cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthetic aperture radar hybrid ATR system

A hybrid automatic target recognition system is presented that exploits advances in two new fields in detection theory and signal analysis. The first is in the area of Universal Classification that offers asymptotic optimal solutions to non-Gaussian properties of signals and the second is in the field of multi-resolution analysis (MRA) that uses the automatic feature isolating properties of the wavelet transform. The Universal Classifier is used as the first stage of a hybrid ATR system that efficiently shifts through large quantities of imagery locating regions of interest that contain `target-like' features. The target chips of interest are then passed through the MRA to be classified at the final stage. Wavelets are adequate to the study of unpredictable signals with both low frequency components and sharp transitions. As a result, there has been recent interest in applying this new signal processing field to the target recognition problem. But few have combined the natural feature extraction capability of time- frequency methods in the classification stage. In this approach, we utilize the sub-space `crystals' from a specific decomposition and operate a classification strategy against each crystal of the transform. The complete ATR system is presented as well as performance examples using both real synthetic aperture radar data and data generated using the Xpatch signature prediction code.
Cortisol receptors and inducibility of glutamine synthetase in embryonic retina.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a marker enzyme for Muller glia cells in neural retina. In chick embryo retina GS begins to increase sharply on the 16th day of development, but can be precociously induced by premature supply of the inducer, cortisol, already on the 8th day. At this stage GS inducibility is low, but it increases progressively with embryonic age. We investigated whether there was a corresponding age-dependent increase of cortisol-binding molecules (cortisol receptors) and found that their level is highest in the early retina and decreases with development. In light of this inverse relationship, we examined whether functional characteristics of these receptors change with age, but detected no differences. In in vitro tests, receptors from older retina translocated cortisol into nuclei from young retina, and vice versa, with similar effectiveness. Also, cortisol receptors from liver cells (which differ from retina receptors) can translocate the hormone into retina nuclei, and vice versa. These findings indicate that translocation of cortisol receptors is neither tissue-specific or age-dependent, nor is it conditional on the total amount of receptors normally present in cells. Therefore, the age-dependent increase of GS inducibility in embryonic retina cannot be directly related to quantitative or functional differences of cortisol receptors and is evidently controlled primarily at the gene level. The very large amount of cortisol-binding molecules in early embryonic retina raises the possibility that they play some role in early differentiation of retina cells unrelated to hormone binding.
Urbanization in a great plains river: Effects on fishes and food webs

Spatial variation of habitat and food web structure of the fish community was investigated at three reaches in the Kansas River, USA to determine if δ13C variability and δ15N values differ longitudinally and are related to urbanization and instream habitat. Fish and macroinvertebrates were collected at three river reaches in the Kansas River classified as the less urbanized reach (no urban in riparian zone; 40% grass islands and sand bars, braided channel), intermediate (14% riparian zone as urban; 22% grass islands and sand bars) and urbanized (59% of riparian zone as urban; 6% grass islands and sand bars, highly channelized) reaches in June 2006. The less urbanized reach had higher variability in δ13C than the intermediate and urbanized reaches, suggesting fish from these reaches utilized a variety of carbon sources. The δ15N also indicated that omnivorous and detritivorous fish species tended to consume prey at higher trophic levels in the less urbanized reach. Channelization and reduction of habitat related to urbanization may be linked to homogenization of instream habitat, which was related to river food webs. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A post‐modern cultural competency framework for public administration and public service delivery

Purpose – The dramatic population growth of Hispanics and immigrants, combined with the issue of diversity, in the United States population raises several important questions about the future role of public administration and the delivery of culturally appropriate and culturally responsive public programs and public services in the post modern era of diversity. What is cultural competency in public programs and public service delivery? Can public agencies become culturally competent organizations? What is a cultural competency model for public administration and public service delivery? Aims to answer these questions that point to the need for a “new” kind of public servant and public service agency provider– one who possesses explicit cultural competency skills to work with racial/ethnic and cultural/linguistic groups in the delivery of public programs and public services.Design/methodology/approach – Utilizing a literature review approach, the paper examines the concept of culture in public administrati...
Abridgment of high-voltage corona in air

In the last few years contributions to corona literature by Holm, Ryan, Willis, and others have shown that the space charge liberated by alternating corona reacts on the corona to a high degree in determining its characteristics. This investigation studies the nature of these effects as influenced by variation in the limits of travel of the space charge. The three properties of corona readily lending themselves to experimental observation — the wave form and the value of the corona current, and the corona loss — have been noted when high alternating voltages are applied to a small smooth cylindrical conductor placed successively along the axes of four sizes of metal cylinders. In addition, four frequencies of the alternating voltages were used. All the work has been done under atmospheric conditions. The theory of the influence of space charge as developed by Holm has been tested by experiment and a marked discrepancy is indicated. Values of power loss due to corona, as measured, differ appreciably from those predicted by Holm, but in general follow the quadratic relation suggested by Peek. Unusually large and clear oscillograms afford much interesting qualitative information as to the influence of space charge travel on corona.
Manually Classifying User Search Queries on an Academic Library Web Site

