cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ad-nilpotent ideals of complex and real reductive groups

In this thesis, we study ad-nilpotent ideals and its relations with nilpotent orbits, affine Weyl groups, sign types and hyperplane arrangements. This thesis is divided into three parts. The first and second parts deal with ad-nilpotent ideals for complex reductive Lie groups. In the first part, we study the left equivalence relation of ad-nilpotent ideals and relate it to some equivalence relation of affine Weyl groups and sign types. In the second part, we prove that for classical groups there always exist ideals of minimal dimension as conjectured by Sommers. In the third part, we define an analogous object for connected real reductive Lie groups, which is called t-nilpotent subspaces. We relate t-nilpotent subspaces to dominant regions of some real hyperplane arrangement and get the characteristic polynomials of the real hyperplane arrangement in the case of U(m, n) and Sp( m, n). We conjecture a general formula for other types.
Medical treatment of dystonia

Medications such as anticholinergic drugs, dopamine modulators, baclofen, muscle relaxants, and other pharmacologic agents have been used for a long time to treat dystonia, but the introduction of botulinum toxin and deep brain stimulation clearly revolutionized the symptomatic treatment of this neurological movement disorder. Therapy of dystonia can be divided into the following categories: (1) physical, supportive, and ancillary therapy; (2) pharmacologic treatment; (3) chemodenervation with botulinum toxin; and (4) peripheral and central surgery (deep brain stimulation). Except in some cases of secondary dystonia, pathogenesis-targeted or disease-modifying therapy is currently not available. This review focuses on evidence-based medical treatment of dystonia, highlighting recent advances, with emphasis on individualized approach. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society.
The Role of Offshore Financial Centers in Regulatory Competition

Offshore financial centers are criticized for everything from facilitating money laundering to lax regulation. Yet these jurisdictions play an important positive role in the international legal system that is rarely recognized by providing a different type of competitor in the market for law. Offshore financial centers like the Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man exert an important discipline on democratically-constrained onshore jurisdictions by allowing firms and individuals to route around rent-seeking legislation and by innovating in the creation of legal rules to lower transactions costs. The paper discusses examples of this including captive insurance entities and foreign finance subsidiaries. Even more importantly, offshore financial centers are well-positioned to discipline autocratic regimes, by undermining autocrats' efforts to prevent alternative centers of power from arising. Fully understanding how offshore finance centers affect the global competition among states for economic activity is crucial for addressing current policy debates over measures like the European Union's Savings Directive and the proposed U.S. Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act.
The Pornography of Despair: Lust, Desire and the Music of Matt Johnson

This paper is about intense emotions -- lust, desire, pain, longing, passion, anger, frustration – as they are expressed in the alternative rock music of Matt Johnson and contrived in our listening experiences. The “soundscapes” Johnson creates with the various musicians who comprise his band The The are at times ironic, at times contradictory and as often as not darkly situated on the underbelly of seeming human frailties. With this paper, we draw on Johnson’s work and art to articulate themes of male heterosexual desire and lust, and their relations to aspects of identity. We argue that Johnson uses lust and desire to particular effect, creating an “emotional geography” from which potentially liberatory social relations may emerge. We argue that Johnson’s work is a plea to place male emotions more centrally in our ways of knowing the world. Much of Johnson’s inspiration derives from a quirky understanding of the impact of global forces on the lives of individuals. It also offers a different way of knowing masculinity, one that embraces realities such as promiscuity and prostitution without judgement, treating them simultaneously as material, emotional and spatial. This differs from a rather narrow but nonetheless monolithic view of promiscuity as deviant and sick, and prostitution as an inevitable outcome of unequal divisions of power predicated upon dangerous aspects of male sexuality. Johnson’s work mediates psychoanalytic theories of desire spatially, suggesting an energy and a place out of which social activism emerges.
Advances in dosimetry of radiofrequency radiation and their past and projected impact on the safety standards

Advances in the dosimetry of radio-frequency (RF) radiation that played an important role in the revision of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) RF safety guidelines in 1982 are summarized. Recent work has pointed to several potential problems with these guidelines. These pertain to large RF-induced currents and the commensurately high local specific absorption rates (SARs) for some regions of the body, as well as contact hazards for commonly encountered ungrounded objects in ANSI-recommended E-fields for the frequency band 0.3-100 MHz. The new data are used to suggest modifications of the RF safety guidelines. >
The effects of portfolio size on international equity home bias puzzle

Abstract This paper investigates a new explanation for the international equity home bias puzzle based on an endogenous asymmetric information model. Using a cross-sectional mutual fund data set, it is found that the degrees of home bias across fund managers are negatively correlated to the asset sizes under their management. This result is consistent with the theoretical prediction in the endogenous asymmetric information model—the portfolio managers with the larger assets tend to acquire more information regarding foreign equity and, hence, hold more foreign equity holdings.
Purification and properties of the enzymes from Drosophila melanogaster that catalyze the synthesis of sepiapterin from Dihydroneopterin triphosphate

