cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A 77 GHz Simulation Study of Roadway Infrastructure Radar Signatures for Smart Roads

With exponentially increasing interest in driver-less cars, much focus has been placed on various sensor technologies that the vehicles will be equipped with. At the core of these sensor technologies is 77 GHz automotive radar. Recent simulation studies of 77 GHz automotive radar corner cases have revealed that the existing roadway infrastructure will need to be updated for safer and more robust compatibility with fully autonomous vehicles. In this paper, we present a full-physics based simulation study of the radar signatures of road guardrails and road covering, construction steel plates at 77 GHz. Results from this study show that current road infrastructure has a high radar cross section (RCS) that can overwhelm radar sensors and render crucial targets such as pedestrians invisible while also possibly triggering false detection. Using an asymptotic, full-physics electromagnetics solver, we demonstrate two techniques that can significantly reduce the RCS of guardrails and construction steel plates. Using these techniques, simulation studies predict a 25dB and 15dB reduction in the RCS of guardrails and construction steel plates, respectively.
Probing the surface oxidation process in hexagonal boron nitride epilayers

Thermal neutron detectors based on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) epilayers have demonstrated a record high efficiency among solid-state detectors at 58%. It was found that the performance of h-BN detectors is profoundly influenced by charge recombination at the surfaces. The dynamic process of surface oxidation in h-BN epilayers has been probed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The spectra of high-resolution (0.1 eV) scans indicated that the linewidth of the B 1s peak at 190.6 eV increased and the peak intensity decreased with an increase in exposure time in-air (tair). The main B 1s peak at 190.6 eV evolved into multiple peaks at a higher binding energy position due to oxygen impurities tending to occupy nitrogen sites and form the B–O bond. Time constants of the oxidation process have been determined, revealing that the formation process of the B–O bond is very fast and within minutes in h-BN. The results suggest that reducing nitrogen vacancy generation during growth and employing surface treatment techniques would further improve the performance of h-BN devices.Thermal neutron detectors based on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) epilayers have demonstrated a record high efficiency among solid-state detectors at 58%. It was found that the performance of h-BN detectors is profoundly influenced by charge recombination at the surfaces. The dynamic process of surface oxidation in h-BN epilayers has been probed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The spectra of high-resolution (0.1 eV) scans indicated that the linewidth of the B 1s peak at 190.6 eV increased and the peak intensity decreased with an increase in exposure time in-air (tair). The main B 1s peak at 190.6 eV evolved into multiple peaks at a higher binding energy position due to oxygen impurities tending to occupy nitrogen sites and form the B–O bond. Time constants of the oxidation process have been determined, revealing that the formation process of the B–O bond is very fast and within minutes in h-BN. The results suggest that reducing nitrogen vacancy generation during growth and employing surface treatment...
H2 Evolution from a Thiolate-Bound Ni(III) Hydride.

Terminal NiIII hydrides are proposed intermediates in proton reduction catalyzed by both molecular electrocatalysts and metalloenzymes, but well-defined examples of paramagnetic nickel hydride comp...
Analysis on immune status of the new found HIV infected persons in Hebei Province in 2009

Objective To analyze immune status of 300 newly reported HIV cases in Hebei Province in 2009.Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect CD4 + T lymphocytes of the infected persons ;data was analyzed by SPSS 15.0 software.Results The average of CD4 + T lymphocytes in male and female patients were 366.36 ± 14.16 and 303.74 ±26.06 separately.The male' s was higher than the female' s (P＜0.05),but was still far below that of healthy population (860.27 ± 255.15).Among the groups elder than 9 years old,CD4+T lymphocytes in age group 20-29 was statistically highest(425.59 ± 21.48,P ＜0.05 ).CD4 + T lymphocytes in unmarried group was higher than married group with significant statistical difference(P ＜ 0.05 ).As to the routes of transmission,isosexual mode was significantly different with heterosexual,injecting drug,blood transmission,and other unknown modes ( P ＜ 0.05 ) ; injecting drug route was significantly different ( P ＜ 0.05 ) with isosexual,heterosexual,blood transmission and other unknown routes.Difference between groups by occupation and education was not statistically significant ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions In the newly reported HIV cases of Hebei province in 2009,CD4 + T lymphocytes level is statistically different with gender,age,marital status and route of transmission.Main factors influencing immune status of newly reported cases are age,transmission mode and detection testing timeliness. Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus; CD4 + T lymphocytes; Influencing factors
The Virtues of Complexity: Judge Marrero's Systemic Account of Litigation Abuse

