cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical Modeling and Parameter Estimation for a Coupled Groundwater–Lake System

AbstractIn this paper, a generalized hierarchical multiscale approach for modeling coupled groundwater and surface water systems is demonstrated. Groundwater–lake interactions are simulated by coupling the groundwater equations with the lake’s continuity equation and by providing a two-way iterative feedback between models at multiple scales using specified head/flux boundary conditions. A hierarchical parameter estimation method that allows data and parameters at different scales to communicate between each other is also developed. These methods are applied to simulate a lake augmentation system for the Sister Lakes in southwest Michigan, which involves pumping a large amount of water from an irrigation well into the lakes. This problem requires resolution of time scales ranging from site-scale (hours) to local-scale (months) to watershed-scale (years) and spatial scales ranging from a few meters to a few kilometers. A hierarchical modeling framework consisting of five interlinked models was created, and...
P3 beam measurements at LAMPF

Abstract The spatial distribution, composition and central beam momentum of 200–625 MeV/ c positive and negative beams in the LAMPF P 3 channel are described. The dependence of the electron contamination of the P 3 beam on the interaction point of the primary proton beam in the A2 production target is also given.
Applications of quantitative laser sensors to kinetics, propulsion and practical energy systems

Abstract Laser diagnostic techniques play a large and growing role in combustion research and development. Here we highlight three areas where quantitative sensing based on laser absorption has had strong influence: chemical kinetics, propulsion, and practical energy systems. In the area of chemical kinetics, measurements in shock tubes of high-temperature reaction rate coefficients using species-specific laser absorption techniques have provided new and accurate answers to questions about combustion chemical processes. In the area of propulsion, wide-bandwidth measurements of flow temperatures, species concentrations, and velocity have provided engine designers with the necessary information to improve operation and performance. In the area of practical energy systems, real-time measurements of combustor operating conditions and emissions have enabled needed incremental improvements in large power plants and improved safety of operation. Yet, there is still more to be done, and opportunities for new applications will grow as laser sensors evolve. This review seeks to provide an overview of the current power and future potential of these modern diagnostic tools.
Cyclohexane dehydrogenation catalyzed by bimetallic Au-Pt(111) single-crystal surfaces

Cyclohexane dehydrogenation was investigated using two-phase, epitaxial Au on Pt(111) single crystal surfaces and single-phase Au-Pt(111) surface alloys as catalysts, with 20-mbar cyclohexane and 133-mbar H/sub 2/ at 573 K. Benzene production was found to be strongly enhanced by Au, reaching a maximum at a surface composition of 50 atom% Au and declining thereafter. The clean Pt(111) crystal face did not produce detectable amounts of cyclohexene, its formation by the single crystal being completely attributable to the crystal edges. The addition of gold to the Pt(111) surface also induced production of cyclohexene. Surfaces containing about 90 atom% Au were the most active. In both cases, the effects were similar for epitaxial and alloy surfaces, but the latter usually gave larger enhancements. The enhancement by Au of the cyclohexane dehydrogenation to benzene is interpreted as a reduction of the product poisoning of Pt sites by benzene. This, and the observation that only Au containing Pt(111) surfaces produced cyclohexene are both explained by ensemble size effects. 26 references, 2 figures.
Active suppression as a possible mechanism of tolerance in tetraparental mice.

Previous work has indicated that tetraparental mice, chimeric since the eight-cell stage because of embryo fusion using histoincompatible strain combinations, possess autospecific immune cells and blocking antibodies. Although this phenomenon has been demonstrated in vitro, it may have relevance to the self-tolerance shown by these mice in vivo. The experiments described here indicate that spleen cells from tetraparental mice can block mixed lymphocyte reactions between the two parental cell types, but not between unrelated strains. Furthermore, this suppressive ability is not affected by an otherwise effective treatment of the tetraparental spleen cells with anti-θ antibody and complement. The in vitro experimental system elaborated here should help to characterize the cell type responsible for the suppression.
A rotating water jet device and data on its use for slotting berea sandstone

Abstract Experiments with a water jet rock cutting device indicate that it is possible to slot rock with rotating nozzles and achieve specific energies for volume removal equal to those found for single jets.
The perils of increased aquaculture.

