cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Performance in Seismic Isolated Buildings using Performance Indexes

The design performance objectives implicit in U.S. building codes currently differ for fixed-base and base-isolated buildings. The imposed standard for a fixed-base building is comparable to “life safety”, while the imposed standard for an isolated building is comparable to “immediate occupancy” or “operational” [SEAOC, 1995]. For example, fixed-base buildings are permitted a force reduction factor R of up to 8, while isolated buildings are limited to R no larger than 2. The base shear demands in fixed-base buildings are reduced considerably by allowing superstructure inelasticity, whereas the superstructure of an isolated building remains essentially elastic due to overstrength. Consequently, the superstructure design forces in an isolated building are often larger than in a comparable fixed-base building. Factoring in the added design, material, and testing costs; base isolation in the U.S. has become an expensive technology that is considered only when the owner is willing to pay a cost premium for very high performance. Structural systems should be evaluated or compared relative to a consistent performance objective, such as life safety or continued occupancy. In particular, relaxing the design standards for isolated buildings may lead to improved cost-competitiveness, while such systems still potentially allow for a substantial performance advantage. In recent years, a performance-based design approach has been under development in the U.S. Performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) encourages owners to select appropriate performance objectives for the structural and non structural building components and systems in different events or considering the composite probabilistic seismic hazard. The new approach, developed by PEER and being adapted for practice by ATC-58 [Miranda and Aslani, 2003; Krawinkler, 2005; ATC, 2007], specifies performance in terms of probabilistic losses (casualties, repair costs, downtime). When performance-based engineering matures, designers will employ the latest design and analysis techniques to create efficient designs that meet specified performance objectives, and building owners can comparatively evaluate base isolation and fixed-base design with reference to a quantitative performance objective. In a previous related study, Ryan et. al. (2006) analyzed fixed-base and base-isolated structures with identical fixed-base periods and responding with identical deformation ductility. A comparative performance measure (CPM) was developed to assess relative performance – quantified by structural drift and acceleration – of the comparable isolated and fixed-base buildings. This approach restricted comparison to structures with identical ductility demands, and did not allow identification of the best design considering several systems, performance objectives and economy. The present study presents a methodology to systematically evaluate the relative performance © 2008 ASCE 18th Analysis and Computation Specialty Conference
THERMAL EXPANSION AND PHASE TRANSITIONS IN SILICA

ABSTRACT The pressure dependences of the infrared active modes in quartz and vitreous silica have been measured up to 15kbar. The Gruneisen constants are small and alternately negative positive and negative for the modes close to 450, 750 and 1050 cm−1, respectively. A microscopic interpretation is given. The calculated Gruneisen constant of vitreous silica agrees well with the experimental value. The similarity of the results in the two phases suggest that the α-β transformation in quartz has an important effect on the room temperature expansion. A simple estimate indicates this contribution is close to the measured value.
Analysis and investigation of present lighting situation in Beijing universitys

According to the investigation of lighting products usage of classrooms, libraries, canteens, dormitories of 55 universities in Beijing and representative classroom lighting measures, the paper get basic information of present lighting situation in Beijing universitys so as to provide basic data for lighting energy-saving.
Diversificaiton toward stability? The effect of local sales taxes on own source revenue

Local governments are expanding their revenue portfolios and becoming less dependent on property taxes. It should not be assumed, however, that this diversification is increasing the stability of local governmentsʼ own source revenue, as previous research suggests. It is thus important for local government officials to know how this process will affect the stability of their own source revenue, as they are almost certainly diversifying away from a stable tax, the property tax (Groves and Kahn, 1952; McCubbins and Moule, 2010), and moving toward a more volatile tax, such as the sales tax. Using county-level data in thirty-five states, I examine the effect of local option sales taxes (LOSTs) on the volatility of own source revenue and find that greater use of LOSTs increases revenue volatility.
Charge and magnetic properties of three-nucleon systems in pionless effective field theory

A method to calculate the form factor for an external current with nonderivative coupling for the three-body system in an effective field theory (EFT) of short-range interactions is shown. Using this method, the point charge radius of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ is calculated to next-to-next-to-leading order ($\mathrm{NNLO}$) in pionless EFT (EFT($\ensuremath{\pi}\phantom{\rule{-9pt}{0ex}}/$)), and the magnetic moment and magnetic radius of $^{3}\mathrm{H}$ and $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ are calculated to next-to-leading order (NLO). For the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ charge and magnetic form factors Coulomb interactions are ignored. The $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ point charge radius is given by 1.74(4) fm at $\mathrm{NNLO}$. This agrees well with the experimental $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ point charge radius of 1.7753(54) fm [Angeli and Marinova, At. Data Nucl. Data Tables 99, 69 (2013)]. The $^{3}\mathrm{H}$ ($^{3}\mathrm{He}$) magnetic moment in units of nuclear magnetons is found to be 2.92(35) $(\ensuremath{-}2.08(25))$ at NLO in agreement with the experimental value of 2.979 ($\ensuremath{-}2.127$). For $^{3}\mathrm{H}$ ($^{3}\mathrm{He}$) the NLO magnetic radius is 1.78(11) fm (1.85(11) fm), which agrees with the experimental value of 1.840(182) fm (1.965(154) fm) [Sick, Prog. Part. Nucl. Phys. 47, 245 (2001)]. The fitting of the low-energy constant ${L}_{1}$ of the isovector two-body magnetic current and the consequences of Wigner-SU(4) symmetry for the three-nucleon magnetic moments are also discussed.
Möbius Crossover and Excursion Set Mediated Genetic Algorithms

