cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and characterization of a new class of stabilized apatite nanoparticles and applying the particles to in situ Pb immobilization in a fire-range soil.

Abstract Phosphate compounds and the related materials are effective agents for in situ immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils. Problems associated with using these phosphate materials include difficulties in delivering the solid phosphate minerals to the deep contaminated zones or risks of eutrophication with applying soluble phosphates. Therefore, a new class of apatite nanoparticles was synthesized using carboxymethyl cellulose as a stabilizer in order to increase the dispersion rate of phosphate in soils but without introducing significant amount of soluble phosphate into the environment. The product was confirmed by XRD as chlorapatite (Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 Cl) with poor crystallinity. TEM and SEM revealed that the particles were spherical or irregular in shape with sizes spanning from a few nm to around 200 nm. FTIR spectra suggested that Ca(II) cations formed outer-sphere bonds with carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in cellulose molecules, thus inhibiting further agglomeration of the particles. Dry combustion data supported a formula of [C 6 H 7 O 2 (OH) 2 OCH 2 COOCa 5 (PO 4 ) 3 Cl] n for the nano-apatite composite. Laboratory tests showed that the nanoparticles could effectively decrease the TCLP-leachable Pb fraction in a Pb-contaminated soil from 66% to 10% after one-month amendment with a ratio of 2 mL solution to 1 g soil and the resultant Pb content in the TCLP solution was reduced to 12 from 94 mg L −1 . When the amendment ratio was increased by 5 times, the leachable Pb was further reduced to 3.8 mg L −1 with only about 3% of the soil Pb leachable. The soil sample, containing an average of 2.7 × 10 3 mg Pb kg −1 , was taken from a shooting-range in Southern USA.
Covariance NMR in higher dimensions: application to 4D NOESY spectroscopy of proteins.

Elucidation of high-resolution protein structures by NMR spectroscopy requires a large number of distance constraints that are derived from nuclear Overhauser effects between protons (NOEs). Due to the high level of spectral overlap encountered in 2D NMR spectra of proteins, the measurement of high quality distance constraints requires higher dimensional NMR experiments. Although four-dimensional Fourier transform (FT) NMR experiments can provide the necessary kind of spectral information, the associated measurement times are often prohibitively long. Covariance NMR spectroscopy yields 2D spectra that exhibit along the indirect frequency dimension the same high resolution as along the direct dimension using minimal measurement time. The generalization of covariance NMR to 4D NMR spectroscopy presented here exploits the inherent symmetry of certain 4D NMR experiments and utilizes the trace metric between donor planes for the construction of a high-resolution spectral covariance matrix. The approach is demonstrated for a 4D 13C-edited NOESY experiment of ubiquitin. The 4D covariance spectrum narrows the line-widths of peaks strongly broadened in the FT spectrum due to the necessarily short number of increments collected, and it resolves otherwise overlapped cross peaks allowing for an increase in the number of NOE assignments to be made from a given dataset. At the same time there is no significant decrease in the positive predictive value of observing a peak as compared to the corresponding 4D Fourier transform spectrum. These properties make the 4D covariance method a potentially valuable tool for the structure determination of larger proteins and for high-throughput applications in structural biology.
Mass Rearing of Lone Star Ticks

Efficient methods and materials for the mass rearing of Amblyomma americanum (L.) include the mass feeding of immature stages on chickens and the feeding of adults in cells on cattle. A masking tape-cold water method of collecting replete immatures was developed. Average population increases per generation has been 700X.
Astroecology, cosmo-ecology, and the future of life

Astroecology concerns the relations between life and space resources, and cosmo-ecology extrapolates these relations to cosmological scales. Experimental astroecology can quantify the amounts of life that can be derived from space resources. For this purpose, soluble carbon and electrolyte nutrients were measured in asteroid/meteorite materials. Microorganisms and plant cultures were observed to grow on these materials, whose fertilities are similar to productive agricultural soils. Based on measured nutrient contents, the 10 22 kg carbonaceous asteroids can yield 10 18 kg biomass with N and P as limiting nutrients (compared with the estimated 10 15 kg biomass on Earth). These data quantify the amounts of life that can be derived from asteroids in terms of time-integrated biomass [ BIOTA int = biomass (kg) × lifetime (years)], as 10 27 kg-years during the next billion years of the Solar System (a thousand times the 10 24 kg-years to date). The 10 26 kg cometary materials can yield biota 10 000 times still larger. In the galaxy, potential future life can be estimated based on stellar luminosities. For example, the Sun will develop into a white dwarf star whose 10 15 W luminosity can sustain a BIOTA int of 10 34 kg-years over 10 20 years. The 10 12 main sequence and white and red dwarf stars can sustain 10 46 kg-years of BIOTA int in the galaxy and 10 57 kg-years in the universe. Life has great potentials in space, but the probability of present extraterrestrial life may be incomputable because of biological and ecological complexities. However, we can establish and expand life in space with present technology, by seeding new young solar systems. Microbial representatives of our life-form can be launched by solar sails to new planetary systems, including extremophiles suited to diverse new environments, autotrophs and heterotrophs to continually form and recycle biomolecules, and simple multicellulars to jump-start higher evolution. These programs can be motivated by life-centered biotic ethics that seek to secure and propagate life. In space, life can develop immense populations and diverse new branches. Some may develop into intelligent species that can expand life further in the galaxy, giving our human endeavors a cosmic purpose.
Distributed Representations, Simple Recurrent Networks, And Grammatical Structure