In a recent opinion piece distributed to U.S. newspapers, Conrad Lautenbacher, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) argued in favor of the National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2005 (“A boost for aquaculture?”, Random Samples, 17 June, p. 1738). This Act would give NOAA responsibility for permitting offshore aquaculture operations up to 200 miles from shore in U.S. waters. The arguments in favor of promoting expanded aquaculture include meeting market demand for seafood and decreasing the seafood “trade deficit.” Aquaculture's potential for solving these problems is debatable, and many concerns must still be addressed and acknowledged openly. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy report ([1][1]) recommended that NOAA serve as the lead agency for permitting an expanded aquaculture program. Although this makes sense, the agency should not overemphasize the potential benefits and downplay the potential hazards, which include serious environmental consequences such as pollution from aquaculture waste, potential marine mammal entanglements, escapement of aquaculture species into the wild, and spread of disease. Furthermore, if we culture carnivorous species that rely on fish meal as a food source, this could have the unintended consequence of increasing fishing pressure on fish meal species. NOAA should not lose sight of the other aquaculture recommendations of the Commission. One of the most important of these is coordination with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) “to encourage and facilitate worldwide adherence to the aquaculture provisions of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.” Importing food raised through aquaculture from other countries that sacrifice their environments does little to enhance marine ecosystems worldwide. What is most worrisome is what is not being discussed. Many of the important recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy may face the worst fate of all—being ignored. 1. [↵][2]U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century Final Report (U.S. Comission on Ocean Policy, Washington, DC, 2004) (see ). [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text"
Change as the Goal of Educational Research

plish, and in each case we apply local knowledge to alter instructional procedures in ways that are more productive. We argue that there is nothing about the students' language or culture that should handicap their schooling; the problems some language minority students face in school must be viewed as a consequence of instructional arrangements that ensnare certain children by not capitalizing fully on their social, linguistic, and intellectual resources. We conclude by describing a research approach that builds upon what we learned from the case studies by creating community-based research sites. CLASSROOM RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL CHANGE, BILINGUAL EDUCATION, MICROETHNOGRAPHY, VYGOTSKY, LEV S.
Non-linear systems of multiple degrees of freedom under both additive and multiplicative random excitations

A quasi-linearization procedure is developed for non-linear systems under both additive and multiplicative white-noise excitations to obtain response statistical properties, including moments, correlation functions, and spectral densities. In the proposed procedure, only the system properties are linearized, while all excitations are kept unchanged. In particular, the basic characteristics associated with the multiplicative excitations are preserved, which is the key factor for the accuracy of the approach. Numerical examples are given, and the accuracy of the procedure is substantiated by comparing the analytical results with those obtained from Monte Carlo simulations.
Josephson plasmons: The new wave

Electromagnetic waves below the plasma frequency usually reflect off a metal. A theory now suggests that a nonlinear Josephson plasma wave — an excitation in an anisotropic superconductor — can propagate below the plasma frequency.
Cerebral infarction complicating subclavian vein catheterization .

Cerebral infarction has not previously been reported as a complication of attempted subclavian vein catheterization for parenteral nutrition. Two patients developed clinical and pathological evidence of embolic infarction in the left carotid and left vertebral distributions, respectively, when an artery was inadvertently punctured during attempts to catheterize the left subclavian vein. These two complications occurred in more than 1,000 successful subclavian vein catheterizations.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by dioxin targets phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) for ADP-ribosylation via 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-inducible poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (TiPARP).

Effects of the environmental toxin and carcinogen 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) include a wasting syndrome associated with decreased gluconeogenesis. TCDD is a potent activator of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand activated transcription factor. The relationship between gene activation by the AHR and TCDD toxicities is not well understood. We recently identified a pathway by which the AHR target gene TiPARP (TCDD-inducible poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase) contributes to TCDD suppression of transcription of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), a key regulator of gluconeogenesis, by consuming NAD+ and decreasing Sirtuin 1 activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC1α), a transcriptional activator of PEPCK. We report here that TCDD-induced TiPARP also targets PEPCK for ADP-ribosylation. Both cytosolic and mitochondrial forms of PEPCK were found to undergo ADP-ribosylation. Unexpectedly, AHR suppression also enhanced ADP-ribosylation and did so by a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-independent mechanism. This report 1) identifies ADP-ribosylation as a new posttranslational modification for PEPCK, 2) describes a pathway by which transcriptional induction of TiPARP by the AHR can lead to a downstream posttranslational change in a TCDD target protein (PEPCK), and 3) reveals that the AHR exerts complex, previously unidentified modulatory effects on ADP-ribosylation. Background: 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-activated aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) decreases gluconeogenesis by suppressing phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) transcription via TCDD-inducible poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (TiPARP). Results: AHR enhances PEPCK ADP-ribosylation through TiPARP, and AHR suppression increases ADP-ribosylation PARP-independently. Conclusion: ADP-ribosylation, a new PEPCK posttranslational modification, is subject to complex regulation by the AHR. Significance: AHR gene activation leads to ADP-ribosylation of PEPCK with implications for energy metabolism beyond TCDD toxicity.
Radionuclide clearance techniques

