cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral evidence for increased acetylcholine receptor sensitivity after nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesions in the rat.

Abstract Lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis and the medial septal area have been shown to produce both deficits in memory and decreases in choline acetyltransferase levels. In order to determine whether functional changes in acetylcholine receptor sensitivity also occur, the present experiment examined the ability of acetylcholine, 40 μg intraventricularly, to induce motor seizures in nucleus basalis magnocellularis-medial septal area lesioned versus control rats. While choline acetyltransferase activity was only modestly reduced in lesioned rats vs control rats (30%), the seizure scores were considerably higher in lesioned vs. control rats (270%). These results suggest that there is an increased functional response to acetylcholine following bilateral nucleus basalis magnocellularis-medial septal area lesions.
Geartrain Reduction for Real-Time Simulation of a Multibody Wind Turbine Gearbox Model

This paper presents a reduction strategy for a multibody model of a 7.5 MW gearbox located at Clemson University’s Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility in North Charleston, SC. A model reduction is needed because of a high frequency dynamic associated with the input shaft of the gearbox which prevents the model from being executed in real-time. This particular gearbox has an atypical input stage configuration whereby the load path is split into two parallel shafts before being recombined at the sun shaft. The strategy includes removing model elements associated with high frequency vibration, merging model elements, and locating model elements where needed. The presented strategy successfully removes the problematic eigenvalues, maintains basic dynamic character, and results in a multibody gearbox model suitable for real-time simulation.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Dynamic Energy, Performance, and Accuracy Optimization and Management Using Automatically Generated Constraints for Separable 2D FIR Filtering for Digital Video Processing

There is strong interest in the development of dynamically reconfigurable systems that can meet real-time constraints on energy, performance, and accuracy. The generation of real-time constraints will significantly expand the applicability of dynamically reconfigurable systems to new domains, such as digital video processing.We develop a dynamically reconfigurable 2D FIR filtering system that can meet real-time constraints in energy, performance, and accuracy (EPA). The real-time constraints are automatically generated based on user input, image types associated with video communications, and video content. We first generate a set of Pareto-optimal realizations, described by their EPA values and associated 2D FIR hardware description bitstreams. Dynamic management is then achieved by selecting Pareto-optimal realizations that meet the automatically generated time-varying EPA constraints.We validate our approach using three different 2D Gaussian filters. Filter realizations are evaluated in terms of the required energy per frame, accuracy of the resulting image, and performance in frames per second. We demonstrate dynamic EPA management by applying a Difference of Gaussians (DOG) filter to standard video sequences. For video frame sizes that are equal to or larger than the VGA resolution, compared to a static implementation, our dynamic system provides significant reduction in the total energy consumption (>30p).
Inflow and Outflow of Foreign Direct Investment by Economies

The purpose of this article is to identify the extent of inward and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) worldwide. A large number of countries were aggregated on a regional basis to examine their inward and outward stocks as a percentage of gross fixed capital formation for the period 1980–2006. Among the findings was that the annual increase for both inward and outward FDI was less than 1%. Also, countries grouped by the aggregates developed, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean, Asia and Oceania, and developing were found to differ significantly in their means.
Phospholipase D Activation by Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Regulates Interleukin-8 Secretion in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a potent bioactive sphingolipid, has been implicated in many critical cellular events, including a regulatory role in the pathogenesis of airway inflammation. We investigated the participation of S1P as an inflammatory mediator by assessing interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion and phospholipase D (PLD) activation in human bronchial epithelial cells (Beas-2B). S1P1, S1P3, S1P4, S1P5, and weak S1P2 receptors were detected in Beas-2B and primary human bronchial epithelial cells. S1P stimulated a rapid activation of PLD, which was nearly abolished by pertussis toxin (PTX) treatment, consistent with S1P receptor/Gi protein coupling. S1P also markedly induced Beas-2B secretion of IL-8, a powerful neutrophil chemoattractant and activator, in a PTX-sensitive manner. This S1P-mediated response was dependent on transcription as indicated by a strong induction of IL-8 promoter-mediated luciferase activity in transfected Beas-2B cells and a complete inhibition by actinomycin D. Beas-2B exposure to 1-butanol, which converts the PLD-generated phosphatidic acid (PA) to phosphatidylbutanol by a transphosphatidylation reaction, significantly attenuated the S1P-induced IL-8 secretion, indicating the involvement of PLD-derived PA in the signaling pathway. Inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate-stimulated IL-8 production by 1-butanol further strengthened this observation. Blocking protein kinase C and Rho kinase also attenuated S1P-induced IL-8 secretion. Our data suggest that PLD-derived PA, protein kinase C, and Rho are important signaling components in S1P-mediated IL-8 secretion by human bronchial epithelial cells.
Central inhibitory effect of intravesically applied botulinum toxin A in chronic spinal cord injury

