cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Figuring the Odds

Bayesians are not surprised that results at several standard deviations are often spurious, as Charles Seife points out in his News Focus report “CERN's gamble shows perils, rewards of playing the odds” (29 Sept., p. 2260). The significance levels he discusses overstate the evidence, often by a great deal ([1][1]). Is a tossed coin that gave 60 heads and 40 tails fair? In the sidebar, “A Greek letter, demystified” (p. [2261][2]), it is incorrectly stated that this happens only 2% of the time with a fair coin. In fact, the probability of obtaining exactly 60 heads and 40 tails is 0.011 (from the binomial distribution). What was apparently meant was that the probability of obtaining 60 or more heads out of 100 is 2%, the one-sided P -value (but this is actually 2.8%). The P -value is a poor measure of the evidence against “no bias.” If a biased coin averages 60% heads, the probability of obtaining 60 heads and 40 tails is 0.081, so on this evidence the odds against “no bias” are at most 0.081/0.011 or 7.5:1, not 35:1 or 50:1. In addition, this computation is done under the extreme assumption that the actual bias of the coin equals the observed proportion of heads. A fully Bayesian analysis, accounting for the fact that the amount of bias is unknown, might even mildly favor “no bias”! I was teaching a unit on Bayesian inference when the discovery of a possible planet around PSR 1829–10 mentioned in Seife's article was announced. I noticed that the period claimed for the planet was suspiciously close to a low harmonic of Earth's orbital period. A simple Bayesian analysis for my class ([2][3]) indicated the truth: it was highly probable that the result was spurious. Let this be a lesson! 1. [↵][4]1. J. O. Berger, 2. M. Delampady , Stat. Sci. 2, 317 (1987). [OpenUrl][5][CrossRef][6] 2. [↵][7]1. W. H. Jefferys, 2. J. O. Berger , Am. Sci. 80, 64 (1992). [OpenUrl][8][Web of Science][9] [1]: #ref-1 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.289.5488.2261 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [5]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DStat.%2BSci.%26rft.volume%253D2%26rft.spage%253D317%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1214%252Fss%252F1177013238%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [6]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1214/ss/1177013238&link_type=DOI [7]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [8]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAm.%2BSci.%26rft.volume%253D80%26rft.spage%253D64%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [9]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=A1992HB56900016&link_type=ISI
The effect of radical trap moieties on electron capture dissociation spectra of substance P

To further test the hypothesis that electron capture dissociation (ECD) involves long-lived radical intermediates and radical migration occurs within these intermediates before fragmentation, radical trap moieties were attached to peptides with the assumption that they would reduce fragmentation by decreasing the mobility of the radical. Coumarin labels were chosen for the radical traps, and unlabeled, singly-labeled, and doubly-labeled Substance P were analyzed by ECD. The results demonstrated a correlation between the number and position of tags on the peptide and the intensity of side-chain cleavages observed, as well as an inverse correlation between the number of tags on the peptide and the intensity of backbone cleavages. Addition of radical traps to the peptide inhibits backbone cleavages, suggesting that either radical mobility is required for these cleavages, or new noncovalent interactions prevent separation of backbone cleavage fragments. The enhancement of side-chain cleavages and the observation of new side-chain cleavages associated with aromatic groups suggest that the gas-phase conformation of this peptide is substantially distorted from untagged Substance P and involves previously unobserved interactions between the coumarin tags and the phenylalanine residues. Furthermore, the use of a double resonance (DR)-ECD experiment showed that these side-chain losses are all products of long-lived radical intermediate species, which suggests that steric hindrance prevents the coumarin-localized radical from interacting with the backbone while simultaneously increasing the radical rearrangements with the side chains.
Comparison of 2D median filter hardware implementations for real-time stereo video

The two-dimensional spatial median filter is a core algorithm for impulse noise removal in digital image processing and computer vision. While the literature presents several analyses of median filters optimized for a standard 3 times 3 pixel neighborhood configuration, a 5 times 5 neighborhood, useful for imagery exhibiting noise not conforming to the classic ldquosalt and pepperrdquo formation, has received little analysis. Research efforts on hardware implementations of median filters have been devoted primarily toward implementations with low latency and high throughput. We are developing a system that includes stereo visible near infrared sensors; both require a 5 times 5 median filter to handle intensifier noise. Since the system is a battery powered unit, optimal power usage is a critical requirement in addition to low latency and high throughput. However, optimal power usage for median filtering has received little attention in the literature. In this paper, we focus on investigating four selected hardware implementations of a 5 times 5 median filter and compare them on the basis of power efficiency. We also analyze the latency, maximum clock rates, and resource utilization for these implementations. The designs include implementations of merge sort and radix sort-based elimination algorithms, common in software implementation of median filters, and a systolic sorting array and a Batcher sorting network, common hardware sorting techniques. All designs were created in the Altera Quartus-II environment for Stratix-II field programmable gate arrays, and were designed to be fully pipelined, accepting input sets and generating median filter output values every pixel clock pulse. Of the four considered designs, the Batcher network is a clear winner in power efficiency. Also, the Batcher network exceeds the functional and performance requirements for resource usage, latency, and clock rate.
Online solution to the linear quadratic tracking problem of continuous-time systems using reinforcement learning

