cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A note on iterative Hanoi

A r e c e n t note in SIGPLAN Notices [1] p r e s e n t s an i t e ra t ive solut ion to the wellknown Tower of Hanoi problem. I would like to men t i on t h a t an essen t ia l ly equivalent solution was published several years ago in a book co-authored by Claude R. Baudoin and myself [2, pages 376-378]. If I recall correctly, the idea for this solution came during a late night discussion with Patrick Greussay; I have to admit, however, that although all the persons concerned were younger by seven or eight years than they are now, none of us was still in fourth grade, as reported for the discoverer of the solution published in [i]. The way we expla ined our solut ion in our book is, I th ink, a l i t t le eas ier to under s t and t h a n [1]. We a s sume t h a t the r e a d e r is famil iar with the reeurs ive vers ion of t he a lgor i thm (if not, l e a rn F rench and buy [2], i t 's a bargain) . Let the call Hanoi (n, z, y, z) m e a n " t r a n s f e r n disks f rom peg x to peg y, using peg z as i n t e r m e d i a t e s torage" . The body of the p r o c e d u r e is
Biosynthesis of brain 2-phenylethylamine: Influence of decarboxylase inhibitors and d-amphetamine

Abstract 2-Phenylethylamine (PEA) is an endogenous brain amine which probably modulates affective behavior. Using a gas-liquid chromatographic method for the quantification of PEA (as its dinitrophenyl-sulfonic acid derivative), we found in rabbits 340.9 ± 45.8 ng of PEA/g of wet brain. Brain PEA levels were markedly decreased by the ip administration of 200 mg/Kg, 4 hrs before sacrifice, of the L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitors α-methyldopa (28.2 ± 5.1 ng/g), L-α-methyldopa hydrazine (MK-486 [66.9 ± 13.0 ng/g]) or a combination of both (30.0 ± 3.3 ng/g). Since MK-486 inhibits only peripheral decarboxylase, brain PEA must be in part of peripheral origin. Another decarboxylase inhibitor, RO 4-4602 mg/Kg, 4 hrs before sacrifice) failed to affect brain PEA content. D-amphetamine (10 mg/Kg) induced a small depletion of PEA after 30 min in untreated animals; when given in combination with RO 4-4602, brain PEA content was markedly decreased. This supports the view that amphetamine releases PEA and stimulates its synthesis.
Disability, Gender and Difference on The Sopranos

This essay examines the treatment of difference from bodily norms for women on The Sopranos. The author reviews key issues in the representation of people with disabilities, provides an overview of gender and disability issues on the program, and focuses in case-study fashion on how the framing of two female Sopranos characters—one fat woman and one amputee—is consistent with, yet deviates from, conventional strategies for representing bodily difference.
Leadership in a time of disaster: being prepared for new age threats.

The attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 provided a Washington, DC, healthcare institution with firsthand experience in evaluating its disaster readiness. This account of one nursing leader’s experience with the unexpected suggests that an actual disaster gives disaster planning new meaning because it challenges the entire institution and the community to maintain order in the midst of chaos. Included are practical lessons learned from this case study, guidelines for disaster planning, national disaster resources, and a vision for the role nursing leaders play in assuring patient care during times of disaster.
Sediment and trace element trapping in a forested wetland, Chickahominy River, Virginia

The Chickahominy River, arising near Richmond, Virginia, flows southeast toward Newport News, which impounds the river for much of its water supply. Much of the bottomland between the two cities is flooded for extended periods annually. Sediment-deposition rates estimated from tree rings were used in conjunction with multi-element analyses of sediments and of selected growth rings from oak trees to estimate amounts of trapped sediment and trace elements. Mean rates of deposition at eight study sites range from 0.7 to 5.7 mm/yr and are related to stream gradient, stream power, percent wetland, hydroperiod, and land use. Deposition rates are highest downstream from the confluence of upper basin tributaries near Richmond, where stream power is low and there is a high percentage of emergent/shrub-scrub wetlands; rates decrease, along downstream reaches toward the Chickahominy reservoir. Tree-ring data suggest that mean sedimentation rates were greater during the last 50 years than during the previous 3-year period, possibly because of urban expansion in the upper basin. Sites nearest the urban area have the highest rates of sedimentation and the highest concentrations of most trace elements in sediments. Trace elements concentrated in sediment include zinc, lead, chromium, copper, nickel, tin, and cadmium. Concentrations in tree rings of zinc, copper, nickel, and lead were generally proportional to those in sediment at a site, and some inter-site correlations were also observed. Unusually high concentrations of zinc were detected in some tree rings, including some that formed before 1950. Concentrations of zinc and lead in the most recently formed rings of those trees suggest that sediment concentrations of those elements may have declined relative to earlier periods. The trapping of substantial amounts of sediment and trace elements by these forested wetlands demonstrates their importance in the maintenance of water-quality.
A new design approach for the anti-swing trajectory control of overhead cranes with high-speed hoisting