This piece is divided into five Parts. The first four will discuss, analyze, and expand on what I consider the four important ways Judge Marrero’s piece adds complexity to our understanding of contemporary litigation practice: (1) the increasing disaggregation of litigation decision-making; (2) the expansion of the conception of what practices constitute litigation abuse; (3) a recognition of the psychological complexity of the motives for litigation tactics; and (4) the disparate ways litigation abuse appears in different types of cases. Then, after a brief interlude to consider what can be learned from the experience of the “rocket dockets” in some federal district courts, the final Part will look at the ways in which Judge Marrero’s more complex understanding of the problems of our contemporary litigation system can point the way to useful improvements.
Utilization of Descriptive Sensory Analysis and Volatile Analysis to Determine Quality Indicators of Aquacultured Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopanaeus vannemei) during Refrigerated Storage

Traditionally, shrimp meat quality has been evaluated using subjective qualitative (pass/fail grading) sensory methods. This study aims to develop quantitative sensory indicators that contribute to...
Opening remarks to New Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion III

Welcome to the conference on New Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion III. Here, we aim to explore a range of concepts and experiments relating to the effective conversion of radiation into alternative forms of energy and power. These include sessions on high-efficiency thermophotovoltaics, selective thermal transport, solar photovoltaics, reliability aspects of photovoltaics, artificial photosynthesis, solar fuels, and the stability of perovskite solar cells. A range of video and poster presentations will be available in this virtual forum, and participants are encouraged to follow-up with individual presenters with any specific questions or comments.
Dependence Clusters in Alzheimer Disease and Medicare Expenditures: A Longitudinal Analysis From the Predictors Study.

Introduction Dependence in Alzheimer disease has been proposed as a holistic, transparent, and meaningful representation of disease severity. Modeling clusters in dependence trajectories can help understand changes in disease course and care cost over time. Methods Sample consisted of 199 initially community-living patients with probable Alzheimer disease recruited from 3 academic medical centers in the United States followed for up to 10 years and had ≥2 Dependence Scale recorded. Nonparametric K-means cluster analysis for longitudinal data (KmL) was used to identify dependence clusters. Medicare expenditures data (1999-2010) were compared between clusters. Results KmL identified 2 distinct Dependence Scale clusters: (A) high initial dependence, faster decline, and (B) low initial dependence, slower decline. Adjusting for patient characteristics, 6-month Medicare expenditures increased over time with widening between-cluster differences. Discussion Dependence captures dementia care costs over time. Better characterization of dependence clusters has significant implications for understanding disease progression, trial design and care planning.
The Power of Proportions in Problem Solving.

Mathematical skills and concepts are often taught in a narrow context. Consequently, many students fail to under stand the general applicability and power of the ideas they have learned. When given a problem in mathematics, they are unable to see a relationship between it and a pre viously learned mathematical principle that could be used to solve the problem. That students view mathematics as a collection of isolated facts and formulas with little utility beyond the settings in which they first encountered the ideas is not sur prising. Teachers can demonstrate the problem solving power of mathematical ideas by using ideas in a variety of contexts across the mathematics curriculum. In this article, we will give several examples of seemingly unrelated problems that nevertheless can be solved with a single mathematical idea? the proportion. It is hoped as students see how a variety of problem contexts can be modeled by a proportion, they will use pro portions more frequently in problem solv ing. The following are some introductory problems solved with proportions.
How Much Needs to be Saved for Retirement After Factoring in Post-Retirement Risks: Evidence from the EBRI Retirement Security Projection Model®

This paper helps answer one of the most important questions that many defined contribution participants face before retirement: How much do I need to save each year for a “successful” retirement? It begins with a brief description of EBRI’s Retirement Security Projection Model,® followed by the specific methodology utilized in this analysis. Results are provided first for the required contribution rates for those starting to save at ages 25, 40, or 55. The analysis includes three of the major post-retirement risks (longevity, investment, and long-term care) while allowing the participant to also choose the probability of “success” that is best suited for their circumstances. Given the assumptions used in this paper, a single male age 25 earning $40,000 with no previous savings would need a total contribution rate (employee and employer combined) of less than 3 percent per year until retirement (age 65) for a 50 percent chance of success. A 6.4 percent contribution rate would achieve a 75 percent success rate, and a 14 percent contribution rate would achieve a 90 percent success rate. But if a male earning $40,000 were to wait until age 40 to begin saving, he would need a 6.5 percent total contribution rate for just a 50 percent chance of success and a 16.5 percent total contribution rate for a 75 percent chance of success; a 90 percent probability of success would be impossible even with a 25 percent contribution rate. The next section is an analysis of the account balances required by ages 40 and 55 for those who have already been saving for retirement, showing how large a participant’s current account balance needs to be, by contribution rate, to be “on-track” for a particular level of retirement success. The final section summarizes the results for both analyses.
Infective Endocarditis and Device Infections

Infective endocarditis (IE), including prosthetic valve and device infections, are highly morbid conditions with a diversity of clinical presentations, etiologies, and complications. Due to changing patterns of antibiotic resistance and an increasingly complex patient population, there has been a shift to managing this disease with a multidisciplinary team including cardiologists, surgeons, microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, and neurologists.
Outcomes From Three Decades of Infant and Pediatric Heart Transplantation.

