cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallelism by design: data analysis with sawzall

Very large data sets - telephone call records, network logs, high-resolution satellite images, or web document repositories - are not easily analyzed using traditional database techniques. They may be simply too large, grow too fast, or may not fit well in a database schema. They tend to span multiple disks and machines. On the other hand, these large data sets often have a flat and regular structure that permits distributed filtering and aggregation.We present a system and language for such analyses*. Altering phase, in which a query is expressed using the procedural programming language Sawzall, emits data to an aggregation phase. Both phases are distributed over hundreds or even thousands of computers. The language constructs and execution model of Sawzall have been devised to enable parallel execution without the need for complex dependency analysis. Even with our fairly traditional implementation of the Sawzall execution engine we observe nearly perfect scalability as we add more machines.*Joint work with Sean Dorward, Rob Pike, and Sean Quinlan.
Neonatal intrahippocampal injection of the HIV-1 proteins gp120 and Tat: differential effects on behavior and the relationship to stereological hippocampal measures.

Abstract HIV-1 proteins, such as Tat and gp120, are believed to play a crucial role in the central nervous system (CNS) pathology of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The present study sought to determine the potential role of Tat and/or gp120 on behavioral development and the relationship to the long-term effects of the HIV-1 proteins on the rat hippocampus. Male pups of 13 Sprague–Dawley litters were bilaterally injected on postnatal day (P)1. Every litter contributed an animal to each of four treatment condition: VEH (0.5 μl sterile buffer), gp120 (100 ng), Tat (25 μg) or combined gp120 + Tat (100 ng + 25 μg). Body weight was not affected by either protein treatment. Tat revealed a transient effect on many of the behavioral assessments early in development as well as on preattentive processes and spatial memory in adulthood. Gp120 had more selective effects on negative geotaxis (P8–P10) and on locomotor activity (P94-P96). Combined gp120 + Tat effects were noted for eye opening with potential interactive effects of gp120 and Tat on negative geotaxis. Anatomical assessment at ∼ 7 1/2 months of age was conducted by using design-based stereology to quantify the total cell number in five hippocampal subregions [granule layer (GL), hilus of the dentate gyrus (DGH), cornu ammonis fields (CA)2/3, CA1, and subiculum (SUB)] [Fitting, S., Booze, R.M., Hasselrot, U., Mactutus, C.F., 2007a. Differential long-term neurotoxicity of HIV-1 proteins in the rat hippocampal formation: a design-based stereological study. Hippocampus 18(2), 135–147]. A relationship between early reflex development and estimated cell number in the adult hippocampus was indicated by simple regression analyses. In addition, estimated number of neurons and astrocytes in the DGH explained 81% of the variance of the distribution of searching behavior in the probe test. Collectively, these data indicate that the DGH may participate in the spatial memory alterations observed in adulthood consequent to neonatal exposure to HIV-1 proteins.
The Effects of Haloperidol on Dopamine Receptor Gene Expression

Haloperidol is a widely prescribed antipsychotic that acts as a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. Chronic administration of haloperidol leads to an increase in striatal D2 receptor binding; however, studies examining striatal D2 receptor mRNA after haloperidol treatment report inconsistent results. This study examines the effects of haloperidol on dopaminoceptive striatal neurons, as well as dopamine D2 containing striatal inputs. Rats were injected subcutaneously with 2 mg/kg haloperidol twice daily for 7 days. A significant (36%) increase in D2 mRNA was observed in the anterior cingulate cortex. However, no changes were observed in the amounts of D1, D2, D3 mRNA, or D2 heteronuclear RNA (hnRNA) in the striatum or in the levels of D2 mRNA and hnRNA in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Thus, increased striatal D2 binding after haloperidol treatment may not be the result of altered D2 gene activity in the striatum or midbrain, but could result from an increase in D2 mRNA in cingulate corticostriatal neurons and/or a longer half-life for the D2 receptor protein in striatal neurons. Striatal proenkephalin mRNA increased significantly in the caudate-putamen (45%), nucleus accumbens (36%), and the olfactory tubercle (27%) while prodynorphin mRNA remained unaltered after haloperidol treatment. Since D2 receptor mRNA is generally colocalized with proenkephalin mRNA in striatal neurons, these results demonstrate what is likely a selective cellular increase in proenkephalin mRNA without a parallel increase in D2 mRNA.
2.5.2 Key Features of the “Merged” EIA/IS 731–1 Systems Engineering Capability Model

In the past few years, several models have been developed to measure systems engineering process or capability maturity. Two models, the INCOSE SECAM and EPIC SE-CMM, have gained a great deal of attention and have been used as source models, along with their application methods, to create a US standard, comprised of a single “merged” model and application method, for measuring and improving systems engineering capability. The “merger” effort has been conducted by the EIA SECM Working Group, which has representation from the EIA, INCOSE, and EPIC and was formed under the auspices of the Electronic Industries Association (EIA). This paper provides key features of the “merged” model, a synopsis of each of the two source models, and relationships between the “merged” model and its two source models. A description is provided of some significant factors affecting the merger effort. The information provided should assist in gaining an understanding of, and in transitioning to, the “merged” model, which is the EIA/IS 731–1 Systems Engineering Capability Model (SECM).
Crossing Boundaries: Commentary on Paper by Sarah Hill

