cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When Physical Systems Realize Functions...

After briefly discussing the relevance of the notions ’computation‘ and ’implementation‘ for cognitive science, I summarize some of the problems that have been found in their most common interpretations. In particular, I argue that standard notions of computation together with a ’state-to-state correspondence view of implementation‘ cannot overcome difficulties posed by Putnam‘s Realization Theorem and that, therefore, a different approach to implementation is required. The notion ’realization of a function‘, developed out of physical theories, is then introduced as a replacement for the notional pair ’computation-implementation‘. After gradual refinement, taking practical constraints into account, this notion gives rise to the notion ’digital system‘ which singles out physical systems that could be actually used, and possibly even built.
Análise econômica da geração de energia elétrica a partir do biogás na suinocultura

A demanda por fontes alternativas de energia tem crescido nos ultimos anos em funcao das variacoes do preco do petroleo aliadas a recente crise energetica. Por meio da digestao anaerobia e possivel transformar os dejetos de suinos em biogas. No presente trabalho, estudou-se a viabilidade economica do uso do biogas como fonte alternativa para a geracao de energia eletrica para diferentes periodos de geracao. O metodo utilizado para a avaliacao economica foi o Valor Presente Liquido. O tempo de retorno do capital investido tambem foi calculado levando em consideracao o desconto da taxa de juros nos fluxos de caixa. O estudo demonstrou ser economicamente viavel a utilizacao do biogas da suinocultura, como fonte para geracao de energia eletrica. O aumento da demanda de energia eletrica na propriedade aumenta o Valor Presente Liquido e diminui o tempo de retorno do investimento.
Mutation and Recombination Effects on the Adaptability of Sexual and Asexual Organisms

EVOLVE III, an evolutionary ecosystem simulation program, is used to study the relationship between genetic variation and adaptability of organisms in constant and fluctuating environments. The simulation runs suggest that point mutations increase genetic diversity while gene recombination acts as a stabilizing force for phenotypic variability.
Relationships of eating competence, sleep behaviors and quality, and overweight status among college students

Little is known about the relationships between eating competence (intra-individual approach to eating and food-related attitudes and behaviors that entrain positive bio-psychosocial outcomes) and sleep behaviors and quality in college students, a high-risk group for poor eating habits, weight gain, and inadequate sleep. Thus, data from full-time college students (N=1035; 82% White; 61% female) aged 18-24 years from 5 U.S. universities were obtained from online questionnaires (eating competence (ecSI), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), physical activity, demographics) and physical assessments (measured height, weight), to explore sleep behavior and quality between eating-competent (EC; ecSI score≥32) and non-EC groups (ecSI<32). Generalized linear models controlling for gender, body mass index, and physical activity were utilized. A higher proportion of those in the EC group reported adequate sleep quality (67% vs. 57% in non-EC, p=0.001), sleep duration of ≥7 h nightly (58% vs. 50% in non-EC, p=0.007), and infrequent daytime dysfunction (72% vs. 65% in non-EC, p=0.02). When ecSI scores were grouped as tertiles, those in the highest tertile reported a higher prevalence of no sleep disturbances (7% vs. 2% in the lowest ecSI tertile, p=0.006) and lower prevalence of sleep medication use (10% vs. 15% in the lowest ecSI tertile, p=0.04). Results suggest that competent eaters are more likely to have better overall sleep quality and fewer sleep-related issuescompared to less competent eaters. These findings may inform future longitudinal studies, and health promotion and weight management interventions for young adults.
Targeting Cancer Prevention and Screening Practices for Older Adults

Although most cancers occur in persons aged 65 and older, objective information about the benefits of prevention, screening, and treatment are substantially lacking for older adults, because they have been largely excluded from randomized controlled trials. Proper inference about risks and benefits of cancer prevention and screening in older adults therefore requires proper interpretation of observational data. This article addresses two specific approaches to improving understanding of observational data on cancer prevention and screening in advanced age: the use of measures of risk differences (rather than relative risk) to assess varying effects of risk factors with advancing age and the use of trends over time as surrogates for screening effects. Two factors that are likely to affect cancer reduction trends in older adults in years to come are then discussed: the compression of mortality from cancers diagnosed, but not cured, at younger ages and ageism by patients, providers, and families.
Salivary Gland Cancer

