cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of orthogonal sp-based tight-binding models for silicon

Abstract Three common sp-based orthogonal tight-binding models of silicon (Goodwin–Skinner–Pettifor (GSP), Kwon et al., and Sawada) have been compared for their suitability for use in atomic-scale semiconductor simulation. We found that increased complexity of the functional form does not necessarily translate into improved results. For most of the static and dynamic properties we studied, no one form was clearly superior to the others. There is, however, a distinct correlation between the properties used in the parameterization and the strengths of a given model, e.g. the KWON model is particularly effective in predicting defect properties (for which it was designed). We provide the first comprehensive review of tight-binding predictions of the nature of the structure around a vacancy. Both GSP and KWON tight-binding models give seven vacancy structures of comparable formation energies (except the tetrahedral for GSP and C2v for KWON). A new “asymmetric” distortion was found for the GSP model which proved to be comparably stable to the tetragonal structure favored by LDA. In comparison, the KWON model predicts the split vacancy as the most stable vacancy structure, though it too provides a low energy tetragonal structure. Web access is provided to a tight-binding MD code which incorporates all three models.
Supporting aspect-oriented software development with the concern manipulation environment

In the past few years, the application of aspect-oriented software development (AOSD) technologies has helped improve the development, integration, deployment, evolution, and quality of object-oriented and other software for a growing community of software developers. The Concern Manipulation Environment (CME) is an open-source Eclipse project that targets aspect-oriented technologies. The CME contains task-oriented tools for usage approaches that apply aspect orientation in different development and deployment scenarios. The CME also provides component-and framework-level support for building aspect-oriented tools for a variety of types of software artifacts.
Models and computational methods for dynamic friction phenomena

Abstract This paper addresses the general problem of formulating continuum models of a large class of dynamic frictional phenomena and of developing computation methods for analyzing these phenomena. Of particular interest are theories which can adequately predict stick-slip motion, frictional damping in structural dynamics, and sliding resistance. This work is divided into three principal parts. In Part I, a large body of experimental and theoretical literature on friction is critically reviewed and interpreted as a basis for models of dynamic friction phenomena. In Part II, continuum models of interfaces are developed which simulate key interface properties identified in Part I. Variational principles for a class of dynamic friction problems are also established. In Part III, finite element models and numerical algorithms for analyzing dynamic friction are presented. Also, a dynamic stability analysis is presented in which it is established that stick-slip motion can be associated with dynamic instability of the governing nonlinear system for certain ranges of slip velocity and coefficient of friction. Numerical results suggest that the new models derived here can satisfactorily depict a large and important class of dynamic friction effects.
Minimal fields of canonical dimensionality are free

It is shown that in a scale-invariant relativistic field theory, any field ${\ensuremath{\psi}}_{n}$ belonging to the $(j,0)$ or $(0,j)$ representations of the Lorentz group and with dimensionality $d=j+1$ is a free field. For other field types there is no value of the dimensionality that guarantees that the field is free. Conformal invariance is not used in the proof of these results, but it gives them a special interest; as already known and as shown here in the appendix, the only fields in a conformal field theory that can describe massless particles belong to the $(j,0)$ or $(0,j)$ representations of the Lorentz group and have dimensionality $d=j+1$. Hence in conformal field theories massless particles are free.
Regarding the correlation of nuclear spin relaxation and electrical conductivity relaxation in ionic glasses

Much attention has been focused recently on the apparent differences between ion dynamics in ion-containing glasses as probed by electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR) and by nuclear spin relaxation (NSR) techniques. In both relaxation processes, a power law frequency dependence is observed. Based upon fluctuation–dissipation arguments, the power law exponents should be equivalent. However, experimentally, it appears that the conductivity exponent is generally smaller than the NSR exponent. While an explanation for this discrepancy based upon fundamental differences in the correlation functions probed by the two techniques has been proffered, we show how this discrepancy may simply arise from differing analyses of the ac conductivity. We review several cases taken from the literature in which the conductivity exponent was obtained from analysis of the electrical modulus. We demonstrate how this analysis approach generally underestimates the conductivity exponent. When we instead determine the exponent d...
Swine influenza matrix 2 (M2) protein contributes to protection against infection with different H1 swine influenza virus (SIV) isolates

A swine influenza virus (SIV) vaccine-challenge pig model was used to study the potential of a conserved matrix 2 (M2) protein vaccine alone or in combination with an inactivated H1N1-vaccine to protect against H1N1 and H1N2 viruses. The H1N1-vaccine and heterologous H1N2-challenge virus model has previously been shown to prolong fever and increase SIV-associated pneumonic lesions. The M2 vaccine in combination with the H1N1-vaccine reduced the H1N2 induced fever but not virus shedding. The M2 vaccine alone reduced respiratory signs and pneumonic lesions to levels similar to the negative control pigs following H1N2 infection. This study found that the M2 protein has potential as a vaccine for SIV-associated disease prevention. However, development of an immune response towards the major envelope HA protein was required to reduce SIV shedding.
Compliance Without Enforcement: State Behavior Under Regulatory Treaties

