cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Subculture and world literature: on Mizumura Minae's Shishōsetsu (1995)

Abstract This article examines Mizumura Minae's (c.1950–) literary oeuvre, especially her second novel, Shishōsetsu from left to right (1995), in relation to the concepts of ‘allegory’ (Paul de Man), ‘subculture-literature’ (Ōtsuka Eiji) and ‘world literature’ (David Damrosch). I argue that the novel reveals both Mizumura's desire for and resistance to the universal language (English), and that the novel's material heterogeneity and multilingualism constitute its reversed universality, making it what Ōtsuka calls ‘subculture-literature’, a form of literature that rejects a desire for cultural totality. Simultaneously, I regard Shishōsetsu's untranslatability itself as consisting of special non-allegorical signs whose open-endedness resembles that of ‘world literature’. Thus, the concepts of world literature and subculture-literature, both entailing certain open-endedness of textual signification/reception, have some symbiotic relationship in Shishōsetsu's textual hybridity. If world literature includes th...
Bibliometric analysis to identify core reference sources of virtual reference transactions

Abstract As the use of electronic reference sources becomes commonplace, virtual reference services are expanding in scope, modes, and popularity. Simultaneously, reference practices are evolving as well. One concept that may be challenged by these trends is the notion of the core reference collection. What are the sources that form this core collection, and what are its characteristics? Are similar sources used to answer users' questions in virtual and traditional reference? How do core collections of public and academic libraries differ? An analysis of 1851 e-mail and chat reference transactions from public and academic libraries reveals that the notion of a core reference collection persists in the world of virtual reference services. In both types of libraries, responses to patrons showed a skewed bibliographic distribution; librarians used a small group of sources to answer most of the questions. Almost all sources used were electronic. Academic libraries tended to make greater use of fee-based sources, but public libraries more often used sources freely-available on the Web.
A standardized nutrition approach for very low birth weight neonates improves outcomes, reduces cost and is not associated with increased rates of necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis or mortality

A standardized nutrition approach for very low birth weight neonates improves outcomes, reduces cost and is not associated with increased rates of necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis or mortality
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Sponsorship of Holocaust Denial

In recent months, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has emerged as the Middle East’s most vociferous critic of Israel and the United States. Defiantly resisting international efforts to curb hi...
Blue matter: scaling of N-body simulations to one atom per node

N-body simulations present some of the most interesting challenges in the area of massively parallel computing, especially when the object is to improve the time to solution for a fixed-size problem. The Blue Matter molecular simulation framework was developed specifically to address these challenges, to explore programming models for massively parallel machine architectures in a concrete context, and to support the scientific goals of the IBM Blue Gene® Project. This paper reviews the key issues involved in achieving ultrastrong scaling of methodologically correct biomolecular simulations, particularly the treatment of the long-range electrostatic forces present in simulations of proteins in water and membranes. Blue Matter computes these forces using the particle-particle particle-mesh Ewald (P3ME) method, which breaks the problem up into two pieces, one that requires the use of three-dimensional fast Fourier transforms with global data dependencies and another that involves computing interactions between pairs of particles within a cutoff distance. We summarize our exploration of the parallel decompositions used to compute these finite-ranged interactions, describe some of the implementation details involved in these decompositions, and present the evolution of strong-scaling performance achieved over the course of this exploration, along with evidence for the quality of simulation achieved.
Atomic force microscope studies of fibrinogen adsorption

Since its invention in 1986 by Binnig, Quate, and Gerber, the atomic force microscope (AFM) has proven to be an extremely useful tool for examining the interactions of proteins with surfaces. Fibrinogen in particular has been used as a model protein to demonstrate new methodologies for studying protein behavior with AFM due to its unique size, shape, and function. Indeed, fibrinogen's central role in both blood coagulation and blood-based infections has made it the primary protein used to interrogate the biocompatibility of surfaces. The goal of this review is to provide an analytical perspective on the utility of AFM for investigating the interaction of fibrinogen with surfaces.
A spring mechanism for circuit breakers

FOR APPLICATIONS where neither storage batteries nor control power transformers are practical, some type of mechanism has been needed to close oilless circuit breakers at the necessary speed without requiring an external source of electric control power. In addition to the correct closing speed, such a mechanism should supply sufficient energy to close and latch the circuit-breaker contacts under the maximum short-circuit conditions. The mechanism should be sufficiently compact for front mounting on a magne-blast oilless circuit breaker when applied in the vertical lift metal-clad switchgear enclosure. Tripping of the mechanism should be possible from either current transformers, a-c or d-c sources, or manual means. For safety reasons, both closing or tripping operations of the circuit breaker should be possible with the door of the metal-clad unit closed. In order to eliminate the necessity for auxiliary apparatus, such a mechanism should receive its energy from manual motion. To obtain sufficient closing speed, the manual energy supplied by the attendant must be stored and released instantaneously. Manual operation of the mechanism should require a minimum of time and effort from the station attendant.
Transverse and longitudinal CTE measurements of carbon fibers and their impact on interfacial residual stresses in composites

