cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geography and Spatial Analysis in Historical Linguistics

Spatial patterns associated with language contact, language spread, and isolation have been included, albeit peripherally, in traditional theories of historical linguistics. The development of mapping and spatial analysis tools, combined with innovations in quantitative approaches to diachronic linguistics, has introduced a new era in linguistic geography. Geographic research in historical linguistics, however, is largely carried out in the separate traditions of various linguistic subfields. Many commonalities exist between the questions asked and the methods applied in each of these subfields, and increased interaction across dialectometry, phylogenetics, and areal linguistics has the potential to reinvigorate linguistic geography and accelerate progress on questions about geography and the spatial outcomes of language change and language expansion.
Tyrosine O-Prenyltransferase SirD Catalyzes S-, C-, and N-Prenylations on Tyrosine and Tryptophan Derivatives

The tyrosine O-prenyltransferase SirD in Leptosphaeria maculans catalyzes normal prenylation of the hydroxyl group in tyrosine as the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the phytotoxin sirodesmin PL. SirD also catalyzes normal N-prenylation of 4-aminophenylalanine and normal C-prenylation at C7 of tryptophan. In this study, we found that 4-mercaptophenylalanine and several derivatives of tryptophan are also substrates for prenylation by dimethylallyl diphosphate. Incubation of SirD with 4-mercaptophenylalanine gave normal S-prenylated mercaptophenylalanine. We found that incubation of the enzyme with tryptophan gave reverse prenylation at N1 in addition to the previously reported normal prenylation at C7. 4-Methyltryptophan also gave normal prenylation at C7 and reverse prenylation at N1, whereas 4-methoxytryptophan gave normal and reverse prenylation at C7, and 7-methyltryptophan gave normal prenylation at C6 and reverse prenylation at N1. The ability of SirD to prenylate at three different sites on the indole nucleus, with normal and reverse prenylation at one of the sites, is similar to behavior seen for dimethylallyltryptophan synthase. The multiple products produced by SirD suggests it and dimethylallyltryptophan synthase use a dissociative electrophilic mechanism for alkylation of amino acid substrates.
Common Causes of Troponin Elevations in the Absence of Acute Myocardial Infarction: Incidence and Clinical Significance

Cardiac troponin is a preferred biomarker of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Unfortunately, elevation of troponin can be detected in a variety of conditions other than acute MI. This review focuses on the incidence and clinical significance of increased troponin in conditions commonly associated with troponin elevations, particularly in those that may resemble acute MI.
Dose-rate dependent electrical activation of silicon and sulphur implanted into GaAs

Abstract The electrical activation and mobility of silicon, the major n-type, ion-implanted dopant for GaAs. has been studied as a function of implantation dose rate (i.e. ion current density) at 100 keV for fluences from 5 × 1012 to 3 × 1014 cm−2. Systematic variations in both mobility and activation are documented for all fluences. These variations increase with the fluence. For a fluence of 1014 cm−2. the Hall sheet carrier activation can increase by more than a factor of 2 when the ion current density is decreased from 100 × 10−9 to 50 × 10−9A/cm2. Similar dose rate effects are also observed for a sulphur implant at 100 keV and a fluence of 4 × 1014 cm−2.
The vanishing user

Computer users are an endangered species---not like the whooping cranes, but more like a bunch of lemmings running over a cliff. Why? Because the user is moving rapidly away from the source of power that made him as strong as he is today in the use of computers in education and research. He is moving away from "User Services" with all that good nourishing documentation, comforting consulting and protective software tools that he needs, whether he knows it or not.
Reconceptualization and Optimization of a Rapidly Deployable Floating Causeway

There is an increasing demand for rapidly deployable causeways that can provide access from ship-to-shore for military and disaster relief operations. Existing systems have major limitations including only being transportable and emplaceable by large strategic sealift vessels, having high weight and packaged volumes, and requiring intensive on-site assembly. In response to the demand for a lightweight, air-liftable, quickly emplaceable causeway, the Engineer Research and Development Center (Vicksburg, Mississippi) developed a prototype comprised of aluminum modules joined by compliant connections and supported by pneumatic floats. As research and development progressed and experience was gained, eliminating the heavy and complex compliant connections was identified as a potential improvement. To eliminate these compliant connections, this paper shows how this design can be reconceptualized so a desired superstructure flexibility (that takes advantage of buoyancy while meeting deflection limits) is achieved. The superstructure has been designed for a target stiffness to permit a desired curvature under a design moment. This paper will review existing causeways, present this reconceptualization, and discuss the optimization implemented to achieve this new design.
Premature sperm ejaculation in captive African brown house snake Lamprophis fuliginosus

Abstract Many ophidians exhibit prolonged copulation, a behaviour hypothesised to be the result of a slow and gradual ejaculation process or a behaviour aimed toward reducing sperm competition (male mate guarding). While observing courtship behaviour in a captive colony of the African brown house snake, Lamprophis fuliginosus, some males excreted a large amount of sperm very rapidly before the inflation and insertion of the males’ hemipenis into the females’ vent. This observation of premature ejaculation suggests that male snakes may be capable of rapid ejaculation and, therefore, likely copulate for an extended period of time to prevent rival males from mating with the same female, thus increasing the chance of paternity for the male.
3-D Quantitative Microanatomy of Rat Kidney Podocytes as Determined by Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy

The shape of a cell is critical for proper signaling and resultant biological function [1]. Podocytes, kidney visceral epithelial cells, have a distinctive morphology with interdigitating foot processes that wrap around the capillaries of the glomeruli and, together with endothelial cells and the basement membrane, form the glomerular filtration barrier. In addition to forming the filtration barrier, slit diaphragms that connect the alternating foot processes from two podocytes are thought to be signaling hubs that regulate cell morphology and function.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Unintended consequences of race‐based segmentation strategies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the pitfalls and potentials of segmentation decisions based on the visible demographic variable of race.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes as its approach a review of assumptions and values of use of race as a marketing segmentation strategy, but places them against the inherent dangers that could be overlooked in a retail environment. The paper's purpose is to note the misuse of the planning tool of segmentation.Findings – Dealing with race‐driven decisions could create an unwelcome or even segregating situation with potential for customer loss or even discrimination. The business needs to understand how to attract and retain customers of all types.Originality/value – It is easy to forget that people of any type could be valued customers, and no store should, intentionally or otherwise, desire to discourage some customers at the expense of gaining others.
A bioorganometallic chemistry perspective: Organometallic chemistry at the interface with biology

Abstract A 41 year perspective on our bioorganometallic chemistry studies that included reactions of organotin compounds with cytochrome P450 enzymes, and their biomimics; identification of natural organoarsenic compounds in oil shale; reactions of an Cp*Rh tris aqua complex with nucleobases; supramolecular Cp*Rh-nucleobase complexes in host-guest chemistry; chemoselective reduction of NAD+ biomimetic co-factors with an Cp*Rh-hydride to provide 1,4-NADH biomimics, in tandem with enzymatic catalysis for stereoselective reductions of achiral ketones to chiral alcohols, and including oxidation reactions with cytochrome P450 enzymes; synthesis and bioassays of organorhodium-hydroxytamoxifen breast cancer pharmaceuticals; and synthesis and bioactivity of Cp*Rh-G-Protein Coupled Receptor peptides, will be presented in this 2014 ISBOMC Award Paper.
Comparative histochemical patterns in developing mammalian lungs

Abstract Prenatal and postnatal lungs from two rodents with different gestations, albino rat (23 days) and guinea pig (68 days), were compared to determine the course of histochemical differentiation and its relation to birth. Common patterns exist, but differentiation attained prenatally in guinea pigs is completed postnatally in rats. A partitioning of activity between epithelium and stroma is notable. Species differences in localization of chemical constituents in several mammals and some metabolic implications are discussed. In both animals glycogen is stored in the epithelium during its formation and disappears with its maturation, so that terminal buds are always richest. Mesenchymal glycogen fluctuates in developing rat lungs but is absent from those of guinea pigs. Triglycerides occur only prenatally in guinea pigs but in rats remain for 3 weeks after birth. Both species store fats in alveolar regions. Succinic dehydrogenase activity is uniform in early prenatal lungs but gradually increases in epithelium and decreases in stroma. The strongest reaction appears in the cardiac muscle of pulmonary veins near parturition and persists thereafter. Prenatal acid phosphatase occurs in bronchial and bronchiolar epithelia. It is also found in alveolar septa just prenatally in both animals. Alkaline phosphatase of prenatal rat lungs is present only in terminal buds. It is located elsewhere in guinea pigs. The adult pattern of distribution is reached just before parturition in guinea pigs and early postnatally in rats.
The hepatic transcellular transport of 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine is reduced in aged rats

