cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bidirectional migration between variability and commonality in product line engineering of smart homes

The product line engineering (PLE) has proven to be the paradigm for developing diversified products and systems in shorter time, at lower cost, and higher quality. Ultimately the goal of PLE is to evolve a set of products that have both commonality and variations built into them, which allows a high degree of variability between the different products. The current trend in smart home deployment—based on commissions—guarantees a complete satisfaction for each inhabitant, as designed per resident basis. To reduce high deployment cost and to resolve the non-reusability of the resources, the product line engineering methodology can be employed in selecting or configuring the appropriate smart home technology. Within the smart homes and ambient assisted living, not only do the reusable features reduce cost, they also do not compromise with the guarantee of complete satisfaction of each resident as few senior inhabitants may impose severe constraints on the binding of few common features. In our previous work (Sharma et al., 9th International Conference on Smart Homes and Health Telematics (ICOST), 2011), we propose an approach called, wrenching that claims the best resident satisfaction at the reduced deployment cost. Today seniors are fast growing population globally ( http://www.aoa.gov/agingstatsdotnet/Main_Site/Data/2008 ) and the increased demand for smart homes in the near future is undeniable. Thus to provide assistance and independence to each senior resident of a smart home, reduction in time to market (Wohlin and Ahlgren, Softw Qual J 4:189–205, 1995) of appropriate assistive smart home technology becomes an essential consideration. Long term analysis of variability binding can help to analyze that few variants are bound more often over others. Respecting the satisfaction guarantee, the highly demanded variants can be permanently migrated into commonality, advocating the reusability. The improved reusability of features (e.g., sensors) not only enhances economy of scale but also time to market. The migration of a feature from variability to commonality is known as realizing.
Inexpensive target chamber with port movable through zero degrees under vacuum

Abstract A simple and inexpensive target chamber with an exit port that can be moved under vacuum through angles from −5 to 140 degrees is described. The movable seal is made by a spring steel tape sliding against a rubber gasket. A novel method of moving this tape is presented. The chamber was built for use with a broad-range spectograph but would be suitable for use with other detecting devices.
Survival of the fittest: Technical assistance, survival and growth of small businesses and implications for public policy

Abstract Concerns about the value of government programs that provide management and technical assistance have been the subject of debate among researchers and policymakers. Based on an analysis of a multiyear survey sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Entrepreneurial Development, we examine the relationship between managerial and technical assistance and firm survival, as well as the relationship between the characteristics of technical assistance and financial and employment growth. Overall, findings suggest that managerial and technical assistance have a positive effect on both survival and growth, but these effects depend on the size of the firm, characteristics of the counseling experience, as well as age and other demographic differences. Implications for public policy are discussed.
Differentiating the Lectin Activity in Twenty‐Four Cultivars of Dry Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Hemagglutination activity of 24 cultivars of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) was estimated with rabbit, rat, bovine, and human erythrocytes. Net protein utilization (NPU) evaluated the nutritional toxicity to weanling rats of the beans fed at 10% protein. Nonprotein and 10%-casein control diets were included. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated lectin-containing beans. Beans evaluated (in or-der of decreasing lectin activity) were: Aurora, Sanilac, Royal Red, Red Kloud, Roza, Rufus, Harris, Viva, Fiesta, Black Turtle Soup, Chief, Hyden, UI-59, Sutter; (nontoxic): Blue Mountain, GN-1140, Holberg, Nodak, Olathe, Pindak, JM-126, NW-410, NW-590, UI-114. This study shows that combined hemagglutination tests and SDSPAGE enable rapid screening of dry beans for toxic lectins.
Current Conduction Mechanism of Front-Side Contact of N-Type Crystalline Si Solar Cells With Ag/Al Pastes

Recently, n-type crystalline Si (c-Si) cells with front-side (FS) metallization Ag/Al paste have attracted considerable attention. However, a clear understanding of current conduction mechanism is still lacking. We report here the results of our microstructural investigation of the interfacial contact region using electron microscopy techniques. In optimally fired cells, we did not find any Al-Si eutectic layer on the emitter surface that would support a regrowth mechanism as found during the back surface field formation process commonly practiced to create the full plane Al back contact of p-type industrial solar cells. The presence of SiN x antireflection coating has possibly altered significantly the chemistry between Si and Al. The observed microstructures suggest that the current conduction is predominantly tunneling through ultrathin interfacial glass, assisted by the presence of nano-Ag colloids. We believe this mechanism is similar to the current conduction model we have proposed previously for FS Ag-contact of p-type c-Si solar cells with Ag paste.
Modeling of field-effect transistors with laterally graded doping

Abstract Field-effect transistors with a laterally graded doping profile are analyzed. In particular, two different doping profiles are assumed under the gate with lower doping near the drain. The dependence of mobility on doping density is taken into account. The effect of velocity saturation is considered through a simple approximation. Source and drain series resistances are taken into account by solving a nonlinear system of equations. Device parameters are computed as a function of the position of implant-step from the source. The results are found to be in reasonable qualitative agreement with experimental data. Finally, the limitations on the validity of this model are discussed.
The organic composition of C/2001 A2 (LINEAR): II. Search for heterogeneity within a comet nucleus

