cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact-parameter dependence of K-vacancy production in chlorine-argon collisions

We have measured the probability per collision for the production of Cl and Ar K vacancies in the bombardment of argon gas targets by 15- and 30-MeV chlorine projectiles. By detecting the Cl and Ar K x rays in coincidence with Cl ions scattered to a known angle we have deduced the dependence of the probability on impact parameter b. The sum of Ar and Cl K-vacancy production probabilities, presumably a measure of 2psigma vacancy production, is found to depend in magnitude on the charge state of the Cl projectile, but the shape of the summed probability curve, when plotted versus b, is not charge-state dependent. The measured shape is close to that expected for K-vacancy production via 2psigma-2p..pi.. rotational coupling. The data suggest that, for these collisions, the production of 2p..pi.. vacancies at large internuclear distances is important and that a two-step mechanism for the production of the K vacancies is operating. (AIP)
Malament–Hogarth Machines and Tait’s Axiomatic Conception of Mathematics

In this paper I will argue that Tait’s axiomatic conception of mathematics implies that it is in principle impossible to be justified in believing a mathematical statement without being justified in believing that statement to be provable. I will then show that there are possible courses of experience which would justify acceptance of a mathematical statement without justifying belief that this statement is provable.
Regularity results for p-harmonic functions in higher order Grušin planes

We study the interior regularity for nondegenerate p-harmonic functions in Grusin planes of higher order. The local boundedness of the horizontal gradient is obtained by running a subelliptic variant of the Moser iteration scheme.
The public health future of melanoma control.

Disclaimer: The American Academy of Dermatology is not responsible for statements made by the author(s). Statement or opinions expressed in this activity reflect the views of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy of the American Academy of Dermatology. The information provided in this CME activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for independent medical judgment of a health provider relative to the diagnostic, management and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.
Dynamic relaxation characteristics of Matrimid® polyimide

Abstract The dynamic relaxation characteristics of Matrimid® (BTDA–DAPI) polyimide have been investigated using dynamic mechanical and dielectric methods. Matrimid exhibits three motional processes with increasing temperature: two sub-glass relaxations (γ and β transitions), and the glass—rubber (α) transition. The low-temperature γ transition is purely non-cooperative, and displays an identical time–temperature response to both the dynamic mechanical and the dielectric probes with a corresponding activation energy, EA = 43 kJ/mol. The β sub-glass transition shows a more cooperative character as assessed via the Starkweather method. Comparison of dynamic mechanical and dielectric data for the β process suggests that the dynamic mechanical test (EA = 156 kJ/mol) is sensitive to a broader, more strongly correlated range of sub-glass motions as compared to the dielectric probe (EA = 99 kJ/mol). Time–temperature superposition was used to establish mechanical master curves across the glass–rubber (α) relaxation, and these data could be described using the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts function with an exponent value, βKWW = 0.34. The corresponding shift factors were used as the basis of a cooperativity plot for the determination of dynamic fragility. The relation between fragility index (m = 115) and βKWW for the Matrimid polyimide was in good agreement with the wide correlation reported in the literature.
A family of Ustilago maydis expression vectors: new selectable markers and promoters ☆

The cDNA expression system for Ustilago maydis has been expanded to include different selectable markers and promoters. These new elements allow the simultaneous expression of two genes in the same transformant.
Effect of solution environment on the absorption maxima of Schiff bases of retinal.

Abstract— –Preliminary examination of the effect of solution environment on the electronic absorption spectrum of N-retinylidene-n-butylamine(I) is reported. It is established that small amounts of CO2 dissolved in certain solvents cause the formation of the conjugate acid of I. This reaction is shown to be dependent on temperature and the concentration of CO2. The pKb of I in aqueous buffer was measured spectrophotometrically and found to be 8.71. Salts of I were prepared in a number of ways and their spectra were determined in selected solvents. The Λmax varies with method of preparation, and only one method gives reproducible results. The Λmnx is a function of the solvent in which the spectrum is determined. It was also found that the absorption maximum in wavenumbers is proportional to the negative logarithm of acid concentration.
Preliminary evidence suggests that Visual Scene Displays and Grids both support shared book reading activities in young children

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Wood Jackson, C., Wahlquist, J., & Marquis, C. (2011). Visual supports for shared reading with young children: The effect of static overlay design. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 27, 91–102. Source of funding and disclosure of interest: No source of funding reported, and no conflicts of interest reported by the original authors of this research report.
The isotopic composition of carbonatite and kimberlite carbonates and their bearing on the isotopic composition of deep-seated carbon

New carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of carbonates from 14 carbonatite and 11 kimberlite occurrences are reported. A review of the available data on the carbon isotopic composition ranges of carbonatite and kimberlite carbonates shows that they are similar and overlap that of diamonds. The mean carbon isotopic composition of carbonates from 22 selected carbonatite complexes (−5.1%., s = ±l.4%.vs PDB) is indistinguishable from that of 13 kimberlite pipes (−4.7%. s = ±1.2%.) as well as that of 60 individual diamond analyses (−5.8%., s = 1.8%.). The oxygen isotopic compositions of kimberlite carbonates, however, are enriched in O18 by several permil with respect to those of carbonates from the subvolcanic type of carbonatite. The data suggest that not all carbonatite, kimberlite and diamond occurrences have the same average carbon isotopic composition and that significant differences exist between them. Carbon isotopic composition measurements available for the East African Rift system suggest geographic and/or tectonic groupings e.g. carbonate lavas, tuffs and intusive carbonatites associated with the Eastern Rift yield a range of δC13 values from −5.8 to −7.4%., similar to that of the carbonate rocks associated with the Western Rift volcanism (−5.8 to −7.9%.). In contrast the interrift area encompassing Lakes Victoria, Malawi (Nyasa) and Chilwa, apparently are characterized by carbonatitic carbonates of higher C13 content (−2.4 to −4.4%.). If carbonatite and kimberlite carbonates as well as diamonds represent deep seated carbon, the mean isotopic composition of this carbon is estimated as −5.2%. and the range is −2 to −8%. The selection of any particular value within this range to be used as a criterion of deep-seated origin is at the moment not warranted. Indeed, the choice of any specific composition for such carbon may be meaningless, as the source of kimberlite, carbonatite and diamond carbon may not be isotopically uniform.
Wave number spectra from temperature‐humidity infrared radiometer 6.7‐μm water vapor data

Wave number spectra from Nimbus 7 temperature-humidity infrared radiometer 6.7-micron water vapor data are analyzed using series 4800 km long, in regions free of high clouds and frontal zones. In these regions, the brightness temperatures approximate temperatures on a water vapor isosteric (constant density) surface, rather than averages over a broad vertical layer. Power above the noise can be extracted down to wavelengths of about 60 km. Fitting the power spectrum versus horizontal wave number k to a k to the -nth power law for wavelengths from 60 to a few hundred kilometers gives slopes of n = 2.7 to 3.0, depending on the exact wave numbers that are fitted. Thunderstorms and convective cloud systems may constitute an energy source for the reverse energy cascade which produces a -5/3 spectral slope. The results suggest that when these features are not present, the enstrophy-cascading process that gives a -3 slope may govern the motion at scales smaller than it has heretofore been observed.
Metabolic rates of midwater crustaceans as a function of depth of occurrence off the Hawaiian Islands: Food availability as a selective factor?

During July of 1983, 1986, and 1987, we measured rates of oxygen consumption of 234 individuals of 17 species of midwater crustaceans (orders Decapoda, Mysidacea, and Euphausiacea) off the Hawaiian islands at depths from the surface to greater than 1200 m. The routine metabolic rates declined with increasing depths of the species' occurrence to an extent greater than could be accounted for by depth-related changes in body size or water temperature. Most species appeared able to regulate their oxygen consumption down to the lowest oxygen partial pressures found in their depth range (20 mm Hg O2), but did not regulate to such low oxygen partial pressures as did similar midwater crustaceans off California, where oxygen levels reach as low as 6 mm Hg. Metabolic rates of the shallower-living, but not the deepest-living Hawaiian crustaceans were significantly higher than those of Californian crustaceans. This is interpreted as indicating that the metabolic rates of midwater crustaceans are not adapted specifically to differing levels of primary production and that the decline with depth of metabolic rates in these species is not the result of food limitation at depth. The data are, however, consistent with the hypothesis that lower metabolic rates at depth are due to the relaxation of selection pressures relating to visual predation near the surface.
Diversity and population structure of sewage‐derived microorganisms in wastewater treatment plant influent

The release of untreated sewage introduces non-indigenous microbial populations of uncertain composition into surface waters. We used massively parallel 454 pyrosequencing of hypervariable regions in rRNA genes to profile microbial communities from eight untreated sewage influent samples of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in metropolitan Milwaukee. The sewage profiles included a discernible human faecal signature made up of several taxonomic groups including multiple Bifidobacteriaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae genera. The faecal signature made up a small fraction of the taxa present in sewage but the relative abundance of these sequence tags mirrored the population structures of human faecal samples. These genera were much more prevalent in the sewage influent than standard indicators species. High-abundance sequences from taxonomic groups within the Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria dominated the sewage samples but occurred at very low levels in faecal and surface water samples, suggesting that these organisms proliferate within the sewer system. Samples from Jones Island (JI--servicing residential plus a combined sewer system) and South Shore (SS--servicing a residential area) WWTPs had very consistent community profiles, with greater similarity between WWTPs on a given collection day than the same plant collected on different days. Rainfall increased influent flows at SS and JI WWTPs, and this corresponded to greater diversity in the community at both plants. Overall, the sewer system appears to be a defined environment with both infiltration of rainwater and stormwater inputs modulating community composition. Microbial sewage communities represent a combination of inputs from human faecal microbes and enrichment of specific microbes from the environment to form a unique population structure.
Larvae Adrift: Patterns and Problems in Life Histories of Sipunculans

