cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zunes Stephen and Mundy Jacob. Western Sahara: War, Nationalism, and Conflict Irresolution . Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 2010. With a forward by McGovern George. xxxvii + 424 pp. Maps. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. $49.95. Cloth.

POLITICS, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, AND GLOBALIZATION Stephen Zunes and Jacob Mundy. Western Sahara: War, Nationalism, and Conflict Irresolution. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 2010. With a forward by George McGovern. xxxvii + 424 pp. Maps. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. $49.95. Cloth. Zunes and Mundy have written the definitive book on the Western Sahara. Long neglected by Anglo-American social science, the disputed territory in northwest Africa provides the terrain on which one can explore it all: colonialism, decolonization, sovereignty, territoriality, self-determination, nationalism, security, justice, the Global War on Terror, great power ambitions, negotiations and diplomacy, local kinship ties, natural resource exploitation, and forced displacement. In 1983 Tony Hodges and John Damis each published respected monographs on the Western Sahara. Since then, a few scholars such as Pablo San Martin, Toby Shelley, and Yahia Zoubir have devoted their energies to examining the conflict. Nevertheless, die Western Sahara has been relatively understudied and even ignored in recent decades. Unlike other contexts of decolonization or disputed territories - e.g., East Timor, Eritrea, South Sudan, and Israel/Palestine - the Western Sahara has attracted neither international media attention nor extensive scholarship. Zunes and Mundy's Western Sahara: War, Nationalism, and Conflict Irresolution has come to fruition after a long period of gestation, and die wait was well worth it. Theirs is a contribution that prompts a wide array of adjectives: provocative, insightful, exhaustive, encyclopedic. The collaboration brings together their respective strengths as scholars, and their work displays a robust interdisciplinarity in its use of methods and insights from geography, cartography, diplomatic history, political science, antiiropology, and postcolonial studies. In many ways the book is an act of translation in that it provides etymological and definitional examinations of key concepts, places, and names. Indeed, the glossary is worthwhile in its own right. As in other cases of "conflict irresolution," a full understanding demands an appreciation of contexts, transliterations, and dynamic definitions. Sahrawi, for example, is ultimately defined as "the Hassaniyyah-speaking peoples who claim membership among at least one of the social groupings found in and around the area now known as Western Sahara" (93). Yet this is only part of a smart treatment of the term, its myriad transliterations and contexts, and its dynamism over the years. The authors' fundamental argument is that the intractability of the dispute over the Western Sahara requires a full appreciation of different interests working at different levels. …
Technique for determining midlatitude O+/H+ transition heights from topside ionograms

[1] The midlatitude O+/H+ transition height (where the H+ and O+ number densities are equal) is of importance because it is where the topside altitude distribution of the dominant ions transitions from the ionospheric F region into the plasmasphere, which is considered the inner region of the magnetosphere. This transition height can be determined by fitting ionospheric topside sounder–derived electron density (Ne) profiles to analytical H+ and O+ functions. There are four variables involved in this process, two involving ion number densities and two involving the electron temperature Te. The density variables are the H+ density at the height of the satellite and the O+ density at the base of the profile (taken as 400 km). The temperature variables have been treated using different approaches. In an earlier investigation, diffusive equilibrium ion density profiles, based on an earlier Titheridge height-varying electron temperature function, were used to fit the Ne profiles in which the electron temperature Te and the Te altitude gradient at a base height of 400 km, denoted by T0 and G0, respectively, were free variables. In the present work, T0 and G0 are constrained by using a later Titheridge empirical temperature model. Alternatively, when in situ Langmuir probe Te determinations are available, the problem reduces to one with only one free temperature variable. All three of these approaches, using Titheridge's revised height-varying electron temperature function, are applied to a sequence of midlatitude ISIS 2–derived Ne profiles obtained during a period of prolonged high magnetic activity. The results indicate that in the inner plasmasphere, where the transition height is slowly varying, the approach based on the two free Te parameters (T0 and G0) agrees well with the one using the Langmuir probe input. In the region where the transition height is rapidly increasing, however, the approach based on the empirical temperature model produced the most consistent results for the O+/H+ transition height.
Temperature dependence of HNO(3) absorption in the 11.3-microm region.

