cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elementary particle physics from general relativity

This paper presents a qualitative comparison of opposing views of elementary matter—the Copenhagen approach in quantum mechanics and the theory of general relativity. It discusses in detail some of their main conceptual differences, when each theory is fully exploited as a theory of matter, and it indicates why each of these theories, at its presently accepted state, is incomplete without the other. But it is then argued on logical grounds that they cannot be fused, thus indicating the need for a third revolution in contemporary physics. Toward this goal, the approach discussed is one of further generalizing the theory of general relativity in a way that incorporates the inertial manifestations of matter in covariant fashion, with quantum mechanics serving as a low-energy, linear approximation. Such a theoretical extension of general relativity will be discussed, with applications in elementary particle physics, such as the appearance of mass spectra in the microdomain, as an asymptotic feature of matter, mass doublets (electron-muon and proton-heavy proton), the explanation of pair annihilation and creation from a deterministic field theory, charge quantization, and features of pions.
Inhibitors of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Synthases: Synthesis, Molecular Docking, and Implications

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthases (PhaCs) catalyze the formation of biodegradable PHAs that are considered to be ideal alternatives to non-biodegradable synthetic plastics. However, study of PhaCs has been challenging because the rate of PHA chain elongation is much faster than that of initiation. This difficulty, along with lack of a crystal structure, has become the main hurdle to understanding and engineering PhaCs for economical PHA production. Here we report the synthesis of two carbadethia CoA analogues—sT-CH2-CoA (26 a) and sTet-CH2-CoA (26 b)—as well as sT-aldehyde (saturated trimer aldehyde, 29), as new PhaC inhibitors. Study of these analogues with PhaECAv revealed that 26 a/b and 29 are competitive and mixed inhibitors, respectively. Both the CoA moiety and extension of PHA chain will increase binding affinity; this is consistent with our docking study. Estimation of the Kic values of 26 a and 26 b predicts that a CoA analogue incorporating an octameric hydroxybutanoate (HB) chain might facilitate the formation of a kinetically well-behaved synthase.
Polymeric surfactants in emulsion polymerization

The stabilizing efficiency of a variety of amphipathic copolymers was studied in aqueous emulsion polymerizations of styrene, methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile. Using the number, and size of the particles as the criterion of stability, it was found that the availability for anchoring of the backbone in the amphipathic graft copolymers was crucial for stability. Within a system, a change in the backbone chain length with the same percent hydrophilic grafts had no effect on the outcome of the reaction: the latices stabilized to the same number of particles of the same size. The results with the polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers as stabilizers in styrene polymerization gave indication that for efficient anchoring the block length need not be more than 10 monomeric units, and that a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with weight-average molecular weight Mw = 3000 is just as effective stabilizer as is a block with PEO of Mn = 9000.
Separation/divorce sexual assault: The current state of social scientific knowledge

Many contend that the logical solution to woman abuse in marriage/cohabitation is for women to exit through legal separation, divorce, or other means. However, a growing body of empirical work shows that separation or divorce does not necessarily solve the problem of woman abuse. For example, in addition to experiencing lethal or nonlethal forms of physical violence and psychological abuse, many women who try to leave, or who have left their male partners, are sexually assaulted. The main objective of this paper is to critically review the extant empirical and theoretical work on separation/divorcesexual assault. Suggestions for future research and theorizing are also provided.
Let Them Have Their Cell Phone (and Let Them Read to It Too): Technology, Writing Instruction and Textual Obsolescence

Cell phone ubiquity enables students to record and share audio file versions of their essays for proofreading purposes. Adopting this practice in community college developmental writing classes leads to an investigation of both writing as a technology and the influence of modern technology on composition and composition pedagogy.
Robust 24 ± 6 ka 40Ar/39Ar age of a low-potassium tholeiitic basalt in the Lassen region of NE California

Abstract 40Ar/39Ar ages on the Hat Creek Basalt (HCB) and stratigraphically related lava flows show that latest Pleistocene tholeiitic basalt with very low K2O can be dated reliably. The HCB underlies ∼ 15 ka glacial gravel and overlies four andesite and basaltic andesite lava flows that yield 40Ar/39Ar ages of 38 ± 7 ka (Cinder Butte; 1.65% K2O), 46 ± 7 ka (Sugarloaf Peak; 1.85% K2O), 67 ± 4 ka (Little Potato Butte; 1.42% K2O) and 77 ± 11 ka (Potato Butte; 1.62% K2O). Given these firm age brackets, we then dated the HCB directly. One sample (0.19% K2O) clearly failed the criteria for plateau-age interpretation, but the inverse isochron age of 26 ± 6 ka is seductively appealing. A second sample (0.17% K2O) yielded concordant plateau, integrated (total fusion), and inverse isochron ages of 26 ± 18, 30 ± 20 and 24 ± 6 ka, all within the time bracket determined by stratigraphic relations; the inverse isochron age of 24 ± 6 ka is preferred. As with all isotopically determined ages, confidence in the results is significantly enhanced when additional constraints imposed by other isotopic ages within a stratigraphic context are taken into account.
Assessment of skin wound healing with a multi-aperture camera

