cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced SiO/sub 2/ reliability on deuterium-implanted silicon

Stress-induced leakage current and time-dependent dielectric breakdown were investigated to examine the reliability of gate oxides grown on hydrogen- and deuterium-implanted silicon substrates. An order of magnitude improvement in charge-to-breakdown was observed for the deuterium-implanted devices as compared with the hydrogen-implanted ones. Such reliability improvement may be explained by the reduction of defects in the SiO2 and Si/SiO2 interface, such as Si dangling bonds, weak Si-Si bonds, and strained Si-O bonds due to the retention of implanted deuterium at the interface and in the bulk oxide as confirmed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy
On the Resilience of Ad Hoc Distributed Simulation of Surface Transportation Systems with Unreliable Communications

The Dynamic Data Driven Application Systems (DDDAS) concept is examined in the context of monitoring and managing surface transportation systems in day-to-day and emergency scenarios. An approach to predicting future system states termed ad hoc distributed simulations is described. This approach uses on-line distributed simulation models that can incorporate real-time data and utilizes rollback operations to update state predictions as new information becomes available. This paper focuses on examining the reliability of ad hoc distributed simulations in mobile computing environments, and specifically, assessing the accuracy of future state predictions in the face of unreliable communications.
Widespread distribution and fitness contribution of Xanthomonas campestris avirulence gene avrBs2.

Disease-resistance genes introduced into cultivated plants are often rendered ineffective by the ability of pathogen populations to overcome host resistance. The bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pathovar vesicatoria causes bacterial spot disease of tomato and pepper, and this pathogen has been shown to overcome disease resistance in pepper (Capsicum annuum) by evading the recognition and defence response of the host plant. Numerous resistance genes to bacterial spot have been identified in pepper and its wild relatives, each providing resistance to specific races of X.c. vesicatoria. The resistance gene Bs1, for example, provides resistance to X.c. vesicatoria strains expressing the avirulence gene avrBs1; Bs2 provides resistance to stains expressing avrBs2 and so on. We now report that avr Bs2 is highly conserved among strains of X.c. vesicatoria, and among many other pathovars of X. campestris. Furthermore, we find that avrBs2 is in fact needed for full virulence of the pathogen on susceptible hosts. This implies that plants carrying Bs2 can recognize an essential gene of the bacterial pathogen, which may explain why Bs2 confers the only effective field resistance to X.c. vesicatoria in pepper.
State estimation and vehicle localization for the FIDO rover

This paper describes the means for generating rover localization information for NASA/JPL's FIDO rover. This is accomplished using a sensor fusion framework which combines wheel odometry with sun sensor and inertial navigation sensors to provide an integrated state estimate for the vehicle's position and orientation relative to a fixed reference frame. This paper describes two separate state estimation approaches built around the extended Kalman filter formulation and the Covariance Intersection formulation. Experimental results from runs in JPL's MarsYard are presented in order to compare the state estimates generated using each formulation.
Higher-order control-flow analysis in retrospect: lessons learned, lessons abandoned

Traditional flow analysis techniques, such as the ones typically employed by optimising Fortran compilers, do not work for Scheme-like languages. This paper presents a flow analysis technique --- control flow analysis --- which is applicable to Scheme-like languages. As a demonstration application, the information gathered by control flow analysis is used to perform a traditional flow analysis problem, induction variable elimination. Extensions and limitations are discussed.The techniques presented in this paper are backed up by working code. They are applicable not only to Scheme, but also to related languages, such as Common Lisp and ML.
New VHF and UHF Varactor Tuners

The VHF and UHF tuners are separate units, and each is manufactured and tested by itself. In the television instrument they are electrically interconnected and, in effect, comprise a three band, all channel, varactor tuner. In those instruments using the electromechanical channel selection system, the two units are mounted together with brackets and interconnections so as to provide a single V-U unit. In those instruments featuring the digital direct address system, each tuner is mounted on its associated address system module.
Sensitivity and specificity of the semiquantitative latex agglutination D-dimer assay for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism as defined by computed tomographic angiography.

Objective To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the semiquantitative latex agglutination plasma fibrin D-dimer assay for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism by using computed tomographic (CT) angiography as the diagnostic reference standard. Patients and Methods From January 1, 1998, to June 26, 2000, patients who had both semiquantitative latex agglutination plasma fibrin D-dimer testing and CT angiography for suspected acute pulmonary embolism were selected for the study. A D-dimer value greater than 250 ng/mL was considered positive for thromboembolic disease. Diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism was based solely on the interpretation of the CT angiogram. The D-dimer assay results were then compared with the CT angiographic diagnoses. Results Of 946 CT studies, 172 (18%) were positive for acute pulmonary embolism. The D-dimer assay was positive for 612 (65%) of the 946 patients. For acute pulmonary embolism, the D-dimer assay had a sensitivity of 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-0.88), a specificity of 0.39 (95% CI, 0.36-0.43), a negative likelihood ratio of 0.44 (95% CI, 0.32-0.62), and a negative predictive value of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.87-0.94). Conclusions The semiquantitative latex agglutination plasma fibrin D-dimer assay had moderate sensitivity and low specificity for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism. When used alone, the results of this test were insufficient to exclude this serious and potentially fatal disorder. Approximately two thirds of our patients had positive D-dimer assays and required further evaluation to exclude acute pulmonary embolism.
Automated Mapping of Surface Water Temperature in the Great Lakes

