cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conversational interactions of mothers and their preschool children who had been born preterm

This study examined the conversational interactions of mothers’ and their 4.5-year-old children, who had been bom preterm, during a social problem-solving task asking each dyad to agree on the choi...
The decrease in shear stress and increase in transport rates subsequent to an increase in sand supply to a gravel-bed channel

Abstract It is generally accepted that a gravel-bed river will aggrade if the supply of sediment to the river is increased. In a series of flume experiments using constant discharge and gravel feed rate, sand feed rates were increased to 6.1 times that of gravel. The slope of the bed decreased with increasing sand supply, indicating that the increased sediment load could be transported at the same rate due to a decrease in shear stresses. These results extend previous experiments to a wider range of boundary conditions. A recent surface transport model is used to predict the changes in bed composition and transport using the same sediment supply composition and feed rates as in the laboratory experiments. This model reasonably predicts a decrease in the reference shear stresses of the sand and gravel fractions as the sand supply is increased. An increase in sand supply can increase the mobility of gravel fractions in the stream bed, which can lead to bed degradation and preferential evacuation of these sediments from the river.
EQUILIBRIUM CONDENSATION IN A SOLAR NEBULA

In attempts to reconstruct the environment of condensation of solar system materials, particularly exemplified by certain meteorite components, the relative temperatures of the gas and the solid are of critical importance. The relationships that determine the heat balance in a circumsolar grain-gas system are examined. Fundamental considerations show that regardless of opacity or gas density, the gas will always be at a higher temperature than the solid in such regions of the system where condensation is possible. Implications of the characteristic temperature differential between the gas and the condensing solid are discussed.
Object-oriented design of the subsumption architecture

The subsumption architecture is a layered mediator invented by Rodney Brooks for behaviour-based control of robots. The layers are minimally dependent and use minimal communication. We develop an object-oriented software design for the subsumption architecture, and demonstrate that each layer can be used as a slot for a set of plug-and-play components that implement different microstrategies for achieving a particular goal. Guidelines for the development of specific layers and components of a subsumption architecture are also presented. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Current Understanding of the Trap Generation Mechanisms that Lead to the Power Law Model for Gate Dielectric Breakdown

This paper reviews recent experiments that have shown that the probable mechanism for low voltage trap generation and dielectric breakdown is anode hydrogen release. Vibrational excitation of silicon-hydrogen bonds is the process that provides the most plausible explanation for the existence of a power law model for TDDB.
Hyperglycemia among persons with hepatitis C: not the classical diabetic phenotype.

Abstract Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (United States, 1988–1994), we compared clinical phenotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-seropositive and seronegative adults aged 20–89 years with hyperglycemia (impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes, n = 3566 including 86 with HCV). Seroprevalence was higher among younger persons (3.4% for ages 20–59 versus 0.9% for ages 60–89, p = 0.002), while traditional correlates of diabetes (hypertension, coronary heart disease) were more prevalent among older persons (both comparisons, p
Sugar consumption and preference among Mexican, Chinese, and Nigerian immigrants to Texas

This pilot study investigated the relationship between sugar consumption/ preference and the length of residence in the U.S. among certain immigrant groups. The study sample consisted of 213 volunteers from community organizations and church groups, of Nigerian (45%), Mexican (31%), and Chinese (24%) descent. Data were collected on demographics, sugar consumption/preference (24-hour dietary recall), and oral health status. The age of respondents varied from 18 to 93 years with a mean age of 37.0 ± 11.7 years. The mean length of residence was 9.2 ± 7.2 years, and the mean sugar consumption was 122.4 ± 114.6 g/day. Immigrants from Mexico and Nigeria reported consuming more servings of sweets per day than the Chinese (p= .006); Mexican immigrants had the highest level of sugar preference (p= .001). No significant differences were observed between the length of residence and either sugar consumption or sugar preference. Greater availability of sugar and sweet snacks does not always result in increased sugar consumption or sugar preference.
Utility of Biochemical Systems Theory for the analysis of metabolic effects from low-dose chemical exposure.

