cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modification of multiple transcriptional regulatory elements in a Moloney murine leukemia virus gene transfer vector circumvents silencing in fibroblast grafts and increases levels of expression of the transferred enzyme.

Modification of multiple transcriptional regulatory elements in a Moloney murine leukemia virus gene transfer vector circumvents silencing in fibroblast grafts and increases levels of expression of the transferred enzyme
Controlled mixing in microfluidic systems using bacterial chemotaxis.

We demonstrate the use of Escherichia coli and their chemotactic characteristics to enhance mixing in a microchannel in a controlled and bi-directional manner. The presence of a chemoattractant in one arm of a three-junction microchannel results in an asymmetric increase in the effective diffusion coefficient of extremely high molecular weight TMR-Dextran (MW 2 000 000), which rises linearly with the concentration of attractant from a baseline value of 8−42 μm2/s at a concentration of 0.1 M. The response to a repellent is similar, with the opposite bias.
Pion-gamma angular correlations following inelastic scattering

Angular correlations between inelastically scattered pions and deexcitation ..gamma.. rays depend upon the spin density matrix of the residual nucleus and thus provide additional information not available in the differential cross sections. The correlation function is calculated for the 0/sup +/ ..-->.. 2/sup +/ ..-->.. 0/sup +/ transition in /sup 12/C and the resulting symmetry angles are found to be quite similar to those obtained in the adiabatic limit. The model sensitivity is tested for medium energy pions by comparing the Kisslinger potential results with those using a local Laplacian potential. Some differences, especially near cross section minima, are found between the different potential models. (AIP)
Experiences of Korean Female Doctoral Students in Academe: Raising Voice Against Gender and Racial Stereotypes

The experiences of South Korean female students studying at American postsecondary institutions have been little examined in relation to gender and racial stereotypes. This qualitative inquiry explores the stereotypes encountered by Korean female doctoral students, their personal coping strategies, and their perceptions of gender equality while pursuing their academic aspirations at an American university.
An evaluation of warning habits and beliefs across the adult life span

Beliefs about warnings and habits associated with reading them were assessed for 863 individuals of various ages. Information gathered for various common household products included (a) how frequently people attend to warning information, (b) the degree of risk they believe is involved during product usage, and (c) how important they believe warnings are for different product types. Also assessed were perceived helpfulness and comprehension for symbols commonly found on product labels or on signs in the environment. Respondents 55 years and older reported reading product warnings more frequently than did younger adults, although they generally perceived warnings as less important. However, no overall age-related differences were found for perceived level of risk involved in using different product types. Although older adults generally perceived symbols to be very helpful when using a particular product, their comprehension levels were poorer than those of younger adults for half of the symbols. Overall, these data suggest that adults of all ages do read warnings on a variety of product types and that they believe warning information is important. This research illustrates the importance of including older adults in usability studies during the development of warning systems, given age-related effects may be associated with some aspects of the warning processing but not others.
Collagen Gene Variants Previously Associated With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk Are Also Associated With Joint Laxity

Background: Genetic association studies demonstrate a relationship between several collagen gene variants and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, yet the mechanism of these relationships is still unclear. Joint laxity is a heritable trait; increased magnitudes of anterior knee laxity (AKL), genu recurvatum (GR), and general joint laxity (GJL) have been consistently associated with a greater risk of ACL injury. Joint laxity may constitute an important intermediate phenotype for the genetic association with ACL injury that can be measured clinically.Hypothesis: To determine if genetic variants within the COL1A1, COL5A1, and COL12A1 genes, previously associated with ACL injury, were also associated with greater magnitudes of AKL, GR, and GJL.Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study.Methods: Blood samples and measures of AKL, GR, and GJL were obtained from 124 (50 male, 74 female) healthy, recreationally active subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples and genotyped for single-nucleotide polymorphisms previously examined relative to ACL injury. Univariate analyses of variance compared the magnitude of each laxity variable across the 3 genotypes for each single-nucleotide polymorphism in both sex-combined and sex-specific models.Results: Specific genotypes were associated with greater GR in all subjects. Some genotypes were associated with greater magnitudes of GR, AKL, and GJL in females only.Conclusions: Gene variants previously associated with ACL injury risk were in large part also associated with joint laxity. Sex-specific genetic associations with joint laxity were consistent with those previously reported for ACL injury.Clinical Relevance: These data provide insight into potential pathways through which genotypic variants in collagen genes have the potential to alter ligament structure and behavior and, thus, ACL injury risk.
Simulation modeling in an object-oriented environment using Smalltalk-80

