cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Benefits of exome sequencing in children with suspected isolated hearing loss

Purpose: Hearing loss is characterized by an extensive genetic heterogeneity and remains a common disorder in children. Molecular diagnosis is of particular benefit in children, and permits the early identification of clinically-unrecognized hearing loss syndromes, which permits effective clinical management and follow-up, including genetic counselling. Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing with the analysis of a panel of 189 genes associated with hearing loss in a prospective cohort of 61 children and 9 adults presenting mainly with isolated hearing loss. Results: The overall diagnostic rate using exome sequencing was 47.2% (52.5% in children; 22% in adults). In children with confirmed molecular results, 17/32 (53.2%) showed autosomal recessive inheritance patterns, 14/32 (43.75%) showed an autosomal dominant condition, and one case had X-linked hearing loss. In adults, the two patients showed an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Among the 32 children, 17 (53.1%) had nonsyndromic hearing loss and 15 (46.7%) had syndromic hearing loss. One adult was diagnosed with syndromic hearing loss and one with nonsyndromic hearing loss. The most common causative genes were STRC (5 cases), GJB2 (3 cases), COL11A1 (3 cases), and ACTG1 (3 cases). Conclusions: Exome sequencing has a high diagnostic yield in children with hearing loss and can reveal a syndromic hearing loss form before other organs/systems become involved, allowing the surveillance of unrecognized present and/or future complications associated with these syndromes.
Crownthorpe: a Boudican hoard of bronze vessels from early Roman Norfolk: by Paul R. Sealey and Karen V. Wardley, Norfolk, East Anglian Archaeology Report no.175, 2021, x and 65 pp., Illus. 49, £20.00 (paperback), ISBN 978 0 905594 56 9

Found almost 40 years ago during a metal-detector survey by Norfolk Archaeological Unit this unique and nationally important hoard of bronze vessels has finally reached publication in this comprehe...
Nonpolar III-nitride vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers incorporating an ion implanted aperture

We report on our recent progress in improving the performance of nonpolar III-nitride vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) by using an Al ion implanted aperture and employing a multi-layer electron-beam evaporated ITO intracavity contact. The use of an ion implanted aperture improves the lateral confinement over SiNx apertures by enabling a planar ITO design, while the multi-layer ITO contact minimizes scattering losses due to its epitaxially smooth morphology. The reported VCSEL has 10 QWs, with a 3 nm quantum well width, 1 nm barriers, a 5 nm electron-blocking layer, and a 6.95- λ total cavity thickness. These advances yield a single longitudinal mode 406 nm nonpolar VCSEL with a low threshold current density (∼16 kA/cm2), a peak output power of ∼12 μW, and a 100% polarization ratio. The lasing in the current aperture is observed to be spatially non-uniform, which is likely a result of filamentation caused by non-uniform current spreading, lateral optical confinement, contact resistance, and...
A new model for thermo-mechanical coupled analysis of hot rolling

A new sine velocity field is proposed to analyze total power in the roll gap for rolling in hot strip finishing mill. The field and linear geometric midline yield criteria are used to calculate the plastic deformation power, and the collinear vector inner product method is used to get friction power. Then analytical equation of strip rolling power functional is obtained. Finally, the roll force and torque can be calculated by minimizing the power functional. In the model, average deformation resistance is determined by the thermo-mechanical coupled analysis. The prediction accuracy of the proposed model is examined through comparing with the on-line measured results in a hot strip finishing mill. It shows that the predicted roll forces are in good agreement with the measured ones, and the maximum error is less than 12 %. Moreover, the effects of various rolling conditions, such as thickness reduction, friction factor, and shape factor, on roll force, location of neutral angle, and stress-state coefficient are discussed systematically.
Advances in Low Temperature Performance of Nickel-Metal Hydride Aircraft Batteries

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Energy Storage and Thermal Sciences (PRPS) Branch has been developing nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) rechargeable batteries as an environmental replacement for existing valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA) and vented/sealed nickel-cadmium (VNC/SNC) batteries since 1995 and has evaluated cylindrical, prismatic and bipolar designs for this application. Recent advances in cell chemistry and design have resulted in a significant improvement in ultra low temperature performance indicating the suitability of these batteries for military aircraft applications over the temperature range from -40 °C to +65 °C. Results of the latest in-house tests of developments in bipolar and prismatic cell and battery designs indicate the current prismatic cell formulations are limited to temperatures above -25 °C while those used in bipolar designs operate over the full military aircraft temperature regime.
On the architecture of software component systems

Current object-oriented development practice is centered around application frameworks. We argue that this approach is misleading, as it detracts from the ultimate goal of composing software out of “software components” originating from different sources. In particular, we suggest a model of software composition that is based on passing of “first-class messages” rather than on inheritance.
Rate of ATP synthesis in the perfused rat liver by 31P cryo-NMR.

