cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of Y-chromosomal and autosomal gene(s) in the development of intermale aggression in mice.

It has been suggested that the Y chromosome of DBA/1BBg mice makes an incremental contribution to their aggressive behavior and to that of the C57BL/10 ♀×DBA/1 ♂ F 1 hybrids. To test this hypothesis, a congenic stock of C57BL/10 with the DBA/1 Y chromosome was developed by the backcross system of breeding; the stock is designated C57BL/10-Y 1 . There were no significant differences in aggressive behavior between the congenic C57BL/10 and C57BL/10-Y 1 . However, the hybrid B10D1 F 1 and D1B10-Y 1 F 1 had identical aggression scores, and both of these were more aggressive than the hybrid D1B10 F 1 . These findings support the hypothesis that there is an interaction between DBA/1 Y chromosomes and autosomes in the development of intermale aggression of these mice.
Development and validation of a broad scheme for prediction of HLA class II restricted T cell epitopes

Computational prediction of HLA class II restricted T cell epitopes has great significance in many immunological studies including vaccine discovery. With the development of novel bioinformatics approaches, prediction of HLA class II binding has improved significantly but a strategy to predict the most dominant HLA class II epitopes has not been defined. Using different sets of peptides from various allergen and bacterial antigens and HLA class II binding prediction tools from the IEDB, we have designed a strategy to predict the top epitopes from any antigen. We found that the top 21% of 15-mer peptides overlapping by 10 residues (based on the predicted binding to seven DRB1 and DRB3/4/5 alleles) capture 50% of the immune response. This corresponded to an IEDB consensus percentile rank of 19.82 which could be used as a universal prediction threshold.
The region of overlapping commutation of thyristors in a series inverter circuit

The paper presents the results of theoretical analysis as well as numerical calculations of the maximum output frequency in a serie9 inverter working with overlapping commutation of the thyristors. The changes from natural or critical thyristor commutation to overlapping commutation were fast. The region of overlapping commutation is limited by new extreme curves which are dependent on the type of load as well as on the mutual coupling value between the two commutation inductors. Resonance shaping load-current edges have also been considered in this paper.
Galactosemia: screening and diagnosis

Galactose is normally metabolized to glucose through the coordinated activities of three enzymes: galactokinase, galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT), and uridine diphospho-glucose 4-epimerase (epimerase). High concentrations of galactose and their metabolites are toxic to mammals. Hereditary deficiencies of galactokinase and of GALT and perhaps rarely of epimerase cause clinical disorders that can be prevented by early recognition and institution of a galactose-free diet. The genetics of disorders of galactose metabolisms and the methods used currently for their detection are reviewed. Future prospects in the diagnosis of these disorders are discussed.
Immunobiology of induced testis tumor.

Abstract Teratocareinoma of the testis has been induced in the syngeneic mouse system by transplantation of embryonic genital ridges into the testes of adult mice. The regional lymph nodes of tumor-bearing animals were found to be enlarged and hyperplastic but free of tumor cells four weeks after tumor induction. The lymphocytes obtained from these lymph nodes are capable of inducing immunity against the induction of tumor when injected into a group of adult syngeneic mice. The tumor-associated antigen and in vitro cytotoxieity are being studied in our laboratory.
EXTENT AND LONGEVITY OF THE SEMINAL ROOTS OF CERTAIN GRASSES.

Grasses possess two distinct root systems. The primary or seminal root system begins development immediately upon the germination of the seed and consists of one to several main roots and their branches, the number varying with the species. The young plant is entirely dependent upon this primary root system for water and soil nutrients. Later, especially during the period of tiller production, a secondary or nodal root system develops from the lower nodes of the parent culm and from the tillers. The seminal roots are often designated as temporary in general texts and even in special books on grasses. Hitchcock (1) states: "The primary root persists only a short time after germination, its place being taken by secondary roots produced from the nodes of the young culm." It has been observed by Locke and Clark (5) that where extremely dry surface soil or soil drying or crusting prevented normal development of nodal roots, the seminal roots furnished sufficient moisture to maintain the growth of the wheat plant to maturity. Weaver, Jean, and Crist (13), after numerous investigations on the root systems of several cereal crops, concluded that the seminal roots remain alive and active until the time of harvest. Simmonds and Sallans (12) found that the wheat plant may produce seed when dependent almost entirely upon the seminal roots. Simmonds (ll) states that the seminal roots of wheat remain functional throughout the entire life of the plant. Records on absorption of water and salts from water cultures by Krassovsky (3) have shown that the seminal roots of wheat, barley, and rye are active up to the time of harvest. These findings were later confirmed by plants grown in soil (4). Pavlychenko (9) states that in the several annual grasses studied in arid climates, seminal roots functioned throughout the entire growing season and were frequently the only roots supporting the plant from emergence to maturity. Studies on seminal roots of perennial grasses, however, are very few, and usually mention of their development is only incidental. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the extent of their development among perennial grasses ; how long they remain alive and functional after the secondary root system is established and how much growth grasses can make when supported by the seminal roots alone.
Effects of mathematical word problem solving by students at risk or with mild disabilities