Abstract The nucleus of Comet C/2001 A2 (LINEAR) split several times during its recent apparition, presenting an unusual opportunity to search for chemical differences in freshly exposed material. We conducted this search using NIRSPEC at the W.M. Keck Observatory on four dates in 2001: 9.5 and 10.5 July and 4.4 and 10.5 August. We detected the R0 and R1 lines of the ν 3 vibrational band of CH4 near 3.3 μm on all dates. The R2 line was detected on 4.4 and 10.5 August. When we compare production rates of CH4 to H2O, we find evidence of a significant enhancement in August relative to that found in July. H2CO was securely detected via its ν 1 and ν 5 bands on 9.5 July. On 10.5 July, H2CO emission was much weaker, and its mixing ratio had dropped by a factor of about four. The mixing ratios for other detected volatile species did not change significantly over the course of the observations. We discuss the implications of this evidence for chemical heterogeneity in the nucleus of Comet C/2001 A2.
Methane penetration in DIII-D ELMing H-mode plasmas

Carbon penetration into the core plasma during midplane and divertor methane puffing has been measured for DIII-D ELMing H-mode plasmas. The methane puffs are adjusted to a measurable signal, but global plasma parameters are only weakly affected (line average density, increases by <10%, energy confinement time, τ E , drops by <10%). The total carbon content is derived from C 6+ density profiles in the core measured as a function of time using charge exchange recombination spectroscopy. The methane penetration factor is defined as the difference in the core content with the puff on and puff off, divided by the carbon confinement time and the methane puffing rate. In ELMing H-mode discharges with ion ⊇B drift direction into the X-point, increasing the line averaged density from 5 to 8 x 10 19 m -3 dropped the penetration factor from 6.6% to 4.6% for main chamber puffing. The penetration factor for divertor puffing was below the detection limit (<1%). Changing the ion ⊇B drift to away from the X-point decreased the penteration factor by more than a factor of five for main chamber puffing.
The stockholders' equity section of a Japanese company: The Minolta Camera Company case

Abstract The focus of this case is on the stockholders' equity section of a Japanese firm. The financial statements and relevant footnote disclosures of the Minolta Camera Co., Ltd., are presented in order to illustrate certain reporting requirements mandated by the Japanese Commercial Code. This case is designed to achieve at least three objectives: First, an understanding and appreciation of the accounting history and disclosure requirements of Japan should be developed. Second, knowledge of the conceptual foundation of owners' equity should be strengthened. Third, the interrelationship between a nation's legal requirements and its effect on the stockholders' equity section of an entity should be enhanced. This case is designed for use in a financial accounting class at or above the intermediate level.
Gasoline Ingestion: A Rare Cause of Pancytopenia

The majority of reported cases of gasoline intoxication involves inhalation or percutaneous absorption. Data are scarce on complications and outcomes after gasoline poisoning by oral ingestion. The major cause of mortality and morbidity associated with the ingestion of gasoline is related to pulmonary aspiration. Despite the high frequency of the ingestions, there is little documentation of nonpulmonary toxic effects of gasoline. After ingestion, the principal toxicity is aspiration pneumonia, but any documented extra pulmonary manifestations of this condition may be important in the overall management of these patients. We are reporting a rare case of pancytopenia along with aspiration pneumonia and multisystem organ failure in a 58-year-old male after prolonged intentional ingestion of gasoline. To our knowledge, this is the only reported case of gasoline toxicity causing pancytopenia.
Effect of Malathion on the Production and Viability of Eggs of the Indian-Meal Moth

Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) deposited the greatest number of eggs about 9:00 PM each day. Exposure of the moths to malathion vapor and residue did not change this timing. Moths exposed to malathion deposited their greatest number of eggs on the 1st day, as opposed to the 3rd day for unexposed moths. The total number of eggs laid per female decreased as the malathion dosage increased. The egg-laying period of malathion-exposed moths was 4-7 days, a sharp decrease from the 10- to 12- day period for unexposed moths. Few of the eggs laid after the 2nd day were viable.
Contractions of graphs with no spanning eulerian subgraphs