A clinical trial was conducted at the National Rehabilitation Hospital on 15 individuals to assess whether Rheparan Skin, a bio-engineered component of the extracellular matrix of the skin, is effective at promoting healing of a variety of wounds. Along with standard clinical outcome measures, a spectroscopic camera was used to assess the efficacy of Rheparan skin. Gauzes soaked with Rheparan skin were placed on volunteers wounds for 5 minutes twice weekly for four weeks. Images of the wounds were taken using a multi spectral camera and a digital camera at baseline and weekly thereafter. Spectral images collected at different wavelengths were used combined with optical skin models to quantify parameters of interest such as oxygen saturation (SO2), water content, and melanin concentration. A digital wound measurement system (VERG) was also used to measure the size of the wound. 9 of the 15 measured subjects showed a definitive improvement post treatment in the form of a decrease in wound area. 7 of these 9 individuals also showed an increase in oxygen saturation in the ulcerated area during the trial. A similar trend was seen in other metrics. Spectral imaging of skin wound can be a valuable tool to establish wound-healing trends and to clarify healing mechanisms.
The geochemistry and sedimentology of the surficial sediments of Lac St-Louis, St. Lawrence River

Abstract The particle-size distribution, geochemical composition and concentrations of metals and major elements were determined in radiodated cores collected from Lac St-Louis, St. Lawrence River. Sedimentation rates ranged from 0.5 to 0.8 cm year −1 in the northern part of the basin to as much as 8 cm year −1 in the south. The concentration profiles of the major elements and most of the metals showed a continuous input of geochemically similar material at all the sampling sites. The exceptions (Hg, Zn, Co, Cr) were attributed to input from local sources. Cores from sheltered areas showed a uniform particle-size distribution down the core, indicating continuous and uniform sedimentation; considerable variation in size occurred in one core from a site exposed to current and wave activity. In contrast to Great Lakes' sediments, cores showed no correlation between metal content and grain size, and no surface enrichment in organic carbon and manganese. The thin sediment cover, the coarse grain size of the sediments, and the wave and current energy available for transport suggest that the lake is mainly a conduit for suspended sediment rather than an important sediment sink.
ON SOME LAMINAR FORCED-CONVECTION PROBLEMS

The forced-convection problems in channels of fully developed laminar flow with heat sources and constant walltemperature gradient are approached by the method of complex variables. lt is shown that the stated problems are reduced to the determination of some analytic functions which satisfy the boundary conditions. Basic problems, including flows in equilateral triangular ducts and in elliptical tubes, are studied. It is shown that the cases of circular tubes and of parallel plates with a gap are directly deducible from that of elliptical tubes. All these solutions are expressed in closed forms by polynomials. (auth)
Americanized Catholicism? A Glance from the United States back toward Germany *

Thomas Schartl observes that many trends in the United States are adapted in Europe and especially in Germany, yet there remain categories that are incommensurable. What can appear to be an ideal pluralism in the United States can also be interpreted as “bubbles” that reveal a lack of interaction among various groups. Consumerism and individualism have an impact on even some US Catholic bishops, leading to actions that appear strange to a German observer, such as protesting President Obama's invitation to speak at Notre Dame and teaming up politically with conservative Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians. German Catholics need to safeguard the relationship between religion and reason. Dennis Doyle agrees with Schartl on the big picture but offers qualifications on specific points, noting especially the positive dimensions of Catholic interaction with Evangelicals and Pentecostals.
A Contract for Success? Attitudes About Professional Development Among News Directors and Producers

Professional development training is often cited by journalists as a way to improve skills and increase job satisfaction and employee retention, yet it's significantly underused in the field of broadcast journalism. This study contrasts the attitudes of news directors and producers - classic “knowledge workers” - toward professional development in commercial broadcast newsrooms. Results indicate there are significant differences in how news directors and local broadcast producers perceive the availability and value of professional development, how they view its importance to promotion, and whether they consider it a factor in job satisfaction. The results build on the theory of psychological contracts to examine how the availability of training can affect organizational commitment for highly-valued local broadcast producers.
Photoinduced electron transfer from π‐conjugated polymers onto Buckminsterfullerene, fulleroids, and methanofullerenes