Malignant salivary gland tumors are remarkable for their relative infrequency as compared to other solid tumors, and their wide diversity in histologic appearance, clinical presentation, and biologic behavior. By virtue of the slow growth rates of some of these tumors, posttreatment surveillance must continue for a decade or more in order to accrue reliable data regarding locoregional control and survival. Fortunately, useful prognostic information can be derived from assessment of clinical stage, and tumor histology. Keywords: TNM; tumor size; nodal extension; facial nerve involvement; deep invasion; residual disease; histologic subtype; comorbidities; prior radiotherapy; perineural invasion; age; gender
Probability profile method - new approach to data analysis in tandem mass spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is one of the leading proteomics technologies, applicable to a wide range of experiments involving composition analysis of protein mixtures. Currently only /spl sim/10-20% of MS/MS spectral data lead to the successful peptide identifications, and the rate of false positives remains to be high. We propose probability profile method (PPM) as a new route for the development of MS/MS data analysis algorithms. The principal idea can be described as a probabilistic "labeling" of the individual peaks, or as a detailed analysis of the spectra leading to peak separation into specific categories (b-ion, y-ion, double charged b-ion, etc). PPM "assignments", conducted on large and diverse data sets (/spl sim/60,000 spectra), indicate that a large majority of MS/MS peaks can be identified with a surprising level of confidence, providing the foundation for a range of novel algorithmic approaches: spectra can be edited by selecting desirable peak categories; overall characteristics of MS/MS spectra, such as parent ion charge or total number of the present ions, can be rapidly estimated with a high precision; labeled peaks of the same category (e.g. b-ions) can be efficiently connected into de novo tag peptides.
Isolation, expression analysis and characterization of NEFA-interacting nuclear protein 30 and RING finger and SPRY domain containing 1 in skeletal muscle

Muscle atrophy results from a range of physiological conditions, including immobilization, spinal cord damage, inflammation and aging. In this study we describe two genes, NEFA-interacting nuclear protein 30 (Nip30) and RING Finger and SPRY domain containing 1 (Rspry1), which have not previously been characterized or shown to be expressed in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, Nip30 and Rspry1 were transcriptionally induced in response to neurogenic muscle wasting in mice and were also found to be expressed endogenously at the RNA and protein level in C2C12 mouse muscle cells. Interestingly, during analysis of Nip30 and Rspry1 it was observed that these genes share a 230 base pair common regulatory region that contains several putative transcription regulatory elements. In order to assess the transcriptional activity of the Nip30 and Rspry1 regulatory regions, a fragment of the promoter of each gene was cloned, fused to a reporter gene, and transfected into cells. The Nip30 and Rspry1 reporters were both found to have significant transcriptional activity in cultured cells. Furthermore, the Nip30-Rspry1 common regulatory region contains a conserved E-box enhancer, which is an element bound by myogenic regulatory factors that function in the regulation of muscle-specific gene expression. Therefore, in order to determine if the predicted E-box was functional, Nip30 and Rspry1 reporters were transfected into cells ectopically expressing the myogenic regulatory factor, MyoD1, resulting in significant induction of both reporter genes. In addition, mutation of the conserved E-box element eliminated MyoD1 activation of the Nip30 and Rspry1 reporters. Finally, GFP-tagged Nip30 was found to localize to the nucleus, while GFP-tagged Rspry1 was found to localize to the cytoplasm of muscle cells.
Equal reproductive success of phenotypes in the Larus glaucescens–occidentalis complex

Glaucous-winged gulls Larus glaucescens and western gulls L. occidentalis hybridize extensively where their ranges overlap along the coasts of Washington and Oregon, producing a continuum of phenotypic intergrades between the two parental species. Th is zone often is considered an example of geographically bounded hybrid superiority, but studies of relative success among parental types and hybrids have not provided consistent support for this model. We tested the predictions of the dynamic-equilibrium and geographically bounded hybrid superiority hypotheses by studying mate choice and reproductive success among gulls on Protection Island, Washington, the largest breeding colony of glaucous-winged/western gulls within the hybrid zone. Th e dynamic-equilibrium hypothesis posits that hybridization due to dispersal balances selection against less fi t hybrids and assortative mating is adaptive. Geographically bounded hybrid superiority posits that hybrids are better fi t than parental types within an ecotone between the environments to which the parental species are adapted, and a preference for hybrid mates is adaptive. Additionally, we investigated whether hatching success and nest site choice are correlated for Protection Island gulls. We assigned a hybrid index to each sample bird by examining plumage melanism and bare part coloration in the fi eld. Sheltered nests contained larger clutches and exhibited increased hatching success, but choice of nest habitat was not associated with hybrid index. Western gull-like pairs produced smaller third eggs; however, hybrid index was not correlated with clutch size or hatching success. Protection Island gulls did exhibit assortative mating. In short, we did not fi nd strong support for either geographically bounded hybrid superiority or the dynamic-equilibrium hypothesis. Th e Larus glaucescens – occidentalis hybrid zone in the Pacifi c Northwest has been the subject of several studies since hybrids were fi rst noted early in the twentieth century (Dawson
Intra-Articular Fractures of the Hand

Fractures of the hand are common injuries and in particular, fractures involving the articular surfaces can present difficulties to the orthopedic surgeon in practice. Although the treatment of these fractures needs to be individualized based on fracture pattern and location, the goals for these fractures are to restore the alignment, stability, and congruity and to allow for early motion to prevent stiffness and traumatic arthritis. This article classifies the various types of intra-articular hand fractures as well as the workup and management of these injuries.
Synthesis of Hexacyclic Parnafungin A and C Models