Aims We evaluated a putative central inhibitory effect of intravesical botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) on the activity of lumbosacral spinal neurons in a chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) model of bladder overactivity. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent T8 spinal cord transection. Four weeks later, once overactive neuropathic detrusor pathways had developed, the animals underwent intravesical instillation with either saline (1 ml) or BoNT-A (Botox®, 20 U/1 ml) for 1 hr. Two days later, the rats then completed a cystometric evaluation prior to spinal cord harvest. Sections from the L4-S1 spinal cord segments were examined for the total number of c-fos immunoreactive cells. Results Comparison of the saline and BoNT-A treated groups showed a significant decrease in L6 (i.e., 67%, P < 0.001) and S1 (i.e., 47%, P < 0.01) c-fos expression (43%) in BoNT-A treated rats compared to saline controls. Cystometrogram studies revealed that the frequency of non-voiding bladder contractions was reduced by 73% (P < 0.05) in BoNT-A compared to saline treated rats. No change in the frequency of voiding bladder contractions or amplitude of bladder contraction was observed between the saline and BoNT-A treated groups. Conclusion In a SCI model of bladder overactivity, intravesical BoNT-A significantly inhibits the response of bladder afferent activated lumbosacral neurons without significantly impairing efferent bladder function. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:1376–1381, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Prolactin promotes mammary pathogenesis independently from cyclin D1.

Epidemiological and experimental studies have revealed an important role for prolactin (PRL) in breast cancer. Cyclin D1 is a major downstream target of PRL in lobuloalveolar development during pregnancy and is amplified and/or overexpressed in many breast carcinomas. To examine the importance of cyclin D1 in PRL-induced pathogenesis, we generated transgenic mice (NRL-PRL) that overexpress PRL in mammary epithelial cells, with wild-type, heterozygous, or genetically ablated cyclin D1 in the FVB/N genetic background. Although loss of one cyclin D1 allele did not affect PRL-induced mammary lesions in nonparous females, the complete absence of cyclin D1 (D1−/−) markedly decreased tumor incidence. Nevertheless, NRL-PRL/D1−/− females developed significantly more preneoplastic lesions (eg, epithelial hyperplasias and mammary intraepithelial neoplasias) than D1−/− females. Moreover, although lack of cyclin D1 reduced proliferation of morphologically normal mammary epithelium, transgenic PRL restored it to rates of wild-type females. PRL posttranscriptionally increased nuclear cyclin D3 protein in D1−/− luminal cells, indicating one compensatory mechanism. Consistently, pregnancy induced extensive lobuloalveolar growth in the absence of cyclin D1. However, transcripts for milk proteins were reduced, and pups failed to survive, suggesting that mammary differentiation was inadequate. Together, these results indicate that cyclin D1 is an important, but not essential, mediator of PRL-induced mammary proliferation and pathology in FVB/N mice and is critical for differentiation and lactation.
Masculinity constructs as protective buffers and risk factors for men’s health.

This study was designed to replicate the study of Levant, Wimer, and Williams (2011), which reported complex relationships between masculinity and health behaviors using a more diverse sample and u...
A reduced size planar balun structure for wireless microwave and RF applications

An extremely important component in the realization of certain RF and microwave system topologies is the high frequency balun network. In addition to its application in radiating structures, it has broad utility in numerous wireless communication system topologies. This paper describes a small and compact coupled microstrip line design for use primarily in the exploding portable wireless market. The main advantage of the design to be discussed is that its size is considerably smaller than traditional planar circuit realizations. Size reduction is achieved by utilizing the property of effective length enhancement of a transmission line by employing additive capactive effects. The design technique is illustrated by presentation of computed and measured data on a /spl sim/0.9 GHz realization developed for wireless applications.
A field-theoretic approach to understanding scale-free neocortical dynamics

A mesoscopic field-theoretic approach is compared with neural network and brain imaging approaches to understanding brain dynamics. Analysis of high spatiotemporal resolution rabbit electroencephalogram (EEG) reveals neural fields in the form of spatial patterns in amplitude (AM) and phase (PM) modulation of gamma and beta carrier waves that serve to classify EEGs from trials with differing conditioned stimuli (CS+/−). Paleocortex exemplified by olfactory EEG has one AM–PM pattern at a time that forms by an input-dependent phase transition. Neocortex shows multiple overlapping AM–PM patterns before and during presentation of CSs. Modeling suggests that neocortex is stabilized in a scale-free state of self-organized criticality, enabling cooperative domains to form virtually instantaneously by phase transitions ranging in size from a few hypercolumns to an entire hemisphere. Self-organized local domains precede formation of global domains that supervene and contribute global modulations to local domains. This mechanism is proposed to explain Gestalt formation in perception.
Immigrant Suburban Settlement and the “Threat” to Middle Class Status and Identity: The Case of Farmers Branch, Texas

