cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum Mechanical Fragment Methods Based on Partitioning Atoms or Partitioning Coordinates

ConspectusThe development of more efficient and more accurate ways to represent reactive potential energy surfaces is a requirement for extending the simulation of large systems to more complex systems, longer-time dynamical processes, and more complete statistical mechanical sampling. One way to treat large systems is by direct dynamics fragment methods. Another way is by fitting system-specific analytic potential energy functions with methods adapted to large systems. Here we consider both approaches.First we consider three fragment methods that allow a given monomer to appear in more than one fragment. The first two approaches are the electrostatically embedded many-body (EE-MB) expansion and the electrostatically embedded many-body expansion of the correlation energy (EE-MB-CE), which we have shown to yield quite accurate results even when one restricts the calculations to include only electrostatically embedded dimers. The third fragment method is the electrostatically embedded molecular tailoring ap...
Residual Cysts Masquerading as Periapical Lesions: Three Case Reports

A residual cyst is an odontogenic lesion that survives after the removal of the associated tooth. The presence of this lesion adjacent to a remaining tooth may lead to incorrect, incomplete, or delayed treatment because it mimics a periapical lesion on the retained tooth. Three cases are reported that describe such conditions.
African-American Lesbian Identity Management and Identity Development in the Context of Family and Community

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is gaining attention in family studies literature as a cultural specific context to understand lesbian, gay, and bisexual visibility in African-American families and communities. This policy suggests that sexual minorities are accepted within African-American families and communities as long as they do not label themselves or acknowledge publicly that they engage in same-sex relationships. The narratives of two African-American lesbians (aged 26 and 27 years) are chronicled in the present study to reveal their lesbian identity development, lesbian identity management, and how they defined and navigated Don't Ask, Don't Tell. They encountered challenges and successes in a quest to find communities that would embrace and affirm their multiple marginalized identities. Their stories are offered as a point of entry to further inquiry concerning African-American lesbian visibility and identity proclamation within African-American families and communities.
Mutually Therapeutic Perception and Self-Awareness in a T Group:

A T Group was studied to test hypotheses that: (1) some members would show higher Problem Expression Scale (PES) ratings of samples of their speech near the end of their group experience than at the beginning, and (2) the members showing the most PES improvement will be those members who enter into the most interpersonal relationships in which the members perceive one another as high in level of regard, empathy, congruence, and unconditionality of regard. Of the nine students and one trainer in this study, four had significantly positive PES changes. Moreover, the number of mutually perceived therapeutic relationships in which a member participated was related to improvement of PES ratings. Replication of this study, using a larger n, seems justified.
Multi-scale electrochemical reaction anode model for solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract A 2D axial-symmetrical model is developed for a button cell test system, integrating the detailed electrochemical elementary reactions with multiple transport processes. The model is validated using experimental polarization curves of the cell under different temperature conditions. Extensive simulations are performed to elucidate the complicated interactions between fuel/gas species, adsorbed/desorbed surface ions, elementary reactions, and their effects on the cell performance. Results indicate that the concentrations of surface adsorbed species of O(s), OH(s) and H2O(s) ions presented at the anode/electrolyte interface are relatively high, while that of H(s) ion is relatively uniform within the entire anode. With increasing the operating temperature, the concentrations of surface adsorbed O(s), OH(s) and H2O(s) ions at the anode/electrolyte interface are significantly improved, while the H(s) ion is slightly influenced. The adsorbed surface species O(s), OH(s) and H2O(s) ions are very sensitive to the fuel compositions and cell voltage.
How safe and effective is methylnaltrexone for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in advanced illness?

Opioids are frequently used to alleviate pain in patients with advanced medical illness; however, constipation that is at least in part mediated by activation of gastrointestinal µ-opioid receptors is a common complication of this treatment. Methylnaltrexone is a peripherally acting antagonist of µ-opioid receptors that selectively blocks peripheral receptors without affecting the effects of opioids mediated by central receptors. This commentary discusses the findings of a 2-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that investigated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone in relieving opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced medical illness. Thomas et al. administered methylnaltrexone or a placebo to patients every other day for 2 weeks. There was a threefold increase in the proportion of patients with laxation within 4 h after methylnaltrexone administration compared with placebo (48% vs 15%, respectively). A 3-month, open-label extension phase demonstrated that methylnaltrexone efficacy was maintained. Patients reported gastrointestinal adverse effects but did not experience centrally mediated withdrawal symptoms or loss of analgesia.
Carrier gas UV laser ablation sensitizers for photopolymerized thin films

