cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic characterization of measles virus isolated in Shanghai during 2004-2006

Objective To carry out genetic characterization and molecular epidemiology study of the measles viruses(MV)isolated in shanghai from 2004 to 2006 for providing scientific basis for better immunization strategy and the goal of measles elimination.Methods Serum specimens were collected from the patients with suspected measles to detect anti-measles IgM by ELISA.Part of the nucleotide sequences of the C terminus of nucleoprotein(N)gene of these isolates were amplified by RT-PCR,and the amplicons were directly sequenced.The phylogenetic analysis was based on the nucleotide sequence about 456 bp of the C terminus of nucleoprotein(N)gene.Results Anti-measles IgM was detected in 132 of 148 serum specimens,and MV was isolated from 66 of 148 throat swabs,positive rates were 89.2% and 44.6%,respectively.The 66 strains of MV were genotype H1.All of them were subgenotype H1a except Shanghai04-5,which was subgenotype H1b.The sequence identity of 66 isolates showed that the homology of nucleotide sequences was 95.8%-100%,and that of amino acid sequences was 95.8%-100%.The homologies of nucleotide and amino acid sequences were 91.2%-93.2%and 86.8%-90.1%,respectively,when compared with that of vaccine strain S191,and those were 92.5%-93.4%and 88.2%-91.4% respectively when compared with vaccine strain changchun-47.Conclusions The wild-type MV strains circulating in shanghai were genotype H1 in 2004-2006,and the subgenotype H1a was the predominant one.There was one main transmission chain in 2005 and 2006,respectively,in shanghai. Key words: Measles virus; Genotype; Sequence analysis
Cross-generational THC Exposure Weakly Attenuates Cocaine's Rewarding Effects in Adult Male Offspring.

ABSTRACT Adolescents represent a large demographic of marijuana consumers. Regrettably, use during this developmental period has been associated with above average health risks. A growing body of evidence suggests that adolescent drug use in the lifetime of a parent can modify behavior and neurochemistry in descendants without direct exposure. The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of pre-conception THC during adolescence on vulnerability to cocaine in adult male offspring. Male and female rats were given an intermittent THC (0 or 1.5 mg/kg) exposure regimen during the adolescent window and mated with drug group conspecifics in adulthood. F1-THC and F1-Veh pups were cross fostered to drug naive control dams. In Experiment 1, adult offspring underwent cocaine (0 or 15 mg/kg) locomotor sensitization procedures and showed no effect of parental THC exposure on locomotor activity. In Experiment 2, intravenous catheters were implanted and subjects were tested under a number of reinforcement schedules with cocaine (FR1, FR5, FR10, PR, dose-response, extinction, cue + stress induced reinstatement). F1-THC subjects exhibited a slight decrease in cocaine responding during acquisition and a more rapid extinction, but they failed to produce significant differences on any other measure. These findings indicate that adolescent cannabis use likely has minimal effects on cocaine abuse liability in the next generation.
Explainable Machine Learning for Public Policy: Use Cases, Gaps, and Research Directions.

Explainability is a crucial requirement for effectiveness as well as the adoption of Machine Learning (ML) models supporting decisions in high-stakes public policy areas such as health, criminal justice, education, and employment, While the field of explainable has expanded in recent years, much of this work has not taken real-world needs into account. A majority of proposed methods use benchmark datasets with generic explainability goals without clear use-cases or intended end-users. As a result, the applicability and effectiveness of this large body of theoretical and methodological work on real-world applications is unclear. This paper focuses on filling this void for the domain of public policy. We develop a taxonomy of explainability use-cases within public policy problems; for each use-case, we define the end-users of explanations and the specific goals explainability has to fulfill; third, we map existing work to these use-cases, identify gaps, and propose research directions to fill those gaps in order to have a practical societal impact through ML.
Locked Down, Lashing Out: Situational Triggers and Hateful Behavior Towards Minority Ethnic Immigrants

COVID-19 caused a significant health and economic crisis, a condition identified as conducive to stigmatization and hateful behavior against minority groups. It is however unclear whether the threat of infection triggers violence in addition to stigmatization, and whether a violent reaction can happen at the onset of an unexpected economic shock before social hierarchies can be disrupted. Using a novel database of hate crimes across Italy, we show that (i) hate crimes against Asians increased substantially at the pandemic onset, and that (ii) the increase was concentrated in cities with higher expected unemployment, but not higher mortality. We then examine individual, local and national mobilization as mechanisms. We find that (iii) local far-right institutions motivate hate crimes, while we find no support for the role of individual prejudice and national discourse. Our study identifies new conditions triggering hateful behavior, advancing our understanding of factors hindering migrant integration.
Elevated Temperature Deformation of Fe-39.8al and Fe-15.6mn-39.4al

