cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plane-Strain Propagation of a Fluid-Driven Fracture: Small Toughness Solution

The paper considers the problem of a plane-strain fluid-driven fracture propagating in an impermeable elastic solid, under condition of small (relative) solid toughness or high (relative) fracturing fluid viscosity. This condition typically applies in hydraulic fracturing treatments used to stimulate hydrocarbons-bearing rock layers, and in the transport of magma in the lithosphere. We show that for small values of a dimensionless toughness K, the solution outside of the immediate vicinity of the fracture tips is given to O1 by the zero-toughness solution, which, if extended to the tips, is characterized by an opening varying as the 2/3 power of the distance from the tip. This near tip behavior of the zero-toughness solution is incompatible with the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) tip asymptote characterized by an opening varying as the 1/2 power of the distance from the tip, for any nonzero toughness. This gives rise to a LEFM boundary layer at the fracture tips where the influence of material toughness is localized. We establish the boundary layer solution and the condition of matching of the latter with the outer zero-toughness solution over a lengthscale intermediate to the boundary layer thickness and the fracture length. This matching condition, expressed as a smallness condition on K, and the corresponding structure of the overall solution ensures that the fracture propagates in the viscosity-dominated regime, i.e., that the solution away from the tip is approximately independent of toughness. The solution involving the next order correction in K to the outer zero-toughness solution yields the range of problem parameters corresponding to the viscosity-dominated regime. DOI: 10.1115/1.2047596
Enhanced dynamic bandwidth allocation in WDM-PON

WDM based passive optical network (PON) upgrades current TDM based PON at the architecture, protocol and dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithms to provide higher bandwidth in the access networks. Various Dynamic Wavelength and Bandwidth Allocation algorithms for WDM-PON have been studied. These DWBA algorithms exploit both inter-channel and intra-channel statistical multiplexing in order to achieve better performance, especially when the load on various channels is not symmetric. However, these algorithms let all ONUs share all wavelengths equally, and decouple bandwidth allocation from the wavelength assignment, which may cause bandwidth fragmentation across different wavelengths, and these algorithms further strictly limit the ONUs only to use one wavelength per allocation cycle, hence, leading to the underutilized network performance. To overcome the above limitation, we propose an enhanced dynamic wavelength and bandwidth allocation (EDBA) algorithm, which integrates wavelength assignment with bandwidth allocation process. We use extensive simulation to compare the performance of EDBA to another DWBA algorithm in 3 .
Sensitivity of Retrieved Aerosol Properties to Assumptions in the Inversion of Spectral Optical Depths.

Abstract The uncertainties of integral aerosol properties calculated using aerosol size distributions retrieved from multiwavelength observations of aerosol optical depth have been determined for a variety of typical atmospheric aerosol size distributions and refractive indices. The results suggest that more information about the aerosol composition, as well as more information about the sizes that are less efficient, in the optical sense, is needed to improve the shape of the retrieved size distributions. All the calculations in this paper assume spherical homogeneous particles. The sensitivity results refer to these conditions. The moments of the retrieved size distributions are systematically underestimated and errors can be as large as −82%, −30%, and −35% for the total number of particles, the total surface, and the total volume, respectively. The errors in the mass scattering efficiency, the effective radius, and the total volume depend very much on whether the actual volume size distribution is mon...
Philosophical Analysis in the Twentieth Century – A Review

After more than a century of its development, philosophers working in the analytic tradition have recently begun to consider its history as an object of philosophical investigation. This development, particularly significant in the context of a tradition of inquiry that has often conceived of its own problems as ahistorical, is salutary in that it offers to show what, within the tradition, remains rich and vital for philosophy today, as well as to extract the significant theoretical and doctrinal results that can be considered to have been achieved in its itinerary so far. The appearance of a comprehensive, two-volume consideration of the history of analytic philosophy in the twentieth century, written by one of the tradition’s leading contemporary practitioners, is therefore cause for excitement. And Scott Soames’ two-volume Philosophical Analysis in the Twentieth Century is, by any measure, an impressive work. Running to almost 900 pages, it assembles careful, meticulous and detailed expositions and analyses of the arguments and positions of a wide variety of thinkers within the analytic tradition, evaluating the extent of their insight and suggesting implications for philosophical thought today. The analysis is uniformly lucid and clearly written, offering the student of the analytic tradition an indispensable source of arguments she may want to consider in her own work, as well as, in its own argumentation, a suggestive model of at least one way of doing analytic philosophy. Over the course of his reconstructive and evaluative analysis, Soames considers the views and arguments of early analytic philosophers like Russell and Moore, logical positivists like Ayer and
Disciplining the Past, Policing the Present: The Postcolonial Landscape of Ecuadorian Nostalgia