A review of methods used in performing radionuclide renal clearance is presented. Adequate radionuclide substitutes for inulin and paraaminohippurate (PAH) have made possible a variety of techniques for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF). The major deterrents to the standard inulin and PAH clearance procedures, including difficult chemical determinations, continuous intravenous infusions, timed catheterized urine collections, and frequent blood sampling, have been varyingly eliminated by the newer radionuclide clearance techniques: chemical determinations are replaced by simple gamma counting; the need for continuous infusions is obviated by the ability to quantitate gamma activity at very high and very low concentrations; urine collections can be eliminated by the analysis of plasma disappearance or by measuring the infusion rate necessary to maintain a constant plasma level; frequent blood sampling can be minimized by external gamma monitoring or by utilizing established volumes of distribution and inter-compartmental clearance based on patient studies. An attempt is made to present superficially the basic concepts used in analyzing plasma disappearance after a single intravenous injection. Mathematical derivations are not presented in depth, although some considerations of the two-compartment system are given in the Appendix. Although there are few disadvantages in using the newer radionuclide techniques compared with the standard infusion methods, direction from an individual with a firm foundation and genuine interest in renal physiology is paramount in establishing these procedures as acceptable and reproducible substitutes for measuring GFR and ERPF.
A nonlinear wave equation for second sound in 3He–4He mixtures

Abstract In the vicinity of the tricritical point second sound propagation becomes very nonlinear, primarily as a result of the small superfluid fraction. Applying a reductive perturbation scheme to the full superfluid hydrodynamic equations we obtain a nonlinear wave equation of the Burgers type, and an explicit expression for the nonlinear coefficient.
Nonstoichiometric Zinc Oxide and Indium-Doped Zinc Oxide: Electrical Conductivity and111In-TDPAC Studies

Abstract Indium-doped zinc oxide powders have been prepared which show room-temperature electrical conductivities as high as 30 Ω−1cm−1. The indium doping apparently occurs as Zn1−xInxO, Zn1−yInyO1+y/2, or a combination of these. Optimum conductivity occurs for Zn1−xInxO where the maximum value ofxobtained was about 0.5 at%. This substitution results in a lattice volume expansion of 0.4%. The degrees of sample reduction were determined by iodimetric titration. Time differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC) spectroscopy on indium doped zinc oxide is consistent with indium substituting at normal zinc sites in the ZnO lattice. TDPAC studies on zinc oxide annealed under zinc vapors show a second environment for the111In probe. In this case, there is an unusually high temperature dependence of the electric field gradient which may be caused by a nearby zinc interstitial. An important conclusion of this work is that zinc interstitials are not ionized and do not therefore contribute significantly to the increased conductivity of reduced zinc oxide.
The rat arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase E-box: differential use in a master vs. a slave oscillator

The rat arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) gene encodes the key enzyme whose rhythmic expression drives the nocturnal production of melatonin. It is of interest that this enzyme is expressed virtually exclusively in two phylogenetically related tissues: retinal photoreceptors, which harbor an endogenous clock, and pinealocytes which, in higher vertebrates, function strictly in response to the master oscillator in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). While much is known about AA-NAT transcriptional regulation in the rat pineal gland (a slave oscillator), a full understanding of the mechanisms controlling AA-NAT gene expression in the retina by the clock is lacking. In the present study we have identified a functional E box in the first intron of the rat AA-NAT gene which is capable of mediating transcriptional upregulation via the action of a bMAL/CLOCK heterodimer. This is the first report to characterize the AA-NAT gene as a possible direct transcriptional target of the biological clock loop in a master oscillator.
What is Sexual Health? Articulating a Sexual Health Approach to HIV Prevention for Men Who Have Sex with Men

This article reviews the development of the construct of sexual health as well as how sexual health has become both part of the public health discourse and a key strategy in promoting overall health and human development. There are many lessons learned from international efforts which can be helpful in formulating a broad sexual health approach to HIV prevention among MSM in the United States.
Ethics in neurobiological research with human subjects -- final reflections.

(1996). Ethics in neurobiological research with human subjects—final reflections. Accountability in Research: Vol. 4, No. 3-4, pp. 277-283.
What is causing high ozone at Summit, Greenland?

Abstract Causes for the unusually high and seasonally anomalous ozone concentrations at Summit, Greenland were investigated. Surface data from continuous monitoring, ozone sonde data, tethered balloon vertical profiling data, correlation of ozone with the radionuclide tracers 7Be and 210Pb, and synoptic transport analysis were used to identify processes that contribute to sources and sinks of ozone at Summit. Northern Hemisphere (NH) lower free troposphere ozone mixing ratios in the polar regions are ∼20 ppbv higher than in Antarctica. Ozone at Summit, which is at 3212 m above sea level, reflects its altitude location in the lower free troposphere. Transport events that bring high ozone and dry air, likely from lower stratospheric/higher tropospheric origin, were observed ∼40% of time during June 2000. Comparison of ozone enhancements with radionuclide tracer records shows a year-round correlation of ozone with the stratospheric tracer 7Be. Summit lacks the episodic, sunrise ozone depletion events, which were found to reduce the annual, median ozone at NH coastal sites by up to ∼3 ppbv. Synoptic trajectory analyses indicated that, under selected conditions, Summit encounters polluted continental air with increased ozone from central and western Europe. Low ozone surface deposition fluxes over long distances upwind of Summit reduce ozone deposition losses in comparison to other NH sites, particularly during the summer months. Surface-layer photochemical ozone production does not appear to have a noticeable influence on Summit's ozone levels.
Comparative Kinetic Analysis of Reversible Intermolecular Electron-Transfer Reactions between a Series of Pentaammineruthenium Complexes and Cytochrome c.

