cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synergistic Effects of Iridoid Glycosides on the Survival, Development and Immune Response of a Specialist Caterpillar, Junonia coenia (Nymphalidae)

Plants use a diverse mix of defenses against herbivores, including multiple secondary metabolites, which may affect herbivores synergistically. Chemical defenses also can affect natural enemies of herbivores via limiting herbivore populations or by affecting herbivore resistance or susceptibility to these enemies. In this study, we conducted larval feeding experiments to examine the potential synergistic effects of iridoid glycosides (IGs) found in Plantago spp. (Plantaginaceae) on the specialist buckeye caterpillar, Junonia coenia (Nymphalidae). Caterpillars were placed on artificial diets containing different concentrations of single IGs (aucubin or catalpol alone) or combinations of the two IGs. Larval performance and immune response were recorded to test the hypothesis that IGs would have positive synergistic effects on buckeyes, which are specialists on IG plants. The positive synergistic effects that IGs had on buckeyes in our experiments included lower mortality, faster development, and higher total iridoid glycoside sequestration on mixed diets than on aucubin- or catalpol-only diets. Furthermore, we found negative synergistic effects of IGs on the immune response of buckeye caterpillars. These results demonstrate multiple synergistic effects of IGs and indicate a potential trade-off between larval performance and parasitoid resistance.
Parametric identification of a chaotic base-excited double pendulum experiment

The parametric identification of a chaotic system was investigated for a double pendulum. From recorded experimental response data, the unstable periodic orbits (UPOs) were extracted and then used in a harmonic balance identification process. By applying digital filtering, digital differentiation and linear regression techniques for optimization, the results were improved. Verification of the related simulation system and linearized system also corroborated the success of the identification algorithm.
Fixed-ratio adaptive thresholding using CMOS circuits

A CMOS chip that thresholds an array of analogue inputs and produces a fixed-ratio, corresponding array of binary outputs has been designed and tested. By adapting the threshold level, the circuit maintains a desired, selectable ratio of high-value to low-value outputs. This technique allows the primitive evaluation of quality in a sensory image that is easily adjustable for different thresholding ratios and is resilient to global offsets in the sensing environment.
Semi-Automated Patient Specific Hexahedral Mesh Generation of Articular Cartilage

Articular cartilage is a critical component in the movement of one bone against another. It possesses unique chemical properties allowing it to serve as a bearing surface, capable of transferring loads from one bone to another while simultaneously allowing the load bearing surfaces to articulate with low friction. Patient-specific finite element (FE) models incorporating articular cartilage provide insight into articular joint mechanics [1, 2]. To date, the methods/tools available to create accurate FE mesh definitions of the articular cartilage are limited. Semi-automated morphing methods have been developed, but many intermediate steps have to be performed to get the final cartilage mesh definition [3]. Commercially available software [4] is capable of generating tetrahedral/shell/pyramid element based meshes of the cartilage from the underlying bony surface, but hexahedral meshes are preferred over tetrahedral meshes [5]. IA-FEMesh currently provides the ability to project a pre-defined set of elements a uniform distance [6]. This technique has been adopted in several models [1, 2]. Cartilage does not necessarily exist as such; rather the thickness of the cartilage is non-uniform and varies over the surface. Consequently an accurate representation of the articular cartilage is crucial for an accurate contact FE analysis. The goal of this study was to develop an algorithm that will aid in the generation of anatomically accurate cartilage FE mesh definitions in a reliable manner based on patient-specific image data.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Goodness-of-fit criteria for the Adams and Jefferson rounding methods and their limiting laws

Multiplier methods are used to round probabilities on finitely many categories to rational proportions. Focusing on the classical methods of Adams and Jefferson, we investigate goodness-of-fit criteria for this rounding process. Assuming that the given probabilities are uniformly distributed, we derive the limiting laws of the criteria, first when the rounding accuracy increases, and then when the number of categories grows large.
Hobbes, Religion, and Rational Choice: Hobbes’s two Leviathans and the Fool

Some recent interpreters of Hobbes have deployed techniques of game theory in the service of showing that cooperation in the Hobbesian state of nature is possible. I argue against this strategy in two ways. First, I show that Hobbes did not intend the state of nature as a starting point of the theory from which the possibility of exit must be explained, but rather as a rhetorically useful depiction of the consequences of wrongful understandings of men's civil and religious duties. Secondly, I show that the game theoretic techniques of these interpreters can be used in a new way to demonstrate both the inherent tendency toward civil war in existing Christian states, and the superior stability of the Hobbesian political order.
Preparation and properties of the single crystalline AB2-type selenides and tellurides of niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and tungsten☆