Infants are a unique transplant population due to a suspected immunologic advantage, in addition to differences in size and physiology. Consequently, we expect infants to have significantly different diagnoses, comorbidities, and outcomes than pediatric transplant recipients. In this study, we compare patterns and trends in pediatric and infant heart transplantation during three decades. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was queried for transplants occurring between January 1990 and December 2018. Patients were categorized as pediatric (1-17) or infant (0-1). Congenital heart disease (CHD) primary diagnoses have increased from 37% to 42% in pediatric patients (p = 0.001) and decreased from 80% to 61% in infants during the 1990s and 2010s (p < 0.001). Those with CHD had worse outcomes in both age groups (p < 0.001). Infants who underwent ABO-incompatible transplants had similar survival as compared to those with compatible transplants (p = 0.18). Overall, infants had better long-term survival and long-term graft survival than pediatric patients; however, they had worse short-term survival (p < 0.001). Death due to rejection or graft failure was less likely in infants (p = 0.034). However, death from infection was over twice as common (p < 0.001). In summary, pediatric and infant heart transplant recipients differ in diagnoses, comorbidities, and outcomes, necessitating different care for these populations.
Explaining the trends and variability in the United States tornado records using climate teleconnections and shifts in observational practices.

The annual frequency of tornadoes during 1950-2018 across the major tornado-impacted states were examined and modeled using anthropogenic and large-scale climate covariates in a hierarchical Bayesian inference framework. Anthropogenic factors include increases in population density and better detection systems since the mid-1990s. Large-scale climate variables include El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Arctic Oscillation (AO), and Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO). The model provides a robust way of estimating the response coefficients by considering pooling of information across groups of states that belong to Tornado Alley, Dixie Alley, and Other States, thereby reducing their uncertainty. The influence of the anthropogenic factors and the large-scale climate variables are modeled in a nested framework to unravel secular trend from cyclical variability. Population density explains the long-term trend in Dixie Alley. The step-increase induced due to the installation of the Doppler Radar systems explains the long-term trend in Tornado Alley. NAO and the interplay between NAO and ENSO explained the interannual to multi-decadal variability in Tornado Alley. PDO and AMO are also contributing to this multi-time scale variability. SOI and AO explain the cyclical variability in Dixie Alley. This improved understanding of the variability and trends in tornadoes should be of immense value to public planners, businesses, and insurance-based risk management agencies.
Semi-Supervised Audio Representation Learning for Modeling Beehive Strengths

Honey bees are critical to our ecosystem and food security as a pollinator, contributing 35% of our global agriculture yield. In spite of their importance, beekeeping is exclusively dependent on human labor and experience-derived heuristics, while requiring frequent human checkups to ensure the colony is healthy, which can disrupt the colony. Increasingly, pollinator populations are declining due to threats from climate change, pests, environmental toxicity, making their management even more critical than ever before in order to ensure sustained global food security. To start addressing this pressing challenge, we developed an integrated hardware sensing system for beehive monitoring through audio and environment measurements, and a hierarchical semi-supervised deep learning model, composed of an audio modeling module and a predictor, to model the strength of beehives. The model is trained jointly on audio reconstruction and prediction losses based on human inspections, in order to model both low-level audio features and circadian temporal dynamics. We show that this model performs well despite limited labels, and can learn an audio embedding that is useful for characterizing different sound profiles of beehives. This is the first instance to our knowledge of applying audio-based deep learning to model beehives and population size in an observational setting across a large number of hives.
With Digital Privacy Law, Don’t Repeat Mistakes of the Past

This short op-ed argues that, as Congress debates whether to preempt state privacy laws, it should look to past experience with laws regulating technology and avoid repeating their mistakes. The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, which preempted most state anti-spam laws, shows the risk of a uniform federal law that doesn’t do enough to protect consumers. While complying with 50 inconsistent state privacy laws would be a recipe for chaos, that doesn’t mean that Congress should instead gut privacy protections and rely on ineffective industry self regulation.
Creation of a High Fidelity, Cost Effective, Real World Surgical Simulation for Surgical Education:

BackgroundHow do surgical residents learn to operate? What is a surgical plane? How does one learn to see and dissect the plane? How do surgical residents learn tissue handling and suturing (sewing...
What Factors Influence Dental Faculty's Willingness to Treat Pregnant Women?