Adverse health outcomes from exposure to chemical agents are of increasing interest in human and ecological risk assessment and require the development of new analytical methods. Such methods must be able to capture the essence of integrated networks of biochemical pathways in a mathematically feasible fashion. Over the past three decades, Biochemical Systems Theory has been successfully applied to numerous biological systems. It is suggested here that S-system models derived from BST can provide the means for assessing chemical exposures and their effects at the metabolic level. This article briefly reviews essential concepts of S-systems and provides generic examples of chemical exposure scenarios. S-system models can be considered mechanistic, since their components are measurable quantities (e.g., concentrations, fluxes, enzyme activities, and rates). As dynamic models, they can be used to assess immediate and long-term metabolic responses to environmental stimuli. Direct mathematical analysis for low exposures leads to simple dose-response relationships, which have the form of power-law functions. Thus, if the S-system model yields an appropriate description of chemical exposure and its metabolic effects, the dose-response relationship for low exposures is linear in logarithmic coordinates. This result includes as a special case the standard linear relationship in Cartesian coordinates with zero intercept.
Reduced emergency department utilization associated with school-based clinic enrollment.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the change in emergency department utilization before and after enrollment in a school-based clinic (SBC). Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study comparing emergency department visit rate before and after SBC enrollment based on chart review. An initial cohort of 10- to 15-year-olds who used a local emergency department was divided into two samples: those who had been enrolled in the SBC and those who had not. Emergency department charts were reviewed for visits that occurred during the initial year and two subsequent school years. The change in visit rate for each sample group was measured for each school year evaluated. Results: The initial cohort consisted of 2852 youth, 344 of whom who lived in the high school attendance zone. Of these, the number of students enrolled in both the high school and the SBC was 43; the number enrolled in the high school but not in the clinic was 48. The emergency department visit rate decreased for both groups for each school year evaluated; however, this decrease was significant only for the SBC sample with a 41% to 57% decrease in emergency department utilization, 18% greater than the decrease in students who did not use the SBC. Conclusions: Accessible, prevention-oriented health care provided in a SBC can decrease the utilization of episodic health care in an emergency department.
Utilization of BRCA1/2 genetic testing in the clinical setting: report from a single institution.

BACKGROUND Clinical testing for BRCA1/2 has been available since 1996. Interest in testing in the research and hypothetical situations has been consistently high, but there have been limited reports on its clinical utilization. METHODS This is a retrospective study of BRCA1/2 test utilization by high-risk patients who were seen at the Johns Hopkins Breast and Ovarian Surveillance Service. RESULTS Between February 1996 and December 1999, 258 families who had at least a 10% chance of carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation were offered genetic testing. Of these, 26 families seen between February 1996 and October 1996 had access to free testing. Overall, 68 of 258 (26%) underwent genetic testing. Educational level, number of children or daughters, breast carcinoma screening behavior, smoking and drinking behavior, perceived risk of breast carcinoma, and family history was not associated with test utilization. Eligibility for free testing, prior history of breast or ovarian carcinoma, Ashkenazi Jewish versus non-Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, genetic risk category, and age category were associated with test utilization, and in multivariate analysis, the first three remained statistically significant factors associated with genetic testing. Only 26% of the 50 patients who did not have access to free testing sought insurance reimbursement, of which greater than 50% (7 of 13) had a prior diagnosis of breast or ovarian carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS The actual utilization of BRCA1/2 genetic testing in a clinical setting is lower than in the research and hypothetical settings. Potential obstacles include cost, fear of insurance discrimination, and need to involve an affected family member in the testing process. Cancer 2002;94:1876–85. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10420
Three-Dimensional Numerical Study of Flows in Open-Channel Junctions

An open-channel junction flow is encountered in many hydraulic structures ranging from wastewater treatment facilities to fish passage conveyance structures. An extensive number of experimental studies have been conducted but a comprehensive three-dimensional numerical study of junction flow characteristics has not been performed and reported. In this paper, a three-dimensional numerical model is developed to investigate the open-channel junction flow. The main objective is to present the validation of a three-dimensional numerical model with high-quality experimental data and compare additional simulations with classical one-dimensional water surface calculations. The three-dimensional model is first validated using the experimental data of a 90° junction flow under two flow conditions. Good agreement is obtained between the model simulation and the experimental measurements. The model is then applied to investigate the effect of the junction angle on the flow characteristics and a discussion of the results is presented.
An ATPase activity associated with brain microtubules.

Abstract A persistent ATPase/GTPase activity has been found to be associated with highly recycled bovine brain microtubules. A GTP regeneration system was introduced to minimize the inhibitory effects of this hydrolase on microtubule polymerization. The characteristics of the ATPase indicate that it is not involved in GTP-induced mictrotubule polymerization, but is directly involved in ATP-induced polymerization. ATP-induced polymerization was also shown to require stoichiometric amounts of GDP, but higher levels of GDP inhibited both microtubule formation and the ATPase activity. An ammonium sulfate fractionation procedure was devised to separate microtubule protein into an ATPase-rich fraction and a pure tubulin fraction. The pure tubulin fraction polymerized in the presence of GTP, but not in the presence of ATP and GDP. In contrast, the ATPase-rich fraction polymerized with either ATP or GTP. It is still not known whether the microtubule associated ATPase plays a significant role in cellular microtubule function.
The relationship between children's social concerns and their social interaction strategies: differences between rejected and accepted boys

In this study involving 55 fourth and fifth grade boys, children's concerns in their peer interactions, their social interaction strategies, and the relationship between their concerns and strategies were examined. Compared to peer accepted boys, submissive rejected boys cared less about sustaining interactions with peers and aggressive rejected boys cared less about peers' feelings. Aggressive rejected boys, and rejected boys who were neither highly aggressive nor highly submissive, also suggested more aversive strategies for handling conflictual interpersonal situations than did accepted boys. Of particular interest is that this was true even when their concerns in those situations were similar to those of accepted boys. The implications of these findings for children's social competence are discussed.
Hyperparasitism of intrasnail stages of Fasciola hepatica by a mosquito microsporidian parasite.

