cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On leaky modes on a buoyancy interface

Abstract When the fluid below a buoyancy interface such as the seasonal thermocline in the ocean is stably stratified as it is often, energy radiation by internal waves into regions deep below is possible. In this paper, the dispersion relation for a sharp thermocline separating a well-mixed layer from a weakly but stably stratified fluid below is derived and examined for such energy leakage into the fluid below. It is found that the interfacial waves running along such a buoyancy interface leak their energy to radiating internal waves and are rapidly attenuated, if their frequency is less than the buoyancy frequency of the fluid below. The implications the leaky nature of the modes have on resonant excitation of internal waves in the ocean by atmospheric pressure fluctuations and turbulence in the mixed layer are also examined. It is found that efficient resonant build up of interfacial waves is possible only for nonleaky modes and even then their growth rate is modified slightly by the presence of stratified fluid below the interface.
Observed Mixing Behavior of Single Particles in a Bubbling Fluidized Bed of Higher-Density Particles

We report experimental observations of the dynamic behavior of single, magnetically tagged 3—4 mm particles varying in density from 0.55 g/cm 3 to 1.2 g/cm 3 as they migrate freely in a bubbling air-fluidized bed of 177—250 μm glass beads of 2.5 g/cm 3 density over a range of air flows. The densities of the tracer particles (made by imbedding small magnets in wooden particles) were chosen to span a range typical for many biomass materials and exhibited both segregated and well-mixed behavior. Using high-speed measurements from externally mounted magnetic probes, we were able to reconstruct three-dimensional spatial and temporal information about the tracers' trajectories over periods of five minutes. Based on this information, we describe general trends in how the tracers moved and redistributed themselves as functions of their density, fluidization air flow, and the overall concentration of low density particles present. One key finding was that the time average vertical probability distribution of the tracer particles locations is consistent with a Weibull distribution. The effective Weibull parameters appear to vary systematically with the degree of fluidization and particle density. Also, we observed that temporal autocorrelations in the vertical position of the tracer particles vary systematically with fluidization intensity and reveal important information about the dominant bed circulation time scales. Our results suggest that it may be possible to develop relatively simple statistical models or correlations for describing the spatial distribution and circulation of mm sized particles in bubbling beds of this type. Such tools should be useful for simulating some types of fluidized biomass processing and for validating kinetic-theory models of fluidized bed systems.
The Network Inside Out

The Network Inside Out. Annelise Riles Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2000. ix. 242 pp., illustrations, tables, notes, references, index.
After the analysis: analyst as both old and new object.

In the course of followup study of satisfactorily analyzed former patients, there are observed two sets of phenomena: (1) recurrence of the analytic transference neurosis, and (2) rapid recovery fr...
Children's Verbal Fantasy Play with Parents and Peers

Abstract The three objectives of this study were: to compare children's fantasy play in three social contexts (with mothers, with fathers and with peers); to examine the relations of children's fantasy play to their receptive vocabularies and to examine the relations of children's fantasy play to their perspective‐taking skills. The subjects in the study were 20 preschool children (32‐68 months of age), their parents and 20 peers matched for age, Each child played twice in each social context in a laboratory playroom. Transcripts of sessions were coded for categories of fantasy transformations. To compare children's fantasy with parents and peers, a gender by age by context design was employed. Analyses revealed an age X context interaction. Younger preschool children produced more fantasy transformations with their parents than with their peers, while older pre‐schoolers used more fantasy with their peers than with their parents. Girls used more fantasy than did boys. Animation with parents, situational ...
Taxol biosynthesis: Identification and characterization of two acetyl CoA:taxoid-O-acetyl transferases that divert pathway flux away from Taxol production

Two cDNAs encoding taxoid-O-acetyl transferases (TAX 9 and TAX 14) were obtained from a previously isolated family of Taxus acyl/aroyl transferase cDNA clones. The recombinant enzymes catalyze the acetylation of taxadien-5α,13α-diacetoxy-9α,10β-diol to generate taxadien-5α,10β,13α-tri-acetoxy-9α-ol and taxadien-5α,9α,13α-triacetoxy-10β-ol, respectively, both of which then serve as substrates for a final acetylation step to yield taxusin, a prominent side-route metabolite of Taxus. Neither enzyme acetylate the 5α- or the 13α-hydroxyls of taxoid polyols, indicating that prior acylations is required for efficient peracetylation to taxusin. Both enzymes were kinetically characterized, and the regioselectivity of acetylation was shown to vary with pH. Sequence comparison with other taxoid acyl transferases confirmed that primary structure of this enzyme type reveals little about function in taxoid metabolism. Unlike previously identified acetyl transferases involved in Taxol production, these two enzymes appear to act exclusively on partially acetylated taxoid polyols to divert the Taxol pathway to side-route metabolites.
Calibration of microsimulation models using nonparametric statistical techniques