Sepiapterin synthase, the enzyme system responsible for the synthesis of sepiapterin from dihydroneopterin triphosphate, has been partially purified from extracts of the heads of young adult fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). The sepiapterin synthase system consists of two components, termed “enzyme A” (MW 82,000) and “enzyme B” (MW 36,000). Some of the properties of the enzyme system are as follows: NADPH and a divalent cation, supplied most effectively as MgCl2, are required for activity; optimal activity occurs at pH 7.4 and 30 C; the K m for dihydroneopterin triphosphate is 10 µm; and a number of unconjugated pterins, including biopterin and sepiapterin, are inhibitory. Dihydroneopterin cannot be used as substrate in place of dihydroneopterin triphosphate. Evidence is presented in support of a proposed reaction mechanism for the enzymatic conversion of dihydroneopterin triphosphate to sepiapterin in which enzyme A catalyzes the production of a labile intermediate by nonhydrolytic elimination of the phosphates of dihydroneopterin triphosphate, and enzyme B catalyzes the conversion of this intermediate, in the presence of NADPH, to sepiapterin. An analysis of the activity of sepiapterin synthase during development in Drosophila revealed the presence of a small amount of activity in eggs and young larvae and a much larger amount in late pupae and young adults. Sepiapterin synthase activity during development corresponds with the appearance of sepiapterin in the flies. Of a variety of eye color mutants of Drosophila melanogaster tested for sepiapterin synthase activity, only purple (pr) flies contained activity that was significantly lower than that found in the wild-type flies (22% of the wild-type activity). Further studies indicated that the amount of enzyme A activity is low in purple flies, whereas the amount of enzyme B activity is equal to that present in wild-type flies.
COLOR FORMATION IN VITREOUS BODIES1

A simple vitreous body of the Parian type was made up and the coloring produced by adding varying amounts of cobalt, chromium, iron, uranium, nickel, and copper oxide was determined. The color was measured by the Hardy recording spectrophotometer, and the resulting curves were analyzed for the three attributes of color. The hue, brilliancy, and saturation were all proportional to the logarithm of the coloring oxide. It was found that the color was mainly due to the particles of the practically undissolved oxide, and not to a colored glass. This makes it possible to color a body for use in reflected light, but not for transmitted light. Some excellent magenta red bodies were produced by reducing the copper oxide, but the results could not be consistently reproduced.
Quantum confinement in PbSe thin films electrodeposited by electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy (EC-ALE)

Abstract PbSe is a IV–VI compound semiconductor with a narrow band gap (0.26 eV), used in photodetectors, photoresistors and photoemitters in the infrared (IR). This paper reports the first instance of PbSe formation by electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy (EC-ALE). The film’s composition and structure were characterized using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The optical properties were studied via infrared absorption measurements. Films were stoichiometric via EPMA, a Pb/Se ratio of one. XRD indicated the expected rock salt structure for PbSe, and a preferred (2 0 0) orientation. IR adsorption studies, of films grown with 10–50 cycles, showed strong blue shifts of the fundamental absorption edge, which was believed to result from quantum confinement in the thin films.
PREINVASIVE DISEASES OF THE CERVIX, VULVA, AND VAGINA

Objectives : To discuss the epidemiology, treatment, and psychosocial implications of preinvasive disease of the lower genital tract. Data Sources : Review articles, research studies, and government publications. Conclusions : Routine cervical cytology has been one of the most successful public health screening programs accomplished over the last 50 years. However, our success has plateaued. The focus now is to address existing barriers to screening and treatment, and to develop an effective triage protocol for the management of abnormal cervical cytology. Implications for Nursing Care : Nurses as patient advocates are best prepared to meet the culturally sensitive, financially, and geographical challenges of addressing barriers to screening and treatment.
Usefulness of temporary left ventricular pacing through the coronary sinus as an adjunct to transfemoral percutaneous coronary intervention

In 10 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention involving the right coronary artery, a new procedure for adjunctive temporary transfemoral pacing of the left ventricle through the coronary sinus was tested. The procedure was successful in 8 of 10 patients and could be performed in
Oral bleeding in hemophilia: Treatment with epsilon aminocaproic acid and replacement therapy

Sixteen hemophiliac children with oral bleeding were treated with the antifibrinolytic agent epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) and replacement therapy. Thirteen had factor VIII (AHF) deficiency, and 3 had factor IX (PTC) deficiency. Ten patients had nondental oral bleeding, usually in the form of lacerated frenulums; 6 patients had dental extractions. All patients were given an initial infusion of the deficient coagulation factor to ensure adequate initial clot formation. EACA was given every 6 hours, beginning 24 hours before dental surgery, or in an initial loading dose in those patients with nondental oral bleeding, and continued for 5 to 10 days. In all patients, bleeding stopped within one hour; no patient required continued replacement therapy. In one patient EACA alone was ineffective in controlling the bleeding. The results suggest that the combined use of EACA and initial replacement therapy is effective in controlling oral bleeding in hemophiliac patients; the length of hospital stay is reduced, and in some instances bleeding episodes can be managed on an outpatient basis.
Use of HF for extended-range Combat Net Radio (CNR) communications

