cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of SeaWiFS measurements of the Moon with the U.S. Geological Survey lunar model

The Sea-Viewing Wide-Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) has made monthly observations of the Moon since 1997. Using 66 monthly measurements, the SeaWiFS calibration team has developed a correction for the instrument's on-orbit response changes. Concurrently, a lunar irradiance model has been developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from extensive Earth-based observations of the Moon. The lunar irradiances measured by SeaWiFS are compared with the USGS model. The comparison shows essentially identical response histories for SeaWiFS, with differences from the model of less than 0.05% per thousand days in the long-term trends. From the SeaWiFS experience we have learned that it is important to view the entire lunar image at a constant phase angle from measurement to measurement and to understand, as best as possible, the size of each lunar image. However, a constant phase angle is not required for using the USGS model. With a long-term satellite lunar data set it is possible to determine instrument changes at a quality level approximating that from the USGS lunar model. However, early in a mission, when the dependence on factors such as phase and libration cannot be adequately determined from satellite measurements alone, the USGS model is critical to an understanding of trends in instruments that use the Moon for calibration. This is the case for SeaWiFS.
Vibrations of beams with a fatigue crack

Abstract The equation of motion and associated boundary conditions are derived for the vibrations of a uniform beam containing one single edge fatigue crack. The fatigue crack was introduced in the form of the so-called ‘breathing crack’ model which opens when the normal strain near the crack tip is positive, otherwise it closes. A bilinear equation of motion for each vibration mode of a simply supported beam is formulated by a Galerkin procedure. The dynamic response of the bilinear equation under a concentrated forcing excitation is calculated through a numerical analysis. A clearly nonlinear behavior was found on time history and frequency spectrum for each vibration mode. The changes in the dynamic behavior of cracked structures can be used to deduce the size and location of the crack.
Dietary concern, weight fluctuation and weight status: Further explorations of the restraint scale

Abstract The theory of restrained eating predicts that the Dietary Concern and Weight Fluctuation factors of the Restraint Scale should correlate with percentage overweight. However, Drewnowski, Riskey and Desor (1982) recently found that only Weight Fluctuation did in fact. The current study replicated that of Drewnowski el al. using a population which more closely resembled the one used in prior research on restraint. Correlations were computed between Restraint scores and both overweight and weight suppression, a second validational criterion with which indices of restraint should be related. Furthermore, since Drewnowski et al.'s results imply that it is Weight History rather than Dietary Concern which might be responsible for behavioral differences in restrained and unrestrained normals, the history of overweight among these two groups was examined. Contrary to Drewnowski et al., Dietary Concern was more strongly related to overweight than was Weight Fluctuation. Both factors correlated with weight suppression. Restrained normals had a much greater history of overweight than unrestrained normals, suggesting that previously observed similarities in behavior between restrained normals and obese individuals might be due to characteristics associated with the former group's prior overweight rather than with their current level of cognitive restraint.
Small molecule probes to target the human Mediator complex

The human Mediator complex is a central integrator for transcription and represents a primary interface that allows DNA-binding transcription factors to communicate their regulatory signals to the RNA polymerase II enzyme. Because Mediator is dynamic both in terms of subunit composition and structure, it presents challenges as a target for small molecule probes. Moreover, little high-resolution structural information exists for Mediator. Its global requirement for transcription, as well as its distinct, transcription factor specific interaction surfaces, however, suggest that development of probes that bind specific Mediator subunits might enable gene- and pathway-specific modulation of transcription. Here we provide a brief overview of the Mediator complex, highlighting biological and structural features that make it an attractive target for molecular probes. We then outline several chemical strategies that might be effective for targeting the complex.
Learning to learn: New TA preparation in computer pedagogy

Abstract In examining graduate student teaching assistants’ (TAs’) adjustment to their first teaching experience in first-year composition (FYC) classrooms, scholars have recently noted that the experience mirrors that of their FYC students. Both groups—new TAs and new FYC students—are grappling with instantiations of Courtney Cazden’s (1988) notion of performance before competence. Specifically, both new groups work within initially uncomfortable but ultimately developmentally positive levels of ambiguity, multiplicity, and open-endedness. Because the computer classroom experience of new TAs is generally not examined, in this qualitative study several first- and second-year TAs recount, in personal narratives, some of their early personal and educational experiences with computers and recall their perceptions of their first semester teaching FYC in the computer classroom. Their voices, combined with computers-and-composition theory and learning theory, suggest that the temptation to respond to new TAs’ feelings of dissonance with more intensive computer training prior to their teaching may not ameliorate their discomfort and may, in fact, be counterproductive. After examining these new TAs’ experiences, a perspective on TA preparation for computer pedagogy, based on Etienne Wenger’s (1998) notion of communities of practice, is presented.
Individuals' estimates of the risks of death: Part I — A reassessment of the previous evidence

