cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing Pregnancy and Childbirth-Related Hospital Visits in Arizona Before and during COVID-19 Using Network Analysis (preprint)

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe effect on all facets of human society, including healthcare. One of the primary concerns in human health and wellbeing is understanding and mitigating the impact of the pandemic on pregnancy and childbirth. While several studies have looked at challenges such as contract tracing of positive cases, predicting confirmed cases and deaths in individuals and communities, few studies have examined differences in hospitalization and treatment of pregnant mothers and infant care in large populations. In this study, the prevalence and co-occurrence of pregnancy and childbirth-related diagnoses reported in Arizona State hospitals for three sixth-month periods - before COVID-19 (second half of 2019), COVID-19 onset (first half of 2020), and COVID-19 (second half of 2020) are analyzed using network analysis. The results show that there are considerable differences in ego networks of few diagnoses during these time periods warranting further investigation into the causality of such population changes.
Laying the Groundwork: Early Efforts to Promote Renewable Power in Spain

Spain produced only a small amount of power from non-traditional sources prior to the turn of the millennium. But during the 1980s and 1990s, much of the groundwork was laid for the rapid buildup of wind and solar capacity that would take place in the first decade of the twenty-first century. The first efforts to promote renewable power were initiated in the early 1980s. Then, beginning in the middle of that decade, renewable power became for the first time a focus of energy planning. And in the early 1990s, Spain established the first comprehensive support mechanism, the so-called special regime, which would provide the basic framework for promoting renewable power until the early 2010s.
Exploring Quantum Hall Physics at Ultra-Low Temperatures and at High Pressures

The use of ultra-low temperature cooling and of high hydrostatic pressure techniques has significantly expanded our understanding of the two-dimensional electron gas confined to GaAs/AlGaAs structures. This chapter reviews a selected set of experiments employing these specialized techniques in the study of the fractional quantum Hall states and of the charged ordered phases, such as the reentrant integer quantum Hall states and the quantum Hall nematic. Topics discussed include a successful cooling technique used, novel odd denominator fractional quantum Hall states, new transport results on even denominator fractional quantum Hall states and on reentrant integer quantum Hall states, and phase transitions observed in half-filled Landau levels.
Ultrastructural analysis of platelets in nonhuman primates. I. Comparative morphometrics on six species.

Abstract Comparative morphometric analysis at the ultrastructural level is reported for blood platelets from six species of nonhuman primates. Resting cells from all the animals were discoid to oval in shape and ultrastructurally resembled platelets from other mammalian species. Through the use of computer facilitated morphometric analysis, significant differences among the animals were substantiated with respect to mean platelet size (ranging in diameter from 2.68 μm in Rhesus to 3.08 μm in Patas monkeys), the mean number of α-granules (7.57 per platelet section in African green to 9.8 in Squirrel monkeys), and in the number of dense bodies (0.05 per platelet section in Rhesus to 0.67 per platelet section in Squirrel monkeys). The differences among the animals in number of dense bodies suggests that variations with respect to serotonin and adenine nucleotide metabolism may exist. When considered along with α-granule variability, these observations may account for the unusual aggregation patterns reported by others for nonhuman primate platelets.
Informal Guidance and the FDA

This article discusses how the Food and Drug Administration has come to adopt informal guidance (agency advice that influences regulated entities but does not carry the force and effect of law) as its primary method of policymaking, as opposed to more formalized procedures like notice-and-comment rulemaking or case-specific adjudication. Using major developments in administrative law and modifications to FDA's regulatory regime as milestones, the article traces how and why FDA's use of informal guidance to fulfill its statutory mandate has changed over the past century. Along the way, the article identifies important doctrinal questions that persist today, namely (1) whether informal advisory opinions bind FDA and (2) the degree of judicial deference guidance documents should receive under the Supreme Court's decisions in Chevron and Mead. The article attempts to resolve these doctrinal ambiguities. It then undertakes a normative analysis of FDA's increasing reliance on informal guidance, and concludes that, on the whole, this development has benefited FDA's major stakeholders: regulated entities, the general public and the agency itself. The article closes with modest proposals for reform. The article features an appendix with several tables illustrating FDAs output of informal guidance documents by year, to facilitate further study.
Critical Incident Debriefing and Social Work: Expanding the Frame

A debriefing is a structured group process that responds to the cognitive, emotional, physical and social reactions resulting from disasters and other traumatic events. This article describes debriefings and reviews research critically examining their effectiveness. The author proposes ways that social workers can contribute to theoretical frameworks, expand debriefing models, contribute to skill development and advance debriefing research and scholarship.
Low Temperature Specific Heat and Magnetic Susceptibility of NbTi and NbTiMn Alloys