In this paper, reinforcement learning (RL) is employed to find a casual solution to the linear quadratic tracker (LQT) for continuous-time systems online in real time. Although several RL techniques are developed in the literature to solve the LQ regulator, to our knowledge, there is no rigorous result for using RL to solve the LQ tracker. This is mainly because of the requirement for computing a feedforward term in the tracker control which must be done in a noncausal manner backwards in time. To deal with this noncausality problem, an augmented system composed of the original system and the command generator dynamics is constructed, and an augmented LQT algebraic Riccati equation is derived for solving the LQT problem. In this formulation, one can apply RL techniques to solve the LQT problem, computing the feedforward term and the feedback term simultaneously online in real time. The convergence of the proposed online algorithms to the optimal control solution is verified. To show the efficiency of the proposed approach, a simulation example is provided.
Exit Strategies for Charged tRNA from GluRS

For several class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), the rate-determining step in aminoacylation is the dissociation of charged tRNA from the enzyme. In this study, the following factors affecting the release of the charged tRNA from aaRSs are computationally explored: the protonation states of amino acids and substrates present in the active site, and the presence and the absence of AMP and elongation factor Tu. Through molecular modeling, internal pK(a) calculations, and molecular dynamics simulations, distinct, mechanistically relevant post-transfer states with charged tRNA bound to glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from Thermus thermophilus (Glu-tRNA(Glu)) are considered. The behavior of these nonequilibrium states is characterized as a function of time using dynamical network analysis, local energetics, and changes in free energies to estimate transitions that occur during the release of the tRNA. The hundreds of nanoseconds of simulation time reveal system characteristics that are consistent with recent experimental studies. Energetic and network results support the previously proposed mechanism in which the transfer of amino acid to tRNA is accompanied by the protonation of AMP to H-AMP. Subsequent migration of proton to water reduces the stability of the complex and loosens the interface both in the presence and in the absence of AMP. The subsequent undocking of AMP or tRNA then proceeds along thermodynamically competitive pathways. Release of the tRNA acceptor stem is further accelerated by the deprotonation of the alpha-ammonium group on the charging amino acid. The proposed general base is Glu41, a residue binding the alpha-ammonium group that is conserved in both structure and sequence across nearly all class I aaRSs. This universal handle is predicted through pK(a) calculations to be part of a proton relay system for destabilizing the bound charging amino acid following aminoacylation. Addition of elongation factor Tu to the aaRS.tRNA complex stimulates the dissociation of the tRNA core and the tRNA acceptor stem.
CBT by telephone for depression improved adherence compared with face-to-face CBT in primary care

Source Citation Mohr DC, Ho J, Duffecy J, et al. Effect of telephone-administered vs face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy on adherence to therapy and depression outcomes among primary care pat...
Reformulation of the parabolic approximation for waves in stratified moving media

An asymptotic, large wave number approximation for the equations governing the propagation of acoustic disturbances through a stratified moving medium is developed. The theory is an extension of the geometric acoustics approximation and provides corrections to that approximation in the form of multiplicative functions which satisfy parabolic differential equations of second order. By properly accounting for variations in the acoustic field in directions normal to the rays both caustic surfaces and the secularity of the geometric theory may be avoided.
Evaluation of long-term community recovery from Hurricane Andrew: sources of assistance received by population sub-groups

Two three-stage cluster surveys were conducted in South Dade County, Florida, 14 months apart, to assess recovery following Hurricane Andrew. Response rates were 75 per cent and 84 per cent. Sources of assistance used in recovery from Hurricane Andrew differed according to race, per capita income, ethnicity, and education. Reports of improved living situation post-hurricane were not associated with receiving relief assistance, but reports of a worse situation were associated with loss of income, being exploited, or job loss. The number of households reporting problems with crime and community violence doubled between the two surveys. Disaster relief efforts had less impact on subjective long-term recovery than did job or income loss or housing repair difficulties. Existing sources of assistance were used more often than specific post-hurricane relief resources. The demographic make-up of a community may determine which are the most effective means to inform them after a disaster and what sources of assistance may be useful.
Development of an In-Vehicle Video Sensor for Driver Assistance:

In this paper, the authors demonstrate some applications and benefits of using a low-cost video sensor for extracting information about the road environment that is ahead of a driver. The paper also discusses adaptive cruise control, lane detection and vehicle detection.
Search for magnetic monopoles in lunar material using an electromagnetic detector