Abstract The mechanisms of age-related reduction in tissue-responsiveness to thyroid hormones is not clear. Since the first step in hormone action is the transport of the hormone from plasma to the tissues, tissue uptake of T3 was determined in three groups of male Fischer 344 rats: young (6 months old), aged (24–26 months old) and young rats pair-fed with aged rats. At steady state, total tissue uptake of T3 in the liver, heart and rectus abdominis muscle was reduced in aged rats while T3 uptake by cerebral tissues, femoris and soleus muscles was not altered with age. The subcellular distribution of T3 in the liver was determined and the binding power of cytosol and plasma was measured by equilibrium dialysis. In vitro saturation techniques provided estimates for the affinity (Ka) and binding capacity for l - and d -T3 of isolated hepatic nuclei at 37°C. The plasma concentration of T3 was determined with radioimmunoassay. From these parameters the free cytosolic to plasma T3 ratio ( F c F p ) and free nuclear to cytosolic ratio ( F n F c ) were calculated. The F c F p for l -T3 was significantly reduced in aged rats (2.34 ± 0.15) compared to young rats (4.33 ± 0.16) and young rats pair-fed with old (3.55 ± 0.46). The F c F p for d -T3 were 6.2 ± 0.39, 24.3 ± 2.3 and 10.1 ± 1.5, respective. The affinity constant (Ka) and the maximum binding capacity measured in isolated hepatic nuclei were not different in the three groups of rats. However, the nuclear uptake of l -T3 ( T 3 N P : percentage of dose per mg DNA per percentage of dose per ml plasma) was significantly reduced in aged rats (0.29 ± 0.03) and young rats pair-fed with old (0.32 ± 0.02) compared to young rats fed ad libitum (0.44 ± 0.02). The corresponding values of d -T3 were 0.09 ± 0.007, 0.13 ± 0.006 and 0.22 ± 0.01, respectively. The F n F c of l - and d -T3 was not altered in aged rats or young rats pair fed with old. The liver uptake index (U1) of l -[125I]T3 was determined in vivo with single injection tissue sampling technique. The liver uptake index in old rats (73.3 ± 9.9%) was significantly reduced compared to young rats (107.5 ± 9.4%). These results indicate that (1) cellular uptake of T3 is reduced in aged rat liver. These changes may be in part secondary to age-related reduction in food intake. (2) Measurements of free hormone concentration gradients across the cellular and nuclear membranes indicate that the age-related deficit in T3 uptake occurs primarily at the plasma membrane level. (3) The disproportionate reduction of cellular uptake of l - and d -T3 suggest that the reduced transport capacity of T3 in aged rats is associated with alterations in stereospecificity of the T3 transport.
Disability and quality of life in cystic fibrosis from early age to adulthood

We evaluated the utility of the Social Security disability Insurance (SSD) program and the supplemental Security Income (SSI) program in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with disability. Also, we evaluated the role of health care professionals in increasing the disabled patients awareness of the different resources available for them.
2H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance study of N-palmitoylgalactosylsphingosine (cerebroside)/cholesterol bilayers

13C- and 2H-NMR experiments were used to examine the phase behavior and dynamic structures of N-palmitoylgalactosylsphingosine (NPGS) (cerebroside) and cholesterol (CHOL) in binary mixtures. 13C spectra of 13C=O-labeled and 2H spectra of [7,7–2H2] chain-labeled NPGS as well as 3 alpha-2H1 CHOL indicate that cerebroside and CHOL are immiscible in binary mixtures at temperatures less than 40 degrees C. In contrast, at 40 degrees C
Optimizing reaction conditions for synthesis of electron donor-[60]fullerene interlocked multiring systems

Reaction conditions have been developed for the preparation of a series of rotaxanes and catenanes with appended electron-donor and electron-acceptor ([60]fullerene) subunits using a straightforward one-pot procedure based on Cu(I)-template synthesis and “click” chemistry.
The development of performance-monitoring function in the posterior medial frontal cortex.

Background Despite its critical role in performance-monitoring, the development of posterior medial prefrontal cortex (pMFC) in goal-directed behaviors remains poorly understood. Performance monitoring depends on distinct, but related functions that may differentially activate the pMFC, such as monitoring response conflict and detecting errors. Developmental differences in conflict- and error-related activations, coupled with age-related changes in behavioral performance, may confound attempts to map the maturation of pMFC functions. To characterize the development of pMFC-based performance monitoring functions, we segregated interference and error-processing, while statistically controlling for performance.
Non-additive effects of litter mixtures on net N mineralization in a southern New England forest

Abstract In this study, we developed simple, phenomenological models that enabled us to examine whether litter mixtures of differing quality increased, decreased, or had no effect on the rate of net N mineralization relative to a model that extrapolated the expected result assuming no interaction among litters of differing quality. We found that the presence of low quality litter (e.g., litter with a high lignin:N ratio) held the rate of net N mineralization to a uniformly low level until>70% of the litter mixture was dominated by species of high litter quality. After this point, there was a rapid increase in the rate of net N mineralization. Although there was a relatively small difference in the predicted rate of net N mineralization (1 kg ha−1 28 d−1) between the two models (one assuming an interaction among litter types and the second, no interaction), applied over larger spatial and temporal scales, this relatively subtle difference could lead to considerably different estimated rates of N supply to saplings and canopy trees over the course of forest succession.
Thermal Inactivation of Human Norovirus Surrogates

We investigated the thermal inactivation profiles of murine norovirus (MNV), Hepatitis A virus (HAV), and feline calicivirus (FCV), which are surrogates for the study of human noroviruses. Thermal inactivation of MNV and FCV were evaluated at 37, 50, and 60°C and HAV at 37, 50, 60, and 70°C. All viral surrogates were relatively stable at 37°C. MNV and FCV decimal reduction times (D-values) at 50°C were statistically significantly different (P < 0.05) with MNV being more stable. Both surrogates had comparable, low D-values at 60°C. HAV had significantly higher (P < 0.05) D-values than both MNV and FCV at 50 and 60°C. Overall, the infectivity assay results indicate that HAV is resistant to thermal inactivation while MNV is moderately resistant and FCV is least resistant.
Electroencephalographic correlates of the audiogenic seizure response of inbred mice.

