cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Graphical Characterizations of Linear Programming Pseudocodewords for Cycle Codes

The performance of linear programming decoding is determined by the set of nonzero linear programming pseudocodewords. The minimum pseudoweight of this set of linear programming pseudocodewords is also generally accepted as a good predictor of the performance of iterative message-passing decoding. Since the linear programming decoder has a natural description based on the Tanner graph of a code, linear programming pseudocodewords can be analyzed from a graphical viewpoint. In this paper, two graphical characterizations of linear programming pseudocodewords of cycle codes are provided: one for the entire set of linear programming pseudocodewords, and one for the set of minimal linear programming pseudocodewords. The first of these characterizations is used to determine a formula for the minimum degree of a graph cover necessary to realize a linear programming pseudocodeword of a cycle code, and the second is used to prove a result concerning the asymptotic performance of the linear programming decoder when considering transmission over either the additive white Gaussian noise channel or the binary symmetric channel. Finally, a discussion contrasting these two characterizations both with each other and with Horn's characterization of bad pseudocycles is provided.
The Atiyah class of a dg-vector bundle

Abstract We introduce the notions of Atiyah class and Todd class of a differential graded vector bundle with respect to a differential graded Lie algebroid. We prove that the space of vector fields X ( M ) on a dg-manifold M with homological vector field Q admits a structure of L ∞ [ 1 ] -algebra with the Lie derivative L Q as unary bracket λ 1 , and the Atiyah cocycle At M corresponding to a torsion-free affine connection as binary bracket λ 2 .
Labor, Rematerialized: Putting Environments to Work in the Americas

The late Guyanese historian and political activist Walter Rodney began his posthumously published A History of the Guyanese Working People 1881–1905 (1981) by analyzing the “physical environment and class interests” in coastal Guyana. Writing against narratives that privileged the roles played by European capital and technology, Rodney argued that working people made large contributions to the “humanization” of the Guyanese environment. He noted that a powerful planter class placed severe constraints on working people who were “in no position to control the available technology or to initiate environmental intervention.” Political power was important, but Rodney noted that the environment played “a determining role in limiting the activities of all sections of the population [original emphasis].” Writing an “intelligible narrative” of Guyana's history then, was “impossible” without an understanding of Guyana's environment.
Methane and ethylene time-history measurements in n-butane and n-heptane pyrolysis behind reflected shock waves

Abstract CH4 and C2H4 concentration time-histories were measured behind reflected shock waves during the pyrolysis of two n-alkanes: n-butane and n-heptane. Experiments were conducted at temperatures of 1200–1600 K and at pressures near 1.5 atm, with fuel concentrations of 1% in Ar. A mid-IR scanned-wavelength laser absorption diagnostic with a difference frequency generation (DFG) laser near 3.43 μm was used to measure CH4 concentration time-histories. C2H4 was measured using a fixed-wavelength absorption scheme at 10.532 μm with a CO2 laser. The mechanism of Wang et al. with a constant volume gasdynamic model was used to calculate temperature and pressure profiles and the mole fraction time-histories of CH4 and C2H4. The measured CH4 and C2H4 time-histories in n-butane pyrolysis were compared to simulations based on the comprehensive n-alkane mechanism by Wang et al. and the detailed n-butane mechanism by Marinov et al. Based on these comparisons, the n-butane decomposition rates measured by Oehlschlaeger et al. were incorporated into the Wang et al. mechanism and two additional butane abstraction reaction rate constant adjustments were also made. The measured CH4 and C2H4 time-histories during n-heptane pyrolysis were also compared to simulations based on the mechanisms by Wang et al. and Curran et al. The overall n-heptane decomposition rate measured by Davidson et al. was incorporated into the Wang et al. mechanism, and the two methyl abstraction reactions from n-heptane were adjusted, and the H-abstraction reaction rate from ethylene was updated. Using these modified mechanisms the agreement between simulation and experimental time-histories of CH4 and C2H4 were both significantly improved for n-butane and n-heptane pyrolysis.
Cn-Operational Calculus, Non-commutative Taylor Formula and Perturbation of Semigroups

Abstract Let A be a unital complex Banach algebra and a ∈ A. For an interval K, we consider the Banach algebra (C(K), ∗ n), with the Jn-multiplication ∗ n. THEOREM 1. The element a is of class Cn if and only if there exists a continuous representation U of the Banach algebra (C(K), ∗ n) on A such that Ul = an/n!; U is uniquely determined and precisely the "weak representation of a on C(K)." A new perspective to the universal model provided by that representation is obtained as a consequence of a "non-commutative" Taylor formula for the analytical operational calculus. This formula is also used to obtain a perturbation result for semigroups of operators (Theorem 4).
Mixed urinary incontinence: greater impact on quality of life