Laboratory spectra have been obtained for HNO3 with a Michelson-type Fourier transform interferometer using absorption cells with path lengths of 10.3, 25.5, and 49.8 cm at temperatures of 240, 248, 283, and 294 K. The measurements lead to a total band intensity value of 642 plus or minus 5% per sq cm amagat, which is a temperature independent value after the gas density correction has been made. However, the temperature dependence of the spectral absorption coefficients is apparent in the 885 kayser region.
Reduction of short channel effects in SOI MOSFETs with 35 nm channel width and 70 nm channel length

We report the fabrication and characterization of SOI NMOSFETs with channel width as narrow as 35 nm. For the first time, it is observed that using a narrow channel width, the short channel effects in SOI MOSFETs can be significantly reduced because the gate wrapped around the narrow channel side wall allowing a better gate control in horizontal and vertical direction. With a 35 nm channel width, we are able to realize well-behaved SOI NMOSFETs with effective channel length of 70 nm.
Neutron diagnostic calibration at TAMU plasma focus

Summary form only given. We have been able to perform calibrations of the neutron diagnostics at the TAMU (Texas A&M University) Plasma Focus facility to a 10% or better accuracy. The key to this calibration is the use of very well characterized neutron source. The source we are using is one that was calibrated to a stated accuracy of 3% at the Los Alamos National Laboratory over about 10 years. By placing this source at the location of the plasma focus pinch, self scattering effects of the machine and surrounding structures are automatically accounted. We use the standard four-Geiger tube Los Alamos silver counter as our primary, total yield detector. These detectors have a well-determined detector efficiency and a broad neutron energy sensitivity plateau. Thus, we are able to obtain 10% or better accuracy calibrations for the silver detectors using in-situ, equilibrium activation. Other detectors within the facility can be subsequently calibrated from the silver detector results. The prompt neutron detectors must use shielded lines of sight to avoid excessive neutron pulse broadening primarily due to scattering from objects and materials near the source. Our facility uses collimated lines of sight through a 60-cm thick, concrete shield wall to eliminate most of this scattering. With lines of flight of 8.82 m and 17.4 m, the initial gamma pulse of the reaction may easily be separated from the neutron pulse to enable reliable calibrations of these detectors as well.
Neuropeptides and the Integration of Motor Responses to Dehydration

Drinking and eating are critically important motivated behaviors whose expression is usually tightly linked; under conditions of spontaneous intake, disruption of one usually disturbs the other. This characteristic is exemplified by dehydration-induced anorexia in which increasing plasma osmolality leads to a centrally generated reduction in food intake, which is then rapidly reversed as water is again made available. This review discusses, at a systems level, how the brain is organized to generate these behaviors and how dehydration affects the expression of neuropeptides in sets of anatomically defined forebrain circuits that contribute to the integration of motor outputs. These findings are then used to consider how altered neuropeptidergic signaling operates within motor drive networks and how these changes may impact the way neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral motor systems respond to this fundamental homeostatic challenge.
Choosing Benchmarks vs. Choosing Strategies: Part 1 - Execution Benchmarks: VWAP or Pretrade Prices

A crucial ingredient in evaluating execution quality is the choice of benchmark: evaluate execution prices relative to what? In this article, we discuss two popular benchmarks: comparing execution prices to VWAP and comparing execution prices to a pre-trade price. We show that if the executions evaluated affect the market VWAP, then the VWAP benchmark may lead to sub-optimal decisions. Traders, for example, may adopt a more costly execution strategy. When analyzing execution quality, therefore, the VWAP benchmark lets you down when you need it most: in evaluating difficult orders that may affect market prices. Our recommendation is to consistently use a pre-trade benchmark in evaluating different execution strategies (or traders or venues).
Diverse Fibrosis Architecture and Premature Stimulation Facilitate Initiation of Reentrant Activity Following Chronic Atrial Fibrillation.

Fibrosis Architecture and Conduction in Chronic AF Introduction Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) often transition between sinus rhythm and AF. For AF to initiate there must be both a trigger and a substrate that facilitates reentrant activity. This trigger is often caused by a premature atrial contraction or focal activations within the atrium. We hypothesize that specific architectures of fibrosis alter local conduction to enable AF. Methods and Results Control goats (n = 13) and goats in chronic AF (for an average of 6 months, n = 6) had a high-density electrode plaque placed on the LA appendage. Conduction patterns following a premature atrial contraction, caused by an electrical stimulation, were quantified to determine regions of conduction slowing. These regions were compared to architecture, either diffuse fibrosis or regions of obstructive fibrosis, and overall fibrosis levels as determined by histology from the mapped region. The chronic AF goats had more obstructive fibrosis than the controls (17.5 ± 8.0 fibers/mm2 vs. 8.6 ± 3.0 fibers/mm2). Conduction velocity of the AF goats was significantly slowed compared to the control goats in the transverse direction (0.40 ± 0.04 m/s vs. 0.53 ± 0.15 m/s) but not in the longitudinal direction (0.70 ± 0.27 m/s vs. 0.76 ± 0.18 m/s). Conclusions AF-induced atrial remodeling leads to increased obstructive fibrosis and conduction velocity slowing transverse to fiber orientation following premature stimuli. The decrease in conduction velocity causes a decrease in the cardiac wavelength, and increases the likelihood of reentry and AF onset.
The Circadian Clock in the Retina Controls Rod-Cone Coupling

Summary Although rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the vertebrate retina are anatomically connected or coupled by gap junctions, a type of electrical synapse, rod-cone electrical coupling is thought to be weak. Using tracer labeling and electrical recording in the goldfish retina and tracer labeling in the mouse retina, we show that the retinal circadian clock, and not the retinal response to the visual environment, controls the extent and strength of rod-cone coupling by activating dopamine D 2 -like receptors in the day, so that rod-cone coupling is weak during the day but remarkably robust at night. The results demonstrate that circadian control of rod-cone electrical coupling serves as a synaptic switch that allows cones to receive very dim light signals from rods at night, but not in the day. The increase in the strength and extent of rod-cone coupling at night may facilitate the detection of large dim objects.
Uptake and distribution of exogenous serum proteins in the cultured rat embryo.

