cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are transmissions to space dangerous

We consider the suggestion that, as a matter of caution, the deliberate broadcast of signals to the cosmos should be proscribed. We explore the likely capabilities of extraterrestrial societies that might conceivably pose a threat to our species and show that this suggestion is without merit because even if followed, it would fail to keep our existence secret. In addition, trying to limit signalling activities would be a burden on our descendants, crippling their own activities for the indefinite future. A corollary to these considerations affects the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI): namely, it seems inarguable that technologically advanced beings will assume that other societies are capable of detecting their leakage. Consequently, the premise that SETI should expect to find deliberate beacons from other worlds may be mistaken.
Simulation based evaluation of control of residential air conditioners

Abstract Control of residential air conditioners is an important demand-side management activity. The most common approach for controlling appliances is by direct remote control in which a signal is sent using a communication medium to turn off major appliances for a prescribed period of time. In the last few years, local and distributed techniques of load control have emerged. In this paper, a simulation based method is presented for evaluation of two strategies for control of residential air conditioners. Remote control is regarded as a relatively mature technology and several field experiments have been conducted using remote control. Therefore, remote control is used as a test case to validate the simulation methodology. Then, local control, which is actuated by the outside temperature, is simulated. The device used for this type of control is commonly called a ‘load leveler’. The results (dependence of demand reduction on duty cycle, effects of load control on 5-minute and 1-hour average demands, and 5-minute and 1-hour average temperatures inside the house) obtained with local control are compared with the results obtained with remote control to study similarities and differences in the two strategies.
Generation of 85ps modelocked pulses via TPA in silicon

A novel pulse compression and modelocking scheme by using TPA and TPA induced free carrier absorption in silicon waveguides is demonstrated. Experimentally we obtain 12 fold pulse compression and 85ps modelocked pulses at 1550nm.
Multi-Server Queueing Systems with Multiple Priority Classes

We present the first near-exact analysis of an M/PH/k queue with m > 2 preemptive-resume priority classes. Our analysis introduces a new technique, which we refer to as Recursive Dimensionality Reduction (RDR). The key idea in RDR is that the m-dimensionally infinite Markov chain, representing the m class state space, is recursively reduced to a 1-dimensionally infinite Markov chain, that is easily and quickly solved. RDR involves no truncation and results in only small inaccuracy when compared with simulation, for a wide range of loads and variability in the job size distribution. Our analytic methods are then used to derive insights on how multi-server systems with prioritization compare with their single server counterparts with respect to response time. Multi-server systems are also compared with single server systems with respect to the effect of different prioritization schemes--"smart" prioritization (giving priority to the smaller jobs) versus "stupid" prioritization (giving priority to the larger jobs). We also study the effect of approximating m class performance by collapsing the m classes into just two classes.
Primary amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma. Predictors of successful therapy

Abstract Of 34 patients with primary amyloidosis seen at the University of Arizona between 1973 and 1984, 25 had amyloidosis in association with overt multiple myeloma. Response to treatment was evaluable in 16 of the 25 patients. Median survival in the seven patients (44 percent) with response to treatment was 28 months versus a median of seven and a half months for the nine patients without response (p 2 -microglobulin (above 15 μg/dl in three of four with response versus in neither of two without response) and kappa subtype monoclonal protein (57 percent versus 33 percent). Renal amyloid and/or serum creatinine levels above 2 mg/dl in three of seven (43 percent) patients with response did not preclude a good outcome. It is concluded that a chemotherapy induction trial is worthwhile in primary amyloidosis associated with myeloma since a subset of patients can have prolonged survival (more than two years).
Barrier hopping, viscous flow, and kinetic gelation in particle-polymer suspensions.

The naive mode coupling--polymer reference interaction site model (MCT-PRISM) theory of gelation and elasticity of suspensions of hard sphere colloids or nanoparticles mixed with nonadsorbing polymers has been extended to treat the emergence of barriers, activated transport, and viscous flow. The barrier makes the dominant contribution to the single particle relaxation time and shear viscosity, and is a rich function of the depletion attraction strength via the polymer concentration, polymer-particle size asymmetry ratio, and particle volume fraction. The dependences of the barrier on these three system parameters can be accurately collapsed onto a single scaling variable, and the resultant master curve is well described by a power law. Nearly universal master curves are also constructed for the hopping or $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ relaxation time for system conditions not too close to the ideal MCT transition. Based on the calculated barrier hopping time, a theory for kinetic gel boundaries is proposed. The form and dependence on system parameters of the kinetic gel lines are qualitatively the same as obtained from prior ideal MCT-PRISM studies. The possible relevance of our results to the phenomenon of gravity-driven gel collapse is studied. The general approach can be extended to treat nonlinear viscoelasticity and rheology of polymer-colloid suspensions and gels.
Extended double-error-correcting binary Goppa codes are cyclic (Corresp.)

