cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binding of steroids to the cytoplasmic receptor of the embryonic chick retina: kinetics and structural considerations.

Abstract The retina of the 12-day embryonic chick contains cortisol-binding proteins. The 3-ketone group on the steroid molecule was found to be essential for receptor binding. The 11 β-hydroxyl group, which is considered to be of primary importance in the induction of the retinal enzyme glutamyltransferase, does not affect receptor binding. The 17-group on the steroid can, in some cases, influence receptor binding as well as the enhancement of glutamyltransferase activities. These receptors exhibit a high degree of affinity for the steroid and bind rapidly to the steroid, saturating within 1 h at 0 ° to 4 °C at approximately 10 −8 m with a K d of ⋍ 10 −9 m .
Wavelet methods for ground penetrating radar imaging

A new algorithm for fixed-offset Ground Penetrating Radar imaging is derived. The forward model of this inversion scheme is based on the Born approximation and the dyadic Green function for a two-layer medium. The forward model is inverted using the Wavelet Galerkin Algorithms for solving integral equations. We use the Laplacian operator to regularize the ill-posedness of the inverse problem. Numerical results are provided to illustrate performance of the inversion scheme.
Pion production and absorption in nuclear reactions. I. The vertex function

We have performed a model calculation of the pion-nucleon vertex function for the case in which one nucleon is allowed to go far off its mass shell. We discuss the relevance of this vertex function for the calculation of pion production and absorption in nuclear reactions, such as (${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+},p$), ($p,{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$), and for the pionic disintegration of the deuteron. The model used is based upon an approximation to an exact equation for the vertex function derived from a field-theoretic model with pseudoscalar coupling. Our calculations indicate a strong dependence of the vertex function on the invariant mass of the off-shell nucleon. The results are dominated by the presence of the 1470 MeV, ${P}_{11}$ resonance.
Scattering of Stress Waves by a Circular Elastic Cylinder Embedded in an Elastic Medium

Scattering of stress waves by a circular elastic cylinder embedded in an elastic medium is investigated. The axis of the scatterer is perpendicular to the propagation vector of the incident plane compressional stress pulse wave. Making use of modified Kirchhoff’s integral formulas developed for elastodynamics by Ko [1], wave-front stresses and displacements during the early stage of interaction are obtained for both interior and exterior fields, and for the scatterer-medium interface. The solutions are valid for the whole spectrum of material properties of the scatterer ranging from void to infinitely dense materials. It is found that Kirchhoff’s method of retarded potentials predicts singular wave-front response at caustics as does the geometrical acoustics. The basic integral equations presented are applicable to a scatterer of arbitrary shape and do not only give the wave-front solution, but also the solutions after the arrival of the wave front.
Understanding the economic burden of asthma.

Abstract The economic impact of asthma is large and growing, and the use of economic outcomes is increasing. Such outcomes serve as the basis for studies of the efficiency of care and are being reported increasingly as outcomes of clinical trials. This article presents the basic components of a cost-of-illness study, the in-fluences that have an impact on these components, the relation of economic indicators to clinical outcomes, and the relative importance of the economic factors for differing groups in society. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:S445-8.)
Using risk-adjustment models to identify high-cost risks.

Background. We examine the ability of various publicly available risk models to identify high-cost individuals and enrollee groups using multi-HMO administrative data.Methods. Five risk-adjustment models (the Global Risk-Adjustment Model [GRAM], Diagnostic Cost Groups [DCGs], Adjusted Clinical Group
Dissociation of cystathionase.

Summary The molecular weight of cystathionase from rat liver was determined by light scattering. In the absence of denaturing agents the enzyme has approximately a molecular weight of 160,000 daltons. In the presence of SDS (0.1%) the enzyme dissociates into subunits of approximately 20,000 daltons; the dissociation was demonstrated by two independent methods, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and equilibrium sedimentation. It is proposed that the enzyme cystathionase is composed of 8 subunits.
The Contextual Difference: Developing Preservice Teacher Efficacy Through Immersive Learning Experiences

This study’s purpose was to examine the self-efficacy of preservice teachers throughout an immersive learning semester and compare it with a control group. The study suggests that a community-based immersive program supports preservice teacher efficacy development within the dynamic cultural context of families and schools. The immersive learning participants’ (n = 32) teacher efficacy was assessed thrice and compared with a traditional on-campus program (n = 64). Using the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale, results revealed significant improvement in the Immersive group across time in all three areas (Engagement, Management, and Instruction). Comparison of net gains between groups suggests that an immersive and supportive environment promotes preservice teacher efficacy development even in the midst of a socio-cultural gap between preservice teachers and students.
Some approaches to the synthesis of fluorine-containing alcohols and esters