Head fold stage rat embryos were cultured on a medium consisting of adult rat serum for 48 hr. During the final 10 or 20 hr of culture [35S]-methionine was added to the medium. Sera from visceral yolk sac blood vessels, exocoelomic cavity fluid, and amniotic sac fluid were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by Amido Black staining and fluorography. Amido Black staining showed bands in all three embryonic fluid compartments which migrated at rates comparable to transferrin, alpha-feto-protein, albumin, IgG, and hemoglobin. Fluorography, however, showed that radioactivity was restricted to alpha-fetoprotein, IgG, and hemoglobin. This suggested that at least some transferrin and albumin were transferred intact from the exogenous medium to the embryonic fluid compartments.
Sex Differences in the Social Bases of Self-Esteem.

.. idlai,onships and between ploSe and distant relationships. The status dimension proved particularly important for axles,, their variation in self-eSteem being primarily accounted for by perceived peer ,., apPraisals.(in'both close ind distant.relationsbips). On the other 'hanl, the intiMacy dimens4n appeared to be most critical for , ... female%',.theit self-esteem levels being largely a function of , .-, perceived appraisals of cloe others (both authorities d peers) . cAuthor) .
PTP1b Is a Physiologic Regulator of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling in Endothelial Cells

Background—Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) signaling is a control point that determines the extent of vascular tree formation. Recent studies demonstrated an important role played by VEGFR2 endothelial trafficking in control of its activity and suggested the involvement of a phosphotyrosine phosphatase 1b (PTP1b) in this process. This study was designed to define the role of PTP1b in endothelial VEGFR2 signaling and its role in regulation of angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. Methods and Results—We generated mice carrying an endothelial-specific deletion of PTP1b and examined the effect of this knockout on VEGF signaling, angiogenesis, and arteriogenesis in vitro and in vivo. PTP1b knockout endothelial cells had increased VEGF-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling, sprouting, migration, and proliferation compared with controls. Endothelial PTP1b null mice had increased retinal and Matrigel implant angiogenesis and accelerated wound heali...
Use of a precious resource: Parental decision making about using autologous umbilical cord blood in studies involving young children with type 1 diabetes

Objective To assess parental decision making and experiences in an autologous umbilical cord blood infusion study in young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Acute rise in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in a coastal community:

ObjectiveDescribe the incidence of head and neck community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections over a 5-year period at a coastal tertiary medical center.Study DesignRetrospective chart review.Subjects and MethodsAll patients presenting to the otolaryngology service with cultures taken from head and neck infections between 1999 and 2004 were eligible for inclusion. Statistical analysis was used to determine significance of the changing incidence of isolated organisms over the study period.ResultsCA-MRSA infections rose from 21% to 64% over the 5-year period. The increasing trend in CA-MRSA infections reached statistical significance from 2003 to 2004. All CA-MRSA isolates were resistant to cefazolin and penicillin, but most were sensitive to clindamycin.ConclusionsOur data demonstrates a striking increase in the incidence of CA-MRSA. We have tailored our treatment of cutaneous head and neck infections to include empiric treatment for CA-MRSA using clindamycin. Awarenes...
The quinolone antibiotics

Abstract The quinolone antibiotics are synthetic derivatives of nalidixic acid. Chemical modification of the basic nucleus of nalidixic acid has led to the development of a wide range of compounds with many clinical uses. This article discusses the pharmacology, spectrum of activity, and clinical utility of this class of antimicrobials, with an emphasis on their uses in primary care medicine. The most common quinolones, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin are discussed in greatest detail, and the potential uses of newer agents are reviewed. Quinolone antibiotics are first-line therapy for complicated urinary tract infections and bacterial diarrhea. They are alternative agents for the treatment of many sexually transmitted diseases, as well as osteomyelitis, some cases of wound infection, and selected respiratory infections. Quinolones are contraindicated for children and pregnant and lactating women. Bacteria may develop resistance to the quinolones. They also are relatively expensive and should not be overused in situations in which alternative drugs are less costly and equally efficacious.
Temperature Prediction of Displacement Controlled Multi-Actuator Machines

