cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond community characteristics: a leader's gender and local government adoption of energy conservation practices and redistributive programmes

Most research examining factors associated with local government adoption of sustainability practices focuses on the impact of community characteristics. Little is known about whether adoption is a...
An Unusual Recursive Formula to Answer a Question Regarding Fixed Points in Permutations

Classroom CapsulesEDITORSRicardo AlfaroLixing HanKenneth SchillingUniversity of Michigan-FlintUniversity of Michigan-FlintUniversity of Michigan-Flintralfaro@umflint.edulxhan@umflint.eduksch@umflin...
The Empirical Test of Consumption-Real Exchange Rate Anomaly in China

Consumption-Real Exchange Rate Anomaly is one of the well known puzzles in international finance. Most international business cycle models predict that, under the assumption of perfect financial markets along with supply disturbances, consumption should be higher in the country where its price, converted into a common currency, is lower. But empirical studies show that the consumption differentials across countries do not correspond in any systematic pattern with its relative price (i.e. the real exchange rate). Furthermore, consumption in countries with lower real exchange rate does not go up. Quite often than not it goes down. With regard to the current situation in China, on the one hand, there is the criticism from western countries that RMBexchange rate is undervalued; on the other, the final consumption rate has been very low with a continued downward trend. It has dropped to 52.1% in 2005 from 66.36% in 1985. Especially, there has been a drastic decrease in resident consumption rate, from 48.8% in 1991 to 38.2% in 2005. However, according to statistics of the World Bank, the average consumption of the world stays between 77% and 79%. For example, the average consumption rate of the world in 2002 was 81%, and the figure for low income countries was 80.7%, middle income countries, 73.2%, high income countries, 81%. But the rate in China was only 58.2%. Is there a significant relationship between resident consumption rate and RMB real exchange rate? Does the persistent decreasing resident consumption affect the real exchange rate in China? These are undoubtedly subjects worth studying thoroughly.
Three-Dimensional Network Topologies

This paper presents the derivation and performance results of several new three-dimensional topologies. Various transformations can be applied to the conventional six-neighbor mesh in order to construct these topologies, which vary both in number of neighbors (degree) and logical connectivity. Analysis shows that after normalization for constant pin-count, lower-degree topologies yield lower latencies for long messages on unloaded networks, while higher-degree topologies possess higher bandwidth capacities. Although simulation results generally verify these findings, we also observe a surprising amount of difference in the performance between distinct topologies of the same degree.
Service path attribution networks (SPANs): spatially quantifying the flow of ecosystem services from landscapes to people

Ecosystem services are the effects on human well-being of the flow of benefits from ecosystems to people over given extents of space and time. The Service Path Attribution Network (span) model provides a spatial framework for quantifying these flows, providing a new means of estimating these economic benefits. This approach discovers dependencies between provision and usage endpoints, spatial competition among users for scarce resources, and landscape effects on ecosystem service flows. Particularly novel is the model's ability to identify the relative density of these flows throughout landscapes and to determine which areas are affected by upstream flow depletion. span descriptions have been developed for a number of services(aesthetic viewsheds, proximity to open space, carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, nutrient cycling, and avoided sedimentation/deposition), which vary in scale of effect, mechanism of provision and use, and type of flow. Results using real world data are shown for the US Puget Sound region.
KOREA'S FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: A BLUEPRINT FOR NATIONAL INTEGRITY

Executive SummaryThis article is purposefully designed to devise strategies to combat corruption and implement a workable blueprint to promote and secure national integrity. Of paramount importance in combatting the insidious effects which corrupt behaviors has on the social fabric of society, is the demonstrated need for national leadership; for as Professor Pomerleau avers, ethical behavior at the highest reaches of government is like a river-it flows downward.In earlier times, Machiavelli observed that “what the prince does, the many will also soon do.” From this we can infer that integrity of the best for the rest; and conversely, corruption of the best, is the worst. The task of proposing remedies under the general category of administrative reform, the article thoughtfully considers Korea’s unique recent history and its idio-syncratic cultural traditions.Professor Pomerleau summarily propose strategic “must” measures to reduce the incidence of institutionalized corruption, all the while urging polit...
The digital bidirectional function as a hardware security primitive: Architecture and applications

Security and low power have emerged to become two essential requirements to modern design. In this paper, we have proposed a new hardware security primitive: digital bidirectional function (DBF) designed on FPGA to meet both criteria. The DBF has two forms of functions and implements two mappings of opposite directions. The DBF can be easily implemented using hierarchical lookup-table (LUT) structures with low delay and power overhead. In terms of applications, we demonstrate how DBF is applied in the protocol of secure message transfer and compare its power/bandwidth consumption with other cryptographic approaches. Our results indicate that the energy consumption of DBF outperforms the traditional ciphers by averagely two to three orders of magnitude.
Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope Confirmation of the Luminous and Variable X-Ray Source IC 10 X-1 as a Possible Wolf-Rayet, Black Hole Binary