Object-oriented environment of Smalltalk-80 is investigated as a potential tool for simulation modeling. Basic features of the Smalltalk-80 language are described including messages, objects, classes, and inheritance. A simulation control framework for Smalltalk-80 is explained using a simple example. Smalltalk-80 language appears to have a number of features that makes it unique when compared to traditional simulation languages. A comparison of Smalltalk-80 with the traditional simulation software concludes the paper.
The Perception of the College Experience and Academic Motivation

AbstractThe Median Test was employed to test null hypotheses relevant to the perception of the college experience and variables related to academic motivation. Statistically significant differences were found for academic motivation variables, i.e., direction of aspirations, influence of precollege peer group, influence of the home, independence In planning, persistence, and self-control in terms of the type of “philosophy” of education endorsed by a random sample of 280 entering freshmen at a private midwestern university. The dominant perceptions, or “philosophies” endorsed were the “academic”, the “vocational”, or the “collegiate”. In general, on those academic motivation variables where statistically significant differences were obtained, the “collegiate” were lower while the “academics” were higher. The “vocational” tended not to depart from the grand population median value. Implications for student personnel workers in higher education are indicated and suggestions for further study are made.
Novel architecture for expert-assisted decision-level fusion

In this paper, we discuss a new fusion architecture, including some preliminary results on field data. The architecture consists of a new decision level fusion algorithm, the piecewise level fusion algorithm (PLFA), integrated with a new expert system based user assistant that adjusts PLFA parameters to optimize for a user desired classification performance. This architecture is applicable for both multisensor and multilook fusion. The user specifies classification performance by inputting entries for a desired confusion matrix at the fusion center. The intelligent assistant suggests input alternatives to reach the performance goal based on previously supplied user inputs and on performance specifications of the individual sensors. If deadlock results, i.e., the goal is not attainable because of conflicting user inputs, the assistant will inform the user. As the user and assistant interact, the assistant calculates the parameters necessary to automatically adjust the PLFA for the required performance. These parameters and calculations are hidden from the user. That is, the architecture is designed so that user inputs are intuitive for an unskilled operator. The implementation of this adaptable fusion architecture is due to the relatively simple structure of the PLFA and the expert system heuristic rules. We briefly describe the PLFA structure and operation, illustrate some expert system rules, and discuss preliminary performance of the entire architecture, including a sample dialogue between the user and the intelligent assistant. We conclude this paper with a discussion of future extensions to this architecture that include replacing human interactions with dynamic learning techniques.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A smarter way to combat hunger.

Traditional approaches to supplying food are an inefficient 'band aid', says Pedro A. Sanchez. New evidence shows that helping farmers to help themselves is more effective and would be six times cheaper.
Spectrogoniometer for measuring planetary surface materials at small phase angles.

This paper describes an instrument, termed spectrogoniometer, which was designed to measure the bidirectional reflectance properties of planetary surface analogs at very small phase angles. By using a pellicle beam splitter, a highly collimated laser light source, and a carefully aligned apparatus it was possible to measure the reflectance properties of geologic samples under any viewing geometry: the angles of incidence and emission ranging from 0 to 90 deg, and the azimuthal angle ranging from 0 to 360 deg. The results on the effect of porosity are demonstrated by comparing measurements on a compact sample (with a void space of 25 percent) and a fluffy sample (with a void space of 90 percent). The fluffy sample exhibited a 30-percent increase in intensity between 10 and 0 deg, whereas the compact sample exhibited only a 20-percent increase.
G-protein mediation of cannabinoid-induced phospholipase activation.

Abstract The release of arachidonic acid from mouse peritoneal and S49 cells induced by Δ 1 -tetrahydrocannabinol was found to be altered by prior exposure of the cells to either pertussis toxin or cholera toxin. The stable analogs of GTP and GDP, GTP-γ-S and GDP-β-S, were also effective in changing the extent of arachidonate release in saponin-treated cells. GDP- β -S essentially abolished the THC response, while GTP- γ -S showed effects mainly on vehicle-treated cells. The cataleptic action of THC in intact mice which is mediated by eicosanoids was also attenuated by pertussis toxin pretreatment. It is suggested that the THC receptor is coupled to phospholipases through one or more G-proteins and that adenylate cyclase probably does not have a role in this mechanism.
Therapy in Huntington’s Disease: Where Are We?