The differential effects of 2 instructional strategies, an explicit schema-based strategy and a traditional basal strategy, on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of mathematical word problem solving were examined. Thirty-four elementary-aged students with mild disabilities or at risk for mathematics failure were randomly assigned to each of the 2 treatment conditions (schema and traditional). Results indicated that both groups' performance increased from the pretest to the posttest. All students were able to maintain their use of word problem-solving skills and generalized the strategy effects to novel word problems. However, the differences between groups on the posttest, delayed posttest, and generalization test were statistically significant, favoring the schema group. In addition, scores on the immediate posttest (77% correct) and delayed posttest (81% correct) for the schema group approached those of a normative sample of 3rd graders (M = 82% correct).
Effect of annealing on ZnO nanowires grown at low temperature

Our research demonstrates that thermal and pulsed laser annealing improve the structural and optical properties of ZnO nanowire films grown electrochemically from aqueous electrolytes at a temperature below 90° C. The structural and optical properties of the grown ZnO nanowires were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and by their photo- and electroluminescence. Our results indicate that the as-grown nanowire structures have considerable internal lattice strain. However, moderate thermal annealing and laser annealing induce strain relaxation, considerably improving optical and electrical properties, and thereby allowing the fabrication of devices, such as solar cells and light emitting diodes.
Requirements gathering for assistive technology that includes low vision and sighted users

Accessibility often concerns compatibility with third-party software in order to meet the needs of users who are disabled. The AccessLecture project seeks to transform the Apple iPad into a tool to make Math and Science class more accessible to visually impaired students. Accessing lecture material during lecture is a challenge to low vision students, in terms of the limited options that can be costly or can allow access only upon the completion of the lecture. This paper presents the techniques used to help the team gather the needs and tasks of math/science instructors and visually impaired students. The analysis of the environment, user groups and the tasks related to the course lecture were modeled in order to ascertain domain knowledge and to specify the system's requirements.
Terbium-sensitised luminescence screening method for fluoroquinolones in beef serum

Enrofloxacin and danofloxacin are the only fluoroquinolone antibiotics approved for use in cattle in the United States. Microbial screening methods commonly used for monitoring veterinary drug residues are not sensitive or selective for fluoroquinolones. In this work, a luminescence-based screening assay was developed to detect fluoroquinolones in beef serum. This approach takes advantage of the DNA-enhanced luminescence signal of a fluoroquinolone–Tb+3 complex. In this method, serum samples were extracted with acidified acetonitrile in the presence of magnesium sulfate. After centrifugation, evaporation of the supernatant was followed by dissolution of the residue in buffer and filtration. Addition of Tb+3 and DNA then allowed a reading of the luminescence signal. The technique was illustrated using enrofloxacin, and provided good recoveries (73–88%) at 25, 50 and 100 ng ml−1, with reasonable RSDs averaging at 11%. The LOD was 2.5 ng ml−1 based on the variability of response of control serum samples from...
Linear Dimensional Changes in Elastic Impression Materials

Four classes of elastomeric impression materials (polysulfide, polyether, silicone, and agar-agar) were evaluated on the basis of linear dimensional stability as a function of time between taking and pouring an impression of mounted teeth. Four polysulfide materials produced dies which were larger than the teeth and generally increased in size with impression storage time. One silicone material produced dies slightly smaller than the teeth, and the dies from another silicone were dramatically smaller with increasing storage times. A polyether material produced slightly smaller dies for up to four hours' storage time, then increasingly larger dies up to 24 h. The dies from a reversible hydrocolloid were larger than the teeth for storage times up to 30 min, and then decreased rapidly at longer times.
Effects of delayed retention on multiple-choice test performance

Abstract In two experiments, immediate feedback defined as feedback following the completion of a 40-item multiple-choice test and delayed feedback (received 48 hr later) were examined in a simulated classroom situation with college students. As defined, delayed feedback was not superior to immediate feedback, as would be predicted by the delayed retention effect. Also, feedback in the form of correct answer only was superior to correct answer plus distractors lending partial support to the frequency theory of recognition memory. In addition to not finding the delayed retention effect, an analysis of errors in experiment two did not support the interference—perseveration hypothesis as an explanation for the type of error committed following immediate feedback.
Structure and band-gap design of a new series of light-emitting poly (cyanofluorene-alt-o/m/p-phenylenevinylene ) -based copolymers for light-emitting diodes