Abstract The cortical EEG of 5 inbred strains of mice susceptible to audiogenic seizures and of 3 inbred strains resistant to them as well as 3 accoustically primed inbred strains was recorded before, during, and after exposure to intense noise once a day for 4 consecutive days beginning at 29 or 30 days of age. None of the resistant mice had a convulsion and all of the susceptible mice had at least one convulsion. Before, during, and after the audiogenic seizure, there was no evidence of spike waves or paroxysmal activity in the trace from the bipolar cortical electrodes. Rather, there might be a slight amplification and acceleration of the trace at the stimulus onset with no further changes during wild circling activity, but with a diminution of the trace during clonic or clonic-tonic convulsions. This pattern was observed for all 5 genetically susceptible strains and for all 3 acoustically primed groups. However, during chemoconvulsive seizures with picrotoxin or thiosemicarbazide, these same mice as well as resistant mice show spike waves and paroxysmal activity of the cortex. It is suggested on the basis of these data that the neural mechanism for the expression of audiogenic seizures and chemoconvulsive seizures is different, that all audiogenic seizures have a common mechanism for expression but not for development of this phenotype, and that the audiogenic seizure is a type of brain stem epilepsy.
Parthenolide prodrug LC-1 slows growth of intracranial glioma

LC-1 (also known as DMAPT or dimethylamino-parthenolide), a prodrug of parthenolide, was tested for anti-proliferative activity against glioma. LC-1 was found to have low micromolar cytotoxic activity against three glioma cell lines and was also found to be brain penetrant in healthy mice (2.1-3.0 brain-to-plasma ratio). In a syngeneic GL261 murine glioma model, LC-1 slowed tumor growth kinetics and extended the survival time of tumor-bearing mice in comparison to the vehicle control. Consequently, LC-1 represents a promising lead compound for further development as a glioma therapy.
Systemic and coronary hemodynamic effects of combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade (labetalol) in normotensive patients with stable angina pectoris and positive exercise stress test responses☆

Abstract The systemic and coronary hemodynamic effects of combined α- and β-adrenergic blockade produced by labetalol were assessed in 12 normotensive patients with angina pectoris and an ischemic electrocardiographic response to exercise stress. When given to the patient at rest, labetalol (0.5 mg/kg intravenously) produced systemic and coronary vasodilation (mean 16% and 13%, respectively, both p
Symbionts provide pesticide detoxification

Symbiosis is the intimate “living together” of different organisms (1), and symbiotic relationships range from mutually beneficial to neutral or parasitic. Indeed, many microbial–host symbioses can vary between these states, depending upon circumstances. Recent years have seen an explosion of discoveries revealing novel microbial–host relationships and interactions. In addition to “classic” nutritional symbioses (in which the microbe provides a limiting nutrient not normally available in the host’s diet), studies have shown that microbes can alter the reproductive mode of their hosts (e.g., induce development of unfertilized eggs, change sex, or cause sperm–egg incompatibilities), affect mate choice, and provide protection from natural enemies, including viruses, protozoa, and parasitic insects (2⇓–4). Kikuchi et al. (5) report an extension of this repertoire of effects—bacteria in the genus Burkholderia impart protection against organophosphorous pesticides in stinkbugs.
DSG3 as a Biomarker for the Ultrasensitive Detection of Occult Lymph Node Metastasis in Oral Cancer Using Nanostructured Immunoarrays

Summary Objectives The diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients constitutes an essential requirement for clinical staging and treatment selection. However, clinical assessment by physical examination and different imaging modalities, as well as by histological examination of routine lymph node cryosections can miss micrometastases, while false positives may lead to unnecessary elective lymph node neck resections. Here, we explored the feasibility of developing a sensitive assay system for desmoglein 3 (DSG3) as a predictive biomarker for lymph node metastasis in HNSCC. Materials and methods DSG3 expression was determined in multiple general cancer- and HNSCC-tissue microarrays (TMAs), in negative and positive HNSCC metastatic cervical lymph nodes, and in a variety of HNSCC and control cell lines. A nanostructured immunoarray system was developed for the ultrasensitive detection of DSG3 in lymph node tissue lysates. Results We demonstrate that DSG3 is highly expressed in all HNSCC lesions and their metastatic cervical lymph nodes, but absent in non-invaded lymph nodes. We show that DSG3 can be rapidly detected with high sensitivity using a simple microfluidic immunoarray platform, even in human tissue sections including very few HNSCC invading cells, hence distinguishing between positive and negative lymph nodes. Conclusion We provide a proof of principle supporting that ultrasensitive nanostructured assay systems for DSG3 can be exploited to detect micrometastatic HNSCC lesions in lymph nodes, which can improve the diagnosis and guide in the selection of appropriate therapeutic intervention modalities for HNSCC patients.
Phase-Separated Composite Films for Liquid Crystal Displays

