cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental verification of a method to extract spin exchange frequencies from EPR spectra of nitroxides

Recently we have been interested in formulating simple, accurate methods to correct EPR linewidths in spectra that are inhomogeneously broadened by unresolved hyperfme structure (I, 2). The focus has been on nitroxide spectra in the motional narrowing regime in which three sharp, well-separated lines are observed. Reference (I) developed simple, accurate methods to extract the intrinsic Lorentzian linewidth from spectra derived from dilute samples and the spin exchange frequency from spectra derived from samples at higher concentration given that the effective hyperhne coupling constant of the nuclei responsible for the inhomogeneous broadening is known. If the effective coupling constant a, is not known, then Ref. (2) gives a method to estimate it from simple measurements on the EPR spectrum itself. References (I) and (2) accomplished our goal of making the results of rather complex computer calculations quickly applicable to spectral corrections using easily measured parameters and a hand-held calculator. Experimentally, the results have been checked in a number of ways for the dilute case (2). The purpose of the present note is to extend the experimental verification to the spin exchange case. We study di-tert-butyl nitroxide in several solvents and develop a novel way of varying the radical concentration in solution. The Heisenberg spin exchange frequency is given by
A systems approach to healthcare

Existing cognitive agent modeling approach is feasible to use 'mixed modeling' (individuals, organizations, societal) of wellness.Validated against Philadelphia mental health system data from 2010.Useful to help isolate interventions that fail as well as those that succeed. PurposeExplore whether agent-based modeling and simulation can help healthcare administrators discover interventions that increase population wellness and quality of care while, simultaneously, decreasing costs. Since important dynamics often lie in the social determinants outside the health facilities that provide services, this study thus models the problem at three levels (individuals, organizations, and society). MethodsThe study explores the utility of translating an existing (prize winning) software for modeling complex societal systems and agent's daily life activities (like a Sim City style of software), into a desired decision support system. A case study tests if the 3 levels of system modeling approach is feasible, valid, and useful. The case study involves an urban population with serious mental health and Philadelphia's Medicaid population (n=527,056), in particular. ResultsSection 3 explains the models using data from the case study and thereby establishes feasibility of the approach for modeling a real system. The models were trained and tuned using national epidemiologic datasets and various domain expert inputs. To avoid co-mingling of training and testing data, the simulations were then run and compared (Section 4.1) to an analysis of 250,000 Philadelphia patient hospital admissions for the year 2010 in terms of re-hospitalization rate, number of doctor visits, and days in hospital. Based on the Student t-test, deviations between simulated vs. real world outcomes are not statistically significant. Validity is thus established for the 2008-2010 timeframe. We computed models of various types of interventions that were ineffective as well as 4 categories of interventions (e.g., reduced per-nurse caseload, increased check-ins and stays, etc.) that result in improvement in well-being and cost. ConclusionsThe 3 level approach appears to be useful to help health administrators sort through system complexities to find effective interventions at lower costs.
Effects of muscle activation on fatigue and metabolism in human skeletal muscle

Increasing stimulation frequency has been shown to increase fatigue but not when the changes in force associated with changes in frequency have been controlled. An effect of frequency, independent ...
A field bioassay approach to determining tributyltin toxicity to oysters in California

Abstract Field experiments were conducted with oysters, Crassostrea gigas to determine the toxicity of tributyltin (TBT). Oysters were transplanted to over one hundred stations distributed in 25 marinas usually in a transect of four or five stations along a gradient next to vessels extending to station locations distant from vessels. In almost every bay in California there are many vessels, the TBT levels in water are > 50 ng/liter (parts per trillion), and the oysters exhibit a chambering response similar to the chambering response that was indicative of the destruction of the oyster industry in France. Although oysters were transplanted to stations that had extreme environmental conditions (near sewer and petroleum refinery discharges) no evidence of chambering was observed indicating that the chambering response does not occur with every type of environmental stress. In addition, oysters transplanted to a marina that had been abandoned for 18 months did not show a chambering response, whereas those transplanted in marinas that had vessels always showed a chambering response. The use of field techniques in determining toxicity responses worked in this case but the response could have been more clearly defined if more stations were added in each marina and the dose response determined on a marina by marina basis. More TBT measurements in water would have also helped to refine the dose-response relationship. A first estimate of a toxicity value can be determined from these data to be less than 40 ng/liter.
DISC1 Dynamically Regulates Synaptic N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Responses in Excitatory Neurons