This paper proposes a new approach for the design of anti-swing control of overhead cranes. An anti-swing trajectory control scheme is designed based on the trolley and load-hoisting dynamics, and then extended to an adaptive scheme. The load-swing dynamics is controlled by employing a sliding surface that couples the load-swing dynamics with trolley motion. The number of degrees of freedom of the trolley and load-hoisting dynamics is the same as that of the control inputs; therefore, the control problem is reduced to finding a coupled sliding surface that stabilizes the crane control system, based on the load-swing dynamics. In this study, the Lyapunov stability theorem is used as a mathematical design tool. The proposed control guarantees asymptotic stability of the anti-swing trajectory control while keeping all internal signals bounded. The coupled sliding surface allows a direct control of the damping of load swing. In addition, the proposed control provides clear gain-tuning criteria for easy applic...
Statistical Inferences on Cleavage Fracture Toughness Data

A method to predict lower bound cleavage fracture toughness values from small data sets is presented. The method is derived from a Weibull statistic based micromechanical analysis and can be applied in the ductile-brittle transition region. Lower bound predictions can compare well with the ASME KIR and KIC design curves. Difficulties in comparing Weibull shape parameters calculated by different methods are also discussed and several calculation methods are compared with a Monte Carlo simulation. The preferred methods are the maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs), least squares with the (i−.5)/n centralizing approach, or a simple estimation scheme which gives a “Good Linear Unbiased Estimator.”
The ironic consequences of Obama's election: Decreased support for social justice

Do Americans think that, because of Barack Obama’s election, affirmative action and other policies that address racial injustice are no longer necessary? In this study, we examined this question by assessing participants’ perceptions of racial progress and support for remedying racial injustice both prior to and after Barack Obama’s presidential victory. Following the election, participants increased their perception that racism is less of a problem in the US today than in times past. They also expressed less support for policies designed to address racial inequality. Given the continued prevalence of racial disparities in virtually all aspects of American society, these results raise important implications for the status of policies aimed at eliminating racial injustice.
Effective energy harvesting devices for railroad applications

The results of the design and development of a new generation of electromagnetic-based energy harvesting systems that can be readily installed in various vehicles are presented. The device resembles a conventional damper or shock absorber that is commonly used for vehicle suspensions. Such devices have received increased attention in the recent years with the much publicized development of GenShock by a group of MIT students. The device described in this study is different than the GenShock technology in that it does not use any fluid, is simpler, and can potentially provide a larger amount of electrical power. The presentation will provide a detailed description of the development of a prototype energy harvester, including the modeling and analysis of the electromagnetic components for increased efficiency. The laboratory test results of the prototype system indicate that more than 20 Watts of RMS energy can be realized at displacements and velocities that resemble the relative motion across a vehicle suspension.
Optimisation of multiple time-step hybrid Monte Carlo Wang-Landau simulations in the isobaric-isothermal ensemble for the determination of phase equilibria

We discuss the optimisation as well as the convergence of a recently developed molecular simulation method using a Wang–Landau sampling scheme, combined with multiple time-step hybrid Monte Carlo (MC) simulations in the isothermal–isobaric ensemble, to determine vapour–liquid equilibria. This method has the advantage of being simple to use, as only a single simulation run at a given temperature directly gives the coexistence properties, and of being transferable to any kind of fluid, since the method is readily applicable to any molecular architecture. We apply this method to two branched alkanes, isopentane and isobutane, and discuss how we optimise the various simulation parameters. The vapour–liquid coexistence curve as well as the critical point obtained in this work are in excellent agreement with those found experimentally and in previous work using a combination of the Gibbs ensemble MC method with the configurational bias technique.
Comorbidities are associated with poorer outcomes in community patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. To evaluate the impact of comorbidities on achieving remission by examining changes in the clinical disease activity index (CDAI) in RA patients in the community-based Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America (CORRONA) registry. Methods. A subcohort of 1548 RA subjects with varying disease duration met the following inclusion criteria: started a DMARD/biologic agent, continued therapy ≥3 months, CDAI ≥2.8 at study entry and followed longitudinally from baseline to follow-up (mean time 7.46 months). Patients reported comorbidities according to a standardized list of 33 conditions. Entry characteristics were compared across age categories using one-way analysis of variance. Linear and logistic regression models were constructed to assess characteristics [e.g. age, disease duration, number of previous DMARDs/biologics, baseline modified health assessment questionnaire (MHAQ), baseline CDAI and number of comorbidities] associated with primary outcomes: change in CDAI (baseline to follow-up) and CDAI remission (yes/no). Results. Although disease activity measures at entry were similar across age categories, older patients had more comorbidities, less improvement in CDAI/MHAQ and were less likely to attain remission at follow-up. However, after adjusting covariates an increasing number of patient-reported comorbidities and higher baseline CDAI (but not age) were consistently and independently associated with a lower likelihood of clinical improvement or remission (P < 0.001). Conclusion. In this observational cohort of community RA patients an increasing number of patients reported comorbidities, independently correlated with less CDAI improvement over time. These results reaffirm that comorbidities may be an important factor in consideration of treat-to-target recommendations and aid in understanding achievable RA therapeutic goals.
Design and implementation of the blue gene/P snoop filter

