cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Part Form Errors Predicted from Machine Tool Performance Measurements

Abstract Machine tool performance testing, as defined by ISO 230 and ANSI B5.54, has been successfully used to maintain and improve the accuracy and repeatability of production-level machine tools. In this study, a controlled series of experiments have been used to test the efficacy of these performance tests in the prediction of part form errors. Results are shown for flatness, squareness, position, and profile tolerances. The experimental results suggest that standard machine tool performance tests can also be used to predict the “best-case” tolerances that can be achieved for particular part features.
Kidnapping for marriage (ala kachuu) in a Kyrgyz village

Ala kachuu is the act of abducting a woman to marry her. It includes a variety of actions ranging from elopement or staged abduction for consensual marriage to violent non-consensual kidnapping. ‘K...
SEARCH FOR CLIMATE TRENDS IN SATELLITE DATA

Unambiguous determination of trends is the central theme of climate change studies. A promising way to validate and quantify a warming trend of few degrees on a time scale of a century, predicted by climate models, is the use of measurements provided by satellites. However, climate variables, such as temperature and concentration of water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere, are noisy and subject to seasonal and interannual variabilities. The lifetime of any single satellite is relatively short (< 5–10 years) and producing long-term data records by using successive satellite introduces inter-calibration problems. Standard methods of trend determination, such as the least square fit of a linear trend, require sufficiently long time series and thus are not effective for the analysis of satellite data. Here, we applied the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and find it to be more efficient in the search for climate trends in the relatively short time series provided by satellites. We give examples of climate tim...
Fabrication and Recording Study of All-Metal Dual-Spin-Valve CPP Read Heads

All-metallic giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors in a current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) geometry are attractive candidates for future high-density recording sensors due to their low intrinsic resistance. With increasing recording density the cross-sectional area of CPP sensors (such as TMR or GMR sensors) must also decrease, resulting in a rapid increase in sensor impedance unless the RA product of the sensor stack also decreases. Thus, as recording densities increase above 300 Gb/in2, and sensor sizes decrease below 50nm, low-resistance CPP-GMR sensors become of greater interest to minimize impedance, reduce noise and improve the bandwidth characteristics of the read head. Here we present results on the magnetotransport properties, fabrication, and performance of all-metal CPP-GMR shielded read heads with ultra-narrow physical widths between 40 and 60 nm.
On the correlation between wear and entropy in dry sliding contact

Irreversible thermodynamic theory is employed to study the rate of wear as a degradation process in a dry sliding system. It is shown that the wear rate is linearly related to the entropy flow rate. The linear correlation between rates of wear and entropy is verified experimentally for a pair of materials in dry sliding. Degradation coefficient is obtained and a simple approach is proposed for prediction of wear in dry sliding configuration.
Factors influencing the crystallization of ultrafine plasma-synthesized silicon nitride as a single powder and in composite SiC-Si3N4 powder

A study of various parameters affecting the crystallization process of amorphous silicon nitride produced by plasma gas-phase reaction was undertaken to determine the conditions under which whiskers are formed. This process is influenced by the ammonium chloride content of the starting powder and the presence of nitrogen in the furnace atmosphere. This last parameter is also influential on the α/β phase ratio, along with other factors like the silica content, temperature and duration of the thermal treatment. Heat treatment at 1500°C for 30 min under argon produced well-defined α-Si3N4 crystals with a hexagonal cross section, a mean length around 0.8 μm, and no sign of agglomeration. Under the same conditions, crystallization of silicon nitride in SiC-Si3N4 composite did not give crystals, but Si3N4 whiskers. Therefore silicon carbide plays a major role in their formation.
The structure of chromatophores from purple photosynthetic bacteria fused with lipid-impregnated collodion films determined by near-field scanning optical microscopy.

Abstract Lipid-impregnated collodion (nitrocellulose) films have been frequently used as a fusion substrate in the measurement and analysis of electrogenic activity in biological membranes and proteoliposomes. While the method of fusion of biological membranes or proteoliposomes with such films has found a wide application, little is known about the structures formed after the fusion. Yet, knowledge of this structure is important for the interpretation of the measured electric potential. To characterize structures formed after fusion of membrane vesicles (chromatophores) from the purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides with lipid-impregnated collodion films, we used near-field scanning optical microscopy. It is shown here that structures formed from chromatophores on the collodion film can be distinguished from the lipid-impregnated background by measuring the fluorescence originating either from endogenous fluorophores of the chromatophores or from fluorescent dyes trapped inside the chromatophores. The structures formed after fusion of chromatophores to the collodion film look like isolated (or sometimes aggregated, depending on the conditions) blisters, with diameters ranging from 0.3 to 10 μm (average ≈1 μm) and heights from 0.01 to 1 μm (average ≈0.03 μm). These large sizes indicate that the blisters are formed by the fusion of many chromatophores. Results with dyes trapped inside chromatophores reveal that chromatophores fused with lipid-impregnated films retain a distinct internal water phase.
Ion Transport in Sulfonated Nanoporous Colloidal Films