Background:Despite evidence-based guidelines advocating for the provision of oral health care throughout pregnancy, dentists remain hesitant to provide dental treatment for pregnant women. However,...
Molecular Filtration Through Membranes

This chapter deals with the phenomenological and energetic aspects of molecular-filtration processes.1 Advances in polymer chemistry have made it possible to prepare membranes which separate not only macromolecules and other colloids from solvents (ultrafiltration), but even molecular particles of comparable size (hyperfiltration; also called reverse osmosis). Large-scale hyperfiltration of sea water is possible, although the partial molal volumes of the salts and of water are of the same order of magnitude. Because of the importance of desalination and its widespread use, the example chosen in this chapter is the pressure-induced salt-water separation.
The Emerging Nature of Post-Bubble Japanese Business: Policies for Continuing Economic Growth into the New Millennium

The Japanese economy, the second largest in the world and the lead economy in fast growing Asia, was in a major and structural recession in the 1990s. The changes necessary for Japan to renew its economic growth must reflect not only the effects of the post-bubble recession of the 1990s, but also the end of the cold war and the new social values, demographics, and politics in Japan. This paper is an analytical review of post-war economic growth in Japan including the factors that led to the 1990s recession, an assessment of the likely nature of post-bubble Japanese business as it prepares for growth in the new millennium, and the challenges posed by these changes for the Japanese and for those who plan to work with or compete with Japanese firms.
Interactive Narrative Architecture based on Filmmaking Theory

Theatre directors, filmmakers, and animators have recognized and documented the importance of visual elements, including placements of characters, lighting effects, and camera shots, in conveying the narrative and engaging viewers. Even though, advances in computer graphics have facilitated the development of complex and intriguing synthetic worlds that can be visually manipulated in real-time, current interactive entertainment systems still rely on statically designed camera movements, lighting, and animations, which are labor intensive and result in context insensitive and visually unfulfilling interactive experiences. Very few research attempts have explored the utility of visually manipulating a scene to accommodate variations in the plot and dramatic situation imposed by interaction. Such studies focused mostly on camera movement and positioning with little implication on lighting and character movements. In this paper, I present an interactive narrative architecture that in addition to dynamically selecting narrative events that suit the situation, it dynamically reconfigures the visual design integrating aspects of several visual elements, including camera, lighting, and character. It uses rules, based on documented filmmaking, cinematography, and visual arts theories, to increase engagement and accommodate the evolving dramatic situation..
The U.S. Performance in Achieving Its 1992 Earth Summit Global Warming Commitments

This article will identify the major U.S. commitments under the UNFCCC and examine how the United States has performed in achieving them.
Information Risk and the Cost of Capital: Review of the Empirical Literature

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the empirical research on the relationship between information risk and the cost of capital. Although theory suggests that, increase in information should reduce the cost of capital through reduced transaction cost and/or reduced estimation risk, traditional asset pricing model does not allow any role for information. This survey documents recent development in the measurement of cost of equity capital and how this is affected by the quality of information disclosed. The empirical literature on the effect of disclosure quality, earnings quality and corporate governance risk on the cost of capital is synthesized. The survey shows that considerable progress has been made in understanding the role of information in influencing the cost of capital, however, more research needs to be done and these are identified.
Students' Perception of Case‐Based Continuous Assessment and Multiple‐Choice Assessment in a Small Animal Surgery Course for Veterinary Medical Students

Objective To determine the relationship between students' perceptions of 2 assessment methods and academic performance. Study Design A 2-year prospective survey study in a 4-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum. Sample Population Year 3 DVM students (n = 44). Methods An assessment of learning gain questionnaire was used to investigate students' perceptions regarding multiple-choice examination (MCE) versus take-home case-based continuous assessment (CA) in a 3rd year small animal surgery lecture course. Academic performance and student assessment of learning gain in the 2 course components were compared. Relationships between student perceptions and academic performance were examined. A follow-up survey was conducted during clinical rotations in 4th year to determine change in student perceptions over time. Results Academic performance in 3rd year was significantly enhanced by use of CA, particularly for students with weaker grades. Academic performance in 4th year clinical rotations was not closely related to 3rd year performance. Many students preferred an instructional approach with provision of comprehensive notes and assessment with multiple-choice questions based on the notes. However, students recognized that feedback on work submitted for CA grading significantly facilitated learning. Student assessment of learning gain was correlated with academic performance in the 3rd year course component examined by CA, but not the component assessed using MCE. Conclusion Our data suggest that perceptions of learning gain, academic accomplishment, and clinical performance in 4th year are weakly correlated. Teachers should better explain to veterinary students that learning to be a clinician is more than replication of knowledge.
A pest risk assessment for Copitarsia spp., Insects associated with importation of commodities into the United States