As of 2012, almost 20 years after the discovery of the causative gene, clinical research has yet to find a disease-modifying treatment for Huntington’s disease. However, both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies are available for many of the common symptoms of the disease. Recent studies of gene-positive patients in the prodromal, not clinically diagnosable, stages of the disease, are changing our perception of when the process of neurodegeneration begins. Once disease-modifying therapies become available, the approach to the diagnosis of Huntington’s disease will likely shift from an examination-based clinical diagnosis, to one that includes a more complex combination of imaging, examination, and biomarker analysis.
A composite-resonator mode description of coupled lasers

We investigated the behavior of two lasers operating with coupled resonators. Our analysis involves a decomposition of the laser field in terms of the passive composite resonator eigenmodes. The interaction between the laser field and the active medium is found to lead to mode coupling, The dominant coupling mechanism is cross saturation among composite-resonator modes. The effects of cross saturation on the output of the coupled lasers are investigated. Our results are valid for all values of coupling between lasers. Examples of lockbands calculated using the composite-resonator mode analysis are presented.
Imaging: Pointillist microscopy

The proteins used as fluorescent markers in cellular imaging are only a few nanometres in size, yet the image resolution is typically diffraction-limited to one hundred times this scale. Now, a new strategy exists for imaging intracellular structure and dynamics with 10 nm resolution.
Teleseismic inversion for the second-degree moments of earthquake space-time distributions

SUMMARY Determining detailed descriptions of the space–time distribution of an earthquake’s rupture using only teleseismic data is often a difficult and non-unique process. However, a description of an earthquake that goes beyond a point source is often needed for many seismotectonic problems. We have developed a method that inverts measurements of the shifts in traveltime and amplitude of various seismic phases at global stations for the second-degree polynomial moments of an event’s space–time distribution. Our values for the second moments of the 1995 Mw 8.0 Jalisco, Mexico, thrust event correspond to a characteristic rupture length of 121t10 km along strike, a characteristic rupture width of 76t11 km downdip, a characteristic duration of 29t2 s, and a direction of rupture propagation along the strike of the subduction zone to the NW. For the 1995 Mw 7.2 Gulf of Aqaba earthquake, our estimates of the second moments correspond to a characteristic rupture length of 53t2 km, a characteristic duration of 12t1 s, and rupture propagation to the NE along the strike of the Dead Sea Transform. Our estimates of the first and second moments agree well with values from local seismic and geodetic networks. For both the Jalisco and Aqaba events, we are able to resolve the fault plane ambiguity associated with the events’ moment tensors using our estimates of the second spatial moment.
Rosai-Dorfman disease presenting in the oropharynx.

Background We report a case of Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) presenting as an oropharyngeal mass, and we provide a detailed discussion of this rare clinical entity. Methods An initial biopsy, described as being consistent with lymphoma, was reviewed at a second outside institution and was thought to be reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. The patient then presented to our institution for a second opinion. Direct laryngoscopy revealed a firm 1- to 2-cm lesion involving the left soft palate and superior tonsillar pillar. Results The diagnosis of RDD was confirmed with immunohistochemical staining on both cytology and histology. The patient elected conservative management and has remained asymptomatic for over 15 months. Conclusion The diagnosis of RDD may be challenging in cases presenting initially with extranodal disease. Close follow-up and repeat biopsies may be necessary. Identification of Rosai-Dorfman cells with emperipolesis and confirmation with appropriate immunohistochemical staining on both cytology and histology is diagnostic of RDD. Conservative treatment is appropriate in select cases. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011
Putting emotion regulation in context

In this commentary, we discuss the 19 review articles that encompass this Special Issue of Current Opinion in Psychology on the topic of Emotion Regulation. Given the growing recognition of the importance of contextual factors in determining how emotions are experienced and regulated (1), we adopt a contextual framework to organize our commentary. To that end, we discuss how each of the topics covered in the articles fit within the four contextual components of emotion regulation: (1) characteristics of the organism carrying out the regulation; (2) features of the emotion-eliciting stimuli and/or situations; (3) implementation of regulatory processes; and (4) types of outcomes. We then provide recommendations for future research. We hope that this Special Issue, and the future directions discussed in this commentary, can stimulate further research in the already fast growing area of emotion regulation and context.
Mississippi river diversions, coastal wetland restoration/creation and an economy of scale

Abstract We tested the hypothesis that there is an economy of scale in ecological engineering projects designed to create or restore wetlands by using examples of coastal restoration/creation projects in the Louisiana coastal zone. Land gain and project cost are directly related to the amount of riverflow diverted from the main channel, as expected. However, the $/ha gained was dramatically and directly related to project size. A 1000 fold increase in project size is matched by a 100 fold increase in the cost/ha gained. The smallest river diversion projects ($20,000 each) create land at slow rates (@5 ha/year) and tend to be very cost effective ($20–$500/ha). These low cost/ha gained are in sharp contrast to that of the larger river diversion projects and most other local wetland restoration/creation projects funded by state/federal sponsored programs ($1000 to $100000/ha) on this coast. There is a 15 fold increase in $/ha gained as project size increases by a factor of 10. This situation of decreasing returns ($/ha gained) with project increasing costs may be called an ‘inverse’ economy of scale. We propose that there are generic economies of scale inherent to similar environmental management approaches that represent a compromise of at least three attributes: attempts to control ecosystem behavior (predictability and use), ecosystem complexity, and incomplete ecosystem knowledge.
Why nature chose phosphates