ATP concentrations in the perfused rat liver during normoxic perfusion, transient ischemia, and recovery from transient ischemia were measured using the modified 31P cryo-NMR method (Chance, B., Nakase, Y., Bond, M., Leigh, J. S., Jr., and McDonald, G. (1978) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 4925-4929). Transient ischemia was induced in the perfused livers of starved rats, and multiple freeze-trapped tissue samples were taken from each liver at short intervals (15-30 s) during ischemia or following reperfusion. The freeze-trapped tissue was pulverized together with an antifreezing agent and high energy metabolites were measured by 31P NMR at 243 K after thawing. By using the cryo-NMR technique, a biochemical time resolution of 2 s could be achieved. Absolute metabolite concentrations were calculated by comparing the peak areas with internal standards mixed into the samples. Good time resolution and reliable concentration measurements provided by the cryo-NMR method enable us to estimate the ATP synthesis rate in the perfused liver during reperfusion following transient ischemia. The rate of ATP synthesis in the normoxic perfusion was 1.95 mumol/min/g wet weight; the maximal ATP synthesis rate during the recovery phase from ischemia was 5.75 mumol/min/g wet weight.
Liberate Computer User from Programming

This paper is about computer-based problem solving methodology. The issue addressed is: can we develop a computer-based problem-solving methodology which is not based on computer programming?The answer we provide to this question is YES. This raises the next question: if we do not use programming how do we communicate problem solving algorithms to the computer?The answer to this question is: (1) develop software tools that support domain algorithm execution in the problem domain environment (no programming as usual) and (2) allow problem-domain experts to express their problem-solving algorithms using the natural language of their problem domains. We achieve this computer-based problem solving methodology by computational emancipation of the application domain, which consists of: 1 Characterize the application domain in terms of concepts that are universal in the domain, have standalone computing meaning, and are composable. 1 Structure the application domain using an ontology where terms denoting domain characteristic concepts are associated with computer artifacts implementing them. 1 Develop a domain-dedicated virtual machine that executes domain algorithms expressed in the natural language of the domain (without asking to encode them into programs) and implement it on the physical computers existent in the computer-network. With this methodology computers execute algorithms whose expressions are conceptual, similar to the way human brain would execute them.
Cervical Spine Fracture Presenting as an Orthostatic Headache Secondary to Cerebral Spinal Fluid Leak

Abstract Background Head injuries are a common chief complaint encountered in the emergency department (ED). A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak resulting from such injuries is uncommon, but has potentially debilitating consequences if undiagnosed. Case Report A 34-year-old male patient presented to the ED with complaints of an orthostatic headache after a bicycle accident that occurred 5 days prior to presentation. He presented with a nonfocal neurologic examination. Computed tomography (CT) of the head was without significant pathology. CT angiography of the neck, performed due to a concern about traumatic arterial dissection, revealed C7 spinal fractures, but no evidence of dissection or occlusion of the arteries in the neck. Lying flat, he appeared comfortable but became quite symptomatic upon sitting upright or standing. Based on this finding, a CSF leak was suspected and he was admitted for symptom control and more detailed imaging to rule out such a leak. He was found, on magnetic resonance imaging, to have epidural CSF collections consistent with the suspected leak. In addition to immobilization for the cervical spine fracture, he was treated for orthostatic headaches conservatively with good outcomes. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Although this syndrome is still considered rare compared to other posttraumatic injuries, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting it may be underdiagnosed. Additionally, the signs and symptoms of this syndrome are nonspecific, with the exclusion of the orthostatic headache, and may be readily attributed to other diagnoses.
Physiological Studies of Oxygen Protection Mechanisms in the Heterocysts of Anabaena cylindrica

The mechanism of O2 protection of nitrogenase in the heterocysts of Anabaena cylindrica was studied in vivo. Resistance to O2 inhibition of nitrogenase activity correlated with the O2 tension of the medium in which heterocyst formation was induced. O2 resistance also correlated with the apparent Km for acetylene, indicating that O2 tension may influence the development of a gas diffusion barrier in the heterocysts. The role of respiratory activity in protecting nitrogenase from O2 that diffuses into the heterocyst was studied using inhibitors of carbon metabolism. Reductant limitation induced by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea increased the O2 sensitivity of in vivo acetylene reduction. Azide, at concentrations (30 mM) sufficient to completely inhibit dark nitrogenase activity (a process dependent on oxidative phosphorylation for its ATP supply), severely inhibited short-term light-dependent acetylene reduction in the presence of O2 but not in its absence. After 3 h of aerobic incubation in the presence of 20 mM azide, 75% of cross-reactive component I (Fe-Mo protein) in nitrogenase was lost; less than 35% was lost under microaerophilic conditions. Sodium malonate and monofluoroacetate, inhibitors of Krebs cycle activity, had only small inhibitory effects on nitrogenase activity in the light and on cross-reactive material. The results suggest that oxygen protection is dependent on both an O2 diffusion barrier and active respiration by the heterocyst.
Parts orienting by push-aligning