As multi-core processors evolve, coherence traffic between cores is becoming problematic, both in terms of performance and power. The negative effects of coherence (snoop) traffic can be significantly mitigated through snoop filtering. Shielding each cache with a device that can squash snoop requests for addresses known not to be in cache improves performance significantly for caches that cannot perform normal load and snoop lookups simultaneously. In addition, reducing snoop lookups yields power savings. This paper describes the design of the Blue Gene/P snoop filters, and presents hardware measurements to demonstrate their effectiveness. The Blue Gene/P snoop filters combine stream registers and snoop caches to capture both the locality of snoop addresses and their streaming behavior. Simulations of SPLASH-2 benchmarks illustrate tradeoffs and strengths of these two techniques. Their combination is shown to be most effective, eliminating 94-99% of all snoop requests using very few stream registers and snoop cache lines. This translates into an average performance improvement of almost 20% for the NAS benchmarks running on an actual Blue Gene/P system.
Numerical methods for large eigenvalue problems

Over the past decade considerable progress has been made towards the numerical solution of large-scale eigenvalue problems, particularly for nonsymmetric matrices. Krylov methods and variants of subspace iteration have been improved to the point that problems of the order of several million variables can be solved. The methods and software that have led to these advances are surveyed.
Method of fast 1-D paired transforms for computing the 2-D discrete Hadamard transform

In this brief, two different approaches to compute the 2-D discrete Hadamard transform (DHAT) of sizes 2/sup r//spl times/2/sup r/, r>1 are presented. Both are based on the so-called 1-D discrete paired transforms, which split the 2/sup r/-point DHAT into a set of smaller 2/sup r-1/-point transforms, i=1:r. The first approach is a column (row)-wise algorithm which requires, on average, no more than 12 operations of additions per sample. The second approach is a splitting algorithm, in which the 2/sup r//spl times/2/sup r/-point DHAT is reduced to the computation of 2/sup r-1/3 1-D DHATs instead of 2/sup r+1/ 1-D DHAT's in the column (row)-wise algorithm, but requires more operations of additions. Examples and comparison of the proposed algorithms with the known algorithms are provided.
The Polycomb group in Caenorhabditis elegans and maternal control of germline development

Four Caenorhabditis elegans genes, mes-2, mes-3, mes-4 and mes-6, are essential for normal proliferation and viability of the germline. Mutations in these genes cause a maternal-effect sterile (i.e. mes) or grandchildless phenotype. We report that the mes-6 gene is in an unusual operon, the second example of this type of operon in C. elegans, and encodes the nematode homolog of Extra sex combs, a WD-40 protein in the Polycomb group in Drosophila. mes-2 encodes another Polycomb group protein (see paper by Holdeman, R., Nehrt, S. and Strome, S. (1998). Development 125, 2457-2467). Consistent with the known role of Polycomb group proteins in regulating gene expression, MES-6 is a nuclear protein. It is enriched in the germline of larvae and adults and is present in all nuclei of early embryos. Molecular epistasis results predict that the MES proteins, like Polycomb group proteins in Drosophila, function as a complex to regulate gene expression. Database searches reveal that there are considerably fewer Polycomb group genes in C. elegans than in Drosophila or vertebrates, and our studies suggest that their primary function is in controlling gene expression in the germline and ensuring the survival and proliferation of that tissue.
Residential location: A comparative econometric analysis

(1974). Residential location: A comparative econometric analysis. Applied Economics: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 95-108.
An equal start: absence of group differences in cognitive, social, and neural measures prior to music or sports training in children

Several studies comparing adult musicians and non-musicians have provided compelling evidence for functional and anatomical differences in the brain systems engaged by musical training. It is not known, however, whether those differences result from long-term musical training or from pre-existing traits favoring musicality. In an attempt to begin addressing this question, we have launched a longitudinal investigation of the effects of childhood music training on cognitive, social and neural development. We compared a group of 6- to 7-year old children at the start of intense after-school musical training, with two groups of children: one involved in high intensity sports training but not musical training, another not involved in any systematic training. All children were tested with a comprehensive battery of cognitive, motor, musical, emotional, and social assessments and underwent magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography. Our first objective was to determine whether children who participate in musical training were different, prior to training, from children in the control groups in terms of cognitive, motor, musical, emotional, and social behavior measures as well as in structural and functional brain measures. Our second objective was to determine whether musical skills, as measured by a music perception assessment prior to training, correlates with emotional and social outcome measures that have been shown to be associated with musical training. We found no neural, cognitive, motor, emotional, or social differences among the three groups. In addition, there was no correlation between music perception skills and any of the social or emotional measures. These results provide a baseline for an ongoing longitudinal investigation of the effects of music training.
Organic-Solvent-Free Extraction Method for Determination of Carbamate and Carbamoyloxime Pesticides in Soil and Sediment Samples