Phosphate esters and anhydrides dominate the living world but are seldom used as intermediates by organic chemists. Phosphoric acid is specially adapted for its role in nucleic acids because it can link two nucleotides and still ionize; the resulting negative charge serves both to stabilize the diesters against hydrolysis and to retain the molecules within a lipid membrane. A similar explanation for stability and retention also holds for phosphates that are intermediary metabolites and for phosphates that serve as energy sources. Phosphates with multiple negative charges can react by way of the monomeric metaphosphate ion PO3- as an intermediate. No other residue appears to fulfill the multiple roles of phosphate in biochemistry. Stable, negatively charged phosphates react under catalysis by enzymes; organic chemists, who can only rarely use enzymatic catalysis for their reactions, need more highly reactive intermediates than phosphates.
Dabru Emet : Une appréciation personnelle

Ce commentaire de Dabru Emet s'inscrit dans la tradition hermeneutique juive qui explore le sens d'un texte pour en deployer de nouvelles dimensions. Il constitue aussi un effort de panser, dans la relation entre Juifs et chretiens, les plaies vives qu'ont causees des siecles de confrontation et de triomphalisme theologique. C'est enfin une quete de la signification des vocations propres a chacun, au-dela du syncretisme ou des manifestations sporadiques de sympathie.
An Econometric Model of the Medicare System: Reply

Louise Russell's comment focuses on an important feature of the Medicare program. The designers of Medicare understood that, by covering a broad range of services, they would reduce the bias in favor of hospital inpatient care that is inherent in many insurance programs. Moreover, they hoped that insuring treatment in extended care facilities 1 would shorten the duration of hospital stays enough to make the total cost of hospital plus extended care services less than the cost of hospital services alone if extended care facilities were not covered. As a by-product of estimating a general model of the Medicare program, my previous paper showed that, contrary to the hopes of the designers of the Medicare program, the use of extended care facilities actually raised the total cost of institutional care. Louise Russell, using somewhat different data, has come to the opposite conclusion. More specifically, we both consider a regression equation relating the Medicare reimbursement for hospital and extended care services per hospital episode to measures of hospital cost per day, extended care admissions per hospital episode, and several other variables. The equation is estimated with a cross section of state observations. I found that extended care admissions per hospital episode raises total reimbursements; the estimated elasticity is 0.12 with a standard error of 0.06. Russell found very small and statistically insignificant elasticities: -0.002 with a standard error of 0.02 for 1967 and -0.032 with a standard error of 0.04 for 1968. The basic reason for our contrasting conclusions is that, because of our different ways of measuring hospital costs, I estimate a total effect of extended care facilities and Russell estimates a partial effect. More specifically, I measure the general level of hospital costs in the state by the average cost per patient day in short-term general hospitals. This is an average cost for all patients, not just Medicare patients. Russell uses the average reimbursement per patient day of
Approaching the mechanism of protein transport across the ER membrane

Since the identification of essential protein-translocation components in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, research efforts have concentrated on the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of protein transport across this membrane. Recent results have provided new information as to how proteins are targeted to, and inserted into, the translocation site during translation. Post-translational translocation has also been examined and is distinct from cotranslational translocation with respect to the mechanism and membrane protein components involved.
Urethral fistula and history of bladder neoplasms

Le cas rapporte est celui d'un homme de 74 ans presentant des tumeurs superficielles de vessie recidivantes depuis 10 ans, traitees par radiotherapie externe, chimiotherapie et resection endoscopique. Une nouvelle recidive fait instaurer une BCG-therapie intravesicale. Huit mois plus tard, la realisation d'une uretrographie retrograde permet le diagnostic de fistule uretrocutanee, de la jonction uretrobulbaire exterieure a la jonction penoscrotale. Il existe un diverticule sur le trajet fistuleux. L'examen anatomopathologique met en evidence des granulomes specifiques, a centre caseeux. L'evolution est favorable apres traitement antibacillaire et chirurgical
A Method for Developing Regional Road-Fill Failure Hazard Assessments Using GIS and Virtual Fieldwork

Road-fill failure is a common and potentially catastrophic hazard on mountainous roads. Land managers need methods for assessing road-fill failure hazards that minimize time in the field and that use readily available data. We developed a probabilistic hazard assessment method using virtual fieldwork and LiDAR-derived slope distributions over a 97-km length of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. The locations of arc-shaped pavement cracks and previous road-fill failures were mapped using field-verified VisiData video reconnaissance, and the slopes surrounding failed-or-cracked sites were extracted from a digital elevation model and compared to uncracked portions of road. The site-median slopes of the failed-or-cracked sites and uncracked sites are normally distributed and significantly different (P < 0.01) from one another. This observation provides the basis for a probabilistic, hazard assessment model that uses the site-median slope of a 30-m–diameter buffer to categorize currently uncracked sites as either stable or at risk of road-fill failure during future high-intensity rainfall events.
Local k-core clustering for gene networks