Eggs and larvae of Copitarsia spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are frequently intercepted on fresh commodities arriving in the United States from Mexico, Central America, and South America. Copitarsia spp. are not known to occur in the US and, thus, are considered actionable pests by the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS). Whenever the genus is detected in imported goods, shipments must be disinfested, destroyed, or returned to the country of origin. Inspections and interdictions might be unnecessary if Copitarsia spp. were unlikely to establish in the US or if consequences of Copitarsia establishment were trivial. Consequently, we prepared a qualitative pest risk assessment to characterize the degree of risk posed by the genus to US agricultural and natural ecosystems. Published literature was consulted to describe the biology and ecology of the genus. Trade statistics and interception records were summarized to identify pathways of introduction. With this information, experts assigned risk ratings to each of eleven elements identified by USDA, APHIS that pertained to the likelihood or consequence of exotic-pest establishment. The likelihood of Copitarsia spp. becoming established in the US was considered high, but confidence in this assessment was low. Similarly, consequences of Copitarsia establishment were rated high, but confidence in this assessment was moderate. Overall, the assessment revealed that Copitarsia pose a high degree of risk to the US and phytosanitary measures to exclude the pest seem warranted. However, additional research is needed to address critical data gaps and refine assessments of risk for individual species within the genus.
To oxidize or not to oxidize

Manipulating the redox state of cells to enhance cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents: potential roles of p21 and C/EBPβ (pages 1233–1241).
Laser Specular Reflectance and the Optical rms Roughness of Alumina

Using laser specular reflectance, the optical rms roughnesses [sigma][sub 0]'s of 42 polycrystalline aluminas (PCA's) were determined. From these conventional experimental results, a nomogram was constructed so that single grazing angle ([alpha]) measurements could be used to predict [sigma][sub 0]. Subsequently, the nomogram was reassessed using five commercially important PCA's and one single-crystal sapphire (SC). The outcomes were twofold: that this nomogram was valid for PCA's over the range of 0.28 [<=] [sigma][sub 0] [<=] 0.10 [mu]m, but that the nomogram was invalid for SC sapphire. When the conventional experimental method was compared with the nomogram method at three different single-angle values, a 1:1 correspondence was observed for [alpha] = 78[degree], 80[degree], and 82[degree]. The present noncontact method is advocated for speed and cleanliness, particularly when a quality assurance method is desired.
On the asymptotic theory of rank order tests for experiments involving paired comparisons

The problem of testing the hypothesis of no difference among several treatments for the case when the comparisons between the treatments is possible only in pairs has been considered by Durbin [3], Bradley and Terry [1], Elteren and Noether [4], and Mehra and Puri [6], among others. Following the lines of Sen and Puri [9], a new approach to the asymptotic theory of rank order tests for this problem is developed. This avoids the unnecessarily complicated and lengthy conditional approach of Mehra and Puri [6] and also simplifies the proofs considerably.
Sensory influences upon amphetamine tolerance

Abstract The effects of illumination, noise, and d-amphetamine upon locomotor activity were studied in the rat. While both noise and illumination altered activity level, only illumination was related to the drug effects. The effectiveness of the drug was found to decrease, primarily in the dark, over repeated trials.
Contemporary Athletics and Ancient Greek Ideals

Daniel A. Dombrowski, Contemporary Athletics and Ancient Greek Ideals. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2009. Pp. 174. $35 (cloth). ISBN 978-0-226-15546-3; $5 to $35 (E-book, first edition), I...
Classical scaling of the quantum capacitances for molecular wires

Detailed calculations demonstrate that the quantum capacitances of nonspherical, rodlike molecular wires scale with their dimensions according to a linear law much like that obeyed by classical, macroscopic spherical capacitors. Further, this linear isoperimetric scaling law leads to a particularly simple formula that relates a molecule's electron affinity directly to its ionization potential and its spatial dimensions.
The development of mental arithmetic: A chronometric approach☆

Abstract The development of mental arithmetic is approached from a mathematical perspective, focusing on several process models of arithmetic performance which have grown out of the chronometric methods of cognitive psychology. These models, based on hypotheses about the nature of underlying mental operations and structures in arithmetic, generate quantitative predictions about reaction time performance. A review of the research suggests a developmental trend in the mastery of arithmetic knowledge—there is an initial reliance on procedural knowledge and methods such as counting which is followed by a gradual shift to retrieval from a network representation of arithmetic facts. A descriptive model of these mental structures and processes is presented, and quantitative predictions about children's arithmetic performance at various stages of mastery are considered.
Reclassification of the Indo-Pacific Hawkfish Cirrhitus pinnulatus (Forster)

