cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advantage-Weighted Regression: Simple and Scalable Off-Policy Reinforcement Learning

In this work, we aim to develop a simple and scalable reinforcement learning algorithm that uses standard supervised learning methods as subroutines, while also being able to leverage off-policy data. Our proposed approach, which we refer to as advantage-weighted regression (AWR), consists of two standard supervised learning steps: one to regress onto target values for a value function, and another to regress onto weighted target actions for the policy. The method is simple and general, can accommodate continuous and discrete actions, and can be implemented in just a few lines of code on top of standard supervised learning methods. We provide a theoretical motivation for AWR and analyze its properties when incorporating off-policy data from experience replay. We evaluate AWR on a suite of standard OpenAI Gym benchmark tasks, and show that it achieves competitive performance compared to a number of well-established state-of-the-art RL algorithms. AWR is also able to acquire more effective policies than most off-policy algorithms when learning from purely static datasets with no additional environmental interactions. Furthermore, we demonstrate our algorithm on challenging continuous control tasks with highly complex simulated characters.
"Latin Players on the Cheap:" Professional Baseball Recruitment in Latin America and the Neocolonialist Tradition

"Bonuses? Big money promises? Uh-uh. Cambria's carrot was the fame and glory that would come from playing beisbol in the big leagues," wrote Ray Fitzgerald, reflecting on Washington Senators scout Joe Cambria' s tactics in recruiting Latino baseball talent from the mid-1930s through the 1950s.1 Cambria was the first of many scouts who searched Latin America for inexpensive recruits for their respective ball clubs. The attraction of Latin America, of course, was not only the possibility of recruiting cheap talent, but also the availability of potentially skilled players in regions where labor laws accommodated Major League Baseball (MLB) owners. Since the 1930s, thousands of young men signed contracts that contained little more than empty promises. Little, if any, money was exchanged; and contracts prohibited players from marketing their talents?the practice of free and competitive enterprise?elsewhere. Interestingly, MLB techniques in Latin America were consistent with the business practices of U.S. companies throughout the region since the late nineteenth century. Professional baseball recruiting in Latin America embodied many of the features of the neocolonialist tradition.
Twin related domain networks in René 88DT

Abstract Annealing twins in wrought fcc materials have historically been characterized using simple 2D measures including morphology and volume fraction. Accurately describing twin related domain microstructure requires accounting for their complex 3D structure. A large microstructural volume of a nickel-base alloy Rene 88DT has been collected using TriBeam tomography for full characterization of a large number of complete twin related domains. A network based approach enables visualization of twin domain structures. Metrics adapted from graph theory enable the first quantitative 3D microstructure descriptions. The implications for fatigue properties in twinned nickel-base alloys are discussed.
“Ganesha Is My Best Friend”: Homological Boyhood in Hindi Mythological Animated Films

This chapter explores the construction of Hindu boyhood in four Hindi mythological composite films that feature the Hindu gods Ganesha and Krishna as animated boy-gods. Directed by Rajiv S. Ruia, the My Friend Ganesha trilogy (2007–2010) and Main Krishna Hoon (2013; translated as I Am Krishna) create a homological relationship between the boy-gods and young male protagonists, drawing on the Hindu cultural ideal of the child as divinity (Kakar 1978, Sharma 2003). In exclusively privileging the boy-child as a reflection of god, the films reinforce the widespread cultural valorization of male infants in India. At one level, the films reflect an anxiety about the effect of globalization on the Indian middle class, manifested in the perceived diminishing role of religion, increased vulnerability of children in a globalized environment, and changing gender roles. At the same time, they create distinctly “modern” and “global” middle-class identities for their boy protagonists. A masculinized boyhood is made to become paradigmatic, and the contemporized Hindu boy-gods reinforce consumerist ideals by embodying the idealized lifestyle toward which the new Indian middle class aspires.
Agitated, Thin-Films Of Liquid Media For Efficient Micropropagation

In vitro culture is a semi-closed system that aseptically provides oxygen, water, organic carbon source (and/or CO2 and light), nutrients, and plant growth regulators (PGR), at a controlled temperature. A traditional view of plant tissue culture involves placing a small piece of tissue on the gelled-media surface, in a jar, plate or tube, and allows exponential growth unfettered by lack of resource in a uniform microenvironment. Many reports summarized in this volume show increased productivity (per plant, unit area or time) were achieved with larger vessels of liquid medium yielding greater numbers and / or larger plants. Liquid systems that improve distribution of dissolved nutrients, water and oxygen, in the vessel stimulate growth of plant tissues. Simplicity, cost and ergonomic factors are human constraints imposed on designs intended for commercial use. This chapter describes a hybrid micropropagation process that invokes features of semi-solid gel and bioreactor technology. The agitated, thin-film system (or rocker) uses large, rigid rectangular vessels in a slow pitching motion to intermittently wet and aerate plantlets [1] (see Figure 1). Economy of scale was optimized for the twodimensional growth surface area in the vessel. Gentle oxygenation of liquid media was similar to wave machines Eibl and Eibl describe for cell and tissue culture in Part 2 of this volume. Shoot surfaces, intermittently wet or dry in a large headspace, accumulate large quantities of solutes from media resulting in high shoot quality similar to temporary immersion systems. Vessel and culture room designs differ from conventional micropropagation, or the bioreactors discussed in other chapters of Part 2. The first section of this chapter discusses nutrients and heterotrophic growth in agar and liquid;the secondsectioncomparesefficiencyof agitated,thin-film processwith agar-based media system; and third one lists designconsiderations for the vessel and culture shelves in the growth room during scale-up. Comparisons will be drawn to agar-gelled media in small round jars, typical of many micropropagation protocols using semi-solid media.
Complement C5 is not critical for the formation of sub-RPE deposits in Efemp1 mutant mice.

