cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Derivation of the Equations of Atmospheric Motion in Oblate Spheroidal Coordinates

Since Earth is more nearly an oblate spheroid than a sphere, it is of at least theoretical interest to develop the atmospheric equations of motion in spheroidal coordinates. In this system the horizontal unit vectors are oriented eastward and northward along the surfaces of ellipsoids, while the orthogonal unit vector is oriented vertically along the surfaces of intersecting confocal hyperboloids. Using the theory of orthogonal curvilinear coordinates, the spheroidal equations of relative atmospheric motion are derived from the vector equation of absolute motion. With the exception of two terms in the meridional and vertical equations of motion that are unique to the spheroidal system, all of the metric and rotational terms in the spheroidal system correspond to those found in the familiar spherical formulation, but now have coefficients that are functions of both the spheroidal latitude and elevation. The unique spheroidal terms arise from the resolution of the difference between the directions of apparent gravity and Newtonian gravitation, which is neglected in the spherical formulation. The complete spheroidal equations conserve both absolute angular momentum and total kinetic energy, and in the limit as Earth’s focal distance or eccentricity approaches zero, reduce to the familiar spherical equations in both the general and hydrostatic cases. The differences between solutions of the spheroidal and spherical equations are not expected to be significant in most applications, although there is the possibility of the accumulation of systematic differences in long-term integrations.
Gestational diabetes alters human placental vascular responses to changes in oxygen tension

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study tone responses caused by hypoxia, reoxygenation, and hydrogen peroxide in human placental vessels from gestational diabetic and normal term pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: Isolated placental arteries and veins from women with well-controlled gestational diabetic and uncomplicated term pregnancies were precontracted with U46619 under 5% oxygen/5% carbon dioxide/balance nitrogen (PO 2 35 to 38 torr) and then exposed to hypoxia (95% nitrogen/5% carbon dioxide) atmosphere (PO 2 8 to 10 torr) for 5 to 7 minutes followed by rapid reoxygenation. Cumulative doses of hydrogen peroxide (1 to 100 μmol/L) were added at 2-minute intervals. The studies were conducted in both the presence and the absence of endothelium. Prostaglandin involvement was examined by treatment with indomethacin. Analysis of variance and t test statistics were used. RESULTS: After incubation under 5% oxygen, hypoxia caused a larger prostaglandin-independent relaxation in arteries and veins of women with gestational diabetes than in normal vessels. Placental vessels of women with gestational diabetes were found to undergo a significantly larger contraction than normal vessels when exposed to posthypoxic reoxygenation or micromolar concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Both responses were eliminated and reversed to a relaxation by pretreatment with 10 μmol/L indomethacin in both gestational diabetic and normal vessels, consistent with mediation through the formation of prostaglandins. Removal of the endothelium did not appear to alter any of the observed responses. CONCLUSIONS: Gestational diabetes produces an enhancement of the observed relaxation caused by hypoxia and the contraction produced by reoxygenation or hydrogen peroxide.
THE INCIDENCE OF INTERSEXUALITY IN CHILDREN WITH CRYPTORCHIDISM AND HYPOSPADIAS: STRATIFICATION BASED ON GONADAL PALPABILITY AND MEATAL POSITION

AbstractPurpose: The combined findings of cryptorchidism and hypospadias often indicate the existence of an intersex state. Testicular maldescent and incomplete tubularization of the urethral plate occur in a spectrum with the severity of the 2 processes likely dependent on the degree of pathophysiology in the androgenic hormonal axis. The incidence of intersexuality in children with undescended testes, hypospadias and otherwise nonambiguous male genitalia has been reported to be 27%. Although the likelihood of genotypic or gonadal ambiguity has previously been associated with meatal position in this population, to our knowledge our study is the first to evaluate the incidence of intersexuality relative to whether the undescended testis is palpable or nonpalpable.Materials and Methods: The database at our hospital was searched for all cases of undescended testes (2,105) and hypospadias (1,057) between 1982 and 1996. Radiographic, histological and karyotypic data were compiled for all patients presenting w...
Conjugate functions and subdifferentials in nonnormed situations for operators with complete graphs

On donne des arguments directs qui permettent de generaliser le theoreme de dualite de Fenchel de l'analyse convexe en considerant la fonction conjuguee d'une somme
Subsidized Housing and Crime: Theory, Mechanisms, and Evidence

