive activities in male zebra finches and indicate that aromatization may be an obligatory step for maintaining normal levels of sexual and aggressive behavior.
Omental Milky Spots Develop in the Absence of Lymphoid Tissue-Inducer Cells and Support B and T Cell Responses to Peritoneal Antigens

The omentum is a site of B1 cell lymphopoiesis and immune responsiveness to T cell-independent antigens. However, it is unknown whether it supports immune responses independently of conventional lymphoid organs. We showed that the omentum collected antigens and cells from the peritoneal cavity and supported T cell-dependent B cell responses, including isotype switching, somatic hypermutation, and limited affinity maturation, despite the lack of identifiable follicular dendritic cells. The omentum also supported CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to peritoneal antigens and recruited effector T cells primed in other locations. Unlike conventional lymphoid organs, milky spots in the omentum developed in the absence of lymphoid tissue-inducer cells, but required the chemokine CXCL13. Although the lymphoid architecture of milky spots was disrupted in lymphotoxin-deficient mice, normal architecture was restored by reconstitution with lymphotoxin-sufficient hematopoietic cells. These results indicate that the milky spots of the omentum function as unique secondary lymphoid organs that promote immunity to peritoneal antigens.
Thermoelectric Investigation of the Pseudo Binary System PbTe–CoSe2

Composites of nominal composition (Pb0.98Na0.02Te)1−y(CoSe2)y and (Pb0.95Na0.05Te)1−y(CoSe2)y with y = 0.05–0.15 have been synthesized to study their thermoelectric properties. In these composites CoTe2 is the secondary phase. The room temperature carrier concentration covers a wide range, 0.5–3.3 × 1020/cm3 depending on the composition. The high-temperature thermoelectric properties are similar to those of Na-doped Pb(Te,Se) alloys. The Seebeck coefficient can be as high as ~250 μV/K when the electrical resistivity is approximately 3.5 mΩ cm. The thermal conductivity of all the composites are very low. The CoTe2 seems to have little effect on the transport properties. The highest ZT achieved is ~1.2.
Translocation. Incidental phenomenon or true pathology

Objective This study was conducted to determine if reduction of early postburn endotoxemia influences the cytokine cascade, clinical manifestations of sepsis, and mortality rate. Summary Background Data Translocational endotoxemia has been demonstrated postburn in animals and humans. Endotoxin is known to induce the cytokine cascade, which leads to the clinical manifestations of sepsis. Whether reduction of postburn endotoxemia could influence the induction of cytokines has not been demonstrated. Methods In a prospective, randomized study, 76 burn patients were given polymyxin intravenously or served as control subjects. Polymyxin B was given intravenously for 1 week postburn in doses designed to neutralize circulating endotoxemia
Plankton dynamics along a 180 km reach of the Saint Lawrence River from its headwaters in Lake Ontario

We test the hypothesis that phytoplankton biomass decrease upon entry into the St. Lawrence River from headwaters in Lake Ontario is attributable to a range of causal factors including, decreased photosynthetic fitness due to turbulence, cell loss due to increased flocculation and subsequent sedimentation, decreases in nutrients, and loss due to grazing. In order to test this, changes in phytoplankton and crustacean zooplankton concentrations were examined during four transects along the river, from 8 km offshore in Lake Ontario to the hydroelectric power dam 180 km downstream. Both phytoplankton biomass, measured as chlorophyll-a, and zooplankton decreased markedly upon entry of lake water into the river. Phytoplankton community composition and size changed little over the river reach and tended to reflect that in Lake Ontario. Total phosphorus increased with transit of river water downstream despite low tributary inputs of water into this reach of river. Light availability was high, photosynthetic efficiency suggested that phytoplankton were not physiologically stressed during transit in turbulent waters, and there was no direct evidence of flocculation causing sedimentation of phytoplankton. Grazing by the benthic community (filtering insect larvae and dreissenid mussels) is inferred to be a dominant biological factor as is the geomorphology in this reach of the river, which includes large littoral areas, shoals, and reaches of high water velocity that can increase particle contact in the water column with benthic grazers. The findings of this study have a bearing on understanding how changing water levels in a regulated river might alter areas of benthic grazing.
Thiol-disulfide exchange by thrombospondin: evidence for a thiol and a disulfide bond protected by calcium.