Programmable parts orienting is an important capability for flexible automation systems. Here we study how a part grasped in an unknown orientation by a force-controlled robot can be oriented by a sequence of push-align actions against a wall followed by sensor measurements of the distance from the grasp point to the wall. This paper concentrates on three issues: planning a sequence of actions to orient a part, exploring design changes that enable the part to be oriented in fewer steps, and the effect of shape uncertainty, due to manufacturing tolerances, on part orientability.
Patterns of wind-drifted snow on the Alaskan arctic slope, detected with ERS-1 interferometric SAR

We tested whether spaceborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) could be used to reveal patterns of redistribution of wind-drifted snow in arctic Alaska. Based on a simple geometric model, we found that lateral variations in new-snow (assuming a density of 0.3 g cm -3 ) accumulation of > 11 cm, or redistribution of the existing snow into dunes of half this height, could produce decorrelation of C-band interferograms. Comparison of interferograms with field observations for two periods from winter 1993/94, one with wind but little new snow, and the second with wind and new snow, indicates the interferograms delineated areas where the snow depth had changed due to drifting. Striking patterns of windward scouring and leeward deposition were revealed. The interferograms also showed that during one high-wind event, conspicuous interferometric bands a few kilometers wide and 30 km long were formed downwind of a mountain ridge. We speculate that these bands were caused by large-scale alterations in the concentrations of moving snow particles, a finding consistent with ground observations of alternating bands of clear air and blizzard for the same area and similar to phenomena observed with the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer and the Geodetic Earth Observing Satellite during blizzards in North Dakota and Iowa, U.S.A.
Relation of Racial Attitudes to Sociometric Choices among Second Grade Children

This paper reports the findings of a study of the relation of racial attitudes to interpersonal choice behavior among second grade school children. Children (32 Euro-American and 20 Afro-American) who comprised two intact classrooms in an integrated public school were administered the Preschool Racial Attitude Measure (PRAM II) and a sociometric procedure which asked them to choose classmates as associates for three different activities. For all subjects, a correlation of .52 was obtained between the degree of pro-Euro/anti-Afro bias displayed on PRAM II and the frequency of choice of Euro-American associates. There was some evidence of less racial bias and less frequent choice of Euro-associates in a racially balanced classroom than in a classroom which was predominantly Euro-American. It was concluded that the study supported the validity of the PRAM II procedure as a method for assessing racial attitudes in young children.
Separation of Scattering And Absorption In 1-D Random Media: II. Numerical Experiments On Stationary Problems

The theory of spatial distribution of seismic energy density in one dimensional (1D) random media derived in part 1 (Wu, 1993) is tested by numerical experiments using a full wave propagation matrix method. The geometry of numerical experiment mimics the configuration of zero-offset VSP (Vertical Seismic Profiling) along a borehole. A procedure of octave-band frequency averaging is applied to the measured data to reduce fluctuation of spatial energy distribution, so that stable estimations of medium parameters can be achieved without resorting to ensemble averaging. Results from Monte-Carlo numerical experiments for both infinite random media and finite random slabs with or without bottom reflections show good agreement for dark-to-gray (weak to intermediate scattering compared with absorption) media. When scattering is very strong (when backscattering-absorption ratio S{sub b} > 3), results from single realization fluctuate substantially. However, most the practical situations of sedimentary rocks in the crust fall into the validity region of the energy transfer theory.
An Algorithm for Clustering Animals by Species based upon Daily Movement

Abstract An algorithm is presented for clustering individual animals by species based solely upon the daily movements of the individual animals. This is particularly challenging due to the highly erratic nature of the animals’ movement. The variance in the scale and frequency of movement between individuals within a species is often greater than the difference between species. Existing clustering algorithms including hierarchical, k -means, and spectral were tried, but they failed to accurately distinguish between species or to cluster individuals of the same species together. Also, some of these algorithms require a priori knowledge of the number of species (clusters). The algorithm presented here addresses this problem by creating separation through a distance metric based upon ranking and then clustering based upon commonality in rankings. The algorithm performed well, demonstrating the ability to both distinguish between species and to cluster together individual of the same species. Furthermore, it assumes no a priori knowledge of the number of clusters expected.
Conditional rewriting logic as a unified model of concurrency

Abstract Rewriting with conditional rewrite rules modulo a set E of structural axioms provides a general framework for unifying a wide variety of models of concurrency. Concurrent rewriting coincides with logical deduction in conditional rewriting logic , a logic of actions whose models are concurrent systems. This logic is sound and complete and has initial models. In addition to general models interpreted as concurrent systems which provide a more operational style of semantics, more restricted semantics with an incresingly denotational flavor such as preorder, poset, cpo, and standard algebraic models appear as special cases of the model theory. This permits dealing with operational and denotational issues within the same model theory and logic. A programming language called Maude whose modules are rewriting logic theories is defined and given denotational and operational semantics. Maude provides a simple unification of concurrent programming with functional and object-oriented programming and supports high level declarative programming of concurrent systems.
Calculation of pH and mineral equilibria in hydrothermal waters with application to geothermometry and studies of boiling and dilution