In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is utilized to evaluate the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of two polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based (T1000 and IM7) and one pitch-based (P55) carbon fiber in the temperature range 20–1100 C. The transverse morphology of the fibers is studied using field emission scanning electron microscope and selected area diffraction (SAD) patterns in a TEM and is co-related to the fiber transverse CTE. The PAN-based IM7 and T1000 fibers revealed a transversely isotropic structure, which was consistent with their transverse CTE measurements. Even though the pitch-based P55 fiber revealed cylindrical orthotropy, it did not translate to orthotropy in the transverse CTE. Finite element models of unidirectional IM7/977 composite, utilizing the present IM7 CTE values, are compared to experimental lamina scale CTE results where good agreement was obtained for cool-down regime. The models also indicate that the Tresca stresses in the epoxy matrix at the fiber–matrix interfac...
Supersonic Baryon-CDM Velocities and CMB B-Mode Polarization

It has recently been shown that supersonic relative velocities between dark matter and baryonic matter can have a significant effect on formation of the first structures in the Universe. If this effect is still non-negligible during the epoch of hydrogen reionization, it generates large-scale anisotropy in the free-electron density, which gives rise to a CMB $B$ mode. We compute the $B$-mode power spectrum and find a characteristic shape with acoustic peaks at $\ensuremath{\ell}\ensuremath{\approx}200,400,\dots{}$. The amplitude of this signal is a free parameter, which is related to the dependence of the ionization fraction on the relative baryon cold dark matter velocity during the epoch of reionization. However, we find that the $B$-mode signal is undetectably small for currently favored reionization models in which hydrogen is reionized promptly at $z\ensuremath{\sim}10$, although constraints on this signal by future experiments may help constrain models in which partial reionization occurs at higher redshift, e.g., by accretion onto primordial black holes.
Travelling cracks in elastic materials under longitudinal shear

The solution for the stress field around the tip of a crack subjected to longitudinal shear (antiplane strain) and travelling with a constant velocity in an elastic medium, as given by Bilby and Bullough (1954), has been extended to a configuration analogous to the tensile case studied by Craggs (1960). As in the case of tensile cracks, the applied stress required for constant velocity is lower for higher crack velocity and there is a critical velocity approximately 0.6 times that of the shear wave velocity above which the crack will branch. Similar stress levels are found using two different fracture criteria : the Griffith energy criterion and the criterion of critical shear strain averaged over a critical area.
Unqualified Dublin Core usage in OAI‐PMH data providers

This research describes an empirical study of how the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set (DCMES) is used by 100 data providers (DPs) registered with the Open Archives Initiative (OAI). The research was conducted to determine whether or not the DCMES is used to its full capabilities. Of 100 DPs, 82 have metadata records available for analysis; the DC elements used in each record were parsed and counted. Of the 15 elements, five – creator, identifier, title, date, and type – are used 71 per cent of the time and 54 per cent of the 82 DPs used only the creator and identifier elements for approximately half of their overall DCMES usage. The results show the DCMES is not used to its fullest extent within DPs registered with OAI.
A value-added analysis of the Heysel Stadium soccer riot

On May 29, 1985, a riot occurred at the European Cup Final soccer championship between Liverpool and Juventus at Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium. The riot, which caused the death of thirty-nine soccer fans, had a profound effect on English society as well as on professional soccer. This essay uses Smelser’s (1962) general model of collective behavior to analyze data derived from a number of sources describing the Heysel Stadium riot. In particular, this analysis focuses on a period of four hours, from the beginning of the riot at about 7:30 p.m. until the conclusion of the match around 11:30 p.m.
Protostelium expulsum sp.nov., a simple mycetozoan with a unique method of spore discharge

Protostelium expulsum sp.nov., a protostelid with a unique mode of spore dispersal, was isolated from dead attached plant parts collected in the Micronesian islands of Truk, Yap, and Guam. The single-spored fruiting body has a bipartite stalk with an inflated basal portion and a narrow upper section. Sporocarp development requires about 50 min. Shortly after maturation, increase in pressure within the stalk results in the expulsion of a mass of mucous material from the stalk base and the sudden disappearance of the sporocarp from the substrate. For a number of reasons the new species is considered most closely related to P. irregulare .
The Effects of the Global Financial Crisis on China's Financial Market and Macroeconomy

This paper provides a brief review of the increasing importance of China in the world economy and discusses the spillover effects of the global financial crisis on China's financial markets and macroeconomy. It presents and critiques alternative ways of estimating these effects. Contrary to much popular discussion, China was hit fairly hard by the global recession generated by the financial crisis. It suffered a huge drop in exports, and these effects on the economy were only partially offset by China's huge stimulus program. While growth remained well above international averages, its drop was of the same order of magnitude as for the United States. The paper closes with a brief discussion of some of the major challenges facing China to rebalance its economy in order to sustain high growth.
Development in the Hermit Crab Pagurus Caurinus Hart (Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) Reared in the Laboratory. Part I. Zoeal and Megalopal Stages