Studies of larval biology generally have been carried out on relatively accessible coastal and estuarine populations; how? ever, there is also a rich and diverse larval fauna in the open ocean, drifting with the plankton of the surface waters. These oceanic larvae, originating from bottomdwelling adults of the shoal waters of the continental shelf, often display exotic ad? aptations for prolonged planktonic exis? tence. Scattered reports of such larvae have appeared in the literature for many years, but it has been only recently that concentrated studies have been made on the distribution of the larvae and their role
Examining the relationships among built environment, physical activity, and body mass index in El Paso, TX.

Abstract Objective The current study examined the relationships among built environment, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) in a primarily Hispanic border community in El Paso, TX. Methods Data from a 2001 community-wide health survey were matched to environmental data using geocoding techniques in ARC VIEW software. A total of 996 adults were surveyed by phone and 452 were successfully geocoded. Results The sample was 71% female, 79% Hispanic, 42 ± 17 years old, moderately acculturated, and had socioeconomic status (SES) levels of semi-skilled workers. Increasing BMI was related to less moderate intensity physical activity ( P = 0.05), higher SES ( P = 0.0003), worse overall health ( P = 0.0004), and living in areas with greater land-use mix (less residential; P = 0.03). The relationship between overall health and BMI was in part mediated by higher numbers of barriers to physical activity in those with poor health, which lead to a decrease in moderate physical activity. These variables explained 20% of the variance in BMI. Conclusions This is one of the first studies to find a positive relationship between land-use mix and BMI in a predominantly Hispanic, low-income community. The positive association between BMI and land-use mix may be due to the inclusion of individual SES as a controlling variable in the analyses, suggesting that SES may have a differential effect on how the built environment influences BMI in low- to moderate-income minority communities.
How Americans Get Political Information: Print Versus Broadcast News

This article examines the extent to which major sources of political information affect citizen learning. Recent empirical comparisons of mass media channels show, contrary to earlier research, that television news is informative for American voters, albeit in ways different from newspapers. Television news provides more information about candidates; newspapers, more about parties. Both are sources of issue information. Print media are consulted more often than television by people who are actively seeking information. Television reaches groups that tend to lack political information, such as young people, immigrants, and less interested citizens. Newspaper coverage does more to close knowledge gaps between socioeconomic strata. Newsmagazines and radio are receding as political knowledge sources, relative to television and newspapers.
Observation of Tunneling States within the Two Conformations of Hydroxyl gauche, Methyl Asymmetric CH2DCH2OH

Abstract Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy has been used to observe and resolve the 60-kHz tunneling splitting between the symmetric and antisymmetric substates of conformations I and II for hydroxylgauche,methyl asymmetric CH2DCH2OH. Conformation I has the hydroxyl H and methyl D on the same side of the molecular plane whereas conformation II has them on the opposite sides. The determination of the small energy difference between these two conformers leads to an improved value ofVs1s2, (the potential energy coefficient that localizes the molecule into conformations I and II) of 4.8( 5 ) cm−1. Further, the relative intensities of the spectra show that conformation II is lower in energy than conformation I. Analysis of the quadrupole splittings of thea-type 101–000transitions determines values foreQqaathat range from −87 to −98 kHz for both hydroxyl conformations with the methyl group asymmetric and +84 to +102 kHz for both hydroxyl conformations with the methyl group symmetric.
Itqiy: A metal‐rich enstatite meteorite with achondritic texture

— Itqiy is a unique coarse-grained, metal-rich enstatite meteorite that was found in the Western Sahara and consists of two rocks together weighing 4.72 kg, which are both completely coated with fusion crust. We report results from our electron microprobe and instrumental neutron activation analysis techniques. Itqiy consists of subhedral, equigranular, millimeter-sized enstatite, −25 vol% of millimeter-sized kamacite and a few tiny intergrowths of sulfides and kamacite. Relic chondrules are absent. Pyroxene (Fs0.2) is chemically similar to enstatite in EL chondrites, but the metal is closer in composition to that in EH chondrites. Sulfides resemble those in E chondrites but their compositions are distinct from those in both EL and EH chondrites. Itqiy clearly formed under very reducing conditions, but it does not appear to have formed from EH or EL chondrites. Two thermal events can be distinguished. Silicate compositions including rare earth element abundances indicate loss of partial melt and slow cooling. Heterogeneous sulfides indicate a subsequent reheating and quenching event, which may have been due to shock as many enstatite grains show shock stage S3 features.
Better automated abstraction techniques for imperfect information games, with application to Texas Hold'em poker