Schizophrenia and related mood disorders are complex psychiatric disorders that affect � 2% of the population (1,2). The fortuitous finding of chlorpromazine and other phenothiazines in the early 1950s and subsequent development of clozapine and related antipsychotic drugs ameliorated a subset of syndromes of psychosis and resulted in deinstitutionalization of many patients with psychiatric disorders. The drugs seem to benefit patients by modulating dopaminergic or serotoninergic function, or both. The exact mechanisms of action of the drugs are unknown. There are still no good answers 50 years after the discovery of these drugs as to why the medications fail to treat the negative symptoms and cognitive deficits, and this lack of answers has hampered the development of more effective medications (1,2). A comprehensive understanding of the etiopathology of psychiatric disorders is urgently needed for developing improved medications. Accumulating research findings have fostered a hypothesis that aberrant glutamatergic transmission, particularly aberrant N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)–mediated glutamate transmission, may be responsible for schizophrenia and related psychiatric disorders (1–4). The initial evidence has emerged from administration of NMDAR antagonists, including phencyclidine and ketamine, which elicit psychotic symptoms and cognitive dysfunction similar to those of schizophrenia and related psychiatric disorders and aggravate the psychotic symptoms in patients with the disorders. The effects of NMDAR antagonists persist in the absence of activity of monoamines. Additionally, genetically reducing NMDAR expression in interneurons produces schizophrenia-like phenotypes. Finally, more recent genetic studies have linked numerous genes, including the disrupted in schizophrenia 1 gene (DISC1), with the disorders, and many of those molecules have been implicated in regulation of glutamatergic transmission (3,4). Together, these findings have led to the prevailing hypothesis that hypofunction of NMDARs, particularly hypofunction of NMDARs in interneurons, causes progression and symptoms of schizophrenia and related psychiatric disorders.
A model for counterion binding to ionic micellar aggregates

Abstract A model for the interface between an ionic surfactant aggregate and the surrounding electrolyte is developed to incorporate the binding of counterions at the surface. The model considers discrete ionic headgroups and ionic headgroup-bound counterion pairs and the interactions among them which introduce a nonrandomness into their distribution over the interface. The effect of the double layer is included by an improved approximate solution to the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation. Our approach allows calculation of the work of formation of the interface, from which an equation can be derived predicting the degree of dissociation of surface groups. This is applied to micelles formed by the sodium alkyl sulfates. The calculated degree of dissociation decreases significantly with increasing bulk concentration of counterions and is sensitive to the shape and size of the aggregate. For sodium dodecyl sulfate at zero added salt it is about 0.35 for spherical micelles and 0.12 for rodlike micelles. A comparison of different approximations for the dissociation reveals that the discrete structure of the interface must be taken into account if this quantity is to be predicted over the entire range of counterion concentrations.
Role for CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in inhibition of graft rejection by extracorporeal photopheresis.

Background Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is used to treat recurrent severe rejection in clinical heart and lung recipients. The mechanisms of the salutary effects of ECP are poorly understood, but appear to involve regulation of T-cell–mediated alloreactive responses, possibly by induction of regulatory T cells. We created a mouse model of ECP to determine the effects of ECP on T-cell responses in vivo and the contribution of CD4 + CD25 + T cells. Methods In this study, 1 × 10 7 splenocytes were treated with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP, 200 ng/ml), followed by ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation (2 J/cm 2 , 350 nm), and then injected intravenously into syngeneic mice. Thirty minutes later, the treated animals received heterotopic cardiac allografts with no immunosuppression. Treated graft recipients were analyzed to determine the effect of ECP on graft survival, deletion of allospecific T cells, and the frequency and in vivo suppressive activity of CD4 + CD25 + T cells. Results ECP extends cardiac allograft survival in at least two different strain combinations. For CBA/Ca recipients of C57BL/6 allografts, median survival time (MST) in ECP-treated animals was 16 days vs 10 days in graft recipients treated with cells exposed only to 8-MOP ( p = 0.04). The frequency of splenic CD4 + CD25 + cells expressing FoxP3 + increased 2-fold in ECP-treated CBA/Ca mice (82.6 ± 5.2%, n = 4) relative to untreated mice (44.9 ± 4.5%, n = 4, p 5 sorted CD4 + CD25 + splenocytes from ECP-treated graft recipients to untreated cardiac allograft recipients 30 minutes after transplantation resulted in extended graft survival compared with animals that received the same number of CD4 + CD25 + splenocytes from cardiac allograft recipients not treated with ECP (MST: 24 days vs 13 days, respectively, p = 0.001). Analyses of 5,6-carboxy-fluorescein-succinimidyl-ester (CFSE)-labeled H-2K b –specific T cells in the spleen and lymph node showed no evidence of peripheral deletion after ECP treatment. Conclusions ECP extends graft survival even in fully histoincompatible strain combinations with no immunosuppression. It increases the frequency of FoxP3 + CD4 + CD25 + splenic T cells, and its effects can be transferred to untreated recipients using minimal numbers of CD4 + CD25 + T cells, indicating that CD4 + CD25 + T cells may play a key role in the immunomodulatory effects of ECP.
A simple radioimmunoassay for 3',5', cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