It is widely argued that individuals have biased perceptions of health and safety risks. A reconsideration of the best-known evidence suggests that this view is the erroneous result of a failure to consider the implications of scarce information. Our findings imply that the hypothesis that people make unbiased estimates of hazard rates fails to be rejected by the very data that were initially used to reject it. Thus, we are able to reconcile the alleged existence of widespread bias in risk perception with other findings that such bias is less apparent in the case of job-related hazards. The seeming bias in estimating population-average death rates and the lack of such bias in assessing job risks are two manifestations of the same behavior, which is the optimal acquisition of costly information.
The proof monad

A formalism for expressing the operational semantics of proof languages used in procedural theorem provers is proposed. It is argued that this formalism provides an elegant way to describe the computational features of proof languages, such as side eects, exception handling, and backtracking. The formalism, called proof monads, finds its roots in category theory, and in particular satisfies the monad laws. It is shown that the framework’s monadic operators are related to fundamental tactics and strategies in procedural theorem provers. Finally, the paper illustrates how proof monads can be used to implement semantically clean control structure mechanisms in actual proof languages.
Investigation Into the Temperature Dependence of Ferrimagnetic Nonlinear Transmission Lines

In pulsed power systems, coaxial based nonlinear transmission lines (NLTLs) loaded with ferrimagnetic materials act as pulse sharpeners or high power microwave sources. Microwave generation comes by way of nonlinearities present in the ferrimagnetic material as well as excitation of damped gyromagnetic precession at large incident power levels. Ferrimagnetic properties highly depend on operating temperature; therefore, there exists a need to understand operational performance of ferrite loaded NLTLs under different temperature environments. Ferrite samples are chilled or heated to temperatures between -20°C to 150 °C, providing a wide range of possible operating temperatures. The Curie temperature of the tested samples is approximately 120 °C; therefore, this study allows observation of precession performance in possible operating temperatures as well as a brief look at the consequences of exceeding the Curie temperature. The design, testing, and results for an NLTL measuring 0.3 m in length with ferrite inner and outer diameters of 3 mm and 6 mm, respectively, are detailed. Results reveal precessional performance, both peak power and frequency of oscillations, versus temperature.
Subpopulation model for void-related early failure in VLSI interconnects

A subpopulation model is used to provide a quantitative measure of the early failures in VLSI interconnects resulting from the presence of defects. Defects are attributed to processing flaws caused by particulates, improper etching, saturated stress voids, or similar causes. The model includes the effect of defect severity, grain size distribution and linewidth. To validate the model, life-tests were conducted using aluminum alloy interconnect test structures with and without a TiW barrier underlayer. Test structures included interconnects which contained lithographically introduced subtractive defects of various severities. The model and the supporting data show that greater voids in smaller grained and wider lines cause early failure with greater probability. An important conclusion of this work is that the study of the exact nature of electromigration failure distribution (Weibull or lognormal or multilognormal) is not as important as the study of defect related failures that dominate the very early failures.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Successful Deployment of Requirements Traceability in a Commercial Engineering Organization...Really

Within the world of requirements engineering, it seems a foregone conclusion that traceability is vital to the product development process. Simultaneously, it appears that any implementation of traceability is doomed to failure. This paper examines a commercial engineering company's use of traceability and the reasons why traceability is providing value despite the many challenges it presents. It describes the solution that was deployed and analyzes what has and has not succeeded, factors which should be common to any organization attempting to use requirements traceability.
Tendon shift in hallux valgus: observations at MR imaging

Objective. This study was undertaken to demonstrate a shift in tendon alignment at the first metatarsophalangeal joint in patients with hallux valgus by means of magnetic resonance imaging. Design. Ten normal feet and 20 feet with the hallux valgus deformity conforming to conventional clinical and radiographic criteria were prospectively studied using magnetic resonance imaging. Correlation was made between tendon position at the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the severity of the hallux valgus deformity. Results. There is a significant shift in tendon position at the first metatarsophalangeal joint of patients with hallux valgus. The insertion of the abductor hallucis tendon is markedly plantarward and the flexor and extensor tendons bowstring at the first metatarsophalangeal joint compared with patients without the deformity. The severity of the tendon shift correlates with the hallux valgus angle and clinical severity of the hallux valgus deformity in each case. Conclusion. Patients with hallux valgus have a significant tendon shift at the first metatarsophalangeal joint which appears to contribute to development of the deformity.
An RGB-to-spectrum conversion for reflectances

This paper presents a solution to the problem of using RGB data created by most modeling systems in a spectrally-based renderer. It differs from previous methods in that it attempts to create physically plausible spectra for reflectances. The method searches the metamer space for a spectrum that best fits a set of criteria. The results are used in an algorithm that is simple and efficient enough to be used within the rendering process for both importing models and for texture mapping.
X-ray induced abnormalities and recovery in Hymenolepis microstoma.