Purpose: We compared the impact of mixed, stress and urge urinary incontinence on quality of life in middle-aged or older women.Materials and Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from a population based cohort of 2,109 ethnically diverse middle-aged or older women. Among participants reporting weekly incontinence, clinical type of incontinence was assessed by self-reported questionnaires and disease specific quality of life impact was evaluated using the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the odds of greater quality of life impact from incontinence, defined as an Incontinence Impact Questionnaire score in the 75th percentile or greater in women with stress, urge and mixed incontinence.Results: More than 28% (598) of women reported weekly incontinence, including 37% with stress, 31% with urge and 21% with mixed incontinence. Unadjusted Incontinence Impact Questionnaire scores were higher for women with mixed vs urge or stress incontinence (median s...
Cultural variations in landscape preference: comparisons among Chinese sub-groups and Western design experts

Abstract Twenty-eight Chinese groups (landscape architects, landscape horticulturists, college students, male and female middle school students, male and female rural and urban primary school students, workers and farmers) and one Western expert group (Harvard design graduate students) were invited to rate 50 scenes from a Chinese national park. Correlation and factor analyses were used to investigate the general relationship among these groups. Overlapped scattergrams were used to specify cross-cultural and sub-cultural variance based on preference levels of individual scenes. As expected, landscape preference is significantly influenced by the cultural backgrounds of the subjects, though different cultural factors vary in their weight on such influence, and these influences are related to landscape types. Findings from this study point towards the following conclusions. (1) Living environment (urban vs. rural) is a powerful predictor of variance in landscape preference, and high preference among rural subjects for novelty and modernity (tourism service scenes) can be explained by their lack of experience with such landscapes and their utilitarian interest. (2) General education level instead of landscape expertise, combined with environmental experience, can significantly influence landscape preference. (3) The influences of macrocultural difference (Chinese vs. Westerners), and of expertise education in landscape (experts vs. public), are unexpectedly very weak, and their influence on landscape preference could be overridden by the two factors above (living environment and general education level). However, for some specific Chinese landscapes, macro-cultural differences do occur because the ‘foreigners’ lack the knowledge of cultural meanings embodied in the landscapes. Experts (both Chinese and Westerners) do show their unique preferences in some specific cases, such as their extreme negative reaction to tourism services and extreme positive reaction to water and rocky scenes in cold and foggy weather. (4) Utilitarian interest can greatly bias landscape preference. Farmers' interest in agricultural production and daily farm work may contribute to their negative reaction to water-dominated and misty rocky scenes in bad weather. (5) Sex has no significant influence on landscape preference, although some difference on specific landscapes (the water-dominated scenes) appears in some cases. (6) Last but not least, this research suggests that most previous findings based on Westerners' landscape preference correlate well with those of reasonably welleducated or highly educated urban Chinese, but not with those of the less well-educated rural Chinese.
Estrogen Relaxes Coronary Arteries by Opening BKCa Channels Through a cGMP-Dependent Mechanism

Abstract Women rarely suffer cardiovascular dysfunction before menopause, but by the age of 65 a woman becomes as vulnerable to cardiovascular mortality as a man. It has been proposed that estrogens protect against cardiovascular disease; however, the physiological basis of estrogen protection is unknown. In the present study the mechanism of estrogen-induced relaxation of coronary arteries was investigated at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Tissue studies demonstrated that 17β-estradiol relaxes porcine coronary arteries by an endothelium-independent mechanism involving K+ efflux, and subsequent studies employing the patch-clamp technique confirmed that estrogen stimulates K+ channel gating in coronary smooth muscle. Perforated-patch recordings from metabolically intact coronary myocytes revealed that 17β-estradiol more than doubles steady state outward currents in these cells at positive voltages. Studies of on-cell patches demonstrated a potent stimulatory effect of 17β-estradiol on the gati...
AN EXAMINATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF DEPOSIT BEHAVIOR ON THE PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS' ASSETS†