AbstractA promising technology for the advancement of fluid power systems is displacement controlled (DC) actuation. The main advantage of DC actuation is that metering losses are completely eliminated by replacing each actuator's proportional valve with a variable displacement pump and controlling the actuator motion by pump displacement. This technology can achieve up to 50% energy savings when compared to the conventional load sensing (LS) systems and the elimination of metering losses in DC systems is directly translated in lower heat generation. This paper presents a model to predict the thermodynamic behavior of multi-actuator displacement controlled machines. A complete mathematical model has been developed based on conservation of mass and energy. The model characteristics are discussed for an excavator, which contains four variable displacement pumps, three single-rod actuators, a rotary actuator for the slew, a gear pump, an accumulator, a heat exchanger, a reservoir, as well as metallic hydraul...
Prolactin and parenting in the pigeon family

The relationship between plasma prolactin and: (1) crop growth; (2) incubation; (3) brooding; and (4) feeding young in Columbiformes is reviewed. There is a good parallel between changes in crop growth and plasma prolactin fluctuations during the breeding cycle. Prolactin does not play a role in the initiation of incubation, though it can maintain the response. Toward the end of breeding, a decline in prolactin precedes the decline in incubation (of infertile eggs) or brooding (of young), while exogenously administered prolactin can prolong the response. There is no evidence of a necessary relationship between prolactin secretion and parental feeding of young, as this behavior can precede and outlast the secretion of the hormone during breeding.
Hippocampal microtubule-associated protein-2 alterations with contextual memory.

Using immunohistochemistry and immunoblots, we show that alterations in hippocampal microtubule-associated protein-2 appear to be highly correlated with contextual memory as measured by significantly heightened fear responses. Compared to naive controls, rats trained in a novel context showed significantly increased immunostaining for the high molecular weight microtubule-associated protein-2a/b. This increase was observed 2 weeks after training and it was selective for hippocampal CA1 and CA2 pyramidal cells. Pre-exposure to the training context one month before training altered the hippocampal microtubule-associated protein-2 response; in these animals only the dentate gyrus showed significantly increased microtubule-associated protein-2a/b. Training-related increases in immunohistochemical staining for microtubule-associated protein-2 suggested that there was an increase in overall intact protein, an increase in immunoreactive breakdown products, or changes in protein compartmentalization. Immunoblots of hippocampal homogenates reacted with monoclonal antibodies to microtubule-associated protein-2a/b showed an increased presence of breakdown products in trained animals compared to untrained controls. Additional immunoblot studies demonstrated statistically significant decreases in the levels and/or phosphorylation state of the low molecular weight microtubule-associated protein-2c in the hippocampus of trained animals as compared to that of controls. These alterations in microtubule-associated protein-2 may reflect dendritic remodeling related to contextual memory storage.
Revueltas lógicas: el ciclo de movilización del 15M y la práctica de la democracia radical

ResumenEste articulo tiene por objeto el punto de inflexion politico abierto por el 15M en el Estado espanol. La tesis central que se defiende es que el 15M constituye un movimiento radicalmente democratico que ha planteado la primera contestacion masiva y sistematica formulada contra el regimen establecido a partir de la Constitucion de 1978. Mi argumentacion se estructura en cuatro pasos. Primero, tomando como punto de partida el caracter eminentemente democratico del movimiento 15M y con el referente fundamental del pensamiento politico de Jacques Ranciere, propongo una reflexion general sobre el termino “democracia” para establecer una distincion entre la concrecion institucional del termino y un posible sentido disruptivo del mismo. En segundo lugar, abordo el contexto historico, social y politico en contra del que arremetio el 15M: el Regimen de 1978. En tercer lugar, examino algunas objeciones relevantes formuladas contra el 15M, tratando de argumentar que, a pesar de sus veleidades radicales, gran...
Occupational health among Chicago day laborers: an exploratory study.

The authors report on the results of an exploratory investigation of the occupational safety experience among day laborers at one street-corner hiring site in Chicago. The authors' goals were to pilot street-corner surveillance methods, including those that would facilitate access to the workers, and to obtain information on the day laborers' occupational safety experience, including the types of jobs and tasks performed, the hazardous conditions encountered, and the frequency of occupational injuries. The authors held interviews at one street corner in Chicago; 21 day laborers participated. All were male, and 90% were Latino. Construction jobs were common. Roofing and demolition were 2 of the most hazardous jobs. Of the respondents, 52% had been injured in the previous year. This exploratory study was a successful first step in occupational injury research among street-corner day laborers and suggests that these workers are frequently exposed to hazardous working conditions without safety training or equ...
Stimuli for fetal swallowing: systemic factors.