In recent years military forces have become more mobile to meet contemporary mission requirements, and are frequently required to cover much larger geographic areas. As a result, they frequently outrun the transmission range of traditional VHF and UHF line-of-sight communication systems. Similar issues can arise in non-military situations such as border security, drug interdiction, or natural disaster response. An emerging solution to the range problems is the use of HF radios for extended-range Combat Net Radio (CNR) applications. HF signals have the ability to propagate to and over the horizon using either sky wave or ground wave modes. This unique ability has allowed HF radio to address the coverage gaps not served by VHF/UHF radio and other Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) media. A key issue to be considered when designing and using an HF radio network for this purpose is that of network traffic capacity, due to the delivery latency and transmission overhead of HF voice communications waveforms and techniques. This paper discusses this issue and presents some potential solutions.
Synaptic reentry reinforcement based network model for long-term memory consolidation.

The conversion of newly formed declarative memories into long-term memories is known to be dependent on the hippocampus. Recent experiments suggest that memory consolidation requires reactivation of the NMDA receptor in CA1 during the initial week(s) after training. This led to the hypothesis that the repeated post-learning reinforcement of synaptic modifications, termed synaptic reentry reinforcement (SRR), is essential for long-term memory consolidation and storage. Based on experimental observations, we have built a computational model to further illustrate and explore the effect of the SRR process on the formation of long-term memory. We show that SRR is capable of strengthening and maintaining memory traces despite inherent variability in the system due to such processes as the turnover of synaptic receptors and their associated signaling and structural proteins. Furthermore, we demonstrate that new rounds of synaptic modification triggered by memory reactivation, either during conscious recall or sleep, could lead to the selective consolidation of a subset of memory traces. Finally, we show why the SRR process in the hippocampus is required during the initial post-training weeks for synaptic reinforcement based memory consolidation in the cortex. Hippocampus 2002;12:637–647. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Acid precipitation and scientific uncertainty problems in probability

The fact that acid precipitation exists and may be responsible for destroying or potentially destroying whole ecosystems or parts of ecosystems in a reality. This paper discusses acid precipitation from the whole system viewpoint. The sources and sinks are identified and an effort is made to describe our current scientific knowledge of the overall process.
Adrenal medulla grafts produce blood-brain barrier dysfunction

Abstract The results of this study show that grafts of adrenal medulla into the rat brain parenchyma or ventricle produced significant blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Systematically administered protein rapidly entered either the grafts, the surrounding brain tissue or the cerebrospinal fluid. The grafted chromaffin cells avidly took up blood-borne radiolabelled amine. Thus, autonomic tissue transplants prevented normal reconstitution of the blood-brain barrier after surgery and indefinitely exposed host brain tissue to blood-borne compounds.
Controlling autoimmunity in sporadic inclusion-body myositis

Sporadic inclusion-body myositis (s-IBM) spans two areas of interest in my research lab, the role of protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disease1–4 and the role of secondary autoimmunity in degenerative conditions in the nervous system5–10 and in muscle.11,12 After some comments on the potential pathologic role of inclusion bodies themselves, I shall focus attention on two approaches to controlling the autoimmune response in muscle tissue: inhibition of lymphocyte homing with antibodies to alpha 4 beta 1 integrin,13–15 and nonspecific downregulation of autoimmunity with statins.14–16 We have studied the role of transglutaminase in the crosslinking of huntingtin aggregates in Huntington disease (HD).1–4 The aggregates in HD have characteristics of covalently linked protein multimers, with occasional ordered areas of amyloid with its accompanying birefrigent optical properties when stained with Congo red. In HD we can ameliorate the disease modestly by inhibiting the enzyme transglutaminase, TGase. TGase catalyzes the formation of glutaminyl-lysyl linkages. Inhibtion of TGase in vivo prolonged lifespan, and diminished tremor and weight loss in a transgenic animal model of HD. Despite the fact that TGase is part of the aggregate in HD, and that TGase inhibition ameliorates disease in the transgenic animal model of HD, treatment with cystamine does not appreciably reverse gross aggregates, unless instituted at a very early stage of disease. Increasing evidence suggests that whereas early microaggregates may have pathologic properties, gross aggregates may not be pathogenic per se, and might even have protective characteristics.1–4 Strategies aimed at blocking aggregates could certainly be given together with treatments that block the accumulation of inflammatory cells in muscle. The inflammatory response in muscle in s-IBM has …
Effects of medium concentration on antibody production

Antibody production by two different cell lines was measured as the media were supplemented with varied amounts of glucose and fetal bovine serum. Both cell lines elaborated antidinitrophenyl hapten antibodies. Two basic media were used: RPMI 1640 and Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. The production of antibodies was followed from 0 to 180 h and was assayed by radioimmunoassay.
High-circulating Tie2 Is Associated With Pathologic Complete Response to Chemotherapy and Antiangiogenic Therapy in Breast Cancer

Introduction:Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a central mediator of angiogenesis in breast cancer. Research in antiangiogenic cancer treatment has been marked by the development of the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab, which targets VEGF in many solid tumors. As patients do not equally be
DAYCENT model analysis of past and contemporary soil N2O and net greenhouse gas flux for major crops in the USA.