We present a Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope study of IC 10 X-1, the most luminous X-ray binary in the starburst galaxy closest to the Milky Way. Our new hard X-ray observation of X-1 confirms that it has an average 0.5-10 keV luminosity of 1.5 × 1038 ergs s-1, is strongly variable (a factor of ≈2 in 3 ks), and is spatially coincident (within 023 ± 030) with the Wolf-Rayet (W-R) star [MAC92] 17A in IC 10. The spectrum of X-1 is best fitted by a power law with Γ ≈ 1.8 and a thermal plasma with kT ≈ 1.5 keV, although systematic residuals hint at further complexity. Taken together, these facts suggest that X-1 may be a black hole belonging to the rare class of W-R binaries; it is comparable in many ways to Cyg X-3. The Chandra observation also finds evidence for extended X-ray emission cospatial with the large nonthermal radio superbubble surrounding X-1.
New Corrosion Mapping Technology at High Temperature Application

Process industries such as oil, gas and petrochemical plants have critical process equipment operating at high temperatures. These equipment require periodic comprehensive integrity assessments for safe and reliable operation. Conventional NDE techniques such as manual ultrasonic are not only slow and subjective, but also often unsuccessful beyond 300°F (150°C). There have been tremendous efforts in the industry to invent suitable new technologies for high temperature application. Hence, comprehensive monitoring of large size equipment operating at higher temperatures remained as a challenging task for decades. In line with this requirement, and in an ongoing effort to deploy new technologies, Uthmaniyah Gas Plant (UGP) in Saudi Aramco, one of the largest gas processing plants in the world, partnered with the Inspection Department in a pilot test program to validate a new corrosion mapping technology at high temperature application up to 500°F. Implementation of this breakthrough technology for the first time in Saudi Aramco at UGP has been successful. This technology also has the capability to scan the process equipment at an operating temperature beyond 725°F (385°C). This paper provides an overview of the importance of a comprehensive assessment to critical process equipment operating at high temperature, ongoing developments to enrich the assessment capabilities and how this technology added value in enhancing the safety and reliability of the operating facility.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Biosensor for direct determination of organophosphate nerve agents using recombinant Escherichia coli with surface-expressed organophosphorus hydrolase. 1. Potentiometric microbial electrode

A potentiometric microbial biosensor for the direct measurement of organophosphate (OP) nerve agents was developed by modifying a pH electrode with an immobilized layer of Escherichia coli cells expressing organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) on the cell surface. OPH catalyzes the hydrolysis of organophosporus pesticides to release protons, the concentration of which is proportional to the amount of hydrolyzed substrate. The sensor signal and response time were optimized with respect to the buffer pH, ionic concentration of buffer, temperature, and weight of cells immobilized using paraoxon as substrate. The best sensitivity and response time were obtained using a sensor constructed with 2.5 mg of cells and operating in pH 8.5, 1 mM HEPES buffer. Using these conditions, the biosensor was used to measure as low as 2 μM of paraoxon, methyl parathion, and diazinon. The biosensor had very good storage and multiple use stability. The use of cells with the metabolic enzyme expressed on cell surface as a biological ...
The synthesis of N-deuteromethylated desipramine and imipramine

Desipramine-d3 (5-[3-(methyl-d3-amino)propyl]-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine), imipramine-d3(5-[3-methylmethyl-d3-amino)propyl]-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine and imipramine-d6 (5-[3-(dimethyl-d6-amino)propyl]-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenz[b,f] azepine)have been synthesised for use as internal standards in mass spectrometric determinations. The mass spectra of these compounds is reported.
Finite Element Analysis of Quench Propagation Velocity in Bi-2223/Ag Superconducting Multifilamentary Tape

Quench propagation velocity is an important parameter to the stability and protection issues of superconducting magnet. In this paper, the finite element method (FEM) numerical simulation of quench propagation velocity has been performed for using the powerful analysis software COSMOS by establishing a suitable thermal analysis model of Bi-2223/Ag superconducting multifilamentary tape. The effects of quench energy and operating temperature on the quench propagation velocity have been studied. The analysis shows that the simulation result basically coincides with the experimental result.
Stem cell factor and erythropoietin inhibit apoptosis of human erythroid progenitor cells through different signalling pathways

