cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A TRANSMISSIBLE AVIAN NEOPLASM. (SARCOMA OF THE COMMON FOWL.)

In this paper is reported the first avian tumor that has proved transplantable to other individuals. It is a spindle-celled sarcoma of the hen, which thus far has been propagated into its fourth tumor generation. This was accomplished by the use of fowls of pure blood from the small, intimately related stock in which the growth occurred. Market-bought fowls of similar variety have shown themselves insusceptible, as have fowls of mixed breed, pigeons and guinea-pigs. The percentage of successful transplantations has been small, but in the individuals developing a tumor its growth has been fairly rapid. Young chickens are more susceptible than adults. The reinoculation of negative fowls has never resulted in a growth. Throughout, the sarcoma has remained true to type. It is infiltrative and destructive. Metastasis has been observed once (to the heart). Experiments to determine whether the growth may be transmitted by cell-fragments have not yet been made. Repeated bacteriological examinations have yielded negative results. In its general behavior, so far as tested, this avian tumor closely resembles the typical mammalian neoplasms that are transplantable.
Reactor and in situ FTIR studies of Pt/BaO/Al2O3 and Pd/BaO/Al2O3 NOx storage and reduction (NSR) catalysts

Abstract The reduction of NO under cyclic “lean”/“rich” conditions was examined over two model 1 wt.% Pt/20 wt.% BaO/Al2O3 and 1 wt.% Pd/20 wt.% BaO/Al2O3 NOx storage reduction (NSR) catalysts. At temperatures between 250 and 350 °C, the Pd/BaO/Al2O3 catalyst exhibits higher overall NOx reduction activity. Limited amounts of N2O were formed over both catalysts. Identical cyclic studies conducted with non-BaO-containing 1 wt.% Pt/Al2O3 and Pd/Al2O3 catalysts demonstrate that under these conditions Pd exhibits a higher activity for the oxidation of both propylene and NO. Furthermore, in situ FTIR studies conducted under identical conditions suggest the formation of higher amounts of surface nitrite species on Pd/BaO/Al2O3. The IR results indicate that this species is substantially more active towards reaction with propylene. Moreover, its formation and reduction appear to represent the main pathway for the storage and reduction of NO under the conditions examined. Consequently, the higher activity of Pd can be attributed to its higher oxidation activity, leading both to a higher storage capacity (i.e., higher concentration of surface nitrites under “lean” conditions) and a higher reduction activity (i.e., higher concentration of partially oxidized active propylene species under “rich” conditions). The performance of Pt and Pd is nearly identical at temperatures above 375 °C.
Sperm harvesting and cryopreservation during vasectomy reversal is not cost effective.

Objective To determine whether sperm harvesting and cryopreservation at the time of vasectomy reversal is cost-effective. Design Model of actual costs and results at five institutions. Setting Multicenter study comprising five centers, including university hospitals and private practices. Patient(s) Men undergoing vasectomy reversal. Intervention(s) We established two models for vasectomy reversal. The first model was sperm harvesting and cryopreservation at the time of vasectomy reversal. The second model was sperm harvesting at the time of IVF only if the patient remained azoospermic after vasectomy reversal. Vasectomy reversal procedures modeled included bilateral vasovasostomy and bilateral epididymovasostomy. The costs for each procedure at the five institutions were collated and median costs determined. Main Outcome Measure(s) Median cost of procedure and calculated financial comparisons. Result(s) The median cost of testicular sperm extraction/cryopreservation performed at the time of bilateral vasovasostomy was $1,765 (range, $1,025–$2,800). The median cost of microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration or testicular sperm extraction with cryopreservation performed at the time of epididymovasostomy was $1,209 (range, $905–$2,488). The average of the median costs for percutaneous sperm aspiration or testicular sperm aspiration for those patients with a failed vasectomy reversal was $725 (range, $400–$1,455). Conclusion(s) Sperm retrieval with cryopreservation at the time of vasectomy reversal is not a cost-effective management strategy.
Allergy and Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Allergy and its relationship to chronic rhinosinusitis are important contemporary topics in the practice of otolaryngology. The relationship may go unrecognized. It is important to understand the current knowledge.
Co-witness Information Can Have Immediate Effects on Eyewitness Memory Reports

When questioning a reluctant witness, investigators sometimes encourage the witness by providing information about what other witnesses have said. Three experiments were conducted to test the combined effects of such co-witness information and suggestive questioning on the accuracy of eyewitness memory reports. Experiment 1 was analogous to the experience of a witness who receives information from an interviewer or questioner about what other witnesses have already said, whereas Experiments 2 and 3 simulated the situation in which a witness receives information directly from a co-witness. In all three experiments, when participants received incorrect information about a co-witness's response, they were significantly more likely to give that incorrect response than if they received no co-witness information. This effect persevered in a delayed memory test 48 h after the initial questioning session in Experiment 3. Accuracy rates were lowest of all when incorrect co-witness information was paired with questioning that suggested an incorrect response. These results have implications not only for the immediate effects on the accuracy of witnesses' memory reports, but also for the impact that even one such inaccurate report can have on the manner in which a case is investigated by the police or other authorities.
Tolerance Analysis for Validating Manufacturing Process Plans