The class of codes introduced by Goppa [1]-[3] includes the BCH codes as a proper subset. It also includes a large subset of asymptotically good codes, each of which has an algebraic decoding algorithm for correcting some smaller number of errors. In Section 7 of [1], Goppa gives necessary and sufficient conditions for his codes to be isomorphic to cyclic codes under a certain correspondence. In this correspondence, we exhibit another correspondence which reveals that certain other Goppa codes (including the example of Goppa's Section 6) become cyclic when extended by an overall parity check. In particular, the extended Goppa codes with (n,k,d) = (2^m + 1, 2^m - 2m, 6) are isomorphic to the reversible cyclic codes with check polynomial (x + 1)f(x) , where f(x) is an irreducible polynomial of period 2^m + 1 .
Information-Seeking Behavior and Library Use by Distance Education Graduate Music Education Students

During 2013, the Performing Arts Library at Kent State University conducted a survey with graduate students in the School of Music’s online Master of Music in Music Education program. Eighty-two respondents answered questions about their awareness and use of library services, non-library resources, and desired means of obtaining help, as well as their opinions about the most important services University Libraries offer. The results afforded insights into the needs, preferences, and information-seeking behaviors of students in an online program, and have informed the library’s approach in revising its supporting materials for the distance education program.
Purification and characterization of the Cu,Zn SOD from Escherichia coli

Abstract The periplasmic Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase has been purified to homogeneity by a procedure, which depended upon osmotic shock followed by two chromatographic columns. Its subunit weight, determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, was found to be 15,737 ± 1.6. The second derivative ultraviolet spectrum indicated a lack of tryptophan. The amino acid composition as well as a partial N-terminal amino acid sequence is reported. The specific activity was 3700 U/mg and the corresponding copper content was 0.77 atoms Cu/subunit. The enzyme was quite unstable and overnight dialysis against EDTA or even prolonged dialysis against neutral phosphate buffer caused partial loss of activity and of copper and visible precipitation. It is likely that some losses occurred during the isolation procedure, and if these could have been prevented the copper content would have been 1.0 Cu/subunit and the specific activity would have been 4800 U/mg. It now appears likely that gram negative bacteria will commonly be found to contain a periplasmic Cu,ZnSOD.
Erratum: Calculation of magnetic shielding constants of diatomic molecules. I. General theory and application to HF molecule

A general method is derived for the calculation of magnetic shielding constants of diatomic molecules from SCF LCAO MO functions. The method is based on the introduction of gauge‐invariant atomic orbitals and is similar with previous calculations of diamagnetic susceptibilities. The only approximation that is used, in addition to the uncertainties in the wavefunctions, is connected with the determination of certain effective average excitation energies. The method is applied to the HF molecule and leads to a value of 4.009×10−5 for the proton shielding constant and of −7.058×10−5 for the second‐order paramagnetic term. The agreement with the corresponding experimental quantities, 3.13×10−5 and −7.96×10−5, respectively, is fair. A value of 40.589×10−5 is obtained for the fluorine shielding constant and of −7.570×10−5 for the second‐order paramagnetic term. The agreement with the experimental second‐order paramagnetic term, −6.79×10−5, is quite satisfactory.
Potential routes to cyclobuta[1,2-C] cyclopropabenzene

Abstract The CpCo(CO)2-catalyzed cyclization of 1-trimethylsilyl-1, 5-hexadiyne (4) with propargyltetrahy-dropyranylether (5 leads to the formation of both possible regioisomers of the benzocyclobutene product: 3-trimethylsilyl-4-tetrahydropyranyloxymethylbenzocyclobutene (6) and the corresponding 5-tetrahydropyranyloxymethyl-isomer 7. On the other hand, cyclization of the same diyne with 3-(trimethylsilyloxy) propyne (10) gave only the 3,4-disubstituted product as the free alcohol 11. Compound 6 was iododesilylated, the ether hydrolyzed, and the alcohol tosylated to give 4-iodo-5-tosyloxymethylbenzocyclobutene 13, also obtainable more directly from 11 by treatment with ICI and tosylation. Iodide 13 could be reacted with n-butyllithium to give a variety of products incorporating the n-butylgroup and derived from crosscoupling of the carbon skeleton of starting material. The title compound 1 may be an intermediate en route to the observed products, but was not detected. Several thermal elimination routes to 1 from appropriately 4,5-substituted benzocyclobutenes were unsuccessful. Flash vacuum thermolysis of 11 furnished the silyloxyderivative 21 through elimination of methane.
Failure of a Mycelial Formulation of the Nematophagous FungusHirsutella rhossiliensisto Suppress the NematodeHeterodera schachtii

