cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching Security Stealthily

Many people and institutions are considering how to make students who aren't taking computer security classes aware of the issues and make them think about how to improve the state of software and systems. Here four exercises are presented: one from a class introducing non-majors to computers and programming, and three from a beginning programming class for majors. The focus is on introductory classes because they form the basis for students' computing experiences. Introducing concepts of in formation assurance and computer security early makes the students more aware of these issues.
Salicylaldehyde–formaldehyde polymers and their metallic chelates

Salicylaldehyde–formaldehyde polymers were prepared with the use of oxalic acid, formic acid, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide as catalysts. A non-catalyzed polymer was prepared also at an elevated temperature with the use of a pressure bomb. Metallic chelates of the oxalic acid-catalyzed polymer were prepared with various metallic cations. Each of the polymers was examined for solubility characteristics and for thermal stability. The chelates were similarly examined. The molecular weights of the polymers were in the 700–800 range as determined by freezing point depression. Chelated polymers were stable in air at temperatures which were about 50°C. higher than the decomposition temperature of the corresponding nonchelated polymers.
Passive Components For Integrated-Optics Signal Processing

The scope of integrated optics is to perform signal processing at optical frequencies by using a miniature planar configuration consisting of thin films deposited on a suitable substrate. By utilizing guided optical waves rather than electric currents, such a planar configuration may perform functions analogous to those presently achieved by integrated electronics components. In this presentation, we shall review the forms and basic operation of passive components of current interest in integrated optics. Devices involving active components are being described in other presentations.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rationale of the transfer coefficients of electrode kinetics

Abstract A brief discussion implying definitions of the following concepts is presented: anodic and cathodic overvoltage factors, charge number, stoichiometric numbers, anodic and cathodic transfer coefficients, affinity factor. True transfer cofficients are shown always to add up to unity.
Grassland plant composition alters vehicular disturbance effects in Kansas, USA.

Many “natural” areas are exposed to military or recreational off-road vehicles. The interactive effects of different types of vehicular disturbance on vegetation have rarely been examined, and it has been proposed that some vegetation types are less susceptible to vehicular disturbance than others. At Fort Riley, Kansas, we experimentally tested how different plant community types changed after disturbance from an M1A1 Abrams tank driven at different speeds and turning angles during different seasons. The greatest vegetation change was observed because of driving in the spring in wet soils and the interaction of turning while driving fast (vegetation change was measured with Bray-Curtis dissimilarity). We found that less vegetation change occurred in communities with high amounts of native prairie vegetation than in communities with high amounts of introduced C3 grasses, which is the first experimental evidence we are aware of that suggests plant communities dominated by introduced C3 grasses changed more because of vehicular disturbance than communities dominated by native prairie grasses. We also found that vegetation changed linearly with vehicular disturbance intensity, suggesting that at least initially there was no catastrophic shift in vegetation beyond a certain disturbance intensity threshold. Overall, the intensity of vehicular disturbance appeared to play the greatest role in vegetation change, but the plant community type also played a strong role and this should be considered in land use planning. The reasons for greater vegetation change in introduced C3 grass dominated areas deserve further study.
User-oriented graphics systems for decision support in unstructured tasks

The quality of graphic interaction languages may be examined in terms of what the user sees at each interaction point, what he has to know in order to interpret what he sees, and what actions he can take at the interaction point. These guiding questions are of special importance in designing graphic facilities to be used by managers in solving unstructured problems found in business and industry. Three principles for design respond to the guiding questions and represent a partial synopsis of what we have learned in our work. I. Design the context presented to the user at each interaction point to suggest the actions which a user can take upon that context. II. When processes are indeterminate (e.g., in unstructured problems), focus design on particular displayable data representations (e.g. tables, graphs, charts) rather than on the processes in which representations may be used. III. Design the system to have an explicit framework so that a user working out a solution to an unstructured problem can take the graphics system structure for granted as he concentrates on discovering problem structure. These principles will continue to be developed, revised, and expanded in our Decision Support Systems project.
Moo‐cow! Mummy! More! How do children learn so many words?

Learning the words of your language is a huge challenge for children. In particular, it is a challenge of scale. At least 40,000 words have to be learnt. At 18 months a child's vocabulary starts to explode. How do they do it? Bob McMurray says it is all to down to statistics.
Paternal bias in parental origin of HRAS mutations in Costello syndrome.