The University of Michigan Library wanted to learn more about the kinds of searches its users were conducting through the “one search” search box on the Library Web site. Library staff conducted two investigations. A preliminary investigation in 2011 involved the manual review of the 100 most frequently occurring queries conducted through the site search box over the course of a month. Those 100 search terms accounted for 16 percent of total queries and were largely one-word searches for databases. In the follow-up investigation, the Library embarked on a more ambitious exploration of the 454,443 searches conducted during the winter 2011 semester, devising a method for selecting, categorizing, and summarizing user search queries. A sample of 1,201 searches from the search query logs was examined; after eliminating duplicate searches, there were 992 unique terms available for categorization. Using a non-overlapping sample of queries, a rubric was developed for categorizing user searches. Each of seven libr...
Transitions to chaos in a forced jet: intermittency, tangent bifurcations and hysteresis

Experimental studies of a forced transitional jet at moderate Reynolds numbers reveal interesting transitions between low-dimensional states, namely tangent bifurcations, intermittency and hysteresis. The experiments were carried out in an axisymmetric air jet with a laminar top-hat exit profile in the low-noise ambient of a large anechoic chamber, using forcing amplitude and frequency as control parameters. Tangent bifurcations are seen to occur in two different transitions from periodicity to chaos: (i) from stable pairing to nearly periodic modulations of pairing and (ii) from stable double pairing to a quarter-harmonic chaotic attractor. In case (i), an empirically derived mapping closely reproduces the temporal dynamics of one chaotic attractor at a point just after the tangent bifurcation. In case (ii), the intermittency was characterized by estimating the scaling exponent of the p.d.f. of the periodic durations, which was found to be close to the characteristic value for type-II intermittency. Hysteresis is seen at higher Strouhal numbers in the transitions between aperiodic modulations and the periodic/chaotic double pairing states. Based on simultaneous flow visualization and velocimetry, the hysteresis appears to be associated with intermittent tilting of (otherwise) axisymmetric vortices. These transitions are explained in terms of feedback-driven dynamics from vortex roll-ups and pairings, which can be phase-locked (periodic) or unlocked (nearly quasi-periodic and chaotic). The observed transitions connect large regions of deterministic behaviour in the phase diagram, confirming the existence of a low-dimensional dynamical system in transitional jets-an open flow of technological relevance.Two-point coherence measurements indicate that spatial coupling (and, hence, coherent motion from pairing dynamics) extends for five to eight diameters from the exit, well beyond the locations of pairing and double pairing. This justifies the use of single-point measurements and confirms our hypothesis that the dynamics in this convectively unstable flow are primarily temporal rather than spatio-temporal.
Fabrication of High Density Silicon Nano-Dots by Excimer Laser Irradiation on Block Copolymer Masks

We report easy and fast fabrication methods to prepare densely packed polystyrene (PS) and silicon nano-dots using one-step excimer laser irradiation on cylindrically nanopatterned block copolymer materials, without any additional selective etching steps before a non-selective etching. Preferential etching in more ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive block component, and non-selective removal of all block components allowed transferring nanopatterns in block copolymer masks to inorganic silicon substrates, when an appropriate laser intensity was used. Surface melt flows of block components, which severely undermine the initial orders of nanopatterns in a block copolymer mask, were observed at the laser intensity near the ablation threshold of the less UV-sensitive component. Thus, in order to obtain mask-image-like topographic nanopatterns on the target material surfaces, the intensity of excimer laser radiation should be sufficiently lower than the ablation threshold of the less UV-sensitive component as long as the intensity is higher than that of the more UV-sensitive component. Numerical analyses on the photothermal excimer laser ablation in binary mixture systems predicted the presence of a matrix-assisted excimer laser ablation in the less UV-sensitive component at the laser intensity lower than its ablation threshold, owing to the heat conduction from the more UV-sensitive component during the nanoscopic level of time duration.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Primary ion production from various gases in spontaneous desorption