Abstract Research was conducted to determine whether pelletized hyphae of Hirsutella rhossiliensis suppressed invasion of roots by the sugarbeet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii in field microplots. The loamy sand in the microplots was infested with H. schachtii but not with H. rhossiliensis. Alginate pellets, with or without hyphae of H. rhossiliensis, were mixed into soil removed from the microplots (1 pellet/cm 3 of soil). The soil was placed in cylinders positioned vertically in microplots; cylinders (6/microplot) were 10.1 cm wide and 15.3 cm deep and contained 1200 cm 3 of soil. Pellets and soil also were placed in soil observation chambers, which were buried in the cylinders or kept at 20°C in moisture chambers in the laboratory. After 12 days, cabbage seeds were planted in each cylinder, and after 10 days of growth, the seedlings were removed from the soil and H. schachtii in the roots were counted. The number of H. schachtii in roots was large and was unaffected by addition of H. rhossiliensis. In soil observation chambers, H. rhossiliensis grew vigorously from the pellets in heat-treated soil but not in nonheated soil, and enchytraeids and collembolans were observed near damaged pellets. We suspect that organisms, possibly including enchytraeids and collembolans, fed upon or otherwise inhibited H. rhossil- iensis.
Predicting Ice Jams With Neural Networks

One of the most difficult problems facing hydraulicians is the development of a method that predicts the formation of breakup ice jams. Because of the suddenness with which breakup jams and related flooding occur, prediction methods are desirable to provide early warning and allow rapid, effective ice jam mitigation. Breakup ice jam prediction models are presently limited due to the lack of an analytical description of the complex physical processes, and range from empirical single-variable threshold-type analyses to statistical methods such as logistic regression and discriminant function analysis. In this study, a neural network method is used to predict breakup ice jams at Oil City, PA. Discussion of how the neural network input vector was determined and the methods used to appropriately account for the relatively low occurrence of jams are addressed. The neural network prediction proved to be more accurate than other methods attempted at this site.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Use of asymptotic analysis of the large activation-energy limit to compare graphical methods of treating thermogravimetry data

Abstract An earlier numerical analysis showed that the second approximate method of Horowitz and Metzger can be rendered exceedingly accurate for reduction of thermogravimetry data. It is demonstrated here that this result can be justified on the basis of an asymptotic expansion with a nondimensional activation energy as the large parameter. The order of magnitude of the error is ascertained for this and two other approximate methods. Higher-order terms in the approximation are developed.
Structure and motion of entire polyhedra

We describe an efficient system for recovering the 3-D motion and structure of entire polyhedra from an evolving image sequence. The suggested technique utilizes the image flow velocities in order to recover the 3-D parameters. We develop a method for estimating the image flow velocities and an algorithm for computing the 3-D parameters given two successive image frames. The solution is then improved by using a large number of image frames and exploiting the temporal coherence of 3-D motion. We use the ordinary differential which describe the parametric evolution in terms of the current motion/structure and the measurements in the image plane. The extended Kalman filter is then used to update the solution. The process is started by segmenting the entire scene into a number of planar surfaces and then applying the above technique to each surface under consideration the probable inconsistencies are then resolved.
Incorporating system-level concepts into undergraduate embedded systems curricula

As more and more embedded systems concepts are integrated into academic curricula, the incorporation of system-level concepts must keep pace with lower-level topics. However, there are several challenges faced by educators trying to integrate system-level concepts into embedded systems curricula. Four such challenges include: the breadth of the embedded systems field limits opportunities for system-level content; lack of adequate laboratory platforms addressing system-level alternatives; limited student exposure to diverse software tools; and assessment associated with system-level activities. Each of the challenges is described in detail and suggestions for overcoming them are offered.
Energy Loss and Sticking Mechanisms in Particle Aggregation in Planetesimal Formation

Abstract A crucial step in the development of planetary systems is the aggregation of small solid particles to form planetesimals in gaseous protoplanetary disks such as the primordial solar nebula. Among small (centimeter-sized) aggregates for which self-gravity is negligible, a sticking mechanism is needed to hold the aggregate together, even when the relative velocities are very low. A similar cohesive process may also determine the size distribution of particles in planetary rings. In order to provide the crucial data, we carry out experiments to investigate the contact sticking that occurs for surfaces coated with different types of frosts, deposited at various (low) temperatures and pressures relevant to solar nebula conditions. Our preliminary measurements show that several types of frost-coated surfaces stick together when brought into contact at very low temperatures (∼100 K), but the sticking forces depend on the deposition conditions. For ice particles covered with H2O and CO2frost: (1) the energy loss in collisions depends strongly on the impact speed and surface structure, and (2) particle “sticking” can occur if the impact speed is sufficiently low. Static sticking experiments using methanol (CH3OH) frost demonstrate that methanol is also an effective “sticky” frost. We apply these results to planetesimal formation and suggest that a layer of surface frost provides both the energy loss and the contact sticking required for the formation of large aggregates.
Co-Culture of a Chondrocyte Monolayer With Engineered Cartilage Constructs Immediately Increases Tissue Properties

Engineered cartilage comprised of chondrocytes encapsulated in agarose gel is capable of attaining a Young’s modulus and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content comparable to native tissue within 8 weeks of culture [1]. Expediting this growth, especially early in culture when pericellular matrices are first forming, may be critical to optimizing functional properties of the tissue as well as increasing their impact and use in cartilage repair strategies. Recently, we have been exploring the concept of a feeder layer, typically associated with culturing embryonic stem cells, for tissue engineering of cartilage.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
One decade later: trends and disparities in the application of post-mastectomy radiotherapy since the release of the American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guidelines.