We present new approximation methods for computing game-theoretic strategies for sequential games of imperfect information. At a high level, we contribute two new ideas. First, we introduce a new state-space abstraction algorithm. In each round of the game, there is a limit to the number of strategically different situations that an equilibrium-finding algorithm can handle. Given this constraint, we use clustering to discover similar positions, and we compute the abstraction via an integer program that minimizes the expected error at each stage of the game. Second, we present a method for computing the leaf payoffs for a truncated version of the game by simulating the actions in the remaining portion of the game. This allows the equilibrium-finding algorithm to take into account the entire game tree while having to explicitly solve only a truncated version. Experiments show that each of our two new techniques improves performance dramatically in Texas Hold'em poker. The techniques lead to a drastic improvement over prior approaches for automatically generating agents, and our agent plays competitively even against the best agents overall.
Time dependent Hartree-Fock fusion calculations for spherical, deformed systems

We outline a formalism to carry out time dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) calculations of fusion cross sections for spherical+deformed nuclei. The procedure incorporates the dynamic alignment of the deformed nucleus into the calculation of the fusion cross section. The alignment results from multiple E2/E4 Coulomb excitation of the ground state rotational band. Implications for TDHF fusion calculations are discussed. TDHF calculations are done in an unrestricted three-dimensional geometry using modern Skyrme force parametrizations.
Compact megawatt subnanosecond impulse generators using conventional electronic components

This paper discusses the generation of subnanosecond pulses in the kilovolt range using TRAPATT diodes as overvolted, subnanosecond switches in a Marx circuit using the traveling wave method of erection. The design, operation, and simulation of the solid state Marx generator is discussed including the design of the signal probes and inherent signal distortion. A transient circuit simulation code was used to assist in determining the true operation of the circuit and to assist in designing additional circuits.
A 'Neural' Network that Learns to Play Backgammon

We describe a class of connectionist networks that have learned to play backgammon at an intermediate-to-advanced level. The networks were trained by a supervised learning procedure on a large set of sample positions evaluated by a human expert. In actual match play against humans and conventional computer programs, the networks demonstrate substantial ability to generalize on the basis of expert knowledge. Our study touches on some of the most important issues in network learning theory, including the development of efficient coding schemes and training procedures, scaling, generalization, the use of real-valued inputs and outputs, and techniques for escaping from local minima. Practical applications in games and other domains are also discussed.
MicroRNAs, Diet and Cancer Chemoprevention

A growing body of clinical and epidemiological evidence suggests that diet is one of the most important modifiable determinants for risk of developing cancer and contributes to differences in cancer incidence among various populations. Experimental evidence supports the role of dietary components as chemopreventive agents in various cancers. Dietary factors potentially influence fundamental cellular processes involved in carcinogenesis; including apoptosis, cell-cycle control, angiogenesis, inflammation and DNA repair. Since microRNAs (miRNA) have emerged as critical gene/protein regulators that control basic cellular processes, there is much interest in determining the effect of dietary agents on modulation of miRNAs and their cognate targets in cancer. It has been proposed that dietary modulation of miRNA expression may contribute to the cancer-protective effects of dietary components. During the last few years, a plethora of studies have examined the effect of dietary agents on miRNAs and their targets in the context of cancer biology which suggest that dietary factors play an important role in carcinogenesis via modulation of miRNAs. In this chapter, we will summarize findings from these studies and will discuss their potential utility for cancer chemoprevention and therapeutics.
Cosubstrate tolerance of the aminoglycoside resistance enzyme Eis from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

We previously demonstrated that aminoglycoside acetyltransferases (AACs) display expanded cosubstrate promiscuity. The enhanced intracellular survival (Eis) protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for the resistance of this pathogen to kanamycin A in a large fraction of clinical isolates. Recently, we discovered that Eis is a unique AAC capable of acetylating multiple amine groups on a large pool of aminoglycoside (AG) antibiotics, an unprecedented property among AAC enzymes. Here, we report a detailed study of the acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) cosubstrate profile of Eis. We show that, in contrast to other AACs, Eis efficiently uses only 3 out of 15 tested acyl-CoA derivatives to modify a variety of AGs. We establish that for almost all acyl-CoAs, the number of sites acylated by Eis is smaller than the number of sites acetylated. We demonstrate that the order of n-propionylation of the AG neamine by Eis is the same as the order of its acetylation. We also show that the 6′ position is the first to be n-propionylated on amikacin and netilmicin. By sequential acylation reactions, we show that AGs can be acetylated after the maximum possible n-propionylation of their scaffolds by Eis. The information reported herein will advance our understanding of the multiacetylation mechanism of inactivation of AGs by Eis, which is responsible for M. tuberculosis resistance to some AGs.
Numerical modeling approach to dynamic data center cooling