The surface of self-assembled nanoporous silica colloidal crystalline films comprised of 184-nm-diameter silica spheres has been sulfonated using 1,3-propanesultone. The transport of ions through the sulfonated films has been studied using cyclic voltammetry in water as a function of ion charge, pH, and solution ionic strength. We found that the flux of anions through the sulfonated colloidal films is reduced, while the flux of cations is increased, compared to the unmodified colloidal films. This behavior is pH-dependent and is due to electrostatic repulsion/attraction that can be modulated by changing the ionic strength of the contacting solution.
Schwinger bosons and hydrodynamics of two-dimensional magnets

Motivated by the strong experimental evidence in favor of the crucial role of antiferromagnetic fluctuations in copper oxide superconductors, I considered low-temperature properties of the disordered two-dimensional ferromagnets and antiferromagnets by means of the now-familiar Schwinger boson approach. The main aim of the paper was to go beyond the mean-field approximation and to derive an expression for the dynamical susceptibility \ensuremath{\chi}(q,\ensuremath{\Omega}) in the hydrodynamic region where the energies of physical excitations, which are collective modes in Schwinger boson approach, are small in comparison with the characteristic damping rate of single-particle excitations. In ferromagnets, the order parameter (magnetization) is a conserved quantity and the pole of \ensuremath{\chi}(q,\ensuremath{\Omega}) near q=0 describes a diffusion mode with \ensuremath{\Omega}=-${\mathit{iDq}}^{2}$. In antiferromagnets, the low-energy part of the spectrum involves the fluctuations of the (conserved) uniform magnetization and (nonconserved) antiferromagnetic order parameter. Correspondingly, a dynamical susceptibility near q=0 also has a pole for a diffusion mode, \ensuremath{\Omega}=-${\mathit{iDq}}^{2}$, while that near q=(\ensuremath{\pi},\ensuremath{\pi}) descibes a relaxation mode with a finite gap ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}$. The temperature variations of D and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}$ as well as of the antiferromagnetic part of spin-lattice relaxation rate are calculated and a comparison is made with the experimental data and with the works of other authors.
Leukemic Phase of Follicular Lymphoma after Treatment with Etanercept in a Patient with Psoriasis

Etanercept, a fully human soluble recombinant p75 tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor that blocks the binding of TNF to cell surface receptors, is approved for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the US and Europe. Ever since the introduction of anti-TNF treatment in patients with inflammatory autoimmune diseases, there have been concerns about a possible tumor-promoting effect of such a measure. We report a rare case of leukemic phase of follicular lymphoma in a 62-year-old man with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis receiving long-term treatment with etanercept for 3 years. Although the association is intriguing, no causal relationship is suggested.
Classification of Plant Associated Bacteria Using RIF, a Computationally Derived DNA Marker

A DNA marker that distinguishes plant associated bacteria at the species level and below was derived by comparing six sequenced genomes of Xanthomonas, a genus that contains many important phytopathogens. This DNA marker comprises a portion of the dnaA replication initiation factor (RIF). Unlike the rRNA genes, dnaA is a single copy gene in the vast majority of sequenced bacterial genomes, and amplification of RIF requires genus-specific primers. In silico analysis revealed that RIF has equal or greater ability to differentiate closely related species of Xanthomonas than the widely used ribosomal intergenic spacer region (ITS). Furthermore, in a set of 263 Xanthomonas, Ralstonia and Clavibacter strains, the RIF marker was directly sequenced in both directions with a success rate approximately 16% higher than that for ITS. RIF frameworks for Xanthomonas, Ralstonia and Clavibacter were constructed using 682 reference strains representing different species, subspecies, pathovars, races, hosts and geographic regions, and contain a total of 109 different RIF sequences. RIF sequences showed subspecific groupings but did not place strains of X. campestris or X. axonopodis into currently named pathovars nor R. solanacearum strains into their respective races, confirming previous conclusions that pathovar and race designations do not necessarily reflect genetic relationships. The RIF marker also was sequenced for 24 reference strains from three genera in the Enterobacteriaceae: Pectobacterium, Pantoea and Dickeya. RIF sequences of 70 previously uncharacterized strains of Ralstonia, Clavibacter, Pectobacterium and Dickeya matched, or were similar to, those of known reference strains, illustrating the utility of the frameworks to classify bacteria below the species level and rapidly match unknown isolates to reference strains. The RIF sequence frameworks are available at the online RIF database, RIFdb, and can be queried for diagnostic purposes with RIF sequences obtained from unknown strains in both chromatogram and FASTA format.
A Comparison of State Estimation Based External Network Modeling Methods

Real time external network modeling for online security analysis is a major issue in today's interconnected power system. In this paper, a comparison of two different methods: One pass state estimation method and Two pass state estimation method, for real time external network modeling are presented. The contamination of the internal system state due to the external network model is compared for the two methods. A set of significant external branch measurements are identified based on their sensitivities on the tie-line power flows. Those external measurements are updated in real time. Both the methods are implemented on the IEEE 118-bus system. The results indicate that the Two pass state estimation method has a lesser impact of the external network model on the internal system state.
Development of a stirred tank reactor system for the production of lignin peroxidases (ligninases) byPhanerochaete chrysosporium BKM-F-1767

