cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protograph LDPC Codes over Burst Erasure Channels

In this paper we design high rate protograph based LDPC codes suitable for binary erasure channels. To simplify the encoder and decoder implementation for high data rate transmission, the structure of codes are based on protographs and circulants. These LDPC codes can improve data link and network layer protocols in support of communication networks. Two classes of codes were designed. One class is designed for large block sizes with an iterative decoding threshold that approaches capacity of binary erasure channels. The other class is designed for short block sizes based on maximizing minimum stopping set size. For high code rates and short blocks the second class outperforms the first class. A scheme is proposed to use these LDPC codes over burst erasure channels. The proposed encoding method is also applicable to cases when packets are frequency hopped over channels with partial band jamming or frequency selective fading. Various LDPC codes are compared and simulation results are provided.
β-Amyloid (1-40) peptide interactions with supported phospholipid membranes: a single-molecule study.

Recent evidence supports the hypothesis that the oligomers formed by the β-amyloid peptide early in its aggregation process are neurotoxic and may feature in Alzheimer’s disease. Although the mechanism underlying this neurotoxicity remains unclear, interactions of these oligomers with neuronal membranes are believed to be involved. Identifying the neurotoxic species is challenging because β-amyloid peptides form oligomers at very low physiological concentrations (nM), and these oligomers are highly heterogeneous and metastable. Here, we report the use of single-molecule imaging techniques to study the interactions between β-amyloid (1–40) peptides and supported synthetic model anionic lipid membranes. The evolution of the β-amyloid species on the membranes was monitored for up to several days, and the results indicate an initial tight, uniform, binding of β-amyloid (1–40) peptides to the lipid membranes, followed by oligomer formation in the membrane. At these low concentrations, the behavior at early times during the formation of small oligomers is interpreted qualitatively in terms of the two-state model proposed by H. W. Huang for the interaction between amphipathic peptides and membranes. However, the rate of oligomer formation in the membrane and their size are highly dependent on the concentrations of β-amyloid (1–40) peptides in aqueous solution, suggesting two different pathways of oligomer formation, which lead to drastically different species in the membrane and a departure from the two-state model as the concentration increases.
Response to erythropoietin in germfree mice

Unsere gegenwartigen Ergebnisse zeigen, dass keimfreie Mause dem Erythropoietin (ESF) gegenuber einen verstarkten erythrocytenerzeugenden Faktor aufweisen als normale Mause.
Effectiveness of a participatory modeling effort to identify and advance community water resource goals in St. Albans, Vermont

Natural resource managers face complex challenges in addressing non-point source water pollution. A participatory modeling approach was applied in the St. Albans Bay watershed to identify the most effective phosphorus control options to achieve the load reductions required by the Lake Champlain Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Stakeholders participated in the collection of data in the watershed, model creation, development of policy scenarios, and interpretation of model results. The participatory modeling approach employed in this study led to the identification of new solutions to an old water resource problem regarding phosphorus loads to streams and St. Albans Bay. The modeling process provided a perceived neutral atmosphere for discussing water pollution issues that have historically been divisive and provided participants with greater understanding of local environmental issues and reduced historic conflict among actors. This study highlights the importance of considering the dynamics of social and technical factors in the use of modeling in natural resource planning processes. The approach led to stakeholder agreement about problems and potential solutions generated in the modeling process. As the process ended, local decision makers were moving forward to implement solutions identified to be most cost-effective.
Effect of spray characteristics on spray cooling with liquid nitrogen

Operation of power electronics at liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperature is a very attractive possibility. However, a high heat flux (over 100 W/cm) cooling technique like spray cooling will have to be used to realize all the advantages of low-temperature operation. This study provides empirical correlations for LN2 spray cooling. A general semiempirical correlation (based on macrolayer dryout model) for spray cooling critical heat flux (CHF) is obtained. This correlation is shown to be very accurate for predicting spray cooling CHF for different liquids and spray conditions. An empirical correlation for heat flux is also presented. This study also shows the importance of surface roughness for spray cooling with liquid nitrogen. The rougher surfaces were shown to have significantly higher heat transfer rates and similar CHFs occurring at lower temperatures.
Pediatric residency program handover: before and after the ACGME requirement.