Abstract A procedure for producing daily cloud-free maps of surface water temperature in the Great Lakes has been developed. It is based on satellite-derived AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) imagery from NOAA's CoastWatch program. The maps have a nominal resolution of 2.6 km and provide as complete as possible coverage of the Great Lakes on a daily basis by using previous imagery to estimate temperatures in cloud covered areas. Surface water temperature estimates derived from this procedure compare well with water temperatures measured at the eight NOAA weather buoys in the lakes. The mean difference between the buoy temperature and the satellite-derived temperature estimates is less than 0.5°C for all buoys. The root mean square differences range from 1.10 to 1.76°C. As one example of the possible applications of this product, the daily surface water temperature maps for 1992 to 1997 were analyzed to produce daily estimates of average surface water temperature for each lake. Results are compared to the long-term (28 year) mean annual cycle of average surface water temperatures. The average surface water temperatures vary from as much as 4°C below climatology in 1993 to 2 to 3°C above climatology in 1995. The new analysis procedure also provides a more realistic depiction of the spatial distribution of temperature in the springtime than the climatological maps.
Sport Psychology Service Delivery Training: The Value of an Interactive, Case-Based Approach to Practitioner Development

The process of service delivery has not been a prevalent focus in the discussion of applied sport psychology. The topics, techniques, or strategies relevant to practice have dominated the literature. Further, a gap exists between the coursework taken to learn the necessary knowledge and real-world consulting experiences. Case-based instruction can fill this gap, and provide an opportunity to practice procedural knowledge and skills, and obtain feedback about that application in order to learn how to effectively use knowledge in practice. A model interactive, case-based program, and lessons learned on effectively using this type of instruction are discussed.
Iron acquisition by mycorrhizal maize grown on alkaline soil

Abstract Vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF) are known to improve the mineral nutritional status of plants. Since information on effects of VAMF on plant iron (Fe) nutrition is limited, an Fe deficient‐susceptible maize (Zea mays L., ysi/ysi) was grown on alkaline Quinlan (Typic Ustochrept, pH 8.0) and Ulysses (Aridic Haplustoll, pH 7.8) soils with Glomus VAMF isolates G. etunicatum WV579A (Ge), G. diaphanum WV579B (Gd), and G. intraradices WV894 (Gi) to determine plant growth responses to VAMF associations and efficacy of these VAMF isolates to enhance Fe acquisition. Shoot and root dry matter (DM) were higher in mycorrhizal (+VAM) then in nonmycorrhizal (‐VAM) plants, and followed a sequence of Ge > Gd ≥ Gi > ‐VAM. Root DM of Ge plants was higher than other +VAM plants. Even though relatively low, leaf chlorophyll (SFAD unit) readings were higher in +VAM than in ‐VAM plants and followed a sequence similar to DM. Plants colonized with Gi had higher leaf Fe, phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn) concent...
Winners and losers in the commodity lottery: The impact of terms of trade growth and volatility in the Periphery 1870–1939

Abstract Most countries in the periphery specialized in the export of just a handful of primary products for most of their history. Some of these commodities have been more price volatile than others, and those with more volatility have grown much more slowly relative to the industrial leaders and to other primary product exporters. This fact helps explain the growth puzzle noted by Easterly, Kremer, Pritchett and Summers more than a decade ago: that the contending fundamental determinants of growth—institutions, geography and culture—exhibit far more persistence than do the growth rates they are supposed to explain. Using a new panel database for 35 countries, this paper estimates the impact of terms of trade volatility and secular change on country performance between 1870 and 1939. Volatility was much more important for growth than was secular change and accounts for a substantial degree of the divergence in incomes within the sample of small, commodity-dependent ‘Periphery’ nations as well as under-performance of the Periphery as a whole relative to such nations as the US and Western Europe, or ‘Core’. One channel of impact seems to be the adverse effect of volatility on foreign investment. It appears that the terms of trade effects were asymmetric between Core and Periphery.
Effect of tryptophan analogues on reversion of a tryptophan-requiring strain of Escherichia coli.