In this kinetic and thermodynamic study, the reversible outer-sphere electron-transfer reactions between a series of Ru(NH3)5L3+/2+ complexes (L = etpy, py, lut) (etpy = 4-ethylpyridine; py = pyrid...
A Cartesian product construction for unconditionally secure authentication codes that permit arbitration

An authentication code consists of a collection of encoding rules associating states of an information source with messages that are to be used to communicate the state to a designated receiver. In order for a collection of encoding rules to be useful as an authentication code there must also exist one or more probability distributions on the rules which, if used by the receiver and transmitter (the insiders) to choose secretly the encoding rule they use, will result in the receiver being able to (probably) detect fraudulent messages sent by an outsider or modifications by him of legitimate messages.
Multi-Core Processors: New Way to Achieve High System Performance

Multi-core processors represent an evolutionary change in conventional computing as well setting the new trend for high performance computing (HPC) - but parallelism is nothing new. Intel has a long history with the concept of parallelism and the development of hardware-enhanced threading capabilities. Intel has been delivering threadingcapable products for more than a decade. The move toward chip-level multiprocessing architectures with a large number of cores continues to offer dramatically increased performance and power characteristics. Nonetheless, this move also presents significant challenges. This paper will describe how far the industry has progressed and evaluates some of the challenges we are facing with multi-core processors and some of the solutions that have been developed.
Platinum–acetylide polymer based solar cells: involvement of the triplet state for energy conversion

Relatively efficient photovoltaic devices were fabricated using blends of a phosphorescent platinum–acetylide polymer and a fullerene (PCBM); involvement of the triplet excited state of the platinum–acetylide polymer in photoinduced charge transfer is believed to contribute to the device efficiency.
Guaranteed prediction and estimation of the state of a road network

The paper presents an algorithm for the prediction and estimation of the state of a road network comprising freeways and arterials, described by a Cell Transmission Model (CTM). CTM divides the network into a collection of links. Each link is characterized by its fundamental diagram, which relates link speed to link density. The state of the network is the vector of link densities. The state is observed through measurements of speed and flow on some links. Demand is specified by the volume of vehicles entering the network at some links, and by split ratios according to which vehicles are routed through the network. There is model uncertainty: the parameters of the fundamental diagram are uncertain. There is uncertainty in the demand around the nominal forecast. Lastly, the measurements are uncertain. The uncertainty in each model parameter, demand, and measurement is specified by an interval. Given measurements over a time interval [0, t] and a horizon τ ⩾ 0, the algorithm computes a set of states with the guarantee that the actual state at time (t + τ) will lie in this set, consistent with the given measurements. In standard terminology the algorithm is a state prediction or an estimate accordingly as τ > 0 or =0. The flow exiting a link may be controlled by an open- or closed-loop controller such as a signal or ramp meter. An open-loop controller does not change the algorithm, indeed it may make the system more predictable by tightening density bounds downstream of the controller. In the feedback case, the value of the control depends on the estimated state bounds, and the algorithm is extended to compute the range of possible closed-loop control values. The algorithm is used in a proposed design of a decision support system for the I-80 integrated corridor.
Using High Speed Video Imaging in the Study of Cracking Processes in Rock

This paper presents the use of a high speed video system (high speed camera) in studying the crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence in rocks. Prismatic laboratory-molded gypsum and Carrara marble specimens, which contained either a single artificial flaw or a pair of artificial flaws, were tested in uniaxial compression. The front face of the specimen was monitored by a high speed camera. By adopting an appropriate frame rate (1000 to 24 000 frames/s) and image resolution (256 by 512 to 1024 by 1024 pixels) of the high speed camera, we were able to observe the abrupt and violent cracking processes in rocks. In particular, it was possible to distinguish shear and tensile crack mechanisms, which so far was not possible and subject to many discussions in rock mechanics. Distinguishing the cracking details allowed us to record and interpret the entire cracking sequence. The aims of this paper are twofold. First, it briefly addresses the capability of the high speed camera technology to set the stage. Second, and this is the major contribution, it presents two comprehensive examples of how the interpretation of high speed videos is carried out to retrieve useful information on the cracking processes in rocks.
Multiple hepatic masses in a 38-year-old male 10 years after renal transplantation