The present article assesses the complex reconfiguration that studying the past signifies when one becomes visibly aware of the enormous political and cultural implications that such an endeavor entails. To this end, I will use the Ecuadorian landscape as an entry point or particular case to understand these larger theoretical problematics within a more empirically grounded ethnographic framework. I will rely heavily on my own previous assessments of particular reconfigurations of the past in the Ecuadorian imaginary through the production of the archaeological site of Cochasqui (Benavides, Making Ecuadorian Histories: Four Centuries of Defining Power, 2004a); the Indian movement’s historical recovery of their pre-Hispanic past; the representation of a troubling pre-Hispanic homosexual harem of young coastal boys known as the enchaquirados; and the more recent representation of Guayaquil’s national identity over the last century. All of these studies have viewed the manner in which the differing communities of the Ecuadorian nation-state utilize the past in conscious and unconscious forms to legitimize their own political ambitions. More concretely even, these studies exemplify the manner in which archaeological discourse is used to identify itself as the most rightful heir to assessing and understanding the national past, and ultimately, defining what being Ecuadorian means or should be all about.
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating intraventricular rupture of a cerebral abscess and subsequent therapeutic response.

Abstract Background The most feared complication of a pyogenic brain abscess is intraventricular rupture. Mortality for this event has been traditionally reported to be approximately 80%. Appreciation of the incidence of IVROBA has likely increased with the dawn of CT and MRI. In selected cases, a patient with IVROBA may demonstrate a functional survival with low morbidity, if therapy is initiated quickly and aggressively. Case Description The authors report the IVROBA in a 49-year-old patient despite appropriate abscess drainage and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic administration. Diffusion-weighted MRI was particularly useful in this case for the demonstration of not only the intraventricular rupture but also the subsequent resolution of the inflammatory response within the ventricular system in response to aggressive ventricular drainage and systemic antibiotic therapy. Conclusion Diffusion-weighted MRI can be applicable both to the diagnosis of IVROBA as well as to the response to appropriate surgical therapy. With aggressive treatment, a good outcome is achievable in the setting of IVROBA.
Fully automated preparation of n.c.a. 4-[18F]fluorobenzoic acid and N-succinimidyl 4-[18F]fluorobenzoate using a Siemens/CTI chemistry process control unit (CPCU).

Abstract The widely used bifunctional labeling reagent 4-[18F]fluorobenzoic acid ([18F]FBA) and its activated form N-succinimidyl 4-[18F]fluorobenzoate ([18F]SFB) were prepared using a modified Siemens/CTI chemistry process control unit (CPCU) double vessel [18F]FDG module. The products were obtained with a radiochemical yield greater than 99% with decay corrected yields of 77±5% (n=4) for [18F]FBA and 46±5% (n=4) for [18F]SFB. The presented synthetic procedure is highly reproducible and fully automated.
Interdiffusion, intrinsic diffusion and vacancy wind effect in Fe-Al alloys at 1000°C

Diffusion in {beta}(B{sub 2}) and {beta}{prime}(bcc) Fe-Al alloys are of practical interest due to the potential applications at high temperatures. A review of available diffusion data for Fe-rich Fe-Al alloys at 1000 C indicates appreciable differences in the reported values of interdiffusion coefficients. Intrinsic diffusion coefficients and tracer diffusion coefficients are available for selected compositions and temperatures. In this paper are presented interdiffusion and intrinsic diffusion studies carried out at 1000 C with solid-solid diffusion couples assembled with Fe-Al alloys containing up to 50 at.% Al. Intrinsic diffusion coefficients were determined at marker compositions and were employed for an estimation of atomic mobilities and vacancy wind parameters on the basis of a random alloy model incorporating vacancy wind effect. Thermodynamic factors were also assessed at the marker compositions.
Performance of Some Resistant Rules for Outlier Labeling

Abstract The techniques of exploratory data analysis include a resistant rule for identifying possible outliers in univariate data. Using the lower and upper fourths, FL and FU (approximate quartiles), it labels as “outside” any observations below FL − 1.5(FU — FL ) or above FU + 1.5(FU — FL ). For example, in the ordered sample −5, −2, 0, 1, 8, FL = −2 and FU = 1, so any observation below −6.5 or above 5.5 is outside. Thus the rule labels 8 as outside. Some related rules also use cutoffs of the form FL — k(FU — FL ) and FU + k(FU — FL ). This approach avoids the need to specify the number of possible outliers in advance; as long as they are not too numerous, any outliers do not affect the location of the cutoffs. To describe the performance of these rules, we define the some-outside rate per sample as the probability that a sample will contain one or more outside observations. Its complement is the all-inside rate per sample. We also define the outside rate per observation as the average fraction of outs...
Segregation of block copolymer micelles to surfaces and interfaces

The distribution of a diblock copolymer within a high molecular weight homopolymer matrix phase was determined quantitatively by forward recoil spectrometry. Cross-sectional TEM showed that excess copolymer segregation to the homopolymer/homopolymer and homopolymer/vacuum interfaces was due the preferential segregation of block copolymer micelles to these interfaces. It is argued that the segregation of block copolymer micelles is a manifestation of attractive interactions between polymer brushes, and between polymer brushes and a free surface, which are important in high molecular weight homopolymer matrices
Nontraditional and Unorthodox Interventions in Social Work: Ethical and Legal Implications:

Social work interventions with individuals, families, couples, and small groups have evolved over time. Traditional casework methods associated with social work's pioneers during the early and midt...
Why Jaegwon Kim’s Physicalism is Not Near Enough: An Implicit Argument for a non-Cartesian Interactionism (Part I)

Kim’s argument for a minimal physicalism breaks down in two critical places. First, his functional reduction of cognitive/intentional properties fails to do justice to what we mean when we refer to belief, desire and the like, because it fails to account for their referential and normative content. And although Kim believes that he is saving what is distinctive about our cognitive/intentional life, by providing for mental causation in the context of functional reduction, it can be shown that mental causation without autonomy is inadequate, and irredeemably so, as Davidson anticipated. Thus Kim saves mental causation in name only. Although Kim has famously and, I believe, successfully critiqued Davidson’s solution to the problem of mental autonomy in terms of nonreductive physicalism, Kim has never adequately addressed Davidson’s motivation. Second, his minimal physicalism depends on a metaphysically fundamental partition between phenomenal consciousness and cognitive/intentional properties. This idea cannot be made coherent, because consciousness itself is intrinsically cognitive. This second argument will be developed in Part II. In introducing Part I, we will explain a crucial ambiguity in Kim’s principle of the causal closure of the physical. By failing to appreciate the importance of this ambiguity, Kim’s strong version of causal closure, which is anything but innocuous, is misleadingly made to appear so. In effect, Kim’s under-appreciation of the complexity of the closure principle leads him to attack a straw man—in the form of an outmoded conception of immaterial minds—and ignore the possibility of an interactionism involving quantum neuroscience.
Tiebout choice and universal school vouchers

Abstract This paper examines who is likely to gain and who is likely to lose under a universal voucher program. Following Epple and Romano [D. Epple, R.E. Romano, Competition between private and public schools, vouchers, and peer group effects, American Economic Review 88 (1998) 33–62; D. Epple, R.E. Romano, Neighborhood schools, choice, and the distribution of educational benefits, in: C.M. Hoxby (Ed.), The Economics of School Choice, The Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2003, pp. 227–286], and Nechyba [T.J. Nechyba, Mobility, targeting, and private school vouchers, American Economic Review 90 (2000) 130–146; T.J. Nechyba, Introducing school choice into multidistrict public school systems, in: C.M. Hoxby (Ed.), The Economics of School Choice, The Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2003, pp. 145–194], we focus on the idea that gains and losses under a universal voucher depend on two effects: changes in peer group composition and changes in housing values. We show that the direction and magnitude of each of these effects hinge critically on market structure, i.e., the amount of school choice that already exists in the public sector. In markets with little or no Tiebout choice, potential changes in peer group composition create an incentive for high-socioeconomic (SES) households to vote for the voucher and for low-SES households to vote against voucher. In contrast, in markets with significant Tiebout choice, potential changes in housing values create an incentive for high-SES households to vote against the voucher and for low-SES households to vote for the voucher. Using data on vote outcomes from California's 2000 voucher initiative, we find evidence consistent with those predictions.
A Model of High Plains and Intermountain Stockraising Settlement Systems

A general model of stockraising settlement systems on the High Plains is presented. Major characteristics of cattle and sheep ranching as these activities have been practiced for the past century a...
Electrostatic Contribution of the Proteoglycans to the In-Plane Shear and Compressive Stiffness of Corneal Stroma

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a fibrous structure embedded in an aqueous gel. The mechanical and electrostatic interactions of the ECM constituents, i.e. collagen fibers and proteoglycans (PGs), define the structure and mechanical response of connective tissues (CTs) such as cornea and articular cartilage. Proteoglycans are complex macromolecules consisting of linear chains of repeating gylcosaminoglycans (GAGs) which are covalently attached to a core protein. PGs can be as simple as decorin with a single GAG side chain or as complex as aggrecan with many GAGs. Decorin is the simplest small leucine-rich PG and is the main PG inside the corneal stroma. It has an arch shape and links non-covalently at its concave surface to the collagen fibrils. It has been shown that while collagen fibers inside the extracellular matrix resist the tensile forces, the negatively charged glycosaminoglycans and their interaction with water give compressive stiffness to the tissue. The role of PGs in biomechanical properties of the connective tissues has mainly been studied in order to explore the behavior of articular cartilage [1], which is a CT with large and highly negatively charged PGs, aggrecans. In order to explain the role of PGs in this tissue, it is commonly assumed that their contribution to the CT elasticity is because of both the repulsive forces between negatively charged GAGs and GAG interactions with free mobile charges in the ionic bath. The electrostatic contribution to the shear and compressive stiffness of cartilage is modeled by approximating GAGs as charged rods [1]. The Poisson-Boltzmann equation is used to compute the change in electrical potential and mobile ion distributions which are caused by the macroscopic deformation.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Structure of the Human IgE-Fc Cε3-Cε4 Reveals Conformational Flexibility in the Antibody Effector Domains