Our search for magnetic monopoles in lunar materials has been concluded with the exploration of an additional 11.5 kg of material returned by the Apollo 11, 12, and 14 missions, using a modified version of our electromagnetic detector. Again, no magnetic monopole was detected. Combining these results with the results of our previous experiment, we set an upper limit of .00017 monopoles/g for the density of isolated monopoles in the lunar surface and improve our upper limits set for the monopole flux in cosmic rays and for monopole pair-production cross section.
Blind faith and the juvenile justice system: A response to binder

Abstract This response to Arnold Binder's critique of my 1985 article, “A Systemic Analysis of Diversion: Net Widening and Beyond,” affirms the validity of that study. Binder seems to be concerned that criticism of diversion programs is equivalent to calling for their abolition. My position is that empirical assessment of these programs is necessary to evaluate not only their manifest consequences, but also their latent effects, including net-widening. Findings indicating that some programs do not meet their stated objectives or have effects contrary to those objectives need to be taken seriously.
Bivariate flow cytometric analysis of murine intestinal epithelial cells for cytokinetic studies.

The heterogeneous nature of the small intestine and the lack of methods to obtain pure crypt populations has, in the past, limited the application of standard flow cytometric analysis for cytokinetic studies of the proliferating crypts. The authors describe a flow cytometric technique to discriminate crypt and villus cells in an epithelial cell suspension on the basis of cell length, and to measure the DNA content of the discriminated subpopulations. These data indicate that bivariate analysis of a mixed epithelial cell suspension can be used to distinguish mature villus cells, G/sub 1/ crypt cells, and S-phase crypt cells. In addition, continuous labeling studies suggest that the position of a cell on the cell length axis reflects epithelial cell maturity. The authors applied this flow cytometric technique to determine the cytokinetic nature of epithelial cells obtained by sequential digestion of the small intestine. 22 references, 4 figures, 2 tables.
Novice And Expert Muscle Utilization And Wrist Postures During Simulated Endotrachial Intubation – A Pilot Study:

Endotracheal Intubation (ETI) is an airway procedure commonly used to secure the airway for a variety of medical conditions. Endotracheal tube placement is most commonly performed under direct vision of the glottis with the use of a standard laryngoscope and blade. Proficiency in ETI procedures requires significant clinical experience and insufficient data currently exists describing the physical ergonomics of successful direct laryngoscopy. The research objectives of this study were to examine how ETI time, error and practitioner biomechanics varied among clinical experience levels and hospital bed heights. The participant population included novice and expert subgroups recruited from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the department of Emergency Medicine. Using a standard laryngoscope handle and blade, participants performed ETI trials on an airway manikin trainer at a minimum and maximum bed height. Participants were evaluated based on ETI completion time, endotracheal tube placement, wrist...
Generation of Global Multivariate Error Covariances by Singular-Value Decomposition of the Linear Balance Equation

Abstract Effective data assimilation algorithms require the estimation and specification of second-moment forecast error statistics. The imposition of multivariate constraints has been found to be a particularly effective way of extracting the maximum amount of information from the observations. In the optimal interpolation (OI) algorithm, geostrophic constraints were imposed, and these have been extended to the global case in the newer three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) algorithm by the application of the linear balance equation or a Rossby–Hough expansion. This study shows that the imposition of the linear balance equation (or the Rossby–Hough expansion) in the Tropics (although mathematically attractive) is not correct and may have deleterious effects on the assimilated products. A procedure is developed, based on the singular-value decomposition (svd) of the linear balance equation, for generating global forecast error covariances in which the multivariate coupling between wind and mass is complete...
Establishing the value of socially-created metadata to image indexing

Abstract There have been ample suggestions in the literature that terms added to documents from Flickr and Wikipedia can complement traditional methods of indexing and controlled vocabularies. At the same time, adding new metadata to existing metadata objects may not always add value to those objects. The potential added-value of using user-contributed (“social”) terms from Flickr and the English Wikipedia in image indexing is compared with using two expert-created controlled vocabularies—the Thesaurus for Graphic Materials and the Library of Congress Subject Headings—without those social terms. Experiments confirmed that the social terms did add value, relative to terms from the controlled vocabularies. The median rating for the usefulness of social terms was significantly higher than the baseline rating, but was lower than the ratings for the terms from the Thesaurus for Graphic Materials and the Library of Congress Subject Headings. Furthermore, complementing the controlled vocabulary terms with social terms more than doubled the average coverage of participants' terms for a photograph. The relationships between user demographics and users' perceptions of the value of terms were also investigated, as well as the relationships between user demographics and indexing quality, as measured by the number of terms participants assigned to a photograph. Participants with more tagging and indexing experience assigned a greater number of tags than did other participants.
Brca1 heterozygous mice have shortened life span and are prone to ovarian tumorigenesis with haploinsufficiency upon ionizing irradiation