Letp≧2 be a fixed integer, and letG be a connected graph onn vertices. Ifδ(G)≧2, ifd(u)+d(v)>2n/p−2 holds wheneveruv∉E(G), and ifn is sufficiently large compared top, then eitherG has a spanning eulerian subgraph, orG is contractible to a graphG1 of order less thenp and with no spanning eulerian subgraph. The casep=2 was proved by Lesniak-Foster and Williamson. The casep=5 was conjectured by Benhocine, Clark, Kohler, and Veldman, when they proved virtually the casep=3. The inequality is best-possible.
Corneal biomechanical measurements before and after laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose To study the correlation between corneal biomechanical properties and surgical parameters in myopic patients before and after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Setting UCLA Laser Refractive Center of the Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA. Methods In 43 eyes of 43 patients, the Ocular Response Analyzer was used to measure corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg), and corneal-compensated IOP (IOPcc) before and 1 month after LASIK. Manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT), flap thickness (FT), and ablation depth (AD) were also recorded. Changes in these parameters after LASIK were calculated and the correlations between the change in CH (ΔCH), change in CRF (ΔCRF) and the AD, change in MRSE (ΔMRSE), and CCT were examined. The relationship between ΔCRF and ΔMRSE was examined by linear regression analysis. Results The preoperative mean CH and mean CRF (11.52 mm Hg ± 1.28 [SD] and 11.68 ± 1.40 mm Hg, respectively) were significantly higher than postoperative values (9.48 ± 1.24 mm Hg and 8.47 ± 1.53 mm Hg, respectively) (P Conclusions Changes in CH and CRF after LASIK suggest alteration in corneal biomechanics correlating with attempted correction. The CRF parameter may be more useful than the CH parameter in assessing biomechanical changes resulting from LASIK.
Quantifying extrinsic noise in gene expression using the maximum entropy framework

We present a maximum entropy framework to separate intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to noisy gene expression solely from the profile of expression. We express the experimentally accessible probability distribution of the copy number of the gene product (mRNA or protein) by accounting for possible variations in extrinsic factors. The distribution of extrinsic factors is estimated using the maximum entropy principle. Our results show that extrinsic factors qualitatively and quantitatively affect the probability distribution of the gene product. We work out, in detail, the transcription of mRNA from a constitutively expressed promoter in Escherichia coli. We suggest that the variation in extrinsic factors may account for the observed wider-than-Poisson distribution of mRNA copy numbers. We successfully test our framework on a numerical simulation of a simple gene expression scheme that accounts for the variation in extrinsic factors. We also make falsifiable predictions, some of which are tested on previous experiments in E. coli whereas others need verification. Application of the presented framework to more complex situations is also discussed.
Student opinions of software project success

This paper explores what factors students believe important to measuring the success of professional software development projects. We surveyed sophomore and senior computer science and computer information systems (business degree) majors. While some differences of opinions were revealed, there was surprising commonality between the groups. Little change of opinion was observed between the sophomores and seniors.This paper first describes the differing views of what constitutes success in a software development project. Results of recently published surveys of professional developers are then summarized. The authors' student survey is then presented and analyses of results are discussed.
Geography's American constituency: results from the AGS geographic knowledge and values survey

Does geography have an American constituency? Setbacks for the discipline at all levels of education over the past 65 years would suggest that geography is universally unpopular in the United States, but is that really true? The American Geographical Society (AGS) polled adult US residents on their understanding of the discipline itself and appreciation for geography and geographic education. Responses to the AGS Geographic Knowledge and Values Survey overwhelmingly indicate that a strong pro-geography constituency does exist, though at present it can only be proven within a specific cohort consisting of adult US residents who are more female, more educated, and less ethnically and racially diverse than the overall population. Respondents in this cohort overwhelmingly support expanded geographic education within the US, but overall knowledge regarding key geographic concepts and the discipline itself is weak. The results have policy implications for all education levels and strengthen the case for increas...
FEAST fundamental framework for electronic structure calculations: Reformulation and solution of the muffin-tin problem

Abstract In a recent article Polizzi (2009) [15] , the FEAST algorithm has been presented as a general purpose eigenvalue solver which is ideally suited for addressing the numerical challenges in electronic structure calculations. Here, FEAST is presented beyond the “black-box” solver as a fundamental modeling framework which can naturally address the original numerical complexity of the electronic structure problem as formulated by Slater in 1937 [3] . The non-linear eigenvalue problem arising from the muffin-tin decomposition of the real-space domain is first derived and then reformulated to be solved exactly within the FEAST framework. This new framework is presented as a fundamental and practical solution for performing both accurate and scalable electronic structure calculations, bypassing the various issues of using traditional approaches such as linearization and pseudopotential techniques. A finite element implementation of this FEAST framework along with simulation results for various molecular systems is also presented and discussed.
On the interfacial kinetics of the reaction of CO2 with liquid iron

Nouveaux calculs presentes comme une interpretation amelioree des travaux de Cramb et Belton sur ce sujet
The excess enthalpies of 10 (n-pentane + an n-alkanol) mixtures at 298.15 K

Abstract The excess enthalpies H E of n -pentane + methanol, + ethanol, + n -propanol, + n -butanol, + n -pentanol, + n -hexanol, + n -heptanol, + n -octanol, + n -nonanol, and + n -decanol were measured at 298.15 K with an isothermal flow calorimeter with a reproducibility of better than 1 per cent. All mixtures showed H E > 0 with the maximum values of H E occurring in the pentane-rich region.
Banana County in the wake of United Fruit: social and economic linkages