Purpose In 2001 ASCO published practice guidelines for post mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). We analyzed factors that influence the receipt of radiotherapy therapy and trends over time. Methods and Materials We analyzed 8889 women who underwent mastectomy as primary surgical treatment for stage II or III breast cancer between 1995 and 2008 using data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry. We categorized patients according to ASCO group: group 1, PMRT not routinely recommended (T2, N0); group 2, PMRT controversial/evidence insufficient (T1-2, N1); group 3, PMRT recommended or suggested (T3-4 or N2-3). Probability of receiving PMRT was assessed using logistic regression. Results Overall, 24.0% of women received PMRT over the study period. The rates of PMRT for group 1, 2, and 3 were 7.5%, 19.5%, and 47.3%, respectively. Since 2001, there was an increase in the use of PMRT (from 21.1%-26.5%, P P P =.266) and decreased in group 2 (from 20.0%-18.1%, P 70 years (vs. younger), rural Appalachia (vs. non-Appalachia) populations, and Medicaid (vs. privately insured) patients. Conclusions ASCO guidelines have influenced practice in an underserved state; however PMRT remains underused, even for highest-risk patients. Barriers exist for elderly, rural and poor patients, which independently predict for lack of adequate care. Updated guidelines are needed to clarify the use of PMRT for patients with T1-2, N1 disease.
Beyond the scientific method: Model-based inquiry as a new paradigm of preference for school science investigations

One hundred years after its conception, the scientific method continues to reinforce a kind of cultural lore about what it means to participate in inquiry. As commonly implemented in venues ranging from middle school classrooms to undergraduate laboratories, it emphasizes the testing of predictions rather than ideas, focuses learners on material activity at the expense of deep subject matter understanding, and lacks epistemic framing relevant to the discipline. While critiques of the scientific method are not new, its cumulative effects on learners' conceptions of science have not been clearly articulated. We discuss these effects using findings from a series of five studies with degree-holding graduates of our educational system who were preparing to enter the teaching profession and apprentice their own young learners into unproblematic images of how science is done. We then offer an alternative vision for investigative science—model-based inquiry (MBI)—as a system of activity and discourse that engages learners more deeply with content and embodies five epistemic characteristics of scientific knowledge: that ideas represented in the form of models are testable, revisable, explanatory, conjectural, and generative. We represent MBI as an interconnected set of classroom conversations and provide examples of its implementation and its limitations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed92:941–967, 2008
Compensating for the ‘Authoritarian Advantage’ in Crisis Response: A Comparative Case Study of SARS Pandemic Responses in China and Taiwan

Why do some countries more effectively respond to crises than others? This paper compares China’s relatively effective response to the 2002–3 SARS outbreak with Taiwan’s relatively ineffective response, focusing on three variables that constitute China’s ‘authoritarian advantage’ - centralized decision making powers; public support; and, relations with the mass media. The paper rejects a fourth explanatory variable specific to the Taiwan case – membership in international organizations. Drawing heavily on the Taiwan example, the paper concludes by suggesting options for overcoming the authoritarian advantage in pandemic response.
Interactions of fluoxetine with metabolism of dopamine and serotonin in rat brain regions

Abstract Given evidence of inhibitory effects of serotonin on dopaminergic neurotransmission, a series of experiments sought neurochemical evidence of interactions between the selective serotonin transport inhibitor fluoxetine and the metabolism of dopamine (DA) or serotonin (5-HT) in regions of rat brain that might account for extrapyramidal side-effects associated with clinical use of fluoxetine. There were significant inhibitory effects of acute or repeated fluoxetin treatment on the turnover of 5-HT (accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptophan, or ratio of [5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid]/[5-HT]) in striatum, nucleus accumbens and frontal cerebral cortex, but only minor effects on metabolism of DA (accumulation of dihydroxyphenylalanine, or [homovanillio acid]/[DA] ratio), even at high doses or with repeated treatment, and no significant inhibition of the DA metabolism-increasing actions of haloperidol.
The Politics of Soviet De-Stalinization*

A Review of the political situation in post-Stalin Russia may well begin with a reflection on its historical uniqueness. Stalin, who sponsored the “Russia first” theme in Soviet propaganda, established a real and momentous “first” for Russia by his own death. Never before had a totalitarian dictator of one of the world powers died, or been put to death, before his totalitarian system collapsed, or came near collapse, in war. Hitler and Mussolini, who lived long enough to bring down their systems in ruins, furnish no parallel.
Electron correlation and fermi surface topology of NaxCoO2

