cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A bowed serial-position function in habituation of sequential stimuli

The effect of serial position was examined in a study of habituation of the vasoconstrictive orienting response in rabbits. In a procedure analogous to a recognition memory test, subjects received multiple exposures to an invariant list of stimuli before their response was assessed to an isolated item that had consistently occupied either the first, middle, or last position in the list. A reliably bowed serial-position function was obtained, with the least habituation (poorest retention) occurring for the item that had occupied the middle position in the list. The finding of both a primacy and a recency effect parallels the most general finding in studies of human memory and encourages a compatible account of habituation in infrahuman subjects. The result was discussed in terms of the opportunities for differential rehearsal of list items and contextual cues at different positions in the list.
Applications of gel filtration chromatography for resole phenolic resins using aqueous sodium hydroxide as solvent

Abstract Suggested applications are demonstrated for a gel filtration technique previously described with a suitable packing material (Sephacryl) for the analysis of phenol—formaldehyde resins (resoles) and phenolic-like compounds. An alkaline solution was used as eluent which saved preparation time for the alkaline resole resins. Sodium polystyrene sulphonates were used as standards. Several chromatographic systems were used to study he phenolic resins which are typically used to bond wood composite panels including plywood, hardboard, oriented strandboard and waferboard. The studies focused on commercial and laboratory resins, formulation process variables, freeze-dried and liquid treatments of resins, varying gel packing materials, various end-use type resins, lignin-modified phenolic polymers, and lignin raw materials. The system is suitable for characterizing the molecular weight of resoles and as a quality control tool.
Integrating ethics all the way through : The issue of moral agency reconsidered

Integrating “ethics all the way through” an organization suggests that the issue of moral agency and the corporation be reconsidered. Is the corporation a moral agent in some sense or is it no more than the people who are a part of the organization? Views which stress the role of the individual lose sight of the whole corporate entity, and views which think of the corporation as a collective lose sight of the individual. A view which rejects both these alternatives sees the corporation as a type of community where there is a dynamic tension between the corporation as a whole and the individuals who are part of the organization. This view has implications relative to the focus of efforts to integrate ethics throughout an organization.
Decoupling of imaging and diffusion gradients in DTI

The linear algebra framework for MR-DTI introduced in the companion manuscript is expanded to a normed space structure. The issues originating from the inclusion of imaging gradients into the MR-DTI model to obtain a fuller description are tackled by the optimization theory. A sample independent, geometric objective function based on matrix norms is defined. A parametrization of feasible diffusion gradient sets is presented so that the optimization can be carried out by making sure that the coefficient matrix for the estimation equations has full rank. The experiments are carried with the optimal gradient schemes. There are significant improvements in terms of model matching error and the lowering of the difference between eigenvalues calculated with or without the imaging gradients.
A numerical study of particle motion within the human larynx and trachea

In this paper, particle trajectories are calculated using a stochastic model for turbulent fluctuations incorporated into the particle momentum equation, in combination with the time-averaged solutions of flow fields in the larynx and trachea. The manner in which turbulence may affect overall deposition is investigated through illustrative numerical experiments of the effects of flow rate, initial particle location, density, and size, from which results are given in the form of probability density histograms of final particle locations (i.e. deposition sites). The histogram bins are defined in a unique manner that highlight the deposition mechanisms associated with turbulent dispersion. It is observed that turbulence may play a key role in enhancing particle deposition in the larynx and trachea.
Realization is universal

Behavior is left adjoint to minimal realization, as functors between certain categories of machines and behaviors. This gives a succinct characterization of minimal realization valid for discrete as well as linear machines, with or without finiteness condition. Realization theory is therefore expressed in contemporary algebra in a way which reveals its inner structure and suggests generalizations. An adjunction between regular sets and finite state acceptors follows as a corollary.
Listening and Message Interpretation.

Message interpretation, the notion that individuals assign meaning to stimuli, is related to listening presage, listening process, and listening product. As a central notion of communication, meaning includes (a) denotation and connotation, and (b) content and relational meanings, which can vary in ambiguity and vagueness. Past research on message interpretation, using primarily written scenarios, has identified individual, sociocultural, and contextual factors such as personality, sex and gender, and equivocation that influence interpretation. This analysis recommends that treatments of listening highlight the role of interpretation and that investigations of message interpretation consider nonverbal cues and the demands of interaction management that exist in interactive listening situations.
Control of liver deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis.

There is strong evidence that the stimulus to liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy residues in circulating molecules whose concentrations in the blood rise after the operation. To learn about the stimulatory molecules, efforts have been made to induce with chemicals the synthesis of DNA and the multiplication of cells in the intact liver. An infusate has been devised that stimulates DNA synthesis in the liver of the unoperated rat about half as well as 70% hepatectomy. The infusate, comprised of L-triiodothyronine, amino acids, glucagons, and heparin, appears to act, at least in part, by providing the liver with increased amounts of fatty and amino acids. Several pieces of evidence are given to rule out the possibility that the infusate acts to induce DNA replication by damaging liver cells. The question is raised whether the psoriatic lesion is the result of changes in the epithelial cells themselves or, in analogy with the parenchymal liver cell, in the levels of some of the components of the fluid that nourishes the cells.
Effect of intercellular junction protein expression on water transport during freezing of MIN6 cells.