Abstract The DAYCENT ecosystem model (a daily version of CENTURY) and an emission factor (EF) methodology used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were used to estimate direct and indirect N2O emission for major cropping systems in the USA. The EF methodology is currently used for the USA greenhouse gas inventory but process based models, such as DAYCENT, may yield more reliable results because they account for factors such as soil type, climate, and tillage intensity that are ignored by EF. Comparison of mean annual soil N2O flux estimated by DAYCENT and EF with measured data for different cropping systems yielded r2 values of 0.74 and 0.67, and mean deviations of −6 and +13%, respectively. At the national scale, DAYCENT simulation of total N2O emission was ∼25% lower than estimated using EF. For both models, N2O emission was highest in the central USA followed by the northwest, southwest, southeast, and northeast regions. The models simulated roughly equivalent direct N2O emission from fertilized crops, but EF estimated greater direct N2O emission than DAYCENT for N-fixing crops. DAYCENT and EF estimates of the gaseous component of indirect N2O emission (NO + NH3) differed little, but DAYCENT estimated approximately twice the indirect emission from NO3 leaching since it included the contribution of N from N-fixing crops while EF did not. DAYCENT simulations were also performed for no tillage cropping, pre-1940 crop management, and native vegetation. DAYCENT-simulated N2O, CO2, and CH4 fluxes were converted to CO2–C equivalents and combined with fuel use estimates to estimate net global warming potential (GWPnet). GWPnet for recent non-rice (Oryza sativa L.) major cropping was 0.43 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 under conventional tillage and 0.29 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 under no tillage, for pre-industrial cropping was 0.25 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, and for native systems was −0.15 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Results from DAYCENT suggest that conversion to no tillage at the national scale could mitigate ∼20% of USA agricultural emission or ∼1.5% of total USA emission of greenhouse gases.
Dimensionality reduction methods in virtual metrology

The objective of this work is the creation of predictive models that can forecast the electrical or physical parameters of wafers using data collected from the relevant processing tools. In this way, direct measurements from the wafer can be minimized or eliminated altogether, hence the term "virtual" metrology. Challenges include the selection of the appropriate process step to monitor, the pre-treatment of the raw data, and the deployment of a Virtual Metrology Model (VMM) that can track a manufacturing process as it ages. A key step in any VM application is dimensionality reduction, i.e. ensuring that the proper subset of predictors is included in the model. In this paper, a software tool developed with MATLAB is demonstrated for interactive data prescreening and selection. This is combined with a variety of automated statistical techniques. These include step-wise regression and genetic selection in conjunction with linear modeling such as Principal Component Regression (PCR) and Partial Least Squares (PLS). Modeling results based on industrial datasets are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods.
Analysis of positron annihilation lifetime data presented as a sum of convoluted exponentials with the program “SPLMOD”

Abstract The reliability of a least squares analysis of positron annihilation lifetime data represented as a sum of convoluted exponentials is investigated with computer-stimulated test data. The method of analysis, which is available as a computer program called “SPLMOD” [R.H. Vogel, Technical Report EMBL-DA08, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, FRG, (1986)], avoids direct determination of the instrument resolution function by employing the decay curve of a reference material with a well-known single lifetime. The performance of the algorithm for extracting positron annihilation lifetime information was evaluated by using several measures of the information content of the decay curve described recently by Schrader and Usmar [in: Positron Annihilation Studies of Fluids, ed. S. Sharma (World Scientific, Singapore, 1988)]. The sensitivity of the algorithm to systematic errors including errors in the resolution function, shifts in the zero time channel and contamination of the reference decay curves by additional lifetime components was evaluated. The method provides excellent estimates of lifetime parameters when the reference decay curve accurately reflects the resolution function of the sample data. However, the algorithm is extremely sensitive to errors in the instrument resolution function.
RIBOZYMES EXPRESSED WITHIN THE LOOP OF A NATURAL ANTISENSE RNA FORM FUNCTIONAL TRANSCRIPTION TERMINATORS