The electronic structure of NaxCoO2 revealed by recent photoemission experiments shows important deviations from band theory predictions. The six small Fermi surface pockets predicted by local-density approximation calculations have not been observed as the associated e'(g) band fails to cross the Fermi level for a wide range of sodium doping concentration x. In addition, significant bandwidth renormalizations of the t(2g) complex have been observed. We show that these discrepancies are due to strong electronic correlations by studying the multiorbital Hubbard model in the Hartree-Fock and strong-coupling Gutzwiller approximation. The quasiparticle dispersion and the Fermi surface topology obtained in the presence of strong local Coulomb repulsion are in good agreement with experiments.
Paleoecology: A Redirection

Paleontological Events. Stratigraphic, Ecological, and Evolutionary Implications. CARLTON E. BRETT and GORDON C. BAIRD, Eds. Columbia University Press, New York, 1997. xviii, 604 pp., illus. $75 or £52. ISBN 0-231-08250-9.
Nesiritide for the Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension and Cor Pulmonale in an Infant

Nesiritide is a synthetic form of B-type natriuretic peptide. It is approved for the treatment of acute exacerbations of congestive heart failure in hospitalized adult patients. It is currently under investigation for use in other settings and other patient populations. This article describes administration of nesiritide to an infant patient with severe pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. No adverse reactions occurred during administration of the drug. Specifically, there was no hypertension, vomiting, arrhythmia, or changes in renal function. No changes in renal function occurred in the months subsequent to treatment. This case report illustrates that nesiritide can be safely administered to critically ill infants with pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. Our patient experienced a decrease in pulmonary pressure and improved clinical condition during and after the infusion. However, further study is required to fully evaluate the safety and efficacy of nesiritide for these patients.
Brief Report: Chimpanzee Social Responsiveness Scale (CSRS) Detects Individual Variation in Social Responsiveness for Captive Chimpanzees.

Comparative studies of social responsiveness, a core impairment in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), will enhance our understanding of typical and atypical social behavior. We previously reported a quantitative, cross-species (human–chimpanzee) social responsiveness measure, which included the development of the Chimpanzee Social Responsiveness Scale (CSRS). Here, we augment our prior CSRS sample with 25 zoo chimpanzees at three sites: combined N = 54. The CSRS demonstrated strong interrater reliability, and low-ranked chimpanzees, on average, displayed higher CSRS scores. The CSRS continues to discriminate variation in chimpanzee social responsiveness, and the association of higher scores with lower chimpanzee social standing has implications for the relationship between autistic traits and human social status. Continued comparative investigations of social responsiveness will enhance our understanding of underlying impairments in ASD, improve early diagnosis, and inform future therapies.
Supervising Integrative Psychotherapy in the 21st Century: Pressing Needs, Impressing Possibilities

Supervisors and teachers who are interested in advancing integrative psychotherapy in the 21st century have the dual task of surveying the range of treatment approaches that have been developed and distilling these approaches down to a manageable number of influences that have been found to have the greatest impact on clinical practice over time. It has been proposed that there are four bona fide schools of psychotherapy that would be most useful for comprehensive training and supervision that would contribute to either (a) case conceptualization or (b) the process of clinical interviewing: psychodynamic psychotherapy; cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy; family systems therapy; and, humanistic/client-centered therapy. The goal for such broadly based clinical instruction would be for students, trainees, and interns to have an ability to provide a multi-level case conceptualization for any of the psychotherapy cases for which they are providing treatment. Thorough instruction in clinical reasoning and decision-making in this type of multi-level case formulation can provide some of the most valuable tools for novice and experienced clinicians alike.
Temperature effects on the network structure of oxide melts and their consequences for configurational heat capacity

Oxide melts generally have important configurational components to their thermodynamic and transport properties, which imply energetically significant changes in structure with temperature. Spectroscopic and scattering studies have begun to reveal the microscopic nature of these changes. Both in-situ methods, and studies of glasses with varying fictive temperature, have proven useful. Here recent findings in three relatively well-studied types of systems are reviewed, and the implications of known temperature effects on particular aspects of the short-range structure discussed: Qn species in alkali silicates, Si–Al network disorder and “defect” species in aluminosilicates, and boron coordination in borates and borosilicates. To estimate the importance of these changes for the bulk properties, a simple ideal solution approximation is applied to calculate contributions to the configurational heat capacity; this is extended as well to test possible effects of non-ideality. In some cases (e.g. aluminosilicates and borates), known structural changes seem to be able to account for significant fractions of measured configurational properties, in others (e.g. alkali silicates), less clearly identified changes, perhaps involving intermediate-range structure, may play key roles. The calculated contribution to the heat capacity for a given structural reaction often has a positive slope at low temperature, reaches a maximum, then decreases, suggesting that in many systems, successive aspects of temperature-induced disorder may come into play with increasing temperature.
Radiometric stability results of Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy system (CERES) instrument sensors aboard EOS Terra and Aqua spacecraft

Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments were designed to measure the reflected shortwave and emitted longwave radiances of the Earth's radiation budget and to investigate the cloud interactions with global radiances for the long-term monitoring of Earth's climate. CERES instrument has three scanning thermistor bolometers that measure broadband radiances in the shortwave (0.3 to 5.0 micrometer), total (0.3 to >100 micrometer) and 8 - 12 micrometer water vapor window regions. Four CERES instruments (Flight Models1 through 4) are flying aboard EOS Terra and Aqua platforms with two instruments aboard each spacecraft. The pre-launch accuracy requirements for CERES were 1.0% in the shortwave and 0.5% in longwave regions. The in-flight calibration of CERES sensors are carried out using the internal calibration module (ICM) comprising of blackbody sources and tungsten lamp, and a solar diffuser plate known as the Mirror Attenuator Mosaic (MAM). The ICM and MAM calibration results are instrumental in understanding the ground to flight shift and in-flight drifts in CERES sensors' gains. Inter and intra instrument validation studies are conducted on the CERES measurements to monitor the behavior of the sensors in various spectral regions. Targets such as deep convective clouds and tropical ocean are used to evaluate the sensors' stability within an instrument. With two CERES instruments on same platform, inter comparison of similar sensor measurements viewing the same geolocation are also conducted. The results from these individual studies have collectively given an understanding of each CERES sensor's behavior in different spectral regions. This paper discusses the results from each of these studies which facilitated the correction of CERES data products with a calibration stability better than 0.2%. Keywords: CERES, EOS Instrument, Radiometry, Calibration, Validationt
Repeated Confidence Intervals Under Fractional Brownian Motion in Long-Term Clinical Trials

Repeated confidence interval (RCI) is an important tool for design and monitoring of group sequential trials according to which we do not need to stop the trial with planned statistical stopping rules. In this article, we derive RCIs when data from each stage of the trial are not independent thus it is no longer a Brownian motion (BM) process. Under this assumption, a larger class of stochastic processes fractional Brownian motion (FBM) is considered. Comparisons of RCI width and sample size requirement are made to those under Brownian motion for different analysis times, Type I error rates and number of interim analysis. Power family spending functions including Pocock, O'Brien-Fleming design types are considered for these simulations. Interim data from BHAT and oncology trials is used to illustrate how to derive RCIs under FBM for efficacy and futility monitoring.
Macronutrient variation in small grain forage as related to specie and variety

Abstract Incidence of grass tetany on small grain pastures has been related to forage Mg content and K/Ca + Mg ratio. The objective of this study was to relate P, K, Ca, Mg, and the K/Ca + Mg ratio in winter forage to specie and variety. In one year on unlimed soil with low pH, rye forage tended to be higher in P than oats, barley, or wheat. P content increased the next year on higher pH soil with less specie differences. K differed little with specie, and was higher in November than later harvests. Rye tended to be higher in Ca both years, especially in the early harvest. Percent Mg was lower for wheat the first year on the low pH soil than the other species, and percent Mg increased in all species at all harvests the next year on higher pH soil with wheat having similar Mg levels to the other species. The K/Ca + Mg ratio of wheat was higher than rye, oats, and barley on the low pH soil. Liming reduced this ratio to near 2.2 on all species. Grass tetany has been reported more likely to occur when K/Ca + ...
Generating a synthetic video dataset

A synthetic video dataset, scenario, and task were included in the 2009 VAST Challenge, to allow participants an opportunity to demonstrate visual analytic tool use on video data. This is the first time a video challenge had been presented as part of the VAST contest and provided interesting challenges in task and dataset development, video analytic tool development, and metrics for judging entries. We describe the considerations and requirements for generation of a usable challenge, the video creation itself, and some submissions and assessments from that mini-challenge.
Specimen geometry effects and deformation characteristics in ionic crystals

LiF and MgO high purity single crystals plastic deformation geometric characteristics, discussing nucleation probability on different slip planes
Integrating science‐technology‐society into social studies education

(1992). Integrating science‐technology‐society into social studies education. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 31, Science-Technology-Society/Opportunities, pp. 20-26.
Directed forgetting of actions by younger and older adults.

Memory for actions that are performed is substantially better than memory for descriptions of actions (e.g., Earles, 1996). In fact, people may form memories for actions even if they do not intend to or want to remember them. The directed forgetting paradigm was used to test the ability of younger and older adults to intentionally forget simple actions (also known as subject-performed tasks, or SPTs). Participants were asked to perform the action described by a verb—noun pair (e.g., break toothpick) or to read the pair, but not to perform the action. Following each pair, the participants were told either to remember or to forget the pair. Younger adults intentionally forgot verbally encoded pairs significantly better than did older adults. Actions that were performed, however, were difficult for both younger and older adults to intentionally forget. The performance of an action thus seems to result in strong item-specific processing that makes the action difficult to intentionally forget even for younger adults who can successfully intentionally forget verbally encoded items.
Expression of cornifin in squamous differentiating epithelial tissues, including psoriatic and retinoic acid-treated skin