The linkage approach to development studies is used to trace three community-level responses to the withdrawal of United Fruit Company from the old banana zone of Colombia: the reassertion of traditional cattle ranching, the innovation of rice agriculture, and the formation of peasant cooperatives.
Heat Inactivation of Pectinesterase in Orange Juice Pulp

Heat inactivation of pectinesterase in juice pulp was nonlinear suggesting the presence of fractions of pectinesterase with differing heat stabilities. The residual activity rapidly decreased to 4% upon heating for 19 sec at 80°C and decreased very little upon subsequent heating for up to 180 sec at 80°C. The D values (time to inactivate 90% of the enzyme) at 90°C of the heat sensitive and heat stable fractions were estimated to be 0.225 and 32 sec, respectively. The Z values (change in temperature to achieve a 10-fold change in time of inactivation) were estimated to be 10.8°C and 6.5°C for the sensitive and stable fractions, respectively.
Estimation of internet file-access/modification rates from indirect data

Consider an Internet file for which data on last time of access/modification (A/M) of the file are collected at periodic intervals, but for which direct A/M data are not available. Methodology is developed here that enables estimation of the A/M rates, in spite of having only indirect data of this nature. Both parametric and nonparametric methods are developed. Theoretical and empirical analyses are presented that indicate that the problem is indeed statistically tractable, and that the methods developed are of practical value. Behavior of the parametric estimators is examined when these assumptions are violated, and these estimators are found to be robust against some such violations.
Effect of Denervation on the Lactate Dehydrogenase Isozymes of Skeletal Muscle

THE lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isozyme pattern of many mammalian tissues has been shown to change with development1,2. Persistence of the fœtal LDH pattern in skeletal muscle has been noted in chickens with hereditary muscular dystrophy3 and in children with myopathy4. In the work recorded here an adult skeletal muscle was denervated in order to ascertain the effect of an acquired lesion on the LDH isozyme pattern.
Comparison of different implementation algorithms for HiSS constitutive models in fem

Relative accuracy, stability and efficiency of four popular algorithms to implement elasto-plastic constitutive models in non-linear finite element procedures have been compared. Elastic Predictor–Plastic Corrector (EP–PC) method, Plastic Predictor–Plastic Corrector (PP–PC) method, Implicit Integration (Implicit) method and Modified Euler (ME) method wereused to implement Hierarchical Single Surface (HiSS) δ0∗ model into the general purpose finite element program ABAQUS. First, these algorithms were used outside the finite element program to simulate various triaxial stress paths. After that, they were used in ABAQUS to simulate two strip footings: (a) displacement controlled rigid footing and (b) load controlled flexible footing. The effect of the sub-strain increment size on the accuracy, stability and efficiency of each algorithm during these simulations have been compared. Implicit Method and ME performed well for some problems but performed poorly on others. EP–PC and PP–PC methods performed equally well for all the problems. This also showed the importance of testing algorithms under various stress paths and boundary value problems to assess their relative performance.
Effect of stimulus location and response measure on an instrumental avoidance conditioning paradigm in spinal rat

We have previously demonstrated the acquisition and retention of instrumental avoidance conditioning of leg withdrawal in spinal rat using a yoked control and footshock in the paradigm of Horridge (1962); when shock to the foot is a function of leg position, acquisition and retention occur if either foot insertion rate or percentage of time with the leg elevated is used as a response measure. The present experiment indicates that, when shock is delivered to the base of the tail, the experimental effect is weaker and less consistent. Insertion rate yields no evidence of acquisition or retention. If percentage of time with the leg elevated is used as a response measure, the results might be consistent with acquisition and retention during the early portions of the testing period. However, sensitization is a more parsimonious explanation of these results.
Cystitis, Co‐morbid disorders and associated epithelial dysfunction

Introduction Interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome / interstitial cystitis; PBS/IC) is a persistent pain syndrome affecting the urinary bladder with symptoms including urinary frequency, bladder pain and nocturia.(1–6) Various animal models have been studied, most of which mimic some aspect of the human condition of interest to the investigator(s). This review will provide examples of various animal models including those incorporating chronic stress, thought to produce features that share similarities to that of PBS/IC patients, whose symptoms are often exacerbated by various stressors. (7–12) This review also provides evidence that patients with PBS/IC exhibit abnormalities within the bladder epithelium (or urothelium), even though a consistent relationship of such changes with symptom severity has not been demonstrated. These changes include alterations in urothelial integrity, differentiation and/or proliferation as well as changes in ‘sensory’ function (altered expression or sensitivity of receptors and ion channels). Establishing a diagnostic ‘indicator’ with a high degree of correlation in this syndrome would be of value in terms of disease status, diagnosis and treatment. There have been reports of a number of factors/mediators altered in PBS/IC. However, the lack of a validated biomarker and a well-defined etiology for this syndrome introduces a number of complications, including diagnostic confidence, choice of appropriate animal models to study basic mechanism with the goal toward treatment, and rational therapies. It is also becoming increasingly apparent that patients with PBS/IC often overlap or share symptoms commonly associated with other persistent pain disorders. These include (but are not limited to) irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), non-cardiac chest pain, fibromyalgia and even overactive bladder syndrome (OAB).(13–18) Such types of changes are not limited to the urinary bladder, however, as reports of alterations in epithelial signaling/barrier function have been described in patients diagnosed with a wider variety of syndromes, including functional and inflammatory bowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and asthma.(19–21) These and other findings suggest that changes within the epithelium (barrier as well as signaling functions) may be a common occurrence that may contribute to peripheral mechanisms of hypersensitivity in a number of disorders.
Simultaneous Detection of Heavy Metals by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Using Carbon Nanotube Thread