Abstract The AB2-type selenides and tellurides of niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and tungsten have been prepared in single crystalline form by means of transport reactions. Lattice parameters were determined on the basis of single crystal patterns and are given for the eight compounds. Pertinent thermoelectric parameters, such as electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity were measured on compacted polycrystalline aggregates and are given together with the calculated “Figure of Merit”.
Coordination chemistry of scandium. VIII[1] detection of complex formation in solution by 45Sc NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract 45Sc nmr spectra of aqueous solutions of ScCl3, ScBr3, ScI3, Sc(ClO4)3, Sc(NO3)3 and Sc2(SO4)3 are reported. The concentration dependence of the chemical shift and the line width have been studied and attempts made to relate these dependences to chemical species in solution. Raman shifts and 45Sc nmr spectra have been obtained for aqueous solutions of ScCl3 containing 0–12 M added HCl. 45Sc nmr spectra of tetrahydrofuran solutions of ScCl3, ScCl3·4H2O, ScBr3, ScBr3·4H2O, Sc(NO3)3, Sc(NO3)3·3H2O and Sc(ClO4)3·6H2O are also reported. A study of 45Sc chemical shifts in water-tetrahydrofuran mixtures has demonstrated the strong solvating power of water towards the scandium (III) ion. The complexation of scandium (III) with some macrocyclic polyether ligands in aqueous solution has been investigated.
a Comparative Study of Platelet Reactivity in Arthritis

We utilized a standardized in vitro method which employs transmission electron microscopy to monitor the degree of surface activation (cytoplasmic spreading) and amount of aggregation displayed by platelet populations from 314 patients with one of five distinct rheumatic diseases and from 72 normal subjects. The percentage of patients in each group whose platelet populations were hyperactive was as follows: polymyalgia rheumatica, 75 percent; scleroderma, 65 percent; primary gout, 61 percent; rheumatoid arthritis, 57 percent; and degenerative joint disease, 40 percent. Pair-wise contrasts performed after an analysis of variance suggest the following differences and similarities: (1) the mean differential platelet count of the normal subjects differed from that in each disease state; (2) the platelet responsivity in patients with degenerative joint disease most closely resembled that in normal subjects; (3) the platelet response in polymyalgia rheumatica plus temporal arteritis was the most abnormal; and (4) platelet response in scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout closely resembled each other. The increased platelet response in vitro may reflect the in vivo presence of disease-related "risk factors" (hyperuricemia, immune complexes, and atherosclerosis). Those patients with "triggered" platelet populations may be appropriate candidates for antiplatelet therapy.
BerkeleyGW: A massively parallel computer package for the calculation of the quasiparticle and optical properties of materials and nanostructures

Abstract BerkeleyGW is a massively parallel computational package for electron excited-state properties that is based on the many-body perturbation theory employing the ab initio GW and GW plus Bethe–Salpeter equation methodology. It can be used in conjunction with many density-functional theory codes for ground-state properties, including PARATEC , PARSEC , Quantum ESPRESSO , SIESTA , and Octopus . The package can be used to compute the electronic and optical properties of a wide variety of material systems from bulk semiconductors and metals to nanostructured materials and molecules. The package scales to 10 000s of CPUs and can be used to study systems containing up to 100s of atoms. Program summary Program title: BerkeleyGW Catalogue identifier: AELG_v1_0 Program summary URL: http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AELG_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queenʼs University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Open source BSD License. See code for licensing details. No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 576 540 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 110 608 809 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Fortran 90, C, C++, Python, Perl, BASH Computer: Linux/UNIX workstations or clusters Operating system: Tested on a variety of Linux distributions in parallel and serial as well as AIX and Mac OSX RAM: (50–2000) MB per CPU (Highly dependent on system size) Classification: 7.2, 7.3, 16.2, 18 External routines: BLAS, LAPACK, FFTW, ScaLAPACK (optional), MPI (optional). All available under open-source licenses . Nature of problem: The excited state properties of materials involve the addition or subtraction of electrons as well as the optical excitations of electron–hole pairs. The excited particles interact strongly with other electrons in a material system. This interaction affects the electronic energies, wavefunctions and lifetimes. It is well known that ground-state theories, such as standard methods based on density-functional theory, fail to correctly capture this physics. Solution method: We construct and solve the Dysonʼs equation for the quasiparticle energies and wavefunctions within the GW approximation for the electron self-energy . We additionally construct and solve the Bethe–Salpeter equation for the correlated electron–hole (exciton) wavefunctions and excitation energies. Restrictions: The material size is limited in practice by the computational resources available. Materials with up to 500 atoms per periodic cell can be studied on large HPCs. Additional comments: The distribution file for this program is approximately 110 Mbytes and therefore is not delivered directly when download or E-mail is requested. Instead a html file giving details of how the program can be obtained is sent. Running time: 1–1000 minutes (depending greatly on system size and processor number).
Diagnosis of food allergy.

Background Food allergy is gaining substantial interest by both the public and health professionals. It is usually overdiagnosed by the public and misdiagnosed by physicians. Objective To provide an outline for appropriate evaluation of patients suspected of having food allergy. Data Sources Information was derived from selected review and original articles published in peer-reviewed journals and from authoritative textbook chapters, supplemented by the clinical experience of the author. Results Several approaches have been used for food allergy diagnosis, including the medical history, trials of elimination diets, food/symptom diary, skin testing, in vitro tests, and oral challenges. In most cases, the medical history is inconclusive and the reliability of the in vivo and in vitro tests is suboptimal. Appropriately designed challenge testing remains the gold standard, although it has a few limitations. Conclusions Appropriate selection, application, and interpretation of tests for food allergy are necessary for attaining a high degree of accuracy of diagnosis.
Frontal plane compensatory strategies associated with self-selected walking speed in individuals post-stroke.