Abstract Seven-day old specimens of Hymenolepis microstoma were subjected to single doses of 2500, 5000, and 7500 R, X-rays, respectively, in vitro . The worms were transplanted into mice. Unirradiated worms were similarly transplanted as controls. After intervals of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 32 days, respectively, the hosts were sacrificed and the worms collected for study. Data were obtained on the morphology, number, and location of worms in each host; the morphology data were obtained only for 8-day and 32-day posttransplantation groups. Data on morphology suggest that tissues of the neck region may be radioresistant near the scolex, but relatively radiosensitive in the region where proglottids are forming. Radiosensitivity extends throughout the regions where proglottids are maturing and is evidenced by abnormalities of organ and segment formation. Damage is proportional to dose. Apparently complete recovery occurs by the thirty-second day after irradiation, the damaged strobila being replaced by a normal one. Both damage and recovery support the general view that radiation damage to growing organisms is largely a mitotic death effect. Cells which survive, in either an embryonic tissue, a bacterial population, or a cestode neck region, can mitotically replace the cells lost by radiation injury.
Academic oral communication needs of East Asian international graduate students in non-science and non-engineering fields

Abstract East Asian students, the largest international student group in US higher education, are as a group typically known to be silent or reticent in class. This survey examined views of East Asian international graduate students concerning required academic listening and speaking skill levels in their university courses, their own difficulties in meeting these expectations, and their suggestions as to the ways in which English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teachers might better prepare them through listening and speaking activities. Students reported that, in their graduate courses, the three most common academic oral classroom activities were participating in whole-class discussions, raising questions during class, and engaging in small-group discussions. They were most concerned about leading class discussions and participating in whole-class discussions. They considered formal oral presentations and listening comprehension the most important skills for academic success in graduate courses, and pronunciation of English and note-taking skills the least important. Several important issues and specific pedagogical suggestions for EAP instructions, curriculum planning and material development emerged from the current study.
Incomplete Electrode Extraction During Cochlear Implant Revision

OBJECTIVES To report 3 occurrences of incomplete electrode extraction during cochlear implant revision, resulting in partial intracochlear retention of an implant electrode array. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. SETTING Three tertiary care academic medical centers. PATIENTS Three patients with cochlear implant failure necessitating revision cochlear implantation. INTERVENTION Diagnosis and surgical revision of failed cochlear implants. RESULTS A rare intraoperative complication was encountered in 3 pediatric patients undergoing revision cochlear implantation. During attempted explantation of the indwelling electrode, the array fractured and resulted in intracochlear retention of a distal portion of the electrode. Each case was managed differently by the operative team. CONCLUSION Incomplete electrode extraction is a rare but significant complication of revision cochlear implantation that is generally not anticipated when counseling patients and families. Preoperative discussion of this potential complication is appropriate.
Postingestional modulation of drinking induced in rats by angiotensin II: Intragastric infusion and sham drinking studies

Abstract The dipsogenic potency of angiotensin II (ANGII, 200 μg/kg, SC) was examined after the removal of various postingestional factors. In the first experiment, rats with intragastric catheters were injected SC with ANGII and allowed water to drink. During the induced drinking, either NaCl (1.5 M) or water was injected into the stomach via the catheter at a rate of 0.1 ml for each ml water ingested orally. The water intake was identical in the two conditions. In a second experiment, rats, fitted with gastric fistulas, were administered ANGII and subsequent water intake with fistulas open was compared to that occurring with the fistulas closed. Rats drank more water during the first trial with fistulas open than with fistulas closed. Water intake during subsequent trials with an open fistula rose above that observed on the first trial. In a third experiment, rats with gastric fistulas were offered 0.15 M NaCl to drink. Intake was greater when the fistula was open than when it was closed. Intake of 0.15 M NaCl increased during the second trial with fistula open. Rats drank more 0.15 M NaCl during the first trial with an open fistula in Experiment 3 than those rats given water to drink on their first trial with fistula open in Experiment 2. These data suggest both oropharyngeal and postingestional factors interact in the control of ANGII-induced fluid intake.
Facile Synthesis of Ordered Mesoporous Carbons with High Thermal Stability by Self-Assembly of Resorcinol−Formaldehyde and Block Copolymers under Highly Acidic Conditions