The complement system plays a role in the formation of sub-retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) deposits in early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). But the specific mechanisms that connect complement activation and deposit formation in AMD patients are unknown, which limits the development of efficient therapies to reduce or stop disease progression. We have previously demonstrated that C3 blockage prevents the formation of sub-RPE deposits in a mouse model of EFEMP1-associated macular degeneration. In this study, we have used double mutant Efemp1R345W/R345W:C5-/- mice to investigate the role of C5 in the formation of sub-RPE deposits in vivo and in vitro. The data revealed that the genetic ablation of C5 does not eliminate the formation of sub-RPE deposits in vivo or in vitro. Contrarily, the absence of C5 in RPE cultures promotes complement dysregulation that results in increased activation of C3, which likely contributes to deposit formation even in the absence of EFEMP1-R345W mutant protein. The results also suggest that genetic ablation of C5 alters the extracellular matrix turnover through an effect on matrix metalloproteinases in RPE cell cultures. These results confirm that C3 rather than C5 could be an effective therapeutic target to treat early AMD.
Subsidy Incidence and Inertia in Farmland Rental Markets: Estimates from a Dynamic Panel

Citation: Hendricks, Nathan P., et al. “Subsidy Incidence and Inertia in Farmland Rental Markets: Estimates from a Dynamic Panel.” Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, vol. 37, no. 3, 2012, pp. 361–378. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23496722.
Chapter 4 Hormonal Control of A Secretory Tissue

Publisher Summary The aleurone layer of the seeds of gramineae is a secretory tissue surrounding the endosperm reserves of the seed. During germination, gibberellins from the embryo induce the aleurone layer cells to synthesize and secrete several hydrolases, including amylases and proteases that hydrolyze the reserve starch to maltose and glucose and the reserve proteins to amino acids. These end products of hydrolysis are transported to the growing regions of the embryo. In the intact germinating seed, the embryo, both the scutellum and the nodal region, synthesizes the gibberellins, probably GA, and GA that control the aleurone response. This is appropriate and logical, because it is the embryo that gains from an ordered mobilization of the endosperm reserves. Thus, the cereal grain provides a convenient system for the study of the plant's use of a hormone to integrate the various functions of the different tissues and organs.
Electrostatic modification at the amino termini of hemoglobin A

The structural perturbations of the amino-terminal domains of hemoglobin A resulting from the carbamino adduct formation (a reversible in vivo electrostatic modification reaction) at Val-1(alpha) and Val-1(beta) is expected to be mimicked in the derivatives of HbA reductively alkylated at its alpha-amino terminus with aldehydes containing a negatively charged functional group at their distal end (double-headed reagents). Derivatives of HbA with galacturonic acid linked through alkylamino linkage either to Val-1(alpha) or Val-1(beta) (disubstituted derivatives) as well as to both Val-1(alpha) and Val-1(beta) (tetrasubstituted derivative) have been now prepared. All the three derivatives exhibit normal cooperativity but reduced O2 affinities. The functional consequence of the modification of HbA at its amino termini with D-galacuronic acid has been compared with that of the carboxymethylation of HbA at the same sites. This comparative study suggests that the stereochemistry of the carboxylate ion introduced into beta-cleft of Hb dictates the level of reduction in the O2 affinity of the molecule seen on derivatization. However such a unique stereochemistry of the carboxylate ion of the reagent does not appear to be crucial to lower oxygen affinity when the modification is at the amino terminus of the alpha-chain. The molecular modeling studies demonstrate that the carboxylate ion of the carbamino adduct at the amino terminus of the beta-chain as well as the carboxylate of carboxymethyl group at the same site are in a geometrical orientation that favors the formation of an intrachain ionic interaction with the epsilon-amino group of Lys-82(beta). On the other hand the stereochemistry of a carboxylate ion of galacuronic acid on Val-1(beta) appears to be appropriate to form either an intrachian salt bridge with epsilon-amino group of Ly2-82(beta) of the same chain (intrachain) or alternatively an interchain salt bridge involving the epsilon-amino group of Lys-82(beta) of the trans chain. We speculate that the latter, i.e. trans configuration is favored as a result of the potential of D-galacturonic acid bound to Val-1(beta) to form an additional hydrogen bond with trans His-143(beta).
Motivations for Participating in Open Source Software Communities: Roles of Psychological Needs and Altruism