Abstract Among F-containing alcohols only trifluoroethanol, the so-called ‘telomer alcohols’ [H(CF2CF2)nCH2OH], and certain esters of 2-(F-alkyl)ethanols and 3-(F-alkyl)propanols, have achieved commercial importance. Their utilization has been limited by lack of suitable methods of synthesis and by their high cost. Yet F-containing alcohols and their esters have unique properties, and comprise a versatile class of compounds. It is to be noted that completely fluorinated esters have recently become available. F-substituted alcohols must be made by special, less well-known methods. Routes based on tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) as starting material are of current interest. F-alkyl iodides (RFI) are made in two steps from TFE. Reaction of RFI with ethylene gives 2-(F-alkyl)-1-ethanes, and under suitable conditions, higher telomers in high yield. Displacement of iodine of RFCH2CH2I by an acyloxy group gives an ester, such as acrylate or fumarate of the F-substituted alcohol. Several methods have been discovered for this process, most recently by reaction with N-methylformamide or N,N-dimethylformamide and water. Free radical addition of RFI to vinyl acetate and subsequent reduction provided 2-(F-alkyl)ethanols in excellent yield. Similar steps using allyl acetate gave both 3-(F-alkyl)-1-propanols and 3-(F-alkyl)-2-propanols; the latter compound also was formed by hydrolysis of the initial adduct. These various methods will be outlined and some recent results in a study of O-alkylation will be presented. Support by the Central Research Group, Ciba-Geigy Corp., Ardsley, N.Y. is gratefully acknowledged.
Immunization with structural and non-structural proteins of Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus alters demyelinating disease

Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) causes a demyelinating disease similar to multiple sclerosis in the central nervous system (CNS) of susceptible SJL/J mice. Immune responses to TMEV contribute to viral clearance as well as to demyelination. We constructed recombinant vaccinia viruses (VV) that encode each or all of the capsid proteins (VVVP1, VVVP2, VVVP3, VVVP4, and VVall) or non-structural proteins (VVP2, VVP2P3, and VV3′P3) of the Daniels strain of TMEV. To determine the role of each of the coding regions of TMEV in vivo, we immunized SJL/J mice with each recombinant VV, with or without subsequent TMEV infection. The groups of mice were compared clinically, immunologically, and histologically. No mice immunized with any recombinant VV without subsequent TMEV infection developed demyelination. However, antibody responses to TMEV were detected in mice immunized with VVall. In addition, in some mice, VVP2 immunization induced mild meningitis. VVVP3 or VVVP4 immunization of mice prior to TMEV infection ameliorated TMEV-induced pathology or clinical signs of disease. The beneficial effect of VP4 immunization was also seen through DNA immunization with a plasmid encoding VP4 and leader prior to TMEV infection. Therefore, vaccination against not only surface capsid proteins (VVVP3 and VVall) but also non-surface capsid protein (VVVP4), and non-structural proteins (VVP2) can elicit immune responses to virus or modulate subsequent viral-induced CNS disease.
Optimal two-stage randomized phase II clinical trials:

Randomized phase II clinical trials can be an efficient means of evaluating several potential new treatments prior to a comparative phase III clinical trial. However, selection designs do not allow for an assessment of minimal efficacy, nor do they allow early closing of a study arm for lack of efficacy, and so are only appropriate when all arms have met minimal efficacy requirements. Classic two-stage hypothesis testing based designs such as a Simon two-stage optimal design can satisfy these requirements, when used in parallel for the multiple treatment arms. However, these can be inefficient and impractical in terms of the maximum planned sample size required for such a study. This article proposes a two-stage randomized phase II clinical trial, where the sample size is adaptive at the second stage to the number of treatment arms passing through the first stage. The study design relies on optimality criteria, which are analogous to those used by Simon for single-arm studies. The proposed design maintains similar operating characteristics to a strategy of using multiple single-arm studies, in most situations of primary interest. Furthermore, it generally has smaller actual sample size when most of the treatments are effective than using multiple single-arm studies, leading to substantial efficiencies in terms of maximum planned sample size.
On the Production of Religious Configurations

Research on the emergence of the configuration known as “religion” requires tracing the articulation among biological, psychological and social processes. This research must take into account evolutionary approaches; first, in terms of hominid evolution, for it is only by taking into consideration work on symbolization, language development, the capacity to engage in metacognition and cooperation, the tendency to form hierarchies, engage in violence, sexual differentiation, and related topics, that one can hope to trace the emergence of certain relatively stable features of human behavior. But since symbolization and the other capacities mentioned above are exercised in specific social circumstances—which themselves could not have come into existence were it not for the exercise of those capacities—it is essential to consider social evolution, especially insofar as this evolution leads to the appearance of stratified societies and to the kind of labor that prevails in them.
The influence of culture conditions on mitotic activity in protoplasts derived fromPisum root cortical explants