Abstract Background Approximately two out of three individuals post-stroke experience walking impairments. Frontal plane compensatory strategies (i.e. pelvic hiking and circumduction) are observed in post-stroke gait in part to achieve foot clearance in response to reduced knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-selected walking speed and the kinematic patterns related to paretic foot clearance during post-stroke walking. Methods Gait analysis was performed at self-selected walking speed for 21 individuals post-stroke. Four kinematic variables were calculated during the swing phase of the paretic limb: peak pelvic tilt (pelvic hiking), peak hip abduction (circumduction), peak knee flexion, and peak ankle dorsiflexion. Paretic joint angles were analyzed across self-selected walking speed as well as between functionally relevant ambulation categories (Household 0.8 m/s). Findings While all subjects exhibited similar foot clearance, slower walkers exhibited greater peak pelvic hiking and less knee flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and circumduction compared to faster walkers ( P Interpretation These findings suggest that improved gait performance after stroke, as measured by self-selected walking speed, is not necessarily always accomplished through gait patterns that more closely resemble healthy gait for all variables. It appears the ability to walk fast is achieved by either sufficient ankle dorsiflexion and knee flexion to achieve foot clearance or the employment of circumduction to overcome a deficit in either ankle dorsiflexion or knee flexion.
LiF Formation and Cathode Swelling in the Li/CFx Battery

The Li/CF x cell has been traditionally used for low rate applications at discharge rates of C/1000 or lower. The development of cells capable of operating at discharge rates closer to C/10 is underway for communication applications. The Li/CF x cell is known to produce a significant amount of thermal power during high rate discharge and cathode swelling that can result in mechanical deformation of the cell. Previously, we characterized the thermal power during discharge in both coin cells and large format cells and proposed that the discharge is a two phase reaction with the direct formation of LiF. In this paper we measure the mechanical cathode swelling as a function of discharge depth, rate, and temperature. Discharged cathodes are then characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and N 2 adsorption surface area measurements. These results support a mechanism where the discharge product is LiF deposited on the internal surfaces of the carbon layers left behind after electrochemical reduction with this deposition leading directly to the measured cathode swelling. The recrystallization of LiF observed by X-ray diffraction over a period of days results in a long time constant thermal power that can be measured after discharge in large format cells.
Partial Characterization of Novel Serine Proteinase Inhibitors from Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Abstract Serine proteinase inhibitors play major roles in physiological and pathophysiological processes such as angiogenesis, intravascular fibrinolysis, wound healing, and tumor invasion, and metastasis. Here, we report that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) synthesize three inhibitors (33,000, 31,000, and 27,000 Ha) which inhibit degradation of gelatin or casein by trypsin, elastase, plasmin, and α-chymotrypsin. The 33- and 31-kDa inhibitors were constitutively found in the cell lysate and extracellular matrix, but not in the conditioned medium of HUVEC, Following treatment with phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), all the three inhibitors were expressed in the CM and increased activity was found in cell lysates and extracellular matrix, The inhibitors were not detected in PMA-treated cells in the presence of cycloheximide or actinomycin D. The inhibitors specifically bound to trypsin and were recovered from trypsin affinity column as smaller-sized inhibitors without loss of antitrypsin activity. Polyclonal antibodies to inter-α-trypsin inhibitor did not cross-react with the 33-, 31-, and 27-kDa inhibitors, These results suggest that HUVEC synthesize and secrete novel 33-, 31-, and 27-kDa serine proteinase inhibitors.
The cluster expansion for wormholes

Abstract We discuss the consistency of Coleman's solution to the cosmological constant problem by taking into account wormhole (end) interactions. The effects of the interactions are estimated by using the cluster expansion for a gas of wormhole ends.
Mutagenesis within the gastrointestinal tract determined by histidine auxotrophs of Salmonella typhimurium

The Ames Salmonella mutants can be maintained for months within the gastrointestinal tract of otherwise germfree rats. The ingestion of various carcinogens, but not structurally related non-carcinogens, results in an increased concentration of his+ revertants in the feces. Rats, associated with strain TA1538, were also associated with either L. plantarum of B. vulgatus and with both of these strains. After 2-nitrofluorene ingestion (3.4 mg) the concentration of fecal revertants increased except in rats associated only with strains TA1538 and B. vulgatus. The concentration of B. vulgatus. The concentration of B. vulgatus in the stomach of individual rats correlated negatively with their response to 2-nitrofluorene. Since only B. vulgatus reduces nitrofluorene to the less mutagenic 2-aminofluorene, it appears that B. vulgatus diminishes the revertant response by metabolic removal of the more potent direct acting mutagen from the gut. The ingestion of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (21 mg/kg) and azoxymethane (19 mg/kg) provokes increased fecal revertants only in some animals associated with strain TA1535 or TA100.
New results in charm meson spectroscopy from FOCUS and SELEX

I will review recent results in charmed meson spectroscopy from the Fermilab fixed target charm photo-production and hadro-production experiments, FOCUS and SELEX. FOCUS reports new measurements of the masses and widths of the D2*+ and D2* mesons, evidence for D0*+ and D0* broad states and a confirming observation of the DsJ+(2317) and other recently observed high mass DsJ+ states. SELEX has recently reported evidence for a new DsJ+(2632) state in both the Ds+η0 and D0K+ final states.
Impact of computed tomography image quality on image-guided radiation therapy based on soft tissue registration.