We present near‐steady‐state photoinduced absorption (PIA), photoluminescence, and light‐induced electron spin resonance (LESR) studies on photoinduced electron transfer reactions from poly(bis‐2,5‐epi‐cholestanoxy‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene) (BeCHA‐PPV) as a donor to Buckminsterfullerene (C60) and a number of functionalized fullerenes as acceptors. We show that functionalized fullerenes with a solubilizing side chain linked to C60 in a [5,6] (fulleroid) or [6,6] (methanofullerene) fashion, are efficient electron acceptors towards BeCHA‐PPV, as evidenced from changes in the PIA, the efficient quenching of the photoluminescence, and the LESR spectra of BeCHA‐PPV cation and fullerene anion radicals. The increased miscibility of the functionalized fullerenes with the conjugated polymer as compared to C60, can be important for the preparation of future electrooptic devices, based on the photoinduced charge separation.
A Large-Grain Parallel Programming Environment for Non-Programmers

Banger is a parallel programming environment used by non-professional programmers to write explicitly parallel large-grain parallel programs. The goals of Banger are: 1. extreme ease of use, 2. immediate feedback, and 3. machine-independence. Banger is based on three principles: 1. separation of parallel programming-in-the-large from sequential programming-in-the-small, 2. separation of programming environment from target machine dependency, and 3. instant feedback to user wherever possible.
Carbides of group IVA, VA and VIA transition metals as alternative HER and ORR catalysts and support materials

High surface area nano dimensional carbides of nine transition metals in group IV–VI have been synthesized using a salt flux method. Uniformity was maintained throughout the investigation, from synthesis method to electrochemical tests, so that a comparison can be made for the various carbides for their catalytic activities towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Catalytic activities are dependent on synthesis method which determines the properties of the catalyst, and electrochemical conditions. Maintaining uniformity throughout the investigation allows for a more balanced comparison of a family of materials. Activity of all nine carbides show increased HER activity compared to bare glassy carbon working electrode. Mo2C, WC, and V8C7 show particularly enhanced HER activity. Similarly, Mo2C, Cr3C2, and V8C7 have significant ORR activities. Using a wet impregnation method, dispersed platinum nanoparticles ranging between 3 and 5 nm were successfully deposited on the carbides. The Pt deposited carbides have as much as three times higher HER activity and four times higher ORR activity compared to commercially available Pt/C catalyst, and show enhanced stability under fuel cell conditions.
The effect of equipment proximity on safe performance in a manufacturing setting.

We examined the effect of equipment proximity on the safe performance of 3 assembly workers in a manufacturing setting. After a baseline period in which protective eyewear was kept 6.1 m from employee workstations, task clarification was used to inform participants to wear their eyewear while they worked. Next, the eyewear was moved to 1.5 m from employee workstations. After a return to the 6.1-m condition, the eyewear was again positioned 1.5 m from workstations. Results indicate that task clarification alone was ineffective, but safe performance increased when eyewear was stored in close proximity to employees. A social validity measure suggested that safe performance among the employees increased to levels comparable to that of an exemplary employee.
A review and analysis of Fortran 8x

The ANSI Standards Subcommittee X3J3 on Fortran has recently completed a draft proposed standard for the Fortran programming language. The draft proposed standard, known informally as Fortran 8x, is a revision of the current standard X3.9-1978, known informally as Fortran 77. This report is a review of Fortran 8x and consists of a series of six articles. The first article gives a general overview of Fortran 8x. The next three articles give brief discussions of the array facilities; the enhanced numeric facilities; and user-defined data types, procedure interfaces, and the new program unit called a module. The fifth article provides a brief analysis of the controversial issues discussed by X3J3 (including both the accepted and rejected facilities for Fortran 8x). The sixth article gives a brief comparison with Ada. The report concludes with a summary giving information on how and where to express opinions of the draft proposed standard.
Effect of thematic order on the comprehension of Chinese relative clauses

This paper investigates the comprehension of relative clauses in Mandarin Chinese, where noun phrases are head-final and both an object-relative advantage and a subject-relative advantage have been previously reported. Two self-paced reading experiments are reported, suggesting that the comprehension of Chinese relative clauses is sensitive to the thematic role orders both in the relative clauses and in the preceding discourse context. Experiment 1 showed that the PATIENT-action-AGENT order of a passive sentence in the context did not facilitate either the action-PATIENT-AGENT order of a subject relative clause or the AGENT-action-PATIENT order of an object relative clause. Experiment 2 showed that only the canonical SVO sentence (not the bǎ sentence) in Mandarin Chinese, which had full thematic order overlap with the object relatives induced sustained faster reading times of an object relative clause. Taken together, these findings suggest that Chinese object relative clauses were read faster than subject relative clauses only when the preceding discourse contexts presented a thematic order consistent with these object relatives. The comprehension of Chinese relative clauses, therefore, is sensitive to the thematic order consistency between the discourse context and the relative clauses.
Translabial ultrasonography for evaluation of synthetic mesh in the vagina.