The calibration of traffic microsimulation models has received widespread attention in transportation modeling. A recent concern is whether these models can simulate traffic conditions realistically. The recent widespread deployment of intelligent transportation systems in North America has provided an opportunity to obtain traffic-related data. In some cases the distribution of the traffic data rather than simple measures of central tendency such as the mean, is available. This paper examines a method for calibrating traffic microsimulation models so that simulation results, such as travel time, represent observed distributions obtained from the field. The approach is based on developing a statistically based objective function for use in an automated calibration procedure. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test, the Moses test and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test are used to test the hypothesis that the travel time distribution of the simulated and the observed travel times are statistically identical. The approach is t...
The Escherichia coli rna gene encoding RNase I: sequence and unusual promoter structure

Abstract A clone containing the Escherichia coli rna gene encoding the nonspecific endoribonuclease, RNase I, was isolated and sequenced. The sequence of the 1070-nucleotide (nt) fragment agreed completely with that of a rna clone recently reported by Meador and Kennell [Gene 95 (1990) 1–7]. The transcription start point (tsp) of rna was identified using primer extension analysis, and its promoter sequence was established by comparison of RNase I expression levels in various deletion mutants. Our results indicate that the rna promoter is highly unusual. Its −35 region shows a poor match to the consensus sequence, and moreover, it is located within a stem-loop structure that apparently is a Rho-independent transcription termination site for an upstream gene.
The moral and legal responsibility of the bad Samaritan

(1984). The moral and legal responsibility of the bad Samaritan. Criminal Justice Ethics: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 56-69.
Effect of mycorrhizae inoculation on plant growth, yield, and phosphorus uptake in garlic under field conditions

The effect of mycorrhizae species and phosphorus (P) fertilizer on garlic (Allium sativum L.) growth, yield–quality, and P uptake under high P accumulated non-sterile field conditions were studied. Experiments were conducted for two successive years under field conditions of Menzilat soil series (Typic xerofluvent) at the Research Farm of the University of Cukurova (Turkey). Glomus mosseae arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) were tested on local Urfa genotype of garlic at 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg phosphorus (P2O5) ha−1. In the first year, garlic was inoculated with 1,000 spores per plant, but in the second year, garlic was inoculated with either 1,000 or 2,000 spores per plant. Emergence, plant growth, yield, bulb size, root mycorrhizal infection, and phosphorus uptake of plants were examined. Neither mycorrhizal inoculation nor P2O5 supply increased garlic growth and yield. However, at 0 level of P2O5 application, mycorrhizal inoculation slightly increased plant P uptake. In the second year of the experiment, mycor...
Vegetation dynamics during the last deglaciation, southeastern Great Basin, U.S.A.

Abstract Vegetation changes in the southeastern Great Basin between 17,500 and 8000 yr B.P. can be reconstructed from plant macrofossil assemblages in ancient packrat (Neotoma spp.) middens. Vegetation instability after ca. 16,000 yr B.P. involved a dispoportionate number of local immigrations (arrivals) relative to apparent local extinctions (departures). At a site in modern woodland, less than 50% of the arrivals were of transients, species that subsequently went locally extinct; but at a low-elevation desert site almost all arrivals before 10,000 yr B.P. were transient species. Thus, by the close of the last glacial age, higher elevations supported vegetation that resembled present woodland, while lower elevations supported desertscrub that bore little resemblance to modern thermophilous desertscrub. Differences in the pace of plant community “modernization” in different elevational zones can be attributed to migrational lag. Woodland species survived the last glacial age at low elevations nearby, and began arriving at sites within current woodland before 11,700 yr B.P. Warm-desert plants were displaced far to the south, and began arriving after 9500 yr B.P. Moreover, their staggered arrival times suggest that low winter temperatures did not inhibit their migration during the early Holocene. These data suggest that biotic factors, particularly variable dispersal distances and consequent migrational lag, did affect deglacial vegetation change.
Comparative Litter Quality and Recalcitrance Among Native Grasses and the Invasive, Non-indigenous KR Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum)

KR Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) is a non-indigenous, invasive, C4 grass that was introduced throughout the Midwestern and Southwestern U.S. short- to midgrass prairies with the aim of improving degraded rangelands. The aggressive nature of KR bluestem has led to dramatic alterations of natural and managed ecosystems. Comparative studies of decomposition often show that non-indigenous, invasive plant species have higher rates of nutrient cycling than indigenous species; however, KR bluestem appears to deviate from this trend. Large amounts of litter are observed in KR-dominated grasslands as compared to intact native grasslands, suggesting that the species has a relatively lower decomposition rate and may slow nutrient cycling in these systems. Indeed, as a result of lower decomposition, KR-dominated sites generally have higher fuel loads. We employed a two-way factorial design to assess differences in decomposition between KR Bluestem and three native, perennial grasses in two habitat types, KR-dominated grasslands or intact native grassland. Dried above ground litter for each species was divided into leaves and culms. For each species, replicate fiberglass mesh bags were filled with one gram of leaves plus one gram of culms. The bags measured 10.16 cm x 15.24 cm. Bags were placed in the field in one of three replicate sites of either KR-dominated or intact, native grassland and collected approximately every three months. Litter was analyzed for dry weight biomass, nitrogen, carbon, and lignin. Analysis by ANCOVA demonstrated statistically significant differences in litter quality among the four species, suggesting that KR Bluestem litter is more recalcitrant to decomposition. We found no significant differences in rates of decomposition between the two habitats. Trends in the data suggest that nutrient cycling is slower in KR Bluestem due to higher lignin and C:N and low total nitrogen content.
Self-administration of 3α-androstanediol increases locomotion and analgesia and decreases aggressive behavior of male hamsters