Two years ago, Witkin1 reported experiments indicating that protein synthesis was essential for the “fixation” of the mutagenic state induced by ultra-violet irradiation. More recently, Doudney and Haas2 have shown that at least two processes are involved in the production of bacterial mutations by ultra-violet irradiation; the first process results in fixation of the mutation into the genome, the second involves a removal of the mutagen produced by the radiation. We would like to report experiments that indicate that protein synthesis is involved in the actual utilization or degradation of the mutagen produced by ultra-violet irradiation.
Lasso with long memory regression errors

Abstract Lasso is a computationally efficient approach to model selection and estimation, and its properties are well studied when the regression errors are independent and identically distributed. We study the case, where the regression errors form a long memory moving average process. We establish a finite sample oracle inequality for the Lasso solution. We then show the asymptotic sign consistency in this setup. These results are established in the high dimensional setup ( p > n ) where p can be increasing exponentially with n . Finally, we show the consistency, n 1 / 2 − d - consistency of Lasso, along with the oracle property of adaptive Lasso, in the case where p is fixed. Here d is the memory parameter of the stationary error sequence. The performance of Lasso is also analysed in the present setup with a simulation study.
CMIP5 multimodel ensemble projection of storm track change under global warming

[1] CMIP5 multimodel ensemble projection of midlatitude storm track changes has been examined. Storm track activity is quantified by temporal variance of meridional wind and sea level pressure (psl), as well as cyclone track statistics. For the Southern Hemisphere (SH), CMIP5 models project clear poleward migration, upward expansion, and intensification of the storm track. For the Northern Hemisphere (NH), the models also project some poleward shift and upward expansion of the storm track in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere, but mainly weakening of the storm track toward its equatorward flank in the troposphere. Consistent with these, CMIP5 models project significant increase in the frequency of extreme cyclones during the SH cool season, but significant decrease in such events in the NH. Comparisons with CMIP3 projections indicate high degrees of consistency for SH projections, but significant differences are found in the NH. Overall, CMIP5 models project larger decrease in storm track activity in the NH troposphere, especially over North America in winter, where psl variance as well as cyclone frequency and amplitude are all projected to decrease significantly. In terms of climatology, similar to CMIP3, most CMIP5 models simulate storm tracks that are too weak and display equatorward biases in their latitude. These biases have also been related to future projections. In the NH, the strength of a model's climatological storm track is negatively correlated with its projected amplitude change under global warming, while in the SH, models with large equatorward biases in storm track latitude tend to project larger poleward shifts.
Bayesian approach to assess consumers’ brand selection process and identification of brand attributes in a service context

Abstract The proliferation of branded products and services within the last decade has made it increasingly difficult for consumers to distinguish and choose amongst various brands. To reduce the complexity when choosing one brand over another, consumers may focus on a small set of a few brands in which they contrast and compare. This study examined the consumer's brand categorization process and brand evaluations using Bayesian statistics. Particular brand attributes within the Evoked Set resulting in a significant influence include the consumers’ confidence in their ability to evaluate speed of service, taste, price, quality and location of the branded restaurants. Consumers placed restaurant brands in their Hold Set due to lack of confidence in evaluating the taste of the products offered, its prices, brand locations and, most likely, not having formed a clear opinion about the brand. For the most part, cognition and confidence predictably predisposed a consumer to place a brand in the Foggy Set. Finally, in the case of Reject Set, lack of confidence in evaluating a brand, dissatisfaction with a brand and a negative intention to eat at a restaurant were significant factors in placing a brand in a consumers’ Reject Set.
A Study of Hibernacula and Hibernating Associations of Snakes and Amphibians in Michigan

During the course of ecological studies of a garter snake population near Dixboro, Washtenaw County, Michigan from 1948 through 1951, many data were recorded on hibernating snakes. The 50acre area concerned surrounds and includes a button-bush marsh, with a mixed growth of sumac and grasses to the north and west, to the east a grazed pasture and to the south an oak-hickory wood lot. The grass-sumac area, which has a south-facing hillside with a flat area between it and the marsh, showed definite concentrations of snakes in the spring and fall.
Randomized Trial of Tacrolimus Monotherapy: Tacrolimus In Combination, Tacrolimus Alone Compared (The TICTAC Trial)

Background Prior retrospective studies have suggested that tacrolimus monotherapy is an option associated with excellent outcomes and reduced toxicities. Method We conducted a prospective, randomized, 2-center study of tacrolimus combination therapy vs monotherapy. From April 16, 2004, to September 15, 2005, 58 adult heart transplant patients were studied. All received oral tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids. Patients were then randomized to a group where mycophenolate was maintained (COMBO) or to a group where it was discontinued (MONO) 14 days post-transplant. Corticosteroids were rapidly withdrawn in both groups between 8 and 12 weeks. Result The primary end point (mean 6-month International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation biopsy score) was 0.44 ± 0.04 in the MONO group and 0.60 ± 0.05 in the COMBO group ( p = 0.013, unpaired Student's t -test). The freedom from rejection grade of 2R or higher at 6 and 12 months was 93.3% with MONO and 92.9% with COMBO ( p = NS). Conclusion Tacrolimus monotherapy appears to be safe and efficacious in heart transplant recipients and is not associated with excess rejection in the first year post-transplant. Further studies of this approach are warranted.
Levels of 51V and 55Mn via (n, n′γ) reactions

