cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a Microfluidic Mixer for Lab-on-a-Chip Applications With Active and Passive Actuations

Mixing of analytes and reagents is a critical and difficult step in lab-on-a-chip applications. This paper presents a hybrid approach for mixing two laminar aqueous streams in a microchannel. It consists of patterned geometric features and electrokinetic actuation along the channel for improved mixing performance. The mixer can potentially mix reagents in a fluid medium from deionized water to electrically conductive fluids (0.2 S m−1 ) with low voltage supplies (3.5 Vrms ). The mixing capacity of this hybrid microfluidic mixer is characterized and compared with that of the separate passive and electrokinetic actuations.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Evidence for immune reactions to neuroblastoma and future possibilities for investigation

Abstract Evidence for immune mechanisms in neuroblastoma patients against the tumor include: (1) The finding of infiltrates of lymphocytes in the tumors from patients having a good prognosis; (2) in tissue culture there appears to be a lethal immune reaction by the lymphocytes of neuroblastoma patients against the tumor cells; (3) a less constant lethal immune activity by the plasma against tumor cells in tissue culture; and (4) unfavorable immune factor has been demonstrated which is a humoral "blocking antibody." Among infants in the first year of life there is a correlation between higher blood lymphocyte counts at diagnosis and survival, and between lower counts and nonsurvival.
Lazy preservation: reconstructing websites by crawling the crawlers

Backup of websites is often not considered until after a catastrophic event has occurred to either the website or its webmaster. We introduce "lazy preservation" -- digital preservation performed as a result of the normal operation of web crawlers and caches. Lazy preservation is especially suitable for third parties; for example, a teacher reconstructing a missing website used in previous classes. We evaluate the effectiveness of lazy preservation by reconstructing 24 websites of varying sizes and composition using Warrick, a web-repository crawler. Because of varying levels of completeness in any one repository, our reconstructions sampled from four different web repositories: Google (44%), MSN (30%), Internet Archive (19%) and Yahoo (7%). We also measured the time required for web resources to be discovered and cached (10-103 days) as well as how long they remained in cache after deletion (7-61 days).
The Distribution of Clay Minerals in the Middle 3rd Member of Shahejie Formation in Dongying Depression and its Main Controlling Factors

Clay minerals are widely distributed in the middle 3rd member of Shahejie Formation (Es3) in Dongying Depression. Based on the types, contents and combination features of clay minerals, this paper studies the transverse distribution regularities of clay minerals in this strata. Through the study, it can be found that the main types of clay minerals include kaolinites, illites, chlorites, illites/smectites. By adopting the single factor analysis method, the planar distribution of the main clay minerals is studied and the main controlling factors for the distribution of clay minerals are comprehensively analyzed. The research shows that different types of parent rocks determine the original components of clay minerals, warm and humid climate influences the weathering of clay minerals, sedimentary environment provides the condition for deposition and preservation, and diagenesis changes the components of parts of clay minerals.
CASSON'S IDEA ABOUT 3-MANIFOLDS WHOSE UNIVERSAL COVER IS R3

Metric conditions "Cα" and "" are defined for finite group presentations. If the fundamental group of a closed aspherical 3-manifold has some presentation which satisfies C2 or , then its universal cover is simply connected at infinity. These ideas are derived from work by A. Casson and V. Poenaru.
Inhibition of prolactin secretion by antiserum to the α- and β-subunits of gonadotropin

This study was undertaken to determine whether antiserum to the alpha- and beta-subunits of human gonadotropin could affect prolactin secretion from human pituitary cell monolayers. The addition of antiserum to the alpha-subunit of follicle-stimulating hormone, but not to the alpha-subunit of luteinizing hormone, at a 1:10,000 dilution inhibited basal prolactin secretion. The addition of these antisera failed to inhibit prolactin secretion in the face of 10(-5) mol/L gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Coincubation of antiserum to the beta-subunit of luteinizing hormone or the beta-subunit of follicle-stimulating hormone at a 1:10,000 dilution failed to inhibit basal prolactin secretion; however, coincubation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone with antiserum to the beta-subunit of either luteinizing hormone or follicle-stimulating hormone significantly inhibited the release of prolactin. These observations led us to conclude that basal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone-mediated prolactin secretion can be affected by gonadotropin subunits.
Morphological and biomechanical evaluations of neocartilage from the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects using rib perichondrium autografts: a long-term study.