Erythropoietin (EPO) and stem cell factor (SCF) are two important factors in human erythropoiesis. We have recently demonstrated that SCF and EPO synergistically activate mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, thereby promoting growth of human erythroid colony-forming cells (ECFCs). In the present study, we have examined the intracellular mechanisms by which SCF and EPO maintain survival of these cells. In the absence of SCF and EPO, human ECFCs underwent rapid apoptosis. The process was significantly inhibited by addition of a single factor and was totally prevented in the presence of both factors. Treatment of ECFCs with wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), inhibited the antiapoptotic effect of SCF but had no effect on that of EPO, indicating that SCF but not EPO inhibits apoptosis through the PI3K pathway. In contrast, treatment of ECFCs with PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MAP kinase/ERK kinase (MEK), inhibited cell growth but had no effect on the antiapoptotic activity of either SCF or EPO, suggesting that SCF and EPO prevent apoptosis of human ECFCs independent of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Interestingly, both EPO and SCF induced activation of PI3K. However, through PI3K, SCF caused activation of protein kinase B (PKB), an anti-apoptosis signal, whereas EPO led to activation of ERKs. Furthermore, the SCF- and EPO-maintained expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-XL was correlated with the activation of ERKs and was inhibited by PD98059, suggesting that Bcl-XL may not have a major role in preventing apoptosis of human ECFCs. Phosphorylated BAD was not affected by SCF, EPO or wortmannin. Taken together with our previous results, the present study indicates that SCF and EPO support survival and growth of human ECFCs through different signalling pathways and that they transduce distinctly different signals through activation of PI3K.
Diagnosis and quantification of arrhythmias in ambulatory patients using an improved R-R interval plotting system

An improved technique for identification, diagnosis and quantification of arrhythmias during rest or ambulatory electrocardiographic recording is described. With simultaneous plotting of the R-R interval and the QRS duration and QRS vector measurement of each beat versus time, all periods of arrhythmias or abnormal complexes can be identified and characterized. Analog electrocardiographic samplings are used to confirm the diagnosis of the arrhythmia and to exclude artifact. The availability of a permanent record for the characterization of each QRS complex enables the physician to check the technician's analysis of the recording and to relate all events to the patient's heart rate and clinical symptoms. This technique also provides data for quantification of ventricular arrhythmias.
Polymer mediated capillary electrophoresis with attenuated total reflectance infrared microspectroscopy detection.

Abstract Polymer mediated capillary electrophoresis (CE) using poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC) in the electrolyte with end-column single reflection attenuated total internal reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy is presented. The terminus of the capillary is placed ∼1 μm from the internal reflectance element (IRE), at the focus of the ATR infrared microscope. Electrophoretic separations of benzenesulfonate, 1-naphthalenesulfonate and 1,5-naphthalenesulfonate in a NaCl and PDDAC electrolyte using either −11 or −15 kV are demonstrated with the CE-ATR FT-IR spectra providing identification of these compounds. Running electrolyte salt concentrations in the 0.85–1.7 M range are required due to the 50–80 mg mL −1 sample concentrations. Increasing the NaCl salt concentration improves peak resolution but also increases analysis time. A PDDAC concentration as low as 0.0075% can facilitate the separation of the aromatic sulfonates while maintaining reasonable electroosmotic flow. Etching of the germanium IRE by the applied current, which can affect the intensity of the infrared beam, is corrected by fabrication of a plastic mounting post for the IRE to prevent current conduction through the IR instrument.
The preparation of linear phosphonitrilic chlorides

The reaction between phosphorus pentachloride and phosphonitrilic chloride trimer and tetramer, under controlled conditions, was shown to yield the linear phosphonitrilic chlorides [Cl(PCl2N)nPCl3]PCl6 where n equals 3 and 4, respectively. A mechanism is proposed involving a complex between the PCl4+ cation and the cyclic phosphonitrile through a ring nitrogen atom. Evidence, based on phosphorus NMR, indicates that the next step in the reaction between the linear chloride, [Cl(PCl2N)3PCl3]PCl6, and additional (PNCl2)3 leads to the compound [Cl(PCl2N)6·PCl3] PCl6, probably by a similar mechanism. The derivatives, [Cl(PCl2N)3PCl3][MCl(v+1)], where M = boron and aluminum, were prepared and found to be fluids. The tetrachloroaluminate is thermally stable to 700°C and, although no change in physical appearance was observed, phosphorus NMR indicated that a mixture of species of the type [Cl(PCl2N)nPCl3]AlCl4 was present. At elevated temperatures, the tetrachloroborate derivative, [Cl(PCl2N)3PCl3]BCl4, underwent a similar cationic rearrangement, although it was also accompanied by the elimination of PCl4BCl4 and formation of phosphonitrilic chloride rubbery polymer.
Thermodynamic stabilities of semiconductor electrodes

Abstract The application of the Pourbaix diagram to the prediction and understanding of the thermodynamic stability of semiconductor materials is discussed. With the aid of flat band potential information, the thermodynamic stability of semiconductor materials under various operating conditions, types of electrodes (n- or p-) to be used, conversion efficiencies, types of redox couples to be chosen for a given semiconductor electrode material, and the proper operating pH region can be determined. It is shown from the available information that all the semiconductor materials examined, i.e., CdS, CdSe, CdTe, and GaP may be unstable with respect to anodic dissolution and that p-type electrodes may be successfully used as photocathodes for the photoassisted electrolysis of water to hydrogen. GaAs is shown to be unstable with respect to both anodic and cathodic dissolution.
Gandhi's economics of peace

Is there any such thing as “Gandhian economics?” Gandhi did say many things about production, distribution, consumption and other economic matters, but do they comprise an “economics?” Certainly Gandhian economics is not scientific in the sense of Keynesian or Marxian economics. Moreover, Gandhi regarded himself less as an intellectual and more as a man of action: his original thinking seems to have been more moral and political than economic. But these concessions do not preclude a Gandhian economics. To the contrary, Gandhi's economic observations must be taken seriously because, unlike most so‐called “development economists,” he had a truly intimate knowledge of the masses, in India and elsewhere.
HERA Physicists Finally Put Flesh on a Putative Particle.