Data centers are facilities that house large numbers of computer servers that dissipate high power. Due to varying operational loads their efficient thermal management is a big challenge that needs to be addressed. Computational modeling using a CFD code is a very useful technique for studying the cooling requirements for different data center power loading and room configuration. Much of the existing numerical modeling research literature focuses on simulating the data center thermal environment with constant operating conditions. In reality, data centers have highly time dependent operating conditions i.e. fluctuations in server power and A/C flow rates. Recent computational studies have shown that time dependent fluctuations in server rack power can lead to rapid fluctuations in rack inlet temperatures. For optimal data center performance, the cold air supply should also increase or decrease with the rack power. In this paper, a detailed numerical study of data center thermal performance is presented with time dependent power and cooling air supply conditions. Results are presented for average rack inlet temperatures as a function of time for different case studies. Fluctuations in inlet temperatures are explained by evaluation of the temperature and flow fields in a basic data center configuration.
Studying the propagation of light in strongly scattering media using terahertz pulses

We describe a new class of experiments involving applications of terahertz radiation to problems in biomedical imaging and diagnosis. These involve scale model measurements, in which information can be gained about pulse propagation in scattering media. Because of the scale-invariance of Maxwell's equations, these experiments can provide insight for researchers working on similar problems at shorter wavelengths. As a first demonstration, we measure the propagation constants for pulses in a dense collection of spherical scatterers, and compare to the predictions of the quasi-crystalline approximation. Even though the fractional volume in our measurements exceeds the limit of validity of this model, we find that it still predicts certain features of the propagation with reasonable accuracy.
From the Pragmatic to the Spiritual

I was born in 1934 in England and raised in the north London suburb of Finchley, except for the period of World War II, when I was evacuated to the country. I was educated in public and private schools, and in 1952 entered the University of London, where I majored in historical geography. I completed a master’s degree in cultural and urban geography at the University of Nebraska in 1958 under the direction of James E. Vance, Jr., and Leslie Hewes. After teaching cartography and working as an urban planner in Britain for 3 years, I returned to the United States as an immigrant in 1961. A second master’s degree in city and regional planning at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1965 under Melvin Webber turned my attention to the built environment and to the need for postoccupancy evaluation research in housing. After working for several years as a research associate in the Institute of Urban and Regional Development at Berkeley, I started to teach in the Department of Landscape Architecture in 1969. My entire teaching career has been at the University of California, Berkeley, where I am now a professor with a joint appointment in the Departments of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
Response to Alyssa Lyra Pitstick, Light in Darkness

In her remarkably forceful and learned book, Light in Darkness: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Catholic Doctrine of Christ's Descent into Hell, Alyssa Lyra Pitstick offers a comprehensive critique of Hans Urs von Balthasar's theology of the descent into hell. Pitstick contributes to a sharpening of readings of Balthasar and forces one to make precise interpretative judgements. Clearly, she has produced a work with which anyone interested in Balthasar must engage, and the conversation and debate the book has started will, to be sure, continue for many years ahead. This said, I am afraid that Dr Pitstick's unrelenting and totalising prosecution of Balthasar's theology leads her to disallow any charitable reading and critical appropriation of Balthasar's creative and, at times, sublime theology. Although not necessarily the final evaluative word on Balthasar, or on the doctrine of the descent into hell, Pitstick's book provides a tremendous spark for those interested in Balthasar's theology and for much needed reflection on the significance of the church's confession that Jesus Christ descended into hell.
INTEGUMENTARY AMINO ACID TRANSPORT AND METABOLISM IN THE APODOUS SEA CUCUMBER, CHIRIDOTA RIGIDA

SUMMARY 1. The apodous sea cucumber, Ckiridota rigida, was found to transport exogenous amino acids to intracellular free amino acid pools in the integument, the gastrointestinal epithelium making only a minimal contribution to total animal uptake. 2. Amino acids entering the integumentary free amino acid pool were either completely catabohzed to CO2, incorporated into large molecular weight compounds, such as proteins, or left unchanged. The latter fraction was available for efflux through both apical and basal cellular membranes through saturable or non-saturable transport processes. 3. Influx of natural (glycine) and analog (AIB) amino acids into the integumentary epithelium was achieved by a combination of saturable and non-saturable transport mechanisms: the former displaying MichaelisMenten kinetics, being Na+-dependent, and transporting both glycine and AIB; the latter involving a simple diffusion of amino acid across the apical cell membranes and/or through the intercellular septate desmosomes. 4. Preloaded AIB exhibited both homo- and hetero-exchange diffusion with exogenous amino acids when a relatively large internal analog pool had been established. With a small internal pool of AIB, homo-exchange diffusion persisted, but high external concentrations of glycine inhibited the washout of the analog. 5. Transintegumentary influx of AIB to the coelomic fluid was a linear function of the exogenous amino acid concentration and was unchanged when choline chloride was used as a substitute saline. At steady-state the coelomic fluid analog concentration was maintained at a much lower level than the incubation medium or the epithelial free amino acid pool, due to apparent absorptive processes of the dermis and muscle layers of the integument, as well as by possible carrier-mediated re-uptake mechanisms on the basal membranes of the epithelial cells. 6. A tentative model of integumentary amino acid transport and metabolism in C. rigida is presented.
High-performance emulation of heterogeneous systems using adaptive time dilation