Protoplast cultures were prepared from explants of the roots of seedling peas. In defined, synthetic media these cultures were mitotically active. A variety of culture conditions were investigated and the influences of these conditions on the mitotic activity of the protoplasts were observed. Marked inhibition of mitoses were observed after exposure to high light intensities, and in the absence of a proper exogenous supply of hormones. The protoplasts showed extreme sensitivity to the nature and concentration of the exogenous hormone supply. The protoplasts were mitotically active at low population densities (6,000–8,000 protoplasts/ ml of medium). They did not divide in cultures in which glucose was supplied as a carbohydrate source, but divided actively in cultures in which sucrose (2%) was supplied. The responses to temperature and pH were similar to most protoplast systems which have been reported. The definition of a wide variety of optimal culture conditions resulted in high mitotic activity in protoplast cultures with low population densities.
The civic foundations of fascism in Europe: Italy, Spain, and Romania, 1870–1945

The civic foundations of fascism in Europe: Italy, Spain, and Romania, 1870–1945, by Dylan Riley, Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010, xiii + 258 pp., US$55.00 (hardcover), ISBN-13 ...
Optimization of the adaptive function by Z-transform method

A study is made on the optimization of the adjustment process in a self-optimizing system under rather general assumptions. The system is designed to keep a performance parameter m either at a prescribed value or at an unknown extremal value. A direct measurement on m is made and the adjustment is based on measured m only.
CONTESTING MODERNITIES - LANGUAGE STANDARDIZATION AND THE PRODUCTION OF AN ANCIENT MODERN BASQUE CULTURE

Les mouvements nationalistes ne sont pas seulement attaches au passe. Ils doivent montrer une certaine modernite ; c'est ce que montre la standardisation de la langue basque qui veut s'affirmer face au catalan. Son enseignement est organise et sa diffusion passe par le piratage de plusieurs radios, autre preuve de modernite.
Properties of human free apolipoprotein(a) and lipoprotein(a) after either freezing or lyophilization in the presence and absence of cryopreservatives

Apolipoprotein(a), apo(a), the specific multikringle glycoprotein constituent of lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), occurs in the plasma mostly bound to apoB100-containing lipoproteins but also in a free form. Often the properties of these products are determined after storage in the cold; yet limited information is available on their stability at low temperatures. To shed light on this subject, we examined the effect of two parameters, freezing and lyophilization, in either the absence or the presence of cryopreservatives. Lp(a)s each having a single apo(a) size isoform containing either 14 or 17 kringle (K) IVs were isolated from the plasma of healthy donors by combining density gradient ultracentrifugation and lysine-Sepharose column chromatography using solutions containing both antioxidants and proteolytic inhibitors. Apo(a) was obtained from parent Lp(a) by a mild limited reductive procedure. Either freezing at -20 degrees C or lyophilization in the presence of 5% sucrose did not change the electrophoretic, immunochemical, and lysine-binding properties of Lp(a) including its ability to generate free apo(a). Irrespective of source, apo(a) remained stable when either frozen at -20 and -80 degrees C or lyophilized in the presence of 125 mM trehalose. In all cases, the absence of cryopreservatives caused the samples to aggregate irreversibly. Thawed or reconstituted samples of both free and bound apo(a) kept at 4 degrees C under sterile conditions in the presence of antioxidants, proteolytic inhibitors, and cryopreservative exhibited no significant changes in properties within the time of observation. Both apo(a) isoforms gave comparable results. We conclude that apo(a), either free or bound, can be kept stable at low temperatures in the presence of appropriate cryopreservatives.
The marriage of on-line human decision with computer programs

As the logistics problems of current interest become more and more complex, it becomes apparent that heuristic methods hold more promise than exhaustive or algorithmic methods of solution. It is also becoming clearer that heuristics, per se, are useless in approaching large combinatorial problems (via pattern recognition, for example), unless some general techniques are developed to draw out the specific “best” heuristics required for each problem. It is a fact that humans are, at present, far more efficient in developing and applying such heuristics than a machine. It is therefore of considerable value to explore how the best features of both human and machine decision can be married. The general problem requires the development of common meaningful languages, specialized input-output display and entry facilities, and a means of time-sharing the computer, in order to efficiently match the machine-vs the human-decision time.
Assimilation of bio-optical properties into coupled physical, bio-optical coastal model

Data assimilation experiments with the coupled physical, bio-optical model of Monterey Bay are presented. The approach is based on the representation of the error covariances in the subspace of the multivariate (bio-optical, physical) empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) estimated from the model run. Estimated coupled bio-optical, physical error covariances are used in the Kalman gain update providing updates of coupled bio-optical properties in accord with the model dynamics and available observations. With the assimilation of satellite-derived bio-optical properties (chlorophyll-a and absorption due to phytoplankton), the model was able to reproduce intensity and tendencies in subsurface chlorophyll distributions observed at water samples locations in the Monterey Bay, CA. Data assimilation also improved agreement between the observed and model-predicted ratios between diatoms and small phytoplankton populations.
Impact of NBTI/PBTIon SRAMs within microprocessor systems: Modeling, simulation, and analysis