A convergent, practical route to unstable hexacyclic parnafungin A and C models has been developed. Two iodoxanthones were prepared in four or five steps (33−50% overall yield). Suzuki−Miyaura coup...
Plasma volume considerations for analysis of gaseous and aerosol samples using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Three distinct characteristic plasma volumes were experimentally measured and are discussed in the context of the analysis of gaseous and aerosol systems using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. The resulting statistical sample volume, emission-based plasma volume, and the physical plasma volume, range between 1.2 × 10−3 and 2.4 × 10−3 cm3, and the variations are interpreted in terms of the intrinsic behavior of laser-induced plasma-particle interactions. Due to plasma non-homogeneity, the particle vaporization necessary for subsequent detection is limited to a plasma region somewhat smaller than the region defined by the physical plasma volume based on optical absorption. In contrast, the emission-based plasma volume, the largest of the three recorded volumes, reflects analyte emission following particle vaporization and diffusion, and is considered in terms of an equivalent emitting plasma volume.
Glancing-angle ion-assisted deposition of ZnO thin films

Abstract Undoped ZnO thin films were deposited on unheated sapphire and glass substrates under concurrent glancing-angle Ar + ion bombardment. Surface roughness decreased from 18 to 3.5 nm in films grown on glass, and from 11 to 0.5 nm on sapphire, as the ion-to-neutral atom ratio increased from 0 to 0.25. Film microstructure observations by cross-sectional electron microscopy indicated increased film density when glancing-angle ions were used. The glancing-angle ions had little effect on film residual stress; this is in contrast to normal-incidence ion bombardment that typically increases compressive stresses.
United Nations and World Bank

Abstract United Nations Home Page Reviewed by Esther Gil. World Bank Group Reviewed by Zaida Diaz.
Anyon superconductivity and the fractional quantum Hall effect

We obtain a hierarchy of effective Hamiltonians which allow for a unified treatment of the fractional quantum Hall effect and a gas of fractional-statistics particles (anyons) in two dimensions. Anyon superconductivity is the analog of the fractional quantum Hall effect. For rational statistics parameter ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}$=P/Q with PQ even, Q anyons bind forming a charge Qe superfluid.
In Situ Studies of Organism-Sediment Relationships in the Caribou Island Basin, Lake Superior

Abstract In 1986, using the DSR V Johnson Sea-Link II , we established a permanent bottom station at 350 m in the Caribou Island basin, Lake Superior, in order to examine physical and biological contributions to general disturbance at the sediment-water interface, particle mixing, and to begin to quantify feeding rates of the macro-infaunal invertebrates. To accomplish these longrange goals we needed background information on this specific study site. Therefore, we collected eight 225 cm 2 box cores for photographic and faunal analyses, and 19 subcores for X-radiography to examine and record epifaunal and infaunal biogenic structure and physical sedimentary features. These data are critical as no detailed in-situ studies have been conducted to date on these deep profundal environments. The infaunal community at the site was dominated by amphipods, oligo-chaetes, nematodes, and ostracods. Average infaunal density approximated 4,700m –2 , with 90% of the organisms appearing within 4 cm of the sediment-water interface (SWI). Core-section photography revealed layered, fine-grained sediments overlying post-glacial clays. Some cores contained laminae of manganese and iron oxides. Several subcores contained distinct “dish-like” laminae, which were most likely relict biogenic features created by the deepwater sculpin ( Myoxocephalus thompsoni ). Biogenic structures produced by infaunal burrowers were small (approximately 1 mm diameter), and confined to the upper 3 cm of the sediment. Burrow frequency varied widely from core to core. However, subcores containing “dish-shaped,” high-density horizons had the fewest number of infaunal burrows. Our observations suggest that much of the near-surface sediment-mixing activity at the Caribou basin site is likely due to demersal fish; during our dives only indirect evidence of physical disturbance of the sediment-interface was observed.
Fixed frequency cyclotron operation with a regulator for dee voltage stabilization

A severe time modulation of the beam from a 152 cm cyclotron was found to be caused by dee voltage fluctuations. To eliminate this difficulty, a series-type regulator has been constructed. The regulator controls the oscillator plate power voltage in order to maintain a constant and ripple-free potential on one dee. Under average conditions of use the dee voltage is constant to ± 0.15%. In addition to improving the beam time stability, the regulator introduces several unexpected features of cyclotron performance among which are the following: The deflected beam goes through pronounced peaks and valleys as the dee voltage is varied. The deflection efficiency is greater when the dee voltage is set on a beam maximum. Stability of the cyclotron against sparking is improved. The focused beam image in a scattering chamber remote from the cyclotron is substantially smaller showing that the beam energy spread is less.
Adaptation by natural selection in populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura.