A non traditional highly disruptive crossover operator, called Mobius crossover, is introduced in the context of Excursion Set Mediated Genetic Algorithm (ESMGA). The new operator and the algorithm are applied to two GA deceptive problems and the results are reported.
Limited Utility of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization for Recurrent Abnormalities in Acute Myeloid Leukemia at Diagnosis and Follow-up

Objectives Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is classified in part by recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities, often detected by both fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and karyotype. The goal of this study was to assess the utility of FISH and karyotyping at diagnosis and follow-up. Methods Adult AML samples at diagnosis or follow-up with karyotype and FISH were identified. Concordance was determined, and clinical characteristics and outcomes for discordant results were evaluated. Results Karyotype and FISH results were concordant in 193 (95.0%) of 203 diagnostic samples. In 10 cases, FISH detected an abnormality, but karyotype was normal. Of these, one had a FISH result with clinical significance. In follow-up cases, 17 (8.1%) of 211 showed FISH-positive discordant results; most were consistent with low-level residual disease. Conclusions Clinically significant discordance between karyotype and AML FISH is uncommon. Consequently, FISH testing can safely be omitted from most of these samples. Focused FISH testing is more useful at follow-up, for minimal residual disease detection.
Demo Abstract: Image Storage and Broadcast over BLE with Deep Neural Network Autoencoding

This demo in an implementation of a new Deep Image Beacon system that is capable of broadcasting color images over a very long period (years, as opposed to days or weeks) using a set of cheap, low-power, memory-constrained Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon devices. We adopt a deep neural network image encoder to encode the given input image and generates a compact representation of the image. The representation can be as short as 10 bytes. On the receiver end, we adopt a deep neural network decoder running on a mobile device. When the mobile device receives the BLE broadcasted image data, it decodes the original image. We develop a pair of smartphone applications. One application takes an image and user-requirements as inputs, shows previews of different quality output images, writes the encoded image into a set of beacons. The second application reads the broadcasted image back.
Nanoscale metal-organic frameworks enhance radiotherapy to potentiate checkpoint blockade immunotherapy

Checkpoint blockade immunotherapy enhances systemic antitumor immune response by targeting T cell inhibitory pathways; however, inadequate T cell infiltration has limited its anticancer efficacy. Radiotherapy (RT) has local immunomodulatory effects that can alter the microenvironment of irradiated tumors to synergize with immune checkpoint blockade. However, even with high doses of radiation, RT has rarely elicited systemic immune responses. Herein, we report the design of two porous Hf-based nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nMOFs) as highly effective radioenhancers that significantly outperform HfO2, a clinically investigated radioenhancer in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the combination of nMOF-mediated low-dose RT with an anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibody effectively extends the local therapeutic effects of RT to distant tumors via abscopal effects. Our work establishes the feasibility of combining nMOF-mediated RT with immune checkpoint blockade to elicit systemic antitumor immunity in non-T cell-inflamed tumor phenotypes without normal tissue toxicity, promising to broaden the application of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy.
The Role of Chipped Stone in the Political Economy of Social Ranking

Chipped stone tools can figure prominently in the political economy of social ranking and the transformation of social relationships. For instance, incipient elites may try to aggrandize themselves by controlling access to lithic resources or the organization of tool production. In this paper I examine three aspects of stone tool technology—raw material acquisition, labor allocation, and productive intensification—to explore how lithic artifacts were implicated in the integration and disintegration of Plum Bayou culture in central Arkansas (ca. A.D. 700–950). The analyses expose longitudinal changes in the organization of technology which suggest rudimentary attempts at control and/or intensification. Despite these efforts, socially ranked individuals apparently failed to monopolize raw materials or the production process.
Virtual Reality (VR) — New Methods for Improving and Accelerating Vehicle Development

Virtual Reality (VR), until recently the domain of the research labs, is starting to be accepted as a general business tool. VR allows users to see and explore new products, plans or concepts long before they exist in reality, in a continually more realistic manner, which at the moment no other technology can offer.
Semi-flexible penile prosthesis for organic and psychogenic impotence emphasis on preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative considerations

Since the 1970s, penile prostheses, both semi-flexible and inflatable, have been used for surgical treatment of impotence. The semi-flexible implants are highly successful and the rate of complications is low (8%). Indications for penile implants include organic and psychogenic cases, operation in the latter group often being done after unsuccessful psychotherapy. The contraindications are very few. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative antibiotic coverage of patient, implants, sizers, dilators and wound is essential and has reduced the incidence of infection from an original 15% (first 20 patients) to 0.5%. Recently, trimming of the implant tails has enabled the surgeon to require fewer prosthesis sizes in the operating room, thus reducing their cost to patients. An additional benefit of the surgical treatment of impotence by penile implantation of a semi-flexible prosthesis is indirect treatment of infertility when infertility is caused by impotence.
Influencia de mareas interanuales y decadales en los cambios de nivel del mar en el Golfo de México

