cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Data Gathering in Wireless Sensor Networks with Multiple Mobile Collectors and SDMA Technique Sensor Networks

In this paper, we consider data gathering in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) by utilizing multiple mobile collectors and spatial-division multiple access (SDMA) technique. In particular, multiple mobile collectors, for convenience, called SenCars in this paper, are deployed in a WSN and work independently and simultaneously to collect data. The sensing field is divided into several non-overlapping regions, each having a SenCar. Each SenCar takes the responsibility of gathering data from sensors in the region while traversing their transmission ranges. Sensors directly send data to their associated SenCars without any relay in order to achieve uniform energy consumption. We also consider exploiting SDMA technique by equipping each SenCar with two antennas. With the support of SDMA, two distinct compatible sensors in the same region can successfully make concurrent data uploading to their associated SenCar. Intuitively, if each SenCar can always simultaneously communicate with two compatible sensors, the data uploading time in each region can be cut into half in the ideal case. We focus on the problem of minimizing the maximum data gathering time among different regions, which consists of two parts: the data uploading time of the sensors in this region and the moving time of the associated SenCar on a tour. We refer to this problem as data gathering with multiple mobile collectors and SDMA, or DG-MS for short, and formalize it into an integer linear program. We then propose a region-division and tour-planning algorithm to provide a practically good solution to the problem. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme significantly outperforms other non-SDMA or single mobile collector schemes by efficiently shortening and balancing the data gathering time among different regions.
The neutron time-of-flight facility at Michigan State University

Abstract A new neutron time-of-flight facility at the Michigan State University Cyclotron Laboratory incorporates a magnetic beam swinger permitting measurement of angular distributions with a stationary detector. A large volume (2.7 l) liquid scintillation detector with a time resolution of less than 200 ps was developed to exploit the long flight paths (4–32 m) made possible by the swinger. For 33 MeV neutrons an overall time (energy) resolution of 550 ps (≅150 keV) has been achieved.
Neuronal toxicity by macrophages in mixed brain cell culture is augmented by antineuronal IgG and dependent upon nitric oxide synthesis

We used mixed brain cell cultures derived from dissociated neonatal rat cerebella to study interactions between mononuclear phagocytes and brain cells under various conditions. We found that activated macrophages were capable of selectively killing neurons, leaving other cells undisturbed. Moreover, this activity was dependent upon nitric oxide production and, to a weaker extent, upon the NMDA receptor but not upon tumor necrosis factor. Macrophage-mediated neuronolysis was augmented by one of two anti-neuronal antibodies studied.
Understanding your retirement savings: How the recent economic recession changed advertising in retirement financial services

This study investigates how messages, creative strategies and advertising disclosures utilized by US retirement financial services (RFS) providers changed in response to the recent economic crisis. A content analysis examines a total of 1819 RFS print advertisements published in six national magazines during the period 2005–2009. Three significant findings emerge: (1) the recession led to a change in the use of informational message strategies over transformational message strategies, (2) there were significant differences in the use of message and creative strategies during the five-year period, and (3) the RFS providers increasingly adhered to governmental advertising disclosure guidelines concerning consumer financial welfare. Implications for financial services advertisers and public policymakers are addressed.
Biomolecule Labeling and Imaging with a New Fluorenyl Two-Photon Fluorescent Probe

Closely involved in the progression of nonlinear bioimaging is the development of optical probes for investigating biological function and activity. Introduction of new fluorescent compounds possessing enhanced nonlinearities are essential for advancing the utility of two-photon absorption (2PA) processes in the biological sciences. Herein, we report the synthesis of fluorene-based fluorophores tailored for multiphoton imaging, incorporating the succinimidyl ester and thioester functionality as reactive linkers for further coupling with a wide variety of biologically relevant molecules. The succinimidyl ester amine reactive probe was conjugated with the cyclic peptide RGDfK and polyclonal anti-rat IgG IgG protein. Upon conjugation, the basic molecular architecture and photophysical properties of the active 2PA chromophore remain unchanged. Conventional and two-photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM) imaging of COS-7 and HeLa cells, incubated with either the fluorene-RGD peptide conjugate or the fluorene-IgG conjugate, was demonstrated. The fluorene-IgG conjugate was used to image cell spindles at early mitotic developmental stages.
Improvement of Wire Chamber Resolution, Multiple Event Capability, and Other Techniques with Programmed Discharge

Spark chamber and circuit development for computer-wire chamber systems is described, based on programmed discharges added to an initial high voltage pulse. The basic principle is that the discharge caused by an ionizing particle is converted by an appropriate supply circuit to a secondary discharge, which matches without excessive energy dissipation the requirements of the electronic retrieval system, and does not diffuse beyond its original spatial extent. It is shown that it is possible to record both the x and y coordinates if a single spark without dangerous over-voltage on the detector array, and that one can hold the secondary discharge long enough to act as the sole memory element in the system. This leads to the possibility of retrieving correlated coordinates from multiple events with minimum computer time as well as improved recovery time. This work is described in various intermediate stages with emphasis on our objectives and proposed technological innovations rather than final results. Final results will be published later; it is hoped that this paper will attract suggestions as to which aspects of our work should be pursued immediately, modified, or postponed.
Augmented Input From Cardiac Sympathetic Afferents Inhibits Baroreflex in Rats With Heart Failure