Abstract A framework is proposed to analyze the impact of negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) and positive bias temperature instability (PBTI) on memories embedded within state-of-art microprocessors. Our methodology finds the detailed electrical stress and temperature of each SRAM cell within a memory, embedded within a system running a variety of standard benchmarks. We study DC noise margins in conventional 6T SRAM cells as a function of NBTI/PBTI degradation and provide insights on memory reliability under realistic use conditions.
From esophagus to rectum: a comprehensive review of alimentary tract perforations at computed tomography

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract perforation is a life-threatening condition that can occur at any site along the alimentary tract. Early perforation detection and intervention significantly improves patient outcome. With a high sensitivity for pneumoperitoneum, computed tomography (CT) is widely accepted as the diagnostic modality of choice when a perforated hollow viscus is suspected. While confirming the presence of a perforation is critical, clinical management and surgical technique also depend on localizing the perforation site. CT is accurate in detecting the site of perforation, with segmental bowel wall thickening, focal bowel wall defect, or bubbles of extraluminal gas concentrated in close proximity to the bowel wall shown to be the most specific findings. In this article, we will present the causes for perforation at each site throughout the GI tract and review the patterns that can lead to prospective diagnosis and perforation site localization utilizing CT images of surgically proven cases.
Dietary fat type influences protein consumption in rats given 8-hydroxy-2-(Di-n-propylamino)tetralin.

Abstract Our previous work indicates that type and level of dietary fat influences selection of protein and carbohydrate diets. Serotonin (5HT) appears to be involved in this feeding behavior. In the present study, we examined the effects of 8-hydroxy-2-(di- n -propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) on feeding behavior, and fenfluramine on in vitro 5HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) release from the brain in rats fed tallow or corn oil. Male, Sprague–Dawley rats were given a diet containing corn oil or tallow for 2 days. In Experiment 1, rats received an injection of 8-OH-DPAT (a 5HT 1A agonist) or saline and were then allowed to select from two diets: low protein/high carbohydrate or high protein/low carbohydrate. Prior exposure to tallow caused an increased intake of protein and 8-OH-DPAT blunted this effect. In Experiment 2, the dorsal raphe from rats fed tallow or corn oil was superfused with fenfluramine or vehicle. Superfusates were collected for analysis of 5HT and 5HIAA. Fenfluramine increased serotonin release in tallow-fed animals as compared to basal. These results suggest that serotonin may be involved in mediating tallow’s effect on macronutrient selection.
Cognitive Psychology and Clinical Aphasiology

(1990). Cognitive psychology and clinical aphasiology. Aphasiology: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 93-95.
The breakeven point for using CD-ROM versus online: a case study for database access in a developing country

The introduction of CD-ROM products has offered promise in accelerating the access to computer-based databases in developing countries. CD-ROM has been considered the most appropriate technology to the infrastructure of these countries. This article discusses a case study which seeks answers to two major questions that can impact on the use of CD-ROM by developing countries: (1) the extent to which publicly available CD-ROM databases can satisfy the information needs of a particular information requirement for a particular development situation in a developing country; and (2) the economics of an alternative system of CD-ROM, supplemented by online searching. The relative costs of searching CD-ROM vs. online are investigated, and the breakeven analysis of the costs of CD-ROM vs. online is discussed as a potential approach to a cost-effective system for accessing databases in developing countries. This article discusses the implications of the law of core and scatter on the volume of use of databases and its effects on the economics of searching CD-ROM vs. online. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Energetic particles observed by ISEE-1 and ISEE-2 in a cusp diamagnetic cavity on 29 September 1978

Abstract. Observations by the ISEE-1 and ISEE-2 spacecraft on 29 September 1978 show large CEP (Cusp Energetic Particle) fluxes while passing through the dayside magnetospheric cusp in near coincident orbits. The event was observed around 11:00 MLT between roughly 12:30 and 13:00 UT by ISEE-1 and 12:00 and 13:00 UT by ISEE-2. During these periods, both electron and ion fluxes increased by more than two orders of magnitude, with the electron flux showing a strong peak at a pitch angle of 90°. The solar wind was ~710 km s−1 and the Dst was ~−200 nT, suggesting the occurrence of a strong geomagnetic storm. The ISEE-1 and ISEE-2 observations, however, show no time-energy dispersion of the CEPs, leading us to believe that these particles could not be the result of substorm processes in the magnetotail. The local magnetic field was depressed and extremely turbulent. Changes in the magnitude of the magnetic field anticorrelate closely to variations of the electron flux. The observations in electron flux peaking at 90° and the close anticorrelation between the local magnetic field strength and electron flux are unique and provide evidence of a potential local source for these energetic particles.
Shortest link method for contact detection in discrete element method