Datos de mareografos a lo largo de la costa estadounidense del Golfo de Mexico muestran notoria variabilidad interanual del nivel del mar durante el ultimo siglo. En particular, los datos muestran una aceleracion del aumento del nivel del mar a partir del ano 2011. Al parecer, esta aceleracion produjo el maximo de nivel del mar a finales de 2017. Durante el periodo 2011-2017, las costas del sur de la Florida tuvieron periodos de inundacion por marea durante las mareas mas altas de cada ano. Estos periodos aumentaron su incidencia hasta 2017. El hecho de que el nivel del mar no haya seguido aumentando en 2018 puede ser una de las razones por las cuales hubo menos periodos de inundacion por marea en ese ano. La disociacion de los datos de marea en componentes principales, o funciones empiricas ortogonales, permitio proponer un indice de cambios interanuales de nivel del mar en todo el Golfo de Mexico para el periodo 1920-2018. El primer modo, o indice de variabilidad interanual del nivel del mar, explica 77% de la variabilidad en todos los datos. Dicho indice muestra periodos de aumento rapido de nivel del mar durante la segunda mitad de la decada de los 1940s, a principios de los 1970s, y del 2011 hasta principios del 2017. La variabilidad del indice de cambios del nivel del mar en el Golfo de Mexico esta explicada, hasta en un 71%, por la combinacion de armonicos y subarmonicos de marea de largo periodo (>1 ano). Estos armonicos estan relacionados a precesiones lunares (nodal y apsidal) y a interacciones anomalisticas (perigeo a perigeo, periodo de 27.554551 dias) con draconianas (aparicion de nodo ascendente, periodo de 27.212221 dias). La precesion nodal tiene un periodo de 18.61 anos, la apsidal de 8.85 anos y la coincidencia del nodo ascendente en perigeo, de 6 anos. La combinacion de armonicos y subarmonicos que se ajusta mejor al indice de variacion de nivel del mar en el golfo se usa para proponer en que lustros se esperan aumentos rapidos del nivel durante el resto del siglo 21.
A QoS Aware Uplink Scheduler for IoT in Emergency Over LTE/LTE-A Networks

A massive number of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices are deployed to monitor and control a variety of physical objects as well as support a body of smart-world applications. How to efficiently allocate network resources becomes a challenging issue with the rapidly growing connected IoT devices. Depending on applications, the burst of IoT traffic could lead to the bandwidth deficiency within a short period of time and further deteriorates network performance. To tackle this issue, in this paper we first propose a Quality of Service (QoS) aware Normal Round Robin Uplink Scheduler (QNRR-US) over Long-Term Evolution (LTE)/LTE-Advance (LTE-A) networks. QNRR-US assigns a higher priority to IoT data that requires urgent treatment over normal IoT data, and then builds IoT devices’ scheduling queues based on priorities of data traffic. Thus, QNRR-US guarantees high priority data transmission. To provide fairness to IoT data, QNRR-US reserves some bandwidth for low priority data traffic. Based on QNRR-US, we then propose the QoS aware Bound Round Robin Uplink Scheduler (QBRR-US), which separates enormous IoT devices with burst data traffics and pushes them into service and waiting queue. The IoT devices in service queue take part in round robin resource allocation until the transmission of urgent data from the IoT device is complete and the new IoT device enters service queue from waiting queue for the next turn of resource allocation. Through simulations in NS-3, our experimental results show that QBRR-US outperforms the traditional proportional fair (PF) scheduler and QNRR-US with respect to throughput, packet loss ratio, and packet delay.
Chapter 2.5 – Life in the Ocean Crust: Lessons from Subseafloor Laboratories

Abstract The igneous oceanic crust is a vast potential habitat for microorganisms, and thus, part of the marine deep biosphere. By comparison to sediment in the deep biosphere, life in igneous oceanic crust is relatively unexplored and unknown to science. However, the pore fluid volume in igneous oceanic crust could represent about 10 times larger potentially habitable space for colonization by microorganisms by comparison to sediment. The igneous oceanic crust is also hydrologically active, with the entire fluid volume of the oceanic basins circulating through ridge flanks about every 200,000 years—relatively rapid on geologic timescales. Here, we review recent microbiological studies that have been conducted in igneous oceanic crust, starting with analysis of seafloor rocks and minerals, moving to deeper crustal samples collected through the recent phase of the ocean drilling program, and concluding with in situ microbiological experiments conducted with Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kit subseafloor observatories. The chapter includes the current best estimates of the size of the marine deep biosphere harbored in igneous oceanic crust, and highlights future research directions that are anticipated in the next phase of the ocean drilling program.
Demonstration of Atmospheric-Pressure Radiometer with Metamaterial Vanes