As a new phenomenon of the software industry, Open Source Software (OSS) development has attracted many research interests. Examining what motivate participants to be involved in OSS projects is one of the recently heated research areas. This study is motivated by the significance but lacking evidence on how personality traits may affect participants’ task effort on OSS projects. In particular, we investigate how personality traits namely psychological needs for autonomy and competence, and one’s altruism interact with motivations. Following Self-Determination Theory, we differentiate different types of. In addition, drawing upon the Affective Event theory, we submit that personality traits moderate the relationships between task effort and both external and identified motivations. The research model is largely supported by data from 204 participants in various OSS projects. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed.
Life Cycle Energy and Climate Change Implications of Nanotechnologies

Summary The potential environmental and health impacts of nanotechnologies triggered a recent surge of life cycle assessment (LCA) studies on nanotechnologies. Focusing on the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions impacts, we reviewed 22 LCA-based studies on nanomaterials, coatings, photovoltaic devices, and fabrication technologies that were published until 2011. The reviewed LCA studies indicate that nanomaterials have higher cradle-to-gate energy demand per functional unit, and thus higher global warming impact, than their conventional counterparts. Depending on the synthesis method, carbon-based nanoparticles (i.e., carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes) require 1 to 900 gigajoules per kilogram (GJ/kg) of primary energy to produce, compared with ∼200 megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg) for aluminum. This is mainly attributed to the fact that nanomaterials involve an energy-intensive synthesis process or an additional mechanical process to reduce particle size. Most reviewed studies ascertain, however, that the cradle-to-grave energy demand and global warming impact from nanotechnologies at a device level are lower than from conventional technologies because nanomaterials are typically used in a small amount to improve functionality and the upgraded functionality offers more energy-efficient operation of the device. Because of the immature status of most nanotechnologies, the studies reviewed here often rely on inventory data estimated from literature values and parametric analyses based on laboratory or prototype production, warranting future analyses to confirm the current findings.
Purification and Properties of Cathepsin D from Bovine Uterus

Abstract Cathepsin D was prepared from bovine uterus by homogenization, acid dialysis, (NH4)2SO4 concentration, dioxane fractionation, and chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-Sephadex. A purification of 1000-fold has been achieved and the recovery exceeds 40%. The resulting product contains a large number of distinct forms of cathepsin D as shown by disc electrophoresis. The preparation appears to be free of contaminating acid proteases and peptidases as shown by the failure to digest 16 synthetic peptides commonly used as substrates for these enzymes. The specificity of the enzyme was studied with the B chain of insulin as a substrate. Major points of cleavage were found at Leu15-Tyr16, Phe24-Phe25, and Phe25-Tyr26. Additional points of cleavage included Phe1-Val2, Glu13-Ala14, Ala14-Leu15, Tyr16-Leu17. This specificity indicates that this enzyme from the bovine uterus belongs to the cathepsin D family of proteases. The enzyme showed maximum stability in the pH range 5 to 7. Activity was rapidly lost when the enzyme was heated to 60° at pH 6.3. The apparent molecular weight was estimated to be 43,000 based on molecular sieving on Sephadex G-100 and G-75 columns. The hydrolysis of denatured hemoglobin by cathepsin D is inhibited by high concentrations (0.01 m) of heavy metal ions and by high salt concentrations (ionic strength = 0.3). Dithiothreitol (1 mm), 3-p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (5 mm), and vitamin A (1 mm) are moderately inhibitory.
Monitoring Technology in the American Workplace: Would Adopting English Privacy Standards Better Balance Employee Privacy and Productivity

In an article summarizing privacy law in the American workplace, noted privacy law scholar Matthew Finkin painted a dramatic picture of the surveillance under which many American employees work.' For example, he cited a 2001 American Management Association study showing that nearly 80% of the large employers surveyed, who together employ as many as one out of four American workers, listened to employees' phone conversations and voice mail, and monitored electronic files and email.2 Finkin quoted the Privacy Foundation's statistic that 34% of workers are monitored continuously with regard to their email and Internet usage.3 However, Finkin also pointed
Analytical solutions for surfactant-enhanced remediation of nonaqueous phase liquids

[1] Benchmark compositional solutions are presented for the remediation of aquifers contaminated with nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) by injection of surfactant-water mixtures. The method of characteristics (MOC) is used to find one-dimensional analytical solutions to the Riemann problem where three partially miscible phases are flowing in a Winsor type III microemulsion. In partially miscible flow, two or three phases form when the components (constituents) are mixed in some but not all proportions. Three relative permeability models are examined, and MOC solutions are found. Fine-grid numerical simulations match the MOC results. The composition routes and contaminant recoveries can differ significantly depending on the relative permeability model used. The results for each model are optimized to determine the minimum surfactant volume required for complete contaminant recovery. Unlike two-phase partially miscible flow, the presence of three flowing phases makes it impossible to reach miscibility between the injected and resident fluids, regardless of surfactant concentration.
Optimizing antibiotic selection in treating COPD exacerbations