SUMMARY With the increasing demand for discrete element simulations with larger number of particles and more realistic particle geometries, the need for efficient contact detection algorithms is more evident. To date, the class of common plane (CP) methods is among the most effective and widely used contact detection algorithms in discrete element simulations of polygonal and polyhedral particles. This paper introduces a new approach to obtain the CP by employing a newly introduced concept of ‘shortest link’. Among all the possible line segments that connect any point on the surface of particle A to any point on the surface of particle B, the one with the shortest length defines the shortest link between the two particles. The perpendicular bisector plane of the shortest link fulfils all the conditions of a CP, suggesting that CP can be obtained by seeking the shortest link. A new algorithm, called shortest link method (SLM), is proposed to obtain the shortest link and subsequently the CP between any two polyhedral particles. Comparison of the analysis time between SLM and previously introduced algorithms demonstrate that SLM results in a substantial speed up for polyhedral particles contact detection. Copyright # 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Historical writing on science education: a view of the landscape

This article surveys historical scholarship on science education over the last 15 years and lays out a map of the different approaches to writing about this topic found in a variety of disciplines and fields. The hope is to provide scholars interested in science education past and present a better understanding of how this enterprise has functioned in western culture, both in terms of training future scientists and managing the relationship between science and the lay public. Highlighted in this article is the compartmentalised nature of current work which, I argue, presents an obstacle to more productive thinking about the history of science education in modern society.
Crossed‐Molecular‐Beam Measurements of the Total Cross Sections of Ar–N2, Ar–Ne, Ar–He, and Ar–H2 at Thermal Energies

Total cross sections have been measured for the scattering of Ar beams from perpendicular intersecting beams of N2, Ne, He, and H2. The beams were at 300°K and contained Maxwellian velocity distributions. The slit system approximated ideal slits, and the scattering‐center density was calculated from rate‐of‐flow measurements and a modification of the usual beam‐intensity equations. In addition, beams of He and H2 were scattered from an intersecting beam of Ar. Beam reversal reduced the angular‐resolution correction to less than 1%. The background scattering of the primary beam could be estimated without recourse to pressure‐gauge readings. Comparison of the experimental results was made with the Schiff—Landau—Lifshitz formula and calculations with the partial‐wave WKB approximation with an assumed Lennard‐Jones (12, 6) potential. The L‐J total cross sections do not agree with the experimental results for Ar–He and Ar–H2 systems. The L‐J angular‐resolution corrections do not bring the beam‐reversal measurements in line with the measurements with Ar as the scattering gas.
Title language model for information retrieval

In this paper, we propose a new language model, namely, a title language model, for information retrieval. Different from the traditional language model used for retrieval, we define the conditional probability P(Q|D) as the probability of using query Q as the title for document D. We adopted the statistical translation model learned from the title and document pairs in the collection to compute the probability P(Q|D). To avoid the sparse data problem, we propose two new smoothing methods. In the experiments with four different TREC document collections, the title language model for information retrieval with the new smoothing method outperforms both the traditional language model and the vector space model for IR significantly.
A device for the electrophysiological recording of peripheral nerves in response to stretch.

The functional consequences of nervous tissue subjected to mechanical loads are of vital importance in successful clinical outcomes and in tissue engineered applications. In this paper, we developed a new ex vivo device that permitted the recording of nerve action potentials while the nerve was subjected to elongation. Experimental results showed guinea pig nerves to possess an inherent tolerance to mild stretch. The mean elongation at which the compound action potential (CAP) amplitude began to decrease was found to be 8.3 ± 0.56%. The CAP response to stretch was immediate beyond this threshold. After 17.5 ± 0.74% elongation, the CAP levels decreased to approximately 50% of its uninjured values. When allowed to relax, the CAP recovered almost completely within minutes. Based on the temporal scale of the CAP response and the presence of oxygen during testing, we conclude that the initial mechanism to CAP degradation cannot be ischemia. Since it is inherently difficult to study mechanical damage independent of hemodynamic factors in vivo, the developed model could be used to further elucidate the injury mechanisms of stretch-induced trauma. The design of the ex vivo chamber will also permit the administration and assessment of pharmacological agents on electrical conduction in various deformation conditions.
Winter air pollution and disease parameters in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease panels residing in Denver, Colorado