Seis poblaciones deDrosophila pseudoobscura han evolucionado, debido a la seleccion natural, hacia una mayor adaptacion al ambiente. Durante 20 o 25 generaciones el numero de individuos nacidos por unidad de comida y el tamano de la poblacion han aumentado gradualmente entre un dos y un cuatro por ciento por generacion.
Molecular Connectivity Study of Halocarbon Anesthetics

Abstract The structure-activity relationships of 45 halogenated hydrocarbons using molecular connectivity were studied. A very good correlation was obtained between the anesthetic activity and the molecular connectivity term °x u in addition to the polar hydrogen factor, Q H - The equation reported accounts for and quantifies the known structure- activity observations on general anesthetics. The results are discussed briefly with reference to the mechanisms of action of general anesthetics.
Using qualitative data analysis software

ABSTRACT This paper provides an introduction to computer programs for qualitative data analysis [QDA]. Four software packages are examined in detail: ATLAS/ti, The Ethnograph, HyperRE-SEARCH and NUD4ST. These packages are applicable to a variety of qualitative research approaches used in the human service fields. The merits of QDA software are described, as are some hazards. The use of QDA software described and the strengths and limitations of each software package are identified and discussed. Issues relevant to deciding among them are detailed.
Burying the Beloved: Marriage, Realism and Reform in Modern Iran by Amy Motlagh

Amy Motlagh makes several highly strategic decisions in framing this comparative study of conceptual practices around marriage in both the legal and literary discourses of modern Iran. Any literary...
Fenfluramine effects on serotonergic measures in vervet monkeys.

Abstract Chronic fenfluramine treatment reduced whole blood serotonin and CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, but increased aggressive and locomotor behavior, in adult male vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus). Following a drug-free washout period to monitor the drug recovery course, we initiated a second period of fenfluramine treatment in the same animals. When whole blood serotonin concentrations were reduced by about 40% from predrug baseline levels, we examined 11 cortical and subcortical brain regions for their content of 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, norepinephrine, and dopamine. We observed correspondence between the reduction in whole blood serotonin and the reduction in brain 5-hydroxytryptamine. Similarly there was a correspondence between the reduced 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels observed in CSF and brain. No alterations were noted in the concentrations of norepinephrine of dopamine. These observations suggest that the behavioral effects observed in monkeys after chronic fenfluramine treatment result from reduced central serotonin.
Femoral Considerations for Total Hip Replacement in Hip Dysplasia

THAin the dysplastic hip is a technically demanding procedure that requires careful preoperative planning. The common deformities associated with the dysplastic femur include hypoplasia, excessive neck anteversion, a valgus neck-shaft angle, metaphyseal-diaphyseal mismatch, and a posteriorly displaced greater trochanter. In selected cases, osteotomy of the femur may be performed to correct anteversion and/or avoid excessive leg lengthening and stretch of the sciatic nerve. All of these issues mandate careful preoperative planning. With the advent of modern surgical techniques and implants, the bone deformities in hip dysplasia can be successfully addressed and THA has proved to be a successful and durable operation.
High-frequency signal and noise estimates of CSR GRACE RL04

A sliding window technique is used to create daily-sampled Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) solutions with the same background processing as the official CSR RL04 monthly series. By estimating over shorter time spans, more frequent solutions are made using uncorrelated data, allowing for higher frequency resolution in addition to daily sampling. Using these data sets, high-frequency GRACE errors are computed using two different techniques: assuming the GRACE high-frequency signal in a quiet area of the ocean is the true error, and computing the variance of differences between multiple high-frequency GRACE series from different centers. While the signal-to-noise ratios prove to be sufficiently high for confidence at annual and lower frequencies, at frequencies above 3 cycles/year the signal-to-noise ratios in the large hydrological basins looked at here are near 1.0. Comparisons with the GLDAS hydrological model and high frequency GRACE series developed at other centers confirm CSR GRACE RL04’s poor ability to accurately and reliably measure hydrological signal above 3–9 cycles/year, due to the low power of the large-scale hydrological signal typical at those frequencies compared to the GRACE errors.
A NOTE ON THE EFFECT OF ADRENALIN UPON STRIPS OF EXCISED PREGNANT HUMAN UTERUS

A large number of studies (1) have been performed to determine the excitability of excised strips of pregnant and non-pregnant human uteri. To Rubsamen and Kligermann (2) credit should be given for having been the first to observe the effect of suprarenalin upon excised strips of both gravid and non-gravid human uteri. They noted suprarenalin to produce contraction or increased tonus in both types. Two years later, without apparent knowledge of previous work having been done upon the human uterus, Gunn (3) studied the effect of adrenin upon strips of excised uteri of rabbits, cats and guinea pigs. He also studied the effect of this drug in four strips of excised human Fallopian tubes and in one instance upon the uterus. He found adrenine to produce contraction, i. e., increased tonus, in both organs and therefore concludes “unless, however, the human uterus has a still different type of sympathetic innervation from that of all the animals which have been examined, the probability is that adrenine will hav...
Aggregate versus product-specific pricing: Implications for franchise and traditional channels