Costello syndrome (CS) is a rare congenital condition caused by heterozygous de novo missense mutations affecting the codon for glycine 12 or 13 of the HRAS gene. We have identified 39 CS patients harboring the p.Gly12Ser mutation (NM_005343.2:c.34 G>A), two patients with c.35G>C mutations resulting in p.Gly12Ala substitutions, and one patient carrying the p.Gly13Cys substitution (c.37G>A). We analyzed the region flanking the mutated sites in 42 probands and 59 parents, and used four polymorphic markers to trace the parental origin of the germline mutations: one highly polymorphic hexanucleotide (GGGCCT) repeat region, defining three alleles with different numbers of repeat units (two, three, or four), and three SNPs. One of the SNPs, rs12628 (c.81T>C), was found in strong linkage disequilibrium with the hexanucleotide repeat region. Out of a total of 24 probands with polymorphic markers, 16 informative families were tested and the paternal origin of the germline mutation was found in 14 CS probands; a distribution that is neither consistent with an equal likelihood of mutations arising in either parent (P=0.0018), nor with exclusive paternal origin. Hum Mutat 27(8), 736–741, 2006. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Large-sample 13C MAS n.m.r. spectroscopy of coal: relaxation and spin counting

Abstract The favourable S/N characteristics of a recently developed large-volume magic-angle spinning (MAS) system have been used to advantage in 13 C MAS experiments on bituminous coal, using both cross polarization (CP) and single-pulse (SP) approaches. The 13 C spin-lattice relaxation behaviour of this coal has been characterized in experiments with 13 C magnetization generated by CP or 13 C spin-lattice relaxation; an interesting difference was observed. Using the Delrin 13 C signal of the Delrin-Zirconia spinner as a built-in intensity reference, spin counting was carried out on the coal sample. The SP/MAS 13 C approach was found to account for ≈90% of the carbon in this coal sample, while the CP/MAS technique accounted for only 52%.
Acceptance of Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera, noctuidae) as a host by the parasite Cardiochiles nigriceps viereck (Hymenoptera, braconidae)

Abstract The antennae of Cardiochiles nigriceps Viereck parasite of Heliothis virescens (F.), is involved in host finding. The tarsi aid in orienting the parasite to the host. The ovipositor is involved in final host acceptance. The female parasite seems unable to distinguish between a parasitized and non-parasitized host for the first 5 days following parasitism. Host odour, size, shape, and movement do not appear necessary for host acceptance. The parasite does not depend upon a nutritionally suitable host or the presence of a specific factor in the haemolymph for oviposition. Host acceptance by the parasite is primarily involved with the host cuticle. Two different contact chemical stimuli are suggested as being responsible for host finding and acceptance.
Transient electric birefringence of agarose gels. I. Unidirectional electric fields.

The orientation of agarose gels in pulsed electric fields has been studied by the technique of transient electric birefringence. The unidirectional electric fields ranged from 2 to 20 V/cm in amplitude and 1 to 100 s in duration, values within the range typically used for pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Agarose gels varying in concentration from 0.3 to 2.0% agarose were studied. The sign of the birefringence varied randomly from one gel to another, as described previously [J. Stellwagen & N. C. Stellwagen (1989), Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 17, 1537–1548]. The sign and amplitude of the birefringence also varied randomly at different locations within each gel, indicating that agarose gels contain multiple subdomains that orient independently in the electric field. Three or four relaxation times of alternating sign were observed during the decay of the birefringence. The various relaxation times, which range from 1 to ∼ 120 s, can be attributed to hierarchies of aggregates that orient in different directions in the applied electric field. The orienting domains range up to ∼ 22 μm in size, depending on the pulsing conditions. The absolute amplitude of the birefringence of the agarose gels increased approximately as the square of the electric field strength. The measured Ker constants are ∼ 5 orders of magnitude larger than those observed when short, high-voltage pulses are applied to agarose gels. The increase in the Kerr constants in the low-voltage regime parallels the increase in the relaxation times in low-voltage electric fields. Birefringence saturation saturation curves in both the low- and high-voltage regimes can be fitted by theoretical curves for permanent dipole orientation. The apparent permanent dipole moment increase approximately as the 1.6 power of fiber length, consistent with the presence of overlapping agarose helices in the large fiber bundles orienting in low-voltage electric fields, the optical factor is approximately independent of fiber length. Therefore, the marked increase in the Kerr constants observed in the low-voltage regime is due to the large increase in the electrical orientation factor, which is due in turn to the increased length of the fiber bundles and domains orienting in low-voltage electric fields. Since the size of the fiber bundles and domains approximates the size of the DNA molecules being separated by PFGE, the orientation of the agarose matrix in the applied electric field may facilitate the migration of large DNA molecules during PFGE. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An automated turbulent flow liquid chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS) method for quantitation of serum creatinine.

