cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Earthquake Mechanisms and Tectonics

Seismology has played a key role in the development of the plate tectonic theory, which describes and explains the motions of lithosphere plates. The global distribution of earthquakes outlines the plate boundaries, the occurrence of deep earthquakes indicates regions where plates are recycled back into Earth’s mantle, and earthquake fault plane solutions provide information about the relative sense of motion at plate boundaries. Three different types of plate boundaries exist: convergent, divergent, and transform. Relative motion of two plates toward each other occurs at convergent, away from each other at divergent, and parallel to the boundary at transform boundaries (Fig. 1). Convergent plate boundaries are subduction zones where oceanic lithosphere of one plate dives beneath another plate. The overriding plate can be either oceanic lithosphere, such as in the Philippine Sea, or continental lithosphere, such as in South America. Continental collision zones are another form of convergent boundary. Continental lithosphere material, in particular continental crust, is not dense enough to sink into the asthenosphere and where two continents collide, such as in the Himalayas where the Indian plate is actively colliding with the Eurasian plate, compressional mountain belts are formed. Divergent plate boundaries in the ocean are mid-ocean ridge spreading centers where new oceanic lithosphere is generated. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the East Pacific Rise are examples. Mature divergent plate boundaries are always associated with seafloor spreading; divergent plate boundaries in continents, such as the East African Rift System, indicate rift initiation, young or failed rifting. At transform plate boundaries, new material is neither created nor destructed, rather two plates move sideways (laterally) past each other. The motion sense along a transform fault can be either right lateral (dextral) or left lateral (sinistral). The best-known transform plate boundaries occur on continents, e.g., the San Andreas Fault in California where the North American and Pacific plates slide past each other in a right-lateral sense. Transform faults are also abundant in oceanic lithosphere where they often connect two spreading segments. Most earthquakes occur at the boundary between two tectonic plates. These are interplate earthquakes. Fewer earthquakes occur inside plates, and these are intraplate earthquakes. The depth of earthquakes within the lithosphere is usually restricted to the shallow part of the lithosphere that deforms in a brittle fashion. In the continental crust, the depth cutoff is often associated with the 350 C isotherm which is reached at mid-crustal depth; the actual cutoff depth (between about 10 and 25 km) depends on the temperature gradient. At temperatures above 350 C,
Generation and Selection of Rabbit Antibody Libraries by Phage Display

The rabbit antibody repertoire is an exceptional source for both polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that combine high specificity with high avidity and affinity, respectively. In contrast to rabbit pAbs, which have been utilized for decades, rabbit mAbs are defined reagents with infinite supply, prompting considerable interest in recent years. Phage-display technology based on chimeric rabbit/human Fab libraries allows the selection of rabbit mAbs that cross-react with mouse and human antigens while maintaining high affinity and specificity.
ELEVATED NUCLEAR ATP POOLS AND ATP/ADP RATIOS MEDIATE ADENOSINE TOXICITY IN FIBROBLASTS

We have recently suggested that the nuclear compartment pools of ATP and nuclear ATP/ADP ratios act as regulators of DNA replication in S phase 3T6 (mouse fibroblast) cells. A decrease in nuclear ATP/ADP ratios has been observed upon entry of 3T6 cells into the S phase of their cycle. High ATP/ADP ratios were shown to be inhibitory to DNA replication in isolated S phase 3T6 nuclei. The decrease in nuclear ATP/ADP ratios upon entry into S phase is probably produced by DNA-dependent ATPases which have been associated with increases in the proliferative activities of a variety of mammalian cells. This report indicates that inhibition of DNA synthesis observed in log phase 3T6 cells incubated in the presence of adenosine, is a result of an increase in nuclear ATP pools and ATP/ADP ratios. Adenine or inosine which yield increases in total cellular ATP pools and ATP/ADP ratios similar to those promoted by adenosine, do not produce similar increases in the nuclear compartment and consequently do not inhibit DNA synthesis in log phase 3T6 cells. An inverse relation is demonstrated between the incorporation of adenosine (at physiological levels) and the proliferative activity of cells. The data reported here suggest that adenosine incorporation, which was shown to yield compartmentalized nuclear ATP pools, may be used as an intracellular growth regulatory mechanism. This mechanism would be mediated by the nuclear compartment's ATP pools and ATP/ADP ratios.
Diversification Issues in Real Estate Investment

Real estate asset management has been and will continue to be a topic of great interest. Specifically, does real estate warrant inclusion in an efficient portfolio? And if so, how much should be invested in real estate? This article reviews the extant literature in the area of real estate diversification and helps identify the reasons that there exists so much divergence in the answer to the question, “How much in real estate?” Moreover, diversification as it relates to real estate is discussed in reference to both mixed-asset portfolios and for diversification within the real estate asset class. Directions for future research are also discussed.
Skid resistance deterioration model at the network level using Markov chains

