cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-compatibilization of poly(butyl methacrylate)/acrylonitrile-co-styrene blends via concentrated emulsion polymerization

Two concentrated emulsions in water were prepared: one from weakly polymerized butyl methacrylate (BMA) and the other one from a weakly polymerized mixture of acrylonitrile (AN) and styrene (St). Each of the concentrated emulsions also contained a small amount of a vinyl-terminated macromonomer (VTM). After the concentrated emulsions were partially polymerized, they were mixed and subjected to complete polymerization. This generated a blend of poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA), binary copolymer AN-co-ST (AN—St), and networks containing chains of VTM and those formed from different monomers. The networks constitute compatibilizers between the PBMA and AN—St. Such a preparation method, in which the components and compatibilizer are generated simultaneously, was called self-compatibilization. The blend possesses excellent tensile properties and toughness compared with the ternary copolymer AN—St—BMA and with the solution blends of PBMA/AN—St. The generation of the compatibilizers and the compatibilization mechanism were investigated via kinetic studies. The effects of the VTM, polymerization conditions, and the weight ratio of AN/St were also examined. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Atmospheric turbulence compensation using coherent optical adaptive techniques.

Measurements using an experimental, visible wavelength, eighteen-element, multidither, self-adaptive, planar, optical phased array have been made on a well-characterized outdoor 100-m propagation range. The measurements have proved that this type of coat system can remove most of the beam distortions produced by atmospheric turbulence and by fixed optical system errors. The system has demonstrated the ability to form a beam with a nearly diffraction-limited peak intensity for turbulence levels characterized by structure constants (CN2) ranging from 1 × 10−16 cm−2/3 to 6 × 10−14 cm−2/3. Convergence times for the coat system range from 1.5 msec to 3.0 msec for a servo system with a 500-Hz unity gain bandwidth. Spectral analysis of the coat correction signals indicates, however, that only a 50-Hz bandwidth is required for correction to within tenth-wave residual wavefront errors for static targets, even in strong turbulence. The experimental phase error spectra agree well with theoretical calculations that use a Von Karman spectrum for the refractive index fluctuations. Multiple glint discrimination and tracking of the strongest glint in a multiple glint target are demonstrated in high turbulence. Good target tracking is observed at rates up to 14 mrad/sec. The convergence stability of the coat system is good, limited only by the inability of planar, stepwise phase control to remove atmospheric beam wander and scintillation effects. Receiver aperture size has had no appreciable effect on system performance except in multiple glint cases where the glints are within 2–3 dB in net reflectance.
Conversational program model

A practical approach to natural language recognition is taken in the development of a transition graph model for predetermined conversational program dialogues. The model incorporates context and prediction to reduce the number of user entries likely at any given point in a dialogue. In the design of the model, four major questions are addressed: (1) what types of conversational applications are suitable for practical natural language interaction, (2) what are the important characteristics of the dialogues used in those applications, (3) how can those dialogues be represented to improve program performance, and (4) how can those dialogues be represented to aid in the program design process. Implementation of an interactive computer science course advisor program provides evidence that the model can be a significant aid in the design of practical conversational programs accepting restricted natural language input via a teletype-like terminal.
Human Thyroid Adenyl Cyclase-Stimulating Activity in Immunoglobulin G of Patients with Graves' Disease

We have studied the characteristics of the stimulation of adenyl cyclase (AC) activity in human thyroid plasma membranes by thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) and by immunoglobulin G (IgG) from the sera of patients with Graves' disease. AC activity was measured as adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) generated by membranes in a 10 minute incubation. IgG from two patients with Graves' disease possessed particularly potent human thyroid AC-stimulating activity; the dose-response curves with these IgGs were essentially parallel to those obtained with TSH. As little as 30 μg of the IgG of one patient with Graves' disease or 8 μU of TSH caused significant AC stimulation. A Lineweaver-Burk plot of the data suggested similarity in the site of action of both TSH and human thyroid adenyl cyclase stimulator (HTACS) in Graves' IgG. Submaximal doses of HTACS and TSH had additive effects on AC stimulation, but a large dose of a Graves' IgG with potent AC stimulating activity did not enhance AC stimulation by a ma...
Illustration of Illumination Effects on Proximity, Focus Spillover, and Design Rules

Visualization at the mask plane of the effects of illumination, proximity, and defocus is used to give physical insight into restricted design rules, layout choices, and residual edge placement errors. To facilitate this work, a pattern matching code has been tuned, tested, and enhanced. The richness of the original code with complex match factors, mask Boolean operations, and mask weights and phases has been adapted to operate on clear-field attenuated-phase-shifting masks with asymmetrical illumination. To account for illumination effects, the aberration spillover is multiplied by the Fourier transform of the angular distribution of the intensity spectrum incident on the mask. In a study of binary mask layouts, the R-squared correlation of the prediction of image intensity with Pattern Match Factor increased from 0.57 to 0.89 when annular illumination was included in the spillover function. In addition, features to visualize the mutual coherence, shifts of the illumination, and source maps have been added.
Solar optical materials for innovative window design