Abstract Neocartilage regenerated from rib perichondrium autografts implanted into full thickness cartilage defects made in the femoral condyle of rabbit knees were evaluated for periods up to 1 yr. Two postoperative treatment effects were studied, one with ad lib. caged activity (CAGE) and the other with the operated knee placed on a continuous passive motion machine for 2 weeks (8 h day−1 for 5 days week−1) followed by caged activity (PM). Animals were sacrificed at 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks after surgery. The neocartilage was evaluated histologically and biomechanically and compared with the contralateral unoperated side. Visually, the neocartilage appeared to have an appearance similar to that of surrounding cartilage at 52 weeks, with an excellent degree of confluence with the neighboring tissue. The newly grown tissues were morphologically similar to normal hyaline articular cartilage. The dynamic shear moduli for the neocartilage from both the CAGE and PM groups significantly increased with postoperative healing time (p 0.10), indicating that the passive motion did not enhance the long-term repair of the cartilage defect. These results support our hypothesis that neocartilage regenerated from perichondrial autograft remains intact over time.
Organic electronics: self-assembly is ready to roll.

In the effort to make better and less expensive optoelectronics devices molecular self-assembly proves to be a solution — in solution.
Crystal structure of the 6H BaCrO3 polytype

Abstract A product from the reaction between CrO2 and Ba2CrO4 at 900°C under 60–65 kbar was found to be the six-layer polytype of BaCrO3 from powder diffraction studies. A hexagonal black crystal obtained from this reaction was isolated for single crystal studies and structure determination. The crystal was found to possess a six-layer stacking sequence of BaO3 layers with space group P6 3 mmc and had unit cell parameters a = 5.629(2), c = 13.698(6)A, and Z = 6. The structure was determined from 936 independent reflections of which 693 were considered observed. Averaging equivalent reflections yielded 163 unique, observed reflections. Refinement of the structure by least-squares methods gave a conventional R value of 4.8% (Rw = 6.2%). The structure consists of a six-layer stacking sequence of close-packed BaO3 layers containing tetravalent chromium in all the octahedral oxygen interstices. The compound was found to be isostructural with previously reported BaMO3 phases.
The Proportionality Controversy and the Theory of Production

In the theory of the firm much is made of the observation that certain factors are lumpy. In fact, many writers have gone so far as to attribute both increasing and decreasing returns solely to this phenomenon. Professor Chamberlin challenged this view in a well known article, but defenders of what may be called the "proportionalist position" were quick to reply.' (By the "proportionalist position" we refer to the notion that, given divisibility, the multiplication or division of all factors by a constant will yield proportional returns; in other words the idea that, given divisibility, production functions are necessarily homogeneous.)2 A recent article by Messrs. Whitin and Peston reinforces the Chamberlinian view by describing ''several situations where the rational entrepreneur will vary certain factors less than proportionately with output."3 But in these discussions an important methodological point has been missed. In this note we shall explore this point and show how it can help to clarify some aspects of the problem. One of the reasons why controversies on theoretical issues are often difficult to settle is that the theory, in its development towards greater and greater generality, becomes so terse that it does not permit certain significant distinctions to be made. As a result implicit assumptions go unrecognized and appear to lead inevitably to what are in fact wrong conclusions. We suggest that this is the case with the conventional theory of production of the firm. When the necessary distinctions are made, some of the central issues in the controversy are clarified, and we shall see that, once these distinctions are accepted, the "proportionalist position" becomes untenable.
Adverse health effects of particulate air pollution: modification by air conditioning.

Background:The short-term effects of particulate matter (PM) on mortality and morbidity differ by geographic location and season. Several hypotheses have been proposed for this variation, including different exposures with air conditioning (AC) versus open windows.Methods:Bayesian hierarchical model
Effects of sex and sex roles on the perceived maladaptiveness of DSM-IV personality disorder symptoms.

This study investigated the influence of sex on the perceived maladaptiveness of DSM-IV personality disorder criteria based on previous findings that inconsistency of symptoms with sex roles affects the perception of personality disorder symptoms. The effects of rater characteristics (i.e., sex, sex role) were also examined. A total of 161 undergraduates (65 men, 96 women) rated the diagnostic criteria according to how maladaptive they were for males (male condition), females (female condition), or without regard to sex (neutral condition that served as a baseline) using a 7-point scale. Participants' sex role was determined using the Bem Sex Role (1981a) Inventory. Dependent and depressive personality disorder criteria (trend for borderline) were rated more maladaptive for females than males, whereas obsessive-compulsive personality disorder criteria were rated more maladaptive for males than females. Participant sex and sex role had little or no significant effects on the ratings. Results are compared with those of previous research. Methodological issues and implications for the diagnosis of personality disorders are discussed.
Studies on the adaptability of three breeds of sheep to a tropical environment modified by altitude II. Responses in body, skin and coat temperatures, cardio-respiratory frequencies and rate of moisture secretion of ewes to the diurnal fluctuation in ambient temperature during the hottest part of the year