Abstract Designed carrier gas UV laser ablation sensitizers were synthesized and proved to greatly enhance the UV laser ablation of photopolymerized thin films. Polymers containing dense ester groups are reported to have better laser ablation performance because of the tendency of the ester groups to decompose into gaseous products (“carrier gases”) during the ablation process. In order to introduce this mechanism to cationic UV curable coatings for better laser ablation, a series of “carrier gas” sensitizers were synthesized by reacting hydroxyl containing reactive diluents such as oxetane and polyester polyols with monomethyl oxalyl chloride or dimethyl oxalate; the oxalyl group is considered a “carrier gas” generating moiety. Furthermore, a UV absorbing chromophore, naphthalene, is either chemically bound to the oxalyl containing molecules or blended with the synthesized oxalyl containing compounds to produce a synergistic effect. The “carrier gas” sensitizers were added into a typical cationic UV curable formulation to form sensitized coatings, which were then characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, real time FTIR and ablated by a 355 nm laser. The ablation vias were examined using optical profilometry and SEM. Compared to the control, the sensitized coatings were found to have similar thermal decomposition temperatures and higher functional group conversion during photopolymerization. All of the sensitized coatings containing the “carrier gas” sensitizers exhibited better UV laser ablation performance than the control. The combination of naphthalene derivatives and the oxalyl group gave a better ablation result, suggesting a synergistic effect. The chemical combination of the naphthalene and oxalyl group exhibited better ablation sensitization than their blends, suggesting a more efficient intramolecular laser energy utilization process.
A comparison of microstrip patch ESPAR array and uniformly-illuminated array performance

A thorough comparison of a 3-element microstrip patch ESPAR and traditionally-fed, uniform illumination phased array antennas operating at 1 GHz is presented. The ESPAR is compared to two arrays employing phase shifters, exhibiting both the close-proximity ESPAR spacing, and a third array with half-wavelength spacing. Performance characteristics including radiation pattern trends, directivity, and efficiency are discussed.
Local Food: A Social Movement?

This article analyzes the development of “local food” institutions from a social movements perspective. Over the last decade, institutions that “shorten the links” between producer and consumer have developed through a diverse collaboration of many social sectors (farmers, agronomic experts, retailers, chefs, food writers, and several distinct consumer sectors). Some agronomists and rural sociologists critical of the globalization and industrialization of agriculture have recognized this development as heralding Polanyian “reembedding” of market exchanges in social relations. This article analyzes whether and how local food is a social movement, using new social movement theory as an analytic framework.
Assessment of allergy to local anesthetics

The authors present methods for the assessment and management of patients purportedly allergic to local anesthetics. Many prospective dental patients are unable to undergo routine dental treatment because they have been “mislabeled” as allergic to local anesthetics by dentists, allergists, or other health practitioners. True allergic reactions to local anesthetics are rare, and dentists should be familiar with reactions that are traceable to pharmacologic properties of the agents and those directly related to allergic phenomena.
Effect of preganglionic nerve stimulation on sensitivity of the superior cervical ganglion to nicotinic blocking agents.

Abstract 1 Periodic stimulation (every 10 min) of the cervical sympathetic nerve increased the ganglionic block by low concentrations of chlorisondamine (CHL) in the superior cervical ganglion of the cat when compared to the contralateral unstimulated side. 2 Periodic stimulation of the postganglionic nerve was ineffective in increasing the block. 3 Ganglionic block by low concentrations of mecamylamine had the same stimulus dependency, but ganglionic block by any dose of hexamethonium was not influenced by nerve stimulation. 4 Physostigmine infused together with CHL increased the rate of onset of block produced by CHL. Atropine had no apparent effect on the development of ganglionic block by CHL. 5 Repeated intra-arterial injections of 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium into the circulation of the superior cervical ganglion increased the magnitude of block produced by CHL. Similar injections of methacholine had no effect on ganglionic block produced by CHL. 6 The results are interpreted to indicate that activation of ganglionic nicotinic receptors increased the affinity of receptors for CHL and mecamylamine.
Self-Assembled Polyaniline Nanotubes with Rectangular Cross-Sections

Nanomaterials made from the conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) have very unique applications due to their high surface area and ease of processing. The link between synthesis conditions and morphology of PANI nanomaterials has been the subject of numerous investigations in recent years. Formation mechanisms for different morphologies have also been proposed. In this work, we report a self-assembly method to make high yield PANI nanotubes with rectangular holes and outer contours by qualitatively and purposely controlling reaction rate. We find that aggregation of detectable and separable reaction intermediates is directly correlated with PANI nanotubes formation, consistent with the observation of oligoaniline precipitates reported in the literature. Control over intermediate aggregates morphology is studied systematically. By controlling the reaction rate through adjusting acid and oxidant concentrations, we can slow down the aggregation rate of the intermediates to largely enhance the yield of nanotubes with rectangular cross-sections. To understand the correlation between the intermediates aggregation and the morphology of the resulting PANI tubes, the morphologies of intermediate aggregates and final nanotubes were characterized using SEM, STEM, and TEM. Open circuit potential (OCP) was used to monitor the polymerization process. Molecular weight distribution results were also obtained for the intermediate aggregates and the final products. Based on our study, we propose a simple PANI nanotube formation mechanism.
Tropical Cyclone Motion and Surrounding Parameter Relationships