In the United States, the failure to achieve immigration reform at the national level has resulted in numerous responses in local communities that have been most impacted by the settlement of new immigrants. Some of these responses have emerged in suburban communities that have experienced a rapid rise in the foreign-born population during the last twenty years. This essay offers an in-depth analysis of one such community, Farmers Branch, Texas, covered nationally for a series of anti-immigrant ordinances passed by its City Council. Following a description of the history of this community, the growth of its foreign-born population, and the legal manoeuvres to control unauthorized immigration, the essay argues that anti-immigrant legislation in local places like Farmers Branch is at its core a reflection of a debate about and anxiety over American identity – how it is defined and how it is changing. In particular, these responses are about a perceived threat to middle class status and identity. This is discussed first in relationship to issues of home ownership and income and then, in relation to cultural dimensions of class, including matters of taste and the spatializations of middle class identity. Finally, the paper unpacks the concept of ‘‘rule of law’’. By invoking the claim that Americans are law abiding while unauthorized immigrants have broken the law, lawfulness becomes an exclusionary tool and gives those who support antiimmigrant ordinances a platform for legislating a certain quality of life, and de-Americanizing those who do not fit their conceptualization of what it means to be American. Rule of law becomes a weapon in the fight for middle class status and the status quo.
Suspended gate field-effect transistor sensitive to gaseous hydrogen cyanide†

The optimization, characterization, and analytical performance of a suspended gate field-effect transistor (SGFET), with a selective polyaniline/mercury layer, for monitoring low levels of hydrogen cyanide in air are described. Reversible and reproducible detection is reported.
The Effects of Career Calling and Perceived Overqualification on Work Outcomes for Primary and Secondary School Teachers.

While perceived overqualification (POQ) has received increased research attention in recent years, the identification of variables that moderate POQ-outcome relationships is critical to our understanding of how the construct affects career outcomes. This study, involving 170 full-time primary and secondary school educators in a suburban mid-Atlantic school system, found that POQ is negatively related to job satisfaction and affective commitment while positively related to turnover intentions and desire to turnover. While POQ was not significantly related to performance or continuance organizational commitment, the relationships between POQ and both performance and continuance organizational commitment were significantly moderated by the experience of career calling orientation. Generally, the relationship between POQ and performance was stronger, and the relationship between POQ and continuance organizational commitment was weaker, for those with high calling. Additionally, the effects of career calling w...
Run-time Active Leakage Reduction by power gating and reverse body biasing: An eNERGY vIEW

Run-time active leakage reduction (RALR) is a recent technique and aims at aggressively reducing leakage power consumption. This paper studies the feasibility of RALR from the energy aspect, for both power gating (PG) and reverse body bias (RBB) implementations.We develop two energy saving models for PG and RBB, respectively. These models can accurately estimate the circuit energy saving at any time, even when the circuit is in state transition. In PG modeling, we discover a physical phenomenon called ldquoinstant savingrdquo, which can affect the model accuracy by 30%-50%. Based on the RBB model, we derive the optimum design point of RBB for RALR. Finally in terms of energy saving, we define four figures-of-merit, to compare the efficacy of using PG and RBB to implement RALR.
Abstract 1608: Silibinin synergizes with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in upregulating E-cadherin expression in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) cells