Abstract As an initial step towards developing a widely applicable system for expressing small ribozymes (Rz) in various cell types using T7 RNA polymerase, we have replaced the loop domain of a natural prokaryotic antisense RNA (RNA out from Tn10), with hammerhead (Hh) Rz. RNA out was chosen, because the stem of its secondary structure gives it an unusually long half life in Escherichia coli which should also confer in vivo stability to small RNA sequences expressed within its loop domain. In order to define the 3′ end of the Rz-RNA out chimeric RNAs, a poly(U) tract was inserted just 3′ of the RNA out stem. Molecular analysis indicates that these RNAs function both as transcription terminators and Rz. In addition, the RNAs are stable in E. coli and can be expressed in mammalian cells. These results show that certain characteristics of a naturally evolved RNA, RNA s in this case, can be used to provide additional functions to short RNAs containing Hh Rz without disrupting the enzymatic activity of the Rz.
Effects of dietary supplementation with an organic source of selenium on characteristics of semen quality and in vitro fertility in boars1

Semen characteristics in boars fed organic or inorganic sources of Se were assessed in 3 experiments. Crossbred boars were randomly assigned at weaning to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: I) basal diets with no supplemental Se (control), II) basal diets with 0.3 mg/kg of supplemental Se from an organic source (Sel-Plex, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY), and III) basal diets supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg of supplemental Se from sodium selenite (Premium Selenium 270, North American Nutrition Co. Inc., Lewisburg, OH). For Exp. 1, semen was collected from boars (n = 10/dietary treatment) on 5 consecutive days at 15 mo of age. Effects of treatment × day were detected for the proportions of progressively motile (P = 0.02) and rapidly moving (P = 0.03) spermatozoa, and measures of sperm velocity, including path velocity of the smoothed cell path (P = 0.05) and average velocity measured in a straight line from the beginning to the end of the track (P = 0.05). Negative effects of day of semen collection on sperm motility were least pronounced in boars fed Sel-Plex. Experiment 2 was conducted when boars were 17 mo of age, and semen was collected (n = 10 boars/dietary treatment), diluted in commercially available extenders, and stored at 18°C for 9 d. Effects of treatment × day were detected for percentages of motile (P = 0.01) and static (P = 0.01) spermatozoa, amplitude of lateral head displacement (P = 0.02), frequency with which the sperm track crossed the sperm path (P = 0.04), straightness (P = 0.01), and average size of all sperm heads (P = 0.03). In general, sperm cells from boars fed Sel-Plex were better able to maintain motility during liquid storage compared with boars fed sodium selenite. For Exp. 3, semen was collected from boars (n = 6/dietary treatment) at 23 mo of age, and spermatozoa were evaluated at d 1 and 8 after semen collection using in vitro fertilization procedures. There was a tendency for an effect (P = 0.11) of dietary treatment on fertilization rate with Sel-Plex-fed boars having the greatest value (70.7%). The results of this study suggest that there are positive effects of dietary supplementation with Sel-Plex on boar semen characteristics and that organic Se supplementation may help ameliorate the negative effects of semen storage on characteristics of sperm motility.
Predicting the Performance of Dental Hygiene Behaviors: An Examination of the Fishbein and Ajzen Model and Self‐Efficacy Expectations1

This study examined the value of the Fishbein and Ajzen model of behavioral intentions and Bandura's concept of self-efficacy expectations as prospective predictors of the dental hygiene behaviors of young adults. All participants (73 males and 58 females) completed self-report measures of the predictor variables and 60% of that group (N = 77) then recorded brushing and flossing behaviors over a four-week period. The Fishbein and Ajzen model accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in intentions to brush (R2= .32) and intentions to floss (R2= .30). Intentions were in turn related to self-monitoring records of brushing and flossing frequency (rs= .52 and .61). Introducing self-efficacy expectations into the Fishbein and Ajzen model failed to improve the prediction of brushing and flossing frequency. However, self-efficacy was predictive of behavioral intentions, adding significantly to the variance accounted for by the attitudinal and subjective norm components of the Fishbein and Ajzen model. These data suggest that self-efficacy expectations are important in understanding protective health behaviors and that the inclusion of a self-efficacy component in the Fishbein and Ajzen model deserves consideration.
A Classification Society's Approach and Procedures in Assuring Compliance of Floating Production Systems to Applicable Codes, Standards, and Regulatory Requirements

Since the mid-1970's the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has been involved in providing classification and certifying regulatory compliance for both Flag and Coastal State requirements on Floating Production Systems (FPSs); both for converted and purpose built vessels. In light of this experience, this paper describes how ABS has structured its' classification procedures and requirements for this diverse category of offshore systems through the utilisation and harmonisation of classification rules and industry codes and standards, and how classification relates to certification of compliance with Flag and Coastal State regulations for these systems.
A characterization of the minimal invariant sets of Alspach’s mapping