The hawkfish Cirrhitus pinnulatus Forster (in Bloch & Schneider 1801) was regarded as one wide-ranging Indo-Pacific species, from the Red Sea and east coast of Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and the islands of French Polynesia. Schultz (1950) resurrected the name C. alternatus Gill for the population in the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll, and described the Red Sea population as a new species, C. spilotoceps , based on morphological data. Randall (1963) confirmed the differences that Schultz used to separate Cirrhitus pinnulatus into three species, but preferred to regard them as subspecies. We examined more specimens, colour photographs, and used genetic comparisons to determine the validity of the three species recognized by Schultz (1950). Combining mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome b sequence data from specimens of C. pinnulatus pinnulatus from the Indo-Pacific, C. spilotoceps from the Red Sea, and C. pinnulatus maculosus from Hawai‘i, we detected levels of sequence divergence (5–12%) that support the species-level designation of C. spilotoceps . We detected no genetic differentiation but maintain the subspecies designation of the Hawaiian form based on morphological and colour differences. We found a third genetic lineage in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific that is 5% divergent from C. spilotoceps . We refrain from designating this group as a separate subspecies until further morphological and genetic study can be completed.
Intensity discrimination of pulsed tones by the goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Intensity discrimination thresholds for 500‐ms pure‐tone bursts were measured as a function of frequency in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) using classical respiratory conditioning. At 55‐dB sensation level (SL), thresholds range from 1.44–2.2 dB between 100 and 1600 Hz. There is no important effect of frequency on intensity discrimination. Thresholds at 35‐dB SL average 0.7 dB higher than at 55‐dB SL. This is a small difference in the context of the threshold variability. In intensity discrimination acuity, the goldfish is quantitatively similar to other vertebrates, including birds and mammals.
Regression fallacies in the matched groups experiment

This paper is concerned particularly with certain regression effects which appear whenever matched groups are drawn from populations which differ with regard to the characteristics being studied. It is shown that regression will produce systematic differences between specifically matched. The size and direction of these differences depends upon the differences between the parent populations both in the matching and in the experimental variables and upon the correlation between the matching and experimental variables. Formulas are presented for estimating the expected regression effect. Several alternative procedures are suggested for avoiding the erroneous conclusions which the regression effect is likely to suggest.
Rule profiling for query optimizers and their implications

Many modern optimizers use a transformation rule based framework. While there has been a lot of work on identifying new transformation rules, there has been little work focused on empirically evaluating the effectiveness of these transformation rules. In this paper we present the results of an empirical study of “profiling” transformation rules in Microsoft SQL Server using a diverse set of real world and benchmark query workloads. We also discuss the implications of these results for designing and testing query optimizers.
Bioaccumulation potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Daphnia pulex

Abstract The bioaccumulation potentials by aquatic biota from aqueous solution were determined for seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The PAH were tested using Daphnia pulex and consisted of the following compounds: naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene, 9-methylanthracene, benz(a)anthracene and perylene. Bioaccumulation kinetics were described as a first order approach to equilibrium in a two-compartment model (water and Daphnia), using a two-stage technique to estimate uptake and elimination rates, while accounting for decreasing aqueous concentrations. Estimates of equilibrium concentration factors were obtained by two methods: (1) evaluating the kinetic model as t tends to infinity and (2) direct measurement of concentration factor at t =24 h. Estimations of equilibrium concentration factors obtained by the two methods were in good agreement, and increased dramatically with increasing molecular weight within the series of compounds. The calculated n-octanol-water partition coefficient was shown to be a good predictor of bioaccumulation potential of PAH in Daphnia. PAH were concentrated from a high of about 10,000-fold for benz(a)anthracene to a low of about 100-fold for naphthalene.
Flue gas cleanup using the Moving-Bed Copper Oxide Process

The use of copper oxide on a support had been envisioned as a gas cleanup technique to remove sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) and nitric oxides (NO{sub x}) from flue gas produced by the combustion of coal for electric power generation. In general, dry, regenerable flue gas cleanup techniques that use a sorbent can have various advantages, such as simultaneous removal of pollutants, production of a salable by-product, and low costs when compared to commercially available wet scrubbing technology. Due to the temperature of reaction, the placement of the process into an advanced power system could actually increase the thermal efficiency of the plant. The Moving-Bed Copper Oxide Process is capable of simultaneously removing sulfur oxides and nitric oxides within the reactor system. In this regenerable sorbent technique, the use of the copper oxide sorbent was originally in a fluidized bed, but the more recent effort developed the use of the sorbent in a moving-bed reactor design. A pilot facility or life-cycle test system was constructed so that an integrated testing of the sorbent over absorption/regeneration cycles could be conducted. A parametric study of the total process was then performed where all process steps, including absorption and regeneration, were continuously operatedmore » and experimentally evaluated. The parametric effects, including absorption temperature, sorbent and gas residence times, inlet SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} concentration, and flyash loadings, on removal efficiencies and overall operational performance were determined. Although some of the research results have not been previously published because of previous collaborative restrictions, a summary of these past findings is presented in this communication. Additionally, the potential use of the process for criteria pollutant removal in oxy-firing of fossil fuel for carbon sequestration purposes is discussed.« less
Aspartate aminotransferase in synaptic and nonsynaptic mitochondria: differential effect of compounds that influence transient hetero-enzyme complex (metabolon) formation.