In manufacturing process planning, it is critical to ensure that the part generated from a process plan complies with tolerances specified by designers to meet engineering constraints. Manufacturing errors are stochastic in nature and are introduced at almost every stage of executing a plan, for example due to inaccuracy of tooling, misalignment of location, distortion of clamping etc. Furthermore, these errors accumulate or ‘stack-up’ as the manufacturing process progresses to inevitably produce a part that varies from the designed model. The resultant variation should be within prescribed design tolerances. In this work, we present a novel approach for validating process plans using 3D tolerance stack-up analysis by representing variations of nominal features in terms of extents of their degrees of freedom within design and manufacturing tolerance zones. We will show how the manufacturing error stack-up can be effectively represented by composition and intersection of these transformations. We demonstrate several examples with different tolerance specifications to show the applicability of our approach for process planning.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Iron coordination chemistry of phenylpyruvate: An unexpected κ3-bridging mode that leads to oxidative cleavage of the C2-C3 Bond

One mononuclear iron(II)−phenylpyruvate complex [TpPh2FeII(PPH)] (1) of the tridentate face-capping TpPh2 ligand and two dinuclear iron(II)−phenylpyruvate enolate complexes [(6-Me3-TPA)2FeII2(PP)]2...
Chain diking effects on runoff and winter wheat production

The major factor limiting crop production in the Texas Rolling Plains is water, and better methods of conserving soil water in dryland wheat production are needed. Chain diking is a novel method of forming basins on flat-tilled land to impound and conserve water received from precipitation. The objective of this research was to determine the influence of chain diking on dryland winter wheat (Triticun aestivum L.) yield and on runoff during the growing season. The study site, in northwest Texas, has an annual mean rainfall of 632 mm and a cropping season average of 444 mm. Following September drill-seeding of wheat, plots were chain diked or not diked. All other cultural practices were the same for all plots. Exit flumes and automatic recording devices were installed to measure runoff from each plot during the growing season. Grain was harvested in June. Diking reduced runoff an average of 40% (P = 0.02), which amounted to 1.0 ha-cm over three crop years, compared with tillage without diking. The increase in wheat grain yield from diking was not significant over four crop years (P = 0.75). When analyzed by year, diking increased yields 11% (277 kg ha -1 ; P = 0.02) in 1989, when cropping-season rainfall was 22% below average. The probability of receiving rainfall below average by more than 20% during the cropping year is 30%, based on 88-yr records at this test site. Diking following planting apparently will be valuable less than 30% of the time, although other applications for chain diking are possible.
Effect of Power Supply Noise on SRAM Dynamic Stability

We present both simulation results and test-chip measurements on the effect of power supply noise on SRAM dynamic cell stability. Results indicate that to accurately capture the effect of supply droop on bit failure rate, not only the DC amplitude of the noise needs to be considered as commonly practiced, but also its phase and frequency.
PHOTORECOVERY OF GAMMA IRRADIATED CULTURES OF BLUE-GREEN ALGA, ANACYSTIS NIDULANS.

Evidence is given for photorecovery of Anacystis nidulans after exposures to Co 60 gamma radiation. After irradiation the levels of viable cells were higher in cultures kept in white light than in cultures kept dark for 24 hr. The post-irradiation survival rate increase after 30-min exposures to visible light is demonstrated in cultures irradiated with 35 krad. An increase in survival rates was not observed after exposures to ?red' light.
Catalytic partial oxidation of isobutanol for the production of hydrogen

Abstract Catalytic partial oxidation of isobutanol was investigated at various contact times and equivalence ratios for the purpose of H 2 production. This reaction was studied using a γ-Al 2 O 3 coated foam as a catalyst, as well as a similar foam with rhodium (Rh) added. The results show that little H 2 is produced when the Rh is absent, whereas selectivities as high as 62.92% were achieved (80% is the theoretical maximum) with the noble metal present. The alumina catalyst also displays no complete combustion regime for fuel lean combustion; instead, olefins, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and water are the dominant products at all equivalence ratios. Additional results from catalytic partial oxidation of isobutene suggest that isobutene could be an intermediate during catalytic partial oxidation of isobutanol. With approximately 8.25 W of isobutanol, 3.61 W of H 2 can be attained with the Rh catalyst for use in small power devices, such as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The corresponding fuel-to-electricity efficiency was about 20.8%.
Diffraction and imaging study of imperfections of crystallized lysozyme with coherent X-rays.