Our understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis and consequences of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increased substantially in the last decade. Several new lines of evidence demonstrate that bacterial isolation from sputum during acute exacerbation in many instances reflects a cause-effect relationship. Placebo-controlled antibiotic trials in exacerbations of COPD demonstrate significant clinical benefits of antibiotic treatment in moderate and severe episodes. However, in the multitude of antibiotic comparison trials, the choice of antibiotics does not appear to affect the clinical outcome, which can be explained by several methodological limitations of these trials. Recently, comparison trials with nontraditional end-points have shown differences among antibiotics in the treatment of exacerbations of COPD. Observational studies that have examined clinical outcome of exacerbations have repeatedly demonstrated certain clinical characteristics to be associated with treatment failure or early relapse. Optimal antibiotic selection for exacerbations has therefore incorporated quantifying the risk for a poor outcome of the exacerbation and choosing antibiotics differently for low risk and high risk patients, reserving the broader spectrum drugs for the high risk patients. Though improved outcomes in exacerbations with antibiotic choice based on such risk stratification has not yet been demonstrated in prospective controlled trials, this approach takes into account concerns of disease heterogeneity, antibiotic resistance and judicious antibiotic use in exacerbations.
Aerobic Exercise Training Increases Skeletal Muscle Protein Turnover in Healthy Adults at Rest

The effect of a 4-wk aerobic exercise training program (30-45 min, 3-5 d/wk, >or=65% maximal heart rate) on mixed skeletal muscle protein fractional synthetic rate (FSR), fractional breakdown rate (FBR), and net protein balance (FSR - FBR) (NET) was examined in 8 healthy, previously unfit men and women [21.0+/- 0.4 y, 163.7+/- 4.4 cm, 75.6+/- 5.7 kg, 33.5+/- 4.1% body fat, VO(2 peak) 38.6+/- 2.3 mL/(kg.min)] fed eucaloric diets providing 0.85 g protein/(kg.d) for the 6-wk study. Measurements were made at baseline after 2 wk of diet intervention only, and after 4 wk of aerobic exercise training and diet intervention. Primed continuous infusions of ring-[(2)H(5)]-phenylalanine (2 micromol/kg; 0.05 micromol/(kg.min) and [(15)N]-phenylalanine (2 micromol/kg; 0.05 micromol/(kg.min) were used to assess skeletal muscle protein turnover at rest via the precursor-product method. Endurance training improved cardiovascular fitness, with a significant increase in VO(2 peak) (P<0.01) and a significant decrease in running time on a standard course (P<0.01). There were o significant changes in body mass or composition. There was a significant increase in FSR (0.077+/- 0.007 vs. 0.089+/- 0.006%/h, P<0.05) and decrease in NET (FSR - FBR) (-0.023 +/-0.004 vs. -0.072 +/- 0.012%/h, P < 0.05); FBR tended to increase (0.105+/- 0.014 vs. 0.143+/- 0.018%/h; P=0.06) after training. Findings show that aerobic training for 4 wk increases skeletal muscle protein turnover in previously unfit subjects.
FDG-PET/CT in the evaluation of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

This comprehensive case series illustrates the findings on 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) of patients with varying stages of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Patients were imaged with full-body scanning using a General Electric Discovery ST 16-slice PET/CT machine. Patients were assessed by PET/CT for cutaneous, nodal, and solid organ FDG uptake, indicative of highly metabolically active (i.e., putatively malignant cells) disease, and comparisons were made to CT data alone and to the physical examination. Several key observations strongly suggested that information afforded by PET/CT scan may be valuable. Various cutaneous lesions, from thin subtle plaques to thick tumors, were revealed and corresponded accurately to the cutaneous examination. In the case of subcutaneous lesions, PET/CT outperformed physical exam. CT also provided the depth/thickness of lesions. The differing levels of FDG uptake in enlarged nodes found within an individual patient as well as among different patients may potentially distinguish reactive from malignant adenopathy. Additionally, lymph nodes that did not meet staging size criteria (e.g., were not > 1 cm) revealed increased metabolic activity and, therefore, could be targeted for subsequent monitoring or biopsy. In addition, PET/CT identified visceral involvement in cases with advanced disease. In summary, PET/CT can provide physiologic and anatomic information on the wide diversity of external and internal lesions in CTCL and, therefore, may have great potential for improving the staging and monitoring of response to therapy of cutaneous, nodal, and visceral disease.
Stochastic processes in muon ionization cooling

Abstract A muon ionization cooling channel consists of three major components: the magnet optics, an acceleration cavity, and an energy absorber. The absorber of liquid hydrogen contained by thin aluminum windows is the only component which introduces stochastic processes into the otherwise deterministic acceleration system. The scattering dynamics of the transverse coordinates is described by Gaussian distributions. The asymmetric energy loss function is represented by the Vavilov distribution characterized by the minimum number of collisions necessary for a particle undergoing loss of the energy distribution average resulting from the Bethe–Bloch formula. Examples of the interplay between stochastic processes and deterministic beam dynamics are given.
VLF propagation across discontinuous daytime-to nighttime transitions in anisotropic terrestrial waveguide