Safety studies have indicated that low skid resistance increases crash risk. Because of this reason, transportation agencies have considered managing pavement skid resistance as one of the importan...
Application of adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) in demand-driven acquisition (DDA) prediction: A machine-learning approach

Abstract Demand-driven acquisition (DDA) programs are playing an increasingly important role in academic libraries. However, the literature surrounding this topic illustrates the wide-ranging, and frequently unpredictable, results of DDA implementation. As uncertainty abounds, librarians continue to seek out deeper understandings of those processes driving the use and purchase of DDA materials. Implicit in this search is a desire to understand how local environmental factors and user preferences dictate broader collection use and purchasing patterns. A small number of these studies have sought deeper insights through predictive modeling, though success has been limited. Following this line of inquiry, this study explores how machine learning might enable more effective collection development and management strategies through the predictive modeling of complex collection use and purchasing patterns. This research describes a replicable implementation of an adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) model that predicts the likelihood of DDA titles being triggered for purchase. The predictive capacity of this model is compared against a more traditional logistic regression model. This study's results show that the AdaBoost model possesses much higher predictive capacity than a regression-based model informed by the same set of predictors. The AdaBoost algorithm, once trained with local DDA data, provides accurate predictions in 82% of cases.
C. elegans RHY-1 and CYSL-1 act independently of HIF-1 to promote survival in hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously produced signaling molecule that can be cytoprotective, especially in conditions of ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, exposure to exogenous H2S can be toxic, perhaps due to unregulated activation of endogenous H2S signaling pathways. We use the nematode C. elegans to define mechanisms that mediate the physiological effects of H2S in animals. We have previously shown that in C. elegans the hypoxia inducible factor (hif-1) coordinates the initial transcriptional response to H2S and is essential to survive exposure to low concentrations of H2S. In this study, we performed a forward genetic screen to identify mutations that suppress the lethality of hif-1 mutant animals in H2S. The mutations we recovered do not suppress embryonic lethality or reproductive arrest of hif-1 mutant animals in hypoxia, nor can they improve viability of hif-1 mutant animals exposed to hydrogen cyanide, indicating that these are specific for H2S. We found that the hif-1 suppressor mutations activate the skn-1/Nrf2 transcription factor. Activation of SKN-1 by hif-1 suppressor mutations increased the expression of a subset of H2S-responsive genes, consistent with our previous finding that skn-1 plays a role in the transcriptional response to H2S. Using transgenic rescue, we show a single gene, rhy-1, alone is sufficient to protect hif-1 mutant animals in H2S. Our data indicate that RHY-1 acts in concert with CYSL-1, an orthologue of human cystathionine β-synthase, to promote survival in H2S. The rhy-1 gene encodes a predicated O-acyltransferase enzyme that has previously been shown to negatively regulate HIF-1 activity. Our studies reveal a novel function of RHY-1, which is independent of hif-1, that protects against toxic effects of H2S.
PyIOmica: Longitudinal Omics Analysis and Classification

Abstract Summary PyIOmica is an open-source Python package focusing on integrating longitudinal multiple omics datasets, characterizing, and classifying temporal trends. The package includes multiple bioinformatics tools including data normalization, annotation, classification, visualization, and enrichment analysis for gene ontology terms and pathways. Additionally, the package includes an implementation of visibility graphs to visualize time series as networks. Availability and implementation PyIOmica is implemented as a Python package (pyiomica), available for download and installation through the Python Package Index (PyPI) (https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pyiomica), and can be deployed using the Python import function following installation. PyIOmica has been tested on Mac OS X, Unix/Linux and Microsoft Windows. The application is distributed under an MIT license. Source code for each release is also available for download on Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3342612). Contact gmias@msu.edu
Price-Driven Economic Cache Content Nash Bargaining Game in Wireless Multimedia Resource Allocation

In this paper, we propose a price-driven Nash Bargaining game solution to maximize Quality of Experience (QoE) with cache content optimization in wireless multimedia communications. By leveraging the cached multimedia content and the Smart Media Pricing (SMP) concept through device-to-device (D2D) communications, the economic-quality equilibrium is established between Service Provider (SP) and End Devices (EDs). The contribution of this paper is as follows. First, referring to the importance of multimedia packets, we develop a price-driven method to allocate cached multimedia resource on the seller EDs. Then a Nash Bargaining game is formulated between the seller and buyer EDs considering multimedia packet importance and content popularity. Referring to the two-player Nash Bargaining game theoretic model, a buying-caching-reselling strategy for multimedia content is proposed by deriving the Nash Bargaining Solution (NBS). Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed SMP cache allocation method has high efficiency and fairness in quality-driven wireless multimedia communications, leading to desirable utilities towards Pareto optimality.
Measuring social equity in flood recovery funding