Purpose In image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), different computed tomography (CT) modalities with varying image quality are being used to correct for interfractional variations in patient set-up and anatomy changes, thereby reducing clinical target volume to the planning target volume (CTV-to-PTV) margins. We explore how CT image quality affects patient repositioning and CTV-to-PTV margins in soft tissue registration-based IGRT for prostate cancer patients. Methods and Materials Four CT-based IGRT modalities used for prostate RT were considered in this study: MV fan beam CT (MVFBCT) (Tomotherapy), MV cone beam CT (MVCBCT) (MVision; Siemens), kV fan beam CT (kVFBCT) (CTVision, Siemens), and kV cone beam CT (kVCBCT) (Synergy; Elekta). Daily shifts were determined by manual registration to achieve the best soft tissue agreement. Effect of image quality on patient repositioning was determined by statistical analysis of daily shifts for 136 patients (34 per modality). Inter- and intraobserver variability of soft tissue registration was evaluated based on the registration of a representative scan for each CT modality with its corresponding planning scan. Results Superior image quality with the kVFBCT resulted in reduced uncertainty in soft tissue registration during IGRT compared with other image modalities for IGRT. The largest interobserver variations of soft tissue registration were 1.1 mm, 2.5 mm, 2.6 mm, and 3.2 mm for kVFBCT, kVCBCT, MVFBCT, and MVCBCT, respectively. Conclusions Image quality adversely affects the reproducibility of soft tissue-based registration for IGRT and necessitates a careful consideration of residual uncertainties in determining different CTV-to-PTV margins for IGRT using different image modalities.
Ubiquitous media agents for managing personal multimedia files

A novel idea of ubiquitous media agents is presented. Media agents are intelligent systems that are able to automatically collect and build personalized semantic indices of multimedia data on behalf of the user whenever and wherever he/she accesses/uses these multimedia data. The sources of these semantic descriptions are the textual context of the same documents that contain these multimedia data. The URLs of these multimedia data are indexed using these textual features. When the user wants to use these multimedia data once again, the media agents can also help the user find relevant multimedia data and provide proper suggestions based on the semantic indices. The media agents can also learn form the user's interaction records to refine the semantic indices and to model the user intentions and preferences. In our experiments, the media agents are effective in gathering relevant semantics for media objects and learning to provide precise suggestions when the user wants to re-use relevant media objects again.
THE RELATION BETWEEN TEMPERATURE AND LETHAL ACTION OF P,P‘-DDT ON ADULTS OF THE HOUSEFLY, MUSCA DOMESTICA L

The effect of temperature upon the toxicity of DDT to a sensitive and a resistant strain of houseflies has been determined over the range 5° to 35° C. Acetone and acetone plus light spray oil were used as solvents for topical application. Maximum toxicity resulted at approximately 10° C. When the synergist 1,1-bis p-chlorophenyl methyl carbinol (DMC) was added in 1: 1 ratio by weight, the resistance was mostly overcome and toxicity increased to the lowest temperature. Zusammenfassung DIE BEZIEHUNG ZWISCHEN TEMPERATUR UND LETHALWIRKUNG VON PP'-DD'I' BEI ERWACHSENEN STUBENFLIEGEN, MUSCA DOMESTICA L. Weibliche Stubenfliegen einer empfindlichen und einer widerstandsfahigen Rasse wurden auf der Oberflache mit DDT in Azeton, mit DDT in Azeton + dunnem Spruhol oder mit DDT + dem Synergisten DMC in Azeton behandelt und anschliesend fur 24 Stunden in 7 verschiedenen Warmestufen (5°–35° C) gehalten. In allen Fallen, mit Ausnahme bei Gegenwart von DMC, lag das Toxizitatsmaximum bei ungefahr 10° C. Die Dosis-Mortalitats-Werte des resistenten Stammes ergaben gerade Linien, wenn sie in einem logarithmischen Dosis-Probit(ld-p)-Diagramm aufgetragen wurden. Die empfindliche Rasse enthielt in ungefahr gleicher Zahl empfindliche und hybride Genotypen. Fur den empfindlichen Genotypus lies sich die LD 50 sowie die Neigung der lp-d-Linien berechnen. Die LD50 dieses Genotypus wurde bei Zusatz des Ols durch ansteigende Temperatur starker erhoht als mit Azeton als alleinigem Losungsmittel. Demgegenuber hatte die Temperatur auf den resistenten Stamm eine starkere Wirkung bei Abwesenheit des Ols. Die Vorteile, bei der Bestimmung von Temperatureffekten anstelle einer gemischten Population besser einen empfindlichen Genotypus zu benutzen, werden erortert.
Driving while black: Bias processes and racial disparity in police stops