The k-core of a graph is the maximal subgraph with minimum vertex degree k. When the core with the largest k is found, it can be removed and the next core can be found. In each of these cores (or shells), connected components have been enumerated in an existing graph clustering method. Here we propose a method to find graph clusters that are not just k-cores but also made of r-cliques. Just like the existing k-core clustering approach, our approach is also based on vertex and edge removals that can be made completely using local information (within the neighborhood). Our local and recursive algorithms are based on new graph theoretical insights that relate concepts including neighborhood, clique percolation, and k-core. We demonstrate our method with a gene network from PubMed data and compare our results with that from the existing k-core approach and use MeSH and TF-IDF ranking to show the differences in subject enrichment our approach can make.
Technique for reducing digit noise in very fast magnetic-film stores

Noise is produced in the sensing system of a magnetic-film store by current pulses in the digit line, and noise due to reflected pulses continues after removal of the original digit pulse. A principal cause of these reflections is the difficulty of terminating low-impedance transmission lines with their characteristic impedances. A new, simple construction avoiding this difficulty involves making the digit lines longer than the active section of the matrix, injecting digit currents into the centre of each long digit transmission line and sensing at points spaced equal distances to either side of the centres, about 1?2ft away. Active film cells occupy the next few feet of line, after which the lines continue for 10ft or more before termination. Imperfections in r.f. matching are therefore unimportant because of r.f. attenuation in the lines. Any l.f. mismatch is attenuated by the action of the short transmission-line section between the sense terminals, and can be further reduced by filters in the sense amplifier. Preliminary tests suggest that noise excited by a digit pulse having a rise time of 7 ns and width of 20 ns need not exceed 1% of the pulse amplitude, given suitable filtering and a good differential amplifier. Use of separate digit and sense lines with the new design could probably reduce peak noise during writing to below 0.1%, i.e. to about the magnitude of a typical signal from a magnetic-film cell, so that subsequent reading need not be long delayed by noise.
Observation of reentrant phases induced by short-range disorder in the lowest Landau level of Al{x}Ga{1-x}As/Al{0.32}Ga{0.68}as heterostructures.

We report the observation of a reentrant quantum Hall effect in the lowest Landau level between filling factors of $2/3$ and $3/5$ in a ${\mathrm{Al}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{As}/{\mathrm{Al}}_{0.32}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.68}\mathrm{As}$ heterostructure sample with $x=0.85%$. A reentrant insulating phase is also observed between filling factors of $2/5$ and $1/3$, demonstrating particle-hole symmetry between these phases. A sample with $x=0.21%$ shows much weaker reentrant features, indicating that increased short-range scattering, due to the Al alloy in the conduction channel, aids in the formation of these phases.
The concept of critical reflection: promises and contradictions

In the world of professional education today we see frequent calls for practitioners to be critically reflective. This conflating of the terms ‘reflection’ and ‘critical reflection’ implies that adding the qualifier ‘critical’ somehow makes the kind of reflection happening deeper and more profound. I contend that reflection is not, by definition, critical. It is quite possible to practise reflectively while focusing solely on the nuts and bolts of process and leaving unquestioned the criteria, power dynamics and wider structures that frame a field of practice. Reflection is useful and necessary in the terms it sets itself; that is, to make a set of practices work more smoothly and achieve the consequences intended for them. But this is not critical reflection; critical reflection calls into question the power relationships that allow, or promote, one set of practices considered to be technically effective. It assumes that the minutiae of practice have embedded within them the struggles between unequal int...
Review—Turbomachinery Performance Deterioration Exposed to Solid Particulates Environment

Effets nefastes de particules solides sur les performances des turbomachines. Analyse de la litterature
The myth of open concepts: Meehl’s analysis of construct meaning versus black box essentialism

Abstract Two views of theoretical concepts in psychology are compared. Meehl’s “open concept” account holds that theoretical concepts are implicitly defined by theories but that empirical criteria can be changed over time (e.g., added or dropped, weightings changed, exchanged for theoretical reductions). This account confuses concepts and theories, does not reflect how diagnostic concepts actually work in medicine and psychology, leads to theory incommensurability, and is unclear about when concepts are the same or different. I propose that an alternative “black box essentialist” account of theoretical concepts, drawn from recent philosophical work on natural kind concepts, better explains how we manage to refer to the same construct even as our theories and criteria change. One implication is that Meehl is incorrect to claim that a reason for psychology’s lack of progress is that its concepts are inherently different from those in the hard sciences.
Writing scalable building efficiency applications using normalized metadata: demo abstract