Abstract The enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) has a number of key roles in astrocytes and neurons in brain. An understanding of the regulation of AAT is important since AAT is involved in many aspects of glutamate metabolism including the synthesis of neurotransmitter glutamate. Mitochondrial AAT binds to a protein and lipids on the inner mitochondrial membrane and also forms a number of transient hetero-enzyme complexes with other enzymes. These complexes serve to facilitate metabolism by essentially channeling substrates and cofactors to other enzymes within the complex. The association and dissociation of transiently formed hetero-enzyme complexes may modulate enzyme activity in “real time” since these complexes are dynamically influenced by changes in the concentration of a number of key metabolites. The influence of several effectors that modulate AAT activity, either directly, or by altering the binding of AAT to mitochondrial lipids, or the association/dissociation into transient hetero-enzyme complexes was determined. The addition of palmitate, malate, citrate, glutamate, bovine serum albumin and Mg 2+ modulated AAT activity differently in synaptic and nonsynaptic mitochondria from brain. These findings suggest that AAT activity and also glutamate metabolism, may be regulated in part, by metabolites that influence binding of the enzyme to lipids or proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane and/or the association/dissociation of transient hetero-enzyme complexes. This may have a role in the compartmentation of glutamate metabolism in brain.
Influence of partial matrix fluorination on morphology and performance of HPDLC transmission gratings

The morphology and the electro-optical performance characteristics were investigated in holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) transmission gratings with partially fluorinated polymer matrices. HPDLC transmission gratings were prepared using standard UV curable monomer mixtures along with mono-functional fluorinated acrylate monomers and a nematic liquid crystal, TL203. Partial fluorination of the host polymer matrices by incorporating hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate (HFIPA) or trifluoroethyl acrylate (TFEA) in the standard formulation has been found to influence the morphological and the electro-optical properties of the resulting HPDLC transmission gratings. Significant decrease in switching voltages and higher relaxation times were observed in fluorinated HPDLCs. Conversely, an addition of methyl acrylate (MA), a non-fluorinated monomer with a similar structure in the standard formulation, resulted in an increase in the switching voltage and produced no significant change in the relaxation time in the HPDLC gratings. Presence of fluorine atoms at the polymer-liquid crystal (LC) interface not only decreased the surface anchoring strength but also influenced the orientation of LC droplet directors.
Reconstructing each cell's genome within complex microbial communities—dream or reality?

As the vast majority of microorganisms have yet to be cultivated in a laboratory setting, access to their genetic makeup has largely been limited to cultivation-independent methods. These methods, namely metagenomics and more recently single-cell genomics, have become cornerstones for microbial ecology and environmental microbiology. One ultimate goal is the recovery of genome sequences from each cell within an environment to move toward a better understanding of community metabolic potential and to provide substrate for experimental work. As single-cell sequencing has the ability to decipher all sequence information contained in an individual cell, this method holds great promise in tackling such challenge. Methodological limitations and inherent biases however do exist, which will be discussed here based on environmental and benchmark data, to assess how far we are from reaching this goal.
Adrenoleukodystrophy: from bedside to molecular biology.

Although X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy was first described in 1923, the key advances in understanding the disorder followed discoveries beginning in 1973 that it was characterized by the tissue accumulation of very long chain fatty acids, particularly hexacosanoic acid (C26:0). Very long chain fatty acid assays in plasma, red cells, fibroblasts, or amniocytes permit prenatal and postnatal diagnosis and carrier detection. The phenotype of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy is varied and ranges from the severe and fatal childhood form, to persons who remain asymptomatic in adult life. The underlying biochemical defect is the impaired capacity to degrade very long chain fatty acids, a reaction which normally takes place in the peroxisome. The locus of the adrenoleukodystrophy gene has been mapped to the terminal (Q28) segment of the long arm of the X-chromosome, in close proximity to the loci of Hemophilia A and red-green color blindness. A DNA probe (St14) for this portion of the X-chromosome is of aid for carri...
Locking mechanism strength of absorbable ligating devices.

The locking mechanism strenghts of the absorbable Absolok and Lactomer ligating clips and the absorbable Lactomer staple have been determined following implantation in an animal model. Three sizes of each type of clip and the single size of staple were enclosed in open mesh nylon pouches and implanted subcutaneously in rabbits for periods of 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days before tensile testing of the lock mechanisms. No change in the lock mechanism strength was detected for the Absolok clips before 21 days. The Lactomer clips and staples, however, showed significant decrease in lock mechanism strength within 7 days of implantation, this loss increasing with longer implantation times. A proportion of all the devices were found to have dissolved to an extent that precluded testing at 21 and 28 days. The findings indicate that the lock mechanisms of absorbable ligating clips differ significantly in their short-term (30 days) durability.
Capturing relevant information for digital curation