Abstract Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the infective behavior of Nosema algerae spores when ingested by Fasciola hepatica free of F. hepatica-infected snails (Lymnaea cubensis). Among the F. hepatica-infected snails exposed to N. algerae, 38.09% harbored microsporidia-infected F. hepatica rediae. The F. hepatica-free snails exposed to N. algerae as well as the controls did not become infected. Light microscopical studies of Giemsa-stained microsporidia distinguished this organism from microsporidia previously described in trematode larvae. Based on the infectivity studies and morphological data, it was concluded that N. algerae, a mosquito pathogen, was transmitted to intrasnail stages of F. hepatica.
Molecular-genetic evaluation of fungal molecules for roles in pathogenesis to plants

Fungus-plant interactions involve complex developmental processes in which a variety of fungal and plant molecules are required to determine whether the outcome is a susceptible reaction (successful fungal colonization of plant tissues) or a resistant reaction (the plant mounts a defence that aborts fungal invasion). To understand the molecular basis of fungal disease, it is necessary to identify the fungal molecules that areessential for pathogenic processes, and to distinguish them from molecules that may be present during infection but not critical to its outcome. Molecular-genetic technology has been developed for fungal pathogens and used to evaluate the roles of fungal molecules in fungal infection processes. Although the field is in its infancy, several molecules have already been proven as essential components of fungal pathogenesis. Some are clearly involved in the adhesion and penetration phases of infection, i.e. hydrophobins, melanin, glycerol, cutinase, and components of signal transduction pathways (which mediate colonization as well), whereas others are required for colonization of plant tissues after penetration, i.e. toxins that induce susceptibility, toxins that induce resistance, and enzymes that inactivate plant defence mechanisms. Molecular-genetic manipulation has also been used to show that certain candidates for roles in pathogenesis are in fact not involved in any detectable way.
Reversible Sheet-Turn Conformational Change of a Cell-Penetrating Peptide in Lipid Bilayers Studied by Solid-State NMR

The membrane-bound conformation of a cell-penetrating peptide, penetratin, is investigated using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The (13)C chemical shifts of (13)C, (15)N-labeled residues in the peptide indicate a reversible conformational change from beta-sheet at low temperature to coil-like at high temperature. This conformational change occurs for all residues examined between positions 3 and 13, at peptide/lipid molar ratios of 1:15 and 1:30, in membranes with 25-50% anionic lipids, and in both saturated DMPC/DMPG (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylchloline/1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol) membranes and unsaturated POPC/POPG (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol) membranes. Thus, it is an intrinsic property of penetratin. The coil state of the peptide has C-H order parameters of 0.23-0.52 for C(alpha) and C(beta) sites, indicating that the peptide backbone is unstructured. Moreover, chemical shift anisotropy lineshapes are uniaxially averaged, suggesting that the peptide backbone undergoes uniaxial rotation around the bilayer normal. These observations suggest that the dynamic state of penetratin at high temperature is a structured turn instead of an isotropic random coil. The thermodynamic parameters of this sheet-turn transition are extracted and compared to other membrane peptides reported to exhibit conformational changes. We suggest that the function of this turn conformation may be to reduce hydrophobic interactions with the lipid chains and facilitate penetratin translocation across the bilayer without causing permanent membrane damage.
The Effect of Freestream Turbulence on Film Cooling Heat Transfer Coefficient

The film-cooling performance of a flat plate in the presence of low and high freestream turbulence is investigated using thermochromic liquid crystal thermography. Full-surface distributions of the convective heat transfer coefficient are determined for three blowing rates on a model with three straight holes spaced three diameters apart. An increase in heat transfer coefficient due to mass injection is clearly observed in the images and is quantitatively determined for both the low and high freestream turbulence cases. The increase in heat transfer coefficient is greater than in previously published research, possibly due to the use of different, more representative thermal boundary conditions upstream of the injection location. These boundary conditions, along with high resolution images, may account for the appearance of “fork tine” patterns of high heat transfer due to the presence of these vortices, not previously seen. Although the driving potential for heat transfer is less, it is observed that in some instances film cooling may cause an increase in overall heat transfer due to the increase in heat transfer coefficient.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Multi-layered global gene regulation in mouse embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from the inner cell mass of developing embryos have tremendous potential in regenerative medicine due to their unique properties: ES cells can be maintained for a prolonged time without changes in their cellular characteristics in vitro (self-renewal), while sustaining the capacity to give rise to all cell types of adult organisms (pluripotency). In addition to the development of protocols to manipulate ES cells for therapeutic applications, understanding how such unique properties are maintained has been one of the key questions in stem cell research. During the past decade, advances in high-throughput technologies have enabled us to systematically monitor multiple layers of gene regulatory mechanisms in ES cells. In this review, we briefly summarize recent findings on global gene regulatory modes in ES cells, mainly focusing on the regulatory factors responsible for transcriptional and epigenetic regulations as well as their modular regulatory patterns throughout the genome.
Equilibrium Analysis of Drifting Vehicles for Control Design