We report on the results of a low temperature specific heat and magnetic susceptibility studies of a series of annealed-and-quenched binary NbTi alloys in the concentration range 41~53 wt.% Nb, which includes most compositions of technical interest. Also discussed is the influence of Mn on the calorimetrically measured properties of NbTi. Three series of alloys are considered: (i) a set of binary control alloys; (ii) alloys with Mn content fixed at ~0.5 wt.% and with Nb concentration between about 41 and 53 wt.%; (ii) alloys with an almost fixed Ti content (~46 wt.%) and with Mn concentration between 0 and ~5 wt.%. In alloys such as Ti-52Nb it is demonstrated that the addition of several percent of Mn causes a decrease in the electronic specific heat coefficient and a concomitant decrease in Tc. In that regard the effect of Mn on Tc (dTc/dc = -0.22 K/at.%) is comparable to that of Cr, Mo, or Re (for which dTc/dc = -0.2 K/at.%). It is concluded: (i) that Mn is a strong stabilizer of the bcc phase in Ti-base alloys; (ii) that Mn in bcc NbTi acts like any other nonmagnetic transition-element and influences Tc through its influence on the band density of states.
Spiral plate method for bacterial determination.

A method is described for determining the number of bacteria in a solution by the use of a machine which deposits a known volume of sample on a rotating agar plate in an ever decreasing amount in the form of an Archimedes spiral. After the sample is incubated, different colony densities are apparent on the surface of the plate. A modified counting grid is described which relates area of the plate of volume of sample. By counting an appropriate area of the plate, the number of bacteria in the sample is estimated. This method was compared to the pour plate procedure with the use of pure and mixed cultures in water and milk. The results did not demonstrate a significant difference in variance between duplicates at the α = 0.01 level when concentrations of 600 to 12 × 105 bacteria per ml were used, but the spiral plate method gave counts that were higher than counts obtained by the pour plate method. The time and materials required for this method are substantially less than those required for the conventional aerobic pour plate procedure.
On theK-conversion coefficients ofM1 transitions in odd-mass nuclei

In view of the recent observation that evenl-allowedM1 transitions can be retarded a study is made of theK-conversion coefficients of odd-mass spherical nuclei. Certain anomalies are pointed out.
Barriers to the participation of African-American patients with Cancer in clinical trials: A pilot study

BACKGROUND African-American patients have been under-represented in oncology clinical trials. Better understanding barriers to African-American participation may help increase the accrual of African-American patients onto clinical trials. METHODS Two hundred eighteen patients with malignant disease (72 African-American patients and 146 white patients) were recruited from the Duke Cancer Clinic and from Duke Oncology Outreach Clinics (DOORS). Patients were interviewed using a standardized survey. Questions included patients' knowledge of cancer, religious/spiritual beliefs, satisfaction with medical care, knowledge of clinical trials, reasons for participating or refusing to participate in a clinical trial, financial/transportation issues, and demographic factors, such as age and education. Data on attitudes and belief were analyzed for group differences between African-American patients and white patients as well as between patients who were treated at the Duke Cancer Clinic and patients who were treated at DOORS clinics. RESULTS Willingness to participate in a clinical trial depended on both race and clinic site. Forty-five percent of white patients, compared with 31% of African-American patients, were willing to participate in a clinical trial (P = 0.05). white and African-American patients who were treated at the Duke Cancer Clinic were more willing to participate in a trial compared with their counterparts who were treated at DOORS clinics (47% vs. 37%, respectively; P = 0.09). The greatest differences between groups (African-American patients vs. white patients and Duke Cancer Clinic patients vs. DOORS patients) were education and income: Much greater percentages of African-American patients and DOORS patients did not complete high school and had annual incomes < $15,000. In addition, more African-American patients than white patients believed that God would determine whether they would be cured or would die from their disease. In a multivariate analysis, education, income, and belief that God would determine the patient's outcome also were correlated with a decreased willingness to participate in clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS Factors associated with religion, education, and income, rather than race, may be major barriers to clinical trial participation. Interventions that target education and income may increase the recruitment of African-American oncology patients onto clinical trials. Cancer 2003;97:1499–506. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11213
American Policing Under Fire: Misconduct and Reform

A cluster of recent police killings of African American men has sparked an unprecedented amount of public debate regarding policing in the United States. Critics and protesters have made sweeping allegations about the police; a presidential commission has been formed to study police misconduct; and reforms are being debated. These events provide a backdrop for this article’s review of recent poll data and discussion of research regarding police relations with African Americans, Latinos, and whites.
Determinatiom of the Rydrolysis of Quinolinium-I-Methyliocide-6-Carboxt-Methyl Ester by Glc

AbstractA CLC method for the determination of the hydrolysis of quiolinlues I-methyliodide-6-carboxy-mathylester is dascribed. GLC is parforsud on porous polymer composed of ethylvinylbenzena crose-linked with divinyl-bensen (Polapak-Q). The retention times of methyl alcohol and the internal standare (tertiary butanol) are 2.8 and 6.3 min., respectively. The- apparent pseudo-first order rate constants as a function of taparature (37.C and 50°C) in the presence of 6N HCl were calculated and found to be 2.6 × 10-2 min-1 and 2.7 × 10-2 win-1 respactively.
Bilateral eyelid ecchymoses and corneal crystals: an unusual presentation of multiple myeloma.