Abstract Androgens, such as testosterone (T), can have reinforcing effect, which may be due in part to actions of T's metabolite, 3α-androstanediol (3α-diol). To investigate rewarding effects of 3α-diol, gonadally intact adult male hamsters were given a two-bottle choice test to determine the amount of 3α-diol that would be self-administered over 4 days of exposure. After 2 days of habituation and 4 days of monitoring of consumption, hamsters were tested in an activity monitor and the open field (locomotion/exploration), paw lick (analgesia) and resident−intruder (aggression) tasks. Hamsters consumed significantly more 3α-diol than vehicle in the two-bottle choice test. Hamsters that were allowed to self-administer 3α-diol made significantly more beam breaks and total entries in the open field had increased latencies to pawlick, and engaged in significantly fewer attacks, than did hamsters with access to vehicle alone. Hamsters that self-administered 3α-diol had higher levels of 3α-diol in serum, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, striatum and midbrain than did hamsters with access to vehicle alone. Together, these data suggest that 3α-diol may have rewarding effects.
An experimental study of screw configuration effects in the twin-screw extrusion-cooking of maize grits

Abstract The effects of screw configuration on the product properties, die pressure and screw torque in the twin-screw extrusion-cooking of maize grits is described. Extrudate bulk density, water solubility and water absorption were measured for a set range of extrusion moisture contents and barrel temperatures for each of four screw configurations of different conveying efficiencies. It is shown that screw configuration is a potent variable in determining product properties. The variation in water solubility with specific mechanical energy input conforms to Meuser's model. The screw configuration controls the specific mechanical energy input range. Screw configurations of low conveying efficiency give rise to low-viscosity melts which expand into low-bulk-density products. Dead-stopped runs showed that the conveying efficiency controls the degree of fill in the extruder barrel. Typically, the mean residence time was increased from 56 to 94 s by decreasing the conveying efficiency of the screws.
Is complete spatial coherence necessary for the generation of highly directional light beams

An equivalence theorem is formulated that provides conditions under which planar sources of different states of spatial coherence will generate optical fields that have identical far-zone intensity distributions. As an example, a partially coherent source whose linear dimensions are large compared with the correlation length of the light across the source is described that will generate a field whose far-zone intensity distribution is identical with that of a Gaussian laser beam.
Les ordinateurs en gastroentérologie

L’ordinateur s’est introduit dans tous les domaines medicaux y compris la gastroenterologie. L’ordinateur peut automatiser a la fois le cabinet d’endoscopie et les comptes-rendus. Cependant, il n’a pas encore ete clairement demontre que les materiels dont nous disposons actuellement soient capables de remplacer la dictee. En matiere de recherche, l’ordinateur peut etre utilise pour organiser et rappeler des donnees, dans le cas d’etudes epidemiologiques par exemple, ou pour des etudes a long terme d’un fichier de donnees cliniques de haute qualite. Enfin, l’ordinateur peut etre utilise pour 1’interpretation de l’image et son analyse. En gastroenterologie, la gestion de base de donnees et la manipulation de l’image peuvent etre des applications tres productives des nouvelles techniques informatiques actuelles.
A mastery-based learning approach for undergraduate engineering programs

We report the results of an action research study in which a modified mastery-based learning approach was implemented in three undergraduate engineering courses: engineering statistics, LabVIEW programming, and environmental engineering. In this paper, we describe both the action research and the modified mastery-based learning approach that was implemented. Findings from the analysis of data on student performance, and student and faculty perceptions of the approach are presented. In addition, we discuss our recommendations for modifications to the approach that could be used in future implementations.
The development of a new class of polyimide laminating resins

Abstract The development of a new class of polyimide resins, together with preliminary test data on laminates made using such resins, is described. The results seem to indicate potential applications in the aerospace and other speciality industries, since the resins exhibit useful elevated temperature properties.
Absorption, Fluorescence, and Energy Levels of the Dysprosium Ion*

The absorption and fluorescence spectra of DyCl3·6H2O have been observed at 4.2°K and 77°K. This makes an analysis of the low-lying levels possible including their Stark splitting. The strong lines have been interpreted as transitions between the 6H, 6P, and 6F multiplets. The Zeeman effect gives a splitting of s1=6.73 if the acute bisectrix is parallel to the field.
Is more always better? Early career returns to education in the United States and Norway

