cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hindu Mediumship in Singapore 1

It is'a commonplace to ethnographers of Singapore that the island has provided a fertile environment for the flourishing of Chinese spirit mediumship. This pheonomenon has been well-described elsewhere (see Elliot). It is perhaps less well known that medium- . ship constitutes an extremely important element in the religious life of Singapore's Indian minority. It is with Hindu mediumship in Singapore that the present essay is concerned. My aims are two: to describe some of the most salient features of the institution, and to show how it fits into broader patterns of Hindu religious belief and practice as seen in Singapore.. ! I hope to show that Hindu mediumship is an important component of a more inclusive religious system, a component which functions to mediate between the highly particularized religious interests of individuals and the abstract conceptions of divine power which seem to underlie the religious system as a whole. The data upon which the study is based were drawn from formal and casual interviews with many informants, and from focussed investigations of the activities of five different Hindu mediums. This sample is not random. Hindu mediums operate in relative obscurity and there seems to be no way to search out a sample in a systematic way. I heard of each medium from a friend or acquaintance who thought I might be interested. and in this respect my initial encounters with them were not unlike their initial encounters with their normal clients. In most cases my relationship with the medium became a dual one. I identified myself as a researcher interested in Hinduism, and I interviewed mediums, clients and hangers-on in this spirit. But at the same time there was often what seemed to be an inevitable drift from the role of investigator to that of client, the latter being the only legitimate niche which the situation seemed to be able to provide for my presence. Accordingly, I participated in ceremonies and, with other clients, sought the counsel of the gods through their human representatives.
Wind Satellite (WINDSAT) Coherent Lidar Pointing System

Wind measurement by coherent lidar imposes unique requirements on pointing and image motion compensation systems. Pointing must be accomplished with respect to an inertial frame of reference and image motion compensation must be accomplished at a pupil to maintain heterodyne efficiency. Pupil control considerations become a major optical system driver. Short-term image motion compensation accuracy of 2 microradians and absolute pointing accuracy of 100 microradians are achieved simultaneously with proper pupil control by a simple optical system. Separate servo control systems compensate for altitude and alignment perturbations and provide for fine correction of absolute pointing. S/C velocity leads to a 25 microradian offset in the absolute sample position, but the offsets for transmission and reception cancel, so the image motion compensation system need not account for velocity. Systematic attitude changes couple to the sample direction to determine the extent of image motion. A complete systems analysis will be presented.
Electron energy‐loss spectroscopy (EELS) of iodine in thyroxine: parameters of radiation‐induced loss of iodine

The loss of iodine during irradiation with electrons was measured in order to determine whether it can be detected by electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI). Since iodine can be bound to organic molecules, it could be a candidate for tracer studies by ESI in biomedical research. A solution of thyroxine spread over a carbon film was used as a test specimen. Thyroxine contains four iodine atoms covalently bound to aromatic rings. For ESI, higher doses have to be used than in conventional electron microscopy. The iodine content was therefore measured after irradiation with doses of up to 3 × 107 el nm−2. The measurements were carried out for different specimen thicknesses, temperatures and dose rates, and it was found that iodine can be detected with ESI if moderate dose rates are used at a temperature of −160 °C.
Kinetics and equilibria of cis/trans isomerization of secondary amide peptide bonds in linear and cyclic peptides.

The secondary amide peptide bonds that comprise up to one-third of the bonds of peptide or protein backbones can exist as cis and trans isomers, with the trans isomer being highly favored. However, there is little quantitative data on the kinetics and equilibria of cis−trans isomerization of secondary amide peptide bonds due to the difficulty of detecting the very small population of cis isomers. Knowledge of factors that influence the kinetics and equilibria of cis−trans isomerization of secondary amide peptide bonds will contribute to a more complete understanding of the structural and dynamic behavior of the backbones of peptides and unfolded proteins and of complex protein folding kinetics. We have characterized the kinetics and equilibria of cis−trans isomerization of the Xaa−Yaa secondary amide peptide bonds of the linear dithiol and cyclic disulfide forms of the peptides Ac-Cys-Xaa-Yaa-Cys-His-NH2, where Xaa-Yaa is Ala-Phe, Phe-Ala, Ala-Tyr, and Tyr-Ala, by 1H NMR. Resolved resonances were observed...
Toward Rapproachment in the Placebo Control Debate A Calculated Compromise of Power

In an effort to minimize risk to participants, some investigators avoid using placebo controls in randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) if an effective treatment is available. An unintended consequence of this approach is that substantially more participants remain acutely ill (i.e., nonresponders) throughout an active-comparator trial than a placebo-controlled trial. This is due to the increased sample size required to detect smaller differences between investigational and proven active agents. The objective of this article is to identify an RCT design that will minimize both the number assigned to placebo and the number of nonresponders. To do so, two aspects of clinical trial design are manipulated: choice of comparator and treatment allocation ratio. Several examples illustrate empirically that placebo-controlled trials that are designed to randomize twice as many participants to the investigational cell could appeal to potential study participants, clinical researchers, and Institutional Review...
A discrete‐continuum hybrid model for vibrational energy transfer at the gas–solid interface. II. The quantal evolution of coupled localized‐collective motions