Abstract Using chemical analyses and 25° pH measurements of quenched high-temperature waters, we calculate in situ pH and distribution of aqueous species at high temperature. This is accomplished by solving simultaneous mass action equations for complexes and redox equilibria and mass balance equations, on all components, including a H+ equation with as many as 60 terms (depending on water composition). This calculation provides accurate values for the activities of aqueous ions in a given water at high temperature, which are used to calculate an ion activity product (Q) for each of more than 100 minerals. The value of log(Q/K) for each mineral, where K is the equilibrium constant, provides a measure of proximity of the aqueous solution to equilibrium with the mineral. By plotting log Q/Kvs. T for natural waters, it is possible to determine: a) whether the water was in equilibrium with a host rock mineral assemblage, b) probable minerals in the equilibrium assemblage and c) the temperature of equilibrium. In cases where the fluid departs from equilibrium with a host rock assemblage, it is possible to determine whether this may result from boiling or dilution, and an estimate of amount of lost gas or diluting water can be determined. The calculation is illustrated by application to geothermal waters from Iceland, Broadlands, and Sulphur Bank, hot spring waters from Jemez, Yellowstone and Blackfoot Reservoir (Idaho) and fluid inclusions from the Sunnyside Mine, Colorado. It is shown that most geothermal waters approach equilibrium with a subsurface mineral assemblage at a temperature close to measured temperatures and that some hot springs also approach equilibrium with the host rock at temperatures above outlet temperatures but commonly below the Na-K-Ca temperatures. The log Q/K plots show that some discrepancies between Na-K-Ca temperatures on spring waters and actual temperatures result from a failure of alkali feldspars to equilibrate with the fluid and with each other. Calculations on Sulphur Bank fluids show that boiling probably caused cinnabar precipitation near 150°C and that the boiled fluids equilibrated with secondary minerals near 150° even though temperatures up to 185° have been measured at depth. For the fluid inclusions, the measured bubble temperatures are close to those calculated for equilibration of the fluid with the observed sulfide mineral assemblage. New estimates of stability constants for aluminum hydroxide complexes are included at the end of the paper.
Technology Transfer in the Vibration Analysis of Linearly Tapered Cantilever Beams

Curves are presented for determining the fundamental frequency and several higher harmonics for cantilever beams linearly tapered in the vertical or the horizontal plane or tapered in both planes simultaneously (double taper); both the single-tapered and the double-tapered beams are treated with free end, end mass, and end support.
Effect of ``Methotrexate'' and ``Melphalan'' on the Survival of Tumour and Skin Homo-grafts

SEMI-ISOLOGOUS (F1 hybrid) mice surviving systemic leukaemia L1210 after extensive therapy with halogenated derivatives of ‘Methotrexate’ (MTX) were shown to be immune to re-inoculation with sensitive or resistant sub-lines of leukaemia L12101–3. In other work4–6, it was observed that MTX therapy of mice bearing homografts of MTX-resistant leukaemias abrogated the immune response. However, in a system involving differences at the strong H-2 histocompatibility locus, pretreatment of mice with MTX failed to promote the growth of L12107. In the latter system, pretreatment with a number of alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide, triethylene melamine, and ‘Melphalan’) and X-irradiation resulted in marked immune suppression. In view of the foregoing results, and the observation that MTX therapy did not interfere appreciably with the ability of an inoculum of splenic tissue to render mice immune to L12105, we decided to determine what effect a dose-level of MTX capable of abrogating the immune response to tumour homograft would have on the survival of skin homografts. Also, as part of the same experiment, the effect of pro-treatment with MTX on the immune response to skin and tumour homografts was determined, since, in the present system, only minor histocompatibility differences were involved. ‘Melphalan’, a potent immune suppressor7, was used as a positive control.
Magnetic permeability measurements and a lunar core

Measurements of the magnetic field induced in the moon while it is in the geomagnetic tail lobes have been interpreted in terms of lunar magnetic permeability due to free iron content; such studies ignored the possibility that a highly conducting lunar core (Fe or FeS) would exclude magnetic fields with an apparent diamagnetic effect. Using lunar chemical and thermal models to determine plausible limits of magnetic permeability, we interpret measurements of the induced moment. The maximum likely radius of a lunar core is 580 km. Subsatellite and ALSEP measurements of the induced field are in disagreement. Resolving the differences is critical to determining whether a core could or does exist.
Adaptation to minority status and impact on school success