Lignin peroxidases produced byPhanerochaete chrysosporium have several important potential industrial applications based on their ability to degrade lignin and lignin-like compounds. A stirred tank reactor system for the production of lignin peroxidases is described here. Included in this study is an examination of the mechanics of pellet biocatalyst formation and the optimization of an acetate buffered medium. Higher levels of lignin peroxidase were obtained with acetate buffer compared to the other buffer systems tested. Concentrations of 0.05% (w/v) Tween 80 and 0.4 mM veratryl alcohol gave optimal lignin peroxidase activity in acetate buffered medium. In shake flask cultures, mycelial fragments in the inoculum aggregated into pellets during the first eight hours of incubation and thereafter increased in size through the eighth day. The agitation rate in shake flask cultures affected pellet size, the number of pellets formed, and lignin peroxidase activity. Transfer of fungal pellets from shake flask culture to a continuously oxygenated baffled stirred tank reactor (STR) resulted in production of high lignin peroxidase titres comparable to those of shake flask cultures when the agitation rate, oxygen dispersion and foaming were closely controlled.
Source-receptor study of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter in the Kanawha Valley, WV—I. Methods and descriptive statistics

Abstract The Kanawha Valley of West Virginia is a highly industrialized region stretching 100 km from Alloy in the southeast to Nitro in the north. The valley which contains the state capital, Charleston, has a population of approximately 250,000 and is noted for its chemical manufacturing industry. The valley itself is narrow and steeply-walled. The combination of topography, local meteorological conditions, and the chemical industry potentiate elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted within the region. An integrated approach designed to assess pollutant exposure in this region was implemented between April 1987 and March 1988. Data were collected simultaneously on volatile organic compound concentrations, particle pH, inorganic gases, and meteorological parameters. Data were collected using a mobile van sampling platform at one of the three within-valley sites for 15 days each month. A discussion of sampling methodology and statistics describing pollutant concentrations are presented in this paper. Concentrations of most pollutants were found to be in agreement with those found by other researchers, except during a period when a forest fire influenced the air quality. The results suggest that multivariate relationships may be found that will be useful in source identification.
Laccase-catalyzed α-arylation of benzoylacetonitrile with substituted hydroquinones

Abstract The current study investigated a green method for α-arylation of a primary nitrile. Compounds possessing a benzylic nitrile have shown to exhibit biological activity. Laccases (benzenediol:oxygen oxidoreductase EC 1.10.3.2) were used as the catalysts to perform the cross-coupling reaction between benzoylacetonitrile and substituted hydroquinones. The corresponding 2-substituted 3-oxo-3-phenylpropanenitriles where synthesized in moderate to excellent yields in pH 7.0 buffered water under mild conditions. The substituent on the hydroquinone had a significant impact on product yields and regioselectivity of reaction. The use of laccases, which require O2 as their only co-substrate and produce H2O as their only by-product, to perform this transformation is an environmentally benign method for α-arylation of primary nitriles.
Therapeutic prospects for PEDF: more than a promising angiogenesis inhibitor

Blood vessel growth and stability are under the exquisite control of a network of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. Disruption of the balance between these factors is a characteristic of tumor growth and many vascular diseases. Endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors, particularly those that act broadly at the earliest stages, could be excellent pharmacological tools in combating pathogenic vessel growth. Pigment-epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a natural angiogenesis inhibitor that (1) targets only new vessel growth, (2) can be administered therapeutically as a soluble protein or by viral-mediated gene transfer, (3) is stable and nontoxic when injected, and (4) is more potent than other well-characterized angiogenesis inhibitors. Because PEDF also has differentiating and neuroprotective activities, it has additional benefits for use in the nervous system. The production of PEDF by many tissues suggests its therapeutic potential should be explored in a much wider range of diseases, including tumor proliferation and metastasis.
Specific and potent mitogenic effect of axolemmal fraction on schwann cells from rat sciatic nerves in serum-containing and defined media