Abstract The “spontaneous” emission of ions from a CsI surface was studied as a function of the nature and pressure of gas in the experimental chamber. Methanol, trichloroethylene, dichloromethane, and 1,2-dibromohexane were used as gases. In all cases it was observed that the primary ion count rate is a linear function of the pressure. The yield of I − was found to decrease with pressure and depends on the nature of the gas used. The results indicate that the primary ions are being produced by the field ionization of the introduced gas and the field ionization or field desorption of contaminant molecules.
Relationship between Ventricular Premature Contractions on Routine Electrocardiography and Subsequent Sudden Death from Coronary Heart Disease

The association between ventricular premature contractions (VPC) on routine ECG and sudden death (SD) from coronary heart disease (CHD) during an ll-year period was examined in a historic prospective study of 1,214 white male factory workers, ages 35-69, in Canton, North Carolina. Prevalence of VPC was 92 (6.7%) increasing from 2% to 15% with age. Sixty of the 118 deaths were ascribed to CHD, 38 (63.3%) with 24-hour SD, and 27 (45%) with 1-hour SD. The relative risk of 1-hour SD for those with VPC was not increased (0.9); the risk of 24-hour SD was increased only minimally (1.3). Within the age band 50-59, the relative risk of 24-hour sudden death was 2.4 but the presence of other electrocardiographic abnormality carried the same increased risk. For the Canton population, using VPC on routine ECG as predictor of sudden death yielded no advantage over other ECG abnormalities.
The Effects of Alternative Flowcharting Techniques on Performance on Procedural Tasks.

Many individuals tend to have difficulty completing complex procedural tasks that require branching. Neither prose–based nor list–based instructions have been efficient in alleviating this difficulty. Traditional flowcharts have proven more effective in helping individuals to complete complex procedural tasks, but only after several practice sessions. However, it is possible that the use of map–like symbols may eliminate the need for repeated flowchart practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of flowcharts utilizing map–like symbols on performer efficiency in completing a complex procedural task. The results of this study indicated no significant difference between the use of map–like symbols and traditional flowcharts in helping performers to complete complex procedural tasks. However, both graphic presentation formats were found to be significantly more efficient than a list–based presentation of information. It was expected than an intuitive map–like presentation would be more efficient than a list–based format. However, the efficiency of the flowchart presentation under unpracticed conditions was unexpected, based on prior research.
Simple and perovskite oxides of transition-metals: Why some are metallic, while most are insulating

Abstract Some 76 simple and perovskite transition-metal oxides are classified as “metals,” “insulators,” and those exhibiting metal-insulator transitions. Using the framework of Zaanen, Sawatzky, and Allen and a simple ionic model to estimate the two relevant energies ( Δ 0 and U ′ 0 ), we can find boundaries which separate the insulating oxides from two types of metals: low Δ 0 metals and low U ′ 0 metals. In addition, compounds with metal-insulator transitions are found to be on (or near) these boundaries. It is concluded that the large differences in conductivity behavior of oxides are largely due to differences in the ionization potentials of the transition metal cations.
Citizen Involvement & Quality of Life: Exit, Voice and Loyalty in a Time of Direct Democracy

This paper explores the connection between quality of life and direct democracy. Using state level data for participation and quality of life, we find that those states with a high quality of life see higher participation in direct democracy than those with lower quality of life. However, the passage of direct democracy measures has the inverse relationship indicating the importance of maintaining the status quo for states with higher quality of life measurements.
Regulation of antagonist binding to cardiac muscarinic receptors

The regulation of ligand binding to the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in developing chick heart has been studied using the radiolabeled antagonist [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB). In assays containing only buffer and a source of receptor protein, the antagonist radioligand bound to a single, high affinity state of the receptor. If Mg2+ and EDTA were added, [3H]QNB bound to a single, low affinity state. The guanine nucleotide analog, guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p], reversed the effect of Mg2+EDTA so that [3H]QNB again bound only to a single, high affinity state. Sodium could also reverse the effect of Mg2+EDTA on antagonist binding but the effects of sodium and Gpp(NH)p on [3H]QNB binding were not additive.
Environmental validation of the homocystine theory of arteriosclerosis.

Abstract It has been proposed (1,2) that elevated concentrations of homocystine in vascular tissue could cause arterial damage leading to arteriosclerosis. This theory is indirectly supported by research in the area of environmental toxicology, which has revealed that carbon monoxide and carbon disulfide, agents whose prolonged exposure is known to result in the development of arteriosclerotic changes, induced vitamin B 6 deficiency states which predictably lead to a homocystinuria-like state. Such information provides strong indirect support of the controversial homocystine theory of arteriosclerosis.
Rehabilitation Following Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair A Prospective Randomized Trial of Immobilization Compared with Early Motion