Abstract IgE antibodies mediate antiparasitic immune responses and the inflammatory reactions of allergy and asthma. We have solved the crystal structure of the human IgE-Fc Ce3-Ce4 domains to 2.3 A resolution. The structure reveals a large rearrangement of the N-terminal Ce3 domains when compared to related IgG-Fc structures and to the IgE-Fc bound to its high-affinity receptor, FceRI. The IgE-Fc adopts a more compact, closed configuration that places the two Ce3 domains in close proximity, decreases the size of the interdomain cavity, and obscures part of the FceRI binding site. IgE-Fc conformational flexibility may be required for interactions with two distinct IgE receptors, and the structure suggests strategies for the design of therapeutic compounds for the treatment of IgE-mediated diseases.
Finding outlier light curves in catalogues of periodic variable stars

We present a methodology to discover outliers in catalogues of periodic light curves. We use a cross-correlation as the measure of ‘similarity’ between two individual light curves, and then classify light curves with lowest average ‘similarity’ as outliers. We performed the analysis on catalogues of periodic variable stars of known type from the MACHO and OGLE projects. This analysis was carried out in Fourier space and we established that our method correctly identifies light curves that do not belong to those catalogues as outliers. We show how an approximation to this method, carried out in real space, can scale to large data sets that will be available in the near future such as those anticipated from the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) and Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).
LITHIUM ABUNDANCE IN SOLAR-TYPE STARS WITH LOW CHROMOSPHERIC ACTIVITY: APPLICATION TO THE SEARCH FOR MAUNDER MINIMUM ANALOGS

We use measurements of lithium abundance to examine the evolutionary history of stars frequently believed to be in a Maunder minimum (MM) state due to their low chromospheric activity. In a sample whose main-sequence membership has been verified using Hipparcos parallax data, we find that stars with very low chromospheric activity log R'{sub HK} {<=} -5.0 have substantially depleted lithium compared with the full sample, with half of these lithium abundances lying more than one standard deviation below the sample mean for their range of color index. One interpretation is that these stars are near the end of their main-sequence lifetime, and therefore their low activity does not necessarily signify a transient MM state in a solar-age star. Conversely, using information in published activity time series for some stars, and combined lithium and activity measurements from the Ursa Major moving group and M67, we find limited evidence that a low-activity star having lithium abundance in the normal range for its color index may be a viable MM candidate. Thus, lithium abundance, which can be readily observed or even retrieved from some of the spectroscopic data collected by recent planet-search surveys, may have value for expanding and refining the program starmore » lists for long-term MM searches. Finally, we find that the use of Hipparcos parallax data to ascertain main-sequence membership sharpens the distinction in sample-mean lithium abundance between stars with planet detections and comparison stars.« less
Effect of body weight changes on changes in ambulatory and standardized non-physician blood pressures over three years.

Abstract PURPOSE: This study examines the relationship of changes in body mass index (BMI) to changes in measures of both casual and ambulatory blood pressures over three years. METHODS: In this prospective study of men aged 30–60 years, a cohort of 198 participants was followed for three years. Height, weight, demographic characteristics, and casual and ambulatory measures of blood pressure (BP) were obtained at baseline and 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: Change in BMI was significantly associated with change in all ambulatory (awake, work, home, and sleep) and casual systolic and diastolic blood pressures. After controlling for age and race/ethnicity, the association remained significant for nine of the twelve BP change measures. Further tests show that the effect of a change in BMI on BP change does not vary across the six systolic blood pressures or across the six diastolic measures. An average-height man gaining 5 kg (11 pounds) typically exhibited a 2.5 mm Hg increase in systolic and a 1.8 mm Hg increase in diastolic casual and ambulatory BPs. There is no evidence that changes in BP were associated with age, race/ethnicity (blacks vs. Hispanics vs. whites), or the average of the baseline and follow-up levels of BMI. In addition, the impact of weight gain is similar in magnitude, but in the opposite direction, to that of weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in BMI over three years predict changes in ambulatory and standardized non-physician BPs. These changes in BP are not related to average BMI level or age.
Medical Student Perceptions of Cost-Conscious Care in an Internal Medicine Clerkship: A Thematic Analysis.