Abstract A radioimmunoassay for 3′,5′ cAMP has been developed in which [ 3 H]3′,5′ cAMP is the radioligand. Antibody-bound and free fractions are separated with dextran-coated charcoal. The sensitivity of the assay is 0.03 pmoles and antiserum specificity is 7 orders with respect to other adenine nucleotides. Samples are prepared by ethanol precipitation. Tissue levels of 3′,5′ cAMP are comparable to those reported by others.
Inhomogeneous deformation of elastomer gels in equilibrium under saturated and unsaturated conditions

A variational method is employed to obtain governing equations and boundary conditions describing finite strain equilibrium configurations of elastomeric gels. Three situations are considered: a liquid saturated gel, an unsaturated gel, and a gel in equilibrium with a vapor of its own liquid. Surface tractions can lead to equilibrium transitions between these cases. The liquid saturated gel is regarded as immersed in a liquid bath. If this bath becomes depleted, then the gel is unsaturated. The degree of unsaturation – a measure of the amount of liquid that would restore a state of saturation – affects the subsequent mechanical behavior. If the unsaturated system is further allowed to condense or evaporate its liquid component at the gel surface, then a new state of equilibrium is achieved. The transition between the unsaturated case and the case of being in equilibrium with the vapor phase corresponds to the chemical potential variable of the gel changing its value from one that is determined by a volume constraint to the value of the chemical potential in the vapor phase. A finite element method is created on the basis of the variational method and demonstrated in the context of eversion, a deformation that imposes very large finite strains. Liquid migration within the gel is not modeled as our focus is on equilibrium states that occur after all such non-equilibrium processes come to rest.
A JMAK-microhardness model for quantifying the kinetics of restoration mechanisms in inhomogeneous microstructure

Abstract The microstructure of heavily drawn wire is inhomogeneous and subsequent annealing of the material results in inhomogeneous recrystallization. Standard JMAK analysis of the kinetics of recovery and recrystallization for such microstructure is cumbersome and sometimes unreliable. This investigation was carried out on wire drawn (to true strain of 2.31) oxygen free high conducting (OFHC) copper, which was subsequently annealed at 250, 400 and 500 °C for annealing times ranging from 10 s to 1 h. The microstructural changes during the annealing were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy, orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) and microhardness. While standard JMAK analysis can be used to analyze the kinetics of recrystallization and grain growth, it was inadequate for quantifying the recovery kinetics. However, the modified JMAK-microhardness model developed enabled us to evaluate the kinetics of recovery, recrystallization and grain growth, using a single equation. In this approach, the JMAK model is expressed in terms of microhardness data, from which the parameters of the different restoration kinetics were determined. The values of JMAK exponent, n , the temperature-dependent constant, k , and the activation energy, Q , for recovery, recrystallization and grain growth obtained by the new method compared well with values in the literature.
Role of vibrational and translational energy in the activated dissociative adsorption of D2 on Cu(111).

We report the relative efficacy of vibrational and translational energy in overcoming the barrier to dissociative adsorption of ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ on a Cu(111) surface. This is determined by measuring variation of adsorption probability with kinetic energies, ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{i}}$, and vibrational temperature. At the highest energy (${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{i}}$=0.83 eV) adsorption is predominantly due to ground-state ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$; molecules in excited vibrational states play the dominant role for ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{i}}$ below \ensuremath{\sim}0.5 eV. A detailed analysis provides estimated adsorption probability versus energy functions for ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ in vibrational states v=0 to v=3.
Ionization energies of Yn(n = 1−4)

We have studied the vertical ionization energies of yttrium clusters using complete active space multi-configuration followed by multi-reference configuration interaction calculations which included 2.7 million configurations. The computed ionization energies and the overall trend for the ionization potentials as a function of cluster size agree with the recent photoionization spectra of yttrium clusters reported by Knickelbein.
Implementation of a Large-Scale Actuator Network for Distributed Manipulation

A class of cyber-physical systems that is gradually attracting increased scientific attention is Large-Scale Actuator Networks (LSAN). A prospective application of actuator networks is distributed manipulation. Distributed manipulation has the potential to become a game-changing technology in the area of industrial automation. To examine this class of systems, this paper presents a reactive elastic surface that autonomously morphs its shape by using a grid of linear actuators to transport an object into a target location. The combined action of the actuator grid overcomes the limitations of individual actuators, resulting in a system with multiple degrees-of-freedom. Experimental results illustrate the applicability of the platform.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Role of placenta in the vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus

Review the role and mechanism of in utero placental transmission of HIV-1. A thorough review based on a literature search for publications relevant to this subject was performed using relevant search terms. Articles that describe the genetic and pathophysiology of vertical transmission have been acknowledged. The articles pertinent to the topic were selected to support the discussion. Vertical transmission may occur through CD4+ endothelial tissues or CD4+ Hofbauer cells. Trophoblasts and villi have CD4 receptors, which make them potential candidates for HIV infection. Placental cytokines and chemokines influence HIV replication in trophoblasts. Genetic analysis of HIV-1 sequences verify the interaction of HIV-1 and placental tissue. The vertical transmission of HIV-1 characterized by selection of genotype variant that escape the mother's immune system. Placental transmission of HIV-1 is a complex incompletely understood process which requires advanced studies. The available literature provides information with regards to the interactions of placental cells with HIV.
The accuracy of electrocardiogram-controlled central line placement.

