cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Structure of Four Molecular Cloud Complexes in the BU-FCRAO Milky Way Galactic Ring Survey

We present a study of the structure of four molecular clouds from the Milky Way Galactic Ring Survey (GRS), a Boston University and Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory collaboration. The GRS is a new high-resolution survey in the 13CO J = 1 → 0 spectral line of the inner Galaxy and the 5 kpc ring, the Milky Way's dominant star-forming structure. Because of the smaller line widths of 13CO compared to 12CO, we can avoid velocity crowding and establish accurate kinematic distances to the clouds. The kinematic distance ambiguity in the first Galactic quadrant is resolved using self-absorption in complementary high-resolution atomic hydrogen data. The four clouds are selected to span a large range of star formation activity, from the quiescent cloud GRSMC 45.60+0.30, which shows no signs of high-mass star formation, to W49, the most luminous star-forming region in the Galaxy. We use a three-dimensional Gaussian clump decomposition to identify clumps in the clouds and to investigate their properties. Each cloud has the same clump mass spectrum, dN/dM ∝ M-1.8, independent of star formation activity. We do not find significant differences in the slopes of the relations of density, line width, and clump mass as a function of clump size among the clouds. The size-density and size-line width relations show considerable scatter. Compared to the conventional Larson scaling laws, we find systematically flatter slopes for the size-density and size-line width relations and a higher power-law index for the size-mass relation. In particular, the clump line widths for the most quiescent cloud GRSMC 45.60+0.30 are independent of clump size. While the clouds as a whole are gravitationally bound, most of the clumps are not; only a small fraction of the total number of clumps is self-gravitating. The active star-forming clouds have a higher fraction of gravitationally bound clumps and a higher mean cloud volume density than the more quiescent clouds. The gravitationally unbound clumps are possibly confined by the weight of the self-gravitating complex. The pressures needed to bind these clumps are largest for the active star-forming clouds, which have a much higher weight than the quiescent clouds. Alternatively, a high number of the gravitationally unbound clumps may be transient.
Agent-Based Dynamic Manufacturing Scheduling

Manufacturing enterprises are facing a major challenge to improve their production efficiency in order to survive in a globally competitive market. There is an opportunity to develop and apply intelligent scheduling software tools to improve their productivity and profitability. We have developed a distributed dynamic manufacturing scheduling technology using intelligent software agents. This technology can well address dynamic changes and disturbances in the shop floor locally without disruptions to regular production — a problem that cannot be solved by traditional planning and scheduling systems because these changes and disturbances cannot be predicted in advance. It can significantly improve equipment utilization rates thereby improving the efficiency and productivity of manufacturing enterprises. We have developed software prototype systems within our research facilities. We are collaborating with industrial partners to validate the technology in industrial settings and are looking for a software company in the manufacturing sector to commercialize the technology.Copyright © 2006 by National Research Council Canada
A Level-Set Method for Computing the Eigenvalues of Elliptic Operators Defined on Compact Hypersurfaces

We demonstrate, through separation of variables and estimates from the semi-classical analysis of the Schrodinger operator, that the eigenvalues of an elliptic operator defined on a compact hypersurface in ? n can be found by solving an elliptic eigenvalue problem in a bounded domain ??? n . The latter problem is solved using standard finite element methods on the Cartesian grid. We also discuss the application of these ideas to solving evolution equations on surfaces, including a new proof of a result due to Greer (J. Sci. Comput. 29(3):321---351, 2006).
A novel reaction model for the electrical conductivity of ultra-thin TiO2 films in H2

Two ultra-thin TiO2 films with platinum electrodes were prepared on a porous anodic aluminium oxide thick layer and a ceramic plate, respectively. It was found that in both TiO2 films the conductance was almost proportional to the fourth root of the H2 concentration in N2 ambient at 500 °C. A quantitative model based on the spill-over mechanism is established to describe this novel correlation.
In situ fixation of cultured mouse peritoneal exudate cells: Comparison of fixation methods

Mouse peritoneal exudate cells grown in vitro on plastic petri dishes were fixed in situ with both glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide by a variety of contemporary methods. The goal of the investigation was to determine which method resulted in the best ultrastructural preservation. The parameters being tested included: (a) the method of fixation, i.e. either sequential or simultaneous; (b) the buffer vehicle for fixation, i.e. cocodylate, Mellonig's phosphate, Sorenson's phosphate, ors-collidine; and (c) the temperature of fixation. Results presented indicate that simultaneous fixation is far superior to sequential methods. Samples fixed sequentially at 4° C consistently had better morphological preservation than samples fixed under similar conditions at 23° C. With the exception ofs-collidine, which was totally unacceptable for in vitro in situ fixation on plastic, comparable results were noted with different buffer vehicles.
Growth of metastable fcc Co on Ni(001)