Abstract Differential cross sections for the production of gamma rays by inelastic neutron scattering in 51 V and 55 Mn have been measured. Gamma-ray branching ratios for the subsequent decay of excited levels have also been obtained. Measurements were made with pulsed-beam techniques for incident neutron energies from 1.0 to 3.1 MeV. Gamma-ray angular distributions and neutron inelastic scattering cross sections are compared with the predictions of the Hauser-Feshbach model. The comparison confirms spin assignments to excited levels of both nuclei. Those assigned are 0.320, 5 2 ; 0.930, 3 2 ; 1.609, 11 2 ; 1.813, 9 2 ; 2.409 ( 3 2 ) in 51 V and 0.126, 7 2 ; 0.983, 9 2 ; 1.289, 11 2 ; 1.527, 3 2 ; 1.884, ( 5 2 , 7 2 ) in 55 Mn. The first number of a pair indicates the excitation energy in MeV and the second the spin. Parentheses indicate tentative assignments. The branching ratios show that E2 transitions dominate in 51 V and M1 transitions dominate in 55 Mn.
The structure of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in combat veterans: a confirmatory factor analysis of the impact of event scale.

There has been controversy over the most appropriate way to define symptom clusters for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We tested the factor structure of the Impact of Event Scale (IES) in a sample of 195 male combat veterans with chronic PTSD by using confirmatory factor analysis. The two-factor model including Intrusion (i.e., unwanted memories of the event) and Avoidance (i.e., attempts to avoid reminders and numbing of emotional responsiveness) deviated significantly from good fit. However, a four-factor model, including Intrusion and Effortful Avoidance subscales, as well as Sleep Disturbance and Emotional Numbing subscales, fit significantly better. Correlations with other PTSD measures are explored and implications for the conceptualization of PTSD are discussed.
Assessing Community College Student Learning Outcomes: Where Are We? What's Next?.

The Community College Leadership Consortium is building the Bellwether Coalition for Instructional Leadership toward the development of a voluntary system of accountability for community colleges. In response to the Spellings Commission's national call for accountability in higher education, the consortium and its partners convened an Independent Policy Forum at the 2008 Community College Futures Assembly in Orlando, Florida. The Independent Policy Forum began to develop a set of recommendations to be communicated to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) during its 2009 annual meeting. Recommendations put forth by the forum will contain the founding principles for the nascent voluntary system of accountability for community colleges.
Distance and Access to Health Care for Rural Women with Heart Failure

Background and Research Objective: Heart Failure (HF) is a disease state requiring ongoing and specialized health care. For persons living in rural areas, access to care may be delayed or difficult as best due to the distance involved. Distance to obtain health care can be further confounded by such issues as weather and lack of transportation. To further understand these issues, a sample of women diagnosed with HF and living in rural upstate New York was studied to explicate the impact of distance and weather on access to health care. Sample and Method: A convenience sample of 45 women living in upstate New York diagnosed with HF was studied to assess the impact of distance and the associated issues on accessing health care. Mileage to primary care and specialty care was quantified. Frequencies for associated issues such as the need for emergency care, weather, and the ability to drive were measured. Results and Conclusions: The mean distance to obtain primary care was 6.4 miles, while the mean distance to obtain cardiology care was 32.6 miles. However, only 50% of the sample actually sought ongoing care from a cardiologist. When assessing the impact of weather or distance on access to health care, no significant influences were found. However, with increasing age, weather was shown to approach significance (p=. 059). These findings further illustrate the ongoing issues experienced by rural dwellers when accessing health care for HF.
Obesity and the Built Environment Among Massachusetts Children

Background: The built environment may influence weight status. Method: Using cross-sectional data for children aged 2 to 18 years, the authors linked clinical and spatial data using geographic information systems and analyzed for associations between body mass index (BMI) and density of and distance to nearest built environment variable (schools, sidewalks, subway stations, bicycle trails, open space, and fast-food restaurants) using bivariate and multilevel analyses. Results: The study sampled 21 008 children; 54% were white, 26% Hispanic, 37% overweight, and 20% obese. In bivariate analysis, distance to nearest fast-food restaurant was inversely associated with BMI, whereas density of fast-food restaurants was positively associated with BMI. Distance to school and subway station, amount of open space, and density of subway stations were inversely associated with BMI. Controlling for sociodemographic factors, only living near a greater density of subway stations was inversely associated with overweight (odds ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.94) and obesity (odds ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.99). Conclusion: Distance to nearest subway station is associated with BMI among Massachusetts children.
Thermal plasticity of photosynthesis: the role of acclimation in forest responses to a warming climate