This study evaluated the usefulness of monochloroacetic acid buffer (MCAAB) for extracting several carbamate/carbamoyloxime pesticides from a silt-loam soil and sediment, and an organic clay soil. The MCAAB extraction method, relative to acetonitrile and methanol extractants, was more accurate and precise for extraction of aldicarb, aldicarb sulfoxide, aldicarb sulfone, oxamyl, methomyl, carbofuran, 3-hydroxy-carbofuran, and propoxur; with recoveries ranging from 78.8% to 121.1%. Recoveries of carbaryl and methiocarb ranged from 0% to 64.1%. The MCCAB extraction method did not perform well for extraction of most compounds from the organic-clay soil, with recoveries ranging from 0% to 66.7%.
Gender Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients Complaining of Chronic Cough

Study objectives To confirm that more women than men who complain of chronic cough seek medical attention, to determine whether the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of these women is more adversely affected than men, and to determine whether there are gender differences in the ways that chronic cough adversely affects HRQOL. Design Analysis of previously, prospectively collected data, but not previously analyzed or reported data, plus additional prospectively collected data to enrich the database to make meaningful gender comparisons. Setting Cough clinic in an academic, tertiary care medical center. Participants Subjects seeking medical attention complaining of cough of at least 8 weeks duration and a control group of smokers not complaining of cough. Measurements Assessment of chronic cough on HRQOL utilizing a valid and reliable cough-specific HRQOL instrument, the cough-specific quality-of-life questionnaire (CQLQ). Interventions All subjects completed the CQLQ prior to any contact with the cough specialist and medical intervention. Results In the original cohort of subjects, women (116 subjects) outnumbered the men (38 subject) by 3:1 (p Conclusions Women with chronic cough were probably more inclined to seek medical attention than men because their HRQOL was more adversely affected and because they were more apt to suffer from physical complaints such as stress incontinence, which provoked psychosocial issues such as becoming embarrassed.
Paving the Way: K-16 Partnerships for Higher Education Diversity and High School Reform

Partnerships between colleges and universities and K-12 school districts attempt to improve access to higher education by tailoring college outreach and teacher professional development programs to...
Jitter control in time-triggered systems

The paper addresses the jitter control issue in time-triggered real-time systems where tasks are activated according to time. Our model is based on the temporal distance constrained task model (DCTS). However, many real-time systems have tasks that do not fit the simple assumptions of the DCTS model because tasks may occasionally access shared resources, and certain tasks may arrive irregularly. We address the issues that cause jitters in DCTS. We first review the algorithm developed for DCTS and present an extension for an optimal algorithm. Three jitter issues are then discussed: sharing resources between tasks, handling tasks that have fixed and unchangeable periods, and handling tasks that arrive aperiodically. We present solutions that can prevent jitters, as well as other solutions that may result in minor jitters.
Educational Experiences Throughout Adult Life New Hopes or No Hope for Life-Course Flexibility?

This article explores the allocation and nature of educational experiences throughoutadult life. The authors are especially concerned with the opportunities and barriersassociated with the pursuit ...
Graphical Information Processing: The Effects of Proximity Compatibility

The Proximity Compatibility Hypothesis (PCH) proposes that in designing displays, we should try to match the proximity (unity or similarity) of a display's components to the level of mental integration required of information represented by those components. Thus, for tasks demanding integration of information from several channels, we should display the task-relevant information in a perceptually unitary and homogeneous fashion. For tasks requiring independent processing of multiple information sources, unity and homogeneity should be minimized. The present study tested these predictions using thirteen bivariate graphs that varied in terms of the unity and homogeneity of dimensional pairings. All thirteen graphs were used to perform four tasks, with a different group of fifteen subjects performing each task. These tasks included two integration tasks, an independent processing task, and a task that combined both integration and independent processing demands. As predicted by the PCH, subjects performed t...
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Among US Children Aged 1 to 11 Years: Do Children Need More Vitamin D?

OBJECTIVE: Single-center studies have suggested that hypovitaminosis D is widespread. Our objective was to determine the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) in a nationally representative sample of US children aged 1 to 11 years. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2001–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Serum 25(OH)D levels were determined by radioimmunoassay and categorized as RESULTS: During the 2001–2006 time period, the mean serum 25(OH)D level for US children aged 1 to 11 years was 68 nmol/L (95% CI: 66–70). Children aged 6 to 11 years had lower mean levels of 25(OH)D (66 nmol/L [95% CI: 64–68]) compared with children aged 1 to 5 years (70 nmol/L [95% CI: 68–73]). Overall, the prevalence of levels at CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of a nationally representative sample of US children aged 1 to 11 years, millions of children may have suboptimal levels of 25(OH)D, especially non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children. More data in children are needed not only to understand better the health implications of specific serum levels of 25(OH)D but also to determine the appropriate vitamin D supplement requirements for children.
Aristotelian Well-Being: A Response to L. W. Sumner's Critique

Aristotle's ethical theory is often seen as instructing agents in the prudent pursuit of their own well-being, and therefore labeled egoistic. Yet it is also subject to the opposing charge of failing to direct agents to their well-being, directing them instead to perfection. I am here concerned chiefly with the second criticism, and proceed as follows: I first articulate Sumner's version of the criticism, and second assess his argument for his own (subjective) account of well-being. Third, I present reasons motivating a more objective account of well-being, reasons for taking another look at Aristotle. Finally, granting that Aristotle does indeed direct agents to pursue their perfection, I argue that perfection includes well-being within it. This shows how Aristotle escapes the second criticism, while at the same time pointing the way toward a defense against the first.
Transduction of aminergic and peptidergic signals in enteric neurones of the guinea-pig.