Abstract Ten years of rawinsonde data for 30 stations in the western North Pacific have been composited relative to tropical cyclone center positions. This information is used to study tropical cyclone motion and surrounding parameter relationships. Tropical cyclone motion and lower troposphere surrounding actual and geostrophic flow fields from 1°–7° radius are very well correlated. This general correlation of surrounding flow features applies equally well for cyclones with different directions of motion, speeds of propagation, intensities and intensity changes. The 700 mb level best specifies cyclone speed. The 500 mb level best specifies cyclone direction. The steering flow concept of cyclone motion appears to be quite valid in the statistical sense. These results may be useful to tropical cyclone forecasters.
Waddell signs: Distributional properties and correlates

Abstract Objective: To determine what percentage of patients have none of the five nonorganic behavioral processes known as Waddell signs, and the relational pattern between Waddell signs and somatic complaints, disturbed functional performance, negative treatment attitudes, physical pathology, depression, generalized anxiety, and MMPI-2 validity scales. Design: Case series survey. Setting: A referral-based multidisciplinary pain center affiliated with a state medical school. Patients: Seventy-five consecutive patients with chronic back pain. Intervention: Medical evaluation and completion of self-report inventories. Main Outcome Measure: Total number of Waddell signs, physical pathology, and pain intensity ratings were assessed by a physician during an initial medical evaluation. Degree of disturbed functional performance and psychological symptoms were assessed by self-report measures at the initial evaluation. Results: Sixty-four percent of the patients had no Waddell signs. Total number of Waddell signs yielded positive and statistically significant correlations ( p ≤ .05) with depression, disturbed functional performance, somatic complaints, and pain intensity ratings. Correlations of slightly smaller and statistically nonsignificant magnitudes were revealed for Waddell signs with generalized anxiety, negative treatment attitudes, and physical pathology. Waddell signs were unrelated to age, duration of pain, gender, number of lumbar surgeries, and MMPI-2 validity scales. Conclusions: Taken together, multiple Waddell signs and some of their correlates present various factors that might interfere with optimal response to treatment.
Effects of some naturally-occurring purine ribosides on purinergic receptors in cardiac and smooth muscle.

Abstract 1. Certain marine sponges and dorid nudibranchs contain adenosine, 2-methoxyadenosine, 2′-deoxyadenosine, isoguanosine and 1-methylisoguanosine as free ribosbides. 2. These ribosides have negative inotropic and chronotropic activity on the isolated guinea-pig atria. The decreasing order of activity is isoguanosine > 1-methylisoguanosine > adenosine > 2-methyoxyadenosine > 2′-deoxyadenosine. 3. Adenosine and 1-methylisoguanosine inhibit the spontaneous contractions of the rabbit ileum and this effect is antagonized by theophylline. 4. All these naturally-occurring purine ribosides appear to act on the same purinergic receptors in the atria, since log concentration-response curves are parallel. 5. Theophylline is a competitive antagonist of adenosine, isoguanosine and 1-methylisoguanosine on the guinea-pig atria.
The global carbon dioxide flux in soil respiration and its relationship to vegetation and climate

We review measured rates of soil respiration from terrestrial and wetland ecosystems to define the annual global CO 2 flux from soils, to identify uncertainties in the global flux estimate, and to investigate the influences of temperature, precipitation, and vegetation on soil respiration rates. The annual global CO 2 flux from soils is estimated to average (± S.D.) 68 ± 4 PgC/ yr, based on extrapolations from biome land areas. Relatively few measurements of soil respiration exist from arid, semi-arid, and tropical regions; these regions should be priorities for additional research. On a global scale, soil respiration rates are positively correlated with mean annual air temperatures and mean annual precipitation. There is a close correlation between mean annual net primary productivity (NPP) of different vegetation biomes and their mean annual soil respiration rates, with soil respiration averaging 24% higher than mean annual NPP. This difference represents a minimum estimate of the contribution of root respiration to the total soil CO 2 efflux. Estimates of soil C turnover rates range from 500 years in tundra and peaty wetlands to 10 years in tropical savannas. We also evaluate the potential impacts of human activities on soil respiration rates, with particular focus on land use changes, soil fertilization, irrigation and drainage, and climate changes. The impacts of human activities on soil respiration rates are poorly documented, and vary among sites. Of particular importance are potential changes in temperatures and precipitation. Based on a review of in situ measurements, the Q 10 value for total soil respiration has a median value of 2.4. Increased soil respiration with global warming is likely to provide a positive feedback to the greenhouse effect. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1992.t01-1-00001.x
Molten-globule and other conformational forms of zinc cytochrome C. Effect of partial and complete unfolding of the protein on its electron-transfer reactivity.