This paper presents an analysis of the dynamics of a rear wheel drive vehicle during cornering at high sideslip angles (“drifting”) using a three-state bicycle model. This model builds upon previous work with a two-state bicycle model by incorporating longitudinal dynamics and a nonlinear tire model with simplified lateral-longitudinal force coupling. Analysis of this model reveals the existence of unstable “drift equilibria” corresponding to steady state cornering at high sideslip angles with significant longitudinal force applied at the rear tire. These equilibria are saddle points, with characteristics that exhibit low sensitivity to friction and speed variation. The analysis of the equilibria provides insight into vehicle dynamics in an operating regime responsible for major safety concerns in everyday driving. It also sheds light upon aspects of the system dynamics that account for behavior observed in autonomous drift experiments and must be considered in future controller designs.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The mechanism of corrosion-erosion in steam extraction lines of power stations

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1984.
Automating data integration with HiperFuse

Integrating heterogeneous datasets has been a significant barrier to many analytics tasks, due to the variety in structure and level of cleanliness of raw datasets requiring one-off ETL code. We propose HiperFuse, which significantly automates the data integration process by providing a declarative interface, robust type inference, extensible domain-specific data models, and a data integration planner which optimizes for plan completion time.
Randomized controlled trial of brief cognitive behavioral intervention for depression and anxiety symptoms preoperatively in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Objective The goal of this study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a brief, tailored cognitive–behavioral intervention for patients with symptoms of preoperative depression or anxiety before undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation. Methods Patients were recruited from a university teaching hospital between February 2007 and May 2009. Patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment as usual (TAU) or a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention called Managing Anxiety and Depression using Education and Skills (MADES). A total of 100 subjects were randomized into the study. Length of hospital stay was assessed with a 1-way analysis of variance. Depression, anxiety, and quality of life were assessed with mixed-model repeated measures analyses. Results Overall, the intervention was feasible, and patients had a positive impression of the MADES. Patients in the TAU group stayed longer in the hospital than did those in the MADES group (7.9 days ± 2.6 vs 9.2 days ± 3.5; P = .049). Depressive symptoms increased at time of hospital discharge for the TAU group, whereas the MADES group had a decrease in depressive symptoms at the time of discharge. Quality of life and anxiety symptoms improved in both groups at 3 to 4 weeks of follow-up. However, the MADES group had greater improvements than did the TAU group. Conclusions This study demonstrated that brief, tailored CBT targeting preoperative depression and anxiety is both feasible and acceptable for patients undergoing CABG surgery. Most important, this intervention improved depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as quality of life. Moreover, it reduced in-hospital length of stay. This study found that a cognitive–behavioral intervention for patients undergoing CABG surgery for symptoms of preoperative depression/anxiety is both feasible and acceptable. Most important, this intervention improved depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as quality of life. It also reduced in-hospital length of stay.
An information trail model for capturing human behaviour in artefact creation and use in complex work systems

This article presents an information trail model. The model is a method for uncovering information transformation using artefacts in complex work systems. We use a patient care scenario in a hospital emergency department to illustrate theoretical, methodological and design elements of the model. In a complex system, humans create and manage complexity, a paradox. The information trail model proposes that humans manage the paradox by creating and evolving artefacts and information cues. They organise purposefully through self-organisation and stigmergical behaviour. Information trail model states that humans leave trails of information as signs or symbols, and the piecing together and transformation of which will lead to final goals. Information trails contain work attributes and strategies, which can be utilised in work system design.
Detection of parent-of-origin specific expression quantitative trait loci by cis-association analysis of gene expression in trios.