We estimate the degree of racial disparity in police vehicular stops separately for local and state police in North Carolina in the year 2000. We introduce four mechanisms that might produce racial disparities in police stops—racial profiling, race sensitive police deployment, cognitive bias and stereotyping, and prejudice. We then model the relative odds of police vehicle stops as a function of race, driving behavior, and other demographic statuses separately by police organization type, with controls for omitted variable bias at both the driver and spatial level. We find only weak evidence of racial disparity in stops by officers of the state highway patrol but stronger evidence in those made by local police officers.
Studies on the amino acid sequence of heavy chains from rabbit immunoglobulin G.

It is now generally agreed that the four-chain subunit structure of Immunoglobulins which was first proposed by Porter (1962), accurately represents the gross structure of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and specific antibodies (Fleischman, Porter & Press 1963; Edelman & Gally 1964; Marler, Nelson & Tanford 1964; Nelson et al . 1965). However, an understanding of the structural basis of antibody specificity requires greater insight into the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide chain components of specific antibodies. Isolated light chains from specific antibodies and inert IgG, show a considerable degree of electrophoretic heterogeneity (Edelman & Gally 1964; Cohen & Porter 1964; Poulik 1964). Tryptic peptide maps of light chains (Nelson et al . 1965) have suggested that this heterogeneity may be accounted for by differences in amino acid sequence. This view has received considerable support from the observation that Bence-Jones proteins, which may be regarded as light chains, vary significantly in amino acid sequence (Hilschman & Craig 1965; Milstein 1966; Titani, Whitley & Putman 1966). A similar but less well-defined sequence heterogeneity has been suggested to exist in the heavy chains of specific antibodies (Feinstein 1964). However, the Fc fragment of the heavy chains has been thought to possess a regular amino acid sequence which may be similar, if not identical, among all specific antibodies (Porter 1959; Nelson et al . 1965). This paper summarizes the results of studies on the amino acid sequence of heavy chains and that portion of heavy chain, Fc fragment, which is obtained on treatment of rabbit IgG with papain (Porter 1959). These studies were designed to determine how much of the amino acid sequence of heavy chain could be accounted for by a unique, regular amino acid sequence which was common to most, if not all, IgG antibodies. In addition, attempts were made to locate regions of heavy chains which varied in amino acid sequence. Although structural variants appear to occur among the heavy chains found in non-specific IgG, it would be desirable to know what portion of the heavy chain sequence is invariant among all antibodies. If antibody specificity results from sequence heterogeneity in light and heavy chains, then knowledge of the variant and invariant portions of these chains may provide insight into the nature of specific binding sites in anti-­bodies.
The critical role of methionine 35 in Alzheimer's amyloid β-peptide (1–42)-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity

Amyloid beta-peptide (1-42) [Abeta(1-42)] has been proposed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive decline and aging. AD brain is under extensive oxidative stress, and Abeta(1-42) has been shown to induce protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species formation in neurons and synaptosomes, all of which are inhibited by the antioxidant vitamin E. Additional studies have shown that Abeta(1-42) induces oxidative stress when expressed in vivo in Caenorhabditis elegans, but when methionine 35 is replaced by cysteine, the oxidative stress is attenuated. This finding coupled with in vitro studies using mutant peptides have demonstrated a critical role for methionine 35 in the oxidative stress and neurotoxic properties of Abeta(1-42). In this review, we discuss the role of methionine 35 in the oxidative stress and neurotoxicity induced by Abeta(1-42) and the implications of these findings in the pathogenesis of AD.
Morphology and Colors of Distant Galaxies

We determine the correlation between spectral and morphological type for distant galaxies, defined by optical — near-infrared colors and image structure. As a point of departure, rest-frame colors of field galaxies observed to redshifts of 0.35 are shown to follow the trend in the UVK plane seen by Aaronson (1978) for local galaxies. Correlations are found between the deviations from this trend and absolute magnitude, compactness, and surface brightness. This works provides the foundation for investigations of galaxy structure at cosmologically interesting distances (Bershady, 1992).
Volume of interest‐based fourier transform method for calculation of static magnetic field maps from susceptibility distributions

Purpose Calculation of static magnetic field (B0) inhomogeneity maps of high-resolution susceptibility models by means of convolution with dipole kernels often encounters limitations in computer memory (RAM) for large input data matrices. In many applications, only a small portion of the full volume of the computer model is a volume of interest (VOI) or a susceptibility perturbation source. This work presents a VOI-based method to significantly reduce the computer memory usage for such applications. Theory and Methods The VOI-based method is presented and compared with the conventional method for calculation of the B0 field in the brain and heart of a human body model in terms of calculation speed, memory requirement, and calculation error relative to the full model results. Results Use of the VOI-based method significantly reduced memory usage in the human body model calculations over the conventional method without loss of accuracy and with comparable calculation speed. Conclusion The proposed method can be valuable for rapid calculation of B0 distributions on standard computer hardware for applications such as subject-specific B0 field calculations derived from anatomic scans. Magn Reson Med, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aeromagnetic expression of faults that offset basin fill, Albuquerque basin, New Mexico