Digital curation primarily involves selecting, preserving, and insuring access to a repository of digital information. We argue that metadata and rich contextual information are crucial to long-term access to digital assets. The Vidarch Project aims to develop policies and tools that help video curators discover and add contextual elements that will help future generations not only find but also make sense of video content. A key question is what context to include? We do not want to collect everything (e.g., everything in the London Times the day the video was first released) and at the same time, we want to make sure that we do not miss the most pertinent contexualizing information. Instead of leaving this problem to the effectiveness of some automated process or as a burden to the curator alone, we suggest a hybrid approach. We propose to use four different aspects of relevance to help a curator determine what contextual information to include. These aspects along with the corresponding functional parts of the system are described below. An outline of the system is given in Figure 1.
Synthetic studies of complex immunostimulants from Quillaja saponaria: synthesis of the potent clinical immunoadjuvant QS-21Aapi.

QS-21 is one of the most promising new adjuvants for immune response potentiation and dose-sparing in vaccine therapy given its exceedingly high level of potency and its favorable toxicity profile. Melanoma, breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, HIV-1, and malaria are among the numerous maladies targeted in more than 80 recent and ongoing vaccine therapy clinical trials involving QS-21 as a critical adjuvant component for immune response augmentation. QS-21 is a natural product immunostimulatory adjuvant, eliciting both T-cell- and antibody-mediated immune responses with microgram doses. Herein is reported the synthesis of QS-21Aapi in a highly modular strategy, applying novel glycosylation methodologies to a convergent construction of the potent saponin immunostimulant. The chemical synthesis of QS-21 offers unique opportunities to probe its mode of biological action through the preparation of otherwise unattainable nonnatural saponin analogues.
Propranolol reduces anoxia/reoxygenation-mediated injury of adult myocytes through an anti-radical mechanism

The effects of propranolol (PRO) and atenolol (ATE) on adult canine myocytes exposed to 30 min anoxia (A:95% N2/5% CO2) and subsequent reoxygenation (R:95% O2/5% CO2) for up to 20 min was investigated. In some studies, comparison of effects were made with that of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Although anoxia alone produced only minimal injury, reoxygenation in the absence of the beta-blockers or SOD was associated with significant losses of cellular viability, elevated release of cellular lactate dehydrogenase, and increased formation of lipid peroxidation products. Myocytes exposed to A/R in the presence of d,1-PRO (20, 200 microM) were afforded substantial, concentration-dependent protection during 20 min reoxygenation. Significant protection was also observed in the presence of 2 microM d-PRO (non-active beta-blocker), but only after a longer preincubation period (2 h). SOD (10 micrograms/ml) provided equi-potent protection to that of 200 microM d,1-PRO. By contrast, the more water-soluble beta-blocker, ATE (200 microM), offered only minor protection. Electron Spin Resonance spin trapping studies using alpha-phenyl-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) were also performed with A/R myocytes in the presence or absence of drug treatment. Short-term (10 min) exposure to d,1-PRO (200 microM) prior to A/R, or to SOD, resulted in a 71-84% reduction in total PBN lipid radical adduct formation (alkoxyl; alpha H = 2.0-2.5 G, alpha N = 13.5-13.75 G); long-term exposure (2 h) to 2 microM d-PRO resulted in a 51% reduction. These data suggest that the superoxide anion was an initiator of events leading to subsequent lipid radical formation and that the anti-peroxidative properties of PRO appear to be independent of beta-receptor blockade.
Special Values of Class Group L-Functions for CM Fields

Let H be the Hilbert class field of a CM number field K with maximal totally real subfield F of degree n over Q. We evaluate the second term in the Taylor expansion at s = 0 of the Galois- equivariant L-functionS1(s) associated to the unramified abelian characters of Gal(H/K). This is an identity in the group ring C(Gal(H/K)) expressing � (n) S1 (0) as essentially a linear combination of logarithms of special values {�(z�)}, where �: Hn → R is a Hilbert modular function for a congruence subgroup of SL2(OF) and {z� : � ∈ Gal(H/K)} are CM points on a universal Hilbert modular variety. We apply this result to express the relative class number hH/hK as a rational multiple of the determinant of an (hK − 1) × (hK − 1) matrix of logarithms of ratios of special values �(z�), thus giving rise to candidates for higher analogs of elliptic units. Finally, we obtain a product formula for �(z�) in terms of exponentials of special values of L-functions.
Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of water flux through the arthropod cuticle

Abstract 1. 1. Irreversible thermodynamics theory is used to justify the use of chemical potential gradients in analysis of temperature effects on arthropod water loss rates. 2. 2. A kinetic derivation of Fisk's first law is used to demonstrate difficulties in the use of saturation deficit in water loss studies in which temperature is a variable. 3. 3. Calculated values for the enthalpy of activation for transcuticular water flux indicate that the vaporization of water is not the rate-limiting step in most arthropods examined to date.