Parent-of-origin (PofO) effects, such as imprinting are a phenomenon in which homologous chromosomes exhibit differential gene expression and epigenetic modifications according to their parental origin. Such non-Mendelian inheritance patterns are generally ignored by conventional association studies, as these tests consider the maternal and paternal alleles as equivalent. To identify regulatory regions that show PofO effects on gene expression (imprinted expression Quantitative Trait Loci, ieQTLs), here we have developed a novel method in which we associate SNP genotypes of defined parental origin with gene expression levels. We applied this method to study 59 HapMap phase II parent-offspring trios. By analyzing mother/father/child trios, rules of Mendelian inheritance allowed the parental origin to be defined for ∼95% of SNPs in each child. We used 680,475 informative SNPs and corresponding expression data for 92,167 probe sets from Affymetrix GeneChip Human Exon 1.0 ST arrays and performed four independent cis-association analyses with the expression level of RefSeq genes within 1 Mb using PLINK. Independent analyses of maternal and paternal genotypes identified two significant cis-ieQTLs (p<10−7) at which expression of genes SFT2D2 and SRRT associated exclusively with maternally inherited SNPs rs3753292 and rs6945374, respectively. 28 additional suggestive cis-associations with only maternal or paternal SNPs were found at a lower stringency threshold of p<10−6, including associations with two known imprinted genes PEG10 and TRAPPC9, demonstrating the efficacy of our method. Furthermore, comparison of our method that utilizes independent analyses of maternal and paternal genotypes with the Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT) showed it to be more effective for detecting imprinting effects than the LRT. Our method represents a novel approach that can identify imprinted regulatory elements that control gene expression, suggesting novel PofO effects in the human genome.
Uncoupling of a Nerve Cell Membrane Junction by Calcium-Ion Removal

Calcium ion participates in maintaining electrical connections between the nerve cells of Retzius ( Hirudo medicinalis ). The conductance across the junction between these cells decreases with decreasing concentration of free, extracellular Ca++ At a certain level of Ca++ withdrawal from the cell system, junctional conductance reaches a critical low point at which the cells become functionally disconnected: the nerve impulses which are normally discharged in synchrony by the cells become asynchronous. These effects of Ca++ on junctional connection are irreversible, in contrast to those on nonjunctional surface membrane permeability.
Cloud liquid-water profile retrieval algorithm and validation

[1] In the first stage of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A/Humidity Sounder for Brazil (AIRS/AMSU/HSB) geophysical retrieval algorithm, cloud liquid-water profiles are retrieved from the microwave measurements. These profiles are used in the forward radiative-transfer calculation for microwave channels in subsequent retrieval steps. The retrieval of cloud liquid water is based on a model for moisture condensation in which the relative humidity for onset of clouds is a retrieved parameter, which makes the retrieval more robust with respect to errors in the retrieved temperature profile and horizontal inhomogeneities of the moisture field within an instrument footprint. Retrieved cloud liquid is compared with ground-based radiometric measurements, and the vertical distribution is compared to relative humidity profiles from dedicated radiosondes launched underneath the Aqua satellite.
Rapid freeze-quench 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy: monitoring changes of an iron-containing active site during a biochemical reaction.

Nuclear gamma resonance spectroscopy, also known as Mossbauer spectroscopy, is a technique that probes transitions between the nuclear ground state and a low-lying nuclear excited state. The nucleus most amenable to Mossbauer spectroscopy is 57Fe, and 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy provides detailed information about the chemical environment and electronic structure of iron. Iron is by far the most structurally and functionally diverse metal ion in biology, and 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy has played an important role in the elucidation of its biochemistry. In this article, we give a brief introduction to the technique and then focus on two recent exciting developments pertaining to the application of 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy in biochemistry. The first is the use of the rapid freeze-quench method in conjunction with Mossbauer spectroscopy to monitor changes at the Fe site during a biochemical reaction. This method has allowed for trapping and subsequent detailed spectroscopic characterization of reactive intermediates and thus has provided unique insight into the reaction mechanisms of Fe-containing enzymes. We outline the methodology using two examples: (1) oxygen activation by the non-heme diiron enzymes and (2) oxygen activation by taurine:alpha-ketoglutarate dioxygenase (TauD). The second development concerns the calculation of Mossbauer parameters using density functional theory (DFT) methods. By using the example of TauD, we show that comparison of experimental Mossbauer parameters with those obtained from calculations on model systems can be used to provide insight into the structure of a reaction intermediate.
Client-centered approaches to working with the family: An overview of new developments in therapeutic, educational, and preventive methods

Abstract The client-centered movement has made significant contributions to our understanding of psychotherapy. Recently, with the increased interest in family therapy, a number of family interventions have been developed by workers operating from a client-centered perspective. This trend was noted as one receiving increasing emphasis in a recent review of new directions in the marital and family intervention field (Olson, 1976).
Observation and modelling of fault‐zone fracture seismic anisotropy ‐ I. P, SV and SH travel times