Phase-contrast X-ray diffraction imaging and high-angular-resolution diffraction combined with phase-contrast radiographic imaging were employed to characterize defects and perfection of a uniformly grown tetragonal lysozyme crystal in the symmetric Laue case. The full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of a 4 4 0 rocking curve measured from the original crystal was approximately 16.7 arcsec and imperfections including line defects, inclusions and other microdefects were observed in the diffraction images of the crystal. The observed line defects carry distinct dislocation features running approximately along the growth front and have been found to originate mostly in a central growth area and occasionally in outer growth regions. Inclusions of impurities or formations of foreign particles in the central growth region are resolved in the images with high sensitivity to defects. Slow dehydration led to the broadening of a fairly symmetric 4 4 0 rocking curve by a factor of approximately 2.6, which was primarily attributed to the dehydration-induced microscopic effects that are clearly shown in X-ray diffraction images. The details of the observed defects and the significant change in the revealed microstructures with drying provide insight into the nature of imperfections, nucleation and growth, and the properties of protein crystals.
Efflux and influx of potassium salts elicited by valinomycin in plant mitochondria

Abstract The addition of valinomycin to corn mitochondria (Zea mays L., WF9x Mo 17) which have come to steady state osmotic swelling in 5 mM potassium phosphate produces additional energy-linked swelling. If the same experiment is done with 5 mM potassium sulfate, the addition of valinomycin produces energy-linked shrinkage. This shrinkage in sulfate is dependent upon high concentrations of mobilized K+, and upon an apparent high resistance to sulfate transport. If resistance to phosphate transport is introduced with mersalyl, an energy-linked shrinkage similar to that in sulfate is produced. The data are explained in terms of relative resistance to cation and anion transport.
The role of ideation in voluntary delay for symbolically presented rewards

In a self-imposed delay of gratification paradigm, preschool children waited for preferred but delayed rewards. We systematically varied the contents of slide-presented images of the rewards and instructions about ideation during the delay. As predicted, exposure to the relevant slide-presented rewards greatly enhanced delay; this effect was totally reversed by instruction-induced ideation that focused on the consummatory (arousing) qualities of the rewards. Theoretical implications for understanding the role of reward-relevant ideation during delay by preschool children were discussed.
Bone Regeneration Around a Failing Implant Using Guided Tissue Regeneration. A Case Report

An implant was determined to be clinically and radiographically failing. The implant was treated as if it were a natural tooth with periodontal disease. The defect around the implant was degranulated and a polytetrafluoroethylene periodontal membrane placed over the implant to cover the defect. The membrane was removed 6 weeks later. A 5-month re-entry found new bone around the implant and the implant could then be used as a prosthetic abutment. Further case studies may prove this to be a predictable procedure to save failing implants. J Periodontol 1992; 63:473–476.
Stressful Events, Avoidance Coping, and Unprotected Anal Sex Among Gay and Bisexual Men

This study examined associations among stressful life events, avoidance coping, and unprotected anal sex (UAS) in a convenience sample of 297 men obtained through the Internet and who either reported having sex with men or self-identified as gay or bisexual. Participants completed an Internet-hosted self-administered questionnaire that included measures of victimization experiences and other stressful life events, and avoidance coping. More than half of the sample reported engaging in UAS during the previous 6 months. Victimization predicted UAS regardless of partner type; victimization, HIV-positive serostatus, and avoidance coping predicted UAS with nonprimary partners. The findings provide evidence that American gay and bisexual men may experience a variety of stressful life events, including a surprising amount of victimization, and that at least some episodes of UAS may be associated with attempts to cope with distress associated with such events.
Charmed baryons and two-photon interactions at CLEO

We use the CLEO detector at the Cornell e + e − storage ring, CESR, to study QCD from a wide variety of perspectives. With over 5 fb −1 of integrated luminosity accumulated, we investigate charmed baryon spectroscopy helping to complete the understanding of the isospin multiplets. We present results on color suppression in charmed baryon decay. We also report on a variety of two-photon processes; the first observation of ⋀⋀¯, and the measurement of the form factors of the π 0 , η , and η ′ in tagged two-photon events.
Cyclic AMP-independent Activation of Protein Kinase A by Vasoactive Peptides

Protein kinase A (PKA) is an important effector enzyme commonly activated by cAMP. The present study focuses on our finding that the vasoactive peptide endothelin-1 (ET1), whose signaling is not coupled to cAMP production, stimulates PKA in two independent cellular models. Using an in vivo assay for PKA activity, we found that ET1 stimulated PKA in HeLa cells overexpressing ET1 receptors and in aortic smooth muscle cells expressing endogenous levels of ET1 receptors. In these cell models, ET1 did not stimulate cAMP production, indicating a novel mechanism for PKA activation. The ET1-induced activation of PKA was found to be dependent on the degradation of inhibitor of kappaB, which was previously reported to bind and inhibit PKA. ET1 potently stimulated the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway, and this effect was inhibited by overexpression of the inhibitor of kappaB dominant negative mutant (IkappaBalpham) and by treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132. Importantly, IkappaBalpham and MG-132 had similar inhibitory effects on ET1-induced activation of PKA without affecting G(s)-mediated activation of PKA or ET1-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. Finally, another vasoactive peptide, angiotensin II, also stimulated PKA in a cAMP-independent manner in aortic smooth muscle cells. These findings suggest that cAMP-independent activation of PKA might be a general response to vasoactive peptides.
Ultraviolet spectrophotometric determination of amino acids by formation of dithiocarbamates

Abstract Ten amino acids of various types were determined by UV spectrophotometry after derivatization to their dithiocarbamates in a two-phase system of 6% aqueous sodium hydroxide-carbon disulphide.
Crafting an effective strategic plan for a department of medicine.