A new series of 2,2‘-(9,9-dioctyl-9H-fluorene-2,7-diyl)diacetonitrile-based alternating polyfluorene copolymers (P12-FL, P13-FL, P14-FL) containing ortho-, meta-, and para-substituted phenylene derivatives have been designed, synthesized, and characterized. These polymers were synthesized using a Knoevenagel condensation polymerization reaction and were found to be predominantly in the trans configuration. The resulting polymers were found to be thermally stable and readily soluble in common organic solvents. The structural, configurational, and conformational changes in the backbone caused a wide variation in the absorption and emission maxima of the polymers. The fabricated light-emitting devices showed very good performance in terms of turn-on voltage, electroluminescence, and lifetime properties.
HDAC8 substrates: Histones and beyond†

The lysine deacetylase family of enzymes (HDACs) was first demonstrated to catalyze deacetylation of acetyllysine residues on histones. In subsequent years, HDACs have been shown to recognize a large pool of acetylated nonhistone proteins as substrates. Recently, thousands of acetylated proteins have been discovered, yet in most cases, the HDAC that catalyzes deacetylation in vivo has not been identified. This gap has created the need for better in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches for determining HDAC substrates. While HDAC8 is the best kinetically and structurally characterized HDAC, few efficient substrates have yet been substantiated in vivo. In this review, we delineate factors that may be important for determining HDAC8 substrate recognition and catalytic activity, including structure, complex formation, and post-translational modifications. This summary provides insight into the challenges of identifying in vivo substrates for HDAC8, and provides a good vantage point for understanding the variables important for predicting HDAC substrate recognition.
New high dielectric constant materials: Micro/nanocomposites of suspended Au clusters in SiO2/SiO2Al2O3Li2O gels and relevant theory for high capacitance applications

Abstract We have materials-designed, synthesized, processed, tested, and interpreted a micro/nanocomposite material consisting of a suspension of gold clusters in an insulating matrix, aimed at producing a high-dielectric constant (>200) high-breakdown-voltage capacitor. The resulting suspension utilizes SiO 2 or a reacted form of SiO 2 Al 2 O 3 Li 2 O as the insulating matrix, and was prepared by the sol-gel technique. The scientific approach employs the percolation theory expectation that at a critical topology of small metal elongated clusters amidst a ceramic or other insulating matrix, the dielectric constant of the resulting materials will reach a peak value as a function of spatial geometric loci. Our theoretical work indicates that the metal clusters should be optimally of atomic dimensions and approximately 100–300 A apart. The metal islands must be ellipsoidal-like (or elongated globules or flocculates) to establish a dipole moment (that will be summed over the sample volume). High resolution microscope studies reveal that the gold clusters are observed to take on the general shape of truncated octahedra, which indeed are appropriate for having a polarization vector (charge separation) due to an impressed electric field. From electron spectroscopy chemical analysis there exists indication that some of the clusters appear to be in a charged state. Dielectric constant measurements from 1 to 10 kHz have shown an average dielectric constant of 5000 in the AuSiO 2 gel sample over a wide temperature range of −100 to +100 °C, and a dielectric constant of 364–986 (with consideration for porosity) in the AuSiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 /Li 2 O produced from Eucryptite (LiAlSiO 4 ).
Choosing a Publication Venue.

The choice of a venue for publication of a manuscript is rarely a clear-cut decision. Several factors should be considered in this decision, such as the audience for whom you are writing, the topic of the manuscript, the purposes for which you are writing, and the journal guidelines. These factors may vary in importance to the author. Examining each factor and plotting the importance visually on a checklist will assist the author in making the decision about where a manuscript should be submitted so that the article will have the desired impact.
Using Bayesian belief networks to identify potential compatibilities and conflicts between development and landscape conservation

Experts with different land use interests often use differing definitions of land suitability that can result in competing land use decisions. We use Bayesian belief networks linked to GIS data layers to integrate empirical data and expert knowledge from two different land use interests (development and conservation) in Maine's Lower Penobscot River Watershed. Using ground locations and digital orthoquads, we determined the overall accuracy of the resulting development and conservation suitability maps to be 82% and 89%, respectively. Overlay of the two maps show large areas of land suitable for both conservation protection and economic development and provide multiple options for mitigating potential conflict among these competing land users. The modeling process can be adapted to help prioritize and choose among different alternatives as new information becomes available, or as land use and land-use policies change. The current model structure provides a maximal coverage strategy that allows decision makers to target and prioritize several areas for protection or development and to set specific strategies in the face of changing ecological, social, or economic processes. Having multiple options can generate new hypotheses and decisions at more local scales or for more specific conservation purposes not yet identified by stakeholders and decision makers in the region. Subsequently, new models can be developed using the same process, but with higher resolution data, thereby helping a community evaluate the impacts of alternative land uses between different prioritized areas at finer scales.
Evaluation of FloSeal as a Potential Intracavitary Hemostatic Agent