Background: The influence of rehabilitation on theoutcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical results and tendon healing rates following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair utilizing two distinct rehabilitation protocols. Methods: Over a thirty-month period, 124 patients under the age of sixty-five years underwent arthroscopic repair of a fullthickness rotator cuff tear measuring <30 mm in width. Postoperatively, patients were randomized either to a traditional rehabilitation program with early range of motion or to an immobilization group with delayed range of motion for six weeks. Clinical outcomes assessment included visual analog pain scale score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score,SimpleShoulderTest(SST),relativeConstantscore,andstrengthmeasurementsatsix,twelve,andtwenty-fourmonths. Tendon integrity was assessed with ultrasonography at a minimum of twelve months postoperatively. Results: There were no significant differences in patient age, tear size, or measures of preoperative function between groups at baseline. Final clinical follow-up was available for 114 subjects (92%). Active elevation and external rotation were better in the traditional rehabilitation group at three months. No significant differences were seen in functional scores, activemotion, andshoulderstrengthbetweenrehabilitationgroupsatlatertimepoints.Functional outcomesplateauedat six or twelve months except for the relative Constant score, which improved up to twenty-four months following surgery. Ninety-two percent of the tears were healed, with no difference between rehabilitation protocols (p = 0.46). Conclusions: Arthroscopic repair of small and medium full-thickness rotator cuff tears results in reliable improvements in clinical outcomes and a high rate of tendon integrity using a double-row repair technique in patients under the age of sixty-five years. There is no apparent advantage or disadvantage of early passive range of motion compared with immobilization with regard to healing or functional outcome. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Cuprate high-Tc superconductors

In solid-state physics two different paradigms are typically applied. The first is a local picture, in which one visualizes the quantum states of electrons in atomic orbitals or at impurity atoms in real space ( r -space). The second is the momentum or reciprocal space ( k -space) picture, where electrons are viewed as de Broglie waves completely delocalized throughout the material. Understanding these two separate paradigms is essential for a complete understanding of the physics of condensed matter, but rarely has it been as necessary to combine both pictures as it has been to gain insight into the electronic structure of the high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs). In this article, we review recent developments in the understanding of the relationship between the r -space and k -space electronic spectroscopies used to explore high-temperature superconductivity.
Endogenous Decentralization in Federal Environmental Policies

Under most federal environmental laws and some health and safety laws, states may apply for "primacy," that is, authority to implement and enforce federal law, through a process known as "authorization." Some observers fear that states use authorization to adopt more lax policies in a regulatory "race to the bottom." This paper presents a simple model of the interaction between the federal and state governments in such a scheme of partial decentralization. Our model suggests that the authorization option may not only increase social welfare but also allow more stringent environmental regulations than would otherwise be feasible. Our model also suggests that the federal government may choose its policies so that states that desire more strict regulation authorize, while other states remain under the federal program. We then test this hypothesis using data on federal regulation of water pollution and of hazardous waste, which are two of the most important environmental programs to allow authorization. We find that states that prefer more environmental protection authorize more quickly under both policies. This evidence suggests that states seek authorization to adopt more strict policies instead of more lax policies compared to federal policies.
Retinal degeneration in the nervous mutant mouse. IV. Inner retinal changes

We have recently noted that the inner nuclear layer (INL) and the inner plexiform layer (IPL) were significantly thinner in mice homozygous for the nervous defect (nr / nr) than in control (nr /+ or +/+) littermates. Here, we have carried out a series of anatomical studies to further understand these inner retinal changes. At postnatal day (P) 13, there was no difference in the inner retina between nervous and control mice, while a significant difference was observed at P30. Similar changes were not seen in other mouse models of photoreceptor degeneration. There was a significant reduction in the density of cells in the INL that were stained by antibodies against the inhibitory neurotransmitters GABA and glycine. These results indicate that the nervous defect causes a degeneration of one or more sub-types of amacrine cells, in addition to the loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells and retinal photoreceptors that is known to occur in these mutant animals. Finally, evidence is provided that photoreceptors die by an apoptotic pathway in nervous mice.
Improved Mobile Device Security through Privacy Risk Assessment and Visualization

We offer a vision for improving mobile device security through the assessment and subsequent visualization of information privacy risk. We note that many security measures from the traditional notebook, desktop, and server domains do not translate well to mobile devices. Moreover, users of mobile devices may often lack security expertise and awareness. Thus, other options must be considered with respect to securing smart phones, tablets, and the like. In particular, we propose a means to assess the information privacy risk for a given mobile device and alert the user when there appears to be significant risk. At its heart, our approach attempts to visualize the privacy disposition of a mobile device, thereby guiding the user to work in a more secure fashion.
Teratogenic potency of TCDD, TCDF and TCDD-TCDF combinations in C57BL/6N mice