Abstract In 1981, Dale Alspach modified the baker’s transform to produce the first example of a nonexpansive mapping T on a weakly compact convex subset C of a Banach space that is fixed point free. By Zorn’s lemma, there exist minimal weakly compact, convex subsets of C which are invariant under T and are fixed point free. In this paper we produce an explicit formula for the n th power of T , T n , and prove that the sequence ( T n f ) n ∈ N converges weakly to ‖ f ‖ 1 χ [ 0 , 1 ] , for all f ∈ C . From this we derive a characterization of the minimal invariant sets of T .
Server System and Queuing Models of Leaf Harvesting by Leaf-Cutting Ants

Because leaf-cutting ants are eusocial organisms, the foraging behavior of individual workers is likely to have evolved in ways that enhance the success of workers as a group rather than as individual foragers. Harvesting leaf tissue is often an especially concentrated group activity in forest-dwelling Atta ants. Under such circumstances, group foraging success might be enhanced if individual workers reduce their cutting time, thereby taking smaller fragments individually but allowing a greater number of their nest mates to obtain fragments per unit time. I model a foraging situation of this kind as a service process. One model considers the maximum possible output from a system of servers, and a second model takes account of queuing time and "traffic intensity" resulting from dense social foraging. Quantitative predictions of the models are compared with fragment masses taken during natural foraging by Atta colombica ants on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Natural fragment masses are nearly always too sma...
Lyapunov functions and relative stability in reaction-diffusion systems with multiple stationary states

In prior work on a thermodynamic and stochastic theory of chemical systems far from equilibrium, the excess work (a Lyapunov function) was shown to predict relative stability of stationary states in reaction−diffusion systems with multiple stationary states. This theory predicts equistability when the excess work from one stationary state to the stable inhomogeneous concentration profile separating the two stable stationary states equals the excess work from the other stable stationary state to that profile. Here we prove that any Lyapunov function of the deterministic reaction−diffusion equations of a given form can be used to predict equistability. Further, we show that the spatial derivative of any Lyapunov function for these equations, which is simpler to calculate, can also be used to predict relative stability.
Whole-tree-harvesting effects on soil nitrogen and carbon

Abstract Soil pools of N and C were estimated quantitatively before, and 3 years after, whole-tree harvesting in a northern hardwood forest in New Hampshire, U.S.A. to determine whether cutting would reduce or redistribute these pools within soil compartments. Concentrations and pool sizes of N and C were measured by excavating 120 pits, 0.71×0.71 m, by horizon (forest floor) or depth strata (mineral soil) on a 23-ha watershed. No detectable changes were observed in N or C pool sizes in the Oi+Oe or Oa horizons of the forest floor or any mineral-soil depth stratum. Estimates of variability for pool sizes in the forest floor were much higher after harvest. Concentrations of N and C decreased significantly in the Oi+Oe and Oa horizons of the forest floor but increases in Oa mass offset these reductions, resulting in no significant changes in pool sizes. Logging operations resulted in an immediate disturbance which displaced or buried the original forest floor on 24% of the watershed. This mechanical disturbance contributed to an increase in variability of soil N and C pool-size estimates, and made it more difficult to distinguish the forest-floor/mineral-soil boundary in the field.
Experimental Modeling of Unstalled Supersonic Turbofan Flutter

This paper describes the experimental techniques and procedures used to extend the current experimental unsteady rectilinear cascade modeling capability to include the relatively low supersonic inlet Mach number, high pressure ratios, and high reduced-frequency values characteristic of the unstalled supersonic flutter of fan stages. In particular, the cascade modeling concepts, the steady and time-variant experimental techniques, fabrication and instrumentation considerations, data acquisition and reduction procedures, and the correlation of the resulting steady and time-variant cascade data with corresponding predictions are presented.
“Electronic” Raman scattering in localized mixed-valence systems

Abstract We predict that in strongly localized mixed-valence systems “electronic” Raman scattering corresponding to transitions between the coupled potential surfaces can be comparable to or stronger than vibrational resonance Raman scattering. The characteristics of the two patterns depend sensitively on the parameters describing the system and the exciting frequency.
Current Treatment Options for Pediatric and Adult Patients With Ependymoma

Survival rates for patients with ependymoma, a glial tumor arising from the ependymal cells lining the ventricles of the brain and spinal cord canal, have changed little during the past decade. Contemporary “standard” therapy for children and adults with ependymoma consists of maximal surgical resection followed by focal irradiation except in cases of disseminated disease. Despite refinements in radiotherapy techniques and improvements in survival for patients with gross totally resected, nonanaplastic disease, many therapeutic challenges remain, especially for patients with unresectable, macroscopic, metastatic, or anaplastic disease. Moreover, radiotherapy to the developing central nervous system, especially in patients younger than age 5 years, can have potential long-term neurocognitive and neuroendocrine sequelae. Chemotherapy has not played a role in most treatment regimens for ependymoma to date, but due to the ongoing therapeutic challenges for a subset of patients, this modality is being reinvestigated in a few ongoing studies. Early recognition of patients who will not respond to primary therapy is imperative to modify treatment regimens, such as intensification with the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy, the use of novel experimental therapies, or their combination. Refinements in patient stratification schemes that are based on a combination of clinical variables and molecular profiles also require improved knowledge of tumor biology. Several molecular alterations have been identified already, some of which may be of prognostic significance. Furthermore, disruption of molecular alterations in signaling pathways involved in the development and maintenance of ependymoma by using novel molecularly targeted therapies may improve outcomes and reduce toxicity for patients with ependymoma.
Advancements in medium voltage DC architecture development with applications for powering electric vehicle charging stations