Objective To compare the clinical and surgical findings using translabial ultrasonography (US) in the evaluation of symptoms after transvaginal synthetic mesh placement. Methods From 2009 through 2010, a retrospective observational study was conducted to evaluate patients presenting with complaints after transvaginal mesh implantation for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse repair. The clinical and translabial US findings were compared with the intraoperative findings, with a focus on mesh location, erosion, and extrusion. Results A total of 51 consecutive patients (mean age 59 years) were evaluated by history and physical examination, translabial US, and intraoperative findings. Using intraoperative findings as the reference standard, translabial US was able to predict the location of the sling in relationship to the urethra (6 distal, 25 mid-urethral, and 20 at the bladder neck), to differentiate between transobturator (n = 21) and retropubic (n = 30) slings, and to detect all anterior (n = 21) and posterior (n = 15) placed mesh. Translabial US was superior to physical examination in identifying mesh erosion into the periurethral fascia or sphincteric unit. US was inferior to physical examination in diagnosing vaginal extrusion but was superior for locating the mesh. Conclusion Translabial US can identify the mesh material used to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. It provides additional information on sling type, mesh location, and morphology compared with the clinical findings and could help in surgical planning and counseling. Prospective clinical studies evaluating the reliability of this technique in larger patient populations are warranted.
The call control protocol in a separated call and bearer environment

The separation of call and bearer to support future teleservices and services in broadband networks is outlined in this paper. Various mechanisms to undertake the separation are overviewed and the method chosen by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is described in detail. A full protocol model for broadband access signalling is derived and explained from the basic steps leading through to the establishment of an association between end-points supporting call control information flows. The call control protocol, currently being developed to establish, maintain and clear a call with more than one connection, is outlined and illustrated by information flows.
Rethinking Cortical Organization Moving Away from Discrete Areas Arranged in Hierarchies

One way to understand the topography of the cerebral cortex is that "like attracts like." The cortex is organized to maximize nearest neighbor similarity. This principle can explain the separation of the cortex into discrete areas that emphasize different information domains. It can also explain the maps that form within cortical areas. However, because the cortex is two-dimensional, when a parameter space of much higher dimensionality is reduced onto the cortical sheet while optimizing nearest neighbor relationships, the result may lack an obvious global ordering into separate areas. Instead, the topography may consist of partial gradients, fractures, swirls, regions that resemble separate areas in some ways but not others, and in not a lack of topographic maps but an excess of maps overlaid on each other, no one of which seems to be entirely correct. Like a canvas in a gallery of modern art that no two observers interpret the same way, this lack of obvious ordering of high-dimensional spaces onto the cortex might then result in some scientific controversy over the true organization. In this review, the authors suggest that at least some sectors of the cortex do not have a simple global ordering and are better understood as a result of a reduction of a high-dimensional space onto the cortical sheet. The cortical motor system may be an example of this phenomenon. The authors discuss a model of the lateral motor cortex in which a reduction of many parameters onto a simulated cortical sheet results in a complex topographic pattern that matches the actual monkey motor cortex in surprising detail. Some of the ambiguities of topography and areal boundaries that have plagued the attempt to systematize the lateral motor cortex are explained by the model.
Logistic Regression of Inhalation Toxicities of Perchloroethylene - Application in Noncancer Risk Assessment

Unlike the impressive advancement of cancer risk assessment, the "cutoff approach" based on hazard quotient in noncancer risk assessments recommended by the EPA has crucial deficiencies. Several alternative approaches have been suggested in the literature to modify the noncancer risk characterization based on reference doses. Recent studies have indicated that the effects of perchloroethylene (PERC) on the central nervous system (CNS) is a much more sensitive noncancer endpoint than cancer which is currently the basis for deriving its public health criteria and standards. Studies indicate that 20 ppm of inhaled PERC concentration elicited adverse effects on the CNS in experimental animals and humans. However, the existing EPA oral reference dose (RfD), a noncancer toxicity parameter for PERC (0.01 mg/kg/day), is based on the induction of hepatotoxicity and increased body weight gain induced by PERC in rats. An attempt was made in this paper to examine whether logistic regression of dose-response data could be applied to assess the noncancer risks. In order to perform logistic regression the inhalation toxicity data of PERC were classified according to the severity of toxicity paradigm used in toxicity analysis. Based on the sensitive noncancer endpoints identified from severity classification, a logistic regression analysis of the data was performed and its potential applicability in noncancer risk characterization was described for workers exposure to PERC in dry-cleaning operations.
The Goodman-Kruskal coefficient and its applications in genetic diagnosis of cancer