We analyze a new approach to the vibration of inhomogeneous surfaces whereby surface defects and their surroundings are properly treated as discrete atoms while the remainder of the solid is represented by an elastic continuum of equivalent mass density and elasticity with quantized vibrational waves. Such a hybrid treatment is aimed at describing defect‐local motion while fully coupled to collective vibrational waves in a quantum‐mechanical fashion appropriate to inelastic gas–surface scattering. We assess how the hybrid model reproduces the response of the surface by following the quantum‐statistical moments of vibrational displacements as the collision progresses. The results suggest that the discrete‐continuum approach can provide a powerful tool for describing collisional excitation of defect‐laden surfaces within a fully quantal treatment of surface motion.
Extreme rates and heterogeneity in insect DNA evolution.

DNA-DNA hybridization studies of insects, more specificallyDrosophila and cave crickets, have revealed interesting patterns of genome evolution that contrast markedly with what has been seen in other taxa, especially mammals and birds. Insect genomes are composed of sections of single-copy DNA with extreme variation in rates of evolutionary change. This variation is more extreme than between introns and exons; introns fall into the relatively conserved fraction of the genome. Attempts to calculate absolute rates of change inDrosophila DNA have all led to estimates some 5–10 times faster than those found in most vertebrates; this is true even for the more conservative part of the nuclear genome. Finally we point out that morphological similarity, chromosomal similarity, and/or ability to form interspecific hybrids is often associated with quite high levels of single-copy DNA divergence in insects as compared to mammals and birds.
Changes in muscle T2 and tissue damage after downhill running in mdx mice.

Introduction—This study compared the effects of downhill or horizontal treadmill running on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) transverse relaxation time constant (T2) in mdx mice. Methods—Mice underwent either downhill (n=11 mdx, n=6 controls) or horizontal running (n=9, mdx only) on a treadmill. MRI was conducted prior to exercise, immediately afterwards (~20 min), 24, and 48 hours following exercise. Results—A higher percentage of pixels with elevated T2 in the lower hindlimb muscles was observed in the mdx mice compared to controls both pre-exercise (p < 0.001) and at each time point following downhill running (p < 0.05), but not with horizontal running. The medial compartment muscles appeared to be the most susceptible to increased T2. Discussion—Downhill running provides a stimulus for inducing acute changes in muscle T2 in mdx mice. MRI is a non-invasive approach for examining acute muscle damage and recovery in multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
Abstract A94: Multidisciplinary team approach improves breast cancer survival in minority women

Background: Approximately 192,370 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in 2009. This represents approximately 1 in 8 American women facing the challenge of Breast Cancer therapy in their lifetime. Further, more than 40,000 women will die of breast cancer annually. These statistics represent a significant improvement in the U.S. mortality rate for breast cancer. There continues to be a disparity in outcome from breast cancer with a significantly lower survival in African American women and the uninsured. Our multidisciplinary treatment team includes physicians, nurse navigator and clinical trials specialist are all focused on optimizing multimodal treatment, clinical trial participation, improved quality of life and survival. Methods: All patients with invasive breast cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2008 at our inner city, public safety-net hospital were included in this evaluation. Each patient had a confirmed histological diagnosis of breast adenocarcinoma. Patient demographic data, tumor staging, treatment and outcomes/survival were evaluated. Tumor Registry Data from our institution was compared to data from the National Cancer Database for the above mentioned time period. All patients at our hospital were treated by the same clinicians and staff utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach. Results: There were 120 patients included in this study during the 5 year period. Of these, 4 patients were men. The majority of patients were between age 40 and 60. Our patients were significantly younger at initial diagnosis compared to the national findings. The ethnic distribution of our patient population: 54% African American, 41 % Caucasian, 3% Asian, 1 % American Indian, and 2% other. Evaluation of our payer status demonstrated that approximately 30% of our patients were self-pay and 32% indigent. Only 5% of our patients were insured with managed care organizations and less than 1% had private insurance. Conclusion: Carefully coordinated multidisciplinary team management of patients with breast cancer resulted in improved clinical outcomes regardless of the patient9s ethnicity or insurance status. Implementation of best practice protocols (coordinate multidisciplinary team management; nurse navigator and a vibrant clinical trials program) should become standard at all Community hospitals and academic medical centers, particularly medical facilities serving minority and uninsured patients. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):A94.
Civil disobedience in time of AIDS.