MVDC infrastructure serves as a platform for interconnecting many forms of renewable electric power generation, including wind and solar. Forthcoming abundant loads such as industrial facilities, data centers, and electric vehicle charging stations can be powered using MVDC technology. MVDC networks are expected to improve efficiency by serving as an additional layer between the transmission and distribution level voltages for which renewable resources could directly connect with smaller rated power conversion equipment. This work establishes a 5 kV MVDC architecture composed of 4, type 4 wind turbines (full converter) capable of supplying 20 MW and a photovoltaic plant supplying 1 MW of power. The load emphasized in this article is an electric vehicle charging station. Details of the modeling approach are presented as well as validated simulation results performed in PSCAD of the overall MVDC structure.
Finite element analysis of the magnetic field distribution inside a rotating ferromagnetic bar

Finite element analysis techniques are being used widely to predict the field distribution in magnetic structures having complex boundary geometries and nonlinear B-H characteristics. In situations where two or more magnetic fields interact, care must be taken to ensure that the principle of superposition applies before adding the fields directly. The magnetic Reynolds number can be used to predict linearity, and in those cases where superposition is invalid, the finite element algorithm must be applied repeatedly in an incremental fashion to ensure accuracy. This procedure is illustrated by considering the magnetic field distribution inside a ferromagnetic bar rotating in a magnetic flux set up by a two pole structure. Results obtained by linearly superposing direct and generated cross axis fields at a particular speed of rotation are compared with the magnetic field distributions resulting from repeated application of the finite element algorithm for incremental step changes in angular velocity. Comparison of the neutral axis angle/speed characteristic for the linear and incremental models shows a significant difference between the two approaches.
Salt Gland Ion Secretion: A Salinity Tolerance Mechanism among Five Zoysiagrass Species

Need for salinity tolerant turfgrasses is increasing because of government mandates requiring use of low quality secondary water sources for turfgrass irrigation. This study was done to elucidate salinity tolerance mechanisms of the Zoysia genus (zoysiagrass), which includes a number of important turfgrasses. Research objectives were to (i) determine the range in salinity tolerance among and within five zoysiagrass species, (ii) determine if salt secretion via leaf salt glands is an important salinity tolerance mechanism within the Zoysia genus, and (iii) determine if salinity tolerance is associated with the rate, or efficiency of leaf salt gland secretion. Fifty-seven zoysiagrass accessions and cultivars, representing five interfertile species, were grown in hydroponic tanks in a glasshouse. Salinity of treatment tanks was gradually raised prior to data collection to a final treatment level of 400 mM NaCl. Relative salinity tolerance was determined by changes in percent leaf firing and percent leaf dry weight relative to control plants. Relative percent leaf firing varied from 19 to 80% among entries, indicating a wide range in relative salinity tolerance. Bicellular leaf salt glands were observed in all species, lying recumbent to the leaf surface in parallel rows atop intercostal ridges. Relative salinity tolerance was negatively correlated with leaf sap Na + concentration and positively correlated with leaf salt gland Na + secretion rate and leaf gland density. This indicates that salinity tolerance in the Zoysia genus is associated with shoot saline ion exclusion via leaf salt gland secretion, which, in turn, is related to leaf salt gland density.
Provider Stakeholders' Perceived Benefit from a Nascent Health Information Exchange: A Qualitative Analysis

We sought to better understand the perceived costs and benefits of joining a nascent health information exchange (HIE) from the perspective of potential provider organization participants. We therefore conducted semi-structured interviews with organizational representatives. Interview transcriptions were thematically coded, and coded text was subsequently aggregated to summarize the breadth and depth of responses. Although no respondents expected HIE to result in net financial benefit to their organization, all respondents recognized some potential benefits, and some respondents expected HIE to result in overall organizational benefit. Disproportionate benefit was expected for the poorest, sickest patients. Many respondents had concerns about HIE increasing the risk of data security breaches, and these concerns were most pronounced at larger organizations. We found little evidence of organizational concern regarding loss of patients to other organizations or publication of unfavorable quality data. If HIE's greatest benefactors are indeed the poorest, sickest patients, our current health care financing environment will make it difficult to align HIE costs with benefits. To sustain HIE, state and federal governments may need to consider ongoing subsidies. Furthermore, these governments will need to ensure that policies regulating data exchange have sufficient nationwide coordination and liability limitations that the perceived organizational risks of joining HIEs do not outweigh perceived benefits. HIE founders can address organizational concerns by attempting to coordinate HIE policies with those of their largest founding organizations, particularly for data security policies. Early HIE development and promotional efforts should not only focus on potential benefits, but should also address organizational concerns.
Purification of enriched fly ash carbon by chlorination of fly ash in a fluidized bed reactor