BACKGROUND:Electrocardiogram (ECG) guidance to confirm accurate positioning of central venous catheters (CVC), placed before surgery in the operating room, is rarely used in the United States. We designed this randomized, controlled trial to investigate whether the use of this technique impacts the
Generating Functions and the Solutions of Full History Recurrence Equations

Abstract We study a class of full history recurrence equations using generating functions. The generating functions are shown to satisfy a first order linear differential equation. Singularity analysis and saddle-point methods can then be employed to derive asymptotic approximation for the coefficients of the generating functions.
Gemcitabine combined with paclitaxel or paclitaxel/trastuzumab in metastatic breast cancer

Abstract The combination of gemcitabine and paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer is attractive because of the good single-agent activity of each, the different mechanisms of antitumor effect, and the, generally, nonoverlapping toxicity profiles of the agents. Phase II trials of the combination indicate response rates of 45% to 55% and median survival of 12 months in extensively pretreated patients, including those with anthracycline-resistant disease, and a response rate of 69% in patients with newly recurrent metastatic breast cancer. The combination was well tolerated, with severe hematologic toxicity being infrequent. The combination of gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer with no prior chemotherapy in the metastatic setting produced a response rate of 71% and median response duration of 11 months. The combination was safe and well tolerated, with no unexpected toxicities being observed. Both combinations warrant additional study in metastatic breast cancer. Semin Oncol 30 (supl 3):19-21. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Liquid fuels fromMesua ferrea L. seed oil

Mesua ferrea L. seed oil consists of triglycerides of linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids. These acids were pyrolyzed separately in the presence of different amounts of solid sodium carbonate. Pyrolysis experiments revealed that linoleic and oleic acids can be converted to hydrocarbons of a wide range of molecular weights by pyrolyzing them with even 1% by wt of sodium carbonate up to a temperature of 500°C, whereas palmitic and stearic acids can be converted to hydrocarbons only by pyrolyzing them with equivalent amounts or more of sodium carbonate up to a temperature of about 650°C.
Wollastonite solubility and free energy of supercritical aqueous CaCl 2

The solubility of wollastonite in chloride solutions has been measured between 750° C and 850° C at 2kb pressure and at 800°C at 1 kb pressure. The fugacity of HCl at P and T was controlled by combining Ag+AgCl internally with magnetite +hematite+water as an external hydrogen buffer. Silica activity was fixed by the presence of quartz. The calcium and chloride contents of the solutions were measured after quench. CaCl2 appears to be the major solute species. Using these compositional data, the Gibbs Free Energy of formation for CaCl2 was calculated, assuming that the activity coefficient quotient is near unity. The results were combined with quartz solubility data and calculations made by Joesten (1974) to approximate the compositions of CO2-H2O rich fluids which prevailed during the metasomatic formation of mono-minerallic zones in calc-silicate nodules from a contact aureole in the Christmas Mountains, Texas. The largest predicted gradients in H4SiO4 and CaCl2 occur across the wollastonite zone.
Development and evaluation of an acid precipitation monitor for fractional event sampling with capability for real-time pH and conductivity measurement

An acid precipitation monitor has been developed that collects fractions of rain events, measures the pH and conductivity in real-time, and stores the remaining samples under refrigerated conditions. A Z-80 microprocessor controls all operations of the monitor including sample collection, sample analysis, quality control analysis, and data recording. Quality control analysis consists of analysis upon demand of a low-ionic-strength solution. The monitor was evaluated in the field and about 40 rain events were monitored. Excellent stability of the pH electrode was found under field conditions.
Toxicity of oxidized β-carotene to cultured human cells

Abstract Carotenoids are effective antioxidants in vitro, but they are also susceptible to autoxidation, which generates volatile and biologically active aldehydes and ketones. In a previous study, we showed that autoxidized β-carotene inhibits Na+–K+-ATPase activity more effectively than aldehydic products derived from lipid peroxidation, such as 4-hydroxynonenal. In this study, we compared mitochondrial dysfunction in cultured human K562 erythroleukaemic and 28 SV4 retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in response to the degradation products of β-carotene autoxidation using the MTT assay. We found that oxidized β-carotene is cytotoxic and that mitochondrial function is decreased in both K562 and RPE cells. In addition, the RPE cells were more resistant to this form of oxidative stress, suggesting that its cytotoxicity may depend on cellular antioxidant capacity.
Novel polymer coupling chemistry based upon latent cysteine-like residues and thiazolidine chemistry