1. The biogenic amines 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and histamine, and the peptides bombesin, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), cholecystokinin (CCK), substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) each mimicked slow synaptic excitation (slow e.p.s.p.) when applied to myenteric neurones of the guinea-pig small intestine. 2. Stimulation of the catalytic activity of adenylate cyclase by forskolin and intraneuronal elevation of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) also mimicked the slow e.p.s.p. and the actions of the aminergic and peptidergic messengers. 3. Adenosine prevented stimulation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin and abolished the slow e.p.s.p.-like actions of forskolin. 4. Exposure of the neurones to adenosine prior to or during application of bombesin, GRP, VIP, CCK or histamine blocked the actions of these substances. 5. Pre-treatment with adenosine did not suppress the slow e.p.s.p.-like actions of substance P, CGRP or 5-HT. 6. The results suggest that signal transduction for bombesin, GRP, VIP, CCK and histamine involves stimulation of adenylate cyclase and second messenger function of cyclic AMP. Transduction mechanisms for 5-HT, substance P and CGRP appear not to involve second messenger function of cyclic AMP.
Carbonyl sulfide exchange in a temperate loblolly pine forest grown under ambient and elevated CO 2

Abstract. Vegetation, soil and ecosystem level carbonyl sulfide (COS) exchange was observed at Duke Forest, a temperate loblolly pine forest, grown under ambient (Ring 1, R1) and elevated (Ring 2, R2) CO2. During calm meteorological conditions, ambient COS mixing ratios at the top of the forest canopy followed a distinct diurnal pattern in both CO2 growth regimes, with maximum COS mixing ratios during the day (R1=380±4 pptv and R2=373±3 pptv, daytime mean ± standard error) and minimums at night (R1=340±6 pptv and R2=346±5 pptv, nighttime mean ± standard error) reflecting a significant nighttime sink. Nocturnal vegetative uptake (−11 to −21 pmol m−2s−1, negative values indicate uptake from the atmosphere) dominated nighttime net ecosystem COS flux estimates (−10 to −30 pmol m−2s−1) in both CO2 regimes. In comparison, soil uptake (−0.8 to −1.7 pmol m−2 s−1) was a minor component of net ecosystem COS flux. In both CO2 regimes, loblolly pine trees exhibited substantial COS consumption overnight (50% of daytime rates) that was independent of CO2 assimilation. This suggests current estimates of the global vegetative COS sink, which assume that COS and CO2 are consumed simultaneously, may need to be reevaluated. Ambient COS mixing ratios, species specific diurnal patterns of stomatal conductance, temperature and canopy position were the major factors influencing the vegetative COS flux at the branch level. While variability in branch level vegetative COS consumption measurements in ambient and enhanced CO2 environments could not be attributed to CO2 enrichment effects, estimates of net ecosystem COS flux based on ambient canopy mixing ratio measurements suggest less nighttime uptake of COS in R2, the CO2 enriched environment.
Response to Insulin Resistance and Obesity in a Mouse Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

We thank Perciaccante et al1 for their interest in our recent study.2 They correctly noted that little is known or has been reported about the incidence and importance of insulin resistance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly with regard to SLE-associated …
Document Clustering with Semantic Analysis

Document clustering generates clusters from the whole document collection automatically and is used in many fields, including data mining and information retrieval. In the traditional vector space model, the unique words occurring in the document set are used as the features. But because of the synonym problem and the polysemous problem, such a bag of original words cannot represent the content of a document precisely. In this paper, we investigate using the sense disambiguation method to identify the sense of words to construct the feature vector for document representation. Our experimental results demonstrate that in most conditions, using sense can improve the performance of our document clustering system. But the comprehensive statistical analysis performed indicates that the differences between using original single words and using senses of words are not statistically significant. In this paper, we also provide an evaluation of several basic clustering algorithms for algorithm selection.
Performance of a high-speed concatenated coded modulation scheme over fading channels

We design a concatenated code structure with very simple component codes that can be combined with high-order modulations to achieve good power and bandwidth efficiency, and can be iteratively decoded at high data rates using highly parallelized decoders. In this paper we simulate the performance of these codes over additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and Rayleigh fading channels.
Toward an understanding of the dynamic of project manager assignments: An empirical study