In this paper three problems for a connectionist account of language are considered: 1. What is the nature of linguistic representations? 2. How can complex structural relationships such as constituent structure be represented? 3. How can the apparently open-ended nature of language be accommodated by a fixed-resource system? Using a prediction task, a simple recurrent network (SRN) is trained on multiclausal sentences which contain multiply-embedded relative clauses. Principal component analysis of the hidden unit activation patterns reveals that the network solves the task by developing complex distributed representations which encode the relevant grammatical relations and hierarchical constituent structure. Differences between the SRN state representations and the more traditional pushdown store are discussed in the final section.
Interleukin-1β-induced expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the rabbit retina: An in situ and immunohistochemical study

In this study, the temporal and spatial expression of the chemotactic factor monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) was examined in the rabbit retina after challenge with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1). In these tissues, IL-1 induces an acute inflammatory response of the epiretinal vessels that peaks approximately 24 h postintraocular injection (pi) with the cytokine. At 2 h after challenge with IL-1, MCP-1 mRNA was expressed by perivascular microglial cells and astrocytes that form the glial limitans. Protein analysis at 3 h pi with IL-1 confirmed these sites of MCP-1 expression. The intensity of the mRNA and protein signals increased at 6 h and at 24 h. At these time points, MCP-1 message and protein also were detected in infiltrating macrophages and, at the latest time point, in endothelial cells as well. These data support the conclusion that IL-1 provides a strong stimulus for the rapid expression of MCP-1 mRNA and protein in retinal tissues, and they further support the role of endogenous glial cells as important sources of mediators involved in the regulation of inflammation occurring within the nervous system.
Dynamic lot size problems with one-way product substitution

Abstract We consider two multi-product dynamic lot size models with one-way substitution, where the products can be indexed such that a lower-index product may be used to substitute for the demand of a higher-index product. In the first model, the product used to meet the demand of another product must be physically transformed into the latter and incur a conversion cost. In the second model, a product can be directly used to satisfy the demand for another product without requiring any physical conversion. Both problems are generally computationally intractable. We develop dynamic programming algorithms that solve the problems in polynomial time when the number of products is fixed. A heuristic is also developed, and computational experiments are conducted to test the effectiveness of the heuristic and the efficiency of the optimal algorithm.
Lessons down a rabbit hole: Alternate reality gaming in the classroom

Alternate Reality Games can be used to reinforce classroom knowledge by encouraging collective learning practices and focusing on new media literacy skills. An Alternate Reality Game creates a game space from real-world locations by relying on information, both online and offline, to physically involve players in a game “space.” While the majority of large Alternate Reality Games, to date, have been used as part of marketing campaigns, an increasing number of faculty teaching topics in digital media, technologies, and game studies have begun to employ the alternate reality game in the classroom. We argue that the affordances of Alternate Reality Games are best integrated within a “play-revise-design” format. By appropriating this emerging format in classroom spaces, we hope to teach students concepts such as new media literacies, the values of “safe failure,” and social learning, while giving students the tools for interactive storytelling.
Browsing an image database utilizing the associations between images and features

In this paper the associations between the low-level features and the images are utilized to create a visualization that enables the user to determine the nature of the database, e.g., what are the predominant features for a group of images and vice-versa. This is based on modeling the database with a bipartite graph and partitioning the graph to find partitions of images and low-level features. Moreover, by using the concept of orthogonal arrays, a sample of images from each partition are presented to the user as a visual snapshot of the database.
First-line chemotherapy for advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer: focus on docetaxel.