Chain end functional polymers were prepared via reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization techniques that were further chain extended with acrylonitrile. Under reducing conditions, latent cysteine-like residues were exposed at the chain ends. A variety of reduction conditions were explored and base polymers were then tethered together via thiazolidine chemistry.
Farm adaptation at the rural-urban interface

Abstract Despite population growth and development at the rural-urban interface (RUI), agriculture continues to persist there. This resilience is partially a reflection of land use policies and market support programs designed to protect farm and ranch land that is vulnerable to nonfarm development. Studies examining the RUI primarily focus on the diversity of production and markets and do not discuss the diversity of operators. As the farmland protection and food systems movements continue to refine policy objectives and decide how to allocate scarce resources, it is critical to have up-to-date statistics on the health and vitality of agriculture at the RUI. Using the 2007 Census of Agriculture statistics, we examine (1) the spatial distribution by county of high-value production and marketing practices assumed to play a role in the persistence and vitality of agriculture at the RUI; and (2) the demographic characteristics of farmers in these counties. We find that only some types of high-value production and marketing systems are more prevalent in metropolitan regions, including horses, nursery-greenhouse, and direct sales, while organic production, recreation sales, CSA farms, and value-added farms are more likely to be concentrated in nonmetropolitan counties. We also find that farmers at the RUI are extremely diverse and that a substantial number of beginning and women farmers are found in nonmetropolitan counties, along with a small but notable number of African American, Hispanic and Native American farmers.
Synthesis of 3′,5′-dinucleoside diphosphates with ribonuclease T1

Abstract Guanosine 5′-phosphate, 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate (pG > p) has been used as a substrate in the synthetic reaction of ribonuclease T 1 . The 5′-phosphoryl group excludes formation of oligoguanylic acids and permits the use of pG > p to force the synthetic reaction. Conditions favoring maximum yields were obtained by studying the relative effects of reaction time, temperature, pH, and enzyme and substrate concentrations.
IN-SERVICE IDENTIFICATION OF NON-LINEAR DAMPING FROM MEASURED RANDOM VIBRATION

A non-linearly damped single-degree-of-freedom (s.d.o.f.) system under broadband random excitation is considered. A procedure for in-service identification of the damping characteristic from measured stationary response is described. The procedure is based on the stochastic averaging method. The explicit analytical solution is obtained for the integral equation, which relates the desired damping characteristics to the apparent force in the shortened equation for the slowly varying response amplitude, and thus to the measured probability density of the amplitude. The approach is of a non-parametric nature, which makes it convenient for testing hypotheses of damping mechanisms from measured random vibration data. Extensive results of numerical tests for the procedure are presented.
Accessing Federal government publications with RLIN

Abstract Online databases and automated bibliographic utilities have greatly enhanced access to federal government publications in recent years. Public service librarians at Colorado State University Libraries (CSUL) are using the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) to search government publications via a number of access points, including author, title, Library of Congress subject heading, and keyword. Access to fugitive federal publications cataloged at CSUL under a Title II-C project is especially important.
Influence of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Turning Preference on Striatal Dopamine Metabolism

Male BALB/c mice, assessed for spontaneous nocturnal rotation that has been linked with functional differences in striatal dopamine (DA) content, were divided into right (R), left (L), and no turning preference (NP) groups. Both total turning activity and turning in the preferred direction were greatest in the R mice. To determine whether turning preference influences the response to exposure to an environmental toxicant known to reduce striatal DA function, striatal tissues from R, L, or NP mice were exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In vitro exposure of striata from these mice to varying concentrations of PCBs for 4 h concentration-dependently decreased tissue DA content and increased the concentrations of DA and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the media, a phenomenon already observed, although of smaller magnitude, with rat tissues. These effects were independent of the turning preference of the mice. Although the DA content initially did not differ among the striata...
High Precision 10-cm Aperture Penta and Roof-Penta Mirror Assemblies.

10-cm aperture penta and penta-roof-type mirror assemblies of unusually high precision and stability for this aperture have been designed and fabricated by Perkin-Elmer Corporation. These assemblies, which are part of the internal optical alignment monitoring subsystem of a large (122-cm) aperture telescope, provide 90° deviations within ±1 sec of arc. In order to minimize degradation of the reflected wavefront due to variations of the thermal environment, each assembly is constructed of optical quality Cer-Vit mirror plates contacted to Cer-Vit blocks which establish and preserve the proper angular relationships between the reflecting surfaces. Thermal, vibration, and shock tests of prototype units have confirmed their inherent resistance to adverse environmental influences. In this paper, the method of construction of these prototype units is described and the results of various tests are given. Since the reflecting surfaces of the mirrors are dielectric coatings which maximize reflectivity in the 0.9–0.95-μ, wavelength region but have very low reflectivity at visible wavelengths, a real-time, electrooptical interferometric technique was developed for evaluating with near-infrared radiation the wavefront deformation caused by one of these assemblies. This experimental technique is also described.
The asymptotic distribution of REML estimators