Subsidized housing controversies frequently involve the fear of crime, a connection that is not well understood in policy and planning. This article thus critically reviews the literature on subsidized housing and crime. Three key findings emerge. First, subsidized households have too frequently lived in violent housing developments and neighborhoods. Second, the spillover effects on crime in surrounding neighborhoods are typically very small. Finally, although the precise mechanisms through which subsidized housing may affect crime are less clear, it is most likely that concentrated disadvantage plays the biggest role when effects are observed, rather than the physical attributes of subsidized housing. © The Author(s) 2013.
The mutation rate in PIG-A is normal in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is characterized by the presence in the patient's hematopoietic system of a large cell population with a mutation in the X-linked PIG-A gene. Although this abnormal cell population is often found to be monoclonal, it is not unusual that 2 or even several PIG-A mutant clones coexist in the same patient. Therefore, it has been suggested that the PIG-A gene may be hypermutable in PNH. By a method we have recently developed for measuring the intrinsic rate of somatic mutations (μ) in humans, in which PIG-A itself is used as a sentinel gene, we have found that in 5 patients with PNH, μ ranged from 1.24 × 10–7 to 11.2 × 10–7, against a normal range of 2.4 × 10–7 to 29.6 × 10–7 mutations per cell division. We conclude that genetic instability of the PIG-A gene is not a factor in the pathogenesis of PNH.
A theory of natural selection incorporating interaction among individuals. VIII. Use of groups consisting of a sire and several dams

Abstract The previous paper, (VII), in this series dealt with a group structure that consisted of a single mating pair. It was demonstrated that selection operating on such groups produced optimum short- and long-term results. The present study extends this group structure to include a single sire and several, (n − 1), dams. The objective of the present study is to determine whether or not the optimum evolutionary results inherent with groups consisting of a single mating pair extend to groups consisting of multiple matings. It is demonstrated that extending the group from a single mating pair to include multiple matings converts the strictly symmetric into a modified-symmetric selection procedure that combines symmetric and non-symmetric properties. Thus the optimum evolutionary results of groups consisting of a single mating pair do not extend completely to groups consisting of multiple matings.
Opioids as agents of reward-related feeding: a consideration of the evidence

Abstract Gerard Smith was one of the pioneers in the field of neuropeptidergic control of food intake. He established methodology and criteria used to determine whether a neuropeptide acts as an endogenous satiety factor. More recently, he theorized that there are direct and indirect controls of meal size. Direct controls include those that depend upon contact of food with preabsorptive receptors from the tip of the tongue to the end of the small intestine, and indirect controls include those that do not depend upon direct contact of mucosal receptors, such as learning and metabolism. In this review, we consider the evidence that opioids are mediators of reward-related feeding. We address these issues adopting Smith's approach to problem solving, including an evaluation of the opioids as controllers of the meal. We also present a novel concept of “hedonic restriction,” resulting in a change in opioid gene expression. Overall, we believe the evidence supporting opioid participation in reward-driven and other types of ingestion is very strong, but much work remains before we understand how opioids contribute to the widely distributed neural network that controls ingestive behavior.
Rhinovirus infection of human embryonic lung fibroblasts induces the production of a chemoattractant for polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) appear in the nasal mucosa during rhinovirus colds before the onset of symptoms. This study describes a chemoattractant for PMNLs that is elaborated by human embryonic lung fibroblast cells infected with rhinovirus. Chemotaxis assays were done in a 48-well microchemotaxis chamber with normal adult PMNLs. Medium supernatants from rhinovirus-infected cell culture attracted 87 +/- 6 (mean +/- SE) PMNLs/10 high-power fields (x450) compared with 38 +/- 6 PMNLs/10 high-power fields attracted by medium from uninfected cell cultures (P less than .0001). Elaboration of the chemoattractant was not a result of cell destruction and did not require the presence of infectious virus. This chemoattractant produced by human fibroblast cells may contribute to the influx of PMNLs into the nasal mucosa during rhinovirus infection. The PMNLs may, in turn, have a role in producing symptoms of the common cold.
A Novel Technique for the Production of Large Area Z-coordinate Readout Planes for the BaBar Muon System

The BABAR detector, at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center is a general purpose detector for the study of e{sup +}e{sup -} interactions at the {Upsilon}(4S) resonance. BABAR's muon detection system consists of two parts: a hexagonal barrel region and two planar endcap regions each containing 18 layers of iron ({approx} 3.6{lambda}), with resistive plate chambers within the inter-iron gaps. These chambers have suffered deterioration in performance over the past few years and are being replaced by limited streamer tube chambers in the barrel. Each layer of the system consists of a set of up to 10 streamer tube modules oriented parallel to the beamline providing the azimuthal coordinate ({Phi}) and a single ''Z-plane'' with strips oriented perpendicular the streamer tubes providing the coordinate (Z) along the beamline. The large area Z-planes (up to 12 m{sup 2}) are 1 mm thick and contain 96 strips that detect the induced charge from avalanches on the streamer tube wires. This paper reports on the novel construction technique of the Z-planes.
The schizophrenia high-risk project in Copenhagen : three decades of progress