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortalities, and the 5-year survival rate of this malignancy remains at 15%. This feature is attributed primarily to the early metastasis of the disease within the organ and to distant sites that involves the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lung cancer cells. Aggressive cancer cells with EMT are characterized by loss of cell adhesion, repression of E-cadherin expression and increased cell mobility. NSCLC cells widely differ in their basal level of E-cadherin expression, which is epigenetically silenced in most of them due to deacetylation by histone deactylases. This suggests that inhibitors of HDACs would be useful in NSCLC control. Several HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) have shown potential in this regard, and are in clinical trials; however, their toxicity and cancer cell resistance are the limiting factors. Silibinin (Sb), a non-toxic chemopreventive agent, has shown strong efficacy against epithelial cancers including NSCLC, and previously, we have demonstrated that Sb alters HDAC enzymatic activity and protein levels in a total cellular extract of H1299 cells. Herein, we sought to determine the putative role of Silibinin, either alone or in combination with other HDACi in modulating E-cadherin levels in NSCLC cell lines including H1299 cells (epigenetically silent E-cadherin levels). Treatment with HDAC inhibitors, Trichostatin A [TSA] (0.33-1 µM) or SAHA (0.5-5 µM) led to a dose-dependent induction of E-cadherin expression levels. Furthermore, the combinations of TSA (0.5 µM) with low doses of Sb (3.75-25 µM) in H1299 cells, significantly increased E-cadherin protein levels (24h), which remained sustained at later time points (48-72h) longer than with TSA alone treatments. Also, at these time points, Zeb1, a major transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin, was inversely down-modulated with the combination treatments. Substantial inhibition of invasion/migration of H1299 cells with similar treatment conditions further emphasized the biological significance of E-cadherin restoration. Unlike H1299 cells, treatment of H322 and H358 cells (with detectable E-cadherin level) with Sb (3.75-25 µM) alone was sufficient to consistently increase the basal levels of E-cadherin, with concomitant reduction of Zeb1 levels, which also led to inhibition of migratory potential of these cells. Overall these findings demonstrate that Sb alone or in combination with HDAC inhibitors upregulates E-cadherin expression levels in NSCLC cell lines, and this consequently leads to inhibition of invasion/migratory phenotype of these cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1608. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1608
Disparate patterns of left ventricular mechanics differentiate constrictive pericarditis from restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the longitudinal, circumferential, and radial mechanics of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP) and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). Background Diastolic dysfunction in CP is related to epicardial tethering and pericardial constraint, whereas in RCM it is predominantly characterized by subendocardial dysfunction. Assessment of variations in longitudinal and circumferential deformation of LV might be useful to distinguish these 2 conditions. Methods Longitudinal, radial, and circumferential mechanics of the LV were quantified by 2-dimensional speckle tracking of B-mode cardiac ultrasound images in 26 patients with CP, 19 patients with RCM, and 21 control subjects. Results In comparison with control subjects, patients with CP had significantly reduced circumferential strain (base; −16 ± 6% vs. −9 ± 6%; p Conclusions Deformation of the LV is constrained in the circumferential direction in CP and in the longitudinal direction in RCM. Subsequent early diastolic recoil of LV is also attenuated in each of the 2 directions, respectively, uniquely differentiating the abnormal diastolic restoration mechanics of the LV seen in CP and RCM.
Does the Race of Neighborhood Role Models Matter? Collective Socialization Effects on Educational Achievement:

This study examines whether neighborhood level collective socialization processes are racialized. It addresses whether Black and White students are affected differentially by their general neighborhood characteristics; whether the racial composition of positive and negative role models in a neighborhood shape student performance differently; and whether Black and White students receive differential benefit from the presence of same-race role models. Using the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS) of 1988 linked to 1990 Census information at the neighborhood level, the current study finds that race generally does not critically influence neighborhood effects on educational achievement. Theoretical implications of these results are discussed, and I recommend that the when considering who can act as a role model for ethnic minority youth, policy makers should consider a broader range of individuals than just same-race individuals. This research suggests that White adults may also be able to positive...
Role activation hierarchies

The concept of a role hierarchy (that is, partial order) is often included in role-based access control (RBAC) models and systems. In current practice the same hierarchy is typically used for two distinct purposes. Members of a senior role in the hierarchy inherit permissions from juniors. We call this the usage (or permissionusage) aspect of role hierarchies. Membership in a senior role also authorizes users to activate junior roles. For purpose of least privilege a user may choose to activate only a junior role on a particular occasion, leaving the senior roles dormant. We call this the activation (or role-activation) aspect of role hierarchies. In this paper we introduce and motivate the idea that there are useful situations where these two hierarchies should not be identical, and the activation hierarchy should extend the inheritance hierarchy. In particular we explore RBAC with respect to read-write access, and its relationship to traditional lattice-based access control or LBAC (also known as mandatory access control). More generally, we consider roles that are required to have dynamic separation of duty.
Ecological indicators of nutrient enrichment, freshwater wetlands, Midwestern United States (U.S.)

Vegetation and soil indicators of nutrient condition were evaluated in 30 wetlands, 10 each in 3 Nutrient Ecoregions (NE) (VICorn Belt and Northern Great Plains, VII-Mostly Glaciated Dairy Region, IX-Temperate Forested Plains and Hills) of the Midwestern United States (U.S.) to identify robust indicators for assessment of wetland nutrient enrichment and eutrophication. Nutrient condition was characterized by surface water inorganic N (NH4-N, NO3-N) and P (PO4-P) concentrations measured seasonally for 1 year, plant available and total soil N and P, and aboveground biomass, leaf N and P and species composition of emergent vegetation measured at the end of the growing season. Aboveground biomass, nutrient uptake and species composition were positively related to surface water NH4-N (N) but not to PO4-P or NO3-N. Aboveground biomass and biomass of aggressive species, Typha spp. plus Phalaris arundinacea, increased asymptotically with surface water N whereas leaf P, senesced leaf N and senesced leaf P increased linearly with N. And, species richness declined with surface water N. Soil total P was positively related to surface water PO4-P but it was the only soil indicator related to wetland nutrient condition. Individual regressions for each NE generally were superior to a single regression for all NEs. In NE VI (Corn Belt), few indicators were related to surface water N because of the high degree of anthropogenic disturbance (85% of the landscape is cleared) as compared to NEs VII and IX (24–53% cleared). Of the indicators evaluated, stem height (r 2 = 0.42 for all NEs, r 2 = 0.56 for NE VII + IX) and percent biomass of aggressive species, Typha spp. plus Phalaris ,( r 2 = 0.46 for all NEs, r 2 = 0.54 for NE VII + IX), were the best
Assessment of food security in Romania and identification of main risks.