Abstract This paper compares early career returns to education in the United States and Norway. Longitudinal data is used to follow national cohorts of 10th graders who have made the transition from school to work within 10 years. OLS and quantile regression analyses show that whereas the relationship between educational attainment and income in the United States follows a linear pattern with higher returns to longer and more intellectually prestigious educations, this is not the case in Norway. In Norway, it pays off to choose vocational education in high school and college, especially for men. The results show that women and minorities benefit more from education than non-minority men in both countries. The findings from the quantile regressions indicate that this has partly to do with the fact that women and minorities are more disadvantaged at the lower end of the income distribution and at the lowest levels of educational attainment.
Mapping of auroral X‐rays from rocket overflights

Remote sensing of energetic auroral X-rays from above the emission region can provide both local and global information regarding X ray and energetic electron deposition within the middle atmosphere. However, contamination of X ray detectors by local corpuscular radiation can severely affect the scope and accuracy of the detector measurements. It is, therefore, necessary to employ techniques designed to observe X rays while rejecting the far more intense corpuscular radiation component. A suitable approach for the mapping of auroral X rays involves the employment of rockets for flights above the emission region. A description is presented of the results obtained from two rocket flights launched from Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska, during aurorally active periods in March 1978. The data were measured with the aid of scanning detectors protected from particles by broom magnet techniques.
Three-fluid retention in porous media involving water, PCE and air☆

Abstract A classical way to obtain three-fluid retention curves in porous media from measured two-fluid retention curves is based on the Leverett concept, which states that the total volumetric liquid content in a water-wet porous medium, containing water, a nonaqueous-phase liquid (NAPL) and air, is a function of the capillary pressure across the interface between the continuous NAPL and air. This functional relationship results from the assumed condition that in a three-fluid porous medium, the intermediate wetting fluid spreads over the water-air interface. Application of Leverett's concept may not be valid, however, for nonspreading NAPLs like perchloroethylene (PCE). This paper discusses measurements of both PCE-air and water-PCE-air retention curves using a long vertical column in conjunction with a dual-energy gamma radiation system. The data indicate that the Leverett concept was applicable only until a critical PCE saturation had been reached.
Minimum sample sizes for identifying chromosomal fragile sites from individuals : Monte Carlo estimation

A Monte Carlo simulation procedure was used to estimate the exact level of the standardized X 2 test statistic (X s 2) for randomness in the FSM methodology for the identification of fragile sites from chromosomal breakage data for single individuals. A random-number generator was used to simulate 10 000 chromosomal breakage data sets, each corresponding to the null hypothesis of no fragile sites for numbers of chromosomal breaks (n) from 1 to 2000 and at three levels of chromosomal band resolution (k). The reliability of the test was assessed by comparisons of the empirical and nominal α levels for each of the corresponding values of n and k. These analyses indicate that the sparse and discrete nature of chromosomal breakage data results in large and unpredictable discrepancies between the empirical and nominal α levels when fragile site identifications are based on small numbers of breaks (n < 0.5 k). With n≥ 0.5 k, the distribution of X s 2 appears to be stable and non-significant differences in the empirical and nominal α levels are generally obtained. These results are inherent to the nature of the data and are, therefore, relevant to any statistical model for the identification of fragile sites from chromosomal breakage data. For FSM identification of fragile sites at α = 0.05, we suggest that n≥ 0.5 k is the minimum reliable number of mapped chromosomal breaks per individual.
Enhanced Electromechanical Properties in Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) (PVDF)-Based Nanocomposites

Efforts to enhance the electromechanical properties of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers have been directed at optimizing the molecular chemistry, stretching and poling parameters. This study investigates an alternative approach to enhancing the properties via adding nanoinclusions in PVDF. We investigate the enhanced electrostrictive response in PVDF by adding Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs). We also show the change in the non-polar morphology of “as-is” PVDF to the polar γ phase by adding SWNTs and eventually to the piezoelectric β phase by stretching the nanocomposites.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Does concentrating chemical defenses within specific regions of marine sponges result in enhanced protection from predators

Chemical defenses are an effective mode of predator deterrence across benthic marine organisms, but their production may come with associated costs to the organism as limited resources are diverted away from primary processes like growth and reproduction. Organisms concentrating ecologically relevant levels of these defenses in tissues most at risk to predator attack may alleviate this cost while deterring predators. We addressed this hypothesis by investigating the deterrence of chemical extracts from the inner and outer regions of the sponges Aplysina fulva, Ircinia felix, and I. campana from a temperate hard-bottom reef in the South Atlantic Bight. Assays were conducted using natural fish assemblages and sea urchins. Although, A. fulva and I. felix have higher concentrations of defensive metabolites in the outer and inner regions, respectively, extracts from these regions did not display enhanced deterrency against fish or mobile invertebrate predators. Likewise, extracts from both regions of the sponge Ircinia campana, which has a uniform distribution of defensive chemicals throughout, did not differ in their ability to deter either group of predators. Since chemical defenses were effective deterrents at lower concentrations, secondary metabolite allocation patterns observed among these sponges are likely not driven by predation pressure from generalist fish and mobile invertebrate predators on these reefs. Alternatively, these patterns may be driven by other ecological stressors, another suite of predators, or may be more effective at deterring predators when combined with structural defenses.
A Second Example of Anti‐Fy51