We have used high-energy Auger-electron diffraction and associated kinematical scattering calculations to determine that Co, which is hcp at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, can be grown as a stable, unstrained fcc film on Ni(001). Studies of the early stages of growth show that the first monolayer equivalent does not cover the surface uniformly but rather forms two-dimensional patches with limited amounts of a second layer. The second monolayer equivalent adds to the second layer of each patch and provides a limited number of third-layer atoms. When the total Co coverage exceeds two monolayer equivalents, the overlayer coalesces into a continuous fcc film with no detectable strain up to 30 monolayers (the highest coverage studied). For comparison, we have measured angular distributions for Cu/Ni(001) with 0.5 and 1.0 monolayer of Cu. From surface thermodynamic considerations, Cu is expected to wet the surface uniformly. However, Cu also tends to form two-layer-deep patches at a coverage of one monolayer equivalent. These results demonstrate that limited surface mobility is significant in determining the morphology of monolayer metal films, in agreement with theoretical models of overlayer growth behavior.
Mono-cyclopentadienyl complexes of lanthanum: synthesis and characterization of anilido derivatives

Abstract Use of the bulky cyclopentadienyl ligand [η5-C5H2(SiMe3)3-1,2,4]− (Cp‴) allows for the isolation of monomeric, mono-ring lanthanide species. As previously reported, (Cp‴)K reacts with LaI3(THF)4 (THF=tetrahydrofuran) in THF/pyridine to form the mono-ring complex (Cp‴)LaI2(py)3 (1) (py=pyridine); a minor product of this reaction is the bis-ring species (Cp‴)2LaI(py) (2). The solid state structure of 2 reveals a monomeric compound containing a pseudo-tetrahedral metal center exhibiting no unusual intramolecular contacts. Addition of one equiv of KNHAr (Ar=2,6-iPr2C6H3) to complex 1 in THF generates the mono-anilido compound (Cp‴)LaI(NHAr)(THF)2 (3), which may be converted to the more stable pyridine adduct (Cp‴)LaI(NHAr)(py)2 (4) by the addition of pyridine to 3. An X-ray crystal structure of 3 indicated a trigonal bipyramidal metal center with the anilido group oriented trans to the iodide atom (N1–La1–I1=123.1(3)°). A structural study on the bis-pyridine adduct 4 revealed a similar Cs-symmetric structure with a slightly increased Nanilido–La–I angle of 132.1(2)°. Addition of KNHAr to the di-iodo bipyridine adduct (Cp‴)LaI2(bipy)(py) (5), in which the two iodide atoms are cis-disposed, yields the mono-anilido complex (Cp‴)LaI(NHAr)(bipy)(py) (6) (bipy=2,2′-bipyridine); this compound may also be prepared by the addition of bipy to (Cp‴)LaI(NHAr)(py)2 (4). An X-ray diffraction study shows that the lanthanum center in 6 is octahedrally coordinated by a Cp‴ ring, an iodide, an anilido group, a pyridine molecule and two nitrogens of a bipy molecule. In this case, the anilido moiety and the iodide ligand are arranged in a cis fashion (Nanilido–La–I=111.2(2)°), resulting in a complex with C1 symmetry. Both (Cp‴)LaI(NHAr)(py)2 (4) and (Cp‴)LaI(NHAr)(bipy)(py) (6) are inactive as catalysts for the hydroamination/cyclization of 2-amino-hex-5-ene.
Lack of Effect of Various Endocrine Manipulations on Tryptophan Hydroxylase Activity of Individual Nuclei of the Hypothalamus, Limbic System, and Midbrain of the Rat

The tryptophan hydroxylase activity of individual nuclei of the limbic system, hypothalamus, and midbrain was determined after various endocrine manipulations in an attempt to identify specific endocrine-responsive serotonergic structures in the rat brain. Following adrenalectomy, thyroidectomy, castration, or treatment with pharmacological doses of dexamethasone, testosterone, or thyroxine, no changes in tryptophan hydroxylase activity occurred in any of the areas of brain examined. Furthermore, in large sections of the hypothalamus and midbrain, total tryptophan hydroxylase activity was unaltered, and no changes in Km for substrate or co-factor were found after adrenalectomy. This study, therefore, has failed to detect any hormonally responsive tryptophan hydroxylase activity in the rat brain. These findings suggest that endocrineinduced alterations in serotonin turnover, if they occur, do so without measurable changes in the activity or kinetic properties of tryptophan hydroxylase. (Endocrinology 98: 7...
Global motorization, social ecology and China

The global diffusion of motorization has become a significant driver of local and regional change around the world. In the South (the developing countries), especially in China, the scale of its impact in the twenty-first century carries the potential to dwarf that of motorization in the North (the developed countries) in the twentieth century. While alarms have been sounded about the threat of greatly increased greenhouse emissions posed by China's telescoped development of motorization, this paper analyses its neglected social and ecological impacts. Through an analysis of car and land use data, China's loss of agricultural land and growing social polarization are highlighted.
Early and late angiographic findings of the “no-reflow” phenomenon following direct angioplasty as primary treatment for acute myocardial infarction