Abstract 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TDCC) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) cause the same spectrum of fetal anomalies in C57BL/6N mice. Pregnant dams were treated with TCDD, TCDF and combinations of the 2 compounds on gestation day 10, and examined for maternal and fetal effects on day 18. The fetal kidneys were the most sensitive target for teratogenicity. The dose response for cleft palate induction fit the probit model for both compounds, suggesting that TCDD was approximately 30 times more potent than TCDF. The interaction between these 2 compounds was consistent with a model for additive toxicity.
Carbachol, Substance P, and Phorbol Ester Promote the Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Protein Kinase Cδ in Salivary Gland Epithelial Cells

The initiation of saliva formation by parotid acinar cells, which comprise the majority of cells in this salivary gland, is initiated by the release of neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, substance P) from parasympathetic nerves. In response to substance P and the muscarinic agonist carbachol, two ligands that activate phospholipase C-linked receptors, which stimulate fluid secretion, PKC delta was phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. The maximal agonist-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation occurred within seconds of the addition of either agonist and then returned rapidly to a smaller increased level. Phorbol ester also caused a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation, which reached a maximal level 5 min after the addition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC delta was blocked by tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and staurosporine. Ionophore-mediated elevation of [Ca2+]i or activation of the beta-adrenergic receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, or insulin receptor did not promote the tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC delta. These results indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation plays a role in early signal transduction events promoted by the activation of muscarinic and substance P receptors and suggests that the tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC delta has a role in the activation of fluid secretion by neurotransmitters binding to phospholipase C-linked receptors.
Assessing Qualitative Television Audience Research: Incorporating Feminist and Anthropological Theoretical Innovation

During the past 20 years qualitative audience researchers have produced respected theory and applied work in their studies of media audiences. Derived from roots in traditional anthropology, audience studies use methodologies that reproduce power differentials between researchers and participants. This article considers the application of feminist ethnography to the methodologies used in audience studies by exploring developments in recent anthropological approaches to ethnography. Shifting to a theoretical base incorporating feminist ethnography aids in identifying the power hierarchies between researcher and research participant and theorizes strategies to minimize these power differentials. In sum, this article queries the epistemological premises of current audience research practices and advocates a rethinking of this research based on the contributions of feminist ethnographic theory and other emergent anthropological developments.
Convergence in Wholesale Financial Services: Reinsurance and Investment Banking

One of the most significant economic developments of the past decade has been the convergence of the previously separate segments of the financial services industry – particularly the banking and insurance sectors. Convergence has been driven by increasing globalization of the financial services sector, the deregulation of financial markets, and advances in computer and modelling technologies. The shift in focus towards enterprise-wide corporate risk management solutions has created a growing demand for new risk management products. These developments provide opportunities for the traditional wholesalers of risk management products, particularly investment banks and reinsurers. The paper discusses the core competencies of banks and reinsurers and the factors needed for success in the evolving market. The discussion considers the merits of unbundling the traditional insurance value chain to create more responsive organizations and de-emphasize residual risk bearing by (re)insurers. The paper focuses on opportunities in innovative wholesale risk management products, including products that modify classic (re)insurance product models but do not access broader capital markets and risk-linked securities that access capital markets directly.
Gender differences in dehydration-induced mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common cardiac valve abnormality that affects women more frequently than men. We have previously shown that mild dehydration induces echocardiographic signs of MVP in approximately 50% of healthy asthenic women with previously normal cardiac findings. The present study was designed to investigate whether dehydration can induce MVP in normal men. Ten healthy male volunteers with a mean body mass index of 24.2 kg/m2, unremarkable history, and normal cardiac findings and echocardiogram were examined after mild diuresis with 20 mg furosemide. Significant decrease in weight, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, and cardiac output were detected in all subjects after furosemide administration. In 1 (10%) of the 10 subjects echocardiographic MVP developed after furosemide administration. All furosemide-induced changes resolved with hydration. These results demonstrate that dehydration-induced MVP in men without characteristic body habitus of MVP occurs with substantially lower frequency than previously documented in women with the characteristic body habitus of MVP. This study suggests the importance of gender and body habitus in dehydration-induced MVP.
PHOSPHATIDIC ACID AND PHOSPHOLIPASE D BOTH STIMULATE PHOSPHOINOSITIDE TURNOVER IN CULTURED HUMAN KERATINOCYTES