To test the effect of protein conformation on reactivity, we use laser flash photolysis to compare the electron-transfer properties of the triplet state of zinc-substituted cytochrome c, designated 3Zncyt, in the folded forms at low (Flow) and high (Fhigh) ionic strength, molten-globule (MG) form, and the forms unfolded by acid (Uacid) and urea (Uurea) toward the following four oxidative quenchers: Fe(CN)63-, Co(acac)3, Co(phen)33+, and iron(III) cytochrome c. We characterize the conformational forms of Zncyt on the basis of the far-UV circular dichroism, Soret absorption, and rate constant for natural decay of the triplet state. This rate constant in the absence of quencher increases in the order Fhigh < Flow < MG < Uacid < Uurea because the exposure of porphyrin to solvent increases as Zncyt unfolds. Bimolecular rate constants for the reaction of 3Zncyt with the four quenchers show significant effects on reactivity of electrostatic interactions and porphyrin exposure to solvent. This rate constant at t...
Algebraic multigrid (AMG) for saddle point systems from meshfree discretizations

Meshfree discretizations construct approximate solutions to partial differential equation based on particles, not on meshes, so that it is well suited to solve the problems on irregular domains. Since the nodal basis property is not satisfied in meshfree discretizations, it is difficult to handle essential boundary conditions. In this paper, we employ the Lagrange multiplier approach to solve this problem, but this will result in an indefinite linear system of a saddle point type. We adapt a variation of the smoothed aggregation AMG method of Vaněk et al. to this saddle point system. We give numerical results showing that this method is practical and competitive with other methods with convergence rates that are ∼c/logN. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On Equations of Motion and Control for Systems with Nonholonomic Equality Constraints

A procedure to derive the equation of motion for a class of systems under nonholonomic equality constraints is discussed in detail. Two approaches, namely, adjoining and embedding, to derive equations of motion without Lagrange multiplier are introduced. The equations of motion for systems with nonholonomic constraints are then transformed into a format used in non-constrained problems. The final formulation is suitable for control design. We also address a new robust control design.
College Students and HIV/AIDS: A Comparison of Nontraditional and Traditional Student Perspectives

Objective and Participants The authors compared nontraditional college students' knowledge and perceptions of HIV/AIDS and sexual practices with previously reported results about traditional students. Methods Nontraditional students completed an online survey with questions based on national HIV/AIDS surveys. Traditional students completed the same survey with paper and pencil. Results Overall, the authors found more similarities than differences between the 2 groups. The findings support previous research that suggests that although college students are knowledgeable about HIV and its risks, they express little personal concern about becoming infected. The authors also discuss how apparent differences between nontraditional and traditional students regarding personal concern about becoming infected, relationship status, and information sources may influence the development of effective prevention strategies geared toward nontraditional college students. Conclusions Institutional leaders need to adapt to ...
Athermal stiffness blends: A comparison of Monte Carlo simulations and integral equation theory

Off‐lattice Monte Carlo computer simulations and numerical polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM) integral equation calculations were performed to quantitatively probe the origins of entropic corrections to Flory–Huggins theory for athermal polymer blends with stiffness disparity. This model system is of interest since it has been recently proposed for describing commercially relevant hydrocarbon polymer mixtures. The novelty of the simulations is that the chemical potential changes on mixing for both components are evaluated. We have considered mixing under constant density conditions, and find surprisingly that the stiffer component is stabilized on blending, while the flexible component is characterized by a positive interaction or χ parameter. The net effective single χ parameter describing these blends, however, is close to zero suggesting that they are completely miscible over a wide range of stiffness disparities and chain lengths. PRISM theory is found to be in good agreement with the si...
LXX. The kinetic energy of the ions emitted by hot bodies.—II

(1909). LXX. The kinetic energy of the ions emitted by hot bodies.—II. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 18, No. 107, pp. 681-695.
Understanding the 9/11 Commission archive: control, access, and the politics of manipulation