Systemic chemotherapy results in modest improvements in survival and quality of life for patients with advanced-stage non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Administration of a platinum compound in combination with a taxane (paclitaxel or docetaxel), gemcitabine, vinorelbine, or irinotecan is considered optimal first-line therapy for patients with advanced-stage NSCLC who have a good performance status. Studies that have compared various platinum agent–based doublet regimens have demonstrated comparable efficacy between these regimens. In addition, non–platinum agent–based regimens have also demonstrated response rates and survival similar to the platinum agent–based combinations. These developments have allowed for tailoring of chemotherapy to individual patients based on factors such as toxicity profile, treatment schedule, and cost. Docetaxel is approved for first-line therapy and salvage treatment of advanced-stage NSCLC. Multiple randomized clinical trials have established the efficacy of platinum-agent/docetaxel regimens for first-line treatment of advanced-stage NSCLC. Improvements in various lung cancer–related symptoms and global quality of life indices have been noted with docetaxel-based regimens. Combination chemotherapy appears to be beneficial even for elderly patients. The current generation of clinical trials is evaluating the incorporation of molecularly targeted agents into existing 2-drug chemotherapy regimens. This article will discuss the role of docetaxel as first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced-stage NSCLC.
Season-long mating disruption of citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, with an emulsified wax formulation of pheromone

The citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillarii- dae), is a major worldwide pest of citrus. Larval feeding by this insect facil- itates proliferation of citrus bacterial canker, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri. Herein, we describe a season-long disruption trial of P. citrella with a newly developed, emulsified wax dispenser of pheromone (SPLAT- CLM TM ). A formulation containing a 3 : 1 blend of (Z,Z,E)-7,11,13-hexa-
Gender and participation in decision-making in labor-managed firms: The context of the USA

Workers’ participation in making business decisions is a key aspect of the management structure of labor-managed firms. However, studies of the variables that determine the degree to which an individual participates in decision-making fail to consider the impact of gender relations. This paper first argues that the organizational features of labor-managed firms have a significant impact on participation. Second, the paper argues that that these organizational features and other explanatory variables have different effects on women’s and men’s participation, due to patriarchal gender relations. Third, this paper tests these theories using data from American labor-managed firms. Several of the variables and organizational features have significantly different impacts on women’s and men’s participation. Notably, occupational status, the surplus distribution method, the wage differential, performance measurements, and the level of cross-training each have gender-differentiated effects on participation.
II—Acting ‘of One's Own Free Will’: Modern Reflections on an Ancient Philosophical Problem

Over the past five decades, I have been developing a distinctive view of free will according to which it requires that agents be to some degree ultimately responsible for the formation of their own wills (characters, motives and purposes). To act ‘of one's own free will’ in this sense is to act ‘from a will’ that is to some extent ‘of one's own free making’. A free will of this ultimate kind (often called ‘incompatibilist’ or ‘libertarian’) has been under attack in the modern era as obscure and unintelligible. In this paper, I discuss the arguments for such a view and compare it to other contemporary views of free will and action. I then address criticisms that such a non-determinist free will cannot be made intelligible or reconciled with modern science, does not allow sufficient agent control, reduces to mere chance or luck or randomness, leads to various regresses, or fails to account for moral responsibility, among other criticisms.
From Cooperation to Complicity: Degussa in the Third Reich

In 1997, Peter Hayes was approached by the German chemical firm Degussa to research and write a detailed report about its activities in Nazi Germany. As the author of a well-received volume on the history of IG Farben in the Third Reich and a respected professor of German history and Holocaust studies at Northwestern University, Hayes was a logical and solid choice to undertake such a task. The judicious and careful volume under review is the final product of his effort.
THE SEMANTICS OF RACIAL SLURS: USING KAPLAN'S FRAMEWORK TO PROVIDE A THEORY OF THE MEANING OF DEROGATORY EPITHETS

In this paper I adopt Kaplan's framework for distinguishing between descriptive and expressive content. Racial slurs are an especially difficult challenge for truth-conditional semantics because of their projection behaviors. That is to say, the offensive content of slurs "scopes out" of logical operators. I argue that racial slurs express contempt and lack descriptive content, so that many sentences con- taining slurs are not truth apt. My theory accounts for the intuition of the ordinary speaker who refuses to assent to the truth of a sentence containing a slur, but accepts the same statement made using a neutral counterpart of that slur. Weaknesses of rival theories (including those of Williamson, Hom, and Richard) are briefly discussed.
Do dimensions of ethnic identity mediate the association between perceived ethnic group discrimination and depressive symptoms

Ethnic group discrimination represents a notable risk factor that may contribute to mental health problems among ethnic minority college students. However, cultural resources (e.g., ethnic identity) may promote psychological adjustment in the context of group-based discriminatory experiences. In the current study, we examined the associations between perceptions of ethnic group discrimination and depressive symptoms, and explored dimensions of ethnic identity (i.e., exploration, resolution, and affirmation) as mediators of this process among 2,315 ethnic minority college students (age 18 to 30 years; 37% Black, 63% Latino). Results indicated that perceived ethnic group discrimination was associated positively with depressive symptoms among students from both ethnic groups. The relationship between perceived ethnic group discrimination and depressive symptoms was mediated by ethnic identity affirmation for Latino students, but not for Black students. Ethnic identity resolution was negatively and indirectly associated with depressive symptoms through ethnic identity affirmation for both Black and Latino students. Implications for promoting ethnic minority college students' mental health and directions for future research are discussed.
In-plane thermal conductivity measurement on nanoscale conductive materials with on-substrate device configuration