(1992). Adaptation to minority status and impact on school success. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 31, Literacy and the African-American Learner/The Struggle Between Access and Denial, pp. 287-295.
Antiarrhythmic and electrophysiologic actions of bethanidine sulfate in primary ventricular fibrillation or life-threatening ventricular tachycardia

Antiarrhythmic and electrophysiologic actions of bethanidine sulfate, a chemical analog of bretylium tosylate, were studied using programmed cardiac electrical stimulation in 14 survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest unassociated with acute myocardial infarction. Before bethanidine sulfate was administered sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT) were inducible in 11 patients and reproducible nonsustained VT was induced in 3 patients. Bethanidine sulfate shortened sinus cycle length and absolute and relative ventricular refractory periods measured during sinus rhythm, but did not alter ventricular effective refractory period measured during ventricular pacing. Bethanidine sulfate prevented inducible VT in 8 patients (57%), increased the number of extrastimuli needed to induce VT in 2 patients, and was ineffective in 4 patients. In contrast, in only 1 of 26 trials with other conventional and investigational antiarrhythmic drugs in these patients was VT prevented. Orthostatic hypotension was a prominent side effect of bethanidine sulfate therapy, but could be reversed in most patients by concomitant administration of protriptyline. Five patients in whom bethanidine sulfate was effective in the laboratory have been treated chronically (400 to 600 mg 4 times daily), and all are alive at 3 to 40 months. In the remaining 9 patients, 8 were treated empirically because no drug was effective in the laboratory and 1 was treated with quinidine, which appeared to be protective during testing. Four of these 9 patients, including the patient treated with quinidine, died suddenly during follow-up. Thus, although bethanidine sulfate therapy is difficult to initiate because of orthostatic hypotensive side effects, it may be useful in treating patients at high risk of recurrent cardiac arrest.
Damages to the extracellular matrix in articular cartilage due to cryopreservation by microscopic magnetic resonance imaging and biochemistry.

To investigate the damages to the extracellular matrix in articular cartilage due to cryopreservation, the depth-dependent concentration profiles of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in thirty-four cartilage specimens from canine humeral heads were imaged at 13μm pixel resolution using the in vitro version of the dGEMRIC protocol in microscopic MRI (μMRI). In addition, a biochemical assay was used to determine the GAG loss from the tissue to the solution where the tissue was immersed. For specimens that had been frozen at −20 °C or −80 °C without any cryoprotectant, a significant loss of GAG (as high as 56.5%) was found in cartilage, dependent upon the structural zones of the tissue and the conditions of cryopreservation. The cryoprotective abilities of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a function of its concentration in saline and storage temperature were also investigated. A 30% DMSO concentration was sufficient in preventing the reduction of GAG in the tissue at the −20 °C storage temperature, but a 50% concentration of DMSO was necessary for the −80 °C cryopreservation. These imaging results were verified by the biochemical analysis.
Effects of raclopride in the nucleus accumbens on ethanol seeking and consumption.

Background: Nucleus accumbens dopamine has been shown to play a role in the processing of behaviorally relevant stimuli and to mediate ethanol-reinforced responding. Previous research that used a fixed-ratio schedule of responding maintained by the presentation of small dippers (0.1 ml) of ethanol demonstrated that the dopamine D2 antagonist, raclopride, decreased total responding for ethanol by both delaying the onset of responding and causing the early termination of lever-press behavior. Because these studies required animals to continuously respond to obtain access to small amounts of ethanol over a period of self-administration, this procedure assessed a combination of appetitive (seeking) and consummatory (drinking) behavior. The paradigm used in the present study separated the appetitive or seeking response from the consummatory response to assess the effects of raclopride on both types of ethanol-related behaviors. Methods: Male Long-Evans rats were trained to emit a fixed number of lever-press responses that resulted in access to a drinking tube that contained 10% ethanol for 20 min, once each day. We measured the effects of microinjections of raclopride (1.0, 3.0, and 10.0 μg/subject) into the nucleus accumbens, before the sessions, on appetitive and consummatory responding. Results: Raclopride delayed the onset of ethanol-seeking (appetitive responding) at all doses and decreased the number of responses made at the low and high doses. The rate of responding, however, was unaffected. Raclopride had no effect on the latency to begin consuming ethanol or on any of the characteristics of the initial bout of ethanol intake at all doses tested. Total ethanol intake was decreased, after an initially “normal” pattern of self-administration, following only the highest dose of raclopride. Mean ethanol intake (g/kg) was 0.54 (±0.03) after no injection, 0.51 (±0.04) after sham treatment, and 0.38 (±0.05) after 10 μg of raclopride. Conclusions: The procedural separation of the seeking and intake responses used in this experiment allowed us to assess the effects of dopamine receptor antagonism in the nucleus accumbens on these two different behaviors. Overall, appetitive responding that preceded the delivery of an ethanol solution was more sensitive to raclopride treatment than was consummatory responding. These findings are consistent with a stimulus-processing function of the mesolimbic dopamine system.
Molybdenum Carbide as a Highly Selective Deoxygenation Catalyst for Converting Furfural to 2‐Methylfuran