Abstract Franchisors often charge a common franchise fee and royalty on all the products sold or serviced by their franchisees. Since the potential demand for each product may be different, a product specific pricing scheme may be optimal. Hence, the common strategy of aggregate pricing appears to be a puzzling practice. However, we show that under certain conditions the aggregate pricing scheme improves channel coordination of retail prices and local services, and improves the total channel profit and the franchisor's profit. In order to highlight the important role of franchise fee, we also consider a traditional channel in which the manufacturer does not have enough market power to charge a positive franchise fee. We consider two pricing arrangements: quantity discount schedules and slotting allowances. We find that for a manufacturer using quantity discount schedules, aggregate pricing is (weakly) worse than product-specific pricing. If the retailers have enough power to extract all the surplus from the manufacturer through slotting allowances, then the manufacturer is indifferent between using product-specific and aggregate pricing.
The growth of multihospital firms in California

Du r i n g t h e p a st f i v e y e a r s the public, legislators, and health care workers have perceived that large corporations and multihospital systems are taking over. Many express concerns that these systems may jeopardize patient care, remove charitable assets from local control, and focus too intently on the financial “bottom line.” These concerns are particularly relevant in California, which has witnessed a high level of hospital merger activity. For example, in 1995 forty-three mergers and purchases were initiated in California’s approximately 400 hospitals, the highest number in the United States. Despite much debate about this subject, no complete study of the changing nature of hospital ownership in California has been conducted. This paper examines ownership changes in short-term acute care hospitals in California during 1986–1997. We provide a comprehensive account of changes in ownership and an analysis of related policy issues, including antitrust, access to care, and community benefit provision.
A ciphertext-only attack on Polly Two

Polly Two is a public key encryption scheme that builds on the conceptual public key encryption scheme Polly Cracker. We describe a heuristic attack on Polly Two, which aims at recovering the plaintext from a given ciphertext without revealing the secret key. The attack has been applied successfully to solve the latest “Polly Two challenge”.
Addition of acebutolol to diuretics in hypertension

The effect of acebutolol as an antihypertensive beta receptor-blocking drug was evaluated in 15 patients that remained hypertensive while on diuretics. Observations were made in a small randomized double-blind trial in which the drug was compared to placebo and subsequently during a single-blind phase when the drug was given to those who had not responded to placebo. The dose range for acebutolol was 200 to 600 mg twice daily. Pretreatment plasma renin activity (PRA) and the response to intravenous saralasin infusion were assessed as predictors of the antihypertensive effect of acebutolol. None of six patients receiving placebo had a response of goal blood pressure or below; six of nine receiving acebutolol did respond (P < 0.01). Acebutolol treatment induced reduction in diastolic pressure, heart rate, and PRA during the double-blind phase and a sustained therapeutic response over 18 wk in subjects pooled from both phases of the study. There were no significant correlations between pretreatment PRA, In PRA, or the response to saralasin, and the arterial pressure response to acebutolol therapy. Our data indicate that acebutolol is effective in diuretic-resistant hypertensive patients and that indices of the renin-angiotensin system are not predictors of the therapeutic response. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1981) 30, 739–744; doi:10.1038/clpt.1981.232
Kelvin–Helmholtz billow evolution from a localized source

SUMMARY The envelope function for Kelvin–Helmholtz billows growing from a point disturbance is derived on the basis of linear perturbation theory. The result describes an elliptical patch of billows that expands linearly in time as the billows grow. An analytical model of the dispersion relation is used to derive quantitative expressions for the spreading rate and ellipticity of the patch as functions of the bulk Richardson number. The theoretical results are verified using a combination of two- and three-dimensional nonlinear simulations, and are compared with visual observations of billow patches in the atmosphere.
Test method in voltage contrast mode using liquid crystals