. Anti-Fy5 has been found in the serum of a transfused Fy(a–b–) Negro woman. The antibody reacts with red cells that are Fy(a+) or Fy(b+) or both, but not with Fy(a–b–) cells or with cells of the Rhnull phenotype. Rhnull red cells of both amorph and regulator types are nonreactive with anti-Fy5. If interaction between Rhesus and Duffy gene products is necessary for Fy5 antigen synthesis, it must be the Rh gene itself and not the X1r modifier that is involved.
Transient Rheology of a Polymeric Bicontinuous Microemulsion

Transient rheological measurements are reported for a model polymeric bicontinuous microemulsion. The sample consists of a ternary blend of poly(ethyl ethylene) (PEE) and poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) homopolymers and a symmetric PEE-PDMS diblock copolymer. Steady-flow rheological data, reported previously, show four regimes as a function of increasing shear rate. Newtonian behavior is observed in regime I, followed by shear thinning in regime II. Flow-induced phase separation is the hallmark of regime III. The microemulsion starts ejecting homopolymer-rich phases, and the shear stress is independent of shear rate. In regime IV, complete phase separation occurs and the sample behaves like an immiscible blend. Transient rheological data on flow inception reveal linear viscoelastic response in regime I, and development of a stress overshoot in regime II. In regime III, a strong stress overshoot is observed, followed by a “shoulder” and a slow decay to the steady, rate-independent value. The normal stress s...
Me or My: Two Different Patterns of Pronoun Case Errors

This paper investigates why some young children prefer to replace I with me (me-children), whereas others prefer to replace I with my (my-children). The data come from 12 children, observed monthly, from 1;0 to 3;0. It was found that the percentage of errors in which me replaced I (the me-error rate) was positively correlated with the correct production of me as an objective pronoun (the me-total). The me for I and my for I errors were antagonistic, with one of the patterns almost always dominating over the other, resulting in a clear individual difference between me-children and my-children. It was also found that the me-total during the period in which my for I replacements first emerged prefigured whether a child would become a me-child or a my-child.
Japan's Built-In Lexicon of English-Based Loanwords by DAULTON, FRANK E.

The article reviews the book "Japan's Built-In Lexicon of English-Based Loanwords," by Frank E. Daulton.
Infrared Observations of Galaxies in the Local Universe. I. The Survey and Some Representative Results

This paper introduces a continuing survey of galaxies in the local universe. Consistent deep images are being acquired for a representative sample of 321 galaxies in the Uppsala General Catalogue down to 21.7 mag arcsec-2 at Ks (2.16 μm) and 22.4 mag arcsec-2 at J (1.25 μm) using a NICMOS camera with a 38 × 38 field of view attached to the 61 inch (1.5 m) telescope on Mount Bigelow. We provide some examples of the results being obtained by employing 64 deep images of a subset of 44 galaxies. Bulge-to-disk ratios are tabulated for 30 galaxies. The brightness of the central region of 44 galaxies declines approximately 5 mag from Hubble type S0 to Sm. An exponential vertical scale height at Ks is found to be 500 pc for the disk of UGC 5173. Arm amplitudes of four nearly face-on spiral galaxies are found to range between 11% and 88% compared to the interarm region. There is some evidence that the arm amplitude is larger at Ks than it is at J. Color gradients are measured for 15 galaxies with only one showing a significant nonzero result. A measurement of galactic symmetry applied to 64 deep images reveals an average asymmetry of 7.6% (σ = 4.6%) for these galaxies.
Peak oxygen consumption and outcome in heart failure patients chronically treated with β-blockers

Abstract Background Peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) is an important criterion for listing patients for cardiac transplantation. β-Blockers improve survival without affecting peak VO 2 . We questioned the value of peak VO 2 in predicting outcome in patients treated with β-blockers. Methods and results We reviewed the records of 127 patients who had peak VO 2 measured at baseline and were subsequently treated with β-blockers for at least 3 months. We divided the patients into 2 groups with peak oxygen consumption >14 (VO 2 hi) and ≤14 ml·kg·min (VO 2 lo). VO 2 hi had 109 patients and VO 2 lo had 18 patients. The combined end-point of death or cardiac transplantation was compared between groups. Mean peak VO 2 and left ventricular ejection fraction were lower in VO 2 lo versus VO 2 hi: 12.4±1.4 ml·kg·min versus 19.1±3.9 ml·kg·min and 17±8% versus 21±9%, respectively. At 30 months, the percentage of patients who did not reach the combined end-point was 94% in VO 2 lo versus 79% in VO 2 hi ( P =.47). In multivariate analysis, only changes in heart rate and LVEF from baseline to follow-up were predictive of survival. Conclusions Current peak VO 2 cutoff does not predict survival without transplantation of patients who tolerate chronic treatment with β-blockers.
Statistical suppression of interference with diversity in a mobile-radio environment