This commentary focuses on two aspects of Hill's presentation. First, it addresses the critical role of repetition compulsion in carrying into analytic enactments the patient's early, unsymbolized traumas. This discussion addresses, furthermore, Hill's reference to her early, preverbal, experience with an African nanny, as this resonated with some of the author's personal experiences. It is suggested that, particularly in American culture, the identities of white children who experience extended care by black nannies must be regarded as multiply determined, race being a critical determinant. How this aspect of white identity is negotiated in a culture bounded by established racial dichotomies is regarded as critical to analytic inquiry, regardless of the racial makeup of the analytic dyad.
Additive versus inclusive approaches to measuring brand equity: Practical and ethical implications

To date, there has been little consideration of the ethical dimensions of specific brand management practices. This paper examines different approaches to measuring brand equity and argues that the choice of measurement approach has ethical implications. It contrasts what have been previously defined as additive and inclusive approaches to brand equity definition and measurement. It then argues that inclusive approaches to brand equity measurement are preferable to additive ones because they enable us to work with a much broader concept of brand, and because additive approaches can predispose marketers towards unethical activity.
Ultraviolet disinfection of juice products in laminar and turbulent flow reactors

Abstract Individual physical and chemical factors were examined in a model fluid for their effects on the efficacy of UV light on the destruction of Escherichia coli K-12 bacteria using laminar and turbulent flow treatment systems. Factors unique to juice, such as Brix and pH, did not exhibit a large effect over the range tested when examined individually. The single factor found to consistently affect the efficacy of UV light inactivation in juice was absorbance. Particulate material resulted in apparent increased rates of UV killing when solutions of equal absorption coefficients were compared. The flow rates and mixing in the turbulent flow also affected microbial inactivation: the higher the flow rates the higher inactivation rates in turbulent flow UV reactor. Regression equations were developed to describe the relationship between the rate of reduction of E. coli K-12 and absorption coefficient in a thin film reactor and for turbulent flow UV reactor. Running biodosimetry test with minimum and maximum flow rates is recommended to ascertain safe UV disinfection.
Semiempirical study of low molecular weight polymers of 3-phenyl-1-ureidonitrile

Abstract Conformational searching and semiempirical (AM1) structure optimizations have been carried out on low degree polymers of 3-phenyl-1-ureidonitrile (PUN), a system of interest for its potential application in thin-film ultra-high-density data storage. The predicted structural properties and vibrational frequencies are in good agreement with experimental data. Most notably, a downshift in this C–N stretching frequency upon polymerization and the absence of a peak near 2200 cm −1 in both the experimental and theoretical IR spectra, support the proposal that PUN film polymerizes by opening of the C N bond.
Effect of Cover Crops Alfalfa, Red Clover, and Perennial Ryegrass on Soybean Cyst Nematode Population and Soybean and Corn Yields in Minnesota

The effects of alfalfa, red clover, and perennial ryegrass as cover crops on soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and soybean and corn yields were evaluated in Waseca, Lamberton, and Rosemount, MN. The cover crops were interseeded in soybean at 0 or 2 wks after planting soybean in 2002 and killed with herbicide before planting corn in 2003. As expected, SCN-susceptible soybean supported higher SCN population density than SCN-resistant soybean. Reduction of SCN population density by red clover (up to 40%) and alfalfa (up to 55%) was observed in some sampling occasions at Lamberton and Rosemount, probably due to reduced soybean growth, but the effect was inconsistent. No significant reduction of SCN population by the two crops was detected at Waseca. While perennial ryegrass did not affect SCN population density in most cases, up to 46% higher egg population densities were observed in the perennial ryegrass treatment as compared to the control at Waseca. SCN-resistant soybean produced higher yield than susceptible soybean at all sites. While alfalfa reduced soybean yield at Lamberton (up to 50%) and Rosemount (up to 11%), red clover and perennial ryegrass reduced soybean yield only at Lamberton (up to 38%) and Waseca (up to 34%), respectively. No difference in corn yield was observed at Waseca. At Lamberton, alfalfa and red clover planted at the time of planting soybean reduced corn yield in the following year 17 and 13%, respectively, and perennial ryegrass planted 2 wks after planting soybean reduced corn yield 13%. At Rosemount, significant reduction of corn yield was observed with red clover (15–21%) interseeded in SCN-susceptible soybean and with alfalfa (12%) and red clover (12%) interseeded in SCN-resistant soybean at the time of planting soybean. The results suggest that an even later planting date of cover crops in soybean may reduce yield loss due to competition and make these cover crops more appropriate for use in the soybean-corn rotation in Minnesota.
Examining the Impact of Race and Ethnicity on the Sentencing of Juveniles in the Adult Court