Responses in body, skin and coat temperatures, cardio-respiratory frequencies and rate of moisture secretion of ewes of three breeds to the diurnal fluctuation in ambient temperature were recorded in the presence and absence of drinking water during the hottest part of the Rhodesian year.1. At 7.0 a.m. body temperatures were: Merino 102·8° F.; Persian 102·2° F. and Native 101·5° F. Between 7·0 a.m. and 1·0 p.m. body temperature rose almost equally in Persians and Natives and fell slightly in Merinos. Change in body temperature between 7.0 a.m. and 1.0 p.m. was not affected significantly by availability of water nor age of ewe, but varied with type of thermal burden (i.e. solar insolation only v. solar insolation plus artificial heat) when water was not available. Although air temperature fell towards late afternoon body temperature of Merinos and Natives rose appreciably, that of Persians only slightly.2. At 7·0 a.m. respiratory rates were (cyc./min.): Merino 59·6; Persian 43·0; Native 29·9. Increase in rate of respiration was the main thermolytic mechanism in all breeds. Merinos had a lower threshold of respiratory response to rising ambient temperature than either hair breed but increase in rate of respiration between 7.0 a.m. and 1.0 p.m. did not differ significantly with breed or age.3. No breed appeared to use the peripheral blood system in thermoregulation. Cardio-frequency, as a measure of this blood flow, remained almost constant with a slight tendency to fall with rise in ambient temperature.4. In all breeds skin temperature was related to ambient and body temperatures; consequently the diurnal fluctuation in skin temperature differed in wool and hair breeds. When thermal burden was greatest Merino skin temperature fell, that of hair breeds did not.Except at 11.0 a.m. there was a gradient between rectal, skin and air temperatures. Direct elimination of heat was thus possible for 23 hr. each day.5. In hair breeds moisture secretion depended on insensible perspiration; consequently, rate of moisture secretion changed with body and air temperatures. In Merinos moisture for skin surface evaporation was provided by sensible and insensible perspiration. Natives may be able to sweat at temperatures higher than those recorded but it is unlikely Persians have a sweating mechanism.6. In all breeds coat temperature was related closely to ambient temperature and changes in solar conditions evoked immediate response in coat temperature. Merino fleece apparently stabilized skin temperature whereas Persian and Native hair did not.
Magnetic Resonance and Rapid Passage in Irradiated LiF

The experimental result of Portis that at room temperature the paramagnetic dispersion signal ($\frac{d{{\ensuremath{\chi}}_{m}}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{\mathrm{dH}}$) of radiation-induced paramagnetic centers in LiF has the shape of an undifferentiated Gaussian curve and lags the modulation field by 90 degrees has been confirmed. His theory, explaining this result as a manifestation of rapid-passage behavior, has been tested over a range of experimental parameters and appears valid. In terms of this theory we found that the spin-lattice relaxation time ${T}_{1}=1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ sec at room temperature.The prediction has been made by Portis that, if ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{m}{T}_{1}\ensuremath{\gg}1$, where ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{m}$ is the modulation frequency, the rapid-passage signal should lag the modulation field by 180 degrees. A lag of 130 degrees has been found at 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in LiF, using a modulation frequency of 23 cps, and the phase appears to approach a constant value. The same phase shift (130\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}) can be found at room temperature by using 400-cps modulation and can be interpreted as indicating that ${T}_{1}=2.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ sec at 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. It seems more likely, however, that at 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K the assumption made by Portis that ${T}_{2}\ensuremath{\gg}{T}_{1}$ fails, and that spin-spin effects make the situation more complex.An argument is presented that the magnetic resonance arises from the F center. From its shape we have obtained a value for the hyperfine splitting: ${h}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}=32\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ gauss. This result is compared with those of other workers who have reported resolved structure in LiF, and the conclusion is reached that the resolved structure resonances probably do not arise from the $F$ center.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia: Role of stem cell transplant in the Imatinib era

In the pre-tyrosine kinase (TKI) era, allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) was the front-line treatment of choice for young patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Today, imatinib is well established as front-line therapy for CML, with excellent long-term outcomes. This has changed the role of allo-SCT and the number of patients undergoing allo-SCT has declined dramatically. Allo-SCT is currently recommended for patients in accelerated/blast phase disease, those who have failed a second-generation TKI and those with TKI-resistant mutations such as T315I. The role of allo-SCT in the management of CML will require continual reappraisal as medical therapies continue to evolve.
Presignaled behavior as a predictor of signaled DRL performance

The purpose of the present experiment was to demonstrate that the pattern of responding generated by an unsignaled differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate schedule (DRL) is a good predictor of the degree of stimulus control obtained when discriminative stimuli are introduced. The responses of 14 rats were first reinforced on an unsignaled DRL 25-sec schedule for 11 sessions. On Session 12 the schedule was changed to a signaled DRL 25-sec schedule for 11 sessions. The degree of stimulus control acquired by the added discriminative stimuli was inversely related to the efficiency ratio calculated from the unsignaled performance.
X-ray luminous binaries, metallicity, and the early Universe

High mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) may have had a significant impact on the heating of the intergalactic medium in the early universe. Study of HMXBs in nearby, low metallicity galaxies that are local analogues to early galaxies can help us understand early HMXBs. The total luminosity of HMXB populations is dominated by sources at high luminosities. These sources exhibit X-ray spectra that show curvature above 2 keV and the same is likely true of HMXB populations at high redshifts. The spectral curvature changes the K-correction for X-rays from HMXBs in a manner that weakens the constraints on X-ray emission of early HMXBs obtained from the soft X-ray background. Applied to deep X-ray surveys of star forming galaxies, the modified K-correction suggests a moderate increase in the ratio of X-ray luminosity to star formation rate at intermediate redshifts, z=3-5, and is consistent with a large enhancement at high redshifts, z=6-7.
Logic-based 2D geometric modeling in a CAD environment

This paper examines the use of predicate logic for deductive construction of geometric models. The process of logical inference and its use for geometric modeling is examined. The logic-based definition of a retaining wall is presented, the implementation of a logic-based CAD system using a commercial software is briefly discussed and its use is illustrated.
An evaluation of the presence of pathogens on broilers raised on poultry litter treatment-treated litter

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the presence of salmonella, campylobacter, and generic Escherichia coli on broilers raised on Poultry Litter Treatment (PLT)-enhanced litter in comparison with those raised on untreated litter. Two Company A farms included three houses on each farm as the treated group and three houses per farm as controls. Two complete growouts were evaluated on each farm. The Company B study included 10 farms with two paired houses per farm, one house as the treated group and one house as the control. One growout was evaluated per farm. The pathogen sampling consisted of litter sampling and whole bird rinses on the farm and in the processing plant. Litter pH, ammonia concentration, total litter bacteria, temperatures, and humidity were also recorded. The study with Company A resulted in lower mean levels of pH, ammonia concentration, total litter bacteria, litter E. coli, and bird rinse counts for salmonella and E. coli in houses treated with PLT. The results for Company B closely resembled those for Company A, but also included campylobacter data, which showed no difference between treated and control groups. The data indicate that PLT may be a beneficial component for on-farm pathogen reduction.
A Power Rate Relay for System Applications

A solid-state power rate relay to aid system preservation has been developed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The device is sensitive to a preselected combination of magnitude, direction of flow, and rate of change of power. Depending on application requirements, the relay may be used alone or in combination with acceleration relays to sense conditions which threaten system integrity and to initiate the appropriate action to maintain system stability.
Efficient acquisition of human retinotopic maps.

A bifield stimulation method for rapidly obtaining retinotopic maps in human occipital cortex using functional MRI was compared to conventional unifield stimulation. While maintaining central fixation, each participant viewed the conventional display, consisting of a single rotating checkerboard wedge and, in a separate run, the bifield display, consisting of two symmetrically placed rotating checkerboard wedges (a "propeller" configuration). Both stimulus configurations used wedges with 30 degree polar angle width, 6.8 degrees visual angle extension from fixation, and 8.3 Hz contrast polarity reversal rate. Retinotopic maps in each condition were projected onto a distortion corrected computationally flattened cortical surface representation obtained from a high-resolution structural MRI. An automated procedure to localize borders between early visual areas revealed, as expected, that map precision increased with duration of data acquisition for both conditions. Bifield stimulation required 40% less time to yield maps with similar precision to those obtained using conventional unifield stimulation.
The bispectrum of galaxies from high-redshift galaxy surveys: Primordial non-Gaussianity and non-linear galaxy bias

The greatest challenge in the interpretation of galaxy clustering data from any surveys is galaxy bias. Using a simple Fisher matrix analysis, we show that the bispectrum provides an excellent determination of linear and non-linear bias parameters of intermediate and high-z galaxies, when all measurable triangle configurations down to mildly non-linear scales, where perturbation theory is still valid, are included. The bispectrum is also a powerful probe of primordial non-Gaussianity. The planned galaxy surveys at z {approx}> 2 should yield constraints on non-Gaussian parameters, f{sub NL}{sup loc.} and f{sub NL}{sup eq.}, that are comparable to, or even better than, those from CMB experiments. We study how these constraints improve with volume, redshift range, as well as the number density of galaxies. Finally we show that a halo occupation distribution may be used to improve these constraints further by lifting degeneracies between gravity, bias, and primordial non-Gaussianity.
Epistemic Risk and Relativism

It is generally assumed that there are (at least) two fundamental epistemic goals: believing truths, and avoiding the acceptance of falsehoods. As has been often noted, these goals are in conflict with one another. Moreover, the norms governing rational belief that we should derive from these two goals depend on how we weight them relative to one another. However, it is not obvious that there is one objectively correct weighting for everyone in all circumstances. Indeed, as I shall argue, it looks as though there are circumstances in which a range of possible weightings of the two goals are all equally epistemically rational.
Double-quantum observation of carbon-carbon dipolar couplings in solids