In a small-cell mobile-radio system different base stations transmit different signals simultaneously, and at the same carrier frequency, to mobile vehicles in their respective cells. It is desirable that these cochannel stations be placed as close to one another as possible without creating undue interference. However, as a vehicle moves within a cell, both the desired and undesired signals exhibit Rayleigh (local) fading, creating a relatively high probability that the interference exceeds the signal. On the other hand, at the frequencies contemplated it is relatively simple to construct additional antennas that provide independently fading signals, thereby offering the use of diversity techniques. Three different switch diversity techniques are considered, and the improvements produced by each are calculated. It is also shown that some are effective in combating an additional difficulty of the mobile-radio environment; this difficulty is that while the signal received in a moving vehicle is locally Rayleigh, the mean of this Rayleigh process changes slowly with time.
Elevated expressions of osteopontin and tenascin C in ascending aortic aneurysms are associated with trileaflet aortic valves as compared with bicuspid aortic valves

Abstract Objective Ascending aortic aneurysms (AscAAs) are a highly lethal condition whose pathobiology remains to be poorly understood. Although most AscAAs occur in the presence of a trileaflet aortic valve (TAV), a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital anomaly associated with an increased risk for an AscAA and dissection independent of functional valve pathology but secondary to inherent structural abnormality of the aorta. The objective of this investigation was to compare the patterns of gene expression in aortas between TAV and BAV patients with the aim of identifying markers for AscAAs. Methods We used microarray analysis to first compare messenger RNA expressions between aneurysmal aortas from TAV patients ( n =11) and those from BAV patients ( n =11), identified genes overexpressed in TAV aneurysms, and compared expressions of the selected genes among TAV aneurysms, BAV aneurysms, and normal aortas ( n =3). Finally, expressions of the selected genes were assessed by immunostaining of aortas from the TAV, BAV, and normal specimens. Results Two overexpressed genes in the TAV group, osteopontin (OPN) and tenascin C (TNC), were consistently more highly expressed in TAV aneurysms than in BAV aneurysms and normal aortas as determined by real-time reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Differential staining revealed that OPN protein was concentrated in the medial smooth muscle and that TNC protein was concentrated around the vasa vasorum. Conclusions We identified two novel potential markers, OPN and TNC, that are strongly associated with TAV aneurysms. The roles of OPN and TNC in influencing extracellular matrix remodeling in AscAAs warrant further investigation.
In the Eye of the Chicken Hierarchy and marginality among Beijing’s migrant schoolchildren

As Beijing is being transformed into a global city new kinds of spatial and social hierarchies are produced. Based on ethnographic research conducted among students at a school for the children of migrant workers in Chinas capital this article examines how new hierarchies are continuously produced through embodied spatial practices within city space and examines how school texts state ideology and childrens appearances produce new kinds of marginalities. (authors)
THE NATURAL SOIL DRAINAGE INDEX: AN ORDINAL ESTIMATE OF LONG-TERM SOIL WETNESS

Many important geomorphic and ecological attributes center on soil water content, especially over long timescales. In this paper we present an ordinally based index, intended to generally reflect the amount of water that a soil supplies to plants under natural conditions, over long timescales. The Natural Soil Drainage Index (DI) ranges from 0 for the driest soils (e.g., those shallow to bedrock in a desert) to 99 (open water). The DI is primarily derived from a soil's taxonomic subgroup classification, which is a reflection of its long-term wetness. Because the DI assumes that soils in drier climates and with deeper water tables have less plant-useable water, taxonomic indicators such as soil moisture regime and natural drainage class figure prominently in the "base" DI formulation. Additional factors that can impact soil water content, quality, and/or availability (e.g., texture), when also reflected in taxonomy, are quantified and added to or subtracted from the base DI to arrive at a final DI value. I...
Identification of novel stage-specific genetic requirements through whole genome transcription profiling of Vibrio cholerae biofilm development

Bacterial biofilm formation has been described as a developmental process. This process may be divided into three stages: the planktonic stage, the monolayer stage and the biofilm stage. Bacteria in the planktonic stage are not attached to each other or to a surface; bacteria in the monolayer stage are attached to surfaces as single cells; and bacteria in the biofilm stage are attached to surfaces as cellular aggregates. In a study limited to the Vibrio cholerae flaA, mshA and vps genes, we previously demonstrated that transcription in monolayer cells is distinct from that in biofilm cells and that the genetic requirements of monolayer formation are distinct from those of biofilm formation. In this work, we sought to identify additional stage-specific genetic requirements through microarray analysis of the V. cholerae transcriptome during biofilm development. These studies demonstrated unique patterns of transcription in the planktonic, monolayer and biofilm stages of biofilm development. Based on our microarray results, we selected cheY-3 as well as two previously uncharacterized genes, bap1 and leuO, for targeted mutation. The ΔcheY-3 mutant displayed a defect in monolayer but not biofilm formation, suggesting that chemotaxis plays a stage-specific role in formation of the V. cholerae monolayer. Mutants carrying deletions in bap1 and leuO formed monolayers that were indistinguishable from those formed by wild-type V. cholerae. In contrast, these mutants displayed greatly decreased biofilm accumulation. Our microarray analyses document modulation of the transcriptome of V. cholerae as it progresses through the stages in biofilm development. These studies demonstrate that microarray analysis of the transcriptome of biofilm development may greatly accelerate the discovery of novel targets for stage-specific inhibition of biofilm development.
Group-Sparse Signal Denoising: Non-Convex Regularization, Convex Optimization

