cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sintering mechanisms in the 95% W-3.5% Ni-1.5% Fe composite

Abstract The growth rate of the pure tungsten spheroids during liquid-phase sintering of the 95% W-3.5% Ni-1.5% Fe composite was studied as a function of either time or temperature. The generally accepted theory for such growths proposes the dissolution of the small spheroids with simultaneous precipitation of tungsten from the molten matrix onto the larger spheroids, the reaction being driven by the difference in surface energy between the large and small spheroids. The results from our studies are inconsistent with such a theory in that the log diameter-log time plot does not have a slope of 1/3, and rates of growth at different sintering temperatures cannot be described by a single activation energy. Probably, several growth mechanisms are active simultaneously, with spheroid coalescence being an important growth mechanism during all stages of sintering.
Note to self: make assignments meaningful

In addition to "learning by doing," programming assignments and projects are also the mechanism by which students learn about the utility of computer science -- or not. Recent research indicates that the current generation of students is in search of a career with meaning, and women and minorities have long been known to desire careers that help society. In this paper, we provide student testimonials on the importance and benefits of practical and socially-relevant assignments. We then examined approximately 200 first year (CS1) and software engineering assignments at top computer science institutions. Only 34% of the CS1 projects had a practical or socially-relevant context, 41% had no context at all, and 15% were games. For software engineering projects, 62% were practical or socially-relevant, but still 16% had no practical context. We recommend that educators, through their assignments, place increased emphasis on demonstrating that computer science can be used to aid society and/or produce products of practical value to society.
The Effect of Aromatase Inhibition on the Cognitive Function of Older Patients With Breast Cancer

Abstract Introduction This study evaluated the association between aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy and cognitive function (over a 6-month period) in a cohort of patients aged ≥ 60 years compared with an age-matched healthy control group, and it evaluated changes in regional cerebral metabolism as measured by positron emission tomography (PET) scans of the brain done in a subset of the patient cohort. Patients and Methods Thirty-five patients (32 evaluable) and 35 healthy controls were recruited to this study. Patients with breast cancer completed a neuropsychological battery, self-reported memory questionnaire, and geriatric assessment before initiation of AI therapy and again 6 months later. Age-matched healthy control participants completed the same assessments at the same time points as the patient group. Results No significant decline in cognitive function was seen among individuals receiving an AI from pretreatment to 6 months later compared with healthy controls. In the PET cohort over the same period, both standardized volume of interest and statistical parametric mapping analyses detected specific changes in metabolic activity between baseline and follow-up uniquely in the AI patients, most significantly in the medial temporal lobes. Conclusion Although patients undergoing AI treatment had few changes in neuropsychological performance compared with healthy controls over a 6-month period, regionally specific changes in cerebral metabolic activity were identified during this interval in the patient group. Additional longitudinal follow-up is needed to understand the potential clinical implications of these findings.
The efficiency of a dedicated staff on operating room turnover time in hand surgery.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of orthopedic and nonorthopedic operating room (OR) staff on the efficiency of turnover time in a hand surgery practice. Methods A total of 621 sequential hand surgery cases were retrospectively reviewed. Turnover times for sequential cases were calculated and analyzed with regard to the characteristics of the OR staff being primarily orthopedic or nonorthopedic. Results A total of 227 turnover times were analyzed. The average turnover time with all nonorthopedic staff was 31 minutes, for having only an orthopedic surgical technician was 32 minutes, for having only an orthopedic circulator was 25 minutes, and for having both an orthopedic surgical technician and a circulator was 20 minutes. Statistical significance was seen when comparing only an orthopedic surgical technician versus both an orthopedic circulator and a surgical technician and when comparing both nonorthopedic staff versus both an orthopedic circulator and a surgical technician. Conclusions OR efficiency is being increasingly evaluated for its effect on hospital revenue and OR staff costs. Reducing turnover time is one aspect of a multifaceted solution in increasing efficiency. Our study showed that, for hand surgery, orthopedic-specific staff can reduce turnover time. Type of study/level of evidence Economic/Decision Analysis III.
A magnetic core in the Sun? The solar rotator

The previously found solar distortion rotating rigidly and wave-like on the surface with a ∼ 12 day period is interpreted as the shape of the gravitational potential induced by the solar core distorted by an internal magnetic field and rotating rigidly with this period. The distortion does not have a symmetry axis and the necessary magnetic field is not compatible with the axial symmetry required of a quasi-static field locked in the rotating core. It is concluded that if the solar distortion is due to such a process the core is oscillating with a very long period, a toroidal oscillation with a period of the order of years.
Inhibition of antigen-induced acute bronchoconstriction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and mast cell degranulation by a nonanticoagulant heparin: Comparison with a low molecular weight heparin