We report a Crookes radiometer that rotates at atmospheric pressure using architected microporous dielectric plates, known as nanocardboard, as vanes [1,2]. Compared to most light mills working at tens of Pascals [3,4], the functionality at pressures three orders-of-magnitude larger results from the metamaterial vanes’ unique features: (1) extremely low areal density (0.1 mg/cm2) that reduces the vane mass and hub friction force by almost 100 times; (2) high thermal resistivity that increases the cross-vane temperature difference; and (3) micro-channels that enable through-vane thermal transpiration gas flows. Each nanocardboard vane features a basketweave-style five-flow-channel pattern to amplify the thermal transpiration force. We manufactured these vanes using microfabrication techniques in four stages: (1) silicon mold creation using photolithography and reactive ion etching; (2) mold conformal coating using atomic layer deposition; (3) carbon nanotube drop-casting and oxygen plasma etching; and (4) mold cleaving and removing using XeF2 isotropic etching [1, 5]. We 3D-printed a 26-mm-diameter quad-arm hub and mounted the vanes to it using super glue. We measured the temperature and rotation speed of the radiometer using thermal and video cameras while illuminating it using an octagonal LED array. We found that our radiometer could operate at atmospheric pressure, and that its rotation rate increased with light intensity. To our knowledge, no other radiometers have achieved such functioning in ambient air. Lastly, we simulated the radiometer’s fluid dynamics, obtaining similar trends between its rotation speed and light intensity and achieving order-of-magnitude agreement with our experiments. Our photophoretically-propelled microstructures reveal new possibilities for light sensing and actuation, aerial microflyers, and photo-generators. References: [1] Lin, Chen, et al. “Nanocardboard as a nanoscale analog of hollow sandwich plates.” Nature Communications 9.1 (2018): 1-8. [2] Cortes, John, et al. “Photophoretic Levitation: Photophoretic Levitation of Macroscopic Nanocardboard Plates” (Adv. Mater. 16/2020). Advanced Materials 32.16 (2020): 2070127. [3] Han, Li-Hsin, et al. “Light-powered micromotor: design, fabrication, and mathematical modeling.” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems 20.2 (2011): 487-496. [4] Wolfe, David, Andres Larraza, and Alejandro Garcia. “A horizontal vane radiometer: Experiment, theory, and simulation.” Physics of Fluids 28.3 (2016): 037103. [5] Azadi, Mohsen, et al. “Demonstration of Atmospheric-Pressure Radiometer With Nanocardboard Vanes.” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems 29.5 (2020): 811-817.
Increased risk of periprosthetic joint infection after acute, traumatic wound dehiscence following primary total knee arthroplasty.

Aims To describe the risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and reoperation in patients who have an acute, traumatic wound dehiscence following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods From Jan...
The Three Faces of Control

Controlling shareholders are subject to distinct legal obligations under Delaware law, and thus Delaware courts are routinely called upon to distinguish “controlling shareholders” from other corporate actors. That is an easy enough task when a person or entity has more than 50% of the corporate vote, but when a putative controller has less than 50% of the vote – and is nonetheless alleged to exercise control over corporate operations via other means – the law is shot through with inconsistency. What is needed is a contextual approach that recognizes that the meaning of control may vary depending on the purpose of the inquiry. Under Delaware doctrine, the controlling shareholder label subjects that entity to unique legal treatment along three distinct dimensions. First, controlling shareholders – unlike minority shareholders – have fiduciary duties to the corporation. Second, interested transactions with controlling shareholders – unlike interested transactions with other fiduciaries – are subject to a unique cleansing regime in order to win business judgment deference from reviewing courts. Third, when certain transactions involving sales of control are challenged in court, they may be treated as direct rather than derivative actions, even when similar transactions that do not involve control sales would be treated as purely derivative. By teasing out these three aspects of the legal framework and analyzing them separately, courts can more closely attend to the reasons why control carries special significance, and ultimately develop a more rational and consistent set of definitions. Most critically, courts may properly designate someone a controlling shareholder for some purposes, but not others.
Regulatory Fragmentation: An Unexamined Barrier to Species Conservation Under Climate Change

Requirements for the protection or restriction of species are based on regulatory classifications such as "native" or invasive," which become anachronistic when climate change drives species outside of their historical geographic range. Furthermore, such regulatory classifications are inconsistent across the patchwork of land ownership that species must traverse as they move between jurisdictions or when transported by humans, which obstructs effective regional management. We surveyed the laws and regulations relevant to species movement and found that the immigration of species to new jurisdictions makes paradoxical existing regulatory language that sets the categories of species deserving protection or removal. Climate change is universal and progressing rapidly, which provides a shrinking window to reconcile regulatory language originally developed for a static environment.
SU-E-T-655: Quantifying the Dosimetric Characteristics of a Calypso Compatible Radiotherapy Treatment Couch with Angular Transmission Functions