Les resultats experimentaux montrent que le double filtrage quantique est utilisable a l'observation selective des spectres dipolaires 13 C- 13 C dans les solides
Long-term Safety of Once-Daily Budesonide in Patients With Early-Onset Mild Persistent Asthma: Results of the Inhaled Steroid Treatment as Regular Therapy in Early Asthma (START) Study

Purpose of the Study. Inhaled corticosteroids are the recommended treatment for all patients with persistent asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of long-term treatment of patients with mild persistent asthma with once-daily budesonide. Study Population. Seven thousand two hundred twenty-two patients (aged 5–66 years) with mild persistent asthma diagnosed within 2 years of study entry, with wheeze, cough, dyspnea, or chest tightness weekly and demonstration of reversible airway obstruction, were enrolled into the study. Methods. This was a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to age. Those patients younger than 11 years received 200 μg of budesonide via a dry-powder inhaler or placebo, and patients 11 years and older received 400 μg of budesonide via dry-powder inhaler or placebo. All treatments were administered for 3 years and in addition to the patients’ usual asthma therapy. Results. Overall, 21 520 adverse events were reported (10 850 in the budesonide group and 10 670 in the placebo group). The most commonly reported events were respiratory infections such as rhinitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, viral infections, and sinusitis. Oral candidiasis was more common in the budesonide group (1.2%) than in the placebo group (0.5%); the frequencies of other adverse effects previously reported to be associated with inhaled corticosteroids (skin disorders, psychiatric disorders, and allergic reactions) were similar between the 2 groups. The number of deaths and serious adverse events were similar for children and adults in both treatment groups. Conclusions. Three-year treatment with budesonide (200 or 400 μg) is safe and well tolerated in both children and adults who have recent onset of mild persistent asthma. Reviewer Comments. This study shows not only that budesonide dramatically reduces the overall risk of experiencing a severe asthma-related event but also that budesonide has very little risk of causing any significant adverse events. One of the most difficult, yet very important tasks as a physician is to educate the patient that inhaled corticosteroids are not the enemy, but rather that the patient’s health is at greater risk from asthma itself. Clearly, early intervention is safe and effective. This study provides valuable information and should help patients and their families to feel comfortable with long-term inhaled corticosteroids use in asthma.
Using Systematic Screening Data to Assess Risk and Identify Students for Targeted Supports: Illustrations Across the K-12 Continuum:

In this article the authors provide practitioners and researchers with three illustrations of how to use systematic screening tools within the context of three-tiered models of support to (a) measure the overall level of risk present in a school over time and (b) identify students who may require more targeted supports in the form of secondary and tertiary prevention efforts. Specifically, the authors explore data-driven approaches to interpreting systematic screening data collected as part of regular school practices at the high, middle, and elementary school levels. In each illustration they describe the student population, the procedures used by each school to construct the three-tiered model, the primary prevention plan developed, the systematic screening tool incorporated into regular school practices, and the data analysis plan. Furthermore, the authors offer findings of treatment outcome studies that demonstrate how student risk shifts over time following program implementation. They also include h...
Optimal view selection for multidimensional database systems

This paper presents a greedy algorithm to compute the best set of views with respect to a given set of queries and their frequencies, for multidimensional databases. Previous approaches have not taken frequency of queries into consideration. We show that our proposed algorithm determines a set of views with the most benefits compared to previous approaches.
A Compressed XML Schema Representation for Metadata Processing in Mobile Environments

Efficient packaging and communication of metadata are critical in multimedia communications to achieve seamless mobility. The XML schema compression proposed here comprises a method for decomposing an XML schema into a sequence of atomic elements. This representation reorganizes the given XML schema with the threefold purpose of facilitating dynamic schema switching and reconfiguration of metadata decoders, increasing the efficiency of binary metadata decoding, and storing XML schemas in binary format. As a result, schemas can be efficiently transmitted over congested networks and stored in devices with limited resources. Since each schema may represent the metadata structure for a different type of media format, this allows a system to support different profiles (schemas) and media formats, enabling dynamically reconfigurable metadata encoders and decoders.
Social structure of the bushveld sengi (Elephantulus intufi) in Namibia and the evolution of monogamy in the Macroscelidea