BRCA1 mutation carriers have an 85% lifetime risk of breast cancer and 60% for ovarian cancer. BRCA1 facilitates DNA double-strand break repair, and dysfunction of BRCA1 leads to hypersensitivity to DNA damaging agents and consequently genomic instability of cells. In this communication, we have examined the tumor incidence and survival of Brca1 heterozygous female mice. Brca1 heterozygotes appear to have a shortened life span with 70% tumor incidence. Lymphoma, but not ovarian and mammary gland tumors, occurs commonly in these mice. After a whole-body exposure to ionizing radiation, Brca1 heterozygous mice have a 3-5-fold higher incidence specific to ovarian tumors, but not lymphoma, when compared with the Brca1+/+ mice. All the tumors from heterozygous mice examined retain the wild-type allele and the cancer cells express Brca1 protein, precluding the chromosomal mechanism for loss of heterozygosity of Brca1 locus. Although the manifestation of BRCA1 haploinsufficiency may be different between human and mouse, this study suggests that women carrying Brca1 mutations may be more prone to ovarian tumor formation after IR exposure than nonmutation carriers.
Voltage-Pulsed and Laser-Pulsed Atom Probe Tomography of a Multiphase High-Strength Low-Carbon Steel

The differences in artifacts associated with voltage-pulsed and laser-pulsed (wavelength = 532 or 355 nm) atom-probe tomographic (APT) analyses of nanoscale precipitation in a high-strength low-carbon steel are assessed using a local-electrode atom-probe tomograph. It is found that the interfacial width of nanoscale Cu precipitates increases with increasing specimen apex temperatures induced by higher laser pulse energies (0.6–2 nJ pulse−1 at a wavelength of 532 nm). This effect is probably due to surface diffusion of Cu atoms. Increasing the specimen apex temperature by using pulse energies up to 2 nJ pulse−1 at a wavelength of 532 nm is also found to increase the severity of the local magnification effect for nanoscale M2C metal carbide precipitates, which is indicated by a decrease of the local atomic density inside the carbides from 68 ± 6 nm−3 (voltage pulsing) to as small as 3.5 ± 0.8 nm−3. Methods are proposed to solve these problems based on comparisons with the results obtained from voltage-pulsed APT experiments. Essentially, application of the Cu precipitate compositions and local atomic density of M2C metal carbide precipitates measured by voltage-pulsed APT to 532 or 355 nm wavelength laser-pulsed data permits correct quantification of precipitation.
Parental anxiety and quality of life in children with epilepsy

Parental beliefs and attitudes concerning epilepsy may significantly impact adjustment and quality of life for both the child and family. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between parental anxiety and quality of life in pediatric patients with ongoing epilepsy. Subjects were parents (n=200) of children between the ages of 6 and 16 years who had been diagnosed and treated for epilepsy for at least 1 year. Parents were given quality of life and anxiety questionnaires during the child's clinic visit. A stepwise regression analysis suggested that severity of comorbid conditions, parental anxiety, seizure control, and number of medications were significantly associated with quality of life for these children. Parents with increased anxiety whose children had poorly controlled seizures and a comorbid disability were found to have diminished quality of life.
The influence of predator presence on utilization of artificial seagrass habitats by juvenile walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma

Behavioral preference for a structured habitat (artificial seagrass) by juvenile walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma, was tested in controlled laboratory experiments. We monitored position of fish in 2000 1 tanks with and without artificial seagrass present in one half of the tank. In addition, we exposed walleye pollock to a predator model, assessing their response when a grass plot was available or unavailable as a potential refuge. In the absence of predators, the fish avoided the artificial seagrass, displaying a preference for the open water side of the experimental tanks. In the presence of a predator model, however, juvenile walleye pollock readily entered the artificial seagrass plots. In addition, they often remained in the grass canopy in proximity to the predator instead of moving out of the grass to avoid the predator (when no grass was present they consistently moved to the opposite side of the tank from the predator). The behavioral choices exhibited in this study suggest that juvenile walleye pollock modify habitat selection in response to perceived predation risk, and recognize the structure provided by artificial seagrass as a potential refuge.
Developing a real-time emulation/simulation capability for the control architecture to the RAMP FMS

This paper first discusses an object-oriented, control architecture and then applies the architecture to produce a real-time software emulator for the Rapid Acquisition of Manufactured Parts (RAMP) flexible manufacturing system (FMS). In specifying the control architecture, the coordinated object is first defined as the primary modeling element. These coordinated objects are then integrated into a Recursive, Object-Oriented Coordination Hierarchy. A new simulation methodology, the Hierarchical Object-Oriented Programmable Logic Simulator, is then employed to model the interactions among the coordinated objects. The final step in implementing the emulator is to distribute the models of the coordinated objects over a network of computers and to synchronize their operation to a real time clock. Specialized displays have also been developed to allow one to monitor the detailed, real-time operation of each coordinated object. The research will also convert the real-time emulation model into a real-time simulation model for the RAMP FMS. Both the real-time emulation and simulation capabilities will be demonstrated at the presentation.
Biography of a translation Madame Bovary between Eleanor Marx and Paul de Man