Carbon nanotube (CNT) threads are a type of CNT arrays that consist of super long CNTs. CNT threads inherit the advantages of CNTs, while avoiding the potential toxicity caused by individual CNTs. Electrodes based on CNT threads were fabricated and used for simultaneous detection of trace levels of Cu2+, Pb2+ Cd2+ and Zn2+ by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). The detection limits are 0.27 nM, 1.5 nM, 1.9 nM and 1.4 nM for Cu2+, Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+, respectively, in 0.1 M acetate buffer pH 4.5. The CNT thread electrode gives well-defined, reproducible and sharp stripping signals for individual and simultaneous detection of heavy metals.
Probable heat capacity signature of the supersolid transition

The apparent observation of supersolid helium in 2004 generated much interest in the physics community, and curiosity outside of it. But the thermodynamic signature expected to accompany the transition was absent. Lin et al. present new evidence on the matter. The phenomenon, which shows similarities to that seen when liquid helium enters the superfluid state, occurs when a fraction of the solid appears to decouple from the motion of the surrounding lattice. The new experiment reveals a heat capacity peak coincident with the onset of mass decoupling, which supports the existence of a genuine transition between the normal solid and supersolid phases of 4He. In solid 4He, a fraction of the solid seems to decouple from the motion of the surrounding lattice when subjected to oscillatory motion. However, no thermodynamic signature of the possible supersolid transition has been seen. This paper reports the finding of a heat capacity peak that coincides with the onset of mass decoupling. This complementary experimental evidence supports the existence of a genuine transition between the normal solid and supersolid phases of 4He. Liquid 4He enters the superfluid state and flows without friction below 2.176 K. Thin liquid films adsorbed on solid substrates undergo the same transformation, although at a lower temperature. When the substrate is subjected to oscillatory motion a portion of the film, known as the superfluid fraction, decouples from the oscillation. A similar phenomenon has been observed1,2 in solid 4He, in which a fraction of the solid seems to decouple from the motion of the surrounding lattice. Although this observation has been replicated in various laboratories3,4,5,6, no thermodynamic signature of the possible supersolid transition has been seen. Here we report the finding of a heat capacity peak that coincides with the onset of mass decoupling. This complementary experimental evidence supports the existence of a genuine transition between the normal solid and supersolid phases of 4He.
Posthypoglycemic hyperglycemia in diabetic children.

Posthypoglycemic hyperglycemia was suspected in eight diabetic children who had excessive glycosuria while taking large doses of insulin. The cases of two brothers with diabetes since infancy are reported as examples. Rapid changes in levels of blood glucose with episodes of hypoglycemia were suspected; therefore glucose in blood was measured every half hour for 48 hours while the patients received their customary insulin dosage and diet. Urine was collected in two-hourly portions for measurements of glucose and tests for ketones. Hypoglycemic episodes were documented repeatedly. They lasted between one and 22 hours, occurred at varying times, and were usually followed by abrupt rises of blood sugar; blood sugar often rose or fell by 200 to 300 mg. per 100 ml. within two to four hours. Hyperglycemic phases lasted from several hours to several days. Conventional spot tests of urine and “fasting” or “postprandial” blood sugar values often failed to detect the hypoglycemia.
Sources of variation in radiometric surface temperature over a tallgrass prairie