New and innovative optical materials and coatings can greatly improve the efficiency of window energy systems. These potential materials and coatings increase energy efficiency by reducing radiative losses in the infrared, or reducing visible reflection losses or controlling overheating due to solar gain. Current progress in heat mirror coatings for glass a polymeric substrates is presented. Highly doped semiconducting oxides and metal/dielectric interference coatings are reviewed. Physical and optical properties are outlined for antireflection films and transparent aerogel insulation media. The potential for optical switching films as window elements includes discussions of electrochromic, photochromic and other physical switching processes.
Effects of leptin deficiency on postnatal lung development in mice

Leptin modulates energy metabolism and lung development. We hypothesize that the effects of leptin on postnatal lung development are volume dependent from 2 to 10 wk of age and are independent of h...
A finite volume formulation for simulating drop motion in a viscoelastic two-phase system

We present a numerical method for simulating the motion of a drop in a viscoelastic two-phase system. The axisymmetric incompressible flow equations combined with viscoelastic constitutive equations are solved on an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system using the finite volume method. The artificial compressibility factor is introduced in the continuity equation to effectively increase the convergence rate. A flux-difference splitting scheme is utilized in both the momentum and constitutive equations. This scheme has been used in high-speed aerodynamics to automatically handle the change of type of equations between elliptic and hyperbolic. The combination of artificial compressibility and the flux-difference splitting scheme is capable of overcoming the numerical instability caused by high elasticity of the viscoelastic phase. The differential constitutive equations of the FENE-CR model are employed to model the polymer stress terms in the momentum equations if either phase of the two-fluid system is viscoelastic. The free-surface boundary condition consists of the dynamic and kinematic conditions. These are used to update the drop shape during its time evolution. Conforming to the deforming drop shape, a boundary-fitted grid is generated at each time step. The grid is generated by solving elliptic partial differential equations.
Cloning of a novel phosphatidylinositol kinase-related kinase: characterization of the human SMG-1 RNA surveillance protein.

Abstract We have cloned and characterized a new member of the phosphatidylinositol kinase (PIK)-related kinase family. This gene, which we term human SMG-1 (hSMG-1), is orthologous to Caenorhabditis elegans SMG-1, a protein that functions in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). cDNA sequencing revealed that hSMG-1 encodes a protein of 3031 amino acids containing a conserved kinase domain, a C-terminal domain unique to the PIK-related kinases and an FKBP12-rapamycin binding-like domain similar to that found in the PIK-related kinase mTOR. Immunopurified FLAG-tagged hSMG-1 exhibits protein kinase activity as measured by autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of the generic PIK-related kinase substrate PHAS-1. hSMG-1 kinase activity is inhibited by high nanomolar concentrations of wortmannin (IC50 = 105 nm) but is not inhibited by a FKBP12-rapamycin complex. Mutation of conserved residues within the kinase domain of hSMG-1 abolishes both autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation, demonstrating that hSMG-1 exhibits intrinsic protein kinase activity. hSMG-1 phosphorylates purified hUpf1 protein, a phosphoprotein that plays a critical role in NMD, at sites that are also phosphorylated in whole cells. Based on these data, we conclude that hSMG-1 is the human orthologue to C. elegans SMG-1. Our data indicate that hSMG-1 may function in NMD by directly phosphorylating hUpf1 protein at physiologically relevant sites.
Zeeman splitting of single semiconductor impurities in resonant tunneling heterostructures

Zeeman splitting of the ground state of single impurities in the quantum wells of resonant tunneling heterostructures is reported. We determine the absolute magnitude of the effective magnetic spin splitting factor g ? for a single impurity in a 44 ˚ A Al0:27Ga0:73As=GaAs=Al0:27Ga0:73As quantum well to be 0:28 0:02. This system also allows for independent measurement of the electron tunneling rates through the two potential barriers and estimation of the occupation probability of the impurity state in the quantum well. c 1996 Academic Press Limited
Super-exponential extinction of radiation in a negatively-correlated random medium

Abstract It was shown in recent work that spatial correlations among obstacles of a random, absorbing medium can lead to slower-than-exponential (sub-exponential) extinction of radiation with propagation distance. Exponential decay, described by the Beer–Lambert law, arises in a special case when the medium contains no correlations. A third possibility, examined here, is that of negative correlations which can lead to faster-than-exponential (super-exponential) extinction. Using a Monte Carlo approach, we confirm that sub-exponential decay occurs when the volume-averaged pair correlation function is greater than zero at the scale of interest and that the Beer–Lambert law is recovered when correlations vanish. We also find that when the volume-averaged pair correlation function is negative, super-exponential extinction with propagation distance occurs. These results are of special interest to the problem of radiative transfer in cloudy atmospheres, where the pair correlation function previously has been shown to be negative and positive at different scales.
A prospective study comparing endoscopy and EUS in the evaluation of GI subepithelial masses