Summary. Three-component VSP borehole seismograms taken in the vicinity of an active normal fault in California show strong systematic shear-wave splitting that increases with proximity to the fault. Using Cervený's method of characteristics for ray tracing in anisotropic heterogeneous media and Hudson's formulation of elastic constants for media-bearing aligned fractures, we have fitted a suite of P, SV and SH hanging-wall and foot-wall travel times with a simple model of aligned fractures flanking the fault zone. The dominant fracture set is best modelled as parallel to the fault plane and increasing in density with approach to the fault. The increase in fracture density is non-uniform (power law or Gaussian) with respect to distance to the fault. Although the hanging-wall and the foot-wall rock are petrologically the same unit, the fracture halo is more intense and extensive in the hanging wall than in the foot wall. Upon approach to the fault plane, the fracture density or fracture-density gradient becomes too great for the seismic response to be computed by Hudson–Cervený procedures (the maximum fracture density that can be modelled is about 0.08). Within this 25 m fracture domain it appears more useful to model the fault and near field fractures as a low-velocity waveguide. We observe production of trapped waves within the confines of the intense fracture interval.
A rule for selecting analytical boundary conditions for the conservative quasi-one-dimensional nozzle flow equations

For the one-dimensional nozzle flow equations, the number of analytical boundary conditions that may be applied corresponds to the number of exterior characteristics reaching the boundary points. Since the slopes of the characteristics are the characteristic speeds u, u+c, and u-c, one concludes that two analytical boundary conditions are required at a subsonic inflow boundary and one at a subsonic outflow boundary. However, using this guideline alone can lead to nonunique solutions in subsonic cases. This paper presents a rule for selecting analytical boundary conditions for the dependent variables which will yield unique solutions if they exist.
Effect of composition and nanostructure on CO2/N2 transport properties of supported alkyl-imidazolium block copolymer membranes

Abstract Polymerized room-temperature ionic liquids (poly(RTIL)s) have garnered attention as new and interesting membrane materials for CO2/light gas separations because they combine the high CO2 affinity and thermal and chemical stability of RTILs, with the physical and mechanical properties of polymeric materials. Our group recently synthesized a new type of block copolymer (BCP) combining an imidazolium-based poly(RTIL) and an alkyl non-ionic polymer. These alkyl-b-ionic BCPs phase-separate into ordered nanostructures. Prior work investigating gas transport through phase-separated BCPs is very limited, and none has included RTIL-based BCP systems. However it has been shown that nanoscale phase-separation could facilitate gas transport via nanostructure orientation control or phase connectivity improvement. We have successfully made defect-free, thin-film composite membranes with these novel alkyl-imidazolium BCPs as a 3–20 μm thick top layer, and determined their CO2/N2 separation properties via single-gas permeability measurements and selectivity calculations. These new BCP materials were found to have distinct advantages over the analogous physical blends of the parent homopolymers with respect to membrane fabrication. The composition of the BCP top layer, which is directly connected to the type of nanostructure formed, was found to have a significant effect on CO2 permeability (i.e., it can increase CO2 permeability by two orders of magnitude up to an observed value of 9300 barrer). This improvement is mainly due to a large increase in the diffusion coefficient in the ordered nanostructures compared to amorphous BCP materials.
Requirements for the sampling source in coherent linear sampling

Complex envelope measurement using coherent linear optical sampling with mode-locked sources is investigated. It is shown that reliable measurement of the phase requires that one of the optical modes of the mode-locked laser be locked to the optical carrier of the data signal to be measured. Carrier-envelope offset (CEO) is found to have negligible effect on the measurement. Measurement errors of the intensity profile and phase depend on the pulsewidth and chirp of the sampling pulses as well as the detuning between the carrier frequencies of the data signal and the center frequency of sampling source.
On isomorphic subgraphs

Abstract We prove that every 3-uniform hypergraph with q edges contain two edge disjoint isomorphic subgraphs with at least ⌞ 1 23 q edges. This answers a question of Erdos, Pach and Pyber.
Early Vegetation Development on an Exposed Reservoir: Implications for Dam Removal

The 4-year drawdown of Horsetooth Reservoir, Colorado, for dam maintenance, provides a case study analog of vegetation response on sediment that might be exposed from removal of a tall dam. Early vegetation recovery on the exposed reservoir bottom was a combination of (1) vegetation colonization on bare, moist substrates typical of riparian zones and reservoir sediment of shallow dams and (2) a shift in moisture status from mesic to the xeric conditions associated with the pre-impoundment upland position of most of the drawdown zone. Plant communities changed rapidly during the first four years of exposure, but were still substantially different from the background upland plant community. Predictions from the recruitment box model about the locations of Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera (plains cottonwood) seedlings relative to the water surface were qualitatively confirmed with respect to optimum locations. However, the extreme vertical range of water surface elevations produced cottonwood seed regeneration well outside the predicted limits of drawdown rate and height above late summer stage. The establishment and survival of cottonwood at high elevations and the differences between the upland plant community and the community that had developed after four years of exposure suggest that vegetation recovery following tall dam removal will follow a trajectory very different from a simple reversal of the response to dam construction, involving not only long time scales of establishment and growth of upland vegetation, but also possibly decades of persistence of legacy vegetation established during the reservoir to upland transition.
Does institutional quality affect capital mobility? Evidence from developing countries