Using cultures of Schwann cells from neonatal rat sciatic nerves, we examined the mitogenic activity of an axolemmal fraction from adult rat CNS. Axolemmal fraction proved a potent mitogen, stimulating [3H]thymidine incorporation into Schwann cell DNA 13.5-fold over control values when axolemmal fraction equivalent to 16 micrograms of protein per culture microwell or more was added. Half maximal stimulation was obtained with addition of axolemmal fraction equivalent to 4 micrograms of protein. The concentration-dependence and magnitude of the mitogenic response of the cultured cells were nearly identical whether they were maintained in vitro for 1 day or for 2 weeks prior to addition of the axolemmal fraction. A study of the time-course of the effect of axolemmal fraction on Schwann cell mitosis showed that maximal [3H]thymidine incorporation took place during the fifth day after addition of axolemmal fraction. Axolemmal fraction also produced stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation into Schwann cells, seeded and cultured in a serum-free defined medium. Though the concentration-dependence of the mitogenic effect in the absence of serum was similar to that in a serum-containing medium, maximal stimulation in the defined medium was only 2.8-fold. The mitogenic activity of axolemmal fraction was rapidly and almost totally inactivated by sonication or homogenization, and was partially lost after exposure to heat. The mitogenic activities of plasma membrane fragments from rat skeletal muscle or rat erythrocytes, and of mitochondrial fragments (the major contaminant of the axolemmal fraction) were one-tenth that of axolemmal fraction or less. In contrast to glial growth factor prepared from bovine pituitaries (GGF-BP), which stimulates proliferation of both fibroblasts and Schwann cells, axolemmal fraction induced proliferation of Schwann cells but not of endoneurial fibroblasts; cultures treated with axolemmal fraction demonstrated a 3-fold increase in Schwann cell population in 10 days without detectable increase in number of fibroblasts. Also in contrast to GGF-BP, the mitogenic effect of which is considerably enhanced by simultaneous addition of cholera toxin to the medium, cholera toxin had no effect on the Schwann cell proliferative response to axolemmal fraction.
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Activation in Myeloid Cells Contributes to the Development of Liver Fibrosis in Cholestatic Mice

Macrophages play an integral role in the development of liver fibrosis by releasing mediators, such as platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) and transforming growth factor-β1, which stimulate hepatic stellate cell proliferation, chemotaxis, and collagen production. However, the mechanism by which chronic liver injury stimulates macrophages to release these mediators is not completely understood. We tested the hypothesis that chronic liver injury activates hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors in macrophages that regulate the production of mediators that promote fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, Cre/lox technology was used to generate myeloid cell-specific HIF-1α or HIF-1β knockout mice. When these mice were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL), levels of α-smooth muscle actin and type I collagen in the liver were reduced compared with those of mice with normal levels of HIFs. The deficiency of HIFs in macrophages did not affect liver injury or inflammation after BDL but reduced PDGF-B mRNA and protein, suggesting that HIF activation in macrophages may promote fibrosis by regulating the production of PDGF-B. Consistent with a role for HIFs in liver fibrosis in cholestatic liver disease, nuclear HIF-1α protein was present in macrophages, hepatocytes, and fibroblasts in the livers from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. These studies demonstrate that HIFs are important regulators of profibrotic mediator production by macrophages during the development of liver fibrosis and suggest that HIFs may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic liver disease in patients.
Hierarchical routing in ad hoc networks using k-dominating sets

In this article, the notion of a k-SPR set from previous work is extended to the context of an edge-weighted graph. Under a reasonable assumption, such a set is still k-dominating, and k-hop connected. When a decreasing sequence of such sets is used, together with a hybrid route discovery strategy (partly proactive, partly reactive), the result is a highly scalable and efficient, minimal path routing protocol.
Elastase is not sufficient to induce experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abstract Purpose: Research investigating abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) commonly uses a rat model dependent on aortic infusion of porcine pancreatic elastase to initiate AAA formation. Unfortunately, the sizes of AAAs generated by this model have varied widely among published studies. This may reflect lot-to-lot variations in commercial elastase preparations. This study was undertaken to investigate the ability of different lots of elastase to induce AAAs and explain the variability identified. Methods: Four lots of elastase were evaluated in the standard rat AAA model. Saline solution was used as a control. Additional groups of rats were treated with higher concentrations of elastase with or without the macrophage activator thioglycollate medium. Aortic diameters were measured in all rats. Inflammation and elastin degradation was examined histologically. Elastase activity and purity were evaluated for all lots. Results: Of the four lots tested, only one was able to consistently generate AAAs at the standard dose ( P P = .02). However, the elastase with the highest purity failed to generate AAAs, even at the highest dose tested or in combination with thyioglycollate medium. Thioglycollate medium alone failed to result in AAA formation. All elastase lots displayed elastolytic activity in vitro and produced elastin degradation in vivo. Elastin degradation did not correlate with AAA size in elastase-treated rats ( P = NS). Aneurysm size correlated with extent of inflammation ( P = .005). Conclusion: Induction of AAAs does not correlate with elastolytic activity. Infusion of pure elastase alone is not sufficient to induce AAA formation in spite of evidence of elastin degradation. Presumed inflammatory modifiers, which contaminate some elastase preparations, enhance AAA formation. Future use of this rat model will need to take the variability of elastase preparations into account with controls for each new elastase lot. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:1255-62.)
Nuclear reprogramming to treat retinal degenerative diseases