The patient is a 38-year-old male, diagnosed with IgA nephropathy at age 24, who underwent renal allograft transplantation 10 years ago. He presented with complaints of fever and non-productive cough. Clinical examination was notable for a low grade temperature (99.5 F), bibasilar crackles and a distended abdomen with overlying varices. Laboratory studies showed anaemia of chronic disease and normal liver function tests, except for a mildly depressed serum albumin level. Serum creatinine was elevated from his baseline of 2.5mg/dl to 4.2mg/dl. Additional past medical history includes former heavy use of alcohol, with none following his transplant. A right sided pulmonary infiltrate was detected on chest X-ray. Following antibiotic therapy for presumed pneumonia, his clinical symptoms resolved and his creatinine reverted to baseline level. An out-patient computed tomography (CT) scan was performed to evaluate the abdominal findings. Massive liver nodules in the lobes were present, replacing the hepatic parenchyma. The largest measured 13.5 cm in the left lobe, with a separate 12.5 cm mass in the right lobe (Figure 1). Radiologically, the lesions were perplexing, with a broad differential diagnosis including abscesses, haemangiomas, benign cystic lesions, metastases or hepatocellular carcinoma. Percutaneous core needle biopsy yielded a moderately cellular spindle cell neoplasm with minimal cellular pleomorphism and no mitotic activity (Figure 2). The spindle cells contained elongated, blunt-ended nuclei with finely stippled chromatin. Immunohistochemistry by the standard avidin–biotin–peroxidase complex method demonstrated myogenic differentiation of the tumour cells, which were immunoreactive to smooth muscle actin. In situ hybridization for EBV virus was strongly positive in >90% of the spindle cell nuclei (Figure 3). These findings are indicative of an EBV-associated myogenic tumour. A reduction of the immunosuppressive agents was recommended to the patient, who declined for fear of impending rejection. Currently he is being followed, with slow expansion in the size of the liver nodules. Six months following diagnosis of the liver lesions, a palpable 4 cm nodule in the right gluteal region developed. Additional smaller nodules in the same region were noted by imaging studies. Percutaneous needle core biopsy illustrated a histologically identical EBV-associated myogenic tumour.
Microstrip Excitation of Magnetostatic Surface Waves: Theory and Experiment

A model is developed for excitation of magnetostatic surface waves (MSSW) with microstrip transmission lines. Energy carried away in MSSW propagating perpendicular to the microstrip is related to electromagnetic (EM) energy propagating along the microstrip line by an equivalent radiation resistance. Supporting experimental results are in excellent agreement with predictions derived from this model.
Regulation of Conidiation and Adenylyl Cyclase Levels by the Gα Protein GNA-3 in Neurospora crassa

We have identified a new gene encoding the G protein α subunit, gna-3, from the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. The predicted amino acid sequence of GNA-3 is most similar to the Gα proteins MOD-D, MAGA, and CPG-2 from the saprophytic fungus Podospora anserina and the pathogenic fungi Magnaporthe grisea and Cryphonectria parasitica, respectively. Deletion of gna-3 leads to shorter aerial hyphae and premature, dense conidiation during growth on solid medium or in standing liquid cultures and to inappropriate conidiation in submerged culture. The conidiation and aerial hypha defects of the Δgna-3 strain are similar to those of a previously characterized adenylyl cyclase mutant, cr-1. Supplementation with cyclic AMP (cAMP) restores wild-type morphology to Δgna-3 strains in standing liquid cultures. Solid medium augmented with exogenous cAMP suppresses the premature conidiation defect, but aerial hypha formation is still reduced. Submerged-culture conidiation is refractory to cAMP but is suppressed by peptone. In addition, Δgna-3 submerged cultures express the glucose-repressible gene, qa-2, to levels greatly exceeding those observed in the wild type under carbon-starved conditions. Δgna-3 strains exhibit reduced fertility in homozygous crosses during the sexual cycle; exogenous cAMP has no effect on this phenotype. Intracellular steady-state cAMP levels of Δgna-3 strains are decreased 90% relative to the wild type under a variety of growth conditions. Reduced intracellular cAMP levels in the Δgna-3 strain correlate with lower adenylyl cyclase activity and protein levels. These results demonstrate that GNA-3 modulates conidiation and adenylyl cyclase levels in N. crassa.
Microecology of Blastomyces dermatitidis: the Ammonia Hypothesis

AbstractThe precise microecology of Blastomyces dermatitidis is unknown, but the fungus has been associated with nitrogenous waste products and rapidly changing environmental conditions. Ammonia accumulates in certain microenvironments, is toxic to most fungi, but may not be identified in processed soil samples. Ammonia tolerance of B. dermatitidis was investigated with two strains recovered in Wisconsin, one from a dog and the other from an environmental source. The samples were grown on phosphate and HEPES buffered agar media supplemented with mineral salts, low (1 g/l) and high (20 g/l) dextrose and increasing amounts of ammonium sulfate, at pH 7–8.2, in gas-impermeable bags at 20°C. Moderate mold growth and sporulation of the strains were observed at low glucose concentration and calculated ammonia concentrations of 4.2 mmol/l when plates were inoculated with either mold or yeast forms. Three recent B. dermatitidis human clinical isolates also exhibited similar growth on this media, and 4/5 strains to...
Infant Mortality, Freaks, and Wear‐Out: Application of Modern Semiconductor Reliability Methods to Ceramic Multilayer Capacitors