In this study, we measure the in-plane thermal conductivity of palladium (Pd) nanowire with varying length (3–50 µm) and width (100–250 nm). The bridges are fabricated by electron beam lithography with an on-substrate measurement configuration. The measurements are performed on substrates with 190 nm and 2.9 µm thick thermal oxide using a 4-probe steady-state DC Joule heating method, and several suspended structure are also prepared to investigate the accuracy of the on-substrate results. For the on-substrate measurements, the thermal conductivity is estimated for short nanowires assuming the magnitude of the heat loss to the substrate from measurements of longer nanowires. As a result, the measured thermal conductivity is 30 ± 5 W/mK for suspended short nanowires at room temperature, and the estimated thermal conductivity for the on-substrate samples are consistent with this value. The measurements on the substrate with 2.9 µm oxide result in small variations between samples (± 5 W/mK), while the results on 190 nm thick oxide has a larger variation and uncertainty (> ± 20 W/mK) due to the uncertainty in the magnitude of the heat loss to the substrate. Sufficient measurement accuracy is only achieved if the heat loss to the substrate can be estimated or measured with high accuracy.
Searching for Alternatively Spliced Variants of Phospholipase Domain-Containing 2 (Pnpla2), a Novel Gene in the Retina

Purpose: Ensembl and other expressed sequence tag (EST) databases reveal putative alternative splice variants in mouse and rat for Pnpla2, the gene encoding pigment epithelium-derived factor-receptor (PEDF-R). The purpose of this study was to obtain experimental evidence for Pnpla2 splice variants in mouse. Materials and Methods: Cultures of a mouse cell line derived from photoreceptors (661W cells) and mouse eye, heart, adipose, kidney, and liver tissues were used. Messenger RNA (mRNA) was isolated from cells and tissues, and complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer pairs were designed to flank the putative splice sites. Exon exclusion real time PCR was used to reduce amplification of the full-length Pnpla2 transcript and enhance amplification of low abundant splice variants. PCR products were resolved by agarose gel electrophoresis and detected with a UV transilluminator. Recombinant plasmids containing a human full-length PNPLA2 cDNA or a PNPLA2 cDNA lacking exon 5b (E5b) were controls to validate the techniques. Total cell lysates from 661W cells were prepared. PEDF-R protein detection was performed using western blots. Results: PCR products for Pnpla2 transcripts obtained from 661W cells or various mouse tissues resolved into a single band following amplification with multiple primer pairs. Simultaneous amplification of two PNPLA2 cDNAs at various molar ratios prevented the detection of lower abundant transcripts. However, even when the cDNA for the fulllength Pnpla2 transcript was significantly excluded using the exon exclusion method, no bands corresponding to Pnpla2 splice variants were detectable. Nonetheless, western blots of total 661W cell lysates with two different antibodies revealed isoforms for the PEDF-R protein. Conclusions: The data provide evidence for the existence of a single, full-length Pnpla2 transcript that could give rise to a single protein product that undergoes posttranslational processing.
Design issues for the transformer in a low-voltage power supply with high efficiency and high power density

Circuit model, design feasibility, and design tradeoffs are investigated for the transformer in 1.5-5 V power supplies with high efficiency and high power density. The transformer is constructed from a single or a matrix of pot cores and from interleaved planar windings. It has been determined theoretically and verified experimentally that such a transformer is realizable as long as the loss constraint is not severe (e.g. less than 0.5 W transformer loss per 100 W output). The primary source of loss is the winding, not the core, in 1.5 V/turn design. Measures to reduce the transformer height tend to increase transformer loss or volume. >
Vaccinia Virus Nicking-Joining Enzyme Is Encoded by K4L (VACWR035)

Vaccinia virus encodes an enzyme with DNA modifying activity that cleaves and inefficiently cross-links cruciformic DNA. This enzyme is contained within the virion, expressed at late times postinfection, and processes DNA in an energy-independent, Mg2+ ion-independent manner. Viral nuclease activity was measured in extracts from cells infected with well-defined viral mutants. Since some viral extracts lacked nuclease activity, the gene encoding the activity was postulated to be one of the open reading frames absent in the viruses lacking activity. Inducible expression of each candidate open reading frame revealed that only the gene VACWR035, or K4L, was required for nuclease activity. A recombinant virus missing only the open reading frame for K4L lacked nuclease activity. Extracts from a recombinant virus expressing K4L linked to a FLAG polypeptide were able to cleave and cross-link cruciformic DNA. There were no significant differences between the virus lacking K4L and wild-type vaccinia virus WR with respect to infectivity, growth characteristics, or processing of viral replicative intermediate DNA, including both telomeric and cross-linked forms. Purification of the K4L FLAG polypeptide expressed in bacteria yielded protein containing nicking-joining activity, implying that K4L is the only vaccinia virus protein required for the nicking-joining enzymatic activity.
An Individual-Level Study of Contract Ratification Support