Several studies have examined the effects of race and ethnicity on the sentences of adult offenders in the criminal court. The findings of these studies often show that race and ethnicity influence defendants’ sentencing outcomes. Few studies, however, have examined how race and ethnicity influence juvenile defendants sentenced in the adult criminal justice system. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to determine how race and ethnicity affect the sentences of juveniles, utilizing a national dataset of youth convicted of a felony in adult court. The findings suggest that race and ethnicity do impact the sentencing outcomes of convicted youthful offenders. In addition, the results suggest that the combination of race and other factors (i.e., interactions) has an effect on sentencing. Implications for subsequent research also are discussed.
Illegitimate and Legitimating Passions in Fifteenth-Century Florentine Political Discourses

In the small, face-to-face society of Renaissance Florence, members of the ruling group were complexly entwined in multiple networks of kinship, neighbourhood and instrumental friendship entailing obligations to mutual support which rendered both ‘public’ and ‘private’ behaviour politically significant and impossible to separate. Consequently, in order to establish trust and to gain political advantage, men were constantly obliged in their contacts with others alternatively to perform or to dissimulate their personal passions, depending upon whether the particular social context defined these as legitimating or illegitimate.
Open-Loop Spinup and Deployment Control of a Tether Sling

Atether slingholds tremendous promise as an energy-storage device, permitting space transportation systems that are capable of injecting a large number of payloadswith low incremental costs. This paper developsmotor and tether deployment controls to go from rest to a desired final tether length and end velocity. Oscillations in the tether deployment angle are minimized to avoid additional tension in the tether. Open-loop control laws are developed for both power-unlimited and power-constrained cases. For unlimited power, the time-optimal mission profile dictates deployment at large angular velocities. The opposite is true when power is constrained: spinup and deployment time are reduced by deploying at very small angular velocities.
Efficient Data Storage in Large Nanoarrays

We explore the storage of data in very large crossbars with dimensions measured in nanometers (nanoarrays) when h-hot addressing is used to bridge the nano/micro gap. In h-hot addressing h of b micro-level wires are used to address a single nanowire. Proposed nanotechnologies allow subarrays of 1s (stores) or 0s (restores) to be written. When stores and restores are used, we show exponential reductions in programming time for prototypical problems over stores alone. Under both operations, it is NP-hard to find optimal array programs. Under stores alone it is NP-hard to find good approximations to this problem, a question that is open when restores are allowed. Because of the difficulty of programming multiple rows at once, we explore the programming of single rows under h-hot addressing. We also identify conditions under which good approximations to these problems exist.
Boole and mill: differing perspectives on logical psychologism

Logical psychologism is the position that logic is a special branch of psychology, that logical laws are descriptions of experience to be arrived at through observation, and are a posteriori.The accepted arguments against logical psychologism are effective only when directed against this extreme version. However, the clauses in the above characterization are independent and ambiguous, and may be considered separately. This separation permits a reconsideration of less extreme attempts to tie logic to psychology, such as those defended by Mill and Boole. It also provides the basis for a reexamination of the relationship between logic and psychology, and raises the possibility of a deeper investigation into the nature of logic itself.
Laser desorption mass spectrometry: Mechanisms and applications

Abstract A conventional time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been adapted for pulsed laser desorption. This instrumental configuration enables investigation of “time resolved” mass spectra, i.e. delayed mass analysis following the laser pulse. The energy spread of ions formed after the laser pulse is time dependent. To date this has enabled focussing of ions produced by laser desorption up to 3628 amu. Mechanisms of laser desorption and applications of this instrumental configuration are discussed.
Dynamic Response of a Twin-screw Lab-size Extruder to Changes in Operating Variables

Abstract Dynamic responses of a twin-screw extruder were studied. Die pressure and motor torque responses were obtained by introducing step changes in feed rate, screw speed, and screw speed–feed rate simultaneously by using a laboratory size torque rheometer/twin-screw extruder combination. Differences in step-up and step-down cases were examined. Experimental results showed that the step inputs in the screw speed and feed rate resulted in a range of dynamic responses of die pressure and motor torque. Die pressure and motor torque always responded in the same manner. The response of die pressure and motor torque was modeled by a first-order transfer function for step changes in the feed rate. The same dynamic responses to step changes in screw speed and screw speed–feed rate simultaneously were modeled by an inverse response. The use of process gains in the system was discussed.
Charge correlation factor of the random binary chain determined by Monte Carlo simulation.

We present stationary-state Monte Carlo experiments evaluating the dc conductivity of the one-dimensional lattice gas with binary energetic disorder. The resulting correlation factor is compared to previous analytic calculations.
Snoring, daytime sleepiness, and sickle cell anemia.