Eleanor Marx, the daughter of Karl Marx, published the first major English translation of Madame Bovary in 1886, the same year in which the first volume of Das Kapital would appear in English. This essay explores a number of related themes: the impact of a signature translation on the literary history of a classic; the “Marxist” theory of translation that can be adduced from Eleanor Marx's introduction to the early editions; the situation of the woman translator as a literary “worker”; and the status of a genre of textual history and theory characterized as “biography of a translation.” In 1965 Paul de Man reprised the Eleanor Marx Aveling translation for the American Norton edition and in 2004 the same edition was republished by Norton. The essay examines the curious survival of this early translation despite a long history of criticism, including a famous attack by Nabokov. The story of the translation took a tragic turn when, in a manner reminiscent of Emma Bovary, Eleanor Marx committed suicide with p...
Self-Generation of Microwave Magnetic Envelope Soliton Trains in Yttrium Iron Garnet Thin Films

The self-generation of microwave magnetic envelope solitons in magnetic films has been realized for the first time. Solitons with a width of 20 ns and a carrier frequency of 5.1555 GHz were generated for the magnetostatic backward volume wave (MSBVW) configuration in a $5.2\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ thick yttrium iron garnet film. The film and MSBVW propagation structure were part of a ring with an overall gain of $+4\mathrm{dB}$. Pulse modulation at 10 MHz provided the interrupted feedback and the active mode locking which was needed to produce a stable and continuous stream of self-generated soliton pulses. Pulse width and phase measurements confirmed the soliton nature of the self-generated pulses.
IBM S/390 parallel enterprise servers G3 and G4

This overview paper describes the key steps taken by IBM to transform the S/390® mainframe platform and to enhance customer satisfaction with improvements in cost, scalability, and application enablement. The effectiveness of the transformation is discussed in the context of performance and reliability, and the significance of cluster architecture is defined. Finally, mainframe resurgence is discussed, and factors important to enabling the growth of servers and microprocessors are presented.
Cell injury unmasks a latent proangiogenic phenotype in mice with increased expression of FGF2 in the retina.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) is a potent mitogen for vascular endothelial cells and exogenous administration of FGF2 stimulates angiogenesis. However, increased expression of FGF2 in the retina does not cause angiogenesis. One possible explanation is that FGF2 may not be capable of initiating angiogenesis unless it is administered in pharmacologic levels or there is coexpression of another angiogenic factor. Alternatively, there may be control mechanisms that sequester FGF2 in vivo, preventing it from manifesting its in vitro angiogenic activity. We tested the first hypothesis by crossing mice that express FGF2 in the retina with mice that express vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the retina. Surprisingly, despite comparable levels of VEGF expression, mice that expressed both FGF2 and VEGF had significantly less neovascularization than mice that expressed VEGF alone. The second hypothesis was tested by treating Rho/FGF2 transgenic mice with low-intensity laser photocoagulation that disrupts photoreceptors, but does not rupture Bruch's membrane, or intense laser that ruptures Bruch's membrane. In Rho/FGF2 transgenics, but not wild type mice, choroidal neovascularization developed in areas of low-intensity laser. Both wild type and transgenic mice developed choroidal neovascularization in areas of intense laser that ruptured Bruch's membrane, but the area of neovascularization was significantly greater in transgenics. These data suggest that increased retinal expression of FGF2 is angiogenic only when it is accompanied by cell injury that overcomes sequestration control mechanisms. J. Cell. Physiol. 185:135–142, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Supramolecular catalysis: Terpenes in tight spaces.

The ability of enzymes to direct the synthesis of complex natural products from simple starting materials is epitomized by terpene biosynthesis. Now, a supramolecular catalyst has been shown to mimic some of the reactivity of this process.
Hybrid on-chip clocking for sensor nodes

On-chip clock generation is an attractive alternative to external quartz oscillators for low-power sensing systems. LC and ring oscillators typically use less power, and can start and stop much faster than traditional quartz oscillators, allowing systems to spend more time in low-power sleep states. A hybrid on-chip clocking scheme is evaluated in which a ring oscillator is used as the reference clock for digital processing, and an LC oscillator is used when a more stable, accurate reference is needed for digital communication. Simulations show that the fast wakeup capabilities of the hybrid clock system lead to as much as 80% reduced power in interrupt-driven applications compared to a system using a crystal reference clock source. The on-chip clock generators of the WIMS series of microsystems are described to demonstrate the concept of the hybrid clock scheme.
Order-to-chaos transition in rotational nuclei

We have developed a new method to study the order-to-chaos transition in rotational nuclei. Correlations between successive gamma rays are used to determine the average complexity of the intermediate levels and thereby the ratio of the interaction potential between levels to the level spacing. The measured ratios, 0.15 to 1.5, span the range from nearly fully ordered to nearly fully chaotic.
Redesigning Staff Development as Organizational Case Learning: Tapping into School Stakeholders’ Collaborative Potential for Critical Reflection and Transformative Leadership Action