This study uses constructs developed from theoretical models of both unit-level ratification studies and individual-level studies of strike support to predict individual employee ratification voting behavior and contract satisfaction. Surveys were given to union members before and after ratification voting. The results suggest that constructs assessing economic factors, employment relations, union relations, and the importance of contract information from the union all influence ratification support. While the bargaining issues are important in explaining ratification support, factors beyond the bargaining issues, such as employer and union loyalty and providing information about the contract, are related to ratification support.
Social drama in the academic-media nexus: Journalism’s strategic response to deviant ideas

This article applies ‘social drama’ – adapted from the anthropology of Victor Turner – to portray a performance of media ritual in control of critical academic discourse. Insights from newspaper coverage of a controversy surrounding Ward Churchill allow us to trace theoretical connections between strategic ritual at the occupational level and media ritual in cultural practice. We observe a fractal-like structure, such that ritualistic punishment of deviant ideas as a cultural response is encoded in textual production. We discuss implications of social drama as media ritual for the prowess of US journalism in patrolling boundaries of acceptable ideas in the academic-media nexus.
Health Seeking for Ambiguous Symptoms in Two Cultural Groups: A Comparative Study:

This study examined cultural differences in health seeking for medically ambiguous symptoms in women from two culturally diverse communities. Thirty-five South Asian immigrants and 36 European Americans participated in a health history interview. Though the types and relative frequencies of practices were similar across the two groups, the goals and underlying logic supporting practices differed sharply. Among European Americans, practices were focused on the need to increase energy, creativity, and output; among South Asians, practices emphasized storing up strength through increased consumption or reduced expenditure. We conclude that the relationship between conceptual models of cause and cure depends on the ;match' of both to broader, unarticulated cultural models of health and illness.
Goals and perceived success of online enterprise communities: what is important to leaders & members?

Online communities are successful only if they achieve their goals, but there has been little direct study of goals. We analyze novel data characterizing the goals of enterprise online communities, assessing the importance of goals for leaders, how goals influence member perceptions of community value, and how goals relate to success measures proposed in the literature. We find that most communities have multiple goals and common goals are learning, reuse of resources, collaboration, networking, influencing change, and innovation. Leaders and members agree that all of these goals are important, but their perceptions of success on goals do not align with each other, or with commonly used behavioral success measures. We conclude that simple behavioral measures and leader perceptions are not good success metrics, and propose alternatives based on specific goals members and leaders judge most important.
Clinical confocal microlaparoscope for real-time in vivo optical biopsies.

Successful treatment of cancer is highly dependent on the stage at which it is diagnosed. Early diagnosis, when the disease is still localized at its origin, results in very high cure rates—even for cancers that typically have poor prognosis. Biopsies are often used for diag- nosis of disease. However, because biopsies are destructive, only a limited number can be taken. This leads to reduced sensitivity for detection due to sampling error. A real-time fluorescence confocal microlaparoscope has been developed that provides instant in vivo cellular images, comparable to those provided by histology, through a nondestructive procedure. The device includes an integrated contrast agent delivery mechanism and a computerized depth scan system. The instrument uses a fiber bundle to relay the image plane of a slit-scan confocal microlaparoscope into tissue. It has a 3-m lateral resolution and a 25-m axial resolution. Initial in vivo clinical testing using the device to image human ovaries has been done in 21 pa- tients. Results indicate that the device can successfully image organs in vivo without complications. Results with excised tissue demon- strate that the instrument can resolve sufficient cellular detail to visu- alize the cellular changes associated with the onset of cancer. © 2009
Rat skeletal muscle hexokinase II mRNA and activity are increased by a single bout of acute exercise

This study addresses the potential role of skeletal muscle hexokinase (HK) II in the regulation of glucose uptake and metabolism in vivo. Male rats undertook a single bout of treadmill exercise and were then killed immediately or after a predetermined recovery period. Three muscles [soleus (Sol), gastrocnemius/plantaris (Gc), and white vastus] were excised, and HK II mRNA, GLUT-4 mRNA, total HK (HK I and HK II) and heat-stable HK (predominantly HK I) activities were assessed. Three hours after the cessation of a single bout of exhaustive exercise, HK II mRNA was significantly increased in all three muscles. Ninety or thirty minutes of exercise, with a 3-h recovery, increased Gc HK II mRNA to the same extent as exhaustive exercise, but 15 min of exercise had no effect. Gc HK II mRNA continued to increase up to 8 h after the cessation of 90 min of exercise but returned to basal by 24 h postexercise. In contrast to HK II mRNA, Gc GLUT-4 mRNA was unchanged at 0, 3, 8, and 24 h after the cessation of 90 min of exercise. Total HK activity was significantly increased in Sol and Gc, 8 and 24 h after the cessation of 90 min of exercise. Heat-stable HK activity was unchanged in all three muscles. The increase in total HK activity, inferred to be an increase of HK II, may be important in the persistence of the postexercise increase in insulin action.
Emerging patterns of marine nitrogen fixation