The effect of phenols reactivity with formaldehyde on the formation of ordered mesoporous carbons has been investigated. A strategy to accelerate the polymerization of phenolic resins by using strongly acidic conditions is proposed. The self-assembly of resorcinol-formaldehyde and block copolymers (e.g., F127) under highly acidic concentrations (e.g., 1.5 M HCl) is probably driven by the I+X-S+ mechanism and hydrogen bonding and affords a highly reproducible approach for synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbons. The synthesis can be readily scaled up with no change in sample quality. The carbon material obtained (denoted as C-ORNL-1) exhibits highly ordered hexagonal mesostructure, with a typical BET surface area of approximately 600 m2/g, pore size of 6.3 nm, and pore volume of approximately 0.60 cm3/g. One of the unique structural features of C-ORNL-1 is its high thermal stability; it can be graphitized at 2600 degrees C while considerable mesoporosity is maintained.
STUDIES ON BACTERIAL ENZYMES : IV. THE MALTASE AND LIPASE OF THE BOTULINUS BACILLUS.

Botulinus bacilli yield a maltase and a lipase, which retain their hydrolytic activity independent of the presence of the formed bacterial cell. The maltase is an endocellular substance, while the lipase is extracellular. The lipase, when separated from the anaerobic bacillus, does not seem to be affected by exposure to air.
“Why We Sing”: David Mahler's Communities

American composer David Mahler (b. 1944) has nurtured a career that is independent, diverse, and hard to classify. Democratic, inclusive, and community oriented, Mahler thinks deeply about sound in specific environments, and how music gets made, both by amateurs and professionals. Mahler's work is thus integrally connected to places, to the people in them, and to the songs those people sing. He is influenced and inspired by U.S. traditions of band music arrangements, the ragtime of Joseph Lamb, the songs of Stephen Foster, the bitonality of Charles Ives, the simple harmonic motion of classic minimalism, and the indeterminacy of John Cage. His teachers included Harold Budd, Morton Subotnick, and James Tenney, and he has been an important influence on many composers of his generation, including Michael Byron, Peter Garland, Larry Polansky, Thom Miller, and Stuart Dempster. Defining himself as a “Listener-in-Residence,” he has composed, performed, taught, organized, and directed, all while remaining almost completely unaffiliated with academic institutions. This article provides a portrait of Mahler's career in the context of the communities that have shaped his work and explores how his music responds to the world around him.
The biology of post-invasion events

In this contribution we consider the biology of invading organisms after they have become established. Adaptive radiation over the long term has been a favorite subject in evolutionary biology. Examples have been Darwin's finches in the Galapagos and the honeycreepers and Droscphila of Hawaii. Hawaiian honeycreepers have evolved from a finch-like ancestor into guilds of seed eaters, nectar feeders, and combined nectar and insect feeders plus some species with unique beak structures. In the Hawaiian Drosophila sexual selection may have driven the extensive adaptive radiation and speciation in the group. The North American soapberry bug Jadera haemotoloma is an interesting model for post-invasion evolution in the short term. Some populations have moved onto introduced goldenrain trees Koelreuteria spp. and have evolved different stylet (mouthpart) lengths, as a function o f fruit size, and new host preferences, all within the last 50 years. These rapid responses are possible because of high additive genetic variances for these traits. Similarly, there has been rapid evolution of life history variation in American shad introduced from east coast to west coast rivers. We postulate that invaders most likely to integrate successfully are those in which high levels of additive genetic variation are expressed in traits most likely to be adaptive in the new environment. Copyright © 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Limited
Prednisone: the last gasp of immunosuppresive therapy for restenosis prevention

This editorial refers to ‘Long-term clinical follow-up of the multicentre, randomized study to test immunosuppressive therapy with oral prednisone for the prevention of restenosis after percutaneous coronary interventions. C ortisone plus BMS or D E S ve R sus BMS alone to E limin A te Restenosis (CEREA-DES)’[†][1], by F. Ribichini et al. , on page 1740 Once restenosis was recognized as a major limitation of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), investigations probed the mechanisms and developed therapeutic antirestenosis strategies to combat this phenomenon. Early on in the efforts to understand the mechanisms responsible for restenosis, two primary processes were identified following mechanical injury by the balloon angioplasty to the vessel wall: recoil of the vessel and neointima formation. The balloon injury triggered a healing response characterized by intravascular inflammation and smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation. Thus, within hours following vascular wall injury, inflammatory cells appeared at the site of injury.1–3 These cells secrete an array of factors, including cytokines, growth factors, and reactive oxygen species,4,5 that in turn contribute to the stimulation of SMC migration and proliferation.6,7 Restenosis occurs in those in whom this healing response is excessive or is not appropriately turned off, results probably mediated in part by genetic and/or epigenetic determinants.8,9 Therapeutic strategies derived from this mechanistic paradigm led to the testing of a large array of approaches for restenosis inhibition ( Figure 1 ). The approach that gained the most traction and near-uniform utilization was the deployment of metallic stents. This approach completely eliminated early recoil and late vascular remodelling, but exacerbated the inflammatory responses to the injury and to the foreign body (the implant). These inflammatory responses were reported to be associated with an allergic reaction leading to neointima formation (sometime exuberant) within the stent struts, known as in-stent restenosis.10 Figure 1 Evolution of percutaneous … [1]: #fn-2
Initial Performance of the Stanford Superconducting Recyclotron