Discontinuity effects are analyzed after referring the ionospheric surface impedance of daytime and nighttime waveguide portions to the same common altitude h . The properties of the waveguide junction are determined by field matching, and the resulting linear equations are rearranged in a form that permits a sequential determination of transmission and reflection coefficients. Simple dominant mode approximations of the transmission and reflection coefficients are also developed. Field calculations of reciprocal geometries illustrate the consistency of the formulation and reflection coefficients are found to be of negligible magnitudes. The discontinuous surface impedance tends to excite higher order waveguide modes of larger amplitudes than a ground based source in homogeneous waveguide.
Women in Academic Atmospheric Sciences

AbstractPast studies suggest that the atmospheric sciences may have the fewest women of all geosciences occupations. The purpose of this study was to document the representation of women in the academic atmospheric sciences, specifically women’s representation among faculty in U.S. atmospheric sciences doctoral programs. A second purpose was to describe the demographic profile, educational preparation, and occupational destination of atmospheric sciences graduate students—as a way to gauge the characteristics and progress of women potentially in the pipeline for academic positions. Data on atmospheric sciences faculty (N = 813) were collected from the websites of 34 doctoral programs. Women constituted 17% of tenure-track and tenured atmospheric sciences faculty. Most departments (53%) had two or fewer female tenure-track or tenured faculty members. The proportion of female faculty members declined as academic rank increased. Institutional data for graduate students (N = 1,153) at a subset of these progra...
Synthesis of Conformationally Restricted Sulfonamides via Radical Cyclization.

A variety of o-bromophenylsulfonamides having different unsaturated substituents on the amide nitrogen is investigated as substrates with respect to synthesize seven- and eight membered heterocycles.
Anomalous resistivity of iodine-free 2H-NbSe2

Abstract Resistance ratios of crystals of 2H-NbSe 2 grown with and without iodine were measured over the temperature range 6K–40K. Iodine-free crystals had higher ratios than any NbSe 2 previously reported and exhibited an abrupt anomaly at the onset of the charge density wave phase. All crystals displayed a cubic temperature dependence of their resistivities below 18K.
Experimental frequency-domain channel matrix characterization for SDM-MIMO-OFDM systems

We present the first experimental frequency-domain channel matrix characterization for optical SDM-MIMO-OFDM systems. Data from 6×6 WDM-SDM transmission over 10×50km few mode fiber confirm non-unitary channel behavior, including 18dB frequency-averaged MDL and spatially-correlated Gaussian noise.
Identification of the enzyme responsible for oxidative halothane metabolism: implications for prevention of halothane hepatitis.

Abstract Summary Background Fulminant hepatic necrosis ("halothane hepatitis") is an unusual and often fatal complication of halothane anaesthesia. It is mediated by immune sensitisation in susceptible individuals to trifluoroacetylated liver protein neoantigens, formed by oxidative halothane metabolism. The seminal event in halothane hepatitis is hepatic metabolism, yet the enzyme responsible for oxidative halothane metabolism and trifluoroacetylated neoantigen formation remains unidentified. This investigation tested the hypothesis that cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is responsible for human halothane metabolism in vivo. Methods 20 elective surgical patients received either disulfiram (500 mg orally, n=10) or nothing (controls, n=10) the night before surgery. Disulfiram, converted in vivo to an effective inhibitor of P450 2E1, was used as a metabolic probe for P450 2E1. All patients received standard halothane anaesthesia (1·0% end-tidal, 3 h). Blood halothane and plasma and urine trifluoroacetic acid, bromide, and fluoride concentrations were measured for up to 96 h postoperatively. Findings Total halothane dose, measured by cumulative end-tidal (3·8 SE 0·1 minimum alveolar concentration hours) and blood halothane concentrations, was similar in the two groups. Plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of trifluoroacetic acid and bromide, indicative of oxidative and total (oxidative and reductive) halothane metabolism, respectively, were significantly diminished in disulfiram-treated patients. In control and disulfiram-treated patients cumulative 96 h postoperative trifluoroacetic acid excretion was 12 900 (SE 1700) and 2010 (440) μmol, respectively (p Interpretation The substantial attenuation of trifluoroacetic acid production by disulfiram after halothane anaesthesia suggests that P450 2E1 is a predominant enzyme responsible for human oxidative halothane metabolism. Inhibition of P450 2E1 by a single preoperative oral disulfiram dose greatly diminished production of the halothane metabolite responsible for the neoantigen formation that initiates halothane hepatitis. Single-dose disulfiram may provide effective prophylaxis against halothane hepatitis.
High-Speed Fluorescence Detection of Explosives-like Vapors