The expression of cornifin, a putative cross-linked envelope precursor, was investigated in several squamous differentiating tissues by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis. Confirm mRNA and protein, which are absent in the normal mucociliary tracheal epithelium, are induced in the suprabasal layers of the squamous metaplastic tracheal epithelium of vitamin A – deficient hamsters. Similar to the induction of squamous metaplasia in vivo, culture of rabbit tracheal cells in the absence of retinoids results in squamous differentiation and expression of cornifin. This induction of cornifin expression is suppressed by retinoic acid and several of its analogs. Cornifin mRNA and protein are also detected in the suprabasal layers of the squamous epithelium of rabbit esophagus and tongue. The distribution of cornifin in human epidermis was compared with that of two other crosslinked envelope precursor proteins, involucrin and loricrin. The localization of cornifin and involucrin is very similar. Both are induced in the spinous layer and appear at an earlier stage during epidermal differentiation than loricrin. The expression of cornifin is greatly increased in psoriatic skin. Cornifin mRNA is barely detectable in normal epidermis, whereas it is present at relatively high levels in the suprabasal layers of psoriatic epidermis. Topical treatment with RA results in thickening of the skin and increases the level of cornifin mRNA and protein in the upper spinous layers of mouse skin. Cornifin expression correlates generally with squamous differentiation in a variety of tissues and is abnormally regulated in psoriatic skin and in skin treated topically with retinoic acid.
Measurements of plasma membrane architecture during hypoxia using multiple fluorescent spectroscopic techniques

Alterations in plasma membrane structure and function seem to be of primary importance in the pathogenesis of cell injury, calling for more understanding of the changes in plasma membrane lipid structure (e.g., lipid order, lateral diffusion, dependence of phase states, and viscoelasticity) during the evolution of hypoxic injury in hepatocytes using multiple fluorescent spectroscopic techniques. Following hypoxic injury, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was used to monitor plasma membrane lipid diffusion, resonance energy transfer microscopy was used to detect the lipid topography (domain formation), and the laser trapping technique was used to measure the plasma membrane viscoelasticity. The use of these different kinds of fluorescent spectroscopic techniques coupled with the authors' previous studies using digitized fluorescence polarization microscopy which was used to measure lipid order (fluidity) allowed the delineation of alterations in membrane structure during hypoxic injury and a model of membrane architecture during hypoxic injury, which could not be obtained from the use of any of these techniques alone. A model is proposed in which gel- and fluid-phase lipid islands form during hypoxic cell injury. Formation of these lipid domains promotes cell surface bleb formation, with eventual weakening of plasma membrane integrity, bleb rupture, and cell death. 11
Thermogravimetric analysis of some interaction products of 1,2,3-benzotriazole hydrochloride with certain negative cyano-complexes of the transition metals

Abstract Thermogravimetric pyrolyses of some interaction products of certain negative cyano-complexes of the transition metals with 1,2,3-benzotriazole hydrochloride and identification of several intermediate products formed during the course of the reactions are reported.
Cooperative activation of cultured vagal afferent neurons by leptin and cholecystokinin.

To test the hypothesis that leptin can directly activate vagal afferent neurons, we used fluorescence imaging to detect acute changes in cytosolic calcium after leptin application to primary cultures of vagal afferent neurons dissociated from adult rat nodose ganglia. We found that approximately 40% of vagal afferent neurons exposed to leptin (40 ng/ml) responded with rapid and reversible increases in cytosolic calcium. These responses were dependent upon extracellular calcium. As previously reported, about 35% of vagal afferents increase cytosolic calcium in response to the gut-peptide cholecystokinin (CCK). A majority (74%) of neurons that responded to CCK also exhibited increases in cytosolic calcium in response to leptin. In addition, synergistic increases in cytosolic calcium were observed when leptin and CCK were applied in combination. These results demonstrate that leptin acts directly on vagal afferent neurons to trigger acute influxes of extracellular calcium. Our results also suggest cooperation between leptin and CCK in the activation of some vagal afferent neurons. Acute activation of vagal afferents by leptin alone and in combination with CCK may contribute to modulation of visceral reflexes and control of food intake. (Endocrinology 145: 3652–3657, 2004)
Prevention and Reversal of Liver Damage following Biliopancreatic Diversion for Obesity