Selectively cleaving the C=O bond outside the furan ring of furfural is crucial for converting this important biomass-derived molecule to value-added fuels such as 2-methylfuran. In this work, a combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations, surface science studies, and reactor evaluation identified molybdenum carbide (Mo2 C) as a highly selective deoxygenation catalyst for converting furfural to 2-methylfuran. These results indicate the potential application of Mo2 C as an efficient catalyst for the selective deoxygenation of biomass-derived oxygenates including furanics and aromatics.
Water chemistry of a stream following a storm, Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming

Variation in the chemistry of the North Fork of the Shoshone River following a storm cannot be explained simply by dilution of the base flow by rain water. Factor analysis of the variation indicates that during the early part of the flood cycle, the most important control is solution of readily soluble salts from the soil zone. During the later part of the flood, the dominant control is dilution of the base flow. Other significant controls during both parts of the flood cycle are selective weathering of ferromagnesian minerals and leaching of potassium from biological material. Variation in water chemistry during a storm can be used to reveal information about weathering processes occurring at different depths in the soil and weathered rock zones.
Tripography: Can destination use patterns enhance understanding of the VFR market?

Although almost half of US pleasure travellers are visiting friends and relatives (VFR), this market was marginalised and forgotten until the late 1980s. This study was designed to analyse sociodemographic and trip characteristic (‘tripographic’) differences between VFR and non-VFR travellers and between single- and multi-destination VFR travellers. Using data from a national travel survey, significant differences were found in the socio-demographic and trip characteristics of VFR and non-VFR travellers. Approximately 9 per cent of VFR travellers had multiple destinations, and multidestination VFRs had different characteristics than single-destination VFRs. Several important recommendations are provided for marketers interested in pursuing VFRs as a niche market.
Use of microarray hybridization to identify Brugia genes involved in mosquito infectivity.

Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi microfilariae (mf) require a maturation period of at least 5 days in the mammalian host to successfully infect laboratory mosquitoes. This maturation process coincides with changes in the surface composition of mf that likely are associated with changes in gene expression. To test this hypothesis, we verified the differential infectivity of immature (≤3 day) and mature (>30 day) Brugia mf for black-eyed Liverpool strain of Aedes aegypti and then assessed transcriptome changes associated with microfilarial maturation by competitively hybridizing microfilarial cDNAs to the B. malayi oligonucleotide microarray. We identified transcripts differentially abundant in immature (94 in B. pahangi and 29 in B. malayi) and mature (64 in B. pahangi and 14 in B. malayi) mf. In each case, >40% of Brugia transcripts shared no similarity to known genes or were similar to genes with unknown function; the remaining transcripts were categorized by putative function based on sequence similarity to known genes/proteins. Microfilarial maturation was not associated with demonstrable changes in the abundance of transmembrane or secreted proteins; however, immature mf expressed more transcripts associated with immune modulation, neurotransmission, transcription, and cellular cytoskeleton elements, while mature mf displayed increased transcripts potentially encoding hypodermal/muscle and surface molecules, e.g., cuticular collagens and sheath components. The results of the homologous B. malayi microarray hybridization were validated by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. These findings preliminarily lend support to the underlying hypothesis that changes in microfilarial gene expression drive maturation-associated changes that influence the parasite to develop in compatible vectors.
DNA dependent RNA polymerase catalyzed synthesis of polyribonucleotide chains covalently linked to DNA.

Abstract RNA polymerase of Escherichia coli catalyzes the covalent attachment of ribonucleotides to 3′-OH ends of DNA chains. This was verified by (a) the isolation of hybrid structures in CsCl gradients containing RNA and DNA after denaturation in the presence of HCHO and (b) the isolation of DNA containing ribonucleotides after alkaline hydrolysis.
On Hoffmann-Jørgensen’s Inequality for U-Processes

The object of this note is to prove an analogue for U-processes of (1974) tail inequality for sums of independent symmetric random vectors. The result obtained is best possible in a certain sense but is less useful than the original inequality.
Differing Paths to the Top: Gender, Ambition, and Running for Governor

This research aims to bridge together the work between ambition formation and progressive ambition through an analysis of current and former US governors and gubernatorial candidates’ political careers through in-depth interviews. Much like earlier scholarship on women’s political ambition, I conclude that women tend to be self-starters, begin their careers much later in life, and receive little party recruitment. Women, however, are more likely to take electoral risks when moving up the political career ladder, challenging incumbents at higher rates than their male counterparts, and entering races with greater levels of electoral uncertainty.
NEURAL NETWORK REPRESENTATIONS FOR ARTERIAL STREET INCIDENT DETECTION DATA FUSION