ABSTRACTDeconstructing causal linkages between place attributes and disaster outcomes at coarse scales like zip codes and counties is difficult because heterogeneous socio-economic characteristics ...
Stealth Assessment Embedded in Game-Based Learning to Measure Soft Skills: A Critical Review

The chapter aims to discuss how to embed stealth assessment in game-based learning (GBL) to empower learners from theoretical and practical perspectives. Numerous studies indicate that well-designed digital games integrated in learning settings can perform both entertainment and educational purposes. Many educators have adopted digital games for building active and engaging learning environments to enhance students’ learning outcomes. However, game-based assessment (GBA) is underdeveloped in the field of knowledge assessment. Among different types of game-based assessments, stealth assessment can be effectively used to reduce students’ test anxiety and to overcome the limitations of traditional standardized and high-stake tests. However, limited research has focused on how to effectively design and implement stealth assessment to evaluate the soft skills which are valued in the twenty-first century, such as problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork. Through investigating previous studies, the chapter will examine the theoretical and pragmatic bases of stealth assessment design and the effective practices of stealth assessment implementation and interpretation. The critical analysis addressed in the chapter will contribute to the knowledge in the field of stealth assessment on soft skills measurement. Finally, recommendations and implications will be discussed to improve the development of GBA.
Are there shared neural correlates between dyslexia and ADHD? A meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry studies

Dyslexia and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are highly comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders (estimates of 25–40% bidirectional comorbidity). Previous work has identified strong genetic and cognitive overlap between the disorders, but neural overlap is relatively unexplored. This study is a systematic meta-analysis of existing voxel-based morphometry studies to determine whether there is any overlap in the gray matter correlates of both disorders. We conducted anatomic likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analyses of voxel-based morphometry studies in which individuals with dyslexia (15 studies; 417 cases, 416 controls) or ADHD (22 studies; 898 cases, 763 controls) were compared to typically developing controls. We generated ALE maps for dyslexia vs. controls and ADHD vs. controls using more conservative (p < .001, k = 50) and more lenient (p < .005, k = 50) thresholds. To determine the overlap of gray matter correlates of dyslexia and ADHD, we examined the statistical conjunction between the ALE maps for dyslexia vs. controls and ADHD vs. controls (false discovery rate [FDR] p < .05, k = 50, 5000 permutations). Results showed largely distinct gray matter differences associated with dyslexia and ADHD. There was no evidence of statistically significant gray matter overlap at our conservative threshold, and only one region of overlap in the right caudate at our more lenient threshold. Reduced gray matter in the right caudate may be relevant to shared cognitive correlates in executive functioning and/or procedural learning. The more general finding of largely distinct regional differences in gray matter between dyslexia and ADHD suggests that other neuroimaging modalities may be more sensitive to overlapping neural correlates, and that current neuroimaging recruitment approaches may be hindering progress toward uncovering neural systems associated with comorbidity. The current study is the first to meta-analyze overlap between gray matter differences in dyslexia and ADHD, which is a critical step toward constructing a multi-level understanding of this comorbidity that spans the genetic, neural, and cognitive levels of analysis.
Effect of the ASCENT Intervention to Increase Knowledge of Kidney Allocation Policy Changes Among Dialysis Providers.

Introduction The Allocation System Changes for Equity in Kidney Transplantation (ASCENT) trial was a cluster-randomized pragmatic, effectiveness-implementation study designed to test whether a multicomponent educational intervention targeting leadership, clinic staff, and patients in dialysis facilities improved knowledge and awareness of the 2014 Kidney Allocation System (KAS) change. Methods Participants included 690 dialysis facility medical directors, nephrologists, social workers, and other staff within 655 US dialysis facilities, with 51% (n = 334) in the intervention group and 49% (n = 321) in the control group. Intervention activities included a webinar targeting medical directors and facility staff, an approximately 10-minute educational video targeting dialysis staff, an approximately 10-minute educational video targeting patients, and a facility-specific audit and feedback report of transplant performance. The control group received a standard United Network for Organ Sharing brochure. Provider knowledge was a secondary outcome of the ASCENT trial and the primary outcome of this study; knowledge was assessed as a cumulative score on a 5-point Likert scale (higher score = greater knowledge). Intention-to-treat analysis was used. Results At baseline, nonintervention providers had a higher mean knowledge score (mean ± SD, 2.45 ± 1.43) than intervention providers (mean ± SD, 2.31 ± 1.46). After 3 months, the average knowledge score was slightly higher in the intervention (mean ± SD, 3.14 ± 1.28) versus nonintervention providers (mean ± SD, 3.07 ± 1.24), and the estimated mean difference in knowledge scores between the groups at follow-up minus the mean difference at baseline was 0.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11–0.48; P = 0.039). The effect size (0.41) was low to moderate. Conclusion Dialysis facility provider education could help extend the impact of a national policy change in organ allocation.
In Vivo Accuracy of Ultrasound for Sizing Salivary Ductal Calculi.