Is there any justification for forms of protest that are violent, that cause extensive damage to property, or, more extreme, cause injury to people, particularly those who have no direct political power and therefore little or no responsibility for governmental policies? This question cannot really be answered in the abstract. To date, AIDS activists have engaged in nonviolent forms of protest and civil disobedience. The action at Burroughs Wellcome represents a slight escalation in tactics in that "violence" was done to property. Still, only activists have been physically injured thus far. That violence might occur in some situation cannot be ruled out. People do do things in anger that they later regret; but anger, while an explanation, is not ajustification of behavior. AIDS activists have proven themselves to be extremely conscientious in the planning and execution of their activities: possible consequences are discussed, both predictable and remote. We are addressing an issue of life and death, in many cases, imminent or foreseeable death.
‘Because he is so tender and pretty’: sexual deviance and heresy in eighteenth-century Aleppo

How did the shari‘a courts treat cases of illicit intercourse between men? This study answers that question by examining a successful conviction of a youth named Muhammad accused of sexual liaisons with men resulting in his expulsion from his neighbourhood in 1735. Placing this unique case into its socio-legal context, two readings are possible. One argues that this case represents a form of neighbourhood policing of possible male prostitution. However, policing of same-sex intimacy was rare and, as this article shows, within the Hanafi tradition, jurists failed to achieve scholarly consensus on the status of sodomy. A second reading suggests that anxieties over the use of beardless boys (amrad) in Sufi boy gazing ceremonies (sama‘) spurred contemporary critics to charge Sufi mystics with both sexual deviance and heresy.
Heisenberg magnets with short-range order and spin dynamics of YBa2Cu3O6+x.

We use the Schwinger-boson mean-field theory to study the spin dynamics of Heisenberg magnets in which quantum (finite {ital S}) fluctuations have destroyed the classical Neel long-range order. The low-temperature physics is dominated by the zone-center gap {Delta}({ital T}) which remains finite as {ital T}{r arrow}0. The effect of this {ital T}-dependent low-energy cutoff on the magnetic response functions (susceptibilty, structure factor, relaxation rates) is analyzed. We use this model to discuss the validity of a description of antiferromagnetic fluctuations in YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 6+{ital x}} in terms of local moments.
The Completion Bentall Procedure

Patients that have undergone aortic valve replacement may subsequently present with an aortic root aneurysm, but with a normally functioning prosthetic valve. We describe our method of replacing the aortic root while retaining the existing aortic valve as the "completion Bentall procedure."
Practical resource for creating a Catholic living will.

Dear Editor, I read with interest the recent issue of the Linacre dedicated to geriatrics and end-of-life care. This is such a timely topic! With the implementation of Obamacare – which is government-run health care funded at the rate of economic inflation, not the more rapidly increasing healthcare inflation – there will be ever-increasing healthcare rationing. This will lead to escalating pressure to withhold life-preserving treatment (including food and water) especially to vulnerable populations including the elderly, the disabled, and the poor. As a result, end-of-life documents are already incredibly important and will become ever moreso. The article by Dr. Morrow articulates several key principles that should be present in an end-of-life document that adheres to Catholic principles – one that recognizes and respects the inherent dignity for human life for its own sake, one that ensure ordinary care and comfort care, and one that is “personalized” by appointing a healthcare proxy who understands and can implement your wishes according to the situation at hand. While there are several end-of-life document templates available, most do not adhere to the principles outlined in Dr. Morrow's article. A practical, easy-to-use resource for developing an end-of-life document that adheres firmly to the principles outlined in Dr. Morrow's article is the Will To Life Project developed by the National Right To Life Committee. From this website, one can download a legally valid document for any of the fifty states. While creating a Catholic end-of-life document can be daunting, this resource provides a practical starting point and a template anyone can complete. For more information, check out: http://www.nrlc.org/medethics/willtolive/.
Matrix-fracture transfer shape factors for dual-porosity simulators

Abstract Matrix-fracture transfer shape factors for dual-porosity simulation of naturally-fractured reservoirs were derived by combining analytical solutions of pressure diffusion for various flow geometries. The resulting equations describing the matrix-fracture flow were cast in a form similar to those proposed by Barenblatt et al. 1 and Warren and Root 2 , but without making the pseudo-steady state assumption. Shape factors representing one, two and three parallel sets of fractures were obtained. A generalized matrix-fracture transfer function for a non-isotropic, rectangular matrix block was also derived. Fine-grid single-porosity and one-block dual-porosity models were used to verify the results. The results of fine-grid and one-block dual-porosity models were in good agreement. The shape factors derived in this paper are consistent with observations made in several publications on dual-porosity simulation studies.
Reconstructive Valve Surgery, From Valve Analysis to Valve Reconstruction