Purpose:This report describes a case of multiple myeloma that presented as bilateral eyelid ecchymoses and corneal crystals in the absence of widespread signs of systemic disease.Methods:A 55-year-old man was found to have the sudden appearance of bilateral eyelid ecchymoses after he flexed 90 degre
Harmonizing an opaque core network with transparent optical elements

Over the last decade, deployed core telecom networks have migrated from being based on single-channel SONET regeneration links to multi-span, multi-channel optically amplified systems. More recently, the industry has been aggressively pursuing a natural extension of this philosophy towards all-optical “analog” core networks, with each traffic demand touching electrical digital circuitry only at the in/egress nodes. This trend produced a substantial elimination of regeneration costs, increase in network capacity, and notionally simpler operation and service turn-up. At the same time, the optical “analog” network requires a large amount of sophisticated hardware and software for monitoring and manipulating high bit rate optical signals. The primary goal for current equipment suppliers is to provide cost effective system designs that are simple to deploy and operate. This paper will examine the trade-offs inherent in the technology and architecture choices needed to reach this goal through the “analog” transmission/all-optical ideal and concludes that it is difficult to improve on the present approach which uses a mix of transparent and opaque network elements.
Prevention of injury and violence in the USA

In the first three decades of life, more individuals in the USA die from injuries and violence than from any other cause. Millions more people survive and are left with physical, emotional, and financial problems. Injuries and violence are not accidents; they are preventable. Prevention has a strong scientific foundation, yet efforts are not fully implemented or integrated into clinical and community settings. In this Series paper, we review the burden of injuries and violence in the USA, note effective interventions, and discuss methods to bring interventions into practice. Alliances between the public health community and medical care organisations, health-care providers, states, and communities can reduce injuries and violence. We encourage partnerships between medical and public health communities to consistently frame injuries and violence as preventable, identify evidence-based interventions, provide scientific information to decision makers, and strengthen the capacity of an integrated health system to prevent injuries and violence.
Representation of slowly and rapidly adapting cutaneous mechanoreceptors of the hand in brodmann's areas 3 and 1 of Macaca Mulatta

Abstract Brodmann's areas 3 and 1 of the hand area of the classical somatosensory cortex (S I) of Macaca mulatta were systematically mapped in 0.5 mm steps using a microelectrode multiunit recording technique. The data obtained revealed that: (1) The hand is totally represented in each of these two areas. (2) There is a segregation of receptor input to these areas as originally described by Powell and Mountcastle in 1959. (3) There is, in addition, a segregation of input from slowly adapting skin mechanoreceptors to cytoarchitectural area 3. The possible significance of re-representation of the hand in the postcentral gyrus is discussed in relation to the functional specialization of these cytoarchitectonic divisions.
Single-Component Permeation Maximum with Respect to Temperature: A Lattice Density Functional Theory Study

Membrane permeability and flux of pure gases can exhibit maxima with respect to temperature. For zeolites, this has been explained as a competition between surface and nonsurface diffusion within p...
The role of carbohydrates in the biology of cestodes. IV. Some effects of host dietary carbohydrate on growth and reproduction of Hymenolepis.

Abstract Using wet weight and total length as criteria it has been shown that the growth rate of Hymenolepis diminuta is markedly altered when sucrose is substituted for starch as the sole host dietary carbohydrate. The size of worms in singly-infected hosts is a function of the quality of dietary carbohydrate regardless of whether the diet is fed during the initial prepatent period or after the patent state is attained. The feeding of a diet quantitatively deficient in carbohydrate results in a marked reduction in worm size and number in both initial and previously established infections. Quantitative carbohydrate deficiency also causes a marked decline in egg production. Egg production is markedly affected by dietary carbohydrate quality. When sucrose or dextrins-maltose are furnished as the sole carbohydrate, egg production by H. diminuta is reduced to less than half of that of worms in starch-fed hosts. Worms in fructose-fed hosts produce very few eggs and the eggs differ morphologically from those produced by worms in starch-fed controls. When hosts are given free access to low carbohydrate-high roughage diets H. diminuta attains the same size as in hosts given high carbohydrate-low roughage diets. Attempts to demonstrate, in vitro , the direct utilization of sucrose by H. diminuta from hosts kept on a high sucrose diet indicate that the worm is incapable of the adaptation.
Peptide Dimethylation: Fragmentation Control via Distancing the Dimethylamino Group