Thrombospondin (Tsp), a protein secreted by activated platelets, forms disulfide-linked complexes with thrombin [K. J. Danishefsky, R. J. Alexander and T. C. Detwiler (1984)Biochemistry23, 4984]. Thiols and disulfide bonds of Tsp were analyzed, and a search was made for other Tsp covalent complexes. Platelets in 1 mm EDTA were activated with ionophore A23187, and the secreted proteins were analyzed by gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. One millimolar dithioerythritol (DTE) decreased the electrophoretic mobility of Tsp, indicating reduction of an intrachain disulfide bond; Ca2+ prevented this effect. Electrophoresis of single-chain Tsp prepared with 50 mm DTE in either EDTA or Ca2+ also revealed a Ca2+-stabilized intrachain disulfide bond. Ca2+ prevented the retention of Tsp on an activated thiol-Sepharose column, indicating protection of a thiol by Ca2+. Incubation at 37 °C for 60 min resulted in complexes with apparent mass ⪢500 kDa. Formation of complexes was prevented by N-ethylmaleimide, by a temperature < 25 °C, and by Ca2+ or Mg2+. From pH 6 to 9, complexes formed better at lower pH. Two-dimensional (nonreduced/reduced) electrophoresis revealed Tsp but no other constituents of the complexes. With 10 nm thrombin, complexes formed faster and included thrombin; Ca2+ only partially inhibited. The complex was very susceptible to dissociation by low concentrations (2.5 mm) of DTE. It is concluded that Tsp has a reactive thiol and an intrachain disulfide bond that are protected by Ca2+. When these groups are unprotected, there is intermolecular thioldisulfide exchange.
D-4F, an Apolipoprotein A-I Mimetic Peptide, Inhibits the Inflammatory Response Induced by Influenza A Infection of Human Type II Pneumocytes

Background— Evidence suggests that apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and HDL play important roles in modulating inflammation. We previously reported that an apoA-I mimetic peptide, D-4F, reduced inflammatory responses to influenza virus in mice. To further define the antiinflammatory activity of D-4F, a human alveolar type II cell line, A549, was used. Methods and Results— Cells were either uninfected or infected with influenza A in the presence or absence of D-4F. Cells treated with D-4F were more viable, and virus-induced cytokine production was suppressed by D-4F. Caspases associated with cytokine production were activated after infection but suppressed by D-4F treatment. Infected A549 cells showed dramatic increases in cellular phospholipid secretion into the media. When infected cells were incubated with D-4F, secretion of parent nonoxidized, noninflammatory phospholipids was unaltered, but production of proinflammatory oxidized phospholipids was inhibited. Conclusions— Type II pneumocytes respond to influ...
Identifying the Relative Importance of Leaf versus Shredder Species Loss on Litter Decomposition in Streams

Understanding how species loss influences ecosystem function is a contemporary issue in ecology. However, most research has focused on species loss at one trophic-level. We explored the relationship between functional diversity (FD) and species richness separately for trees and aquatic leaf-shredding detritivores. For trees, we collected information on species-specific leaf tissue chemistry and species co-occurrences in the mid-Atlantic region (USA). For shredders, we used a published trait database with information on communities from 38 streams in the same region. We used a clustering algorithm to estimate FD for each community and for randomly assembled communities. If FD was high, we concluded that species loss was important to change in function; if low, species were functionally redundant and insensitive to species loss. We found tree FD to be significantly different than expected, but shredders exhibited FD levels similar to patterns based on random assembly. Furthermore, there were more leaf species exclusively associated with very high or very low levels of functional diversity compared to shredders. This approach revealed greater implications for leaf than shredder species loss for litter breakdown.
Adaptive sliding mode vibration control schemes for flexible structure system