Alain Carpentier, David H. Adams, Farzan Filsoufi Reconstructive Valve Surgery, From Valve Analysis to Valve Reconstruction 354 pages. Maryland Heights, MO: Saunders Elsevier, 2010. $199.00. ISBN: 978-0-7216-9168-8 Reconstructive Valve Surgery, From Valve Analysis to Valve Reconstruction , written by Drs Carpentier, Adams, and Filsoufi, is an outstanding cardiac surgical textbook. Dr Carpentier has been both a major innovator and a leader in the rapidly advancing field of reconstructive cardiac valve surgery. This book represents the culmination of nearly 5 decades of surgical experience in reconstructing heart valves. It is not just for surgeons, but will interest cardiologists and cardiac anesthesiologists who are integral to the care of patients with complex valvular disease. The book begins with a section on valve analysis, which the authors describe as critical to successful reconstructive valve surgery. Proper valve analysis is a process of evaluating a valve with a “pathophysiological triad.” This triad identifies first the disease, then the specific valve lesions, and finally the valve dysfunction. It is followed by mitral, tricuspid, and aortic valve reconstruction; disease-specific approaches; and finally, transfer of knowledge. In this final paragraph, the authors discuss how surgeons in the past and in the future will teach other surgeons the techniques of valve reconstruction. Although all surgical textbooks rely on illustrations of anatomy and surgical techniques, the illustrations in this book are of the highest quality. Reconstructive Valve Surgery, From Valve Analysis to Valve Reconstruction contains a novel addendum at the end of each chapter. This includes a separate discussion section in which Drs Adams and Filsoufi pose questions to Dr Carpentier. The purpose of these discussions is to address practical issues and alternative therapies in valve analysis and reconstruction. I found these discussions to be very helpful and informative because I have had many of the same questions while performing mitral valve …
Comparison of cortisol and ACTH responses after administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone in normal horses and those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.

Background Changes in both adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol concentration in response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) administration have been used to diagnose equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), but the use of the 2 hormones has not been compared. Hypotheses Measuring ACTH concentration is superior to measuring cortisol concentration after TRH administration in differentiating between normal horses and those with PPID, and the 2 hormone concentrations are disassociated in PPID horses. Animals Eleven horses and 2 ponies with PPID and 19 normal horses. Methods A study evaluating cortisol and ACTH concentrations before and at 14, 30, and 60 minutes after TRH administration. Results At 14 and 30 minutes after TRH administration, cortisol concentration increased in PPID horses, and ACTH increased in all groups; ACTH, but not cortisol concentration, was significantly higher in PPID horses compared with normal horses. A relationship between cortisol concentration and ACTH concentration was seen in normal horses, but not in horses with PPID. Compared with normal castrated males, normal female horses had a greater change in cortisol concentration per unit change of ACTH concentration. Conclusions and Clinical Importance ACTH and cortisol concentrations are disassociated in horses with PPID. Measuring ACTH concentration after TRH administration appears superior to measuring cortisol concentration as a diagnostic test for PPID.
High-resolution laser spectroscopy of H2 in a fast beam

Abstract High-resolution laser photofragment spectroscopy is performed in a fast beam of H 2 c 3 Π u − formed by near resonant charge exchange. The observed linewidths allow partial resolution of the fine and hyperfine structure in the 1s3d g 3 Σ + g Rydberg state. Simulations of the spectra indicate that the hyperfine splittings are very close to those of H + 2 as expected for Rydberg states.
Visible light-emitting diodes grown on optimized ∇x[InxGa1−x]P/GaP epitaxial transparent substrates with controlled dislocation density

Epitaxial transparent-substrate light-emitting diodes (ETS-LEDs) have been fabricated on optimized graded buffers of InxGa1−xP on GaP (∇x[InxGa1−x]P/GaP) that feature controlled threading dislocation densities of 3×106 cm−2. The ETSLEDs show increasing efficiency from 575 nm to 655 nm, in marked contrast to previous reports where performance drops above 600 nm, and feature the lowest spectral widths ever reported in ∇x[InxGa1−x]P/GaP. The improvement over earlier reports is attributed to large mean dislocation spacings in optimized ∇x[InxGa1−x]P/GaP, which are an order of magnitude greater than the mean carrier diffusion length. A slight performance decline remains at 655 nm, but the overall performance of this first generation of ETS-LEDs is promising.
A user-centered interface for information exploration in a hetergeneous digital library

The advent of the heterogeneous digital library provides the opportunity and establishes the need for the design of new user interfaces. As a single portal to a wide array of information sources, the heterogeneous digital library requires that a variety of cataloging schemas, subject domains, document genres, and institutional biases be accommodated. SenseMaker is a user-centered interface for information exploration in a heterogeneous digital library. It unifies citations and articles from heterogeneous sources by presenting them in a common schema with affordances for quick comparisons of properties. At the same time, SenseMaker users can recover a degree of context by iteratively organizing citations and articles into higher-level bundles based on either metadata or content. Furthermore, SenseMaker enables users to move fluidly from browsing to searching by introducing structure-based searching and structure-based filtering. This paper outlines the SenseMaker interface design and details some of our experimental findings surrounding its use.
Molecular markers linked to the Rf2 fertility restorer gene in cotton