Abstract : Background: Noncompressible hemorrhage is a major cause of death in combat and civilian trauma. When surgery is unavailable, one potential solution to such hemorrhage might be the introduction of an agent into the closed body cavity to provide hemostasis via a combination of coagulative and tamponade effects. FloSeal is an agent containing collagen and thrombin with proven hemostatic efficacy when applied with manual pressure to a bleeding site. The current studies were conducted to analyze the ability of FloSeal to reduce blood loss and increase survival time when applied directly, immediately, and without additional pressure to a severe liver injury in rats. Methods: Male rats were anesthetized and catheters were placed in the carotid artery (for measurement of blood pressure) and jugular vein (for resuscitation with lactated Ringers, 3.3 mL/min/kg BW). After midventral laparotomy, the liver was exposed and caudal portions of both medial lobes ( 1% of body weight) were rapidly excised. FloSeal (5 mL, 800 units Thrombin/mL) or vehicle (5 mL, 0.9% NaCl) was directly and immediately applied to the cut liver surface. The abdominal cavity was closed and resuscitation initiated. After hemorrhage-induced death, or after euthanasia at 90 minutes, fluid loss (blood resuscitation fluid) was measured. Results: Compared with the control group, direct and immediate application of FloSeal was associated with a reduction in the amounts of fluid lost into the abdominal cavity (p less than 0.01) (19.2 + or - 1.5 versus 25.1 + or - 1.5 g) and enhanced mean arterial pressure at 5, 20, and 30 minutes after injury ( p = 0.02), but neither survival time ( p = 0.12) nor percent survival ( p = 0.17) differed between treated and control groups.
To make the punishment fit the crime: The theory and statistical estimation of a multi-period optimal deterrence model

Throughout history, those charged with deterring socially harmful conduct, and punishing it when it occurred, have grappled with the problem immortalized by the Mikado, devising a punishment to "fit the cr ime." Since Becker (1968) tackled the issue from an economic point of view, it has received considerable attention in the literature. Landes and Posner (1975), Polinsky and Shavell (!979), and Keenan and Rubin (1982), for example, have all discussed the question of how anti-social conduct can be deterred while avoiding "overdeterrence" of conduct whose benefits outweigh its costs. However, all writers have approached the problem using the same one-period model used by Becker. In such a single-period context, the penalty should be set equal to the value of the social injury divided by the probability of catching and penalizing the violator. In spite of its ubiquity, however, this model has both theoretical and practical shortcomings. The conceptual problem is that a one-period model is unrealistic for many types of infractions that continue over multiple periods until the violator is caught. Examples are violations of consumer protection regulations, of health and safety standards of the OSHA, of pollution control standards set by the EPA, and some crimes. Furthermore, for some of these multi-period infractions, the instantaneous probability of detection may change over time. For example, some regulatory violations are detected based on complaints. The likelihood that a firm will be investigated is positively related to the cumulative number of complaints in its file, and therefore increases each year the violation and complaints continue. A penalty based on dividing injury by "the" probability of detection makes no
Interrupting Hate Through Literacy Performance

Blackburn's (2012) recent book invites readers to consider literacy as a tool for engaging lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth and their allies in the service of fostering a positive school climate. Her use of concrete examples, learned experiences from facilitating diverse literary performances, and insightful assimilation of relevant literature all result in an informative, engaging, and inspiring text.
Indian music and the West

Acknowledgements Note on Transliteration Introduction 1. 'Wild by pleasing when understood.' Europeans and Indian music in the late eighteenth century 2. 'In short, almost everything Oriental appears to better advantage in European garb.' Indian music, notation, and nationalism in the nineteenth century 3. 'My naive heart...' Indian music in Western popular song 4. 'This talking machine is the marvel of the twentieth century.' The gramophone comes to India 5. 'Pomegranates with fingerboards added.' Three journeys to the West 6. 'We'll be able to get plastic sitars in our cornflakes soon.' Indian music in popular music and jazz 7. 'Listen to the story of an Asian man.' World Music and South Asian music in the West Appendix : Selected discography for chapters 6 and 7 List of Sources and Bibliography Index
On the conjugate point condition for the control problem

Abstract In this paper the conjugate point condition in the classical calculus of variations is derived from a control-theoretic point of view. The relationship of conjugate point condition to relative minimum in optimal control problem is discussed.
5-Azido-2-aminopyridine, a new nitrene/nitrenium ion photoaffinity labeling agent that exhibits reversible intersystem crossing between singlet and triplet nitrenes.