Abstract. In recent years, the populationâ€™s food security issue has again come to the foreground, due to the challenges at global level, among which we can mention the food demand increase in the new emerging countries, the non-food uses of agricultural production (biofuels), as well as due to the climate changes impact upon agricultural production and supply. The analysis of the present situation of populationâ€™s food security in Romania from the perspective of its three fundamental dimensions, namely access to food, food availability and agricultural supply stability. In this context, the paper intends to address the issue whether the Romaniansâ€™ worries with regard to food security are justified on the basis of objective reasons. Food availability is the indicator by which the supply is evaluated in quantitative and nutritional terms for the main agricultural products; it is calculated on the basis of commodity balances, according to FAO and/or Eurostat methodology. The access to food by different socio-economic categories of the population is evaluated on the basis of data from the Integrated Household Survey, which is conducted on quarterly and yearly basis by the National Institute for Statistics. The food security problems of Romaniaâ€™s population are evaluated, starting from the evolution of food availabilities and self-sufficiency level of the domestic agricultural supply. At the same time, the access to food is investigated, as well as the socio-economic factors on which this depends. The conclusions contain a review of the main opportunities and risks with regard to the food security issue in Romania, in a European and world context. Â
New approaches to surgery for breast cancer.

The surgical management of breast cancer is rapidly evolving towards less invasive procedures. Alternative biopsy techniques, including fine-needle aspiration and core needle biopsy, are replacing excisional biopsy as the treatment standard. Breast conservation therapy is now widely used in place of mastectomy, both for small tumors and for larger tumors that have been downstaged through induction chemotherapy. Less invasive procedures for axillary treatment such as lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph-node biopsy are being explored in an effort to avoid the morbidity associated with axillary lymph-node dissection. For women who still prefer or need to receive a mastectomy, immediate breast reconstruction with autologous tissue provides an excellent cosmetic outcome that is oncologically sound. This is especially appealing to high-risk women who opt to have a prophylactic mastectomy. High-risk women are also being offered the option of receiving chemopreventive treatment that may reduce their lifetime risk of cancer by almost 50%. These new, less invasive approaches require the close cooperation of a team of physicians, including surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, and medical and radiation oncologists. Endocrine-Related Cancer (2001) 8 265–286
Unified Modeling Language in History and Social Science Education

This paper addresses using Unified Modeling Language (UML), a proven and well supported technology, in teaching problem solving skills to middle and high school age students. UML has been successfully used by software industry as a standardized graphical modeling language in specification and design of software systems. The paper focuses on the phase of our project involving teaching history and social science. It advocates relevance of our approach and illustrates how modeling in UML can be effectively utilized in teaching of these subjects. Paper also addresses aligning of our approach with curriculum standards driving K-12 education.
Represented Authenticity: Native Voices in Seventeenth-Century Conversion Narratives

In the seventeenth century, John Eliot's Native American converts performed conversion narratives before Puritan elders. Translated, transcribed, and edited for publication in missionary tracts, these confessions demonstrate how converts mapped their own perspectives onto the apparently restrictive form of this Puritan genre, developing distinctive tropes and themes.
Differentiation of embryonic mouse GH cells and ACTH cells in vitro.

Abstract The ability of cells that produce growth hormone (GH) and cells that produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to differentiate in various culture media was analyzed by means of ultrastructural immunocytochemistry on 13-day embryonic mouse pituitaries that were maintained in organ culture for 3–11 days. At the time of culture, relatively undifferentiated nongranulated or poorly granulated cells that were unreactive with anti-growth-hormone serum (anti-GH) and anti-adrenocorticotropic-hormone serum (anti-ACTH) were present in the pituitary. After 10–11 days in culture, immunoreactive GH cells were obtained only in media that were supplemented with cortisol, whereas ACTH cells were obtained in all media tested, including Medium 199 alone. In cortisol-supplemented media, the GH cells showed ultrastructural features typical of those that occur in vivo, and anti-GH immunoreactivity was obtained after as little as 3 days in culture, i.e., at a stage comparable to that which occurs in vivo. The results indicate that mouse GH cells are capable of differentiating in Medium 199 supplemented only with cortisol, without the addition of fetal calf serum or insulin; cortisol therefore appears to be an essential component of the embryonic milieu for the production of GH-secretory granules.
A simple algorithm to route arbitrary permutations on 8-input 5-stage shuffle/exchange network

The authors present a simple algorithm to route arbitrary permutations on 8-input 5-stage shuffle/exchange network. Their algorithm is based on balanced matrices and does not require any backtracking. This property is useful when pipelining is used with a single stage network and recirculation of data. >
Achieving full spatial multiplexing and full diversity in wireless communications