The elevated temperature compressive properties of binary Fe-39.8 at % Al and Fe-15.6Mn-39.4Al have been measured between 1000 and 1300 K at strain rates between 10(exp 7) and 10(exp 3)/ s. Although the Mn addition to iron aluminide did not change the basic deformation characteristics, the Mn-modified alloy was slightly weaker. In the regime where deformation of FeAl occurs by a high stress exponent mechanism (n = 6), strength increases as the grain size decreases at least for diameters between approx. 200 and approx. 10 microns. Due to the limitation in the grain size-flow stress-temperature-strain rate database, the influence of further reductions of the grain size on strength is uncertain. Based on the appearance of subgrains in deformed iron aluminide, the comparison of grain diameters to expected subgrain sizes, and the grain size exponent and stress exponent calculated from deformation experiments, it is believed that grain size strengthening is the result of an artificial limitation on subgrain size as proposed by Sherby, Klundt and Miller.
Effect of Biotin on Fatty Acid Distribution in Escherichia coli

Gavin, John J. (Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, N.J.), and Wayne W. Umbreit. Effect of biotin on fatty acid distribution in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 89:437–443. 1965.—Biotin deficiency causes changes in the composition and distribution of the fatty acids in cell wall-cell membrane fractions of Escherichia coli T 94A. Most notable among the fatty acid changes are decreased amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, the presence of unsaponifiable lipid material, and the lack of a lipopolysaccharide fraction in the cell wall-cell membrane. Also, though the hexane-extractable material from the lipoprotein fraction of biotin-adequate cells will transfer glucose from water to hexane, the same material from biotin-deficient cells will not.
Early Childcare and Education

Most children now experience early care and education (ECE) during early childhood in the United States, Western Europe, and many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin and South America. This chapter reviews the current landscape of ECE programs in the United States as well as current directions in research and the accumulated findings from more than 50 years of research. We begin this chapter with a discussion of developmental theories and their focus on how nonparental care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers affects early development. Then we discuss the key dimensions of ECE-;type, quality, quantity-;describing the experiences of children in childcare along those dimensions. Next, empirical research describing associations between ECE and early development are presented along with the contextual challenges of addressing confounds between family characteristics and the selection of childcare arrangements. The section after that examines whether ECE serves as a risk or protective factor with particular attention to some subgroups of children, especially low-income or ethnically diverse children. The final section describes public policies and programmatic strategies to improve quality and ensure access to ECE, and it includes findings from recent experimental studies of professional development and curriculum studies. Keywords: caregiver-child relationships; childcare quality; childcare quantity; childcare type; early care and education; Head Start; prekindergarten
Projected Costs, Risks, and Benefits of Expanded Newborn Screening for MCADD

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of newborn screening for medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) incorporating quality-of-life effects for false-positive newborn screens and recommended dietary treatment. METHODS: A computer simulation model was developed to predict costs and health outcomes for expanded newborn screening for MCADD compared with clinical identification. The modeled target population was a hypothetical cohort of 100 000 newborns in the United States. Probabilities, costs, and quality-of-life weights were derived from a long-term follow-up study of newborn screening compared with clinical identification, primary data collection, published data, and expert opinion. We used a lifetime time horizon and the societal perspective. The main outcome measure was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio in dollars per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. Secondary outcomes included averted deaths and hospitalizations. RESULTS: Using base-case assumptions, the cost-effectiveness of newborn screening for MCADD was $21 273 per QALY gained. The cost-effectiveness ratio increased to $21 278/QALY when the loss in quality of life associated with false-positive test results was incorporated and to $27 423/QALY when the quality of life associated with lifelong dietary recommendations for treating MCADD was incorporated. Results were sensitive to the false-positive rate for the newborn screening test and the cost of the initial screen. CONCLUSIONS: Expanded newborn screening for MCADD is cost-effective compared with well-accepted pediatric health interventions. Losses in quality of life associated with dietary treatment for MCADD, however, may offset some of the gains in QALYs from newborn screening. Consideration of new disorders for expanded newborn screening panels should include the potential reduction in quality of life associated with treatments.
Nitrogen assimilation by phytoplankton and other microorganisms in the surface waters of the central North Pacific Ocean

Assimilation rates of 15N-labelled ammonium, urea, and nitrate by plankton in the upper euphotic zone were measured in 2 summer, 2 winter, and 1 spring cruise in the central North Pacific Ocean. Average rates of ammonium plus urea assimilation could not be determined precisely, but were estimated to be 7 to 25 μg-at. N m-3 day-1. Indirect evidence suggested that non-photosynthetic microorganisms contributed to these rates. Nitrate assimilation was negligible in the upper waters considered in this report (above the chlorophyll maximum and the nutricline). Potential, nitrate-saturated rates were in the range 1 to 8 μg-at. N m-3 day-1. Seasonal comparison showed lowest rates of both carbon and nitrogen assimilation rates per chlorophyll a in winter.
A Comparison of Measures-Oriented and Distributions-Oriented Approaches to Forecast Verification