The common conception is that treaties are not complied with because they are unenforceable, and that the cure for this condition is treaties “with teeth.” Our study shows that there are good reasons why states resist formal enforcement measures in treaties and are likely to continue to do so.
Mechanism of β-purothionin antimicrobial peptide inhibition by metal ions: Molecular dynamics simulation study

Abstract Wheat β-purothionin is a highly potent antimicrobial peptide which, however, is inactivated by metal ions. The key structural properties and mechanisms of inhibition of β-purothionin were investigated for the first time using unconstrained molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water. A series of simulations were performed to determine effects of temperature and the metal ions. Analyses of the unconstrained simulations allowed the experimentally unavailable structural and dynamic details to be unambiguously examined. The global fold and the α1 helix of β-purothionin are thermally stable and not affected by metal ions. In contrast, the α2 helix unfolds with shift of temperature from 300 K and in the presence of metal ions. The network of conserved residues including Arg30 and Lys5 is sensitive to environmental changes and triggers unfolding. Loop regions display high flexibility and elevated dynamics, but are affected by metal ions. Our study provides insights into the mechanism of metal ion-based inhibition.
Cross‐species amplification among peromyscines of new microsatellite DNA loci from the oldfield mouse (Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus)

We describe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and conditions to amplify 11 microsatellite DNA loci isolated from the oldfield mouse (Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus). These were tested for amplification using nine species and subspecies maintained at the Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, with an average success rate of 65% and two loci amplifying in all species. Polymorphism was tested within the P. polionotus subgriseus and the recently obtained P. maniculatus sonorensis colonies. P. p. subgriseus had modest numbers of alleles per locus (1–4), whereas P. m. sonorensis had many alleles per locus (5–10) and high expected heterozygosities (0.625–0.878).
The relationships between personal PM exposures for elderly populations and indoor and outdoor concentrations for three retirement center scenarios

Personal exposures, indoor and outdoor concentrations, and questionnaire data were collected in three retirement center settings, supporting broader particulate matter (PM)--health studies of elderly populations. The studies varied geographically and temporally, with populations studied in Baltimore, MD in the summer of 1998, and Fresno, CA in the winter and spring of 1999. The sequential nature of the studies and the relatively rapid review of the mass concentration data after each segment provided the opportunity to modify the experimental designs, including the information collected from activity diary and baseline questionnaires and influencing factors (e.g., heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system operation, door and window openings, air exchange rate) measurements. This paper highlights both PM2.5 and PM10 personal exposure data and interrelationships across the three retirement center settings, and identifies the most probable influencing factors. The current limited availability of questionnaire results, and chemical speciation data beyond mass concentration for these studies, provided only limited capability to estimate personal exposures from models and apportion the personal exposure collections to their sources. The mean personal PM2.5 exposures for the elderly in three retirement centers were found to be consistently higher than the paired apartment concentrations by 50% to 68%, even though different facility types and geographic locations were represented. Mean personal-to-outdoor ratios were found to 0.70, 0.82, and 1.10, and appeared to be influenced by the time doors and windows were open and aggressive particle removal by the HVAC systems. Essentially identical computed mean PM2.5 personal clouds of 3 micrograms/m3 were determined for two of the studies. The proposed significant contributing factors to these personal clouds were resuspended particles from carpeting, collection of body dander and clothing fibers, personal proximity to open doors and windows, and elevated PM levels in nonapartment indoor microenvironments.
Reservoir Response to the Asian Monsoon with an Emphasis on Longitudinal Gradients

ABSTRACT Measured responses to monsoon inflow into Taechung Reservoir, Korea support loading theory. During an intense monsoon in 1993 there was nearly twice the total phosphorus (TP) and three times the non-volatile suspended sediments (NVSS) relative to a weak monsoon in 1994. Across both monsoon seasons, water residence time was negatively correlated with TP and NVSS (r > −0.92). Despite lower TP levels, volumetric chlorophyll values (Chl) were larger by ~ 45% during the weak monsoon. This increased response to the limiting nutrient was attributed to longer residence time and reduced suspended load. The reservoir showed sharp longitudinal zonation during the intense monsoon in 1993 with a light limited riverine zone created by strong advective inflow. With a downlake decline in the suspended load the photic depth doubled and autochthonous production became important. Within the transition and lacustrine zones Chl was responsive to nutrients and volatile solids dominated the seston. An interflow resulte...
Robust hypothesis testing for structured uncertainty models