Biological nitrogen fixation is an important part of the marine nitrogen cycle, supporting carbon export and sequestration. In this Review, Sohm, Webb and Capone describe the nutrients that limit nitrogen fixation and the distribution of diazotrophic species in the world's oceans.
(Nearly) Optimal Algorithms for Private Online Learning in Full-information and Bandit Settings

We give differentially private algorithms for a large class of online learning algorithms, in both the full information and bandit settings. Our algorithms aim to minimize a convex loss function which is a sum of smaller convex loss terms, one for each data point. To design our algorithms, we modify the popular mirror descent approach, or rather a variant called follow the approximate leader. The technique leads to the first nonprivate algorithms for private online learning in the bandit setting. In the full information setting, our algorithms improve over the regret bounds of previous work (due to Dwork, Naor, Pitassi and Rothblum (2010) and Jain, Kothari and Thakurta (2012)). In many cases, our algorithms (in both settings) match the dependence on the input length, T, of the optimal nonprivate regret bounds up to logarithmic factors in T. Our algorithms require logarithmic space and update time.
Thermodynamic Calculations of Hydrogen-Oxygen Detonation Parameters for Various Initial Pressures

Composition, temperature, pressure and density behind a stable detonation wave and its propagation rate have been calculated for seven hydrogen-oxygen mixture at 1, 5, 25 and 100 atm initial pressure, and at an initial temperature of 40C. For stoichiometric mixtures that calculations also include an initial temperature of 200C. According to these calculations the detonation velocities of hydrogen-oxygen mixtures increase with increasing initial pressure, but decrease slightly when the initial temperature is raised from 40 to 200 C. The calculated detonation velocities agree satisfactorily with values determined experimentally. These values will be published in the near future.
Osmolyte-induced folding of an intrinsically disordered activation function subdomain of glucocorticoid receptor.

Intrinsically disordered (ID) regions are disproportionately higher in cell-signaling proteins, suggesting an important role in their regulatory capacity. Activation domains of many transcription factors exist in ID conformation(s). It has been suggested that large flexible regions in ID activation domains have an advantage over proteins with ordered conformations such that ID regions/domains can make more efficient interactions with their target partners. The major activation function-1 (AF1) region, located in the N-terminal domain of several steroid receptors, including the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) possess ID sequences. Recently, we reported that osmolytes fold AF1 into functionally active conformation. Most of known AF1:coregulatory proteins interactions take place in a core subdomain (AF1C) that is indispensible for AF1-mediated GR activity. However, it is not known whether osmolytes can induce functionally folded conformation in AF1C. In this study we have found that a naturally occurring osmoly...
Synchronization of Telemetry Codes

A well-known means of efficiently transmitting information over the continuous white Gaussian channel involves the encoding of successive blocks of data into sequences of binary digits (called code words). Efficient decoding of these sequences in turn necessitates a knowledge of the instants in time at which one code word ends and the succeeding word begins. This paper presents a method for obtaining this synchronization which neither decreases the channel capacity nor increases the complexity of the encoding equipment. The method is to select, from the many encodings which are equally good for purposes of synchronous operation, that encoding for which the maximum absolute value of the correlation po between any code word and any sequence formed from the overlap of two code words is a minimum. Thus a large correlation is observed only in the synchronous phase position. This technique is applied to an important class of block codes, the binary orthogonal codes. An algorithm for constructing these codes with the desired self-synchronizing properties is presented, and upper bounds on the value of po are thereby established.
MIMO capacity with antenna selection and interference

System capacity is considered for a group of interfering users employing single user detection and antenna selection of multiple transmit and receive antennas for flat Rayleigh fading channels with independent fading coefficients for each path. The case considered is that where there is very limited channel state information (only the selected antennas) at the transmitter, but channel state information is assumed at the receiver. The focus is on extreme cases with very weak interference or very strong interference. It is shown that the optimum signaling covariance matrix is sometimes different from the standard scaled identity matrix. In fact this is true even for cases without interference if SNR is sufficiently weak. Further the scaled identity matrix is actually that covariance matrix that yields worst performance if the interference is sufficiently strong.
Managing Acquisitions of Strategic Business Units with the Aid of the Arbitrage Pricing Model

The Arbitrage Pricing Model (APM), developed in the securities investment literature, can enhance corporate managers' insights into the economic sensitivities of potential acquisition candidates. It may provide managers with greater analytical power than such popular models as the G. E. Business Screen and the Boston Consulting Group model. Use of the APM should improve the effectiveness of the acquisition screening process.
Analysis of Leigh Syndrome Mutations in the Yeast SURF1 Homolog Reveals a New Member of the Cytochrome Oxidase Assembly Factor Family