It has been established that the baroreflex is markedly decreased in chronic heart failure (CHF). Our recent study has indicated that activation of the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex (CSAR) inhibits the baroreflex in normal rats, and in the rats with CHF the CSAR is significantly enhanced, which is related to augmented central angiotensin II (Ang II) mechanism. Therefore, the hypothesis is that the augmented CSAR in the CHF state tonically inhibits the baroreflex via central AT 1 receptor. To test the hypothesis, the rats with myocardial infarction-induced CHF or sham surgery were anesthetized with α-chloralose and urethane, vagotomized, and recordings were made of the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). We found: (1) left ventricular epicardial application of capsaicin or electrical stimulation of the central end of the left cardiac sympathetic nerve blunted the baroreflex in both sham and CHF rats; (2) left ventricular epicardial application of lidocaine had no significant effects on the baroreflex in sham rats but improved the baroreflex in CHF rats (maximum slope, 1.7±0.3 to 2.9±0.2%/mm Hg; P P 1 receptors.
Effects of ionophores A23187 and X537A on vascular smooth muscle activity

Abstract The ionophore A23187 initiated contractions in both dog coronary artery and rabbit aortic strips in a dose-dependent manner whereas X537A contracted rabbit aortic strips and relaxed KCl-induced contractions in dog coronary artery. Diphenylhydantoin (DPH) and verapamil completely abolished KCl-induced responses in both vascular tissues. DPH (10 −4 M) partially prevented A23187-induced responses in both tissues and verapamil (33 μM) partially prevented A23187-induced responses in dog coronary artery but not in rabbit aorta. Phenoxybenzamine (10 −5 M), but not practolol, signifantly reduced X537A-induced contractions in rabbit aortic strips but did not affect A23187-induced contractions in either tissue. The inability of DPH and verapamil to completely block the A23187 contractions leads one to conclude that these agents do not completely block calcium influx, or that A23187 does not work solely by increasing the permeability of the cell membrane to calcium. The effect of X537A on rabbit aora, however, may be mediated at least partially, via release of catecholamines.
Syn stereochemistry of cyclic ether formation in 1,8-cineole biosynthesis catalyzed by recombinant synthase from Salvia officinalis.

Regiospecifically labeled geranyl diphosphates ((2E,6E)-[1,1,8,8,8-2H5]- and (2E,6Z)-[1,1,9,9,9-2H5]-GDP) and D2O incorporation, in concert with NMR spectrometry, were employed to demonstrate a unique intramolecular syn−facial protonation−cyclization mechanism of action of 1,8-cineole synthase.
Amputation in the treatment of diabetic patients with associated peripheral obliterative arteriosclerosis

A study has been made of 269 diabetic patients with peripheral arteriosclerosis, who underwent 283 major amputations. There were 110 amputations below the knee and 173 amputations above the knee. The site of severance of the leg was influenced by the circulation and infection present, trophic changes, age and general status of patient, usefulness of stump, and conditions of other leg. The risk of surgery in these older people is great, but the mortality and morbidity can be decreased by skillful surgery with careful attention to minute details of technic, while they are being expertly treated for their diabetic state. Present day surgery tends to be more conservative. Application of direct surgery to obstructed vessels below the popliteal artery is limited.
A Knock-In Reporter Model of Batten Disease

Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis is a severe inherited neurodegenerative disease resulting from mutations in CLN3 (ceroid-lipofuscinosis, neuronal 3, juvenile). CLN3 function, and where and when it is expressed during development, is not known. In this study, we generated a knock-in reporter mouse to elucidate CLN3 expression during embryogenesis and after birth and to correlate expression and behavior in a CLN3-deficient mouse. In embryonic brain, expression appeared in the cortical plate. In postnatal brain, expression was prominent in the cortex, subiculum, parasubiculum, granule neurons of the dentate gyrus, and some brainstem nuclei. In adult brain, reporter gene expression waned in most areas but remained in vascular endothelia and the dentate gyrus. Mice homozygous for Cln3 deletion showed two hallmark pathological features of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosises: autofluorescent inclusions and lysosomal enzyme elevation. Moreover, CLN3-deficient reporter mice displayed progressive neurological deficits, including impaired motor function, decreased overall activity, acquisition of resting tremors, and increased susceptibility to pentilentetrazole-induced seizures. Notably, seizure induction in heterozygous mice was accompanied by enhanced reporter expression. This model provides us with the unique ability to correlate expression with pathology and behavior, thus facilitating the elucidation of CLN3 function and the pathogenesis of Batten disease.
Sensor data fusion with support vector machine techniques