Increasing interest in new pattern recognition methods has been motivated by bioinformatics research. The analysis of gene expression data originated from microarrays constitutes an important application area for classification algorithms and illustrates the need for identifying important predictors. We show that the Goodman-Kruskal coefficient can be used for constructing minimal classifiers for tabular data, and we give an algorithm that can construct such classifiers.
Orthogonal approach to the construction of the theory of generalized functions of infinitely many variables and the Poisson analysis of white noise

We develop an orthogonal approach to the construction of the theory of generalized functions of infinitely many variables (without using Jacobi fields) and apply it to the construction and investigation of the Poisson analysis of white noise.
Comparison of performance measures for intercept detectors

The performance of intercept detectors is generally analyzed using the Neyman-Pearson criterion, which evaluates the probability of detection, P/sub d/, as a function of input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at a particular probability of false alarm, P/sub fa/. While the Neyman-Pearson criterion closely represents typical system requirements, it is often difficult to evaluate, and obscures important effects in tradeoff analyses. Consequently other performance measures, such as output SNR or the deflection, are often used instead. While the output SNR is useful for evaluating and optimizing a particular detector class, it may be inappropriate when applied to different detector classes. This paper examines the output SNR and probability of detection, for three intercept detectors: the radiometer, the chip rate detector, and the carrier harmonic detector (frequency doubler). The analysis makes the following assumptions: a direct-sequence pseudo-noise spread spectrum signal of interest additive stationary white Gaussian-distributed noise background with fixed known power (i.e., no noise power uncertainty) known power spectral density of the signal of interest input SNR much less than unity observation time much greater than the chip duration. The analysis highlights the danger of blindly evaluating detector performance solely by output SNR. Specific examples are identified in which the radiometer's performance, using the Neyman-Pearson criterion, is inferior to that of the cyclostationary feature detectors operating at equal output SNR for the decision variable. >
Seipin performs dissectible functions in promoting lipid droplet biogenesis and regulating droplet morphology

Seipin is necessary for both adipogenesis and lipid droplet (LD) organization in nonadipose tissues; however, its molecular function is incompletely understood. Phenotypes in the seipin-null mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae include aberrant droplet morphology (endoplasmic reticulum–droplet clusters and size heterogeneity) and sensitivity of droplet size to changes in phospholipid synthesis. It has not been clear, however, whether seipin acts in initiation of droplet synthesis or at a later step. Here we utilize a system of de novo droplet formation to show that the absence of seipin results in a delay in droplet appearance with concomitant accumulation of neutral lipid in membranes. We also demonstrate that seipin is required for vectorial budding of droplets toward the cytoplasm. Furthermore, we find that the normal rate of droplet initiation depends on 14 amino acids at the amino terminus of seipin, deletion of which results in fewer, larger droplets that are consistent with a delay in initiation but are otherwise normal in morphology. Importantly, other functions of seipin, namely vectorial budding and resistance to inositol, are retained in this mutant. We conclude that seipin has dissectible roles in both promoting early LD initiation and in regulating LD morphology, supporting its importance in LD biogenesis.
Market-timing and agency costs: Evidence from private equity

Private equity (PE) funds operate at the interface of private and public capital markets. This paper investigates whether PE fund managers have private information about the valuations of publicly traded securities. Using a dataset of cash flows from 941 buyout and venture funds, I show that PE funds’ distribution patterns predict returns of public securities in the industries of the funds’ specialization, but fund managers tend to sell at the market peaks only when they have performance fees to harvest. I find that the cost of this agency tension increases in the manager’s survival risk. My tests distinguish market-timing from reactions to the variation in risk premia and spillover effects of PE activity on public firms. The results help better understand PE performance and have strong implications for PE manager selection. It follows that PE activity embeds private information into the prices of public securities.
Three-Dimensional CFD Analysis of Micro-tab in Airframe Noise Reduction