It is well-known that using multiple antennas provides a substantial capacity and diversity increase for wireless communication systems. A multi-input multi-output (MIMO) technique that utilizes the channel knowledge both at the transmitter and the receiver is known as beamforming. Beamforming separates a MIMO channel into parallel subchannels. It was previously shown that uncoded beamforming achieves a diversity order of (N - S + 1)(M - S + 1) if S symbols are transmitted simultaneously for N transmit and M receive antennas. Hence, there is a significant drop in the diversity order (and performance) of the system with increased spatial multiplexing. In this paper, we introduce bit interleaved coded multiple beamforming and name the system BICMB. We provide interleaver design criteria such that the resulting system achieves full spatial multiplexing of min(N, M) and full spatial diversity of NM. Simulation results show that BICMB, due to its ability of maintaining the maximum diversity order even at full spatial multiplexing, provides substantial performance gain when compared to the best spatial multiplexing systems
Electrostatic and mechanical characterization of 3-D micro-wineglass resonators

a b s t r a c t In this paper, we present methods for characterization of 3-D micro-wineglass resonators. Two interchangeable modes of excitation are demonstrated: (1) Mechanical pinging using a piezo actuated probe assembly and (2) electrostatic excitation using assembled electrode structures. Two interchangeable modes of detection are also presented: optical pick-up using laser Doppler vibrometry and capacitive detection. 3-D micro-glassblown wineglass resonators were used to demonstrate the characterization methods in this paper. Electrostatic excitation was used to obtain the frequency response of microglassblown resonators showing a Q-factor of 40.000 at 14.8 kHz, whereas piezo-pinging was used to obtain the time domain response of the resonators.
Polarization insensitive cross-phase modulation in 10.5-m highly Ge-doped nonlinear fiber

We demonstrate for the first time polarization-insensitive cross-phase modulation in a 10.5-m highly-Germanium-doped (75%) nonlinear-fiber. Its high compatibility with standard single mode fiber allows a compact homogenous platform for nonlinear optical signal processing and switching.
Prevalence of multiple sclerosis symptoms across lifespan: data from the NARCOMS Registry

The North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis is a voluntary patient registry with more than 38,000 registrants as of 2015. In a recent collaborative project, longitudinal data on patient-perceived impairment in 11 domains commonly affected by multiple sclerosis were examined and tabulated as a function of disease duration. The patterns of disability accumulation differed by domain. Certain symptoms (sensory, fatigue) were particularly prevalent early in the disease. Other symptoms (mobility, hand function, fatigue, bowel/bladder dysfunction, spasticity) were progressively more common with longer disease duration. Some symptoms (vision, cognition, sensory, pain, depression) were relatively common early on in multiple sclerosis, but did not appear to be more frequent with longer disease duration. Ongoing research includes studies of the impact of disease-modifying therapy and symptomatic treatment on patient-perceived impairment over the disease course.
STELLAR X-RAY SOURCES

Data are presented for Cygnus X-1, Cygnus X-3, and Scorpius X-1 from radio to X-ray wavelengths. The evidence for Cygnus X-1’s being a black hole is now quite convincing. New data for Cygnus X-3 show the presence of X-ray activity at the time of the giant radio outburst. The data for Scorpius X-1 show a close correlation between the X-ray and optical behavior, but coverage was not sufficiently complete to fully assess the relationship (if any) between the X-ray and optical emission and the radio emission.
Detection of Sulfatase Enzyme Activity with a CatalyCEST MRI Contrast Agent

A Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI contrast agent has been developed that detects sulfatase enzyme activity. The agent produces a CEST signal at 5.0 ppm before enzyme activity, and a second CEST signal appears at 9.0 ppm after the enzyme cleaves a sulfate group from the agent. The comparison of the two signals improved detection of sulfatase activity.
Reinventing Real Estate: The Community Land Trust As a Social Invention in Affordable Housing

The community land trust (CLT) is a social invention designed to solve several problems in land ownership, from affordability to preservation. This article traces the history of the CLT from concept to implementation, through a network of theorists and activists, and discusses the present extent of CLTs in the United States. It concludes with a case study of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), a community development organization in Boston, that has used the CLT model as part of its holistic strategy to redevelop a neighborhood that has suffered from redlining, arson, and abandonment. DSNI is perhaps the only community organization in the United States to have attained the power of eminent domain to acquire land for housing development.
Kesterite Successes, Ongoing Work, and Challenges: A Perspective From Vacuum Deposition

Recent years have seen dramatic improvements in the performance of kesterite devices. The existence of devices of comparable performance, made by a number of different techniques, provides some new perspective on what characteristics are likely fundamental to the material. Here, we review progress in kesterite device fabrication, aspects of the film characteristics that have yet to be understood, and challenges in device development that remain for kesterites to contribute significantly to photovoltaic manufacturing. Performance goals, as well as characteristics of midgap defect density, free carrier density, surfaces, grain boundaries, grain-to-grain uniformity, and bandgap alloying are discussed.
A DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS OF AIR TEMPERATURE ANOMALY MODE OVER CHINA IN 2009/2010 WINTER BASED ON GENERALIZED EQUILIBRIUM FEEDBACK ASSESSMENT(GEFA) METHOD