Sir .—Theoretically, in patients with sickle cell anemia who autosplenectomize by age 4 to 5 years a compensatory hyperplasia of other lymphoid organs may develop, particularly in the tonsils and adenoids. If so, symptoms associated with tonsillar hyperplasia should occur more often in patients with sickle cell disease than in normal children. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are the most frequent cause of sleep apnea syndrome in pediatric patients. 1 If tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy is more common in patients with sickle cell disease than in children without the disease, the symptoms of sleep apnea syndrome (eg, snoring and daytime sleepiness) should occur more frequently in them than in children without this disease. Since hypoxemia is poorly tolerated by patients with sickle cell anemia, sleep-related apnea in this population could produce much greater morbidity than in children with normal oxygen transport. In particular, sleep-related hypoxemia could possibly precipitate the various acute
Evaluation for Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptibility in Black-tailed Deer

To investigate a possible link of malignant hyperthermia to capture myopathy, between June 1990 and July 1993 we anesthetized four black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and challenged them with halothane and succinylcholine. Halothane had no significant effect on oxygen consumption. Succinylcholine significantly (P < 0.05) increased cardiac output (mean ± SD), from 2.94 ± 1.05 1/min to 5.26 ± 1.79 1/min, and oxygen consumption, from 5.5 ±2.1 ml/kg/min to 10.1 ± 2.9 ml/kg/min. Muscle biopsy specimens tested for malignant hyperthermia susceptibility responded normally to halothane and caffeine. We conclude that these deer did not experience malignant hyperthermia, suggesting no link to capture myopathy.
The ventral pallidum plays a role in mediating cocaine and heroin self-administration in the rat.

The hypothesis that the ventral pallidum is an important site mediating psychomotor stimulant and opiate reinforcement was tested in rats trained to self-administer i.v. cocaine or heroin. Ibotenic acid lesions of the ventral pallidum produced significant decreases in cocaine and heroin self-administration behavior maintained on a fixed-ratio 5 schedule of reinforcement, suggesting an attenuation of the reinforcing value of cocaine and heroin. On a progressive-ratio schedule, ventral pallidal lesions produced significant decreases in the highest ratio obtained in rats self-administering cocaine. Similar results were observed with heroin in a progressive-ratio procedure modified to produce higher levels of responding; lesions of the ventral pallidum produced a significant decrease in the highest ratio obtained. Further, the i.v. co-administration of naloxone and heroin produced a decrease in progressive-ratio responding relative to heroin alone using the modified progressive-ratio schedule. These results suggest that the ventral pallidum is an important site mediating the reinforcing effects of cocaine and heroin and that the nucleus accumbens-ventral pallidum circuit may be a common pathway for both stimulant and opiate reinforcement.
Analytical significance of encroachment in multiplexed bead-based flow cytometric assays.

Multiplexed bead-based assays, using fluorescent dye-encoded beads, are finding widespread use in various profiling studies. The need to measure multiple quantitative responses simultaneously, the development of less expensive commercial flow systems, and the ease and cost effectiveness of manufacturing bead profiling kits of varied composition have all contributed to the popularity of this assay format. Maximizing the level of multiplexing in these assays requires tight spacing of fluorescent bead populations, and this leads to some degree of overlap or “encroachment” between populations. The degree to which encroachment affects analyte signal determinations depends upon both the extent of overlap and the relative analyte signals associated with the populations. In the work reported here, the impact of encroachment upon analyte signal for a subset of beads belonging to a multiplexed cytokine assay has been modeled and empirically evaluated.
Cranial suture closure in two species of South American monkeys

Cranial suture closure is examined in two species of South American monkeys, Saimiri sciureus and Saguinus nigricollis. Sequences in closure were sought as indicators of skeletal age. Some sutures seem to be more reliable determinants of skeletal age than others, and these sutures and their sequence of closure are different in the two species examined. The sphenooccipital synchondrosis and the palatal portion of the Interpremaxillary suture show regular fusion associated with age in both species. In Saimiri the maxillopremaxillary sutures are also reliable indicators of age, whereas they are not in Saguinus; however, in the latter the presphenoid-postsphenoid synchondrosis closes regularly whereas it does not in Saimiri. In Saimiri the predictable sequence is (1) maxillo-premaxillary, (2) transverse maxillo-premaxillary, (3) spheno-occipital, (4) interpremaxillary. In Saguinus it is (1) presphenoid-postsphenoid, (2) spheno-occipital, (3) interpremaxillary. It is possible that the sequences of suture closure and the variability in this process may indicate genetic and taxonomic relationships.
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms: repair should not be denied