We describe the design, theoretical approach and major recent findings of a prospective longitudinal study of the offspring of schizophrenic mothers and controls, initiated in 1962 by Sarnoff Mednick and Fini Schulsinger in Copenhagen, Denmark. Over 90% of the original 207 high-risk and 104 low-risk subjects have been successfully followed up since the initial assessment. At the time of the most recent assessment (1989), the subjects averaged 42 years of age and were nearly completely through the risk period for developing schizophrenia. By relating the lifetime psychiatric diagnoses of the subjects back to information on their premorbid experiences and functioning, we have identified several precursors of schizophrenia. This paper reviews our recent findings concerning whether outcomes of schizophrenia that differ in the relative prominence of negative versus positive symptoms represent discrete longitudinal syndromes. Predominantly negative and predominantly positive symptom schizophrenia were found to follow different patterns of symptom development from adolescence through the adult course of illness and were predicted by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences. Taken together, the findings suggest that the pathological processes underlying these two forms of schizophrenia are 1) partly independent of each other, 2) at least partly active during the premorbid state and 3) to some degree stable in the adult course of illness.
Computational Studies of the Interactions of Oxygen with Platinum Clusters

Density functional theory is used to compute electronic and thermodynamic interactions between atomic and molecular oxygen and small Ptn clusters (n = 2−6). Binding energies, vibrational frequencies, and charge distributions are reported. Two states are identified for the adsorption of molecular oxygen: the superoxo species (O2δ-) and the peroxo species (O22δ-) formed by charge transfer from the metal cluster to the O2 molecule. An analysis of the adsorbed O2 dissociation on Pt clusters illustrates the dependence of the activation barrier for dissociation on the metal cluster size.
Nicotine-induced plasma corticosterone is attenuated by social interactions in male and female adolescent rats

Most smokers begin smoking during adolescence, a period during which social reward is highly influential. Initial exposure to nicotine can produce anxiogenic effects that may be influenced by social context. This study examined play behavior and plasma corticosterone following nicotine administration (0.6 mg/kg, s.c.) in both male and female adolescent (PND39) Sprague-Dawley rats in either isolate or social contexts. In blood samples collected immediately following the 15-min test session, nicotine increased plasma corticosterone relative to saline in both male and female isolate rats, but failed to do so in both males and females placed together in same-sex pairs. Nicotine also attenuated several indices of play behavior including nape attacks, pins and social contact. In isolate rats, nicotine selectively increased locomotor activity in females; however, when administered to social pairs, nicotine decreased locomotion in both sexes. These findings suggest that the presence of a social partner may decrease the initial negative, stress-activating effects of nicotine, perhaps leading to increased nicotine reward.
Ekstazi: lightweight test selection

Regression testing is a crucial, but potentially time-consuming, part of software development. Regression test selection (RTS), which runs only a subset of tests, was proposed over three decades ago as a promising way to speed up regression testing. However, RTS has not been widely adopted in practice. We propose EKSTAZI , a lightweight RTS tool, that can integrate well with testing frameworks and build systems, increasing the chance for adoption. EKSTAZI tracks dynamic dependencies of tests on files and requires no integration with version-control systems. We implemented EKSTAZI for Java+JUnit and Scala+ScalaTest, and evaluated it on 615 revisions of 32 open-source projects (totaling almost 5M LOC). The results show that EKSTAZI reduced the end-to-end testing time by 32% on average compared to executing all tests. EKSTAZI has been adopted for day-to-day use by several Apache developers. The demo video for EKSTAZI can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE8K5 UCP28.
Antiprotonic atoms in gaseous H 2 and He and in liquid H 2

Antiprotons were brought to rest in targets of gaseous ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and gaseous He at temperatures of 30 K and also in a target of liquid ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. High-resolution x-ray detectors were used to measure the energies of x rays from $\overline{\mathrm{p}}$-He and to search for x rays from $\overline{\mathrm{p}}$-H. The $\overline{\mathrm{p}}$-He data are compared with similar measurements at different densities and with the theoretical predictions of Landua and Klempt. The $\overline{\mathrm{p}}$-H data provide upper limits for the yields of $\mathrm{nP}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1S$ x rays in liquid and gaseous hydrogen.
HIV / AIDS in Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the United States: a follow-up review and analysis with recommendations for researchers and practitioners.

A steady increase in the spread of HIV in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in the United States has been reported in the new millennium. This article provides an update on Yeps earlier synthesis of research on HIV/AIDS in API communities in the United States and offers recommendations for further theoretical work and community interventions. First the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM) is introduced and described. Second using ARRM as an organizing framework behavioral research on API HIV/AIDS published since 1992-93 is reviewed and synthesized. Third the ARRM is examined for its appropriateness for API communities. Finally recommendations are offered for researchers and practitioners doing HIV education and prevention work in U.S. API communities in the coming decade. (authors)
Garlic supplementation and lipoprotein oxidation susceptibility