Abstract This research considers four neural network representations for detecting incidents on signalized arterials using multiple data sources. Two incident detection algorithms process unique data sources separately: inductive loop detectors, and travel times collected from vehicle probes travelling through the street network. The networks then combine the algorithm inferences about traffic conditions to identify highway links on which incidents are occurring. The four networks consider the following input and structure representations, added incrementally: (1) the two algorithm output values alone; (2) a weighted geometric sum of previous network output values; (3) algorithm scores from links immediately upstream and downstream of the subject link; and (4) weighted geometric sums of previous input values. The four representations were trained as feed-forward networks using error back propagation. Time series inputs were represented with extra processing units and fixed weight connections. The networks were trained with data generated by traffic simulation permitting deliberate control of traffic demand, operation and incident conditions. Each network was trained until performance began to degrade on a reserved data set not used for training. Adding the output time series permitted two of the 24 incidents to be detected sooner than with the network that did not include this input. Similarly, using information from adjacent links in time series permitted all of the incidents to be detected by at least the third time period.
An experimental design for the development of adaptive treatment strategies

In adaptive treatment strategies, the treatment level and type is repeatedly adjusted according to ongoing individual response. Since past treatment may have delayed effects, the development of these treatment strategies is challenging. This paper advocates the use of sequential multiple assignment randomized trials in the development of adaptive treatment strategies. Both a simple ad hoc method for ascertaining sample sizes and simple analysis methods are provided.
Doxycycline as a means of decreasing abdominal aortic aneurysm growth: will it work?

In addition to the increasing risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with age, the overall incidence of AAA is increasing, especially small asymptomatic aneurysms. There is no systematic approach to screening at present, AAA usually being identified during imaging studies for unrelated problems. The aneurysm diameter is the best indicator for rupture risk and the necessity of surgical intervention. Drugs have been demonstrated to slow the growth of AAAs, thus delaying surgery. Animal studies with doxycycline have shown positive results. Human trials have been started to gauge the dose necessary to slow the growth of AAAs. If doxycycline proves to be effective in this, various measures will need to be addressed, including widespread screening.
Using psychotherapy to deal with mental health problems in organizations

Companies must be cognizant of the mental as well as physical health needs of their employees; higher productivity can be the result. p W ~ he use of psyI chotherapy for dealing with mental illness and stress suffered on the job is a growing issue as more employees seek professional counseling. Most corporate health-care plans include a provision for the treatment of mental health problems, and an increasing number of employees are using it. Based on recent figures from government and private health insurance plans, spending on psychiatric care has been rising faster than any other medical benefit. The issue is a controversial one because there is little agreement on what is "mental health" or "normal mental health." Many employees are now seeking help with problems such as depression, burnout, or fear of public speaking that people in organizations have suffered through and endured for years. The view that mental health problems should be classified as illnesses rather than as failures to adjust to life's problems lies at the heart of the controversy. The issue has been greeted with conflicting emotions by those directly affected. Psychotherapists view it as a new area of opportunity. Some have even begun to specialize their practices in the psychological problems afflicting particular businesses or professions. Managers and organization members view it with a mixture of optimism and skepticism. Some may be relieved that outside help and support is available, but many are skeptical that it will do any good. CEOs and compensat ion and benefit specialists are viewing it with increasing alarm. Their main concern is to contain health care spending. The purpose of this article is to create more awareness of this problem and shed light on what some of the main issues are from both the employer 's and employee 's point of view. Surprisingly little has been written about this subject and more knowledge is needed by managers, educators, and mental health professionals.
Low-temperature internal friction and nanostructured metal stability

The effect of aging at room temperature after equal-channel angular pressing and annealing on parameters of the low-temperature relaxation peak and dynamic Young’s modulus in nanostructured copper is studied. The dislocation nature of the peak is established. It is shown that the high rate of change for all peak parameters is observed close to the copper static relaxation temperature. The data obtained are in good agreement with results of high-temperature in situ changes of elasticity modulus and microhardness.
Structured queries, language modeling, and relevance modeling in cross-language information retrieval

Two probabilistic approaches to cross-lingual retrieval are in wide use today, those based on probabilistic models of relevance, as exemplified by INQUERY, and those based on language modeling. INQUERY, as a query net model, allows the easy incorporation of query operators, including a synonym operator, which has proven to be extremely useful in cross-language information retrieval (CLIR), in an approach often called structured query translation. In contrast, language models incorporate translation probabilities into a unified framework. We compare the two approaches on Arabic and Spanish data sets, using two kinds of bilingual dictionaries-one derived from a conventional dictionary, and one derived from a parallel corpus. We find that structured query processing gives slightly better results when queries are not expanded. On the other hand, when queries are expanded, language modeling gives better results, but only when using a probabilistic dictionary derived from a parallel corpus.We pursue two additional issues inherent in the comparison of structured query processing with language modeling. The first concerns query expansion, and the second is the role of translation probabilities. We compare conventional expansion techniques (pseudo-relevance feedback) with relevance modeling, a new IR approach which fits into the formal framework of language modeling. We find that relevance modeling and pseudo-relevance feedback achieve comparable levels of retrieval and that good translalion probabilities confer a small but significant advantage.
Recent benthic foraminifera from the continental margin of northwest Africa: Community structure and distribution