This article reports on activities associated with one school-university partnership project focused on providing multimedia-integrated organizational learning and development opportunities to stakeholders in K-12 school communities struggling with real-world school change and improvement challenges. A central feature of the project’s organizational case learning design is the use of multimedia case production technology in conjunction with context-specific school situational data to immerse school stakeholders in the theatrical portrayal and analysis of their own school dilemma challenges as a means to jumpstart collaborative teaming and data-driven problem solving. Multimedia case development and analysis efforts involving stakeholders in one middle school community who are confronting a difficult, politically charged set of school improvement challenges are highlighted. Project findings associated with the use of multimedia technology and data-driven organizational case learning as tools to inform an alternative staff development approach for promoting positive school leadership teaming and real-world problem solving among education stakeholders in K-12 school communities are discussed.
Antenna design for the Millimeter Array

A number of possible antenna designs have been considered for the Millimeter Array. This paper presents two designs which were studied in detail but are no longer being considered, as well as three of the designs currently being studied. The major performance goals for the antennas are listed. Two of the most challenging performance requirements, getting sufficient pointing accuracy and achieving fast position switching, and some of the possible approaches to meeting these challenges are discussed.
Sisterhood and Seine-Nets: Engendering Development and Conservation in Ghana's Marine Fishery

As processors and marketers of fish, women fishtraders in the Fanti town of Cape Coast, Ghana have become powerful financers and owners of canoes, nets, and other fishing equipment. Since the 1960s, when motors were first introduced to Ghana's artisanal canoe fleet, two interrelated processes have occurred in Cape Coast. First, Ghana's fisheries have become increasingly exploited and—in the case of some species—overfished. Second, the social relations of production in the artisanal sector have shifted from being socially embedded to being more market-based and impersonal. I argue that two recent Women in Development (WID) projects in particular have contributed to the breakdown of fishtraders’ traditional economic networks and livelihood strategies: (a) loan schemes that target women's associations, and (b) the 1985 Intestate Succession Law, which reconfigured inheritance rights. These WID projects, based on western notions of gender and the household, have created disharmony and mistrust among Cape Coast...
Metals and trace elements in giant garter snakes (Thamnophis gigas) from the Sacramento Valley, California, USA.

The giant garter snake (GGS; Thamnophis gigas) is a federally listed threatened species endemic to wetlands of the Central Valley of California. Habitat destruction has been the main factor in the decline of GGS populations, but the effects of contaminants on this species are unknown. To contribute to the recovery of these snakes, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began studies of the life history and habitat use of GGSs in 1995. During a series of investigations conducted from 1995 to the present, specimens of dead GGSs were opportunistically collected from the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR), the Natomas Basin, and other sites in northern California. Whole snakes were stored frozen for potential future analysis. As funding became available, we analyzed tissues of 23 GGSs to determine the concentrations of total mercury (Hg) and other trace elements in livers and concentrations of Hg in brains and tail clips. Mercury concentrations (μg/g, wet weight) ranged from 0.08 to 1.64 in livers, 0.01 to 0.18 in brains, and 0.02 to 0.32 in tail clips. In livers, geometric mean concentrations (μg/g, dry weight) of arsenic (25.7) and chromium (1.02) were higher than most values from studies of other snakes. Mercury concentrations in tail clips were positively correlated with concentrations in livers and brains, with the most significant correlations occurring at the Natomas Basin and when Natomas and CNWR were combined. Results indicate the value of using tail clips as a nonlethal bioindicator of contaminant concentrations.
Building applications for the Linux standard base

The goal of the LinuxTM Standard Base (LSB) is to develop and promote a set of standards that will increase compatibility among Linux distributions and enable software applications to run on any compliant Linux system. There are currently LSB specifications available for the Intel Architecture IA-32TM processors and for the 32-and 64-bit PowerPCTM, Itanium TM, 31 -and 64-bit zSeriesTM, and AMD64TM architectures. This paper describes the process of building LSB-compliant applications, and covers the use of the LSB development environments, testing of binaries, and packaging.
Caustic ring model of the Milky Way halo