Interventions which make serum lipoproteins less susceptible to oxidation may be antiatherogenic. The antioxidant properties of garlic which have been demonstratedin vitro led us to investigate the effects of garlic supplements on lipoprotein oxidation susceptibility in humans. Ten healthy volunteers were given 600 mg/d of garlic powder (6 tablets of Kwai®) for two weeks in a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind crossover trial. We found that although serum lipid and lipoprotein levels were not lowered in this short time period, theex vivo susceptibility of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins to oxidation was significantly decreased (−34%). Because garlic has been reported to beneficially affect serum lipid levels, platelet function, fibrinolysis and blood pressure, this additional effect of retarding lipoprotein oxidation may contribute to the potential antiatherosclerotic effect of garlic.
Peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence detection in capillary electrophoresis

Abstract The feasibility of employing peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) detection in capillary electrophoresis (CE) was demonstrated using a two- step approach for the CE separation and dynamic elution (elution under pressure) of the analytes. In this approach, potential problems associated with incompatibilities between mixed aqueous-organic solvent and clectrically driven separation systems were avoided by switching off the CE power supply at an appropriate time and connecting the CE capilliary to a syringe pump to effect dynamic elution. The effect of dynamic flow- rate and PO-CL reagent concentration on the CL signal intensity and/or peak width were examined for the measurements of three dansylated amino acids. The average limit of detection for these analytes using this PO-CL method is about 1.2 fmol ( ca. 85 nM) which is approximately 35-fold lower than UV absorption methods.
Optical Analysis Software As An Application For Three-Dimensional Display

OPTICAL ANALYSIS SOF fWARL AS AN APPLICATION FOR 'THREE- DIMENSIONAL DISPLAYHichael F. AbernathyRocketdyne Division, Rockwell InternationalP.O. Box 5670, ltiirtland AFB, New nexico 87185AbstractPresented is a discussion of the potential value of three- dimensional displays augmentingoptical design software. Specifically, we discuss physical optics modeling methods and aconfiguration -based approach, which allows users to view the optical system in athree -dimensional projection. This approach utilizes elementary ray -trace capabilities usedin providing geometric beam data to the physical optics part of the code. A globalthree -dimensional coordinate system provides a framework in which to locate components, andcompute beam intercepts with the components in the optical systems.IntroductionThis paper will examine the potential applications of three -dimensional display methodsto optical analysis software. We will begin by reviewing the standard event -based physicaloptics modeling process, its limitations and some typical three -dimensional display output.A new method will be presented for analyzing optical systems as organizations of componentsin three -dimensional space. We call this approach configuration -based modeling, and it willbe seen that such a method has several advantages in analyzing multi -beam optical systems,particularly when combined with three -dimensional display capability.Event -based physical optics modelingPhysical optics modeling is a methodology for predicting the diffractive effects of lightas it propagates from one point to another. As typically implemented, this involves therepresentation of light as a two -dimensional phase /amplitude matrix. The movement of thelight through the system, past components and media is modeled as a series of mathematicalmodifications of the field. Figure 1 shows a beam after propagation to a focus. Theability to calculate the diffractive spreading of light is of crucial importance to lasersystem design. Isometric plots such as these are useful because they give the analyst animmediate idea of the spatial distribution of energy.Host large physical optics modeling codes are accessed via interactive terminalsconnected to large computer facilities. The limited data rates commonly available on suchsystems (300 or 1200 baud, frequently) make it desirable to limit the number of points inorder to produce three -dimensional displays in a timely fashion. The OASIS (OpticalAnalysis Software for interactive Systems) modeling system uses two methods to address thisdifficulty. By permitting user selected plot sampling density, the system produces a viewof the entire field quickly and without saturating the graphics screen resolution.
Ipilimumab for the treatment of melanoma

SUMMARY Melanoma is the sixth most common cancer in the US. Metastatic melanoma has increased in incidence over the past 30 years. In the US approximately 8600 people died from melanoma in 2009. It is an aggressive tumor; the prognosis of stage IV is poor. Before 2011, only dacarbazine and IL-2 were approved for metastatic melanoma. Major advances have been made in understanding the genetic profile, molecular factors that drive malignant transformation and the role of T cells in melanoma patients. Immune regulatory pathways affecting immune responses to cancer are becoming better defined. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) downregulates the pathways of T-cell activation. Ipilimumab is an anti CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody approved in 2011 to treat metastatic or unresectable melanoma.
The facts of schizophrenia: A personal commentary