Building a testbed for evaluating the performance of large-scale heterogeneous systems can be costly and inefficient. Emulation is often used to evaluate the performance of a system in a controlled environment. Time dilation allows virtual machines VMs to emulate higher performance than that of their physical machine. We present an approach using adaptive time dilation to emulate large-scale distributed systems composed of heterogeneous machines and Operating Systems OSs. In our implementation, VMs are globally synchronized. To evaluate our system, distributed VMs running Linux, Windows, FreeBSD, and Junos are emulated on general-purpose physical machines.
Marsh & McLennan Companies

SUBJECT AREAS: Reputational risk, conflicts of interest, managing financial conglomerates CASE SETTINGS: United States and global, 2003-05 This case describes professional conduct and conflict of interest problems encountered by Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) in its three major business units during 2003-05, and traces the disclosure announcement-effects on the share price. Issues raised include tracking and valuing reputational risk exposures, managing complexity, industry practices and firm-wide strategy.
Student reasoning about the invertible matrix theorem in linear algebra

I report on how a linear algebra classroom community reasoned about the invertible matrix theorem (IMT) over time. The IMT is a core theorem that connects many fundamental concepts through the notion of equivalency. As the semester progressed, the class developed the IMT in an emergent fashion. As such, the various equivalences took form and developed meaning as students came to reason about the ways in which key ideas involved were connected. Microgenetic and ontogenetic analyses (Saxe in J Learn Sci 11(2–3):275–300, 2002) framed the structure of the investigation. The results focus on shifts in the mathematical content of argumentation over time and the centrality of span and linear independence in classroom argumentation.
Diversity of antisense regulation in eukaryotes: Multiple mechanisms, emerging patterns

High-throughput analysis of RNA molecules in multicellular eukaryotes has revealed an abundance of complementary antisense RNAs that are transcribed from separate or overlapping genes. In mammals these include many novel non-coding RNAs of unknown function. This unexpected complexity of the mammalian transcriptome suggests that expression of many genes is regulated post-transcriptionally by mechanisms mediated by RNA-RNA base pairing. The recent discovery of the widespread expression of microRNAs in animals and plants provides a prototypic example of such regulation in eukaryotes. However, there are likely to be numerous other types of antisense regulation in eukaryotes, many as yet uncharacterized.
Robust Broadband Beamformer with Diagonally Loaded Constraint Matrix and Its Application to Speech Recognition

In this paper, we develop a robust wideband adaptive beamforming algorithm for microphone array based speech recognition. We develop a quadratic constraint based approach to deal with the uncertainty in the look direction. In order to address the ill-conditioning associated with the constraint matrix, diagonal loading (DL) is employed. The advantage of adding DL to the constraint matrix is that the constraint matrix is only determined by the geometry of the array thereby allowing the DL level to be chosen offline. We also develop an iterative algorithm (and corresponding adaptive algorithm) to solve for the robust beamformer coefficients. The developed algorithm is applied to the problem of beamforming using microphone arrays for speech recognition and shown to be superior to existing algorithms.
High-Frequency Earthquake Ground-Motion Scaling in Utah and Yellowstone

Velocity seismograms from the University of Utah Seismograph stations are used to quantify high-frequency ground motion scaling for the Yellowstone region and the Wasatch front in Utah. This study uses a data set consisting of over 3000 waveforms from 93 stations and 506 regional earthquakes and mining-associated seismic events that occurred in the years 1995-2001. All events lie within the upper crust with magnitudes less than 5.5. The signals were processed to examine the peak ground velocity and Fourier velocity spectra in the frequency range of 1.0-16.0 Hz. Regression results for Utah are characterized by rapid decreases of amplitude at short distances, which requires low Q and a rapid geometrical spreading g ( r ) for the forward modeling. Q ( f ) = 160 f 0.75, κeff = 0.05 sec and Δσ = 300 bars are selected to predict the excitation terms when combined with the derived geometrical spreading. The frequency-dependent excitation of mining-associated events differs significantly from that of earthquakes because of either an additional attenuation due to shallow source depth or apparent low stress drops associated with the slow collapse of long tunnels. A Q ( f ) = 140 f 0.70 and geometrical spreading less rapid than r -1.0 at short distance ranges are used to describe the wave propagation distance dependence in the Yellowstone region. The Yellowstone attenuation functional D ( r, f ) is very different from that of Utah, perhaps because a shallow wave guide in the caldera traps more energy. The Yellowstone excitation spectra were modeled using Δσ = 30 bars and κeff = 0.04 sec. Manuscript received 24 October 2003.
Line-gap discrimination of the skin.