High‐resolution aeromagnetic data acquired over the Albuquerque basin show widespread expression of faults that offset basin fill and demonstrate that the aeromagnetic method can be an important hydrogeologic and surficial mapping tool in sediment‐filled basins. Aeromagnetic expression of faults is recognized by the common correspondence of linear anomalies to surficial evidence of faulting across the area. In map view, linear anomalies show patterns typical of extensional faulting, such as anastomosing and en echelon segments. Depths to the tops of faulted magnetic layers showing the most prominent aeromagnetic expression range from 0 to 100 m. Sources related to subtler fault expressions range in depths from 200 to 500 m. We estimate that sources of the magnetic expressions of the near‐surface faults likely reside within the upper 500–600 m of the subsurface. The linear anomalies in profile form show a range of shapes, but all of them can be explained by the juxtaposition of layers having different magn...
Optimal non-uniform wire-sizing under the Elmore delay model

We consider non-uniform wire-sizing for general routing trees under the Elmore delay model. Three minimization objectives are studied: (1) total weighted sink-delays; (2) total area subject to sink-delay bounds; and (3) maximum sink delay. We first present an algorithm NWSA-wd for minimizing total weighted sink-delays based on iteratively applying the wire-sizing formula in [1]. We show that NWSA-wd always converges to an optimal wire-sizing solution. Based on NWSA-wd and the Lagrangian relaxation technique, we obtained two algorithms NWSA-db and NWSA-md which can optimally solve the other two minimization objectives. Experimental results show that our algorithms are efficient both in terms of runtime and storage. For example, NWSA-wd, with linear runtime and storage, can solve a 6201-wire segment routing-tree problem using about 1.5-second runtime and 1.3-MB memory on an IBM RS/6000 workstation.
Endogenous circadian rhythm in an index of cardiac vulnerability independent of changes in behavior

There exists a robust day/night pattern in the incidence of adverse cardiac events with a peak at ≈10 a.m. This peak traditionally has been attributed to day/night patterns in behaviors affecting cardiac function in vulnerable individuals. However, influences from the endogenous circadian pacemaker independent from behaviors may also affect cardiac control. Heartbeat dynamics under healthy conditions exhibit robust complex fluctuations characterized by self-similar temporal structures, which break down under pathologic conditions. We hypothesize that these dynamical features of the healthy human heartbeat have an endogenous circadian rhythm that brings the features closer to those observed under pathologic conditions at the endogenous circadian phase corresponding to ≈10 a.m. We investigate heartbeat dynamics in healthy subjects recorded throughout a 10-day protocol wherein the sleep/wake and behavior cycles are desynchronized from the endogenous circadian cycle, enabling assessment of circadian factors while controlling for behavior-related factors. We demonstrate that the scaling exponent characterizing temporal correlations in heartbeat dynamics does exhibit a significant circadian rhythm (with a sharp peak at the circadian phase corresponding to ≈10 a.m.), which is independent from scheduled behaviors and mean heart rate. Cardiac dynamics under pathologic conditions such as congestive heart failure also are associated with a larger value of the scaling exponent of the interbeat interval. Thus, the sharp peak in the scaling exponent at the circadian phase coinciding with the period of highest cardiac vulnerability observed in epidemiological studies suggests that endogenous circadian-mediated influences on cardiac control may be involved in the day/night pattern of adverse cardiac events in vulnerable individuals.
GPS APPLICATIONS FOR GEODYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE STUDIES

Geodetic measurements obtained with the Global Positioning System (GPS) are increasingly more widely applied in geophysical studies. In this paper, we review the changes to the technology of GPS geodesy over the last five years that are responsible for this increased applicability. We survey geophysical investigations employing GPS to measure coseismic, postseismic, and interseismic deformation; plate motion and crustal deformation at plate boundaries; volcano deformation; and the deformation associated with glacial isostatic adjustment and its application to sea-level studies. We emphasize the use of GPS determinations for the modeling of this wide variety of geophysical phenomena. We also discuss the recent advent of permanent GPS networks for regional geophysical studies, as well as the possible future of GPS surveying in light of the recent advances.
Three-Color Doping of Polymer Oleds by Masked Dye Diffusion

A method to locally pattern the distribution of dye by diffusion into the polymer film of organic light-emitting diodes is introduced. Using a large-area diffusion source, the diffusion of dye into the polymer film can be controlled with a shadow mask. The materials used are the polymer poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) combined with electron transport molecules (PBD), and the dyes bimane, coumarin 6 and Nile red. The temperature dependence of the diffusion is investigated along with the effect of annealing of the polymer film. A model of the dye distribution is introduced and estimations of the dye profile based on this model and PL measurement are discussed. A 3-color integrated device was demonstrated.
Predictors of Nursing Home Residents' Participation in Activity Programs