A career in the field of schizophrenia research is a wonderful blessing. I am reminded of this as I recall Richard JedWyatt. Memories are sad and sweet. I had many years with him beginning as clinical associates together in the NIMH IRP in 1966. Visits with him before his death in 2002 were inspirational, and one aspect of his numerous contributions lives on in the series of “Facts” published in this journal from 2008–2011. Time pressures are intense in our field, and the opportunity to sit at length for an in-depth discussion of critical issues with a few colleagues of varied interest and experience is rare. Rajiv Tandon, John Greden, and Richard Wyatt initiated a series of two-day meetings at the University of Michigan where twelve to fifteen fortunate scientists talked at length about a few selected issues important to the schizophrenia field. It was my privilege to be included, and I am grateful to Rajiv for organizing this activity and using it to carry forward the attempt to advance knowledge by organizing what we know in the format created by Richard. Henry Nasrallah and Matcheri Keshavan, who co-authored the series with Rajiv, attended some of these meetings (e.g., Tandon, 1998, 1999). This booklet contains the substantive products resulting from these meetings and includes the material provided by Richard until death claimed this gifted person. This commentary provides an opportunity to express a few opinions related to the concept of “facts” and to offer a couple of “facts” from off the beaten path. First is the major conceptual problem of the schizophrenia construct. It is difficult to discuss information relevant to schizophrenia without presuming that it is a disease entity, as the authors noted in the first article of the series (Tandon et al., 2008a). But the schizophrenia construct is a clinical syndrome devoid of evidence that it is a single etiopathophysiological entity, as the authors conclude in their later papers in the series (Tandon et al., 2008b; Keshavan et al., 2008; Tandon et al., 2009, 2010). Persons with this diagnosis vary substantially in risk factors, developmental pattern, psychopathology manifestations, therapeutic response, illness course and functional outcomes. Any fact valid for some cases will not be relevant to others. Exceptions are mostly mundane. For example, delusions are ubiquitous in persons with a schizophrenia diagnosis, and are a pathological manifestation responsive to dopamine antagonist medication. But delusions are common in many disorders and are generally responsive to antipsychotic drugs. Delusions may be analogous to fever in infectious disease and antipsychotics to aspirin. Although DSM-IV allows a single bizarre delusion to fully meet the A criteria, delusions are certainly not a decisive core feature of schizophrenia. On this centennial celebration of the publication of Bleuler's treatise it is worth noting that he viewed reality distortion symptoms as secondary.
Process test chip for Josephson integrated circuits

Process test chips are fabricated along with chips containing experimental circuits in our laboratory in order to aid in forming a data base to characterize the technology. All the test sites are placed on a 6.35mm × 6.35mm chip with two distinct final wiring patterns. Wafers containing two chips of both types are processed along with the other substrates. Testing is done at the end of the run. Sites containing repetitive elements are populated at 1-10% of LSI density.
Procalcitonin Is Not a Useful Biomarker of Sepsis

Some emergency department (ED) patients have clinically occult bacterial sepsis. By sepsis, I mean real sepsis, severe sepsis, not the minimal systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)-qualifying type. Most patients with bacterial sepsis can be identified by clinical evaluation, along with inexpensive laboratory tests and imaging, including lactate level. ED observation is additionally discriminatory. So the question is whether procalcitonin (PCT) testing can help identify the few remaining patients for whom some lower suspicion of bacterial sepsis still exists and improve outcomes. The answer is no. Expensive tests should be better than inexpensive ones. Medicare reimbursement for PCT is approximately $40 compared with approximately $10 each for WBC count, C-reactive protein, and lactate level. Tests are useful when their results add to our clinical assessment and lead to better outcomes, so just having better sensitivity and specificity than an abused test recognized as only fairly accurate, such as WBC count, is insufficient. Tests that lead to more unnecessary testing and care can also cause patient harm, as we will see with PCT. For diagnosis of occult serious bacterial infection in febrile young children, PCT performs better than WBC or neutrophil count. However, studies find only fair to good accuracy, similar to that of less expensive C-reactive protein. Patients with suspected bacterial sepsis, but without obvious signs and symptoms as determined by standard means, have a low prevalence of disease. Here, the challenge is to find the needle, not confirm the haystack. Nevertheless, unless PCT is a near-perfect test, positive results will overwhelmingly be misleading false positives. For example, meningococcal infection is particularly feared for its potential to rapidly progress from benign-appearing to fatal. When PCT was studied among febrile ED patients without an obvious source during a meningococcal epidemic, even using optimistic assumptions, the ratio of falseto true-positive results was 9:1. Some ED patients have critical illness caused or contributed to by infection (eg, congestive heart failure). One trial examined appropriateness of antibiotic initiation among ICU patients with suspected infection and randomized to a PCT test or no test. Infection likelihood was rated by treating physicians at outset, and later by
Project Jindalee: from bare bones to operational OTHR

Project Jindalee officially started in April 1974 as a DSTO project based on over the horizon radar (OTHR) developments made by the USA. Over the years it has progressively evolved to the level of performance where it currently serves a hybrid operational/developmental role. Because of the success of Jindalee, the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) was conceived and in 1991 the Australian Department of Defence contracted for the construction of two OTHR systems. The JORN is currently projected to come on line in early 2002. This paper outlines the development of the Jindalee program from its inception as Stage A. This is followed by the Stage B system and its evolutionary development up to the current time. Integral with this development is a brief overview of the DSTO R&D activities into OTHR. This review concludes with an overview of the development of the JORN.
Time periodic traveling wave solutions for periodic advection–reaction–diffusion systems