A three-dimensional numerical study is conducted to better understand noise reduction results seen in the previous two-dimensional investigation of the acoustic effects of micro-tab device on airframe noise reduction. Without sacrificing the aerodynamic performance, it is possible to achieve high-lift noise reduction with the application of the micro-tab device attached to the pressure side of the flap surface near its trailing-edge. This study was carried out by numerical hybrid method, which combines Computational Fluid Dynamics and acoustic analogy to predict the farfield noise spectrum. The near-full-scale computational results show that the micro-tab device with reduced deflection of the high-lift devices achieves noise reduction in mid-to-high frequency domain, in particular the range that human beings are most sensitive to. In addition, a parametric study in terms of geometric variation of the micro-tab was also investigated and reported. The threedimensional results obtained thus far show reduction in noise levels with use of micro-tab.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy use for the localized treatment of thyroid cancer: Nationwide practice patterns and outcomes

In the absence of randomized data, the optimal approach to adjuvant radiation therapy in locally advanced thyroid cancer remains unclear. We employed a large retrospective analysis to assess the best available evidence of a potential beneficial impact of intensity-modulated versus 3D-conformal radiotherapy (IMRT vs. 3D-CT). Retrospective analysis of adult thyroid cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2011 within the National Cancer Database. Among patients treated with radiation therapy (N = 855), the use of IMRT (N = 437) increased among both comprehensive and academic centers (both p < 0.001), but not community hospitals (p = 0.43). Receipt of IMRT was associated with adverse clinical factors in multivariable analysis, including positive surgical margins, non-DTC histologies, and nodal metastases (all p < 0.001). IMRT use was associated with a significantly higher dose of radiation (60.7 vs. 52.4 Gy, p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, receipt of IMRT demonstrated a trend toward improved overall survival (HR, 0.67; 95 % CI, 0.40–1.10; p = 0.115). This study presents the largest cohort to date examining receipt of IMRT in patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer and demonstrates an association between IMRT, treatment at a tertiary care center, higher total dose, and comparable or superior outcomes compared to patients treated with 3D conformal techniques despite more adverse disease features. In the absence of adequately powered prospective randomized trials, our retrospective analysis provides empirical evidence to support the use in these patients of dose escalation and IMRT, particularly at tertiary care centers.
BEARINGS-ONLY MEASUREMENTS FOR INS AIDING: THEORY FOR THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL CASE ⁄

The theory behind Inertial Navigation System (INS) aiding using passive, bearings-only measurements of an unknown landmark is developed. Previous research showed that passive, bearings-only measurements provide an eective means to aid an INS, but only the two-dimensional case was considered. This paper addresses the complexities of moving from two-dimensional to three-dimensional space. Passive, bearings-only measurements of an unknown ground object are shown to yield estimates of the aircraft’s angle of attack and sideslip angle, which in turn are used to aid the INS. The algorithm that forms the basis for INS aiding in three-dimensional space using passive, bearings-only measurements of an unknown ground object is derived.
Cardiac Electrophysiology and the Egg

The application of quantitative (engineering) methods in electrophysiology is extensive; its early history developed with studies on the heart. As an electrical generator the heart can be approximated by a single dipole (with varying magnitude and orientation through the cardiac cycle). Its signal strength is considerably larger than that from other bioelectric sources; body surface signals of around 5 mV are typical. So, the model simplicity, the relative ease of measurement, and the recognized importance of heart disease as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the western world attracted the early attention of (quantitative) physiologists, engineers, physicists, and mathematicians. In fact, this interest continues to drive the cutting-edge research today based on increasingly complex and accurate electrophysiological models. This chapter is designed to introduce the reader to the underlying fundamentals.
Rates of Magma Ascent and Storage

Abstract The manner in which a volcano erupts is largely controlled by the rate of magma ascent and the geometry of the volcanic conduit connecting the volcanic vent at the surface to the magma reservoir region in the shallow crust. Factors influencing the rate in which magma ascends to the surface during eruptions include both physical and chemical properties of the magma, such as its temperature, composition, volatile budget, and crystallinity, all of which affect its viscosity and density, as well as the permeability of the conduit walls. This chapter offers a summary of different techniques used to examine and constrain the rates of magmatic processes that occur in shallow crustal reservoirs as well as in conduits while magma ascends to the surface during eruption. Whereas compositional zoning patterns in phenocrysts and diffusion modeling indicate that relatively short-lived magmatic processes like magma mixing occur over timescales of 10 0 –10 2 days, processes like magma assimilation and crystal-melt fractionation persist for 10 3 –10 6 years based on studies that utilized radioactive isotopes from whole-rock or mineral separates. Thus, such timescales must also be required for the accumulation and storage of magma in the shallow crust, particularly in the case of silicic magmas emplaced as a result of voluminous caldera-forming eruptions. Techniques aimed at understanding syneruptive magma ascent involve magma extrusion rate studies as well as experimentally replicating a variety of decompression-induced mineral-melt reactions, such as bubbles, microlites, and reaction rims. Results from these studies suggest a general relationship between magma ascent rates in excess of ∼0.2 m/s and explosive eruptions. Moreover, magma ascent rates appear to be relatively consistent over a wide range of magma compositions.
Impact of Processing Temperature and Composition on the Formation of Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskites

A delicate control of the stoichiometry, crystallographic phase, and grain structure of the photoactive material is typically required to fabricate high-performance photovoltaic (PV) devices. Organo-metal halide perovskite materials, however, exhibit a large degree of tolerance in synthesis and can be fabricated into high efficiency devices by a variety of different vacuum and solution-based processes, with a wide range of precursor ratios. This suggests that the phase field for the desired material is wider than expected or that high device efficiency may be achieved with a range of phases. Here, we investigate the structural and optical properties of the materials formed when a range of compositions of methylammonium iodide (MAI) and lead iodide (PbI2) were reacted at temperatures from 40 to 190 °C. The reactions were performed according to a commonly employed synthetic approach for high efficiency PV devices, and the data was analyzed to construct a pseudobinary, temperature-dependent, phase-compositio...
Portfolio Similarity and International Development Aid

How do governments distribute their foreign aid resources across international development organizations (IDO)? We argue that governments’ distributional choices across IDOs derive from their attempt to minimize the costs of delegation and to pursue their own interests in foreign aid policy. Governments make decisions about the allocation of resources across a large number of IDOs, and they delegate their scarce aid resources to IDOs that pursue development policies in line with their own foreign development interests. We use data on the financial contributions of 22 OECD governments to 12 IDOs from 1970 to 2008 to test our argument. We find strong support for our claims. Governments regularly contribute to a large number of IDOs, and they tend to delegate more resources to IDOs that provide higher levels of portfolio similarity. The findings suggest that governments can benefit from the increasing complexity of the system of international organizations. It allows them to minimize the loss of control they experience when delegating sovereignty to international organizations.
Increasing the GluN2A/GluN2B Ratio in Neurons of the Mouse Basal and Lateral Amygdala Inhibits the Modification of an Existing Fear Memory Trace.

Reconsolidation updating is a form of memory modification in which an existing memory can become destabilized upon retrieval and subsequently be modified via protein-synthesis-dependent reconsolidation. However, not all memories appear to destabilize upon retrieval and thus are not modifiable via reconsolidation updating approaches and the neurobiological basis for this remains poorly understood. Here, we report that auditory fear memories created with 10 tone–shock pairings are resistant to retrieval-dependent memory destabilization and are associated with an increase in the synaptic GluN2A/GluN2B ratio in neurons of the basal and lateral amygdala (BLA) compared with weaker fear memories created via one or three tone–shock pairings. To increase the GluN2A/GluN2B ratio after learning, we generated a line of mice that expresses an inducible and doxycycline-dependent GFP-GluN2A transgene specifically in α-CaMKII-positive neurons. Our findings indicate that increasing the GluN2A/GluN2B ratio in BLA α-CaMKII-positive neurons after a weak fear memory has consolidated inhibits retrieval-dependent memory destabilization and modification of the fear memory trace. This was associated with a reduction in retrieval-dependent AMPA receptor trafficking, as evidenced by a reduction in retrieval-dependent phosphorylation of GluR1 at serine-845. In addition, we determined that increasing the GluN2A/GluN2B ratio before fear learning significantly impaired long term memory consolidation, whereas short-term memory remained unaltered. An increase in the GluN2A/GluN2B ratio after fear learning had no influence on fear extinction or expression. Our results underscore the importance of NMDAR subunit composition for memory destabilization and suggest a mechanism for why some memories are resistant to modification. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Memory modification using reconsolidation updating is being examined as one of the potential treatment approaches for attenuating maladaptive memories associated with emotional disorders. However, studies have shown that, whereas weak memories can be modified using reconsolidation updating, strong memories can be resistant to this approach. Therefore, treatments targeting the reconsolidation process are unlikely to be clinically effective unless methods are devised to enhance retrieval-dependent memory destabilization. Currently, little is known about the cellular and molecular events that influence the induction of reconsolidation updating. Here, we determined that an increase in the GluN2A/GluN2B ratio interferes with retrieval-dependent memory destabilization and inhibits the initiation of reconsolidation updating.
Trabajar con la historia del Holocausto

This article displays a kaleidoscopic narrative to shed light on the history of the Holocaust. How strongly do historians of the Holocaust and the genocide relate themselves with the individuals they are writing about? Do they assume those individuals’ histories as their own in order to understand them? This paper revolves around the history of the Holocaust viewed from a new standpoint, as the author shares with utter intellectual rigor and commitment how her field-work interviewing Holocaust victims and survivors has had a direct impact on her daily life. Here, the specificity of the issue and the always complex bonds among the historical episode, subjectivity, and the researcher view are intertwined.
Linking Internal Dissipation Mechanisms to the Effective Complex Viscoelastic Moduli of Ferroelectrics