In this paper, we report on the preparation of novel cross-reactive optical microsensors for high-speed detection of low-level explosives and explosives-like vapors. Porous silica microspheres with an incorporated environmentally sensitive fluorescent dye are employed in high-density sensor arrays to monitor fluorescence changes during nitroaromatic compound (NAC) vapor exposure. The porous silica-based sensor materials have good adsorption characteristics, high surface areas, and surface functionality to help maximize analyte-dye interactions. These interactions occur immediately upon vapor exposure, i.e., in less than 200 ms and are monitored with a high-speed charge-coupled device camera to produce characteristic and reproducible vapor response profiles for individual sensors within an array. Employing thousands of identical microsensors permits sensor responses to be combined, which significantly reduces sensor noise and enhances detection limits. Normalized response profiles for 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB) are independent of analyte concentration, analyte exposure time, or sensor age for an array of one sensor type. Explosives-like NACs such as 2,4-dinitrotoluene and DNB are detected at low part-per-billion levels in seconds. Sensor-analyte profiles of some sensor types are more sensitive to low-level NAC vapor even when in a higher organic vapor background. We show that single-element arrays permit the detection of low-level nitroaromatic compound vapors because of sensor-to-sensor reproducibility and signal averaging.
Movement and interplay of the bound state, resonance, and shadow poles of the scattering amplitude in multiphoton processes.

We examine, in a heuristic fashion, the analytic structure of the scattering amplitude for an electron interacting with an atomic potential in the presence of a radiation field. For each resonance pole of the amplitude there are infinitely many shadow poles lying on different unphysical energy sheets of the infinitely many sheeted Riemann surface. The pole having the dominant influence on the scattering amplitude is the one closest to the physical energy axis. All poles undergo significant movement when the field intensity is varied, and when a resonance pole which is dominant passes by a multiphoton ionization threshold a shadow pole usually moves closer to the physical energy axis and hence becomes the dominant pole. When this happens, an initially bound electron may jump eigenvalue curves, and in this way the electron can undergo a very large (ponderomotive) shift in its energy and still maintain the correct physical character of its wave function. The movement of resonance poles near thresholds has implications for the fate of autoionizing states and for population trapping. Consideration of threshold effects might also shed light on a puzzling result of a recent energy-shift measurement. We address the problem of how to determine, in numerical calculations, which sheet the energy eigenvalue is on so that the dominant pole can be identified. We illustrate some of our remarks by results of numerical calculations, and we also touch on the question of the completeness of a basis set in numerical calculations of resonance eigenvalues.
Interaction between monolithic, junction-isolated lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistors

The static and dynamic interaction between monolithically integrated n- and p-channel, high-voltage lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistors (LGBTs) are studied. In the chosen system partition, three common-source, n-channel LIBGTs are monolithically integrated on one chip using junction isolation, while the p-channel counterparts are on a separate chip. Devices on lightly doped substrates, despite their higher forward drop and longer turn-off time than those on heavily doped substrates, exhibited a lesser degree of interaction with adjacent devices, and thus are preferable for power ICs. Even though the steady-state current that flows into the emitters of adjacent devices in the ON-state is small ( >
Tissue age and caffeoylquinic acid concentration in sunflower

Abstract Through the use of one-dimensional paper chromatographic separation, followed by spectro-photometric analysis, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid and 4- O -caffeoylquinic acid concentrations have been determined in sections of field-grown Helianthus annuus L. Using similar procedures, relative concentrations of “isochlorogenic acid” were also determined. All these compounds decreased in concentration basipetally in stem and leaf sections except in leaves from the first six nodes where the monocaffeoylquinic acids increased in concentration down from the apex. These concentration changes are see to correlate with the postulated role of caffeoylquinic acids in lignification and in influencing internal regulatory mechanisms.
Cataclastic flow and semi-brittle deformation of anorthosite

Abstract A series of experiments on dry Bushveldt anorthosite (An 75 , 350 μm grain size, 5% impurities) is carried out at 25–700°C, 500–1500 MPa pressures and 10 −5 s −1 strain rate. The strength of the Bushveldt anorthosite remains pressure-sensitive throughout the applied P–T range while weakening occurs with increased temperature at a given pressure. A transition from stick-slip to stable sliding occurs at 200–300°C and pressures of ≥1500 MPa. Reduction in strength at 200–300°C, localized cataclastic flow, and lack of microscopic evidence of crystal-plastic deformation raises the possibility that the transition may be coincident with the propagation of a critical number of randomly distributed thermal cracks. Uniform ductile flow occurs only at temperatures of 600 and 700°C, and 1000–1500 MPa pressures, coincident with the development of mechanical twinning, patchy and banded undulatory extinction and is likely to be due to semi-brittle deformation. Under these conditions, the deformation remains distributed to strains as high as 44%.
An Integrated VLSI Design Environment