Direct reductive methylation of peptides is a common method for quantitative proteomics. It is an active derivatization technique; with participation of the dimethylamino group, the derivatized peptides preferentially release intense a1 ions. The advantageous generation of a1 ions for quantitative proteomic profiling, however, is not desirable for targeted proteomic quantitation using multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry; this mass spectrometric method prefers the derivatizing group to stay with the intact peptide ions and multiple fragments as passive mass tags. This work investigated collisional fragmentation of peptides whose amine groups were derivatized with five linear ω-dimethylamino acids, from 2-(dimethylamino)-acetic acid to 6-(dimethylamino)-hexanoic acid. Tandem mass spectra of the derivatized tryptic peptides revealed different preferential breakdown pathways. Together with energy resolved mass spectrometry, it was found that shutting down the active participation of the terminal dimethylamino group in fragmentation of derivatized peptides is possible. However, it took a separation of five methylene groups between the terminal dimethylamino group and the amide formed upon peptide derivatization. For the first time, the gas-phase fragmentation of peptides derivatized with linear ω-dimethylamino acids of systematically increasing alkyl chain lengths is reported.
Measures of viability in isolated cells.

Abstract Various methods were compared for estimation of cell viability. Cell count, uptake of trypan blue, release of cellular LDH, as well as cell contents of K+ and Na+ were determined in leukocytes, spleen cells, and Ehrlich cells exposed to adverse conditions. After incubation of these cells with NaF, the cell count remained essentially constant; the extent of cell staining and release of LDH increased to a limited level in suspensions of leukocytes and spleen cells and was virtually unchanged in experiments with Ehrlich cells. On the other hand, pretreatment with NaF induced rapid and marked changes in contents of K+ and Na+ in all three cell types. Exposure of the cells to hypertonic conditions caused more pronounced, but similar overall effects. As a consequence of increased tonicity, the cell count decreased and considerable leakage of LDH occurred in all the cells investigated. Whereas the contents of K+ and Na+ in all pretreated cells changed markedly, the cellular uptake of trypan blue was again the least responsive index of cell permeability. The results showed cell staining by trypan blue to be a relatively poor measure of cell viability and suggest use of the ratio cellular K + Na + or, even more efficiently, the cell content of K+ as sensitive indicators of plasma membrane integrity.
Thermal Physical Characteristics of High-Performance Ablative Composites

Abstract The differential equations describing the thermochemical ablation-indepth process and the boundary layer transport processes which couple at the ablative surface are presented. Physical interpretations of the relationships are given along with the results of sensitivity analyses which pinpoint the properties of importance in ablation performance predictions. Char thermophysical properties are shown to have a considerable influence. Based on this observation, comparisons and discussion of recent ablative char thermal conductivity results are given for high-performance carbonphenolic and graphite-phenolic composites. Physical and chemical changes in the chars which influence the thermal transport properties are summarized and recommendations offered concerning the use of the information in ablation predictions. Finally, the important thermal and aerodynamic forces which may lead to thermomechanical and thermostructural erosion of the ablative are summarized.
Homo Diels–Alder chemistry in the synthesis of portulal: construction of the functionalized hydroazulene core

Abstract A highly stereoselective synthesis of the functionalized hydroazulene skeleton of portulal ( 1 ), has been achieved using the newly developed cobalt catalyzed [4+2+2] homo Diels–Alder chemistry.
Radius and diameter in Manhattan lattices

Abstract Let a1, a2,…, an be natural numbers, and let S be the set of integer coordinate n-vectors whose jth coordinate lies between zero and aj (inclusive) for each j. Let the distance between two such vectors be the sum of their coordinate differences. The diameter of a subset of S is then the maximum distance between two of its members, while its radius is the minimum over its vectors of the maximum distance from that vector to any of the others in it. The following question is addressed: for what values of the parameters is a largest subset of S of radius r about a vector in S, one of the largest subsets of S of diameter 2r? A sufficient condition, which for all the aj odd means that the largest subset of radius r contains at most half the elements of S, is derived. There is also a discussion of necessary conditions, and uniqueness of maximum diameter configurations, and some open questions.
Composite-fermion approach for the fractional quantum Hall effect

In the standard hierarchical scheme the daughter state at each step results from the fractional quantum Hall effect of the quasiparticles of the parent state. In this paper a new possible approach for understanding the fractional quantum Hall effect is presented. It is proposed that the fractional quantum Hall effect of electrons can be physically understood as a manifestation of the integer quantum Hall effect of composite fermionic objects consisting of electrons bound to an even number of flux quanta.
Cs and Ag co-incorporation in cubic silicon carbide

Abstract Understanding the diffusion of fission products Cs and Ag through the SiC layer of TRISO particles is of particular interest for the progress and improvement of the High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) technologies. Although the SiC layer acts as a barrier for fission products, there is experimental evidence of Cs and Ag diffusion through this layer. Previous considerations of Ag and Cs in SiC have focused on the element interacting with SiC, but have not considered the possibility of co-incorporation with another species. This paper presents a ab initio study on the co-incorporation of Cs and Ag with an anion (Iodine (I) or Oxygen (O)) into SiC as an alternative incorporation mechanism. It is found that for crystalline SiC, Ag co-incorporation with Iodine (I) and Oxygen (O) into SiC is not energetically favorable, while Cs co-incorporation with O is a preferred mechanism under some oxygen partial pressures of interest. However, Cs–O co-incorporation into the crystalline portion of SiC is not sufficiently strong to enable a Cs solubility that accounts for the Cs release observed in some experiments.
Toward an automated dental identification system