Abstract We study the existence, uniqueness, and asymptotic stability of time periodic traveling wave solutions to a class of periodic advection–reaction–diffusion systems. Under certain conditions, we prove that there exists a maximal wave speed c ⁎ such that for each wave speed c ≤ c ⁎ , there is a time periodic traveling wave connecting two periodic solutions of the corresponding kinetic system. It is shown that such a traveling wave is unique modulo translation and is monotone with respect to its co-moving frame coordinate. We also show that the traveling wave solutions with wave speed c ≤ c ⁎ are asymptotically stable in certain sense. In addition, we establish the nonexistence of time periodic traveling waves with speed c > c ⁎ .
A Hybrid Energy System Using Cascaded H-bridge Converter

Different circuit configurations have been researched to combine clean energy sources and energy storage elements. This paper proposes a hybrid energy system to integrate the variable-speed wind turbine, fuel cell, and battery using a cascaded H-bridge converter. One of the advantages of this topology is that it still can obtain the regulated output voltage if one or more energy sources are diminished. In addition, the topology can be easily extended to connect more sources without increasing the circuit and control complexity; therefore, it is beneficial for distributed energy generation. Different operation modes are analyzed in detail. The control schemes were developed to extract maximum wind power and charge/discharge the battery with fast dynamics. The simulation and experimental results are provided to confirm the theoretical analysis.
Effects of proline ring conformation on theoretical π‐π* absorption and CD spectra of helical poly(L‐proline) forms I and II

Absorption and CD spectra of the pi-pi* transition near 200 nm are calculated for helical (Pro)10 forms I and II with a variable proline ring conformation characterized by torsion angle chi 2 in the range -60 degrees to 60 degrees. The spectra for poly(Pro) I are not sufficiently sensitive to chi 2 to suggest a preferred ring conformation. The spectra for poly(Pro) II are more sensitive to chi 2, and suggest preferred ring conformations near either or both of the chi 2 regions -50 +/- 10 degrees and 50 +/- 10 degrees.
Predicting slice loss distortion in H.264/AVC video for low complexity data prioritization

We propose a low complexity Generalized Linear Model (GLM) for prioritizing slices during real-time H.264/AVC compressed video streaming. We train the GLM over a video database to predict the Cumulative Mean Square Error (CMSE) corresponding to individual slice losses by using a combination of efficient video parameters which can be easily extracted during the encoding of a frame. We prioritize the slices generated within a Group of Pictures (GOP) based on the predicted CMSE by using a Quartile Based Prioritization (QBP) scheme. For comparison, we also perform QBP on measured CMSE values from individual pre-encoded slice losses and analyze the priority misclassifications of the slices. We validate our model by applying Unequal Error Protection (UEP) using RCPC codes to the different prioritized bitstreams and evaluating their performance over noisy channels. Simulation results show that predicted CMSE schemes achieve PSNR performance close to that of the measured CMSE schemes for different slice sizes, video bitrates and over different channel SNRs.
Innate Immune Control of HIV

Mounting evidence suggests a role for innate immunity in the early control of HIV infection, before the induction of adaptive immune responses. Among the early innate immune effector cells, dendritic cells (DCs) respond rapidly following infection aimed at arming the immune system, through the recognition of viral products via pattern recognition receptors. This early response results in the potent induction of a cascade of inflammatory cytokines, intimately involved in directly setting up an antiviral state, and indirectly activating other antiviral cells of the innate immune system. However, epidemiologic data strongly support a role for natural killer (NK) cells as critical innate mediators of antiviral control, through the recognition of virallyinfectedcellsthroughanetworkofreceptorscalledthekillerimmunoglobulin-likereceptors(KIRs).Inthisreview,theearlyeventsininnateimmunerecognitionofHIV,focusedondefiningthebiologyunderlyingKIR-mediatedNK-cellcontrolofHIVviralreplication,arediscussed.
Identification of a rabbit sperm autoantigen as a Ricinus communis I receptor

The isolated rabbit sperm plasma membrane autoantigen RSA-1 has been identified as a receptor for the lectin, Ricinus communis I (RCA). Using purified RSA-1 labeled with125 I, the autoantigen was shown to bind to RCA affinity columns and the eluted fraction bound to specific anti-RSA-1 alloantiserum immunoadsorbent columns.
Poverty comparisons with dependent samples

Standard inference procedures for poverty comparisons require samples to be independent. For many commonly used income samples, however, this requirement is not fulÞlled since samples are rotated. This note introduces an easy-to-use method of correction for sample dependency. We also apply the method to test changes in U.S.poverty in the 1990s and evaluate the marginal effects of public assistance on poverty before and after the recent welfare reform.
Dissolution of Plagioclase as Hydrocarbon Reservoirs: ABSTRACT