An overview of the methods of modern semiconductor reliability and accelerated life testing based on the lognormal distribution is given, Bimodal distributions due to the presence of freak failure populations are also discussed, along with the Fowlkes test for a bimodal lognormal distribution. A novel analysis of recent published results on capacitor reliability is given, based on the known properties of the lognormal and Weibull distributions as well as recent experience in their application to semiconductor device reliability. For test periods of 168 and 1000 h, estimates of the required voltages and temperature stresses as well as sample sizes are made to ensure a hazard rate of less than 100 FIT (failures per unit time) per capacitor after 40 yr of operation. The results show that the customary accelerated test at twice the rated voltage and 125°C for 1000 h, is insufficient. Comparison with data from a recent highly accelerated life test (HALT) indicates that the HALT procedures may be useful as an effective screen. Bimodal failure distributions are shown to be due to the presence of freak (early failure) populations of about 10%.
Stochastic Primal-Dual Scheduling Subject to Rate Constraints

In this paper we derive a stochastic primal-dual (SPD) algorithm for downlink/uplink scheduling of multiple connections with rate requirements, where each connection transmits using adaptive modulation and coding over a wireless fading channel. Based on quantized channel state information at the transmitters, we derive the information-theoretic optimal downlink and uplink resource allocation/scheduling strategies. When the fading statistics are not known a priori, we develop an SPD algorithm which can dynamically adapt the scheduling policy online. We established analytically and confirm by simulations that with affordable complexity, this SPD algorithm asymptotically converges to the optimal scheduling strategies from any initial value.
Influence of ACTH, food restriction and electric shock on total vitamin A in the rat adrenal gland and on its quantitative histological distribution.

Total vitamin A content and concentration (free vitamin plus esters) in the left adrenal gland of the male albino rat were measured following single intraperitoneal injections of ACTH (6.7–16 mg, 5 min to 3 hr before sacrifice, 325–360 g body wt), and daily injections for 12 days (8 mg, sacrificed 24 hr after last injection, 320–420 g body wt). The influences of partial fasting (5 g Purina Laboratory Chow consumed/48 hr/rat) and electric shock (applied each time rat approached food cup) over a 12-day period were also investigated. Although no significant effects were found following any of the single or replicate injections of ACTH, significant elevations in the vitamin A were observed as the result of the partial fasting alone or in combination with the shock. Plasma corticosterone levels were elevated by the ACTH and stress treatments, as would be expected. The peak concentration of total vitamin, 4.5 μμmoles/μg protein-nitrogen, found in the fascicular-glomerular border zone of the adrenal cortex from ...
Design of an active storage cluster file system for DAG workflows

We present the conceptual design of Confuga, a cluster file system designed to meet the needs of DAG-structured workflows. Today's premier cluster file system Hadoop is commonly used to support large peta-scale data sets on commodity hardware and to exploit active storage through Map-Reduce, a specific workflow pattern. Unfortunately, DAG-structured workflows have very different requirements from Map-Reduce workflows: whole-file access is standard and multiple dependencies are common. Confuga will meet these new requirements by replicating rather than striping files as in Hadoop, by exploiting DAG-structured workflow consistency semantics, and by permitting multiple dependencies in job descriptions. To the end user, Confuga will appear as a drop-in replacement for a batch system and a file system, combined into a single entity that can be invoked by existing workflow managers. In this paper, we describe the design philosophy of Confuga, sketch the major components of the system, and explain how the system will behave under expected workloads.
Congruence and joint space width alterations of the medial compartment following lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Progressive degenerative changes in the medial compartment of the knee following lateral unicompartmental arthroplasty (UKA) remains a leading indication for revision surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate changes in the congruence and joint space width (JSW) of the medial compartment following lateral UKA. The congruence of the medial compartment of 53 knees (24 men, 23 women, mean age 13.1 years; sd 62.1) following lateral UKA was evaluated pre-operatively and six weeks post-operatively, and compared with 41 normal knees (26 men, 15 women, mean age 33.7 years; sd 6.4), using an Interactive closest point algorithm which calculated the congruence index (CI) by performing a rigid transformation that best aligns the digitised tibial and femoral surfaces. Inner, middle and outer JSWs were measured by sub-dividing the medial compartment into four quarters on pre- and post-operative, weight bearing tunnel view radiographs. The mean CI of knees following lateral UKA significantly improved from 0.92 (sd 0.06) pre-operatively to 0.96 (sd 0.02) (p < 0.001) six weeks post-operatively. The mean CI of the healthy control group was 0.99 sd 0.01. Post-operatively, the mean inner JSW increased (p = 0.006) and the outer decreased (p = 0.002). The JSW was restored post-operatively as no significant differences were noted in all three locations compared with the control group (inner JSW p = 0.43; middle JSW p = 0.019, outer JSW p = 0.51). Our data suggest that a well conducted lateral UKA may improve the congruence and normalise the JSW of the medial compartment, potentially preventing progression of degenerative change.
Novel Combination of Impella and Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Full Recovery in Fulminant Myocarditis