The “no reflow phenomenon” is a well recognized consequence of reperfusion after ischemia.l The term refers to the inability to reperfuse myocardial tissue despite removal of an occlusion of a coronary artery. While there is experimental evidence of “no-reflow” in dog& 2 and scintigraphic evidence in humans,” angiographic findings of “no reflow” in humans have not been well described. We report a case of “no reflow” demonstrated angiographically and its follow-up 1 week later. The patient was a 72-year-old man who was previously in good health until the day of admission. He presented with the acute onset of severe retrosternal chest pain accompanied by diaphoresis and was brought into the emergency room immediately, where he was found to be in acute distress. Upon examination he appeared to be pale, his pulse was 80 beats/min, and his blood pressure was
Genetic diversity and mineral composition of common bean seed

Concentrations of nine elements essential for human nutrition were studied in seed of eight dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) cultivars grown at five field locations. The cultivars (two Navy, one Great Northern, one Pinto, one Pink, one Cranberry and two Red Kidney) varied in seed weight from 167 to 560 mg per seed. Seed Ca (r = −0.78, P < 0.001), Mn (r = −0.67, P < 0.001) and Mg (r = −0.45, P < 0.001) were negatively related to seed weight. In contrast, seed P (r = 0.44, P < 0.001) increased with increasing seed weight. Concentrations of N, K, Fe, Zn and B were poorly related to seed weight but differed among cultivars. The two Navy bean cultivars, Voyager and Norstar, differed in concentrations of seed Ca and Fe. Voyager seed contained a mean of 49% more Ca and 19% more Fe than Norstar seed. Voyager also contained a mean of 67% more Ca than that reported for Navy bean in the USDA Nutrient Database. Genetic variability in bean seed may be utilised to increase the mineral content of common bean. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Dysphonia and Delayed Food Allergy: A Provocation/ Neutralization Study with Strobovideolaryngoscopy:

In most cases the cause of intermittent dysphonia remains undiagnosed. This descriptive study explores the relationship between this problem and delayed food allergy. Double-blind intradermal provocation/neutralization skin tests to food antigens were used to do 12 tests in 10 subjects with food allergies. Strobovideolaryngoscopy was used to document changes in the vocal folds and in the quality of the voice. Double-blind measurements of signs and symptoms, digital audio recordings of the voice for perceptual and acoustic analysis, and aerodynamic laryngeal airflow and resistance measurements were done. The cause of dysphonia appeared to be associated with an increase in thick mucus production and irregular and asymmetric glottic edge edema of the vocal folds. Elimination of the positive specific foods resulted in cessation of dysphonia in all the test subjects. Statistical analysis was not done because of the lack of parametric data for paired analysis, lack of sufficient data points for resampling statistics, and the small sample size.
Mitosis in flat PTK2-human hybrid cells.

Abstract The fusion of G0 human fibroblasts with PTK2 (Potorous tridactylis) cells resulted in the production of hybrid heterokaryotic cells which remained flat in cell division. These cells permitted studies of mitosis in living hybrid cells without the need for fixation and staining. The breakdown of nuclear envelopes during prophase in a hybrid heterokaryotic cell correlated with the onset of premature chromosome condensation (PCC) in other nuclei in the same cell. Nuclear morphology and autoradiography demonstrated that the nuclei exhibiting PCC were from the human parent cells. Observation of multinucleated PTK2-human hybrids in the later stages of mitosis showed that these cells normally produced three daughters instead of the usual two. Electron microscopic examination of dividing hybrid cells showed that the number of daughter cells was not related to the number of centrioles. Hybrid cells normally were found to contain many centriolar duplexes although not all of these structures were associated with active poles in mitosis. Cells with as many as six centriolar duplexes were found in mitosis. The configuration of the chromosomes in metaphase was found to be a more accurate indication of the number of daughters produced by a single division than the number of centrioles. Chromosome elimination in hybrid cells could also be visualized in PTK2-human hybrids. Lagging chromosomes were commonly observed during mitosis and were often trapped in the constricting midbody.
Validation problems in games and simulations with special reference to models of international politics.

To what extent are simulations and games valid representations of behavioral systems? Although this frequently asked question is vital, it concerns only one aspect of the larger issue of operating model validation. This article describes how the purpose of the experimenter, the type of validity criteria, and the use or nonuse of human participants each influences validation. Many of the illustrations are drawn from games and simulations of international politics, but the observations are intended to be applicable to similar activities underway throughout the behavioral sciences.
Environmental cooperation of Northeast Asia: transboundary air pollution