Project manager assignment is an important decision management has to make since a project manager is known as one of the key project success factors. Despite the importance of the decision, research on project manager assignment is very limited. The objective of this study is to empirically investigate the project manager assignment. In particular, it examines the impact of the approaches used in the assignment on the project management effectiveness of an organization. The results of this study reveal the ways management should assign projects to their project managers such that the assignments enhance the resource productivity, organization learning, project success (time, cost, customer satisfaction, and business success), and personal satisfaction (career advancement, reward for performance, and personal learning).
An efficient technique for the reduction of wavelength noise in resonance-based integrated photonic sensors

A systematic study of the limit of detection (LOD) in resonance-based silicon photonic lab-on-chip sensors is presented. The effects of the noise, temperature fluctuations, and the fundamental thermodynamic limit of the resonator are studied. Wavelength noise is identified as the dominant source of noise, and an efficient technique for suppressing this noise is presented. A large ensemble of statistical data from the transmission measurements in a laser-scanning configuration on five silicon nitride (SiN) microrings is collected to discuss and identify the sources of noise. The experimental results show that the LOD is limited by a 3σ wavelength noise of ∼1.8 pm. We present a sub-periodic interferometric technique, relying on an inverse algorithm, to suppress this noise. Our technique reduces the wavelength noise by more than one order of magnitude to an ensemble average of 3σ = 120 fm, for a resonator quality factor (Q) of about 5 × 104 without any temperature stabilization or cooling. This technique is readily amenable to on-chip integration to realize highly accurate and low-cost lab-on-chip sensors.
100BASE-T2: 100 Mbit/s Ethernet over two pairs of category-3 cabling

100BASE-T2 is a new physical layer specification for IEEE 802.3 LANs operating at 100 Mbit/s ("fast Ethernet"). It enables users of the 10BASE-T Ethernet LAN technology to upgrade their networks from 10 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s performance while retaining an existing voice-grade cabling infrastructure. 100BASE-T2 transceivers will operate over two pairs in unshielded twisted-pair cables corresponding to EIA/TIA category 3 (UTP-3), which is the minimum requirement for 10BASE-T. In a four-pair UTP-3 cable, simultaneous operation of two 100BASE-T2 links, or one 100BASE-T2 and one 10BASE-T link, is permitted. Since voice-grade cables exhibit more signal attenuation and significantly higher crosstalk coupling between adjacent pairs than data-grade cables, sophisticated digital signal processing techniques are needed to achieve reliable 100 Mbit/s transmission. The 100BASE-T2 standard defines dual-duplex baseband transmission at a modulation rate of 25 MBaud. During each modulation interval, a four-bit data nibble or Ethernet specific control information is encoded into a pair of quinary signals. These signals are transmitted simultaneously on the two wire pairs in both signalling directions. In the receivers, adaptive digital filters are required for echo and NEXT cancellation, equalization, and interference suppression.
Effects of temperature on Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) adult survival, reproduction, and egg hatch.

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a recently introduced non-native invasive species in North America that has the potential to destroy several tree species in urban and forest habitats. Adult survival, reproduction, and egg hatch of A. glabripennis from two populations (Ravenswood, Chicago, IL, and Bayside, Queens, NY) were evaluated at seven constant temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C), and adult survival was evaluated at −1°C. Nonlinear regressions were used to estimate the temperature optimum and thresholds for each life history parameter. The estimated optimum temperature for median longevity was 18°C, and upper and lower thresholds were 39 and −3°C for females and 38 and −2°C for males. The estimated upper and lower thresholds for fecundity were 35 and 11°C for the New York population and 34 and 14°C for the Illinois population. The estimated optimum temperature for maximum fecundity was 23 and 24°C for the New York and Illinois populations, respectively. Both longevity and fecundity declined as temperature increased or decreased from the optimum. Oviposition was arrested at temperatures ≤10 and ≥35°C, and either eggs did not mature or were reabsorbed by females that did not oviposit at the higher temperatures. Days to first oviposition approached infinity near 10°C and declined exponentially to a minimum of 16 d at 30°C. The lower threshold for egg hatch was estimated as 10°C and the upper threshold at 32°C, and eggs would be predicted to hatch the fastest at 29°C. Maximum percentage hatch was estimated to occur at 23°C, and the estimated upper and lower thresholds were 34 and 12°C, respectively. These results indicate that summer temperatures throughout most of the lower 48 United States should support beetle survival and reproduction, although oviposition may be suspended and adult survivorship would decline when summer temperatures are sustained for full a day or more at or above 30°C, and there are no cooler locations where the beetles can retreat. In addition, although beetles may survive into the fall, they may lay fewer eggs at lower temperatures, and those eggs may not hatch until spring. These responses of A. glabripennis to temperature can be used for predicting the potential geographical range of this species and in developing phenological models to predict the timing of egg hatch and adult mortality, which are important for management programs.
A new mechanism of nervous system plasticity: activity-dependent myelination

The precise timing of impulse transmission along axons is crucial for synaptic plasticity and brain oscillations, and is partly determined by myelin thickness. In this Opinion article, R. Douglas Fields discusses how electrical activity influences myelin thickness and thus conduction velocity and circuit properties.
Time, Truth and Existence