Abstract Background When creatinine concentrations determined by routine clinical assays are in question, reference methods can aid investigation. Currently available reference methods are significantly labor-intensive, which prevents implementation in a routine clinical laboratory. Methods Creatinine D-3 internal standard was added to serum prior to chromatographic separation. A TurboFlow® Cyclone MCX column was used for online solid phase extraction (SPE) to remove large biomolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates and phospholipids from the serum specimen. Creatinine and creatinine D-3 were then eluted onto a Hypercarb (porous graphitic carbon) column for separation. Analytes were detected using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and measured by monitoring parent ions of m/z 114 and 117, respectively. Results Total precision at multiple levels was found to be less than 6% (1.0–7.5 mg/dl). Limit of detection (LOD) was 0.05 mg/dl and limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 0.20 mg/dl. Average recovery was 107.5% (0.37–5.95 mg/dl). Analysis of standard reference materials from The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) confirmed accuracy of the method. No significant difference was found between the liquid chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC–IDMS) method and the Roche Creatinine Plus enzymatic assay. Conclusion The automated turbulent flow LC–IDMS method for quantitation of serum creatinine is accurate, robust, and easy to perform and may serve as a quick and inexpensive alternative to current creatinine reference methods.
Cross sectionally simple spheres can be wild

Abstract The first part of this paper supplements earlier work of the first-named author by exhibiting an example of a wild n-sphere Σ in En+1 (n⩾4) for which each horizontal n-dimensional hyperplane of En+1 that does meet Σ intersects it either in a point or in an (n − 1)-sphere that is flatly embedded in the hyperplane. The second part sets forth an improved criterion for detecting the n-cell (n ≠ 4) based upon properties of slices determined as inverse sets associated with maps of a space to an interval.
NF-κB: A Coordinator for Epigenetic Regulation by MLL

NF-κB is involved in a variety of biological processes, including cancer development. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Kuo et al. show the essential role for IKK/NF-κB signaling in epigenetic regulation by MLL oncoproteins to maintain leukemia stem cells.
Imaging in lung transplants: Checklist for the radiologist

Post lung transplant complications can have overlapping clinical and imaging features, and hence, the time point at which they occur is a key distinguisher. Complications of lung transplantation may occur along a continuum in the immediate or longer postoperative period, including surgical and mechanical problems due to size mismatch and vascular as well as airway anastomotic complication, injuries from ischemia and reperfusion, acute and chronic rejection, pulmonary infections, and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder. Life expectancy after lung transplantation has been limited primarily by chronic rejection and infection. Multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT) is critical for evaluation and early diagnosis of complications to enable selection of effective therapy and decrease morbidity and mortality among lung transplant recipients.
The diffuse spectral reflectance of paints in the near infra-red.

A perforated hemispherical reflector made of half of a Pyrex flask has been employed to collect diffusely reflected light from a surface to be measured on a photo-cell or thermopile placed at a focal point of the hemisphere conjugate to the position of the sample, thus providing adequate amounts of energy on the thermopile to permit spectral-reflectance measurements to longer wave-lengths than with usual reflectance spectrophotometers. Relative diffuse spectral-reflectance curves extending to 2.5μ are given for a number of “infra-red reflecting” paints, showing qualitatively the superiority of high index of refraction, large particle size, and low extinction coefficient in producing layers of pigments having high scattering coefficients in the near infra-red.The use of the hemispherical integrator with a tungsten source and a Wratten 87 filter and with either a thermopile or photo-cell receiver is illustrated by measurements which show that the thermopile-Wratten 87 system, embracing wave-lengths 0.76 to 2.6μ, produced reflectance factors which more nearly approximated integrated reflection factors for sunlight between 0.76 and 2.4μ and more truly indicated the effect of variations in physical characteristics of the reflecting material than did photo-cell measurements embracing wave-lengths 0.76 to 1.2μ.The use of a caesium oxide cathode, infra-red image tube in making rapid inspections of surfaces in the region of wave-length shorter than 1.2μ is described.
New Problems in the Teaching of Russian

“New Problems in the Teaching of Russian.” Because of the increasing interest in the study of Russian, we must take inventory of our teaching materials and techniques. The materials are few and inadequate. Since Russian is a highly inflected language and very difficult, material based on scientific word and syntax counts would be very useful. The author reports success with such an attempt.
Behavioral Effects of Haloperidol in Young Autistic Children: An Objective Analysis Using a Within-Subjects Reversal Design

Abstract Objective rating scales and a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects reversal design were used to assess the therapeutic efficacy of haloperidol in a sample (N = 10) of preschool-age autistic children. Haloperidol was found to decrease the percent occurrence of stereotypy. The effect was more pronounced in the older children and in those children who exhibited a high percentage of stereotypy on baseline. Haloperidol also facilitated the orienting reaction of the children to the request “look at me,” with the effect more pronounced in the older children and those exhibiting a low percentage of orienting on baseline. Stereotypy and orienting on baseline were negatively correlated.
Appeasing the mentor