ObjectivesThe present study was developed to evaluate the accuracy of in vivo ultrasound sizing for parotid and submandibular salivary gland calculi, as compared with ex vivo pathology sizing with ...
Re-imagining design storm criteria for the challenges of the 21st century

Abstract Design storm criteria (i.e., the specific intensity and/or frequency to which infrastructure systems are designed to withstand) are a critical part of resilience efforts within urban and infrastructure systems. However, factors like climate change and increasing complexity within our urban systems call into question the viability of current approaches to and implementation of design storm criteria moving forward. This paper seeks to identify design practices and strategies that are well-suited for the increasingly complex and rapidly changing contexts in which our cities and infrastructure are operating. We posit that the advancement of a multi-scalar perspective on resilience will be increasingly necessary in response to the growing challenges our cities and infrastructure face. At the scale of single components/sub-systems, return periods (or similar criteria) will likely remain a necessary element of the design process. At the scale of the entire system(s), approaches like safe-to-fail, robust decision making, and enhanced sensing and simulation appear well suited for complementing existing approaches by more explicitly considering failure consequences in the design and management processes. Ultimately, this paper seeks to spur continual research and advancement of these topics in order to facilitate the evolution of the design storm process for an increasingly complex and non-stationary world.
Proxy Finnegan Component Scores for Eat, Sleep, Console in a Cohort of Opioid-Exposed Neonates

OBJECTIVES: The Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Score (FNAS) monitors infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), but it has been criticized for being time consuming and subjective. Many institutions have transitioned to a more straightforward screening tool, Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC), an assessment based on 3 simple observations with a focus on maximizing nonpharmacologic therapies. We aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the ESC with that of the FNAS to determine if infants who needed pharmacologic therapy could potentially be missed when assessed by using ESC. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of infants identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision billing codes for NAS. FNAS scores were recorded every 4 hours for the entire hospitalization. ESC proxy scores were created by using components of the FNAS that referenced eating, sleeping, and consoling. Detailed demographic and clinical data were manually extracted regarding opioid exposures and pharmacologic treatment of NAS. RESULTS: From 2013 to 2016, 423 infants ≥37 weeks’ gestation had a total of 33 115 FNAS scores over 921 days of observation. In total, 287 (68%) were exposed to buprenorphine, 100 (23.7%) were exposed to methadone, and 165 (39%) were pharmacologically treated. The FNAS was 94.8% sensitive and 63.5% specific for pharmacologic treatment, and the ESC proxy variables were 99.4% sensitive and 40.2% specific (P CONCLUSIONS: ESC proxy variables have slightly higher sensitivity compared with FNAS, suggesting that ESC use is unlikely to miss infants requiring treatment who would have been identified by FNAS. Transitioning from FNAS to ESC is not likely to impair the care of infants with NAS.
Fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium and substance use in adolescence.

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) continues to be a serious public health problem, yet no reliable clinical tools are available for assessing levels of drinking during pregnancy. Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), the nonoxidative metabolites of ethanol measured in meconium, are potential biomarkers to quantify the level of PAE. The association between the concentrations of FAEEs from meconium and adolescent substance use and related problems was examined in a prospective birth-cohort of adolescents exposed to alcohol and drugs in utero. FAEEs were quantified with gas chromatography via a flame ionization detector. Meconium was analyzed for FAEEs in 216 newborns; 183 of them (81 boys, 102 girls) were assessed at age 15 for alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use using biologic assays and self-report. Substance use problems were assessed using the Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers. Findings from multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that, after controlling for other prenatal drug exposure and covariates, higher concentrations of FAEEs (ethyl myristate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl oleate, ethyl linoleate, ethyl linolenate, and ethyl arachidonate) were related to a greater likelihood of marijuana use and experiencing substance use problems, but not tobacco or alcohol use, at age 15. Elevated levels of FAEEs in meconium may be promising markers for PAE, identifying newborns at risk for early substance use and developing substance use problems.
Investigation of the 207 Pb(α,d) 209 Bi Reaction

Energy levels and differential cross sections for the $^{207}\mathrm{Pb}(\ensuremath{\alpha},d)^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$ reaction have been determined at an incident bombarding energy of 42 MeV. Two-nucleon distorted-wave Born-approximation (DWBA) analysis was performed for the ground and first excited levels of $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$ in order to obtain a normalization for the ($\ensuremath{\alpha},d$) and ($d,\ensuremath{\alpha}$) reactions. The results of calculations using this normalization were compared with data for the 1.097-MeV ${7}^{+}$ level of $^{48}\mathrm{Sc}$ excited in the $^{50}\mathrm{Ti}(d,\ensuremath{\alpha})^{48}\mathrm{Sc}$ reaction and for the first excited state of $^{206}\mathrm{T}1$ excited in the $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}(d,\ensuremath{\alpha})^{206}\mathrm{Tl}$ reaction. This latter comparison confirmed an earlier agrument that cross sections to the low-lying $^{206}\mathrm{T}1$ levels are considerably enhanced over pure two-hole configuration estimates. The normalized DWBA was then used to study higher-lying two-particle---one-hole excited states in $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$.
Japanese American celebration and conflict : a history of ethnic identity and festival, 1934-1990