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited trait in which plants do not produce viable pollen. Fertility in plants with CMS can be recovered by nuclear restorer genes. Most restorer genes cloned so far are members of the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein family. The objective of our study was to use the CMS-D8 and restoration (Rf2) system of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to develop more DNA markers for the Rf2 gene. In a backcross population with 112 plants, segregation of male fertility was 1 fertile : 1 sterile. Three new RAPD markers were identified for Rf2, one of which was converted to a CAPS marker. In addition, 2 AFLP markers and 1 SSR marker were identified to be linked to the fertility restorer gene (Rf2). PPR motif primers were designed based on the conserved PPR motifs and used in combination with AFLP primers to test the mapping population, and 1 PPR-AFLP marker was identified. A linkage map with 9 flanking markers including 1 from a previous study was constructed.
Cardinal addition and the axiom of choice

Abstract The quenstions which are discussed in this paper originate with Traski and concern the decision problem for the calss of theorems on the addition of cardinal numbers which are provable without the axiom of choice. Our first result is in the negative direction and takes the following form. We postulate the existence of a sequence of sets which satisfies a number of special conditons. Then we show, by the methods of Tarski-Mostowski-Robinson's “Undecidable Theoris”, that whenever a system of set theory is compatible with this additional postulate, then the class of theorems in the elementary theory of cardinal addition, which are provable within the system, is undecidable. Cohen's method of consistency proof is used to show that the postulate is compatible with “natural” systems of set theory such as the Zermelo-Fraenkel and Bernays-Godel systems excluding the axiom of choice, provided that these systems are themselves consistent. Therefore a positive solution of the decision problem is possible only for a restricted class of theorems. Most of the theorems on cardinal addition which are have been proved without the axiom of choice take a form in which it is assumed that cardinals a0,… a1, satisfy a cerntain system equations and inequalities and then shown that there are cardinals b0, … bm which together with a0, … an satisfy another system of equations and inequalities. The following theorem illustrates the type of results we have in mind.
Validity of the Verbal IQ as a short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised.

Assessed the validity of the Verbal IQ as a short form of the WAIS-R. Ss were 104 psychiatric patients with means for age, education, and Full Scale IQ of 36.22 (SD = 9.04), 12.46 (SD = 1.98), and 93.94 (SD = 12.19), respectively. A correlation of .93 (p less than .001) between the Verbal and Full Scale IQs was found. The average Verbal IQ exceeded the average Full Scale IQ by a small (i.e., 1.65 IQ points) but statistically significant amount (p less than .001). Thirty-three (32%) Ss showed changes in their intelligence categories when the Verbal IQ was compared to the Full Scale IQ. However, when the Verbal IQ was banded by the standard error of measurement (SEM = +/- 3) and the precision range was compared to the Full Scale IQ, results indicated 88% agreement. If clinicians must rely on the Verbal IQ as an estimate of the Full Scale, reporting the score in conjunction with a precision range will increase its accuracy.
Galois Representations, Hecke Operators, and the mod-p Cohomology of GL(3, Z) with Twisted Coefficients

We compute the degree 3 homology of Gl(3, Z) with coefficients in the module of homogeneous polynomials in three variables of degree g over Fp, for g ≤ 200 and p ≤ 541. The homology has a “boundary part” and a “quasicuspidal” part which we determine. By conjecture a Hecke eigenclass in the homology has an attached Galois representation into Gl(3, p). The conjecture is proved for the boundary part and explored experimentally for the quasicuspidal part.
Mining the diatom genome for the mechanism of biosilicification

Ever since the invention of the microscope, scientists and laypeople alike have marveled at the intricate patterning of the silica within the diatom cell wall, termed the frustule (Fig. 1). There are well over 10,000 species of diatoms in marine and freshwaters, and each species has a unique wall morphology (1). Although organisms from multiple kingdoms of life produce siliceous structures (e.g., phytoliths in higher plants, spicules in sponges, frustules in diatom), those produced by diatoms are the most ornate and the most finely detailed. The ability of diatoms to manipulate silicon at the nanoscale exceeds that of human nanotechnology, making the genetic and biochemical underpinnings of biosilicification of great interest in material science. Diatoms are also important ecologically because they are major primary producers supporting the food webs in both marine and fresh waters. Despite the broad scientific interest in the silicification process, the biochemical pathways involved and the underlying genetics are largely a mystery. The sequencing of the first diatom genome (2) has enabled a new suite of approaches in the hunt for pathways involved in biosilicification. In this issue of PNAS, Mock et al. (3) exploit this potential by using whole genome expression profiling to elucidate candidate genes controlling silicification in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana.
Poly(L-glutamic acid)--anticancer drug conjugates.