The photochemistry of a new photoaffinity labeling (PAL) agent, 5-azido-2-(N,N-diethylamino)pyridine, was studied in aprotic and protic solvents using femtosecond-to-microsecond transient absorption and product analysis, in conjunction with ab initio multiconfigurational and multireference quantum chemical calculations. The excited singlet S1 state is spectroscopically dark, whereas photoexcitation to higher-lying singlet excited S2 and S3 states drives the photochemical reaction toward a barrierless ultrafast relaxation path via two conical intersections to S1, where N2 elimination leads to the formation of the closed-shell singlet nitrene. The singlet nitrene undergoes intersystem crossing (ISC) to the triplet nitrene in aprotic and protic solvents as well as protonation to form the nitrenium ion. The ISC rate constants in aprotic solvents increase with solvent polarity, displaying a “direct” gap effect, whereas an “inverse” gap effect is observed in protic solvents. Transient absorption actinometry exp...
Incorporating Environmental Justice Measures into Equilibrium-Based Network Design:

A new variation of the user equilibrium-discrete network design problem (UE-DNDP) is proposed for achieving environmental justice (EJ) or equity among population groups. This research is motivated by the federal requirement that transportation plans using federal money include an evaluation of EJ and that the planning agency mitigate, where feasible, any disproportionate impacts on protected populations (i.e., minority and low-income groups). Eight potential objective functions focused on maximizing equity of congestion and travel time are developed and discussed with regard to their applicability for the upper level of this bilevel problem. On the basis of assumed knowledge of the origin-destination travel matrices by population group, numerical analysis is conducted to assess the performance of each proposed formulation. The lower-level UE problem is solved by using the Frank-Wolfe method, and because of the hard combinatorial nature of EJ-UE-DNDP, a selectorecombinative genetic algorithm is implemented...
A to Z: C language shortcomings

Abstract C is one of the most popular generally used languages of the 1980's. Its advantages are well known. In writing three books on the language, one of the authors has espoused many of its virtues without adequately commenting on its vices. This paper will attempt to redress that balance.
Ignite Leadership Influence Change--Unleashing the Power of Student Affairs

As a result of environmental turbulence created by economic turmoil and shifting social policies, the world of higher education is experiencing widespread change. Student affairs professionals are ...
The Politics of Presidential Agendas

Past research holds that if presidents are to increase their success in Congress, they must set the policy agenda in their favor. But what determines the propensity of presidents to propose or supp...
Majority and Minority Influence

The study of minority influence has advanced considerably since the late 1960s when Moscovici's pioneering efforts brought the minority's role in the process of persuasion and social influence to the forefront. Moscovici's (1980) insight that the underlying processes of majority and minority influence are quite different has been supported, but the steady pace of research has uncovered various unanticipated findings not easily explained by his conversion theory. In this review, we track recent developments and debates in the field, and consider some major explanatory models of minority influence and their differential postulates regarding cognitive processing and attitude change. We pay particular attention to Crano's (2001) leniency contract model, which details the specific conditions under which majorities and minorities impart influence. Finally, we advance some novel postulates regarding the persuasive impact of out-group minorities.
The Effects of a Stooped Work Task on the Muscle Activity and Kinematics of the Lower Back

Working in a stooped posture is an important risk factor for low back disorders (LBDs) that requires special focus. Spinal flexion increases the loading on the passive tissues of the lumbar spine compared to neutral postures, yet sustained or repeated flexion reduces the load bearing capability of these tissues. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of performing a stooped work task on the passive tissues of the low back. Passive tissue response is assessed by measuring trunk sagittal range of motion and the occurrence of the flexion-relaxation (F-R) phenomenon at specific times during the work period. Fourteen subjects (10 female and 4 male) were instrumented with a portable data collection system while performing the stooped work task of fresh-market tomato harvest for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. Results indicate significant changes in the trunk and lumbar sagittal range of motion and F-R after only 11 minutes of stooped work, with few changes for durations up to...
Evolutionary Computation-Based Methods for Characterizing Contaminant Sources in a Water Distribution System

The area of systematic identification of contamination sources in water distribution systems is in its infancy and is rapidly growing. The real water distribution network problem poses many challenges that current methods usually assume away to facilitate manageable method development and testing. Current methods may not readily and efficiently address issues, such as multiple sources, unknown contamination types with different reaction kinetics, use of different types of sensors with varying degree of resolution, dynamically varying demand and sensor information, and uncertainty and errors in the data and measurements. With the aim of addressing these imminent challenges, this paper reports the findings of an ongoing research investigation that develops and tests an evolutionary algorithm-based flexible and generic procedure, which is structured within a simulation-optimization paradigm. This paper describes the specific implementation of the method using evolution strategies (ESs), a population-based he...
Vibronic interactions in NO3: from the 2E′ origin region to the NO + O2 reactive channel

Abstract LIF spectra of expansion-cooled NO 3 in the region 595–666 nm reveal vibronic interactions responsible for 2 E′ radiationless decay. A hierarchy of coupling strengths is suggested. Due the large atomic masses, tunneling results in small unimolecular decomposition rates below the NO + O 2 barrier on the 2 A′ 2 ground potential surface. These have been observed via their quenching of long-lived NO 3 fluorescence, and rates as small as 3 × 10 4 s −1 are reported. This is 5 orders of magnitude smaller than the rate just above the barrier, which had been determined previously by using the ultrafast pump-probe technique.
On the Atlantic inflow to the Caribbean Sea

