cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensor for the Control of Vehicular Gas Turbine Combustors

The unique control problems associated with vehicular gas turbine engines are forcing the requirement for more direct measurement and control of vehicular gas turbine operating parameters. Two of the most important parameters are gas generator turbine inlet temperature and engine flameout. The major problem controlling these parameters has always been the lack of low cost sensors with sufficient accuracy and response for closed loop control along with the life required for economical operation. Two sensors have been developed which have the necessary response and accuracy for application to vehicular gas turbine controls. These sensors are also rugged and reliable and will provide the required long life. A fluidic temperature sensor measures turbine inlet temperature and an ultraviolet radiation sensor detects the presence of flame. Both sensors have electronic outputs and are readily adaptable to present electronic control systems. The principle of operation, accuracy and response data, along with application and installation information is presented for both sensors.Copyright © 1971 by ASME
Regulated growth in random environments.

Conditions for extinction, convergence to a stationary distribution and attaining a carrying capacity are given for stochastic versions of the logistic growth process.
The application of electrode kinetics to the theory and practice of cathodic protection

Abstract The principles of electrode kinetics have been utilized to provide a better fundamental understanding of the theory and practice of cathodic protection. It is demonstrated that kinetics of the anodic dissolution process determine the cathodic polarization required for adequate protection. This may provide a basis for more fundamental cathodic protection criteria. The usefulness of this approach is further demonstrated by discussions of sacrificial anodes, resistance interferences, and constant potential cathodic protection.
Discrimination avoidance learning with alternate discontinuous and continuous US escape trials

It has been suggested that the avoidance performance of animals trained under a combined discontinuous/continuous shock procedure would be superior to that of animals trained under standard discontinuous shock procedure. The present study indicates that animals receiving, alternately, continuous or discontinuous shock on escape trials, exhibit shorter escape response latencies and better avoidance acquisition than animals trained under standard discontinuous shock for all escape trials. Under the combined discontinuous/continuous shock procedure, avoidance responses occur earlier and more frequently in escape-avoidance training as escape responses to the US become more efficient in topography and shorter in latency.
Exploring the Transient Behavior of Z–R Relationships: Implications for Radar Rainfall Estimation

Abstract The objective of this study is to characterize the signature of dynamical microphysical processes on reflectivity–rainfall (Z–R) relationships used for radar rainfall estimation. For this purpose, a bin model with explicit microphysics was used to perform a sensitivity analysis of the shape parameters of the drop size distribution (DSD) as a function of time and rainfall regime. Simulations show that coalescence is the dominant microphysical process for low to moderate rain intensity regimes (R 20 mm h−1), collision–breakup dynamics dominate the evolution of the raindrop spectra. The time-dependent Z–R relationships produced by the model converge to a universal Z–R relationship fo...
Cramer-Rao bounds on eigenvalue estimates from impulse response data: The multi-observation case

We examine the effect of having multiple observations in the estimation of non-random modes of linear dynamical systems from noisy impulse response data. Specifically, for this estimation problem, we develop an explicit algebraic characterization of the Fisher information matrix and hence Cramer-Rao bound in terms of the eigenvalues and residues of the transfer function, and so develop some simple bounds on the minimum possible error variance for eigenvalue estimates in terms of the eigenvalues' locations. We focus especially on developing a relationship between the Cramer-Rao bound on pole estimates for the multi-observation case, and those when each single observation is used separately for estimation.
On balanced binary sequences with two-level autocorrelation functions

Recently, Maschietti (Des., Codes Cryptogr., vol.14, p.89, 1998) constructed several families of (2/sup m/-1,2/sup m-1/-1,2/sup m-2/-1) cyclic difference sets from monomial hyperovals. In this correspondence, we consider the binary sequences associated to the difference sets constructed by Maschietti. We give algebraic proof of the fact that these sequences have two-level autocorrelation functions, also we discuss the linear spans of these sequences.
Near-field fluorescence lifetime imaging of semiconductor interfaces used in laser cooling

Simultaneous near-field fluorescence lifetime imaging and atomic force microscopy identify radiative, interface and subsurface defect recombination sites in GaAs/GaInP heterostructures. This instrumentation helps characterize samples for laser cooling.
Effect of Magnesium Chloride on Rabbit Bronchial Smooth Muscle