Cells can be reprogrammed to assume a different fate in vitro. Oct3/4, Sox2, and Klf4 have been used to direct cells to a pluripotent state. These induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which are able to differentiate into any cell type, may provide a novel the-rapeutic avenue for a wide range of disorders. Photoreceptors or retinal pigment epithelia derived from patient iPS cells, for example, may be useful in transplantation therapy for retinal degenerative diseases, and in vitro disease models and drug screening. Recent evidence, however, has revealed significant differences between embryonic stem (ES) cells and iPS cells. iPS cells have helped elucidate the underpinnings of pluripotency, in particular similarities and differences among mouse ES cells, human ES cells, and epiblast stem cells. Intriguingly, cellular plasticity suggests that a specific set of factors could potentially convert somatic cells directly to retinal progenitors or retinal cells. Cellular reprogramming methodologies should markedly contribute to both our understanding of retinal degenerative diseases and the development of novel therapies, including cell transplantation and new drugs.
Single-Dose Assay of Ferrous Ion in Pharmaceuticals

Abstract A method for the assay of the ferrous ion in hematinics or multivitamin tablets is described. The method is based on the spectrophotnmetric measurement of the chromophore produced by reacting the ferrous ion with the highly specific chelating agent ferrozine. The method is proposed as an alternative to the redox methods in the USP and NF.
Periodic second order superlinear Hamiltonian systems

We consider periodic solutions for superlinear second order non-autonomous dynamical systems including both kinetic and potential terms. We study the existence of nontrivial and ground state solutions.
Spur light exposure as a primary external cause for derivation of dris norms in walnut trees

Abstract Spur leaf macroelement profile of walnut (Juglans regia, cvs. ‘Hartley’ and ‘Serr') was characterized by a modified diagnostic and recommendation integrated system (DRIS), using canopy photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) density exposure as a primary external determinant (5) of leaf mineral content. Spur N, P, Ca and Mg content was linearly correlated with PPF and SLW when expressed on the basis of leaf area (A) while that of K was linearly correlated with SLW on % DW basis (W). Mineral ratios, relevant for the DRIS analysis, were calculated using all four possible combinations of Area and Weight expressions (A/A, A/W, W/A, W/W) and correlated with spur leaf SLW. The particular expressions chosen for the DRIS analysis were based on their highest correlation to spur SLW and included N/K and P/K, based on A/W expression of the respective nutrients, and the reciprocal (W/A) expression for all other ratios. The dimensionless mineral ratios based on Weight per Weight (W/W) or Area per Area (A/A), which e...
Serum concentration and dose‐response relationships for carprofen in rheumatoid arthritis

Thirty-eight patients with active, definite, or classical rheumatoid arthritis were tested in a double-blind, 3-week-per-arm, multiple-crossover, randomized, block-design comparison of 100, 300, 600, and 800 mg/day carprofen given b.i.d. A linear dose-response relationship was demonstrated for six of nine efficacy measures (p less than 0.052). A plasma concentration to therapeutic response relationship was shown just before or 1 to 2 hours after a dose (p less than 0.05) for seven efficacy parameters for the patients with at least three serum carprofen concentrations. By nonparametric analysis, with the patients divided into three equal groups, the percent of responders rose from 38.1% to 50% to 59.1%. Sixty-nine percent of patients responded when carprofen concentrations were greater than 10 micrograms/ml, whereas only 9% responded when they were below 1.9 micrograms/ml. Although only seven patients had limiting side effects, there was a tendency toward a dose-toxicity relationship through 600 mg daily carprofen.
Cathodoluminescence Analysis of Grain Boundaries and Grain Interiors in Thin-Film CdTe

We used low-temperature cathodoluminescence (CL) spectrum imaging (CLSI) with nanoscale spatial resolution to examine charge-carrier recombination and defects at grain boundaries (GBs) and grain interiors (GIs) in as-deposited and CdCl 2 -treated CdTe thin films. Supporting time-resolved photoluminescence, T = 4 K photoluminescence, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and electron backscatter diffraction measurements were conducted on the same films. Color-coded maps of the luminescence transition energies (photon energy maps) were used to analyze the qualitative characteristics of the CLSI data. We applied an image analysis algorithm to the pixels in grayscale CL intensity images to compare the luminescence intensities and spectra at the GIs and GBs quantitatively and with statistical relevance. Our results show that GBs in as-deposited films are active recombination centers and are thus harmful to solar cell operation. CL GB defect contrast is quantifiably reduced for the CdCl 2 -treated film, which is direct evidence of passivation of deep GB core states resulting from the treatment. However, the CdCl 2 treatment is not a perfect fix for GB recombination, and GB recombination may still be limiting performance in CdCl 2 -treated devices.
BEYOND RANKED LISTS IN WEB SEARCH: AGGREGATING WEB CONTENT INTO TOPIC PAGES

We investigate the automatic generation of topic pages as an alternative to the current Web search paradigm. Topic pages explicitly aggregate information across documents, filter redundancy, and promote diversity of topical aspects. We propose a novel framework for building rich topical aspect models and selecting diverse information from the Web. In particular, we use Web search logs to build aspect models with various degrees of specificity, and then employ these aspect models as input to a sentence selection method that identifies relevant and non-redundant sentences from the Web. Automatic and manual evaluations on biographical topics show that topic pages built by our system compare favorably to regular Web search results and to MDS-style summaries of the Web results on all metrics employed.
Topography of Capillary Density, Glucose Metabolism, and Microvascular Function Within the Rat Inferior Colliculus