Chemotherapy has had limited success in the treatment of cancer over the years, due, in part, to the untoward toxicity of the therapeutic agent to normal cells. The design of tailor-made polymer conjugates provides a synthetic approach that can overcome some of the problems. Several synthetic polymer-based anticancer drug conjugates have entered clinical studies. This report reviews the chemistry, physicochemical properties, and therapeutic applications in cancer therapy of polymeric chemotherapeutic agents based on poly(L-glutamic acid). Targeted delivery of anticancer agents using poly(L-glutamic acid) as the drug carrier is also discussed with emphasis on the design of innovative polymeric constructs.
Combined active-passive remote sensing of aerosol optical properties

Recent assessments of global climate change conclude that the radiative effect of aerosols is one of the largest uncertainties in our ability to predict future climate change. A myriad of new sensors and satellite missions are being designed to address this major question confronting credible prediction of climate change. The NASA Langley Airborne A-Band Spectrometer (LAABS) is a recently developed aircraft instrument that provides high spectral resolution (~0.03 nm) radiance measurements of reflected sunlight over the oxygen A-band spectral region centered near 765 nm. High resolution O 2 A-band spectrometry of reflected sunlight is a promising new approach for remote sensing of aerosol and cloud optical properties. While the LAABS instrument provides valuable data on a stand-alone basis, greater scientific return may be realized by combining the A-band spectra with coincident lidar measurements that supply additional information on the vertical distribution of the aerosol. In particular, an instrument suite that combines LAABS with the new airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) has the potential to provide a comprehensive suite of aerosol and cloud optical property measurements never before achieved. In this paper, we investigate the combined use of LAABS and HSRL measurements to infer aerosol single scatter albedo. We explore the information content of the O 2 A-band reflectance spectra and, in particular, the advantages offered by high resolution A-band spectrometers such as LAABS. The approach for combined LAABS/HSRL retrievals is described and results from simulation studies are presented to illustrate their potential for retrieval of single scatter albedo.
Contrasting Infection Strategies in Generalist and Specialist Wasp Parasitoids of Drosophila melanogaster

Although host–parasitoid interactions are becoming well characterized at the organismal and cellular levels, much remains to be understood of the molecular bases for the host immune response and the parasitoids' ability to defeat this immune response. Leptopilina boulardi and L. heterotoma, two closely related, highly infectious natural parasitoids of Drosophila melanogaster, appear to use very different infection strategies at the cellular level. Here, we further characterize cellular level differences in the infection characteristics of these two wasp species using newly derived, virulent inbred strains, and then use whole genome microarrays to compare the transcriptional response of Drosophila to each. While flies attacked by the melanogaster group specialist L. boulardi (strain Lb17) up-regulate numerous genes encoding proteolytic enzymes, components of the Toll and JAK/STAT pathways, and the melanization cascade as part of a combined cellular and humoral innate immune response, flies attacked by the generalist L. heterotoma (strain Lh14) do not appear to initiate an immune transcriptional response at the time points post-infection we assayed, perhaps due to the rapid venom-mediated lysis of host hemocytes (blood cells). Thus, the specialist parasitoid appears to invoke a full-blown immune response in the host, but suppresses and/or evades downstream components of this response. Given that activation of the host immune response likely depletes the energetic resources of the host, the specialist's infection strategy seems relatively disadvantageous. However, we uncover the mechanism for one potentially important fitness tradeoff of the generalist's highly immune suppressive infection strategy.
A thermodynamical model of conductivity dispersion in plasmas and semiconductors.

In this paper, we first introduce a relation between the kinetic energy and the relaxation time, given by the Arrhenius equation, into the electrical conductivity equation of plasmas and semiconductors. Second, we investigate mathematically the change of the conductivity in the frequency and the time domains, and the nature of the distribution of relaxation times, of this new model of conductivity dispersion.
The unattached fraction of radon progeny in ambient aerosols

Abstract Wire screens used for collection of the unattached fraction of airborne radon daughters collect radon progeny both attached to ambient aerosols (the attached fraction) and those in the status of ions, molecules or small clusters (the unattached fraction). The efficiencies of screens range from 0·3 to 4% and from 0·1 to 1% for the attached and unattached fractions, respectively. This study introduces new data for the application of ICRP recommendations on limits for inhalation of radon daughters.
Facile synthesis of an azido-labeled thalidomide analogue.

A five-step synthesis of an azido-thalidomide analogue is presented. The sequence requires cheap and readily available starting materials and reagents, and only two steps require purification. Additionally, the azido-labeled analogue possesses activity comparable to that of thalidomide in inhibiting the proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells, thus providing impetus for its use as a potential photoaffinity label of thalidomide.
Increased chromosome mobility facilitates homology search during recombination.

Repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination is thought to involve the movement of damaged chromosomes to facilitate pairing of homologues. Rothstein and colleagues have now followed the movement of damaged loci in diploid yeast by time-lapse microscopy, revealing the dynamics of damage-induced movement and the requirement for repair proteins in this process.
Elucidating the molecular mechanism of cardiac remodeling using a comparative genomic approach.