This paper presents an approach to multisensor data fusion based on the use of Support Vector Machines (SVM). The approach is investigated using simulated generic sensor data, representative of data imperfections that may be encountered in multisensor fusion applications. In particular the issue of data incompleteness is addressed and a method exploiting vicinity of training points is proposed for incompleteness correction. The paper also investigates applicability of vicinal kernels in SVM-based sensor data fusion.
Bacteriophage T5 growth in Escherichia coli containing cloned PstI fragments of the colicin Ib plasmid

Abstract PstI restriction fragments of the colicin Ib (ColIb) plasmid have been cloned into the Apr gene of the pBR322 vector. Colicin-producing clones (Col+) all contained two common PstI (L and U) fragments, 2000 and 800 bp long, respectively. All of these colicin producers were found to permit the normal growth of bacteriophage T5; the presence of the whole ColIb plasmid causes an abortive T5 or BF23 phage infection. None of the other clones selected for their inability to propagate T5 produced colicin. The clones (Abi+) that permitted only an abortive infection by T5 contained a single restriction fragment, O (1600 bp), which was not found m any of the colicin producers. Likewise, the specific fragments (L and U) found in the Col+ clones were not found in the Abi+ clones. These data are very hard to reconcile with the hypothesis of a colicin-induced cell deterioration after T5 phage infection.
Sexual Assault and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Detection and Management in Adults and Children

Sexual assault is a frequently occurring violent crime. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may be acquired during assault. Reported rates of gonorrhea and syphilis in adult victims range from 6% to 12% and from 0% to 3%, respectively. The risk of acquiring other STDs cannot be quantified, although the risk of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis appears highest. In abused children, gonococcal and chlamydial infections are the most frequent findings. In both adults and children, postassault infections with viral agents of STDs, including herpes simplex viruses, hepatitis B virus, and human immunodeficiency virus, have been described. Sensitive, competent care for victims of sexual abuse includes evaluation for STDs soon after the assault and during follow-up.
The Emerging Library: Structure, Culture, and Lessons Learned from the Dissolution of a Combined Libraries–IT Organization

ABSTRACT In 1997 the University of Southern California merged campus technology operations and the libraries into the USC Information Services Division (ISD). When the university dissolved ISD in 2006, the USC Libraries became a stand-alone entity for the first time in a decade. This article describes the USC Libraries’ approach to rebuilding an identity as an active partner in teaching, learning, and research at USC. It outlines the planning process used to develop a new organizational structure, highlights practical and cultural challenges that followed the dissolution, and describes several significant lessons learned.
The desorption of oxygen from silver powder

Abstract Desorption of oxygen from silver powder has been studied with a microbalance during and after using a thermochemical surface preparation technique. The powder was exposed cyclically to outgassing, oxygen adsorption at 5 Torr, outgassing and carbon monoxide reduction at 5 Torr (OAOR cycling) at a constant temperature chosen from the range 300–400°C. The microbalance was used to measure the rate and amount of oxygen desorbed from the powder at various stages of cycling by the techniques of thermal desorption and isothermal desorption. The data were analyzed for E and v by assuming that the rate of desorption follows the relation: − dθ s dt = v n θ s n exp − E RT , where n is the order of the process and is either one or two, E is the activation energy of desorption, v is the frequency factor, and θs is the fractional coverage of a chemisorbed state. For a surface cycled at 325–400°C, the desorption parameters E and υ changed during the first five cycles and then remained constant with additional OAOR cycling. The desorption of oxygen was found to be a second-order process and E nearly independent of coverage when oxygen was adsorbed at 154°C and 5 Torr. The same result was obtained when oxygen was adsorbed at the cycling temperature and 5 Torr, and then cooled to 154°C in the ambient oxygen. The values of E and υ obtained are: E = 34.5 ± 3.5 kcal/mole and v = 2 × 1011 to 2 × 1014 sec−1 from thermal desorption data and E = 41.8 ± 3.5 kcal/mole and v = 3 × 1013 to 5 × 1016 sec−1 from isothermal desorption data. It can be concluded from these results that the adsorbed state at 154°C consists of weakly localized adsorbed oxygen atoms that recombine prior to desorption. For a sample cycled at 300°C, the amount of oxygen desorbed was insufficient to determine the parameters with any meaning even after extended cycling.
Oscillator-Based Inverter Control for Islanded Three-Phase Microgrids

A control scheme is proposed for an islanded low-inertia three-phase inverter-based microgrid with a high penetration of photovoltaic (PV) generation resources. The output of each inverter is programmed to emulate the dynamics of a nonlinear oscillator. The virtual oscillators within each controller are implicitly coupled through the physical electrical network. The asymptotic synchronization of the oscillators can be guaranteed by design, and as a result, a stable power system emerges innately with no communication between the inverters. Time-domain switching-level simulation results for a 45-kW microgrid with 33% PV penetration demonstrate the merits of the proposed technique; in particular they show that the load voltage can be maintained between prescribed bounds in spite of variations in incident irradiance and step changes in the load.
Token reinforcement therapy: A comparison of matched groups