Abstract Objective To determine what changes occurred in pediatric residency programs with regards to handover education and assessment before and after the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirement mandating monitoring safe handover practices in July 2011. Methods We sent surveys at 2 time periods to all pediatric program directors in the United States, as identified from a list provided by the Association of Pediatric Program Directors. Respondents were asked about their program demographics, whether they had handover curricula, how trainees were taught to perform handovers, and perceived barriers to effective handover. Results Response rates were 58% in both survey years. After the ACGME requirement, only 1 of 3 of programs reported a handover curriculum with goals, objectives, and assessment tools. There was a statistically significant increase in the percentage of those responding that resident handover education primarily occurred by role modeling (66% vs 82%; P P = NS). Lack of feedback and interruptions were recognized as barriers to successful handover by program directors in both survey years. Conclusions There is a continued need for handover curricula with didactic and practical components as well as assessment pieces within pediatric residency programs. Barriers to effective handover such as lack of feedback and interruptions continue to be major problems. There is a lack of faculty ownership and interest in learner handover that may affect long-term successes. Because role modeling continues to be the main way in which trainees learn handover, specific attention should be given to teach role-modeling techniques.
Terrestrial heat-flow estimates from petroleum bottom-hole temperature data in the Colorado Plateau and the eastern Basin and Range Province

Preliminary heat-flow estimates were calculated for 32 sites in the Colorado Plateau, the eastern Basin and Range Province, and the Middle Rocky Mountains. At 23 of these sites, the heat-flow estimates are believed to have merit. The heat-flow estimates often agree with nearby measurements and correlate reasonably well with interpretations from other geophysical techniques. The mean of the heat-flow estimates hi the northern Colorado Plateau interior (66 to 69 mWm −2 ) is within ∼5% or ∼18% of the mean of deep or shallow heat-flow measurements, respectively. Estimates in the peripheral areas of the plateau, in the San Juan Basin, agree with higher heat-flow measurements at sites approaching the San Juan volcanic field. Estimates along the western periphery of the Colorado Plateau are higher than in the interior and therefore suggest an anomalously shallow mantle (asthenosphere), extending ∼50 km under the plateau; this is consistent with previous studies. Above-average Basin and Range heat flows are estimated in the eastern Basin and Range Province (99–102 mWm −2 ), and this concurs with a high energy-flux zone proposed for the area. The transition from high to low heat-flow estimates between the eastern Basin and Range Province and the Middle Rocky Mountains seems to occur over a small distance (∼36 km). The narrow heat-flow transition implies shallow thermal sources in proximity to the Basin and Range–Middle Rocky Mountains transition; this may correspond to a shallow crustal low-velocity zone previously interpreted along the transition.
The Transition from Stiff to Compliant Materials in Squid Beaks

The beak of the Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas represents one of the hardest and stiffest wholly organic materials known. As it is deeply embedded within the soft buccal envelope, the manner in which impact forces are transmitted between beak and envelope is a matter of considerable scientific interest. Here, we show that the hydrated beak exhibits a large stiffness gradient, spanning two orders of magnitude from the tip to the base. This gradient is correlated with a chemical gradient involving mixtures of chitin, water, and His-rich proteins that contain 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (dopa) and undergo extensive stabilization by histidyl-dopa cross-link formation. These findings may serve as a foundation for identifying design principles for attaching mechanically mismatched materials in engineering and biological applications.
In Vivo Determination of Certain Aralkylamines

A micro-method has been developed by which blood concentrations of certain aralkylamines can be quantitatively determined. The method makes use of thin-layer chromatography and fluorometry. Quantitative determinations are made by measuring the fluorescence exhibited by the rose bengal complex of the drug. The method utilizes 0.1-ml. samples of capillary blood from which 0.05 meg. of drug has been detected.
Collective vortex motion in a-MoGe superconducting thin films.

We report linear and nonlinear electrical transport in perpendicular magnetic fields of very thin amorphous Mo 79 Ge 21 superconducting films. At low fields, we demonstrate the existence of a barrier to vortex motion away from the sample edges. In regimes where the vortex motion is not substantially affecfed by the sample edges, we observe manifestly collective activated behavior. We relate the field dependence of the observed activation energies to possible mobile configurations of vortices
Multiple putative neuromessenger inputs to the phrenic nucleus in rat.

Abstract Immunohistochemical reactions for 12 putative neuromessengers combined with retrograde labeling of phrenic motoneurons identified seven neuromessengers (5-hydroxytryptamine, substance P. thyrotropin-releasing hormone, methionine enkephalin, cholecystokinin, galanin, neuropeptide Y) located within terminal varicosities in the phrenic nucleus. The degree of terminal labeling in the phrenic nucleus varied depending on the peptide. Substance P, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and methionine enkephalin were each tested for colocalization with 5-hydroxytryptamine within terminal varicosities in the phrenic nucleus, and the coincidence of double-labeling varied for each peptide. These results indicate that phrenic motoneurons are subject to modulation by many peptide neuromessengers that may alter their responsiveness to primary excitatory and inhibitory inputs.
Comparison between experimental surface data and bulk structure models for quasicrystalline AlPdMn: Average atomic densities and chemical compositions