Abstract The authors have carried out verification of 590 12–24-h high-temperature forecasts from numerical guidance products and human forecasters for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, using both a measures-oriented verification scheme and a distributions-oriented scheme. The latter captures the richness associated with the relationship of forecasts and observations, providing insight into strengths and weaknesses of the forecasting systems, and showing areas in which improvement in accuracy can be obtained. The analysis of this single forecast element at one lead time shows the amount of information available from a distributions-oriented verification scheme. In order to obtain a complete picture of the overall state of forecasting, it would be necessary to verify all elements at all lead times. The authors urge the development of such a national verification scheme as soon as possible, since without it, it will be impossible to monitor changes in the quality of forecasts and forecasting systems in the future.
Formation of [bn + 17 + Ag]+ product ions from Ag+ cationized native and acetylated peptides

We compared the tandem mass spectra of a range of native and acetylated Ag(+) cationized peptides to determine the influence of the derivatization step on the abundance of the [b(n) + 17 + Ag](+) product ions. Using tripeptides, the smallest for which the mechanisms to generate [b(2) - 1 + Ag](+) and [b(2) + 17 + Ag](+) products are both operative, we found that in most cases acetylation causes an increase in the abundance of the C-terminal rearrangement ion, [b(2) + 17 + Ag](+), relative to the rival N-terminal rearrangement ion, [b(2) - 1 + Ag](+). The presence of a free amino group to bind to the metal ion significantly influences the relative abundances of the product ions. We propose a mechanism for the formation of the [b(n) + 17 + Ag](+) that is based on the formation of a five-membered oxazolidin-5-one and tetrahedral carbon intermediate that may collapse to a peptide upon release of CO and an imine, aided by the fact that the ring formed during C-terminal rearrangement is both a hemiacylal and hemiaminal. We also identified an influence of amino acid sequence on the relative abundances of the [b(n) + 17 + Ag](+) and [b(n) - 1 + Ag](+) product ions, whereby bulky substituents located on the alpha-carbon of the amino acid to the C-terminal side of the cleavage site apparently promote the formation of the [b(n) + 17 + Ag](+) product over [b(n) - 1 + Ag](+) when the amino acid to the N-terminal side of the cleavage site is glycine. The latter ion is the favored product, however, when the bulky group is positioned on the alpha-carbon of the amino acid to the N-terminal side of the cleavage site.
How culture evolves: an institutional analysis

Purpose – This paper seeks to propose a framework that describes how culture evolves and how certain external shocks may or may not cause it to change.Design/methodology/approach – The central point is that culture, like firms and markets, is a type of institution and is, therefore, susceptible to the same sort of analysis applied to other institutional forms. In this study, culture is examined from the game‐equilibrium view of institutions that suggests that norms of behavior are endogenously generated and become self‐enforcing through the repeated interaction of individuals. Two historical examples are offered to assess the proposed framework: the experience of ethnic Malays in Malaysia following independence from Britain, and Brazil's agricultural workers during the early part of the twentieth century.Findings – Conceptualizing culture in institutional terms challenges conventional wisdom, which regards culture as exogenously given. The institutional view of culture permits an evaluation of environment...
Accurate solutions for viscoelastic boundary layer flow and heat transfer over stretching sheet

In this article, we present accurate analytical solutions for boundary layer flow and heat transfer of an incompressible and electrically conducting viscoelastic fluid over a linearly stretching surface subject to a transverse uniform magnetic field using the homotopy analysis method (HAM) for two general types of non-isothermal boundary conditions. In addition, we demonstrate that the previously reported analytical solutions for the temperature field given in terms of Kummer’s function do not converge at the boundary. We provide a graphical and numerical demonstration of the convergence of the HAM solutions and tabulate the effects of various parameters on the skin friction coefficient and wall heat transfer.
Clinical Research Skills Development: A New Approach

We at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) are committed to improving the nation’s health through a comprehensive program of basic and clinical investigations, population-based studies, and demonstration and education research. Fulfillment of this goal depends on continuous development of highly trained individuals from a wide variety of disciplines and specialties. To this end, we must encourage and support young scientists in the earliest phases of their careers to ensure that they develop the competencies and breadth of expertise needed to address the complex, multifaceted research challenges that they will face as they become independent researchers. Training grants provide a fine mechanism for developing many investigators, but the need for well-trained clinical researchers, in particular, is so pressing that we must seek out and capitalize on other opportunities. The newly developed Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCORs; see January 29, 2002, issue of Circulation [ Circulation . 2002;105:400–401]), which require clinical and basic scientists to work together on a unified theme, offer one such opportunity. NHLBI-supported clinical research networks and multicenter clinical studies present others. All three types of programs often include among their research staff new and relatively inexperienced clinical investigators who could grow tremendously in such environments if properly nurtured. This will not happen, however, if these junior staff function solely as “employees.” We must extend their horizons beyond the confines of their job-related tasks and expose them to a panoramic view of clinical research. To facilitate this essential step, the NHLBI is inviting applicants for SCCORs or for new or competing renewal clinical …
Comparison of a Commercial Reversed Passive Latex Agglutination Assay to an Enzyme Immunoassay for the Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli

A multicenter study was performed to compare the performance of a prototypic reversed passive latex agglutination assay (VTEC Screen “Seiken”; Denka-Seiken, Japan) with the Premier EHEC Enzyme Immunoassay (Meridian Diagnostics, USA) for the detection of Shiga toxin in 554 diarrheal stool samples. Standard culture on sorbitol MacConkey agar and the use of latex agglutination reagents were included to identify the Escherichia coli O157, O26 and O111 serotypes. There was 99% agreement between the VTEC screen and enzyme immunoassay (kappa=0.823). Seventeen samples were positive for toxin by one or both assays. One toxin-positive sample using the enzyme immunoassay and four positive samples using the VTEC Screen could not be confirmed. Serotypes identified included: O157:H7 (n=8), O26 (n=2), O111 (n=1) and O45:H2 (n=1). The VTEC screen is easy to perform and comparable to the Meridian EHEC test for detection of Shiga toxin in clinical samples.
Simulation modeling for analysis

This article explores possibilities for designing and executing simulation models with specific analysis goals in mind, and shows that a tight coupling of the modeling and analysis phases in a simulation project can lead to dramatic improvements in the study results. Suggestions are made for how simulation analysis, considered in the explicit context of discrete-event simulation models, can create new opportunities for meaningful research and more efficient modeling. Modeling decisions can play a significant role in the performance of analytical procedures. How a simulation model is designed can enable, inhibit, or even invalidate analytical procedures and methodology research results.
Mechanism of the pyrolysis of C2HCl5, molecular and radical steps

An analysis of the thermochemistry of the kinetic parameters of the elementary reactions involved in the pyrolysis of pentachloroethane has resolved several disputed, unclarified, or inconsistent aspects of the reaction mechanism. The resulting mechanisms for the inhibited and uninhibited pyrolysis account for all reported experimental findings. On the basis of this interpretation, first experimentally based values have been derived for the following: DH0(CCl3–CHCl2) = 79.0 ± 1.0 kcal/mol, ΔH(CHCl2) = 25.7 ± 1.0 kcal/mol, and E1 = 59.7 ± 1.0 kcal/mol C2HCl5 .
Friction and wear behavior of refractory materials at high sliding velocities and temperatures

Abstract Various ceramic and cermet materials have been evaluated for unlubricated wear resistance at high sliding speed (100 to 200 ft./sec) and low unit load (5 to 50 p.s.i.) in 1000 to 1800°F air. A statistical correlation was obtained between the measured wear rates under these conditions and the coefficient of friction, the thermal stress resistance, and the thermal diffusivity of the mated materials on which wear predominated. A mechanism of wear has been evolved based on the above correlation and on the experimental study of friction and wear surface-temperature fluctuations using special transducers and color-motion-picture photography. During high-speed sliding, wear appears to be induced by the inability of ceramic and cermet materials to resist thermal stresses produced by temperature gradients within each rubbing surface between small asperities or hot spots in frictional contact and the body of the respective materials. In this situation, the wear rate is influenced both by the configuration of the rubbing parts and by the thermal-stress-resistance properties of the materials. Promising materials for high-temperature high-speed sliding bearings and seals include Al 2 O 3 —Cr—Mo cermets, SiC ceramics, and TiC—Ni—Mo cermets.
CMP process development based on rapid automatic defect classification

A critical aspect for the optimization of advanced CMP process development is minimizing defects. Given the complexity of the CMP process, the requirements for defect reduction are increasing. New materials, processes, and consumables lead to unanticipated defect types. In addition, comprehensive defectivity studies must involve patterned wafers since many of the process have defects and issues unique to patterned wafers. A novel defect reduction methodology is described utilizing wafer inspection tools for advanced CMP process development which has been implemented at Applied Materials. This methodology is based on a wafer inspection tools which provide classified defect counts not simply total defect count. A wafer inspection system is used in combination with a high throughput defect- review SEM (SEMVision). This combination of tools provide rapid defect classification and source identification for process development and defect elimination. The WF736 generates classification during the inspection with no loss in throughput. The SEMVision allows for further detailed analysis and classification. In addition, patterned wafers are utilized for thorough defect capture and process studies. The methodology provides critical information for improved process development and analysis, as well as enhanced time efficiency. Three applications are presented: tool and process development, defect learning for new materials, and process maintenance.
Evaluating the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education Core Clinical Competencies: Techniques and Feasibility in a Urology Training Program