Convex optimization with sparsity-promoting convex regularization is a standard approach for estimating sparse signals in noise. In order to promote sparsity more strongly than convex regularization, it is also standard practice to employ non-convex optimization. In this paper, we take a third approach. We utilize a non-convex regularization term chosen such that the total cost function (consisting of data consistency and regularization terms) is convex. Therefore, sparsity is more strongly promoted than in the standard convex formulation, but without sacrificing the attractive aspects of convex optimization (unique minimum, robust algorithms, etc.). We use this idea to improve the recently developed ‘overlapping group shrinkage’ (OGS) algorithm for the denoising of group-sparse signals. The algorithm is applied to the problem of speech enhancement with favorable results in terms of both SNR and perceptual quality.
Parents' appraisal of children's pain: a grounded theory; Mayo Clinic/Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù joint nursing research project

Abstract To achieve a greater accuracy of paediatric pain assessment and efficacy of its management, it is important to include parents in the process of appraisal, as promoted by the family-centred model of care. Other studies have highlighted parental stress and anxiety over their children's health, and the accuracy of their assessments seems variable. However, the factors that contribute to parents' appraisals are uncertain. Their values, beliefs, cultural upbringing/influences and other cognitive factors probably have an impact on this process, but how and to what extent is not known. This paper is an overview of the Joint Mayo Clinic/Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu research project on parents' appraisal of children's pain and of the methodology used, i.e. grounded theory. The objective of the study is to understand the appraisal process of parents when considering their child's or infant's pain behaviours in the health context and to examine cultural influences on this process.
Anime Creativity: Characters and Premises in the Quest for Cool Japan

This article examines ethnographically the production of anime (Japanese animated films and TV shows) by focusing on how professional animators use characters and dramatic premises to organize thei...
Improving Outcomes of the Surgical Management of Right Atrial Isomerism

Background Patients with right atrial isomerism (RAI) have several cardiac malformations historically resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. We sought to assess whether current surgical strategies have improved the outcomes of patients with RAI. Methods A retrospective review of our database from 1997 to 2010 identified 60 consecutive patients with RAI who underwent initial palliation at Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Children's Hospital. All of the patients had a functional single ventricle. Of the 60 patients, 33 patients (51.7%) had obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD), 23 patients (40.3%) had significant (more than moderate) atrioventricular valvular regurgitation (AVVR), 7 patients (12.3%) had hiatus hernia, and 4 patients (6.7%) had major aortopulmonary collateral arteries. Pulmonary outflow atresia was present in 39 of the patients (65%), and 46 patients had systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts. Of the 33 patients with TAPVD, 18 underwent repair of the condition at initial palliation, 9 others at the time of a Glenn operation, 2 more through a Fontan operation, and 4 at the interstage between palliative surgeries. Eight of the 23 patients with significant AVVR underwent atrioventricular valve repair at initial palliation, 8 others at the time of Glenn operation, 4 others at the time of Fontan operation, and 3 during the interstage between operations. An initial neonatal surgical procedure was performed in 30 patients (50%). The mean follow-up period for patients in the study was 53.1 months. Results Operative mortality after initial palliation was 15.4% (4 of 26 patients) before 2003 and 17.6% (6 of 34 patients) after 2004 ( p = NS). Five-year survival was 53.8% before 2003 and 81.7% after 2004 ( p = 0.035, log-rank test). A multivariate analysis identified persistent AVVR of more than moderate degree ( p = 0.04) as a factor associated with late mortality. Conclusions The outcomes of surgery for RAI are improving. Neonatal palliative surgery for RAI carries a high operative risk of early mortality, and persistent significant AVVR remains a risk factor for late mortality.
Interstrain Inhibition in the Sweet Potato Pathogen Streptomyces ipomoeae: Purification and Characterization of a Highly Specific Bacteriocin and Cloning of Its Structural Gene

Strains of the sweet potato soil rot pathogen Streptomyces ipomoeae had previously been divided into three groups based on their ability to inhibit one another during pairwise cocultivation. While group I strains are not antagonistic to members of the other groups, group II and group III strains produce separate substances that are inhibitory to strains outside their respective cognate groups. Here, we purified the group III inhibitory substance from the culture supernatant of a representative strain and found that it consists of a single 10-kDa cationic protein which is bacteriolytic for S. ipomoeae group I and II strains but which showed no inhibitory function against other streptomycetes or other bacterial genera tested. The structural gene for the inhibitor was cloned from a chromosomal library of the producing strain, and while the gene sequence revealed that the inhibitor is initially made in a larger precursor form, the deduced mature protein showed no significant homology to other known proteins. Our results demonstrate that S. ipomoeae group III inhibitory activity is manifested in the form of a highly specific, potentially novel bacteriocin, which we have designated ipomicin.
Use of single family lines to preserve genetic variation in laboratory colonies