Study objective: The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which magnesium relaxes bronchial smooth muscle during induced contraction. Design: An in-vitro model using bronchial rings from New Zealand White rabbits stimulated to contract by electrical stimulation, histamine, or bethanechol. Interventions: Magnesium chloride 1, 6, 16, 36, and 86 mM was added to each tissue bath and resting tension was measured. Electrical stimulation 100 V/100 ms, histamine 10 mM, or bethanechol 6.25 mM was added to washed tissues to induce contraction. This was followed with magnesium chloride 5, 10, and 50 mM, and the response of bronchial smooth muscle was measured. Measurements and main results: Magnesium chloride 1, 6, 16, 36, and 86 mM decreased the mean ± SEM resting tension of bronchial rings by 40 ± 16, 100 ± 11, 110 ± 10, 170 ± 9, and 275 ± 22 mg, respectively. Electrical stimulation (4) of 100 V/100 ms increased the mean ± SEM resting tension by 168 ± 52 mg. Magnesium chloride 5, 15, and 50 mM added to the tissue bath decreased the response to 100 V/100 ms to 65 ± 27, 40 ± 23, and 1 ± 0 mg, respectively. Histamine 10 mM (4) increased mean ± SEM resting tension by 490 ± 121 mg. Magnesium chloride 5, 15, and 50 mM decreased the histamine response by 80 ± 56, 250 ± 74, and 475 ± 131 mg, respectively. Bethanechol 6.2 mM (14) increased the mean ± SEM resting tension by 495 ± 74 mg. Magnesium chloride (5, 15, 50 mM) decreased bethanechol-induced tension by 52 ± 18, 184 ± 26, and 506 ± 64 mg, respectively. Conclusion: Magnesium chloride produced dose-dependent relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle at rest and when stimulated by histamine, bethanechol, or electrical impulse. Calcium chloride was unable to significantly reverse magnesium-induced relaxation. These data support the hyphothesis that magnesium relaxes smooth muscle and dilates bronchial rings.
Large Area, High Speed Detectors For The Ultraviolet

Although there are several types of detectors useful in the ultraviolet (uv), few have subnanosecond response time with large detector area. Krypton fluoride and other pulsed uv lasers have pulse capabilities ranging from less than 100 ps to 30 ns. For these lasers, the energy/pulse can range from nanojoules (in 100 ps) to joules (in 10 ns). Strontium barium niobate (SBN) pyroelectric detectors have been developed for infrared (ir) usage under similar pulse conditions. This material is absorptive below 400 nm. Design of appropriate detectors for the uv requires (primarily) characterization of the uv and vacuum ul-traviolet (vuv) pulse damage threshold, and examination of the surface preparation tech-niques. Large-area detectors are desirable because uv radiation can be difficult to focus and uv beams can be nonuniform. Los Alamos has developed sub-one-hundred-ps detectors up to 0.1 cm2 and subnanosecond detectors 1 cm2 in the area for the ir. These designs are being adapted to the uv. Results of this program are reported.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Infarct involution and improved function during healing of acute myocardial infarction: the role of microvascular obstruction.

Delayed contrast‐enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (ceCMR) delineates infarct size. The presence of hypoenhancement consistent with microvascular obstruction (MO) signifies larger infarcts with a worse prognosis. We hypothesized that the size of the contrast defect (CD) on ceCMR in acutely infarcted myocardium may change during infarct healing and depend upon the presence of MO. Twenty‐five patients underwent CMR on weeks 1 and 8 after reperfused myocardial infarction. After short‐axis cine CMR was performed, gadolinium was infused and ceCMR images and matched tagged cine MR images were obtained in the three most dysfunctional short‐axis slices on cine CMR. The area and transmural extent of hyperenhancement (HE) with or without MO representing total CD size were planimetered. Between week 1 and week 8, the CD area fell from 1729 ± 970 mm2 at week 1 to 1270 ± 706 mm2 (p < 0.001), as did the transmural extent of infarction (71 ± 22% to 63 ± 24%, p < 0.001). The decline in CD trended to be higher i...
DIFFERENT HORMONAL PATTERNS IN PREP'UBERTAL HYPERTRICHOSIS

Prepubertal idiopathic hypertrichosis (PIH) is characterized by excessive growth of vellus hair. In a previous study of 17 girls with IPH, most of them showed elevated levels of androstenediol-glucuronide in serum, suggesting increased peripheral 5a reductase activity. In order to complete this study and to clarify these hormonal alterations, twenty-nine girls with PIH, ages 0.8 to 8.2 years and nine age- matched girls were studied, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), testosterone (T), androstenediol glucuronide (Diol-G) were determined by RIA, and SHBG by DHT binding. The free androgen index (FAI) was calculated. We found three groups of patients with different androgen patterns: A) 10 girls had a normal pattern, B) 9 girls had elevated FAI and C) 7 girls had elevated Diol-G. Three girls showed elevated FAI and Diol-G and were analized separately.
The moving curve ideal and the Rees algebra

The Rees algebra of an ideal in a commutative ring is the quotient of a polynomial ring by its ideal of defining relations. For a polynomial ring in two variables, this ideal was discovered independently by the geometric modeling community, where it is called the moving curve ideal. We review some properties of the Rees algebra and discuss one result and one conjecture concerning the structure of the moving curve ideal and its relation to adjoint curves. Some parts of the paper are purely expository.
Fluorescence Comes of Age: Measuring Angstrom-Level Distance Changes Within Single Filaments of Regulated Actin