Over the past several years the Stanford superconducting linac has been evolving from an experimental accelerator towards an operational facility capable of providing a high duty cycle electron beam for users. The linac has recently been fitted with bending magnets and other transport elements to allow its beam to be accelerated several times by the same linac sections (recirculated1). At present, with one orbit of recirculation, an 84 MeV beam has been extracted. By the end of this year we expect to have a 170 MeV beam and by the end of 1978, with the completion of four orbits, the beam energy will be 280 MeV. The beam duty cycle will be between 20% and 100%, and the maximum beam current will be between 20 ?A and 100 ?A.
Galectin-3: A novel substrate for c-Abl kinase.

Abstract Galectin-3, a s-galactoside-binding lectin, is found in cellular and extracellular location of the cell and has pleiotropic biological functions such as cell growth, cell adhesion and cell-cell interaction. It may exhibit anti- or pro-apoptotic activity depending on its localization and post-translational modifications. Two important post-translational modifications of galectin-3 have been reported: its cleavage and phosphorylation. Cleavage of galectin-3 was reported to be involved with angiogenic potential and apoptotic resistance. Phosphorylation of galectin-3 regulates its sugar-binding ability. In this report we have identified novel tyrosine phosphorylation sites in galectin-3 as well as the kinase responsible for its phosphorylation. Our results demonstrate that tyrosines at positions 79, 107 and 118 can be phosphorylated in vitro and in vivo by c-Abl kinase. Tyrosine 107 is the main target of c-Abl. Expression of galectin-3 Y107F mutant in galectin-3 null SK-Br-3 cells leads to morphological changes and increased motility compared to wild type galectin-3. Further investigation is needed to better understand the functional significance of the novel tyrosine phosphorylated sites of galectin-3.
The original subaltern

This essay invites readers to consider how exclusions operate in the framing of history. In conventional historical thought, agency was accorded only to the limited few. Marginals, ranging from third world nations to subaltern groups of all types, were excluded from the making of history. The task of recuperating the historicity of marginals has been underway now for decades. As I hope to suggest in this essay, however, we have yet to restore historicity to the original subalterns: the peoples of the Paleolithic. The field of medieval studies, curiously enough, is implicated in their exclusion. In the developmental narratives that emerged early in the twentieth century, medieval Europe was presented as the point of origins from which modernity sprang. To the extent that medievalists continue to reaffirm the prehistoricity of the Great Before, they instantiate the very same historical exclusion that modernists currently impose on the Middle Ages.
Horizontal Selection: An Evaluation of a Digital Tabletop Input Device

Recent advances in digital tabletop touch-and-gesture-activated screens have allowed for small group collaboration. The newest generation screens simultaneously support multiple users, multiple contact points per user, and gesture recognition. Although the usefulness and potential of these devices has been demonstrated, a formal quantitative evaluation of their performance has not been performed to date. This paper investigates the performance characteristics of a front-projected, 1:1 perspective, touch interface in consideration of Fitts’ law. Specifically, this study evaluates the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories’ (MERL) DiamondTouch digital tabletop. This paper explores the hypothesis that selection is faster and more accurate on horizontal digital tabletops compared to a mouse.
Liquid-Phase Mass Transfer in Spray Contactors

The liquid-phase mass transfer in sprays has been measured with carbon dioxide desorption by collecting and analyzing samples of the spray. Experiments were conducted with laboratory- (0.009 to 0.13 L/s) and pilot-scale (6.4 to 12.8 L/s) centrifugal hollow-cone spray nozzles at pressure drops from 34 kPa to 138 kPa. Significant mass transfer occurred during sample collection, and a quench sampling method was developed to minimize this effect. The number of liquid-phase transfer units (NL) due to spray impact onto walls and liquid pools was often as much as the spray NL. Approximately 60% of the spray NL occurs in the liquid sheet before droplet formation, and the droplet region can account for less than half of the total NL of the spray.
AN EXPLORATION INTO THE NATURE OF CREATIVITY