The increasing air temperatures central to climate change predictions have the potential to alter forest ecosystem function and structure by exceeding temperatures optimal for carbon gain. Such changes are projected to threaten survival of sensitive species, leading to local extinctions, range migrations, and altered forest composition. This study investigated photosynthetic sensitivity to temperature and the potential for acclimation in relation to the climatic provenance of five species of deciduous trees, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus rubra, Quercus falcata, Betula alleghaniensis, and Populus grandidentata. Open-top chambers supplied three levels of warming (+0, +2, and +4 C above ambient) over 3 years, tracking natural temperature variability. Optimal temperature for CO2 assimilation was strongly correlated with daytime temperature in all treatments, but assimilation rates at those optima were comparable. Adjustment of thermal optima was confirmed in all species, whether temperatures varied with season or treatment, and regardless of climate in the species' range or provenance of the plant material. Temperature optima from 17 to 34 were observed. Across species, acclimation potentials varied from 0.55 C to 1.07 C per degree change in daytime temperature. Responses to the temperature manipulation were not different from the seasonal acclimation observed in mature indigenous trees, suggesting that photosynthetic responsesmore » should not be modeled using static temperature functions, but should incorporate an adjustment to account for acclimation. The high degree of homeostasis observed indicates that direct impacts of climatic warming on forest productivity, species survival, and range limits may be less than predicted by existing models.« less
Pathogenic Profiles and Molecular Signatures of Antinuclear Autoantibodies Rescued from NZM2410 Lupus Mice

Two outstanding questions concerning antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in lupus involve their pathogenic potential and their molecular signatures. To address these questions, a panel of 56 antinuclear and 47 nonnuclear binding monoclonal antibodies was rescued from four seropositive NZM2410 lupus mice. The monoclonals varied in their reactivity to nucleosomes, ssDNA, dsDNA, and glomerular substrate. A large fraction of the antibodies demonstrated apparent polyreactivity (to DNA, histones, and glomerular antigens) due to bound, DNase-1 sensitive nuclear antigenic bridges. Although nephrophilic immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies were the most pathogenic, the dsDNA-binding antibodies were modestly so; in contrast, antinucleosome antibodies were clearly not pathogenic. Compared with the nonnuclear antigen-binding monoclonal antibodies rescued from the same mice, ANAs exhibited increased utilization of VH5/7183 genes and highly cationic heavy chain (HC) CDR3 regions. Most intriguingly, the CDR3 regions of the ANAs exhibited alternating arginine/lysine peaks at H96, H98, and H100, with neutral troughs at H95, H97, and H99. To summarize, glomerular-binding anti-dsDNA antibodies appear to be the most pathogenic variety of lupus autoantibodies. The presence of an alternating charge pattern in their HC CDR3 regions appears to be a prominent hallmark of ANAs.
Enhancement of electron mobility in ultrathin-body silicon-on-insulator MOSFETs with uniaxial strain

The electrostatics of fully depleted MOS devices such as double- and triple-gate MOSFETs are highly dependent on the thickness of the silicon-on-insulator film in the channel. Scaling these devices to their ultimate limits makes it necessary to scale the channel thickness into a regime where quantum confinement effects negatively impact the electrical transport properties of the film. We use the application of uniaxial mechanical strain to investigate electron mobility in films where mobility has been degraded by quantum size effects. We find that these films exhibit more mobility enhancement from strain than do thick films, indicating that the strain increases mobility conventionally and mitigates the mechanism that causes mobility degradation in thin films.
Letter to the Editor-A Note on the Analysis of Peak-Demand Forecasts of an Electrical Utility

This note analyzes the peak-demand predictions of the Commonwealth Edison Company of Illinois in order to detect and isolate the effects of systematic factors on the distribution of prediction errors. The results show that the major factor affecting the distribution is the month for which peak demand is predicted but that the time interval between prediction and realization has only a slight effect on the prediction errors.
An algorithm for reliability analysis of planar graphs

On donne un algorithme de calcul de la fiabilite a K sommets dans les graphes planaires avec une complexite strictement exponentielle par rapport a la racine carree du nombre total de sommets
A program generator for efficient evaluation of fourier series

Many fields require the evaluation of large multi-variate Fourier series, but the naive method of calling sine and cosine for each term can be prohibitive where computing resources are constrained or the series are extremely large (30,000 terms). Although the number of such calls can be reduced by using trigonometric identities, such a reduction is usually not possible by hand. Indeed, even when it is carried out by computer, care must be taken to generate compact programs and avoid generating large numbers of intermediate terms. We describe here an algorithm for automatically generating very efficient Fortran programs directly from the mathematical description of the series to be evaluated. The resulting Fortran programs are 5-7 times faster than the naive version and sometimes significantly more compact.
Beyond the antinomies of structure: Levi-Strauss, Giddens, Bourdieu, and Sewell