The records of 231 patients (189 men, 42 women) treated during the last decade for ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm were reviewed to evaluate complications and mortality rates and to determine if preoperative factors would preclude attempt at surgical repair. Mean age was 73.7 years (range, 50 to 95 years). Fifty-seven patients (24.7%) were greater than or equal to 80 years of age. Sixty-eight patients (29.4%) had known abdominal aortic aneurysm before rupture. Preoperative systolic blood pressure was less than or equal to 90 mm Hg in 155 patients (67.1%). Fifty-six patients (24.2%) had cardiac arrest before operation. The overall mortality rate from admission until the end of the hospital stay was 49.4% (114 of 231). Seventeen patients (7.4%) died in the emergency department, 40 (17.3%) in the operating room, 27 (11.7%) during the first 48 postoperative hours, and 30 (13.0%) died later but during the same hospitalization. The 30-day operative mortality rate was 41.6%. Mean age of those who died was higher (75.3 years) than of those who survived (72.2 years) (p less than 0.02). Of patients greater than or equal to 80 years, 43.9% survived. Survival was lower among women (35.7%) than men (54.0%; p less than 0.04). A high APACHE II score, a low initial hematocrit, preoperative hypotension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were associated multivariately with increased mortality rates (p less than 0.02). However, 59 of the 155 patients (38.1%) with preoperative hypotension survived. Deaths were high (80.4%) among patients with cardiac arrest (45 of 56); still, 28.2% of patients (11 of 39) survived repair after cardiac arrest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Improved surface acoustic wave filter design with low insertion loss

SAW filters are often used in wireless communications and provide significant advantages in performance, cost, and size over other filter technologies [1]. As a passive device, how to minimize loss is a very important issue for SAW filter design. This paper proposes a new MEMS SAW filter design to minimize insertion loss in the SAW device. By finite element modeling and simulation, this new design has approved to decrease the insertion loss by more than 10 dB, and increase the Q factor by more than 30%. The major novelties of the structure include new IDT finger structure, piezoelectric material edge etching, and metal shell reflectors.
Behaving badly: A perspective on mechanisms of dysfunction in psychopathy

Abstract Psychopathy is a personality construct defined by lack of empathy, impulsivity, grandiosity, callous and manipulative interpersonal interactions, and the tendency to engage in socially deviant behavior. Psychopathy has been associated with aggression, recidivism, and other behaviors harmful to others. Individuals high in psychopathy have been thought to be notoriously difficult to treat. Many scholars have suggested that considering mechanisms of dysfunction in psychological difficulties will lead to the development of more effective and efficacious treatments. Fearlessness, lack of empathy, and response modulation difficulties have commonly been discussed as mechanisms of dysfunction in psychopathy. The current review provides a brief overview of examinations of these mechanisms of dysfunction in psychopathy, comments on research methodology, and provides suggestions for remedying potential pitfalls.
Dynamics of the formin for3p in actin cable assembly.

Summary Background Formins are a conserved family of actin nucleators responsible for the assembly of diverse actin structures such as cytokinetic rings and filopodia. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe , the formin for3p is necessary for the formation of actin cables, which are bundles of short parallel actin filaments that regulate cell polarity. These filaments are largely organized with their barbed ends facing the cell tip, where for3p is thought to function in their assembly. Results Here, using a functional for3p-3GFP fusion expressed at endogenous levels, we find that for3p localizes to small dots that appear transiently at cell tips and then move away on actin cables at a rate of 0.3 μm/s. These movements were dependent on the continuous assembly of actin in cables, on the ability of for3p to bind actin within its FH2 domain, and on profilin and bud6p, two formin binding proteins that promote formin activity. Bud6p transiently colocalizes with for3p at the cell tip and stays behind at the cell tip when for3p detaches. Conclusions These findings suggest a new model for actin cable assembly: a for3p particle is activated and promotes the assembly of a short actin filament at the cell tip for only seconds. For3p and the actin filament may then be released from the cell tip and carried passively into the cell interior by retrograde flow of actin filaments in the cable. These studies reveal a complex and dynamic cycle of formin regulation and actin cable assembly in vivo.
Morphological evolution of nanoparticles in diffusion flames : Measurements and modeling

The morphological evolution of flame-generated primary spherules and inorganic aggregates was studied at low particle volume fractions [O(10 -1 ppm] in a well-defined/characterized laminar nonpremixed combustion environment which produces particle heating rates of 10 4 K/s. Pure Al 2 O 3 particles synthesized in an Al(CH 3 ) 3 (TMA-) seeded atmospheric pressure laminar counterflow diffusion flame fueled with CH 4 /O 2 /N 2 were used as the model material/combustion system. Experimental techniques included spatially resolved laser light scattering (LLS) and thermophoretic sampling/transmission electron microscopy. Local aggregate morphology was characterized in terms of spherule (grain') size, aggregate size, aggregate shape and fractal structure. Effects of flame temperature and TMA concentrations on particle inception location, sizes and morphology studied systematically were interpreted based on parallel theoretical studies. LLS signals and TEM images show particle/aggregate size and morphology evolution as a result of two competing rate processes. Mean spherule diameters prior to high-temperature coalescence are explained in terms of the strong size dependence of nanoparticle restructuring kinetics due to surface melting, even at 500 K Mean fractal aggregate sizes reached only 15-27 spherules near a local temperature of only 1,250 K Final particulate products were isolated spherical particles resulting from complete collapse of the aggregates in an interval of only 24 ms immediately upstream of the maximum gas temperature (2,280 K). Experimental results are compatible with the characteristic times governing each participating unit rate process. Some of these methods can be applied in controlling the larger-scale synthesis of valuable nanopowders and guide rational extensions into the domain of turbulent nonpremixed combustors generating ultrafine particles of tailored composition and morphology at high mass loadings.
Variable rainfall limits the germination of upper intertidal marsh plants in Southern California