We have examined bulk structure models for icosahedral AlPdMn in terms of the densities, compositions, and interplanar spacings for the fivefold planes that might represent physical surface terminations. We focus on four models that contain no partial or mixed occupancies, but some comparison is made to a fifth model containing such sites. Each of the four models contains paired planes (layers) that can be separated into two main families on the basis of three features: the relative densities of the two planes, the gap separating the layer from the nearest atomic plane, and the Pd content in the topmost plane. The experimental data and other arguments lead to the conclusion that the family with no Pd in the top plane is favored. Finally, all models show that correlations should be expected between the heights of steps that delineate terraces and average compositional and/or structural features of the terraces.
ECONOMIC REGULATION IN MERCANTILE EENGLAND: HECKSCHER REVISITED

The gradual evolution to free enterprise in England, which became quite pronounced about the time of Adam Smith, is explained in this paper in terms of institutional changes in the rent-seeking society of mercantile England. In this explanation the role of ideas and influential writers is seen as subsidiary to the role of real economic and institutional forces in producing historical outcomes. Moreover, a major feature of our rent-seeking interpretation is that the poor design and competition for control of the mercantile regulatory process unintentionally helped bring about the institutional changes which made rent seeking and economic regulation by the central government less feasible. “a part of that force which always intends evil 4und always creates good”— Goethe, Faust.
ApcMin: A mouse model for intestinal and mammary tumorigenesis

Min (multiple intestinal neoplasia) is a mutant allele of the murine Apc (adenomatous polyposis coli) locus, encoding a nonsense mutation at codon 850. Like humans with germline mutations in APC, Min/+ mice are predisposed to intestinal adenoma formation. The number of adenomas is influenced by modifier loci carried by different inbred strains. One modifier locus, Mom-1 (modifier of Min-1), maps to distal chromosome 4. Intestinal tumours from both B6 (C57BL/6J) and hybrid Min/+ mice show extensive loss of the wild-type allele at Apc. B6 Min/+ female mice are predisposed to spontaneous mammary tumours. The incidence of both intestinal and mammary tumours can be increased in an age-specific manner by treatment with ethylnitrosourea (ENU). Min mice provide a good animal model for studying the role of Apc and interacting genes in the initiation and progression of intestinal and mammary tumorigenesis.
An ESR study of the acetaldehyde radical cation in freon matrices: Evidence for halogen superhyperfine interaction

Abstract The substructure associated with the doublet ESR spectrum of the acetaldehyde radical cation in Freon matrices below 100 K is shown to arise from a matrix interaction and not, as previously proposed, from coupling to the hydrogens of the methyl group. Since the reversible loss of this substructure at higher temperature is accompanied by almost no change in the large isotropic 1 H coupling(136 G) to the aldehydic hydrogen, the matrix perturbation appears to have a negligible effect on the spin distribution in the radical cation and is according interpreted as a superhyperfine interaction
Hadron spectrum of quenched QCD and the quark model.

We calculate the lowest-lying hadronic mass spectrum of all possible combinations of up, strange, and charmed quarks in the quenched approximations of lattice QCD with Wilson fermions. We analyze the mass spectrum on the lattice using simple quark models: most of the disagreement with experiment appears to be a nearly-mass-independent suppression of hyperfine splitting. We measure the quark wave function at the origin for vector mesons and find that it reproduces the observed scaling with vector-meson mass. We also observe a similar scaling law for baryon wave functions. We compare the QCD part of electromagnetic mass splittings to quark-model expectations.
An Implementation of the Japanese Autobiographical Method Seikatsu Tsuzurikata—“Life Writing”—In a US Elementary School

This article explores the historical, philosophical, curricular, and practical methods of the Japanese auto-biographical method, “seikatusu tsuzurikata” and its implementation in a US elementary school. Seikatsu tsuzurikata is a progressive form of journaling that “provokes students to ‘objectively’ observe the reality surrounding them in terms of their own senses without any intervention of anyone else’s authority”, by writing essays “reflecting on their social situation” (Asanuma, 1986: pp. 153, 155). Part of life writing’s central philosophy is that students are not required to participate. For students who engaged in life writing, several benefits resulted, according to their teachers. However, we found that students had great difficulty articulating their social and emotional worlds because this kind of reflective work was uncomfortable and foreign to students who were subjected to teacher-driven, “content”, and “standards based” instruction. This article concludes by exploring the possibility of connecting life writing with social-emotional learning (SEL).
On the Necessary Existence of Numbers

We examine the arguments on both sides of the recent debate (Hale and Wright v. Field) on the existence, and modal status, of the natural numbers. We formulate precisely, with proper attention to denotational commitments, the analytic conditionals that link talk of numbers with talk of numerosity and with counting. These provide conceptual controls on the concept of number. We argue, against Field, that there is a serious disanalogy between the existence of God and the existence of numbers. We give stronger reasons than those advanced by Wright for resisting Field's analogy. We argue that the rules governing the basic numerical notions commit us to the natural numbers as necessary existents. We also show that the latest twist in the debate involving 'surdons' leaves both sides in a stalemate.
Women and Health Disparities: Implications for Treating Hispanic Women in Rural and Urban Communities