The developmental stages of Pagurus caurinus Hart from first through fourth zoea and megalopa are described and illustrated. Intermolt durations of larvae from two females that were reared simultaneously under identical laboratory conditions were significantly different during most stages; however, morphological variations appeared to lie within the range of intraspecific variations observed in other species of Pagurus.
Ambient 133Xe levels in the Northeast US

Measurements of 133Xe (τ12 = 5.2 days) atmospheric concentrations were performed during the fall of 1993 and throughout 1995 on ‘noble gas concentrates’ from the northeastern US. These samples were obtained from a commercial air-reduction plant in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Following Chromatographic purification of the xenon gas, the 133Xe activity was determined using a high-purity germanium gamma-ray spectrometer. The average 133Xe concentrations were in the range 1–3 mBq m−3, which is consistent with nuclear power plant noble gas releases in the region surrounding the sampling point, but approximately 50–100 times lower than those reported in Albany, NY approximately 300 km to the northeast from 1975 through 1984. The lower atmospheric concentrations are also consistent with the 100-fold reduction in radioxenon release from 25 nuclear reactors in that region. Only an upper limit could be established for the 135Xe level (τ12 = 9.1 h), which was about 0.03 of the 133Xe level. These background levels are of concern in monitoring for atmospheric radioxenons to assure compliance with a Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Observation of the new isotope 17C using a combined time-of-flight particle-identification technique☆

Abstract Addition of time-of-flight to the particle-identification technique used previously for the study of light nuclei ejected from uranium by 5.5 GeV protons has established the existence of 17 C and the particle instability of 13 Be.
Might virtual reality promote the mood benefits of exercise

Abstract This study sought to investigate if virtual reality technology enhances the psychological benefits of aerobic exercise in a laboratory setting. In this study, 88 university faculty and staff (44 females, 44 males) were randomly assigned to one of three 30-min conditions including: (1) bicycling at a moderate intensity (60–70% maximum heart rate) on a stationary bicycle, (2) playing a virtual reality computer bicycle game, or (3) an interactive virtual reality bicycle experience on a computer while exercising on a stationary bike at moderate intensity (60–70% maximum heart rate). The Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD-ACL) was administered immediately before and after the laboratory session. Results suggest that virtual reality enhances some of the mood benefits when paired with exercise. Virtual reality when paired with exercise enhances enjoyment, energy, and reduces tiredness. Virtual reality without exercise was discovered to increase participants' tension, tiredness, and lower their energy level. Results suggest that the combination of virtual reality and exercise might improve some of the beneficial psychological effects of exercise compared with virtual reality or exercise alone.
Diurnal rhythm for corticosterone in obese (ob/ob) diabetes (db/db) and gold-thioglucose-induced obesity in mice.

The present studies have examined the diurnal rhythm of corticosterone in genetically obese mice and in mice made obese by treatment with gold thioglucose. The values of corticosterone were significantly higher in the ob/ob mice than in lean mice at each of the four time points measured. The diurnal pattern for corticosterone in ob/ob mice, however, was similar to that in lean mice at both 6 and 12 weeks of age and had a nadir at 0700 h and a zenith at 1800 h. In mice with gold thioglucose-induced obesity, on the other hand, the corticosterone values were the same in the obese and lean control mice 6 weeks after treatment with gold thioglucose. By 12 weeks after gold thioglucose treatment, the obese animals had higher corticosterone levels in the morning than lean animals, but the peak values at 1800 h were not different. Restriction of body weight gain by allowing obese and lean mice food for only 4 h daily altered the pattern of corticosterone, but the values in the ob/ ob mice remained higher than thos...
End labeling studies of fragmented DNA in the avian growth plate: evidence of apoptosis in terminally differentiated chondrocytes.

The chondro-osseous junction has been the subject of considerable scrutiny, especially in terms of the fate and role of the terminally differentiated chondrocyte. Although it has been proposed that these cells change their phenotype and survive in the epiphysis, possibly as osteoblasts, evidence from a number of other studies suggests that chondrocytes may undergo apoptosis or programmed cell death. A useful test for programmed cell death is to end label DNA in cryosections using the commercial reagent ApopTag and detect antibody binding to fragmented DNA by epifluorescence ; more direct assessments include examination of the nucleus for condensation of chromatin, evaluating fragmentation through alkaline and pulsed field agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA, and measuring apoptosis by flow cytometry. We found that we could label cells in the proliferative and the hypertrophic region of the proximal tibial growth plate of the chick with ApopTag. Most of the chondrocytes in the hypertrophic region were labeled by the reagent ; in contrast, few proliferative chondrocytes were stained by the end-labeling procedure. Both agarose and pulsed field electrophoresis were used to confirm that there was fragmentation of chondrocyte DNA. Alkaline gel electrophoresis indicated that there was more fragmentation of DNA from hypertrophic cells than from proliferative chondrocytes. Further evidence in support of apoptosis was provided by electron microscopic observation of cells in the hypertrophic region of the growth plate. We noted that many of the cells in this region of the growth plate appeared to be undergoing programmed cell death since their nuclei contained condensed chromatin. Finally, we used flow cytometry to analyze chondrocytes isolated from the proliferating and hypertrophic regions of the growth plate for apoptosis. Dual parameteric flow cytometric contour plots of Hoechst and 7-amino-actinomycin D fluorescence showed that about 8% of cells in the plate were apoptotic. Most of these cells were in hypertrophic cartilage. In summary, the results of this investigation indicate that chondrocytes terminate their life history by apoptosis. While it is possible that the terminal labeling studies may overestimate the number of cells undergoing this event, the data lend credence to the view that cells are removed from the epiphysis through apoptosis. If this is the case, then chondrocytes probably enter the terminal phase of their life as fully functioning cells and genomic, and/or local environmental conditions provide termination signals that initiate events that lead to programmed cell death.
The Asymmetric Impact of Monetary Policy on Currency Markets