Inhaled heparin prevents antigen-induced bronchoconstriction and inhibits anti-IgE-mediated mast-cell degranulation. We hypothesized that the antiallergic action of heparin may be dependent on molecular weight and related to its nonanticoagulant properties. Therefore, in the present investigation we studied the effects of a nonanticoagulant fraction of heparin (LA-heparin) on antigen-induced bronchoconstriction, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and mast-cell degranulation, and compared its antiallergic activity with that of a low molecular weight heparin (LMW-heparin, fragmin). Specific lung resistance (SRL) was measured in 15 sheep before, immediately after, and serially for as long as 2 h after airway challenge with Ascaris suum antigen, without and after pretreatment with inhaled fractionated heparins at doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg. Airway responsiveness was estimated before, and 2 h after antigen as the cumulative provocating dose (PD400) of carbachol in breath units, which increased SRL by 400% (one breath unit was defined as one breath of 1% carbachol solution). LA-heparin caused a dose-dependent inhibition of antigen-induced bronchoconstriction, and a 5-mg/kg nebulized dose caused a 67% inhibition of allergic bronchoconstriction, whereas a 2.5-mg/kg dose was ineffective (20% inhibition). Inhaled fragmin was more potent than LA-heparin, as shown by 84% (2.5 mg/kg) and 82% (5 mg/kg) inhibition of allergic bronchoconstriction. Fragmin (5 mg/kg) also attenuated the postantigen AHR, whereas LA-heparin was ineffective. In vitro, preincubation with both LA-heparin and fragmin inhibited the anti-IgE-induced degranulation of rat peritoneal mast-cells in a dose-dependent fashion. LA-heparin was fourfold more potent than fragmin, with IC50 of 80 and 320 microg/ml, respectively. These data suggest that: (1) fractionated heparins attenuate antigen-induced acute bronchoconstriction, (2) nonanticoagulant fractions mediate the antiallergic activity of inhaled heparin, and (3) antiallergic activity of nonanticoagulant heparin and LMW-heparin may be related to prevention of mast-cell degranulation.
The effect of an amino acid beverage on glucose response and glycogen replenishment after strenuous exercise

We previously reported that an amino acid mixture (AA) was able to lower the glucose response to an oral glucose challenge in both rats and humans. Increased glucose uptake and glycogen storage in muscle might be associated with the faster blood glucose clearance. We therefore tested the effect of two different doses of AA provided with a carbohydrate supplement on blood glucose homeostasis and muscle glycogen replenishment in human subjects after strenuous aerobic exercise. Ten subjects received a carbohydrate (1.2 g/kg body weight, CHO), CHO/HAA (CHO + 13 g AA), or CHO/LAA (CHO + 6.5 g AA) supplement immediately and 2 h after an intense cycling bout. Muscle biopsies were performed immediately and 4 h after exercise. The glucose responses for CHO/HAA and CHO/LAA during recovery were significantly lower than CHO, as was the glucose area under the curve (CHO/HAA 1259.9 ± 27.7, CHO/LAA 1251.5 ± 47.7, CHO 1376.8 ± 52.9 mmol/L 4 h, p < 0.05). Glycogen storage rate was significantly lower in CHO/HAA compared with CHO, while it did not differ significantly between CHO/LAA or CHO (CHO/HAA 15.4 ± 2.0, CHO/LAA 18.1 ± 2.0, CHO 21.5 ± 1.4 µmol/g wet muscle 4 h). CHO/HAA caused a significantly higher insulin response and a greater effect on mTOR and Akt/PKB phosphorylation compared with CHO. Phosphorylation of AS160 and glycogen synthase did not differ across treatments. Likewise, there were no differences in blood lactate across treatments. The AA lowered the glucose response to a carbohydrate supplement after strenuous exercise. However, it was not effective in facilitating subsequent muscle glycogen storage.
Appendix E—List of current publications concerning ground water

Alexander, W. H., Jr., Broadhurst, W. L., and White, W. N., Progress report on ground water In the High Plains in Texas, Tex. State Bd. Water Engrs., 12 pp., 7 tigs. (mimeogranhedl May 1944. Ashley, George H.,and Graham, Jack B., Groundwater investigations in Pennsylvania Pa. Dep. Internal Affairs, Monthly Bull., v. 13, pp. 10–13 and 28, 1945.
Carbon export by rivers draining the conterminous United States

Material exports by rivers, particularly carbon exports, provide insight to basin geology, weathering, and ecological processes within the basin. Accurate accounting of those exports is valuable to understanding present, past, and projected basin-wide changes in those processes. We calculated lateral export of inorganic and organic carbon (IC and OC) from rivers draining the conterminous United States using stream gaging and water quality data from more than 100 rivers. Approximately 90% of land area and 80% of water export were included, which enabled a continental-scale estimate using minor extrapolation. Total carbon export was 41–49 Tg C yr -1 . IC was >75% of export and exceeded OC export in every region except the southeastern Atlantic seaboard. The 10 largest rivers, by discharge, accounted for 66% of water export and carried 74 and 62% of IC and OC export, respectively. Watershed carbon yield for the conterminous United States was 4.2 and 1.3 g C -2 yr -1 for IC and OC, respectively. The dominance of IC export was unexpected but is consistent with geologic models suggesting high weathering rates in the continental United States due to the prevalence of easily weathered sedimentary rock.
Solar energy in electric utility planning: A linear programming approach