Abstract Numerous studies have noted a strong negative correlation between radiometric surface temperature and spectral vegetation indices such as the NDVI, and have suggested that this relationship might be exploited in strategies to model land surface energy balance from satellites. These studies have been largely empirical in nature and the relationships among remotely sensed data, land surface properties, and land surface energy balance that produce this phenomenon remain unclear. We studied the relationship between radiometric surface temperature and NDVI over a tallgrass prairie in northeastern Kansas. The study site included a mix of landcovers, with fractional vegetation cover and exposed soil backgrounds over much of the site. We observed a persistent negative correlation between radiometric surface temperature and NDVI, but found that the relationship was highly date- and time-specific. In this context, the relationship between surface temperature and NDVI was observed to depend on landcover type, and a significant proportion of the total variance in both NDVI and radiometric surface temperature was explained by stratifying the data by landcover class. More importantly, our results show the relationship between surface temperature and NDVI to have little association with surface energy balance for data sets acquired from aircraft and helicopters on several dates during the growing seasons of 1987 and 1989. Based on results from a simulation model of the soil-canopy-sensor system, we hypothesize the observed covariance between radiometric surface temperature and NDVI to be largely caused by temperature differences between the soil background and vegetation canopy and by variation in fractional vegetation cover. This hypothesis is supported by evidence showing soil moisture to be an important secondary control on radiometric surface temperature due to its effect on soil thermal inertia, rather than as a limiting control on latent heat flux, as might be expected. These findings indicate that invertible surface energy balance models must account for the effects of landcover, soil background temperatures, and soil moisture before thermal infrared imagery can be effectively used to estimate land surface fluxes.
Is a picture worth 1000 votes? Analyzing the sentiment of election related social photos

This paper explores techniques for automatically recognizing the sentiment of facial expressions in social photos, especially those of politicians in the context of elections. We first use the Active Shape Model (ASM) to extract facial feature points. Next, the shape model points from the ASM are normalized to a standard shape and then submitted to a trained AdaBoost classifier to recognize the sentiment of facial expressions. Three types of sentiment are of primary interest: flattering, neutral and unflattering. Finally, the approach is evaluated by experiments, which indicate that the proposed method is sufficiently effective for facial expression analysis of images of election candidates and thus can be used to gauge the public opinion during the election.
Epitaxial growth and properties of MoOx(2<x<2.75) films

We report the growth of epitaxial molybdenum oxide (MoOx,2<x<2.75) films on c plane of sapphire substrate using pulsed laser deposition in oxygen environment. The structure was characterized using x-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electrical resistivity and optical properties were investigated using four-point-probe resistivity measurements and spectroscopy techniques, respectively. It was found that the film had a monoclinic structure based on MoO2 phase and showed an unusual combination of high conductivity and high transmittance in the visible region after annealing. The unusual combination of these properties was realized by systematically controlling the relative fraction of different oxidation states of molybdenum, namely Mo4+, Mo5+, and Mo6+ in the monoclinic phase. For a film 60nm thick and annealed at 250°C for 1h, the ratio of Mo6+∕(Mo4++Mo5+) was determined to be ∼2.9∕1 using XPS, and a typical value of transmittance ...
Monetary and Nonmonetary Student Incentives for Tutoring Services: A Randomized Controlled Trial

AbstractIn recent years, the largely punitive accountability measures imposed by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act have given way to an emphasis on financial incentives. Although most policy interventions have focused primarily on linking teacher compensation to student test scores, several recent studies have examined the prospects for the use of financial incentives for students to improve student outcomes. This study builds on the existing literature by comparing student responses to monetary and nonmonetary (certificates of recognition) incentives to increase participation in federally funded supplemental educational services (SEdS). Approximately 300 eligible middle grade students who had signed up for SEdS were randomly selected and then assigned to either a control condition that received no incentive, a monetary reward group that could earn up to $100 for regular attendance, or a nonmonetary group that could receive a certificate of recognition signed by the district superintendent. Although the b...
Maximum-likelihood based lock detectors for M-PSK carrier phase tracking loops

Carrier phase synchronisation is essential for coherent communications. Receivers typically use digital phase-locked loops (DPLLs) to acquire the carrier phase. The lock range of DPLLs, i.e. the range of frequency offsets that they can acquire, is usually significantly less than the initial frequency uncertainty in typical systems. Hence, acquisition is achieved by sweeping through the frequency uncertainty range, and stopping the sweep when the DPLL acquires the signal. Since the transmitted data symbols are in general unknown, successful acquisition is determined by a non-data aided carrier lock detector (CLD). In this reported work, a maximum-likelihood based CLD is derived which has low implementation complexity, and is better than existing CLDs while being impervious to errors in the receive Automatic Gain Control (AGC).
Correcting density functionals for dispersion interactions using pseudopotentials

Abstract We present a two-channel dispersion-corrected atom-centered potential (DCACP) method for correcting BLYP and PBE density functionals for long-range dispersion. The approach, designated DCACP2, is tested on the S22X5 test set and on isomers of the water hexamer. The DCACP2 method provides a significantly improved description of the interaction energies at distances beyond Req than does the single-channel DCACP procedure.
Service-Oriented Computing and Cloud Computing: Challenges and Opportunities

Service-oriented computing and cloud computing have a reciprocal relationship - one provides computing of services and the other provides services of computing. Although service-oriented computing in cloud computing environments presents a new set of research challenges, the authors believe the combination also provides potentially transformative opportunities.
Sport, Race, and Ethnicity: Narratives of Difference and Diversity

Sport, Race, and Ethnicity: Narratives of Difference and Diversity Author: D. Adair (Ed.) Publisher: Fitness Information Technology, Morgantown, WV, USA 2011. 272 pp. ISBN: 978-1-935-41217-5, US $2...
Induction of estrus in mice, the possible role of adrenal progesterone.