This study examines whether tightening and easing actions of the Federal Reserve symmetrically influence currency markets. Using daily data on four exchange rates from 1989 to 2001, we find that changes in the Fed's interest rate target are positively related to changes in the value of the dollar. Surprises associated with monetary tightening have a larger announcement effect as compared to monetary easing for the British pound, German mark, and Canadian dollar, whereas the opposite is true for the Japanese yen. The results appear to be driven by the reactions of foreign central banks to Fed actions, the Fed's credibility as a policymaker, and by the change in the Fed's disclosure policy beginning in 1994.
Graphing evolutionary pattern and process: a history of techniques in archaeology and paleobiology

Graphs displaying evolutionary patterns are common in paleontology and in United States archaeology. Both disciplines subscribed to a transformational theory of evolution and graphed evolution as a sequence of archetypes in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. U.S. archaeologists in the second decade of the twentieth century, and paleontologists shortly thereafter, developed distinct graphic styles that reflected the Darwinian variational model of evolution. Paleobiologists adopted the view of a species as a set of phenotypically variant individuals and graphed those variations either as central tendencies or as histograms of frequencies of variants. Archaeologists presumed their artifact types reflected cultural norms of prehistoric artisans and the frequency of specimens in each type reflected human choice and type popularity. They graphed cultural evolution as shifts in frequencies of specimens representing each of several artifact types. Confusion of pattern and process is exemplified by a paleobiologist misinterpreting the process illustrated by an archaeological graph, and an archaeologist misinterpreting the process illustrated by a paleobiological graph. Each style of graph displays particular evolutionary patterns and implies particular evolutionary processes. Graphs of a multistratum collection of prehistoric mammal remains and a multistratum collection of artifacts demonstrate that many graph styles can be used for both kinds of collections.
Paradigm shift in the surgical management of multigland parathyroid hyperplasia: an individualized approach.

Importance Locoregional anesthesia, conscious sedation, and exploration via a limited incision have become a well-accepted approach for the treatment of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism with image-localized, presumed single-gland disease. However, to our knowledge, this minimally invasive technique has never been investigated in patients with multigland disease. Objective To extrapolate the technique of locoregional anesthesia, conscious sedation, and exploration via a limited incision to perform minimally invasive bilateral exploration in patients who have multigland hyperplasia. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective analysis at a tertiary academic referral center of 100 consecutive patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid hyperplasia between January 19, 2010, and July 30, 2013, who were included in a prospective database. Interventions All patients underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy using either conventional treatment (bilateral neck exploration under general anesthesia) or extended minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (ex-MIP; locoregional anesthesia, conscious sedation, and exploration via a limited incision). Patients in the ex-MIP group who required conversion to general anesthesia were analyzed in the ex-MIP group on an intent-to-treat basis. Main Outcomes and Measures Patient cure and complication rates, length of stay, and total hospital charges. Results Of the 100 consecutive patients with parathyroid hyperplasia, 29 received conventional treatment and 71 underwent ex-MIP. In the ex-MIP group, 11 of 71 patients (15.5%) required conversion to general anesthesia. There were no differences between the ex-MIP and conventional treatment groups in age (mean [SD], 62.2 [12.2] vs 57.7 [15.2] years; P = .12), sex (59 [83.1%] vs 23 [79.3%] female; P = .78), preoperative serum calcium level (mean [SD], 11.1 [0.9] vs 10.8 [0.8] mg/dL; to convert to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.25; P = .15), preoperative serum parathyroid hormone level (mean [SD], 114.5 [56.8] vs 137.8 [83.4] pg/mL; to convert to nanograms per liter, multiply by 1; P = .10), complications (4 vs 0 complications; P = .32), or cure rates (98.6% vs 96.6%; P = .50). Importantly, the ex-MIP group had a significant reduction in length of stay compared with the conventional treatment group (mean [SD], 1.01 [0.02] vs 1.35 [0.24] days; P = .04). They also had lower total hospital charges, but the difference was not statistically significant (mean, $23 199 vs $27 312; P = .17). Conclusions and Relevance Parathyroidectomy with bilateral neck exploration under general anesthesia has been the standard of care for the treatment of parathyroid hyperplasia. We demonstrate that ex-MIP can provide equivalent cure and complication rates with a shorter hospital stay and a mean hospital charge reduction of more than $4000 per case.
Ultrastructural observations on cytoplasmic lamellar inclusions in oocytes of the rodent, Thomomys