THE HYPOTHESIS THAT the deposit behavior of commercial banks is a significant determinant of commercial banks' asset distribution, and therefore of earnings performance, is developed and tested in this dissertation. Support for this hypothesis is found in banking literature which delineates primary, secondary, and investment reserves (i.e., assets) to which cash available is allocated on the basis of the banks' needs to meet possible withdrawals and loan demands. If this hypothesis were confirmed by banking practice, it might well indicate to less profitable banks that, by stabilizing deposit behavior, perhaps through better diversification of depositors, profits could be improved. As part of a Research Fellowship, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago provided data for testing this hypothesis. In testing the hypothesis, the performance of assets is measured for the year 1962 by the ratios of total operating revenues and net current earnings to total assets, each adjusted to exclude earnings which cannot be attributed to asset distribution. Excluded from consideration were service charge income on deposit accounts, other revenue, trust revenue, capital gains and losses, valuation reserves, and taxes. Comparison of the revenue and earnings ratios, which differ only by operating expenses, indicates that operating expenses do influence net current earnings. The influence of factors affecting total operating revenues does not necessarily carry through to net current earnings. Using data for a sample of thirty banks drawn from the cash grain area of Illinois, six independent variables purporting to measure the magnitude and duration of fluctuations and the trend of demand and time deposits were regressed on each of these two measures of asset performance. These independent variables were measured for the four years, 1959 through 1962, three years, 1960 through 1962, two years 1961 through 1962, and one year, 1962. Results of the multiple regressions indicate that these measures of deposit behavior in the periods studied were not significant predictors of asset performance as measured by either total revenue or earnings ratios. Measuring of independent variables for four, three, two, and one year periods made little difference. The data failed to support the hypothesis. The fact that some of the more stable banks in the sample were not lending up to their capacity, as measured by the independent variables, while other, less stable banks had substantially higher volumes of loans to total assets, contributed to this refutation of the hypothesis. Two possible conclusions stand out:
Scales of Eden: Conservation and Pristine Devastation on Bikini Atoll:

Landscapes are often discursively constructed as wildernesses through an erasure of the histories of people in the landscape. Current representations of Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands as an Edenic wilderness are no different. What is unusual about conceptualizations of Bikini Atoll as a pristine wilderness is that it is the site of a recent history of colonial appropriation and massive landscape transformation through nuclear-weapons testing. Although people both outside and within the Bikinian community regularly represent the atoll as a kind of paradise, there are strong differences of opinion regarding what the future uses of the atoll should be. This is because there is a sharp division between representations of the atoll as a pristine wilderness with visually pleasing landscapes and seascapes that need to be preserved and locally produced representations of the atoll as an Eden with an abundance of useable natural resources.
When Spouses Talk to Each Other about their Relationship

A study of 42 married couples addressed the questions: (1) What effect does talking about their relationship have on perceptions of spouses' feelings of contentment; (2) Does talking about the relationship affect spouses differently in different situations? Subjects read stories about pleasant and unpleasant interactions between married couples who either talked or did not talk about their relationship. Subjects rated characters' feelings of contentment after each story. Relationship talk appeared to have a positive effect on subjects' ratings of the fictional couples' feelings. How much the ratings were affected by such talk seemed to depend on which partner was talking and whether the story was pleasant or unpleasant. Results are discussed in light of previous research on attributions in married couples. Recommendations for future research suggest a closer examination of gender differences in talking about relationships and finding out when such talk is beneficial to a marriage.
Acetylcholine-induced Calcium Signaling and Contraction of Airway Smooth Muscle Cells in Lung Slices

The Ca2+ signaling and contractility of airway smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were investigated with confocal microscopy in murine lung slices (∼75-μm thick) that maintained the in situ organization of the airways and the contractility of the SMCs for at least 5 d. 10–500 nM acetylcholine (ACH) induced a contraction of the airway lumen and a transient increase in [Ca2+]i in individual SMCs that subsequently declined to initiate multiple intracellular Ca2+ oscillations. These Ca2+ oscillations spread as Ca2+ waves through the SMCs at ∼48 μm/s. The magnitude of the airway contraction, the initial Ca2+ transient, and the frequency of the subsequent Ca2+ oscillations were all concentration-dependent. In a Ca2+-free solution, ACH induced a similar Ca2+ response, except that the Ca2+ oscillations ceased after 1–1.5 min. Incubation with thapsigargin, xestospongin, or ryanodine inhibited the ACH-induced Ca2+ signaling. A comparison of airway contraction with the ACH-induced Ca2+ response of the SMCs revealed that the onset of airway contraction correlated with the initial Ca2+ transient, and that sustained airway contraction correlated with the occurrence of the Ca2+ oscillations. Buffering intracellular Ca2+ with BAPTA prohibited Ca2+ signaling and airway contraction, indicating a Ca2+-dependent pathway. Cessation of the Ca2+ oscillations, induced by ACH-esterase, halothane, or the absence of extracellular Ca2+ resulted in a relaxation of the airway. The concentration dependence of the airway contraction matched the concentration dependence of the increased frequency of the Ca2+ oscillations. These results indicate that Ca2+ oscillations, induced by ACH in murine bronchial SMCs, are generated by Ca2+ release from the SR involving IP3- and ryanodine receptors, and are required to maintain airway contraction.
Needle exchange and the geography of survival in the South Bronx.