Three studies are presented in this essay examining perceptions of communication strategies used in response to conflict events between mentors and proteges. The first study identifies a set of conflict events that proteges characterize as occurring between themselves and their mentors. Also identified in this study are strategies specified by proteges as responses to conflicts with their mentors. The second study tests a predictive model of specific conflict events that are likely to engender categories of responses and appeasement events. Gender differences in perceptions of conflict and in provocative or appeasement responses to conflict events are tested as well. The third study examines mentors' perceptions of protege responses to conflict events in terms of forgiveness, respect, esteem, anger reduction, and reduction of the conflict. These studies identified the frequency of perceived conflict events and protege preference in responding to disturbed social relations with their mentor. “My mentor has asked me to help him or her with projects,” and “My mentor has disagreed with me,” were the most frequently cited conflict events and “I have tried to do a better job,” and “I have tried to work harder,” were the most frequently cited response strategies used in appeasement attempts. Conflict events comprised of Negativity, Embarrassment, and Disagreements were predictive of Provocative and Distancing responses. Conflict events comprised of Disagreements approached significance in predicting Pragmatic Appeasement responses. Overall male proteges perceived more events as conflict producing than did female proteges. Male proteges were more likely to argue with their mentors than were female proteges, however they were also more likely to make sacrifices for their mentor and to report greater compliance with their mentor's wishes than were female proteges. Pragmatic Appeasement strategies received high overall evaluations for reconciliation in terms of increased forgiveness, respect, and esteem as well as for anger and conflict reduction. There were no primary gender differences for Mentor responses to reconciliation attempts. The results of this study were discussed in terms of Kelter, Young and Buswell's model of the process of appeasement [in press]. Aggr. Behav. 23:389–403, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
1H-NMR spectroscopic investigation of reversed micellization in metal/organophosphorous surfactant system

Abstract Evidence for the formation of reversed micellar aggregates in the extraction sysem di(2-ethyl-hexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP)/benzene/0.05 mol dm −3 CaCl 2 was obtained from proton magnetic resonance ( 1 H-NMR) spectroscopy. The reversed micelles consist of 6.6 HDEHP molecules on the average. 1 H-NMR measurements indicate that the critical reversed micellar concentration (c.r.m.c.) is 6–11 × 10 −3 F and that the equilibrium constant for reversed micellization is 2.4 × 10 12 (mol/l) −5.6 . The interfacial tension, equilibrium calcium distribution coefficient and apparent molecular weight of the species in the equilibrated organic phase were also determined and are compared with the 1 H-NMR results.
Freeze-fracture study of pulmonary lamellar body membranes in solid crystal phase.

We have demonstrated that the “rippled” appearance which is seen occasionally in lamellar body (LB) membranes is a temperature-dependent phenomenon and probably represents crystallization of the phospholipids. The “rippled” pattern is a consistent finding when lung has been cooled to 4°C before quenching into Freon. It is rarely observed in lamellar bodies quenched from room temperature. The ripples have been seen in a preparation of isolated lamellar bodies. The presence of glycerol as a cryoprotectant has no effect on this phenomenon. Fixation at low temperature does not preserve the “ripple” pattern when specimens are raised to 22°C prior to quenching. Comparison with freeze-fracture pictures of synthetic phospholipid membranes in the literature suggests that the “rippled” lamellar body membranes are in a Pαβ state.
Characterization of denox catalysts supported on titania/silica

Abstract The surfaces of V2O5/TiO2/SiO2 catalysts and the TiO2/SiO2 supports have been characterized and compared to the properties of V2O5/TiO2 catalysts. The type and distribution of the acid sites on the support surfaces were examined using FTIR spectroscopy with pyridine as a probe molecule. The presence of both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites was demonstrated with the relative concentration of these sites dependent on the nature of the sample. XRD and surface area measurements have shown the samples to be stable to high temperatures. Investigations with laser Raman and 51V NMR spectroscopy showed a distribution of VOx sites similar to that observed from V2O5/TiO2. The morphology of the supports was also examined using SEM and TEM techniques.
Gluon production at high transverse momentum in the McLerran-Venugopalan model of nuclear structure functions

We consider the production of high transverse momentum gluons in the McLerran-Venugopalan model of nuclear structure functions. We explicitly compute the high momentum component in this model. We compute the nuclear target size {ital A} dependence of the distribution of produced gluons.
Maglev Linear Actuator for Nanopositioning

Manufacture of nanoscale structures and atomic-level manipulation is an emerging technology field in the 21st century [1,2]. This paper presents a novel magnetically levitated instrument capable of six-degrees-of-freedom (6-DOF) motion with a single moving part. The applications, where this generic positioning device can be used, are manufacturing of nanoscale structures, assembly and packaging of microparts, vibration isolation for delicate instrumentation and motion/force feedback in telepresence surgery. The key element of this stage is a linear actuator capable of providing forces in both suspension and translation without contact. The total range of motion for the linear actuator is ±250 μm. In this paper, we present the closed-loop control test results and stochastic noise/disturbance analysis and prediction for the linear actuator.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Auditors as monitors: evidence from discretionary accruals of Laventhol and Horwath clients