Although the fetal gastrointestinal tract is believed to be a major site of amniotic fluid absorption, there is little information with regard to the acute regulation of fetal swallowing. A model for the study of ovine fetal swallowing was developed to incorporate electromyogams, an esophageal flow probe, and a computer data acquisition and analysis program. The fetal swallowing responses to two primary thirst stimuli, plasma hyperosmolality and angiotensin II, were studied. On alternate days, chronically prepared fetal lambs (131 ± 2 days) received an intravenous infusion of angiotensin II (100 ng/kg per minute) or bolus injections (3 ml) of 0.15 and 3.97 mol/L saline solution. In response to the angiotensin II infusion, fetal systolic (49.3 to 64.7 mm Hg; p p p p p
Strong Electronic Consequences of Intercalation in Cuprate Superconductors: The Case of a Trigonal Planar AuI3 Complex Stabilized in the Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy Lattice

Recently, a molecular Aul(3) complex was stabilized in the interlayer space of the Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy (Bi2212) high-T-c superconducting phase, adopting an exceptional D-3h structure (Choy, J.-H.; et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2000, 104, 7273). If the gold were formally Au(III), a strong Jahn-Teller distortion to T- and Y-shaped structures would be expected. In this work, we try to understand the structural preferences of Aul(3) in both the gas phase and the Bi2212 lattice, as well as the influence of the Aul(3) intercalation on the superconductor lattice. What we think actually happens is that there is an effective electron transfer from the s-type Bi lone pair to the gold, increasing the formal oxidation state of Bi from +3 to +5 and decreasing that of Au from +3 to +1. A trigonal Au(I) trihalide is just fine. The DFT results confirm in the Bi-rich regions the same kind of electron transfer as encountered on the EHT level of theory, but they reveal additional complexities of the problem. The effect of the Bi to intercalating molecule electron transfer on the cuprate layer may be important, quite apart from this specific example, in tuning superconductivity in the cuprates.
THE EFFECT OF BIRTH ASPHYXIA ON THE ETIOLOGY DF IN- TRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHARE (IVH)

To assess the effect of birth asphyxia on the development of IVH, arterial blood was obtained from a clamped segment of umbilical cord at birth from 60 premature infants of 26-36 weeks ges-tational age (GA) and analyzed for [H+], pCO2, standard bicarbonate (SB), and blood lactic acid (BL). IVH was diagnosed in 16 infants by sudden clinical deterioration, hemorrhagic CSF and typical neurologic signs. 15 of these died and autopsies were obtained on 10 which confirmed the diagnosis of IVH. Infants with IVH were less mature (IVH 29.3 weeks ± 0.4SE, no IVH 32.4 weeks ± 0.3SE, p<0.001), had lower one minute Appar scores (IVH 2.1, no IVH 5.2, p<0.001), and had a higher incidence of HMD (IVH 12/16, no IVH 10/44, p<0.001). No differences were seen in any acid-base parameter except for SB which is related to the positive correlation between SB and GA (r = 0.35, p<0.025). We conclude that birth asphyxia does not occur more frequently in premature infants who subsequently develop IVH and that the decreased Apgar score in infants with IVH is related to their immaturity and higher incidence of HMD.
Chemotherapy versus chemotherapy with intralymphatic tumor cell vaccine in canine lymphoma.

Fifty-eight dogs with lymphoma were treated with combination chemotherapy (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, L-asparaginase, and doxorubicin HCI [VCAA]) followed by intralymphatic autochthonous tumor cell vaccine (CI). Thirty dogs received chemotherapy alone (VCAA). There was no overall significant difference in survival times between the two groups, although there was a trend toward prolonged survival in the CI group. Asymptomatic dogs (Stage A) and dogs less than 7 years of age with Stage A disease treated with CI had significantly longer survival. Dogs treated with CI had a significantly longer first remission. Regardless of treatment group, male dogs had significantly longer remission times compared with female dogs.
High field de Haas-van Alphen spectroscopy in transition metals

Abstract We report detailed studies of the electronic properties of the high T c superconductor niobium and the Stoner enhanced paramagnets platinum and palladium. Parametrization schemes based on the KKR method of band calculation are shown to give excellent representations of the Fermi surface properties. Agreement of the experimental Fermi radii with those of first principles band theory is very good. Local vlaues of the many body enhancements due to electron-phonon and electron-electron interaction are derived by comparison of experimental and theoretical Fermi velocities.
Room-temperature ballistic energy transport in molecules with repeating units

In materials, energy can propagate by means of two limiting regimes: diffusive and ballistic. Ballistic energy transport can be fast and efficient and often occurs with a constant speed. Using two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy methods, we discovered ballistic energy transport via individual polyethylene chains with a remarkably high speed of 1440 m/s and the mean free path length of 14.6 A in solution at room temperature. Whereas the transport via the chains occurs ballistically, the mechanism switches to diffusive with the effective transport speed of 130 m/s at the end-groups attached to the chains. A unifying model of the transport in molecules is presented with clear time separation and additivity among the transport along oligomeric fragments, which occurs ballistically, and the transport within the disordered fragments, occurring diffusively. The results open new avenues for making novel elements for molecular electronics, including ultrafast energy transporters, controlled chemical reactors, and sub-wavelength quantum nanoseparators.
Spacetime ray tracing for animation