Background The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the performance characteristics of endoscopy and EUS in the diagnosis of GI subepithelial masses. Methods A total of 100 consecutive patients referred for the evaluation of a suspected GI subepithelial lesion were prospectively studied with endoscopy followed by EUS. Size, color, mobility, location (intramural or extramural), consistency (solid, cystic, or vascular), and presumptive diagnosis were recorded at the time of endoscopy. EUS then was performed, and size, echogenicity, location, and presumptive diagnosis were determined. Results A total of 100 subepithelial lesions were evaluated. Endoscopy had 98% sensitivity and 64% specificity in identifying intramural lesions. Size measurement by endoscopy correlated with size measurement by EUS (r=0.88). Histology was obtained in 23 cases, with the presumptive EUS diagnosis correct in only 48% of cases. Most incorrect EUS diagnoses occurred with hypoechoic 3rd and 4th layer masses. Conclusions Endoscopy has high sensitivity but low specificity in identifying the location (intramural or extramural) of subepithelial lesions. In addition, EUS imaging alone is insufficient to accurately diagnose 3rd and 4th layer hypoechoic masses, and histologic confirmation should be obtained whenever possible.
Induction of Immunological Tolerance to Islet Allografts

T-cell dependent activation of resting B cells involves the interaction of gp39 on T cells with its receptor, CD40, on B cells. We administered either a combination of T-cell-depleted splenic lymphocytes and anti-gp39 monoclonal antibody or antibody alone to establish islet allografts in mice without continuous immunosuppression. Fully allogeneic H-2q FVB islets were permanently accepted by chemically diabetic H-2b C57BL/6 mice provided that the recipients were pretreated with both T-cell-depleted donor spleen cells and anti-gp39 antibody. Antibody alone was less effective in prolonging allograft survival, but we did observe that anti-gp39 mAb alone can exert an independent, primary effect on islet allograft survival that was dose dependent. Targeting gp39, in combination with lymphocyte transfusion, might prove suitable for tolerance induction and allotransplantation without immunosuppression.
No evidence of association between HIV-1 and malaria in populations with low HIV-1 prevalence.

Background The geographic overlap between HIV-1 and malaria has generated much interest in their potential interactions. A variety of studies have evidenced a complex HIV-malaria interaction within individuals and populations that may have dramatic effects, but the causes and implications of this co-infection at the population level are still unclear. In a previous publication, we showed that the prevalence of malaria caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum is associated with HIV infection in eastern sub-Saharan Africa. To complement our knowledge of the HIV-malaria co-infection, the objective of this work was to assess the relationship between malaria and HIV prevalence in the western region of sub-Saharan Africa. Methodology/Principal Findings Population-based cross-sectional data were obtained from the HIV/AIDS Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Liberia and Cameroon, and the malaria atlas project. Using generalized linear mixed models, we assessed the relationship between HIV-1 and Plasmodium falciparum parasite rate (PfPR) adjusting for important socio-economic and biological cofactors. We found no evidence that individuals living in areas with stable malaria transmission (PfPR>0.46) have higher odds of being HIV-positive than individuals who live in areas with PfPR≤0.46 in western sub-Saharan Africa (estimated odds ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval 0.86–1.50). In contrast, the results suggested that PfPR was associated with being infected with HIV in Cameroon (estimated odds ratio 1.56, 95% confidence interval 1.23–2.00). Conclusion/Significance Contrary to our previous research on eastern sub-Saharan Africa, this study did not identify an association between PfPR and infection with HIV in western sub-Saharan Africa, which suggests that malaria might not play an important role in the spread of HIV in populations where the HIV prevalence is low. Our work highlights the importance of understanding the epidemiologic effect of co-infection and the relevant factors involved in this relationship for the implementation of effective control strategies.
Sediment Pollution Assessment of Abandoned Residential Developments Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Abstract The current economic crisis has left numerous residential developments in the southeastern United States in various stages of construction. Many of them are currently graded and essentially abandoned, creating a major source of sediment runoff to waterways. Residential development locations with significant bare soil areas were identified through classification of Landsat 5 TM satellite imagery and subsequently verified from high-resolution county aerial photographs. The revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) was used in a geographic information system (GIS) as a tool for prioritizing identified locations on the basis of potential soil loss assuming the worst case scenario of a completely unmaintained site. Initial GIS identification indicated 301 sites with a total bare soil area of 2 378 ha over three counties in Upstate South Carolina. A random sample of 153 sites was visited over 17 days and assessed using a mobile GIS, global positioning system (GPS), and digital camera for field validation. Results indicated that 78% (119) of the sites were classified correctly (residential construction sites in varying stages of completion); 88% of identified areas were less than 25% built compared to the previous year; 48% were categorized as moderate to severe problems. Abandoned and unfinished developments in Upstate South Carolina may represent a major source of sediment pollution to streams. Well-maintained erosion control devices may be useful in preventing offsite sedimentation.
Further results on the probabilistic traveling salesman problem