Microstructural mechanisms such as domain switching in ferroelectric ceramics dissipate energy, the nature, and extent of which are of significant interest for two reasons. First, dissipative internal processes lead to hysteretic behavior at the macroscale (e.g., the hysteresis of polarization versus electric field in ferroelectrics). Second, mechanisms of internal friction determine the viscoelastic behavior of the material under small-amplitude vibrations. Although experimental techniques and constitutive models exist for both phenomena, there is a strong disconnect and, in particular, no advantageous strategy to link both for improved physics-based kinetic models for multifunctional rheological materials. Here, we present a theoretical approach that relates inelastic constitutive models to frequency-dependent viscoelastic parameters by linearizing the kinetic relations for the internal variables. This enables us to gain qualitative and quantitative experimental validation of the kinetics of internal processes for both quasistatic microstructure evolution and high-frequency damping. We first present the simple example of the generalized Maxwell model and then proceed to the case of ferroelectric ceramics for which we predict the viscoelastic response during domain switching and compare to experimental data. This strategy identifies the relations between microstructural kinetics and viscoelastic properties. The approach is general in that it can be applied to other rheological materials with microstructure evolution.
A Novel Metric to Quantify and Enable Resilient Distribution System Using Graph Theory and Choquet Integral

Network operators and utilities are challenged with increasing extreme weather conditions, resulting in interrupted power supply to critical loads. Resiliency metrics, which can capture the level of preparedness to resist adverse impact of extreme conditions on a distribution system, can be leveraged in multiple ways to provide better operation of the network and design of the future systems. In this paper, a methodology to quantify resiliency and maintain power supply to critical loads (CLs) during extreme contingencies has been proposed. Resiliency evaluation of power distribution system has been defined as a multi-criteria decision making problem and quantified using graph theoretic approach and Choquet integral. The algorithm proposed in this paper to calculate the resiliency for all feasible network configurations supplying CLs in a network is useful in planning as well as operation of the distribution network. The application of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through several case studies using two proximal CERTS microgrids and IEEE 123 node distribution system. Simulation studies are also provided for planning of resilient network, by placing additional switches in the considered distribution systems with microgrid.
Histologic Classification of High-Grade Gliomas

High-grade gliomas (HGG), as a group, are the most common primary neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS). Historically, and to a great extent currently, morphologic classification has and does dictate treatment. This chapter reviews the pathologic features and grading parameters for high-grade astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, mixed gliomas, and ependymomas. The histologic subtypes of glioblastoma multiforme and the affects of radiotherapy on gliomas will be discussed. The potential role for cell proliferation markers (Ki-67, MIB-1) in evaluating HGGs will be examined.
Utilizing an NG 9-1-1 Test Lab to Validate Standards Compliance

When implementing a state-wide NG 9-1-1 system, how do you ensure standards compliance? Which standards are relevant? How would you establish a lab environment to test NG 9-1-1 interoperability? The objective of this article is to examine these questions and others. To answer these questions, we established an NG 9-1-1 test lab, developed test scenarios and tested against a subset of NG 9-1-1 functional requirements.
Asynchronous Distributed Algorithms for Solving Linear Algebraic Equations

Two asynchronous distributed algorithms are presented for solving a linear equation of the form $Ax=b$ with at least one solution. The equation is simultaneously and asynchronously solved by $m$ agents assuming that each agent knows only a subset of the rows of the partitioned matrix $[A\ \ b]$ , the estimates of the equation's solution generated by its neighbors, and nothing more. Neighbor relationships are characterized by a time-dependent directed graph whose vertices correspond to agents and whose arcs depict neighbor relationships. Each agent recursively updates its estimate of a solution at its own event times by utilizing estimates generated by its neighbors which are transmitted with delays. The event time sequences of different agents are not assumed to be synchronized. It is shown that for any matrix-vector pair $(A, b)$ for which the equation has a solution and any repeatedly jointly strongly connected sequence of neighbor graphs defined on the merged sequence of all agents’ event times, the algorithms cause all agents’ estimates to converge exponentially fast to the same solution to $Ax=b$ . The first algorithm requires a specific initialization step at each agent, and the second algorithm works for arbitrary initializations. Explicit expressions for convergence rates are provided, and a relation between local initializations and limiting consensus solutions is established, which is used to solve the least 2-norm solution.