A method of preparing liquid crystal devices by phase separation of liquid crystal from its solution in a prepolymer, which results in adjacent layers of liquid crystal and polymer, is described. Liquid crystals in these phase-separated composite films exhibit electro-optical properties not observed in devices prepared by conventional methods, polymer dispersion, or polymer-stabilization methods. Devices incorporating ferroelectric liquid crystals have gray scale and switch 100 times faster at low fields than conventional surface-stabilized devices. This method makes it possible to prepare devices with liquid crystal film thickness comparable to optical wavelengths.
Creeping flow through cubic arrays of spherical bubbles

Abstract We consider creeping flow through a cubic array of identical spherical bubbles and compute the drag force exerted on a representative bubble in the array using a method originally employed by Hasimoto (1959) and recently modified by Sangani & Acrivos (1982). In addition to deriving analytic expressions for the drag to 0(c 2 ) , we present numerical results for the complete range of bubble volume fractions c for the three cubic arrays.
Morphologic liver changes in intestinal bypass patients

Abstract Intestinal bypass caused morphologic changes in the liver in 80 to 90 percent of cases. The changes were more frequent and more extensive when shorter lengths of intestine were used. Eleven percent of patients in the series showed permanent changes in the liver suggestive of cirrhosis. Thirty-three percent of the patients over age 45 years had hepatic changes suggestive of cirrhosis. Permanent changes in the liver were almost always apparent by the 12th postoperative month. The correlation between acute morphologic changes of the liver and impending liver failure was poor. All patients in whom impending liver failure was suspected had severe hepatic changes, but some biopsies showing similar severe changes were noted in patients who felt well and were not undergoing a take-down of the intestinal bypass. Cellular changes in the liver reflecting acute stress were generally maximal 6 months postoperatively and then began to improve. The chronic changes of fibrosis and lobular architectural change suggestive of cirrhosis were generally present by 12 months and did not improve with time. During the follow-up period, it was believed that a greater number of changes in the preoperative biopsy indicated a greater risk of the development of cirrhosis. However, retrospective examination of the series did not substantiate this impression. As the length of intestine used in intestinal bypass was increased, the range and extent of weight loss diminished. Insufficient weight also became more frequent. Nevertheless, 80 percent of the patients in whom the longest length of ileum was used still had some degree of liver change. In general, the patients with the greatest degree of morphologic change in the liver had the most rapid and extensive weight loss.
Computed Tomography in the Headache Patient: Is Routine Evaluation Really Necessary?

SYNOPSIS Objective. To determine the likelihood ratio of a positive computed tomogram of the brain in the routine evaluation of headache patients. Design. Consecutive patients with a chief complaint of headache were prospectively evaluated with computed tomography of the brain. Patients with headaches complicating other clinical disorders such as trauma, postictal state or known intracranial neoplasm were excluded. Setting. Military tertiary care center. Patients. Consecutive sample of 350 patients with a chief complaint of headache, regardless of the presence or absence of physical or neurologic signs, were referred for computed tomography of the brain. The patients were referred from a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Results. Seven (2%) of the 350 patients had computed tomographic findings that were clinically significant. An additional 25 (7%) had positive computed tomographic findings, which were clinically insignificant for findings. All of the patients with significant computed tomographic findings had an abnormal physical or neurologic exam or unusual clinical symptoms. Conclusion. Routine computed tomography of the brain in headache patients with normal physical and neurologic exams and no unusual clinical symptoms has a low likelihood ratio for discovering significant intracranial disease.
Psychiatric treatment of the mentally retarded child with behavior problems.

A review of an experimental program offering psychotherapy with mentally retarded children. The article considers the rationale of offering psychotherapy to these children; a psychiatric division of mentally retarded children in terms of the absence, presence, and type of emotional disorders; and the basis of selection of these children. The experiment sums up three years of work. It includes a brief discussion of the modifications of usual modes of psychotherapy for adaptation to this group.
High dose naloxone produces cerebral vasodilation.

In this study, 12 dogs were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital, and blood flows were determined using the radioactive microsphere technique. Ten dogs were first made acutely hypertensive by the infusion of norepinephrine and demonstrated preserved cerebral autoregulation. The administration of naloxone, 10 mg/kg i.v., in these animals produced a significant increase in cerebral blood flow and a proportional drop in cerebrovascular resistance with no change in the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen or the electroencephalogram. Two additional spontaneously hypertensive dogs demonstrated a similar response to naloxone. These results suggest that high dose naloxone produces cerebrovasodilation either directly or through the inhibition of cerebral autoregulation.
Theoretical study of the Ar-, Kr-, and Xe-CH4, -CF4 intermolecular potential-energy surfaces.