AbstractThe puzzle of why Northeast Asian countries do not have any environmental cooperation comparable to Europe's successful regulatory regime even though both regions have borne similar conditions of the atmospheric problem has been explored. In order to answer this question, the author shed light on some of the conditions in Northeast Asia that would be necessary for regional cooperation to take place, by examining the factors that shape the environmental foreign policy of sovereign states. The success of Europe's regional cooperation in dealing with acid rain has been investigated, through the lens of interest-based and epistemic community approaches. The interest-based approach provides two factors - ecological vulnerability and economic cost - to show why some countries have taken more active positions than others. In addition, the author argues that one more factor is necessary, the existence of an epistemic community, out of the knowledge-based community perspective, because even self-interested states have difficulties in defining their interests due to high uncertainty and complexity about developing goals and preferences. After applying the two perspectives to the cooperation of Northeast Asian countries, it is found that lack of domestic and regional consensus on ecological vulnerability to transboundary acid deposition and the high economic costs of reducing emission have contributed to slow development of the cooperation of Northeast Asia. In addition, the lack of solid expert communities in Japan, as a leading country, could hinder Northeast Asian countries from speeding up the transition toward regulatory regime formation from the current information sharing cooperation.
Hass avocado modulates postprandial vascular reactivity and postprandial inflammatory responses to a hamburger meal in healthy volunteers

Hass avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid) and antioxidants (carotenoids, tocopherols, polyphenols) and are often eaten as a slice in a sandwich containing hamburger or other meats. Hamburger meat forms lipid peroxides during cooking. After ingestion, the stomach functions as a bioreactor generating additional lipid peroxides and this process can be inhibited when antioxidants are ingested together with the meat. The present pilot study was conducted to investigate the postprandial effect of the addition of 68 g of avocado to a hamburger on vasodilation and inflammation. Eleven healthy subjects on two separate occasions consumed either a 250 g hamburger patty alone (ca. 436 cal and 25 g fat) or together with 68 grams of avocado flesh (an additional 114 cal and 11 g of fat for a total of 550 cal and 36 g fat), a common culinary combination, to assess effects on vascular health. Using the standard peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) method to calculate the PAT index, we observed significant vasoconstriction 2 hours following hamburger ingestion (2.19 ± 0.36 vs. 1.56 ± 0.21, p = 0.0007), which did not occur when the avocado flesh was ingested together with the burger (2.17 ± 0.57 vs. 2.08 ± 0.51, NS p = 0.68). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from postprandial blood samples and the Ikappa-B alpha (IκBα) protein concentration was determined to assess effects on inflammation. At 3 hours, there was a significant preservation of IκBα (131% vs. 58%, p = 0.03) when avocado was consumed with the meat compared to meat alone, consistent with reduced activation of the NF-kappa B (NFκB) inflammatory pathway. IL-6 increased significantly at 4 hours in postprandial serum after consumption of the hamburger, but no change was observed when avocado was added. Postprandial serum triglyceride concentration increased, but did not further increase when avocado was ingested with the burger compared to burger alone despite the added fat and calories from the avocado. These observations are suggestive of beneficial anti-inflammatory and vascular health effects of ingesting added Hass avocado with a hamburger patty.
An integrative genomics approach identifies Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1)-target genes that form the core response to hypoxia

The transcription factor Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) plays a central role in the transcriptional response to oxygen flux. To gain insight into the molecular pathways regulated by HIF-1, it is essential to identify the downstream-target genes. We report here a strategy to identify HIF-1-target genes based on an integrative genomic approach combining computational strategies and experimental validation. To identify HIF-1-target genes microarrays data sets were used to rank genes based on their differential response to hypoxia. The proximal promoters of these genes were then analyzed for the presence of conserved HIF-1-binding sites. Genes were scored and ranked based on their response to hypoxia and their HIFbinding site score. Using this strategy we recovered 41% of the previously confirmed HIF-1-target genes that responded to hypoxia in the microarrays and provide a catalogue of predicted HIF-1 targets. We present experimental validation for ANKRD37 as a novel HIF-1-target gene. Together these analyses demonstrate the potential to recover novel HIF-1-target genes and the discovery of mammalian-regulatory elements operative in the context of microarray data sets.
A note on regular local Noether lattices II

Let ( R, M ) be a local ring and let R * be the M -adic ring completion of R . It is well known that R is a regular local ring if and only if R * is a regular local ring. The purpose of the note is to show that this result is essentially a consequence of a more general theory concerning local Noether lattices which was developed in [6].
Factual and evaluative approaches to modifying children's responses to violent television

An experiment with 5-7- and 10-12-year-old children compared 2 approaches to mediating children's violent television viewing. Factual mediation provided children with facts about a violent program's production techniques. Evaluative mediation provided negative evaluations of the program's characters. The findings revealed that evaluative mediation was the most effective strategy for promoting positive outcomes, particularly for younger children. Factual mediation had either no effect or increased some children's vulnerability to media violence. The implications of these findings for developing mediation strategies and media literacy programs are discussed.
Analysis of sublimation-cooled coated mirrors in convective and radiative environments.