Developing uncertainty models suitable for modern robust design methods involves numerous modeling decisions regarding uncertainty structure, noise models and uncertainty bounds. We consider the problem of selecting between one of two candidate uncertainty models based on input-output data. Each uncertainty model consists of a nominal linear plant with a standard linear fractional transformation (LFT) uncertainty structure and Gaussian output noise. A classical statistical hypothesis testing performance measure is used to evaluate decision procedures. We derive a D-scaled upper bound on this performance measure, and show that this upper bound can be minimized by convex programming and /spl Hscr//sub /spl infin// filtering techniques. In addition, a general robust hypothesis testing result is derived.
Identification of Gene Products Involved in the Oxidative Stress Response of Moraxella catarrhalis

Moraxella catarrhalis is subjected to oxidative stress from both internal and environmental sources. A previous study (C. D. Pericone, K. Overweg, P. W. Hermans, and J. N. Weiser, Infect. Immun. 68:3990-3997, 2000) indicated that a wild-type strain of M. catarrhalis was very resistant to killing by exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The gene encoding OxyR, a LysR family transcriptional regulator, was identified and inactivated in M. catarrhalis strain O35E, resulting in an increase in sensitivity to killing by H₂O₂ in disk diffusion assays and a concomitant aerobic serial dilution effect. Genes encoding a predicted catalase (KatA) and an alkyl hydroperoxidase (AhpCF) showed dose-dependent upregulation in wild-type cells exposed to H₂O₂. DNA microarray and real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analyses identified M. catarrhalis genes whose expression was affected by oxidative stress in an OxyR-dependent manner. Testing of M. catarrhalis O35E katA and ahpC mutants for their abilities to scavenge exogenous H₂O₂ showed that the KatA catalase was responsible for most of this activity in the wild-type parent strain. The introduction of the same mutations into M. catarrhalis strain ETSU-4 showed that the growth of a ETSU-4 katA mutant was markedly inhibited by the addition of 50 mM H₂O₂ but that this mutant could still form a biofilm equivalent to that produced by its wild-type parent strain.
Deep-space Ka-band link priority data protection: Preemptive retransmission vs. margin.

In this paper the performance of two preemptive retransmission schemes for protection of priority data over deep-space Ka-band links is evaluated. The first scheme merges the correctly received bit from each transmission to create the most complete set of priority data for each pass (bit merge). The second scheme (symbol combining) combines the soft symbols received from each transmission of the priority data to increase the priority data's signal to noise ratio (SNR), thus increasing the likelihood of their correct reception. These performances were then compared to an equivalent margin scheme in which the data rate used for the transmission of the priority data is reduced by a factor equal to the number of transmissions of the priority data. The performance of each scheme was evaluated through emulation using Water Vapor Radiometer (WVR) and Advanced Water Vapor Radiometer (AWVR) sky brightness temperature measurements along with models for Deep Space Network (DSN) Ka-band capable antenna using Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's DSN tracking schedule and geometry. The results indicate that “bit merge” and “reduced rate” schemes perform roughly the same in terms of availability of the priority data (at least 97% compared to 93% without any data protections scheme) but for “bit merge” priority data losses occur over fewer passes than for the “reduced rate” scheme. The “symbol combining” scheme is superior to both the “bit merge” and the “reduced rate” schemes with at least 98.5% priority data availability with losses over a small number of passes. Receivers have a minimum demodulation threshold SNR and combining algorithms have combining losses; therefore, the performance of the “symbol combining” scheme was also evaluated with respect to these two factors. The results indicate that even with current receivers, the “symbol combining” scheme performs extremely well and the scheme is relatively robust with respect to combining losses.
Ensuring access control in cloud provisioned healthcare systems

An important issues in cloud provisioned multi-tenant healthcare systems is the access control, which focuses on the protection of information against unauthorized access. As different tenants including hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and pharmacies access the system, sensitive information should be provided only to authorized users and tenants. In this paper, we analyze the requirements of access control for healthcare multi-tenant cloud systems and propose to adapt Task-Role Based Access Control with constraints such as least privilege, separation of duty, delegation of tasks, and spatial and temporal access.
Responses of Clonal Reef Taxa to Environmental Change

SYNOPSIS. Many reef taxa are predominantly clonal, and their clones can spread over tens of meters and live for hundreds of years. Colony growth, which produces large colonies, and vegetative propagation, which can generate many clonal replicates of colonies, affect the response of clonal taxa to climate change through a variety of mechanisms, some of which mitigate and some which amplify effects on individuals. The large numbers of replicate individuals generated among clonal taxa may enable some individuals to survive catastrophic mortality events such as storms and then expand following the perturbation. In those circumstances clonality buffers the effects of environmental change. Conversely, the genetic uniformity of populations dominated by few genotypes may leave clonal taxa more susceptible to physiologic stress than aclonal taxa. Consequently, clonal species may be more sensitive to climate change that has chronic and/or acute effects on survival. Chronic stresses that reduce recruitment will have less obvious effects on clonal taxa than aclonal taxa. Under conditions of reduced recruitment, clonality will allow some species to persist as relict populations due to the longevity of genets. The presence of relict populations has the appearance of resistance to climate change. In fact, these taxa are responding, but at a slower rate. The long generation time of genets will slow the pace of evolution among clonal species, making adaptation at projected rates of climate change unlikely. The differential response of species to environmental change will lead to transitions in community structure as climate changes.
Support and Nonsupport for Nationalist Rebellion: A Prospect Theory Approach