Abstract This paper considers a multi-year capacity expansion plan for an electric utility with the option of investing in solar generation units. It is demonstrated how issues such as randomness on both the demand and supply side of the problem, as well as the varying availability of solar energy may be conveniently modelled under some plausible assumptions, to yield a large-scale linear programming problem. A brief discussion is provided relating to the evaluation of the capacity credit attributable to the solar generation units. Computational considerations, some possible simplifications, and an illustrative example are also presented.
Promoting Toddlers' Language Development Through Community-Based Intervention

Abstract This study evaluated an adaptation of a developmentally based, 6-week parent–child reading program (“dialogic reading”) demonstrated to facilitate vocabulary and syntactic skills of toddlers, including those at risk for language problems. In this study, dialogic reading was modified for broad dissemination through four branches of a city library system. Children's librarians taught parents the reading techniques in two 1-hour sessions. The study design was an efficacy trial with two thirds of families randomly assigned to the dialogic reading condition n = 88 and one third to a comparison condition. The comparison condition was comprised of existing library services for parents and children n = 41 . Analysis of baseline to post-test change showed a significant intervention-group effect on parent–child reading style and children's expressive language. In addition, at a 3-month follow-up assessment, parents in the dialogic reading group reported less parenting stress, specifically stress resulting from characteristics of their child.
Relationship between Crystalline Order and Exciton Diffusion Length in Molecular Organic Semiconductors

One of the most fundamental properties of both organic and inorganic semiconductors is charge mobility. It has been unambiguously shown that the mobility in both of these materials systems is strongly linked to the degree of long range order—thatis,moreextendedcrystallinityleadstoalargercharge mobility, which ultimately determines such extrinsic properties as seriesresistance andresponse tocurrentand optical pulses. An equally fundamental property for organic semiconductors is the molecular excited state-, or exciton-, diffusion length which characterizes energy transport within these more correlated solids. While it has been predicted that exciton transport should also be linked to the extent of crystalline order, to our knowledge nosuchdependencehasyetbeenestablished.Here,weaccurately measure the exciton diffusion length of the archetypal organic semiconductor, 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) and clearly show its relationship to thin-film crystal morphology. As in the case of charge mobility, we show that the exciton transport diffusion length is a monotonic function of the extent of crystalline order. This study provides insight into the control and ultimately the tunability of the exciton diffusion lengthinorganic systems, whichiscrucial forthemanagementof energy transport in a wide range of important organic electronic devices.
Biophysical Properties of CX40 Mutants Linked to Atrial Fibrillation

Gap junctions provide a direct intercellular pathway for cell-to-cell signalling and impulse conduction. The three Cx40 mutations (A96S, M136V and G38D) are associated with atrial fibrillation and retain the ability to form functional channels. The biophysical properties of mutant gap junctions were determined in transiently transfected HeLa and N2A cells. All three mutants exhibited an array of macroscopic coupling ranging from 0.5 to 30 nS and similar voltage dependences (Boltzmann fit: Vj,o = 49, 48, 52 mV, and gj,min=0.20, 0.22, 0.2 for A96S, M136V and G38D, respectively) comparable to wild-type Cx40. However, unitary conductance of G38D channels was 1.76 fold higher than the wild-type Cx40 channel (∼220 pS versus ∼125 pS). The A96S and M136V mutants exhibited unitary conductances comparable to the wild-type Cx40 (130-140 pS).The channel permeability was achieved using simultaneous measurement of junctional conductance (gj) and intercellular transfer of a fluorescent probe. All three mutants transferred anionic Lucifer Yellow (LY). The G38D channels exhibited ∼9 fold higher anionic LY permeability relative to the ubiquitous cation K+ (LY/K+) when compared to the wild-type Cx40 (0.017 versus 0.002), while A96S LY transfer was similar to wild-type (0.003). In contrast, G38D channels were almost impermeable to cationic EthBr (0.001), suggesting that G38D is responsible for altered channel selectivity. Conversely, A96S and M136V channels exhibited enhanced EthBr permeability (0.037 and 0.047 versus 0.013 for wild-type Cx40). Altered conductive and permeability properties of mutant channels suggest an essential role for biochemical and electrical coupling in cardiac tissues. These properties may contribute to regional variability in conduction velocity, cell excitability (ionic-metabolic misbalance), and therefore may be implicated in mechanisms of reentry arrhythmias.Supported by NIGMS 088181 and 088180.
Foreign exchange rate exposure of US multinational corporations: a firm-specific approach

Abstract We examine the relationship between changes in foreign exchange rates and stock prices of US MNCs. Using firm-specific foreign exchange indices, we find more firms with significant exposure than when a common foreign exchange rate index is used as in comparable studies. We find that the number of firms found to have significant foreign exchange exposure, as well as whether or not particular regions of a firm’s geographic network structure is associated with any exposure, is dependent upon the type of foreign exchange rate index used to capture exposure. The findings in this study highlight the need for caution in the interpretation of previous studies of foreign exchange rate exposure.
Shape sensitivity analysis of sequential structural–acoustic problems using FEM and BEM