Epifluorescence imaging reveals that samples of reconstituted regulated actin (rAc) filaments contain a heterogeneous mixture of dissociated troponin and tropomyosin, unregulated actin, single rAc filaments, an bundles of rAc filaments. Sample heterogeneity confounds the interpretation of spectroscopic measurements of rAc. We have addressed the issue of sample heterogeneity by combining the particle sorting capability of confocal imaging with time-resoled FRET spectroscopy. To perform the measurements, rAc is sparsely immobilized to a glass coverslip. Non-immobilized regions of rAc do not contact the glass and undergo Brownian motion that is apparent in fluorescence video-microscopy. We perform one (or more) single point TCSPC measurements on an isolated rAc filament that is identified in a confocal image pre-scan. Each point measurement involves ∼50 rAc-bound Tn molecules within the confocal volume. We observe ∼20 photons/Tn/second. Thus, a single 20 second point measurement produces ∼20,000 photons, enough for reliable determination of fluorescence lifetimes. We have used this technique to determine Ca2+-induced distance changes in troponin with rAc filaments. This method may be a robust and scalable platform for the screening of drugs that bind to rAc and modulate activation.
Failure of intravenous metoprolol to limit acute myocardial infarct size in a nonreperfused porcine model

Abstract The usefulness of intravenous β-adrenergic receptor blockade in limiting infarct size when neither reperfusion nor collateral flow occurs is unknown. The effect of intravenous metoprolol on limiting myocardial infarct size was therefore examined in a nonreperfused porcine model. Closed-chest techniques were used to occlude the left anterior descending coronary artery, after which animals were randomized at 20 minutes to receive intravenous metoprolol, 0.75 mg/kg, or placebo. Infarct size examined at 5 hours with Evans blue and triphenyltetrazolium ataining techniques was expressed as a percentage of total ventricular myocardium at ischemic risk. This percentage was not significantly different between the groups (84% ± 5% with metoprolol vs 90% ± 4% with placebo; p = 0.4). Myocardial infarct size was not significantly decreased at 5 hours by early administration of intravenous metoprolol when the infarct artery remained occluded and collateral flow was minimal.
Energy Security and Independence for Military Installations: Candidate Mission-Focused Vision and Policy Measures

Army installations are essential for the development and sustainment of operational capabilities and readiness to serve and protect the nation and its interests. Installations are small cities with a full spectrum of facility types and utility requirements that use large amounts of energy. This paper describes the process and activities underway to establish operational requirements and investment policy for Army installation energy security. The military environment is described in which the installation mission requirements and the future investment policy are being crafted. Military mission must be mapped to power requirements such that mission readiness impacts are quantifiable for a multitude of power outage or power quality anomaly scenarios. The paper draws from real-time discussions that the author’s organization sponsored December 2006 on Army Installation Energy Security & Independence to carry out the mission of Army installations. These insights are applicable to any campus-like entity.
Regulation of sulfate concentrations and methanogenesis in salt marsh soils

Controls of methanogenesis in soils of Sapelo Island, Georgia salt marshes have been investigated by altering water movement through soils of the tall Spartina alterniflora region (TS). Vertical water movement was shown to maintain the concentration of sulfate at levels near that of the tidal waters which flood the TS. Restriction of vertical water movement resulted in a decrease of interstitial sulfate concentration by a factor of 2–5 over a period of 2 months. This decrease in sulfate was accompanied by a marked increase in in vitro methane production. Sulfate depletion is postulated to occur in microzones within the soil; methane formation occurs subsequent to this depletion. In situ differences between methanogenesis in TS and SS regions are suggested to be the result of such depletion.
Analysis of a finite element PML approximation for the three dimensional time-harmonic Maxwell problem

In our paper [Math. Comp. 76, 2007, 597-614] we considered the acoustic and electromagnetic scattering problems in three spatial dimensions. In particular, we studied a perfectly matched layer (PML) approximation to an electromagnetic scattering problem. We demonstrated both the solvability of the continuous PML approximations and the exponential convergence of the resulting solution to the solution of the original acoustic or electromagnetic problem as the layer increased. In this paper, we consider finite element approximation of the truncated PML electromagnetic scattering problem. Specifically, we consider approximations which result from the use of Nedelec (edge) finite elements. We show that the resulting finite element problem is stable and gives rise to quasi-optimal convergence when the mesh size is sufficiently small.
Anomalous tolerance to low pH in the estuarine killifish Fundulus heteroclitus