We present a theoretical study of the intermolecular potentials for the Ar, Kr, and Xe−CH4, −CF4 systems. The potential-energy surfaces of these systems have been calculated utilizing second-order Moller−Plesset perturbation theory and coupled-cluster theory in combination with correlation-consistent basis sets (aug-cc-pvnz; n = d, t, q). The calculations show that the stabilizing interactions between the rare gases and the molecules are slightly larger for CF4 than for CH4. Moreover, the rare-gas−CX4 (X = H, F) potentials are more attractive for Xe than for Kr and Ar. Our highest quality ab initio data (focal-point-CCSD(T) extrapolated to the complete basis set limit) have been used to develop pairwise analytical potentials for rare-gas−hydrocarbon (−fluorocarbon) systems. These potentials can be applied in classical-trajectory studies of rare gases interacting with hydrocarbon surfaces.
Synergistic interaction between baclofen administration into the median raphe nucleus and inconsequential visual stimuli on investigatory behavior of rats.

Noncontingent administration of amphetamine into the ventral striatum or systemic nicotine increases responses rewarded by inconsequential visual stimuli. When these drugs are contingently administered, rats learn to self-administer them. We recently found that rats self-administer the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen into the median (MR) or dorsal (DR) raphe nuclei. We examined whether noncontingent administration of baclofen into the MR or DR increases rats’ investigatory behavior rewarded by a flash of light. Contingent presentations of a flash of light slightly increased lever presses. Whereas noncontingent administration of baclofen into the MR or DR did not reliably increase lever presses in the absence of visual stimulus reward, the same manipulation markedly increased lever presses rewarded by the visual stimulus. Heightened locomotor activity induced by intraperitoneal injections of amphetamine (3 mg/kg) failed to concur with increased lever pressing for the visual stimulus. These results indicate that the observed enhancement of visual stimulus seeking is distinct from an enhancement of general locomotor activity. Visual stimulus seeking decreased when baclofen was co-administered with the GABAB receptor antagonist, SCH 50911, confirming the involvement of local GABAB receptors. Seeking for visual stimulus also abated when baclofen administration was preceded by intraperitoneal injections of the dopamine antagonist, SCH 23390 (0.025 mg/kg), suggesting enhanced visual stimulus seeking depends on intact dopamine signals. Baclofen administration into the MR or DR increased investigatory behavior induced by visual stimuli. Stimulation of GABAB receptors in the MR and DR appears to disinhibit the motivational process involving stimulus–approach responses.
Thermal degradation of polyisobutylene studied using factor-jump thermogravimetry

The overall activation energy of the thermal degradation of polyisobutylene has been measured using factor-jump thermogravimetry to be 206±1 kJ/mole over the range 365 to 405° in N2 at 800 mm Hg pressure and flowing at 4 mm/s over the sample. This is consistent with some values reported for thermal degradation in vacuum and in solution. In 5 mm Hg of N2, an apparent activation energy of 218±2 kJ/mole was found, and in vacuum the apparent activation energy is 238±13 kJ/mole. Troublesome bubbling made the vacuum values difficult to measure. Substitution of reasonable values for the activation energies of initiation,E i , termination,E t , and the activation energy,E a , for vacuum degradation in the equationE a =E i /2E d -E t /2 yields an activation energy Ed=84 kJ/mole for the unzipping reaction. This equation presupposes a degradation mechanism of random initiation, unzipping, and bimolecular termination. Substitution of reasonable values for the heat of polymerization, ΔH, in the definition ΔH=E p −e d suggests that the activation energy of the polymerization reaction at 375° is approximately 30 kJ/mole.
The motion of a proton in the equatorial magnetosphere

A proton of low energy moving in the equatorial plane of the earth will experience drift motions due to both the magnetic field (magnetic gradient drift only, if the field is assumed to be that of a dipole) and the electric field. The electric drift again separates into two parts - the drift due to the main electric field (or convection electric field) existing in the frame of the earth, and that due to the earth's rotation. One result indicated by this work is that at distances of 4 - 6 earth radii, a transition from trapped proton orbits to open trajectories leading to the tail occurs at about 10 kev, the precise value depending upon local time. Such a transition also seems to be indicated by particle observations using Explorer 45. The energy spectrum (at magnetically quiet times) of equatorial protons above this energy can be explained by charge exchange but increased flux observed below it seems to be related to the influx of particles on open orbits from the tail.
Temperature dependence for physical and functional reconstitution of 30S ribosomes of E. coli.

Abstract Employing the reconstitution system of Traub and Nomura, the temperature dependence of physical and function reconstitution was studied. The data show that the physical formation of 30S particles occurs at temperatures 15° below the maximum temperature for functional reconstitution. This may indicate that the high activation energy required for functional reconstitution is directed toward arrangement of active sites rather than the interaction of proteins with their cognate sites on RNA.
SkewTune in action: mitigating skew in MapReduce applications

We demonstrate SkewTune, a system that automatically mitigates skew in user-defined MapReduce programs and is a drop-in replacement for Hadoop. The demonstration has two parts. First, we demonstrate how SkewTune mitigates skew in real MapReduce applications at runtime by running a real application in a public cloud. Second, through an interactive graphical interface, we demonstrate the details of the skew mitigation process using both real and synthetic workloads that represent various skew configurations.
Novel virulence and host range genes of African swine fever virus