The object of the present study was to examine ovarian oocytes of the sciuromorph rodent. Thomomys townsendii, to determine if they contained cytoplasmic inclusions similar to those reported in myomorph rodents. Our observations indicated the presence of cytoplasmic lamellar inclusions of oocytes of primary, secondary and large vesicular follicles of Thomomys. Small primary oocytes contained numerous cytoplasmic lamellae which appeared as spirals or concentric rings in cross-section. Longitudinal sections suggested the inclusions were arranged as concentric cylindrical sheets of material. Secondary and vesicular oocytes had morphologically similar inclusions, but, in addition, often had a tubular element of the endoplasmic reticulum associated with the core of the lamellae. Tangential sections through the lamellae revealed a crystalline substructure, regardless of the age of the oocyte. Our results indicate that cytoplasmic lamellar inclusions are not restricted to myomorph rodents, but may well be present in other species. The lamellar inclusions are three-dimensionally most similar in structure to those described in the hamster, but several fine structural differences exist even between these species. Thomomys is the only species to date in which a close topographical association develops between the lamellar inclusions and elements of the endoplasmic reticulum. Since the lamellae-endoplasmic reticulum association was not observed in the youngest oocytes examined, it is unlikely the endoplasmic reticulum is involved in synthesis of the lamellae, but it may, nonetheless, be metabolically related to the lamellae.
Supershear transition due to a free surface in 3-D simulations of spontaneous dynamic rupture on vertical strike-slip faults

Supershear rupture propagation has been inferred from seismic observations for natural faults and observed in laboratory experiments. We study the effect of the free surface on the transition of earthquake rupture from subshear to supershear speeds using simulations of spontaneous dynamic rupture on vertical strike-slip faults. We find that locally supershear rupture near the free surface can occur due to (i) the generalized Burridge–Andrews mechanism, that is, a supershear loading field between P- and SV-wave arrivals generated by the main rupture front at depths, and (ii) the phase conversion of SV to P-diffracted waves at the free surface. Weaker supershear slip due to the generalized Burridge–Andrews mechanism is caused by the low strength at shallow portions of the fault relative to deeper ones. Dominant supershear rupture is supported by the additional supershear loading field produced by phase conversion. Locally supershear propagation at the free surface occurs regardless of the level of prestress and can cause transition to supershear propagation over the entire seismogenic depth. Such global supershear transition, which depends on prestress, can occur under prestress levels lower than the theoretical estimates for models with no free surface. Although the effectiveness of supershear transition due to the free surface can be diminished by several potentially important factors, it may play an important role on natural faults, at least in those strike-slip earthquakes that accumulate significant surface slip.
Optimal Tone Mapping

Traditional autosegmental accounts of tone mapping invoke three independent factors: morphological category, tone quality, and a phonological directionality parameter. This article argues that the evidence for phonological directionality must be reconsidered. The article introduces a theory of Optimal Tone Mapping, in which attested patterns derive solely from the interaction of morphological directionality with quality-sensitive markedness constraints. The more restrictive theory of tone association that results from eliminating constraints that impose phonological directionality provides a new typology of tone melody languages.
Significantly accelerated osteoblast cell growth on aligned TiO2 nanotubes.

Vertically aligned yet laterally spaced nanoscale TiO2 nanotubes have been grown on Ti by anodization, and the growth of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells on such nanotubes has been investigated. The adhesion/propagation of the osteoblast is substantially improved by the topography of the TiO_2 nanotubes with the filopodia of growing cells actually going into the nanotube pores, producing an interlocked cell structure. The presence of the nanotube structure induced a significant acceleration in the growth rate of osteoblast cells by as much as ∼300–400%.
Experimental cryogenic modeling and noise of SiGe HBTs

SiGe devices are an exciting contender for extremely low noise, cryogenically cooled amplifiers. This paper begins with a procedure for extracting a simple equivalent circuit model capable of accurately describing SiGe HBT devices. Next, small-signal modeling results obtained for a 3×0.12×18um2 SiGe HBT at 15, 40, 77, 120, 200, and 300K are presented along with discussion of performance enhancements due to cooling of the device. Finally, the modeled noise performance is presented as a function of temperature and frequency using the concept of minimum cascaded noise temperature, a figure of merit which incorporates both noise temperature and gain.
On dynamic switching of navigation for semi-formal design validation