A 31-year-old male was transferred to our hospital with severe heart failure due to viral myocarditis. He progressed to multiorgan failure requiring intubation and maximal doses of multiple vasopressors. Circulatory support was provided with an Impella device as a bridge to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system. On full mechanical cardiovascular support, the patient's hemodynamic status improved and ECMO and Impella were explanted after 48 hours. Three days later, he was extubated and continued on to a full recovery. There are no specific therapies for fulminant myocarditis but first-line treatment is supportive care. ECMO is commonly used in patients with severe heart failure. In severe systolic dysfunction, left ventricular decompression is required to reduce myocardial wall stress, decrease myocardial oxygen requirements, and enhance the chances of recovery. The Impella, an active support system, is less invasive than classical decompressive techniques and is associated with lower requirements for blood products with fewer thromboembolic complications. This is the only case reported of the contemporary use of Impella and ECMO as a bridge to full recovery in an adult with myocarditis. It also presents a novel use of the Impella device in decompressing the left ventricle of an adult patient on ECMO.
P3.368 STD Clinic Patients’ Preferences For HIV Prevention Strategies

Background More information is needed to understand how the newer HIV prevention methods should be positioned and which mix of prevention methods should be offered and promoted within the at risk populations. This study sought to obtain data about the preferences for effective biomedical interventions by individuals from the diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds that comprise the STD clinic populations in Miami Methods A cross sectional survey was used to assess knowledge and preference of traditional (condoms) and new biomedical methods to prevent HIV (Circumcision -C-, Pre-exposure prophylaxis -PreP and microbicides -M) in STD clinic patients. After an initial assessment, the study coordinator provided basic simple descriptions of three new methods of HIV prevention by pamphlets and/or recorded video. The relative preference for each of all the prevention strategies was re-assessed information was provided. Results Thirty five participants are reported in this interim analysis; 55% were female; 58% were African American; 25% were Hispanic and 12% were Haitians. Most of the participants were not aware of the efficacy of C (68%), PreP (77%) or M (79%) in decreasing the risk of acquiring HIV infection. At baseline, participants described as their preferred method to prevent HIV the use of male condoms (77%) and had marginal preference for the newer methods C (3%), M (6%) and PreP (3%). After the information about the new methods was provided, most of the participants reported to be aware of these methods (80%) and although male condoms was still the first choice for most of the participants (46%) a higher percentage of participants preferred M (20%) and PreP (14%). Conclusions STD clinic patients who participated in this study had very limited knowledge about the new biomedical strategies to prevent HIV infection. A brief informational session can increase their willingness to use the newer HIV preventive strategies.
One year of preschool or two: Is it important for adult outcomes?

Abstract Until recently, public funding for preschool education had been growing rapidly over a decade with most state programs providing one year of preschool for four year olds. Fewer three year olds are enrolled in preschool. To investigate the importance of enrollment duration, this study is the first to estimate long-term dosage effects of years of preschool. We use data from a cohort of 1500 students in the Chicago Longitudinal Study who enrolled in the Chicago Public Schools in the mid-1980s. Many of these students participated in a high-quality preschool program called Child-Parent Centers (CPC) for one or two years. To address selection with multiple treatments, we employ inverse propensity score weighting. Relative to children who attended one year of CPC preschool, the two-year group is significantly less likely to receive special education or be abused or neglected or to commit crimes. The findings provide support for the long-term benefits of greater exposure to preschool.
RECLAIMED COAL MINE GRASSLANDS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR HENSLOW'S SPARROWS IN THE AMERICAN MIDWEST

Abstract Present methods of surface coal-mine reclamation in the Midwest produce large grasslands, some of which exceed 2,000 ha in extent. Total “mine grassland” production in southwestern Indiana alone is well in excess of 70 square miles (180 km2). Our work in 19 reclaimed coal mines in southwestern Indiana indicates that mine grasslands harbor many Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii). We base that conclusion on point-count and line-transect surveys that yielded between 200–300 singing male Henslow's Sparrows during the 1997 and 1998 breeding seasons. Those survey results imply an uncorrected population density of ∼0.10 males per hectare, and a corrected density of ∼0.16 males per hectare (correcting for undetected males). Extrapolating this corrected density to total habitat coverage suggests an overall population of a few thousand Henslow's Sparrows in the mine grasslands of southwestern Indiana. Small-scale vegetational surveys suggest that much of the within-mine variation in Henslow's Sparro...
Orientational Ordering, Buckling, and Dynamic Transitions for Vortices Interacting with a Periodic Quasi-One Dimensional Substrate