Abstract Sediment grab samples were collected at 107 locations along the continental margin of northwest Africa. These samples form a series of depth transects between the Straits of Gibraltar and Dakar, Senegal. The greater than 250 μm size fraction was retained for a census of both the live and dead foraminifera. After deleting trace occurrences, Jaccard and correlation coefficient-based cluster analyses were performed to decipher the community structure for this margin. The geographic distribution of the four major faunal provinces recognized is conventional in that for both the live and dead assemblages three are related to depth: upper slope and shelf, middle slope, and lower slope and continental rise. The biotopes and thanatotopes within these provinces are strongly restricted along vertical or latitudinal boundaries when the data are analysed using Jaccard coefficients. Dendrograms constructed from correlation coefficients emphasize depth-related faunal communities. Dominant species such as Cibicides lobatulus, Trifarina fornasinii, Planulina ariminensis, Uvigerina finisterrensis , and C. wuellerstorfi are generally distributed within a definite depth range along this margin and strongly influence the correlation coefficient-based dendrograms. Other distributions are clearly not depth-related but correspond to various environmental variables, for example: Cancris auriculus — coarse substrate; Bolivina subaenariensis — oxygen minimum; Cibicidoides kullenbergi and Hoeglundina elegans — low organic carbon. Uvigerina peregrina is also a notable exception to depth-dependence in that this dominant species and the province it represents are generally confined to the continental slope south of Cape Blanc. Its preference for that region may arise from the high organic carbon and fine grain-size of the sediment there, from low salinity of the bottom water, or from other unknown variables. The most important vertical faunal boundary occurs between Cape Barbas and Cape Blanc (between 22° and 21°N latitude). In contrast, the Canary Island Ridge intersects the continental margin at a saddle depth of about 1500 m, but that physiographic barrier has little effect on provincialism of the deep-water benthic foraminifera.
Resummation in the many-nucleon problem

Abstract A description of the many-fermion system is considered wherein the choice of trial function for the energy is composed of excited hole-particle states plus the usual Slater determinant of occupied Hartree-Fock (H-F) states. The principle is, then, to arrange the adiabatic perturbation expansion so as to reflect this choice. In particular, one studies how the configuration mixing affects the fermion self-energies and thereby the spectrum of states. Density-density correlations play an important role in the analysis. These are of the particle-hole type, and their existence leads to an expression for the self-energy which depends upon the two-body scattering operator t up through the 4th order in that quantity. This is in the ladder approximation. Particle-hole scatterings modify the usual t -matrix of Brueckner's theory. It is found that the 2nd and 3rd order rearrangement energies appear quite naturally in the theory. The second of these exhibits the renormalization of the Fermi sea, occupied H-F states, which is characteristic of the particle-particle graphs in a density-correlated system. It is concluded that all these effects are included in the first-order fermion self-energy expression obtained by Martin and Schwinger.
Ca-Sr-Ga-Nb mixed oxide system for high temperature superconductor substrate applications

Abstract Twin-free crystals with relatively low melting temperatures are desirable as substrates for high temperature superconductor (HTSC) oxide substrate materials. In the selection of new oxide substrate compositions, special requirements (e.g. suitable dielectric properties for microwave application and perovskite structure with good lattice matching with YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ ) were considered. In this study the calcium-strontium gallate-niobate (CSGN) system has been investigated in both ceramic and single crystal samples, focusing on their crystal growth. The CSGN compositions were formed by mixing orthorhombic calcium gallate-niobate (CGN) and cubic strontium gallate-niobate (SGN) complex perovskites. CGN-excess mixtures do not create a single phase, as opposed to SGN-excess compositions, where single phase solid solutions are formed. The SGN-excess compositions can produce twin-free CSGN single crystals, which have excellent room temperature dielectric loss (tan δ ≤ 3 x 10 -4 ) and reasonably low dielectric constant ( K = 41) values at 100 kHz. The growth temperature for a 50 mol% SGN starting composition (CSGN1) was about 1600°C, but for a 65 mol% SGN concentration (CSGN2) it increased to 1750°C. A lattice parameter a = 3.939 A was obtained for the CSGN1 crystal increasing with SGN concentration. A significant drawback was observed for the Ca-Sr-Ga-Nb oxide system: the effective distribution coefficient of Ca 2+ is very small ( k eff (Ca 2+ ) ≈ 0.4). This can cause crystal growth difficulties due to constitutional supercooling phenomena.