ABSTRACTPurpose: We describe several traditional and novel techniques for teaching and evaluating the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core clinical competencies in a urology residency training program.Materials and Methods: The evolution and underpinnings of the ACGME Outcome Project were reviewed. Several publications related to the evaluation of clinical competencies as well as current assessment techniques at our institution were also analyzed.Results: Several tools for the assessment of clinical competencies have been developed and refined in response to the ACGME Outcome project. Standardized patient encounters and expanded patient satisfaction surveys may prove useful with regard to assessing resident professionalism, patient care and communication skills. A feasible and possibly undervalued technique for evaluating a number of core competencies is the implementation of formal written appraisals of the nature and quality of resident performance at departmental conferences...
Examining Differences between Recovered and Declining Endangered Species

Abstract: Between 1973 and 1999, 43 species in the United States were reclassified from endangered to threatened or removed entirely from the Endangered Species List. Of these, 23 were identified as recovered. In 1999 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ( USFWS) published a list of 33 additional species for possible reclassification and/or delisting. We initiated this study to examine why some endangered species recover but others continue to decline and to identify differences in management activities between these two groups. We defined recovered/recovering species as previously recovered species and the additional recovered/recovering species listed by the USFWS. We defined declining species as those identified as declining in the most recent USFWS Report to Congress. Information on recovered/recovering and declining species was gathered from relevant literature, recovery plans, U.S. Federal Register documents, and individuals responsible for the recovery management of each species. We used this information to examine (1) the percentage of current and historic range covered by management activities; (2) threats affecting the species; (3) population sizes at the time of listing; (4) current versus historic range size; and (5) percentage of recovery management objectives completed. Although few statistical analyses provided significant results, those that did suggest the following differences between recovered/recovering and declining species: (1) recovered/recovering species face threats that are easier to address; (2) recovered/recovering species occupy a greater percentage of their historic range; and (3) recovered/recovering species have a greater percentage of their recovery management objectives completed. Those species with threats easier to address and that occupy a greater percentage of their historic range are recovered/recovering. In contrast, declining species face threats more difficult to address and occupy significantly less of their historic range. If this remains true, future species recovery may require more time and resources.
The participatory design of a performance oriented monitoring and evaluation system in an international development environment

This article illustrates the application of the impact monitoring and evaluation process for the design and development of a performance monitoring and evaluation framework in the context of human and institutional capacity development. This participative process facilitated stakeholder ownership in several areas including the design, development, and use of a new monitoring and evaluation system, as well their targeted results and accomplishments through the use of timely performance data gathered through ongoing monitoring and evaluation. The process produced a performance indicator map, a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, and data collection templates to promote the development, implementation, and sustainability of the monitoring and evaluation system of a farmer's trade union in an African country.
Cultural Consensus and Cultural Diversity: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Human Service Providers' Models of Domestic Violence

This study uses mixed methods and theory from cognitive anthropology to examine the cultural models of domestic violence among domestic violence agency workers, welfare workers, nurses, and a general population comparison group. Data collection and analysis uses quantitative and qualitative techniques, and the findings are integrated for interpretation. Findings reveal consensus among service providers on how controllable domestic violence factors are and whether they are most characteristic of victims or perpetrators, but diversity with regard to their understandings of the importance of the factors suggesting that occupational category alone is inadequate in predicting service providers' beliefs and subsequent delivery of services. The implications of the findings extend into the areas of domestic violence service delivery, cognitive anthropology, and mixed methods research.
Fusion activity of lipid-anchored envelope glycoproteins of herpes simplex virus type 1

Expression of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoproteins gB, gD, gH, and gL is necessary and sufficient to cause cell fusion. To identify the requirements for a membrane-spanning domain in HSV-1 glycoprotein-induced cell fusion, we created gB, gD, and gH mutants with transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains replaced by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (gpi)-addition sequence. The corresponding gBgpi, gDgpi, and gHgpi proteins were expressed with wild-type efficiency at the cell surface and were linked to the plasma membrane via a gpi anchor. The gDgpi mutant promoted cell fusion near wild-type gD levels when co-expressed with gB, gH, and gL in a cell-mixing fusion assay, indicating that the gD transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains were not required for fusion activity. A plasma membrane link was required for fusion because a gD mutant lacking a transmembrane and cytoplasmic domain was nonfunctional for fusion. The gDgpi mutant was also able to cooperate with wild-type gB, gH, and gL to form syncytia, albeit at a size smaller than those formed in the wild-type situation. The gBgpi and gHgpi mutants were unable to promote fusion when expressed with the other wild-type viral glycoproteins, highlighting the requirement of the specific transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains for gB and gH function.
Plugging in and into code bubbles