This article examines a range of issues surrounding the archive developed by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, better known and the “9/11 Commission.” We provide a partial biography of the 9/11 Commission’s archival record as it was being assembled. This contemporaneous analysis of the politics surrounding this archive during its formative stage lends insights into the political and power dynamics shaping this archive. We review how the public record and public knowledge of 9/11 were shaped by the processes surrounding the accretion of this archive by charting records access and control controversies before, during, and years after the Commission submitted its final report. Despite claims from all sides that what was needed was an unfiltered, non-partisan and accurate review of what went wrong and how it went wrong, the story we outline underscores that the composition, accumulation, access to, and control of the archival record surrounding 9/11 was shaped as much by political concerns over blame and responsibility (and evading it) as it was by good faith efforts to get to the heart of the matter. In the charged atmospherics of modern US politics, custodial power over the record and access to it was used to prevent political embarrassment and to submerge—as opposed to surface—basic facts. Those with powers over access were not willing to risk having the documentary record either accessed or analyzed in a truly independent manner. This does not bode well, and in fact represents a deeper structural reality that will confound similar future governmental investigations that require access from those it is investigating. There is no reason to doubt that, absent a seismic shift in how the record is maintained and controlled, the archive will continue to be used as a means to shape and interfere with legitimate inquiries.
Optical simulation experiment for X-ray holography☆

Abstract Using a Fresnel zone plate to obtain a reference point source as well as object illumination a hologram was produced with quasi-thermal light. This experiment is a scaled up simulation of a proposed experiment to produce soft X-ray holograms.
[3H]-etorphine and [3H]-diprenorphine receptor binding in vitro and in vivo: differential effect of Na+ and guanylyl imidodiphosphate.

Abstract The in vivo and in vitro cerebral receptor binding kinetics of the opiate agonist etorphine and the antagonist diprenorphine were investigated in the rat. Although of similar receptor affinity in vitro in Tris buffer brain homogenates, etorphine exhibited considerably less affinity than diprenorphine in vivo. The hypothesis was tested whether the opiate receptor regulators, Na+ and GTP, are responsible for the low in vivo receptor affinity of the agonist. [3H]Etorphine and [3H]diprenorphine dissociation curves were similarly affected by Na+ and guanylyl imidodiphosphate (GPP(NH)P), a hydrolysis resistant GTP analog when added separately in vitro. However, the combination of Na+ and GPP(NH)P greatly accelerated only the [3H]etorphine off-rate over that with Na+ alone and reproduced the rapid dissociation half-life observed in vivo (t1/2
Vacuum systems for vacuum microbalances

Abstract Five types of vacuum balances are in use today: electromagnetically compensated beam balances; magnetic suspension balances; spring balances; quartz resonators and strain gauges. The last two types are usually arranged in bell jar apparatus. In the case of suspension balances, a small vessel includes the permanent magnet and the sample. Beam and spring balances are enclosed in special cases and, because of the requirements of thermostatting, the sample is arranged within a tube of up to 1 m in length and 1–4 cm in diameter. When designing gravimetric apparatus, it is necessary to take into account the geometry of the balance and its sensitivity to vibration and shocks, as well as requirements for thermal, chemical and other treatments of the sample and additional instrumentation. Gas evolution by the sample and disturbances by thermally or electrically induced gas flow has to be considered. To exclude vibrations, the balance has to be placed on a heavy stand, e.g. a hollow vertical support on T-shaped steel beams insulated from the ground. The primary pump is arranged separately. A turbomolecular pump can be suspended on a short, wide, stainless steel bellows. Slowly operating valves must be used, e.g. disc valves which are operated by a dc magnet. Typical sources of gas flows are desorbing parts of the pump, hot and cold ionization gauges (which even cause sputtering) and insufficiently cooled cryotraps. A serious source of error is thermal gas flow (Knudsen flow and convection) produced by sample thermostats. Countermeasures consist in the use of long and thin suspension wires, thermal shielding of the sample, attenuation by use of helium and avoidance of the pressure region between 10−2 and 10 Pa. In typical arrangements the pumping speed is reduced to about 0.5 l s−1 at the sample. Thus, if uhv conditions must be reached, it is necessary to arrange, for example, a cryopump in the vicinity of the sample.
Geometric surface relief and the allotropic transformation in iron

Geometric surface relief effects have been observed in association with the γ→α allotropic transformation in iron. The selected-area electron channelling pattern technique has been used to establish that tent shaped geometric relief effects, common to single α precipitate plates in Fe-C and Fe-C-X alloys, are also associated with similar single crystal morphologies in pure iron. These experimental observations extend to the allotropic transformation in iron the same rationale for the relationship of interfacial structure to surface relief effects that is known to apply in the instance of precipitation reactions. In addition it provides support for an earlier proposal that “massive” transformations can be subject to the same crystallographic constraints as precipitation processes.
The Statistical Properties and Empirical Performance of Double Regression

Voting rights litigation requires ecological inference to estimate the voting preferences of minority and nonminority groups within the electorate. Double regression has been the procedure most commonly employed for this purpose. This article presents the first formal examination of this procedure. The underlying structural model reveals that double regression estimators are neither unbiased nor consistent estimators of true within-group vote preferences or polarization. Simulations demonstrate that they can substantially exaggerate the differences between minority and nonminority vote choices when none are present, and dramatically understate them when differences exist. In sum, double regression cannot meet conventional statistical standards for reliability. Consequently, it should be abandoned.
Parallel and pipeline computation of fast unitary transforms