Abstract A shape design sensitivity formulation for structural–acoustic problems using sequential finite element and boundary element methods is presented. Frequency-response analysis is used to obtain the dynamic behavior of the structure, while boundary element analysis is used to solve for the pressure response of the acoustic domain. It is shown that the adjoint method, which takes the reverse direction to response analysis, provides a very efficient way of sensitivity calculation. In addition, it has been shown that the adjoint equation for the shape design problem is the same as that of the sizing design problem. The only difference is the numerical integration that evaluates the sensitivity coefficient. The combination of the semi-analytical method for the structure and the analytical differentiation method for the acoustic cavity yields a very practical approach for the shape design sensitivity formulation. The accuracy of the sensitivity information is compared with the analytical sensitivity as well as the sensitivity calculated using the finite difference method.
Carcass merit of market lambs from purebred and crossbred Finnsheep ewes

Abstract Carcass merit determines the quality of output from a sheep production system. Carcass trait data were obtained on 303 lambs in three breeding groups: purebred Finnsheep (Finn), Suffolk, Targhee and Dorset; F 1 Finn crossbreds; and multiple crosses from crossbred Finn ewes mated to Suffolk, Targhee, Dorset and Lincoln sires. Finn carcasses were smaller ( P 1 crossbreds. Sire breeds of multiple-cross lambs did not differ. Among dam breeds, lambs from Suffolk crosses ranked above Targhee crosses. Finn backcross ewes ranked lowest. Ram lamb carcasses were leaner with greater retail yield, but were scored lower in quality grade than ewe lamb carcasses. Carcass traits were generally not influenced by type of birth or rearing. Procedural differences between slaughter locations created differences for percentage traits but not estimates of quality and yield. The number of lambs marketed could be increased with no significant loss in carcass quality by mating 1 2 or 1 4 Finn ewes to terminal sire breeds. The net effect on production efficiency would also have to account for additional costs such as buying replacements or maintaining parent populations.
High-Yield Referral Criteria for Posttraumatic Skull Roentgenography: Response of Physicians and Accuracy of Criteria

We evaluated a list of high-yield criteria (HYL) as a means of reducing posttraumatic skull roentgenograms and as a diagnostic test for skull fractures. Physicians requested roentgenograms for 76.9% of head trauma patients in a four-month control period, but for only 46.1% during a four-month experimental period, a relative decrease of 40%. When the experiment ended, roentgenogram use increased to 72% of head trauma patients. The HYL accurately classified 92.5% of the patients with and 84.5% of the patients without pathological conditions. The HYL displayed substantial differences in sensitivity and specificity from HYLs used previously. Clinicians disliked the HYL, believing it was inaccurate and a monitoring device. We conclude that criteria lists can effectively decrease requests for roentgenograms and should be carefully evaluated as diagnostic tests for accuracy and adverse outcomes. ( JAMA 244:673-676, 1980)
Alfvén modes in the Madison Symmetric Torus

This work presents a theoretical and computational analysis of core-localized energetic particle driven modes observed near the magnetic axis in the Madison Symmetric Torus [L. Lin, W. X. Ding, D. L. Brower et al., Phys. Plasmas 20, 030701 (2013)]. Using measured safety factor and plasma pressure profiles as input, the linear ideal MHD code Adaptive EiGenfunction Independent Solution (AEGIS) [L. J. Zheng and M. Kotschenreuther, J. Comput. Phys. 211, 748 (2006)] reveals Alfvenic modes close to the measured frequencies. The AEGIS results together with a reduced analytical model demonstrate that the modes are essentially “cylindrical” and dominated by a single poloidal component (m = 1). The modes are localized at the plasma core where the magnetic shear is weak and continuum damping is minimal. Detailed analysis establishes constraints on the safety factor and plasma pressure, under which two modes can exist simultaneously.
Considering District and School Factors and Their Relationship to ACT Performance in North Carolina: An Examination of the ACT Pilot Results

Since 2001 several states have adopted the requirement that high school students either take the SAT or ACT to assess high school programs or assist students in accessing post-secondary-educational opportunities. In 2012 the state of North Carolina adopted a new accountability program that included the ACT as a measure of college readiness. Previous research on the relationship between school districts and school level performance found that district size had a role in school achievement. This study looked at how district factors influenced the ACT performance of students across North Carolina in an effort to better understand if there were district factors other than size that may be influencing student performance and how high school reforms, given the influence of district factors is meeting the goal of increasing student college readiness. The results of this study are as follows. (1) District factors are related to school level performance, where student race and parental education levels were found to be significant predictors of achievement, (2) the traditional school level factors of race and student socioeconomic status did significantly predict ACT scores, and (3) as a high school reform model, students attending early college high schools did score higher on the ACT as compared to traditional high schools.
A Dark History: Memories of Lobotomy in the New Era of Psychosurgery