Abstract 1. The euryhaline fish Fundulus heteroclitus has an incipient lethal pH between 3.75 and 4.0 in fresh water. 2. Fish exposed to pH 3.5 in sea water or fresh water died in about 3 hr, and had greatly elevated or depressed body sodium concentrations, respectively. The direction and degree of change in body sodium level depended on the sodium diffusion gradient between the environment and the fish. This is the first time that the death of fish in sea water at low pH has been shown to be associated with hypernatremia. 3. Yet, sodium fluxes during the first hour of exposure to pH 3.5 in water of 3.5 or 35 ppt salinity were not different from controls, and body and plasma sodium concentration did not change during 2hr exposure to pH 3.5. This initial insensitivity of gill sodium regulation to blockage by low pH is quite different from the response of previously studied freshwater fish. 4. The degree of acid tolerance displayed by F. heteroclitus is surprising considering its estuarine habits. This paradoxical tolerance appears to be a secondary consequence of its ability to adjust sodium balance in relation to rapid changes in salinity.
Toll-like receptors, cytokines and HIV-1.

Abstract The present investigation examined variations in cytokine and Toll-like receptor expression by T-lymphocytes in HIV infection. 50 HIV cases and 10 normal controls were evaluated for TLR3, TLR4, TLR8, TLR9, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ expression and staining intensities. TLR3 was expressed in 37 HIV (74%) cases, and TLR4 was brightly expressed in all (100%) HIV cases. However, TLR3 and TLR4 remained negative in all normal controls. Results reveal that TLR4 up-regulation is not limited to gram-negative bacterial infection. No statistical difference was detected when TLR8 and TLR9 expression were compared between the two test populations. A statistically significant difference was detected when IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-γ expression were analyzed in HIV cases and normal controls. When cytokine expression was compared with stage of disease, results indicated that a Th 1 to Th 2 cytokine switch did not occur. Only TNF-α expression decreased as infection progressed from the chronic phase into AIDS. When TLR expression was compared to cytokine expression, no statistical differences were detected. These data point to the need for a more in-depth study to determine whether or not the up-regulation of Toll-like receptor expression increases cytokine expression via the NFκB pathway.
Handbooks: (How) Can We Keep Them Current, Comprehensible, and Accessible?

The article discusses the revision of handbooks, noting that many handbooks could be more comprehensive, up-to-date, and affordable. Gaps in content, scholarly ossification, and overly high prices are noted. The concerns of readers including academic researchers, students, and teachers are addressed. The authors suggest that these concerns could be addressed through the reduction of handbook prices, the collaboration of senior scholars and junior scholars in authoring chapters, and the inclusion of authors from various parts of the world.
Constructing Cell-Based Habitat Patches Useful in Conservation Planning

Abstract Given a raster of environmental or habitat values representing a landscape, we construct agglomerations of contiguous cells that constitute habitat “patches.” This land-allocation problem has received inadequate attention in the academic literature and cannot be solved with commercial GIS packages. In our method, each patch begins from an initial “seed” cell and continues to accrete neighboring cells until it reaches a desired total habitat value. This may be interpreted as reaching sufficient biological value to create a territory viable for the reproduction and survival of some demographic unit of a species (e.g., mating pair, social group). This article presents a new method for generating/identifying feasible patches. Depending on the type and variety of habitat and on user-selected para-meters, patches can vary substantially in shape and size. A patch or territory alone would not be considered sufficient for conserving a species. The eventual use of the patches is as candidates for land unit...
Effect of iron limitation on the cadmium to phosphorus ratio of natural phytoplankton assemblages from the Southern Ocean

There is considerable interest in the biogeochemical cycling of cadmium (Cd) and phosphate (PO4) in surface waters, driven in part by the ongoing development of a paleonutrient proxy that utilizes Cd preserved in fossil planktonic foraminifera to determine past PO4 utilization efficiencies in ocean surface waters. The present article reports the results of a field study into the effects of Fe limitation on the Cd : P composition of natural assemblages of marine phytoplankton in the Antarctic Zone of the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean. Iron enrichment to shipboard incubation bottles led to increases in community growth rate and final biomass. After 10.7 d of incubation, the climax community was dominated by large diatoms of the genus Fragillariopsis, Pseudonitzschia,and Nitzschia. Direct measurements of phytoplankton metal : P ratios from controlled shipboard experiments indicate that Cd : P, Co : P, and Zn : P ratios decreased from control values with increasing initial dissolved Fe concentrations in the incubation bottles, by factors of ;2‐10 at highest Fe additions. We suggest that the effect of Fe limitation on resident diatoms is to decrease growth rate, leading to elevated cellular Cd content. The dissolved Cd : P ratio in iron-limited surface waters of the Southern Ocean may, therefore, respond to the supply of Fe to the resident phytoplankton community, which has implications for the developing paleonutrient proxy. We suggest that the biological uptake of Cd and P is independent of the dissolved Cd : PO4 ratio. As a consequence, the results argue against the use of empirical Rayleigh fractionation models or models with fixed phytoplankton uptake ratios to account for regional variability in surface water dissolved Cd : PO 4.
Infrared input admittance and noise of a Schottky barrier diode operating in the thermionic mode II