List of Figures List of Tables Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: The Problem of Racial Rearticulation Part 1: Enclave 1. Succeeding Immigrants Ethnic Leadership and the Origins of Nisei Week 2. Rise and Fall of Biculturalism Consumption, Socialization, and Americanism Part 2: Camp 3. War and the American Front Collaboration, Protest, and Class in the Internment Crisis Part 3: Communities 4. Defining Integration The Return of Nisei Week and Remaking of Japanese American Identity 5. The New Cosmopolitanism From Heterodoxy to Orthodoxy 6. Nationalisms and Internationalisms New Left, Ethnic Rights, and Shopping Centers Conclusion Notes Select Bibliography Index
Analysis of time evolution of z-pinch lines using an advanced 5-channel spectrometer Polychromator

The measurements with temporal resolution are very important in studies of properties of radiation from hot dense plasmas (0.8&#60;T e &#60;1.5 keV, N e up to 2–3 ·1022 cm−3) generated by a pulsed-power z-pinch machine with a current I max ∼0.8÷1.0 MA and a current rise time of 100 ns. To perform measurements of radiation from hot dense plasma an advanced 5-channel time resolved spectrometer “Polychromator” was used. All channels are independent from each other and axially symmetric with respect to the main optical axis. An additional sixth channel sited on the main optical axis is used for device alignments and measurements using a time-integrated, spatially-resolved transmission diffraction grating spectrometer. A flexible design allows us to use different types of dispersing elements and detectors. A procedure of optical alignments of the device is described. Experimental data from time resolved channels as well as from a TGS channel are presented and briefly discussed.
Structure of genes narL and narX of the nar (nitrate reductase) locus in Escherichia coli K-12.

Abstract narL and narX mediate nitrate induction of nitrate reductase synthesis and nitrate repression of fumarate reductase synthesis. We report here the nucleotide sequences of narL and narX. The deduced protein sequences aid in defining distinct subclasses of regulators and sensors in the family of two-component regulatory proteins.
Wal-Mart v. Dukes: Taking the Protection Out of Protected Classes.

Wal-Mart v. Dukes was a major 2011 procedural decision changing the future path of class actions. To decide the procedural issue, the Court found it necessary to look to the underlying substantive law - Title VII’s systemic disparate treatment and disparate impact theories of discrimination. This article will explore the way the Court treated that substantive law to attempt to see if Wal-Mart is a foreshadowing of major changes in the substance of antidiscrimination law. To do that, it will first briefly develop the competing visions of the underlying purpose of antidiscrimination law - whether the aim of the law is to address subordination of classes of people protected by the law or is simply to prohibit classifications - and traces their development since Reconstruction through the Rehnquist Court. Next, it develops the earlier Robert’s Court decisions in Parents Involved and Ricci v. DeStefano. leading up to Wal-Mart showing how the anticlassification purpose and corresponding absolute color-blind rule have come to predominate if not completely prevail. Finally getting to Wal-Mart, the article first sketches out how Wal-Mart would be analyzed under prior law and then describes how that substantive law was treated in the decision itself. Looking at the juxtaposition of prior law with the approach to substantive antidiscrimination law developed the next section sets out the possible impact of Wal-Mart on that law. In the best case, Wal-Mart would have no impact on Title VII’s substantive law. In the worst case, the decision foreshadows a major contraction of the systemic theories of discrimination that were in place before the Roberts Court era.
Reconstruction from Projections

In chapter 2 we discussed in detail how a discrete two-dimensional image is formed from a three-dimensional scene by an optical system. In this chapter we discuss the inverse process, the reconstruction of a three-dimensional scene from two-dimensional projections. Reconstruction from only one projection is an underdetermined inverse problem which generally shows an infinite number of solutions. As an illustration, figure 13.1 shows the perspective projection of a bar onto an image plane. We will obtain identical projections at the image plane, whenever the endpoints of a bar lie on the same projection beams. Even if the bar shows a curvature in the projection plane, we will still see a straight line at the image plane.
A Student Application of the Object-Oriented Paradigm

This paper presents a case study that demonstrates how object-oriented design techniques can be used to solve a processor simulation problem. This case study stems from an actual processor simulation assignment that was given to students in a junior-level System Software class at Texas Tech University, a class both authors took as first semester transfer students. We found that exposure to the objectoriented programming paradigm during our first two years of college provided us with a powerful tool that can be used to design and implement solutions to complex problems in a very natural manner.
Applying Software Defect Estimations: Using a Risk Matrix for Tuning Test Effort