A midbrain nucleus of the auditory system, the inferior colliculus, was used as a model for analyzing spatial correlations or “coupling” among capillary density, tissue glucose metabolism, and several measures of microvascular function in the rat. The capillary bed of the inferior colliculus was examined with stereological techniques, and physiological measures were obtained with radioactive tracers, quantitative autoradiography, and image processing. Within the colliculus, capillary density, volume fraction, length, and surface area were highest in the central nucleus where the packing densities of neuropil and perikarya are greatest. Rates of glucose metabolism and blood flow correlated closely with capillary density in a 3 × 2 matrix of collicular subregions in the sagittal and coronal planes. The strength of this correlation suggests that estimates of capillary density can be made from measurements of tissue glucose metabolism within this structure under normal conditions. Microvascular blood volume a...
Reflections on moving mirrors

A field theory constructed on a space with a moving boundary illustrates many of the physical characteristics of Hawking radiation from black holes. We review this analogy with a number of new refinements. We construct a model in which the Bogoliubov transformation, which is induced by the moving boundary, can be computed explicitly. This model is used to discuss correlations in the final state of the quantum field. This discussion can, in turn, serve as the basis for an investigation into Hawking's proposal that black holes can induce the evolution of quantum-mechanical pure states into mixed states.
Thermal Properties of Polymers at Low Temperatures

Abstract The existing measurements and theories of the low-temperature thermal properties, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity of polymers are reviewed with particular attention paid to the differences between partly crystalline and amorphous polymers. The most striking feature of the low-temperature heat capacity of polymers is that in the liquid helium temperature range the heat capacity does not depend upon the cube of the temperature as for other solids. Further, only well below 1°K does the heat capacity approach the value predicted on the basis of the sound velocity. This behavior indicates the presence of a small number of low-frequency modes of vibration in the frequency spectrum. The fact that such anomalous behavior seems linearly related to the crystallinity implies that this behavior is associated with the amorphous structure, perhaps with motions of pendent groups within cavities formed in the amorphous structure. The thermal conductivity of semicrystalline and amorphous polymers differs ...
A Meaning-Centered Approach to Customer Satisfaction

We propose a meaning-centered approach to understanding customer/patient satisfaction grounded in the hermeneutical tradition and informed by concepts highlighted in Herzberg’s two-factor motivatio...
Solvent-mediated proton transfer. The roles of solvent structure and dynamics on the excited-state tautomerization of 7-azaindole/alcohol complexes

Abstract The time profile of the 7-azaindole tautomer emission in alcohol solvents consists of a superposition of two components with a different rise time. These observations are interpreted in terms of competitive hydrogen bonding leading to a ground-state equilibrium between different conformations of solute-solvent complexes. Cyclically hydrogen-bonded complexes give rise to instantaneous proton transfer, while other configurations exhibit a much slower fluorescence response.
Problems Encountered in Meeting the Recommended Dietary Allowances for Menus Designed According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Abstract Forty-three menus that were to be used in a diet manual were designed to meet the requirements of a specific diet; provide 2,200 to 2,400 kcal, unless energy-restricted; meet the 1990 Dietary Guidelines for Americans; meet current recommendations for sodium (2g to 3 g/day), cholesterol (≤300mg/day), and fiber (20g to 30 g/day); and meet or exceed the highest level for adults in the 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs). In addition, regular and low-fat, low-cholesterol menus for 1 week were collected from 11 hospitals throughout Arkansas. Menus were analyzed for energy, cholesterol, and 18 nutrients. Only 11% of the menus met the RDA for zinc. Half of the menus did not meet the RDA for vitamin B-6 and one third did not meet the RDA for iron. Zinc content of the menus was positively correlated (P r =.73) and with beef ( r =.45). Vitamin B-6 was positively correlated with protein ( r =.44, P r =.38, P J Am Diet Assoc. 1995; 95:341-344, 347.
Monte Carlo calculation of the drift velocity of electrons in n-GaAs

The drift velocity of electrons in n-GaAs has been calculated by a Monte Carlo technique for a nonparabolic central valley including the wave-vector dependence of the cell-periodic part of the Bloch functions in the
The recording thermospectrophotometer, an automatic device for determining the thermal stability of nucleic acids

A recording thermospectrophotometer was assembled mainly from commercially available components, including a UV monochromator, an automatic cuvette positioner, a programmed thermostatically controlled circulating bath, an optical density converter, and a thermistortype thermometer, with the outputs of the latter two automatically plotted by an X-Y recorder. The instrument permits the measurement of the thermal stability of nucleic acids at the ambient temperature (and also of irreversible denaturation) by automatic recording of the O.D.260 versus temperature curve for up to four samples per run. The construction of the instrument, the preparation of the DNA samples, and a few applications are described.
Erratum to: On the Geometry of Cyclic Lattices