The lives of artists and inventors suggest that creativity is often not recognized or distinguished from eccentricity, that society is generally opposed to innovation and fickle when it does reward creative works. Yet modern society is committed to progress and is rapidly changing its attitude toward scientists, if not toward all creative individuals. Here is a search for explanations of the factors that make creative work flourish or that smother it. This article is a revision of a paper presented at the annual conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research at Berkeley, California, in May 1961. Gerhart D. Wiebe is Dean of the School of Public Relations and Communications at Boston University. He was President of AAPOR in 1956-1957 and was formerly a partner in Elmo Roper and Associates.
How Older Adults Combine Medical and Experiential Notions of Depression

Past research has suggested that patients might not accept depression treatment in part because of differences between patient and doctor understandings of depression. In this article, we use a cultural models approach to explore how older adults incorporate clinical and experiential knowledge into their model of depression. We conducted semistructured interviews about depression with 19 patients aged 65 years and older who were identified by their physicians as depressed. We found that whereas older adults viewed as helpful the doctor's ability to identify symptoms and "put it all together" into a diagnosis, they felt that this viewpoint omitted important information about the etiology and feeling of depression grounded in embodied experience and social context. Our findings suggest that more emphasis on issues related to the etiology of depression, the effect of depression on social relationships, and emotions emanating from depression might lead to more acceptable depression treatments for older adults.
A particle size-shape-dependent three-phase two-step Mori-Tanaka method for studying the interphase of polymer/clay nanocomposites

The enhancement of polymers by nano fillers can improve their mechanical properties beyond those achieved in macro, meso and micro composites with the same volume fraction, particle morphology and particle aspect ratio. The basic enhancement mechanism is analogous to traditional composite mechanics and can be partly explained by classical composite theories. However, the much higher enhancement efficiency of fillers at the nano scale, i.e. the particle size effects, can not be explained by classical composite mechanics theories alone. The interphase is a main structural feature of nano composites within which a significant surface-to-volume ratio is achieved, and it plays a crucial role in understanding the size effects and enhancement mechanisms of nanocomposites. In this investigation, a semi-empirical method of determining the interphase thickness and elastic properties is developed by a combination of finite element simulation, thermodynamic formulation and experimental calibration and applied to LBL (layer by layer) polyurethane-clay nanocomposites studied by Podsiadlo, et al. [1, 2] and Li, et al. [3]. Based on this study, the classical two-phase Mori-Tanaka model is extended into three-phases by introducing the interphase through a two-step procedure using the concept of an effective matrix. It is shown that this two-step Mori-Tanaka method can predict the brittle to ductile transition in terms of interphase overlap. Most importantly, this approach overcomes a serious drawback of the classic Mori-Tanaka model: size-independency. Particle size effects as well as shape effects and their interactions can be studied as applications of this method.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Adaptive process control using biological paradigms

Abstract Researchers at the US Bureau of Mines have combined several biologically oriented techniques into a comprehensive approach to adaptive process control. The three specific techniques from the field of artificial intelligence used to produce the adaptive process control systems are: (1) fuzzy logic, (2) genetic algorithms, and (3) neural networks. Fuzzy logic is a technique in which the human «rule-of-thumb» approach to decision making is modelled. Genetic algorithms are search algorithms based on the mechanics of natural genetics that are able to rapidly locate near-optimum solutions to difficult problems. Neural networks are crude paradigms of the mammalian brain that have been used to model industrial systems. The paper provides an overview of the architecture used to achieve adaptive process control, and demonstrates its effectiveness in the control of three industrial systems: (1) a titration system, (2) an exothermic chemical reaction, and (3) a column flotation unit.
Minimal-SAR RF pulse optimization for parallel transmission in MRI

Parallel transmission is an emerging technique to achieve multi-dimensional spatially selective or modulated excitation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Minimizing Specific Absorption Ratio (SAR) is a critical issue in this technique for radio frequency power absorption safety. In this paper, we presented an automatic design method to minimize SAR in an optimization framework. The RF pulses and corresponding k-space trajectory are iteratively adjusted. The method is verified using computer simulations of a 4-channel parallel transmission system. The results showed significantly reduction in SAR can be achieved while the quality of the excited pattern is well preserved without enlonging the pulse duration.
Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the ascending aorta above the left coronary sinus.

Ectopic origin of the right coronary artery is an infrequent anomaly. We report a case in which the right coronary artery arose from the ascending aorta above the left sinus. This anomaly was associated with a bicuspid aortic valve. Techniques for delineation of the ectopic origin of the right coronary artery are discussed.
Information Coupling in Cooperative Localization

Cooperative network localization with high-accuracy and environment-independent reliability will enable a myriad of important applications. However, distributed implementations of cooperative algorithms currently do not account for the correlation of inferred nodes' positions. This letter investigates such correlation in cooperative localization in terms of Fisher information, leading to the concept of information coupling. To characterize its behavior, we focus on the simplest non-trivial case and derive the expressions for information coupling.
Development of Phonological Awareness