Forensic odontology has long been carried out by forensic experts of law enforcement agencies for postmortem identification. We address the problem of developing an automated system for postmortem identification using dental records (dental radiographs). This automated dental identification system (ADIS) can be used by law enforcement agencies as well as military agencies throughout the United States to locate missing persons using databases of dental x rays of human remains and dental scans of missing or wanted persons. Currently, this search and identification process is carried out manually, which makes it very time-consuming in mass disasters. We propose a novel architecture for ADIS, define the functionality of its components, and describe the techniques used in realizing these components. We also present the performance of each of these components using a database of dental images.
Production of diacetyl reductase by Geotrichum candidum from sauerkraut brine

Abstract Sauerkraut brine was found to be a favorable substrate for the production of diacetyl reductase (EC 1.1.1.5) by Geotrichum candidum ATCC 34614. The mold yielded more diacetyl reductase (nearly 0·8 unit/mg protein) than other microorganisms reported previously. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 6·0 and showed no loss of activity in the pH range of 6·0 to 9·0. The enzyme was stable up to 40°C, but lost 40% of its activity at 50°C in 30 min. The Km value for diacetyl was calculated to be 0·107 m M .
Current Status and Future Perspectives on Alcohol Septal Ablation for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiac disease. Patients may present with a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from relatively asymptomatic to heart failure, recurrent syncope, angina, or sudden death. Once diagnosed, a thorough clinical, anatomic and physiologic assessment should be undertaken. Treatment options include both pharmacologic and invasive therapies, with a goal to reduce symptoms and possibly extend longevity. Traditionally, the "gold standard" for treating severe obstructive HCM has been ventricular septal myotomy-myomectomy. Since its introduction in 1994, alcohol septal ablation (ASA) has emerged as an acceptable alternative in patients who meet strict anatomic criteria, and has been supported in recent guidelines. We review the indications, technique, competency requirements, alternatives, outcomes, complications, and future directions of ASA.
On the average number of steps of the simplex method of linear programming

The goal is to give some theoretical explanation for the efficiency of the simplex method of George Dantzig. Fixing the number of constraints and using Dantzig's self-dual parametric algorithm, we show that the number of pivots required to solve a linear programming problem grows in proportion to the number of variables on the average.
Desorption measurements of copper and copper alloys for PEP-II

Abstract PEP-II will be a meson factory circulating asymmetric beams of 9 GeV and 3.1 GeV having maximum currents of 3.0 A. Copper beam chambers and absorbers will intercept resulting synchrotron radiation and it is critical that the dynamic gas load from photo stimulated desorption (PSD) and thermal outgassing is below 2 × 10 −6 molecules per photon. An experiment was set up to measure PSD from 1 m long bar samples and a chamber sample, fabricated from selected copper and copper alloys, then exposed to white light with a critical energy of 500 eV, on beamline U10B at the VUV ring of the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS). Based on U10B results a prototype chamber was built and will be exposed to white light with higher critical energies up to 5 keV, on beamline X-28A at the X-ray ring of the NSLS. This paper presents the measurements of H 2 , CO, CO 2 and CH 4 desorption yields as function of accumulated photon flux, angle of incidence, sample material, and surface condition. The results are compared with that of previous work on similar materials and with that of others for copper.
Removal of O^6-methylguanine from DNA of normal and xeroderma pigmentosum-derived lymphoblastoid lines

The ability to excise (repair) UV-induced pyrimidine dimers in Escherichia coli is not related to its ability to remove N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced O6-methylguanine (O6-MeG) from DNA. It was therefore surprising that certain xeroderma pigmentosum cell lines, deficient in dimer excision, were also unable to remove O6-MeG. We find that removal of O6-MeG occurs rapidly with a half life of less than 1 h. Two cell types can be distinguished: mex+, which remove O6-MeG residues produced by incubation with 0.5 microgram ml-1 MNNG, and mex- cells, which are unable to remove the adduct. Xeroderma pigmentosum-derived lymphoblastoid lines of complementation groups A, C or D may be either mex+ or mex-. The biochemical mechanism for the removal of O6-MeG in human cells is distinct from the excision of adducts produced by compounds such as N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAAF) or by UV irradiation but it is not clear whether the distinction between mex+ and mex- lines is genetic or epigenetic.
Structured Programming: a Review of Some Practical Concepts

The software development process is being reexamined critically these days. There are at least two reasons for this renewed scrutiny: First, the inexorable advance of hardware technology has now made software costs the clearly dominant component of computing costs. Second, amidst the furor over SP, we have collectively realized that we can indeed do better (in at least the coding subprocess of software production). This realization leads us to reconsider current design and implementation strategies for possibly better ways.
Better sintering through green-state deformation processing