Analytical solutions were obtained for the thermal response of a transpiration- or sublimation-cooled spherical mirror coating exposed to convective and radiative heating. The solutions allow unlimited spectral detail to be accounted for. Results indicate that transpiration-cooled thick coatings (1 cm) may withstand up to 10 kW/sq cm on a steady basis without excessive temperature rise for quartzlike materials with an internal absorption coefficient of 0.01 per cm. On a transient basis, fluxes up to 20 kW/sq cm can be accommodated for a second (cW laser exposure time), 4 kW/sq cm for 5 sec (planetary entry heating time), and of the order of MW/sq cm for millisecond times (short-duration laser bursts) without transpiration cooling for a material with an absorption coefficient of 0.1 per cm. Proportionately higher fluxes can be accommodated with lower absorption coefficients. Thermal stresses produced by the heat pulse are found to be high but within the strength of the materials. The regime in which meaningful solutions may be obtained is mapped in detail.
Self-Assembled Metal/Molecule/Semiconductor Nanostructures for Electronic Device and Contact Applications

We report a fabrication approach in which we combine self-assembled metal/molecule nanostructures with chemically stable semiconductor surface layers. The resulting structures have well controlled dimensions and geometries (∼4 nm Au nanoclusters) provided by the chemical self-assembly and have stable, low-resistance interfaces realized by the chemically stable semiconductor cap layer (low-temperature grown GaAs passivated by the organic tether molecules). Scanning tunneling microscope imaging and current-voltage spectroscopy of nanocontacts ton-GaAs fabricated using this approach indicate high quality, ohmic nanocontacts having a specific contact resistance of ∼1 × 10−7Ω·cm2 and a maximum current density of ∼1×107 A/cm2, both comparable to those observed in large area contacts. Uniform 2-D arrays of these nanocontact structures have been fabricated and characterized as potential cells for nanoelectronic device applications.
Detection of weak stochastic signals in non-Gaussian noise: a general result

The paper studies the performance of a locally optimum detector namely, the generalized energy detector and shows that its performance starts to deteriorate as the signal to noise ratio increases beyond a certain level. The study has been carried out to cover a much broader class of signal and noise distributions than allowed in previous studies to conclude that the performance of the generalized energy detector can become poorer than that of the power detector well within the practical range of signal to noise ratios and the apparently large gains predicted by the asymptotic theory may not be reachable in practice. >
Modeling and synthesis of wide-band switched-resonators for VCOs

A two-level switched resonator model for synthesizing a wide-tuning range LC VCO is described. Viable resonator design styles are selected for achieving broadband frequency synthesis. A simple, generalized model is developed for design space exploration. Using this model, based on the performance specifications, a resonator style is selected. Also, the performance specifications are translated to individual resonator components. At the second level, detailed models for the resonator components are developed. The resonator is then designed and simulated based on these models. As an example, a wideband VCO using a new inductor switching technique is explored. Simulations performed in a 0.18 mum CMOS process achieved a tuning range from 3.35 to 8.34 GHz while exhibiting phase noise between -107 and -119 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset over the entire range. The VCO core dissipated 1.9 to 8.3 mW power using a 1.8-V supply.
An approximation to the exact distribution of the wilcoxon-mann-whitney rank sum test statistic

An approximation to the exact distribution of the Wilcoxon rank sum test (Mann-Whitney U-test) and the Siegel-Tukey test based on a linear combination of the two-sample t-test applied to ranks and the normal approximation is compared with the usual normal approximation. The normal approximation results in a conservative test in the tails while the linear combination of the test statistics provides a test that has a very high percentage of agreement with tables of the exact distribution. Sample sizes 3≤m, n≤50 were considered.
The mGluR theory of fragile X mental retardation

Many of the diverse functional consequences of activating group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors require translation of pre-existing mRNA near synapses. One of these consequences is long-term depression (LTD) of transmission at hippocampal synapses. Loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), the defect responsible for fragile X syndrome in humans, increases LTD in mouse hippocampus. This finding is consistent with the growing evidence that FMRP normally functions as a repressor of translation of specific mRNAs. Here we present a theory that can account for diverse neurological and psychiatric aspects of fragile X syndrome, based on the assumption that many of the protein-synthesis-dependent functions of metabotropic receptors are exaggerated in fragile X syndrome. The theory suggests new directions for basic research as well as novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of humans with fragile X, the most frequent inherited cause of mental retardation and an identified cause of autism.
INCREASING TEST RELIABILITY THROUGH SELF-SCORING PROCEDURES

It is also logical to speculate about the comparison of reliability indices of tests scored by SSM with those of tests scored by traditional methods. Since the SSM scoring technique requires students to continue responding to each item until the correct response has been obtained, each item, once answered, could be considered another item with k-l of the k response choices. The range of scores is therefore larger for SSM than for RWSM, with a corresponding increase in the standard deviation. These increases may be somewhat similar to the effects of increasing the length of a test. The apparent increase in test length and the increase in the standard deviation would produce a higher reliability index. It is also possible that SSM may cause an increase in reliability indices since students are given partial credit for items not answered on the first attempt. Ebel (1965) found that scoring methods designed to give partial credit for incorrect responses when items are scored on the basis of degree of certainty estimates-and which consequently give partial credit for items not answered correctly by the student's first response-can result in greater precision of measurement than would have been obtained through RWSM. This study compared the test reliability of SSM with the reliability of inferred RWSM. A comparison was made between odd-even item correlation coefficients and split-half reliability indices computed from scores obtained through SSM and RWSM.
Late Proterozoic (ca. 930 Ma) extension in eastern Laurentia