Abstract A token economy program was established in a ward housing 55 chronic, male, psychiatric patients. A control group, matched for age, diagnosis and length of hospitalization was established in an identical ward in the same hospital. The groups were compared on ward behavior rating scales, participation in instrumental role activities, self care behavior, and extra-hospital visits. Follow-up data at 6 and 12 months indicated significant improvement on ward behavior rating scales as well as greater participation in instrumental role activities for experimental subjects. Implications and limitations of these findings were discussed.
Prediction of turbulent source flow between stationary and rotating discs

Abstract Results are presented from a numerical investigation of turbulent source flow between two discs, both of which are stationary or corotating. Parabolic flow was assumed and the Box Method used to obtain marching solutions of the governing equations. Turbulence modelling was based on extensions of classical eddy-viscosity/mixing-length concepts which reflect the influences of divergence of the mean-flow streamlines and non-isotropic Reynolds stresses due to disc rotation. The predictions for the rotating case are the first local results available. For the stationary case, earlier work has been extended by the use of empirical formulae for reverse transition and inclusion of the influence of streamline divergence. Comparisons with limited data for stationary and corotating discs show reasonable agreement. Although the turbulence models are probably not optimum, they provide an adequate basis for engineering studies of turbulent source flow between corotating and stationary discs until more extensive and reliable empirical information is available.
“Overshoot” of O2 Is Required to Maintain Baseline Tissue Oxygenation at Locations Distal to Blood Vessels

In vivo imaging of cerebral tissue oxygenation is important in defining healthy physiology and pathological departures associated with cerebral disease. We used a recently developed two-photon microscopy method, based on a novel phosphorescent nanoprobe, to image tissue oxygenation in the rat primary sensory cortex in response to sensory stimulation. Our measurements showed that a stimulus-evoked increase in tissue pO2 depended on the baseline pO2 level. In particular, during sustained stimulation, the steady-state pO2 at low-baseline locations remained at the baseline, despite large pO2 increases elsewhere. In contrast to the steady state, where pO2 never decreased below the baseline, transient decreases occurred during the “initial dip” and “poststimulus undershoot.” These results suggest that the increase in blood oxygenation during the hemodynamic response, which has been perceived as a paradox, may serve to prevent a sustained oxygenation drop at tissue locations that are remote from the vascular feeding sources.
Photoinduced Magnetism and Random Magnetic Anisotropy in Organic-Based Magnetic Semiconductor V ( TCNE ) x Films, for x ∼ 2

The $\mathrm{V}(\mathrm{TCNE}{)}_{x}$, $x\ensuremath{\sim}2$ is an organic-based amorphous ferrimagnet, whose magnetic behavior is significantly affected in the low field regime by the random magnetic anisotropy. It was determined that this material has thermally reversible persistent change in both magnetization and conductivity driven by the optical excitation. Here, we report results of a ferrimagnetic resonance study of the photoinduced magnetism in $\mathrm{V}(\mathrm{TCNE}{)}_{x}$ film. Upon optical excitation ($\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\sim}457.9\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{nm}$), the ferrimagnetic resonance spectra display substantial changes in their linewidths and line shifts, which reflect a substantial increase in the random magnetic anistropy. The results reflect the role of magnetic anisotropy in disordered magnets and suggest a novel mechanism of photoinduced magnetism in $\mathrm{V}(\mathrm{TCNE}{)}_{x}$ induced by the increased structural disorder in the system.
A filtering technique for system of reaction diffusion equations

In this paper, we present a fast parallel solver designed for a system of reaction–convection–diffusion equations. A typical application is the large-scale computing of air quality models for which the main solver corresponds to reaction–diffusion–convection equations. Another potential application is the numerical simulation of population models where several colonies compete. Reaction–diffusion systems can be integrated in time by pointwise Newton iteration when all space-dependent terms are explicit in the time integration. A Newton–Jacobi iteration makes this scheme implicit. Such methods are easy to code and have scalable parallelism. However, they are numerically inefficient. An alternative method is to use operator splitting, decoupling the time integration of the reaction from the time integration of convection–diffusion. However, such methods may not be time accurate thanks to the stiffness of the reaction term and are complex to parallelize with good scalability. A second alternative is to use matrix-free Newton–Krylov methods. These techniques are particularly efficient provided that a good parallel preconditioner is customized to the application. The method is then not trivial to implement. We propose here a new family of fast, easy to code and numerically efficient reaction–diffusion solvers based on a filtering technique that stabilizes the explicit treatment of the diffusion terms. The scheme is completely explicit with respect to space, and the postprocessing to stabilize time stepping uses a simple FFT. We demonstrate the potential of this numerical scheme with two examples in air quality models that usually require the implicit treatment of diffusion terms and have compared our solution to classical schemes for two nonlinear reaction–diffusion problems. For general reaction–diffusion problems on tensorial product grids with regular space step, the filtering process can be applied as a black box postprocessing procedure. Further, we demonstrate on critical components of the algorithm the high potential of parallelism of our method on medium-scale parallel computers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accelerated parathion degradation in soil inoculated with acclimated bacteria under field conditions