Plagioclase feldspar is an important contributor to reservoir porosity as indicated by studies of first-cycle Miocene basins of south Texas (Frio Formation) and southern California (Stevens Formation). In the former case study, volcanic plagioclase (An32) exhibits secondary porosity with associated partial albitization. In the latter case, plutonic plagioclase (An30) exhibits secondary porosity without albitization, although petrographically albite was stable with respect to the leach fluids. In both examples, dissolution was highly selective proceeding 2 to 3 times faster along cleavage planes than normal to them. The dissolution by-product is chiefly kaolinite such that the overall reaction is 2H+ + H2O + CaAl2Si2O8 = Al2Si2O5(OH)4 + Ca++. Formation water compositions indicate the leach reactions are occurring today at about 100°C (212°F). Petrographic, microprobe, and mass balance calculations indicate that alumina is conserved on the scale of a thin section. Calcium is particularly mobile on a scale of tens of meters. End_of_Article - Last_Page 427------------
Calibration of a detector array through beam profile reconstruction with error-locking.

An iterative method is proposed to calibrate radiation sensitivities of an arbitrary two‐dimensional (2D) array of detectors. The array is irradiated with a wide open‐ field beam at the central position, as well as at laterally and longitudinal shifted positions; the 2D beam profile of the wide field is reconstructed iteratively from the ratios of shifted images to the central image. The propagation errors due to output variation and inaccurate array positioning are estimated and removed from the reconstructed beam profile by an error‐locking scheme with narrow open‐field irradiations. The beam profile is interpolated when necessary and then compared to raw detector responses to determine sensitivities. Two additional methods were implemented for comparison: 1) the commercial iterative calibration method for MapCHECK2 with translation and rotation operations; 2) a labor‐intensive noniterative method without the issue of error propagation. A MapCHECK2 2D detector array was used to validate the proposed method with the 6 MV photon beam from a Varian iX linear accelerator. All calibration methods were repeated three times. A total of 5, 9, and 29 irradiations were required to implement the commercial method, the proposed method and the noniterative method respec‐ tively. Moreover, a 5 mm positioning error was intentionally introduced into the calibration procedures of the commercial and the proposed method to test their robustness. Under the normal operation condition of the linear accelerator and with careful alignment of the MapCHECK2, the deviations of the calibrated sensitivities of the proposed method and commercial method with respect to the noniterative method were 0.30% ± 0.29% and 0.92% ± 0.63% respectively; when the 5 mm positioning error was presented, these two methods resulted in deviations of 0.40% ± 0.36% and 3.58% ± 1.94%, respectively. A patient study suggested that, due to this 5 mm positioning error, the mean DTA (dose to agreement) passing rate by the commercial method was 2.7% lower than that by the noniterative method, whereas the proposed method led to a comparable passing rate. It is evident from this study that the proposed iterative method leads to within 1% mean calibration results to established methods. It requires much fewer number of measurements than noniterative method and is more robust against the positioning error than the commercial iterative method. The method also eliminates the need of rotation operations and, therefore, is applicable to inline detector arrays without rotation function, such as electronic portal imager device (EPID).
International Differences in Secular Trends in Childhood Blood Pressure A Puzzle to be Solved

Hypertension is a potent independent risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, renal failure, and mortality in adults.1 Although most of these adverse outcomes occur in adulthood, it has become clear that hypertension is a life course problem that can become evident in childhood and can be progressive throughout childhood into adolescence and adulthood.2 It has also become clear that elevated blood pressure in childhood is associated with early markers of cardiovascular abnormalities, including left ventricular hypertrophy3 and atherosclerosis.4 For these reasons, there has been an increasing focus on the identification and treatment of children and adolescents with hypertension and the prevention of the occurrence of hypertension in the first place.5 Article see p 397 There is still much to be learned about the mechanisms involved in the development of hypertension. In general, it is thought that both genetic and environmental forces are important. It is clear that there is a familial clustering of high blood pressure, which probably reflects both shared genes and a shared environment. Some specific genetic abnormalities have been discovered that result in blood pressure elevation.6 However, these genetic abnormalities do not explain a very large proportion of the primary hypertension observed in the population. Studies are underway to determine the multiple other genetic influences that probably interact with environmental factors and underpin the development of primary hypertension.7 Environmental factors involved in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension include lifestyle factors, such as diet and physical activity, and other factors, such as intrauterine growth retardation, as well. The most common lifestyle factor associated with hypertension is the development of obesity. Obesity has a number of adverse health effects, but it is clearly associated with blood pressure elevation in both adults and children.8 So, although some clinically useful approaches …
Publication bias for CAM trials in the highest impact factor medicine journals is partly due to geographical bias.