When particles crash against each other in the heart of the world`s atom smashers, some bizarre events occur. In soft collisions two speeding particles such as protons strike each other with a glancing blow; often one breaks up in a shower of particles while the other travels on virtually unscatched. There are finally some hints about the character of these soft collisions coming from the HERA accelerator at Germany`s DESY high-energy physics lab. The entity apparently mediating the collisions is made up of pointlike particles whose distribution can be measured. This article describes the ramifications and debate surrounding these new discoveries.
Comments on “Electron microscopic analysis of composite precipitates in an Al-2.21 WT%Li-0.14WT%Zr alloy”

Abstract In summary, the image analysis technique of SKKT has clarified the very significant effects of dynamical scattering on the appearance of “composite” precipitates. However, the calculations presented by SKKT have no direct relationship to our studies, studies where conclusions, which remain valid, have been drawn about the Li content of α′. Further, no analytical results from the literature have proved the absence of Li in α′ and several studies substantially support our results showing significant Li in the α′ phase.
SUBSTRATE COMPETITION BETWEEN A SALT MARSH DIATOM AND A BACTERIAL POPULATION1

Cylindrotheca closterium Ehrenberg, a benthic marine diatom, competes successfully with Acromonas sp. a bacterium from the same environment, for low molecular weight organic substrates when they are presented at natural concentrations (1 to 10 ..mu..M). In sort term (1 h) experiments, the uptake of mannose by C. closterium was enhanced in light. Seventy percent of the total uptake of mannose by both species was effected by C. closterium over a 1 h period in light. The diatom population was also competitive in darkness. The algal portion of glucose uptake over 1 h was 71% when both populations were given the substrate initially. Percentages of total amino acid uptake for C. closterium ranged from 33% glycine in light to 73% leucine in darkness when both species were given substrate initially. Cylindrotheca had smaller percentages of glucose and aspartic acid total uptake in competition experiments run to stationary phase (10 days).
Influence of Varying Lipid Concentrations with Two Protein Concentrations in Diets for Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Abstract The sparing action of dietary lipids on protein observed in rainbow trout was demonstrated in practical trout diets. The digestible energy content of a diet in relation to the percent of dietary protein (DE/P ratio) can be a determining factor in the protein requirements of rainbow trout. The DE/P ratio of the diet was positively correlated with protein retained (%) by the fish but with no other factors measured in this study. Growth, feed conversion, and daily length increment were all correlated with the energy content of the diet. Increased amounts of digestible energy in the diet also enhanced the efficient use of that energy. Diets containing high percentages of fat produced fatter fish with lower percentages of protein.
Dynamic-finite-element and dynamic-photoelastic analyses of two fracturing homalite-100 plates

A dynamic-finite-element code, HONDO, was used to analyze two single-edged-notch fracturing Homalite-100 plates which had been previously studied by dynamic photoelasticity. A single-edged crack in the finite-element model was advanced in incremental jumps such that the time-averaged crack velocity matched the measured crack velocity in the Homalite-100 plate. Dynamic-energy-release rates were computed for a constant-velocity crack and a crack which arrested after a somewhat constant deceleration. These results were compared with the corresponding dynamic-energy-release rates, which were computed from the dynamic-stress-intensity factors determined by dynamic photoelasticity, and with static-strain energyrelease rates. Despite the crude modeling of the running crack, the coarseness of the finite-element-grid breakdown and the differences in the modeled and actual grip conditions, the computed and measured dynamic-energy-release rates, except for occasional large differences, generally agreed within 10 percent of each other.
Performance Analysis of a Natural Gas Generator Using Laser Ignition

A single cylinder spark ignited gasoline engine was modified to operate with natural gas. In such an engine, laser ignition was successfully demonstrated while transmitting the high-power laser pulses via solid core optical fibers. Subsequently, ignition studies were performed while using laser ignition (LI) and conventional spark ignition (SI). However, due to limitations imposed by the engine hardware the adverse conditions for ignition could not be simulated, i.e., of lean operation and high-pressures. As a result, the scope of the study was limited to comparing LI and SI ignition characteristics at various ignition timings. It was observed that both LI and SI resulted in reliable combustion over all ignition timings. Furthermore, LI resulted in higher rates of pressure rise and higher peak cylinder pressures. However, the higher NOx emissions resulting from such conditions might not be representative as the final performance of an engine as it is determined by optimizing ignition timing and other operating parameters.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Mechanisms of Chemotherapeutic Drug Resistance in Cancer Therapy-A Quick Review