A mistake in the results of our previous paper is corrected. Theorems 1.1 and 1.2 of our paper [1] are incorrect as stated. Specifically, these theorems assert that the well-rounded (WR) lattices comprise a positive proportion of all cyclic lattices in every dimension.This assertion is basedon comparative asymptotic counting estimates for WR cyclic lattices versus all cyclic lattices with successive minima bounded by R as R → ∞. While the lower bound on the number of WR cyclic lattices produced in Sect. 4 is correct, the upper bound on the number of all cyclic lattices produced in Sect. 3 (specifically, Lemmas 3.2 and 3.3) is not accurate. Similarly, in the case N = 2, there is a mistake in the estimate on the function h2(R) in the proof of Lemma 5.2, while the rest of Lemma 5.2 is correct. For the purposes of our current results, this means that WR cyclic lattices do not comprise a positive proportion of all cyclic lattices in a given dimension, and hence our results should instead be stated as counting estimates on the number of WR cyclic lattices. This
Africa's Statistical Tragedy

While Africa may have overcome its growth tragedy, it is facing a statistical tragedy, in that the statistical foundations of the recent growth in per-capita GDP and reduction in poverty are quite weak. In many countries, GDP accounts use old methods, population censuses are out of date, and poverty estimates are infrequent and often not comparable over time. The proximate reasons have to do with weak capacity, inadequate funding, and a lack of coordination of statistical activities. But the underlying cause may be the political sensitivity of these statistics, and some donors' tendency to go around countries' own National Statistical Development Strategies (NSDS). Greater openness and transparency of statistics, and a higher profile for the NSDS, possibly with “naming and shaming” of those who try to circumvent it, may help Africans turn around their statistical tragedy.
Atrial septal aneurysm: recognition and clinical relevance.

The purpose of this paper is to review current knoledge conserning this incresingly recognized and frequently reported entity
Collisional electrostatic ion cyclotron waves as a possible source of energetic heavy ions in the magnetosphere

A new mechanism is proposed for the source of energetic heavy ions (NO/+/, O2/+/, and O/+/) found in the magnetosphere. Simulations using a multispecies particle simulation code for resistive current-driven electrostatic ion cyclotron waves show transverse and parallel bulk heating of bottomside ionospheric heavy ion populations. The dominant mechanism for the transverse bulk heating is resonant ion heating by wave-particle ion trapping. Using a linear kinetic dispersion relation for a magnetized, collisional, homogenous, and multiion plasma, it is found that collisional electrostatic ion cyclotron waves near the NO(+), O2(+), and O(+) gyrofrequencies are unstable to field-aligned currents of 50 microA/sq m for a typical bottomside ionosphere.
Co59(n, p)Fe59 cross-section at 14.8 MeV

Abstract A cross-section value of 53±12 mb for the Co 59 (n, p)Fe 59 reaction with 14.8 MeV neutrons was obtained from the experimental determination of the cross-section ratio σ [Co 59 (n, p)Fe 59 ]/ σ [Co 59 (n, 2n)Co 58 ] = 0.071±0.008 and the cross-section values for the latter reaction reported previously by other authors.
Cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans Strains with Defects in Fructan Metabolism Assessed in a Program-fed Specific-pathogen-free Rat Model

To define the role of dental plaque fructans and the enzymes involved in their metabolism in the initiation and progression of dental caries, we constructed otherwise-isogenic mutants of Streptococcus mutans defective in the ability to synthesize fructans, to degrade fructans, or to do both. The cariogenic potential of these organisms was evaluated in a specific-pathogen-free rat model in which the feeding patterns of the animals were controlled by means of a Konig-Hofer programed feeder. Specifically, rats were infected with wild-type S. mutans UA159 or derivatives of this strain which contained an insertionally-inactivated fructanase (fruA) gene, fructosyltransferase (ftf) gene, or which had both genes inactivated. The animals were fed 17 meals per day of Diet 2000 containing 56% sucrose at 70-minute intervals for five weeks, and caries experience was evaluated. Animals infected with S. mutans with a mutated fruA gene only had statistically significant decreases in sulcal caries severity. Such a decrease was not observed in previous studies with ad libitum-fed animals (Wexler et al., 1992). The manifestation of diminished virulence in the programmed feeding model, but not in ad libitum-fed animals, supports the concept that the primary contribution of FruA to virulence is through the utilization of fructans storage polysaccharides. Animals infected with strains carrying the ftf mutation or simultaneous mutations in ftf and fruA did not display decreased virulence, perhaps indicating that sucrose utilization pathways may compete for substrate in vivo, or that accumulation of fructans may affect the ecology or the physicochemical characteristics of dental plaque in such a way as to reduce its cariogenic potential. The results of this study also emphasize that the contribution of a particular virulence determinant to the caries process may be highly dependent on the experimental design, feeding regimen and diet, and the presence or absence of other enzymatic activities.
Microbial activity and nitrogen mineralization in forest mineral soils following heating: evaluation of post-fire effects