Temporal variation in rainfall created a germination window for seedling establishment in the upper intertidal marshes of southern California. In this highly variable climate, total annual rainfall was highly variable, as was the timing and size of rainfall during the wet season. Daily rainfalls>3.0 cm were rare in the long-term record but created germination opportunities that had two components: low salinity and high moisture. During the 1996–1997 wet season, only one-day rainfalls>3.0 cm resulted in large increases in soil moisture and decreases in soil salinity. Germination in the upper intertidal marsh of three wetlands followed two large (>3.0 cm) rainfall events in the relatively dry 1996–1997 season and multiple medium and small rainfall events in the wetter 1997–1998 season. In addition to rainfall, plant cover and soil texture influenced, spatial and temporal variation in soil salinity and moisture. Daily and weekly sampling adequately described soil moisture and salinity so that germination could be predicted; monthly sampling would have missed the low-salinity and high-moisture events that trigger germination.
A continuous piecewise-linear NHPP intensity function estimator

We consider the problem of using either grouped observations of a counting process over a period or prescribed constant mean counts to create an intensity function for a Non-Homogeneous Poisson Process (NHPP) that estimates the observed process, and satisfies several constraints. First, we require that the estimator's mean value over an observation interval be equal to the mean number of observations in that interval; second, we require that the intensity function be continuous; third, we require that the function be piecewise linear. Optionally, we may also require that the intensity value at the end of the period be identical to the intensity value at the beginning of the period, for application in contexts in which the period of interest is inherently cyclic, e.g., a day, or a week. An objective of the estimator is that it should be "smooth," which will be defined subsequently. Our approach is to define a class of continuous piecewise-linear intensity functions and formulate the problem as a constrained quadratic programming problem, approachable through the solution of a simultaneous set of linear equations. We describe the method, identify conditions under which feasible solutions are assured to exist, and study the behavior of the solutions on an example problem.
Selective gating of visual signals by microstimulation of frontal cortex

Several decades of psychophysical and neurophysiological studies have established that visual signals are enhanced at the locus of attention1,2,3,4,5. What remains a mystery is the mechanism that initiates biases in the strength of visual representations6. Recent evidence argues that, during spatial attention, these biases reflect nascent saccadic eye movement commands7,8. We examined the functional interaction of saccade preparation and visual coding by electrically stimulating sites within the frontal eye fields (FEF) and measuring its effect on the activity of neurons in extrastriate visual cortex. Here we show that visual responses in area V4 could be enhanced after brief stimulation of retinotopically corresponding sites within the FEF using currents below that needed to evoke saccades. The magnitude of the enhancement depended on the effectiveness of receptive field stimuli as well as on the presence of competing stimuli outside the receptive field. Stimulation of non-corresponding FEF representations could suppress V4 responses. The results suggest that the gain of visual signals is modified according to the strength of spatially corresponding eye movement commands.
Storage of Dietary Manganese and Thiamine in the Rat

The finding (Hill and Holtkamp, '48), that the manganous ion is a nutritional factor which if fed at different levels in the diet of lactating female rats may modify the age of develop ment of body-temperature control in the young, led to further work on the effect of this ion on growth (Holtkamp and Hill, '50). In the course of this work it was found that after the first generation in a colony on dietary levels of manganese of not more than 30 Mgper day, some rats developed ataxia (Hill, Holtkamp, Buchanan and Rutledge, '50). The investigation of body-temperature control (Hill and Holtkamp, '48) showed thiamine in low concentrations to be antagonistic to low con centrations of manganese. Similar antagonism, with respect to the toxicities of manganese and thiamine had been reported earlier by Perla and associates (Perla, '39; Perla and Sandberg, '39; Perla, Sandberg and Holly, '39; Sandberg, Perla and Holly, '39). Because of the apparent relationship between these two substances, it was considered advisable to determine the effect of various dietary levels of thiamine and manganese on the storage of these two substances in the liver. In our search of the literature we have not found analyses for man ganese in the wall of the intestine of the rat except in a single one-dose experiment using only two rats (Greenberg and
Improving the Reading Skills of Urban Elementary Students Through Total Class Peer Tutoring