Abstract In 1985, Jaillet introduced the probabilistic traveling salesman problem (PTSP), a variant of the classical TSP in which only a subset of the nodes may be present in any given instance of the problem. The goal is to find an a priori tour of minimal expected length, with the strategy of visiting the present nodes in a particular instance in the same order as they appear in the a priori tour. In this paper we reexamine the PTSP using a variety of theoretical and computational approaches. We sharpen the best known bounds for the PTSP, derive several asymptotic relations, and compare from various veiwpoints the PTSP with the re-optimization strategy, i.e., finding an optimal tour in every problem instance. When a Euclidean metric is used and the nodes are uniformly distributed in the unit square, a heuristic for the PTSP is shown to be very close to the re-optimization strategy. We examine some PTSP heuristics with provable worst-case performance, and address the question of finding constant-guarantee heuristics. Implementations of various heuristics, some based on sorting and some on local optimality, permit us to discuss the qualitative and quantitative properties of computational problems with up to 5000 nodes.
Batch reactor control using a multiple model-based controller design

This work presents the development of a model-based controller design called Multiple Model Predictive Control (MMPC) based on a set of linear, time-varying, state space models to regulate batch processes according to multiple, pre-specified reference profiles. Sufficient conditions for stability and boundedness of the dynamic evolution of the forced nonlinear system are provided. The performance of the MMPC design is demonstrated on a model of a batch reactor that represents the production of a polymer product. On presente dans ce travail la conception d'un regulateur base sur les modeles appele Controle predictif de modeles multiples (MMPC), qui s'appuie sur un ensemble de modeles d'espace d'etat lineaires et variant dans le temps, afin de reguler des procedes discontinus selon des profils de reference multiples specifies prealablement. Des conditions suffisantes sont fournies pour la stabilite et les limites de l'evolution dynamique du systeme non lineaire force. On demontre la performance du MMPC sur un modele de reacteur discontinu qui represente la production d'un polymere.
On the question of determining molecular electric dipole moments from field-free frequency data

Abstract The effective masses in the Hamiltonian of a diatomic molecule with corrections for the breakdown of the Born–Oppenheimer approximation depend on the charge distribution in the molecule, and so the field-free energy levels are possible sources of information on the electric dipole moment of the molecule and other electromagnetic quantities. However, examination of explicit energy formulas and of a general indeterminacy in the effective Hamiltonian shows that this information is inseparable from effects due to the adiabatic correction to the potential. Electric dipole moments and other electromagnetic quantities obtained in this way are therefore not reliable.
Spacecraft attitude impacts on COLD-SAT non-vacuum jacketed LH2 supply tank thermal performance

The Cryogenic On-Orbit Liquid Depot - Storage, Acquisition and Transfer (COLD-SAT) spacecraft will be launched into low earth orbit to perform fluid management experiments on the behavior of subcritical liquid hydrogen (LH2). For determining the optimum on-orbit attitude for the COLD-SAT satellite, a comparative analytical study was performed to determine the thermal impacts of spacecraft attitude on the performance of the COLD-SAT non-vacuum jacketed LH2 supply tank. Tank thermal performance was quantified by total conductive and radiative heat leakage into the pressure vessel due to the absorbed solar, earth albedo and infra-red on-orbit fluxes, and also by the uniformity of the variation of this leakage on the vessel surface area. Geometric and thermal analysis math models were developed for the spacecraft and the tank as part of this analysis, based on their individual thermal/structural designs. Two quasi-inertial spacecraft attitudes were investigated and their effects on the tank performance compared. The results are one of the criteria by which the spacecraft orientation in orbit was selected for the in-house NASA Lewis Research Center design.
A Laterality Effect in Isometric and Isotonic Labial Tracking

Hemispheric dominance for sensorimotor control of lip activity was investigated by use of a pursuit auditory tracking task. This task involves continuous frequency matching of a computer-generated ...
Integration of input-output and programming in land resource supply analysis