Code Bubbles is an attempt to redefine the user interface for an integrated programming environment. As it represents a whole new user interface, implementing it as a plug-in is inherently difficult. We get around this difficulty by combining two different plug-in architectures, a standard one based on registrations and callbacks, and a message-based one that puts the plug-in at arms length and defines a narrower two-way interface. This paper describes both how we have implemented Code Bubbles as a plug-in to Eclipse and how Code Bubbles itself is implemented as a set of plugins representing the different aspects of the environment, using both traditional and message-based plug-in architectures as appropriate.
AUTOMATED OPTIMAL DESIGN OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL SUPERSONIC MISSILE INLETS

A new methodology has been developed for the automated optimal design of two-dimension al highspeed inlets. A semiempirical flow solver and an improved genetic algorithm are linked within an automated loop. The purpose of this process is to maximize the total pressure recovery of the missile inlet: first of all, for one upstream flow condition, and secondly, for an entire mission. This innovative design strategy allows great improvement of the original inlet design in a very short period of time. Successful results are presented for optimizations of inlets originally designed and tested at the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in Novosibirsk, Russia. The significant improvements of the total pressure recovery, achieved by the automated optimization loop, are verified using a full Navier-Stokes solver.
Solar disk sextant optical configuration.

In this paper the performance of a plausible configuration for the solar disk sextant, an instrument to be used to monitor the solar diameter, is evaluated. Overall system requirements are evaluated, and tolerable uncertainties are obtained. It is concluded that by using a beam splitting wedge, a folded optics design can be used to measure the solar diameter to an accuracy of 10 to the -6th, despite the greater aberrations present in such optical systems.
Quantifying Equating Errors with Item Response Theory Methods

The purpose of this paper was to examine alterna tive techniques for quantifying the errors associated with the criterion of equating a test to itself. Data for the study came from the national standardization of the 3-R's Achievement Test. The reading and mathe matics subtests were analyzed using random samples from the Grade 4 norming group. Errors for two item response theory (IRT; three-parameter and Rasch) methods and the equipercentile equating method were investigated. A total of 45 error estimates from the sampling distribution were obtained for each combina tion of equating method and content area. Analysis of variance procedures were also used to estimate the av erage error across methods for each content area. In addition, the results of the Phillips (1983a, 1983b) studies were reevaluated using the mean of the sam pling distribution of equating errors for each of the methods from the present study and from the corre sponding ANOVA error estimates. The results of this study suggest that single-...
Umbrella sampling of solute vibrational line shifts in mixed quantum-classical molecular dynamics simulations.

An umbrella sampling approach for vibrational frequency line shifts is presented. The technique allows for efficient sampling of the solvent configurations corresponding to frequency shifts of a so...
Hexagonal models for channel routing

In this paper we present new diagonal routing models based on the hexagonal grid, and investigate the potential of these models in terms of channel routing. The hexagonal grid consists of vertical columns, and positive and negative diagonal tracks with slopes \(+30^{\circ}\) and \(-30^{\circ}\) , respectively. The layout geometry of this grid is examined and shown to be compatible with VLSI implementation. Furthermore, this investigation demonstrates some advantages of routing on the hexagonal grid. For a channel routing problem (CRP) having maximum net span s*, we give an algorithm which routes any two-sided (two-terminal or multiterminal) net CRP in width \((2/\sqrt{3})s^*+O(1)\) in three reserved layers. For densities \(d >(2/\sqrt{3})s^*\) , this channel width is less than the lower bound of d for routing on the square grid in three nonreserved layers. For CRPs of large span, we show how a previous square grid algorithm can be adapted to the hexagonal grid to obtain three layer routings of width \((\sqrt{3}/2)d+O(1)\) for two-terminal nets and \(\sqrt{3}d+O(1)\) for multiterminal nets.
Assessment of the effects of contingent histamine injections on the reinforcing effectiveness of cocaine using behavioral economic and progressive-ratio designs.