New observations are summarized that lead to the first comprehensive description of the mean inflow distribution in the passages connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Caribbean Sea. The total Caribbean inflow of 28 Sv is shown to be partitioned approximately equally between the Windward Islands Passages (B10 Sv), Leeward Islands Passages ðB 8S vÞ; and the Greater Antilles Passages ðB10 SvÞ: These results are compared to a numerical model study using a 6-layer, 1=41 resolution Atlantic Basin version of the NRL Layered Ocean Model. Results from two simulations are described, including a purely wind-forced model driven by Hellerman and Rosenstein (J. Phys. Oceanogr. 13 (1983) 1093) monthly winds, and a model with an additional 14 Sv meridional overturning cell driven by inflow/outflow ports at the northern ð651N) and southern ð201S) model boundaries. The purely wind-driven version of the model exhibits a total Caribbean inflow of 17 Sv; consistent with expectations from steady, non-topographic Sverdrup theory. Nearly all of the wind-driven inflow occurs north of Martinique at latitude B151N. The net transport through the Lesser Antilles passages south of 151N (Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia passages) is nearly zero when the model is forced by winds alone. The addition of a 14 Sv meridional cell in the model increases the net Caribbean inflow to 28 Sv; with nearly all of the additional 11 Sv of inflow entering through the southern Lesser Antilles passages. The modeled inflow distribution resulting from the combined wind and overturning forced experiment is found to compare favorably with the observations. The seasonal cycle of the total inflow in the combined forcing experiment has a mixed annual/semiannual character with maximum in spring and summer and minimum in fall, with a total range of about 4 Sv: The seasonal cycle of the Florida Current resulting from this inflow variation is in good qualitative agreement with observations. Most of the seasonal inflow variation occurs through the Windward Islands passages in the far southern Caribbean, whose annual cycle slightly leads that of the Florida and Yucatan Currents. Variability of the modeled inflow on shorter time scales shows a dramatic change in character moving northward along the Antilles arc. The southern passages exhibit large fluctuations on 30–80 day time scales, which decay to very small amplitudes north of Dominica. Much of this variability is caused by North Brazil Current Rings that propagate northwestward from the equatorial Atlantic and interact with the abrupt island arc topography. The total range of transport variability in individual passages predicted by the model is consistent with observations. However, observations are presently too limited to confirm the seasonal cycles or variability spectra in the Caribbean passages. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
A location-based incentive mechanism for participatory sensing systems with budget constraints

Participatory sensing (PS) systems rely on the willingness of mobile users to participate in the collection and reporting of data using a variety of sensors either embedded or integrated in their cellular phones. However, this new data collection paradigm has not been very successful yet mainly because of the lack of incentives for participation. Although several incentive schemes have been proposed to encourage user participation, none has used location information and imposed budget and coverage constraints, which will make the scheme more realistic and efficient. We propose a recurrent reverse auction incentive mechanism with a greedy algorithm that selects a representative subset of the users according to their location given a fixed budget. Compared to existing mechanisms, our incentive scheme improves the area covered by more than 60 percent acquiring a more representative set of samples after every round while maintaining the same number of active users in the system and spending the same budget.
Electrogram patterns associated with successful radiofrequency ablation of accessory pathways in children

Electrograms observed prior to successful and unsuccessful ablation trials in 33 patients (362 attempts) with manifest pathways and 18 patients (194 attempts) with concealed pathways were compared to identify the electrogram patterns that are associated with successful radiofrequency ablation of accessory atrioventricular connections in young patients (mean age 12.7 years; range 4-22 years). Success was defined as permanent or transient interruption of conduction in the accessory con- nection. Predictors of success in patients with manifest pathways were local ventricular preexcitation (p 4 0.0001), left-sidedness (43 or 174) of the accessory con- nection compared (p 4 0.04) to right-sidedness (27 of 172), a probable Kent bundle potential (29 of 84 versus 39 of 256; p 4 0.0001), and short antegrade atrioven- tricular conduction intervals (53.1 ± 31.9 ms versus 64.6 ± 32.0 ms; p 4 0.02). Predictors of success in patients with concealed pathways were short ventriculoatrial con- duction times (103.3 ± 35.8 ms versus 117.9 ± 34.8 ms; p 4 0.01), and left-sided (42 of 125) pathways (p 4 0.03; versus right-sided, 11 of 60). The presence of a Kent bundle potential was not significant. We conclude that specific electrogram patterns can predict successful ablation of either manifest or concealed accessory path- ways. Use of these criteria may reduce the delivery of unnecessary energy to young myocardium.
Selling Your Self in the United States