Deep brain stimulation has recently been identified as the “new frontier” in the surgical treatment of major depressive disorder. Powerful memories of the lobotomy era, however, pose a rhetorical challenge to clinical researchers who wish to make a case for its therapeutic future. For DBS advocates, establishing the relationship between these two treatments is not just a matter of telling a history; it also requires crafting persuasive arguments for the lineage of DBS that relate the new psychosurgery in some way to the old. Working from a rhetorical perspective, this article identifies and analyzes three strategies employed by DBS advocates to manage the memory of lobotomy, which it terms evolutionary, genealogical, and semantic. In conclusion, this article suggests that a rhetorical perspective might be brought to bear on the frequent calls for dialogue with regard to psychosurgery, which are meaningless without attention to the persuasive dynamics such dialogue entails.
FIELDBUS INTEGRATION TO THE REALTIME ETHERNET STANDARD PROFINET

Abstract For the investment protection of installed plants and machines suitable concepts for the integration of Fieldbus systems to future Realtime Ethernet Networks are very important. In this paper a approach for the integration of the fieldbus system INTERBUS into the Realtime Ethernet standard PROFINET IO will be presented. It shows that it is possible despite very different device models to realize a deep integration.
Generalized Collatz Functions: Cycle Lengths and Statistics

Consider the function T (n) defined on the positive integers as follows. If n is even, T (n) = n/2. If n is odd, T (n) = 3n + 1. The Collatz Conjecture states that for any integer n, the sequence n, T (n), T (T (n)), . . . will eventually reach 1. We consider several generalizations of this function, focusing on functions which replace "3n + 1" with "3n + b" for odd b. We show that for all odd b < 400, and all integers n ≤ 106, iterating this function always results in a finite cycle of values. Furthermore, we empirically observe several interesting patterns in the lengths of these cycles for several classes of values of b.
The disconnection between tumor response and survival

Epithelial cancers account for more than 80% of all cancer deaths worldwide. While the rising global mortality from these cancers is largely attributable to the challenges in implementing established public health measures, it also brings into focus the unfulfilled promise of cancer treatment.
The aetiology and epidemiology of common colds, and the possibilities of prevention.

The common cold syndrome and its causes are discussed and the feasibility of prophylaxis considered.
Genetic classification of the lethal effects of various agents on heterokaryotic spores of Phycomyces.

Abstract The lethal effects of X and UV radiations, N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and heat have been investigated in multinucleate spores from heterokaryotic mycelia of Phycomyces blakesleeanus. According to their relation to the nuclei, 4 types of lethal events have been considered: mitotic (the affected nucleus cannot undergo unlimited mitoses); recessive (the affected nucleus can divide forever, but the cell dies if the affected nucleus is the only one able to divide forever); dominant (when a nucleus is affected, the cell dies irrespective of the condition of other nuclei); and cytoplasmic (the nuclei are not affected, but the cells dies). A theoretical prediction of the genetic changes produced by these events on the spore population has been compared to actual determinations of the proportions of heterokaryons among the survivors and the presence of recessive lethals in surviving heterokaryons. X-rays cause principally mitotic lethals, and, somewhat less frequently, recessive lethals. UV light produces mitotic and recessive lethals at similar rates; photoreactivation reverses them about equally and simulates a dose reduction. The lethal action of nitrosoguanidine depends on the pH and the chemical composition of the buffer; as extreme cases, in pH 7 citrate-phosphate buffer it consists mainly of equal proportions of mitotic and recessive events, but in pH 5 Tris-malate buffer cytoplasmic and recessive events seem predominant. Heat (55°) causes only, or nearly only, cytoplasmic lethality. Functionally uninucleate cells, important in the isolation of recessive mutants, are obtained best with X-rays. After treatments with UV radiation or nitrosoguanidine in pH 7 citrate-phosphate buffer leading to survival of one-tenth of the spores, about one-third of the survivors are functionally uninucleate.
Scanning delay generator for measurement of kinetic decays using laser‐induced fluorescence techniques

An electronic device is described which generates a delayed pulse, where the delay is increased in a step-like manner. This device finds application in the measurement of kinetic decays, particularly when laser-induced fluorescent (LIF) detection of the decaying species is used. The circuit uses 15 low-power Schottky TTL chips and is contained within a dual width NIM module.
WE‐E‐201B‐07: Megavoltage Cone‐Beam Computed Tomography Using 2.5MV X‐Rays