Extracting meaningful information from a building's sensor data, or writing control applications using the data, depends on the metadata available to interpret it, whether provided by novel networks or legacy instrumentation. Commercial buildings comprise large sensor networks, but have limited, obscure 'tags' that are often meaningful only to the facility managers. Moreover, this primitive metadata is imprecise and varies across vendors and deployments. This state-of-the-art is a fundamental barrier to scaling analytics or intelligent control across the building stock, as even the basic steps involve labor intensive manual efforts by highly trained consultants. Writing building applications on its sensor network remains largely intractable as it involves extensive help from an expert in each building's design and operation to identify the sensors of interest and create the associated metadata. This process is repeated for each application development in a particular building, and across different buildings. This results in customized building-specific applications which are not portable or scalable across buildings. We have developed a synthesis technique( [2]) that learns how to transform (normalize) a building's primitive sensor metadata to a common namespace( similar to [1]) by using a small number of examples from an expert, such as the building manager (Figure 1). Once the transformation rules are learned for one building, it can be applied across buildings with a similar metadata structure. This common and understandable namespace automatically yields semantic relationships between sensors, which enable analytics applications that do not require apriori building-specific knowledge. In this demonstration, we present three efficiency and analytics applications --- (a) Identifying rogue thermal zones, i.e zones that require constant heating or cooling (b) Identifying stuck air flow dampers, and (c) Identifying the presence of night-time setbacks --- all built against our common namespace. We were able to apply these applications unmodified to more than 10 commercial buildings on the University of California, Berkeley campus. These buildings comprised sensor networks which were commissioned by two different vendors at different points in time over the last two decades. The applications helped identify candidate efficiency and comfort improvements in each of these buildings without any manual inspection.
Thin film sensor for infant respiration

A compliant strain gauge sensor has been developed to monitor infant respiration, and to detect episodes of apnea. Previous clinical studies have indicated that an abdominally placed mercury strain gauge yields a more efficacious respiration signal than a transthoracic impedance monitor. The thin-film sensor is designed to supplant the mercury strain gauge in this application. Test results for three sensors are shown. One-way analysis of variance for apnea duration shows no significant difference among them. >
Potato nutritional management changes and challenges into the next century

Plant nutrients are important components of the intensive production system used for potatoes. Nutrient management practices need to be improved for sustained and increased productivity. Better mangement decisions will be made when accurate information is available about (a) crop residues and rotation effects on nutrient cycling, (b) the nutritional characteristics and requirements of each variety, (c) bioavailability of nutrients in soils, and (d) fertilization and tillage effects on nutrient-use efficiencies. Plant growth and nutrient uptake responses to different nutrient availabilities must also be understood to maximize growth and nutrient efficiencies. Diagnostic management techniques for nutrients need to be related to fundamental chemical and biological processes in the soil and plant system to be applicable to different environments. This information can then be packaged with other knowledge into a comprehensive crop management system. These changes should bring our agronomic practices into better harmony with the natural processes of the production system, and yet be responsive to social and environmental concerns, and economic reality.
An application of two dimensional stability criterion to a special class of distributed parameter systems

The conditions of stability independent of time delay and distributed lag of a special class of distributed parameter systems are obtained in terms of a two dimensional stability criterion. As the first step, a two-variable polynomial is generated from the characteristic function of such a system, and then a two dimensional stability test is applied. The results show whether the given system is stable independently of the time delay, and whether it is stable independently of distributed lag, depending on the form of the characteristic function of the system. Illustrative examples are included. >
The combinatorial map color theorem

This paper is written in the spirit of the author's book: Map Color Theorem (1974). We try to develop the Map Color Theorem in a combinatorial way, circumventing the unwieldy embedding theory. Similar (but not identical) generalizations have recently and independently been developed by Alpert (in press) and by Stahl (in press). The first nine theorems are one-dimensional versions of known facts from the theory of two-dimensional compact manifolds. Theorems 10 to 13 are to my knowledge completely new results.
Java and JDBC: tools supporting data-centric business application development