Abstract This paper explores the position of needle exchange programmes (NEPs) in the "geography of survival" in the South Bronx neighbourhood of New York City. Stemming the spread of HIV through the provision of sterile injecting equipment, needle exchange promotes the survival of injection drug users (IDUs) in the starkest sense; yet NEPs also attract a diverse population of service users whose attendance is not necessarily related to drugs. This paper locates NEPs among a larger constellation of social services accessed by residents of poor neighbourhoods, including injection drug users, the homeless, the hungry, and those in need of medical services or just safe space. Drawing on ethnographic and interview data from a needle exchange in the South Bronx, I describe how both IDUs and others employed the organisation to make ends meet, elaborating four "off-label" usages of needle exchange: as a place to obtain basic necessities, as a source of income, as a safe space, and as a site of social contact. As harm reduction in the United States moves towards an increasingly clinical model of care, this paper considers these latent functions of needle exchange within the context of a larger struggle over the content and meaning of harm reduction services. By themselves, NEPs are clearly an unsatisfactory solution to the economic and political circumstances that drive a variety of individuals through their doors; yet, in a country that lacks a comprehensive welfare system, needle exchange arguably represents an important thread within a social safety net that is being woven from the ground up. This study may be used to argue for a (re)expanded mission for harm reduction in the United States, in the face of constant moves to narrow its mandate and reduce its budget.
The Incidence, Risk, and Consequences of Atrial Arrhythmias in Patients with Continuous‐Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Background Although atrial arrhythmias (AAs) are common in heart failure, the incidence of AAs subsequent to the placement of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) has not been elucidated. Methods Patients receiving a HeartMate II LVAD in the bridge to transplant (n = 490) and destination therapy (n = 634) trials were included (n = 1125). AAs requiring treatment were recorded, regardless of symptoms. Using Cox models with and without a 60-day blanking period, risk factors for early and late AAs were determined. Results In total, there were 271 AAs in 231 patients (21%), most of which occurred within the first 60 days. Patients with and without AAs had similar survival (p = 0.16). Serum creatinine (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.49 per unit increase, 1.18 to 1.88; p < 0.001) and ejection fraction (HR = 0.98 per 1% increase, 0.95 to 0.999; p = 0.04) were associated with AAs in a multivariable model. Although quality of life (QoL) and functional status improved in all patients, those with AAs had worse unadjusted QoL (p < 0.001) and a decreased rate of improvement in six-minute walk distance over six to 24 months postimplant (p = 0.016). Conclusions Approximately one-fifth of LVAD patients have AAs, most commonly within the first 60 days of support. Preoperative creatinine is a strong risk factor for early and late AAs. Although AAs do not impact survival, they are associated with decreased functional status and QoL improvements during LVAD support. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12336 (J Card Surg 2014;29:572–580)
Comparison of Laparoscopically Assisted and Conventional Ileocolic Resection for Crohn's Disease

Objective: To compare safety, outcome, and feasibility of laparoscopic assisted and conventional laparotomy for ileocolic resection in Crohn's disease.Design: Retrospective study.Setting: Private clinic, USA.Subjects: 74 patients who had ileocolic resection and anastomosis for Crohn's disease between August 1991 and July 1996, 48 through conventional laparotomy and 26 in whom it was laparoscopically assisted.Main outcome measures: Age, operating time, duration of hospital stay, early and late morbidity, and patients' subjective assessment.Results: The mean age was 42 (±17) in the conventional group and 40 (±15) in the laparoscopically assisted group. The mean operating time was significantly shorter in the conventional group, 90.5 ± 3.7 minutes, compared with 150 ± 1.2 minutes in the laparoscopic-assisted group (p < 0.0001), but they stayed in hospital significantly longer, 9.6 ± 0.6 days in the conventional group, compared with 7 ± 0.8 days in the laparoscopic-assisted group (p < 0.0001). There were no d...
Prolactin secretion after cervical stimulation of rats maintained in constant dark or constant light.

The pattern of PRL secretion induced by stimulation of the uterine cervix is composed of two daily surges; the diurnal surge occurs as the lights go off and the nocturnal surge occurs as the lights come on. To determine if this PRL secretory rhythm was truly circadian, we determined the pattern of PRL secretion in rats maintained in constant dark (D:D) and in constant light (L:L). We stimulated the cervix electrically for 30 sec at 1900 h in rats previously blinded and maintained in D:D for at least 40 days. Blood samples for PRL analysis by RIA were obtained at 2-h intervals for 48 h from aortic cannulae inserted 2 days before beginning the experiment. The PRL surges in D:D animals were of the same size and periodicity as the surges in animals maintained in a 12-h light, 12-h dark lighting schedule. However, the surges were not synchronous among individual D:D animals nor with the surges of 12-h light, 12-dark animals. Thus, the PRL secretory pattern was freerunning in D:D and is a true circadian rhythm....
REFLICS: real-time flow imaging and classification system