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of 2.5MV cone‐beam computed tomography (MVCB) for patient setup and verification. Method and Materials: A new linac (Varian Trilogy Mx) produces an unfiltered 2.5MV imaging beam (2xMVCB) in addition to the higher energy treatment beams. In conjunction with a standard electronic portal imaging device(EPID), 2xMVCB scans were acquired of CTcalibration and anthropomorphic phantoms. Approximately 500 projections were collected in each 360‐degree scan using a total of 7.5 – 50 monitor units (MU). Depending on total MU, scanning time was as low as 1.5 minutes. Intrinsic calibration corrections were applied to all raw projections prior to reconstruction. Reconstructed images were further processed to correct for imaging artifacts and compared to kilovoltage cone‐beam (KVCB) and 6MV MVCB scans (6xMVCB). Results: Preliminary results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain 3D images with adequate image quality using relatively low doses (7.5 MU, approximately 4 cGy to isocenter) which are comparable to either a pair of double‐exposed MV portal images or a KVCB. Although image quality is inferior to KVCB, 2xMVCB still permits assessment of bony alignment for patient setup and has better tissuecontrast than 6xMVCB. Soft tissue registration may also be possible for 2xMVCB in the thorax and other anatomical regions. These results provide evidence that 2xMVCB may be an efficient image guidance procedure for clinical routine. Conclusion: MVCB using 2.5MV x‐rays can provide volumetric images with adequate quality for patient setup verification. An improved EPID optimized for 2.5MV beam having ∼14 times higher quantum efficiency than conventional EPIDs is being tested. This will enable even lower imaging doses, and also improve imagecontrast in the abdominal and pelvic regions. Reconstruction algorithms optimized for 2.5MV are also under development. Acknowledgements: Research sponsored by Varian Medical Systems.
Effectiveness of surname-title-words searches by scholars

This article reports the findings of an experiment employing a simulated scholarly use of an online public access catalog (OPAC) to determine the frequency of one-screen displays when a scholar searches for a known-item with so-called “keywords” in an implied boolean system. The experiment revealed that a “keyword” search formula comprising surname plus first and last title words produced a single screen 92.8% of the time, thereby reducing the failure of traditional title searching to produce single screens by nearly one half; such a formula also enables a scholar to search successfully with abbreviated, unsearchable bibliographic citations. Additional research should be carried out, for if it is further demonstrated that replacing traditional bibliographic catalog entries with transcribed title pages provides an improved known-item OPAC, users would benefit and libraries would enjoy huge savings. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling Components Localize in Both Sarcolemmal and Intracellular Caveolin-3-associated Microdomains in Adult Cardiac Myocytes

This study tests the hypothesis that G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling components involved in the regulation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) localize with caveolin (Cav), a protein marker for caveolae, in both cell-surface and intracellular membrane regions. Using sucrose density fractionation of adult cardiac myocytes, we detected Cav-3 in both buoyant membrane fractions (BF) and heavy/non-buoyant fractions (HF); β2-adrenergic receptors (AR) in BF; and AC5/6, β1-AR, M4-muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR), μ-opioid receptors, and Gαs in both BF and HF. In contrast, M2-mAChR, Gαi3, and Gαi2 were found only in HF. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed co-localization of Cav-3 with AC5/6, Gαs, β2-AR, and μ-opioid receptors in both sarcolemmal and intracellular membranes, whereas M2-mAChR were detected only intracellularly. Immunofluorescence of adult heart revealed a distribution of Cav-3 identical to that in isolated adult cardiac myocytes. Upon immunoelectron microscopy, Cav-3 co-localized with AC5/6 and Gαs in sarcolemmal and intracellular vesicles, the latter closely allied with T-tubules. Cav-3 immunoprecipitates possessed components that were necessary and sufficient for GPCR agonist-promoted stimulation and inhibition of cAMP formation. The distribution of GPCR, G-proteins, and AC with Cav-3 in both sarcolemmal and intracellular T-tubule-associated regions indicates the existence of multiple Cav-3-localized cellular microdomains for signaling by hormones and drugs in the heart.
Exploring environmental identity and behavioral change in an Environmental Science course

This ethnographic study at a public high school in the Northeastern United States investigates the process of change in students’ environmental identity and proenvironmental behaviors during an Environmental Science course. The study explores how sociocultural factors, such as students’ background, social interactions, and classroom structures, impact the environmental identity and behavior of students. In this investigation, the identity theory of emotion of Stryker (2004) from the field of sociology is utilized in the interpretation of students’ reactions to classroom experiences as they proceed through the Environmental Science course. The participants in this study are an Environmental Science teacher and the 10–12th grade students in her Environmental Science elective course. The researcher collected data for a period of six months, attending class on a daily basis. Data was collected through participant observation, videotaping, interviews, and cogenerative dialogues. The results of this study inform science educators by illuminating important elements, such as students’ emotional responses to activities in class, conflicting elements of students’ identities, and students’ openness and willingness to critically reflect upon new information, which contribute to whether a student is likely to change their views towards the environment and pro-environmental behaviors.
Molecular analysis of synchronous and metachronous tumors of the lung: impact on management and prognosis.