It is proposed that analysis of global gene expression would provide an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cardiac remodeling. However, previous studies have only provided “snapshots” of ...
PEO-Based Block Copolymers and Homopolymers as Reactive Surfactants for AGET ATRP of Butyl Acrylate in Miniemulsion

Amphiphilic block copolymers poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene (PEO-PS-Br) with various molecular weights and poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer (PEO-Br) were synthesized and used as macroinitiators and stabilizers (reactive “surfactants”) for activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP) of n-butyl acrylate (BA), in miniemulsion either with or without ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) as co-initiator. Under both conditions, the reactions were well controlled and stable latexes were formed. In the absence of EBiB, polymer particles with diameter around 120−230 nm were obtained, and the particles contained polymers with molecular weight Mn = 16 000−25 000 g/mol and relatively low polydispersity (Mw/Mn = 1.2−1.4). In the presence of a low molecular weight initiator, EBiB, the amount of surfactant used can be reduced in the reaction (1.7−4 wt % vs monomer). The percent of initiating sites from EBiB was changed from 30% to 90%, and the majority of the obtained polymers...
Effects of optical absorption onGa71optically polarized NMR in semi-insulating GaAs: Measurements and simulations

The intensity and the hyperfine shift of optically polarized NMR (OPNMR) signals of $^{71}\mathrm{Ga}$ in semi-insulating GaAs have been found to depend on the photon energy and the helicity of light used for optical pumping. Single-crystal GaAs wafers of two different thicknesses, 400 and $175\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$, were examined. The maximum intensity of the OPNMR signals was observed well below the band gap energy, and this maximum OPNMR signal shifted to higher photon energies for the thinner sample. In the range of photon energies for which the maximum OPNMR signals are obtained, there is little or no hyperfine shift of the $^{71}\mathrm{Ga}$ OPNMR resonance. Hyperfine shifts with the largest magnitude are recorded for photon energies at or above the band gap. At a given photon energy, asymmetric OPNMR signals were observed, with ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}$ light producing a more intense emissive signal than the corresponding absorptive signal coming from ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ light. We developed a model that accounts for optical absorptivity of GaAs in order to simulate the observed OPNMR intensity, the change in the OPNMR maximum for the thinner sample, and the hyperfine shift dependence on photon energy. This model also accounts for the asymmetric OPNMR intensity for the two ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ helicities of light. The intensity dependence of the OPNMR signals arises as a consequence of two competing factors: the optical absorptivity of GaAs which directly impacts nuclear polarization $⟨{I}_{Z}⟩$, and the number of accessible nuclear spins. The magnitude of the hyperfine shift of the OPNMR signals reflects the probability of occupation of optically relevant defects in the semiconductor, also related to optical absorptivity. Finally, the asymmetry in the OPNMR signals arises from the sign of electron spin polarization produced in the optical pumping process.
Adsorption and diffusion of Ga and N adatoms on GaN surfaces: Comparing the effects of Ga coverage and electronic excitation

We present density-functional-theory calculations of the binding and diffusion of Ga and N adatoms on GaN (0001) and (000-1) surfaces under different conditions, including stoichiometric and Ga-rich surfaces, as well as in the presence of electron-hole (e-h) pairs induced by light- or electron-beam irradiation. We find that both Ga-rich conditions and electronic excitations cause a significant reduction of the adatom diffusion barriers, as required to improve the quality of the material. However, the two effects are nonadditive, as the influence of e-h pairs are found to be less important for the more metallic situations.
Multi-Fluid Modeling of Low-Recycling Divertor Regimes

The low-recycling regimes of divertor operation in a single-null NSTX magnetic configuration are studied using computer simulations with the edge plasma transport code UEDGE. The edge plasma transport properties pertinent to the low-recycling regimes are demonstrated. These include the flux-limited character of the parallel heat transport and the high plasma temperatures with the flattened profiles in the scrape-off-layer. It is shown that to maintain the balance of particle fluxes at the core interface the deuterium gas puffing rate should increase as the divertor recycling coefficient decreases. The radial profiles of the heat load to the outer divertor plate, the upstream radial plasma profiles, and the effects of the cross-field plasma transport in the low-recycling regimes are discussed. It is also shown that recycling of lithium impurities evaporating from the divertor plate at high surface temperatures can reverse the low-recycling divertor operational regime to the high-recycling one and may cause thermal instability of the divertor plate. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Grand Unified Models With an Automatic {Peccei-Quinn} Symmetry

Abstract We construct a grand unified model with an automatic Peccei-Quinn symmetry.The resulting axion is invisible because the symmetry is broken at the unification scale.
Efficient Algorithms for Mapping and Partitioning a Class of Parallel Computations

We address the problem of mapping task graph modules to processors in a parallel machine. A mapping seeks to minimize the maximum load assigned to a processor, a metric which often determines the completion time of the entire task. We consider a special case where the task graph is a chain of modules and the processors communicate through a linear array interconnection network. We first present an O(mp) algorithm to optimally map a chain of m modules onto a linear array of p processors. This algorithm provides an improvement over the hitherto best known complexity for this problem, O(mp log m). We then address the problem of mapping n independent tasks, where each is a chain of m modules, onto a partitionable architecture consisting of a linear array of p processors and a host processor. We provide polynomial time algorithms for three different instances of this problem.
Comparison of Digital with Film Radiographs for the Classification of Pneumoconiotic Pleural Abnormalities