The letter discusses the parallel and pipeline organization of fast-unitary-transform algorithms such as the fast Fourier transform, and points out the efficiency of a combined parallel-pipeline processor of a transform such as the Haar transform, in which (2 to the n-th power) -1 hardware 'butterflies' generate a transform of order 2 to the n-th power every computation cycle.
Autoalignment In Step-And-Repeat Wafer Printing

A fully automatic through-the-lens alignment method is described for use in step-and-repeat projection aligners. The method utilizes dark field illumination of the wafer, which is aligned to the reticle. It is shown that 2.5 pm wide alignment marks that are 2 mils in length provide an ample signal-to-noise ratio for 0.1 pm alignment accuracies. Various contributions to alignment error are examined such as the visibility of the alignment features, surface scatter on the wafer, and shot noise in the detected signal. Applications of these results to x, y, and theta alignment in step-and-repeat printing are offered.
An evaluation of MProlog by Logicware

The following is a brief report of our experience with MProlog version 1.5 produced by Logicware Inc. Although much of what we report applies probably to all (or at least most) implementations of MProlog by that firm, our experience is with but two of their implementations running on:1. Tektronix 4404 AI Workstation, and2. VM/CMS version running on our IBM-4381 mainframe.We have used MProlog (1.5) in various projects as well as in construction of an intelligent operating system consultant and tutor (OSCAT). OSCAT is a large project which requires nontrivial facilities; this experience undoubtedly affected our evaluation of the MProlog product. Most of what follows is based on our interaction with MProlog for the VM/CMS system.
How long should a producer offer full refund

Abstract Almost all consumer products are associated with a certain warranty time as stipulated by the manufacturer. Such a statement of warranty provides the buyer with an assurance on the performance of the product in the stated period. On the other hand, manufacturers use warranties for promotional and protectional purposes. In most cases, the type of warranty offered is linear pro-rata. This means that the rebate offered to the customer decreases linearly, from the price of the product to zero, as the time of product failure varies between zero and the warranty time. However, in some products, better promotional characteristics are observed if a full refund of the product price is made up to a certain period and linear pro-rata takes place thereafter. The purpose of this paper is to determine the time up to which a full refund is to be made. The conditions under which this time for full refund is found is based on maximizing the market share of the product subject to the constraint that the proportional increase in expected warranty costs, when compared to a linear pro-rata plan, does not exceed a chosen value.
Tvashtar awakening detected in April 2006 with OSIRIS at the W.M. Keck Observatory

Abstract We detected a volcanic outburst in Io's northern hemisphere on 17 April 2006 with the OSIRIS imaging spectrometer at Keck, and confirmed it was still erupting on 2 June 2006. The eruption, which we name 060417A, was located in Tvashtar Paterae, ∼100 km southeast of the February 2000 eruption. The observed temperature was 1240 ± 4 K , over a surface area of 60 ± 5 km 2 , providing a total thermal output of 7.7 ± 0.9 × 10 12 W .
Controlling optical properties and interchain interactions in semiconducting polymers by encapsulation in periodic nanoporous silicas with different pore sizes.

The photophysics of MEH−PPV incorporated into the pores of periodic silica hosts has been investigated in an effort to understand the role played by interchain aggregation and chain morphology in polaron production. In this work, guest/host interactions were used to incorporate MEH−PPV into the straight, homogeneous pores of hexagonal surfactant- or polymer-templated mesoporous silicas of varying pore diameters. Polarized photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy were then used to investigate the polymers' environment within the silica pores. Experiments exploiting luminescence peak shifts and depolarization indicate that depending on the pore size and preparation conditions, the alignment and packing of the polymer chains within the pores could be controlled. Samples could be produced with isolated chains, interacting straight chains, and coiled interacting chains. The sub-bandgap absorption by polarons was then measured with photoinduced absorption as a function of pore size. Small...
Have we witnessed a real-life Turing Test?

Did Deep Blue ace the Turing Test? Did it do much more? It seems that the IBM creation not only beat the reigning chess World Champion Gary Kasparov, but also took a large step, in some people's eyes, toward true artificial intelligence. For AI professionals, a computer defeating a human in chess is probably neither surprising nor really significant. After all, they contend, chess can be described in terms of a nondeterministic alternating Turing machine. Despite the enormous number of possible positions and available moves, the task does not present a challenging theoretical AI problem of NP completeness. There are many well-developed AI strategies that limit the search for the best move to an analysis of the most promising positions. Therefore, the progress in logical and numerical methods of AI and a computer's computational speed and available memory made the computer's victory inevitable. Deep Blue's victory, then, was attributable to its ability to analyze 200 million positions per second and a refined algorithm that accounted for positional-in addition to material-advantage. In summary, most AI professionals conclude that the computer won by brute force, rather than a sophisticated or original strategy. What most AI experts have overlooked, though, is another aspect of the match, which may signify a milestone in the history of computer science: for the first time, a computer seems to have passed the Turing Test.
Discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol, pregnanolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in rats administered ethanol or saline as adolescents.