Chemotherapy is one of the principal modes of treatment for cancer patients. Clinically, many tumors present a satisfactory response when they are first exposed to the chemotherapeutic drugs. However, drug resistance occurs sooner or later in these tumors, and the majority of the patients develop progressive disease. The mechanisms of treatment failure of chemotherapeutic drugs have been well studied. Via a unique protection system, i.e. multidrug resistance (MDR), the cancer cells can escape the toxic effect of most commonly used cancer drugs in spite of their different chemical structures and different mechanisms of intracellular activity. There are two classes of transporter proteins at the cellular surface which are responsible for MDR in tumors. One is the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter superfamily, which is an energy-requiring efflux pump with the function of extruding toxic chemotherapeutic drugs from the cancer cells. The other is the solute carrier transporter superfamily, which mediates the cellular uptake of anticancer drugs, and drug resistance may result from decreased activity of these transporters. Although transporters of MDR are responsible for the tumor resistance to many chemotherapeutic drugs currently used in cancer therapy, the mechanisms of resistance to platinum-based antitumor agents are through different pathways. In this article, the mechanisms of MDR transporters mediating resistance to the commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs and to platinum-based agents are reviewed. Finally, with the finding of cancer stem cells in more and more solid tumors, it is recognized that the cancer stem cell is spared along with its normal tissue stem cell counterparts with very subtle differences. One characteristic of the normal tissue stem cell is the self-protection ability through innate MDR transporters. Therefore, the essential self-protection property is also present in the cancer stem cells. The quiescent tumor stem cell with constitutive MDR is the main barrier to therapy. Successful cancer therapy will depend on the ability to discern the subtle differences between the tumor and normal stem cells so that approaches can be developed to eliminate the tumor stem cells without excessive toxicity to normal stem cells.
Epidemiology of Intimate Partner Homicide-Suicide Events Among Women of Childbearing Age in Maryland, 1994-2003

Intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPH-IPS) among women during the childbearing years leaves irreversible outcomes that are devastating and have lasting repercussions for surviving children, families, and communities. An estimated one-third of all intimate partner homicides of women aged 15 to 50 end in suicide. The purpose of this study was to describe the temporal trends and characteristics of both victims of IPH-IPS. Data were collected using a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of medical examiner records for women aged 10 to 50 in Maryland, during 1994-2003. Seventy-five IPH-IPS incidents were identified over the 10-year period. Of those, 94.7% were a female homicide followed by a male suicide. The average rate of IPH-IPS was 0.52 per 100,000 women aged 10 to 50. About half of the couples were within 5 years of the age of each other, married or separated and the same race. Eleven percent of the women were pregnant/1-year postpartum when they died. The findings presented represent a significant public health problem that has a unique pattern compared with other populations studied. Understanding this problem involves a more comprehensive assessment of both victims. There is a need for a national surveillance system that identifies IPH-IPS events and provides information on both victims that includes individual and relationship characteristics. Language: en
Laser-assisted XUV few-photon double ionization of helium: Joint angular distributions

The exact quantitative description and full understanding of the dynamics of three or more interacting particles is a fundamental and ongoing problem in quantum mechanics. While one of the most elementary systems for studying the dynamics of three Coulomb-interacting particles, the helium atom, has been examined extensively during the past few decades,three-particleCoulombbreakupinitiatedbyshortand intense pulses of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared (IR) to the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectral range continues to be of particular interest to experimentalists and theorists alike. The complete investigation of such three-particle breakup processes remains a demanding experiment that requires advancedlaserorsynchrotronandcoincidentparticledetection
Marine biology simulation

The Marine Biology Simulation is designed as a final project in an objects-first CS2 course. It provides an entertaining setting that serves as compelling example of the powers of object-oriented design and programming.
Chorus wave generation near the dawnside magnetopause due to drift shell splitting of substorm‐injected electrons

[1] We study the relationship between the electron injection and the chorus waves during a substorm event on 23 March 2007. The chorus waves were detected at high geomagnetic latitude (∼70°S) Antarctic observatories in the range of 0600–0900 h in magnetic local time (MLT). Electrons drifting from the injection event were measured by two LANL spacecraft at 0300 and 0900 MLT. The mapping of auroral brightening areas to the magnetic equator shows that the injection occurred in an MLT range of 2200–2400. This estimate is consistent with observations by the THEMIS A, B, and D spacecraft (which were located at 2100 MLT and did not observe electron injections). Our backward model tracing from the magnetic equator near the dawnside magnetopause (which magnetically connects to the Antarctic observatories) also supports the deduced injection region. Since chorus waves are believed to be generated through the electron cyclotron instability by an anisotropic temperature distribution, we examine, by performing forward model tracing, whether the electrons injected during this substorm form a pancake-like pitch angle distribution when they arrive near the dawn-side magnetopause. We find that the onset time of the modeled pitch angle anisotropy is consistent with that of the observed chorus waves. We conclude that the development of the anisotropy is due to particle drift shell splitting.
You are not alone: breaking transaction isolation