Three missense SURF1 mutations identified in patients with Leigh syndrome (LS) were evaluated in the yeast homolog Shy1 protein. Introduction of two of the Leigh mutations, F249T and Y344D, in Shy1 failed to significantly attenuate the function of Shy1 in cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) biogenesis as seen with the human mutations. In contrast, a G137E substitution in Shy1 results in a nonfunctional protein conferring a CcO deficiency. The G137E Shy1 mutant phenocopied shy1Δ cells in impaired Cox1 hemylation and low mitochondrial copper. A genetic screen for allele-specific suppressors of the G137E Shy1 mutant revealed Coa2, Cox10, and a novel factor designated Coa4. Coa2 and Cox10 are previously characterized CcO assembly factors. Coa4 is a twin CX9C motif mitochondrial protein localized in the intermembrane space and associated with the inner membrane. Cells lacking Coa4 are depressed in CcO activity but show no impairment in Cox1 maturation or formation of the Shy1-stabilized Cox1 assembly intermediate. To glean insights into the functional role of Coa4 in CcO biogenesis, an unbiased suppressor screen of coa4Δ cells was conducted. Respiratory function of coa4Δ cells was restored by the overexpression of CYC1 encoding cytochrome c. Cyc1 is known to be important at an ill-defined step in the assembly and/or stability of CcO. This new link to Coa4 may begin to further elucidate the role of Cyc1 in CcO biogenesis.
Noise background normalization for simultaneous broadband and narrowband detection

The authors examine the optimization of a normalizer for broadband detection. They then present a normalizer which allows simultaneous detection of both source-related features, narrowband and broadband, from frequency-time intensity displays of power spectral data. The technique combines the output of a normalizer optimized for narrowband detection with that of a normalizer optimized for broadband by taking the maximum output at each frequency. Its properties are discussed and performance demonstrated using simulated data. >
Determining the minimum number of transmissions in multicast packet radio networks

The objective of this paper is to develop and implement a practical technique to compute optimum or near optimum paths from a single source to multiple destinations in a packet radio network (PRN) environment. This problem is common and is usually solved by making copies of the packet, then addressing and sending them independently to each destination. This type of solution makes for very inefficient use of the communications channel bandwidth yet is frequently tolerated because determination of an optimal solution yielding a minimal number of transmissions is NP-complete. This paper proposes a resolution to this problem by employment of the Hopfield neural network.
K-Ar Dating of the Beginning of Tertiary Volcanism in the Mojave Desert, California

Mojave Desert Tertiary volcanism began about 22 m.y. ago (beginning of the Miocene). The region is distinctive in the Basin and Range province in that earlier Tertiary intermediate to acidic volcanic rocks are rare or lacking. The Miocene and younger volcanic rocks are andesitic and silicic pyroclastic rocks with lesser amounts of andesite and basalt flows intimately associated with block faulting.
Full-Text Online Access to Society for Range Management Journals

Full-text online access to Society for Range Management journals DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v28i1_pfander
A novel variable transmission with digital hydraulics

This paper presents a novel variable transmission system that is based on the concept of digital hydraulics. In the proposed system, sets of rolling-diaphragm cylinders are mounted via different effective lever arms to an input and output joint. A variable subset of these cylinders is connected via three-way two-position on/off valves to a common hydraulic manifold. This introduces a controllable constraint on the hydraulic flow and creates a programmable hydraulic transmission. With three single-acting cylinders, we could realize 37 different transmission ratios. We investigated the nonholonomic flow constraint analytically, in simulation, and with an experimental prototype. Using water as fluid, we show that a very stiff transmission (124.2 Nm/rad) can be achieved within the range of ±6°. Theoretical transmission ratios are tracked with R-squared values of more than 0.996 and backlash is smaller than 1.4%. Furthermore, we show the applicability of the proposed transmission in the simulation of a body-powered knee-ankle exoskeleton.
Datenorganisation der Geometrieschnittstelle

Die Zielrichtung der Systemkopplung ist die wissensbasierte Konstruktion. Voraussetzung fur die Wissensreprasentation der Geometrie ist die Abstraktion und Komprimierung der Informationen. Teilfunktionen sollen durch Wissen und Erfahrungen zu Gesamtfunktionen zusammengefuhrt werden. In diesem Zusammenhang ist unter der Gesamtfunktion die Baugruppe zu sehen. Teilfunktionen sind Einzelteile der Baugruppe und Elementarfunktionen sind Funktionsbereiche der Einzelteile wie z.B Zylinder, Fasen und Freistiche. Die Elementarfunktionen setzen sich aus geometrischen Grundelementen (Punkt,Linie,Kreis u.s.w) zusammmen.
Shear performance of reinforced concrete beams incorporating recycled concrete aggregate and high-volume fly ash