Abstract Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimation is a method employed to estimate variance-covariance parameters from data that follow a Gaussian linear model. In applications, it has either been conjectured or assumed that REML estimators are asymptotically Gaussian with zero mean and variance matrix equal to the inverse of the restricted information matrix. In this article, we give conditions under which the conjecture is true and apply our results to variance-components models. An important application of variance components is to census undercount; a simulation is carried out to verify REML′s properties for a typical census undercount model.
TOMEX: A comparison of lidar and sounding rocket chemical tracer wind measurements

[1] On October 26, 2000, a Black Brant V sounding rocket carrying a chemical tracer release was launched from the rocket range at White Sands, New Mexico, as part of the Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment (TOMEX). The releases occurred approximately 150 km from the location of the Starfire Optical Range where the University of Illinois sodium lidar was operated to measure winds and temperatures in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The geometry for the experiment was such that the lidar beam was able to intersect the release point for the chemical tracer trail on the upleg part of the flight near an altitude of 95 km. In all, a total of five lidar beam directions were used to sample the region from approximately 85 to 105-km altitude in the vicinity of the releases. Combining the lidar Doppler velocity data from the various beam directions made it possible to produce profiles of vector horizontal winds that could be compared directly with the winds obtained from the triangulation of the chemical tracer trails.
Further development of the Heavy Ion Cross section for single event UPset: model (HICUP)

HICUP models the angular dependent heavy ion upset cross section. It pulls together many of the parameters and concepts used to characterize the Single Event Upset (SEU) phenomena, unifying them in a single cohesive model. HICUP is based on a Rectangular Parallelepiped (RPP) geometry for the sensitive volume and the Weibull density function for the upset threshold energy. Excellent agreement is obtained between the model and heavy ion test data. HICUP is used to derive the correct scaling laws for transforming angular cross section data to normal incidence, reconciling two previously proposed inverse cosine scaling corrections. The angle-integrated HICUP model, I-HICUP, is used in Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) upset rate calculations with results nearly identical to the Space Radiation code. Letaw has produced an automated SEU parameter fitting routine based on HICUP and the /spl chi//sup 2/ method. It ferrets out the best-fit critical SEU parameters embedded within the raw angular test data, including charge collection depth and funnel length. His method couples directly to the upset rate calculation in a self-consistent manner eliminating the need to arbitrarily assume a device depth. Results of this new procedure are presented.
Frequency of attendance at religious services and cigarette smoking in American women and men: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Abstract Background. Data are lacking from representative samples of total populations and Hispanic Americans on the association of cigarette smoking and religiousness/spirituality, a protective factor for mortality, and on the validity of self-reported smoking data for religious research. Methods. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) included 18,774 persons aged 20 years and over with complete data on self-reported frequency of attendance at religious services, and cigarette smoking. Results. After stratifying by age, gender, and ethnic group, and adjusting for age, education, region, and health status, infrequent attenders ( Conclusions. Greater frequency of attendance at religious services was associated with lower smoking prevalence by self-report or serum cotinine in a national, multi-ethnic sample.
Building a home for the biogeosciences: Challenges for understanding terrestrial ecosystems

In recent years, biological, geological, and atmospheric studies have been combined in name and practice and the term ‘biogeosciences’ has quickly entered the scientific lexicon. AGU has recognized the biogeosciences as a vital and rapidly developing field through the creation of a new section in 2000. In reports from the National Science Board [2000] and the National Research Council of The National Academies [1999], the central role of coupled biologic, geologic, and atmospheric systems in the Earth system has been highlighted.
Imaging subsurface photodisruption in human sclera with FD-OCT

Photodisruption of femtosecond laser at 1700nm wavelength has been demonstrated as a potential subsurface surgical method that can be used in trabeculectomy for glaucoma treatment without causing failure due to scarring at the level of conjunctiva and underlying tissue [1, 2]. In this study, Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) technology is used to demonstrate high speed non-invasive imaging of high precision photodisruption in human sclera. Photodisruption cavities of different size in human sclera can reveal itself in its 3D FDOCT image. Transclera channel cut from back to surface and partial transclera channel are easily identified in 3D OCT image. The whole 3D data set acquired with high speed frequency domain OCT system permits further quantitative analysis of subsurface phtodisruption incisions. The preliminary results indicate that high speed frequency domain OCT system is a good candidate for imaging subsurface photodisruption with femtosecond laser and its 3D image may provide good guidance during surgical procedures when it is integrated with laser ablation system.
Safety Assessment of Information Delay on Performance of Intelligent Vehicle Control System