Rationale Recent research has demonstrated that the drug, histamine, can function as a punisher of cocaine self-administration. However, little is known about how drug punishers affect the maximum reinforcing effectiveness of drugs as reinforcers.
A note on model surface state calculations

Abstract This letter discusses the application of Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory to two models of the crystal potential used in surface state calculations.
People First, Computers Second

Although systems designers haven't yet successfully integrated computing into healthcare in the ubiquitous sense, healthcare has the potential to be a well-matched application domain for pervasive computing. The pervasive computing research community should face this opportunity-and the associated challenges-head-on.
1056 RESPONSE OF THE FETAL LAMB KIDNEY TO SOLUTE LOADING

In order to study the role of the fetal kidney in water and electrolyte homeostasis, the effect of a solute or salt load was examined in the chronically instrumented fetal lamb 113-137 days gestation. Four groups, each of 6 fetuses, received 0.3M NaCl (Group I); 0.6M glucose (Group II) 0.075M NaCI(Group III); or 0.15M glucose (Group IV) administered in a volume of 50 ml/kg over 90 minutes. Fetuses in Groups I,III and IV excreted 30-40% of the water load while those in Group II conserved water. Changes in urine osmolality, Na and CI concentrations were much smaller than the corresponding change in urine volume, hence excretion of electrolyte load depended mainly on changes in urine output. The average changes in urine output from control were Groups I and III + 0.06 ml/kg/min, Group IV +0.07, while there was no significant change in Group II. At the end of the infusion changes in plasma osmolality were Group I + 15, Group II + 16, Group III-9, and Group IV -6 mOsm/kg. The corresponding changes in Na were +8, -7, -9 and -5 mEq/L respectively. No significant changes in urine osmolality or Na concentration were observed in Groups II and III while changes in Groups I and IV were +32.6 and 37.4 mOsm/kg and +11.8 and -17.0 mEq/l espectively. These studies show that the kidney of the fetal lamb during the last trimester can respond to both a volume and osmolar stimulus and thus make a substantial contribution to both electrolyte and water homeostasis.
Predictors of and Survival after Incident Stroke in Type 1 Diabetes

Few studies have examined stroke risk in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Stroke incidence, predictors, and survival were thus explored in this study. Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) Study participants (n = 658) with childhood-onset T1DM were followed biennially for 18 years. Baseline (1986–1988) mean age and diabetes duration were 28 and 19 years respectively. Stroke incidence and type was determined via survey or physician interview and, when possible, confirmed with medical or autopsy records. During follow-up, 31 (4.7%) strokes occurred (21 ischaemic, 8 haemorrhagic, 2 unclassified) in participants of mean age = 40.2 years (range 23–60). In exploratory multivariable Cox modelling, diabetes duration, systolic blood pressure (SBP), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDLc), white blood cells (WBC), and pulse significantly predicted ischaemic stroke. Adding overt nephropathy (ON) (hazard ratio = 4.4, 95% CI, 1.5–12.4) to the model replaced SBP. Participant survival after...
A modified approach for estimating pseudo-vapor pressures in the application of the Dubinin-Astakhov equation

High pressure adsorption data of methane and hydrogen on four microporous carbons were obtained at supercritical temperatures. The data were analyzed on the basis of the Potential Theory using the Dubinin-Astakhov (D-A) equation. The method for estimating pseudo-vapor pressures proposed by Dubinin resulted in characteristic curves for methane but failed for the hydrogen data. A more general form of Dubinin's method for estimating pseudo-vapor pressures is proposed. This approach introduces a parameter, k, that accounts for interactions in the adsorbate-adsorbent systems under consideration. It was found that the modified approach to the use of the D-A equation leads to reliable prediction of both methane and hydrogen data.
Using Multimember District Elections to Estimate the Sources of the Incumbency Advantage

In this article we use a novel research design that exploits unique features of multimember districts to estimate and decompose the incumbency advantage in state legislative elections. Like some existing related studies we also use repeated observations on the same candidates to account for unobserved factors that remain constant across observations. Multimember districts have the additional feature of copartisans competing for multiple seats within the same district. This allows us to identify both the direct office-holder benefits and the incumbent quality advantage over nonincumbent candidates from the same party. We find that the overall incumbency advantage is of similar magnitude as that found in previous studies. We attribute approximately half of this advantage to incumbents' quality advantage over open-seat candidates and the remainder to direct office-holder benefits. However, we also find some evidence that direct office-holder benefits are larger in competitive districts than in safe districts and in states with relatively large legislative budgets per capita.
A framework for defending embedded systems against software attacks

The incidence of malicious code and software vulnerability exploits on embedded platforms is constantly on the rise. Yet, little effort is being devoted to combating such threats to embedded systems. Moreover, adapting security approaches designed for general-purpose systems generally fails because of the limited processing capabilities of their embedded counterparts.In this work, we evaluate a malware and software vulnerability exploit defense framework for embedded systems. The proposed framework extends our prior work, which defines two isolated execution environments: a testing environment, wherein an untrusted application is first tested using dynamic binary instrumentation (DBI), and a real environment, wherein a program is monitored at runtime using an extracted behavioral model, along with a continuous learning process. We present a suite of software and hardware optimizations to reduce the overheads induced by the defense framework on embedded systems. Software optimizations include the usage of static analysis, complemented with DBI in the testing environment (i.e., a hybrid software analysis approach is used). Hardware optimizations exploit parallel processing capabilities of multiprocessor systems-on-chip.We have evaluated the defense framework and proposed optimizations on the ARM-Linux operating system. Experiments demonstrate that our framework achieves a high coverage of considered security threats, with acceptable performance penalties (the average execution time of applications goes up to 1.68X, considering all optimizations, which is much smaller than the 2.72X performance penalty when no optimizations are used).
Teacher Salaries and Dualistic Teacher Education in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, the entry salary for a teacher with a certificate from a teacher training college is significantly lower than that of a teacher who holds a bachelor's degree. This paper presents some differences between the certificate and degree qualifications and describes a program whereby experienced "certifi cate" teachers may pursue a degree program. The problems with a dualistic teacher education system are outlined and discussed by the author.
Direct Assignment of the Absolute Configuration of a Distinct Class of Deoxyribonucleoside Cyclic N-Acylphosphoramidites at Phosphorus by M-GOESY Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