Speaking about truth and about existence in the present context means speaking about the truth of sentences and the existence of particulars. Concerning truth, the restriction of course is determined by what is understood by a sentence. For the present approach, a being is — first of all — a particular, and only if existence is defined for particulars is it permissible to define general existence statements.
Kinetics of anorthite dissolution in basaltic melt

Abstract We report convection-free anorthite dissolution experiments in a basaltic melt at 1280–1500 °C and 0.5 GPa on two different crystallographic surfaces, ( 1 2 1 ¯ ) and ( 3 ¯ 0 2 ) to investigate dissolution kinetics. The anisotropy of the anorthite dissolution rate along these two surfaces is negligible. Time series experiments at ∼1280 °C show that anorthite dissolution is mainly controlled by diffusion in the melt within experimental uncertainty. Analytical solutions were used to model the dissolution and diffusion processes, and to obtain the diffusivities and the saturation concentrations of the equilibrium-determining component (Al2O3) for anorthite dissolution into the basaltic melt. For the first time, we are able to show the physical and chemical characteristics of quench growth effect on the near-interface melt using high spatial resolution (0.3 μm) EDS analyses. For anorthite (An# ⩾ 90) saturation in a melt with 39–53 wt% SiO2 and ⩽0.4 wt% H2O, the concentration of Al2O3 in wt% depends on temperature as follows: ln C s,Al 2 O 3 = 8.032 ( ± 0.192 ) - 7882 ( ± 287 ) T , where T is temperature in K, and errors are given at 1σ level. Al2O3 diffusivity in basaltic melt during plagioclase dissolution can be expressed as: ln D Al 2 O 3 EBD,plag diss = - 13.69 ( ± 1.57 ) - 19 , 313 ( ± 2485 ) T , where D is in m2/s, and the activation energy is 161 ± 21 kJ/mol. These results are applied to model the convective dissolution of anorthite in basaltic melts. The model indicates that though anorthite crystals can survive for a longer time compared to olivine crystals of the same size in the same melt, the former would rise for a much smaller distance compared to the olivine sinking distance, due to the smaller density contrast between anorthite and melt.
Getting Really Edgy: On the Edge of the Edge

The article argues that in constructions where there is more than one phrase at a phasal edge, only the highest edge is available for movement and anaphor binding. This shows that only the outermost edge counts as the edge of a phase for the Phase Impenetrability Condition ( PIC). The article also demonstrates that moving the element that counts as the phasal edge in multiple specifier/adjunct cases can affect the PIC status of the remaining edges. These conclusions provide a new argument for the contextuality of phasehood. A number of recent works have argued that the phasal status of a phrase can be affected by the syntactic context in which it occurs. This article goes one step further: it shows that the concept of phasal edge, more precisely the status of a specifier/adjunct regarding the PIC, can also be affected by the syntactic context in which the specifier/adjunct occurs. The article also discusses several issues regarding the syntax and semantics of adjectives, possessors, and demonstratives, in...
Foley or Fix: A Comparative Analysis of Reparative Procedures at the Time of Explantation of Artificial Urinary Sphincter for Cuff Erosion.

Objective To examine artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) cuff erosion intraoperative management methods: Foley catheter placement, abbreviated urethroplasty (AU), or mobilization with primary urethral anastomosis (PA). We reviewed these options to compare postoperative complications and probability of AUS reimplantation. Materials and methods Medical records of patients treated for AUS cuff erosion from 2005 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. We divided patients into 3 groups based on intraoperative management of the urethra: Foley only, AU, or PA. Patient characteristics, operative times, outcomes, complications, and reimplantation factors were recorded and analyzed. Results Seventy-five patients with a median age of 77 years (72-83) were treated for AUS cuff erosion. Fifty-two underwent Foley placement, 8 AU, and 15 PA. Mean follow-up was 13 months (0-106). Severe erosions were more common in the PA group than Foley or AU (100% vs 37%, 100% vs 38%, P P P = .009). Tandem cuff patients treated with Foley were more likely to develop diverticuli than single cuff patients (33% vs 4%, P = .016). There was no difference in probability of reimplantation between PA and Foley or AU (63% vs 69%, 63% vs 33%, P = .748, P = .438, respectively). Conclusions Foley catheter placement alone may represent suboptimal management for severe or tandem cuff erosions due to increased risk of urethral complications. Urethral defect management should be determined at the time of explantation by individual patient characteristics and surgeon experience.
The lateral line system in larvalIchthyophis (Amphibia: Gymnophiona)