ABSTRACT Hispanic women with alcohol and other drug disorders present special needs and face unique challenges related to cultural norms and values particularly when seeking treatment. In particular, Hispanic women, with substance use disorders, may encounter culturally imposed barriers which may limit their ability to access and benefit from treatment. The author proposes a systemic approach to treating Hispanic women embedded within a traditional and rigidly patriarchal cultural context. Specifically, this paper proposes an adaptation of Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training (CRAFT), an evidence-based, efficacious treatment, which provides a family-oriented, approach to treating women with alcohol and other substance use disorders. CRAFT principles work with “concerned significant others” (CSOs) to aid a family member to seek treatment. By adapting CRAFT in ways that are syntonic with Hispanic culture, clinicians may be able to work with women who may otherwise not seek or enter treatment...
The diurnal and semidiurnal oscillations in meteor winds over Atlanta

Abstract The wind data collected over Atlanta during the period August 1974–February 1978 using the Georgia Tech Radio Meteor Wind Facility, is analyzed to yield an average picture of the seasonal behavior of its diurnal tides. Both the zonal and meridional components are studied. The vertical structures of these oscillations over Atlanta are compared with similar studies over Garchy, Urbana and Adelaide. For the semidiurnal tide: the vertical structure during winter appears to have a strong latitude dependence, with vertical wavelength increasing with decreasing latitude; in spring, the (2, 4) and (2, 6) modes appear to dominate at all stations; in summer, the behavior is the same at all four locations, characterized by the apparent domination of the (2,2) mode; in autumn, both the Garchy and Atlanta results indicate the presence of a (2,2) mode, while the (2,4) mode appears to dominate over Urbana. The behavior of the diurnal tide is less well defined: during winter, as latitude decreases from Garchy to Atlanta, evanescent and higher order propagating modes seem to dominate; both spring and summer are characterized by a gradual decrease in observed vertical wavelengths as latitude decreases; in northern hemisphere autumn, the fundamental (1, 1) mode appears to dominate, but at Adelaide in southern hemisphere autumn, predominatly evanescent modes are observed.
Health monitoring: asset damage detection

The Health Monitor System (HMS) is a low-cost, low-power, battery-powered device capable of measuring temperature, humidity, and shock. Many mission-critical items are susceptible to shock damage. To help prevent shock damage, assets often are placed in robust custom containers with shock damping and absorption devices. Assets are still at risk of damage while in their protective containers. Having a Health Monitor attached to an asset or container allows the status of the asset to be determined. The Health Monitor can measure, record, store, analyze, and display to the user if a shock event has occurred that puts the asset at risk of failure. Extensive shock testing and algorithm implementation were required to develop a Health Monitor that uses a single-point 3-axis accelerometer to determine the type, height, and severity of a shock event.
On quantum Monte Carlo for the electronic structure of molecules

Abstract We present recent advances in the quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method for the electronic structure of atoms and molecules. The QMC method used here is a procedure for solving the Schrodinger equation stochastically based on the formal similarity between the Schrodinger equation and the classical diffusion equation. Quantum mechanical expectation values are obtained as Monte Carlo averages over an ensemble of random walkers undergoing diffusion, drift (from importance sampling), and branching. The power of the QMC method is that it is inherently an N-body method which can capture all of the dynamic correlation of the electrons. The approach yields highly accurate energies and has been used to determine other properties, including dipole moments and molecular geometry energy gradients. Here we present a description of the QMC method that we employ and give representative results. In addition we discuss recent progress on the calculation of transition dipole moments and developments with the “damped-core” QMC method which enables studies of molecular systems containing heavy atoms without reliance on Pseudopotentials.
Effect of Body Geometry on the Motile Behavior of Bacteriabots

Micro-structures with complex geometries are being increasingly utilized in many fields from micro-robotics to targeted drug delivery [1,2]. Motility of spherical microstructures actuated by an ensemble of attached bacteria has been thoroughly characterized in previous literature [2–5] but a systematic study of the effect of micro structure geometry on propulsive behavior is currently missing. Mobile microrobots along with optimal body geometries are envisioned to impact minimally invasive diagnosis, localized treatment of diseases and environmental monitoring. Limited particle diffusion and directional coefficient of drag are some of the attributes that are enhanced through such bio-hybrid systems. In this work, we have utilized a low-cost and high throughput technique to obtain non-spherical mico-particles and investigate the effect of particle shape on the motile behavior of the BacteriaBots, which are bio-hybrid microrobots consisting of living propellers (bacteria) and a synthetic body.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Aldosterone receptor measurements during changes in dietary sodium.