The northwest-dipping Carthage-Colton shear zone, located near the eastern margin of the Grenville province in northern New York, separates the Adirondack Lowlands of the Metasedimentary Belt from the Adirondack Highlands of the Granulite Terrane. Published U/Pb sphene ages are 1156‐1103 Ma in the Lowlands and 1050‐ 982 Ma in the Highlands, indicating an ;100 m.y. offset in metamorphic ages across the boundary. Our reported hornblende 40 Ar39 Ar ages are ;1060 Ma in the Lowlands and ;950 Ma in the Highlands. This confirms the offsets in sphene ages across the Carthage-Colton shear zone and indicates an average cooling rate in both the Lowlands and the Highlands of 18‐28/ m.y. over ;100 m.y. Biotite 40
The inverse conductivity problem with limited data and applications

This paper describes recent uniqueness results in inverse problems for semiconductor devices and in the inverse conductivity problem. We remind basic inverse probelsm in semiconductor theory and outline use of an adjoint equation and a proof of uniqueness of piecewise constant doping profile. For the inverse conductivity problem we give a first uniqueness proof when the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map is given at an arbitrarily small part of the boundary of a three-dimensional domain.
Black and Gold... and Army Green

This essay investigates the rise and sudden fall of Vanderbilt’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps unit around the time of World War I, and illustrates how it serves as an example of general trends in higher education that were occurring in other universities across America while being decidedly exceptional. With information pulled almost entirely from primary sources such as Chancellor James H. Kirkland’s handwritten letters and contemporary issues of The Hustler, it becomes clear that the administration saw the ROTC program as a way to replace the Methodist Episcopal Church, South as a source of moral education while establishing an ideological bulwark against perceived Bolshevik influences. While Kirkland was successful in bringing an ROTC unit to campus like many of his counterparts at other universities, Vanderbilt’s story is almost entirely unique in that the students revolted en masse, ending the program only a few short years after it had been established. In examining the evidence, it was Kirkland’s personality that led to his administration’s hasty implementation of the program, forcing seemingly un- necessary mandatory military training on the student body without considering its opinion first, a student body already weary from wartime training in a program called the Students’ Army Training Corps. In a gritty battle of wills between the Chancellor and the student body, the lifeblood of any ROTC unit, these students stuck to their guns and refused to participate, and the administration simply had to accede to their demands. As soon as it appeared, Vanderbilt’s first ROTC unit vanished.
Fetal Programming Prenatal Origins of Health and Illness

Research on young animals and humans has demonstrated the critical importance of the fetal stage as a formative period in normal development. However, the significance of these findings has not always been incorporated into our thinking when trying to elucidate the origins of health and disease. It is not only that babies react to the state of the mother and to salient environmental events while still in the uterus. This stimulation and priming seems to be essential for guiding the optimal maturation of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Experiences during prenatal life also program the regulatory set points that will govern physiology in adulthood. During this malleable maturational phase, these biological processes should be viewed as flexible “learning systems” that guide the developmental trajectory toward health or derail it toward pathology. Our studies on infant primates have shown that the competence of their immune responses and the structure and activity of certain brain regions, as wel...
Cooperative Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio, Part II: Multiuser Networks

In cognitive radio networks, cognitive (unlicensed) users need to continuously monitor spectrum for the presence of primary (licensed) users. In this paper, we illustrate the benefits of cooperation in cognitive radio. We show that by allowing the cognitive users operating in the same band to cooperate we can reduce the detection time and thus increase the overall agility. We first consider a two-user cognitive radio network and show how the inherent asymmetry in the network can be exploited to increase the agility. We show that our cooperation scheme increases the agility of the cognitive users by as much as 35%. We then extend our cooperation scheme to multicarrier networks with two users per carrier and analyze asymptotic agility gain. In Part II of our paper [1], we investigate multiuser single carrier networks. We develop a decentralized cooperation protocol which ensures agility gain for arbitrarily large cognitive network population.
Learning decision tree classifiers from attribute value taxonomies and partially specified data

We consider the problem of learning to classify partially specified instances i.e., instances that are described in terms of attribute values at different levels of precision, using user-supplied attribute value taxonomies (AVT). We formalize the problem of learning from AVT and data and present an AVT-guided decision tree learning algorithm (AVT-DTL) to learn classification rules at multiple levels of abstraction. The proposed approach generalizes existing techniques for dealing with missing values to handle instances with partially missing values. We present experimental results that demonstrate that AVT-DTL is able to effectively learn robust high accuracy classifiers from partially specified examples. Our experiments also demonstrate that the use of AVT-DTL outperforms standard decision tree algorithm (C4.5 and its variants) when applied to data with missing attribute values; and produces substantially more compact decision trees than those obtained by standard approach.
The Gild Returns to America, I