The determination of the absolute configuration of deoxyribonucleoside cyclic N-acylphosphoramidites at phosphorus toward the synthesis of P-stereodifined phosphorothioated oligodeoxyribonucleotides is easily accomplished with computer-assisted molecular modeling and M-GOESY NMR spectroscopy. Specifically, computer-modeling diasteromeric phosphoramidite 3 has identifed a proximal (2.55 A) through-space interaction between benzylic H-5 and sugar H-2' ', which can predictably be detected by M-GOESY NMR in SP-3 but not in RP-3 because of being too distant (5.85 A). Consistent with computer-assisted modeling predictions, M-GOESY NMR spectra of SP-3 and RP-3 revealed NOE signals generated from nuclei near the selectively excited H-2' ' that are common to both SP-3 and RP-3, namely those of H-2', H-4', H-3', and H-1'. In addition, a diagnostic NOE signal at 5.5 ppm (benzylic H-5) is, as predicted, only detected in SP-3 and thus provides an unequivocal assessment of the configuration of the diastereomer at phosphorus. M-GOESY NMR data also confirm that the condensation of deoxyribonucleoside cyclic N-acylphosphoramidites with base-activated nucleosidic or nucleotidic 5'-hydroxyls proceeds via a single nucleophilic event.
Machines and the Moral Community

A key distinction in ethics is between members and nonmembers of the moral community. Over time, our notion of this community has expanded as we have moved from a rationality criterion to a sentience criterion for membership. I argue that a sentience criterion is insufficient to accommodate all members of the moral community; the true underlying criterion can be understood in terms of whether a being has interests. This may be extended to conscious, self-aware machines, as well as to any autonomous intelligent machines. Such machines exhibit an ability to formulate desires for the course of their own existence; this gives them basic moral standing. While not all machines display autonomy, those which do must be treated as moral patients; to ignore their claims to moral recognition is to repeat past errors. I thus urge moral generosity with respect to the ethical claims of intelligent machines.
Numerical analysis of hypersonic low-density scramjet inlet flow

Hypersonic low-density flow around a two-dimensional scramjet inlet model has been analyzed using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. The predominant features of hypersonic flows, such as a thick viscous layer due to the low-density fluid together with shock-boundary-layer interaction and shock impingement as well as shock-induced separation, are encountered in this type of flowfield. Three hypersonic flowfields with different degrees of rarefaction are investigated. The freestream Knudsen numbers of the flowfields based on the height of the duct passage are in the range of 0.02-0.12. Conventional continuum gasdynamics based on the concept of a local equilibrium may not be adequate to describe this type of flowfield accurately. The pressures obtained by the DSMC simulation are compared with available experimental data. Good agreement is obtained with previous experimental data and with theoretical solutions for similar wedge flow cases near the leading edge of the ramp centerbody. Good agreement is observed with the experimental data of Minucci and Nagamatsu except for some discrepancies, especially in the lower-density cases, which may be partially attributed to three-dimensional effects and/or to experimental uncertainty.
Notes on the natural diet and habitat of eight danionin fishes, including the zebrafish Danio rerio

The diet and habitat of eight danionin species (Danio and Devario) from 18 sites in India and Thailand are reported. At every site, habitat characteristics, including pH, light penetration, water temperature, current speed, stream dimensions, canopy cover and substratum type, were recorded. Danionins were found primarily in warm (24–35° C), moving water of moderate clarity and pH (6� 6–8� 2) and there were significant differences among species in water temperature, pH and current speed. Deep-bodied Devario species generally were associated with faster water currents than more slender-bodied Danio species. Gut content analyses of 327 individuals representing 17 populations showed that insects were the primary food resource for the eight Danio and Devario species. Crustaceans, fish scales, algae and detritus were also important supplements for particular species. Stable isotope data from syntopic species indicated long-term differences in consumption of terrestrial v. aquatic insects in one of two population pairs. # 2006 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles (No claim to original US government works)