Multicore systems make shared-memory multiprocessors ubiquitous, but require concurrent programs to exploit their potential. Yet, "our repertoire of tools and methods for cost-effectively developing reliable and robust parallel applications is spotty" [1]. One fundamental problem, of course, is maintenance of shared mutable state, which is the means of communication among threads in a shared-memory program. To ensure the integrity of this communication, threads must synchronize their accesses to this shared state, and various mechanisms have been devised to do this.
Activity of noble metal-promoted hydroprocessing catalysts for pyridine HDN and naphthalene hydrogenation

Abstract An important step in the upgrading of coal and coal-waste coprocessing liquids is the removal of heteroatoms, particularly nitrogen, which tend to poison the downstream cracking operations required to lower boiling points to the transportation fuels range. This requirement has motivated research to improve the activity of current hydroprocessing catalysts. In this regard we have examined the effects of Pt, Ru, and Ir promotion on three commercial Al2O3-supported catalysts (NiMo, CoMo, and NiW) using the model compounds, pyridine and naphthalene, to investigate hydrodenitrogenation and ring hydrogenation reactions, respectively. For pyridine hydrodenitrogenation (HDN), the activity of the sulfided catalysts was better than that of the oxide forms. For sulfided forms of NiMo, all noble metals tested improved the HDN activity. The activity of CoMo was improved by Pt and Ir while NiW was not improved by any noble metals promotion. For ring hydrogenation (HYD) of naphthalene, the Pt-promoted catalysts were more active than the original catalysts in the oxide forms, while the activities of both catalysts were similar after sulfidation. However for ring HYD in the presence of N, the Pt-promoted catalysts exhibited a distinct advantage.
The Role of TIR-NBS and TIR-X Proteins in Plant Basal Defense Responses

Toll/interleukin receptor (TIR) domain-containing proteins encoded in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome include the TIR-nucleotide binding site (TN) and TIR-unknown site/domain (TX) families. We investigated the function of these proteins. Transient overexpression of five TX and TN genes in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) induced chlorosis. This induced chlorosis was dependent on ENHANCED DISEASE RESISTANCE1, a dependency conserved in both tobacco and Arabidopsis. Stable overexpression transgenic lines of TX and TN genes in Arabidopsis produced a variety of phenotypes associated with basal innate immune responses; these were correlated with elevated levels of salicylic acid. The TN protein AtTN10 interacted with the chloroplastic protein phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase in a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) two-hybrid screen; other TX and TN proteins interacted with nucleotide binding-leucine-rich repeat proteins and effector proteins, suggesting that TN proteins might act in guard complexes monitoring pathogen effectors.
The Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor on Epithelial Healing After Penetrating Keratoplasty in Human Eyes

Two groups of patients were assigned randomly to treatment with epidermal growth factor or placebo after penetrating keratoplasty. In all cases, the epithelium was removed completely from the graft by scrubbing at the close of surgery. One group of patients received topically applied growth factor or placebo in a solution with preservative solution four times a day on the day of surgery and twice a day for two days thereafter. The second group of patients received one-half the concentration of growth factor or placebo in a solution without preservative eight times a day for four days beginning the day before surgery. Healing was assessed twice a day by color photography after instillation of 2% fluorescein; the percent area of the remaining epithelial defect was determined with a planimeter. No therapeutic benefit was demonstrated in the eyes treated with growth factor in either group of patients.
Effectiveness of Capital Controls in Selected Emerging Markets in the 2000s

This paper estimates the effectiveness of capital controls in response to inflow surges in Brazil, Colombia, Korea, and Thailand in the 2000s. Controls are generally associated with a decrease in inflows and a lengthening of maturities, but the relationship is not statistically significant in all cases, and the effects are temporary. Controls are more successful in providing room for monetary policy than dampening currency appreciation pressures. We argue that the macroeconomic impact of capital controls depends on the extensiveness of the policy, the level of capital market development, the support provided by other policies, and the persistence of capital flows.
Reverse Transfer: Experiences of International Chinese Students in Intensive English Programs

An increasing number of international Chinese undergraduate students enrolled in United States.colleges and universities in the past few years. Many began their journey in an intensive English program of a four-year university due to lack of English proficiency. Instead of continuing their study at the same institution, a considerable number of students transferred to community colleges for the language study. The purpose of this study was to explore the rational of these students reversely transferring from a four-year university to a community college and their learning experiences in both institutions. The findings of the study revealed both advantages and disadvantages of studying at each type of institution and provided recommendations to community colleges for better practice.
Atomic layer deposition for aligned growth of and conformal deposition onto double and triple walled carbon nanotubes