On-going research on the development of an integrated VLSI design environment is presented. Although numerous VLSI design tools have been developed, previous approaches tend to attack the VLSI design environment in a fragmented fashion. This difficulty can be overcome by using an integrated simulation environment as the cornerstone upon which the VLSI design environment is built. Among the elements to be considered in an integrated VLSI design environment are multi-level functional/behavioral design specifications; simulators, optimizers, and design rule checkers; natural language user interface; and a knowledge base. In an environment context, new opportunities appear. For example, facilitation of the ability to generate revisions of VLSI devices in a relatively straight-forward manner over the lifecycle of a family of devices. Moreover, this endeavor can be viewed as a multi-level silicon compiler, which is embedded in a simulation environment.
Constraining neotectonic orogenesis using an isostatically compensated model of transpression

Abstract Current models of transpression allow upward flow of material to compensate for shortening in the horizontal plane. We present an isostatically compensated model of transpression, where material is allowed to flow both upwards to create topographic relief and downwards to form a crustal root. Our model also incorporates the effects of erosion to more accurately examine the developing topography in orogenic systems. The modeling results suggest that topographic relief and crustal root thickness developed in transpressional orogens are most dependent on the magnitude of shortening, the initial thickness of the crust, and the density contrast between the crust and mantle. In contrast, the rate of convergence and final width of the deformed zone are relatively unimportant parameters in this model. Application to the Alpine fault system in New Zealand, a well-constrained active transpressional plate boundary, shows good agreement between topography-based model estimates of shortening and those derived from plate reconstructions. Application of our model to the Central Range fault zone in Trinidad suggests 2 ± 1 km of neotectonic shortening. The strain analysis approach presented here may be useful for isolating the effects of modern deformation in a region that has reactivated an ancient contractional belt.
A Dissipative String Model for Human Tendons

This work presents an analytical modelling of a tendon driven system. We modelled the tendon as a continuum string using physiologically plausible value for the intrinsic characteristics of biological tissues to verify the system’s stability. We used Poincare’s sections to verify the types of attractors the system has and proved that the system is nonchaotic in a large range of physiologically plausible excitation frequencies. This work is relevant for understanding the control of force and movement as a function of the muscle contraction. Wide applications can also be found as a guideline for the design of artificial muscles and cable driven robots.
Op amp combining precision, high speed, and high output current drive for +or-5-V power supply operation

A monolithic operational amplifier designed for +or-5-V power supply operation is described. Precision DC performance includes 100-million V/V open-loop gain, +or-25- mu V maximum input offset voltage, +or-40-nA maximum input bias current, and 2.4-nV/ square root Hz (at 1 kHz) input voltage noise. AC performance includes 9-V/ mu s slew rate, 17-MHz bandwidth, and 1- mu s settling time to 0.1%; all are measured at unity gain. The op amp is capable of directly driving into a 50- Omega load with up to +or-80 mA of output drive current. A novel input bias current cancellation circuit achieves the low input bias current while maintaining a +or-3.5-V minimum common-mode input voltage range. A novel output short-circuit protection circuit was developed. It provides good current limiting while allowing an output voltage swing of +or-4 V. A novel input offset voltage trimming scheme using laser link cutting is introduced which consumes minimum die area while providing a +or-10- mu V trim solution (+or-3-mV trimming range) and excellent long-term stability. >
Fast surface alignment for cardiac spatio-temporal modeling: application to ischemic cardiac shape modeling

The visualization and comparison of local deformation from 3D image sequences is of critical importance in understanding the etiology of Ischemic cardiac disease. In this paper we describe a framework to combine our previous fast spherical harmonic surface alignment algorithm with a new local special surface reconstruction method to reconstruct the surface of LV with Ischaemic cardiac disease. Our new surface computational model allows people to extract the valuable ischemic tissues behavior from the dynamic shape. We have demonstrated our approaches by the experiments on cardiac MRI. A brief description of motivation is put forth, as well as an overview of the approaches and some initial results are described.
Thermodynamic analysis of the Cr–Re system and prediction of the Cr–Ni–Re system

Abstract Thermodynamic properties of the Cr–Re binary system were analyzed by thermodynamic models for the Gibbs energy of individual phases of the system. The model parameters were optimized from limited experimental phase equilibrium data and estimated thermochemical data. There were no experimental data available for the Cr–Ni–Re ternary system. Its thermodynamic description was obtained by extrapolation of its sub-binary descriptions. In the absence of experimental data, the ternary thermodynamic description thus obtained offers a reasonable guide for alloy and processing development.
Significant parameters in arterial pressure and velocity development.