We present a proposal for the full phase-space distribution of the Milky Way halo. The model is axially and reflection symmetric and its time evolution is self-similar. It describes the halo as a set of discrete dark matter flows with stated densities and velocity vectors everywhere. We first discuss the general conditions under which the time evolution of a cold collisionless self-gravitating fluid is self-similar, and show that symmetry is not necessary for self-similarity. When spherical symmetry is imposed, the model is the same as described by Fillmore and Goldreich, and by Bertschinger, twenty-three years ago. The spherically symmetric model depends on one dimensionless parameter {epsilon} and two dimensionful parameters. We set {epsilon}=0.3, a value consistent with the slope of the power spectrum of density perturbations on galactic scales. The dimensionful parameters are determined by the galactic rotation velocity (220 km/s) at the position of the Sun and by the age of the Galaxy (13.7 Gyr). The properties of the outer caustics are derived in the spherically symmetric model. The structure of the inner halo depends on the angular momentum distribution of the dark matter particles. We assume that distribution to be axial and reflection symmetric, and dominated by netmore » overall rotation. The inner caustics are rings whose radii are determined in terms of a single additional parameter j{sub max}. We summarize the observational evidence in support of the model. The evidence is consistent with j{sub max}=0.18 in Concordance cosmology, equivalent to j{sub max,old}=0.26 in Einstein-de Sitter cosmology. We give formulas to estimate the flow densities and velocity vectors anywhere in the Milky Way halo. The properties of the first 40 flows at the location of the Earth are listed.« less
Strings in two-dimensional classical XY models.

We study a class of simple, translationally invariant, two-dimensional, nearest-neighbor, isotropic XY models which possess, in addition to the familiar integer vortices, half-integer vortex and ``string'' excitations. The half-integer vortices interact through both the logarithmic Coulomb potential and a linear potential mediated by the strings. The phase diagram of these models consists of three phases separated by lines of conventional Kosterlitz-Thouless transitions and lines of Ising transitions driven by the vanishing of the tension in the strings.
Comparative study of subxiphoid versus video-thoracoscopic pericardial "window".

Background It remains undefined whether surgical subxiphoid drainage or thoracoscopic pericardial "window" is the optimal operative approach to pericardial effusion. We hypothesized that the true window into the pleural space created by the latter might improve the duration of freedom from recurrent effusion. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of indications, preoperative and intraoperative variables, morbidity, recurrence, and survival. Results Fifty-six patients underwent the subxiphoid procedure and 15 underwent the thoracoscopic procedure. Echocardiographic evidence of tamponade was present before 8 of 10 thoracoscopic procedures (80%) and 43 of 56 subxiphoid procedures (81%) for which descriptions of hemodynamics were available. In addition, non-pericardial procedures were performed in 10 (67%) and 18 (32%) patients, respectively ( p = 0.020). Anesthesia time was longer at thoracoscopy (117.1 ± 32.4 vs 81.1 ± 25.5 minutes; p p = 0.006), but was generally minor. Hospital mortality tended to be higher after the subxiphoid procedure (7 [13%] vs 0 [0%]; p = 0.332), but none of the deaths was procedure-related. Follow-up was complete for 65 patients (92%). Recurrence occurred in 1 thoracoscopy patient (8%) and 5 subxiphoid patients (10%) ( p = 1.000). Mean time to recurrence by Kaplan-Meier analysis trends were longer after thoracoscopy (36.1 vs 11.4 months; p = 0.16), and multivariate analysis identified the thoracoscopic approach as an independent predictor of freedom from recurrence (relative risk, 0.41; p = 0.014). Conclusions Operative time and minor procedural morbidity are higher with thoracoscopic pericardial window, but long-term control of effusion seemed to be better than after subxiphoid surgical drainage.
Diurnal occurrence of thin metallic ion layers in the high‐latitude ionosphere

Evidence is presented that during the summer months intense (density greater than 105 cm−3), thin metallic ion layers are most likely to occur in the lower E region over Sondrestrom, Greenland, during the period 2200–0100 UT (∼2000–2300 MLT), based on a three-year series of incoherent-scatter radar observations. In the high-latitude ionosphere, theory indicates that a convective electric field with a westward component should be conducive to layer formation. However, we observed that the presence of a favorable electric field does not guarantee the existence of intense thin layers. We suggest that the preferred time of occurrence and the apparent insufficiency of westerly electric fields to produce detectable layers is caused by variation in ion abundance. Our observational results are shown to be consistent with a previously published model of the large-scale, horizontal transport of metal ions which predicts enhanced metallic ion abundances at the same time that layers are most frequently observed.
Early Paleozoic magmatic events in the eastern Klamath Mountains, northern California

New U-Pb zircon ages for nine samples of tonalite and pegmatitic trondhjemite from the Trinity ophiolite and associated melange reveal a complex history of magmatic activity extending back into the earliest Cambrian, much older than previously believed. Earlier investigations, based on limited data, recognized lower Paleozoic crustal elements in the eastern Klamath terrane (EKT) ranging in age from Middle Ordovician to Early to Middle Devonian. The new work in the Yreka-Callahan area of the EKT confirms the Ordovician (440-475 Ma) and younger ages, but reveals for the first time the presence of tonalitic rocks that crystallized during a narrow time interval at about 565-570 Ma. The authors also recognize younger, Late Silurian magmatism at 412 Ma. In the context of available mapping, these ages indicate that the Trinity ophiolite is broadly polygenetic because parts of it yield crystallization ages that span approximately 150 m.y. Superjacent dismembered units of probable early Paleozoic age may be tectonostratigraphically equivalent to the Sierra City melange in the northern Sierra Nevada.
Core electron binding energies of thiazyl fluoride and other sulfur compounds