This paper represents an attempt to outline a method for studying the economic significance of land resources and their use in an interdependent framework. Briefly, a multiregional, spatial-commodity model in the input-output spirit was constructed. Modifications of conventional methods of analysis were: multiple primary resources, substitution between production processes or inputs on the production side and substitution on the demand side between identical commodities. Assuming production functions to be homogeneous of degree one, the choice problem of what, where, how, and how much to produce may be solved by linear programming methods. In general, solutions may be found for many rectangular structural matrices. The direction and magnitude (with an error) of the effects of changes in output, employment, income or demand may be traced fully on land utilization in a consistent and rigorous fashion throughout the whole economy. Also, changes in land use and the concomitant effects on production, employment, income and other economic variables (regional trade, supply of inputs, etc.) may be studied formally within the model. The use of this method in the analysis of economic development problems in not so developed countries with the characteristic situation of inadequate production and an abundant labor supply is discussed briefly.
SDF1-a facilitates Lin-/Sca1+ cell homing following murine experimental cerebral ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cells mobilize to the peripheral circulation in response to stroke. However, the mechanism by which the brain initiates this mobilization is uncharacterized. METHODS: Animals underwent a murine intraluminal filament model of focal cerebral ischemia and the SDF1-A pathway was evaluated in a blinded manner via serum and brain SDF1-A level assessment, Lin-/Sca1+ cell mobilization quantification, and exogenous cell migration confirmation; all with or without SDF1-A blockade. RESULTS: Bone marrow demonstrated a significant increase in Lin-/Sca1+ cell counts at 24 hrs (272 ± 60%; P<0.05 vs sham). Mobilization of Lin-/Sca1+ cells to blood was significantly elevated at 24 hrs (607 ± 159%; P<0.05). Serum SDF1-A levels were significant at 24 hrs (Sham (103 ± 14), 4 hrs (94 ± 20%, p = NS) and 24 hrs (130 ± 17; p<0.05)). Brain SDF1-A levels were significantly elevated at both 4 hrs and 24 hrs (113 ± 7 pg/ml and 112 ± 10 pg/ml, respectively; p<0.05 versus sham 76 ± 11 pg/ml). Following administration of an SDF1-A antibody, Lin-/Sca1+ cells failed to mobilize to peripheral blood following stroke, despite continued up regulation in bone marrow (stroke bone marrow cell count: 536 ± 65, blood cell count: 127 ± 24; p<0.05 versus placebo). Exogenously administered Lin-/Sca1+ cells resulted in a significant reduction in infarct volume: 42 ± 5% (stroke alone), versus 21 ± 15% (Stroke+Lin-/Sca1+ cells), and administration of an SDF1-A antibody concomitant to exogenous administration of the Lin-/Sca1+ cells prevented this reduction. Following stroke, exogenously administered Lin-/Sca1+ FISH positive cells were significantly reduced when administered concomitant to an SDF1-A antibody as compared to without SDF1-A antibody (10 ± 4 vs 0.7 ± 1, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SDF1-A appears to play a critical role in modulating Lin-/Sca1+ cell migration to ischemic brain.
Defect Studies in n-Type GaN Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

GaN thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) were characterized by Hall effect measurements in the temperature range from 80 K to 500 K and by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) at 2 K and at 300 K. These films were grown by MBE utilizing either electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma activated nitrogen gas or thermally cracked hydrogen azide (HN3) as the source of chemically reactive nitrogen. The electrical properties of the GaN films grown by ECR plasma assisted MBE were found to vary with growth parameters, dominated either by shallow donors with activation energies (ΔE)in the range between 10 meV and 30 meV or deep donor levels (ΔE; > 500 meV). GaN grown by (HN3) gas-source MBE exhibited metallic conduction and electron mobilities <1 cm2/Vs. However, these films displayed sharp photoluminescence lines at 3.360 eV and 3.298 eV and no deep level related luminescence, whereas only broad deep level related emission was observed in the PL spectra of the ECR plasma assisted MBE grown GaN films.
Perioperative Mischief: The Price of Academic Misconduct

Recent allegations of fraud committed by one of the most prolific researchers in perioperative medicine, Don Poldermans, have left many clinicians in a state of disbelief. With over 500 peer-reviewed publications, Poldermans heavily influenced the clinical practice of perioperative beta-blockers and statins in noncardiac surgery, shaping guidelines and national policies on the use of these treatments. The effects of fraud in perioperative medicine are particularly caustic owing to a profound domino effect. Many investigators devoted their academic careers to following the footsteps of investigators such as Poldermans. Similarly, funding agencies supported this line of enquiry, incurring significant cost and expense. Most importantly, hundreds of patients were exposed to treatments that may have been harmful in an effort to advance this research agenda. How should perioperative clinicians utilize beta blockade now that a considerable portion of the literature is enshrouded in uncertainty? In this brief review, we reiterate and emphasize basic principles about the indications and administration of perioperative beta blockade. Because research misconduct in perioperative medicine can be so damaging, we present strategies to prevent such events in the future. Without such reform, fraud in research may very well continue. The price for such misconduct is simply too great to pay.
Cumulative or comparative advantage? British competitiveness in the early 20th century

Abstract This paper argues that British specialization in the early 20th century is best understood as a path-dependent outcome of dynamic processes of imperfect competition. British specialization owed less to conventional sources of comparative advantage, such as technological leadership or factor endowments, than to cumulative competitive advantages accrued because of its status as the first industrial nation.
Evaluation and Comparison of Three Instruments Designed to Measure Organizational Power and Influence Tactics

The purpose of the present study is to assess the internal consistency and construct validity of three instruments measuring the use of influence tactics. Instruments by Frost and Stahelski (1988) and Hinkin and Schriesheim (1989) had been developed to be psychometrically sound measures of the French and Raven (1959) bases of power. Kipnis and Schmidt (1982a) developed a new typology to measure organizational influence, the Profile of Organizational Influence Strategies (POIS). Four hundred seventy-nine undergraduate students completed these instruments to describe the influence tactics used by their supervisor. Results indicated that the Hinkin and Schriesheim instrument has greater internal consistency and a more precisely defined factor structure than the Frost and Stahelski instrument. The corresponding scales of the two instruments measuring the French and Raven power bases are not highly correlated, suggesting that the two instruments are not equivalent. Furthermore, the pattern of correlations between scales of the three instruments suggests that neither the French and Raven not the POIS typology fully represents the structure of influence tactics.
Association of type 1 diabetes with month of birth among U.S. youth: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.