Nursing homes are mandated by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) to provide activity programs (U.S. Congress, 1987). Little information exists, however, as to residents' participation in activity programs. Using data from a Health Care Financing Administration project, the present study examines the relationship between resident characteristics and time participating in activities. Among 2,672 nursing home residents we found measures of resource use, cognitive abilities, depression, sense of initiative/involvement, activity repertoire, location preferences, and gender all to be significant in explaining the amount of activity time.
Accumulated Financial Strain and Women’s Health Over Three Decades

Objective Drawing from cumulative inequality theory, this research examines how accumulated financial strain affects women's self-rated health in middle and later life. Method Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Mature Women (1967-2003), we employ random-coefficient growth curve models to examine whether recurring financial strain influences women's health, above and beyond several measures of objective social status. Predicted probabilities of poor health were estimated by the frequency of financial strain. Results Financial strain is associated with rapid declines in women's health during middle and later life, especially for those women who reported recurrent strain. Changes in household income and household wealth were also associated with women's health but did not eliminate the effects due to accumulated financial strain. Discussion Accumulated financial strain has long-term effects on women's health during middle and later life. The findings demonstrate the importance of measuring life course exposure to stressors in studies of health trajectories.
Decision Aids and Experiential Learning

Rose and Wolfe (2000) demonstrated that decision aid design is critical to learning from decision aids, and aids that produce less cognitive load result in superior learning by aid users compared to aids that produce more cognitive load. The current research investigates whether a tax decision aid has differential affects on the knowledge acquisition of accounting students with varying perceived aptitudes for tax and interest in tax as a career. Results indicate that participants with more interest in and perceived aptitude for tax acquire more tax‐related knowledge during manual task completion than participants with less perceived aptitude and interest. Similar to prior research, decision aids generally decrease learning relative to unaided environments. When decision aids do not produce a heavy cognitive load, however, participants with less perceived aptitude for and interest in tax learn as much in aided environments as they learn in unaided environments.
The Power of Competing Narratives: A New Interpretation of Rural School-Community Relations

Often considered harmonious places, rural communities are in reality spaces often fragmented along class lines, with political factions promoting competing values and interests regarding the purpose of schooling. Using an exemplar case, this study affords us a new interpretation of rural school-community relations in times of conflict. It illustrates the ways in which opposing groups consolidate political power around competing narratives of the rural community. The goal is the realization of a hegemonic narrative of community, in which one group is socially excluded and the other gains the political power necessary to influence school district decision-making.
Determinants of total daily energy expenditure: variability in physical activity.

Excessive energy intake and/or reduced total daily energy expenditure (TEE) causes obesity. To determine the relationship between obesity and TEE in an obesity-prone population, we measured TEE, 24-h sedentary energy expenditure (SEDEE), and basal metabolic rate (BMR) in 30 Pima Indian men (83.6 +/- 20.0 kg and 31 +/- 9% fat) by the doubly labeled water method and a respiratory chamber. The energy expenditure for physical activity (EEACT) was calculated as TEE - (BMR + 0.1 TEE), where 10% of TEE is an estimate of the thermic effect of food. Fat-free mass was the best single determinant (P < 0.01) of TEE, explaining 48% of its variance. TEE, SEDEE, BMR, and EEACT were 12,010 +/- 2292, 9945 +/- 1559, 7677 +/- 1901, and 3297 +/- 1732 kJ/d, respectively. Because EEACT is dependent on body weight, EEACT/kg body wt (41.7 +/- 23.2 kJ.d-1.kg-1) and TEE/(BMR + 0.1 TEE) (1.39 +/- 0.22) were used as indexes of the level of physical activity. Both indexes correlated negatively with percent body fat (r = -0.56, P < 0.01 and r = -0.42, P < 0.03, respectively). These results suggest that obesity is associated with lower levels of physical activity.
Disability and health care expenditure data: a wide range of user experience is more important than standard definitions of disability.

(1999). Disability and health care expenditure data: a wide range of user experience is more important than standard definitions of disability. Disability and Rehabilitation: Vol. 21, No. 8, pp. 382-384.
Gender Gaps in High School Students’ Homework Time:

Gender differences in human capital investments made outside of the traditional school day suggest that males and females consume, respond to, and form habits relating to education differently. We document robust, statistically significant one-hour weekly gender gaps in secondary students’ non-school study time using time diary data from the 2003–2012 waves of the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) and transcript data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS). These complementary data sets provide consistent evidence of gender gaps that favor females and are not explained by gender differences in after-school time use, parental involvement, educational expectations, course taking, past academic achievement, or cognitive ability.
Impact of and correction for instrument sensitivity drift on nanoparticle size measurements by single-particle ICP-MS

The effect of ICP-MS instrument sensitivity drift on the accuracy of nanoparticle (NP) size measurements using single particle (sp)ICP-MS is investigated. Theoretical modeling and experimental measurements of the impact of instrument sensitivity drift are in agreement and indicate that drift can impact the measured size of spherical NPs by up to 25 %. Given this substantial bias in the measured size, a method was developed using an internal standard to correct for the impact of drift and was shown to accurately correct for a decrease in instrument sensitivity of up to 50 % for 30 and 60 nm gold nanoparticles. Graphical Abstract Correction of nanoparticle size measurement by spICP-MS using an internal standard.
7. Pulmonary Veins: Anatomy and Transcatheter Electrical Isolation