We examine the statics and dynamics of vortices in the presence of a periodic quasi-one-dimensional substrate, focusing on the limit where the vortex lattice constant is smaller than the substrate lattice period. As a function of the substrate strength and filling factor, within the pinned state, we observe a series of order-disorder transitions associated with buckling phenomena in which the number of vortex rows that fit between neighboring substrate maxima increases. These transitions coincide with steps in the depinning threshold, jumps in the density of topological defects, and changes in the structure factor. At the buckling transition, the vortices are disordered, while between the buckling transitions the vortices form a variety of crystalline and partially ordered states. In the weak substrate limit, the buckling transitions are absent and the vortices form an ordered hexagonal lattice that undergoes changes in its orientation with respect to the substrate as a function of vortex density. At intermediate substrate strength, certain ordered states appear that are correlated with peaks in the depinning force. Under an applied drive, the system exhibits a rich variety of distinct dynamical phases, including plastic flow, a density-modulated moving crystal, and moving floating solid phases. We also find a dynamic smectic-to-smectic transition in which the smectic ordering changes from being aligned with the substrate to being aligned with the external drive. The different dynamical phases can be characterized using velocity histograms and the structure factor. We discuss how these results are related to recent experiments on vortex ordering in thin films with periodic thickness modulations. Our results should also be relevant for other types of systems such as ions, colloids, or Wigner crystals interacting with periodic quasi-one-dimensional substrates.
Chiral Magnetic Effect in Heavy Ion Collisions

Abstract The Chiral Magnetic Effect (CME) is a remarkable phenomenon that stems from highly nontrivial interplay of QCD chiral symmetry, axial anomaly, and gluonic topology. It is of fundamental importance to search for the CME in experiments. The heavy ion collisions provide a unique environment where a hot chiral-symmetric quark-gluon plasma is created, gluonic topological fluctuations generate chirality imbalance, and very strong magnetic fields | B → | ∼ m π 2 are present during the early stage of such collisions. Significant efforts have been made to look for CME signals in heavy ion collision experiments. In this contribution we give a brief overview on the status of such efforts.
Trust-Based Access Control for Secure Cloud Computing

Multi-tenancy, elasticity and dynamicity pose several novel challenges for access control in a cloud environment. Accessing subjects may dynamically change, resources requiring protection may be created or modified, and subject access requirements to resources may change during the course of the application execution. Users may need to acquire different permissions from different administrative domains based on the services in cloud computing environment. Traditional identity-based access control models such as attribute-based access control (ABAC), role-based access control (RBAC), discretionary access control (DAC), or mandatory access control (MAC) cannot be applied directly in clouds. In this chapter, we explore challenges of cloud access control, identify desirable properties of access control models, and introduce the novel graph-theoretic semantics of access control model. We specify how authorization occurs in the proposed model, and present how to incorporate features such as separation of duty (SoD).
The Taiwan Relations Act Considered from Alternative Perspectives

This essay introduces a special issue on the Taiwan Relation Act (TRA). consisting of papers that were originally presented at a conference held at the University of South Carolina to mark the TRA's thirtieth anniversary. It seeks to situate the discussion of the TRA in the context of several perspectives. Thus showing its relevance to broader policy implications and theoretical traditions. Specifically, it offers alternative interpretations of the TRA as an instance of intra-governmental contest, two-level games. Interstate communication. Alliance politics, And linkage politics.
Functional Effectiveness of Inpatient Rehabilitation After Heart Transplantation

Abstract Background Heart transplantation (HT) is the treatment of choice for many patients with end-stage heart failure who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy, but no study has looked directly into functional improvement of HT patients after an inpatient rehabilitation program. Objective To determine functional improvement in HT patients who completed an inpatient rehabilitation program. Design Retrospective study. Setting An inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) associated with a tertiary care hospital. Patients Seventeen patients admitted between March 2011 and September 2014 after HT. Methods Demographic, clinical, and functional data (admission and discharge Functional Independence Measure [FIM] scores) were recorded. Change in FIM scores and FIM efficiency (change in FIM score/length of stay) were analyzed. FIM outcomes for HT patients were compared with regional and national averages for patients undergoing an inpatient rehabilitation program for cardiac debility. As a secondary outcome, we evaluated whether body mass index of HT patients had an impact on FIM gains in an IRF. Individual FIM items were analyzed for trends. Results are reported as mean ± SD. Results Twelve male and 5 female patients with mean age of 61.2 ± 4.5 years were identified. Three patients were readmitted to acute hospital because of complications. For those 14 patients who completed the IRF stay, the mean admission and discharge motor FIM were 51.5 (±14.6) and 74.7 (±12.0), respectively. The mean admission and discharge cognition FIM were 30.9 (±3.2) and 32.9 (±1.7), respectively. The mean total FIM gain was 26.9 ± 13.3 ( P Conclusions An inpatient rehabilitation program appears to positively impact optimal outcomes (functional recovery and discharge to home) for selected patients with HT and is comparable with regional and national FIM gain and efficiency for patients admitted to IRFs with other cardiac conditions.