OBJECTIVE Seasonal environment at birth may influence diabetes incidence in later life. We sought evidence for this effect in a large sample of diabetic youth residing in the U.S. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We compared the distribution of birth months within the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study (SEARCH study) with the monthly distributions in U.S. births tabulated by race for years 1982–2005. SEARCH study participants (9,737 youth with type 1 diabetes and 1,749 with type 2 diabetes) were identified by six collaborating U.S. centers. RESULTS Among type 1 diabetic youth, the percentage of observed to expected births differed across the months ( P = 0.0092; decreased in October–February and increased in March–July). Their smoothed birth-month estimates demonstrated a deficit in November–February births and an excess in April–July births (smoothed May versus January relative risk [RR] = 1.06 [95% CI 1.02–1.11]). Stratifications by sex or by three racial groups showed similar patterns relating type 1 diabetes to month of birth. Stratification by geographic regions showed a peak-to-nadir RR of 1.10 [1.04–1.16] in study regions from the northern latitudes (Colorado, western Washington State, and southern Ohio) but no birth-month effect ( P > 0.9) in study regions from more southern locations. Among type 2 diabetic youth, associations with birth month were inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS Spring births were associated with increased likelihood of type 1 diabetes but possibly not in all U.S. regions. Causal mechanisms may involve factors dependent on geographic latitude such as solar irradiance, but it is unknown whether they influence prenatal or early postnatal development.
Adaptive gain modified optimal torque controller for wind turbine partial load operation

In this paper, an adaptive gain modified optimal torque controller (AGMOTC) is proposed and evaluated for wind turbine partial load operation. An internal PI technique is applied for gain scheduling in order to accelerate the controller response under volatile wind speed while the adaptive searching technique endows the controller with robust convergence to the optimal operating point under plant uncertainties. The light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology is integrated with the AGMOTC to provide reliable previewed wind speed measurements. Simulations on the NREL 5MW wind turbine show that the LIDAR-enabled AGMOTC outperforms the baseline controller considering the wind energy yield. Additionally, the results show the impact of the proposed controller on the wind turbine fatigue loads.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Metabolic and neural activity in the song system nucleus robustus archistriatalis: effect of age and gender.

The sexually dimorphic robust archistriatal nucleus (RA) represents the telencephalic output of the bird song system. Here, we document sex-dependent changes in both the metabolic and neuronal activity of RA during the sensory and sensorimotor phases of song learning. From posthatching day (PHD) 20 – 63 in males but not females, RA and its input nucleus HVc showed sharp increases in cytochrome oxidase (CO) activity relative to surrounding archistriatum and the underlying shelf, respectively. In urethane-anesthetized birds, during the same period, the spontaneous activity of male RA neurons underwent dramatic changes in firing rate, distribution of interspike intervals, and bursting frequency, compared with other archistriatal cells. At PHD 20 –21, RA neurons had extremely slow, irregular firing rates in birds of both sexes. In males, from PHD 30 –36, RA neurons increased their firing rates and spiking activity became more regular, and at PHD 38, strong bursts followed by inhibition (which in awake animals is associated with singing) began to be observed. Dual recordings from RA and HVc revealed synchronous bursting, with RA spikes lagging 10 msec behind HVc. We conclude that changes in relative CO activity correlate with changes in spontaneous firing rates within RA and that patterns of RA spontaneous activity exhibit gradual change as birds enter early song and then again for plastic song. The emergence of strong burst patterns in RA occurs later in life than does input from HVc as established by tracer studies or based on observed HVc bursting in young animals. J. Comp. Neurol. 454:409 – 423, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Indexing terms: cytochrome oxidase; songbirds; sex dimorphism; bursting; sensorimotor; zebra
Spectral sensitivity of ground squirrel cones measured with ERG flicker photometry

Ground squirrels have dichromatic color vision. The spectral sensitivities of the two classes of cones found in the retinas of two species of ground squirrel were measured using ERG flicker photometry. The spectral sensitivity curves for these cone classes were closely fit by curves from wavelength-dependent visual pigment nomograms. One cone type had an average peak sensitivity of 518.9 nm (California ground squirrels,Spermophilus beecheyi) or 517.0 nm (thirteen-lined ground squirrels,Spermophilus tridecemlineatus). The second type of cone found in these ground squirrels had an average peak sensitivity of 436.7 nm. An examination of the variation in spectral sensitivity among individual animals suggests that the sensitivity peaks for the middle-wavelength cone cover a range of not greater than 4 nm.
Population dynamics of the chydorid cladocera of a Southern Michigan Marl Lake