Aqueous colloidal suspensions of alumina were processed in the dispersed state and the flocculated state by controlling the double-layer interactions between the particles. Repulsive particle forces led to high packing densities but the green bodies were mechanically so weak that they were unable to retain their shape (the dispersed case). Attractive forces led to good green strength but the packing density was low and the particles were agglomerated (the flocculated case). The agglomerated structure of the flocced specimens could be fragmented by mechanical deformation of the green compact; the deformation was carried out under a superimposed hydrostatic pressure of less than 1 MPa. The flow stess of the flocculated structures depended on the deformation rate, and on the magnitude of the superimposed hydrostatic pressure. The flow stress was 2.5 kPa at a strain rate of 0.1 s−1. Deformation processing of the flocced structures increased the green (relative) density from 0.51 to 0.62. The sintering behavior of underformed and deformation-processed flocced structures was studied. Deformation-processed green bodies sintered more rapidly and yielded a final grain size that was smaller and more uniform than that obtained from the undeformed specimens. The ability to homogenize and densify the packing of flocculated structures by deformation processing suggests new opportunities in green-state processing, for example (i) uniform mixing of more than one kind of particle or particles and fibers, and (ii) net shape forming by injection molding or extrusion, without the use of organic binders.
The Hopkins Games Program: Conclusions from Seven Years of Research

Since September, 1966, the central question uniting and guidng the research of the Games Program at The Johns Hopkins University's Center for Social Organization of Schools has been: How do games create and influence learning? Natural games (i.e., sports and games that children play in their free time, unsupervised by adults) and instructional games (both simulation and non-simulation games) have been studied to determine how playing a game with a defined social organization or structure contributes to learning.
Point pattern matching using centroid bounding

A method is presented for matching point patterns A and B in the plane where mod A mod = mod B mod =N. The method is capable of determining the registration and matching and is not affected by translation, rotation, scaling or noise. An example application of the algorithm to the matching of flat parts is shown. The algorithm not only allows part recognition, but may also be extended to perform automated verification of the dimension of the part. >
Reply [to Comments on “Explosive magnetic reconnection: Puzzle to be solved as the energy supply process for magnetospheric substorms?” by Hill, Siscoe, and Chubb]

In my article entitled “Explosive Magnetic Reconnection: Puzzle to be Solved as the Energy Supply Process for Magnetospheric Substorms?,” I suggested that magnetic reconnection occurs as the system involved is being driven, rather than as an explosive and spontaneous process after magnetic energy accumulation has been completed, as is supposed hypothetically. In their comments, T. W. Hill and G. L. Siscoe contend that explosive magnetic reconnection “is strongly supported by relevant theoretical arguments. . .,” while C. T. Russell states that “existing models do not require” explosive magnetic reconnection. It is worth mentioning that both refer to the same near-earth X line models! Hill and Siscoe consider that the book edited by Hones [1984] presents evidence for their view. On the other hand, in the same book, Axford [1984] noted that “. . .it is fair to say that Akasofu might be right, in a certain sense, in claiming that the magnetosphere is basically a driven system.”
High-energy proton-nucleus scattering and correlations

Abstract Effects of long-range correlations on high-energy elastic and inelastic proton-nucleus scattering are investigated using the eikonal approximation. We treat multiple scattering of the proton in a coupled channel formalism where virtual excitations and de-excitations of the nucleus are allowed during the scattering process. This is completely equivalent to considering many-body correlations to any order. We also study effects of spin and isospin dependence of the nucleon-nucleon interaction in elastic and inelastic p+ nucleus scattering. We propose to use inelastic scattering to known nuclear states as an analyzer of the different components of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. The strong p+ nucleus interaction is treated in close analogy to electromagnetic and weak interactions where similar nuclear matrix elements occur. We calculate cross sections and polarizations using all information available from nucleon-nucleon and electron-nucleus scattering. Numerical results are compared with experimental data for elastic scattering of 1 GeV protons on 12C and electric excitations of the I π T( E MeV ) = 2 + 0(4.43), 0 + 0′(7.66) and 3 − 0(9.64) states in 12C. We predict the differential cross section and polarization for a magnetic transition to the 1+1(15.11) state in 12C.
Screening Strategies for Elevated Blood Lead Levels

In their article about the costs of lead screening in children, Campbell et al1conclude that among 2 universal strategies for screening for elevated blood lead levels, obtaining fingerstick samples is less costly than obtaining venous samples. This conclusion is obvious given their assumptions that (1) fingerstick samples are cheaper to obtain than venous samples and (2) elevated blood lead level is a low-prevalence event and the specificity of fingerstick samples is high (eg, venous blood measurements are infrequently necessary to confirm elevated blood lead concentrations in fingerstick samples). Unfortunately, because no information about the benefits of detecting elevated blood lead levels or the risks of missing a case is presented, there is no way to interpret the results of the article. The authors conclude that fingerstick samples save $1.84per patient screened. A more appropriate denominator for the presentation of their results, such as the cost per case
The role of biodata and career anchors on turnover intentions among hospitality and tourism educators.