This study reports the results of a peer-mediated intervention, total class peer tutoring, on the academic performance of six urban students at risk for reading failure. A multiple baseline design across subjects was used to evaluate the effects of this intervention. The results showed that five of the six students significantly increased their sight-word acquisition and maintenance. All target students' reading fluency and comprehension scores on the standardized Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) Oral Reading Fluency (DORF) passages were higher during intervention than at baseline. Greater fluency gains were shown on constructed paragraphs that included the tutoring sight words. More modest fluency and comprehension gains were found in DORF passages that did not contain words taught in the intervention. Social validity measures taken from teachers, parents, and students revealed positive evaluations of the intervention. Limitations, future directions in research, and practical im...
Optical controlled phased array radar receivers

The National Center for Integrated Photonics Technology has a demonstration experiment to examine the role of photonics in phased array radar applications. Two test configurations are being assembled in a receiver-only mode at UCLA. These systems involve both a coherent approach using optical heterodyne detection and an incoherent implementation using real-time delays and liquid-crystal polarization switches. The basic system involves two antenna elements and three-bit resolution. >
Weakened implantable cardioverter-defibrillator header bond: abnormality not limited to subpectoral implants.

ated with subpectoral implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation may weaken the bond between the header and the titanium case in Cognis cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) and Teligen ICDs. Boston Scientific specifically noted that the product advisory did not affect subcutaneous implants. This report contains the details of a patient with a Boston Scientific Cognis CRT-D with a subcutaneous implant who experienced a weakened bond between the device header and case resulting in noise and inappropriate therapies. Case summary
Future of Medical Practice and the Key Roll of Cell Biology; Bench to Beside

Future of Medical Practice and the Key Roll of Cell Biology; Bench to Beside Cells are the fundamental unit of life and cell biology lies at heart of biomedical research. Cell Biology therefore defines the very center of all efforts to understand all aspects of human disease. All diseases are disturbances at the cellular level. To treat disease, we must understand the alterations that occur at the level of individual cells. The complementary nature of many of the researches generates a highly interactive and collaborative environment that promotes the development of novel approaches to address fundamental biological questions.
Silicon Suboxides: The “Co-Deposition” of a-Si:H and SiO2

The deposition mechanism of silicon suboxides (SiOx, x<2) prepared by remote plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (Remote PECVD) is investigated. These films were deposited in a Deposition/Analysis chamber designed to investigate the gas phase chemistry. In this technique, an O2/He mixture is plasma excited, and the silane reactant is injected into the deposition chamber down-stream from the plasma tube. We show that if the plasma after-glow is prevented from extending into the deposition region by an electrical grid placed between the plasma tube and the deposition region, silicon dioxide is then deposited for all O2/He mixtures investigated (0.1 to 1.0 %). In contrast, hydrogenated suboxides of silicon are deposited when the plasma after-glow is allowed to extend past the grid into the deposition region.
Cubic spline modeling of speech spectra

This paper examines the capabilities of cubic spline approximation in the representation of speech spectra as compared to the widely used linear predictive coding method. The LPC technique has proven robust in many applications, but certain difficulties remain when modeling speech signals. In particular the issues raised include the modeling of zeros in nasal sounds, model stability for sinusoidal inputs, global reaction of the model to a localized input disturbance, and interpretation of coded parameter values for purposes of editing and recognition. The cubic spline model addresses each of these problem areas. The approach used here to model each frame of speech data consists of fitting a cubic spline function to the local peaks of a log-magnitude FFT spectrum.
Occupational mortality associated with inflammatory bowel disease in the United States 1984-1998.

Background: The occurrence of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is shaped by environmental influences. Many such environmental risk factors vary potentially with occupational exposure. We used a large national database to study the occupational variation of mortality associated with CD and UC. Methods: The National Occupational Mortality Surveillance database contains data from the death certificate linked with information about the occupation and industry of each deceased individual. Deaths were grouped by gender, ethnicity, disease type, occupation, and industry. Mortality by occupation and industry were expressed as age-adjusted proportional mortality ratio. Results: A total of 3110 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients were included in the present analysis. IBD mortality was low among blue collar workers and high among white collar workers. It was low among farming occupations, manufacturing occupations, and manual laborers. It was high among secretaries, professionals, sales workers, homemakers, managerial occupations, and teachers. There was a strong correlation between the occupational distribution of CD and UC that applied to men and women alike. The overall distribution among different industries corroborated the patterns observed with respect to the occupational distribution. Conclusions: The correlations between the occupational distribution of CD and UC support the contention that environmental influences shape the occurrence of both diseases. Such influence must vary by occupation and, to a lesser extent, also by industry. It must be similar for both types of IBD. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012;18:1249–1253)
Atom-molecule conversion at a Feshbach resonance in the nondegenerate limit

We study the efficiency of atom-molecule conversion in a sweep of the magnetic field across a Feshbach resonance in a nondegenerate gas by integrating numerically the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation. In an approach that works at low conversion efficiencies, we show that in the limit of a slow sweep the atom-molecule conversion efficiency is proportional to the phase-space density.
Atmospheric CO2 as a Global Change Driver Influencing Plant-Animal Interactions.