We present the real-time flow imaging and classification system (REFLICS), a real-time machine vision system for detecting and classifying pelagic fish eggs (e.g. sardine, anchovy) flowing through a shipboard pumping and filtering system. REFLICS images the dynamic flow with a progressive-scan area camera and a synchronized backlight strobe. Digitization and processing occur on a dual processor Pentium II PC and a pipeline image processing board. REFLICS first uses a segmentation algorithm to locate fish egg-like objects in the image and then a classifier to determine fish eggs, species and development stages (ages). We present the integrated system design of REFLICS and performance results. REFLICS can perform in 60 Hz real-time, classify fish eggs with low false negative rates on data collected from real cruises, and work in harsh conditions aboard ships at sea. REFLICS allows more accurate and timely survey of fish stock in a cost-effective manner.
One Technique is Not Enough: A Comparison of Vulnerability Discovery Techniques

Security vulnerabilities discovered later in the development cycle are more expensive to fix than those discovered early. Therefore, software developers should strive to discover vulnerabilities as early as possible. Unfortunately, the large size of code bases and lack of developer expertise can make discovering software vulnerabilities difficult. To ease this difficulty, many different types of techniques have been devised to aid developers in vulnerability discovery. The goal of this research is to improve vulnerability detection by comparing the effectiveness of vulnerability discovery techniques and to provide specific recommendations to improve vulnerability discovery with these techniques. We conducted a case study on two electronic health record systems to compare four discovery techniques: systematic and exploratory manual penetration testing, static analysis, and automated penetration testing. In our case study, we found empirical evidence that no single technique discovered every type of vulnerability. We discovered almost no individual vulnerabilities with multiple discovery techniques. We also found that systematic manual penetration testing found the most design flaws, while static analysis found the most implementation bugs. Finally, we found the most effective vulnerability discovery technique in terms of vulnerabilities discovered per hour was automated penetration testing. These results suggest that if one has limited time to preform vulnerability discovery one should conduct automated penetration testing to discover implementation bugs and systematic manual penetration testing to discover design flaws.
Methylphenidate and Continuous Spike and Wave During Sleep in a Child With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most common neurobehavioral disorder in children and frequently associated with epilepsy. For patients with both conditions, methylphenidate remains a mainstay in the treatment of behavioral problems. Most studies demonstrate that methylphenidate is effective in treating children with well-controlled epilepsy, and that methylphenidate does not increase the risk of having seizures in patients with EEG abnormalities without epilepsy. However, in patients with active seizures, the results are somewhat contradictory. This article presents the case of a young girl with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and behavioral problems on Depakote (valproic acid) who had an abnormal EEG with left centroparietal spikes but no history of electrographic seizures. She experienced a convulsion the day after her first dose of methylphenidate, and repeat EEG demonstrated continuous spike and slow wave during sleep. This case report suggests that children with continuous spike and slow wave during sleep may have a higher risk of developing seizures with methylphenidate treatment.
Self-Organizing Control in Plantetary-Scale Computing

The explosion in globally connected devices, computers, and services ultimately evolves into very large-scale, inter-connected systems approaching a new era of planetary-scale computing. The backbone of planetary-scale computing is a global network of data centers. The paper provides an overview of research at HP Laboratories exploring new approaches under such a scenario based on HP's virtual data center platform enabling large-scale distributed virtual data center environments. Our approach is founded in a service-centric system view, and we explore agent technology for resource control, system organization, and balancing resource demand and supply.
Formulation of the proper equations for developing standards in radar polarimetry

Several crucial inconsistencies have been found in the basic equations of radar polarimetry. In particular, the pertinent formulations of the polarization state definitions given in the IEEE/ANSI Standard 149-1979 are in error. These and other inconsistencies and conceptual errors are discussed. The authors provide the correct formulae for the proposed revision of the polarimetric standards together with a well-defined and consistent procedure for measuring target scattering matrices in both monostatic and bistatic arrangements. Further, the proposed procedure can be applied to an arbitrary measurement process in any general elliptical polarization basis. >
An eye tracking study of how font size and type influence online reading

In order to maximize online reading performance and comprehension, how should a designer choose typographical variables such as font size and font type? This paper presents an eye tracking study of how font size and font type affect online reading. In a between-subjects design, we collected data from 82 subjects reading stories formatted in a variety of point sizes, san serif, and serif fonts. Reading statistics such as reading speed were computed, and post-tests of comprehension were recorded. For smaller font sizes, fixation durations are significantly longer, resulting in slower reading -- but not significantly slower. While there were no significant differences in serif vs. san serif fonts, serif reading was slightly faster. Significant eye tracking differences were found for demographic variables such as age group and whether English is the subject's first language.
The future of open access and library publishing

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide a vision for how academic libraries can assume a more central role in a future where open access (OA) publishing has become the predominant model for disseminating scholarly research articles. Design/methodology/approach – The authors analyze existing trends related to OA policies and publishing, with an emphasis on the development of repositories managed by libraries to publish and disseminate articles. They speculate that these trends, coupled with emerging economic realities, will create an environment where libraries will assume a major role in the OA publishing environment. The authors provide some suggestions for how this major role might be funded. Findings – The trends and economic realities discussed will lead to new roles for academic librarians and will change the existing roles. Originality/value – This article provides insights for academic libraries and their institutions to consider a dramatic shift in the deployment of subscription dollar...
Sirtuins and Their Relevance to the Kidney