Background Although as much as 87 % of all healthcare spending is directed by physicians, studies have demonstrated that they lack knowledge about the costs of medical care. Similarly, learners have not traditionally received instruction on cost-conscious care.
Hybrid phosphazene-organosilicon polymers: II. High-polymer and materials synthesis and properties

Most of the polymers that have been synthesized and studied over the past 50 years are organic macromolecules. However, many advantages exist for the development of polymers with inorganic backbones. The first major class of inorganic backbone polymers to be developed widely were the polytorganosiloxanes] (silicones), and these now are the subject of broad industrial and fundamental interest. Polyphosphazenes are a relatively new class of inorganic backbone polymers which rival many organic systems in their molecular structural diversity and property variations. They constitute only the second group of inorganic-organic polymers to be developed extensively. An emerging field of research involves an attempt to create a new area of polymer science at the interface between these two subjects, by the synthesis of hybrid organophosphazene organosilicon systems. This review is a summary of recent progress in this new field.
Anomalous charge oscillations in the dynamical response of metals.

been found in the induced charge density. These oscillations only appear when a crystal potential is included in the calculation. They propagate deep into the bulk, but are incommensurate with the lattice. We illustrate the occurrence of such oscillations in simple systems, and discuss their origin. For more general cases, we find that the amplitude of the oscillations is sensitive to the amount of spatial variation in directions parallel to the surface of either the crystal potential or the probing field. We also discuss the challenge of detecting this phenomenon experimentally.
Multiheterodyne measurement of acoustically induced phase noise in fiber-optic transfer of an optical frequency comb

Optical frequency references under external single-tone acoustic perturbation are remotely delivered via an optical fiber. Multiheterodyne technique was used to measure the induced phase noise. Noise suppression was observed at frequencies below the perturbation frequencies.
Time-frequency analysis for plastic landmine detection via forward-looking ground penetrating radar

Time-frequency analysis techniques are used for buried plastic landmine detection with a forward-looking ground penetration radar (GPR) system. Several time-frequency distributions are considered to characterise and interpret the scattering phenomena of both targets and clutter. An ambiguity function based detector is also presented, which employs principal component analysis and feature selection for data dimensionality reduction and linear discriminant analysis for signal classification. Experimental results based on the SRI (Stanford Research Institute) experimentally measured forward-looking GPR data are presented, showing a significant detection performance improvement over the conventional detector
The stability of austenite in very small particles

Abstract Iron-rich precipitates in a solution treated and isothermally reacted Cu-2.5%Fe alloy are metastable with regard to martensitic transformation. It is known that precipitates can be induced to transform by deforming the precipitate: matrix system, or by reduction of matrix constraints by partially isolating the precipitate from the matrix. In an attempt to identify more clearly the nature of the lattice defect active in nucleation, the influence of electron irradiation damage on precipitate stability has been evaluated in a high voltage electron microscope. It was found that the austenitic precipitates did not transform in response to lattice defects generated by high voltage electrons. While the stability of these austenitic particles can be rationalized on thermodynamic grounds, consideration of the conditions favoring transformation in this system suggests that a functional shear is a necessary adjunct to any particular lattice defect configuration.
A branch-and-cut decomposition algorithm for solving chance-constrained mathematical programs with finite support

We present a new approach for exactly solving chance-constrained mathematical programs having discrete distributions with finite support and random polyhedral constraints. Such problems have been notoriously difficult to solve due to nonconvexity of the feasible region, and most available methods are only able to find provably good solutions in certain very special cases. Our approach uses both decomposition, to enable processing subproblems corresponding to one possible outcome at a time, and integer programming techniques, to combine the results of these subproblems to yield strong valid inequalities. Computational results on a chance-constrained formulation of a resource planning problem inspired by a call center staffing application indicate the approach works significantly better than both an existing mixed-integer programming formulation and a simple decomposition approach that does not use strong valid inequalities. We also demonstrate how the approach can be used to efficiently solve for a sequence of risk levels, as would be done when solving for the efficient frontier of risk and cost.
Phytophotodermatitis due to Ruta graveolens

We report phytophotodermatitis in a 5-year-old boy, his 6-year-old sister and his mother, evoked by their handling common rue (Ruta graveolens), a plant which contains psoralens. Psoralens are photoactive chemicals which, when rubbed on the skin, react with sunlight to produce erythema, hyperpigmentation and blistering. Phytophotodermatitis is an uncommon cause of such ill-effects, in children.
The synthesis of high radiochemical purity of 2‐[18F]‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose without the use of preparative hplc

A process is described for preparing routinely sterile and pyrogenfree, multimillicurie amounts of 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-2FDG) with and without carrier-added fluoride and with a radiochemical purity of greater than 98% without the use of preparative HPLC. For 13 consecutive runs, the radiochemical yield with carrier-added fluoride was 35.5 ± 2.2%. The [18F]fluoride used was produced by the reaction 160(3He, p) 18F or by the reaction 180 (p,n)18F. Analytical HPLC, 1H and 19F NMR spectral analysis were used to establish the identity and purity of 18F-2FDG.
Angiogenin Enhances Actin Acceleration of Plasminogen Activation