the influence of social conditions on individual decisions to support such action. This study extends the application of prospect theory by explaining tendencies toward action or inaction among individuals within identical social contexts. Put simply, the way in which people define reference points has an effect on how they perceive violent options. These perceptions may invoke inaction biases among members of a constituent community. This explanation is explored with illustrative examples drawn from interviews with individuals who supported or did not support rebellious action in Northern Ireland (in 1998) and in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (in 1999). The interview data suggest that territorial demands are an important factor in how rebellious options are perceived.
Transient performance and loss analysis in solid wound rotor pulsed power generators

High rotation speed is the key to enhanced power density in rotating machines. High speed, shock, and construction considerations argue for solid rotors. However, output transient voltage requirements cause concern that changes in the field current will not be registered quickly in the stator. This paper examines different techniques for estimating the machine time constant, including an analytic solution of a smooth air gap machine and a transfer relation solution based on time harmonic solutions. It discusses an empirical solution and an equivalent surface current approach for predicting the loss in the rotor. These solutions compare favorably to rotational transient finite-element solutions.
On the Impact of Heterogeneity and Back-End Scheduling in Load Balancing Designs

Load balancing is a common approach for task assignment in distributed architectures. In this paper, we show that the degree of inefficiency in load balancing designs is highly dependent on the scheduling discipline used at each of the backend servers. Traditionally, the back-end scheduler can be modeled as Processor Sharing (PS), in which case the degree of inefficiency grows linearly with the number of servers. However, if the back-end scheduler is changed to Shortest Remaining Processing Time (SRPT), the degree of inefficiency can be independent of the number of servers, instead depending only on the heterogeneity of the speeds of the servers. Further, switching the back-end scheduler to SRPT can provide significant improvements in the overall mean response time of the system as long as the heterogeneity of the server speeds is small.
Fast adaptive media scheduling based on expected run-time distortion

In delay-constrained multimedia communications over the Internet, scalable compressed media formats are useful in that they allow the rate and quality of video delivery to adapt to the changes in the available bandwidth. Previously, we introduced the expected run-time distortion based scheduling (ERDBS) algorithm (Miao and Ortega, Proc. 12th Int. Packet Video Workshop, 2002), which allowed the media source to select in what order packets should be transmitted, where packets contain different "layers" in the scalable representation of the transmitted signal. The basic idea of ERDBS was to calculate at any given time the "importance" of each candidate packet in the transmission buffer, and then proceed to send the most important packet. We now present techniques to reduce the complexity of the ERDBS approach, which could be significant when the set of candidate packets is large. Our proposed algorithm decomposes the packet importance calculation into several stages. We show how, through a proper decomposition of these calculations, the results obtained for some stages during past iterations can be re-used, with updates based on the new information received in the meantime. With this recursive definition of the packet importance calculation, we show that the complexity of ERDBS is reduced without sacrificing its performance.
Scale to Measure Patient Satisfaction With Physical Therapy

Background and Purpose. Patient satisfaction can be one indicator of quality of care. In this study, a patient satisfaction questionnaire for physical therapy was developed. Subjects. The subjects were a consecutive sample of 1,024 patients who received physical therapy between January and March 1999 at a teaching hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. Methods. A cross-sectional mail survey was conducted in which a structured questionnaire measuring patient satisfaction with various aspects of physical therapy followed by open-ended questions was sent to the subjects. Results. Overall, 528 of 1,024 patients (52%) responded (patient demographics for 501 respondents who provided demographic data: mean years of age=58.6, SD=18.9, range=15–95; 258 men, 243 women). Factor analysis was used to identify main domains of satisfaction, and a scale was constructed to measure satisfaction with each dimension: treatment subscale (5 items), admission subscale (3 items), logistics subscale (4 items), and a global assessment subscale (2 items). All subscales had good acceptability and small floor and ceiling effects. Internal consistency coefficients varied between .77 and .90, indicating good reliability for all subscales. Scale validity was supported by a logical grouping of items into subscales, according to their content, and by correlations of satisfaction scores with the patient's intention to recommend the facility and with the number of positive and negative comments to open-ended questions. Younger patients were less satisfied than older patients for 2 of the subscales (admission and logistics). Discussion and Conclusion. The 14-item instrument is a promising tool for the evaluation of patient satisfaction with physical therapy in both inpatients and outpatients.
Risk-sensitive control, differential games, and limiting problems in infinite dimensions