Techniques for the efficient ray tracing of animated scenes are presented. They are based on two central concepts: spacetime ray tracing, and a hybrid adaptive space subdivision/boundary volume technique for generating efficient, nonoverlapping hierarchies of bounding volumes. In spacetime ray tracing, static objects are rendered in 4-D space-time using 4-D analogs to 3-D techniques. The bounding volume hierarchy combines elements of adaptive space subdivision and bounding volume techniques. The quality of hierarchy and its nonoverlapping character make it an improvement over previous algorithms, because both attributes reduce the number of ray/object intersections that must be computed. These savings are amplified in animation because of the much higher cost of computing ray/object intersections for motion-blurred animation. It is shown that it is possible to ray trace large animations more quickly with space-time ray tracing using this hierarchy than with straightforward frame-by-frame rendering. >
Biochemical profiles during a Michigan heat wave: Suggestion of nutritional disturbance

Biochemical profiles routinely collected at a university clinic from 631 outpatients during a July Michigan heat wave and from 698 outpatients during a preceding cool period in June showed a statistically significant shift in the vector of means for 17 biochemical variables. The shift in mean values of two essential electrolytes (potassium and calcium) was significantly lower in two of the four age‐sex groups studied. While these departures are not significant by ordinary clinical standards for individual patients, they are unlikely to occur by chance. The data are consistent with, but not proof of, the hypothesis that changes in dietary levels of essential minerals such as potassium and calcium may be associated with heat waves. Poorly balanced meals (tea and toast, beer and pretzels) are probably more widely consumed during hot, humid weather than during normal seasonal conditions and provide a target for preventive measures. Physicians should be alert for early and reversible signs of potassium depleti...
Interactive IMC: The Relational-Transactional Continuum and the Synergistic Use of Customer Data

ABSTRACT In a business-to-business context in the auto insurance industry, the synergistic value of the continuum of relational-transactional data in developing interactive Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) relationships was assessed. While all types of data were found to be important, relationship-oriented factors contributed more to perceived quality of the relationship than did mixed or transaction variables. The study also investigated the ability to segment business customers employing a combination using the relational, mixed, and transactional data. The customer segments differed in their evaluations of the firm9s performance on the various relational, mixed, and transactional factors, but not on their overall evaluation of the relationship. This finding provides support for the notion that different customer segments are interested in different types of relationships. In addition, the segments were significantly different in terms of the amount of insurance written with the company, underscoring the financial importance of segmenting customers on these variables.
Social Concertation, Labour Unions and the Creation of a Black Bourgeoisie in South Africa

In South Africa, one of organised labour's most revolutionary responses to globalisation and an emerging social concertation regime is the frenzied establishment of union-owned investment companies by almost all black-majority labour unions. Labour's resort to wealth accumulation, encouraged and facilitated by the state and segments of corporate South Africa, threatens to transform workers into both labour and capital, employees and employers. An evaluation of the fields of accumulation of these union investment companies shows their limited potential to advance the government's goal of creating a black capitalist class. However, a 'concertation regime' that gives organised labour a significant material stake in the economy has the potential to enhance cross-class compromises that are necessary for the consolidation of democracy in post-apartheid South Africa. Labour's wealth accumulation endeavour is shown to have contributed to the adoption (by labour leaders) of innovative industrial relations and hand...
Proven startle-provoked epileptic seizures in childhood: semiologic and electrophysiologic variability.

Summary: Purpose: To delineate further the clinical and electrophysiologic features of proven startle-provoked epileptic seizures (SPESs) in children. Methods: Clinical, neuroradiologic, and neurophysiologic data of 22 consecutive patients with SPESs were analyzed. Eighty-nine SPESs were documented by video-EEG and evaluated with respect to semiology and ictal and interictal EEG findings. Results: Mean age was 68 months (10–178 months). Most children had severe mental retardation (86%). Neuroimaging demonstrated diffuse cerebral abnormalities in 15 of 19. Somatosensory evoked potentials revealed cortical abnormalities in 10 of 13 children. The underlying causes were heterogeneous. Only two patients were normally developed. Seizure frequency was usually high (>10/day). Two children had less frequent SPESs (two per month; two per week). Seizures were easily precipitated by sudden sound (n = 15), unexpected touch (n = 3), or both (n = 4). The most common semiologic findings (50%) were generalized tonic seizures or those characterized by a predominant tonic phase, followed in frequency by myoclonic seizures (36%), which were generalized in seven, and unilateral in one. Generalized clonic seizures were observed in one. A complex seizure spread was documented in two children. The most common ictal EEG finding (60%) was a diffuse electrodecremental pattern (DEP). Generalized spike/polyspike waves were found in five and focal discharges in four. Conclusions: Our results imply that startle epilepsy is not a uniform epileptic entity. We were able to demonstrate a number of distinct patterns of SPESs, characterized by clinical, semiologic, and electrophysiologic features. Considering the high diversity of SPES patients, a common underlying pathophysiologic mechanism seems unlikely.
Interest Segmentation of Large Area Spectral Imagery for Analyst Assistance