Abstract The infrared input conductance and noise of a heavily doped Schottky barrier diode operated in the thermionic mode is evaluated with the help of the well-known laws of vacuum tube electronics. In particular the input conductance due to electrons barely passing through the space charge region and the input conductance and noise due to electrons always passing through the space charge region are evaluated. It is shown that the Schottky barrier diode operating in the thermionic mode has low-noise windows at elevated frequencies, separated by regions of much higher noise equivalent power.
Phosphoinositide-3-kinase inhibition induces sodium/iodide symporter expression in rat thyroid cells and human papillary thyroid cancer cells

TSH stimulation of sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expression in thyroid cancer promotes radioiodine uptake and is required to deliver an effective treatment dose. Activation of the insulin/phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in TSH-stimulated thyroid cells reduces NIS expression at the transcriptional level. We, therefore, investigated the effects of PI3K pathway inhibition on iodide uptake and NIS expression in rat thyroid cell lines and human papillary thyroid cancer cells. A PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, significantly enhanced iodide uptake in two rat thyroid cell lines, FRTL-5 and PCCL3. The induction of Nis mRNA by LY294002 occurred 6 h after treatment, and was abolished by a translation inhibitor, cycloheximide. Expression of the transcription factor, Pax8, which stimulates NIS expression, was significantly increased in PCCL3 cells after LY294002 treatment. Removal of insulin abrogated the stimulatory effects of LY294002 on NIS mRNA and protein expression, but not on iodide uptake. These findings suggest that PI3K pathway inhibition results in post-translational stimulation of NIS. Inhibition of the PI3K pathway also significantly increased iodide uptake ( approximately 3.5-fold) in BHP 2-7 papillary thyroid cancer cells (Ret/PTC1 positive), engineered to constitutively express NIS. Pharmacological inhibition of Akt, a factor stimulated by the PI3K pathway, increased exogenous NIS expression in BHP 2-7 as was seen with LY294002, but not increase the endogenous NIS expression in FRTL-5 cells. PI3K pathway inhibition increases functional NIS expression in rat thyroid cells and some papillary thyroid cancer cells by several mechanisms. PI3K inhibitors have the potential to increase radioiodide accumulation in some differentiated thyroid cancer.
Neuropsychological and behavioral outcomes of extremely low birth weight at age three

Preterm (PT) birth is an established risk factor for high mortality and morbidity rates. Infants and school-aged children have been well-studied, but few have described neuropsychological and behavioral outcomes at preschool age. We compared a 2004-2006 preterm/extremely low birth weight (ELBW) cohort (PT/ELBW; N = 60) born ≤ 33 weeks gestation and <1,000 g with term-born participants (N = 90) at age 3. PT/ELBW subgroups (<26 weeks; 26-33 weeks) performed more poorly than the term-born group on verbal, nonverbal, fine motor, visual-motor, visual attention, noun fluency, early number concepts, and functional communication measures prior to age correction; PT/ELBW children born <26 weeks additionally performed more poorly on action-verb fluency. Those born 26-33 weeks had executive and adaptive deficits on parental behavioral report. Age correction significantly improved preterm scores without masking relative verbal, nonverbal, motor, and behavioral weaknesses that may require early intervention. In conclusion, subtle delays in emergent neuropsychological and behavioral functions are measurable at age 3, and neurobiological immaturity remains a prepotent influence on outcome in the preschool years. Further study should enhance our understanding of the trajectory of brain development and the limits of neuroplasticity in these highly at-risk children.
Chlorpromazine ingestion inhibits UV-induced skin carcinogenesis.

Chlorpromazine (0.01% in drinking water) inhibits the induction of skin cancer by sunlamp irradiation of hairless mice. This inhibition is partially reversed by a single injection of ethyl nitrosourea at birth.
Evaluation of Ca2+ permeability of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in hypothalamic histaminergic neurons.

Hypothalamic histaminergic tuberomammillary (TM) neurons express nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) with kinetic and pharmacological properties resembling those of highly Ca 21 permeable a7 nAChRs. However, the Ca 21 permeability of TM nAChR channels has not been determined. To directly evaluate the Ca 21 permeability of TM nAChRs, patch-clamp recordings were conducted using non-cultured acutely dissociated TM neurons and external solutions containing low (2 mM) and high (20 mM) concentrations of Ca 21 . A shift in the reversal potentials was determined from the current –voltage relationships and the permeability ratio, PCa/PNa, was estimated within the Goldman-HodgkinKatz constant field approximation. TM nAChRs were found to be highly Ca 21 permeable with the permeability ratio, PCa/PNa(nAChR) being 5.9 and the fractional Ca 21 current, Pf(nAChR) being 10.1% at 260 mV. As a positive control for the applied methods and analysis, the permeability ratio, PCa/PNa(NMDAR) being 8.3 and the fractional Ca 21 current, Pf(NMDAR) being 13.6% at 260 mV for NMDA receptors were determined using non-cultured acutely dissociated hippocampal pyramidal neurons and found similar to previously reported values. Therefore, these results demonstrate that native TM nAChRs are highly Ca 21 permeable, but 1.4 fold less permeable to Ca 21 than native hippocampal pyramidal NMDA receptors.
The Role of CPS Nonresponse in the Measurement of Poverty

The Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) serves as the data source for official income, poverty, and inequality statistics in the United States. There is a concern that the rise in nonresponse to earnings questions could deteriorate data quality and distort estimates of these important metrics. We use a dataset of internal ASEC records matched to Social Security Detailed Earnings Records (DER) to study the impact of earnings nonresponse on estimates of poverty from 1997–2008. Our analysis does not treat the administrative data as the “truth”; instead, we rely on information from both administrative and survey data. We compare a “full response” poverty rate that assumes all ASEC respondents provided earnings data to the official poverty rate to gauge the nonresponse bias. On average, we find the nonresponse bias is about 1.0 percentage point.
A STUDY IN PROPELLER AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION

This study performs multiple optimizations of a single engine propeller driven aircraft. The purpose is to determine if a global optimum can be found by interchanging the constraint and objective functions. Multiple optimizations were carried out starting with the useful load to establish a baseline, then, the objective function was recast as a constraint and one of the constraint functions was setup as the new objective function. The new system was then optimized. From the results of these optimizations, it was determined that this methodology can be used to find a global optimum for the aircraft model used.
The Preemptive Power of State Supreme Courts: Adoption of Abortion and Death Penalty Legislation

We offer a theory about public policy adoption that depicts a game between state supreme courts and state policymakers. We hypothesize that court ideological hostility or friendliness operates to discourage or encourage policy enactment, with the likelihood of subsequent court intervention magnifying the relationship. To test the argument we examine the influence of court ideology on the enactment of state abortion and death penalty laws since the 1970s. Empirical analyses provide strong support for our theory, indicating that court ideological hostility or friendliness significantly influenced state abortion and death penalty policy enactments. In addition, the likelihood of court intervention conditioned this relationship, with the most pronounced effect occurring where subsequent court review was mandatory. The findings reveal courts exert important preemptive influence on law without hearing a case. This facet of judicial influence expands the traditional view of actors involved in the policymaking process.
Central Nervous System Infection With Eikenella corrodens: Report of Two Cases

Two cases of central nervous system infections from which E. corrodens has been isolated are reported. The portals of entry, clinical course, and antimicrobial responses conform to other reports in the literature. The importance of obtaining careful anaerobic cultures is emphasized.
Pneumatic microactuator powered by the deflagration of sodium azide

This paper details the design, simulation, fabrication, and characterization of two pneumatic microactuators powered by sodium azide or an external pressure source. One was fabricated using traditional manufacturing, while the other used microfabrication techniques. To characterize force output, a microforce gage was also designed, built, and characterized since commercial devices were not available. The azide-based microactuator was successfully actuated numerous times and simulations were then used to predict model characteristics based on system identification techniques. Forces as high as 65 mN and as low as sub milli-Newton were recorded, and displacements in the multi millimeter range were observed. Both the force and displacement magnitudes are in fact limited by the material properties, design geometry, and amount of azide deflagrated. It was demonstrated that a microactuator powered by sodium azide can provide both large forces and displacements simultaneously with the potential of using a small amount of electrical power. No tradeoffs had to be made between force outputs and displacement strokes, as is common to other microactuators. Since only a small amount of electrical power should be necessary in a properly designed battery powered device, the microactuator is poised to be mobile and independent of external power sources.
Spatiotemporal distribution of soil nutrients within an abandoned cattle feedlot

Purpose Nutrients from cropland and feedlot operations can move through preferential pathways into wetlands, groundwater, and surface water, which can cause adverse health and ecological problems. It is hypothesized that nitrogen (N) can cause a short-term contamination of soils and groundwater beneath feedlots, but phosphorus (P) can cause both short- and long-term contamination in well-drained soils. This paper examines the spatial and temporal distribution of nutrients within an abandoned feedlot and adjacent wetlands.
BIOACCUMULATION AND MATERNAL TRANSFER OF MERCURY AND SELENIUM IN AMPHIBIANS