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of biodata and career anchors on turnover intentions among hospitality and tourism educators. Although the career anchor of autonomy was rated high in importance among hospitality and tourism educators, it did not necessarily follow that it led to turnover intentions when it was not satisfied by the current employer. A stepwise regression analysis involving the biodata and career anchors variables found that turnover intentions were lowest among those who were older and working where the career anchors of job security, geographic location, and managerial competence were being satisfied.
Parity violations in hydrogen and the fundamental structure of the weak current

Experiments in progress with hydrogen and deuterium may in practice determine the fundamental parameters and constituents of the weak interaction within the framework of unified gauge theories. In particular, for SU (2) X U(1) theories, from the results of these experiments one can infer the masses of the charged and neutral weak vector bosons (and thus sin20w), and the isospin classification of the right-handed portions of the electron and the u- and d-quarks. Non-singlet assignments for eR, u R and d R would imply the existence of additional leptons and/or quarks. Hydrogen/deuterium data also may be used to discriminate between SU (2) X U (1) models and various models based on larger gauge groups.
A modification of the exponential exchange law in heterogeneous systems

Abstract The exponential exchange law for heterogeneous systems can be applied to isotope exchange between solid salts and their saturated solutions after allowance is made for the initial rapid exchange between the solution and the crystal surface. For a variety of salts it is possible to get information on the dynamic equilibrium between the surface and the interior of the crystals. Experimental results are presented for the chromates of silver, barium and lead. Silver chromate exchanges rapidly with silver ion, without showing significant exchange with chromate ion. Recrystallisation effects are evident in the chromates of barium and lead.
Heterogeneous Nucleation and Fisher's Droplet Picture

Corrections to the classical theory of heterogeneous nucleation on ions and small "dust" particles are calculated for water with Fisher's droplet picture. Our results do not differ greatly from Fletcher's and other classical theories; but our derivations should give a more unified and reliable description of the preexponential factors in the nucleation rate. If the vapor contains small dust particles (~ 10 \AA{}) and ions, then at low temperatures the nucleation will occur mainly on small particles, at intermediate temperatures on ions, and near the critical point homogeneous nucleation will dominate. We suggest measuring such temperature-dependent effects.
Relaxation of a two-dimensional electron gas in semiconductor thin films at low temperatures: Role of acoustic phonon confinement

We study the effect of acoustic-phonon confinement on the energy and momentum relaxation of a two-dimensional electron gas in thin films. The interaction via the deformation and piezoelectric potentials with a complete set of phonon modes in films with stress--free and rigid surfaces is taken into account. We demonstrate that in thin films the modification of the phonon properties and screening brings about substantial changes of the electron relaxation rates in comparison to the case of interaction with bulk phonons at low temperatures, where the effective reduction of the phonon spectrum dimensionality takes place. For suspended films, relaxation rates are substantially enhanced: the temperature dependence of the momentum and energy relaxation rates, in films with nonmetallized (metallized) surfaces, is found to be ${T}^{7/2}$ ${(T}^{5/2})$ for both deformation potential and piezoelectric mechanisms. The reason for such an enhancement is the strong scattering of electrons by flexural phonons having quadratic dispersion and a high density of states at low frequencies. Conversely, for films with rigid surfaces the low-temperature relaxation of electrons is exponentially suppressed due to the formation of a gap in the phonon spectrum.
Reduction of carbonic anhydrase activity in the submandibular salivary glands of zinc-deficient rats

Male weanling rats fed a diet containing 0.4 parts/106 zinc for 4 weeks exhibited a 26 per cent reduction in carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in the submandibular gland compared with pair-fed controls. No reduction in CA activity was evident in the parotid gland, kidney or pyloric portion of the stomach. CA activity of whole blood was the same in both groups. Correction for CA activity of blood did not change the ratios of experimental to control CA activity in submandibular gland and stomach and increased the ratio in kidney. Alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased by 44 per cent in the submandibular gland and 41 per cent in the parotid gland of the zinc-deficient group, confirming earlier reports. Reduction in buffering capacity and changes in the pH of saliva may contribute to the poor food intake of the zinc-deficient rats.
Arterial enzymes and their relation to atherosclerosis in pigeons