Abstraction-guided simulation is a promising semi-formal framework for design validation. Unlike previously proposed approaches that utilized potentially costly abstraction-refinement for altering the abstraction when encountering hard corner cases, in this paper, a novel and low-cost method is proposed. The search begins with an initial abstraction and dynamically switches guidance to a new, different abstract model when it becomes apparent that the current model does not provide a sufficiently detailed map of the state space to advance the search towards the target. We automatically and efficiently identify those state variables that influence the circuitpsilas transition towards the target state using binary resolution, and these variables are used to create new abstractions on-the-fly during the search. The new abstractions provide a fine-grained abstract view of local segments of the concrete state space, which the stimuli generator uses to navigate towards the hard-to-reach target state. Experimental results show that our method is scalable and highly effective in reaching hard-to-reach states.
Porosity determinations in thermally sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings

The porosity of various thermally sprayed coatings was determined using an Archimedian Method. The method relies on density determinations and buoyancy effects. First, measurements were carried out on standard samples in order to verify the accuracy and reliability of the Archimedian method. Then, porosity measurements were taken for hydroxyapatite samples and correlated to its physical properties. The results from the experiments show that as the crystallinity of the HAp increases, the porosity increases. Also, as the amorphous content increases, porosity decreases. Other relationships indicated that the porosity decreased as the stand off distance increased and it decreased with a power increase.
Herd male genetic algorithm

There are two extremes in optimization with little ground between them. They are local optimization and global optimization. Local optimization is normally very fast, but the optimum it finds may be far from the best (global) optimum. Global optimization is very slow, but it gives the best optimum- at least in principle. Using mammal herds as rough models, we suggest a new evolutionary method that has aspects of both and achieves intermediate results most of the time: faster-than-global convergence with better-than- local performance.
Bone-implant interface in a rabbit femur model in vivo: nanoscopic mineralization patterns by atomic force microscopy

Bone-implant interface is characterized by a complex array of cells and macromolecules in a mineralizing matrix forming a micromechanical environment that transmits biomechanical stresses. The biomechanical properties of the bone-implant interface are unknown. Here we examined the bone-implant interface in a submicron length scale with atomic force microscopy (AFM). three screw-type titanium implants (8/spl times/4.1 mm: length/spl times/diameter) were placed in the femur in each of three, eight-week-old, NZW rabbits by following conventional clinical implant procedures. A four-week duration was given for the implants to osseointegrate. Upon block implant harvest, a diamond knife was used to transect the bone-implant block at a level that was 4 mm from the coronal surface of the fixture with a resulting size of approximately 5 mm volume. The bone-implant interface was then subjected to nanoindentation with atomic force microscopy to obtain force spectroscopy images every 60 microns from the implant surface up to 420 microns outwards in four directions that were separated by 90/spl deg/ angles. The average microelastic moduli demonstrated a gradient distribution, lowest from the implant surface (0.78/spl plusmn/0.01 MPa) and increasing outbound up to 420 microns (1.70/spl plusmn/0.06 MPa). These data suggest that mineralization in the bone-implant interface proceeds inbound towards the implant surface.
The construct validity of subjective well-being measures: An assessment via quantitative research syntheses

The construct validity of subjective well-being was assessed by quantitative research syntheses of U.S. studies of the correlates of subjective well-being appearing before 1980. The classes of evidence examined in this article include reports of reliability, estimates of correlation between different measures of subjective well-being, and estimates of correlation between measures of subjective well-being and measures of other constructs (adjustment, neuroticism, and work and family satisfaction). Generally, measures of subjective well-being showed adequate reliability (M = .80). Measures of subjective well-being were moderately associated with adjustment (M = .38), neuroticism (M = − .33), and work (M = .33) and family (M = .29) satisfaction. Although measures of subjective well-being were substantially interrelated (M = .52), validity coefficients based on two different subjective well-being measures purported to tap the construct of happiness (M = .45) were slightly lower than validity coefficients based on subjective well-being measures purported to tap the constructs of happiness and life satisfaction (M = .49). In selecting measures of subjective well-being, community psychologists are urged to consider their theoretical framework and traditional psychometric criteria.
Emerging Hurricane Evacuation Issues: Hurricane Floyd and South Carolina

A survey of coastal South Carolina residents addressed the role of household decisions in amplifying demand on transportation infrastructure during 1999's Hurricane Floyd evacuation. The evacuation rate averaged 65% (+/- 4.2%) in coastal evacuation areas. Three major findings reveal that traffic problems are becoming a major consideration in whether people evacuate. How they evacuate is emerging as an issue for evacuation traffic planning. First, about 25% of households took two or more cars. Nearly 50% of evacuees left in one 6-hour period. Major traffic pressure developed on the interstate system, particularly Interstate-26. Second, while the majority of respondents carried road maps, only 51% of that group used them to determine their route. Many decided to stay on the Interstate despite the congestion. Finally, the majority of South Carolinian residents traveled distances greater than necessary for safe sheltering and more than in past hurricanes. Transportation issues will become more important in coastal evacuations as traffic problems impinge on people's ability to get out of harm's way and ultimately influence their decisions to evacuate.
Intrathecal Opioids for Chronic Nonmalignant Pain: A Case Study and the Search for Balance