We are told that one of the most characteristic features of medieval gilds was their activity in creating an artificial scarcity of trained men, particularly of those entitled to set up in business for themselves. Measured by this standard, the gild spirit is making satisfactory headway. Since it is almost certain that the public would not tolerate a general seven-year apprenticeship requirement, modern trades and professions have been forced to find other means of accomplishing the same result. The success of the physicians, who are the envy of the other professions, particularly of the lawyers, is well known. But, considering their more lowly status, many of the "common callings" have been quite successful. It will be recalled that Judge Peckham and certain of his colleagues were upset when employing plumbers were required to prove their proficiency by passing a qualifying, examination. No apprenticeship or educational requirements were exacted, and journeymen, or master plumbers who did all of their own work, were exempt. It is a far cry from that act to the 1935 Illinois statute, which requires the graduates of engineering schools of collegiate rank to serve two years as an apprentice before they may become journeymen plumbers, and an additional two years as journeymen before they may become masters. A high school graduate must spend five years as an apprentice and five years as a journeyman.' In 1924 the Louisiana legislature passed an act, "To regulate and define the practice of cosmetic therapy." 2 This bewitching title lent the glamor of science to this mystic
How to scale down postsynaptic strength.

Synaptic scaling is a form of synaptic plasticity that contributes to the homeostatic regulation of neuronal activity both in vitro and in vivo, by bidirectionally and proportionally adjusting postsynaptic AMPA receptor (AMPAR) abundance to compensate for chronic perturbations in activity. This proportional regulation of synaptic strength allows synaptic scaling to normalize activity without disrupting the synapse-specific differences in strength thought to underlie memory storage, but how such proportional scaling of synaptic strength is accomplished at the biophysical level is unknown. Here we addressed this question in cultured rat visual cortical pyramidal neurons. We used photoactivation and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching of fluorescently tagged AMPAR to show that scaling down, but not up, decreases the steady-state accumulation of synaptic AMPAR by increasing the rate at which they unbind from and exit the postsynaptic density (Koff). This increase in Koff was not diffusion limited, was independent of AMPAR endocytosis, and was prevented by a scaffold manipulation that specifically blocks scaling down, suggesting that it is accomplished through enhanced dissociation of AMPAR from synaptic scaffold tethers. Finally, simulations show that increasing Koff decreases synaptic strength multiplicatively, by reducing the fractional occupancy of available scaffold “slots.” These data demonstrate that scaling down is accomplished through a regulated increase in Koff, which in turn reduces the fractional occupancy of synaptic scaffolds to proportionally reduce synaptic strength.
Computer vision syndrome: A review

As computers become part of our everyday life, more and more people are experiencing a variety of ocular symptoms related to computer use. These include eyestrain, tired eyes, irritation, redness, blurred vision, and double vision, collectively referred to as computer vision syndrome. This article describes both the characteristics and treatment modalities that are available at this time. Computer vision syndrome symptoms may be the cause of ocular (ocular-surface abnormalities or accommodative spasms) and/or extraocular (ergonomic) etiologies. However, the major contributor to computer vision syndrome symptoms by far appears to be dry eye. The visual effects of various display characteristics such as lighting, glare, display quality, refresh rates, and radiation are also discussed. Treatment requires a multidirectional approach combining ocular therapy with adjustment of the workstation. Proper lighting, anti-glare filters, ergonomic positioning of computer monitor and regular work breaks may help improve visual comfort. Lubricating eye drops and special computer glasses help relieve ocular surface-related symptoms. More work needs to be done to specifically define the processes that cause computer vision syndrome and to develop and improve effective treatments that successfully address these causes.
Medicaid beneficiaries undergoing complex surgery at quality care centers: insights into the Affordable Care Act.

Abstract Background Medicaid beneficiaries do not have equal access to high-volume centers for complex surgical procedures. We hypothesize there is a large Medicaid Gap between those receiving emergency general vs complex surgery at the same hospital. Methods Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1998 to 2010, we identified high-volume pancreatectomy hospitals. We then compared the percentage of Medicaid patients receiving appendectomies vs pancreatectomies at these hospitals. Hospital characteristics associated with increased Medicaid Gap were evaluated using generalized estimating equation models. Results A total of 602 hospital-years of data from 289 high-volume pancreatectomy hospitals were included. Median percentages of Medicaid appendectomies and pancreatectomies were 12.1% (interquartile range: 5.8% to 19.8%) and 6.7% (interquartile range: 0% to 15.4%), respectively. Hospitals that performed greater than or equal to 40 pancreatic resections per year had higher odds of having significant Medicaid Gap (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 5.0). Conclusions Gaps exist between the percentages of Medicaid patients receiving emergency general surgery vs more complex surgical care at the same hospital and may be exaggerated in hospitals with very high volume of complex elective surgeries.
Effect of highly processed calcined kaolin residues on apple productivity and quality