The lateral line systems of larval caecilians of the genusIchthyophis possess two types of elements, free neuromasts and ampullary organs. Free mechanoreceptive neuromasts are typical of those found in other vertebrates, and are arranged in series roughly homologous to neuromast groups in many other fishes and amphibians. In contrast to other amphibians,Ichthyophis larvae possess only one paired, dorsal body series of neuromasts. Regional specialization of neuromasts is evident inIchthyophis. Premaxillary and anterior head neuromasts are the largest in size and total cell number. Overall, size and total cell numbers are correlated with depth of epidermis. Neuromasts on the anterior sides of the head occur in slight grooves and have apical tips situated farther below the level of the epidermis and with greater apical indentation. These features probably provide increased protection against abrasion. Apparently abnormal neuromasts are frequently found among the neuromast series. Such neuromasts contain fewer cells that lack normal apical extension, producing a sunken effect similar to that of the ampullary organ elements. The ampullary organs ofIchthyophis are morphologically similar to those found in various freshwater fishes and known to function as electroreceptors. These organs are not observed in the lateral line systems of members of other amphibian orders (Urodela and Anura), and we suggest that they function as electroreceptors. The sunken neuromasts of theIchthyophis lateral line system may parallel the possible evolutionary development of pit organs from normal neuromasts.
Design and Realization of Monitoring Software for Tire Pressure

This article first introduces structure and functions of TPMS(tire pressure monitoring system).and then briefly focuses on the design and implementation of monitoring software.And the verification and follow-up test results shows that the software design is reasonable and has a good application property.
The Application of Clean Fracturing Fluid in Nai-man Oilfield

The clean fracturing fluid is a surfactant gel fracturing fluid, the formula as follows:1.8% CTAB +0.7% NaSal. The viscosity is more than 110 mPa·s after being sheared for an hour, when the rate is 145.8 s-1 and temperature is 70℃. When the gel is broken, the viscosity is less than 5 mPa·s and the residue is 0 mg/L. The injury rate is less than 5%. One well is tested in the field, the average liquid production is 14.75 t/d and the oil production is 7.01 t/d. The obvious fracturing effect is observed.
Gastrointestinal Delivery of Anti-inflammatory Nanoparticles

The concept of nanomedicine has risen to be the future of medicine. Advantages of using nanoobjects as vectors for drug delivery systems are numerous, such as fewer side effects due to a low drug dose, and high specificity between drug and target. Unlike systemic therapy, targeting a specific target is more efficient and less costly. In inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease, the colon represents the targeted organ. A large number of drugs are candidates for loading into nanoparticles (NPs). Small molecules, such as tripeptides and siRNA, or larger molecules, such as proteins (hormones, antibodies (Ab), etc.), can be encapsulated alone or in a complex form inside the NPs. In our studies, once NPs are synthesized and loaded with anti-inflammatory compounds, they are delivered to the colon. An efficient technique has been developed for specific NP targeting to digestive tract regions, including the colon, using a hydrogel based on electrostatic interactions between positive ions and negative polysaccharides. An in situ double cross-linking process, mediated by Ca²⁺ and SO₄²⁻, of chitosan and alginate administered to the mouse gastrointestinal (GI) tract by double gavage, is used for gel formation. When the drug is given in NPs, NPs are targeted to the colon, and NP degradation by aggressive environmental conditions in the GI tract is significantly reduced. Using a biomaterial (hydrogel) associated with nanotechnology, lower doses of drug can be loaded efficiently and delivered to the colon to reduce colonic inflammation.
Selective Area Epitaxy of GaAs Microstructures by Close-Spaced Vapor Transport for Solar Energy Conversion Applications

Close-spaced vapor transport is a plausibly low-cost, high-rate method to grow III–V materials for photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical device applications. We report the first homoepitaxial growth of GaAs microstructures on (100)- and (111)B-oriented GaAs substrates using patterned SiOx and Al2O3 masks and show that the resulting microstructured GaAs is an efficient semiconductor absorber for photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical applications. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy reveals an unusually low density of twin-plane defects in the (111)-oriented microstructures and the occurrence of stacked twin-plane defects in the (100)-oriented microstructures. Nonaqueous photoelectrochemical measurements show similar short-circuit currents of 9.7 and 9.1 mA cm–2 for (100)- and (111)-oriented microstructures, respectively, with promising external quantum efficiencies. Together, the low twin density and good electronic properties indicate that micro- or nanostructures grown by selective area epit...
New Staining Technique for Renal Tissue

This report describes a new staining technique for renal tissue, which sharply outlines the glomerular basement membrane in red and at the same time reveals a blue-black contrast for fibrin thrombi. As a staining methodology, this new technique represents an advancement in color contrast that surpasses the current stains for renal tissue. The method is now in routine use in this laboratory, continuously proving itself as a valuable timesaver that consistently gives excellent results.
What Works in the Third World

When an acquaintance in Dar es Salaam invited me (JHM) to visit her family in an ujamaa (communal) village, I jumped at the opportunity. Hemmed in by the Indian Ocean on one side and groves of mango trees, coconut palms, jackfruit (which resemble large basketballs) and the infamous durian plant, with its succulent pulp of fine flavour but skunk-like smell, on the other, we careered southwards for 100 miles along a washboard road to the Rufiji River. There we navigated inland over a series of dirt paths until we reached our destination: numerous clumps of neat, thatched huts nestled astride the river bank.