SYNOPSIS. Plants respond to changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide. To herbivores, the decreased leaf protein contents and increased C/N ratios common to all leaves under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide imply a reduction in food quality. In addition to these fine-scale adjustments, the abundance of C3 and C4 plants (particularly grasses) are affected by atmospheric carbon dioxide. C 4 grasses currently predominate over C3 grasses in warmer climates and their distributions expand as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels decreased during glacial periods. C4 grasses are a less nutritious food resource than C3 grasses both in terms of reduced protein content and increased C/N ratios. There is an indication that as C 4-dominated ecosystems expanded 6‐8 Ma b.p., there were significant species-level changes in mammalian grazers. Today there is evidence that mammalian herbivores differ in their preference for C3 versus C4 food resources, although the factors contributing to these patterns are not clear. Elevated carbon dioxide levels will likely alter food quality to grazers both in terms of fine-scale (protein content, C/N ratio) and coarse-scale (C3 versus C4) changes. Atmospheric gas composition plays an important role in determining many aspects of animal and plant
Sequences within the Cytoplasmic Domain of Gp180/Carboxypeptidase D Mediate Localization to the Trans-Golgi Network

Gp180, a duck protein that was proposed to be a cell surface receptor for duck hepatitis B virus, is the homolog of metallocarboxypeptidase D, a mammalian protein thought to function in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) in the processing of proteins that transit the secretory pathway. Both gp180 and mammalian metallocarboxypeptidase D are type I integral membrane proteins that contain a 58-residue cytosolic C-terminal tail that is highly conserved between duck and rat. To investigate the regions of the gp180 tail involved with TGN retention and intracellular trafficking, gp180 and various deletion and point mutations were expressed in the AtT-20 mouse pituitary corticotroph cell line. Full length gp180 is enriched in the TGN and also cycles to the cell surface. Truncation of the C-terminal 56 residues of the cytosolic tail eliminates the enrichment in the TGN and the retrieval from the cell surface. Truncation of 12‐ 43 residues of the tail reduced retention in the TGN and greatly accelerated the turnover of the protein. In contrast, deletion of the C-terminal 45 residues, which truncates a potential YxxL-like sequence (FxxL), reduced the protein turnover and caused accumulation of the protein on the cell surface. A point mutation of the FxxL sequence to AxxL slowed internalization, showing that this element is important for retrieval from the cell surface. Mutation of a pair of casein kinase II sites within an acidic cluster showed that they are also important for trafficking. The present study demonstrates that multiple sequence elements within the cytoplasmic tail of gp180 participate in TGN localization.
High efficiency, long life traveling wave tubes for future communications satellites

Electron beam devices, primarily traveling wave tubes (TWTs), have been used as the power amplifiers in almost all space communications and data transmission systems. Based on the technology that is presently available and the expected success of current research efforts, it is reasonable to predict the development of a new class of microwave TWTs with efficiencies in excess of 60 percent and lifetimes of at least ten years. Because of this rapid advance of technology, the TWT is expected to remain the dominant device for power amplifiers in space.
Deconstructing the third dimension – how 3D culture microenvironments alter cellular cues

Summary Much of our understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie cellular functions, such as migration, differentiation and force-sensing has been garnered from studying cells cultured on two-dimensional (2D) glass or plastic surfaces. However, more recently the cell biology field has come to appreciate the dissimilarity between these flat surfaces and the topographically complex, three-dimensional (3D) extracellular environments in which cells routinely operate in vivo. This has spurred substantial efforts towards the development of in vitro 3D biomimetic environments and has encouraged much cross-disciplinary work among biologists, material scientists and tissue engineers. As we move towards more-physiological culture systems for studying fundamental cellular processes, it is crucial to define exactly which factors are operative in 3D microenvironments. Thus, the focus of this Commentary will be on identifying and describing the fundamental features of 3D cell culture systems that influence cell structure, adhesion, mechanotransduction and signaling in response to soluble factors, which – in turn – regulate overall cellular function in ways that depart dramatically from traditional 2D culture formats. Additionally, we will describe experimental scenarios in which 3D culture is particularly relevant, highlight recent advances in materials engineering for studying cell biology, and discuss examples where studying cells in a 3D context provided insights that would not have been observed in traditional 2D systems.
World View and the Dynamics of Change: The Beginning and the End of Scioto Hopewell Culture and Lifeways

The origin and end of Scioto Hopewell culture and lifeways have puzzled archaeologists for decades. This uncertainty exists in part because, until very recently, the details of organization and operation of Scioto Hopewellian social and ceremonial life and the outlines of Scioto Hopewellian spiritual thought have not been known. How Scioto Hopewellian social and ceremonial life emerged and disappeared could not be adequately addressed when it was unclear what they were specifically and what factors might thus have caused them. Uncertainly also exists because, in this lacuna in knowledge about the inner workings of Hopewellian life, archaeologists have been forced to look for possible causes of it that were external rather than internal to it; and no reasonably convincing external causes have been found.