Rationale and Objectives Analog film radiographs are typically used to classify pneumoconiosis to allow comparison with standard film radiographs. The aim of this study was to determine if digital radiography is comparable to film for the purpose of classifying pneumoconiotic pleural abnormalities. Materials and Methods Subjects were 200 asbestos-exposed patients, from whom digital and film chest radiographs were obtained along with chest high-resolution computed tomographic scans. Using a crossover design, radiographs were independently read on two occasions by seven readers, using conventional International Labour Organization standards for film and digitized standards for digital. High-resolution computed tomographic scans were read independently by three readers. Areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves were calculated using high-resolution computed tomographic ratings as the gold standard for disease status. Mixed linear models were fit to estimate the effects of order of presentation, occasion, and modality, treating the seven readers as a random effect. Comparing digital and film radiography for each reader and occasion, crude agreement and agreement beyond chance (κ) were also calculated. Results The linear models showed no statistically significant sequence effect for order of presentation ( P = .73) or occasion ( P = .28). Most important, the difference between modalities was not statistically significant (digital vs film, P = .54). The mean area under the curve for film was 0.736 and increased slightly to 0.741 for digital. Mean crude agreement for the presence of pleural abnormalities consistent with pneumoconiosis across all readers and occasions was 78.3%, while the mean κ value was 0.49. Conclusions These results indicate that digital radiography is not statistically different from analog film for the purpose of classifying pneumoconiotic pleural abnormalities, when appropriate standards are used.
Comparative catalytic activity of selected metal oxides and sulfides for the photo-oxidation of cyanide

Abstract The photocatalytic oxidation of cyanide by TiO 2 (anatase and rutile), ZnS, ZnO, CdS, V 2 O 5 , SiO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 was investigated and compared with the photo-oxidation in the absence of catalyst. Only TiO 2 and ZnO are satisfactory catalysts. Cyanide is first oxidized to cyanate and then via nitrite to nitrate. In most systems cyanide is also volatilized as HCN. The amount of HCN volatilized is a function of the pH of the solution and the surface area of the catalyst and generally increases with decreasing pH and increasing surface area.
Adsorption of thiophene on Al(1 1 1) and deposition of aluminum on condensed thiophene

Abstract The adsorption of thiophene on clean Al(1 1 1) at 90 and 130 K has been studied with X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and UPS) and work function measurements. Relatively weak chemisorption compared to adsorption on transition metals is indicated by minor changes in the valence spectrum in progressing from monolayer to multilayer thiophene, a modest work function change of −0.50 eV due to saturation dosing, and return of the work function and valence spectrum to that of clean Al(1 1 1) upon annealing at 210 K. The complementary experiment in which aluminum is thermally deposited on multilayer thiophene condensed on gold at 130 K has also been performed. XPS peak area analysis shows that metal doses less than 14×10 15 atoms/cm 2 result in penetration through the physisorbed thiophene, but higher doses lead to the gradual build up of metal throughout the organic layer. Persistence of the thiophene UPS valence features for metal doses of 50×10 15 atoms/cm 2 is consistent with penetration and aluminum island formation. For aluminum deposition on thiophene, charge transfer from aluminum is evidenced by metal-induced low binding energy components in the C 1s and S 2p spectra at 282.6 and 162.5 eV, respectively, and a shift in the Al 2p spectrum of 0.5 eV to higher binding energy compared to metallic aluminum. UPS also indicates progression of the frontier orbital toward the Fermi level as aluminum is deposited.
Wavelet methods in interpolation of high-frequency spatial–temporal pressure

Abstract The location-scale and whitening properties of wavelets make them more favorable for interpolating high-frequency monitoring data than Fourier-based methods. In the past, wavelets have been used to simplify the dependence structure in multiple time or spatial series, but little has been done to apply wavelets as a modeling tool in a space–time setting, or, in particular, to take advantage of the localization of wavelets to capture the local dynamic characteristics of high-frequency meteorological data. This paper analyzes minute-by-minute atmospheric pressure data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program using different wavelet coefficient structures at different scales and incorporating spatial structure into the model. This approach of modeling space–time processes using wavelets produces accurate point predictions with low uncertainty estimates, and also enables interpolation of available data from sparse monitoring stations to a high density grid and production of meteorological maps on large spatial and temporal scales.
Group support and top-heavy rules

Abstract This paper uses an axiomatic approach to study the properties of voting procedures. We propose a new axiom, called “group support,” which requires that an alternative that is selected by a society must be selected by some subgroup of the society. We show that group support and faithfulness characterize a class of scoring rules that we call top-heavy rules.