The Association of Professors of Medicine (APM) is the national organization of departments of internalmedicine at the US medical schools and numerous afﬁliated teaching hospitals as represented by chairs andappointed leaders. As the ofﬁcial sponsor of The American Journal of Medicine, the association invitesauthors to publish commentaries on issues concerning academic internal medicine.For the latest information about departments of internal medicine, please visit APM’s website atwww.im.org/APM.
Surface Forces between Hydrophilic Self-Assembled Monolayers in Aqueous Electrolytes

In this paper we present an atomic force microscopy (AFM) study on electrostatic and acid−base interactions between hydrophilic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with monoprotic ionizable acid functional groups (−COOH). As expected for surfaces composed of weak acid groups the surface potential and strength of interaction are sensitive to pH and ionic strength. Repulsive forces grow with the degree of ionization. At low fractional ionization, the surfaces experience attractions with a range larger than that expected for van der Waals interactions and the strength of adhesion is large. The strength of adhesion and extent of attractions diminish with increasing pH. As the surface groups ionize, at intermediate pH values, jump-in distances and adhesion grow with ionic strength and at high pH they saturate with increasing electrolyte concentration at values close to those expected for van der Waals interactions. However, the maximum charge is around 5% of the total expected for the surfaces. Thus, allowing sod...
Top ten secrets to writing award‐winning training proposals

Purpose – This paper is crafted to provide practical, cost‐effective advice to those who are vying for competitive funds for training initiatives. The paper aims to cover ten strategies that have proven effective in securing funds.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on the author's 23 years experience as a successful writer of training proposals. Trade secrets are shared that have proven effective.Findings – The findings are organized into ten categories of strategies the can easily be replicated to increase chances of securing competitive funds for training initiatives.Originality/value – This paper is a valuable resource to anyone writing training proposals for competitive funds. The strategies are practical, cost effective, and easily implemented.
The relationship of cerebrospinal fluid and plasma theophylline concentrations in children and adolescents taking theophylline

Abstract Ten ambulatory subjects with asthma experienced a seizure while they were receiving oral theophylline preparations and were evaluated prospectively according to a set protocol. The protocol included a lumbar puncture that permitted the simultaneous determination of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) theophylline concentrations. A constant relationship was observed between the plasma theophylline concentration and that of the CSF. It was found that the theophylline concentrations in these two biologic fluids could be characterized by the regression equation y=0.41 x + 0.7 where y is the CSF theophylline concentration and x is the plasma theophylline concentration. Two infants with hydrocephalus treated by ventriculoperitoneal shunt were also simultaneously evaluated for plasma and CSF theophylline concentrations. These infants demonstrated greater than expected entry of theophylline into the CSF. Some central nervous system abnormalities may be characterized by increased theophylline entry into the CSF.
Conversations between Older Men and Women: Turn-Taking and Topics:

Five dyads of older men paired with older women were compared on the pragmatic variables of turn-taking and topicalization. Men talked longer and more often while women served to reinforce and maintain the conversational topics.
Neuropoietin activates STAT3 independent of LIFR activation in adipocytes

Neuropoietin (NP) is a member of the gp130 cytokine family that is closely related to cardiotrophin-1(CT-1) and shares functional and structural features with other family members, including ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and cardiotrophin-like cytokine (CLC). Studies have shown that NP can play a role in the development of the nervous system, as well as affect adipogenesis and fat cell function. However, the signaling mechanisms utilized by NP in adipocytes have not been examined. In our present studies, we demonstrate that NP-induced activation of STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation is independent of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) phosphorylation and degradation. Although it is widely accepted that NP signals via the LIFR, our studies reveal that NP results in phosphorylation of gp130, but not LIFR. These observations suggest that the profound effects that NP has on adipocytes are not mediated via LIFR signaling.
Imaging intramolecular coulomb repulsions in multiply charged anions.

The properties of multiply charged anions are dominated by intramolecular Coulomb repulsion (ICR). Using photoelectron imaging, we show the effect of ICR on photoelectron angular distributions for a series of dianions, $^{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{O}_{2}\mathrm{C}({\mathrm{CH}}_{2}{)}_{n}\mathrm{CO}_{2}{}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ($\mathrm{D}_{n}{}^{2\ensuremath{-}}$). The observed photoemission band of $\mathrm{D}_{n}{}^{2\ensuremath{-}}$ was due to a perpendicular transition from the charged end group. However, photoemission intensities were observed to peak along the laser polarization for smaller $n$ due to the strong ICR that forces electrons to be emitted along the molecular axis. This emission pattern weakens with increasing $n$ and at $\mathrm{D}_{11}{}^{2\ensuremath{-}}$ the angular distribution reverses back to peak at the perpendicular direction due to the reduced ICR.
Preservation of global order equivalence