Abstract Reserpine was found to induce estrus in estrogen-primed ovariectomized DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice but not in adrenalectomized females. ACTH had similar effects. Testosterone induced estrus in estrogen-primed C57BL/6J but not in DBA/2J mice, while cortisol failed to induce estrus in either strain. Since receptive behavior in female mice usually is dependent upon the synergistic effects of estrogen and progesterone, it is suggested that reserpine or ACTH acts by releasing an adrenal hormone-probably progesterone-which is of functional significance in inducing estrus.
Comparison of the Electrical, Optical, and Electrochemical Properties of Diamond and Indium Tin Oxide Thin-Film Electrodes

The electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties of an optically transparent diamond electrode are reported on and compared with those of a commonly used optically transparent electrode (OTE), indium tin oxide (ITO). The OTE was formed by coating a thin film (ca. 0.5−1 μm) of boron-doped diamond on quartz. The electrode possesses an electrical resistivity of 10-2 Ω cm, or less, and an optical transparency of ca. 55% between 300 and 900 nm. The properties were evaluated before and after 48 h exposure tests to different organic solvents (hexane, toluene, methanol, and dichloromethane) and aggressive aqueous solutions (1 M HNO3 and 1 M NaOH) and 2 h electrochemical polarizations in the same aqueous media. In contrast to ITO, the electrical and optical properties of the diamond OTE were stable during all the aqueous solution and organic solvent soak tests and during 2 h electrochemical polarizations at maximum anodic and cathodic current densities of ≥5 mA/cm2. The electrochemical properties of the dia...
Organization of highly repeated sequences in mouse main-band DNA

Renaturation analysis shows that the main CsCl density band of mouse DNA (at 400 bases mol. wt) contains a minimum of four second-order kinetic components: non-repetitive DNA; two major classes of repeated DNA, called “moderately repeated” and “highly repeated”, each comprising 8 to 16% of the genome; and a minor sub-class of the highly repeated DNA, about 0·5% of the genome with a satellite-like complexity. The highly repeated main-band sequences are isolated from high molecular weight DNA (12,000 bases) by renaturation to low C 0 t § and hydroxyapatite chromatography. This DNA is spread for electron microscopy by the formamide isodenaturing technique. Most of the bimolecular renaturation products show interspersion of renatured and single-stranded regions. The renatured regions average about 700 base-pairs in length, most being in the range of 200 to 1000. On molecules where two or more renatured regions. The renatured regions average about 700 base-pairs in length, most being in the range of 200 to 1000. On molecules where two or more renatured regions can be identified, they are separated by a wide range of distances averaging 1800 bases. A minority fraction (about 12% by weight) of the bimolecular renaturation products shows no evidence of interspersion, and may consist of tandemly repeated sequences. The renaturation rate of the highly repeated DNA fraction (at initial mol. wts of 6000 and 12,000 bases) is studied before and after shearing the DNA to low molecular weight. The kinetic complexity of the interspersed, single-stranded DNA that is attached to renatured, highly repeated DNA is thereby determined. Most of the unrenatured DNA contains highly repeated sequences similar in complexity to the sequences that renatured at low C 0 t . Only about 20% of the interspersed DNA has a low repetition frequency, approximately non-repetitive. We conclude that about 15% of the mouse main-band DNA contains highly repeated sequences, most of which are organized as permuted tandem repeats. About 5% of the non-repetitive DNA of mouse is interspersed with this fraction of the genome. This model of sequence organization differs from those that have been demonstrated for more moderately repeated sequences of higher organisms, where much more non-repetitive DNA is interspersed with the repeated sequences.
PHOTOSENSITIZED DIMERIZATION OF THYMINE

Abstract— In contrast with previous reports from other laboratories, four isomeric dimers were isolated from the photochemical reaction of thymine sensitized by either acetone or propiophenone. Product analyses, made by use of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, showed that the distribution of dimers is dependent on the character of the solvent medium. Mass spectra for all four dimers were obtained and are here presented.
Creating Healthful Environments in Schools through a Total Ban on Tobacco Use.

Smoking constitutes a major health danger. Current school policies may limit tobacco use by students but fail to include such restrictions on adults. The authors argue for a total ban on tobacco use in school set tings as a way to reinforce the health promotion curriculum.
An Open Source Parametric Propeller Design Tool

An open source computational propeller/turbine design tool, the user-friendly open source MIT Propeller Vortex Lattice Lifting Line Program (OpenProp), is presented in this paper. This code has applications in propeller design for AUV and ROV thrusters as well as conventional propellers. The code is also being utilized for tidal turbine design. OpenProp is designed to be a fast parametric design tool for use by engineers with little training in propeller design. This tool can also be used by more experienced designers, as a preliminary design tool, to produce a starting design for further refinement using more advanced design and analysis codes. Various design examples are presented, including an ROV propeller design and a contra-rotating AUV Thruster design. These propellers were constructed and performance tested. The performance data for these propeller designs is also presented. The code was validated against the US Navy's PLL code and these results are also presented. The OpenProp propeller design tool is part of a suite of open source tools under development for rapid design, building and testing of propeller design models.
Editorial: interferon-γ: friend or foe in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and adult-onset Still's Disease?