Direct neuraxial drug delivery dates back to 1898, at which time Bier applied cocaine directly to the spinal cord in order to produce analgesia [1]. Several years later, a surgeon published the first report of direct neuraxial administration of opioids [2]. However, it was not until the discovery of opioid receptors in the spinal cord in the 1970s that Wang and colleagues [3] reported on the first successful intrathecal administration of morphine for intractable cancer pain that …
11. Toward Lasting Peace: Kant on Law, Public Reason, and Culture

Kant helps us understand the conditions for peace by reminding us that lasting peace requires both cosmopolitan legal reform and individual moral improvement, including resistance to egoism and the cultivation of cosmopolitan attitudes. The duty to pursue peace includes the duty to promote the rule of domestic and international law and work against its unilateral subversion. The juridical cosmopolitanism of a worldwide league of free peoples enables resistance to the dangers posed by authoritarian regimes and their dangerous willingness to manipulate their subjects and ignore international law. Constraining egoism enables people to overcome the tyranny of their desires and cultivates a sense of affiliation with the larger community of humanity in general, providing the moral foundation needed to support a cosmopolitan legal order. Moral development to a great extent is fostered through the arts and humanities, and a robust cultural life therefore ought to play a central role in the pursuit of global peace.
The absence of intervening sequences in 23S rRNA genes of Campylobacter coli isolates from Turkeys is a unique attribute of a cluster of related strains which also lack resistance to erythromycin

Certain Campylobacter strains harbor a transcribed intervening sequence (IVS) in their 23S rRNA genes. Following transcription, the IVS is excised, leading to fragmentation of the 23S rRNA. The origin and possible functions of the IVS are unknown. Furthermore, the distribution of IVS-harboring strains within Campylobacter populations is poorly understood. In this study, 104 strains of Campylobacter coli from turkeys, representing 27 different multilocus sequence typing-based sequence types (STs), were characterized in terms of IVS content and erythromycin susceptibility. Sixty-nine strains harbored IVSs in all three 23S rRNA genes, whereas the other 35 strains lacked IVSs from at least one of the genes. The STs of the latter strains belonged to an unusual cluster of C. coli STs (cluster II), earlier found primarily in turkey strains and characterized by the presence of the C. jejuni aspA103 allele. The majority (66/69) of strains harboring IVSs in all three 23S rRNA genes were resistant to erythromycin, whereas none of the 35 strains with at least one IVS-free 23S rRNA gene were resistant. Cluster II strains could be transformed to erythromycin resistance with genomic DNA from C. coli that harbored IVS and the A2075G transition in the 23S rRNA gene, associated with resistance to erythromycin in Campylobacter. Erythromycin-resistant transformants harbored both the A2075 transition and IVS. The findings suggest that the absence of IVS in C. coli from turkeys is characteristic of a unique clonal group of erythromycin-susceptible strains and that IVS can be acquired by these strains via natural transformation to erythromycin resistance.
Motion and shape of a viscoelastic drop falling through a viscous fluid

The steady shape of a drop of dilute polymer solution falling through a quiescent viscous Newtonian fluid is considered. Experimentally, we find that an immiscible drop of 0.16% xanthan gum in 80:20 glycerol/water falling through 9.8 P polydimethylsiloxane oil may exhibit a stable dimple at its trailing edge. At higher volumes the dimple extends far into the interior of the drop, and pinches off via a Rayleigh-type instability, injecting oil droplets into the polymer drop. At even larger volumes, a toroidal shape develops. We show that the dimpled shape can be reproduced mathematically with axisymmetric solutions for Stokes flow past a non-Newtonian drop, using the constitutive equation for a Simple Fluid of Order Three.
Alternative routes to teaching for vocational educators

Alternative credentialling of teachers has been practiced for decades in vocational education, even though research is inconclusive as to the efficacy of the quality of the teacher's preparation upon completion of these alternative programmes. It has been suggested by several authors that teachers receiving non-traditional certificates do not perform as well as traditionally prepared teachers. Several aspects of alternative certification for vocational educators must be postulated for effectiveness to warrant in the classroom of today and for the future. Hence, this article delves into topics critical to teacher preparation. First, the reasons underlying alternative certification including the private sector as teachers. Next, a variety of definitional issues of alternative certification programmes currently in place in many states will be elaborated on. Since the inclusion of students with disabilities has infiltrated vocational classrooms it is imperative to discuss briefly how this affects the alternat...
Systolic hypertension and subendocardial hemorrhages produced by electrical stimulation of the stellate ganglion.