Abstract Carbon-enriched fly ash containing 80% of carbon and 20% of minerals can be obtained via flotation. The reactivity of this carbon is high; however, phosphorus concentration is much higher than that required by the metallurgical industry. To remove phosphorus and to extract minerals, the fly ash was chlorinated in a fluidized bed with chlorine as the chlorinating agent. Thermodynamic simulation of the “fly ash+Cl2” reaction system shows that a complete conversion of the minerals is feasible in a temperature range of 200°C–1400°C. However, experimental results indicate that the reactivity of minerals with Cl2 depends strongly on the temperature. The rate of chlorination is high during the first 10 min of reaction, afterwards the rate decreases rapidly. The phosphorus content can be reduced from 2100 ppm to less than 200 ppm in 10 min at temperatures above 600°C.
Nanocrystalline grain boundaries that slip and separate : A gradient theory that accounts for grain-boundary stress and conditions at a triple-junction

Abstract A substantial fraction of the volume in a nanocrystalline material is occupied by intercrystalline grain boundaries; as the grain sizes decrease below ≈ 30 nm these boundaries begin to play a major role in the inelastic deformation of the material. For such grain sizes, and under ambient pressures and moderate strain rates, dislocation-based slip processes in the grain interiors are essentially shut off and inelastic deformation occurs primarily by slip and separation at the grain boundaries. We here develop a continuum mechanical theory of such grain boundaries based on the notion of a cohesive interface across which the displacement suffers a jump discontinuity, an approach that allows us to develop elastic and inelastic descriptions of slip and separation. As a means of capturing the small length scales involved we allow for a microscopic polar stress that expends power over the surface gradient of the inelastic slip rate. Using the principle of virtual power we deduce interfacial force balances for the grain boundaries which when combined with thermodynamically consistent constitutive equations result in viscoinelastic flow rules for the grain boundaries in the form of partial differential equations. A second application of the virtual-power principle yields nonstandard conditions that balance grain-boundary tractions at a triple junction.
The geochemistry of dissolved inorganic carbon in a surficial groundwater aquifer in North Inlet, South Carolina, and the carbon fluxes to the coastal ocean

Abstract We report measurements of pH, total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total or titration alkalinity (TAlk), Ca2+, Mg2+, sulfate, and sulfide data at the seawater-freshwater interface in a shallow groundwater aquifer in North Inlet, South Carolina. These measurements and a diagenetic modeling analysis indicate that the groundwaters at North Inlet are mixtures of seawater and freshwater end-members and are seriously modified by carbon dioxide inputs from organic carbon degradation via SO42− reduction across the entire salinity range and fermentation and CaCO3 dissolution in the low-salinity region. DIC and TAlk are several times higher than the theoretical dilution line, whereas Ca2+ is slightly higher and SO42− is somewhat lower than the dilution line. Partial pressure of CO2 in the groundwater is extremely high (0.05 to 0.12 atm). These deviations are consistent with theoretical predictions from known diagenetic reactions. Estimated groundwater DIC fluxes to the South Atlantic Bight from either the surficial aquifer (via salt marshes) or the Upper Floridan Aquifer (direct input) are significant when compared to riverine flux in this area.
A Probabilistic Dealing Strategy

A probabilistic dealing strategy is proposed which allows all premium brands in an established market to earn nonnegative profits without cooperation. Following the strategy, brands take turns attracting deal-responsive customers. Relative to a reactive competitive strategy, the proposed strategy improves the positions of all premium brands. With use of the strategy, average deal sizes are positively related to a brand's market share, the proportion of quality conscious customers, the proportion of informed customers, the span of regular prices in a market, and the range of customers' acceptable prices.
Homeric Thumos: The Early History of Gender, Emotion, and Politics

Although most political theories imply some view of the role of emotion in political life, some are hostile to emotion; and no general treatment of the emotional has yet been written in normative political theory. The theoretical study of political emotion should begin with the history of ancient Greek thumos as understood by Homer, who wrote free of the philosophical elevation of reason. Recent theorists have understood thumos as the angry and manly defense of one's own honor, family, and country. In Homer's Iliad, thumos motivates both men and women, participates in deliberation, and suggests not one disposition or emotion, but many emotions. The typical readings of ancient thumos neglect these elements in Homer, and fail to investigate the relationship between political regime and emotion. Employing recent studies of emotion, I articulate the mutual effect of political organization, morality, and emotional character focusing particularly on the story of Achilles.