Type I aldosterone receptors were measured in rat kidney cytosol preparations after alterations in dietary sodium and aldosterone injection. Changes in sodium intake had no effect on receptor number or affinity in adrenalectomized rats. Intact rats had decreased receptor numbers after a low sodium diet compared to those after a high sodium diet (P <0.005), and the decrease in receptor number was significantly correlated with the corresponding rise in serum aldosterone (r= -0.65; P< 0.01). In adrenalectomized rats, injection of aldosterone was associated with a decrease in receptor number, and serum aldosterone correlated inversely with receptor number (r= 0.64; P< 0.01). We conclude that increases in serum aldosterone decrease the number of available cytoplasmic aldosterone receptors, but changes in sodium intake have no direct effect upon aldosterone receptor number or affinity.
Velocity of Light

IF you can spare the space please state that the corrected result for the velocity of light (NATURE, vol. xxi. p. 94) is— 299944 ± 50 kilometres, or 186380 ± 33 miles per second.
The use of ultrasound during spinal cord surgery.

Intraoperative spinal ultrasonography is now considered an indispensable tool in many operations on the spine and spinal cord. Using ultrasonography, surgeons can now easily find and evaluate lesions within the spinal cord, dural sac, and along the ventral margin of the vertebral column during operations. Syrinxes, intra- and extramedullary tumors, hematomas, bone fragments, bullet fragements, cysts, and discs can be easily located and treated under ultrasonic guidance. In this article, we described the techniques used in peforming this procedure, normal anatomy, and images of various types of pathologic lesions.
Strategic sensor locations of FPR bridge decks

Advanced fiber-reinforced polymer composite (FRP) has been increasingly used in bridge deck to replace concrete or steel. A FRP bridge deck can be designed to meet AASHTO HS-25 load requirements. FRP decks have many advantages over the conventional reinforced concrete or steel decks owing to their lightweight, high strength and corrosion resistance. However, such new deck system requires extensive monitoring to ensure its designed performance before its widespread acceptance by the bridge community. For inspection and evaluation purpose, a proper monitoring system consisting of various kinds of sensors installed in the FRP deck is critical. This paper provides a framework for designing an efficient monitoring system. The strategic sensor locations are identified based on the stress analysis of the FRP deck.
Study Factors and Their Impact on Military School Performance Measures

A 16-dimension survey to assess study skills was designed and administered to 705 students enrolled in five Navy schools. After revision based on reliability analyses, validity analyses were performed at two of the schools by correlating survey responses with test performance measures. At one school, correlations indicated that those students who were more competitive or motivated, had higher concentration or memorization skills, or asked more questions performed significantly better on the most difficult tests in the school. At the second school, using partial correlations to control for student ability, study factors reliably predicted test performance, irrespective of student ability. Multiple regression coefficients of .618 and .379 supported the independent contribution of several study factors to test performance. Selected study skill training resources used by the military are identified and functional research directions are described.
Minorities in the liberation of the ASA

The underlying assumption of the topic, "Minorities and Women in the Lib eration of the ASA," is that the ASA is either already "liberated" or is in the pro cess of being "liberated." Whether that assumption is true or not, I suppose depends upon what is meant by "liberation." It is not my purpose to engage in polemics about either the epistemological or phenomenological characteristics of the term. However, it seems useful to focus attention on the changing nature of participation of minorities in this organization over the past twenty-three years; that is, since the benchmark year of 1968. Attention will be given to the sociopolitical climate of the benchmark year, 1968; the role of the Caucus of Black Sociologists in fostering changes within the ASA; the salience of ASA leadership and sensitivity to the issues raised by mi norities in the late 1960s and early 1970s; evidence of change, and continuing problems regarding the participation of members of the ASA who are identified or wish to be identified as racial or ethnic minorities.
A novel MIMO STC-OFDM technique with high spectral efficiency and high performance

This paper presents a novel MIMO STC-OFDM technique to achieve both high spectral efficiency and high performance over frequency selective channels. This is accomplished by a combination of MIMO OFDM, group coded transmit signals and antennas, array processing at the receiver for interference suppression on a per carrier basis, and a new decoding scheme. The group coding reduces the complexity of receivers in space time coded MIMO systems. It partitions transmitter antennas into small groups. The received signals are then processed by a technique called group interference suppression. By using interference suppression on a per carrier basis after the FFT at the receiver, the scheme lends itself to use on frequency selective multipath channels. Finally, a novel decoding scheme is employed. It uses samples from frequencies K/2 apart, where K is the total number of frequencies, to introduce another element of diversity, and then uses a least squares step to yield reliable statistics for symbol detection. At 22 dB, this new scheme achieves a BER of 4 x 10-5, without coding or interleaving. The data rate achieved, over a bandwidth of 20 MHz, is 144 Mbps with a corresponding spectral efficiency of 9.6 bits/s/Hz. In addition, the scheme is a low complexity scheme.
Integration of Collaborative Information Systems in Web 2.0