During prolonged electrical stimulation of the stellate ganglion in the dog, blood pressure, and more specifically systolic pressure, is significantly elevated. The amount of augmentation in pulse pressure is related to the frequency of stimulation, as is the duration of the sustained pressor response. Postmortem examination of the hearts revealed a distinctive pattern of subendocardial hemorrhages distributed along the long axis of the papillary muscles and the trabeculae carneae. They also frequently marked the endocardium at the base of the mitral valve. These lesions appeared in the left ventricle in 29 of 33 animals in which the left stellate ganglion was stimulated at a frequency of three to ten per second. They were found in only five instances in the right ventricles of these animals. The incidence of lesions in the ventricular wall was low during stimulation of the right stellate ganglion, although the mitral valve became involved in about 50 per cent of the animals. The similarity of the lesions to those induced during hemorrhagic hypotension, elevated intracranial pressures, and infusion of large quantities of the catecholamines suggests the possibility of a similar etiology. A satisfactory explanation of the lesion, however, is not yet available.
ALGEBRAS OF BOUNDED FINITE DIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATION TYPE

This is a preprint version of a paper that will appear in Glasgow Math. J. 37 (1995) 289-302. It is shown that for an arbitrary affine or noetherian algebra R over a field, bounded representation type for the finite dimensional R-modules implies finite rep- resentation type for such modules. In fact, this boundedness assumption guarantees the existence of an ideal I annihilating all finite dimensional R-modules such that R=I is a finite dimensional algebra of finite representation type. Bounds on lengths of certain classes of finite-length modules are also investigated. For example, if R is a noetherian ring satisfying the second layer condition and admitting a finite bound on the lengths of the indecomposable finite-length R-modules having co-artinian annihi- lators, it is proved that R is a direct product of an artinian ring of finite representation type and a ring with no proper co-artinian ideals.
Time Series Modeling for Activity Prediction

Human Motion Analysis (HMA) is a highly interdisciplinary research area which attracts great interests from computer vision, machine learning, multimedia, and medical research communities, due to the potential applications ranging from, human–computer interaction, security (intelligent surveillance), health (assistive clinical studies), information technology (content-based video retrieval), entertainments (special effects in film production and somatosensory game) to all aspects of our daily life. As an important research thread of HMA, action recognition builds the basis for all of the above-mentioned applications.
The House Problem

(1965). The House Problem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 72, No. 10, pp. 1082-1088.
Cross-Section Transmission Electron Microscope Study of Ni/Au/Ge/Au Ohmic Contact to Gallium Arsenide

The interfacial structures resulting from the metallurgical reactions between a Ni/Au/Ge/Au film and (100) GaAs substrate were studied by cross-section TEM. Annealing at 300 – 350°C causes a complicated solid-solid phase reaction, resulting in the multilayer structure of Ni2Ge/Au7Ga2/NiAs/Au7Ga,/GaAs. The contact shows non-ohmic character, since most of the doping element Ge is trapped in the surface Ni2Ge layer When the contact is annealed at above 400°C. the layered structure is destroyed because one of the phases (Au-Ga) becomes liquid but other phases (Ni-Ge, Ni-As) remain solid Ge, which is captured in the surface layer, diffuses out of the Ni2Ge phase into the contact/GaAs interface through the Au-rich melt. Above this temperature, a Ge-doped n+ region is probably formed at the NiAs/GaAs interface and the contact becomes ohmic. With increasing annealing temperature, continuous grain growth of NiAs is found to occur and the NiAs/GaAs interface area increases. Thus the ohmic behavior of Au-Ge-Ni on n-GaAs can be explained by the low barrier height of the NiAs/GaAs interface and the formation of Ge-doped n+ region under the NiAs phase.
Comparison of continuous and strip paper electrophoresis technics for study of serum glycoproteins.

SummaryA continuous paper electro-phoretic technic was compared with a paper strip electrophoretic technic as a tool for the study of serum protein and glycoprotein fractions. Protein and glycoprotein for the continuous electrophoretic study were quanti-tated by analyses of the fractions by the biuret and tryptophan reactions. The glyco-proteins by the strip technic were quantitated by the periodic acid Schiff reaction and the protein strips by the bromophenol blue staining. In both cases the strips were evaluated with an automatic photoelectric scanner. Good agreement between the two methods for both protein and glycoprotein was noted.
Brutparasitismus der Glanzwitwe ( Vidua hypocherina )

In Sud-Kenya (Athi River-Bezirk; Rift Valley) wurden Eier der Glanzwitwe (Vidua hypocherina) in den Nestern der ostafrikanischen Rasse des Elfenastrilds (Brunhilda erythronotos delamerei) und des Feenastrilds (B. charmosyna) gefunden und zum Nachweis ihrer Herkunft zur weiteren Bebrutung und Aufzucht der Jungen auf Kunsteiern brutenden Japanischen Movchen ubergeben. Die jungen Mannchen der Brutparasiten hatten im Alter von 12 Monaten ihr erstes vollstandiges Brutkleid angelegt. Da die Rachenzeichnungen der Nestlinge der beiden Wirtsarten identisch sind, unterlagVidua hypocherina keinem Selektionsdruck zu einer parallel verlaufenden Artaufspaltung.