In this paper we present the solutions of the stochastic finite and infinite horizon risk-sensitive control problems in infinite dimensions, with /spl mu/, /spl epsiv/>0, respectively, representing the risk-sensitivity and small noise parameters. Invoking a logarithmic transformation, a stochastic differential game equivalent to the risk-sensitive problem is obtained. In the limit as /spl epsiv//spl darr/0, the deterministic differential game associated with the H/sub /spl infin//-disturbance attenuation control problem of distributed parameter systems is recovered. In the limit as /spl mu//spl darr/0 (resp. /spl mu//spl darr/0, /spl epsiv//spl darr/0) the usual stochastic (resp. deterministic) control problem with integral cost is recovered. Both finite and infinite horizon cases are treated. This article extends the recent relations given by James (1992) and Fleming et al. (1992) between risk-sensitive and H/sub /spl infin//-robust control from finite to infinite dimensional spaces. >
HIV-1 Vpr regulates expression of β chemokines in human primary lymphocytes and macrophages

The HIV-1 vpr gene encodes a 14-kDa virion-packaged protein that has been implicated in viral pathogenesis. Vpr exhibits profound effects on human primary cells influencing proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cytokine produc- tion, in part through NF-kB-mediated transcrip- tion. NF-kB, a potent transcription factor, acti- vates many proinflammatory cytokines/chemo- kines upon infection. Here, we analyzed the effect of extracellular Vpr as well as the virion-associated Vpr on b chemokines (MIP-1a, MIP-1b, and RAN- TES) production in human macrophages and pri- mary lymphocytes (PBLs). Macrophages and PBLs exposed to HIV-1 vpr 1 viruses or to recombinant Vpr protein produced significantly less b chemo- kines compared with cells infected with HIV-1 vpr 2 viruses or irrelevant control protein (Gag)-ex- posed cells. These results suggest that a Vpr- mediated increase in virus replication could be in part through down-regulation of chemokine production. J. Leukoc. Biol. 68: 366-372; 2000.
The Forecast Icing Product: Recent Upgrades and Improvements

The Forecast Icing Product (FIP) has undergone a series of upgrades since the algorithm was introduced in 2003. Most of these improvements were implemented to make the FIP more similar to the Current Icing Product (CIP), both in how the algorithm uses information and the output content. New methods for determining areas of precipitation and cloud top height have allowed locations of icing to be more accurately represented, decreasing overwarning of hazardous areas. Convection identification has also been added so that icing in and around forecast thunderstorms can be better characterized. The outputs have also been changed. The former icing potential is now icing probability after undergoing a calibration procedure. Expected severity, which is a new algorithm based on how much supercooled liquid water is forecast to be present, is displayed. Finally, areas with probable SLD are highlighted on the same graphic as severity for higher “quickglance” value.
Copyrighting Culture for the Nation? Intangible Property Nationalism and the Regional Arts of Indonesia

This article analyzes how intangible cultural expressions are re-scripted as national intellectual and cultural property in postcolonial nations such as Indonesia. The mixing of intellectual and cultural property paradigms to frame folkloric art practices as national possessions, termed “intangible property nationalism,” is assessed through consideration of Indonesia's 2002 copyright law, UNESCO heritage discourse, and the tutoring of ASEAN officials to use intellectual and cultural property rhetoric to defend national cultural resources. The article considers how legal assumptions are rebuffed by Indonesian regional artists and artisans who do not view their local knowledge and practices as property subject to exclusive claims by individuals or corporate groups, including the state. Producers' limited claims on authority over cultural expressions such as music, drama, puppetry, mythology, dance, and textiles contrast with Indonesian officials' anxieties over cultural theft by foreigners, especially in Malaysia. The case suggests new nationalist uses for heritage claims in postcolonial states.
Computer integrated radio monitoring for emergency situations

This paper presents a computer based radio monitoring stand alone system design and possible use in actual emergency situations. Hardware is selected and software is developed and tested. Selection criteria are based on inexpensive but reliable, commercially available technologies so that the general public can have easy access to the proposed system in order to retrieve vital information during emergency situations. A minimum system structure is described. Possible future improvements and implementations of this system for emergency use are also discussed. >
Cinematographic Techniques For Quantifying Human Athletic Performances

Various means have been devised for quantifying human athletic performances, but only cinematography leaves the human subject entirely free to perform the activity of interest. Photographic techniques have been used to quantify human motion since at least 1930, but it was not until the early 1970's that attempts were made to quantify such motions in three dimensions. Until recently no viable technique existed for quantifying human athletic performance in three dimensions. Early techniques placed tight constraints on camera placement and orientation and were never carefully validated. An attempt has been made to develop a "close-range cinephotogrammetry" for solving the three dimensional problem. The fundamentals of the analysis are outlined and the results of preliminary validations presented. A variety of problems specific to photo-analysis of the human body are discussed and some suggestions for further improvements are made.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa with a nonablative radiofrequency device.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic disease of apocrine gland-bearing skin, such as the axillae, breasts, groin, and anogenital region. The initiating event in its pathogenesis is believed to be comedonal occlusion of the apocrine gland-follicle unit, leading to obstruction of apocrine flow. This in turn triggers inflammatory changes within apocrine glands, resulting in rupture and extension of inflammation, infection, suppuration, and tissue damage that can cause ulceration, fibrosis, and sinus tract formation. Chronically, bridge scars, hypertrophic and keloidal scars, and disfiguring contractures can form.
Time-reversal violation in heavy octupole-deformed nuclei