Sirtuins (silent information regulator 2 [Sir2] proteins) belong to an ancient family of evolutionary conserved nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) + -dependent enzymes with deacetylase and/or mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. They regulate DNA repair and recombination, chromosomal stability, and gene transcription, and most importantly mediate the health-promoting effects of caloric restriction (CR), which includes the retardation of aging. At least seven Sir2 homologs, sirtuins (SIRT) 1 to 7 have been identified in mammals. Mammalian SIRT1, the most extensively studied family member, couples protein deacetylation with NAD + hydrolysis and links cellular energy and redox state to multiple signaling and survival pathways. Cell-type and context-specific activation of sirtuins increases resistance to metabolic, oxidative, and hypoxic stress in different tissues. In particular, SIRT1 plays a central role in mediating the beneficial effects of CR, and its activation associates with longevity and the attenuation of metabolic disorders. SIRT1 in the kidney is cytoprotective and participates in the regulation of BP and sodium balance. Here, we review sirtuin biology and discuss how CR-triggered sirtuin-dependent pathways affect renal physiology and the pathogenesis of kidney diseases and related disorders.
Thermal metrology of silicon microstructures using Raman spectroscopy

The effects of temperature and stress on the Raman shift in single crystal silicon and polycrystalline silicon films were calibrated. Polysilicon films were grown by LPCVD using a range of temperatures to produce amorphous and crystalline materials followed by doping and annealing. The dependencies of the linear coefficients were related to the polysilicon microstructure using AFM surface scans to determine any possible links. Finally, the technique was utilized in measuring the temperature distribution in a thermal MEMS cantilever device with micron spatial resolution.
Hispanic ethnicity and vascular access use in patients initiating hemodialysis in the United States.

Summary Background and objectives Hispanics are the largest minority in the United States (comprising 16.3% of the US population) and have 1.5 times the age-, sex-, and race-adjusted incidence of ESRD compared with non-Hispanics. Poor health care access and low-quality care generally received by Hispanics are well documented. However, little is known regarding dialysis preparation of Hispanic patients with progressive CKD. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Using data from Medical Evidence Report form CMS-2728-U3, 321,996 adult patients of white or black race were identified who initiated hemodialysis (HD) between July 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008. The form captures Hispanic ethnicity, vascular access use at first outpatient HD, sociodemographic characteristics, and comorbidities. This study also examined whether use of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft (AVG) was reported. Results AVF/AVG use was reported in 14.5% of Hispanics and 17.6% in non-Hispanics (P Conclusions Hispanics are less likely to use arteriovenous access for first outpatient HD compared with non-Hispanics, which seems to be explained by variation in the access to predialysis nephrology care.
Comparing search techniques for finding subtle higher order mutants

Subtle Higher Order Mutants (HOMs) are those HOMs that cannot be killed by existing test suites that kill all First Order Mutants (FOMs) for the program under test. Subtle HOMs simulate complex, real faults, whose behavior cannot be simulated using FOMs. However, due to the coupling effect, subtle HOMs are rare in the exponentially large space of candidate HOMs and they can be costly to find even for small programs. In this paper we propose new search techniques for finding subtle HOMs and extend our prior work with new heuristics and search strategies. We compare the effectiveness of six search techniques applied to Java and AspectJ programs. Our study shows that more subtle HOMs were found when the new heuristics and search strategies were used. The programming language (Java or AspectJ) did not affect the effectiveness of any search technique.
A novel pin-to-hole spark discharge plasma produces nitric oxide for medical applications

Nitric oxide, an important signaling molecule in endothelial cells, mediates many processes at the cellular as well as tissue levels. Several diseases such as diabetes, coronary artery diseases and hypertension are characterized by a reduction in the bioavailability of NO, which leads to endothelial dysfunction1. The use of NO donors has several drawbacks which includes inducing systemic side effects, due to their non-localized action. We have developed a novel pinto-hole spark discharge (PHSD) plasma device which generates nitric oxide (NO), which can be applied safely and locally to endothelial cells at low concentrations.
Detection of intermediate protein conformations by room temperature tryptophan phosphorescence spectroscopy during denaturation of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase

The reversible denaturation of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase (AP) was followed by monitoring changes in enzymatic activity as well as by measurements of the time-resolved room temperature phosphorescence from Trp 109. It is well known that the denaturants, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), acid and guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCI) inactivate AP by different mechanisms as reflected by differences in the time dependence of inactivation. However, further information about structural changes that result during inactivation is obtained by measurement of the phosphorescence intensity and radiative decay rate. Time-resolved tryptopban phosphorescence is exquisitely sensitive to changes in the local environment of the emitting residue, unlike the steady state phosphorescence intensity which is a composite of both the lifetime and concentration of the emitting protein species. The results show that while inactivation in EDTA proceeds by loss of the zinc ion as expected, denaturation in acid or GdnHCl produces a heterogeneous population of AP molecules, detected by a distribution analysis of the phosphorescence lifetime, which may reflect multiple pathways to the final unfolded state. Time-resolved phosphorescence also demonstrates the existence of an enzymatically active but structurally less rigid intermediate state during unfolding. As the rigidity decreases, the susceptibility to further denaturation decreases at lower pH but increases with GdnHCl concentration. The experiments provide new insight into the mechanism of denaturation of AP and demonstrate the sensitivity of time-resolved room temperature phosphorescence to the structural details of intermediate states produced during unfolding of proteins.
Soybean Seed Composition Constituents as Affected by Drought and Phomopsis in Phomopsis Susceptible and Resistant Genotypes

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of drought and Phomopsis on seed composition constituents in Phomopsis susceptible (S), moderately resistant (MR), and resistant (R) soybean genotypes grown under irrigated and non-irrigated environments. Genotypes of maturity group (MG) III and V were grown under field conditions in 2003 and 2005. Seed protein, oil, fatty acids, sugars, and minerals were evaluated in seeds harvested at harvest maturity (R8) and 15 days after harvest maturity (delayed harvesting). The results showed that seed protein and oleic acid were higher in S than in MR or R genotypes at 15 days after harvest maturity in MG III in non-irrigated soybean. For MG V genotypes, seed protein, oil, and oleic acid were higher and linoleic and linolenic acids were lower in MR and R than in S in irrigated and non-irrigated soybean at harvest maturity and 15 days after harvest maturity. In MG III genotypes, seed sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose were higher in MR and R than in S genotyp...
Monitoring Stored-Product Pests in Food Processing Plants with Pheromone Trapping, Contour Mapping, and Mark-Recapture

Distribution and movement patterns of several species of stored-product pests in a food processing plant were investigated. The objectives of this study were to determine the temporal and spatial variation in abundance of stored-product pests using pheromone traps; assess the effectiveness of trap type, location, and number on monitoring insect populations; and to evaluate the nature of pheromone trap capture hot spots by measuring patterns of insect movement. We determined that the distributions of Trogoderma variabile Ballion, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) within the facility were typically clumped and that foci of high trap captures, based on visual observation of contour maps, varied among species and over time. Trap type and location influenced the number of T. variabile captured: traps on the floor and along walls captured more individuals than hanging traps and traps next to support pillars. T. variabile was the predominant insect pest at this facility and from mark-recapture studies, we found that individual beetles moved across multiple floors in the facility and from 7 to 216 m though the warehouse.
Do DWI Courts Work? an Empirical Evaluation of a Texas DWI Court

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) courts have recently gained traction as a potential solution to the problem of repeat DWI offending. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of peer-reviewed studies that have examined their effectiveness. Thus, the current study compared DWI court graduates to a group of similar offenders who completed probation. Rearrest outcomes were examined at 6 and 12 months postrelease and survival analyses were conducted to determine whether DWI court treatment was able to delay rearrest. Results indicated that DWI court was no more effective than probation. These findings suggest that it is premature to endorse DWI courts for reducing DWI recidivism.
Odor-identity dependent motor programs underlie behavioral responses to odors

All animals use olfactory information to perform tasks essential to their survival. Odors typically activate multiple olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) classes and are therefore represented by the patterns of active ORNs. How the patterns of active ORN classes are decoded to drive behavior is under intense investigation. In this study, using Drosophila as a model system, we investigate the logic by which odors modulate locomotion. We designed a novel behavioral arena in which we could examine a fly's locomotion under precisely controlled stimulus condition. In this arena, in response to similarly attractive odors, flies modulate their locomotion differently implying that odors have a more diverse effect on locomotion than was anticipated. Three features underlie odor-guided locomotion: First, in response to odors, flies modulate a surprisingly large number of motor parameters. Second, similarly attractive odors elicit changes in different motor programs. Third, different ORN classes modulate different subset of motor parameters.
A New Species of Siphlonurus from Nova Scotia, Canada

A new species, Siphlonurus demarayi, is described and figured from specimens from Nova Scotia, Canada. The male genitalia of Siphlonurus barbaroides McDunnough is illustrated to correct an error in the original description and to facilitate identification of the new species. Notes on the biology of the new species are given.
Laboratory Mating of the European Pine Shoot Moth, Rhyacionia buoliana

A technique is described for mating Rhyacionia buoliana (Schiffermuller) in small cages in the laboratory. Up to 36% of females could be mated within a stipulated time period. Production of sex attractant by females was necessary to stimulate mating. Dissections and behavior of mated specimens showed that females mate only once. Factors reducing mating success are discussed.
Disaster Response Logistics: Chief Findings of Fieldwork Research