In the contemporary U.S. workplace, corporate personhood is increasingly becoming the metaphor structuring how job seekers are supposed to present themselves as employable. If one takes oneself to be a business, one should also take oneself to be an entity that requires a brand. Some ethnographic questions arise when job seekers try to embody corporate personhood. How does one transform oneself into a brand? What are the obstacles that a person encounters adopting a form of corporate personhood? How does one foster relationships or networks that will lead to a job, not just a circulation of one's brand identity? Based on research in Indiana and northern California, this article explores the conundrums of marketing oneself as a desirable employee on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, email, and so on. I address the reasons why the increased use of social media contributes to popularizing a notion of self-branding. I also discuss the quandaries people face when using social media to create this self-brand. In sum, this article investigates the obstacles people face when they try to embody a form of corporate personhood across media, a form of self putatively based on the individual, but one that has been transformed into a corporate form that people can not easily inhabit.
Generation of high-power femtosecond pulses near 1.5 mu m using a color-center laser system

The authors have developed a high-power F-center laser system capable of generating femtosecond pulses with energies exceeding 50 pJ at wavelengths near 1.5 mu m. Short pulses (140 fs) from an additive-pulse mode-locked NaCl laser are amplified in a multipass NaCl amplifier at kilohertz repetition rates. The system can generate peak powers approaching 500 MW, with wavelengths tunable from 1.52 to 1.64 mu m. The amplified pulses are used to generate a continuum in various solid media without optical damage. The continuum generated in BaF/sub 2/ is extremely broad, extending from below 400 nm to 3.5 mu m. Construction and operating details are discussed as well as the system's utility for femtosecond measurements in the infrared and high-power experiments. >
Dolichol-linked oligosaccharide selection by the oligosaccharyltransferase in protist and fungal organisms

The dolichol-linked oligosaccharide Glc3Man9GlcNAc2-PP-Dol is the in vivo donor substrate synthesized by most eukaryotes for asparagine-linked glycosylation. However, many protist organisms assemble dolichol-linked oligosaccharides that lack glucose residues. We have compared donor substrate utilization by the oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) from Trypanosoma cruzi, Entamoeba histolytica, Trichomonas vaginalis, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae using structurally homogeneous dolichol-linked oligosaccharides as well as a heterogeneous dolichol-linked oligosaccharide library. Our results demonstrate that the OST from diverse organisms utilizes the in vivo oligo saccharide donor in preference to certain larger and/or smaller oligosaccharide donors. Steady-state enzyme kinetic experiments reveal that the binding affinity of the tripeptide acceptor for the protist OST complex is influenced by the structure of the oligosaccharide donor. This rudimentary donor substrate selection mechanism has been refined in fungi and vertebrate organisms by the addition of a second, regulatory dolichol-linked oligosaccharide binding site, the presence of which correlates with acquisition of the SWP1/ribophorin II subunit of the OST complex.
The Dragon Nests: China's Energy Engagement of the Middle East

>> China is the largest consumer of energy, the leading exporter of manufactured goods and possesses the second largest economy in the world. The great dragon’s current economic activity extends to all corners of the world, including the hydrocarbon-rich Middle East. Since becoming a net importer of oil in 1993, China’s engagement of the Middle East has focused heavily on energy acquisition as the country urgently needs reliable sources of oil and natural gas to continue its unprecedented economic rise. For now, Middle Eastern countries seem amenable to the nesting dragon, whose increasing energy consumption, rapidly expanding economy, lack of colonial history and a policy of ‘offend no one’, its vast cash reserves and a willingness to pay premium prices for energy sources render it a highly appealing partner, capable of balancing the hegemonic policies and unipolar presence of the US. This article provides a summary of China’s expanding energy relations with seven major energy producing states of the Middle East, namely Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Qatar, and assesses the political implications of China’s burgeoning relationship with the region.
Pushpin Computing System Overview: A Platform for Distributed, Embedded, Ubiquitous Sensor Networks

A hardware and software platform has been designed and implemented for modeling, testing, and deploying distributed peer-to-peer sensor networks comprised of many identical nodes. Each node possesses the tangible affordances of a commonplace pushpin to meet ease-of-use and power considerations. The sensing, computational, and communication abilities of a "Pushpin", as well as a "Pushpin" operating system supporting mobile computational processes are treated in detail. Example applications and future work are discussed.
Habitat relationships among biodiversity indicators and co-occurring species in a freshwater fish community