Two genetic processes, drift and selection, can lead to losses of genetic traits in laboratory colonies and subsequent poor performance in the field. Genetic drift can be detected from changes in frequencies of selectively neutral alleles, especially allozymes, and can be avoided by maintenance of large population sizes. In contrast, selection may not be detected or avoided easily in large colonies, potentially resulting in the loss of traits essential for performance or adaptation to the field. This loss can be minimized if important alleles are made homozygous by mildly inbreeding independent family lines. The number of lines needed to prevent confidently the loss of alleles was calculated for a range of initial frequencies. For arrhenotokous or diploid species, only 25 or 50 single family lines, respectively, are needed to preserve common alleles, which are the alleles that seem most likely to be important to field performance. The relevance of these results to laboratory rearing, especially for classical biological control and conservation of endangered species, is discussed.
Effects of surface/interface states on Schottky contacts for 4H-SiC

Electrical characteristics of sputter deposited Ni, Cr, Au, Pt, and Ti contacts on 4H-SiC were studied. The 4H-SiC substrates used were test grade, single crystalline, and n-type. These contacts were found to be rectifying. Saturation current densities, ideality factors and Schottky barrier heights were determined from these measurements. Argon plasma sputtering degraded the contact by increasing the reverse current and lowering the turn-on voltage. The calculated Schottky barrier heights were ranged from /spl sim/ 0.8 eV to /spl sim/ 13 eV and reverse current was found to be as low as 136.5 nA/cm/sup 2/ at -5 V. For RCA cleaned samples, the barrier heights are weakly dependent on metal work function and were largely determined by metal induced gap states (MIGS) and electronegativity difference between metal and semiconductor. However, in RCA + Ar plasma sputter cleaned samples, the barrier heights were independent of the metal work function determined entirely by MIGS and surface/interface states.
OnWARD: Ontology-driven web-based framework for multi-center clinical studies

With a large percentage of clinical trials still using paper forms as the primary data collection tool, there is much potential for increasing efficiency through web-based data collection systems, especially for large-scale multi-center trials. This paper presents OnWARD, an ontology-driven, secure, rapidly-deployed, web-based framework supporting data capture for large-scale multi-center clinical research. Our approach is developed using the agile methodology to provide a flexible, user-centered dynamic form generator, which can be quickly deployed and customized for any clinical study without the need of deep technical expertise. Because of the flexible framework, the data management system can be extended to accommodate a large variety of data types, including genetic, genomic and proteomic data. In this paper, we demonstrate the initial deployment of OnWARD for a Phase II multi-center clinical trial after a development period of merely three months. The study utilizes 23 clinical report forms containing more than 1500 data points. Preliminary evaluation results show that OnWARD exceeded expectations of the clinical investigators in efficiency, flexibility and ease in setting up.
Efficient simulation of constant Q using coarse-grained memory variables

Abstract Improvements in computing speed have progressively increased the usable bandwidth of seismic wave-field simulations computed with time-stepped numerical schemes (e.g., finite difference, finite element, pseudospectral). As computational bandwidth increases, anelastic losses become increasingly significant for some important applications such as earthquake ground-motion modeling, whole earth seismogram simulation, and exploration seismic profile modeling, and these losses need to be included in the simulations. As bandwidth increases, however, the memory variables necessary to incorporate realistic anelastic losses account for an increasing proportion of total computational storage requirements, a consequence of the broad relaxation spectrum of typical earth materials. To reduce these storage requirements, we introduce a new method in which the memory variables are coarse grained, that is, redistributed in such a way that only a single relaxation time is represented at each node point (and therefore a single memory variable per stress component is required). Guided by a perturbation analysis, we effect this redistribution in such a way that spatial variability of this single relaxation time simulates the full relaxation spectrum. Such coarse graining reduces memory-variable storage requirements by a factor of 8 for 3D problems or a factor of 4 for 2D problems. In fourth-order finite-difference computations for the 3D acoustic-wave equation, the method simulates frequency-independent Q within a 3% tolerance over 2 decades in frequency, and it is highly accurate and free of artifacts over the entire usable bandwidth of the underlying finite-difference scheme. These results should also hold for the elastodynamic equations. The method is readily generalized to approximate specific frequency-dependent Q models such as power laws or to further reduce memory requirements. In its present implementation, the main limitation of the method is that it generates artifacts at wavelengths equal to 4 grid cell dimensions and shorter, which may, in some limited circumstances, overlap the usable bandwidth of very high-order finite-difference and/or pseudospectral schemes.