Phonological awareness is critical for learning to read in alphabetic languages like English. This report summarizes normal development of phonological awareness as it has been revealed through recent multidisciplinary and cross-cultural research. We argue that a consensus on the definition of phonological awareness has emerged, that research has identified a general sequence of phonological awareness development that is universal across languages, and that certain characteristics of spoken and written languages influence the rate of normal development and levels of phonological awareness that are normally achieved.
The Challenge Awaiting George Bush

What problems and opportunities face the Bush Administration? Stuart Butler of the Heritage Foundation in Washington, reviews the prospects and urges more privatisation.
Balancing instability: dual roles for telomerase and telomere dysfunction in tumorigenesis

Telomere shortening and telomerase activation both occur in human tumors. Telomere shortening has been proposed to have two conflicting roles in tumorigenesis: tumor suppression and initiation of chromosomal instability. Similarly, while telomerase activation is suggested to be necessary for tumor growth, telomerase may help to stabilize genomic instability. Here we review what is known about these conflicting roles and propose a framework to understand the role of telomerase in cancer progression.
Model of service quality in event sport tourism: development of a scale

The primary purposes of this study were to develop a scale and test a model of service quality in sport tourism. The model was tested using data collected from spectators travelling to a major league All-Star sporting event in the USA. The data from the 215 usable cases were analysed using structural equation modelling. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the CFA measurement model and structural model were an acceptable fit. The findings from this study point to support for a multi-dimensional model of service quality in sport tourism. The most important dimension was found to be the quality of the contest itself. The results suggested that there is an overall perception of sport tourism quality (ST Quality) which significantly contributes to a tourist's perceptions of satisfaction. Moreover, Satisfaction was found to significantly contribute to a tourist's decision to return to a sporting event and/or to a particular destination.
Three-Phase Model of Cardiac Arrest: Time-Dependent Benefit of Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Evidence has suggested that the pathophysiology of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest may consist of 3 time-sensitive phases: electrical, circulatory, and metabolic. We performed a retrospective cohort study of adults in a metropolitan county who had had witnessed ventricular fibrillation arrest before emergency medical services were undertaken to investigate this 3-phase model with regard to bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We hypothesized that the survival benefit from bystander CPR depends on the collapse-to-shock interval, with the highest benefit occurring during the circulatory phase. The collapse-to-shock interval was a priori grouped into 4 categories: 1 to 5, 6 to 7, 8 to 10, and ≥11 minutes. We used logistic regression analysis to assess whether the association between CPR and survival to hospital discharge depended on the collapse-to-shock interval category. Of the 2,193 events meeting the inclusion criteria, 67.0% had received bystander CPR. The average collapse-to-shock interval was 8.2 ± 2.8 minutes. The survival rate was 33.4%. A higher likelihood of survival was associated with bystander CPR (odds ratio [OR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15 to 1.73) and a shorter collapse-to-shock interval (OR −1.84, 95% CI 1.62 to 2.10, for each additional SD of 2.8 minutes less) after adjustment. The beneficial association of CPR increased as the collapse-to-shock interval increased (p = 0.05 for interaction). The bystander CPR was associated with an OR of survival of 0.96 (95% CI 0.64 to 1.46) for a 1- to 5-minute collapse-to shock interval, OR of 1.25 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.58) for a 6- to 7-minute interval, OR of 1.62 (95% CI 1.25 to 2.11) for an 8- to 10-minute interval, and OR of 2.11 (95% CI 1.32 to 3.37) for an ≥11-minute interval. The results of this investigation support a phased model of ventricular fibrillation arrest. The findings suggest that the transition from the electrical to circulatory phase may occur at about 5 minutes, and the circulatory phase may extend to 15 minutes.
A CMOS high-speed data recovery circuit using the matched delay sampling technique

This paper presents a scheme and circuitry for demultiplexing and synchronizing high-speed serial data using the matched delay sampling technique. By simultaneously propagating data and clock signals through two different delay taps, the sampler achieves a very fine sampling resolution which is determined by the difference between the data and clock delays. This high resolution sampling capability of the matched delay sampler can be used in the oversampling data recovery circuit. A data recovery circuit using the matched delay sampling technique has been designed and fabricated in 1.2-/spl mu/m CMOS technology. The chip has been tested at 417 Mb/s [2.4 ns nonreturn to zero (NRZ)] input data and demultiplexes serial input data into four 104 Mb/s (9.6 ns NRZ) output streams with 800 mW power consumption at 4 V power supply. While recovering data, the sampling clock running at 1/4 of the data frequency is phase-tracking with the input data based on information extracted from a digital phase control circuit.
Cranial Nerve Palsies