It is often assumed that indicator species can act as surrogates for conservation of other taxa because the habitat characteristics that limit the distribution of indicators should also affect multiple co-occurring native species. However, this assumption is rarely explicitly tested. Here, we test whether four fish species are potential indicators of overall fish diversity in the Bear River drainage (UT and WY, USA). We then examine whether biodiversity indicator relationships are driven by shared habitat associations among species by examining species-habitat models. We use these models to test for correlations between indicator species and common co-occurring species in predicted occurrence and density. Fish diversity was higher at sites with potential indicators than sites without, indicating that conservation aimed at any of these species is likely to affect a broad number of co-occurring taxa. However, with minor exceptions, habitat correlations were inconsistent between indicator and co-occurring species. Instead, most species showed idiosyncratic habitat relationships. Thus, while conservation of habitats containing indicator species is likely to positively affect the distribution of a minority of co-occurring taxa, they may have neutral (or even negative) effects on the distribution or abundance of a majority of other native taxa that are common to the region. These data suggest that reliance on indicator taxa in conservation can be misleading because they obscure important ecological information about affected non-target species.
Shape and Radiance Estimation from the Information-Divergence of Blurred Images

We formulate the problem of reconstructing the shape and radiance of a scene as the minimization of the information divergence between blurred images, and propose an algorithm that is provably convergent and guarantees that the solution is admissible, in the sense of corresponding to a positive radiance and imaging kernel. The motivation for the use of information divergence comes from the work of Csiszar [5], while the fundamental elements of the proof of convergence come from work by Snyder et al. [14], extended to handle unknown imaging kernels (i.e. the shape of the scene).
Waiting for a Liver Transplant

The waiting period for liver transplantation is a difficult time fraught with uncertainty and associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. To understand better what it means for a transplant patient to wait, the authors explore in this phenomenological study the meaning that people with liver failure ascribe to the experience of waiting for a transplant. They conducted 9 interviews using phenomenological methods of inquiry as a guide for analysis. Eight core themes emerged from 146 significant statements and corresponding meaning units. The experience of waiting includes transformations, doctors, teams and trust, elation to despair, loss, questioning the process, searching, coping, and the paradox of time. The essence of the experience is discussed in light of the theory of chronic illness as a disruption of biographical narrative. The authors highlight implications for the transplant teams and other health care providers.
Automated Classification of Visible and Near-Infrared Spectra Using Self-Organizing Maps

Existing and planned space missions to planetary and satellite surfaces produce increasing volumes of spectral data. Understanding the scientific content in this large data volume is a daunting task. Various statistical approaches are available to assess such data sets. We apply an automated classification scheme based on Kohonen Self-Organizing maps (SOM) developed originally for the thermal infrared (TIR) and extended here to the visible and near-infrared (VNIR). Available data from spectral libraries are used to train and test the classification in the VNIR. The library spectra are labeled in a hierarchical scheme with class, sub-class, and mineral group names. After training, the test spectra are presented to the SOM output layer and assigned membership to the appropriate cluster. These assignments are then evaluated to assess the robustness, scientific meaning and accuracy of the derived SOM classes as they relate to the spectral labels. We investigate the influence of particle size on our results by training and classifying three particle size separates. We find the SOM results are robust based upon the number of clusters determined from ten independent training/testing efforts. We find the SOM results are most scientifically meaningful for the grossest differences between materials, although some individual groups retain high accuracy even when the overall accuracy of the SOM is low.
Growth stimulation of lymphatic tissue by plerocercoid larvae of the tapeworm, Spirometra mansonoides.

Abstract Plerocercoid larvae of the tapeworm, Spirometra mansonoides, produce a factor which has many functional similarities to mammalian growth hormone. Isolated thymocytes from hypophysectomized-plerocercoid-infected rats incorporated significantly more 3H-labeled nucleosides into their nucleic acids compared to cells from uninfected controls, and spleen thymidine kinase activity was markedly increased in infected-hypophysectomized rats. Therefore, lymphatic tissue of hypophysectomized rats bearing plerocercoid larvae shows the anabolic influence of the tapeworm growth factor.
Molecular motion in a spreading precursor film.

Spreading of a polymer drop on a solid substrate was monitored with molecular resolution. Three characteristic rates, i.e., the spreading rate of the precursor film D(spread)=(3.9+/-0.2)x10(3) nm(2)/s, the flow-induced diffusion rate of molecules within the film D(induced)=1.3+/-0.1 nm(2)/s, and the thermal diffusion coefficient of single molecules D(therm) >D(induced), the plug flow of polymer chains was identified as the main mass-transport mechanism of spreading with an insignificant contribution from the molecular diffusion.
Tye Aqueous Solubility of Variously Substituted Barbituric Acids. I. Chemical Effects

AbstractThe aqueous solubility of fourteen variously substituted barbituric acid was determined at 25°C. There was an approximate relationship between aqueous solubility and the duration of activity. The magnitudes of solubility varied substantially for these compounds and these results are based upon the net chemical grouping effect from compound to compound. While several compounds possessed rather similar melting points, the solubilities also varied to a large extent. These results are discussed further in this communication.