This paper uses an augmented Feldstein–Horioka savings–investment methodology to examine the impact of institutional quality on the degree of capital mobility in developing countries. A high correlation between domestic investment and domestic savings can arise from the presence of institutional rigidities restricting the movement of capital across borders. We find that including different aspects of institutional quality raises the coefficient of the savings rate, implying lower capital mobility. However, the improvement in institutional quality that strengthens the legal system, reduces investment risks, and ensures democratic accountability, increases capital mobility in developing countries. Inclusion of foreign aid also has a positive impact on the coefficient of the savings rate.
Art Therapy with Child Tsunami Survivors in Sri Lanka

This paper details art therapy with children affected by the December 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. Over 30,000 Sri Lankans lost their lives when the tsunami decimated coastal areas. The child survivors witnessed horrific traumatic events and the loss of loved ones, but had not been given opportunity to express their grief and pain. A 4-week art therapy intervention was implemented at a local school for 113 children ages 5 to 13. Art therapy was found to be an effective crosscultural intervention for these young tsunami survivors.
Bursting in the LMS algorithm

The least mean square (LMS) algorithm is known to converge in the mean and in the mean square. However, during short time periods, the error sequence can blow up and cause severe disturbances, especially for non-Gaussian processes. The paper discusses potential short time unstable behavior of the LMS algorithm for spherically invariant random processes (SIRP) like Gaussian, Laplacian, and K/sub 0/. The result of this investigation is that the probability for bursting decreases with the step size. However, since a smaller step size also causes a slower convergence rate, one has to choose a tradeoff between convergence speed and the frequence of bursting. >
Wideband flexible transmitter and receiver pair for implantable wireless neural recording applications

This paper presents a complete wideband 900 MHz wireless link with 75 MHz bandwidth consisting of an integrated flexible transmitter and a custom-designed receiver for wireless multichannel neural recording and biotelemetry applications. The transmitter is basically an LC-tank voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with multiple tunable parameters. The hybrid tank consists of binary weighed PMOS varactors and a surface-mount (SMD) off-chip inductor, which also acts as an antenna to minimize the transmitter size. Taking advantage of two sets of PMOS varactors operating as three terminal devices, we were able to shift the VCO frequency- voltage (F-V) curve along the vertical axis by 16 MHz around its 920 MHz center frequency. We could also shift the VCO high gain region along the horizontal axis by 1.3 V, and finally change the VCO gain from 1.24 MHz/V to 23.8 MHz/V. The VCO was fabricated in the AMI-0.5 mum standard CMOS process and occupies 230 times 220 mum2. It draws 2.2 mA from plusmn1.5 V supplies. The receiver band can be tuned from 50 MHz to 1 GHz and its gain is adjustable from -14 to 21 dB. Using the SMD transmitter antenna, we received -53 dBm signal power in -100 dBm noise floor at the distance of 1 m with an 8.33 cm 1/4 lambda monopole receiver antenna. Measurement results showed that when transmitting a 1 MHz square wave with 15 ns rising and falling edges across this wireless link, the received down converted signal has 10 ns delay and 20 ns frequency shifts.
Adaptive acquisition and tracking for deep space array feed antennas

The use of radial basis function (RBF) networks and least squares algorithms for acquisition and fine tracking of NASA's 70-m-deep space network antennas is described and evaluated. We demonstrate that such a network, trained using the computationally efficient orthogonal least squares algorithm and working in conjunction with an array feed compensation system, can point a 70-m-deep space antenna with root mean square (rms) errors of 0.1-0.5 millidegrees (mdeg) under a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios and antenna elevations. This pointing accuracy is significantly better than the 0.8 mdeg benchmark for communications at Ka-band frequencies (32 GHz). Continuous adaptation strategies for the RBF network were also implemented to compensate for antenna aging, thermal gradients, and other factors leading to time-varying changes in the antenna structure, resulting in dramatic improvements in system performance. The systems described here are currently in testing phases at NASA's Goldstone Deep Space Network (DSN) and were evaluated using Ka-band telemetry from the Cassini spacecraft.
Estimation of Background Exposure to Toluene Using a Physiologically-Based Kinetic Model

2H 8 toluene for 2 h, and measured concentrations in blood and breath for 100 h post-exposure. Blood and breath samples from a separate cohort of 9 men exposed to 2 H 8 toluene only were also measured for background 1 H 8 toluene levels. A physiologically-based kinetic (PBK) model, previously constructed and validated in an analysis of the 2 H 8 -toluene data, was used to predict the level of ambient 1 H 8 -toluene exposure that produced the observed breath levels. The model-derived estimate of mean background 1 H 8 -toluene exposure was 47 ± 44 ppb (mean ± s.d.), which is consistent with indoor air measurements from this and previous studies of 3‐27 ppb and outdoor measurements of 2‐43 ppb. According to the PBK model, background exposure was expected to produce an average blood concentration of 5.9 nmol/l, which was within a measured range of 3‐16 nmol/l, and a corresponding alveolar air concentration of 310 nmol/m 3 , within a range of 138‐764 nmol/m 3 . This work extends the use of physiologic modeling to back-predict environmental dose, and found that significant differences in inter-individual 1 H 8 -toluene background exposures exist. (J Occup Health 1997; 39: 130‐137)
Gel/water relationships in hydrophilic polymers: Nuclear magnetic resonance