We may know just enough about cytokines in autoinflammatory diseases to be dangerous. Insights from animal models and cell lines, observations from patient samples, and outcomes of directed cytokine modulating treatments constantly refine this understanding, while also unearthing deeper layers of complexity. The recent advances in our understanding of systemic autoinflammatory disorders have brought the interaction of basic cytokine biology and patient care to the fore.
Compressed state Kalman filter for large systems

Abstract The Kalman filter (KF) is a recursive filter that allows the assimilation of data in real time and has found numerous applications. In earth sciences, the method is applied to systems with very large state vectors obtained from the discretization of functions such as pressure, velocity, solute concentration, and voltage. With state dimension running in the millions, the implementation of the standard or textbook version of KF is very expensive and low-rank approximations have been devised such as EnKF and SEEK. Although widely applied, the error behavior of these methods is not adequately understood. This article focuses on very large linear systems and presents a complete computational method that scales roughly linearly with the dimension of the state vector. The method is suited for problems for which the effective rank of the state covariance matrix is much smaller than its dimension. This method is closest to SEEK but uses a fixed basis that should be selected in accordance with the characteristics of the problem, mainly the transition matrix and the system noise covariance. The method is matrix free, i.e., does not require computation of Jacobian matrices and uses the forward model as a black box. Computational results demonstrate the ability of the method to solve very large, say 10 6 , state vectors.
Independent regulation of full-length and 5'-truncated PAS5 mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Peroxisome assembly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the products of several genes. In this report, the PAS5 gene has been characterized. The gene is on the left arm of chromosome X and encodes a polypeptide with similarity to the mammalian peroxisome assembly factor-1 (PAF-1). Two different length transcripts are produced from the yeast PAS5 gene. The longer mRNAs encompass an open reading frame, while the shorter transcripts initiate 46–110 base pairs downstream of the first in-frame AUG. The longer transcripts are induced four-fold on medium containing fatty acids as the sole carbon source, while the shorter transcripts are induced up to ten-fold on medium containing glycerol as a carbon source. The full-length coding sequence encodes a protein with a calculated molecular weight of 30·7 kDa. A protein of 25 kDa could be translated from the shorter transcripts and would lack a very acidic domain found in the amino-terminal extension of the longer protein. The common portion of the proteins is very basic; the calculated pI of the longer polypeptide is 9·02 and that of the shorter protein is 10·06. The PAS5 GenBank accession number is M86538.
Gene silencing in a polyploid homosporous fern: paleopolyploidy revisited

Abstract Because of their high chromosome numbers, homosporous vascular plants were considered paleopolyploids until recent enzyme electrophoretic studies rejected this hypothesis by showing that they express only diploid numbers of isozymes. In polyploid sporophytes of the homosporous fern pelleae rufa, however, progressive diminution of phosphoglucoisomerase activities encoded by one ancestral genome culminates in tetraploid plants exhibiting a completely diploidized electrophoretic phenotype for this enzyme. The demonstration that such gene silencing can make a polyploid fern look isozymically like a diploid questions the validity of isozyme evidence for testing the paleopolyploid hypothesis and supports the proposed role of polyploidization followed by genetic diploidizaton in the evolutionary history of homosporous pteridohytes.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: The pediatric experience at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

The clinical characteristics and outcome of children with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) treated at a single institution over a 34-year period were reviewed. A retrospective chart review identified five children with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. The diagnosis was confirmed in all cases by one of the authors. Age; sex; clinical group; tumor invasiveness and size, nodal status, and metastases (TNM stage); therapy; and outcome were retrieved from the medical records of these patients. The median age at diagnosis was 12.5 years. There were four boys, and all tumors arose in the extremities or trunk. All children underwent at least two surgical procedures to achieve negative or surgically microscopic positive margins. In addition, one patient received adjuvant radiotherapy for microscopically positive margins. All patients survive free of disease 1 month to 16.5 years after diagnosis. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is rare among children and adolescents. Recognition of this pathologic entity is important for its proper treatment. Surgical resection (with 3-cm margins) is currently the standard therapy for DFSP.
Resistance of the Strawberry Aphid to Endosulfan in Southwestern Washington

Laboratory tests showed that the strawberry aphid, Chaetosiphon fragaefolii (Cockerell), developed resistant to endosulfan in southwestern Washington. Resistance apparently developed from 19600 to 1964 a result of only 1-2 applications of 1/2 Ib per acre per year.