Abstract The study reported in this paper investigates the shear capacity of full-scale reinforced concrete beams fabricated with high volume fly ash and coarse recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). The study involved testing 24 full-scale beams. The beams were fabricated with three different longitudinal reinforcement ratios of 1.27%, 2.03%, and 2.71%. Four concrete mixtures were employed for casting the beams: conventional concrete (CC) without any fly ash or RCA as the reference; fly ash concrete with 50% of Class C fly ash replacement (FA50 beams); RCA concrete with 50% coarse RCA replacement (RCA50 beams); and sustainable concrete (SC) proportioned with 50% Class C fly ash and 50% RCA. In order to evaluate the performance of concrete in shear, the beams were cast without any stirrups in the shear zone. The test results were compared with theoretical models provided by different design codes as well as a shear data base for CC. The experimental results were also compared to analytical approaches based on fracture mechanics as well as the modified compression field theory method. On the average, the SC beams had a 10% lower shear capacity than the CC beams. The average shear capacity of the SC beams was 18% and 16% lower than those of the FA50 and RCA50 beams, respectively.
Amtolmetin: A Reappraisal of NSAID with Gastroprotection.

Aim. To assess the gastrosparing effect of amtolmetin guacyl (AMG) against other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with osteo-/rheumatoid arthritis. Methods. A literature search was done in the electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Scopus) with key words “amtolmetin guacyl”, “amtolmetin”, and “arthritis”; filters were applied to obtain publications between 01-Jan-1985 and 01-Oct-2015, which were “clinical trials” in osteo-/rheumatoid arthritis patients and in “English language.” Studies were assessed using the Jadad criteria and trials with score ≥ 3 were included in the analysis to compare the safety and efficacy of AMG against other NSAIDs. Results. Search yielded 19 publications of which 3 were included for analysis. Baseline characteristics of patients were comparable between the AMG group and other NSAIDs (diclofenac, celecoxib, and piroxicam) groups in all trials. Efficacy of AMG was similar to the other NSAIDs compared in the trials. The number of adverse events (AEs) reported was similar between both the groups; however, severe AEs reported were significantly lower in the AMG group. Of note was the significant lower number of duodenal ulcers after treatment in the AMG group. Conclusions. AMG has efficacy similar to other NSAIDs and a safer gastrointestinal AE profile when compared to the other NSAIDs.
Can We Read Cosmology in Ancient Maya City Plans? Comment on Ashmore and Sabloff

Arguments for the cosmological significance of ancient Maya city layouts are plausible, but empirical applications are subjective and lack rigor. I illustrate this contention through brief comments on a recent article by Ashmore and Sabloff. I first discuss some of the complexities and pitfalls in studying cosmology from ancient city plans, and then focus on one component of the authors’ cosmological model—the hypothesized north-south axis at Classic Maya cities. My goal is not to down-play or rule out the role of cosmology in Maya city planning, but rather to encourage the use of explicit assumptions and rigorous methods that will provide the study of Maya city planning with a more secure empirical foundation.
Adaptive Reception Scheme for S-DMB System

An Adaptive Reception (AR) scheme for S-DMB system is proposed. The hierarchic data stream is obtained by adopting Scalable Video Coding (SVC) technique, and the video information is hierarchically transmitted through the broadcasting channel. According to the type of terminal equipment, the data frames with least amount are adaptively received by a frame selection controller at the receiving end. By way of the quantitative analysis of power consumption and available viewing time in S-DMB mobile phones, the advantages of AR scheme is proved.
Changing trends in the management of prostatic disease in a single private practice: a 5-year followup.

AbstractEvaluation and management services provided by the practicing urologist have changed dramatically during the last few years. This is particularly evident in the approach to men with bladder outlet symptoms and in those in whom the diagnosis of prostate cancer is a distinct possibility. The impact of medical management/observation of symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy, as well as the influence of prostate specific antigen, transrectal ultrasound and biopsy, radical prostatectomy and hormonal agents in a 3-man private clinical practice is analyzed. The records of 2,206 patients new to the practice who presented with a variety of prostate-related complaints from July 1, 1986 to June 30, 1991 were reviewed. Of these patients 1,822 (82%) were evaluated for presumed benign bladder outlet symptoms. During year 1 of the study, ending on June 30, 1987, 28% of the presumed benign prostatic hypertrophy patients were treated with transurethral prostatectomy, compared to only 8% of such patients in 1991....
II. Practitioners’ ratings of competencies Menu planning competencies in administrative dietetic practice

A nationwide sample of administrative and generalist dietitians rated five competencies with sub-competencies and ninety-two descriptors related to menu planning. Each item was rated numerically for importance and frequency of time consideration. Data were grouped according to three levels of practitioner experience. It was concluded that an effective methodology was developed for analyzing competencies for dietetic practice.