A nonzero atomic electric-dipole moment (EDM) at a level not far from current experimental limits would signify time-reversal violation from outside the Standard Model. EDMs are enhanced in atoms that have octupole-deformed nuclei. We report a careful self-consistent mean-field calculation of the time-reversal-violating nuclear Schiff moment --the quantity that induces an atomic EDM-- in the octupole-deformed nucleus 225Ra. The self-consistent mean field in odd-A nuclei includes important effects of core polarization. The results of the calculation are encouraging for EDM experiments in the light actinides. Accurate calculations of Schiff moments in ordinary spherical and quadrupole-deformed nuclei such as 199Hg are also important. We describe work in progress on this more general problem.
Do Future Persons Presently Have Alternate Possible Identities

This paper argues that the nonidentity problem rests on an overly narrow conception of personal identity. The criteria for identity across possible worlds are vague and uncertain, unable to support the finely-grained judgments made in debating whether an action would harm future people. On the more plausible coarse-grained account of personal identity defended in this paper, there is no basis for denying that the very same child can be born genetically impaired or perfectly healthy. On this account of identity, the non-identity problem does not arise.
Postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer – Clinicopathologic Associations and Molecular Mechanisms

Breast cancer is the leading malignancy in women with an estimated 178,480 new cases and 40,460 deaths in 2007 in the United States. Although the cause of breast cancer is currently unknown, several molecular pathways have been identified to play a role in breast cancer development and progression. Perhaps the most important pathway involves the estrogen receptor (ER). More than two thirds of breast cancers show ER expression at the time of diagnosis and detection of ER expression is used in making decisions on hormonal therapy for breast cancer. The current paper reviews the potential role and mechanisms of endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones in the development of breast cancer with special focus on the potential role of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The association of HRT use with clinicopathologic tumor features and its effect on tumor cell proliferation, hormone receptor expression and gene expression profile is discussed. The potential role of sex steroid hormones in the prevention of breast cancer is explored.
Endoderm patterning by the notochord: development of the hypochord in Xenopus

The patterning and differentiation of the vertebrate endoderm requires signaling from adjacent tissues. In this report, we demonstrate that signals from the notochord are critical for the development of the hypochord, which is a transient, endodermally derived structure that lies immediately ventral to the notochord in the amphibian and fish embryo. It appears likely that the hypochord is required for the formation of the dorsal aorta in these organisms. We show that removal of the notochord during early neurulation leads to the complete failure of hypochord development and to the elimination of expression of the hypochord marker, VEGF. Removal of the notochord during late neurulation, however, does not interfere with hypochord formation. These results suggest that signals arising in the notochord instruct cells in the underlying endoderm to take on a hypochord fate during early neural stages, and that the hypochord does not depend on further notochord signals for maintenance. In reciprocal experiments, when the endoderm receives excess notochord signaling, a significantly enlarged hypochord develops. Overall, these results demonstrate that, in addition to patterning neural and mesodermal tissues, the notochord plays an important role in patterning of the endoderm.
Deletion of chromosome arm 1p in a Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

A case of neuroendocrine skin carcinoma (Merkel cell carcinoma) with a deletion of the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p) as the sole chromosomal abnormality was examined. The tumor originated in the skin of the left knee of a 67-year-old man. Histopathologic study showed an undifferentiated small cell tumor which expressed neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin, and cytokeratin (CAM 5.2). Cytogenetic analysis of a lymph node metastasis from the groin showed a pseudodiploid cell population with a deletion of the short arm of chromosome 1 as the only abnormality: 46,XY,del( 1 )(p36.1). In situ hybridization with the DI22 probe specific for the terminal band of 1 p confirmed the terminal deletion. This is the first case of Merkel cell carcinoma in which only one chromosomal abnormality has been observed. Loss of the terminal portion of 1p suggests that a tumor supressor gene on 1p plays a role in the pathogenesis of Merkel cell carcinoma. Genes Chrom Cancer 9:216-220 (1994). © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Diabetes alters vascular mechanotransduction: pressure-induced regulation of mitogen activated protein kinases in the rat inferior vena cava

Background Diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for increased vein graft failure after bypass surgery. However, the cellular and molecular mechanism(s) underlying vessel attrition in this population remain largely unexplored. Recent reports have suggested that the pathological remodeling of vein grafts may be mediated by mechanically-induced activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways and the MAPK-related induction of caspase-3 activity. On the basis of these findings, we hypothesized that diabetes may be associated with alterations in how veins "sense" and "respond" to altered mechanical loading.
Abstract 242: A Novel Transient Receptor Potential Ion Channel Vanilloid 4 Agonist Inhibits Monocytes Adhesion and Atherosclerosis via eNOS Activation

Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS/NOS3)-derived NO represents an important vasculoprotective molecule in the cardiovascular system. The transient receptor potential ion channel vanilloid subtype 4 (TRPV4) mediates vascular mechanosensitivity, in part through an increase in blood flow-mediated NO production and endothelium-dependent relaxation. Here, we hypothesized that non-mechanical TRPV4 activation can mimic laminar flow-induced signaling and thereby limits monocyte adhesion and atherosclerosis. We observed that GSK1016790A, a novel, potent and specific agonist of TRPV4, mimics laminar flow, thereby inducing robust phosphorylation (Ser1177) of eNOS in a TRPV4 and calcium-dependent manner. Mechanistically, GSK1016790A induced eNOS phosphorylation, NO production and vasorelaxation via calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase (CaMKK)/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. In functional experiments, GSK1016790A inhibited TNFα-induced monocytes adhesion to human endothelial cells by inhib...
Analysis of the human neurofibromatosis type 2 gene promoter and its expression.

Objective: It is hypothesized that transcriptional regulation plays an important role for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) expression in Schwann cells and other cell types. The objective of this study is the isolation and characterization of the transcriptional regulatory elements of the NF2 gene. Study Design and Setting: A bacterial artificial chromosome library and a partial genomic DNA library were used to isolate the human NF2 gene; NF2 promoter-luciferase constructs were generated, and promoter activities were assayed. This study was carried out in a molecular biology laboratory. Results: A bacterial artificial chromosome clone with an approximately 100-kilobase insert containing nearly the entire human NF2 gene has been isolated. An additional 5′ NF2 sequence has also been cloned. Transient transfection experiments demonstrate strong promoter activity from the NF2 5′ flanking DNA. Conclusions: The NF2 gene is approximately 100 kilobases long. Both positive and negative regulatory elements are present in NF2 5′ flanking regions. Significance: Better understanding of the NF2 gene and its regulation will improve molecular diagnostics and ultimately treatment of patients with NF2. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;123:413-8.)
Clinical Trainees’ Personal History of Suicidality and the Effects on Attitudes Towards Suicidal Patients

Up to half of all individuals who completed suicide were in treatment at the time of death. Clinicians are thus uniquely positioned to help avert suicidal behavior, and the attitude of treating clinicians can greatly affect the quality of care of suicidal individuals. The goal of this study was to gain a preliminary understanding of how clinicians’ own personal histories may impact their interactions with and attitudes towards suicidal patients. A questionnaire was distributed to clinical psychology trainees attending a voluntary 2-day workshop on working with suicidal crises. Questions assessed history of suicidality in self or close others, history of working with suicidal patients, attitudes towards suicidal patients, and attitudes towards preparedness and willingness to work with this population. Of 44 participants, 73% personally knew somebody who was suicidal, 59% had themselves experienced suicidal ideation, and 5% had an actual plan. Personal experiences with suicide were associated with increased stigmatizing attitudes, while specific education appeared to mitigate these negative feelings. Preliminary evidence is provided that indicates high levels of personal suicidal experiences in clinical trainees’ histories which directly affect attitudes towards patients. It is suggested that specific education may increase students’ preparedness and comfort in working with this vulnerable clinical population.
SN 1987A: Ultraviolet observations and mass loss

Mass loss from the B3 Ia progenitor. star for SN 1987A is revealed by the recent emergence of narrow ultraviolet emission lines. The emitting gas is nitrogen-rich, has low velocity, and may be located a light-year from the supernova. This gives every sign of having been ejected from the SK -69 202 progenitor when it was a red supergiant, prior to its brief and ultimately violent life as a blue supergiant. Changes in the hydrogen line profiles during the early evolution provide a way to estimate the density distribution in the supernova atmosphere, and the mass of hydrogen it contains. A preliminary estimate is that the power-law index of density in the envelope goes as v−11 and the mass that lies above a velocity of 6,000 km s−1 is between 1 and 6 solar masses.
Image Compression and Kriging

In this research paper we use a kriging-like iterative method with changing interpolation neighborhoods and we also use the data estimated in the previous iteration in order to estimate the data of the present iteration. Our method is used for image compression and it constitutes a lossy compression algorithm. Due to multicolinearity neighboring pixels carry mostly the same information. Therefore if we reduce the’ amount of information by appropriate sampling of the image then the space needed to store this information is smaller than the space required by the original image. The semivariogram of the image is estimated. Based on this we estimate the zone of influence. If ris the zone of influence of the semivariogram function of the picture, then we sample the picture using a square sampling design with side length equal to a × r, where a is a factor less than one. A kriging estimator is used to estimate the pixels not included in the sample. Under the assumptions of the process being wide sense stationary this kriging estimator is best linear unbiased. The algorithm is lossy, and tests using the image of Lenna are presented. Comparison of this algorithm with JPEG show that our algorithm has graceful degradation. By graceful degradation we mean that drastic reduction on the information used to produce the image results to recognizable images whose features fade away gradually.
The Influence of Swirl on the Fresh Charge Stratification in an IC Engine Combustion Chamber

Influence du tourbillon sur la stratification de la charge fraiche dans la chambre de combustion d'un moteur a combustion interne
Bankrupt of Empire: Mexican Silver and the Wars Between Spain, Britain, and France, 1760-1810. Carlos Marichal .