Purpose – This paper aims to provide evidence on the hypothesis that auditors differ in how they constrain discretionary accruals (DAs) of their clients. The paper seeks to analyze changes in DAs for clients of Laventhol and Horwath associated with the appointment of a successor auditor.Design/methodology/approach – The study uses regression and archival data to separate a firm's accounting accruals into discretionary and non‐DAs. The study then examines changes in a firm's DAs associated with a change in auditors.Findings – Replacing LH with a new auditor resulted in a statistically significant decrease in DAs. This result is contrary to prior research and could be due to the prior research using voluntary auditor changes where variables such as financial distress and opinion shopping could drive the results.Originality/value – The study provides results that differ from prior research. This study shows that the auditor change is associated with a systematic decline in the level of a firm's DAs. The resu...
PHASE TRANSITION, LONGITUDINAL SPIN FLUCTUATIONS, AND SCALING IN A TWO-LAYER ANTIFERROMAGNET

We consider a two-layer Heisenberg antiferromagnetic which can be either in the N\'eel-ordered or in the disordered phase at T=0, depending on the ratio of the intralayer and interlayer exchange constants. We reduce the problem to an interacting Bose gas and study the sublattice magnetization and the transverse susceptibility in the ordered phase, and the spectrum of quasiparticle excitations in both phases. We compare the results with spin-wave theory and argue that the longitudinal spin fluctuations, which are not included in the spin-wave description, are small at vanishing coupling between the layers, but increase as the system approaches the transition point. We also compute the uniform susceptibility at the critical point to order O(${\mathit{T}}^{2}$), and show that the corrections to scaling are numerically small, and the linear behavior of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathit{u}}$ extends to high temperatures. This is consistent with the results of the recent Monte Carlo simulations by Sandvik and Scalapino.
Human recombinant phosphodiesterase 4B2B binds (R)-rolipram at a single site with two affinities.

The interactions between (R)-rolipram and purified human recombinant low-Km, cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (HSPDE4B2B) constructs were investigated using biochemical, kinetic, and biophysical app...
Sueño de evasión y libertad, entre la errancia y la utopía: La morada en el tiempo, de Esther Seligson

This article analyzes the novel La morada en el tiempo (1981), by Esther Seligson, in its function of complete-undertaking. The text is written by way of an “I” who absorbs all of past time and sees the history of the Jewish diaspora from the present. According to Seligson, “this is an intent to re-write the Torah from the perspective of a contemporary Jeremiah.” It must be mentioned, on the other hand, that exile allows for thinking of the world in a different way; the sojourn in time can also be and access to the other field, of utopia, which is produced by a high spiritual state, by means of an inquiry to the hidden meanings of letters, as often occurs within the cabalistic tradition. The spiritual search redeems the mundane situation of persecution and bodily outrage.
Modeling the View Angle Dependence of Gap Fractions in Forest Canopies: Implications for Mapping Fractional Snow Cover Using Optical Remote Sensing

Forest canopies influence the proportion of the land surface that is visible from above, or the viewable gap fraction (VGF). The VGF limits the amount of information available in satellite data about the land surface, such as snow cover in forests. Efforts to recover fractional snow cover from the spectral mixture analysis model Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) snow-covered area and grain size (MODSCAG) indicate the importance of view angle effects in forested landscapes. The VGF can be estimated using both hemispherical photos and forest canopy models. For a set of stands in the Cold Land Field Processes Experiment (CLPX) sites in the Fraser Experimental Forest in Colorado, the convergence of both measurements and models of the VGF as a function of view angle supports the idea that VGF can be characterized as a function of forest properties. A simple geometric optical (GO) model that includes only between-crown gaps can capture the basic shape of the VGF as a function of view zenith angle. However, the GO model tends to underestimate the VGF compared with estimates derived from hemispherical photos, particularly at high view angles. The use of a more complicated geometric optical– radiative transfer (GORT) model generally improves estimates of the VGF by taking into account withincrown gaps. Small footprint airborne lidar data are useful for mapping forest cover and height, which makes the parameterization of the GORT model possible over a landscape. Better knowledge of the angular distribution of gaps in forest canopies holds promise for improving remote sensing of snow cover fraction.
Macromolecular Nutriend Limitations of Encapsulated Cells

Encapsulated cells are likely to encounter transport limitations of trace nutrients carried by macromolecules due to a high diffusion resistance in the encapsulating membrane. We modeled the transport of transferrin to encapsulated cells and found that the transport limitation of transferrin is potentially significant in comparison to oxygen, which is limiting in unencapsulated tissue. Since transferrin is the primary biological iron carrier, deprivation of transferrin to encapsulated cells may limit long term function and viability in vivo.
Consent Theory for Libertarians