We present our work on the growth and functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). A significant challenge in the growth of aligned single, double and triple walled nanotubes is in the deposition of a controlled thickness catalyst layer. Conventional techniques using line of sight deposition such as sputtering and evaporation produce uniform catalyst layers only when extreme care is taken in the placement of flat substrates. Growth of aligned low wall number carbon nanotubes on contoured, complex geometry, or large surface area substrates is simply not technically feasible through these techniques. Using iron atomic layer deposition (ALD) with ferrocene and oxygen precursors for catalyst deposition circumvents the line of sight problems and allows for uniform coverage across almost all substrates. Furthermore the ALD technique allows for extremely accurate and reproducible thickness depositions. Using these ALD catalyst layers reproducible aligned arrays consisting of primarily double and triple wall CNTS can be fabricated. Conformal coatings onto high aspect ratio surfaces are particularly challenging. The walls of single carbon nanotubes in a nanotube array are inaccessible by line of sight techniques. ALD circumvents this problem by relying on a gas-surface reaction to initiate growth. Generally, growth of ALD films on CNTs results in beading of the deposited materials around CNT defects. This is particularly true of high surface energy materials. The number of nucleation sites and the onset of growth of Pt by ALD can be tuned by use of Ar plasma, O2 plasma and chemical functionalization.
Paleocene benthonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, paleobiogeography and paleoecology of Atlantic—Tethyan regions: Midway-type fauna

The stratigraphic, geographic and bathymetric distribution of some Paleocene benthonic foraminiferal assemblages have been studied in the Tethyan and circum-Atlantic regions within the framework of planktonic foraminiferal zones. Although some species appear to be restricted to either the Tethyan-European area or to the western Atlantic, the majority of species are amphi-Atlantic and Tethyan in distribution. The cosmopolitan distribution is attributed to more equitable climatic conditions (lower polar—equatorial thermal gradient) and warmer, more uniform thermal structure of the oceans and different paleogeographic and paleo-oceanographic conditions. Two main distinct depth-controlled benthonic foraminiferal assemblages (exclusive of the shallow-warm water Tethyan carbonate assemblage) have been recognized in the Paleocene. The continental shelf fauna, termed here the “Midway-type fauna” (MF) is characterized by species of Cibicidoides alleni (Plummer) = propria Brotzen, howelli (Toulmin), succedens (Brotzen), Anomalinoides [acuta (Plummer), midwayensis (Plummer)], Gavelinella [danica (Brotzen), neelyi (Jennings)], and Osangularia plummerae Brotzen, as well as various lagenids (nodosariids, lenticulinids, vaginulinids), polymorphinids and textulariids. A lower continental slope and abyssal plain fauna, termed here the “Velasco-type fauna” (VF), is characterized by, amongst others, Gavalinella [beccariiformis (White), rubiginosa (Cushman), velascoensis (Cushman)], Nuttallides truempy (Nuttall), Nuttallinella florealis (Cushman), velascoensisZ (Cushman)], (Cushman), Aragonia velascoensis (Cushman), nodosariids (N. velascoensis Cushman, Dentalina limbata d'Orbigny), various agglutinated forms [Gaudryina pyramidata Cushman, Tritaxia aspera (Cushman), Dorothia ex. gr. oxycona trinitatensis (Cushman and Renz)], and various gyroidinids and buliminids. Pleuriostomellids and stilostomellids are quantitatively rare and unimportant until the Middle—Late Eocene. This paper discusses the biostratigraphy and biogeography of the “Midway-type fauna”.
On the waterfront: Predictive and reactive regulatory descriptions of thirst and sodium appetite

The concepts of homeostasis and regulation are discussed and examples are given in which current regulatory models of ingestive behavior inadequately predict or explain the observed phenomena. The implications of this for the choice of experimental paradigms, and the interpretation of neurobiological data obtained therein, are discussed. Paradigms that allow the expression of behavioral strategies and learned responses may be biologically more relevant than the more popular but highly constrained "physiologic" paradigms.
Prometheus Bound? Indigenous Forces and Third-party State-building

The Promethean Dilemma claims to challenge the current wisdom on third-party state-building. It contends that contemporary policy-makers and scholars mistakenly identify the early transfer of coerc...
A Vanadate Hematoxylin Stain for Basic Proteins

Ammonium vanadate can act as both an oxidant and a mordant for hematoxylin. Lithium carbonate can remove vanadate hematoxylin from other structures so that only the most basic proteins are stained. Brief diazotization of the tissue sections restricts staining to the histone proteins of the nucleus.
A continuous-flow dialysis technique for large volumes.

Abstract A method is described, using inexpensive and readily available materials, for rapid continuous-flow dialysis of large volumes.
Effect of Pertussis Toxin on Susceptibility of Infant Rats to Haemophilus influenzae Type b

Pertussis toxin is an important virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis that may also contribute to the toxicity of pertussis vaccines. The effect of low doses of pertussis toxin on response to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection was examined in infant rats. Pretreatment of rats with 10 or 100 ng of pertussis toxin increased blood bacterial concentration (P less than .01), serum endotoxin levels (P less than .01), and mortality (P less than .05) relative to saline pretreated controls challenged with 4 x 10(3) Hib intraperitoneally. The 100-ng dose of pertussis toxin, but not the 10-ng dose, increased the leukocyte count. Thus, doses of pertussis toxin less than the threshold dose for inducing leukocytosis may enhance the susceptibility of infant rats to Hib infections.
The Monadic Democratic Puzzle and an ‘End of History' Partial Solution?