We describe a new integration model that uses tools and services for supporting Web 2.0. This integration model defines a structure for a missing feature of Web 2.0. The model integrates a number of existing online tools having a common data model and aims to develop added-value community-building integrated environments. We discuss the overall design, architecture and the components of the integration model in the Web 2.0 domain.
Uniform Scalar Quantization Based Wyner-Ziv Coding of Laplace-Markov Source

Wyner-Ziv coding has recently emerged as an alternative to conventional DPCM coding for compression of sources with memory, particularly in video compression. This paper studies the operational rate-distortion performance of Wyner-Ziv coding, using uniform scalar quantization followed by perfect Slepian-Wolf coding, for compression of a Laplace-Markov source. The performance gap of this technique relative to DPCM coding is characterized through derived rate-distortion expressions and numerical simulations.
Thermoelectric effects in normal metal/superconductor interface structures

Abstract The thermopower of Andreev interferometers, which are doubly connected loops in which one arm is a superconductor and one arm is a normal metal, oscillates as a function of magnetic field with a fundamental period corresponding to a flux quantum h / 2 e through the area of the loop. While the magnetoresistance of an Andreev interferometer is symmetric with respect to the magnetic field, the thermopower can be either symmetric or antisymmetric, depending on the topology of the sample. The temperature dependence of the thermopower oscillations is nonmonotonic. This nonmonotonic behavior does not appear to be related to the reentrance observed by many groups in the conductance of normal-metal/superconductor (NS) structures.
Age differences in the use of informative/heuristic communicative functions in young children with and without hearing loss who are learning spoken language.

Previous research has suggested that the normal development of communicative functions proceeds from the directing or "instrumental" types to the informative or "heuristic" types with age. This pap...
Bioinspired 3-D Tactile Sensor for Minimally Invasive Surgery

This paper reports the development of a bioinspired 3-D tactile sensor for minimally invasive surgery. Inspired by the principle of hair cells, the sensor is composed of a central silicon post and a piezoresistor-embedded polyimide diaphragm to which the silicon post is attached. The high-aspect-ratio silicon post helps to increase the sensitivity to shear force significantly. Another unique advantage is that the silicon post is surrounded by a cylindrical cavity that provides a safety stop for the excessively large force/displacement. A fabrication process using deep reactive-ion etching, as well as a simple but effective packaging scheme, was demonstrated. The packaged tactile sensor was characterized by monitoring the resistance change of the piezoresistors when the central post was pushed in different directions. The sensor exhibited a shear force sensitivity of 10.8 N-1 and a normal force sensitivity of 3.5 N-1. The measured displacement sensitivities in shear and normal directions are 1.2 × 10-3 and 6.0 × 10-3, respectively. The responses of single and multiple sensors to the rubber scratching test were studied to demonstrate the capability of the sensor to detect the direction and other information of the scratching.
Controls over the strength and timing of fire-grazer interactions in a semi-arid rangeland

Summary 1. The degree to which large herbivores select and forage within recently burned areas is a key driver of vegetation heterogeneity in rangeland ecosystems. However, few studies have quantified the strength and timing of herbivore selection for burned areas or examined how selection strength varies among ecosystems differing in precipitation and primary productivity. 2. We conducted a 4-year patch-burning experiment in semi-arid rangeland of Colorado, USA, where 25% of the area available to cattle was burned each year and burned patches were shifted annually. We used GPS collars with activity sensors to quantify the distribution of free-ranging cattle at a high temporal resolution (5-min intervals) during the growing season each year. We used a classification tree model to discriminate between cattle grazing vs. non-grazing locations, which significantly increased precision in quantifying burn selection strength. We fit generalized linear models predicting the frequency of cattle use of a given location within each study area and month, enabling comparisons between the relative influence of burns and topography on grazing distribution. 3. Across multiple growing seasons, cattle selectively spent 31% of grazing time on recently burnt areas, which comprised 25% of the landscape; this selection strength was half as strong as that documented in mesic rangeland. 4. At a monthly temporal scale, strong cattle selection for burned areas occurred during periods of rapid vegetation growth regardless of when during the growing season this greening occurred. Outside these intervals, burn selection strength was inconsistent and cattle grazing distribution was primarily influenced by topography. Thus, the relative importance of fire and topography in controlling grazer distribution was temporally contingent upon the timing and size of precipitation pulses. 5. Synthesis and applications. Spatiotemporal interactions between fire and herbivores are a consistent feature of both semi-arid and mesic rangelands, with interaction strength varying across gradients of precipitation and primary productivity. Management of semi-arid ecosystems to sustain ecological processes should include strategies that allow ungulate herbivores to shift their grazing distribution seasonally in response to fire, topoedaphic variation and precipitation patterns. Combined management of fire and grazing for conservation objectives can be consistent with, and even complementary to, livestock production goals.
Re-assessment of plant carbon dynamics at the Duke free-air CO 2 enrichment site: interactions of atmospheric [CO 2 ] with nitrogen and water availability over stand development