Abstract Comparison of metabolic processes between the atherosclerosis-resistant Show Racer (SR) and susceptible White Carneau (WC) pigeon strains offers an opportunity to study factors which may predispose to atherosclerosis. The activity of several glycolytic enzymes, Krebs cycle enzymes, enzymes of the ATP cycle and of the glycerol phosphate shuttle was studied in SR and WC arteries. In 4–6 yr old pigeons the activity of lipoamide dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase is significantly lower in WC than SR arteries. The differences are not the result of aging or atherosclerosis, because they were also detected in arteries of very young 5–8 wk old pigeons. Furthermore, the arteries of the young pigeons revealed a significantly higher activity of two glycolytic enzymes, namely phosphofructokinase and aldolase, in the WC arteries as compared with SR arteries. The results in the young birds indicate that the differences between the two pigeon strains are of an inherited (genetic?) nature. It is suggested that low activity of lipoamide and malate dehydrogenases slows down the Krebs cycle and leads to low citrate and ATP production. The latter factor is an essential part of the feedback control adjustments that regulate the efficiency of glycolysis via phosphofructokinase. Increased dependence of the WC arteries on glycolysis appears to facilitate the development of atherosclerosis in these birds, and the mechanism may be similar to the mechanism by which tissue hypoxia induces lipid accumulation and connective tissue alterations in the arterial wall. An additional finding in these studies is the higher activity in female than male arteries of phosphofructokinase, aldolase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, glycerokinase, ATPase and creatine phosphokinase.
Valuation of flexible leases for corporate tenants facing uncertainty in their required work space

Abstract A valuation approach is presented to price flexible leases with expansion, contraction, and/or cancelation options from the corporate tenant perspective. This model uses the real option valuation approach and determines the flexibility value or the option premium of a lease. This premium is the maximum amount of money that the tenant is willing to invest in incorporating a specific flexible feature in the leasing arrangement. Our model considers uncertainty in the rental market, as well as uncertainty about the firm's required workspace in an integrated valuation framework.
The effect of impurities on the binding energy and structure of small Al and Be clusters

Abstract SCF calculations have been performed comparing the relative stability of the fcc and hcp structures for a large number of Al 12 X clusters where X is either a cavity or an impurity atom. The effects on cluster binding energy and cluster bond lengths have been obtained from one-parameter geometry optimizations of the clusters. Calculations including correlation are reported for Be 12 and Be 13 . At the SCF level Be 12 (hcp) is more strongly bound than Be 13 (hcp), but this is changed by correlation. Be 12 with a central cavity is remarkably strongly bound, however. Be 13 (fcc) is more strongly bound than the hcp structure also when correlation is included even though Be metal has hcp structure. Effective core potential parameters and basis sets are presented for several of the systems considered (B, C, O, Si, P, S, Ga and As).
Striatal preprotachykinin and preproenkephalin mRNA levels and the levels of nigral substance P and pallidal Met5-enkephalin depend on corticostriatal axons that use the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters aspartate and glutamate: quantitative radioimmunocytochemical and in situ hybridization evidence.

Abstract Because excitatory amino acid (EAA) neurotransmission has been implicated in long-term postsynaptic events, we conducted an initial study to determine whether or not the EAA-utilizing corticostriatal projection might influence peptide biosynthesis in neurons of the rat's basal ganglia. The content of EAAs in the caudatoputamen was reduced by frontal cortical ablation or by chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of methionine sulfoximine (MS). At 7 days following cortical ablation striatal Asp and Glu were reduced by 15% and 24%, respectively, while MS infusion (24 μg/day) for 7 days reduced synaptosomal levels of Asp by 61% and Glu by 48%. With either treatment, quantitative radioimmunocytochemistry revealed that substance P (SP) in the substantia nigra was increased by approximately 38%, while Met5-enkephalin (ME) in the globus pallidus was not changed. In situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes revealed changes in the rostral striatum of preprotachykinin (PPT) and preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA levels: cortical ablation reduced PPT mRNA by 17% and PPE mRNA by 20% dorsally, while it increased PPE mRNA (but not PPT mRNA) by 23% ventrally. Likewise, the infusion of MS decreased PPT (32%) and PPE mRNA (28%) dorsally, and increased PPE mRNA (50%) ventrally. In addition to the 7 day time point, the same measurements of EAAs, peptides and mRNAs were made at 14, 21 and 28 days after cortical excisions. At 14 days, the level of striatal Asp had returned to control value, but Glu remained depressed by 21%; nigral SP remained increased by 24%, and pallidal ME decreased by 15%. PPT and PPE mRNA remained depressed dorsally by 15% and 25%, respectively, while the increase in PPE mRNA noted ventrally at 7 days had returned to control values by 14 days. With the exception of Glu, which remained depressed by 18% at 21 and 28 days, all other values had returned to control levels by 21 days. The results indicate that a large reduction in EAA neurotransmission can influence differentially the steady-state levels of neuropeptides in striatal neurons and this change is brought about, at least in part, by an alteration in gene transcription.
Visualization: A Means of Reducing Speech Anxiety.

This study compared self reported speech anxiety of students who were asked to visualize themselves making an effective speech with those who were not asked to visualize themselves making an effective presentation. Students who were asked to visualize reported lower anxiety levels than those who were not asked to do so. It is argued that visualization is an effective, nondisruptive method that can be used in the typical public speaking class to help reduce speech anxiety.