Amphibian population declines have been documented worldwide and environmental contaminants are believed to contribute to some declines. Maternal transfer of bioaccumulated contaminants to offspring may be an important and overlooked mechanism of impaired reproductive success that affects amphibian populations. Mercury (Hg) is of particular concern due to its ubiquity in the environment, known toxicity to other wildlife, and complex relationships with other elements, such as selenium (Se). The objectives of the present study were to describe the relationships between total Hg (THg), methlymercury (MMHg), and Se in three amphibian species (Plethodon cinereus, Eurycea bislineata cirrigera, and Bufo americanus) along a Hg-polluted river and floodplain, and to determine if B. americanus maternally transfers Hg and Se to its eggs in a tissue residue-dependent manner. Total Hg and MMHg concentrations in all species spanned two orders of magnitude between the reference and contaminated areas, while Se concentrations were generally low in all species at both sites. Strong positive relationships between THg and MMHg in tissues of all species were observed throughout. Both Hg and Se were maternally transferred from females to eggs in B. americanus, but the percentage of the females' Hg body burden transferred to eggs was low compared with Se. In addition, Hg concentrations appeared to positively influence the amount of Se transferred from female to eggs. The present study is the first to confirm a correlation between Hg concentrations in female carcass and eggs in amphibians and among the first to describe co-transference of Se and Hg in an anamniotic vertebrate. The results suggest future work is needed to determine whether maternal transfer of Hg has transgenerational implications for amphibian progeny.
Dust in Galaxies

The subject of dust in galaxies, if covered comprehensively, is so vast that it would require an entire book for adequate discussion. In this review we concentrate on a few topics related primarily to dust as a constituent of systems in the Universe having masses comparable to galaxies. We have intentionally omitted discussing characteristics of dust as interstellar matter within galaxies or associated with stars. Several previous review articles have been devoted to the physical properties of dust within the Milky Way, and we will avoid repetition of material covered earlier. Our discussion focuses on observable characteristics and the physical importance of dust in galaxies. We have included active nuclei galaxies and quasars in this discussion, interpreting galaxies in the broadest sense. In the subjects we have covered, we have attempted to be up to date as of approximately June 1982. The observable characteristics of dust that generally lead to significant information about the solid grains are extinction, reddening (as deduced from continuum alteration or anomalous line ratios), scattering (such as in reflection nebulae), polarization produced by extinction and scattering, and thermal emission in the infrared. All of these processes may play a role in determining the characteristics of galaxies inferred from observations. From an understanding of the observational effects due to the presence of dust, we can better understand the important physical processes at work in galaxies. In the following sections we discuss the manifestations of dust, first in our Galaxy, then in normal galaxies, and finally in the active nuclei galaxies and quasars.
Parasites of Two Native Fishes in Adjacent Adirondack Lakes

Abstract: This survey of parasites in 2 adjacent lakes is the first of its kind in the Adirondack Park of New York State. Wolf Lake is designated as a heritage lake whereas nearby Deer Lake is limnologically similar but has at least 5 introduced fish species. Both lakes have 2 native species, i.e., white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) and redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus), which were the focus of this study. Parasite communities of both hosts were surveyed and compared between each lake and were statistically evaluated for differences in species similarity, prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance. Between lakes, white suckers had significant differences in the prevalence of 4 parasite species (Myxobolus sp. 2, Myxobolus bibulatus, Octospinifer macilentis, and Pomphorhynchus bulbocoli) and mean abundances of 4 parasites (neascus larvae, Octospinifer macilentis, Pomphorhynchus bulbocoli, and Glaridacris confusus). Redbreast sunfish had significant differences in the prevalence of 3 species (Myxobol...
The USAMP magnesium powertrain cast components project

Despite the demonstrated ability of magnesium alloys to significantly reduce weight at acceptable costs in many areas of an automobile, powertrain components have not benefited from this metal, primarily because the high-temperature alloys that are required for engines and transmissions are too expensive. However, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Automotive Materials Partnership have launched a project to evaluate several new, potentially low-cost magnesium alloys, design several pre-competitive power-train components for the best alloy properties, cast and dynamometer or vehicle test the components in assembled powertrains, develop a powertrain magnesium alloy design database and common alloy specification, and identify andpromote the funding of fundamental research into improved magnesium alloys and casting processes.
Immunologic complexity in neurons

The study of MHC I expression in neurons has been plagued by large numbers of conflicting reports. Although more sensitive studies using PCR-based analysis of gene expression have recently demonstrated MHC I expression in cultured neurons, the current work of Shatz and colleagues demonstrating MHC I expression in neurons in vivo allows consideration of new and unexpected conclusions regarding the relationship between MHC I expression and neuronal activity. Moreover, the study provides new direction to the search for molecular mechanisms underlying complexity in the brain, by suggesting the need to reevaluate whether the mechanisms by which T cell clones generate diversity are also utilized by individual neurons.*E-mail: darnelr@rockvax.rockefeller.edu.
How Does Health Data Collected Electronically Compare To The Data From The Standard Paper System