Myocardial segments (MYO) can extend into the superior vena cava (SVC) from the RA. To characterize entry and exit sites and course of MYO, the SVC and SVC-RA junction were mapped with noncontact multielectrode array catheters in 9 patients (pt) during sinus rhythm and RA pacing. Discrete MYO were found in all pt. Multiple segments with RA connections were identified in 5 pt: 3 had posteromedial and anterolateral connections, 1 had anterior, lateral and posteromedial connections, 1 had posterior and medial connections. In 4 pt activation conducted into the SVC along the posterior segment and out the SVC along a second segment. A single discrete posteromedial segment was identified in 4 pt. MYO course was straight (n = 6) or spiral around the SVC (n = 3); in 4 pt MYO branched distally. Segments extended 3-6cm into SVC. No pt had a completely circumferential segment. In 3 pt tachycardia originated in an anterior segment 1-2cm into SVC. Conclusions SVC MYO have complex anatomy often with multiple segments and RA connections. These can be sites of reentrant circuits and ectopic foci driving atrial tachycardia.
Cost-Benefit Analysis and Arbitrariness Review

When an agency fails to engage in quantitative cost-benefit analysis, has it acted arbitrarily and hence in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act? At first glance, the question answers itself: Congress sometimes requires that form of analysis, but if it has not done so, then agencies have discretion to proceed as they see fit. But as recent decisions suggest, the underlying issues are far more complicated than they seem. The central reason is that for all its limitations, cost-benefit analysis is the best available method for testing whether regulations increase social welfare. Whenever a statute authorizes an agency to consider costs and benefits, its failure to quantify them, and to weigh them against each other, requires a non-arbitrary justification. Potential justifications include the technical difficulty of quantifying costs and benefits; the relevance of values such as equity, dignity, and fair distribution; and the existence of welfare effects that are not captured by monetized costs and benefits. These justifications will often be sufficient. But in some cases, they are not, and agencies should be found to have acted arbitrarily in failing to quantify costs and benefits and to show that the benefits justify the costs.
The Moscow Treaty: Making matters worse

When it comes to reducing the threat posed by nuclear weapons, less is not more. Less is less. Less verification, less cooperative inspection, less warhead and launcher destruction, and less accountability mean less security.
A Real-Time Framework for Kinodynamic Planning with Application to Quadrotor Obstacle Avoidance

The objective of this paper is to present a full-stack, real-time kinodynamic planning framework and demonstrate it on a quadrotor for collision avoidance. Specifically, the proposed framework utilizes an offlineonline computation paradigm, neighborhood classification through machine learning, sampling-based motion planning with an optimal control distance metric, and trajectory smoothing to achieve real-time planning for aerial vehicles. The approach is demonstrated on a quadrotor navigating obstacles in an indoor space and stands as, arguably, one of the first demonstrations of full-online kinodynamic motion planning; exhibiting execution times under 1/3 of a second. For the quadrotor, a simplified dynamics model is used during the planning phase to accelerate online computation. A trajectory smoothing phase, which leverages the differentially flat nature of quadrotor dynamics, is then implemented to guarantee a dynamically feasible trajectory.
Comment on "Theory of core-resonant ionization" by L. G. Hanson, J. Zhang and P. Lambropoulos

We comment on the work of L. G. Hanson, J. Zhang and P. Lambropoulos (Europhys. Lett. 30 (2) pp. 81–86 (1995)). An error in their discussion of the long-time photoelectron spectrum is corrected.
Differences in Distribution of Breeding, Nonbreeding, and Migrant Bald Eagles on the Northern Chesapeake Bay

We compared the distributions of resident breeding, resident nonbreeding, and northern and southern migrant Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) on the northern Chesapeake Bay from 1984-1988. Breeding eagles were dispersed throughout most of the study area and were resident all year. Dispersion of Chesapeake nonbreeding eagles was similar to the dispersion of breeding birds on the northern Chesapeake in summer and winter. Chesapeake nonbreeding eagles moved throughout most of the bay, 5 5% of radiotagged eagles were off the bay during any month. Radio-tagged northern migrants arrived in late fall (x = 21 December, n = 7, range = 61 days) and departed in early spring (. = 27 March, n = 14, range = 43 days). In contrast to local eagles, northern migrants were concentrated almost exclusively on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Radio-tagged southern migrants arrived throughout April-August (x = 6 June, n = 11, range = 94 days) and departed from June-October (9 = 3 September, n = 22, range = 119 days). Southern migrants were more dispersed than the northern migrants but less dispersed than the resident eagles. Northern Chesapeake eagle abundance peaked twice annually; in winter (e.g., 261 eagles, December 1987), due to the presence of northern eagles, and in summer (e.g., 604 eagles, August 1988), due to the presence of southern birds.