Purpose: To quantified the dosimetric characteristics of a Calypso compatible radiotherapy couch using continuously scanned transmission factor as a function of gantry angle. Methods: Radiation dose as a function of gantry angle was measured with an ionization chamber at the center of a 30 cm diameter cylindrical phantom placed on Qfix kVue Calypso compatible couch. A 3-D scanner was employed to continuously scan the dose during an arc rotation delivery. Nearly continuous transmission curves of 0.03° step size were obtained from IEC gantry angle 90° to180° for 6 MV and 15 MV photon beams at three couch longitudinal positions (due to longitudinally non-uniform shape of the couch rails) with rails both at the center and on sides. The transmission curves were evaluated to assess the attenuation by the couch. They were also compared to those of a carbon fiber couch top. Results: The scanned transmission curves of the Calypso comptible couch showed fine details of the couch transmission as a function of gantry angle. The attenuation by the couch varied from 2.4% to 12.9% for the 6 MV photo beam and from 1.8% to 8.9% for the 15 MV photon beam depending on the gantry angle. The attenuation by the flat couch top is only approximately 2 to 3%, but by the rail is much more significant. Because the rails are not uniformly shaped in the longitudinal direction, attenuation by the rail for the same gantry angle varied with the rail longitudinal position. The transmission curves of the carbon fiber couch top are nearly identical to those of the Calypso compatible couch top. Conclusion: The Calypso compatible couch attenuates radiation by 2.4%–12.9% and 1.8%–8.9% for 6 MV and 15 MV photon beams, respectively. The attenuation by the rails is much more significant than the flat couch top.
Hormone Treatment After Irradiation Stimulates Recovery of Rat Spermatogenesis From Surviving Spermatogonia

ABSTRACT: The possibility of stimulating the recovery of spermatogenesis after irradiation using hormone treatment was tested in LBNF1 rats. At 10 weeks after irradiation with 3.5 Gy, the percentage of tubules showing recovery of spermatogenesis (repopulation index) was 37% in rats that received no hormone treatment. GnRH agonist (GnRH-Ag) treatment with Zoladex or continuous treatment with testosterone markedly stimulated the recovery of spermatogenesis. When GnRH-Ag treatment was started immediately after 3.5-Gy irradiation and maintained for 10 weeks, the repopulation index was 91%. When an additional 6.5 weeks without further treatment was allowed between the 10-week GnRH treatment and killing the rats, the repopulation index recovered to 100% and sperm counts to 83 × 106. These sperm counts were more than 100-fold higher than those in rats not given hormone treatment and 50% of normal nonirradiated control levels. GnRH-Ag for 10 weeks also stimulated spermatogenic recovery in rats irradiated with 6 Gy, even when the start of treatment was delayed until 18 weeks after irradiation. Without GnRH-Ag, the repopulation index was 0, but in GnRH-Ag-treated rats it was 14.5%. Since all of the hormone treatments suppress intratesticular testosterone, high levels of testosterone may be inhibiting differentiation and their suppression may stimulate recovery. Even though the exact mechanism is not yet known, this method may still be applicable for clinical use to activate spermatogenesis in patients rendered azoospermic by irradiation or possibly by other cytotoxic treatments.
Rumo a uma ordem legal internacional efetiva: da coexistência ao consenso?

Ao proibir o uso da forca, exceto em caso de legitima defesa contra ataque armado ou quando ha autorizacao do Conselho de Seguranca, a Carta das Nacoes Unidas surge como o auge do desenvolvimento de um sistema de ordem internacional baseado na doutrina da soberania do Estado. O resultado cumulativo de leis, omissoes e declaracoes relacionadas ao direito internacional - desde o inicio do Governo Bush - pode ser interpretado como um desafio fundamental ao sistema do Estado soberano. A estrategia de seguranca declarada pelo Governo Bush e uma das possiveis respostas a desafios que, incontestavelmente, poem em risco a seguranca nacional e humana. Somente uma parceria institucionalizada entre os EUA e os Estados secundariamente poderosos seria dotada da legitimidade necessaria para tratar de tais desafios com sucesso. Tal pacto ou parceria poderia ser organizada no âmbito das Nacoes Unidas, apesar da intensificacao de seus elementos hierarquicos.
Direct writing of sub-5 nm metals on carbon nanotubes and graphene using a UHV-STM

Contacting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene with nanometer-scale metals is of great interest for both fundamental studies and technical applications. In this work, we describe the fabrication and characterization of sub-5 nm linewidth metallic hafnium diboride (HfB 2 ) nanostructures on silicon surfaces as well as on CNTs and graphene using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS).
On the solution of electromagnetic field problems with the aid of graph theory

The method of Summary Representation is a technique developed by G. N. Polozhii in the early 60's. This technique allows the solution of partial differential equations written in finite-difference form to be expressed over the domain of the defining grid in terms of matrix-operations on the values on the boundaries of the grid. When multi-region problems are considered, the problem becomes one of solving for the unknown variables along interior boundary lines. These problems can be expressed in signal-flow graph terms, using matrix operators for the transmittance quantities and vectors for the unknown variables at the nodes, which represent the boundaries. By using the standard graph reduction technique available from graph theory, complex problems can be reduced directly to a simple equivalent problem. This technique allows internal boundaries to be replaced by equivalent systems of boundaries and results in a clearer understanding of the interactions among various parts of the system. An example is presented which shows that boundary conditions for EM problems play a "feedback" role when viewed in a signal flow graph representation.
A New Approach to Malware Detection