By using the observed monthly mean data over 160 stations of China and NCAR/NCEP reanalysis data,the generalized equilibrium feedback assessment(GEFA) method,combined with the methods of EOF analysis,correlation and composite analysis,is used to explore the influence of different SST modes on the cold-northeast/warm-southwest pattern(CNE-WSN).The results show that the 2009/2010 winter air temperature oscillation mode between northern and southern parts of China is closely related to the corresponding sea surface temperature anomalies(SSTA) and its associated atmospheric circulation anomalies.The above-mentioned air temperature mode,exhibiting a warming in Northeast China and a cooling in Southwest China,is significantly forced by the El Ni o mode and the North Atlantic SSTA mode,which have three poles.Under the influence of SSTA modes,the surface northerly flow transported cold air to north and northeast China,resulting in low temperatures in the region.Meanwhile,the mid-latitude westerlies are intensified and the polar cold air are entrenched in high latitudes and cannot affect the Southwest,resulting in the warming of the Southwest.
John Jackson and WTO Dispute Settlement

John Jackson bestrode the world of international trade law like a Colossus. His 1969 treatise on World Trade and the Law of GATT was called the bible of GATT law. His 1977 casebook on Legal Problems of International Economic Relations created a new law school course and introduced thousands of students around the globe to international trade law. It was the leading international trade law casebook for decades, and his students went on to positions of responsibility throughout the world in governments, international organizations, and private practice. His analysis of GATT infirmities convinced certain influential governments to push for a new international trade organization, which eventually saw life as the World Trade Organization. It was a great honor for me to have been associated with John for over thirty years. Indeed, his 1985 invitation to join as a co-author of the casebook after my first year in law teaching undoubtedly saved me many years of drudgery as a corporate/securities law scholar. Thus, I am pleased to offer some thoughts on John's influence on dispute settlement under GATT and the WTO.
An Interactive Simulation Environment for Adaptive Architectural Systems

Current architectural design methods for visualization and analysis of the relationship between energy flows, building demands, and occupant control remain limited because existing software tools and virtual reality environments are not yet integrated into a seamless feedback loop. This chapter presents the development of an interactive visualization and simulation environment that combines real-time energy analysis with hybrid-reality techniques to support user interaction with adaptive architectural systems and spaces. It argues for a combination of a new material testbed, hybrid reality visualizations, and energy simulation to create a design tool for architects and end-users to experience and develop the many performance possibilities of adaptive systems. Using an Electroactive Dynamic Display System as an adaptive facade testbed, an interactive simulation environment examines the impacts that adaptive architectural facades have on a building’s energy performance and spatial effects. As a result of the experimental simulations with large-screen projections and virtual reality technologies, new criteria related to user control and comfort are informing the material and physical prototyping of emerging adaptive facade systems. For designers integrating next-generation adaptive architectural systems into buildings, interactive simulation environments are necessary to anticipate the fundamentally new environmental, social, and spatial implications of their dynamic and responsive potential. This research is producing a design decision-making tool for both visualizing and measuring the architectural and environmental impacts of multi-user interaction with adaptive architectural systems. In the process, an iterative co-design process emerges between fields of architecture, materials science, and human-computer-interaction that informs each in multidimensional ways.
Performance Optimization for SpMV on Multi-GPU Systems Using Threads and Multiple Streams

Sparse matrix-vector multiplication (SpMV) is a key operation in scientific computing and engineering ap-plications. This paper presents an optimization strategy to improve SpMV performance on the multi-GPU systems by adopting OpenMP threads and multiple CUDA streams. We propose an efficient scheme to control multiple GPUs jointly complete SpMV computations by making use of OpenMP threads. Moreover, we adopt streamed approach to increase concurrency to further improve SpMV performance. In our paper, we use HYB (Hybrid ELL/COO), a hybrid sparse storage format, to demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach. Our experimental results show that our approach achieves an average speedup of 3.80 over the existing SpMV implementation on a single GPU.
Accounting for Spatial Complexities in the Calculation of Biological Reference Points: Effects of Misdiagnosing Population Structure for Stock Status Indicators

Misidentifying spatial population structure may result in harvest levels that are unable to achieve management goals. We developed a spatially explicit simulation model to determine how biological reference points differ among common population structures and to investigate the performance of management quantities that were calculated assuming incorrect spatial population dynamics. Simulated reference points were compared across a range of population structures and connectivity scenarios demonstrating the influence of spatial assumptions on management benchmarks. Simulations also illustrated that applying a harvest level based on misdiagnosed spatial structure leads to biased stock status indicators, overharvesting, or foregone yield. Across the scenarios examined, incorrectly specifying the connectivity dynamics (particularly misdiagnosing source–sink dynamics) was often more detrimental than ignoring spatial structure altogether. However, when the true dynamics exhibited spatial structure, incorrectly a...
The British Mandate and the crisis of Palestinian landlessness, 1929–1936