Recently, increasing attention has been put on the use of automated vehicle control systems to reduce traffic crashes due to driver errors. Proposed systems rely on either onboard range sensors or vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communications to obtain pertinent information about surrounding vehicles and to determine appropriate acceleration or deceleration commands. Although numerous studies have used microscopic traffic simulation to study the effects that these systems might have on traffic flows, generally these studies did not consider all factors that may affect their operation. A particular element that has been ignored is delay in data acquisition. Using a microscopic traffic simulation model that was developed to simulate intelligent transportation system applications relying on the use of onboard vehicle sensors or wireless transmissions, this paper attempts to quantify the safety effects created by the use of delayed information in automated vehicle control systems. The study clearly indicates that information delay affects the operation of vehicle control systems, particularly when sensor or transmission delays result in the use of information older than a certain threshold, found in this case to be 0.5 s.
Production of Subcutaneous Sarcoma by Azo Dye and the Influence Thereon of Liver Feeding

Summary1 Sarcomata develop near the site of injection of o-aminoazotoluene given subcutaneously to mice. 2. Liver feeding does not appear to protect against the development of such sarcomata.
Angiogenesis in Melanoma

The process of angiogenesis is crucial for progression and metastasis of the majority of solid tumors including melanomas. The current review summarizes existing knowledge of the mechanisms of angiogenesis in melanoma, as well as current anti-angiogenic therapeutic strategies and their targets. We focus primarily on the role of key growth factors that are secreted by melanoma cells and known to trigger angiogenic responses, and their receptors as expressed on both endothelial and melanoma cells. Many of these growth factors function in synergy with receptors for extracellular matrix, integrins, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). All of these systems of molecules are activated during major stages of angiogenesis such as endothelial migration, proliferation, and reorganization of surrounding extracellular matrix. The blockade of these molecules and their downstream pathways leads to inhibition of melanoma vascularization. Thus, these classes of molecules are essential for melanoma angiogenesis and, therefore, might serve as promising targets for therapeutic intervention. Many recently developed compounds targeting key pathways in angiogenesis are in their final stages of clinical trials.
Reconnaissance geology of coastal Sonora between Puerto Lobos and Bahia Kino

Coastal Sonora between Puerto Lobos and Bahia Kino can be subdivided into four structural-petrographic subprovinces: an inland subprovince in which unmetamorphosed upper Precambrian and Cambrian strata rest on older Precambrian gneiss and three other subprovinces in which Cenozoic volcanic strata rest on metamorphosed strata of post-Precambrian age intruded by granitic rocks of Mesozoic age. One of these latter subprovinces displays basin-and-range fault blocks; a second has northwest-trending strike-slip(?) faults; and the third, Isla Tiburon, shows structure related to the Neogene dilation of the Gulf of California depression. The pregranitic rocks include upper Precambrian and Cambrian carbonate rocks, a chert-graywacke-volcaniclastic sequence of probable Carboniferous age, and volcanic-volcaniclastic rocks of Jurassic age. The granitic rocks range from gabbro to granite and have K-Ar cooling ages of from 91 to 30 m.y. Dikes of basaltic to dacitic composition and quartz porphyritic bodies of late Mesozoic or early Cenozoic age cut the granitic rocks. The lowermost Cenozoic volcanic strata (pre–22 m.y. B.P.) are predominantly composed of rhyolite and basalt. These are followed by a sequence of predominant andesite (∼20 to 18 m.y. old), a sequence of partially marine conglomerate and pyroclastic deposits, and a widespread, predominantly rhyolitic sequence (∼14 to 10 m.y.). All strata 10 m.y. old or older are involved in basin-and-range–type tilting. Volcanic strata less than 8 m.y. old are nearly flat-lying.
What Do (and Don't) We Know about the Value Added Tax? A Review of Richard M. Bird and Pierre-Pascal Gendron's The VAT in Developing and Transitional Countries

The VAT has taken the tax world by storm over the last fifty years, but left little trace in the academic literature. Bird and Gendron provide an impressively informed and informative account of the VAT experience in lower income countries, largely vin- dicating the tax and standard advice for its design. But they rightly stress too that dominant "expert opinion" on the VAT remains troublingly uninformed by serious analysis and evidence. This article focuses on some of these gaps and recent attempts to start filling them.
A new perceptually motivated MVDR-based acoustic front-end (PMVDR) for robust automatic speech recognition