The feasibility of decontaminating soil at parathion spillage or disposal sites by inoculation with a highly acclimated culture of parathion-degrading bacteria was demonstrated underin situ field conditions. The acclimated culture (AC), capable of utilizing parathion as a sole carbon and energy source, was inoculated into Yolo silt loam soil in which parathion was applied at rates up to 5000 kg/ha. The AC was shown to be capable of completely degrading parathion in soil containing up to 1250 kg/ha of parathion within 35 days. A slower rate of parathion degradation by the AC was observed when the pesticide was applied as the commercial 46.5% emulsifiable concentrate than when applied as the 98% technical grade. The ability of the AC to degrade parathion deteriorated at application rates greater than 1250 kg/ha. The AC may have been adversely affected by the accumulation of the parathion hydrolytic products,p-nitrophenol and ionic diethyl thiophosphate, which were tentatively identified in soil samples.
Correlation of liquid heat capacities with a four‐parameter corresponding states method

A four-parameter corresponding states method with the critical temperature, the critical pressure, the radius of gyration, and a fourth parameter developed from the Frost-Kalkwarf vapor pressure equation has been applied to the correlation of liquid heat capacities. An equation has been developed to predict the temperature dependence of the saturated liquid heat capacities of both normal and polar fluids over the liquid range from a reduced temperature of 0.35 to 0.96. The accuracy of the predictions obtained is superior to that of the presently available generalized correlation for polar liquids. The new correlation may be easily adopted for computer use.
Autonomic dysfunction, vasomotor rhinitis, and extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux

Abstract Objective: Several recent reports suggest there may be a relationship between chronic rhinitis and extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux (EER). It is hypothesized that this relationship is a result of autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. Study Design: Patients with isolated vasomotor rhinitis (VR), both VR and EER, and a control group were studied by a battery of tests designed to objectively evaluate ANS function. In addition all 3 groups underwent barium esophagogram and 4-site (proximal pharynx, distal pharynx, proximal esophagus, and distal esophagus) ambulatory pH monitoring. Adult patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria for VR, and with both VR and EER underwent objective ANS testing in a recently developed ANS testing laboratory. The control group consisted of age- and sex-matched adults without diagnostic criteria for VR or EER. Results: In patients with VR only (n = 9), 2 patients had a positive esophagogram, whereas a positive pharyngeal reflux probe was found in 1 and an abnormal composite autonomic scoring scale (CASS) was found in 8 (mean VR CASS = 1.750 vs control CASS 0.556, P = .02). The group with VR and EER (n = 12) had a positive esophagogram in 10 patients, positive pharyngeal reflux by probe in 9, and all 12 had an abnormal CASS (mean CASS VR/EER = 2.909 vs CASS control = 0.556, P = .001 and vs VR CASS = 1.750, P = .05). The control patients (n = 9) had normal transesopohageal gastroduodenoscopy in 8, 1 had a positive pharyngeal probe study, and all 9 had a normal CASS. In addition ANS testing in patients with diagnostic criteria for both VR/EER revealed statistically significant evidence of an adrenergic deficit as compared with control patients on the basis of mean phase II blood pressure response to Valsalva maneuver (mean phase II VR/EER = −16.730 vs control = −7.780, P = .05). In the VR only group, the phase II blood pressure decrease was greater than in control patients, but did not reach statistical significance (mean phase II VR = −9.370 vs control = −7.780, P = 0.672). Conclusion: Patients with VR and VR/EER have objective evidence of ANS dysfunction when compared with a group of age- and sex-matched control patients. Patients with both VR/EER demonstrate a significantly greater degree of ANS dysfunction than patients with isolated VR. The mechanism by which VR and EER interact is not entirely clear, but ANS dysfunction is objectively associated with both disorders. In addition, patients with VR/EER seem to demonstrate hypofunction of the adrenergic component of the ANS, in contrast to the generally held hypothesis that VR results from increased cholinergic activity. Further characterization of the type of ANS abnormality may allow the development of novel pharmacologic therapies for these disorders. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002; 126:382-7.)
Shadowing of Electron Azimuthal-Drift Motions near the Noon Magnetopause