Abstract Psychological data frequently can only be gives rank-order significance. This paper investigates and characterizes those cluster methods suitable for use in such a situation. The work is carried out in an abstract order theoretic setting but a relation is shown to earlier models due to Jardine and Sibson as well as Matula. It deals with that portion of the clustering process that starts with a dissimilarity measure defined on a set P and produces a nested sequence of reflexive symmetric relations on P .
Trial and error search in solving difficult problems: Evidence from the game of chess

To lesser souls who have difficulty remembering their own telephone numbers, the grandmasters of chess seem intellectual prodigies, who perform feats of memory and discovery unachievable by ordinary mortals. The great chess players are also a puzzle to psychologists, who find it difficult to reconcile these exploits with current theories about the problem-solving process. This paper attempts to clear away some of the mythology which surrounds the game of chess by showing that successful problem solving is based on a highly selective, heuristic “program” rather than on prodigies of memory and insight.
EFFECTS OF SOAKING‐BLANCHING CONDITIONS ON VITAMIN C LOSSES AND OTHER PROPERTIES OF FROZEN FRENCH FRIED POTATOES

Kennebec potatoes stored at 10°C for at least 2 months were processed into frozen French fries. Potato strips were evaluated after soaking-blanching at temperatures from 25-80°C for periods up to 30 min, after par-frying and storage, and after finish-frying for vitamin C and solids content. Par-fried and finish-fried strips also were evaluated for fat content. Fry color was determined on finish-fried samples. Blanching and finish-frying were found to make significant contributions to the total vitamin C loss of a process. Vitamin C was lost over time during soaking-blanching to the extent of 2.7-68% of the potato's initial level and the rate of this loss was increased with the use of higher blanch temperatures. Losses due to finish-frying exceeded those due to blanching in many cases. Final vitamin C levels were as low as 9.2% of the original. Soaking-blanching conditions did not affect the solids or fat content of any samples while they did affect finish-fry color. Color lightened with time of soaking-blanching and the rate of lightening increased with the use of higher blanch temperature.
Career experiences and scientific performance: A study of social, physical, life, and health sciences

The experiences people have over the course of their careers are commonly held to contrib- ute to creative achievement. In this study, an attempt was made to identify the career events contributing to creative achievement in the sciences. Prior theoretical and empirical work was used to identify relevant ca- reer events in the areas of education, domain exposure, mentoring, adversity, work procedures, collaboration, laboratory leadership, and organizational influences. Obituaries were obtained for 499 scientists working in multiple fields in the social, physical, life, and health sciences and were used to assess whether these events were evident in scientists' careers. Comparisons of high achieving and low achieving scientists with re- gard to these events indicated that multiple events ly- ing in each of these general areas contributed to career achievement. The nature of the events yielding signifi- cant differences were discussed regarding their impli- cations for the development of creative potential in sci- entific fields.
The usefulness of CD26 in flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood in Sézary syndrome

The loss of CD26 expression was proposed to be a constant feature of circulating Sezary cells by flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCIP), but the experience with CD26 is limited. To establish its usefulness, CD26 results were correlated with morphologic, molecular, and immunophenotypic findings. Based on FCIP of 179 samples of peripheral blood, CD26 negativity was found in 59.3% of cases with Sezary syndrome (SS), 33.3% of mycosis fungoides (MF), 14.2% of benign dermatosis (BD), and no control cases. In diagnostic subgroups of SS based on morphologic, molecular, and immunophenotypic criteria, the percentage of CD26- cases varied from 41.1% to 63.6%. The specificity of a CD26- result was inferior to that of T-cell antigen loss in differentiating SS from MF and BD. CD26 offers lower diagnostic performance than previously suggested; however, in addition to the findings of major T-cell antigen loss, it could improve sensitivity of FCIP in patients with SS.
Ordered thoughts on taxonomy

Evolution and Classification: The Reformation of Cladism. By Mark Ridley. Longman: 1986. Pp. 201. Pbk 6.95, 16.95. From 1 May Longman science books will be distributed in the United States by John Wiley, New York.
Neural Tube Defects and Maternal Folate Intake Among Pregnancies Conceived After Folic Acid Fortification in the United States

Rates of neural tube defects have decreased since folic acid fortification of the food supply in the United States. The authors’ objective was to evaluate the associations between neural tube defects and maternal folic acid intake among pregnancies conceived after fortification. This is a multicenter, case-control study that uses data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1998–2003. Logistic regression was used to compute crude and adjusted odds ratios between cases and controls assessing maternal periconceptional use of folic acid and intake of dietary folic acid. Among 180 anencephalic cases, 385 spina bifida cases, and 3, 963 controls, 21.1%, 25.2%, and 26.1%, respectively, reported periconceptional use of folic acid supplements. Periconceptional supplement use did not reduce the risk of having a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect. Maternal intake of dietary folate was not significantly associated with neural tube defects. In this study conducted among pregnancies conceived after mandatory folic acid fortification, the authors found little evidence of an association between neural tube defects and maternal folic acid intake. A possible explanation is that folic acid fortification reduced the occurrence of folic acid-sensitive neural tube defects. Further investigation is warranted to possibly identify women who remain at increased risk of preventable neural tube defects.
Intelligibility and Space-based Voice with Relaxed Delay Constraints