*The potential for elevated [CO(2)]-induced changes to plant carbon (C) storage, through modifications in plant production and allocation of C among plant pools, is an important source of uncertainty when predicting future forest function. Utilizing 10 yr of data from the Duke free-air CO(2) enrichment site, we evaluated the dynamics and distribution of plant C. *Discrepancy between heights measured for this study and previously calculated heights required revision of earlier allometrically based biomass determinations, resulting in higher (up to 50%) estimates of standing biomass and net primary productivity than previous assessments. *Generally, elevated [CO(2)] caused sustained increases in plant biomass production and in standing C, but did not affect the partitioning of C among plant biomass pools. Spatial variation in net primary productivity and its [CO(2)]-induced enhancement was controlled primarily by N availability, with the difference between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration explaining most interannual variability. Consequently, [CO(2)]-induced net primary productivity enhancement ranged from 22 to 30% in different plots and years. *Through quantifying the effects of nutrient and water availability on the forest productivity response to elevated [CO(2)], we show that net primary productivity enhancement by elevated [CO(2)] is not uniform, but rather highly dependent on the availability of other growth resources.
Duplex and color Doppler sonographic evaluation of vasculogenic impotence

One hundred eighty patients with suspected vasculogenic impotence were evaluated with conventional penile duplex sonography with spectral analysis and color Doppler imaging. Measurements of mean peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities were obtained from the cavernosal arteries before and after intracavernosal injections of papaverine. Sixty-one patients were examined with dynamic cavernosography and cavernosometry, and 12 patients were studied with selective internal pudendal and penile arteriography. All five patients with abnormal arteriography had mean peak systolic velocities in the cavernosal arteries of less than or equal to 25 cm/sec (sensitivity, 100%; 95% confidence interval, 48-100%) after the injection of papaverine. Six of the seven patients with normal arteriography had mean peak systolic velocities of greater than 25 cm/sec (specificity, 85.7%; 95% confidence interval, 42-100%) after injection of papaverine. By using data from a receiver-operating-characteristic curve, we determined that end-diastolic velocities in the cavernosal arteries of greater than or equal to 5 cm/sec after the injection of papaverine correctly identified patients with excessive venous leakage on cavernosometry; the sensitivity was 90% (95% confidence interval, 77-97%) and the specificity was 56% (95% confidence interval, 30-80%). The addition of color Doppler sonography made the detection of vessels easier and the correction of the Doppler angle more accurate, resulting in more rapid and accurate acquisition of data. Penile duplex sonography with spectral analysis and color Doppler imaging are sensitive and noninvasive means of examining patients with potential vasculogenic impotence.
Removal of methylene blue from plasma via an adsorbent filter.

Objective: To evaluate adsorbent filtration of methylene blue (MB) and leukocytes from plasma. Methods: Plasma (750 ml) from apheresis of 10 normal subjects was split into three aliquots: control (A), filtration (B) and MB addition (to 1 μM), phototreatment and filtration (C). Biochemical and coagulation tests were performed; units A and B were reinfused. Results: Filtration reduced MB to undetectable (M) levels and leukocytes by 3 log10. Biochemical analytes were unchanged. The partial thromboplastin time was prolonged with MB addition (11±13%) or filtration (26±12%, p Conclusion: Adsorbent filtration can reduce residual MB to undetectable levels and yields a component suitable for transfusion.
Everything you wanted to know about cercopithecoids and then some

Review of Old World Monkeys edited by Paul F. Whitehead and Clifford J. Jolly. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2000, xii + 528 p, 79 fig., 40 tab., $115.00.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Proteinuria, but Not eGFR, Predicts Stroke Risk in Chronic Kidney Disease: Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study”

We thank Dr Tsuda1 for the interest in our article. Biomarkers collected as part of the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study will help …
Monitoring and classification of dimensional faults for automotive body assembly

Sudden process changes occurring during automobile body assembly processes will influence the downstream assembly process and the functionality and final appearance of the vehicle. Furthermore, these faults could result in a decreased production rate and an increase in the cost if sudden process changes are so serious that the production line has to be stopped for investigation. Thus, sudden process changes should be detected and eliminated as soon as possible to prevent defective products from being produced and to reduce the cost of repairs/reworks. A monitoring algorithm is developed to detect, classify, and group process changes by analyzing the dimensional data of car bodies. The results of this monitoring algorithm can help diagnose the root causes of variation according to the locations of measurement points, body structure, assembly sequence, and tooling layout. Measurement data obtained from an optical coordinate measuring machine (OCMM) are used to demonstrate the monitoring technique.
Subsolidus Phase Relationships in Si3N4–AlN–Rare-Earth Oxide Systems