GEOMAGNETICALLY trapped electrons, as they bounce back and forth from mirror point to mirror point, drift slowly eastward around the Earth in about half an hour. Roederer1 has developed the theory for the azimuthal drift of these particles in the distorted (outer) regions of the Earth's mag-netosphere. We can describe his results briefly by examining the particle motion in two extreme cases: (1) particles mirroring on the magnetic equator and (2) particles mirroring well off the equator. For our purposes, we need consider only the first two adiabatic invariants: (1) the magnetic moment µ=E⊥/B, where B is the magnetic field and E⊥ is the particle's perpendicular energy and (2) the action integral Open image in new window , where Bm is the mirror field and as is an increment of arc along the bounce path. The aspects of magnetospheric distortions of interest to us are exemplified by some results of Fairfield2 in Fig. 1, showing contours of constant equatorial B for an average magnetosphere. Note that the contour that touches the noon magnetopause at 10.5 RE maps back to midnight at about 6.5 RE. These contours, then, represent the drift paths of particles drifting at constant B, case (1). For case (2) we must evaluate Open image in new window along the bounce path and find (because B/Bm is small along most of the bounce path) that the integral is approximately the distance along the bounce path. Hence, examining a group of particles starting at, say, 9 RE at 0900 local time, we find that case (1) particles must drift to the magnetopause. Because the magnetic field configuration is compressed on the day side of the Earth, case (2) particles will move so that their equatorial crossing has moved closer to the Earth (because the mirror points drift at constant B and the length of the bounce path is almost constant) and hence the drift paths stay inside the magnetosphere. We now examine the pitch-angle distributions to be expected at 9 RE at 1500 local time, assuming symmetry about noon in the magnetospheric distortions. At this point in space, the initial drift paths of the particles (at all pitch angles) have come back together. Now, however, the effects of the “magnetopause shadowing” of the drift paths should be apparent, that is, we should observe a depletion of the particle fluxes at 90° pitch angles with respect to the pitch-angle distribution prevailing at the start.
Shari a and State in the Modern Muslim Middle East

The Islamic shariʿa is central to Islam in the minds of most Muslims and non-Muslim scholars. In many ways, the centrality of the Islamic shariʿa has increased in recent decades. Yet despite—or perhaps because of—this centrality, the precise, even the general, role of the shariʿa in Islamic societies is the subject of contentious debate among Muslims. Outside of and underlying such debates are more subtle and rarely articulated differences about the meaning of the Islamic shariʿa. In this essay, I will put forward a general intellectual map for those varying meanings. More critically, I will suggest that important shifts in the meaning of the Islamic shariʿa have taken place in the Muslim world, and that these shifts are closely connected to the nature and viability of legal and educational institutions associated with the Islamic shariʿa in the past. As the Islamic shariʿa has become disconnected from these institutions, its meaning has changed in some fundamental ways. Most important, the shariʿa is approached less for its process than for its content. And because the shift in institutions and understanding has received much less attention from Muslims, widespread attempts to re-create older relationships (particularly involving the relationship between the Islamic shariʿa and the state) in fact involve a deepening rather than a counteracting of the transformation in the Islamic shariʿa.
Does the use of analogies contribute to conceptual change

The nature of the contribution of analogies to conceptual change is far from straight forward. First, review of three studies and evidence from other sources point to a modest contribution of analogies to normal conceptual change. Second, the construct of conceptual change has been defined in many ways with more preeminence given to radical conceptual change. I point out that weak or normal conceptual change is worthy of equal attention from science educators. Third, conceptualizing conceptual change in terms of gradations on a continuum enables teachers and researchers to achieve a clearer understanding of the way in which analogies contribute to conceptual change. Fourth, in order to give analogies a fair evaluation, the conceptual change paradigm ought to endorse a broader conception of change which conjoins propositional and procedural knowledge and accounts for the affective and creative processes that are associated with the education of the whole person and not only the learning of specific concepts. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Risk management: the way forward

Reports that banks have to implement additional risk management techniques owing to the failure of existing models to prevent losses that occurred as a result of financial upheaval. Discusses survey results of chartered accountants Deloitte and Touche, about the establishment of banks’ new directions. Highlights four main points that are the direct result of several forces: financial markets globalization; regulatory developments; maturity of risk management; and complexity of financial products. Evaluates stress testing in organizations using a series of tables to emphasize them. Concludes that the survey indicates there is a general awareness within most financial institutions about key areas of strong financial management but other areas require further development.
Enhanced Coupling between Optical and Sound Waves via Ultra-Slow Light

We demonstrate interaction of acoustic and electromagnetic waves when the light group velocity is comparable to the speed of sound in the medium. Large conversion at the sound frequency is observed.
Alcohol effects in old age: an experimental investigation.