Abstract Objective To assess the presence of publication bias and its relation to geographical bias in clinical trials involving complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) published in the highest impact factor general medicine journals. Study Design and Setting All CAM clinical trials published in the four highest impact factor general medicine journals, Lancet and British Medical Journal (European), and New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of American Medical Association (U.S.), between 1965 and 2004 were abstracted using Medline. Three reviewers abstracted data from the individual studies. In a multivariate analysis, factors predictive of a positive study were assessed. Results A total of 259 studies met the inclusion criteria. CAM trials published in the European journals were significantly more likely to be positive compared to those published in the U.S. journals (76% vs. 50%, odds ratio [OR] = 3.15, P P P = 0.11). Conclusion Publication bias related to CAM trials among the highest impact factor general medicine journals is partly due to geographical bias.
Antenna miniaturization using magneto-dielectric substrates

Effective antenna miniaturization is a challenging problem due to the inevitable trade-off between the size and the performance of the antenna due to the fact that antenna performance is bound with the fundamental limits based on the size of the antenna. Antenna miniaturization is also a critical issue since the key component determining the size of a mobile device is usually the antenna. Recent studies on novel materials called magneto-dielectrics have raised hope to miniaturize the antenna effectively. Magneto-dielectrics are materials with both the relative permittivity (∊ r ) and the relative permeability (µ r ) of the substrate greater than unity. In this paper, several issues regarding the magneto-dielectrics and their application to the antenna miniaturization are investigated. The theoretical reason why the magneto-dielectrics are better substrates for planar antennas than the dielectric materials is investigated along with a material synthesis technique to explain how to realize these materials. Additionally, a characterization methodology to extract the frequency dependent properties (∊′, ∊″ µ′, and µ″) of these materials is presented in this paper. Finally, the advantages and the limitations of these substrates for antenna applications are discussed in the paper.
West Nile Virus: an Update on Recent Developments

Abstract West Nile Virus arrived in North America just over 12 years ago, and since that time, much has been learned about its pathology and transmission of infection and the factors affecting prevalence. Key developments uncovered critical risk factors for severe neurologic disease and revealed successful host defense strategies. At present, only equine vaccines are available; human vaccines remain in various stages of clinical trials. This review discusses the advances in and limitations of the current research related to the emergence and continued dissemination of West Nile virus throughout the Americas.
Dynamic planned safety stocks in supply networks

Safety stocks are commonly used in inventory management for tactically planning against uncertainty in demand and/or supply. The usual approach is to plan a single safety stock value for the entire planning horizon. More advanced methods allow for dynamically updating this value. We introduce a new line of research in inventory management: the notion of planning time-phased safety stocks. We assert that planning a time-phased set of safety stocks over a planning horizon makes sense because larger safety stocks are appropriate in times of greater uncertainty while lower safety stocks are more appropriate when demand and/or supply are more predictable. Projecting a vector of safety stock values is necessary to assure upstream members in the supply network have advanced warning of changes. We perform an empirical study of U.S. industry, which demonstrates that significant savings can be achieved by employing dynamic planned safety stocks, confirming recent case study reports. We provide a simple optimisation...
Treatment thresholds for stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in cotton

The green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say), the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L), and the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), were predominant phytophagous Pentatomidae detected during 1995-1997 in cotton in South Carolina. These species occurred in similar numbers in conventional and transgenic cotton 'NuCOTN33B', containing the gene for expression of CryIA(c) delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner variety kurstaki. Adult stink bugs moved into cotton from wild and cultivated alternate hosts during July, and reproducing populations usually were detected in cotton from late July into September. Applications of either methyl parathion (0.56 kg [AI]/ha) directed for stink bugs or lambda-cyhalothrin (0.037 kg [AI]/ha) or cyfluthrin (0.056 kg [AI]/ha) for control of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), provided effective control of pentatomids in NuCOTN33B or conventional 'DP5415' and increased yields compared with untreated plots. Fiber quality did not differ among treated or untreated plots of NuCOTN33B. The ground-cloth technique was used to estimate populations of stink bugs, and data indicated that treatment at one bug per 2 m of row adequately protected cotton from yield loss due to stink bug damage. Observations on boll damage indicated that treatment might be necessary if >20-25% reveal internal symptoms of feeding injury during mid- to late season. More detailed damage thresholds should be developed to complement an approach based on population monitoring. This study validated current recommendations for management of pentatomids in cotton, demonstrated the necessity of threshold use for stink bugs in transgenic cultivars expressing endotoxin from B. thuringiensis, and provided insight into further development of management options for pentatomids in the crop.
Multi-tissue Mesh Generation for Brain Images

We develop a multi-tissue mesh generation method that is suitable for finite element simulation involved in non-rigid registration and surgery simulation of brain images. We focus on the following four critical mesh properties: tissue-dependent resolution, fidelity to tissue boundaries, smoothness of mesh surfaces, and element quality. Each mesh property can be controlled on a tissue level. This method consists of two steps. First, a coarse multi-tissue mesh with tissue-dependent resolution is generated according to a predefined subdivision criterion. Then, a tissue-aware point-based registration method is used to find an optimal trade-off among fidelity, smoothness, and quality. We evaluated our method on a number of images ranging from MRI, visible human, to brain atlas. The experimental results verify the features of this method.