In this paper, we leverage the long range end-to-end scenarios envisioned for lunar and beyond voice conversations by allowing non-traditional additional processing delay for quasi-real-time voice conversations. The concept of improving the quality of end-to-end voice conversations for long delay environments is considered by utilizing Luby transforms on the conjugate-structure algebraic-code-excited linear-prediction (CS-ACELP) codec. In addition, this paper also examines the use of automated speech recognition software as a means of generating a quantifiable metric for speech intelligibility in the spirit of the diagnostic rhyme test (DRT).
Effective diversity maintenance in deceptive domains

Diversity maintenance techniques in evolutionary computation are designed to mitigate the problem of deceptive local optima by encouraging exploration. However, as problems become more difficult, the heuristic of fitness may become increasingly uninformative. Thus, simply encouraging genotypic diversity may fail to much increase the likelihood of evolving a solution. In such cases, diversity needs to be directed towards potentially useful structures. A representative example of such a search process is novelty search, which builds diversity by rewarding behavioral novelty. In this paper the effectiveness of fitness, novelty, and diversity maintenance objectives are compared in two evolutionary robotics domains. In a biped locomotion domain, genotypic diversity maintenance helps evolve biped control policies that travel farther before falling. However, the best method is to optimize a fitness objective and a behavioral novelty objective together. In the more deceptive maze navigation domain, diversity maintenance is ineffective while a novelty objective still increases performance. The conclusion is that while genotypic diversity maintenance works in well-posed domains, a method more directed by phenotypic information, like novelty search, is necessary for highly deceptive ones.
Effect of hyperinsulinemia on amino acid utilization and oxidation independent of glucose metabolism in the ovine fetus.

We studied the effect of acute hyperinsulinemia on amino acid (AA) utilization and oxidation rates independent of insulin-enhanced glucose metabolism in fetal sheep. Metabolic studies were conducte...
Genetic Environments of the rmtA Gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates

Nine Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains showing very high levels of resistance to various aminoglycosides have been isolated from clinical specimens in seven separate Japanese hospitals in five prefectures since 1997. These strains harbor the newly identified 16S rRNA methylase gene (rmtA). When an rmtA gene probe was hybridized with genomic DNAs of the nine strains digested with EcoRI, two distinct patterns were observed. The 11.1- and 15.8-kb regions containing the rmtA genes of strains AR-2 and AR-11, respectively, were sequenced and compared. In strain AR-2, a transposase gene-like sequence (sequence 1) and a probable tRNA ribosyltransferase gene (orfA) were located upstream of rmtA, and a Na(+)/H(+) antiporter gene-like sequence (sequence 2) was identified downstream of rmtA. This 6.2-kbp insert (the rmtA locus) was flanked by 262-bp kappagamma elements. Part of the orfQ gene adjacent to an inverted repeat was found outside of the rmtA locus. In strain AR-11, the rmtA gene and sequence 2 were found, but the 5' end of the orfA gene was truncated and replaced with IS6100. An orfQ-orfI region was present on each side of the rmtA gene in strain AR-11. The G+C content of the rmtA gene was about 55%, and since the newly identified rmtA gene may well be mediated by some mobile genetic elements such as Tn5041, further dissemination of the rmtA gene could become an actual clinical problem in the near future.
A gain-programmable transit-time-stable and temperature-stable PMT Voltage divider

A gain-programmable, transit-time-stable, temperature-stable photomultiplier (PMT) voltage divider design is described in this paper. The signal-to-noise ratio can be increased by changing a PMT gain directly instead of adjusting the gain of the pre-amplifier. PMT gain can be changed only by adjusting the voltages for the dynodes instead of changing the total high voltage between the anode and the photo-cathode, which can cause a significant signal transit-time variation that cannot be accepted by an application with a critical timing requirement, such as positron emission tomography (PET) or time-of-flight (TOF) detection/PET. The dynode voltage can be controlled by a digital analog converter (DAC) isolated with a linear optocoupler. The optocoupler consists of an infra-red light emission diode (LED) optically coupled with two phototransistors, and one is used in a servo feedback circuit to control the LED drive current for compensating temperature characteristics. The results showed that a 6 times gain range could be achieved; the gain drift was < 0.5% over a 20/spl deg/C temperature range; 250 ps transit-time variation was measured over the entire gain range. A compact print circuit board (PCB) for the voltage divider integrated with a fixed-gain pre-amplifier has been designed and constructed. It can save about $30 per PMT channel compared with a commercial PMT voltage divider along with a variable gain amplifier. The pre-amplifier can be totally disabled, therefore in a system with large amount of PMTs, only one channel can be enabled for calibrating the PMT gain. This new PMT voltage divider design is being applied to our animal PET camera and time-of-flight/PET research.
Representation of Radon Shape Diffusions via Hyperspherical Brownian Motion