This paper argues that libertarian political philosophers, including Robert Nozick, have erred in neglecting the problem of political obligation and that they ought to embrace an actual consent theory of political obligation and state legitimacy. It argues as well that if they followed this recommendation, their position on the subject would be correct. I identify the tension in libertarian (and especially Nozick's) thought between its minimalist and its consensualist strains and argue that, on libertarianism's own terms, the consensualist strain ought to prevail. I then describe the form of the consent theory that I recommend to libertarians. The paper concludes with an extended defense of this form of consent theory against contemporary liberal-egalitarian criticisms of it (both explicit and implicit), including those of Dworkin, Rawls, and their followers.
Microbial community degradation of widely used quaternary ammonium disinfectants

Benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) are disinfectants widely used in a variety of clinical and environmental settings to prevent microbial infections, and they are frequently detected in nontarget environments, such as aquatic and engineered biological systems, even at toxic levels. Therefore, microbial degradation of BACs has important ramifications for alleviating disinfectant toxicity in nontarget environments as well as compromising disinfectant efficacy in target environments. However, how natural microbial communities respond to BAC exposure and what genes underlie BAC biodegradation remain elusive. Our previous metagenomic analysis of a river sediment microbial community revealed that BAC exposure selected for a low-diversity community, dominated by several members of the Pseudomonas genus that quickly degraded BACs. To elucidate the genetic determinants of BAC degradation, we conducted time-series metatranscriptomic analysis of this microbial community during a complete feeding cycle with BACs as the sole carbon and energy source under aerobic conditions. Metatranscriptomic profiles revealed a candidate gene for BAC dealkylation, the first step in BAC biodegradation that results in a product 500 times less toxic. Subsequent biochemical assays and isolate characterization verified that the putative amine oxidase gene product was functionally capable of initiating BAC degradation. Our analysis also revealed cooperative interactions among community members to alleviate BAC toxicity, such as the further degradation of BAC dealkylation by-products by organisms not encoding amine oxidase. Collectively, our results advance the understanding of BAC aerobic biodegradation and provide genetic biomarkers to assess the critical first step of this process in nontarget environments.
PCR and RT-PCR analysis of infection and transcriptional activity of walleye dermal sarcoma virus (WDSV) in organs of adult walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum)

The pathogenesis of walleye dermal sarcoma virus (WDSV) infection was investigated in adult walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum). Three tumor-bearing and three tumor-free walleyes were collected in the spring from Oneida Lake, New York, and analyzed for viral infection and transcriptional activity. Specifically, the target organs for viral infection and supporting viral transcriptional activity were determined by assessing for the presence of WDSV DNA and RNA in the brain, liver, kidney, skin, and spleen. For each organ, WDSV DNA and RNA were detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) respectively. Quantitative estimates of the number of viral DNA and RNA copies were obtained in each case by comparing the signal intensity of the sample to that of external controls. WDSV RNA/DNA ratios, based on those quantitative estimates, were computed for each organ. An RNA/DNA ratio of 3 was arbitrarily chosen as the threshold above which there was viral transcriptional activity. Viral DNA was found in all the organs examined from the three tumor-free walleyes. In those three tumor-free walleyes, low levels of WDSV RNA were detected in only one kidney and two spleen samples. In the three tumor-bearing walleyes, viral DNA was found in one brain, one kidney, two liver, and two skin samples. In contrast to the few organs from tumor-free walleyes in which WDSV RNA was detected, in tumor-bearing walleyes WDSV RNA was present in the one brain examined and in 2/3 kidney, 2/3 liver, 3/3 skin, and 3/3 spleen samples. A WDSV RNA/DNA ratio above 3 was obtained in all three tumor-bearing walleyes but in only one tumor-free fish. These data indicated that 1) both tumor-bearing and tumor-free walleyes were infected by WDSV, 2) many cell types were targeted by WDSV and supported viral transcription, and 3) tumor-bearing walleyes harbored a transcriptionally active WDSV, whereas tumor-free walleyes contained mostly silent WDSV DNA.
Learning and feature selection in stereo matching

We present a novel stereo matching algorithm which integrates learning, feature selection, and surface reconstruction. First, a new instance based learning (IBL) algorithm is used to generate an approximation to the optimal feature set for matching. In addition, the importance of two separate kinds of knowledge, image dependent knowledge and image independent knowledge, is discussed. Second, we develop an adaptive method for refining the feature set. This adaptive method analyzes the feature error to locate areas of the image that would lead to false matches. Then these areas are used to guide the search through feature space towards maximizing the class separation distance between the correct match and the false matches. Third, we introduce a self-diagnostic method for determining when apriori knowledge is necessary for finding the correct match. If the a priori knowledge is necessary then we use a surface reconstruction model to discriminate between match possibilities. Our algorithm is comprehensively tested against fixed feature set algorithms and against a traditional pyramid algorithm. Finally, we present and discuss extensive empirical results of our algorithm based on a large set of real images. >
WiMAX: a competing or complementary technology to 3G?