The seasonal population dynamics are described for 21 chydorid species in two shallow Scirpus subterminalis beds of Lawrence Lake, Michigan, USA. Six species were rare; four species were predominantly abundant. The dynamics of the populations followed no consistent pattern among the species. However, each species, with one exception, may follow the same pattern from year to year. Eight species overwintered under the ice as parthenogenetic individuals. Populations of Alonella excisa may be greatly reduced during the summer months because of competition with A. exigua.
Echocardiogram view classification using low-level features

This paper presents a view classification method for 2D heart ultrasound. Our method uses low-level image features to train a frame-level classifier, which unlike related approaches, does not require an additional pixel-level classification of heart structures. By employing kernel-based classification, our algorithm can classify images from any phase of the heartbeat cycle and efficiently incorporate information from subsequent frames without re-training the model. On real-world data, our algorithm achieves 98.51% accuracy for 8-way classification. While the method can efficiently aggregate multiple frames, in ~94% of the tests, identification only requires a single frame.
Risk-sensitive fertility: The variance compensation hypothesis

Two conditions are sufficient to indicate the need for risk-sensitive, adaptive analysis: (i) the outcomes of a behavior must be unpredictable to some degree and (ii) the relationship between outcomes and their value (in terms of fitness or utility) must be nonlinear. We argue that these conditions are common, and develop a general model for the analysis of risk-sensitive fertility behavior when long-term reproductive outcomes are unpredictable. We show that unpredictability is likely to have a patterned effect on fertility behavior, beyond adjustment for expected or average mortality, and we analyze the conditions under which that effect will be to promote or dampen fertility (positive or negative variance compensation, respectively). We then describe the implications of this variance compensation hypothesis (VCH) for the analysis of demographic transitions, agricultural intensification, fertility differences in natural-fertility populations, and clutch size. We conclude by lamenting that data are lacking to test the VCH, probably because it has not been appreciated that there can be patterned and effective behavioral adjustments to stochastic features of the environment. D 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Effect of proteins and lipids of the alveolar lining layer on particle binding and phagocytosis

Abstract The initial interactions between macrophages and particles on alveolar surfaces could be significant events in the pathogenesis of certain lung diseases, since these cells are known to secrete a variety of inflammatory mediators and growth factors. It has been determined that the protein and lipid fractions of the extracellular alveolar lining layer (ALL) affect alveolar macrophage morphology and function in vitro and that these fractions can block the binding of iron and glass spheres to macrophage membranes. Protein-rich and lipid-rich fractions were prepared for treatment of alveolar macrophages in vitro. The ‘normal’ (i.e. non-concentrated) lavage diluted by saline caused no measurable changes in macrophage morphology or function. In contrast, concentrated lavage, as well as the protein and lipid fractions, caused loss of cell viability and blocked the binding of positively and negatively charged particles to macrophage membranes. The blocking effect could be reversed when the cells were pretreated with the lavage fraction and then washed. Blocking of binding could not be reversed when the particles were pretreated. The binding of particles to macrophage membranes appears to be mediated through an interaction between the particles and the ALL.
Gastrointestinal recovery following laparoscopic vs open colon surgery.

Background: We prospectively studied the recovery of gastrointestinal motility in patients undergoing laparoscopic (LAP, n = 7) or open (OPEN, n = 7) colon resections. Methods: At operation, bipolar recording electrodes were placed on the proximal and distal antrum, the proximal site of the colonic anastomosis, and the rectosigmoid for postoperative myoelectric recordings. Results: Shorter postoperative hospitalization and earlier resumption of a regular diet of the LAP group just barely failed to achieve significant differences when compared with the OPEN group (p = 0.091, p = 0.050, respectively). There were no differences between groups for slow wave frequency, amplitude, or dysrhythmias in the antrum, nor for return of discrete (DERA) and continuous (CERA) electrical response activity in the colon. Percentage of slow waves with spike activity tended to increase with passage of time postoperatively in both groups. There was a significant difference between POD 3 and 7+ in the LAP group (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the percentage of slow waves with spike activities between groups on any postoperative day. Conclusions: The potential benefits of using a laparoscopic approach to colon resection are not clearly confirmed by these data. While such an approach may possibly result in shorter hospitalization, it appears to offer at best only modest increases in the rapidity of recovery of gastrointestinal function.
The Use of Distribution Functions to Represent Utility Functions

This paper considers the decision maker whose evaluation and consequent choice of actions is accomplished through the use of the expected utility hypothesis. In cases where the utility function is increasing with upper and lower bounds then the utility function can be characterized by a distribution function, and we can take advantage of the various properties of such functions as well as existing results with respect to such functions. Using these properties and results we can determine the certainty equivalents as a function of the parameters of the distribution function utility function and the parameters of the probability distribution on the uncertain payoff. The following cases are considered: 1 Gaussian distribution function and Gaussian probability distribution, 2 Exponential distribution function and exponential distribution and 3 Exponential distribution function and Gaussian probability distribution.
Bring ART into the ACT

Air Force Office of Scientific Research (F49620-01-1-0397); Office of Naval Research (N00014-01-1-0624)
An asymmetry method for high precision alignment with laser light.