Patients with pulmonary neoplasms have an increased risk for developing a second tumor of the lung, either at the same time or different times. It is important to determine if the second tumor represents an independent primary tumor (ie, a synchronous or a metachronous tumor, depending on whether it is present at the same time or a later time) or recurrence/metastasis, because it will significantly change the management and prognosis. Because the two tumors from the same patient are often morphologically similar, histologic examination alone may not be sufficient to distinguish between the two possibilities. We have attempted to approach this problem by microdissecting malignant cells and comparing patterns of loss of heterozygosity of multiple genes and chromosomal loci between paired tumors. We found that primary tumors of the lung and their metastasis share nearly identical patterns of loss of heterozygosity. In contrast, most synchronous and metachronous tumors as defined by the current arbitrary criteria appeared to be genetically different; therefore, they likely represented independent primary tumors. Rare synchronous tumors had similar genetic profiles, raising the possibility of recurrence/metastasis. Our data suggest that molecular analysis can help fingerprint tumors and has the potential to significantly impact management and prognosis of patients.
Prospective study comparing hyoscyamine, doxazosin, and combination therapy for the treatment of urgency and frequency in women

Anticholinergics are commonly used for the treatment of frequency, urgency, and urge incontinence in women. Alpha-blockers have been shown to have a modulating effect on bladder smooth muscle but are not commonly used clinically for this indication. To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of each treatment as well as the combination therapy, we performed an open prospective study comparing these agents. Between September 1994 and October 1995, 34 women aged 28-91 (mean age, 62) received either 0.375 mg of sustained-release hyoscyamine twice a day or 2 mg doxazosin QHS prior to being crossed over to the other drug and/or the combination. Symptoms were assessed using an expanded American Urological Association (AUA) symptoms score, which included questions regarding incontinence at completion of each therapeutic phase. Evaluation included 6-channel urodynamics. All three therapies were noted to be effective in reducing AUA symptom scores. By urodynamic evaluation, a greater percentage of patients with increased voiding pressures or decreased compliance responded to doxazosin than hyoscyamine. Side effects were noted to be less prevalent with doxazosin than with the other therapies. There appears to be a significant role for alpha-blockers in the treatment of voiding symptoms in women.
Multi-lingual translation of spontaneously spoken language in a limited domain

JANUS is a multi-lingual speech-to-speech translation system designed to facilitate communication between two parties engaged in a spontaneous conversation in a limited domain. In an attempt to achieve both robustness and translation accuracy we use two different translation components: the GLR module, designed to be more accurate, and the Phoenix module, designed to be more robust. We analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each of the approaches and describe our work on combining them. Another recent focus has been on developing a detailed end-to-end evaluation procedure to measure the performance and effectiveness of the system. We present our most recent Spanish-to-English performance evaluation results.
Practical Aspects of Chemistry in Pond Aquaculture

Abstract Relationships among liming, fertilization, water and soil chemistry, phytoplankton response, and aquatic animal production are still poorly understood. There is considerable confusion about critical nutrients and fertilizer formulations for pond fertilization. The literature does not support the high application rates of nitrogen often used. Nitrate is more desirable than ammonium or urea as a source of fertilizer nitrogen. Problems in ponds with water and soil quality that are related to feeding result primarily from high inputs of feed. Organic matter is decomposed mostly to stable humus during a growing season, and there is little accumulation of highly decomposable organic matter from one crop to the next. High input of fresh organic matter to the bottom during a crop period can cause high oxygen demand in sediment, but sediment removal between growth cycles does not greatly reduce soil oxygen demand for the next crop. Organic matter resuspension without erosion of mineral soil has the potent...
Donor-Specific Unresponsiveness to Murine Cardiac Allografts Induced by Intrathymic-Soluble Alloantigens Is Dependent on Alternate Pathway of Antigen Presentation

Abstract This study extends the finding that intrathymic (IT) inoculation of uv-B irradiated donor spleen cells (SC) or soluble alloantigens (Ag) induces peripheral tolerance to organ allografts in the rat to the murine cardiac allograft model. In our initial experiment, we showed that IT inoculation of uv-B irradiated SC combined with transient immunosuppression of the recipient with either sublethal TBI or ALS on Day-7 led to donor-specific, long-term cardiac allograft survival (>300 days) in the completely mismatched A/J-to-C57BL/6 mice combination. To test our hypothesis that peripheral tolerance induced by IT injection of donor Ag is dependent on presentation of the foreign MHC molecule by thymic APC to T cell precursors, we examined the effect of IT injection of donor APC-free-soluble Ag inoculum obtained from 3 M KCl extracts of purified MHC class I resting T cells on cardiac allograft survival in the A/J-to-C3H mice combination. The results showed that IT injection of the optimal dose of 500 μg soluble Ag combined with 0.5 ml ALS on Day-7 led to donor-specific permanent graft survival (>200 days). This finding could not be reproduced by intravenous administration of soluble Ag, thus confirming the privileged position of the thymus in tolerance induction. To further define the role of host APC in allorecognition, we studied the presentation of soluble Ag by responder APC in MLR. The results showed that primed T cells obtained from A/J skin graft-sensitized C3H T cells specifically developed alloreactivity to A/J-soluble Ag in MLR. Addition of anti-Ia mAb blocked the proliferative response, thus confirming that primed T cells can respond to soluble Ag presented by responder-type APC. This study suggests that induction of peripheral tolerance by IT inoculation of soluble Ag is reproducible in the murine cardiac allograft model, where tolerance is dependent on the Ag dose and the indirect pathway of Ag presentation. This approach of immunologic manipulation of the adult thymus may have clinical therapeutic applications.
Self-shadowing effects on the thermal-structural response of orbiting trusses