Abstract A one-dimensional model for arterial blood flow is developed and analyzed to determine the importance of several parameters on the development of the pressure and velocity waveforms. Particular emphasis is given to short arterial segments because of the potential applicability of the results to clinical diagnostic procedures. The proximal inputs to the model are experimentally recorded pressure and velocity waveforms. It is found that the velocity waveform is considerably more sensitive to parametric variations than is the pressure waveform. The geometric taper of the artery primarily determines the magnitude of the distal velocity. The pulse wave speed, a measure of the elasticity of the vessel wall, primarily influences the shape of the distal velocity waveform, particularly in diastole. Longitudinal changes in elasticity, flow through the small branches, and the viscosity of the blood are all of secondary importance in short arterial segments.
A synergistic security method for control-flow hijacking detection using SPNs

In this paper we present a security methodology which can efficiently and deterministically detect a control-flow hijacking attack against real-world vulnerable applications and visually illustrate its functionality by using Stochastic Petri Nets (SPNs). We then discuss two possible implementation scenarios of this methodology, one that requires no hardware or OS modification and one that utilizes a special hardware component but is able to deliver no runtime performance degradation. Finally, we quantifiably show that, even in the worst possible scenario, the proposed security technique can be applied in real-world, real-time security systems with no significant performance overhead.
CELL LOSS AND INFLUX OF LABELED HOST CELLS IN THREE TRANSPLANTABLE MOUSE TUMORS USING [125I]UdR RELEASE

The [125I]UdR loss technique was used to estimate cell loss from RIF-1, EMT6 and KHJJ tumors in order to determine the length of the delay between labeling and the beginning of the loss of labeled cells, and also to calculate a value for phi, the cell loss factor. To determine the importance of reutilization of label released from the gut and/or the influx of labeled host cells, the blood flow to some tumors was occluded during and for 30 min after injection of the label. Relatively small amounts of radioactivity entered occluded RIF-1 tumors during 9 days after injection of [125I]UdR, indicating that reutilization of systemic label and influx of labeled host cells are not significant in this system. In contrast, substantial amounts of radioactivity entered occluded EMT6 and KHJJ tumors, reaching 40% of the total activity in non-occluded tumors during 6 days following injection. After corrections were made for this influx of label, the [125I]UdR loss curves from RIF-1 and EMT6 tumors were essentially exponential from the first day following injection of label. This was interpreted as indicating the loss of proliferating as well as non-proliferating cells from both tumors. The cell loss factor derived from the [125I]UdR loss curves corrected for influx appeared to agree well with published values derived from analysis of percent labeled mitoses curves. In contrast, the corrected [125I]Udr loss curves from KHJJ tumors showed that loss of activity began three days after injection of label, indicating that primarily nonproliferating cells are lost from this tumor.
Midgap states provide many phase-sensitive tests on the pairing symmetry of high temperature superconductors

Abstract If high- T c superconductors have d -wave pairing, midgap states must exist at most surfaces and interfaces, and, in a more subtle way, also at unitary impurity sites. These states of topological origin have many novel consequences, each of which is a phase-sensitive test of unconventional pairing. Here a critical examination is made on what this type of tests have said so far and can say more on the pairing symmetry of high- T c superconductors.
What Kind of a Girl Does Science? The Construction of School Science Identities

A view of science as a culturally-mediated way of thinking and knowing suggests that learning can be defined as engagement with scientific practices. How students engage in school science is influenced by whether and how students view themselves and whether or not they are the kind of person who engages in science. It is therefore crucial to understand students' identities and how they do or do not overlap with school science identities. In this paper, we describe four middle school African American girls' engagement with science. They were selected in the 7th grade because they expressed a fondness for science in school or because they had science-related hobbies outside of school. The data were collected from the following sources: interviews of students, their parents and their teachers; observations in science classes; journal writing; and focus groups. These girls' stories provide us with a better understanding of the variety of ways girls choose to engage in science and how this engagement is shaped by their views of what kind of girl they are. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 37: 441–458, 2000.
The development of cerebellar primordia transplanted to the neocortex of the rat

Pieces of cerebellar primordia were dissected from the developing fetus at day 18 of gestation in Sprague-Dawley rats and transplanted to the neocortex of a 10- to 12-day-old rat. The histological development of 53 such transplants was analyzed at a series of survival times ranging from 5 min to 426 days. The cerebellar cortex developed much as it does in situ. However, only migratory sequences were strictly followed, while Purkinje cell differentiation and folia formation were initially retarded. In deep parts of the transplant, and throughout transplants confined to deep layers of the neocortex, the external granule layer was associated with penetrating blood vessels. An inverted cytoarchitectural pattern developed as concentric cylindrical layers around these vessels. In contrast, normal lamination and foliation were found only in transplants growing on the neocortical surface. Axons coursing between host and transplant were seen frequently and were especially pronounced at those sites beneath the internal granule layer which appeared to contain deep cerebellar nuclei. At the longest survival time there was preliminary evidence that suggested morphological deterioration of the transplant. Surface transplants, in addition to developing a normal orientation of cells and layers, have the added benefit of being accessible for further experimental manipulations after the transplant has become established.
The Automated Underground: Computer-Aided Design of Boston's Central Artery Project

Computer applications related to under-ground construction are described as they are being applied to Boston's Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project. The project is currently one of the largest highway projects in the country. Computer applications include a geotechnical boring log management system, spreadsheets for tunnel analysis and design, finite-element studies of soil-structure interaction for a construction excavation problem, and software that draws flow nets. Each application is outlined, and problems and future improvements to the methods are discussed.