Applying software defect esimation techniques and presenting this information in a compact and impactful decision table can clearly illustrate to collaborative groups how critical this position is in the overall development cycle. The Test Risk Matrix described here has proven to be a valuable addition to the management tools and approaches used in developing large scale software on several releases. Use of this matrix in development planning meetings can clarify the attendant risks and possible consequences of carrying out or bypassing specific test activities.
On exponential entropies

As a number of information, an entropy has been defined as the weighted mean of a set of exponential functions involving the probabilities of a set of random events. The exponential entropy is claimed to have certain advantages over the classical Shannon entropy (C.E. Shannon, 1948). The article proposes two different generalizations of the exponential entropy, each of which represents a one-parameter generalization. Shannon's entropy is shown to be a particular member of one of these two new families of information measures. Some of the important properties of the new measures are discussed.
Observability of neuronal network motifs

We quantify observability in small (3 node) neuronal networks as a function of 1) the connection topology and symmetry, 2) the measured nodes, and 3) the nodal dynamics (linear and nonlinear). We find that typical observability metrics for 3 neuron motifs range over several orders of magnitude, depending upon topology, and for motifs containing symmetry the network observability decreases when observing from particularly confounded nodes. Nonlinearities in the nodal equations generally decrease the average network observability and full network information becomes available only in limited regions of the system phase space. Our findings demonstrate that such networks are partially observable, and suggest their potential efficacy in reconstructing network dynamics from limited measurement data. How well such strategies can be used to reconstruct and control network dynamics in experimental settings is a subject for future experimental work.
Autoregulatory Characteristics of a Bacillus anthracis Serine/Threonine Kinase

BA-Stk1 is a serine/threonine kinase (STK) expressed by Bacillus anthracis. In previous studies, we found that BA-Stk1 activity is modulated through dephosphorylation by a partner phosphatase, BA-Stp1. In this study, we identified critical phosphorylation regions of BA-Stk1 and determined the contributions of these phosphodomains to autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation. The data indicate that BA-Stk1 undergoes trans-autophosphorylation within a regulatory domain, referred to as the activation loop, which carries eight putative regulatory serine and threonine residues. We identified activation loop mutants that impacted kinase activity in three different manners: regulation of autophosphorylation (T162), regulation of substrate phosphorylation (T159 and S169), and regulation of overall kinase activity (T163). Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis of the phosphorylation profile of each mutant revealed a second site of phosphorylation on the kinase that was influenced by the phosphorylation status of the activation loop. This second region of the kinase contained a single phosphorylation residue, S214. Previous work has shown S214 to be necessary for downstream substrate phosphorylation, and we have shown that this residue is subject to dephosphorylation by BA-Stp1. These findings indicate a connection between the phosphorylation status of the activation loop and phosphorylation of S214, and this suggests a previously undescribed model for how a bacterial STK shifts from a state of autophosphorylation to targeting downstream substrates.
Efficient multicast stream authentication using erasure codes

We describe a novel method for authenticating multicast packets that is robust against packet loss. Our focus is to minimize the size of the communication overhead required to authenticate the packets. Our approach is to encode the hash values and the signatures with Rabin's Information Dispersal Algorithm (IDA) to construct an authentication scheme that amortizes a single signature operation over multiple packets. This strategy is especially efficient in terms of space overhead, because just the essential elements needed for authentication (i.e., one hash per packet and one signature per group of packets) are used in conjunction with an erasure code that is space optimal. Using asymptotic techniques, we derive the authentication probability of our scheme using two different bursty loss models. A lower bound of the authentication probability is also derived for one of the loss models. To evaluate the performance of our scheme, we compare our technique with four other previously proposed schemes using empirical results.
Bond Alternation and Aromatic Character in Cyclic Polyenes: Assessment of Theoretical Methods for Computing the Structures and Energies of Bismethano[14]annulenes

The syn and anti bismethano[14]annulenes have been used to test the accuracy of the semiempirical (PM3) and ab initio (HF and MP2), as well as density functional theory (BLYP and B3LYP) methods. Co...
Placental copper transport in the rat. III: Interaction between copper and iron in maternal protein deficiency

Copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) metabolism are linked in the haematopoietic process. There is also considerable evidence of a linkage between protein intake and mineral sufficiency. The present study tested the hypothesis that a low protein diet during the second half of gestation in the rat alters Cu and Fe transport across the placenta and affects the Cu and Fe status of the fetus. Pregnant rats were fed a normal commercial diet the first half of gestation, and then assigned either a 20 per cent protein (NP) or a 4 per cent protein diet (LP) during the second half of gestation. One day before delivery, rats were anaesthetized, fetuses removed and dam tissues and plasma obtained. Other pregnant rats were injected i.v. with 2.5 mg/kg Cu acetate and sequential samples of dam blood, fetal blood and placentae were taken from 0 to 60 min. The LP diet produced generalized maternal hypoproteinaemia, and although there was no difference in fetal plasma albumin, there was a generalized fetal hypoproteinaemia as well. Fetal haematocrit (Hct) of the LP litters was lower than that of the NP group, but dam Hct was unchanged. Dam plasma Fe and Cu showed no differences between diets. Dam liver Cu was unaltered but liver Fe stores were elevated significantly. Before and after a Cu bolus, the LP placentae retained Cu to a greater extent than those of the NP placentae. Fetal liver Cu and Fe were elevated in the LP litters compared to the NP group. In conclusion, the LP diet in the dam during the second half of gestation was associated with fetal anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, and increased Cu and Fe accumulation in fetal liver. The higher concentration of Cu and Fe retained in LP placentae during gestation, and confirmed in the Cu challenge, suggest that Cu and Fe delivery to the fetus is related to placental concentration and that maternal protein malnutrition is a regulatory factor in fetal mineral homeostasis.
Signal-to-noise-ratio expressions in optical diffusion tomography

Optical diffusion tomography is a technology that is employed to obtain images of the heterogeneous nature of turbid media by using optical radiation. Noise ultimately limits the achievable spatial resolution in these reconstructed images; therefore it is of interest to develop signal-to-noise-ratio expressions that relate spatial resolution in the images to the underlying system and material properties. In this study, Fourier-domain signal-to-noise-ratio expressions are derived for two types of optical diffusion tomography systems: those that use amplitude-modulated illumination sources and those that use continuous-wave illumination sources. The signal-to-noise-ratio expressions are compared for these two types of systems and are validated by laboratory data.
The Effects of Light Source Color on User Impression and Satisfaction

This study is an attempt to evaluate relative subjective responses to colors of “white” light that are produced by commonly available electric light sources in interior spaces at intermediate light levels. More specifically, the study considers the spatial acceptability of several high intensity discharge (HID) source colors when compared with the more common fluorescent colors.
An Evaluation of Treatment of Hypertension Associated with Occlusive Renal Arterial Disease

Of 131 patients with hypertension and renal arterial stenosis, 99 were treated either by nephrectomy or revascularization operations and 32 were treated medically. Anti-hypertensive effects of surgical treatment were analyzed in 76 patients in whom operations had been performed 1 to 6 years before. Of the remaining 23, 10 died in the immediate postoperative period; in 11, operative treatment was incomplete at the time of review; and, in 2, who did not have sustained diastolic hypertension, operation was performed only to conserve renal function. Diastolic hypertension remitted in 47 patients (62 per cent); in 12 (16 per cent) arterial pressure was much reduced but not to normal levels, and in 17 (22 per cent) it was unchanged. The antihypertensive effects of surgical treatment could not be predicted preoperatively. In general, patients less than 21 years of age did not respond with as much blood pressure reduction as did those older, and patients hypertensive for longer than 5 years responded less well than those hypertensive for less than 1 year. Results of function tests of individual kidneys were not helpful in prediction. Surgical treatment seemed contraindicated in 32 patients because of diffuse atherosclerosis, azotemia from severe nephrosclerosis, unsustained diastolic hypertension or because lesions had not caused disparity in function of the two kidneys. In three of these patients diastolic hypertension remitted spontaneously and in 11 arterial pressure was controlled at near normal levels with antihypertensive drugs. Eighteen patients have persistent diastolic hypertension; 13 of these have been inadequately treated with drugs. In the group treated surgically, there were 10 immediate postoperative deaths, seven of which were due to atherosclerotic complications. Twelve patients died later, and 11 deaths were due to atherosclerosis. Most of the patients who died had no blood pressure reduction following operation. Ten of the medically treated group have died of atherosclerosis. The mortality was 50 per cent in the patients with ineffective treatment and poor blood pressure control and only 7 per cent in those with good blood pressure control.
Exciton annihilation in one-dimensional inorganic crystals: power dependent luminescence decay curves from (CH3)4NMnCl3 (TMMC), (CH3)4 NMnBr3 (TMMB) and CsMnBr3 (CMB)

Abstract The luminescence decays from crystals of the linear chain salts, (CH 3 ) 4 NMnCl 3 (TMMC), (CH 3 ) 4 NMnBr 3 (TMMB) and CsMnBr 3 (CMB), observed under pulsed laser excitation exhibit a power dependence consistent with bimolecular relaxation (exciton annihilation). The experimental data indicate that the annihilation rates in TMMC and TMMB where the exciton migration is highly one-dimensional follow a time dependence of t 0.4–0.6 , consistent with the theoretical prediction of t 0.5 . In contrast the annihilation rate for CMB where the migration is not strictly one-dimensional shows a t 0.75–0.85 dependence. Computer simulations indicate that the observed annihilation effects in TMMC, TMMB and CMB are compatible with the exciton transport properties previously established in studies of exciton trapping in doped crystals.
Language ideologies and literacy achievement: six multilingual countries and two international assessments