Phosphatidic acid (PA) induced a rapid dose-dependent increase in production of inositol phosphates in cultured adult human keratinocytes, peaking at 30 s. Natural and dioleoyl PA were equally effective, while other phospholipid classes had no effect. Lipid A was also active. Lyso-PA also induced inositol phosphate production, but contamination of the PA preparation by lyso-PA could not account for the effect of PA. The effect of PA could not be reproduced by treatment of cells with calcium ionophore. PA-induced inositol phosphate production could be inhibited (> 50%) by pre-treatment of cells with either pertussis toxin or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, suggesting the involvement of a GTP-binding protein and a protein kinase C-mediated negative feedback mechanism. PA also stimulated release of arachidonic acid from keratinocytes. Treatment of cells with exogenous phospholipase D similarly induced inositol phosphate production in the keratinocytes. Since PA may be formed by receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase D, or by phosphorylation of diacylglycerol, the results suggest that PA may play a significant role in signalling mechanisms of human keratinocytes.
Variables influencing alternation prediction by preschool children: II. Redundant cue value and intertrial interval duration

Abstract Forty 4- and 5-year-old preschool children predicted the next color in a blue-green-blue-green single-alternation sequence. For 20 S s the intertrial interval (ITI) was 3 seconds, for the other 20 it was 10 seconds. The stimuli were colored lights which could appear in either of two spatial locations. Two Series were given to each S . In Series A the location of the color alternated on each trial so that the location was perfectly correlated with the color. In Series S both colors always appeared in the same location. Half the S s in each ITI condition had Series A in the first 40-trial Stage of the experiment and Series S in the second 40-trial Stage; the other half had the reverse order. Number of errors and mean response latency were obtained for each S in each ten-trial block. The longer ITI produced significantly more errors; Series S produced more errors and longer latencies than did Series A; performance declined over 10-trial blocks, regardless of Series, Stage, and ITI. No significant interactions were obtained in the analysis of either measure.
Iron(II) and sulfate binding by the binucleating ligands O-BISDIEN, O-BISTREN, and O-BISBAMP

Abstract One cryptand and two macrocyclic ligands were studied by aqueous potentiometry in the presence and absence of various combinations of ferrous ion and sulfate ions. Appropriate stability constants were computed involving the ligands, hydrogen ion, ferrous ion and sulfate anion. This study is part of an ongoing investigation of binucleating ligands, and is the first report of sulfate binding to ferrous binuclear complexes.
Time, method of application, and placement of fertilizer for efficient production of potatoes in New England

The limited experimental results on time, method of application, and placement of fertilizer for potatoes on acid New England soils in agood state of productivity, indicate no increases in yields from methods other than applying all the fertilizer in the row in the standard sideplacement method described on page 108.
On the role of plea bargaining and the distribution of sentences in the absence of judicial system frictions

This paper examines the potential role that plea bargaining may serve in an environment where trials and incarceration are costless, there is no chance of convicting innocent defendants, and coercion is not necessary to obtain further information from arrested defendants. This analysis shows that even in the frictionless judicial system environment outlined above, a risk-averse society may still find it optimal to resolve a large fraction, or even all of its cases through plea bargaining. However, this is not always the case. If defendants are generally risk-loving, mutually acceptable plea bargains may not be possible, but when they are, the plea bargain sentences will necessarily fall short of even the expected sentence from going to trial, regardless of the relative bargaining power between prosecutors and defendants.
Physical State Influences on the Intensity of Infrared Absorption Bands

Using chloranil as a model, the intensities of various bands in the infrared spectrum have been investigated as functions of the particle size of the crystals. As the particles become larger, the values of molar absorptivity appear to approach the value found for a single crystal As the particle size approaches zero, the values increase. The molar absorptivities in solution are higher than those observed for the smallest particles investigated, and the plots of molar absorptivity as function of size may be extrapolated to the solution values as possible limits. It appears that there is no orientation of particles in the pellets, while x-ray diffraction data indicate no changes in crystal structure but do show some evidence of the formation of a solid solution. The frequencies of the various bands are independent of the sizes of the particles.
Magnesium and experimental vasospasm

Object. Interest has developed in the use of magnesium (Mg++) as a neuroprotectant and antivasospastic agent. Magnesium may increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) and reduce the contraction of cerebral arteries caused by various stimuli. In this study the authors tested the hypothesis that a continuous intravenous infusion of Mg++ reduces cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods. A dose-finding study was conducted in five monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) to determine what doses of intravenous MgSO4 elevate the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of Mg++ to vasoactive levels and to determine what effects these doses have on the diameters of cerebral arteries, as shown angiographically. After a standard dose of MgSO4 had been selected it was then administered in a randomized, controlled, blinded study to 10 monkeys (five animals/group) with SAH, beginning on Day 0 and continuing for 7 days, at which time angiography was repeated. A 0.086-g/kg bolus of MgSO4 followed by an i...
Defects in cortical microarchitecture among African-American women with type 2 diabetes