Abstract This paper deals with the use of liquid crystals to visualize the internal electrical behavior of VLSI circuits. The complexity of present VLSI chips requires powerful tools to detect possible defects. For such a purpose, internal contactless testing methods have been developed, such as, electron beam or laser testing, to help identify the precise localization of the electrical defect. The aim of this paper is to describe the liquid crystals test method, used at the IBM COMPEC laboratory for failure analysis, in the localization of defects in an integrated circuit. The electro-optical properties of these materials depend on the electric fields present on the chip surface, thus it has become possible to visualize the path information and to determine the areas where the signal is present. Depending on the applied electric field direction, the molecules can rotate if the E value is higher than a threshold value (0.1 V/μm). The liquid crystal testing apparatus is principally equipped with a laser scan microscope, a word generator which emulates the chip, an image processing station and the equipment necessary for the preparation of the samples. For this test method we have two possible applications: the imaging mode, in order to visualize the presence of the signal on the chip surface, and the probing mode, to determine the temporal evolution of the electric signal in one node of the circuit up to a maximum value of 300 KHz, and to discriminate IC logical levels, up to a maximum value of 3 MHz. The great advantage in the use of the SC∗ liquid crystals, more than the color, is the response time performance of such a phase. SC∗ can have a switching time of about 1 μs compared with 1 ms for N. In the future the SA phase will allow a response time better than 100 ns. The advantages of such methods are the production of colored pictures, the use of optical microscopy, testing can be done at atmospheric conditions, the ease of set-up and manipulation and finally the low cost of the equipment used. In the failure analysis laboratory it could represent another alternative to the voltage contrast usually performed with E-beam testing. Moreover the possibility of making a measurement in one node of the circuit in order to obtain the internal signal seems very promising. Some examples with memory products will be discussed.
Prostaglandin F2α photoaffinity probes: 18-phenoxy-19,20-bisnorprostanoids bearing perfluorinated aryl azides

Abstract The synthesis of a potential prostaglandin F 2α photoaffinity probe involved the preparation of an 18-phenoxy-19,20-bisnorprostanoid in which the phenoxy group possessed an iodine substituent and a perfluorinated aryl azide.
Structural Bus and Release Mechanisms on the ST5 Satellites - Summary and Status

The Space Technology 5 Mechanical System met the challenge of packaging a fully functional science and technology satellite system with its Deployer mechanism into a compact 0.07 m3 volume. Three 25 kg satellites were orbited in constellation in March, 2006. The ST5 mechanical system is composed of (1) The Structural Bus; (2) Magnetometer Instrument Boom (3) Spacecraft Deployer Release Mechanism. This system includes a highly integrated electronics enclosure as a multifunctional structure; a lightweight, magnetically clean Magnetometer Boom; the first use of Nitinol Shape-Memory Alloy trigger devices for deploying multiple spacecraft; an innovative compliant mount for the umbilical connector and a Deployer mechanism that imparts both separation velocity and mission spin rate to three constellation flying satellites. These elements employed cutting-edge design and analysis tools, state-of-the-art testing facilities and proven engineering techniques to meet stringent performance criteria, enabling the mission's success.
Optical pulse reshaping based on the nonlinear birefringence of single-mode optical fibers

We report the observation of strong reshaping of 3-psec dye-laser pulses by nonlinear birefringence during passage through a 150-cm-long, single-mode optical fiber and a crossed polarizer. For lower-intensity input pulses to the fiber, the transmitted pulses were observed to be proportional to the cube of the input pulses. With increased intensity, more-complicated pulse shapes were obtained. Our experimental results agree well with the predicted intensity dependence of the reshaping action.
What Is Heat? Inquiry regarding the Science of Heat.

ABSTRACT This lab activity uses inquiry to help students define heat. It is generic in that it can be used to introduce a plethora of science content across middle and high school grade levels and across science disciplines that include biology, Earth and space science, and physical science. Even though heat is a universal science phenomenon that is experienced in the everyday lives of students, most students cannot articulate its scientific definition. This lab activity allows students to use science inquiry processes to further explore the science of heat and the misconceptions commonly associated with heat as they examine some of the multicultural dimensions of heat.
Interactions of concanavalin A with chick embryo fibroblasts transformed by Rous sarcoma virus. Study with an RSV mutant thermosensitive for transformation.

Abstract The interactions between concanvalin A and chick embryo fibroblasts, normal and infected with Rous sarcoma virus (RSV-BH) or its thermosensitive mutant RSV-BH-Ta, have been studied. Normal chick embryo cells and RSV-BH transformed cells showed at 4 and 25 °C a similar number of concanavalin A receptors per cell. Analysis of the binding data by the Scatchard relation showed that apparent changes in binding as a function of temperature are due to the thermodynamic properties of the process and and not to endocytosis. The lectin receptors on the cell surface of normal and RSV-BH infected cells showed homogeneity in their binding properties. Chick cells infected with RSV-BH-Ta showed a lectin binding behavior that was dependent on the temperature at which the cells were grown. At the permissive temperature for transformation (37 °C), the binding process was similar to that observed for normal and RSV-BH infected cells. At the nonpermissive temperature (41 °C), the cells showed at least two sets of concanavalin A receptors. The new set of receptors on the cell surface had a lower lectin affinity than those observed in the same cells at 37 °C. Chick cells infected with RSV-BH showed an enhanced agglutinability by concanavalin A, as compared with normal cells. Cells infected with RSV-BH-Ta showed a reversal of the correlation between increased concanavalin A agglutinability and the transformed state. At the permissive temperature for transformation, the cells were not agglutinable, whereas at the nonpermissive temperature they presented agglutinability indexes as high as those observed with RSV-BH infected cells. This enhanced agglutinability observed with cells maintained at the nonpermissive temperature for transformation may be related to the new set of low affinity receptors present at 41 °C.
Approximations for hybrids of empirical and partial sums processes