Acoustic feature extraction from speech constitutes a fundamental component of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. In this paper, we propose a novel feature extraction algorithm, perceptual-MVDR (PMVDR), which computes cepstral coefficients from the speech signal. This new feature representation is shown to better model the speech spectrum compared to traditional feature extraction approaches. Experimental results for small (40-word digits) to medium (5k-word dictation) size vocabulary tasks show varying degree of consistent improvements across different experiments; however, the new front-end is most effective in noisy car environments. The PMVDR front-end uses the minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) spectral estimator to represent the upper envelope of the speech signal. Unlike Mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), the proposed front-end does not utilize a filterbank. The effectiveness of the PMVDR approach is demonstrated by comparing speech recognition accuracies with the traditional MFCC front-end and recently proposed PMCC front-end in both noise-free and real adverse environments. For speech recognition in noisy car environments, a 40-word vocabulary task, PMVDR front-end provides a 36% relative decrease in word error rate (WER) over the MFCC front-end. Under simulated speaker stress conditions, a 35-word vocabulary task, the PMVDR front-end yields a 27% relative decrease in the WER. For a noise-free dictation task, a 5k-word vocabulary task, again a relative 8% reduction in the WER is reported. Finally, a novel analysis technique is proposed to quantify noise robustness of an acoustic front-end. This analysis is conducted for the acoustic front-ends analyzed in the paper and results are presented.
Generation of CTL lines using cultured T cells (CTC) as feeder cells. I. Specificity for class I determinants

Lines of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) may be grown in long-term culture in medium supplemented with Interleukin-2 (IL-2). In most cases a source of feeder cells is also necessary. Because they are available in large numbers, we tested whether cultured T cells (CTC) would serve as feeder cells. We confirmed the observation of others that CTL grown in medium supplemented with IL-2, but in the absence of feeder cells, grew poorly and became less cytotoxic with time. CTL lines directed class I HLA antigens and grown with either x-irradiated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) or x-irradiated CTC proliferated well, were similarly cytotoxic, and demonstrated the same antigenic specificity. By using cells from members of a family in which one offspring had inherited a recombinant chromosome, it was possible to show that sharing of the Class I determinants between the original stimulating cells in the primary culture and the CTC feeder cells was sufficient to enable the maintenance of strongly cytotoxic CTL lines.
Extracardiac Fontan conversion, cryoablation, and pacemaker placement for patients with a failed Fontan.

Objective We review our experience with Fontan conversion and cryoablation in patients with an atriopulmonary Fontan in low cardiac output from arrhythmia or venous obstruction, including two patients with protein losing enteropathy. Methods Fifteen patients (mean age 25.0 ± 8.4 years) underwent extracardiac Fontan conversion, cryoablation, and pacemaker placement between November 1999 and December 2004. Twelve patients were in NYHA class III and three were in NYHA class IV. Twelve had clinically important intraatrial reentry tachycardia refractory to medical therapy. Results Follow-up was between 2 and 62 months (mean 38.4 ± 17.7). One death occurred at seven days after surgery due to sepsis and multisystem organ failure. The second death occurred at five days from myocardial depression following surgery. One patient with PLE preoperatively died to malnutrition and sepsis on POD #52. The second patient with protein losing enteropathy had improved NYHA classification, cessation of albumin transfusions, and a normal stool alpha antitrypsin level (down from 4.1 mg/g preoperatively). All surviving patients improved NYHA classification to class I or II. Sustained arrhythmias could not be induced in any patient. One patient had recurrence of intraatrial reentrant tachycardia eleven months postoperatively that required electrical cardioversion and is currently well controlled on one medication. The other patients are not on any antiarrhythmic medical therapy. Conclusion Extracardiac Fontan, cryoablation, and pacemaker placement reduced atrial arrhythmias and improved NYHA classification. In selected patients, this operation offers improvement in clinical outcome and is an alternative to transplantation. Protein losing enteropathy may not be a contraindication to performing Fontan conversion with cryoablation.
Silicon‐29 Solid‐State MAS NMR Investigation of Selective Area Laser Deposition Silicon Carbide Material

The microstructure of silicon carbide fabricated from the gas-phase-based, laser-driven selective area laser deposition (SALD) process has been characterized by X-ray diffraction and solid-state 29Si NMR techniques with magic angle spinning (MAS). X-ray patterns reveal the characteristic spectrum of pure s, cubic silicon carbide polytype while NMR shows a s-SiC pattern with additional peaks. To determine the source of the extra peaks, a comparative evaluation of commercially available silicon carbide powders, both alpha- and s-SiC, was undertaken with NMR. Spin-lattice relaxation time measurements (T1) were also carried out to determine the polytype morphology of the SALD deposit. The results showed an NMR spectrum that appears to be a combination of alpha and s polytypes. Microtwinning is advanced as a possible explanation for this phenomenon.
Time-correlated macroscopic quantum tunneling of density wave solitons

Abstract We consider a model in which an electric field induces quantum nucleation of soliton–antisoliton pairs in a charge or spin density wave. Coulomb blockade prevents pair creation until the applied field exceeds a sharp threshold value. Above threshold, the pair creation events become correlated in time, by analogy to time-correlated single electron tunneling. We find that, when the electrostatic energy is small compared to the pinning energy, the phase polarization below threshold can be quite small, as indicated by a number of experiments.