The importance of the Spanish American economy to the finances of the Spanish Crown has been studied for long time. In Bankruptcy of Empire: Mexican Silver and the Wars between Spain, Britain, and France, 1760-1810 , Carlos Marichal goes in depth into this issue, arguing that “the enormous extraction of Mexican silver… was used mainly to finance an extraordinary succession of wars between Spain, Britain, and France.” He focuses on Mexico because, he states, “in terms of colonial tax productivity, it is hard to find examples in history that surpass Mexico in the eighteenth century.” By focusing in British and French empires, Marichal hopes to contribute to the growing field of transatlantic history.
Residual Shear Stresses and KII Computation

When calculating stress intensity factors due to residual stresses, the stresses must satisfy equilibrium conditions and boundary conditions. In this case Legendre polynomials of orders 2 and higher are often used for residual normal stresses. For mode II loading it is desirable to have a similar polynomial series for residual shear stresses. Consider a plate of thickness t subjected to shear stress τ xy along the x-direction with origin located at the centerline of the plate and distance x normalized by t/2. Since the shear stress must vanish at free surface, x = ±1, τ xy(x) may be expressed as $$ \tau _{xy} (x) = (1 - x)(1 + x)J(x) $$ (1) where J(x) is a function to be determined, and it must satisfy the force equilibrium $$ \int_{ - 1}^1 {\tau _{xy} (x){\text{ }}dx = \int_{ - 1}^1 {(1 - x)(1 + x)J(x){\text{ }}dx = 0} } $$ (1)
Pore-shape and composition effects on rock-physics modeling in the Haynesville Shale

In this work, we investigated pore-shape and composition effects on the elastic properties in the Haynesville Shale. A pilot hole of a horizontal well (Well 1) and a vertical well (Well 2) were analyzed. The rock-physics model we applied is the self-consistent model. This model is not limited to specific grain/pore shapes or specific compositions. The ability to characterize the effects of pore shapes makes this model an effective approach to study the elastic properties of gas shale. For Well 1, the relationship between P-wave velocity and porosity with different aspect ratios and compositions were investigated. The result indicated that both pore shape and composition have significant effects on the elastic properties of the Haynesville Shale. For Well 2, the relation between P-wave velocity and density with different porosities, aspect ratios and composition assemblages were studied. The result showed a combined effect of aspect ratio and composition, as well as the effect of different composition assemblages with the same aspect ratio distribution. Overall, the selfconsistent model explained the data sets accurately and provided constraints on the pore shape and the composition. This work provides a more comprehensive understanding of the Haynesville Shale in terms of relating its reservoir properties to elastic parameters.
Tolerance and initial metabolic response to ammonia intoxication in selected bats and rodents.

Metabolic rates, as measured by oxygen consumption, and tolerances of three bats, Tadarida brasiliensis, Myotis lucifugus , and Eptesicus fuscus , and the laboratory rat, Rattus , and mouse, Mus , were determined in increasingly concentrated ammonia in air mixtures. Rats and mice exhibited increased oxygen consumption when exposed to increased ammonia levels. Oxygen consumption in rats ranged from 0.8 to 1.2 cc/g/hr in environmental gradients ranging from normal air to 5000 parts per million ammonia (ppm ammonia), while mice exhibited a rise in oxygen consumption from 3.7 to 4.7 cc/g/hr in concentrations of 0–3000 ppm ammonia. Myotis lucifugus exhibited erratic responses in mixtures of 0–5000 ppm ammonia, and oxygen consumption fluctuated between 4.9 and 10.6 cc/g/hr. Similarly, in E. fuscus consumption fluctuated from 3.3 to 7.2 cc/g/hr in 0–7000 ppm ammonia. In neither species was oxygen consumption correlated to the change in ammonia concentration. Tadarida brasiliensis exhibited decreased oxygen consumption ranging from 8.8 cc/g/hr to 2.3 cc/g/hr in air containing 0–7000 ppm ammonia. Tadarida brasiliensis and E. fuscus lived for 2½ and 1½ hrs, respectively, when exposed to 7000 ppm ammonia, but for only 10–20 min at 10,000 ppm ammonia. Myotis lucifugus and laboratory rats lived for 30–45 min in 5000 ppm ammonia. Laboratory mice lived for 2½ hrs at 3000 ppm and 10–20 min at 5000 ppm ammonia.