Su?nmavy.-In threc experiments, different influences on the ability to separate stimuli on the skin or detect gaps between them were investigated. The first study presented a new method of studying gap detection which eliminates methodological difficulties inherent in the classical two-point method, and it was shown that thresholds decrease with extended practice on a given skin area. The second study invesrigated the ability to detect point stimuli inserted within gaps and demonstrated that the perception of such stimuli is suppressed when they are centered in gaps that are discriminable. Also, it was shown that the two-gap threshold is nearly twice the single-gap threshold, and therefore distance between edges is more important than amount of unstimulated skin for gap discrimination. In the third study, the amount of stimularion on each side of tactile gaps was varied, and ic was determined that this does not significantly affect gap detection.
Long-chain acylcarnitines activate cell stress and myokine release in C2C12 myotubes: calcium-dependent and -independent effects

Acylcarnitines, important lipid biomarkers reflective of acyl-CoA status, are metabolites that possess bioactive and inflammatory properties. This study examined the potential for long-chain acylca...
Casting the Net: A Multimodal Network Perspective on User-System Interactions

Information systems (IS) researchers have typically examined the user-system relationship as an isolated dyad between a single, independent user and an individual, freestanding information system. We argue that this conceptualization does not adequately represent most organizations today, in which multiple users interact with multiple information systems within a group. Relying heavily on the theory and methods behind social network analysis, we introduce the concept of multimodal networks to assess both users and information systems as equivalent nodes in a single social network. This perspective allows us to examine the influence of information systems on organizational outcomes as a function of all of the user-system and interpersonal interactions in a group. We explore two different possible mechanisms for this influence: (1) direct user-system interactions by aggregating the strength of all the dyadic user-system interactions in a group, and (2) indirect user-system interactions by assessing the cent...
Combating Methamphetamine Use in the Community: The Efficacy of the Drug Court Model

Methamphetamine use was historically a problem facing Western states; however, in recent years it has methodically spread throughout the nation. Methamphetamine use impacts communities, families, and the criminal justice system in a variety of ways. As such, many jurisdictions are developing policies to reduce the sale and consumption of this drug as well as increase penalties for its use. The question of whether methamphetamine users can be safely and effectively treated in the community is unresolved. This study explores whether community-based drug courts are a reasonable option for treating this population. Results of the study indicate that drug of choice does not influence outcome in a drug court setting. Policy implications are discussed.
The Impact of Education Has the Failure to Standardize Musculoskeletal Sonography Undermined Its Value

Sonography has made substantial technological improvements over the years, removing many of the barriers to its application in evaluation of the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. Sonography offers the ...
Epitaxial Growth of Zinc-Blende Ain by Plasma Source Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Epitaxial zinc-blende AIN films as thick as 2000A were deposited on Si (100) substrates by plasma source molecular beam epitaxy (PSMBE). The metastable zinc-blende form of AIN was observed to occur when pulse d.c. power was supplied to the PSMBE hollow cathode source. Reflection High Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) showed that the films possess a four fold symmetry. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) revealed two strong peaks corresponding to the (200) and (400) reflections from the zinc-blende AIN. The lattice parameter of the films was calculated to be approximately 4.373A. TEM, performed on one of the films, revealed that the AIN is cubic, single crystalline and epitaxial with respect to the Si (100) substrate.
Cox-2-derived PGE2 induces Id1-dependent radiation resistance and self-renewal in experimental glioblastoma

Background In glioblastoma (GBM), Id1 serves as a functional marker for self-renewing cancer stem-like cells. We investigated the mechanism by which cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2)-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induces Id1 and increases GBM self-renewal and radiation resistance. Methods Mouse and human GBM cells were stimulated with dimethyl-PGE2 (dmPGE2), a stabilized form of PGE2, to test for Id1 induction. To elucidate the signal transduction pathway governing the increase in Id1, a combination of short interfering RNA knockdown and small molecule inhibitors and activators of PGE2 signaling were used. Western blotting, quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were employed. Sphere formation and radiation resistance were measured in cultured primary cells. Immunohistochemical analyses were carried out to evaluate the Cox-2-Id1 axis in experimental GBM. Results In GBM cells, dmPGE2 stimulates the EP4 receptor leading to activation of ERK1/2 MAPK. This leads, in turn, to upregulation of the early growth response1 (Egr1) transcription factor and enhanced Id1 expression. Activation of this pathway increases self-renewal capacity and resistance to radiation-induced DNA damage, which are dependent on Id1. Conclusions In GBM, Cox-2-derived PGE2 induces Id1 via EP4-dependent activation of MAPK signaling and the Egr1 transcription factor. PGE2-mediated induction of Id1 is required for optimal tumor cell self-renewal and radiation resistance. Collectively, these findings identify Id1 as a key mediator of PGE2-dependent modulation of radiation response and lend insight into the mechanisms underlying radiation resistance in GBM patients.
A Demonstration of Tunnel Vision: Foveal Load and Instructional Set are Both Important:

The present study demonstrated that an Increase in foveal cognitive load can have a substantial detrimental effect on the processing of information from para- and perifoveal regions of the same display. Also, an instructional set which biased subjects to distribute most of their attentional resources to the foveal (primary) task resulted in much poorer performance on the parafoveal (secondary) task than an instructional set which biased subjects to allocate attentional resources over the entire display.Although reaction times on the secondary task became slower with increases in the eccentricity of the secondary task stimuli, the rate of reaction time increase was greatest for the condition that combined high foveal cognitive load with a foveal attentional bias. The results are interpreted in terms of a tunnel-vision model.
Social and cultural change in Central Asia: the Soviet legacy

This is a collection of essays ‘written by young academics and researchers' (1). The majority (nine) were, at the time of publication, master's-level graduates or graduate students, joined by two d...
Transition metal ion complexes of theS-methyldithiocarbazate prepared from 2-acetylpyridineN-oxide

Metal ion complexes of theS-methyldithiocarbazate of 2-acetylpyridineN-oxide, HONS, have been prepared and characterised by spectral and physical methods. Preparative ethanolic solutions on reflux yield complexes in which the deprotonated form of the ligand, ONS, is complexedvia itsN-oxide oxygen, azomethine nitrogen, and thione sulphur. Representative stoichiometries are as follows: [M(ONS)2]X (M=Fe3+, and X=ClO4−, FeCl4− or M=Co3+ and X=BF4−) and [M(ONS)X] (M=Co2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+ and X=Cl−, Br−). The i.r., electronic, and electron spin resonance spectra of the complexes are compared to analogous complexes of theX-methyldithiocarbazate of 2-acetylpyridine as well as the thiosemicarbazones of 2-acetylpyridineN-oxide.
The Hyphomycetous Genera of H. W. Harkness and the Ascomycetous Genus Cleistosoma Harkn

(1958). The Hyphomycetous Genera of H. W. Harkness and the Ascomycetous Genus Cleistosoma Harkn. Mycologia: Vol. 50, No. 6, pp. 844-861.
Peripheral Arterial and Renal Venous Angiotensin Concentration.

SummaryNephrectomized dog blood contains pressor material in very low concentrations (62 ± 28 mμg%). Recovery of synthetic angiotensin II was variable (30–70%). Peripheral arterial angiotensin concentration was elevated by an infusion of angiotensin, but patients with essential hypertension had angiotensin concentrations lower than during the infusion and their angiotensin concentration was the same as in normotensives. Sodium intake did not influence angiotensin concentration in renal venous blood. The presence of renal artery stenosis did not elevate renal venous angiotensin concentration on the affected side.
Microstructure on Laser In Situ Deposit of TiB x /TiC ReinforcedComposite Coatings

In situ synthesized TiBx/TiC reinforced composite coatings were prepared on Ti-6Al-4V substrate by laser in situ deposition using 10B4C-18TiNi-72Ti-6Al-4V (wt. %) powder blends as the feedstock materials. The microstructural analysis of the composites was performed using scanning electron microscope, and phase analysis was done with X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the composite coatings contained long needle TiB, irregular block TiB2 and disperse particles/dendrites TiC, the thick rod phase which was a inlay structure consisted of TiB2 and TiC. These composite reinforced phases were evenly distribution in the (TiNi+Ti2Ni+α–Ti) substrate.
Comparison of Slide Agglutination Test (Phadebact) with Counterimmunoelectrophoresis for Detection of Streptococcal Group Antigens

Sera from mice infected with group B streptococci and culture supernatants of group B, A, and C streptococci were examined for the presence of group-specific antigens by the Phadebact slide agglutination (PSA) test and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). The results were correlated with the number of organisms present in the blood or in vitro cultures. The PSA test was slightly more sensitive than CIE.
Label-free Imaging of Schwann Cell Myelination by Third Harmonic Generation Microscopy

We describe third-harmonic generation microscopy for label-free imaging of myelinating Schwann cells in live culture and ex vivo and in vivo tissue. The estimation of g-ratio is demonstrated for mouse models of hypomyelination.
Pap smear rates among Haitian immigrant women in eastern Massachusetts.

Objective.Given limited prior evidence of high rates of cervical cancer in Haitian immigrant women in the U.S., this study was designed to examine self-reported Pap smear screening rates for Haitia...