Adolescent alcohol use may produce long-term changes in the receptors and neurosteroids that putatively mediate alcohol's effects and consequently contribute to alcohol abuse and dependence as an adult. To test this possibility, ethanol (0.18-1.8 g/kg) and two neurosteroids, pregnanolone (1-10 mg/kg) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, 1-100 mg/kg), were administered alone and in combination to adult, male Long-Evans rats discriminating 1 g/kg ethanol (15% v/v) under a fixed ratio (FR) 20 schedule of food presentation after adolescent treatment with 15 injections of ethanol (n=9, 2 g/kg, 20% v/v) or saline (n=7). When compared as adults, ethanol-treated adolescents (as opposed to saline-treated adolescents) had higher percentages of ethanol-lever responding at doses smaller than the training dose, and higher response rates after both control and ethanol injections. Neither pregnanolone nor DHEA substituted for ethanol in either adolescent-treated group up to doses that substantially decreased response rates. When administered with ethanol, 1 and 3.2 mg/kg of pregnanolone enhanced the discriminative stimulus effects of small ethanol doses more in saline-treated adolescents than ethanol-treated adolescents. Unlike pregnanolone, 32 and 100 mg/kg of DHEA attenuated the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol modestly in both adolescent-treated groups. These results in adult rats suggest that adolescent ethanol administration can enhance the discriminative stimulus effects of small ethanol doses and affect the capacity of pregnanolone, but not DHEA, to interact with ethanol's discriminative stimulus effects.
Shifting contexts: The sociolinguistic significance of nominalization in Japanese television news

This article examines nominalization in Japanese television news programs with the aim of identifying its sociolinguistic meaning as it relates to context. Given that such programs create shifting contexts available for observation, approximately five hours of news programs (aired in Tokyo in 1992) are examined. The study finds that the use of nominalization varies between two related but different speech contexts identified as “TV Talk” and “TV Announcements.” The significance for the use of nominalization in Japanese is explored, adopting an interdisciplinary approach, by appealing to the critical socio-cultural concepts of uchi ‘inside’ and soto ‘outside’. (Context, Japanese, nominalization, media discourse, sociocultural concepts)
Body Composition and Atherosclerosis in One to Five Year Old Hens

Abstract THERE have been few reports of body composition analyses for chickens, particularly for birds more than 1 year old Mitchell et al. (1931) studied the chemical composition of Leghorn males and females in considerable detail up to the age of 40 weeks. Fisher and Griminger (1963) analyzed the carcasses of 38 month old Leghorn males that had been maintained on either ad libitum or a restricted feeding regimen. Several investigators have reported the incidence of atherosclerosis in older chickens (Katz and Stamler, 1953; Fisher et al., 1959, 1960). Weiss (1958) observed a greater severity of atherosclerosis with increasing age for both male and female Leghorn chickens. In the present study, Leghorn hens, 1 to 5 years old, were chemically analyzed for nitrogen, extractable lipid, and moisture, and the severity of aortic atherosclerosis was assessed. EXPERIMENTAL All hens originated from the same genetic stock (Cornell-Random). They were reared in floor pens…
Importance of adequate initial antimicrobial therapy.

Background: It has become an article of faith that appropriate antibiotic therapy is needed for best outcomes during a serious infection. Despite this long-held view, there is some
AGU Congressional Fellow Outlines Challenges for Scientists

Science and technology were an essential part of all of the energy issues I worked on during my year as AGU Congressional Fellow in the office of U.S. senator Byron L. Dorgan (D-N. D.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and a senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. During my fellowship year, which lasted from September 2009 through September 2010, I found that no one on Capitol Hill in Washington doubted the utility of science in addressing issues such as hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas production, the electrification of the transportation fleet, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and carbon capture and sequestration. However, during the year, two subjects were the focus of a broader questioning of science in Congress: “Climategate” and metrics to justify federal investment in research.
Microfluidic Multiplexing in Bioanalyses

The importance of biological assays spans from clinical diagnostics to environmental monitoring. Simultaneous detection of multiple analytes enhances the efficacy of bioassays by providing more dat...
GRAVITATIONAL RADIATION IN THE PRESENCE OF A SCHWARZSCHILD BLACK HOLE. A BOUNDARY VALUE SEARCH.