An investigation of self-shadowing effects on the thermal-structural response of orbiting trusses is described. The shadowing, heating, thermal and structural analyses are summarized. The significance of shadowing on the thermal-structural behavior of a single member and a beam constructed from truss members is described. For the trusses considered, the study shows that member self-shadowing effects significantly alter the behavior and must be included to predict the thermal-structural response correctly.
A technique for the study of growth rates of single crystals of sparingly soluble salts

Abstract A photomicroscopic technique has been adapted and implemented for the study of growth rates of single crystals of sparingly soluble salts. Experiments have been conducted to determine the growth of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) in an isothermal growth cell used in a continuous-flow system. The experimental apparatus permits the control of temperature and of supersaturation of the solution in which the crystals are grown. Growth rates of COM are found to be constant at a constant supersaturation and show little evidence of growth rate dispersion for the conditions tested. The addition of a growth modifier, L-glumatic acid, at a level of 100 ppm yields a statistically significant increase in COM growth rate. Preliminary results indicate that COM crystal growth obeys the general trend predicted by the theory of Burton, Cabrera, and Frank.
COMPREHENSION SUBTEST OF THE WAIS AND NEED FOR APPROVAL

Blatt and Allison ( 1 ) present the hypothesis that the Comprehension subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) reflects Ss' grasp of social conventionality and social judgment. They argue that a low score may be used as an indicator of anti-social tendencies. Crowne and Marlowe (2, 3 ) have developed a scale for the measurement of the need for approval, arguing that high need-approval Ss seek social approval through culturally acceptable behaviors ( 4 ) . The present study tested the hypothesis that high need-approval Ss would score significantly higher than low need-approval Ss on the WAIS Comprehension subtest. Ss were male undergraduates at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and ranged in age from 16 to 21 yr. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale was initially administered to more than 100 students. High and low need-approval Ss were selected from the upper and lower quintiles of the distribution. There were 18 high need-approval Ss (scores of 16 to 30) and 21 low need-approval Ss (scores of 0 to 5 ) . Ss were administered the six verbal subtests of the WAIS by a female examiner. The examiner was not identified with the collection of the need-approval data, and Ss were not informed about che hypothesis. Ss were told that they had been selected randomly and that the examiner was collecting test data for the development of norms. The two groups were not significantly different on any of the verbal subtests nor on over-all Verbal 1Q. The mean Verbal IQ for the entire sample was 135.03. As groups were similar on total Comprehension, the subtest was divided into two sets of items. Items 3, 4, 5 , 6, 8, and 12 require social judgment; Items 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 assess non-social judgment and understanding of proverbs. (Items 1 and 2 are not administered unless Ss fail subsequent items.) Mean scores between groups on each set were not significantly different. The low need-approval group means were 9.19 and 9.62 for the social and nonsocial sets respectively ( t < 1.00). The high need-approval group means were 8.56 and 9.78, respectively ( t = 2.18 @ < .05, two-tailed). Thus, the high need-approval Ss did signlficandy more poorly on the items involving social judgment. Since much data support the interpretation of the need-for-approval scale as a measure of the tendency to conform to social expecrations, the present study questions rhe Blatt and Allison hypothesis regarding the Comprehension subtest. The present Ss were a select group and further study is needed. The significantly lower score on socialjudgment items than on non-social-judgment items for the high need-approval Ss was unexpected and is difficult to explain. However, since the high and low groups were not significantly different on the social-judgment items, replication should be attempted.
Influence of the surface mechanical pulsed treatment on the oxidation of Fe – 0.2C – 13Cr – 0.3Si steel in lead melts

We study the influence of mechanical pulsed treatment (MPT-1) on the corrosion resistance of Fe – 0.2C – 13Cr – 0.3Si steel in a lead melt containing 1.3 ⋅ 10 – 3 wt.% of oxygen at a temperature of 550°C for 1000 h. It is shown that the MPT promotes the formation of micro- and macrodefects in the subsurface zone of the specimens, which intensifies the process of oxidation of steel. The oxidation resistance of steel after MPT-2 and MPT-3 (with adding aluminum and silicon) is attained as a result of the formation of a hardened zone with nanocrystalline structure and large lengths of grain boundaries intensifying the diffusion of chromium into the oxide films.
Thermal decomposition of complexes of mercury(II) nitrate with substituted pyridines

Abstract The decomposition of a series of complexes of mercury(II) nitrate with substituted pyridines has been studied isothermogravimetrically. The complexes all decomposed to Hg(NO3)2 by loss of the ligands. Activation energies for the decomposition have been related to the basicity of the ligands.