This presentation will contrast WiMAX and 3G wireless technologies and will discuss whether the two technologies are competing or complementary particularly for developing countries.The eventual convergence of the two in what is called "LTE or Long Term Evolution,or Super 3G, S3G " will also be discussed. To this end , the challenges that lie ahead in developing complex MIMO radios with multi-band front end modules (FEMs) will be discussed.Examples of WiMAX and LTE radio architectures will be presented.
On dislocation-based artificial neural network modeling of flow stress

Computational design of materials processes has received great interests during the past few decades. Successful designs require accurate assessment of material properties, which can be influenced by the internal microstructure of materials. This work aim to develop a novel computational model based on dislocation structures to predict the flow stress properties of metallic materials. To create sufficient training data for the model, the flow stress of a precipitation–hardening aluminum alloy was measured by characterizing the dislocation structure of specimens from interrupted mechanical tests using a high resolution electron backscatter diffraction technique. The density of geometrically necessary dislocations was calculated based on analysis of the local lattice curvature evolution in the crystalline lattice. For three essential features of dislocation microstructures – substructure cell size, cell wall thickness, and density of geometrically necessary dislocations – statistical parameters of their distributions were used as the input variables of the predictive model. An artificial neural network (ANN) model was used to back-calculate the in situ non-linear material parameters for different dislocation microstructures. The model was able to accurately predict the flow stress of aluminum alloy 6022 as a function of its dislocation structure content. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed to establish the relative contribution of individual dislocation parameters in predicting the flow stress. The success of this approach motivates further use of ANNs and related methods to calibrate and predict inelastic material properties that are often too cumbersome to model with rigorous dislocation-based plasticity models.
Effects of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) on Fetal Lambs

The purpose of this study was to determine the applicability of using ECMO techniques to support fetal oxygenation while maintaining fetal circulation in utero. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was applied to four chronically instrumented fetal lambs with the placental circulation intact. Blood was obtained through a catheter (2.5 mm ID) inserted into the right atrium and was returned to the carotid artery after oxygenation (V-A ECMO). The rate of blood flow varied from 200 to 300 mL/min (80-100 mL/kg/min). Compressed air at 2 L/min was used to ventilate the membrane, achieving the mean pO2 of 36.1 ± 9.5 torr in the blood after the membrane. A positive linear correlation was observed between pre-membrane and post-membrane pO2. Despite maternal hypoxia experimentally produced by reducing FiO2 of the mother for 15-35 min, V-A ECMO successfully maintained fetal blood pH and gases within the normal control range. These data indicate that V-A ECMO can effectively oxygenate lamb fetuses
Retroviral transduction of peptide stimulated t cells can generate dual t cell receptor-expressing (bifunctional) t cells reactive with two defined antigens

Background Tumors and viruses have developed many mechanisms to evade the immune system, including down-regulation of target antigens and MHC molecules. These immune escape mechanisms may be able to be circumvented by adoptively transferring T cells engineered to express two different T cell receptors, each specific for a different antigen or MHC restriction molecule.
Gas exchange and photosynthetic acclimation over subambient to elevated CO2 in a C3–C4 grassland

Atmospheric CO2 (Ca) has risen dramatically since preglacial times and is projected to double in the next century. As part of a 4-year study, we examined leaf gas exchange and photosynthetic acclimation in C3 and C4 plants using unique chambers that maintained a continuous Ca gradient from 200 to 550 mmol mol in a natural grassland. Our goals were to characterize linear, nonlinear and threshold responses to increasing Ca from past to future Ca levels. Photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf water-use ef®ciency (A/gs) and leaf N content were measured in three common species: Bothriochloa ischaemum, a C4 perennial grass, Bromus japonicus, a C3 annual grass, and Solanum dimidiatum, a C3 perennial forb. Assimilation responses to internal CO2 concentrations (A/Ci curves) and photosynthetically active radiation (A/PAR curves) were also assessed, and acclimation parameters estimated from these data. Photosynthesis increased linearly with Ca in all species (P < 0.05). S. dimidiatum and B. ischaemum had greater carboxylation rates for Rubisco and PEP carboxylase, respectively, at subambient than superambient Ca (P < 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the ®rst published evidence of A up-regulation at subambient Ca in the ®eld. No species showed downregulation at superambient Ca. Stomatal conductance generally showed curvilinear decreases with Ca in the perennial species (P < 0.05), with steeper declines over subambient Ca than superambient, suggesting that plant water relations have already changed signi®cantly with past Ca increases. Resource-use ef®ciency (A/gs and A/leaf N) in all species increased linearly with Ca. As both C3 and C4 plants had signi®cant responses in A, gs, A/gs and A/leaf N to Ca enrichment, future Ca increases in this grassland may not favour C3 species as much as originally thought. Non-linear responses and acclimation to low Ca should be incorporated into mechanistic models to better predict the effects of past and present rising Ca on grassland ecosystems.
Ancillary services in England and Wales [electricity supply]