Malware has become one of the most serious threats to computer users. Early techniques based on syntactic signatures can be easily bypassed using program obfuscation. A promising direction is to combine Control Flow Graph (CFG) with instruction-level information. However, since previous work includes only coarse information, i.e., the classes of instructions of basic blocks, it results in false positives during the detection. To address this issue, we propose a new approach that generates formalized expressions upon assignment statements within basic blocks. Through combining CFG with the functionalities of basic blocks, which are represented in terms of upper variables with their corresponding formalized expressions and system calls (if any), our approach can achieve more accurate malware detection compared to previous CFG-based solutions.
Bradykinin release from contracting skeletal muscle of the cat

Results of previous studies from our laboratory suggest that bradykinin has a role in the exercise pressor reflex elicited by static muscle contraction. The purpose of this study was to quantify the release of bradykinin from contracting skeletal muscle. In 18 cats, blood samples were withdrawn directly from the venous effluent of the triceps surae muscles immediately before and after 30 s of static contraction producing peak muscle tensions of 33, 50, and 100% of maximum electrically stimulated contraction. Contractions producing muscle tensions of 50 and 100% of maximum increased muscle venous bradykinin levels by 27 +/- 9 and 19 +/- 10 pg/ml, respectively. Conversely, 33% maximum contraction did not alter muscle venous bradykinin concentrations. However, when captopril was administered to slow the degradation of bradykinin, muscle venous bradykinin increased from 68 +/- 15 pg/ml at rest to 106 +/- 18 after contractions of 33% of maximum. When muscle ischemia was induced by 2 min of arterial occlusion before and during 30 s of 33% of maximum contraction, muscle venous bradykinin increased by 15 +/- 5 pg/ml. In addition, contraction-induced changes in muscle venous pH and lactate strongly correlated with bradykinin concentrations (r = 0.80 and 0.83, respectively). These data demonstrate that static contraction of relatively high intensity evokes the release of bradykinin from skeletal muscle and that ischemia, decreased pH, and increased lactate are strongly correlated with this release.
Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis in pregnant women with the InPouch TV culture system.

Trichomonas vaginalis causes a common genitourinary infection which is frequently asymptomatic. At present, pregnant women are not usually screened for the infection unless they are symptomatic. In the present study, we screened and obtained samples for culture from all pregnant women attending a prenatal clinic with the InPouch TV culture system and compared results with those of standard culture in Diamond9s medium and slide wet mount examination. The InPouch TV culture system was as reliable as Diamond9s medium in detecting T. vaginalis and may be useful and effective in a pregnancy clinic setting. Images
A framework for continuous improvement in new product development

Summary form only given as follows. The authors describe an ongoing research project to develop a comprehensive management system for continuous improvements in the new product (NPD) process. Primary emphasis of the study is on the measurement of performance indicators and controllable input variables. Causal relationships and transfer functions among these variables and indicators are developed. Judgment quantification, hierarchical decision modeling, online simulation, and animated response surface modeling are used in combination with industry-wide surveys and focused case analyses in technology-driven companies. The work on the measurement and evaluation system is supported by the design of an information system and an organization system to establish effective linkages for the implementation of continuous improvements in the NPD process. The objective of the study is to investigate the underlying factors that influence the cycle time, the design and production quality, and the financial parameters in the product design, development, and deployment process. The expected output is a set of descriptive and prescriptive models utilizing decision-theoretic approaches, expert judgment methodologies, and mathematical modeling techniques. >
Off-balance-sheet credit risk of the top 20 European commercial banks

The comparison of off-balance-sheet (OBS) credit risk of the top 20 European commercial banks indicated that loan commitments are the largest source of credit risk among traditional OBS instruments. However, the notional amounts of derivative activities make up around 95 per cent of the total OBS exposure. Here, a concentration of exposure with a small group of banks can be found. An analysis by country of origin points to national differences in the use of derivative leverage. In comparison with US commercial banks, European banks use fewer OBS activities as a multiple of on-balance-sheet assets. The disclosure and reporting by European banks regarding OBS activities varies widely and is less comparable than US activities.
Oocyte-follicle cell dynamics in Arrhenothrips ramakrishnae hood (Insecta: Thysanoptera). I