Angiogenin interacts with actin to form a complex, which like actin itself, can accelerate plasmin generation by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). In contrast to actin, the angiogenin-actin complex does not inhibit plasmin activity. In the presence of the angiogenin-actin complex, the overall proteolytic activity of a mixture of plasminogen and tPA is 11-fold higher than in its absence and 6-fold higher than in the presence of actin alone. These results suggest that binding and displacement of cell surface actin by angiogenin might be involved in cell migration and tumor invasion, processes that depend on the proteolytic degradation of basement membrane and the extracellular matrix. Therefore, the activity of the angiogenin-actin complex reported here may have physiological and pathological significance in the process of angiogenin-induced angiogenesis.
Validated Worldwide Supercentenarians, Living and Recently Deceased

BY DEFINITION, a validated supercentenarian is a properly documented centenarian who has lived to be at least the age of 110 years. The tables reproduced below and various other tables of supercentenarians are regularly updated by Dr. Stephen Coles, one of the members of our Editorial Board, along with other members of the Los Angeles Gerontology Research Group (GRG). For further details, please contact them through their website at http://www.grg.org/. During 2009, we will publish six different tables and graphs from the GRG’s data, following the sequence published in Rejuvenation Research in 20071–4 and 2008.5–10 Accordingly, in this issue we give the latest list of living supercentenarians and the list of those who died in the past year. As of January 20, 2009, there were 89 living supercentenarians on our list (82 females and 7 males); 54 died in 2008, and 6 in 2009.
Genetic analysis of FMR1 repeat expansion in essential tremor

We performed an association analysis of Fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) CGG repeats in 321 essential tremor (ET) cases and 296 controls at Columbia University. In addition to analyzing the allele distribution (10-49 CGG repeats) in the entire sample, we also performed a screen for ET cases with the FMR1 premutation allele (55-200 CGG repeats), and evaluated an association between ET and FMR1 alleles that included gray zone alleles (41-54 CGG repeats). CGG premutation alleles and gray zone alleles were rare in ET cases, and we found no evidence for association of premutation or gray zone alleles with ET. These data suggest that FMR1 CGG repeats are not a genetic risk factor for ET.
Biochemical and neuropathological assessment of triphenyl phosphite in rats.

Abstract The putative neurotoxicity of the organophosphorus compound triphenyl phosphite (TPP) was examined in Long Evans, adult male rats. Animals were exposed to two 1.0 ml/kg (1184 mg/kg) injections (sc) of TPP spaced 1 week apart and sampled for biochemical and neuropathological examination. At the time of sampling, rats displayed dysfunctional changes including tail rigidity, circling, and hindlimb paralysis. Neuropathic damage was confined to the lateral and ventral columns of all spinal levels and consisted of myelin ellipsoids and giant axonal swellings filled with smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Wallerian-like degeneration was observed in the spinal roots, the sciatic nerve, and tibial branches. Biochemical assessment of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and neurotoxic esterase (NTE) activity was determined 1, 4, 24, 48, and 72 hr after the second TPP treatment. Both enzyme activity concetrations were depressed maximally at 48 hr postexposure by 30 and 39%, respectively. Serum cholinesterase, sampled 48 hr after the second TPP exposure was depressed by 33%. Data from this study indicate that subchronic exposure to the organophosphite TPP results in severe neurotoxic consequences which differ from those previously described in rats with organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy.
Incidence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in rural Liberia.

To provide background for future hepatitis A vaccine trials, sera were collected from 0- to 4-year-old Liberian infants and their mothers on two occasions an average of 14.75 months apart and tested for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). The prevalence of anti-HAV rose from 2.5% in infants 0–6 months of age to 70% in children 3–4 years of age and did not differ between male and female infants. The annual incidence of new infections was slightly lower in the first year of life (35%) than in the subsequent 3 years, when it averaged 45%. The presence of HBV infection did not affect the incidence of HAV seroconversion. No clinical hepatitis was recognized in the subjects who seroconverted. Dual hepatitis A and B virus infection were observed; these were all clinically inapparent. The extraordinary incidence of HAV infection documented in the present study offers an opportunity for vaccine efficacy trials requiring minimal numbers of subjects.
Non-Clocklike Features of Psychological Timing and Alternatives to the Clock Metaphor

This article closely compares the characteristics of clocks to the model of the internal clock that is pervasive in the study of time perception. It argues that in crucial respects, the evidence of timing phenomena is not clocklike. Instead, the existing evidence suggests the need to explore ways to think about timing that match what current research reveals better than the clock metaphor.
Development and Implementation of Recycled Thermoplastic RR Ties