Software porting, maintenance, distribution and installation form the bulk of application deployment costs. These high costs have been substantially exacerbated by the move to client server computing. No longer can an application be installed on one system for use by the entire user community. Now it must be installed on all desktops in the enterprise and, at most companies, this will be mean that the software must be ported to and tested on Windows 3.1, Macintosh, Windows95, Windows NT, and often a variety of UNIX systems. The trend towards making business data available to both internal and external users across intranets and the Internet transforms an expensive problem into a completely intractable one. To further complicate the matter, there is an emerging trend in many application domains to move from 2 dimensional windowed user interfaces to high information bandwidth 3 dimensional data visualization and virtual reality systems. These applications are either very difficult or impossible to write using standard GUI builders, generators, or the current breed of portable GUI class libraries. We propose a new architecture for data visualization, discovery, and delivery and argue that the existing development model, and the tools supporting that model, are unaffordable and don't scale to Internet scope delivery numbers.
Hypermethylation of CpG Islands in Primary and Metastatic Human Prostate Cancer

Aberrant DNA methylation patterns may be the earliest somatic genome changes in prostate cancer. Using real-time methylation-specific PCR, we assessed the extent of hypermethylation at 16 CpG islands in DNA from seven prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, PC-3, DU-145, LAPC-4, CWR22Rv1, VCaP, and C42B), normal prostate epithelial cells, normal prostate stromal cells, 73 primary prostate cancers, 91 metastatic prostate cancers, and 25 noncancerous prostate tissues. We found that CpG islands at GSTP1, APC, RASSF1a, PTGS2, and MDR1 were hypermethylated in >85% of prostate cancers and cancer cell lines but not in normal prostate cells and tissues; CpG islands at EDNRB, ESR1, CDKN2a, and hMLH1 exhibited low to moderate rates of hypermethylation in prostate cancer tissues and cancer cell lines but were entirely unmethylated in normal tissues; and CpG islands at DAPK1, TIMP3, MGMT, CDKN2b, p14/ARF, and CDH1 were not abnormally hypermethylated in prostate cancers. Receiver operator characteristic curve analyses suggested that CpG island hypermethylation changes at GSTP1, APC, RASSF1a, PTGS2, and MDR1 in various combinations can distinguish primary prostate cancer from benign prostate tissues with sensitivities of 97.3-100% and specificities of 92-100%. Hypermethylation of the CpG island at EDNRB was correlated with the grade and stage of the primary prostate cancers. PTGS2 CpG island hypermethylation portended an increased risk of recurrence. Furthermore, CpG island hypermethylation patterns in prostate cancer metastases were very similar to the primary prostate cancers and tended to show greater differences between cases than between anatomical sites of metastasis.
Nonsmooth control-Lyapunov functions

It is shown that the existence of a continuous control-Lyapunov function (CLF) is necessary and sufficient for null asymptotic controllability of nonlinear finite-dimensional control systems. The CLF condition is expressed in terms of a concept of generalized derivative that has been studied in set-valued analysis and the theory of differential inclusions with various names such as "upper contingent derivative". This result generalizes to the nonsmooth case the theorem of Artstein (1983) relating closed-loop feedback stabilization to smooth CLF's. It relies on viability theory as well as optimal control techniques. A "nonstrict" version of the results, analogous to the LaSalle invariance principle, is also provided.
The NEURON simulation environment

The moment-to-moment processing of information by the nervous system involves the propagation and interaction of electrical and chemical signals that are distributed in space and time. Biologically realistic modeling is needed to test hypotheses about the mechanisms that govern these signals and how nervous system function emerges from the operation of these mechanisms. The NEURON simulation program provides a powerful and flexible environment for implementing such models of individual neurons and small networks of neurons. It is particularly useful when membrane potential is nonuniform and membrane currents are complex. We present the basic ideas that would help informed users make the most efficient use of NEURON.
The Life Game: Survival Strategies in Ethiopian Folktales

A content analysis of behavior patterns in 129 Ethiopian folktales to identify rules governing payoffs in the game of everyday living as perceived in the traditional Ethiopian culture is presented. The study concluded that Ethiopians tend to view the life game as zero-sum, non-shared sum, and yielding at best a limited payoff. This view results in a set of survival strategies based on self-protection, deception, and revenge aimed either at maintaining the status quo or advancing oneself at the expense of others. Perceived opportunities for initiative and cooperation in service to the community are limited. Personal efficacy is perceived as present in interpersonal exchanges, but not in exchanges with the impersonal environment.
Being Literate with Large Document Collections: Observational Studies and Cost Structure Tradeoffs

How do people work with large document collections? We studied the effects of different kinds of analysis tools on the behavior of people doing rapid large-volume data assessment, analysis and organization. We analyzed the micro-structure details of using automated clustering techniques, the use of standard timeline and cluster visualization methods, alongside desktop paper sorting and piling. We find that the "natural" methods people use (with piles of paper documents) are in fact very sophisticated and have a subtlety that is lacking in current computer interfaces. This analysis shows that the lack of expressiveness and responsiveness in current interface designs dramatically limits human performance, suggesting ways in which the next generation of analytic tools must evolve in order to support literate use of large volume/complex document collections.
A Jitter Attenuating Timing Chain