Abstract Heat generated during fire induces chemical oxidation of soil organic matter thereby altering carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) transformations. Prior soil fire history and soil moisture content at the time of heating can be confounding factors in the interpretation of the influence of heat on soil processes. In this study we evaluated how soil heating (160 and 380°C) under three moisture regimes (−0.03, −1.0, and −1.5 MPa) influences microbial activity and N mineralization in two soils: (1) not exposed to fire for the past 80 years, (2) recently exposed to wildfire. Initially, the fire exposed soil had lower basal respiration rates and lower concentrations of microbial biomass C, potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN), soluble hexose sugars, and NH 4 + –N, but higher NO 3 − –N concentrations than the soil not exposed to fire. Both soils responded similarly to elevated temperatures. Higher temperatures resulted in greater microbial mortality and a greater release of soluble sugars and NH 4 + –N. PMN concentrations increased at 160°C, but decreased at 380°C in both soils. The highest NH 4 + –N concentrations were observed in soils not previously exposed to fire that were incubated at −0.03 MPa after heating. Soils previously exposed to fire had low NH 4 + –N concentrations and high NO 3 − –N concentrations. Heating at low soil water potentials resulted in elevated concentrations of microbial biomass C and soluble sugars, and lower NH 4 + –N and NO 3 − –N concentrations. Initial C availability appeared to be an important factor in the recovery of microbial biomass during 14-d post-heating incubation, which was greatest after heating at 380°C and −1.5 MPa. Both soils demonstrated slow rates of recovery of nitrifying organisms despite high rates of net NH 4 + –N accumulation. It appears that low soil water potential at the time of heat exposure reduces losses of mineralizable N.
Distribution of asbestos in the bedrock of the northern New Jersey area

Asbestos has been identified at fifty-five locations in the bedrock of the northern New Jersey area. Most occurrences are confined to (1) The Precambrian rocks of the New Jersey Highlands, particularly the marbles; (2) the Paleozoic serpentinites of Staten Island, New York, and Hoboken, New Jersey; and (3) the Mesozoic basaltic rocks of the Newark Basin. Chrysotile and tremolite asbestos are present in local concentrations in the marbles. In the most extensive exposure of the marble, the Franklin band, traces of tremolite-actinolite asbestos are commonly present. Crocidolite asbestos occurs in localized areas associated with fracture systems in Precambrian pegmatites and associated rocks. The Paleozoic serpentinites contain chrysotile asbestos as a major component in deformed zones. Megascopic chrysotile and anthophyllite asbestos veins occur locally in the serpentinites. Actinolite asbestos occurs in the Mesozoic basaltic rocks of the Newark Basin. Potential environmental problems associated with asbestosbearing bedrock include production and use of rock products containing asbestos, introduction of asbestos into environments surrounding excavations, and asbestos contamination of soils and water supplies.
AN EFFICIENT NUMERICAL METHOD OF DC MODELING FOR POWER MOSFET, MESFET AND AlGaN/GaN HEMT

In this paper, an efficient numerical model applicable for wide varieties of long channel field-effect transistors (MOSFET, MESFET, HEMT, etc.) is developed. A set of available data is used to calculate the model parameters and another set of data is used to verify the accuracy of the model. This model provides a single expression that is applicable for the entire range of device biasing and can predict the output parameters with less than 1% error compared to the experimental results. Lagrange polynomial, the highest degree of polynomial for any given set of data, is used to derive the model from available data. This method is efficient in the sense that it can be derived from a limited number of experimental data and since it uses only one equation for entire range of the device operation hence its computational cost is also small.
Sustained Release Control via Photo-Cross-Linking of Polyelectrolyte Layer-by-Layer Hollow Capsules

We describe the formation and permeability of polyelectrolyte multilayer hollow-shell capsules by photo-cross-linking and controlled-release (fluorescence) studies. The hollow shells were prepared by alternate layer-by-layer (LbL) adsorption of photo-cross-linkable benzophenone modified poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) on polystyrene particles, followed by removing the core with tetrahydrofuran. Zeta potential measurements, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to verify the LbL process integrity. A model drug, rhodamine B (RB), was successfully loaded into the polyelectrolyte hollow capsules. The release kinetics of RB was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy. The permeability of RB through the hollow shells was effectively controlled based on UV irradiation time. It was shown that the release of RB molecules can be controlled by the degree of cross-linking induced in the multilayer.
Cyclic-AMP production of goiter.

The effect of chronic administration of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP) on the thyroid was studied in mice. The animals were treated with T4 throughout the experiments. c-AMP increased thyroid weight and total protein content after 4 days of injections. Incorporation of labeled leucine and tryptophan into proteinwas also increased 2-fold by c-AMP. As total protein contentwas increased to the same degree, no change in specific activity was found. Histologic studies showed that c-AMP reproduced, but not to a full extent, the action of TSH on the thyroid. Plasma THlevels, determined by radioimmunoassay, were not elevated by c-AMP. These results provide further support to the concept that c-AMP mediates some actions of TSH and demonstrate for the first time that c-AMP can reproduce the chronic effects of TSH stimulation of the thyroid. (Endocrinology 87: 339, 1970)