In England and Wales, trading of electricity is handled through the pool whilst the provision of ancillary services is handled by the ancillary services business of ASB. This paper describes the main ancillary services provided, and the arrangements in place for their purchase. (5 pages)
Monitoring Fatigue Damage in PC Using Carbon Nanotubes

Polymer concrete (PC) overlays are typically used in infrastructure applications, specifically bridges and parking structures, to provide durable protection to the structural system. However, PC suffers from cracking and crack propagation during its service life mostly due to fatigue. Fatigue cracking of PC results in limiting the service life of PC considerably. Monitoring of fatigue damage in PC can help extend PC service life.In this paper, we demonstrate the possible use of carbon nanotubes to monitor damage initiation and propagation in PC under fatigue loading. PC prisms were produced using epoxy polymer concrete with varying contents of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The percolation level of MWCNTs necessary to produce conductive PC was first determined. Fatigue testing using an AASHTO modified test set-up was conducted. Electrical conductivity of PC overlay was continuously measured during fatigue testing. Damage initiation and propagation in PC incorporating MWCNTs overlays can be detected and monitored.
Transnational Assembly Work: Vietnamese American Electronic and Vietnamese Garment Workers

What does it mean for Vietnamese Americans to work at home in the high-tech electronic industry? To what extent are the sweatshop conditions in electronic home-working in San Jose, dubbed the Silicon Valley, shared with the oft-cited garment industry in Viet Nam? To what extent do female and male workers have different "expected" roles to fulfill in each industry, and how do they get paid for doing the same tasks/jobs? What factors lead to their participation in electronic home-working? The focus of this article is on assembly home-working, part of the temporary work force of the electronic industry in San Jose, California, in comparison with the garment industry in Viet Nam. This article identifies transnational connections in assembly work, pay, and gender expectations of these two industries.
Abstract 108: Cell-Specific Interference with Endothelial PPARγ Produces Oxidative Stress and Accelerates Vascular Aging

Despite the fact that aging is the greatest risk factor for vascular disease and stroke, relatively little is known regarding mechanisms that promote or protect against vascular aging in experimental models or people. Endothelial dysfunction is a key contributor to both the initiation and progression of vascular disease. Atherosclerosis in carotid arteries (carotid artery disease) greatly increases the risk for ischemic stroke and may contribute to dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease). Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that exerts diverse effects depending on the cell type. Recent work suggests that PPARγ can have beneficial effects in the vasculature including protection against oxidative stress. Relatively little is known regarding the potential role of PPARγ in aging. We used transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative mutation in human PPARγ (V290M) under control of the endothelial-specific vascular cadherin promoter (designated E-V290M) to examine the hypothesis that interference with endothelial PPARγ will promote age-induced vascular dysfunction. Responses of carotid arteries from adult (6±1 mo) and old (23±1 mo) E-V290M mice and non-transgenic littermates (controls) were examined in vitro. Acetylcholine (an endothelium-dependent agonist) produced similar relaxation of arteries from adult control and E-V290M mice as well as old control mice. In contrast, responses to acetylcholine in arteries from old E-V290M mice were markedly impaired. For example, relaxation of the carotid artery to 10 µmol/L acetylcholine was 84±3 and 40±6% in old control versus old E-V290M mice, respectively (P
New nonlinearity calibration method for 3-D position-sensitive CdZnTe detectors

Nonlinearity in the output signals for the energy deposited by gamma-ray interactions can seriously degrade the energy resolution of a pixellated detector when the signals from more than one pixel are summed to get the total deposited energy. Such nonlinearity can be calibrated on a pixel-by-pixel basis by using multiple gamma-ray check sources of various known energy photopeaks for gamma-ray energy below 1.5 MeV. However such method becomes less practical above 1.5 MeV since only a few commercially available check sources provide a few prominent photopeaks between 1.5 MeV and 3.0 MeV and it takes a long time to get statistically enough counts in these high-energy peaks for each pixel. The nonlinearity in the response of a detector system consists of two parts - one from the nonlinearity of the readout electronics (pre-amp, shaping-amp, peak-hold, etc), the other from the nonlinearity of the detector (charge generation, charge transportation and charge collection). This paper will characterize the nonlinearity of 3-D position-sensitive CdZnTe detectors by using on-chip test pulse injection to separate the nonlinearity of the readout electronics and the detector. The nonlinearity of the detector can be much better modeled after deducting the nonlinearity of the electronics.