Abstract We obtain probability inequalities and almost sure rates for the approximations of the hybrids of empirical and partial sums processes. The proofs are based on Poisson approximations for empirical processes and Gaussian approximations for partial sums. Some consequences of the approximations are also discussed.
Aging and Cardiovascular Disease A Summary of the Eighth Münster International Arteriosclerosis Symposium

This unique symposium focused on the remarkable increase in the older population that is occurring in many countries of the world. The international experts spoke on the effects of aging on cardiovascular disease, which is by far the most prominent cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. The program highlighted some of the most prominent changes that occur in the elderly and influence the toll that cardiovascular disease takes. The program was divided into four sessions: (1) the effects of aging on some of the cardiovascular risk factors; (2) the effects of aging on the heart muscle; (3) reports on recent studies of the effects of aging on morphology and function of the conduction system; and (4) a session featuring outstanding authorities on aging and the elastin, collagen, and calcium of the vessel wall, all of which are frequently added to the artery wall during aging. The speakers were carefully selected from top scholars in England, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, and the United States. Professor W.H. Hauss, who pioneered the development of the Institute for Arteriosclerosis Research at the University of Munster, Germany, and is now in his 80s, opened the symposium and introduced four prominent officials in health, education, and other German government posts, who added their words of welcome. The first session was chaired by Professor G. Assmann, who is the current director of the Arteriosclerosis Research Institute in Munster, Germany. He gave the opening presentation on genetic determinants of life expectancy, a subject on which he is a world authority. He began his presentation with a brief description of the very large PROCAM study of more than 35 000 individuals, two thirds of whom are male, being carried out at the University of Munster Arteriosclerosis Institute in Westphalia. This long-term study of the natural history …
Risk factors for mortality in children with Candidemia

We performed a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized children with positive blood cultures for Candida species. Independent risk factors for mortality by multivariable analysis were location in the pediatric intensive care unit at the time of infection (hazard ratio, 6.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-24.3) and the presence of an arterial catheter (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-5.8). Our findings help identify a group of pediatric patients that should be targeted for future interventions to prevent and treat candidemia.
Nucleon-Antinucleon Interaction at Intermediate Energies

The Yukawa interaction between nucleon and antinucleon is investigated in the intermediate energy range (50 to 200 Mev) where it is shown that the details of the short-range forces are unimportant; that is, cross sections are primarily determined by the pion exchange potential for distances greater than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm. Numerical calculations by the WKB method, using two possible forms of the potential, give nucleon-antinucleon cross sections several times larger than the nucleon-nucleon cross sections at corresponding energies. This large difference is due to systematic cancellation effects in the nucleon-nucleon interaction which are removed in the nucleon-antinucleon system. It is shown that irregularities in the annihilation cross section as a function of energy are to be expected as a result of the sudden onset of individual partial waves.
Reading Well With Read Well Enhancing the Reading Performance of English Language Learners

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of supplemental reading instruction on the reading performance of four (two boys, two girls) second graders who were English learners (ELs) and poor readers through the use of a multiple probe across-participants design. All students received instruction from a commercial reading program, Read Well (Sprick, Howard, & Fidanque, 1998—2000). The results indicated general improvement in word reading and oral reading fluency performance across participating students. A discussion examining case study data highlights the importance of individual differences on a variety of reading measures when considering the nature of reading instruction for ELs.
Quantum metrology for a general Hamiltonian parameter

Quantum metrology enhances the sensitivity of parameter estimation using the distinctive resources of quantum mechanics such as entanglement. It has been shown that the precision of estimating an overall multiplicative factor of a Hamiltonian can be increased to exceed the classical limit, yet little is known about estimating a general Hamiltonian parameter. In this paper, we study this problem in detail. We find that the scaling of the estimation precision with the number of systems can always be optimized to the Heisenberg limit, while the time scaling can be quite different from that of estimating an overall multiplicative factor. We derive the generator of local parameter translation on the unitary evolution operator of the Hamiltonian, and use it to evaluate the estimation precision of the parameter and establish a general upper bound on the quantum Fisher information. The results indicate that the quantum Fisher information generally can be divided into two parts: one is quadratic in time, while the other oscillates with time. When the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian do not depend on the parameter, the quadratic term vanishes, and the quantum Fisher information will be bounded in this case. To illustrate the results, we give an example of estimating a parameter of a magnetic field by measuring a spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ particle and compare the results for estimating the amplitude and the direction of the magnetic field.
Multiple query optimization in middleware using query teamwork

Multiple concurrent queries occur in many database settings. This paper describes the use of middleware as an optimization tool for such queries. Since common subexpressions derive from common data and the data is usually greatest at the source, the middleware exploits the presence of sharable access patterns to underlying data, especially scans of large portions of tables or indexes, in environments where query queuing or batching is an acceptable approach. The results show that simultaneous queries with such sharable accesses have a tendency to form synchronous groups (teams) which benefit each other through the operation of the disk cache, in effect using it as an implicit pipeline. the middleware exploits this tendency by queuing and scheduling the queries to promote this interaction, using an algorithm designed to promote such teamwork. This is implemented as middleware for use with a commercial database engine. The results include tests using the query mix from the TPC BenchmarkTMR, achieving a speed-up of 2.34 over the default scheduling provided by one database. Other results show that the success depends on the details of the computing environment.
In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the normal aging human brain.