The analysis of the spec t rum of the energy emi t t ed in g rav i t a t iona l radia t ion by a par t ic le falling into a Schwarzschl ld black hole was first analysed by RUFFINI and WI~EELER (~) in the f ramework of the l inearized slow-motion approximat ion of general re la t iv i ty . ZERILLI (2) h~s shown tha t the tensor ia l -per turbat ion technique in t roduced by REGGE and WHEELER (s) can be used in the analysis of this problem. Fol lowing this approx imat ion we do not impose any restr ic t ion on the veloci ty of the incoming part icle bu t we still assume t h a t the pe r tu rba t ion in t roduced into the met r ic of the Schwarzschild black hole by the incoming par t ic le be small (m pa r i ty need be considered (see ZERILLI (2)). The radia l funct ion Rt(r), which is a combinat ion of Four ie r t ransformed metr ic per turba t ions of the /-th mul t ipole then satisfies the following equat ion :
Linear ion trap for second-order Doppler shift reduction in frequency standard applications

The authors have designed and are presently testing a novel linear ion trap that permits storage of a large number of ions with reduced susceptibility to the second-order Doppler effect caused by the RF confining fields. This new trap should store about 20 times the number of ions as a conventional RF trap with no corresponding increase in second-order Doppler shift from the confining field. In addition, the sensitivity of this shift to trapping parameters, i.e., RF voltage, RF frequency, and trap size, is greatly reduced. The authors have succeeded in trapping mercury ions and xenon ions in the presence of helium buffer gas. Trap times as long as 2* 10/sup 3/ s have been measured. >
Going to the Blogs: Toward the Development of a Uses and Gratifications Measurement Scale for Blogs

This article investigates the uses and motivations for connecting to blogs. Rather than relying on motivations from preexisting scales measuring traditional media or Internet use that must be adapted for blogs, motivations are derived from open-ended questions about blog use from a preliminary survey. The current study is based on a follow-up survey conducted in 2007 to quantitatively investigate blog use. Factor analysis of 56 motivational items resulted in nine motivational factors: Convenient Information Seeking, Anti-Traditional Media Sentiment, Expression/Affiliation, Guidance/Opinion Seeking, Blog Ambiance, Personal Fulfillment, Political Debate, Variety of Opinion, and Specific Inquiry. This article also offers suggestions for reducing the number of motivational variables.
Analysis and Small Signal Modeling of a Non-Uniform Multiphase Buck Converter

This paper presents steady-state analysis and dynamic modeling of a non-uniform multiphase buck converter. This type of converter architecture has been reported previously in the literature with non-uniform phase design with the utilization of dynamic non-uniform current sharing and phase picking schemes in order to improve the power conversion efficiency over a wide load range. Since this scheme encounters the use of different current and possibly different inductor values for each phase, and/or different input voltages at the input of each phase, the impact on the steady-state and dynamic performance needs to be studied. This paper presents an initial analysis and small modeling study with discussion and experimental verification.
Fluctuations in Mood State and Learning and Retrieval

The present study investigated whether learning and retrieval are associated with changes in mood state. 50 college students (20 men and 30 women) were assigned to one of five treatment conditions: Happy-Happy, Sad-Sad, Neutral-Neutral, Happy-Sad, and Sad-Happy. Mood was induced via the Velten procedure. During the first mood-induction phase, students were exposed to a serial-learning task and recall trial, followed by a digit-symbol task. In the next phase, students were given a 5-min. muscle-relaxation exercise and a 5-min. distracting task. In the final phase, students underwent a second mood-induction phase, and a subsequent recall trial and digit-symbol task. Analyses indicated that recall was significantly greater in the Happy-Happy and Sad-Sad groups. Findings for the Neutral-Neutral group were mixed. Results are discussed in terms of support for the concept of context-related, mood-state-dependent recall.
Fostering lifelong learning in a capstone design environment: An implementation assessment

The Accreditation Board for Engineering Education and Technology (ABET) criteria require that engineering programs demonstrate that students attain “a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning”. To meet this requirement, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology has implemented a program to foster self-directed lifelong learning during the senior year. Several of the modules developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), as a part of Professional Practice Curriculum (PPC), are implemented to the capstone senior design course in an effort to provide students the desired self-directed learning skills. This paper presents the implementation and administration of the ASME-PPC self-directed learning modules into the capstone senior design course environment. Program outcomes assessment and student feedback are examined to develop the program further while proposing future improvements on which modules to include in which order, and how to improve the effectiveness of the homework assignments. A discussion on whether to implement some of the modules on different undergraduate courses during the junior year and thereby introduce students to self-directed learning early in the curriculum is also presented.
1/f bulk phenomena noise theory for GaAs MESFETs

A 1/f noise model based on the distributed equivalent circuit technique for evaluating the semi-insulating substrate is proposed. Our model shows that the 1/f noise is a bulk phenomena with localized high frequency variations and long range low frequency fluctuations with the lowest frequency being constrained by the thickness of the material.