Light and transmission electron microscopic studies of the developing oocytes from the germarium to the vitellogenic oocyte of the panoistic ovaries ofArrhenothrips ramakrishnae are included with a view to understand the sequential structural and behavioural changes involved in the development of the oocyte. Sufficient evidence is presented of these changes relating to the preliminary stages of development of the oocyte till the initiation of yolk formation and completion of the follicle cell epithelium, based on transmission electron microscopy.
The effects of mono-ADP-ribosylation on desmin assembly-disassembly.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that desmin, the muscle-specific intermediate filament protein, is a substrate for the endogenous muscle arginine-specific mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase and that ADP-ribosylation inhibits assembly of desmin into intermediate filaments (Huang et al., Exp. Cell Res. 226, 147–153, 1996). In this paper, the effects of mono-ADP-ribosylation on assembly and disassembly of desmin intermediate filaments were further characterized. First, it was found that ADP-ribosylated desmin does not coassemble with unmodified desmin and has no effect on assembly of unmodified desmin. Second, incubation of assembled desmin filaments with mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase and NAD + results in disassembly of the filaments. Finally, the structural components of the attached ADP-ribose moiety responsible for altering the assembly of desmin into filaments were investigated by a stepwise cleavage of ADP-ribose with snake venom phosphodiesterase and alkaline phophatase, followed by analysis of assembly. The reactions catalyzed by these two enzymes were established using a desmin peptide as a substrate. Our results show that ribosylated desmin, but not phosphoribosylated desmin, was able to self-assemble into intermediate filaments, suggesting that the presence of a phosphate group is needed to alter desmin's assembly ability.
Sp1 is required for prolactin activation of the interferon regulatory factor-1 gene

Transcription of the interferon regulatory factor-1 gene (IRF-1) is induced in a biphasic manner (G1 and G1/S phase) in Nb2 T cells in response to prolactin (PRL) stimulation. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (Stat1) is required for PRL activation of the IRF-1 promoter. Mutation of a -200 bp Sp1 site in the IRF-1 promoter results in a loss of G1 but not G1/S IRF-1 transcriptional activity in response to PRL. These studies illustrate that the temporal transcription of the IRF-1 gene is mediated by not only Stat1 but also Sp1 in response to PRL stimulation.
Latent hardening behavior of cyclically deformed Cu-16 at.%Al single crystals

Abstract The latent hardening behavior of cyclically deformed Cu-16 at.% Al alloy was investigated by measuring the flow stress and the hardening rate on secondary systems in monotonic compression. Latent hardening experiments of cyclic deformation in Cu-16 at.% Al are complicated by an ageing reaction that has time to develop during test interruptions needed to machine specimens, and produces bursts and yield points on reloading (except at the higher stresses). This problem was overcome to some degree, and the Latent Hardening Ratios (LHRs) for coplanar systems were found to be close to unity; also, the LHRs for intersecting systems were greater than 1, in accord with earlier results on wavy slip metals. The LHRs for these intersecting systems, however, were similar than those copper because of the large contribution of the friction stress due to alloying. The unit LHR in the coplanar systems can be explained if the multipoles inherited from cycling disintegrate upon reloading and the contribution of secondary dislocation walls to the hardening becomes significant. Generally, the mesh-length theory of hardening is found to explain the LHRs quite well. The LHR for the A3 system was found to be smaller than those of other intersecting systems in this alloy, consistent with an earlier result on pure copper. The lower value of the activation volume along with the observation of frequent double cross slip traces on the surface strongly suggest that cross slip is responsible for the lower LHR for the A3 latent system.
Freakonomics: Scholarship in the Service of Storytelling

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner is certainly popular. Indeed, my search for something comparable took me back more than 120 years.1 Even with the uncertainty about what constitutes a best seller, it is clear that the book has reached a huge audience, especially for a book about "economics." As I write this, it has been on the New York Times best-seller list for 46 weeks, and having started on the Publisher's Weekly Hardcover Nonfiction best-seller list in the 12th position on April 25, 2005, it has hovered in the top ten thereafter. Moreover, as reported on the Freakonomics web site, the book has garnered a large international audience, and the book is on various "best of" lists. Levitt and Dubner have sought a broad and diverse audience for their collection of stories: Levitt has been on "The 700 Club" (a talk show by conservative businessman and religious broadcaster Pat Robertson) and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (a center'left parody of the news and news reporting) among other places. Both the authors write a column for the New York Times Magazine as well as participate in an active blog (just navigate from the book?s web site to the URL http://www.freakonomics.com, where, among other things, they respond to a large number of readers' inquiries2). The book comes complete with more than 20(!) pages of references and citations as diverse as a radio talk show caller's unverified claim that her niece was named "Shithead" (pronounced SHUH-teed) as well as Kenneth Arrow's "A Theory of Discrimination" and includes a two-and-a-half page tabulation of average years of mother?s education by child's first name. The extensive footnotes should not mislead: Freakonomics does not take its subjects very seriously. In Freakonomics, Levitt's scholarship and the scholarship of others are put in the service of telling a "good story" rather than the other way around. Indeed, if the many reviews of the book are any guide, many find the book "entertaining" even if they felt that "Levitt's only real message is to encourage confrontational questions" (Berg, 2005). One reviewer found the stories so compelling that he went so far as to suggest that "criticizing Freakonomics would be like criticizing a hot fudge sundae" (Landsburg, 2005).
Does the Hall coefficient exhibit critical behavior approaching the metal-insulator transition?