The effect of age on brain metabolite concentrations was evaluated using localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This technique allows in vivo measurements of N-acetyl compounds (NA), total creatine (CR), choline-containing compounds (CHO), myo-inositol (MI), glutamate and glutamine (GLX), as well as the percentage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the brain water content within the brain region studied. Frontal gray matter and frontal white matter brain regions were examined in 36 normal healthy volunteers (19–78 years of age). Using a rigorous absolute quantitation method, with an external reference and atrophy correction, we found relatively stable concentrations of NA, a neuronal marker. In contrast, CR, CHO, MI, and the percentage of CSF increased in the gray matter with age. However, the brain water content decreased significantly with age (r = −0.72; p < 0.0001). No significant age-related changes in metabolite concentrations, CSF or brain water content were observed in the white matter regions. These findings demonstrate that biochemical alterations are associated with aging in the frontal gray matter. There might be an increase in the brain density as indicated by increased metabolite concentrations and decreased brain water content with aging.
The Association between Obesity and Urban Food Environments

Several studies have examined associations between the food retail environment and obesity, though virtually no work has been done in the urban South, where obesity rates are among the highest in the country. This study assessed associations between access to food retail outlets and obesity in New Orleans. Data on individual characteristics and body weight were collected by telephone interviews from a random sample of adults (N = 3,925) living in New Orleans in 2004–2005. The neighborhood of each individual was geo-mapped by creating a 2-km buffer around the center point of the census tract in which they lived. Food retailer counts were created by summing the total number of each food store type and fast food establishment within this 2-km neighborhood. Hierarchical linear models assessed associations between access to food retailers and obesity status. After adjusting for individual characteristics, each additional supermarket in a respondent’s neighborhood was associated with a reduced odds for obesity (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88–0.99). Fast food restaurant (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02) and convenience store (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02) access were each predictive of greater obesity odds. An individual’s access to food stores and fast food restaurants may play a part in determining weight status. Future studies with longitudinal and experimental designs are needed to test whether modifications in the food environment may assist in the prevention of obesity.
The impact of population pressure on global carbon dioxide emissions, 1975–1996: evidence from pooled cross-country data

Abstract In assessing and forecasting the impact of population change on carbon dioxide emissions, most previous studies have assumed a unitary elasticity of emissions with respect to population change, i.e. that a 1% increase in population results in a 1% increase in emissions. This study finds that global population change over the last two decades is more than proportionally associated with growth in carbon dioxide emissions, and that the impact of population change on emissions is much more pronounced in developing countries than in developed countries. The empirical findings are based on a data for 93 countries over the period 1975–1996.
Physics and Biology: towards a unified model

Biological systems have a vertical architecture that allows them to exploit micro-physical dynamics for information processing and related macroscopic functions. Macroscopic sensory information in this vertical picture is transduced to increasingly microscopic forms within biological cells and then back to macroscopic form. Processing of information can occur at any level of organization, but much of the most powerful processing occurs at the molecular and submolecular level. The open process of Darwinian evolution plays an important role, since this provides the mechanism for harnessing physical dynamics for coherent function. The vertical architecture is analogous to a quantum measurement system, with transduction of input signals corresponding to state preparation and amplification of the microstate corresponding to measurement. The key point is that the microphysical dynamics is not classically picturable, whereas the macroscopic actions are definite and picturable. If this analogy is taken seriously, it becomes necessary to suppose that irreversible projection processes occur in organisms, despite the fact that the standard equations of motion are reversible. We construct a model that embeds such irreversible measurement interactions into interactions that mediate the conventional forces. The idea is that the forces between observable particles depend on the density of negative energy particles in a surrounding Dirac type vacuum. In systems that are not overly macroscopic or overly far from equilibrium this dependence is hidden, and as a consequence the force appears conservative. The model suggests that the irreversible aspect of the dynamics played an important role in the early universe, but became masked in ordinary laboratory situations as the structure of the vacuum and the distribution of mass and charge equilibrated. Organisms are particularly effective at unmasking the underlying irreversibility due to their sensitive amplification mechanisms. Unifying measurement and force type interactions makes it possible for physical models to fit more naturally to models of cognition.