Background Ambient pollution might worsen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objective We explored the associations of pollution to pulmonary function, rescue medication, and symptoms over 2 winters in 2 panels of subjects with advanced COPD in Denver, Colorado. Methods Subjects measured lung function and recorded symptoms and rescue medications. Daily ambient pollution concentrations for particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) were obtained for Denver. Estimated effects of pollution on outcomes were derived for the same day and 1 and 2 days after pollution measurements (lags 0, 1, and 2, respectively). Results Sixteen (mean age, 65.8 years; mean FEV 1 , 42.3% of predicted value) and 18 (mean age, 67.4 years; mean FEV 1 , 39.4% of predicted value) subjects participated in the first and second winters, respectively. There were no differences in demographic or disease characteristics between the 2 panels. In the first winter no detrimental associations were found. In the second winter, however, there were significant detrimental associations of CO in the morning and PM 10 , CO, and NO 2 in the evening, increasing medication use at lag 0. Total symptom score increased at lag 0 with NO 2 . The concentrations of particulates were increased in the second winter compared with in the first winter, and this winter was colder and more humid. Conclusions In the second winter, subjects with severe COPD had worse lung function at lags 0 and 1 and increased rescue medication at lag 0 with increases in ambient air pollution. The effects of pollution varied between the 2 winters, perhaps related to levels of pollution and weather patterns. Significant effects were seen despite ambient pollution levels that conformed to US Environmental Protection Agency standards.
The development of economical bipolar plates for fuel cells

One of the major challenges in the production of economical polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells for automotive applications is the development of materials for the generation of bipolar plates which meet all the property requirements and can be readily manufactured to impart fine channels for transporting hydrogen and oxygen. Bipolar plates can be made from various materials with the most common being graphite, metal, carbon/carbon, and polymer composites. Each type of material has its strengths and weaknesses. Materials for polymer composites are relatively inexpensive and channels can be formed by means of compression or injection molding. The key is to develop a balance between sufficient electrical conductivity and mechanical properties while allowing for rapid, continuous manufacturing.
MIMO space-time block coded receivers over frequency selective fading channels

We develop an adaptive receiver for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) frequency selective channels that employ space-time block-coded transmissions with cyclic prefixing. The receiver performs both interference suppression and equalization for multiuser transmissions. The structure of the space-time code is exploited to show that the receiver can be implemented on a per-frequency-bin basis rather than on a block-by-block basis. The adaptation scheme requires solving N independent problems each of complexity O(M/sup 2/) per block iteration, where M is the number of users and N is the block size.
Heterodyne frequency measurements of 12C16O laser transitions near 2050 cm−1

Abstract New heterodyne frequency measurements of 12C16O laser transitions were made in the 1995 to 2082 cm−1 (59.81 to 62.39 THz) region. Frequencies of 23 transitions (with lower vibrational quantum numbers, v″, ranging from 1 to 4) were measured. New constants for these low-lying vibrational levels were determined by fitting these data (along with sub-Doppler measurements by Pollock et al. (J. Mol. Spectrosc., 99, 357–368 (1983)), rotational transition measurements, and FTS measurements from Guelachvili et al.(J. Mol. Spectrosc., 98, 64–79 (1983)) to the Dunham expression. Frequency calibration tables calculated from these new constants are reported. These tables provide accurate transition frequencies for the CO laser stabilized to the Doppler-broadened gain profile.
Effect of Atmosphere on Surface Tension of Glass

The surface tension of a commercial soda-lime-silica glass was measured in various atmospheres in the temperature range 500° to 700° C. The method of fiber elongation was used and its usefulness is illustrated. Water vapor was found to exhibit the most pronounced effect, causing a lowering from 315 to 205 dynes cm.−1 for a vapor pressure of 16 mm. Hg.
An acoustic position sensing system for large scale interactive displays

We present a hybrid positioning and communication system for tracking interaction objects called 'pucks' on the surface of a large LCD or plasma display. Pucks are smart sensor packages consisting of a microcontroller as well as a contact-type acoustic receiving transducer and an infrared or radio data link. A puck may take the form of a standalone interaction object, or the puck circuitry may be integrated into an existing object, such as a digital camera, cellphone, PDA, or other device. In this work we take advantage of the glass surface atop an LCD or plasma display as a communication and sensing medium, and launch 200 kHz Gaussian-shaped acoustic ranging pulses into that medium from transmitting transducers adhered to the corners of the glass. We present experimental results demonstrating millimeter-scale puck positioning accuracy over the entire surface of a 32-inch LCD, at an update rate of 100 Hz. We also demonstrate the scalability of this approach to much larger displays. In our first implementation, power consumption of each puck is 3 V at 12 mA during data transmission, 5 mA during positioning, and 50 muA when idle, yielding 6-8 hours of continuous tracking from a 90 mAH prismatic lithium polymer battery.
The evolution of virulence in pathogens with frequency-dependent transmission