In this article, I attempt to address some enduring problems in formulation and practical use of the notion of structure in contemporary social science. I begin by revisiting the question of the fidelity of Anthony Giddens’ appropriation of the idea of structure with respect to Levi-Strauss. This requires a reconsideration of Levi-Strauss’ original conceptualization of “social structure” which I argue is a sort of “methodological structuralism” that stands sharply opposed to Giddens’ ontological reconceptualization of the notion. I go on to show that Bourdieu’s contemporaneous critique of Levi-Strauss is best understood as an attempt to recover rather than reject the central implication of Levi-Strauss’ methodological structuralism, which puts Bourdieu and Giddens on clearly distinct camps in terms of their approach toward the idea of structure. To demonstrate the—insurmountable—conceptual difficulties inherent in the ontological approach, I proceed by critically examining what I consider to be the most influential attempt to resolve the ambiguities in Giddens structuration theory: Sewell’s argument for the “duality of structure.” I show that by retaining Giddens’ ontological focus, Sewell ends up with a notion of structure that is at its very core “anti-structuralist” or only structuralist in a weak sense. I close by considering the implications of the analysis for the possibility of developing the rather neglected “methodological structuralist” legacy in contemporary social analysis.
Issues in the implementation of an indirect adaptive control system

This work presents techniques for addressing the various issues relevant to the implementation of an indirect adaptive control system. The sufficiency of these techniques is demonstrated by implementation onboard a small autonomous underwater vehicle. The control system is organized into two layers: the standard adaptive control algorithms and the supervisory logic. Modeling and implementation issues involved in the design of the basic adaptive control loop are described. The design of supervisory logic to address insufficiency of excitation, identification under low signal-to-noise ratio conditions, and guaranteeing appropriate control actions during periods when the parameter estimates are inaccurate is discussed. Results from in-water demonstrations are presented. >
Sound and faulty arguments generated by preservice biology teachers when testing hypotheses involving unobservable entities

A sample of preservice biology teachers (biology majors) enrolled in a teaching methods course formulated and attempted to test six hypotheses to answer a causal question about why water rose in a jar inverted over a burning candle placed in a pan of water. The students submitted a lab report in which arguments and evidence for testing each hypothesis were presented in an if/then/therefore hypothetico-predictive form. Analysis of written arguments revealed considerable success when students were able to manipulate observable hypothesized causes. However, when the hypothesized causes were unobservable, such that they could be only indirectly tested, performance dropped, as shown by use of three types of faulty arguments: (a) arguments that had missing or confused elements, (b) arguments whose predictions did not follow from hypotheses and planned tests, and (c) arguments that failed to consider alternative hypotheses. Science is an enterprise in which unobservable theoretical entities and processes (e.g., atoms, genes, osmosis, and photosynthesis) are often used to explain observable phenomena. Consequently, if it is assumed that effective teaching requires prior understanding, then it follows that these future teachers have yet to develop adequate hypothesis-testing skills and sufficient awareness of the nature of science to teach science in the inquiry mode advocated by reform guidelines. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 39: 237–252, 2002
Structured covariance estimation via maximal representation of convex sets

A method that utilizes the properties of the set of structured covariance matrices in order to perform covariance estimation is presented. The constraint space of allowable covariance matrices is characterized as a convex cone within the space of positive definite Hermitian matrices. The Caratheodory representation theorem is invoked to show that any member of this cone can be represented as a positive weighted sum of a small number of generating dyads. Simulation results confirm the computational efficiency of this approach and its significance in an adaptive beamforming application. >
Third-Party Conflict Management and the Willingness to Make Concessions

Third-party conflict management, particularly legal dispute resolution (arbitration and adjudication) and mediation, can help improve the willingness of disputants to make asymmetric concessions by...
An extension of the marriage metaphor in buyer–seller relationships: An exploration of individual level process dynamics

The marriage metaphor has been used to make substantial contributions to our understanding of buyer–seller relationships. However, there has been increasing recognition that transfer from the marriage metaphor to buyer–seller relationships has not been fully explored. There is a need to explore buyer–seller relationships at a more micro, individual level that allows for greater consideration of relational/communication elements. This paper extends existing perspectives by integrating conceptual and empirical work from the interpersonal relationship literature. Specifically, the role of individual partner expectations, communication behavior, and appraisal processes in problem solving are delineated. Qualitative field interviews from participants representing multiple functional areas across both sides of business dyads are utilized as a means of examining the viability of the conceptual transfer from interpersonal to buyer–seller relationships. The work holds implications for future research and management of relational problem solving in buyer–seller partnerships.
Expression of Interferon Gamma by a Recombinant Rabies Virus Strongly Attenuates the Pathogenicity of the Virus via Induction of Type I Interferon