ABSTRACTThis article examines landlessness among Palestinians as a facet of colonial policy in Mandate Palestine before the 1936 revolt. The growth of what was sometimes called a ‘landless class’ came into official view after the violence of 1929. Subsequent investigations indicated that landlessness was a significant problem and that it threatened to destabilize the Mandate. The effort to ameliorate the crisis of landlessness, however, clashed with the dominant colonial conception of settler developmentalism, the notion that Jews, not Arabs, were the agents of modern economic development in Palestine. The first part of this examination revisits the contest over the 1930 White Paper, focusing on its relationship to the advent of mass landlessness. The rapid defeat of the new policy via the MacDonald letter left the landlessness problem to fester while simultaneously obscuring it. As the situation in the Arab countryside continued to deteriorate, the onset of the fifth aliya temporarily reinforced erroneou...
A 5μW-5mW input power range, 0–3.5V output voltage range RF energy harvester with power-estimator-enhanced MPPT controller

A 5μW–5mW input power range, 0–3.5V output voltage range RF energy harvester is designed to charge super-capacitors for RFID applications. Voltage protection techniques are used to improve the peak output voltage from 2.5V to 3.5V resulting in a 100% increase in stored energy. An all analog low power maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller with an embedded power estimator increases the maximum tracking speed by 8x, improves the input power range by 8x, and accumulates 35% more energy during charging transients. The chip is fabricated in TSMC's 65nm GP process, occupies an area of 0.15mm2, and has a measured peak efficiency of 91%.
Ultra-wideband synthesis for high-range resolution software defined radar

This paper presents a design for implementing an ultra-wideband (UWB) Software Defined Radar (SDRadar) using a bandwidth reconstruction technique for a stepped frequency signal called frequency stacking to create a synthetic wideband waveform (SWW). Practical methods of overcoming traditional limitations of SDRadar and stepped chirp radar are introduced and performance is demonstrated using a commercial battery-powered Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) Software Defined Radio (SDR). Application-specific considerations are made and performance trade-offs are demonstrated. The pro­posed design has multiple applications in low-cost, reconfigurable Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) platforms.
Fibronectin and Its Relation to Cellular Structure and Behavior

Apart from proteoglycans and collagens, the best understood constituent of the extracellular matrix is fibronectin, a large glycoprotein. The structural properties of fibronectin are reviewed in Chapter 4 as well as in several recent reviews (Mosher, 1980; Yamada et al., 1980; Hynes, 1981). In this chapter we will be concerned with functional aspects of the interaction of fibronectin with cells. Current research reviewed here and in Chapter 4 places fibronectin at the interface between cells and the matrix and implicates it in several features of cellular behavior. Because almost all the information concerning functions of fibronectin comes from studies in vitro, this chapter will discuss first the distribution of fibronectin in cell culture and its effects on cellular functions in vitro. We will then consider the distribution of fibronectin in vivo and end with a rather speculative discussion of the possible functions of fibronectin in vivo.
The role of radical prostatectomy in the management of prostatic adenocarcinoma: Biologic factors influencing the likelihood of local and systemic control

Radical prostatectomy has been the mainstay of treatment for localized prostate cancer for over 50 years, but its value has been controversial. This report evaluates the impact of this therapeutic modality by assessing the value of various prognostic stratification systems in predicting the clinical outcome. Traditional stratifiers such as clinical stage, pathologic stage, and tumor grade are reviewed, as well as newer biologic parameters such as DNA content determined by automated flow cytometric analysis. Such newer predictors of response may enable an approach of selective enhanced aggressiveness in treating regional, advanced disease.
Integrin Antagonists and Angiogenesis

Integrins and associated extracellular matrix protein ligands participate in angiogenesis, thrombosis, apoptosis, cell migration and proliferation. Disorders of such processes lead to acute and chronic disease states such as ocular diseases, cancer metastasis, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, osteoporosis, a wide range of inflammatory diseases, vascular remodeling and neurodegenerative disorders. Progress has been substantial in the development of antagonists for αvβ3, αvβ5, and αvβ1 integrins to modulate angiogenesis and blood vessel-related disorders. Several reports illustrate existence of crosstalk between integrins and various hormonal systems. The expression of αv integrin on distinct cell types contributes to cancer growth, and αv integrin antagonists have the potential to disrupt multiple aspects of cancer and blood vessel disease progression. The rationale for the development of various therapeutic and diagnostic candidate anti-integrin agents is reviewed here, as are nanoparticle delivery systems directed at specific sites on integrins.