Core electron binding energies were measured for the atoms in NSF3, SF5Cl, and S2Cl2. These data and similar data from the literature for other sulfur compounds were correlated by the point charge potential method using CHELEQ atomic charges. The results indicate that the bonding in a wide variety of sulfur compounds can be explained using only s and p valence orbitals. The low fluorine 1s bonding energies observed for NSF3 and OSF2 are attributed to “no-bond” resonance structures. Bindungsenergien der inneren Elektronen des Thiazylfluorids und anderer Schwefelverbindungen Die Bindungsenergien der inneren Elektronen wurden fur die Atome in NSF3, SF5Cl und S2Cl2 gemessen. Diese Daten und entsprechende aus Literaturangaben fur andere Schwefelverbindungen wurden mit Hilfe des Punktladungs-Modells unter Verwendung von CHELEQ-Atomladungen berechnet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, das die Bindung in einer grosen Anzahl von Schwefelverbindungen unter alleiniger Verwendung von s und p Vaienceorbitalen erklart werden kann. Die niedrigen 1s Bindungsenergien des Fluors, die beim NSF3 und OSF2 beobachtet werden, werden auf nicht bindende Resonanz-Strukturen zuruckgefuhrt.
The One or the Other? Textual Analysis of Masculine Power and Feminist Empowerment:

Psychological writing, both theoretical and empirical, is assumed to exist free of the social dynamics of the psychologist who produced it. If anything like social power or control is contained within psychological writings, it is presumed to be an acknowledged feature of the experimental design or a manipulated attribute of the subject-participants. However, close analysis of these writings reveals a rarely acknowledged yet elaborate system of power relations. In the present study, discourses of power and empowerment are defined and compared in two different forms of psychological writing. The first form stresses the perspective of the observer, employs the male gaze, is relatively unreflexive, embraces the experimental method and attempts to centralize knowledge among a few while marginalizing a mass of unknowing others. The second form is grounded in women's attempts to voice their own and other women's concerns. It is watchful of men, advocates a decentralization of power, and tries to achieve underst...
Search at Wholesale Auto Auctions

Wholesale trade in used cars is conducted by ascending bid auctions, with sale subject to the seller's acceptance of the winning bid. One out of three times the seller rejects the bid, and no trade takes place. I model the seller's decision as the outcome of search, and thus determined by the winning bid distribution, and a reported retail price. This market is ideal for testing search theory since all offers, whether or not accepted, are observed. Qualitative predictions of the theory, in particular the role of the variance, are confirmed. The quantitative results are more ambiguous.
Convection enhanced delivery for the treatment of malignant gliomas: symposium review.

In January 2003 a symposium was held to discuss the current state of progress and future challenges for the recently described technique of convection enhanced delivery (CED). The focus of the CED symposium was on the potential use of this novel drug delivery technology to enhance the delivery of chemotherapy to malignant brain tumors. The international panel of invited speakers included individuals who had a significant role in pioneering the concept of CED, were actively pursuing new areas of investigation into the uses of CED and/or who were directing the first clinical trials using CED in patients with malignant brain tumors. Topics covered included the physiology of the blood brain barrier, basic principles of CED, application of CED to the treatment of brain tumors, and research models that have been developed to further refine the technique of CED. Each speaker’s talk has been abstracted and a list of relevant references has been compiled.
Drift spectral study of polyacrylate (PAA) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) on various ceramics and glasses

Carboxylate-containing organic coatings can be used for their dispersion, lubrication, durability or hydrophobic applications with ceramic or glass surfaces. Such applications intimately depend upon the nature of the structural interaction of the organic coating on the surface of the inorganic material. In this study, organic polymers such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyacrylate (PAA) were coated on either ceramic or silicate-containing glass powders. Investigated ceramic materials included alumina, barium titanate and bismuth oxide-containing cuprate superconductors. The structural interactions between the organic coatings and the inorganic materials were determined by analyzing and interpreting Diffuse Reflection Infrared Fourier Transtbnn (DRIFT) spectra. Depending upon the nature of the investigated materials, various metal-carboxylate complexes were formed at the interfaces along with hydrogen-bonded or non-hydrogen-bonded protonated PAA or PMMA.
Power-constrained high-frequency circuits for the IBM POWER6 microprocessor

The IBM POWER6™ microprocessor is a high-frequency (>5-G Hz) microprocessor fabricated in the IBM 65-nm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process technology. This paper describes the circuit, physical design, clocking, timing, power, and hardware characterization challenges faced in the pursuit of this industry-leading frequency. Traditional high-power, high-frequency techniques were abandoned in favor of more-power-efficient circuit design methodologies. The hardware frequency and power characterization are reviewed.