The elephant-shrews or sengis (order Macroscelidea) represent a monophyletic radiation endemic to Africa with 15 extant species in four genera. Field studies of representatives from all four genera indicate that all are socially monogamous. Resource and female dispersion, indirect paternal investment and male mate guarding have been proposed as factors contributing to sengi monogamy. To better understand sengi social organization, we studied the behavioural ecology of the bushveld sengi Elephantulus intufi in Namibia. Radio-tags and direct observation were used to gather spatial and behavioural data during 5 months in 2000–2002. Bushveld sengis were distributed as monogamous pairs on exclusive territories, similar to other sengis. Maternal care was characterized by an ‘absentee’ strategy and there was no evidence of direct or indirect paternal care. Sengis share many life-history traits with small antelopes, including uni-parental monogamy. Unlike the antelopes, which exhibit strong pair bonds, bushveld sengi pairs spend little time in coordinated activities. Male mate guarding best explains why sengis are socially monogamous – a model largely developed from studies of small antelopes. The similarity in morphology, life history and behaviour among sengi species results in a distinctive adaptive syndrome, which explains the consistency of their social structure, even in the extremes of terrestrial habitats that they occupy. The degree of sengi social monogamy is labile, which is related to their weak pair bond, same-sex aggression and variable densities.
A Thermal Method for Measuring Efficiencies at Ultra-High Frequencies Applied to the Magnetron Oscillator

Efficiency measurements at ultra-high frequencies are briefly discussed. A method which uses a thermocouple located within the tube envelope as an indicator is described, and theory and results for the magnetron oscillator of dynatron type are given.
Optimistic active messages: a mechanism for scheduling communication with computation

Low-overhead message passing is critical to the performance of many applications. Active Messages reduce the software overhead for message handling: messages are run as handlers instead of as threads, which avoids the overhead of thread management and the unnecessary data copying of other communication models. Scheduling the execution of Active Messages is typically done by disabling and enabling interrupts, or by polling the network. This primitive scheduling control, combined with the fact that handlers are not schedulable entities, puts severe restrictions on the code that can be run in a message handler. This paper describes a new software mechanism, Optimistic Active Messages (OAM), that eliminates these restrictions; OAMs allow arbitrary user code to execute in handlers, and also allow handlers to block. Despite this gain in expressiveness, OAMs perform as well as Active Messages.We used OAM as the base for an RPC system, Optimistic RPC (ORPC), for the Thinking Machines CM-5 multiprocessor; it consists of an optimized thread package and a stub compiler that hides communication details from the programmer. ORPC is 1.5 to 5 times faster than traditional RPC (TRPC) for small messages and performs as well as Active Messages (AM). Applications that primarily communicate using large data transfers or are fairly coarse-grained perform equally well, independent of whether AMs, ORPCs, or TRPCs are used. For applications that send many short messages, however, the ORPC and AM implementations are up to three times faster than the TRPC implementations. Using ORPC, programmers obtain the benefits of well-proven programming abstractions such as threads, mutexes, and condition variables, do not have to be concerned with communication details, and yet obtain nearly the performance of hand-coded Active Message programs.
Comparative Views on Educating Students with Special Needs American and Soviet Approaches

The USA and the USSR are well known to hold diametrically opposed views on a wide variety of topics from political-economic systems to child-rearing and educational practices. So it is not surprising that they espouse widely divergent approaches towards educating students with special needs.
Enter the dragon: China's computer industry

China transformed its economy by shifting from technological nationalism to a more pragmatic strategy of developing national capabilities in conjunction with multinational corporations. Consistent with this transformation, China has revamped its industrial and technology policies to become a major producer of computer hardware and a major market for computing products. In 2000, mainland Chinese purchased more than seven million PCs, while computer hardware production grew to $23 billion. China's policies clearly drew on the developmental approach of other Asia-Pacific countries that became leaders in the global computer industry through the strong support of government industrial and technology policies. China has likewise become a major force in the global PC industry, as both the most attractive growth market and as a large producer. New challenges loom as China joins the World Trade Organization and faces more pressure to open its market to foreign competition. The paper considers the regional and national environment.
Scaling of femtosecond Yb-doped fiber amplifiers to tens of microjoule pulse energy via nonlinear chirped pulse amplification

We demonstrate that the compensation of self-phase modulation by third-order dispersion can be exploited in the design of fiber amplifiers with tens of microjoules pulse energy. At the highest energies, the amplified pulse accumulates nonlinear phase shift as large as 17 π. Gain-narrowing occurs in the final amplifier stage, but shorter pulses are still generated with larger nonlinear phase shifts. A large-mode-area Yb-doped photonic crystal fiber amplifier generates diffraction-limited 30 μJ pulses, which are compressed to 240fs duration. These are converted to the second harmonic with 48% conversion efficiency, as expected theoretically, which confirms the pulse quality.
International lessons for US housing finance

The United States has not recovered from the effects of the recent housing bubble. Nor is there an optimistic forecast for the future of housing—which is characterized by lack of demand, falling prices, and foreclosures. This is not a problem for other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, which are recovering far more quickly. But why is this so? © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Excitatory and inhibitory effects of tricaine (MS-222) on fictive breathing in isolated bullfrog brain stem.