Previous animal model experiments have shown a correlation between interferon gamma (IFN-γ) expression and both survival from infection with attenuated rabies virus (RABV) and reduction of neurological sequelae. Therefore, we hypothesized that rapid production of murine IFN-γ by the rabies virus itself would induce a more robust antiviral response than would occur naturally in mice. To test this hypothesis, we used reverse engineering to clone the mouse IFN-γ gene into a pathogenic rabies virus backbone, SPBN, to produce the recombinant rabies virus designated SPBNγ. Morbidity and mortality were monitored in mice infected intranasally with SPBNγ or SPBN(−) control virus to determine the degree of attenuation caused by the expression of IFN-γ. Incorporation of IFN-γ into the rabies virus genome highly attenuated the virus. SPBNγ has a 50% lethal dose (LD50) more than 100-fold greater than SPBN(−). In vitro and in vivo mouse experiments show that SPBNγ infection enhances the production of type I interferons. Furthermore, knockout mice lacking the ability to signal through the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR−/−) cannot control the SPBNγ infection and rapidly die. These data suggest that IFN-γ production has antiviral effects in rabies, largely due to the induction of type I interferons. IMPORTANCE Survival from rabies is dependent upon the early control of virus replication and spread. Once the virus reaches the central nervous system (CNS), this becomes highly problematic. Studies of CNS immunity to RABV have shown that control of replication begins at the onset of T cell entry and IFN-γ production in the CNS prior to the appearance of virus-neutralizing antibodies. Moreover, antibody-deficient mice are able to control but not clear attenuated RABV from the CNS. We find here that IFN-γ triggers the early production of type I interferons with the expected antiviral effects. We also show that engineering a lethal rabies virus to express IFN-γ directly in the infected tissue reduces rabies virus replication and spread, limiting its pathogenicity in normal and immunocompromised mice. Therefore, vector delivery of IFN-γ to the brain may have the potential to treat individuals who would otherwise succumb to infection with rabies virus.
CoCEST: cobalt(II) amide-appended paraCEST MRI contrast agents

The first examples of air-stable CoII paraCEST MRI contrast agents are reported. Amide NH protons on the complexes give rise to CEST peaks that are shifted up to 112 ppm from the bulk water resonance. One complex has multiple CEST peaks that may be useful for ratiometric mapping of pH.
Diltiazem attenuates the inotropic and peripheral vascular effects of cardiac glycosides

Abstract The influence of diltiazem on the hemodynamic effects of ouabain in 10 preinstrumented awake dogs was studied. Mean aortic pressure increased from 102 to 119 mm Hg with ouabain ( p p
Critical Role for Transient Receptor Potential Channel TRPM4 in Myogenic Constriction of Cerebral Arteries

Local control of cerebral blood flow is regulated in part through myogenic constriction of resistance arteries. Although this response requires Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels secondary to smooth muscle cell depolarization, the mechanisms responsible for alteration of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell membrane potential are not fully understood. A previous study from our laboratory demonstrated a critical role for a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of ion channels, TRPC6, in this response. Several other of the approximately 22 identified TRP proteins are also present in cerebral arteries, but their functions have not been elucidated. Two of these channels, TRPM4 and TRPM5, exhibit biophysical properties that are consistent with a role for control of membrane potential of excitable cells. We hypothesized that TRPM4/TRPM5-dependent currents contribute to myogenic vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries. Cation channels with unitary conductance, ion selectivity and Ca2+-dependence similar to those of cloned TRPM4 and TRPM5 were present in freshly isolated VSM cells. We found that TRPM4 mRNA was detected in both whole cerebral arteries and in isolated VSM cells whereas TRPM5 message was absent from cerebral artery myocytes. We also found that pressure-induced smooth muscle cell depolarization was attenuated in isolated cerebral arteries treated with TRPM4 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to downregulate channel subunit expression. In agreement with these data, myogenic vasoconstriction of intact cerebral arteries administered TRPM4 antisense was attenuated compared with controls, whereas KCl-induced constriction did not differ between groups. We concluded that activation of TRPM4-dependent currents contributed to myogenic vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries.
Similarity in Counseling

Research on similarity between counselor and client was reviewed to determine the effect on counseling process and outcome. Little evidence was found that membership-group or personality similarity contributes significantly to counseling effectiveness, and too few studies on cognitive similarity have been conducted to date to draw conclusions. Experience similarity and attitude similarity both appear to be directly related to counseling process, but the effect on counseling outcome of the former has not been assessed and/or the latter is equivocal Differences between social and counseling psychology research and limitations of the counseling psychology research to date are discussed.
Variation of diesel soot characteristics by different types and blends of biodiesel in a laboratory combustion chamber