A long chain of inverters and wire segments will amplify clock jitter and drop timing pulses due to intersymbol interference. We present a jitter attenuating buffer based on surfing techniques. Our buffer circuit consists of a few inverters with variable output strength that implement a simple, low-gain DLL. Chains of these surfing buffers attenuate jitter making them well suited for source-synchronous interfaces. Furthermore, our chains can be used to reliably transmit handshaking signals and support sliding-window protocols to improve the throughput of asynchronous communication.
Topical perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis for minor clean inguinal surgery

Abstract BACKGROUND: In minor clean procedures, such as inguinal hernia repair and varicocelectomy, the efficacy of systemic perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is not well established. To determine the efficacy of topical antibiotic prophylaxis alone in preventing postoperative wound infection in a minor urologic clean procedure, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1,654 patients who had undergone microsurgical varicocelectomy. STUDY DESIGN: From September 1985 until December 2000, 1,654 men underwent 2,554 microsurgical varicocelectomies (900 bilateral) by a single surgeon (MG). The skin was shaved and then prepped with standard Betadine gel (Purdue Frederick) that was wiped away with 70% ethanol. No systemic antibiotics were used. The wound was irrigated with 1% neomycin at the moment the incision was made, and then every few minutes until the completion of the procedure, which averaged 45 minutes per side. No postoperative antibiotics were used. RESULTS: No wound infections occurred. No patient developed an adverse reaction to topical application of neomycin. One can conclude that the infection rate in this study is no higher than 0.2% with 95% confidence. CONCLUSIONS: Our review of a large series of consecutive clean urologic procedures indicates that by combining a skin preparation of Betadine gel and 70% ethanol with perioperative topical neomycin irrigation at the moment of skin incision, the risk of postoperative wound infection when performing microsurgical varicocelectomy can be effectively reduced to less than 0.2%.
Impact of heavy doping with donors on CZ silicon properties

This work reports a detailed characterization of 200 mm silicon wafers heavily doped with antimony, arsenic or phosphorus, in the range 1–50 mΩ•cm, corresponding to 7 × 1019 – 2 × 1017 at·cm−3. Grown-in voids (revealed as light-scattering objects on the wafer surface) are shown to be controlled by the dopant concentration. For As-doped wafers the voids show a pronounced increase in their density up to [As] = 1.7 × 1019 cm−3, but at higher concentration the void density drops sharply. The same behaviour was found for P-doped wafers where a sharp drop occurs at [P] > 2.9 × 1019 cm−3. In the case of antimony, the explored concentration range was sufficient only to reveal the increasing side of the curve. AFM characterization confirmed the morphology of voids as also seen in lightly-doped silicon. Both single and double voids were observed. The oxygen precipitate density (BMD) was measured after submitting the wafers to a stabilization and growth thermal cycle. Overall it ranges from 1 × 106 ( = detection limit) to 1.5 × 1010 counts/cm3. The relationship between BMD density and oxygen concentration follows the classical S-shaped curve, indicating that also for heavily doped N+ type wafers the oxygen content plays a major role on BMD formation.
The Reduction of Prejudice and Discrimination

In the first two parts of this volume we have followed the tangled patterns of relationship that develop between dominant groups and minority groups. We have examined the causes of prejudice and discrimination and described their results, for the individuals involved and for the social structure. Throughout this analysis, we have attempted to maintain an objective approach. Our own value stand has not been disguised, but we have tried to prevent it from distorting the picture.
Dynamic decision support for managing regional resources: Mapping risk in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Abstract To build resilience, communities must redesign standard practices in emergency management training and operations such that stakeholders share a common view of community risks and resources. A shared image of community risks and resources can facilitate engagement of organizations across sectors and jurisdictions in collective action to reduce shared regional risks. Moreover, creating a reliable, trusted knowledge commons or shared knowledge base for information search, exchange, and updating can support cognition and communication among participating actors, a critical task in achieving effective collective action, especially in urgent, complex, and evolving emergency systems and situations. In this article, we present the initial stage of a prototype decision support system for emergency operations in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. This prototype represents the first step in building a shared knowledge based to support community resilience in multi-jurisdictional regional system. Vetted and endorsed by experienced practicing emergency managers in the county, the prototype system uses geospatial modeling to map resource allocation scenarios in relation to various types of risk in the region. By providing a trusted knowledge base of regional risks and resources, the prototype system can support emergency managers in developing an integrated perspective on shared regional risks and in collectively exploring, assessing, and improving the efficaciousness of coordinated inter-organizational and inter-jurisdictional resource allocation strategies in virtual emergency response and readiness scenarios. Dynamic functions are proposed for future development.