This chapter describes the neuroanatomy and common lower cranial neuropathies, including clinical presentation, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of the following cranial nerves: trigeminal (fifth), facial (seventh), glossopharyngeal (ninth), vagus (tenth), spinal accessory (eleventh), and hypoglossal (twelfth).
Pre-IPO Financing in Newly Public Firms

A large literature has demonstrated that venture capitalists influence the firms they invest in and that the effects are long-lasting. Far less is known about the importance and influence of pre-IPO bank financing. Over one-quarter of all IPO firms have raised money through syndicated loans prior to the IPO. We posit and find support for the premise that syndicated loans provide a variety of benefits to firms, and that these benefits are also long-lasting, but differ markedly from those provided by venture capital financing. In particular, firms with pre-IPO bank have significantly enhanced access to external financing after the IPO, are able to operate with smaller internal capital markets, and are less likely to delist.
Automatically Detecting the Up-To-Date Status of ToDo Comments in Java Programs

Easing program comprehension facilitates software maintenance, which consumes a disproportionate amount of resources within software development. Studies have shown that good comments can help in program comprehension. Among the different varieties of comments, TODO comments are used by developers to denote pending tasks. A developer may perform the task mentioned in the TODO comment but may forget to remove it, leading to obsolete comments. Such obsolete comments can hinder comprehension. Detecting such obsolete comments manually is tedious and error-prone. Thus, we need a tool to automatically check the status of TODO comments. We present a novel technique to automatically detect the status of a TODO comment. Given a method with a TODO comment, our TODO comment status checker uses information retrieval, linguistics and semantics to check if the comment is up to date. According to experienced programmers who judged our status checker, we achieve good accuracy, precision and recall.
Toward Information Theoretic Human-Robot Dialog

Our goal is to build robots that can robustly interact with humans using natural language. This problem is challenging because human language is filled with ambiguity, and furthermore, due to limitations in sensing, the robot's perception of its environment might be much more limited than that of its human partner. To enable a robot to recover from a failure to understand a natural language utterance, this paper describes an information-theoretic strategy for asking targeted clarifying questions and using information from the answer to disambiguate the language. To identify good questions, we derive an estimate of the robot's uncertainty about the mapping between specific phrases in the language and aspects of the external world. This metric enables the robot to ask a targeted question about the parts of the language for which it is most uncertain. After receiving an answer, the robot fuses information from the command, the question, and the answer in a joint probabilistic graphical model in the G3 framework. When using answers to questions, we show the robot is able to infer mappings between parts of the language and concrete object groundings in the external world with higher accuracy than by using information from the command alone. Furthermore, we demonstrate that by effectively selecting which questions to ask, the robot is able to achieve significant performance gains while asking many fewer questions than baseline metrics.
Uniform deposition of uranium hexafluoride (UF6): Standardized mass deposits and controlled isotopic ratios using a thermal fluorination method

We report a convenient method for the generation of volatile uranium hexafluoride (UF6) from solid uranium oxides and other U compounds, followed by uniform deposition of low levels of UF6 onto sampling coupons. Under laminar flow conditions, UF6 is shown to interact with surfaces within a fixed reactor geometry to a highly predictable degree. We demonstrate the preparation of U deposits that range between approximately 0.01 and 500ngcm(-2). The data suggest the method can be extended to creating depositions at the sub-picogramcm(-2) level. The isotopic composition of the deposits can be customized by selection of the U source materials and we demonstrate a layering technique whereby two U solids, each with a different isotopic composition, are employed to form successive layers of UF6 on a surface. The result is an ultra-thin deposit that bears an isotopic signature that is a composite of the two U sources. The reported deposition method has direct application to the development of unique analytical standards for nuclear safeguards and forensics. Further, the method allows access to very low atomic or molecular coverages of surfaces.
Associations between subtypes of social withdrawal and emotional eating during emerging adulthood

Abstract While the psychosocial difficulties associated with one specific type of social withdrawal, shyness, have been extensively studied, less is known about the correlates of other subtypes, such as preference-for-solitude. Of the existing studies on withdrawal subtypes, few focus on the emerging adulthood developmental period, and none have examined possible physical health-related correlates and associated mechanisms. This study considered whether two withdrawal subtypes (shyness, preference-for-solitude) are associated with emotional eating vis-a-vis internalizing problems during emerging adulthood. Participants included 643 emerging adults (283 males; Mage = 19.61) who completed measures of withdrawal subtypes, emotional eating, and internalizing problems (depression, loneliness, social anxiety). Path models revealed that the associations between both shyness and preference-for-solitude and emotional eating were explained, in part, by depression and social anxiety. Findings suggest that withdrawing from peers during emerging adulthood, due to fear or preferences-for-solitude, may have significant consequences for both physical health outcomes vis-a-vis psychological difficulties.