A framework is introduced for the study of general Radon shape diffusions, that is, shape diffusions induced by projections of randomly rotating shapes. This is done via a convenient representation of unoriented Radon shape diffusions in (unoriented) D.G. Kendall shape space through a Brownian motion on the hypersphere. This representation leads to a coordinate system for the generalized version of Radon diffusions since it is shown that shape can be essentially identified with unoriented shape in the projected case. A bijective correspondence between Brownian motion on real projective space and Radon shape diffusions is established. Furthermore, equations are derived for the general (unoriented) Radon diffusion of shape-and-size, and stationary measures are discussed.
Optimization of GaN Channel Conductivity in AlGaN/GaN HFET Structures Grown by MOVPE

Optimization of GaN channel conductivity in AlGaN/GaN Heterojunction Field Effect Transistor (HFET) structures was performed using High Resistivity (HR) GaN templates grown by Metal-organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE). The GaN sheet resistance was tuned using final nucleation layer (NL) annealing temperature. Using an annealing temperature of 1033 °C, GaN with sheet resistance of 1010 Ω/sq was achieved, comparable to that of Fe-doped GaN. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Photoluminescence (PL) analysis show that the high resistance GaN is achieved due to compensating acceptor levels introduced through edge-type threading dislocations. XRD analysis also shows optimization of annealing temperature provided a means to maximize GaN sheet resistance without significantly degrading material quality. AlGaN/GaN HFET layers grown using HR GaN templates gave surface and interface roughness of 14 and 7 A, respectively. The 2DEG Hall mobility and sheet charge of HFETs grown using HR GaN templates was comparable to similar layers grown using unintentionally doped (UID) GaN templates.
Ebola Crisis in the United States: A Glimpse of Its Larger Shadow

This article is about readiness of the U.S. health care system to deal with crises. Using the Ebola crisis as a reference, first it examines the response to the current challenge. However, that is the smaller objective of the article. Lately, we are also being challenged to deal with other kinds of epidemics like obesity, mental health diseases, and violence. These crises are not dramatic like the Ebola crisis. However, these are no less insidious than Ebola. If we are not ready for them, then these crises have the potential to undermine the long-term health and prosperity of our society. In this context, and therefore mainly, this article is about two major long-standing systemic problems in the U.S. health care system that the unfolding of the Ebola crisis has bared. One is about how the inherent problem in the design of American federalist system regarding state autonomy on health matters is creating a dysfunctional health care system. The other is about the inertia of the research industry in the health care system in clinging to an archaic outdated inefficient mind-set and methodology that fails to generate the right information required for an appropriate decision making in matters of health care delivery, including crises. These problems are not small, nor their solutions easy. However, no matter how uncomfortable and tedious, facing them is necessary and inevitable. The discussions and arguments in this article are to outline their nature broadly and to make a call to further a dialogue.
Microstrip quarter-wave high voltage DC block

A microstrip high voltage DC block is presented. Silicon rubber is used to insulate a quarter-wave coupler and the resulting effective dielectric constant and impedance are discussed. DC isolation up to 4500 V is achieved. >
SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AS A FUNCTION OF MIGRATION POTENTIAL

(1965). SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AS A FUNCTION OF MIGRATION POTENTIAL. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 29-37.
Structural constraints and pluralist contradictions in hazardous waste regulation

Local community opposition constitutes the single greatest hurdle to the siting of hazardous waste facilities in the United States. Conventional explanations of its causes focus on questions of risk and equity; that is, on outcomes of facility siting. In this focus it is assumed that hazardous waste management is synonymous with facility siting, when siting is in fact only one of many possible answers to the management problem. Rather than ask why local communities oppose facility sitings, it is asked how the waste management problem gets defined as a siting problem in the first place, and how public participation in the siting process is postponed until it is defined around a specific location. The analysis shifts the focus from siting outcomes to the fundamental structure of hazardous waste regulatory policy. A strong claim is asserted: that the basic assumptions of hazardous waste regulation define the hazardous waste problem as a locational problem confronting the state, rather than an investment prob...
Group-theoretic treatment of the axioms of quantum mechanics

This axiomatization is based on the observation that ifG is the group of automorphisms of the states (induced, e.g., by suitable evolutions), then we can define a spherical function by mapping each element ofG to the matrix of its transition probabilities. Starting from five physically conservative axioms, we utilize the correspondence between spherical functions and representations to apply the structure theory for compact Lie groups and their orbits in representation spaces to arrive at the standard complex Hilbert space structure of quantum mechanics.
THE A.I. DESIGN CHALLENGE - BACKGROUND, ANALYSIS, AND RELATIVE PERFORMANCE OF ALGORITHMS

The Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Design Challenge was an attempt to stimulate interest in a common problem involving the application of A.I. technology to problems likely to be encountered in planning, scheduling, and battle management. These problems are characterized by high combinatorial complexity, uncertainty, constraints, and in some cases, requirements for real-time performance on finite speed processors. Participants in the design challenge submitted competing, alternative approaches, implemented in computer code executable on desktop microcomputers, for assessment and relative evaluation over a range of problems. The range of problems was generated by variation of an input data file at the time of contest judging. The participants were given a priori knowledge of only the range of data variations, and not the specific details. In this manner, robustness to problem variations was evaluated, as well as normalized performance of competing algorithms and implementations.
Damage Detection Threshold of Optically-Digitized Gas-Turbine Engine Hardware

The damage detection threshold of an optical digitization capability has been examined with respect to gasturbine engine hardware. Generally, optical inspection techniques are capable of assessing gross geometric deviations from nominal surfaces; however, the damage typical of turbine engine components – specifically of fan, compressor, and turbine blades – presents considerable challenges. To address this concern, an empirical study based on relevant airfoil inspection standards was conducted on three artifacts to assess damage detection thresholds: (1) a Titanium 6Al-4V plate with machined damage simulating various deformation criteria; (2) a compressor blade with machined damage simulating representative serviceable-limits; and (3), two fan blades with field-induced foreign object damage. Results indicate that actual damage of approximately 0.7 mil depth could be measured under stringent conditions; however, the optical system was unable to distinguish other damage features of similar depth. Furthermore, automatic detection of this damage proved difficult with the existing inspection software.
Ultrafast Exciton Dynamics and Light-Driven H2 Evolution in Colloidal Semiconductor Nanorods and Pt-Tipped Nanorods

ConspectusColloidal quantum confined one-dimensional (1D) semiconductor nanorods (NRs) and related semiconductor–metal heterostructures are promising new materials for efficient solar-to-fuel conversion because of their unique physical and chemical properties. NRs can simultaneously exhibit quantum confinement effects in the radial direction and bulk like carrier transport in the axial direction. The former implies that concepts well-established in zero-dimensional quantum dots, such as size-tunable energetics and wave function engineering through band alignment in heterostructures, can also be applied to NRs; while the latter endows NRs with fast carrier transport to achieve long distance charge separation. Selective growth of catalytic metallic nanoparticles, such as Pt, at the tips of NRs provides convenient routes to multicomponent heterostructures with photocatalytic capabilities and controllable charge separation distances. The design and optimization of such materials for efficient solar-to-fuel co...
FREQUENCY DOMAIN CHARACTERISTICS BASED ONLINE MODEL IDENTIFICATION METHOD:ANALYSIS AND APPLICATION

A novel online model identification method based on frequency domain analysis has been proposed,which has simple algorithm and is easy to realize.Moreover,this method has good noise immunity and identification precision.Input and output signal of the PID regulator both contain spectrum composition which is the same as the identification spectrum signal.The change of amplitude characteristic and phase property of spectrum is related to the properties of PID regulator,control object and the closed loop control systems.The control model can be identified through amplitude and phase comparison for spectrum of input and output signals.The simulation and application results verified the effectiveness of this method.When the Gauss interference signal with 80 Hz bandwidth and whose average amplitude is 100% of square wave identification signal was added to the input of reference filter module group,the simulation accuracy of phase-frequency characteristics of second order inertia link identification was higher than 0.64°,and the simulation accuracy of amplitude-frequency characteristics of that was better than 1.1%.
Small-scale barriers mitigate desertification processes and enhance plant recruitment in a degraded semiarid grassland

Anthropogenic desertification is a problem that plagues drylands globally; however, the factors which maintain degraded states are often unclear. In Canyonlands National Park on the Colorado Plateau of southeastern Utah, many degraded grasslands have not recovered structure and function >40 yr after release from livestock grazing pressure, necessitating active restoration. We hypothesized that multiple factors contribute to the persistent degraded state, including lack of seed availability, surficial soil-hydrological properties, and high levels of spatial connectivity (lack of perennial vegetation and other surface structure to retain water, litter, seed, and sediment). In combination with seeding and surface raking treatments, we tested the effect of small barrier structures (“ConMods”) designed to disrupt the loss of litter, seed and sediment in degraded soil patches within the park. Grass establishment was highest when all treatments (structures, seed addition, and soil disturbance) were combined, but only in the second year after installation, following favorable climatic conditions. We suggest that multiple limiting factors were ameliorated by treatments, including seed limitation and microsite availability, seed removal by harvester ants, and stressful abiotic conditions. Higher densities of grass seedlings on the north and east sides of barrier structures following the summer months suggest that structures may have functioned as artificial “nurse-plants”, sheltering seedlings from wind and radiation as well as accumulating wind-blown resources. Barrier structures increased the establishment of both native perennial grasses and exotic annuals, although there were species-specific differences in mortality related to spatial distribution of seedlings within barrier structures. The unique success of all treatments combined, and even then only under favorable climatic conditions and in certain soil patches, highlights that restoration success (and potentially, natural regeneration) often is contingent on many interacting factors.