A new method of making precision alignment of rectilinear systems of any length without requiring high resolution optics is described. Laser light with antisymmetrical transverse phase is used to produce intensity asymmetries by means of diffraction behind a misaligned target. The apparatus is very simple but flexible enough to attain alignment of extreme accuracy within an operational range from zero to several kilometers. Under favorable conditions, misalignments of less than 0.01 mm are detectable (10−8 rad at a distance of 1 km). Both visual and automated detection is possible in one as well as in two directions. The advantages of the asymmetry method are discussed with respect to conventional and existing laser techniques; applications and limitations are cited.
Assessment of alternative transport options for video distribution and retrieval over ATM in residential broadband

This article analyzes options for transporting CATV distribution, pay-per-view, and video-on-demand over a residential broadband network. It provides clearly tabulated evaluations of video coding alternatives, ATM service category alternatives, ATM adaptation layer alternatives, and methods for dealing with errors and delay. Conclusions are drawn regarding buffer requirements, congestion control, and error control.
A Sr–Nd isotopic study of sand-sized sediment provenance and transport for the San Francisco Bay coastal system

Abstract A diverse suite of geochemical tracers, including 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd isotope ratios, the rare earth elements (REEs), and select trace elements were used to determine sand-sized sediment provenance and transport pathways within the San Francisco Bay coastal system. This study complements a large interdisciplinary effort ( Barnard et al., 2012 ) that seeks to better understand recent geomorphic change in a highly urbanized and dynamic estuarine-coastal setting. Sand-sized sediment provenance in this geologically complex system is important to estuarine resource managers and was assessed by examining the geographic distribution of this suite of geochemical tracers from the primary sources (fluvial and rock) throughout the bay, adjacent coast, and beaches. Due to their intrinsic geochemical nature, 143Nd/144Nd isotopic ratios provide the most resolved picture of where sediment in this system is likely sourced and how it moves through this estuarine system into the Pacific Ocean. For example, Nd isotopes confirm that the predominant source of sand-sized sediment to Suisun Bay, San Pablo Bay, and Central Bay is the Sierra Nevada Batholith via the Sacramento River, with lesser contributions from the Napa and San Joaquin Rivers. Isotopic ratios also reveal hot-spots of local sediment accumulation, such as the basalt and chert deposits around the Golden Gate Bridge and the high magnetite deposits of Ocean Beach. Sand-sized sediment that exits San Francisco Bay accumulates on the ebb-tidal delta and is in part conveyed southward by long-shore currents. Broadly, the geochemical tracers reveal a complex story of multiple sediment sources, dynamic intra-bay sediment mixing and reworking, and eventual dilution and transport by energetic marine processes. Combined geochemical results provide information on sediment movement into and through San Francisco Bay and further our understanding of how sustained anthropogenic activities which limit sediment inputs to the system (e.g., dike and dam construction) as well as those which directly remove sediments from within the Bay, such as aggregate mining and dredging, can have long-lasting effects.
Bodies at Menarche: Stories of Shame, Concealment, and Sexual Maturation

This study examines the embodied nature of menarche through a focus on themes of shame, concealment, and sexual maturation. Using a narrative analysis, it examines menarche stories of 155 undergraduates in the Pacific Northwest, USA, aged 21 years and younger, who started their periods between 1999 and 2003 and who grew up in a culture with changing attitudes and practices about women and the body. Unlike findings from past studies and those with older participants, women reported more positive experiences of menarche. While these data provide evidence for changing attitudes and practices associated with menarche, they may also reflect cultural changes that increasingly commodify the female body and encourage girls to identify the maturing female body as an asset.
Clonidine, octopaminergic receptor agonist, reduces protein feeding in the blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen).

Results in this study are consistent with those of Murdock and his colleagues who clearly demonstrated that clonidine, an agonist of octopaminergic receptors in some insects, significantly increases sucrose feeding. Their studies, however, did not examine the effect of clonidine on protein feeding. Injection of a 20 μg/μl/fly dose of clonidine significantly reduces protein feeding in both sexes of Phormia regina, instead of stimulating feeding as is observed with carbohydrate feeding. The manner in which the flies are fed prior to starvation and the method of testing influences the amounts of diet consumed. It is proposed that the biogenic amines influence the state of hunger (i.e., protein versus carbohydrates) while other chemicals and neural mechanisms (i.e., such as sulfakinins and stretch receptors, respectively) affect satiety.