This paper investigates the feasibility of adaptive feedforward sliding mode control and model reference adaptive sliding mode control scheme for the vibration suppression of a smart flexible beam. The adaptive least mean square (LMS) feedforward control with sliding mode controller and model reference adaptive control (MRAC) scheme with sliding mode controller are developed. Finite element model of flexible beam is calculated. Numerical simulations verified the desired performance of the adaptive sliding mode controllers and proved that the adaptive feedforward sliding mode control and model reference adaptive sliding mode control are effective approaches with application to vibration suppression problem .
Applications of endoscopic ultrasonography in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Accurate staging of pancreatic cancer is essential for surgical planning and for identification of locally advanced and metastatic disease that is incurable by surgery. Advances in endoscopic sonography (EUS), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography have improved the accuracy of staging and reduced the number of incomplete surgical resections. Tissue acquisition is necessary in nonsurgical cases when chemoradiotherapy is considered. The complex regional anatomy of the pancreas makes cytologic diagnosis of malignancy at this region difficult without exploratory surgery. Although CT-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is used for this purpose, reports of an increased risk of peritoneal dissemination of cancer cells and a false-negative rate of nearly 20% make this a poor choice. The ability to position the EUS-transducer in direct proximity to the pancreas by means of the stomach and duodenum, combined with the use of FNA, increases the specificity of EUS in detecting pancreatic malignancies. Methods: The current literature regarding the accuracy of EUS with FNA in the evaluation of pancreatic cancer is reviewed. Results: EUS accuracy ranges from 78% to 94% for tumor staging and from 64% to 82% for nodal staging. EUS also enables FNA of lesions that are too small to be identified by CT or MRI or too well encased by surrounding vascular structures to safely allow percutaneous biopsy. The accuracy for detecting invasion into the superior mesenteric artery and vein is lower than that for detecting portal or splenic vein invasion, especially for large tumors. EUS permits delivery of localized therapy such as celiac plexus neurolysis for pain control and direct intra-lesional injection of antitumor therapy. Conclusions: EUS in combination with FNA is a highly accurate method of preoperative staging of pancreatic cancer, especially those too small to be characterized by CT or MRI, and it has the ability to obtain cytological confirmation of pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic ultrasonography identifies patients unlikely to be cured by surgery due to vascular invasion or regional nodal metastasis.
Bounding surface modeling of sand with consideration of fabric and its evolution during monotonic shearing

This paper presents a bounding surface plasticity model for sand that considers fabric and its evolution during monotonic shearing. The model is based on critical-state soil mechanics. The bounding surface controls sand stiffness through a relationship that depends on the distance from the current state to the bounding surface calculated using a rigorous algorithm. Dilatancy, which measures the plastic volume change caused by plastic shear deformation, is captured through a newly introduced phase transformation line. The fabric is quantified based on the distribution of contact normals between particles; it affects the location of the phase transformation line (thus, the dilatancy). Simulation results using the model are in excellent agreement with test data for Toyoura sand.
Tweets, Tweeps, and Signifyin’: Communication and Cultural Performance on “Black Twitter”

This article explores the use of the Black American cultural tradition of “signifyin’” as a means of performing racial identity online. In the United States, race is deeply tied to corporeal signifiers. But, in social media, the body can be obscured or even imitated (e.g., by a deceptive avatar). Without reliable corporeal signifiers of racial difference readily apparent, Black users often perform their identities through displays of cultural competence and knowledge. The linguistic practice of “signifyin’,” which deploys figurative language, indirectness, doubleness, and wordplay as a means of conveying multiple layers of meaning, serves as a powerful resource for the performance of Black cultural identity on Twitter.
A widening rift in access and quality: growing evidence of economic disparities.

ABSTRACT: Data from the Community Tracking Study provide a valuable perspective from which to observe how economic disparities—largely a function of different sources of coverage—influence access t...
Buffer layers for narrow bandgap a-SiGe solar cells

In high efficiency narrow bandgap (NBG) a-SiGe solar cells, thin buffer layers of unalloyed hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si) are usually used at the interfaces between the a-SiGe intrinsic layer and the doped layers. They investigated the effect of inserting additional a-SiGe interface layers between these a-Si buffer layers and the a-SiGe absorber layer. They found that such additional interface layers increase solar cell V{sub oc} and FF sizably, most likely due to the reduction or elimination of the abrupt bandgap discontinuity between the a-SiGe absorber layer and the a-Si buffer layers. With these improved narrow bandgap solar cells incorporated into the fabrication of triple-junction a-Si based solar cells, they obtained triple cells with initial efficiency of 10.6%.