We develop a mobile application for Community Health Workers (CHWs) to collect health data for monitoring children's growth and development with a custom mobile application. The application is designed to be delay tolerant and optimized for low-resource settings. The evaluation is carried out in an urban and a rural location in Rwanda. The preliminary results show that CHWs are very successful in electronic data collection for tasks they already routinely perform, such as measuring weight gain and Middle Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), which is a UNICEF protocol for detecting malnutrition. They had no problem adjusting to the electronic system since we followed the same format as the paper forms. We consider how mobile data collection improves both data availability and accuracy. The considerations that can relate to the advantages of electronic data versus the present paper-based system are: timeliness, accuracy and consistency. There is no doubt that electronic data is timelier than paper reports since the present system are submitted once a month. For data accuracy, we compare the accuracy of the present paper system with the Electronic Health Record approach. Our application has a built in error correction because it issues a warning when data is outside of the normal range of ±2sd. It does not prevent CHW to enter the data but it warns them of a possibility of an error, and improves the internal validity of data. By comparing the values that are input with a model based on previous measurements, it is possible to ensure self-consistency and detect errors. We have data from the paper records for the six months before we started the study at the same two locations. We were not able to locate and follow the same children using both systems because the paper data is fragmented and incomplete. However, we have many records available and the quantity of data will facilitate comparison of the two systems and estimates of statistical significance of the results. In addition we build a distribution model based on a large data set from the Rwandan Ministry of Health concerning the weight of children under five. We test how the electronic and paper data is described by this distribution over successive measurements and use the results to develop improved methods for checking the accuracy of data input by CHW in real-time.
ORIENTATION AND MICROCLIMATE OF HORNED LARK NESTS: THE IMPORTANCE OF SHADE

Abstract Across their range, Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris) consistently construct their nests adjacent to and north of a conspicuous object such as a tuft of grass, shrub, or rock. We studied the relative importance of a northern nest orientation to nest microclimate in Horned Larks breeding in northeastern California. Nests showed a significant northern bias in orientation angle and were 49% shaded in the early afternoon, the hottest part of the day. Artificial nests of eastern, western, and southern orientations exhibited little to no shade during this time. A northern nest orientation also allowed nests to face prevailing winds during the day and avoid them in the evening. The Horned Larks' preference for a northern nest orientation offers multiple advantages for regulation of nest microclimate. Orientacion y Microclima en Nidos de Eremophila alpestris: La Importancia de la Sombra Resumen. De forma consistente a lo largo de su rango de distribucion, Eremophila alpestris construye sus nidos adyace...
Woher wir das alles wissen: die entscheidenden Experimente

Im 1.Teil dieses Kapitels sollen ein paar der wichtigsten Experimente beschrieben werden, die uns die notigen Grundlagen fur das weitere Verstandnis liefern. Wir wollen dann einige Modelle aus Kap.1 und 2 mit ausgewahlten Experimenten untermauern. Die genauen Daten finden sich in der Literatur, die am Ende des Kapitels angegeben ist, und in darin zitierten weiteren Veroffentlichungen. Die experimentellen Grundlagen von Kap. 3 sollen uns nicht beschaftigen; der Leser kann sie anhand der allgemeinen Literaturangaben am Ende jenes Kapitels nachschlagen.
Stanford: Probabilistic Edit Distance Metrics for STS

This paper describes Stanford University's submission to SemEval 2012 Semantic Textual Similarity (STS) shared evaluation task. Our proposed metric computes probabilistic edit distance as predictions of semantic similarity. We learn weighted edit distance in a probabilistic finite state machine (pFSM) model, where state transitions correspond to edit operations. While standard edit distance models cannot capture long-distance word swapping or cross alignments, we rectify these shortcomings using a novel pushdown automaton extension of the pFSM model. Our models are trained in a regression framework, and can easily incorporate a rich set of linguistic features. The performance of our edit distance based models is contrasted with an adaptation of the Stanford textual entailment system to the STS task. Our results show that the most advanced edit distance model, pPDA, outperforms our entailment system on all but one of the genres included in the STS task.
Social Networks and Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley - Executive Summary

Social capital, the accumulation of resources through relationships, has become a well-established concept in the business world. A critical factor in both individual and organizational achievement, social capital is seen as being responsible for the "luck" or the "being at the right place at the right time" component of success. The potency of relational resources is nowhere more evident than in the context of entrepreneurship.This report summarizes the findings of a series of studies conducted on networks and entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is an ideal setting in which to uncover the formation and influence of networks due to the high concentration of entrepreneurship in the area. This report is divided into three sections. The first summarizes the characteristics that the entrepreneurs' networks tend to display at two early stages of venture creation and is based on interviews with start-up entrepreneurs as well as web-based surveys. The second section shows the impact that the entrepreneurs' networks tend to have on funding the ability of start-up companies to attract funding. Using a new sample of Silicon Valley corporations, the third section examines the role of networks in the survival of environmental turbulence such as the stock market crash of 2000.