Abstract Frequency-dependent transmission is an important feature of diseases that are sexually transmitted or transmitted by a vector that actively searches for hosts. Here I describe the evolution of virulence in pathogens that have frequency-dependent transmission. I consider two components of virulence—an increase in host mortality due to infection, as is classically described, and a decrease in host fecundity due to infection, because frequency dependence is common among diseases that fully or partially sterilize their hosts. Theoretical predictions pertaining to host–pathogen numerical dynamics can be quite different between pathogens with frequency-dependent transmission and those with density-dependent transmission. In contrast, this study suggests that the principles governing the evolution of virulence that have been established in the context of density-dependent pathogens may also apply (qualitatively) to frequency-dependent pathogens. I examine the evolutionary trajectories of the mortality and sterility components of virulence as well as the role of spatial population structure in the evolution of the sterility component of virulence.
Examining 4-H Robotics in the Learning of Science, Engineering and Technology Topics and the Related Student Attitudes

Youths’ natural fascination and identification with robots make them an ideal teaching and learning platform. Robots would seem to be excellent hands-on tools to teach science, engineering and technology (SET) concepts. However, while research supports their use to increase interest and motivation, the effectiveness of robots to directly teach science, engineering, and technology concepts is less clear. The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of a 4-H robotics program to support the learning of specific SET concepts and to examine related student attitudes towards science. This study compared the pretest and posttest scores on an assessment of basic SET concepts and attitudes of youth who participated in the 4-H robotics intervention with the scores of youth in a control group. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) results revealed that youth in the robotics intervention scored better on a SET concepts posttest. Student attitudes toward science were also investigated. The results suggested that educational robotics can engage youth in activities that support their learning of SET topics, but that it may have more limited impact on general student attitudes towards science, as measured by the study's attitudinal instrument.
Asymptotic expansions of lattice Green's functions

We derive asymptotic expansions for the Green functions associated with coercive difference equations on general lattices. These expansions lead to rigorous methods for approximating the lattice Green functions by polyharmonic rational functions.
The Effects of Goal Orientations and Supervisor Concerns on MBA Intern Learning and Performance

Achievement goal orientations provide a useful framework for understanding what motivates MBA intern learning and performance. A study of 508 MBA interns working in over 245 organizations showed learning mediated the relationship of intern learning goal orientations to performance, while intern performance goals only had direct effects on performance. As situational inducements, supervisor concern for learning and performance explained unique variance in performance beyond interns’ own goal orientations. Support was found for a supplementary fit perspective between interns with prove-performance goals and supervisor concern for performance. Interns also performed better when they viewed their supervisors as advocating a balance of concerns for both learning and performance during the internship. Implications for interns, business schools, and employers are discussed.
Veena Das, Life and Words: Violence and the Descent into the Ordinary . Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007.

Anthropologist Veena Das here revisits two critical events in Indian history: the Partition riots of 1947, and the violence against Sikhs following the 1984 assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Though Das has grappled with complex (and sometimes tortured) analyses of these same events in previous works, Life and Words represents an important departure from her more narrowly ethnographic essays. She readjusts her focus toward a theoretical/philosophical interrogation of the “ordinary” in an effort to complicate existing temporal and epistemological assumptions that have characterized studies of violence in India. The book is a two-part study: It first examines the way in which extraordinary violence (in this case that of Partition) gets “folded” into the everyday lives of those who have survived catastrophe. Second, she turns to how the violence of everyday life provides the necessary conditions for “eventful” eruptions of collective violence (in this case that against Sikhs in 1984). In blurring the boundaries between the ordinary and the eventful, Das is able to gain significant insights into the interface between the individual and the collective, the local and the supralocal, and the historical and the anthropological.
A comprehensive analysis of surgical procedures in rural surgery practices

Abstract Background Data regarding the practice patterns of surgeons are derived from indirect information and may not reflect practice patterns in rural surgery. The aim of this study was to analyze all procedures performed by rural surgeons in North Dakota and South Dakota in 2006. Methods All surgeons in the Dakotas were identified by state American College of Surgeons databases. Rural urban commuting area codes were used to identify rural surgeons. Current Procedural Terminology codes from clinic, outpatient, and inpatient procedures performed during 2006 were obtained. Results Data were obtained from 81% of rural surgeons. A total of 46,052 Current Procedural Terminology procedure codes were analyzed. Rural surgeons averaged 1,071 procedures/year, composed of 25.6% general surgery, 39.8% endoscopy, 17.9% minor surgery, and 12.3% surgical specialty procedures. Surgeons in small and large rural communities differed in total procedures per year (1,346 vs 988). Significant differences existed in the types of procedures performed by surgeons in large and small rural communities (P Conclusions Rural surgeons perform a high volume of procedures, with endoscopic and minor surgical procedures comprising over 55% of their practices. Understanding rural surgeons' caseload will help guide the training of rural surgeons.
Analysis the cooperation strategies in mobile ad hoc networks