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) have increased fracture risk. We found that African-American women with DM2 have increased cortical porosity and lower cortical bone density at the radius than non-diabetic controls. These cortical deficits are associated with hyperglycemia and may contribute to skeletal fragility associated with DM2. Fracture risk is increased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) despite normal areal bone mineral density (aBMD). DM2 is more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians. It is not known whether African-American women with DM2 have deficits in bone microstructure. We measured aBMD at the spine and hip by DXA, and volumetric BMD (vBMD) and microarchitecture at the distal radius and tibia by HR-pQCT in 22 DM2 and 78 non-diabetic African-American women participating in the Study of Women Across the Nation (SWAN). We also measured fasting glucose and HOMA-IR. Age, weight, and aBMD at all sites were similar in both groups. At the radius, cortical porosity was 26 % greater, while cortical vBMD and tissue mineral density were lower in women with DM2 than in controls. There were no differences in radius total vBMD or trabecular vBMD between groups. Despite inferior cortical bone properties at the radius, FEA-estimated failure load was similar between groups. Tibia vBMD and microarchitecture were also similar between groups. There were no significant associations between cortical parameters and duration of DM2 or HOMA-IR. However, among women with DM2, higher fasting glucose levels were associated with lower cortical vBMD (r = −0.54, p = 0.018). DM2 and higher fasting glucose are associated with unfavorable cortical bone microarchitecture at the distal radius in African-American women. These structural deficits may contribute to the increased fracture risk among women with DM2. Further, our results suggest that hyperglycemia may be involved in mechanisms of skeletal fragility associated with DM2.
Plasmodium falciparum gene encoding a protein similar to the 78-kDa rat glucose-regulated stress protein.

Abstract Genes homologous to heat shock protein 70 have been described in parasitic protozoa. It has been proposed that they may be important to the parasite as it moves from the vertebrate host at 37 degrees C to the insect. We now describe a genomic DNA clone isolated from Plasmodium falciparum that encodes a protein similar in sequence to a mammalian heat shock-related protein, the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein of rat and hamster. The gene is expressed during the erythrocytic stage in both asexual and sexual parasites (RNA blot analysis) and a 72-kDa protein is immunoprecipitated from erythrocytic stage parasites. Importantly, the sequence of the clone is similar to the canonical sequence at the carboxyl termini of glucose-regulated proteins of mammals that determines their localization within endoplasmic reticulum. Since the parasite sequence has only three (Asp-Glu-Leu) of the four carboxyl-terminal amino acids, its location and its function within the parasite remain to be determined.
Welfare Economics and Individual Development: A Reply to Talcott Parsons

"Neoclassical Welfare Economics and Individual Development" proceeds in four logical stages. First, a methodological argument is offered as to the scope of welfare economics. A coherent welfare theory, I argue, must deal with the total impact of economic activity on the social bases of individual welfares. "Whenever economic activity . . . affects the social order, we are in the realm of welfare economics." I Second, certain minimal and necessary elements of a welfare theory adequate to this task are developed. These include (a) a specification of the welfare-relevant social entities ("unit objects") to which individuals relate or which they use instrumentally in pursuing their goals and which are affected by economic activity, and (b) a specification of individual capacities apposite to deriving well-being from given "bundles" of these social entities. Third, an extension of the usual general equilibrium model of economic activity, broad enough to include as endogenous variables the social entities and personal capacities on which individual welfare is based, is sketched and developed using structural-functional theory. Fourth, neoclassical welfare economics and the institutional mechanisms it recommends are criticized on the basis of the above model. In conclusion, I argue that my model poses many fruitful theoretical and empirical questions, but is unoperational in its present form, and is incorrect in adhering to a structural-functional framework. These deficiencies, I suggest, can be overcome only if positive theory is couched in a dialectical and historical framework, and the relation between positive and normative spheres is itself treated dialectically. Talcott Parsons' criticisms are directed almost exclusively toward the third stage of my argument (the extended structuralfunctional model) and my conclusion as to the inadequacy of structural-functional analysis in general. While his disapproval is quite general, I fail to discern even a minor substantive criticism of the other stages in my argument. Thus, I shall confine my remarks to
Excimer Laser Irradiation of Metallic Films on Ceramic Substrates