HE EXISTENCE of silicon nitride solid Tsolutions with the LY structure (a-sialon) has been reported by Jack and his associates. This series of solid solutions can be regarded as the stuffed derivatives of a-Si3N4 which is analogous to that of the stuffed derivatives of the Si02 structure.’ The concept of stuffed derivatives of the SiOz structure can be described as Al” ion substitution for Si4’ ions in the SiO, structure; the charge deficiencies are compensated by locating large alkaline or alkaline-earth ions in the interstitial sites of
Tensor inequalities, ξ-functions and inequalities involving immanants

Abstract If f is a complex valued function with domain S n , the symmetric group on {1,2,…,n}, then we define the matrix function df(·) in the usual way. If α is a partition of n and λα denotes the associated irreducible character of S n , then dλα(·), which we abbreviate to dα(·), is known as an immanant. The permanent dominance conjecture of Lieb specialized to the symmetric groups asserts that if α is a partition of n, then d α (A)⩽ deg (α) per (A) for each A∈ H n , the set of n×n positive semi-definite Hermitian matrices. Recently it was shown (T.H. Pate, Proc. London Math. Soc. 76 (2) (1998) 307–358.) that if α is a partition of n of the form (p,q,r,2s,1t), then dα(A)⩽deg(α)per(A) for each A∈ H n . We improve upon this result by showing that this same inequality holds for all A∈ H n when α is a partition of the form (p,qw,r,2s,1t) where 0⩽w⩽2. Thus, permanent dominance holds for all immanants whose associated partitions are of the form (p,q2,r). We also show that permanent dominance holds for all immanants whose associated partitions are of the form (n+p,nk) as long as n is sufficiently large. Inequalities involving immanants have often been obtained using a special kind of class function known as a Ψ-function. Our results on immanants are obtained by analyzing a new set of class functions, called ξ-functions, that are more fundamental than the Ψ-functions in the sense that each Ψ-function is a non-negative linear combination of ξ-functions. The ξ-functions arise from a study of tensor contractions and a special collection of quadratic forms defined on spaces of bi-symmetric tensors.
Anti-GAD antibody cerebellar ataxia mimicking Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

In a patient with a rapidly progressive neurological condition with ataxia and cognitive complaints, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is often high in the differential, particularly when there is an elevated CSF 14-3-3 protein level. We present a case of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (anti-GAD65) positive cerebellar ataxia associated with cognitive complaints and elevated CSF 14-3-3 protein.
The role of NFATc1 in prostate cancer progression: cyclosporine A and tacrolimus inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion

BACKGROUND The functional role of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT), a well-characterized regulator of the immune response, in prostate cancer progression remains largely unknown. We aim to investigate biological significance of NFATc1, a NFAT isoform shown to function as an oncogene in a sarcoma model, in human prostate cancer. METHODS We first determined the expression levels of NFAT in prostate cell lines and tissue specimens. We then assessed the effects of NFAT inhibition via NFATc1-small interfering RNA (siRNA) as well as immunosuppressants including cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK506) on prostate cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression levels of NFATc1 were significantly elevated in prostatic carcinomas, compared with non-neoplastic prostate or high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia tissues, and in high-grade (Gleason scores ≥7) tumors. NFATc1 positivity in carcinomas, as an independent prognosticator, also correlated with the risk of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. In prostate cancer cell lines, CsA and FK506 inhibited NFATc1 expression and its nuclear translocation, NFAT transcriptional activity, and the expression of c-myc, a downstream target of NFAT. NFAT silencing or treatment with these NFAT inhibitors resulted in decreases in cell viability/colony formation and cell migration/invasion, as well as increases in apoptosis, in androgen receptor (AR)-negative, AR-positive/androgen-sensitive, and AR-positive/castration-resistant lines. No significant additional inhibition in the growth of NFAT-siRNA cells by CsA and FK506 was seen, whereas these agents, especially FK506, further inhibited their invasion. In xenograft-bearing mice, CsA and FK506 significantly retarded tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that NFATc1 plays an important role in prostate cancer outgrowth. Thus, NFATc1 inactivation, especially using CsA and FK506, has the potential of being a therapeutic approach for not only hormone-naive but also castration-resistant prostate cancers. Prostate 75: 573–584, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatial Models of International Conflicts: Extending Current Theories of War Behavior

Abstract Previous studies on interstate conflict have shown that war is spatially contagious. These studies have, however, suffered from a limited definition of spatial contagion and have ignored other nongeographic explanations. In this paper, the effect of location on war behavior is tested using eight measures of spatial contiguity among 135 states. The tests support the idea that wars tend to cluster spatially, but the relationship is not as simple as had been believed previously. Examination of war data for African states showed that the geographic effect extends beyond first-order (immediate) neighbors. To analyze the global distribution of conflict, two regression models were tested. In the first which used structural predictors (political, social, economic, and military characteristics of the states), only the military variables were found to be significantly related to war, but the residuals showed positive spatial autocorrelation. An alternative regression model, with structural and spatial auto...