This chapter discuses Disaster Response Logistics in connection with the Emergency Functions conducted by relief agencies, and identifies under-studied areas where logistic research could enhance operational effectiveness. The chapter establishes the socio-technical nature of Disaster Response Logistics, and the implications for disaster mitigation, preparation, and response. It relays the chief findings of the fieldwork research conducted by the authors, which support the development of policies to enhance advance preparation and coordination of disaster response activities.
Holocene accumulation and ice flow near the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide ice‐core site

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide Core (WDC) provided a high-resolution climate record from near the Ross-Amundsen Divide in Central West Antarctica. In addition, radar-detected internal layers in the vicinity of the WDC site have been dated directly from the ice core to provide spatial variations in the age structure of the region. Using these two data sets together, we first infer a high-resolution Holocene accumulation-rate history from 9.2 thousand years of the ice-core timescale and then confirm that this climate history is consistent with internal layers upstream of the core site. Even though the WDC was drilled only 24 kilometers from the modern ice divide, advection of ice from upstream must be taken into account. We evaluate histories of accumulation rate by using a flowband model to generate internal layers that we compare to observed layers. Results show that the centennially averaged accumulation rate was over 20 percent lower than modern at 9.2 thousand years before present (B.P.), increased by 40 percent from 9.2 to 2.3 thousand years B.P., and decreased by at least 10 percent over the past 2 thousand years B.P. to the modern values; these Holocene accumulation-rate changes in Central West Antarctica are larger than changes inferred from East Antarctic ice-core records. Despite significant changes in accumulation rate, throughout the Holocene the regional accumulation pattern has likely remained similar to today, and the ice-divide position has likely remained on average within 5 kilometers of its modern position. Continent-scale ice-sheet models used for reconstructions of West Antarctic ice volume should incorporate this accumulation history.
Comparisons of modeled height predictions to ocular height estimates

Equations used by USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis projects to predict individual tree heights on the basis of species and dbh were improved by the addition of mean overstory height. However, ocular estimates of total height by field crews were more accurate than the statistically improved models, especially for hardwood species. Heightpredictionsfrom the improved equations attained the desired measurement quality objective only 57% ofthe time, while ocular estimates achieved the desiredaccuracy 75% of the time. South. J. Appl. For. 22(4):216-221. Measuring tree heights is costly. For extensive surveys such as those conducted by Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA), it is not usually cost effective to measure the heights of all sampled trees. Tree heights are ultimately used to compute tree volumes, which are then aggregated to population-level estimates of inventory volume. The use of ocular height estimates by FIA has historically produced acceptable sampling errors associated with reported inventory volumes. FIA plots in the South are measured by experienced, permanent field crews. Crews are trained to visually estimate the heights of trees after calibrating their estimates at each plot by measuring a few trees with clinometers. FIA has also developed regional height equations, based on species and diameter at breast height (dbh), to predict the heights of mortality and cut trees (because most of these are removed from the woods before field crews can measure them). Ocular estimation of tree heights, although cheaper than measured heights, is still time-consuming. It is not known whether the time spent on this endeavor is worthwhile, since the accuracy of ocular height estimates has not been compared to height predictions obtained from equations. If modeled heights compare favorably to ocular estimates, field crews might be relieved of an unnecessary task. Height equations could be programmed into data recorders for visual verification by field crews, who would override the predicted heights only for trees with unusual form or broken tops. NOTE: W.A. Bechtold is the corresponding author and can be reached at Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 2680, Asheville, NC 28802-Phone: (828)257-4357;Fax:(828)257-4894;E-Mail: wbecht89Ol@aol.com.Manuscript received November 21, 1996, accepted October 22, 1997. The objectives of this analysis were threefold: 1. To evaluate the accuracy of regional height models currently in use by FIA in the South. 2. To use additional variables already recorded by field crews in an attempt to make regional height models more site and stand specific. 3. To determine whether height predictions generated by models can replace or augment field-crew ocular estimates of tree height.
A new metric-based approach to model selection

We introduce a new approach to model selection that performs better than the standard complexity-penalization and hold-out error estimation techniques in many cases. The basic idea is to exploit the intrinsic metric structure of a hypothesis space, as determined by the natural distribution of unlabeled training patterns, and use this metric as a reference to detect whether the empirical error estimates derived from a small (labeled) training sample can be trusted in the region around an empirically optimal hypothesis. Using simple metric intuitions we develop new geometric strategies for detecting overfitting and performing robust yet responsive model selection in spaces of candidate functions. These new metric-based strategies dramatically outperform previous approaches in experimental studies of classical polynomial curve fitting. Moreover, the technique is simple, efficient, and can be applied to most function learning tasks. The only requirement is access to an auxiliary collection of unlabeled training data.