Social psychologists have suggested that language-based ideologies related to ‘stereotype threat’ (i.e. variations in performance-based on ability perceptions of language groups) may affect students' academic achievement regardless of school language support. However, it is unclear whether efforts to support students' first language development, particularly for large populations of students whose primary language is not the dominant language, is sufficient for ‘levelling the playing field’ in terms of academic achievement. We analysed subsets of data from the 2011 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study and the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment to investigate the by-country effects of officially recognised languages on reading performance. Participants represent countries with only two official languages (e.g. Canada, Israel) and primarily used one of these languages at home. Preliminary findings from hierarchical linear modelling show that the dominant official language predicts reading performance unless the minority language reflects a language internationally valued and revered by local stake holders (e.g. English in the United Arab Emirates). Implications suggest that educational resources and programmes should be sensitive to the historical context of country-specific language ideologies and related stereotypical perceptions that favour the dominant language within the school context.
VIDA: (Visual Information Density Adjuster)

Multiple studies have shown that clutter or sparsity in visual representations can have negative effects ranging from decreased user performance to diminished visual appeal. We have developed a system that assists users in the construction and navigation of visualizations with appropriate visual information density. This system, VIDA (Visual Information Density Adjuster), applies a cartographic principle to minimize clutter and sparsity in visual displays of information.
Improved corrosion resistant properties of electrochemically deposited zinc-nickel alloys utilizing a borate electrolytic alkaline solution

Abstract Zinc-nickel γ-phase alloy coatings were electrochemically deposited from a borate electrolytic bath on stainless steel substrates as protective coatings for corrosive environments. Alkaline conditions were used with a working pH range of 9.3–9.5 resulting in uniform deposits and corrosion protection. Strongly adhering deposits were obtained with smooth and even overall coverage of the substrate. The effect of borate addition was examined in relation to zinc, nickel and zinc-nickel alloy deposition. The presence of borate did not affect the anodic stripping potential of zinc in solution but did result in an anodic shift in the stripping potential of nickel with increasing borate concentration. Borate was adsorbed onto the electrode surface and shifted the onset of hydrogen evolution towards more cathodic potentials as borate concentration was increased. X-ray diffraction and atomic absorption spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the γ-phase alloy with a nickel content range of 8–15%. Pulse potential and direct potential processes were examined as deposition methods. The pulse potential method resulted in smaller grain sizes and uniform coatings as confirmed in scanning electron microscopy. The overall corrosion potential for the zinc-nickel γ-phase coatings was improved as compared to the pure nickel and zinc coatings.
Modern Alarm Line Supervisory Techniques

The technical information available to the underworld is increasing. They have made an effort to study and understand alarm system operations. Sophisticated instrumentation is as far as their nearest electronics store. To survive this threat, the alarm industry has had to improve supervisory techniques on their signaling circuits so compromise is no longer a simple substitution. Some of the state-of-the-art methods are described.
Cutaneous Paecilomyces lilacinus infection: Report of two novel cases

A 56-year-old white man had painful skin lesions on his left leg 10 months after a liver transplant. His medications included prednisone, tacrolimus, azathioprine, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, acyclovir, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Examination revealed multiple crusted and violaceous papules, plaques and nodules extending from the dorsal aspect of the left foot to the left knee (Fig. 1). He had a leukocyte count of 2.8 xl03/g 1 and a hematocrit of 27.6%. A biopsy specimen revealed findings consistent with a deep fungal infection. Fungal cultures of bone marrow and blood were negative. The patient received a 2-week course of intravenous amphotericin B with subsequent oral itraconazole, 400 mg daily. About a year later, he was readmitted because of a cellulitis and persistent deep fungal infection of the left leg. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole, but the infection persisted. Lesions extended from the dorsal aspect of the left foot to the left upper thigh. A culture grew P. lilacinus. A biopsy specimen demonstrated granulomatous and suppurative dermatitis. A periodic acid-Schiff stain demonstrated fungal spores and hyphae within the dermal granuloma. Oral itraconazole was stopped and the patient was again given intravenous amphotericin B but experienced no improvement. With
Radical production in liver mitochondria by peroxidic tumor promoters.

Summary Eleven peroxides have been tested to determine if there is a correlation between tumor-promoting activity and the ability to stimulate radical production in mitochondria. When non-respiring rat liver mitochondria are treated with these peroxidic compounds in the presence of DMPO, ESR signals are observed from the spin trapping of carbon- and oxygen-centered radicals in the case of 4 of the 7 peroxides that are known to be tumor promoters. Enhancement of carbon-centered radical production is observed in the presence of respiratory substrate. Thus there does not appear to be a correlation between tumor-promoting activity of peroxidic compounds and radical production in mitochondria. Oxidants can act as promoters either by 1- or 2-electron oxidation pathways; both types of mechanisms may be inhibited by antioxidants, which can scavenge either radicals or electrophiles.