Very little information is available on the physical and chemical properties of soot particles produced in the combustion of different types and blends of biodiesel fuels. A variety of feedstock can be used to produce biodiesel, and it is necessary to better understand the effects of feedstock-specific characteristics on soot particle emissions. Characteristics of soot particles, collected from a laboratory combustion chamber, are investigated from the blends of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and biodiesel with various proportions. Biodiesel samples were derived from three different feedstocks, soybean methyl ester (SME), tallow oil (TO), and waste cooking oil (WCO). Experimental results showed a significant reduction in soot particle emissions when using biodiesel compared with ULSD. For the pure biodiesel, no soot particles were observed from the combustion regardless of their feedstock origins. The overall morphology of soot particles showed that the average diameter of ULSD soot particles is greater than the average soot particles from the biodiesel blends. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of oxidized soot particles are presented to investigate how the addition of biodiesel fuels may affect structures of soot particles. In addition, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were conducted for characterization of soot particles. Unsaturated methyl esters and high oxygen content of biodiesel are thought to be the major factors that help reduce the formation of soot particles in a laboratory combustion chamber.
A nonlocal lattice particle model for fracture simulation of anisotropic materials

Abstract A novel nonlocal lattice particle model for fracture simulation of anisotropic materials is proposed. The key idea is to handle material anisotropy by rotating topological lattice structure rather than transforming material stiffness matrix. One major advantage of this model is that the crack path preference of anisotropic materials is naturally incorporated by underlying lattice structure. First, analytical derivation and formulation of the proposed model are given. The equivalency of lattice structure rotation and stiffness transformation is discussed. Following this, numerical examples are used to demonstrate the modeling capability of proposed methodology. Discussions and future work are given based on the current investigation.
ESR study of the spin-peierls transition in NaV2O5

Abstract ESR results are reported on the inorganic spin-Peierls compound α′-NaV2O5. A single crystal has been studied in the a-c plane perpendicular to the V4+O5 chains yielding a Lorentzian-shaped resonance absorption with g-values close to 2, characteristic for a spin-only system. The anisotropy of the g-values and the line width are studied in detail. The signal intensity vanishes exponentially below the spin-Peierls transition at TSP = 33.5 K. At low temperatures in the dimerized state, the singlet-triplet gap amounts ≈100 ± 2 K and the alternating exchange constants were determined to be J1 = 500 K and J2 = 619 K.
Exteriority Against Totality: Enrique Dussel's Ana-Dialectical Method

Enrique Dussel is perhaps the best known, most prolific, and most influential of Latin American philosophers. This paper combines biography, politics, and philosophy to trace the development of Dussel's thought, showing that it was origin in Liberation Theology that would set the stage, after being exiled from his native Argentina, for an innovative (and exhaustive) re-reading of Marx. Dussel's Marx rediscovers in this reputed thinker of totality what Dussel deems the precondition for that totality: exteriority. I then trace the centrality of exteriority as a concept in Dussel's thought - a centrality buttressed by a dedication to Levinasian ethics - into the present role it plays as half of Dussel's equation of the people. In this concept, Dussel's revolutionary subject, we find the incarnation of the unity of the oppressed (within the totality) with the excluded (in the exteriority of the system), and analyze the methodological implications of each: namely, dialectics (Marx,totality) and analectics (Levinas, exteriority).
Cytokine Receptor Directed Therapy with Genetically Engineered Monoclonal Antibodies Armed with Radionuclides

The hybridoma technique of Kohler and Milstein (1975) rekindled interest in the use of antibodies targeted to cell surface antigens to treat cancer patients. However, such monoclonal antibodies have been relatively ineffective (Catane and Longo 1989). There have been a number of explanations for this observed low therapeutic efficacy. One of the factors is that the murine monoclonal antibodies are immunogenic. An even more critical factor is that most of the monoclonal antibodies employed are not effective cytocidal agents against human neoplastic cells. Furthermore, in most cases, the antibodies were not directed against a vital structure present on the surface of malignant cells, such as a growth factor receptor required for tumor cell proliferation.
Joint metal artifact reduction and segmentation of CT images using dictionary-based image prior and continuous-relaxed potts model

Segmenting interesting objects from CT images has a wide range of applications. However, to achieve good results, it is often necessary to apply metal artifact reduction to raw CT images before segmentation. While there has been a great deal of research focusing on metal artifact reduction and segmentation as individual tasks, there have been very few attempts to solve the two problems jointly. We present a novel approach to solve the problem of segmenting raw CT images with metal artifacts, without the access to the raw CT data. Given an approximate metal artifact mask, the problem is formulated as a joint optimization over the restored image and the segmentation label, and the cost function includes a dictionary-based image prior to regularize the restored image and a continuous-relaxed Potts model for multi-class segmentation. An effective alternating method is used to solve the resulting optimization problem. The algorithm is applied to both simulated and real datasets and results show that it is effective in reducing metal artifacts and generating better segmentations simultaneously.