Widely used methods of spectral clustering, target, and anomaly detection when applied to spectral imagery provide less than desirable results across sensor type, scene content, spectral and spatial resolutions due to the complex nature of the data. This results in a large burden placed on the analyst in terms of the amount of data needed to be processed and the ability to discern the difference between “interesting” and “uninteresting” regions in the imagery. For this research, a variety of data driven algorithms for spectral image analysis are applied to spatial tiles of a large area scene. A feature map is created by assigning a metric determined for each algorithm result to each spatial tile. The feature maps are organized into a tiled, multi-band feature image. Two visualization methods introduced here provide a detection map which can cue image analysts to visually inspect locations within a large area scene with a high likelihood of containing interest. Unsupervised classification is applied to this feature image such that the image is divided into segments representing either “interesting” or “not interesting” content with the tile. False-color visualization of three independent metrics is also presented as a way to indicate the type and strength of the amount of interest within a tile.
Emission kinetics of fluorescent nucleoside analogs

Fluorescent analogs of nucleic acid bases are useful probes for observation of DNA structure, interactions, and dynamics. 2-aminopurine (2AP) and 3-methylisoxanthopterin (3MI) are analogs of adenine and guanine, respectively, which have single exponential fluorescence intensity decay kinetics when free in buffer at neutral pH but complex multi-exponential decays when incorporated into oligonucleotides. We have investigated the mechanisms underlying the complexity of the emission kinetics of these probes in DNA by observing decays as a function of local nucleic acid sequence and emission wavelength. For both probes, the intensity-averaged lifetime increases smoothly with increasing emission wavelength. Analysis of these data as a time-resolved emission spectrum (TRES) demonstrates that the complex decay law can be described as resulting from dipolar relaxation of the local environment of the probe on the same timescale as emission. While the mean fluorescence lifetime shows no dependence on nucleic acid sequence 5' or 3' of the probe, the mean time constant for dipolar relaxation is correlated with the identity of the neighboring bases. These results suggest that 2AP and 3MI may be sensitive probes of the local dynamics of nucleic acids, bound water, and counterions.
Investigating the Association of Eye Gaze Pattern and Diagnostic Error in Mammography

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between gaze patterns and the diagnostic performance of radiologists for the task of assessing the likelihood of malignancy of mammographic masses. Six radiologists (2 expert breast imagers and 4 Radiology residents of variable training) assessed the likelihood of malignancy of 40 biopsy-proven mammographic masses (20 malignant and 20 benign) on a computer monitor. Gaze data were collected using a commercial remote eye tracker. Upon reviewing each mass, the radiologists were asked to provide their assessment regarding the probability of malignancy of the depicted mass as well as a rating regarding the perceived difficulty of the diagnostic task. The collected gaze data were analyzed using established algorithms. Various quantitative metrics were extracted to characterize the recorded gaze patterns. The extracted metrics were correlated with the radiologists’ diagnostic decisions and perceived complexity scores. Results showed that the association between radiologists’ gaze metrics and their error making patterns varies, not only depending on the radiologists’ experience level but also among individuals. However, some gaze metrics appear to correlate with diagnostic error and perceived complexity more consistently. These results suggest that although gaze patterns are generally associated with diagnostic error and the perceived difficulty of the diagnostic task, there are substantial differences among individuals that are not explained simply by the training level of the individual performing the diagnostic task.
Educational activities and resources in the IEEE Power and Energy Society

The IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) has a long history of numerous educational activities that benefit members as well as future members and the global community. This panel presentation provides a summary of the latest activities that are being led by the society and ideas for the future. These activities include the work of the Power Engineering Education Committee (PEEC), The U.S. Power and Energy Engineering Workforce Collaborative, IEEE eLearning (formerly Expert Now), Plain Talk Courses, the PES Distinguished Lecturer Program, PES-Careers, and other novel educational resources that are available through the IEEE/PES web site.
A theoretical analysis of conjunctive-goal problems

Abstract Region analysis is a new technique for analyzing search problems by applying graph theory to problem state spaces. The analysis here is of search problems, not search algorithms; analyzing problems and classes of problems lets us understand the underlying structure and inherent complexity of those problems. The analysis technique is demonstrated in the domain of robot planning problems. Region analysis of conjunctive-goal planning problems gives us a characterization of subgoal interactions that is independent of the problem representation. We give a formal characterization of nonlinear planning problems, and show that nonlinearity is a weak characterization of the difficulty in planning problems.
Infrared spectrometry of living systems: current trends and perspectives.