Abstract Calcined kaolin-based particle films (PKPF) are effective in reducing insect, heat, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and ultraviolet radiation (UV) stress in plants due to the reflective nature of the heat-treated particles. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of PKFP treatments applied at moderate (3%) and high rates (12% w/v) on apple physiology, yield and quality and the interaction with ambient ozone levels for a 6 year period. Fruit mass was increased by applications of PKPF at 3% and 12% in 4 of 6 years in non-irrigated treatments and in 2 of 6 years in irrigated treatments. Red fruit color was increased (lower hue angle) over the control in 5 of 6 years and in 2 of 5 years the 12% PKPF had improved red color over both the 0% and 3% PKPF non-irrigated treatments. PAR interception over 6 years, adjusted for LAI, was greatest for the control, least for the 12% PKPF, and 3% PKPF was intermediate. Reduced PAR interception below the canopy was likely due to greater PAR reflection within the canopy. Whole canopy temperature was significantly higher for the control (26 °C) and lower for the 3% and 12% PKPF treatments (24 °C). Fruit mass increased in the PKPF treatments, relative to the irrigated control treatment (%), with increasing maximum ozone levels during May. In laboratory studies, ozone degradation was greatest for alfalfa, least for calcined kaolin and the addition of alfalfa to calcined kaolin increased degradation proportionately. The present study confirms that calcined kaolin is an effective catalyst for ozone degradation and organic materials, such as alfalfa, are even more effective, due to the direct reaction with carbon molecules. Whole canopy gas exchange measurements (1000–1600 HR) over a 10 day period in 2011 indicated that the 2.7% PKPF + 0.3% alfalfa dust consistently had higher photosynthesis, 0.3% alfalfa was intermediate, while the control and 3% PKPF had the lowest photosynthesis rate. Whole canopy ozone degradation indicated that the 2.7% PKPF + 0.3% alfalfa dust consistently had the greatest ozone degradation, 3% PKPF and 0.3% alfalfa were intermediate and the untreated control had the least ozone degradation. There is evidence that the 0.3% alfalfa stimulated a small amount of microbial growth on the leaf surface while the 2.7% PKPF + 0.3% alfalfa stimulated a much greater amount of microbial growth. This synergistic effect may be due to the increased surface area in the particle film providing habitat for microbial populations and the reflection of UV by the particles that can be deleterious to microbial growth within that habitat. Data support the concept that chronic ozone damage is moderated to a significant degree by the use of surface treatments that catalyze ozone degradation in a particle film. The use of PKPF may be one tool to mitigate not only increased ozone stress but also heat stress from increased growing season temperatures in the future.
Deconstructing HPMCAS: Excipient Design to Tailor Polymer–Drug Interactions for Oral Drug Delivery

Spray-dried dispersions (SDDs) are fascinating polymer–drug mixtures that exploit the amorphous state of a drug to dramatically elevate its apparent aqueous solubility above equilibrium. For practical usage in oral delivery, understanding how polymers mechanistically provide physical stability during storage and prevent supersaturated drugs from succumbing to precipitation during dissolution remains a formidable challenge. To this end, we developed a versatile polymeric platform with functional groups analogous to hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS, a heterogeneous leading excipient candidate for SDDs) and studied its interactions with Biopharmaceutical Classification System Class II drug models probucol, danazol, and phenytoin at various dosages. By conducting reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerizations with monomeric components chemically analogous to HPMCAS, we synthetically dismantled the highly polydisperse architecture of HPMCAS into well-defined polymer sy...
How to Manage the Move from Associate to Full Professor

Moving from associate professor to full professor is generally the culmination of effort that began with the decision to go to graduate school. Navigating advancement from associate to full professor requires making some decisions and establishing a plan. This essay provides a discussion on the decisions to be made, the criteria for being promoted to full professor, and some about the process. It finishes with thoughts about what to do after being promoted. The intent is advice to younger professors and graduate students that can help guide career planning for progress to becoming a full professor.
20.2 A frequency-reconfigurable mm-Wave power amplifier with active-impedance synthesis in an asymmetrical non-isolated combiner

A frequency-agile mm-Wave power amplifier capable of reconfiguring itself to operate near-optimally over a wide range of tunable frequencies, yet producing output power >22dBm with PAE>20%, is useful for a wide range of applications in reconfigurable communication systems supporting multi-Gb/s over large links to hyper-spectral sensing and imaging. While recent works have demonstrated high efficiency in Watt-level mm-Wave power amplifiers [1–5], most of the architectures operate over a limited frequency range, primarily dominated by the bandwidth of the output-matching or combiner networks. A frequency-agile power amplifier, therefore, needs a widely reconfigurable, yet an efficient output network, which is difficult to achieve with on-chip variable passives due to their poor quality factors in silicon IC processes. In this paper, we present an architecture where an optimal impedance at the output of each unit cell is synthesized exploiting their interaction in a non-isolated power-combiner network. By controlling the amplitude and phase of unit cells, close-to-optimal impedances can be synthesized over a wide operating range at mm-Wave frequencies thus enabling frequency agility. The chip is implemented in a 0.13µm SiGe BiCMOS process and achieves Psat>22dBm between 40 and 65GHz and peak PAE>25% between 40 and 60GHz.