Liver damage following biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) for obesity is an infrequent, dangerous and, when left untreated, even potentially fatal complication. The laboratory expression of developing liver damage is the progressive deterioration of the liver enzymes over 70 i.u., persisting and progressing beyond 6 months after surgery. Until recently, the treatment for this complication consisted of hospitalization for total parenteral nutrition and then, if this proved unsatisfactory, surgical reversal. In this report, a new therapeutical approach to this condition is presented. Four patients who, following a BPD for obesity, developed deterioration of the liver enzymes (AST, ALT over 70 i.u.) which persisted and progressed beyond the first 6 months after surgery, were given a treatment consisting of the ambulatory administration of ‘Viokase’ tablets, an uncoated pancreas extract with a high protease content (30,000 i.u.) taken with protein-rich meals. After 2-4 months of Viokase treatment, in all four patients the liver enzymes returned to normal levels: AST from 160, 86, 120 and 89 i.u. to 26, 20, 24 and 27 i.u. Two patients who complained of diarrheic stools (ten per day) received metronidazole for several days, dramatically improving their condition and returning their daily stool count to normal.
CROSSMODAL ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY REPRESENTATIONS IN RODENT ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX

Firing patterns of neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex (OF) were analyzed in rats trained to perform a task that encouraged incidental associations between distinct odors and the places where their occurrence was detected. Many of the neurons fired differentially when the animals were at a particular location or sampled particular odors. Furthermore, a substantial fraction of the cells exhibited odor-specific firing patterns prior to odor presentation, when the animal arrived at a location associated with that odor. These findings suggest that neurons in the OF encode cross-modal associations between odors and locations within long-term memory.
Multiple Elastic Scattering and Radiation Damping. I

The problem of potential scattering by a number of similar scatterers is reformulated so that the potential is eliminated from the equations and replaced by a function which characterizes the scattering properties of the individual scatterer. The resulting equations can be used for the more general case where the single-scattering process is not describable by a potential, e.g., absorption or---to a certain extent---inelastic scattering. A solution of the equations by iteration is considered and compared with Born's approximation. As an application, the second approximation for the scattering of thermal neutron by a small crystal is calculated.
The use of formal prior directives among patients with HIV-related diseases

Objective:To examine the knowledge of, counseling about, and use of prior directives among patients with HIV-related disease. Design:Cross-sectional survey with personal interviews that was part of the evaluation of a multi-site AIDS Health Services Program. Setting:Outpatient clinics and AIDS community-based organizations. Patients/participants:To be eligible for the survey, subjects had to be at least 18 years of age and enrolled in the AIDS Health Services Program for at least one month. 1,031 clients were interviewed in nine communities. Measurements and main results:Of those surveyed, 61% had thought a moderate or great amount about naming a proxy for health care decisions. The majority (68%) of the patients knew about prior directives, yet only 35% had been counseled and only 28% had a prior directive. Of those counseled, physicians had counseled only 11% (38/359). Gay/bisexual men were more likely to have been counseled and to have executed a prior directive than were others. Counseling was associated with having obtained a prior directive. Counseled subjects were 3.5 times more likely to have obtained a prior directive than were those not counseled. Conclusions:A gap exists between subjects’ knowledge and implementation of prior directives. To help bridge this gap, the authors recommend that physicians not only attend to the technical aspects of patient care, but also determine patient values concerning life-sustaining therapy and counsel patients on prior directives.
β-Galactosidase activity of human skin fibroblasts

Abstract The β-galactosidase (β- d galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.2.3) activity of human skin fibroblasts from normal individuals was investigated. Based on the Lineweaver-Burk plots two K m values were obtained, one at 4.12·10−4 M and the other 5·10−5 M, suggesting the presence of at least two enzyme species. The effects of NaCl stimulation, p- chlorophenylmercuriosulfonate inhibition and heat denaturation supported the hypothesis of 2 distinct enzyme populations.
Glucose stimulates transcription of fatty acid synthase and malic enzyme in avian hepatocytes

Transcription of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and malic enzyme (ME) in avian liver is low during starvation or feeding a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet and high during feeding a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. The role of glucose in the nutritional control of FAS and ME was investigated by determining the effects of this metabolic fuel on expression of FAS and ME in primary cultures of chick embryo hepatocytes. In the presence of triiodothyronine, glucose (25 mM) stimulated an increase in the activity and mRNA abundance of FAS and ME. These effects required the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose 6-phosphate but not further metabolism downstream of the aldolase step of the glycolytic pathway. Xylitol mimicked the effects of glucose on FAS and ME expression, suggesting that an intermediate of the pentose phosphate pathway may be involved in mediating this response. The effects of glucose on the mRNA abundance of FAS and ME were accompanied by similar changes in transcription of FAS and ME. These data support the hypothesis that glucose plays a role in mediating the effects of nutritional manipulation on transcription of FAS and ME in liver.
NATO's persistence after the cold war

Neorealist theories help explain alliance formation and longevity but have trouble explaining why the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) continues to exist after the cold war. Organizational theories further our understanding by noting that organizations have strong survival instincts, yet NATO survives only as long as its members wish it to. To understand NATO's persistence after the cold war, we must turn to international institutionalist theories to explain why, contrary to neorealist expectations, NATO remains the key international security institution for its members. International institutionalist theories add the conception of NATO as part of a broad multilevel and multi-issue relationship among member states, and this broader context is necessary to explain NATO's persistence.