Abstract The present survey is an overview of infrared studies of biological systems with particular emphasis on in vivo studies.
Structure, properties and fracture of electron beam welds in RS-PM Al8FeMo

Abstract Electron beam welds were produced in rapidly-solidified, powder metallurgy (RS-PM) Al-8wt.%Fe-2wt.%Mo sheet using a range of energy inputs and metallurgically characterized with respect to microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture behavior. A reduction in the electron beam energy input required to produce autogenous, full-penetration welds and the associated increase in weld solidification and cooling rates were found to promote increasingly finer fusion zone microstructures comprising primary intermetallics and dendritic alpha aluminum (zone B type). Welds produced at the lowest energy inputs exhibited fusion zone hardnesses superior to that of the base metal, joint efficiencies exceeding 85% and acceptable ductilities. The use of a minimal energy input also prevented the formation of a structurally-coarsened region near the fusion boundary which served as the weak link in higher energy input weldments. Weld failure in this coarsened region was associated with delamination of the coarse intermetallic-alpha aluminum interfaces.
Prediction of calcium-binding sites by combining loop-modeling with machine learning

Background Protein ligand-binding sites in the apo state exhibit structural flexibility. This flexibility often frustrates methods for structure-based recognition of these sites because it leads to the absence of electron density for these critical regions, particularly when they are in surface loops. Methods for recognizing functional sites in these missing loops would be useful for recovering additional functional information.
Computational evidence that hyperconjugative interactions are not responsible for the anomeric effect

The 'anomeric effect' is the thermodynamic preference for polar substituents to occupy the axial position in the chair conformation of various heterocycles. The most common explanation given for this effect at present is hyperconjugation from the lone pairs on the ring heteroatom to the antibonding orbital between the anomeric carbon and its linking substituent. Alternatively, the anomeric effect could be explained by intramolecular electrostatic interactions between local dipoles. Few models can provide convincing data for either theory at the quantum-mechanical level. Now, using the extended block-localized wavefunction method, which is the simplest form of valence bond theory, we have evaluated the degree of hyperconjugation in various compounds that display the anomeric effect and have interpreted their conformational preferences in terms of steric, hyperconjugation and dispersion effects. The results provide strong evidence that hyperconjugative interactions are not responsible for the anomeric effect and that it is better interpreted in terms of electrostatic interactions.
Absence of eclipse phase in scrapie mice.

Field, Joyce and Keith1 have claimed that the scrapie agent shows a viral characteristic by having an eclipse phase after being inoculated into the intracerebral region of mice. Three experiments, studying the accumulation of scrapie agent in spleen after intracerebral and intraperitoneal inoculation of mice, have not verified the conclusions of Field et al. A typical curve for the progression of scrapie activity after intracerebral inoculation (Fig. 1) shows no eclipse phase, nor was any observed in an experiment where the titre was examined every 2 days for the first 14 days after inoculation. Moreover, Field and his colleagues have not referred to similar studies with different results from theirs. Four independent groups of workers2–6 have now examined the levels of scrapie activity in brain and spleen during the early stages after infection by three different routes and in none of these studies was there any clear indication of an eclipse phase in scrapie.
Both sense and antisense strands of the LTR of the Schistosoma mansoni Pao-like retrotransposon Sinbad drive luciferase expression.

Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons, mobile genetic elements comprising substantial proportions of many eukaryotic genomes, are so named for the presence of LTRs, direct repeats about 250–600 bp in length flanking the open reading frames that encode the retrotransposon enzymes and structural proteins. LTRs include promotor functions as well as other roles in retrotransposition. LTR retrotransposons, including the Gypsy-like Boudicca and the Pao/BEL-like Sinbad elements, comprise a substantial proportion of the genome of the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni. In order to deduce the capability of specific copies of Boudicca and Sinbad LTRs to function as promotors, these LTRs were investigated analytically and experimentally. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of TATA boxes, canonical polyadenylation signals, and direct inverted repeats within the LTRs of both the Boudicca and Sinbad retrotransposons. Inserted in the reporter plasmid pGL3, the LTR of Sinbad drove firefly luciferase activity in HeLa cells in its forward and inverted orientation. In contrast, the LTR of Boudicca did not drive luciferase activity in HeLa cells. The ability of the Sinbad LTR to transcribe in both its forward and inverted orientation represents one of few documented examples of bidirectional promotor function.
A hot-water ice-coring drill

A new method of ice-core drilling uses an annulus of hot-water jets to melt out a cylindrical ice core. This lightweight device used in combination with a fast hot-water drill can quickly obtain ice cores from any depth.
Cell-Cycle Analysis in 20 Minutes

Mithramycin added to mammalian cells fixed in aqueous ethanol is bound to DNA and fluoresces in direct proportion to the cellular DNA content. Quantitative fluorescence measurement by means of a high-speed flow system instrument provides a rapid method for cell-cycle analysis and for the first time permits continuous monitoring of cell-cycle kinetics during ongoing experiments.