Abstract Previous research has suggested that the moderate use of alcoholic beverages by institutionalized elders results in improved functioning. However, prior studies often had deficiencies in their design or research methodology (such as not having a control group condition) and most were limited to one beverage. This paper presents a careful comprehensive experimental study which assessed psychological and physical effects of alcoholic beverages in two different elderly populations: a Nursing Home, where elders were of low functional status, and a Residence for more independent and capable elders. At both settings, two servings of various alcoholic beverages (each containing 0·4 fl. oz. of alcohol) were available during a social hour to voluntary participants, five days a week. Randomly chosen participants in the Experimental Condition had alcohol available for 18 weeks; Control Condition participants had only non-alcoholic beverages available during the first 9 weeks, and then alcoholic beverages for 9 weeks. Medical and psychological data were gathered by physicians and interviewers who were blind to the subjects' assignment to experimental conditions and consumption rates. Data were gathered before the start of the project, after the first 9 weeks and at the end (after 18 weeks). Medical information included electro-cardiograms, blood tests, and a special physical examination which focused upon changes which could be related to alcohol consumption. Psychological assessments included measures standardised on geriatric populations, e.g. Powell Lawton's Morale Scale, VIRO Scale, Face-Hand Test, as well as questions about daily living, e.g. how well people slept. No negative physiological or psychosocial changes were attributable to alcohol consumption or participation in the social hours and no alcoholism occurred. A number of positive effects were found, e.g. participants who drank improved in cognitive performance, increased morale and reported sleeping better. Although there were positive results for Experimental and Control Conditions, improvements were more frequent in the experimental group and among drinkers. Thus, the availability of moderate amounts of alcoholic beverages offers benefits for the elderly and has few drawbacks.
Risk and Benefit Perceptions, Acceptability Judgments, and Self-Reported Actions toward Nuclear Power

Summary Three-hundred and sixty-seven respondents selected from five widely differing groups in two U.S. communities were administered a questionnaire tapping personal action for or against nuclear power, as well as a variety of attitudinal, cognitive, and sociodemographic variables. Respondents included members of environmental groups, college students, blue-collar workers, business people, and nuclear engineers and other technologists. The results indicated that degree of self-reported action was systematically correlated with the rated “acceptability,” risks, benefits, and qualitative characteristics of nuclear power. The results also pointed to other major correlates of personal action, including confidence in various risk-management institutions and organizations. Emphasis is placed upon general methodological issues involved in the study of risk perceptions, acceptability judgments, and actions.
The12C+13C elastic-transfer interaction at intermediate energies

The elastic and inelastic scatterings of12C from13C have been studied in an investigation of the coherent one-neutron exchange process. Enriched (95.6%)13C, 30 to 40 μg/cm2 in areal density, were bombarded with12C ions from the Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory MP tandem accelerator. Elastic and inelastic (4.44 MeV in12C, 3.09 and (3.68+3.85) MeV in13C) energy-angle cross-section surfaces have been measured on a 0.5 MeV and 0.7° grid in the energy ranges from 20 to 35.5 MeV and 30 to 35.5 MeV (lab), respectively, and in the angular range from 45° to 125° (c.m.) by means of a dual positionsensitive detector coincidence technique with on-line data acquisition and analysis. Data reduction procedures for use with the resulting two-dimensional spectra are given; the cross-sections are presented and discussed.
A Search for Cyclotron Maser Radiation from Substellar and Planet-like Companions of Nearby Stars

Several stars within 5 pc have variations in their rectilinear or Keplerian motion that suggest that they have substellar or planetlike companions. However, direct, unambiguous evidence of such companions is difficult to obtain. It is argued that such objects should commonly emit cyclotron maser radiation and that this radiation should be observable with modern radio telescopes. Its detection would confirm the presence of the companions and permit many of the properties of the stars and companions to be derived. A search was made for the cyclotron maser emission from six nearby stars with suspected companions using the VLA at frequencies of 0.33 and 1.4 GHz. None was detected. Typical observing times were 3.5 hr, and typical upper limits were 30 mJy at 0.33 GHz and 0.3 mJy at 1.4 GHz.
p185HER2 Overexpression in Human Breast Cancer Using Molecular and Immunohistochemical Methods

AbstractWith the successful clinical trials of the engineered antibody Herceptin(tm) (in advanced-stage breast cancer) and adriamycin-based chemotherapy regimens (in the adjuvant setting), the need to detect pi85HER2 overexpression or associated amplification of the coding gene HER2 in breast cancer patients is escalating. Twenty to 30% of breast carcinomas have overexpression of p185HEK2. This condition correlates with poor patient prognosis and predicts response to chemotherapy in lymph node-positive patients. In this study we compare quantisation of p185HER2 in breast cancer at the gene and protein levels using differential polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistiy, respectively. To assign HER2 gene copy numbers, a calibration curve was constructed using normal breast epithelia and breast carcinoma cell lines having known dosages of amplified HER2. We found corresponding molecular and immunohistochemical results in 85% of the 13 paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma cases examined. Two case...
MethyQA: a pipeline for bisulfite-treated methylation sequencing quality assessment