In mobile ad hoc network, all the packets are forwarded in a multi-hop fashion relying on the contribution of each participants. In order to encourage the cooperation between the nodes in the system, many incentive mechanisms have been proposed. Although these incentive schemes can improve the cooperation to some certain extend, they are still suffering from some drawbacks. In this paper, the efficiency of these incentive mechanisms has been analyzed based on game theory modules. Their performances have also been compared with a proposed hybrid cooperation enforcement mechanism ARM. The simulation and theoretical results show the superiority of the ARM over traditional reputation based scheme and price-based scheme.
Designing, Modeling, and Testing Particle Robust Air Bearings for Perpendicular Recording Media

Particle-induced damage on perpendicular recording media can be categorized as physical damage to the media and magnetic erasures with limited physical damage. Component-level tests were developed in order to measure particle robustness of air bearing designs for these two failure modes. A published model for air bearing interactions with a particle was extended to include the full slider surface and allow particles to slide along the slider air bearing features. The model and test results correlate for hard particle scratching. Specific air bearing features and properties can be modified in order to improve dramatically the air bearing particle robustness for hard particle scratches and particle-induced magnetic erasures.
Architectural considerations for a self-timed decoupled processor

Self-timed processor designs offer several advantages over traditional synchronous designs. Further, when an asynchronous philosophy is incorporated at every stage of the design, the microarchitecture is more closely linked to the basic structures of the self-timed circuits themselves, and the resulting processor is quite simple and elegant. The Fred architecture presented here is an example of such a design approach. The self-timed design philosophy results in a powerful and flexible architecture which exhibits significant savings in design effort and circuit complexity. Some of the architectural constraints discovered in the course of the design have simple yet unconventional solutions, which, in turn, provide additional benefits beyond their immediate application.
Erp evidence for implicit priming of top-down control of attention

Proportion congruency effects are the observation that the magnitude of the Stroop effect increases as the proportion of congruent trials in a block increases. Contemporary work shows that proportion effects can be specific to a particular context. For example, in a Simon task in which items appearing above fixation are mostly congruent and items appearing below fixation are mostly incongruent, the Simon effect is larger for the items appearing at the top. There is disagreement as to whether these context-specific effects result from simple associative learning or, instead, a type of conflict-mediated associative learning. Here, we address this question in an ERP study using a Simon task in which the proportion congruency effect was context-specific, manipulating the proportion of congruent trials based on location upper vs. lower visual field. We found significant behavioral proportion congruency effects that varied with the specific contexts. In addition, we observed that the N2 response of the ERPs to the stimuli was larger in amplitude for the high congruent high conflict versus low congruent low conflict conditions/contexts. Because the N2 is known to be greater in amplitude also for trials where conflict is high and is believed to be an electrical signal related to conflict detection in the medial frontal cortex, this supports the idea that conflict-mediated associative learning is involved in the proportion congruency effect.
Managing skew in the parallel evaluation of user-defined operations

Science and business are generating data at an unprecedented scale and rate due to ever evolving technologies in computing and sensors. Analyzing big data has become a key skill driving business and science. The challenges in big-data analysis stem not only from the data volume, but also from the diversity of data types to analyze (e.g., text, image, audio, video, and graph) and the various analyses beyond relational algebra that need to be performed (e.g., machine learning, natural language processing, image processing, and graph analysis). The user-defined operation (UDO) is a powerful mechanism to implement complex data processing tasks without changing the core of the parallel data processing engine. Although users can rapidly develop a new data analysis task with UDOs and execute the task in a cluster of computers, achieving high performance is important for users, especially those who do not have an extensive background in programming. This thesis focuses on addressing skew in parallel UDO evaluation. Skew is a problem when there exists a significant variance in the execution time of parallel tasks. In the presence of skew, the benefit of using a parallel system diminishes. Our detailed case study demonstrates that a new data analysis task can be rapidly implemented in a MapReduce-like system, but such implementation may be prone to skew problem during execution. A skew-resilient implementation is possible but requires significant implementation effort and expertise in programming. We also analyze the skew problem in three real workloads and show that skew problem is frequent (more than 40% of long running jobs experience skew). The thesis proposes two techniques to manage skew in parallel UDO evaluations: SkewReduce and SkewTune. SkewReduce is a static data partition optimization technique for feature-extracting applications that are common in scientific analysis. SkewReduce can improve the application runtime by up to 8x compared with a default MapReduce data partitioning strategy without any code-level optimization. SkewTune is a transparent dynamic skew mitigation technique for MapReduce applications. SkewTune can improve the application runtime by up to 4x compared with default MapReduce engine without modifying the application source code, without requiring any input from the developer or user, and without causing any side-effect during the execution.