The spectra of nuclear magnetic resonance were recorded and analyzed for different concentrations of gels of agar, carboxymethyl cellulose, gelatin, and starch. The line width of the signal of the hydroxyl proton broadens with increasing concentration of polymer, and the signal height continually decreases. A small paramagnetic shift also occurs. Changes in signal areas are interpreted in terms of “solid”, “bound”, and “free” water, with no “solid” water found in gels of gelatin and starch. Free water decreases continuously with increasing concentration in all gels. The very great line-broadening for low concentrations of agar gels is explained by the water-organizing effect of the D-galactopyranose moiety. Die NMR-Spektren der Gele von Agar, Carboxymethylcellulose, Gelatine und Starke wurden gemessen und analysiert. Die Linienbreite der Protonenresonanz der Hydroxylgruppe nimmt mit der Konzentration des Polymeren zu, im selben Mase nimmt die Signalstarke ab. Auserdem ist eine kleine paramagnetische Verschiebung zu beobachten. Die Anderungen der Signalflachen werden als eine Anderung der relativen Anteile an „festem”, „gebundenem” und „freiem” Wasser interpretiert; in Gelen von Gelatine und Starke wurde kein „festes” Wasser gefunden. Der Anteil an freiem Wasser nimmt in allen Gelen kontinuierlich mit zunehmender Polymerenkonzentration ab. Die sehr starke Verbreiterung der OH-Resonanz schon bei niederen Agarkonzentrationen wird durch einen wasserordnenden Einflus der D-Galactopyranoseeinheiten erklart.
God knows (but does God believe

The standard view in epistemology is that propositional knowledge entails belief. Positive arguments are seldom given for this entailment thesis, however; instead, its truth is typically assumed. Against the entailment thesis, Myers-Schulz and Schwitzgebel (Nous, forthcoming) report that a non-trivial percentage of people think that there can be propositional knowledge without belief. In this paper, we add further fuel to the fire, presenting the results of four new studies. Based on our results, we argue that the entailment thesis does not deserve the default status that it is typically granted. We conclude by considering the alternative account of knowledge that Myers-Schulz and Schwitzgebel propose to explain their results, arguing that it does not explain ours. In its place we offer a different explanation of both sets of findings—the conviction account, according to which belief, but not knowledge, requires mental assent.
Convection and rainfall over Mexico and their modulation by the Southern Oscillation

The role of the Southern Oscillation (SO) in the interannual variability of convection and rainfall over Mexico is studied by correlation analysis of long-term precipitation records, a satellite-derived set of highly reflective clouds (HRC), upper-air soundings, surface ship observations, and an SO index defined as high for anomalously high low pressure at Tahiti/Darwin. Highly reflective clouds and rainfall have a similar annual cycle and interannual variability, except in certain regions and seasons with prevalence of stratiform cloudiness. During the boreal winter (November-April) dry season, the low SO phase (or El NinMo) is, in much of the country, characterized by increased precipitation associated with the enhanced influence of mid-latitude westerlies. However, in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, most exposed to Norte invasions, precipitation is larger in the high SO phase. During the boreal summer (May-October) rainy season, precipitation is more abundant in the high SO phase, when the northward retraction of the North Atlantic High, weaker trades, and a northward displaced near-equatorial trough are conducive to enhanced ascending motion over the area.
A Reconfigurable Clock Polarity Assignment Flow for Clock Gated Designs

This paper presents a clock polarity assignment flow which permits post-silicon reconfigurability. The proposed method inserts xor gates at one level of the clock tree to facilitate the polarity assignment. The polarity of the xor gates can be reconfigured for different modes of clock gating (sleep mode, busy mode, etc.) such that a mode-specific reduction of the peak current can be achieved. Experimental results show that the worst case peak current on a clock tree can be reduced by 33.3% by assigning polarity to xor gates at the sink level of the clock tree. An additional 12.8% reduction in the worst case peak current can be achieved by reconfiguring the polarity assignment based on the clock gating information. The proposed flow increases the area by 7.1% but reduces both the total power consumption by 23.8% and the global skew increase (due to polarity assignment) from 19.3 to 8.8 ps. The insertion of xor gates at the non-sink nodes is also studied to further reduce the global skew increase and the area overhead.