About a billion wood cross-ties are in service in North America for safe and effective transfer of heavy freight or high-speed passenger train loads. These wood ties are facing long-term safety and serviceability issues related to ever increasing intensities and frequencies, and harsh field conditions. In addition to other applications, the Constructed Facilities Center, West Virginia University (CFC-WVU) has been investigating the use of recycled polymer composite railroad (RR) ties with discarded wood or rubber core to safely alleviate many of the problems posed by creosote treated timber ties. In this research, mechanical property characterization of recycled thermoplastics was carried out prior to manufacturing RR ties with continuous glass fiber reinforced (GFRP) polymer composite shell with recycled polymer, and wood/FRP (fiber reinforced polymer) core. GFRP Composite ties manufactured with thermoplastics and continuous glass fiber/fabric have exhibited high strength/stiffness unlike plastic ties with chopped fibers. Local cracking from spikes was found to be negligible. Half- and full-scale RR ties were subjected to static loads of 80 kips and fatigue loads up to 12.5 million cycles with a strain range of 750 micro strains (μe, i.e., 750×10−6 ) in FRP composite shell. Spike pull-out tests were conducted on full-scale RR tie specimens. Results showed high strength/stiffness of these ties under static loads and also excellent strength retention under millions of fatigue cycles. Field installed ties exhibited maximum strain of 1070 micro-strains under actual locomotive loads moving at 15 mph.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Computers: Speech recognition: Turning theory to practice: New ICs have brought the requisite computer power to speech technology; an evaluation of equipment shows where it stands today

Presents an evaluation of the equipment now available for turning the theory of electronic speech recognition into practice. The fulfilment of this goal seems much closer than it did because of the pace of advance in IC technology.
Binaural beat induced theta EEG activity and hypnotic susceptibility: contradictory results and technical considerations.

Abstract The present study offered a constructive replication of an earlier study which demonstrated significant increases in theta EEG activity following theta binaural beat (TBB) entrainment training and significant increases in hypnotic susceptibility. This study improved upon the earlier small-sample, multiple-baseline investigation by employing a larger sample, by utilizing a double-blind, repeated-measures group experimental design, by investigating only low and moderate susceptible participants, and by providing 4 hours of binaural beat training. With these design improvements, results were not supportive of the specific efficacy of the theta binaural beat training employed in this study in either increasing frontal theta EEG activity or in increasing hypnotic susceptibility. Statistical power analyses indicated the theta binaural beat training to be a very low power phenomenon on theta EEG activity. Furthermore, we found no significant relationship between frontal theta power and hypnotizability, ...
A stochastic model for small disturbance stability analysis of electric power systems

Abstract As a result of inherent uncertainties directly affecting power system dynamic stability studies, many works have been presented in the field of stochastic modelling of power system parameters. In the past the system was modelled as linear and/or model small disturbances as small zero-mean Gaussian distributed white noises (of infinite bandwidth). In this paper a multi-dimensional power system with a preserved model is studied which is perturbed by small zero-mean Gaussian distributed coloured noises (band-limited white noises). Concerning the system's stability, the region and its boundary are shown more accurately, and sensitivity studies are performed on the proposed model to investigate the effect of coloured noise on the dynamic system behaviour.
Are boys left behind? The evolution of the gender achievement gap in Beijing's middle schools

Abstract Using one cohort of 7235 middle school students in Beijing, China, we examined the evolution of the gender achievement gap in middle school. Our study found a more significant female dominance than in U.S. studies: even though boys gradually caught up during middle school, especially in Math and Science, and the gender achievement gap decreased over the distribution of test scores, girls outperformed boys throughout primary and middle school and in each quartile of the performance distribution. As well, girls had a more positive school experience than boys, and boys had a higher dropout rate by the end of middle school. Despite significant gender differences in various important characteristics that have explained the gender achievement gap in the U.S., in our study, primary school test scores seemed to be the only significant source of the gender achievement gap at the end of middle school, indicating the importance of early intervention.
The effect of semantic mapping instruction on prose comprehension of below‐level college readers

Abstract College freshmen participating in a remedial reading program were assigned to one of three reading instruction conditions: direct instruction in the use of mapping strategies (N = 16); Herber's (1978) functional approach (N = 12); or a control condition involving reading and discussing expository essays (N = 12). Students were tested before and after the 8‐week intervention on comprehension of textually explicit, textually implicit, and scriptally implicit questions. Students exposed to the mapping intervention demonstrated superior posttreatment performance on both textually explicit and textually implicit questions. No significant differences were observed on scriptally implicit questions. Results were interpreted as indicating the advantages of semantic mapping instruction for below‐level readers.
Shaped pupil coronagraphs for planet finding: optimization, manufacturing, and experimental results

Current plans call for the first Terrestrial Planet Finder mission, TPF-C, to be a monolithic space telescope with a coronagraph for achieving high contrast. Our group at Princeton pioneered the concept of shaped pupils for high contrast imaging and planet detection. In previous papers we introduced a number of families of optimal shaped pupils in square, circular, and elliptical apertures. Here, we show our most promising designs and present our laboratory results for the elliptical shaped pupil. We are currently achieving better than 10 −7 contrast at 10 λ /D and 10 −5 contrast at 4 λ /D , without wavefront control. We describe the deep ion etching manufacturing process to make free standing masks. We also discuss what is limiting contrast in the laboratory and our progress in wavefront correction.
Infection of Brown Shrimp, Penaeus aztecus Ives by Prochristianella penaei Kruse (Cestoda:Trypanorhyncha) in Southeastern Louisiana Bays