This study examined the direct effects of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222), a sodium-channel blocking local anesthetic, on respiratory motor output using an in vitro brain stem preparation of adu...
Wavelength-dependent penetration depth of near infrared radiation into cartilage

Articular cartilage is a hyaline cartilage that lines the subchondral bone in the diarthrodial joints. Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is emerging as a nondestructive modality for the evaluation of cartilage pathology; however, studies regarding the depth of penetration of NIR radiation into cartilage are lacking. The average thickness of human cartilage is about 1–3 mm, and it becomes even thinner as OA progresses. To ensure that spectral data collected is restricted to the tissue of interest, i.e. cartilage in this case, and not from the underlying subchondral bone, it is necessary to determine the depth of penetration of NIR radiation in different wavelength (frequency) regions. In the current study, we establish how the depth of penetration varies throughout the NIR frequency range (4000–10 000 cm−1). NIR spectra were collected from cartilage samples of different thicknesses (0.5 mm to 5 mm) with and without polystyrene placed underneath. A separate NIR spectrum of polystyrene was collected as a reference. It was found that the depth of penetration varied from ∼1 mm to 2 mm in the 4000–5100 cm−1 range, ∼3 mm in the 5100–7000 cm−1 range, and ∼5 mm in the 7000–9000 cm−1 frequency range. These findings suggest that the best NIR region to evaluate cartilage with no subchondral bone contribution is in the range of 4000–7000 cm−1.
A new predictive control algorithm with input constraints

A predictive control algorithm with input constraints is proposed by selecting the weighting polynomials of the cost function properly. Since the present control signal to minimize the cost function is independent of the future signals, the control algorithm is simplified to a considerable extent. >
Public Opinion and the French Capital Punishment Debate of 1908

Academics have traditionally associated capital punishment most closely with authoritarian regimes. They have assumed an incompatibility between the death penalty and the presumably humane values of modern liberal democracy. However, recent scholarship on the United States by David Garland has suggested that a considerable degree of direct democratic control over a justice system actually tends to favor the retention and application of the death penalty. The reason why the United States has retained capital punishment after it has been abolished in other Western nations is not because public opinion is more supportive of the death penalty in America than in Europe or in Canada. Rather, it is because popular control over the justice system is greater in the United States than in other countries and this strengthens the influence of America's retentionist majority. However, the experience of the United States in this regard has not been unique. The same link between democratic control and retention of the death penalty can be seen in the history of the effort to abolish capital punishment in France. In 1908, a bill in the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house of the French Parliament) to abolish capital punishment was defeated, in large part because of strong opposition from the public. In 1981, majority public opinion in France still favored retention of the death penalty, but in that year, the nation's Parliament defied popular sentiment and outlawed the ultimate punishment. Historians have so far provided little insight into why abolition succeeded in 1981 when it failed in 1908. The explanation for the different outcome appears to have been the greater degree of influence public opinion exerted over the nation's justice system at the turn of the twentieth century than at its end.
The aboutness principle : A pervasive influence on human inference

When people perceive a response (or outcome), whether their own or another person's, they represent it as being about something, and this thing that the response is about is inferred to be the source of the response. The first section of this article discusses natural assumptions underlying the operation of this aboutness principle and describes the problems with its use, illustrated by such well-established cases of social-cognitive shortcomings as the correspondence bias, representativeness error, misattribution, accessibility bias, and saying-is-believing effect. The second section uses the aboutness principle to review lay psychological theories discussed in this special issue, including people's theories of causality, stability, and change in personal attributes, conditions for valid memories or judgments, group attribute clusters, and persuasive influences.
The Origins of Public Choice and Virginia Political Economy: What Might Arthur Lovejoy Have Thought?

Drawing inspiration from Ross Emmett’s (2006) imaginative construction of what Frank Knight might have thought about the Stigler-Becker formulation of Die Gustibus, I ask what Arthur Lovejoy (1936) might have thought about the origin of public choice. He would surely have denied that public choice denoted a “unit idea.” Public choice is a generic term, like Enlightenment, Romanticism, and similar terms that cover many different and often inconsistent ideas. In its generic form, public choice descends from the neoclassical focus on rational action applied to voting. While the scholars associated with Virginia political economy likewise displayed an interest in rationality and voting, their core ideas descended from the confluence between the classical tradition of political economy and the Italian tradition of public finance. The significance of origins resides in the orientation it provides for future scholarship. An analytical core drawn from a neoclassical theory of rationality and voting based on demonstrative reasoning reflects a different analytical vision than does a classical theory of creative action and societal organization based on plausible reasoning. This latter location of origin points toward an integrated treatment of the economic, political, and social aspects of the perennial problem of people living together in close geographical proximity where cooperation and antagonism are both always in play.
The 3 Pathways of Translational Medicine: An Evolution to a Call-and-Response Method