Hall-effect measurements on uncompensated barely metallic Si:As samples have been made at temperatures between 4.2 and 0.5 K with the objective of obtaining the Hall coefficient as the magnetic field H and T approach zero. The Si:As results and a reanalysis of earlier Si:P data do not yield critical behavior of ${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ contrary to recently reported results for Ge:Sb and other systems. The results agree with localization-theory predictions.
Synthesis and antimycobacterial activity of pyrazine and quinoxaline derivatives.

A series of pyrazine and quinoxaline derivatives have been synthesized, and their activity against M. tuberculosis (Mtb) and Mycobacterium avium (MAC) are reported. The 4-acetoxybenzyl ester of pyrazinoic acid and 4‘-acetoxybenzyl 2-quinoxalinecarboxylate showed excellent activity against Mtb (MIC ranges of less than 1−6.25 μg/mL) but only modest activity against MAC (MICs of 4−32 μg/mL).
MESON MASSES AND DECAYS

We consider here the masses, decay rates, and decay spectra of the octet of ${0}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons, the nonet of ${1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons, the $X(960)$ resonance, and a proposed ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{*}(1620)$ resonance having the quantum numbers of $\ensuremath{\eta}(550)$. We use spin-unitary-spin symmetry and nonet symmetry, so that the mesons fall into 36 states, combining an $\mathrm{SU}(6)1$, with an $\mathrm{SU}(6)35$. Further, we fix the strength of the couplings of the $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ octets in the 36 with respect to the $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ singlets by assuming that the form of the coupling remains unchanged when we include the singlet states. We are then able---after making a particular choice of Hamiltonion---to predict the masses ${M}_{{\ensuremath{\eta}}^{*}},{M}_{{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}},{M}_{{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{0}},{M}_{{K}^{*\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}},{M}_{{K}^{*0}}$ and the decay rates ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}}$, ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}}$, ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}}$, using as input the masses of the octet of ${0}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons and ${M}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}},{M}_{\ensuremath{\omega}}$. These predictions are in reasonable agreement with presently existing experimental data. We further discuss related meson decays using the above scheme to eliminate the arbitrariness in the relative coupling strength of the singlet states. Specifically we consider $V\ensuremath{\rightarrow}P+{P}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, $V\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3P$, $V\ensuremath{\rightarrow}P+\ensuremath{\gamma}$, $V\ensuremath{\rightarrow}P+{P}^{\ensuremath{'}}+\ensuremath{\gamma}$ [discussing $C$ noninvariance and $S$-wave pion-pion resonances and their effect in $(\ensuremath{\omega},\ensuremath{\varphi})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$, $V\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{l}^{+}+{l}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, $P\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\gamma}$, $P\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{P}^{\ensuremath{'}}+{P}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}+\ensuremath{\gamma}$, and $P\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{l}^{+}+{l}^{\ensuremath{-}}+\ensuremath{\gamma}$. We use the model of Gell-Mann, Sharp, and Wagner and give invariant-mass spectra for the three-body decays.
Oxidation of Criegee's hydrocarbon.Octamethyl-syn-tricyclo[4.2.0.0p2,5]octa-3,7-diene.

Abstract Oxidation of the title compound 1 with peroxytrifluoracetic acid, or acid-catalyzed rearrangement of its epoxide 3 gives a crystalline product with structure 2 (rather than the previously 5 assigned structure 4 ).
Barking up a new tree: ancient pupation behaviour suggests that Cerma Hübner is an acronictine noctuid (Lepidoptera)

Larval morphology and behaviour, thoracic and abdominal vestiture and patterning, and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) data support the placement of Cerma Hubner in the Acronictinae. Features of the prepupal coloration transformation, metathoracic ear, and male genitalia provide additional, somewhat weaker, evidence that Cerma is a Dagger Moth. Morphological and behavioural characters suggest a close phylogenetic relationship between Cerma and Harrisimemna Grote. Cerma and Harrisimemna (as well as Comachara Franclemont and Polygrammate Hubner) share a unique pupation habitat: all excavate a deep tunnel in bark or wood, intern themselves within the tunnel, and then conceal the entrance with a layer of silk into which wood shavings are woven. In addition, all four genera collect their frass or wood shavings, loosely bundle them with silk, and then push or toss the bundles away from the tunnel entrance; Comachara, Harrisimemna, and Polygrammate fastidiously gather and roll the shavings into small balls. Cerma’s membership has significant phylogenetic implications: (1) the evolution of the complex brush organ-lever system of the second abdominal segment present in Cerma males will map more basally in the trifid noctuids than heretofore known, and, consequently (2) the establishment of higher-level taxa (e.g. the Lophonyctinae and Sinocharinae) based on the presence of these brush organs will need to be re-evaluated. Additionally, the inclusion of Cerma in the Acronictinae will negate two of the most widely employed characters for circumscription of the subfamily, i.e. the presence of secondary setae and the possession of more than one seta on the L3 pinaculum of the abdominal segments. Curiously, morphological and behavioural evidence assembled here is strongly contradicted by COI data with regard to the subfamilial placement of Harrisimemna Grote. Note is made of numerous characters shared by acronictine and arctiine larvae.