Abstract The plerocercus of the trypanorhynchan cestode, Prochristianella penaei was found to be a common parasite of commercially important shrimp (Penaeus aztecus and P. setiferus) in southeastern Louisiana. During June and July 1967, the cestode was found in 42% of 971 subadult and large juvenile P. aztecus taken weekly from different estuaries. Infection of specimens from Lake Pontchartrain varied between 18% and 50% without a definite pattern, but in Lake Borgne it rose suddenly from 38% to 88% and leveled off. In the delta complex west of the Mississippi River, it increased at a slower but more regular rate and reached a maximum of 63% in the last sampling week. Prochristianella penaei was found in 75% of 150 Penaeus setiferus obtained from Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne on two successive weeks (July 24 to August 3) following a sharp decline in the availability of P. aztecus. Infection patterns of both species are discussed relative to the ecology of sampled areas and habits of hosts involved in the...
Generation times and DNA replication patterns of cells of developing frog embryos.

Abstract The method of continuous labeling with thymidine-3H and autoradiography of tissue squashes was used to examine patterns of DNA synthesis reflected in the chromosomes of developing embryos of Rana pipiens. At the neurula and tailbud stages there are regions of late-replicating DNA at one or both terminal segments of most chromosomes. This pattern was not present at the blastula or gastrula stages. At any stage the duration of S and G2 are similar for cells in different parts of the body, but the length of G1 and generation time varies.
Augmented makeover based on 3D morphable model

Avatar is the virtual representation of user's facial, body, and motion characteristics in computer game, social network, and augmented reality. Facial modeling needs enormous efforts to achieve immersive experience in applications like avatar chatting or online makeover. Great challenge exists in robust detection of 2D facial prominent points and mapping them to 3D models in a parameterized manner. Another challenge is how to characterize semantic components of eyes, mouth, nose, and cheek rather than low level mesh geometries. In this paper, we proposed an augmented makeover framework to deal with aforementioned challenges. Aiming to provide amateurs with flexible customizations, morphable model is constructed from a set of scanned 3D face data set. Appearance personalization is carried out in the offline phase where single image and multiple views are discussed respectively to generate deformative shape in a progressive manner. Augmentation is implemented in the online phase where a fast and robust 3D tracking is used to balance the tradeoff between accuracy and real-time requirements. By this means, immersive Human Computer Interaction such as virtual makeover and photo-realistic avatar chatting could be achieved.
CO2 Fixation in Chemoautotroph-Invertebrate Symbioses: Expression of Form I and Form II RubisCO

The discovery of thriving communities of invertebrates at deep-sea hydrothermal vents gave us our first insights into a new community based on chemosynthesis. A major contributor to the base of the food chain was sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophic bacteria found within the invertebrates, including vestimentiferan tubeworms, vesicomyid clams, and mytilid mussels (see reviews Cavanaugh 1994, Fisher 1990). In these associations, the bacterial endosymbionts are hypothesized to provide the animal host with a source of nutrition via production of organic compounds from CO2. The main evidence that the symbionts are autotrophic is the co-occurrence of Gram-negative bacteria and activities of ribulose-l,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO), the CO2-fixing enzyme of the Calvin-Benson cycle, in specific animal tissues.
A Boy and His Atom

There are certainly “big movies” such as Gone with the Wind and “small movies” such as Beasts of the Southern Wild, but Andreas Heinrich, Chris Lutz, Susanne Baumann, and Ileana Rau at IBM literally have set a new Guinness World Record™ for the smallest movie ever made. Heinrich et al. used a remotely operated two-ton scanning tunneling microscope to manipulate carbon monoxide molecules into a pattern, then capture the image (at a magnification of about 100,000,000×!), then move a few atoms and capture another image, and so on. This was done at 268 degrees below zero Celsius. Then approximately 250 images were assembled into a stop-action movie accompanied by cute music that lasts a little over a minute. The “boy” appears to be composed of 88 individual atoms. He bounces a “ball” (a single atom) off a wall in a minuscule game of “handatom,” which is reminiscent of the early video game “Pong.” Then he bounces on a tiny trampoline. The movie concludes with a tasteful mention of IBM.
Mask Compliant Precoder for OFDM Spectrum Shaping

In this letter, a precoder for shaping the spectrum of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is presented. Unlike existing methods that focus on minimizing or forcing the sidelobes to zero, the proposed precoder is designed with the goal of controlling the out-of-band emissions beneath a particular power level without impacting the bit error rate (BER) performance. A small distortion is added to the information symbols forcing the emitted spectrum under a prescribed radio frequency mask. Obtained results show that the BER performance of the proposed precoder is similar to that of uncoded OFDM under relaxed masks. Moreover, the effect of the proposed precoder on edge subcarriers is investigated. Error vector magnitude (EVM) per subcarrier shows the designed precoder introduces more distortion on edge subcarriers. Consequently, the proposed precoder when combined with adaptive modulation provides further improvement in BER performance under strict masks.