Current work is beginning to reveal the complex mechanisms by which African swine fever virus interacts with its swine and tick hosts. This work includes the identification of novel viral genes that mediate virulence and host range, and influence important cellular regulatory pathways.
Excited electronic states of PF2

Abstract The energies of the states below 40000 cm−1 have been calculated at the CASPT2 (3, 8)/ANO level. The symmetry assignments and energies at this level: 2A1 15798 cm−1, 2B2 21791 cm−1, 4B1, 27528 cm−1, 2A1 40304 cm−1, 2B1 41596 cm−1, and 4B2 46879 cm−1. We expect these energies to be within 1500 cm−1 of experimentally determined energies. These results suggest that the emitting state found in a recent spectroscopic study of PF2 (Chem. Phys. Letters 210 (1993) 362) is not the 4A2 state but the 2B2 state.
Using the Delphi Technique in Educational Technology Research

As educational technology practitioners and researchers engage in research in the field, a wide array of research methodologies are available to them. One such methodology is the Delphi Technique. Use of the Delphi Technique offers many benefits, including the ability to obtain expert opinion, build consensus, determine the suitability of the application of instructional interventions, forecast trends, and interact with research subjects without being limited by time and space. While the origin and early use of the Delphi Technique was in the business setting, it has been used in other environments over the years, including educational settings. The various intrinsic qualities of the methodology could be beneficial to the field of educational technology. This article examines the Delphi Technique, its benefits, and how it could benefit educational technology researchers.
Design of a Magnetic Levitation Control System???An Undergraduate Project

A magnetic levitation control system is built as a classroom demonstration device for systems and control courses. System linearization and phase-lead compensation techniques are used to control the unstable nonlinear system.
CONTROLLING THE CHAOS: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO MANAGING A SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Why so much chaos so quickly on many development programs? Typically during the proposal phase the Management Volume is generated in isolation from the Technical Volume and vise versa. After the program is awarded this discontinuity becomes a major fissure embedded in the foundation upon which the program is built. Often chaos in varying degrees results. Symptoms of this condition include: difficulty in measuring progress which impairs visibility afforded to management; key requirements are not communicated to all impacted areas; and critical issues do not get surfaced to management in a timely fashion. Thus the chaos level of the system rises which, in turn, causes the technical, cost, and schedule risk to increase since risk increases proportionately with the chaos level of the system. This paper suggests two ways of minimizing program chaos: first, to implement semi-autonomous Integrated Product Teams (IPT) and organize them according to the logic of the System Development Process (SDP) (see Adamsen, 1995); second, to integrate the responsibilities of management and technical development under each IPT, fitting each to function semi-autonomously. The IPT then becomes the mechanism for integrating not only the technical activities, but also the management activities. This environment fosters an atmosphere of camaraderie which facilitates communication across all disciplines of activity. In addition, the development of meaningful metrics tracked with honest inputs occurs since naturally adversarial relationships have been alleviated. Open and honest communication to management is encouraged since all are on the same team and win or lose together, and management of the configuration is facilitated because all the stakeholders are involved in the development. With this approach, the typical discontinuity between the management team and the technical development team, and the ensuing chaos, can be effectively mitigated.
Symmetric representations of knot groups

Abstract In this paper we give an explicit and constructive description of the pairs (μ, λ) of elements in the symmetric group S n which can be realized as the image of the meridian-longitude pair of some knot K in the 3-sphere S 3 under a representation π 1 ( S 3 − K ) → S n . The result is applied to give an otherwise nonobvious restriction on the numbers of branch curves of a branched covering of S 3 , answering a question of R. Fox and K. Perko.
CABG or PCI? An interventional cardiologist's perspective. To stent or to operate: is this the question?

Neither the New York study nor Dr. Casserly provides a plausible explanation for why CABG might offer a survival advantage.
An APL interpreter and system for a small computer

The design and implementation of an experimental APL system on the small, sensor-based System/7 is described. Emphasis is placed on the solution to the problem of fitting a full APL system into a small computer. The system has been extended through an I/O auxiliary processor to make it possible to use APL in the management and control of the System/7 sensor-based I/O operations.
Active circuits for ultra-high efficiency micropower generators using nickel-63 radioisotope

Integration of betavolatics with radioisotope-powered piezoelectric micropower generators (RPG) operating in new resonant modes, attains nuclear-electrical conversion efficiencies of up to 30%, generating 1 to 10muW peak power with 1 to 10 milliCurie of Nickel-63. A 20mV-voltage-drop ac-to-dc rectifier employing radioactively biased MOSFETs is developed for efficient conversion of RPG-generated low-amplitude power signals
Economic Utilization of Forages in Production of Milk and Beef in the Northeast United States