While analysts agree that democratic dyads are peaceful, they disagree about whether democratic states are more/less peaceful than autocracies. One reason for the disagreement is that we have not adequately taken into consideration the possibility that democracies, because they are democracies in a world that was once exclusively autocratic, have been more likely to fight certain types of autocracies. Empirically, it can be shown that major power democracies have been slightly more likely to engage in militarized disputes than autocracies and that they have also been more likely to become involved in disputes with autocratic rivals in particular while autocracies in general have been equally likely to quarrel with democratic or autocratic rivals. These and other findings suggest that we will not be able to assess fully the monadic effect of democracy on external conflict behavior until we have moved beyond the turbulent 20th century's emphasis on serial battles between democracies and old-fashioned, fascist, and communist autocracies, as manifested respectively in World Wars I and II and the Cold War.
Asymptotic evaluation of probability density functions for mean aerosol particle formation rates by homogeneous nucleation in turbulent gas jets

Mean aerosol particle formation rates resulting from homogeneous nucleation in turbulent gas jets are evaluated using a probability density function (pdf) for temperature and vapor concentration fluctuations in the gas phase. Nucleation rates are assumed to depend sensitively on the gas-phase conditions, allowing asymptotic analysis to be used for evaluating mean particle formation rates. The asymptotic analysis shows that to leading order, the overall shape of the pdf does not matter significantly when calculating mean particle formation rates. Instead, mean particle formation rates are essentially linearly proportional to the value of the pdf where an exponential term in the expression for particle nucleation rates is maximized. Homogeneous nucleation rates of particles in turbulent gas jets may thus potentially be controlled by suitable modifications of the value of the pdf only in the region of the pdf where particle nucleation rates are maximized. Asymptotic analyzes for mean particle formation rates compare favorably with results obtained using numerical integration.
Orientation Preferences of Pyrrole−Imidazole Polyamides in the Minor Groove of DNA

In order to determine whether there is an orientation preference of pyrrole−imidazole (Py−Im) polyamide dimers with respect to the 5‘−3‘ direction of the backbone in the DNA helix, equilibrium association constants (K_a) were determined for a series of six-ring hairpin polyamides which differ with respect to substitution at the N and C termini. Affinity cleaving experiments using hairpin polyamides of core sequence composition ImPyPy-γ-PyPyPy with an EDTA·Fe(II) moiety at the C-terminus reveal a single binding orientation at each formal match site, 5‘-(A,T)G(A,T)_3-3‘ and 5‘-(A,T)C(A,T)_3-3‘. A positive charge at the C-terminus and no substitution at the N-terminus imidazole affords the maximum binding orientation preference, calculated from K_a(5‘-TGTTA-3‘)/K_a(5‘-TCTTA-3‘), with the N-terminal end of each three-ring subunit located toward the 5‘ side of the target DNA strand. Removal of the positive charge, rearrangement of the positive charge to the N-terminus or substitution at the N-terminal imidazole decreases the orientation preference. These results suggest that second generation design principles superimposed on the simple pairing rules can further optimize the sequence-specificity of Py-Im polyamides for double helical DNA.
Genome-wide similarity search for transcription factors and their binding sites in a metal-reducing prokaryote Geobacter sulfurreducens

The knowledge obtained from understanding individual elements involved in gene regulation is important for reconstructing gene regulatory networks, a key for understanding cellular behavior. To study gene regulatory interactions in a model microorganism, Geobacter sulfurreducens, which participates in metal reduction and energy harvesting, we investigated the presence of 59 known Escherichia coli transcription factors and predicted transcription regulatory sites in its genome. The supplementary material, available at http://www.geobacter.org/research/genomescan/, provides the results of similarity comparisons that identified regulatory proteins of G. sulfurreducens and the genome locations of the predicted regulatory sites, including the list of putative regulatory elements in the upstream regions of every predicted operon and singleton open reading frame. Regulatory sequence elements, predicted using genome similarity searches to matrices of established transcription regulatory elements from E. coli, provide an initial insight into regulation of genes and operons in G. sulfurreducens. The predicted regulatory elements were predominantly located in the upstream regions of operons and singleton open reading frames. The validity of the predictions was examined using a permutation approach. Sequence similarity searches indicate that E. coli transcription factors ArgR, CytR, DeoR, FlhCD (both FlhC and FlhD subunits), FruR, GalR, GlpR, H-NS, LacI, MetJ, PurR, TrpR, and Tus are likely missing from G. sulfurreducens. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that one HU subunit is present in G. sulfurreducens as compared to two subunits in E. coli, while each of the two E. coli IHF subunits, HimA and HimD, have two homologs in G. sulfurreducens. The closest homolog of E. coli RpoE in G. sulfurreducens may be more similar to FecI than to RpoE. These findings represent the first step in the understanding of the regulatory relationships in G. sulfurreducens on the genome scale.