![Figure][1] Jazz music, which resulted from a necessity to disrupt previous traditions of European classical music to fully incorporate American culture, heralded in the “call and response” device, whereby 1 section of musical instruments, such as the brass section, would play a
The effect of cognitive fatigue on prefrontal cortex correlates of neuromuscular fatigue in older women

Background As the population of adults aged 65 and above is rapidly growing, it is crucial to identify physical and cognitive limitations pertaining to daily living. Cognitive fatigue has shown to adversely impact neuromuscular function in younger adults, however its impact on neuromuscular fatigue, and associated brain function changes, in older adults is not well understood. The aim of the study was to examine the impact of cognitive fatigue on neuromuscular fatigue and associated prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation patterns in older women.
Political Correctness Unplugged: Exploring the Ethics of Representation in the Classroom

In a pedagogical climate of racial and socioeconomic homogeneity, I have often found it difficult to explore issues of race and class with students openly and honestly. In response, I have developed an interactive class activity that utilises popular culture and mass media to juxtapose real events with hypothetical scenarios in order to address the ethics of representation experientially.
IT'S IN MY HOOD: UNDERSTANDING AFRICAN AMERICAN BOYS’ PERCEPTION OF SAFETY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS

Youths' perceptions of their neighborhood are shaped by continued exposure to neighborhood influences. African-American boys in poor, urban contexts are more directly affected by their neighborhoods and are more likely to develop related difficulties such as victimization experiences, and exposure to violence. This study examines African-American boys' perceptions of safety in their neighborhood. Data were collected in 1994 from 553 African-American males at the baseline of an intervention study - the Aban Aya Youth Project (AAYP) - among inner city youth in 12 schools from poor, metropolitan Chicago neighborhoods. We found a significant influence for the interaction between collective efficacy and violent experiences on perception of neighborhood safety. The findings highlight how both neighborhood strengths and risks interact to influence the functioning of African-American boys in disadvantaged communities. More importantly the study demonstrates how neighborhood support or neighborhood collective efficacy can be especially protective to African-American boys in high-risk urban settings.
Discovery and characterisation of a novel toxin from Dendroaspis angusticeps, named Tx7335, that activates the potassium channel KcsA

Due to their central role in essential physiological processes, potassium channels are common targets for animal toxins. These toxins in turn are of great value as tools for studying channel function and as lead compounds for drug development. Here, we used a direct toxin pull-down assay with immobilised KcsA potassium channel to isolate a novel KcsA-binding toxin (called Tx7335) from eastern green mamba snake (Dendroaspis angusticeps) venom. Sequencing of the toxin by Edman degradation and mass spectrometry revealed a 63 amino acid residue peptide with 4 disulphide bonds that belongs to the three-finger toxin family, but with a unique modification of its disulphide-bridge scaffold. The toxin induces a dose-dependent increase in both open probabilities and mean open times on KcsA in artificial bilayers. Thus, it unexpectedly behaves as a channel activator rather than an inhibitor. A charybdotoxin-sensitive mutant of KcsA exhibits similar susceptibility to Tx7335 as wild-type, indicating that the binding site for Tx7335 is distinct from that of canonical pore-blocker toxins. Based on the extracellular location of the toxin binding site (far away from the intracellular pH gate), we propose that Tx7335 increases potassium flow through KcsA by allosterically reducing inactivation of the channel.
The Growth of Single Crystal-Like and Polycrystal KNbO3 Films Via Sol-Gel Process

Transparent and uniform thin films of crystalline KNbO3 were synthesized on different substrates such as SrTiO3, ZrO2, MgO and Pt by the dip-coating method using a double alkoxides solution. The film was epitaxially crystallized at the temperature around 750°C for 3 hours in air on SrTiO3 single crystal substrate. The structure of the films has been studied with X-ray and electron diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Different molar ratios of 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2EHA) to alkoxides were applied to control the hydrolysis rate of the sol-gel solution. Dense films were obtained after modification of the alkoxides solution.
Between-person and within-person approaches to the prediction of ambulatory blood pressure: the role of affective valence and intensity

Identifying momentary influences on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) will help explain ABP variability; however, most research only examines aggregate ABP at the between-person level. This study used within-person methods to examine whether affective dimensions-valence and arousal-differentially predicted momentary ABP levels. A community sample (n = 39) wore an ABP cuff that took BP measurements every 20 min for 24 h. At each measurement, participants reported levels of valence and arousal on electronic diaries. Multilevel modeling was used to examine the effects of momentary and person-averaged levels of valence and arousal on ABP. Greater momentary negative valence and arousal predicted higher systolic BP compared to more positive or lower arousal assessments; higher averaged levels of arousal predicted higher DBP. The results suggest the independence of the effects of valence and arousal on BP. These findings have important implications for designing interventions to lower ABP.