Background DNA methylation is an epigenetic event that adds a methyl-group to the 5’ cytosine. This epigenetic modification can significantly affect gene expression in both normal and diseased cells. Hence, it is important to study methylation signals at the single cytosine site level, which is now possible utilizing bisulfite conversion technique (i.e., converting unmethylated Cs to Us and then to Ts after PCR amplification) and next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Despite the advances of NGS technologies, certain quality issues remain. Some of the more prevalent quality issues involve low per-base sequencing quality at the 3’ end, PCR amplification bias, and bisulfite conversion rates. Therefore, it is important to conduct quality assessment before downstream analysis. To the best of our knowledge, no existing software packages can generally assess the quality of methylation sequencing data generated based on different bisulfite-treated protocols.
Determinants of Pension Funding and Asset Allocation Decisions

Prior research suggests that the funding and asset allocation decisions for defined benefit pension plans may be based on tax, risk, and profitability factors. Much of the previous empirical work, however, suffers from statistical problems that may produce misleading or contradictory results. We employ a confirmatory factor analytic model to address the statistical problems plaguing pension research. Various competing hypotheses are tested simultaneously. Findings indicate that firms use pensions to offset business risk.
From plan to reality: Implementing a community vision in Jackson Square, Boston

Research on collaborative planning has mainly focused on visioning stages, while little attention has been paid to the implementation of the resulting plans. This paper explores the challenges and opportunities facing the implementation of collaborative neighborhood redevelopment, given the context set by neoliberal political economy and its particular effects in urban governance. The exploration is conducted through a critical analysis of the redevelopment of Jackson Square, a low-income area in Boston where community development corporations are leading redevelopment after a vision was crafted through a participatory planning process. Through the analysis of the changes in the plan and the role of the community, the nonprofit sector and the local state in the implementation phase, this research argues that the effects of responsibilization are seriously burdening the nonprofit sector, which may be acting as a buffer between the community and the local state. The research also highlights the importance o...
Assessment of response to neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer: an updated systematic review of diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography

For assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with esophageal cancer, both endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) are commonly used, and despite few controlled trials, it is not known if one imaging modality is superior to the other. Also, relative diagnostic accuracy of early (during the course of neoadjuvant therapy) and FDG-PET after completion of neoadjuvant therapy has not been reviewed. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of published information to compare diagnostic accuracy of EUS and FDG-PET in this setting. A search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases was performed along with a manual search of cross-references of eligible articles. Data on the accuracy of the imaging modalities were compared by constructing summary receiver-operating characteristic curves. Seven studies with EUS and 15 with FDG-PET were included in the final analysis (N= 966). The sensitivity of EUS and FDG-PET ranged from 20 to 100% and 42 to 100%, respectively. The specificity ranged from 36 to 100% and 27 to 100%, respectively. The areas under the curve were 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77-0.96) for EUS and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.72-0.89) for FDG PET (P= 0.37). The maximum joint sensitivity and specificity (Q* index) values for EUS and FDG-PET were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.70-0.88) and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.66-0.81), respectively (P= 0.38). There was no difference in accuracy between early FDG-PET and FDG-PET after completion of neoadjuvant therapy. EUS and FDG-PET have similar overall diagnostic accuracy for assessment of response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with esophageal cancer.
Solutions for contact in pinned connections

Abstract The pinned connection is a principal joining and load-bearing element in countless structures. A comprehensive analytical solution for the mechanics of a pinned connection would greatly facilitate mechanics and dynamics analyses seeking to address larger issues such as fatigue life and earthquake resistance of entire structures. However, even the most advanced closed-form solutions describing contact conditions in pinned connections involve mathematical approximations for some or all of the following aspects of the problem: plate dimensions, contact area, pin–plate friction and material–property mismatch. The actual problem involving a finite plate, frictional contact and arbitrary material pairs still remains intractable in a rigorous manner through elasticity theory. This study uses the finite element method to obtain solutions when some or all of the above simplifying assumptions are removed, and thereby also evaluates the general applicability of the most advanced closed-form solutions. A surprising finding is that the pin–plate contact pressure and plate tangential stress distributions are practically independent of the material pair as long as both the pin and plate are metallic and the friction coefficient is small. It is also found that the stress concentration factor in the plate is significantly higher when finite dimensions are considered. Among the factors considered, the pin–plate friction coefficient has the greatest effect on the contact pressure and tangential stress distributions.
An Examination of the (In)visibility of Sexual Orientation, Heterosexism, Homophobia, and Other LGBTQ Concerns in U.S. Multicultural Teacher Education Coursework

Heterosexism and homophobia permeate U.S. educational institutions. However, research heretofore has shown that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and queer (LGBTQ) concerns remain largely invisible in teacher education contexts. In an effort to better understand this phenomenon relative to multicultural education and related courses, we performed a content analysis on 41 syllabi from multicultural education courses taught in the United States with special attention to the extent to which LBGTQ concerns were included or omitted from the course designs. In addition, we examined data from a survey of 80 people who teach multicultural education courses in U.S. teacher credentialing programs to uncover both the likelihood that, and the nature by which, they incorporated LGBTQ concerns into their courses. We found that LGBTQ concerns often are invisible in multicultural teacher education coursework in the United States and that, when these concerns are covered, they generally are addressed in de...