Abstract Economical forage production, storage, and feeding systems for production of milk, dairy steers, and steers of a traditional beef breed on a productive land resource and production of milk, dairy steers, and cow-calf operation of a traditional beef breed on a marginal land resource were calculated. Profitability of these selected livestock enterprises on the marginal land resource also was calculated. On the productive land resource, growing either all forage and grain or only forage containing equal parts of hay crop silage and corn silage was most economical for milk production. For dairy steer and traditional beef steer production, 100% of the forage from corn silage was the system with low cost. On the marginal land resource, the system of all hay was low cost for milk production and only a slightly lower cost system for dairy steer production. Systems of corn silage and pasture were most economical for cow-calf operations. Dairy steer production can be competitive with profits from milk production on a marginal land resource, but cow-calf operations are supplementing income enterprises.
Guidelines for interpretation of some common indicators of residency program performance

objective To provide national norms for indicators of residency-training program quality and information on their reproducibility. Participants The 364 residency-training programs that had 4 or more candidates take the 1989 to 1991 certifying examination in internal medicine for the first time. design Within each residency, program directors' ratings of medical knowledge, certifying examination scores, and certification status (pass or fail) were available for each candidate from 1989 to 1991. Means of these data were calculated for each program for each year of the study. To provide a way of comparing an individual program with all other programs, percentiles are reported for each year. To assess the precision of the measures, generalizabilrty theory was applied and confidence intervals for all data are reported for programs of various size (1 to 25 residents taking the examination) and over the years (1 to 3). Results Over the 3 years of the study, knowledge ratings, certification rates, and composite scores declined slightly. The correlations between program ratings of medical knowledge and the composite scores ranged from .47 to .60 and certification rates ranged from .44 to .55. The confidence intervals around all of the program performance indicators are relatively large and are affected most by the number of residents in the program. There is little variability across the years. Conclusions In smaller programs the precision of the performance indicators is poor; in programs with only a few residents they are virtually meaningless. On the positive side, programs are relatively stable and aggregating indicators over years is a reasonable way to increase their precision in assessing program performance. If the goal of program evaluation is to identify programs at the extremes, especially those at the low end, then such data may help guide program directors and educators.
Subzone redevelopment of the long beach unit, Wilmington oil field: a case study

A major program of infill subzone redevelopment to improve vertical waterflood conformance has been successful in materially improving oil recovery performance in the Long Beach Unit of the Wilmington oil field, CA. The well completions in individual subzones or layers will result in greatly improved future reservoir management opportunities through individual subzone or layer monitoring and control.
The stable isotopic composition of coral skeletons: control by environmental variables☆

Abstract The reef corals Pocillopora damicornis and Montipora verrucosa were cultured under various controlled temperature and light conditions. The corals were analyzed for growth rate, tissue pigment content and skeletal 13 C and 18 O. Coral skeletal δ 13 C values varied with light dose and correlated with changes in zooxanthellar pigment. The δ 13 C values of skeletal aragonite seem to be modified by oxidation of photosynthetically produced organic matter. Functionally significant relationships between coral skeletal δ 18 O values and temperature have been determined. The temperature coefficients of the δ 18 O values [−4.4°C (%.) −1 ] are similar to the first order coefficient in the equilibrium paleotemperature equation, but the δ 18 O values have taxonomically consistent offsets from equilibrium. The offsets may be attributed to the coral metabolism with slight but statistically significant differences between the two genera. Environmental and metabolic variables other than temperature have little or no effect on skeletal δ 18 O.
The effects of redundant communications on the behavior of listeners: Does a picture need a thousand words?

Using a referential communication paradigm, two types of, informative messages, contrastive and redundant, were compared developmentally in terms of their relative effects on the accuracy of listeners' responses as a function of task variables. Contrastive messages contained the minimal information necessary to distinguish a referent from a nonreferent. Redundant messages contained additional information. We predicted that redundant messages would be more effective than contrastive ones when the stimulus array was too complex for a listener to notice all aspects of it in the allotted time. Also manipulated were the order of presentation of the message and array and the delay between the two in order to determine how these factors would contribute to task complexity. Subjects were first-and third-graders and college students. The stimuli were drawings of cartoonlike figures. The results confirmed our predictions for the older subjects but not for the younger ones. The discussion of the data centered on why the picture-message sequence, was a more difficult sequence than the message-picture one for all age groups.
The effects of contact with Asians and Asian Americans on White American college students: attitudes, awareness of racial discrimination, and psychological adjustment.

On the basis of acculturation theory, explicating mutual influences between different cultural or ethnic groups coming into contact, this study focused “on the other side of acculturation” theory by examining the effects of intercultural contact with Asians and Asian Americans on the psychosocial experiences of White American college students. Participants (N = 315), undergraduates attending a public university located within the state of Massachusetts, completed a survey that assessed demographic and personal characteristics, acculturation (extent of intercultural contact with Asian people and Asian cultures), attitudes towards Asians and Asian Americans, awareness of institutional discrimination and blatant racial issues, and psychological distress. Results indicated that White American students’ intercultural contact with Asians and Asian Americans contributed significant variance to the prediction of their attitudes towards this ethnic group and awareness of discrimination and racial issues, but not to psychological distress. This study provides implications for understanding mutual acculturative influences between different ethnic groups in the United States.