Copper films sputter deposited on mechanically polished (optical finish) and on annealed substrates were laser-irradiated at various energy densities. The effect of the substrate condition on both the evaporation threshold and the morphology of the laser-irradiated metallic films was investigated. The energy density threshold for laser-induced evaporation of the copper films was studied using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that for annealed substrates the energy density threshold decreases relative to the threshold for the as-polished condition. These results are compared with predictions of a mathematical model that assumes that the near surface region of the as-polished ceramic is a highly damaged region and, thus, constitutes a thermal barrier. The film remains intact and with almost no change in morphology after laser irradiation at energy densities lower than 0.80 J/cm2 if the substrate has been previously annealed. On the other hand, copper films deposited on as-polished substrates break up during laser processing forming copper islands.
Measurement of Phase Transitions by Photothermal Radiometry: The Semiconductor-To-Metal Transition of Vanadium(IV) Oxide, VO2:

A new experimental method of investigating phase transitions of solids, photothermal radiometry, is described. The effects of modulation frequency, laser intensity, and heating-cooling rates on the first-order semiconductor-to-metal phase transition of a microcystalline vanadium dioxide sample have been studied. The PTR signal increases with temperature in both phases, and a negative peak occurs at the phase transition. The intensity of signal is inversely proportional to the square root of frequency at laser-beam chopping frequencies lower than 100 Hz, indicating that the sample is thermally thick, and the signal is controlled by the thermal conductivity and the heat capacity and is independent of the optical properties of the material. The relative peak intensity decreases slightly in the low-frequency range with increasing frequency and more sharply at higher frequencies. The measured temperature of the phase transition decreases linearly with the intensity of illuminating light, from which the static component of the temperature rise at the surface can be determined. From the increase of linewidth with the laser intensity one may estimate the amplitude of the temperature modulation at the surface. The measured temperature of the phase transition increases with increasing heating rate and decreases with increasing cooling rates. The effects of variable light intensity and heating-cooling rates can be eliminated by extrapolation, and the exact temperature of the phase transition is obtained.
A moment-based effective characterization waveform for static timing analysis

Static timing analysis of VLSI circuits relies on tabular models of logic gates obtained during library characterization. At characterization time logic gates are simulated at the circuit level with a range of input waveforms (e.g., saturated ramps with different slews) and various output loads. At timing analysis time the same gates are driven by input waveforms that differ from the class of characterization waveforms. This paper proposes a method for mapping the waveforms that arise in static timing analysis to members of the class of waveforms used to characterize gate timing performance during library characterization. The method is based on the moments of the input waveform, which describe concisely the salient features of the waveform. The mapping between the input waveform and the effective characterization waveform is accomplished by positing functional relationships between the input waveform's moments and the parameters of the characterization waveform. The unknown coefficients of this functional relationship are determined by minimizing the worst case error of the output waveform over a representative set of input waveforms and gate loads. The technique requires no change to the library characterization procedure, and minimal change to the static timing tool with little to no additional computational burden on the timer.
Multimodal sensor fusion for personnel detection

Unattended ground sensors (UGS) are widely used to monitor human activities, such as pedestrian motion and detection of intruders in a secure region. Efficacy of UGS systems is often limited by high false alarm rates, possibly due to inadequacies of the underlying algorithms and limitations of onboard computation. This paper presents a symbolic method of feature extraction and sensor fusion, which is built upon the principles of wavelet transform and probabilistic finite state automata (PFSA). The relational dependencies among heterogeneous sensors are modeled by cross-PFSA, from which low-dimensional feature vectors are generated for pattern classification in real time. The proposed method has been validated on data sets of seismic and passive infrared (PIR) sensors for target detection and classification. The proposed method has the advantages of fast execution time and low memory requirements and is potentially well-suited for real-time implementation with onboard UGS systems.
Integrated communicative robot "BUGNOID"

A communicative robot "BUGNOID" that integrates various sensory data and behavior modules is introduced with some experimental results. For the achievement Of flexible communication with humans, the robot has multimodal interface holding diverse channels of communication. Moreover, the robot can recognize the environment taking a human's behavior into account in order to co-exist with them.
Parents’ Healthy Weight Perceptions and Preferences Regarding Obesity Counseling in Preschoolers: Pediatricians Matter

Objective: To compare parental report of child body image with perceived healthy weight body image in preschoolers and describe weight-counseling preferences. Methods: Parents seeking well-child care were interviewed and asked to select images resembling: (a) their own child’s current weight, (b) a healthy weight preschooler, and (c) friend and family report of a healthy weight preschooler. Those indicating that their overweight or obese child resembled a healthy weight image were considered to misclassify child weight. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of misclassification and card-sorting exercises explored weight-counseling preferences. Results: Of the 150 preschoolers in our sample, 32.7% (n = 49) were overweight or obese with misclassification occurring in 71.4% of parents (n = 35). Absence of pediatrician comment on child weight strongly predicted misclassification (odds ratio, 12.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.74-87.2). Pediatricians were highly valued weight advisors. Conclusions:...