Abstract A mouse insulinoma (MIN6) strain in which connexin expression has been inhibited by antisense technology holds promise as an experimental model system for investigating the role of gap junctions in intercellular ice propagation. However, to properly interpret measurements of intracellular ice formation kinetics, the effects of cell dehydration on cytoplasmic supercooling must be determined. Thus, the cell membrane water permeability in monolayer cultures of the antisense-transfected MIN6 strain was measured using a fluorescence quenching method. By repeating the experiments at 4 °C, 12 °C, 21 °C, and 37 °C, the activation energy for water transport was determined to be Ea = 51 ± 3 kJ/mol. Although differences between membrane permeability measurements in theantisense and wild-type strains were not statistically significant, simulation of water transport during rapid freezing (130 °C/min) predicted that intracellular supercooling in the genetically modified MIN6 strain may become significantly larger than the supercooling in wild-type cells at temperatures below −15 °C.
Reduced GABA-B/GIRK-mediated regulation of the VTA following a single exposure to cocaine

In this paper, Arora and colleagues expand on their previous work on GIRK channels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) presenting evidence that a single exposure to cocaine reduces inhibitory GABAergic transmission to dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area. Mice receiving i.p. injections of cocaine saw a short lived (1-5 days) decrease in GABAb mediated G-protein coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium (GIRK) currents in DA neurons in the VTA. This decrease parallels an NMDA-mediated increase in the frequency of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Chronic cocaine injections had no additional effects beyond those seen with single injections. Though they found no change in mRNA levels for GABAb receptors, GIRK channels, or RGS-2 (a G-protein regulator), immunoelectron microscopy indicated a decrease in levels of GIRK channels in the plasma membrane of the dendrites of VTA DA neurons. The cocaine-mediated decrease in GIRK currents was abolished in the presence of D2/3R antagonist sulpiride, but not in the presence of D1/5 antagonist SCH23390, indicating a link between D2/3 receptor activation and GIRK activity. Interestingly, the addition of quinpirole, a D2/3 agonist, elicited similar GIRK currents, though they were smaller than those mediated by GABAb receptors. Similarly, acute injections of cocaine significantly diminished quinpirole-evoked currents.
A Nyquist criterion for distributed systems subject to a one-parameter family of feedback compensators

This note shows how the Nyquist stability test for finite dimensional systems, subject to a one-parameter family of feedback compensators, extends to a class of distributed systems that belong to the algebra \hat{B}(\sigma_{0})^{p \times m} introduced by Callier and Desoer.
SPUMIC: Simultaneous phase unwrapping and multipath interference cancellation in time-of-flight cameras using spectral methods

We propose a framework for simultaneous phase unwrapping and multipath interference cancellation (SPUMIC) in homodyne time-of-flight (ToF) cameras. Our multi-frequency acquisition framework is based on parametric modeling of the multipath interference phenomena. We use robust spectral estimation methods with low computational complexity to detect and estimate multipath parameters. Using simulations and analysis we demonstrate that our proposed solution is implementable in real-time on existing ToF cameras without requiring any hardware modifications.
Collegiality Matters: Massachusetts Public Higher Education Librarians' Perspective

Abstract It is no secret that collegiality matters in academe regardless of the size and type of institution. When it comes to promotion, reappointment and tenure, the invocation of collegiality occurs. This paper aims to examine the perception and issues surrounding collegiality in the academic library setting. The data, based on the survey results of the Massachusetts public higher education librarians, reveals gender disparity on collegiality issues, attitudes and perception. The study findings also include that congeniality is not the same as collegiality.
Recognition and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease in an Elderly Ambulatory Population

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing problem among the elderly. Early detection is considered essential to ensure proper treatment and to avoid drug toxicity, but detection is challenging because elderly patients with CKD often have normal serum creatinine levels. We hypothesized that most cases of CKD in the elderly would go undetected, resulting in inappropriate prescribing.
Jitter and stability calculation for the ASTER instrument

ASTER is an advanced high spatial resolution stereo multispectral optical imager selected for flight on the NASA EOS-AM1 spacecraft in 1998. It is being provided by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Japan. The EOS-AM1 spacecraft is being developed under the management of Goddard Space Flight Center. ASTER consists of three telescope subsystems: VNIR, SWIR, and TIR and has a broad spectral coverage from the visible to the thermal infrared. The telescopes have ground resolutions (IFOVs) of 15, 30, and 90 meters, respectively. Because of these high spatial resolutions and the need for close registration of the three telescopes and their internal bands, jitter and stability are important factors in achieving satisfactory geometric and radiometric performances in the instrument's science data products. Integrated finite element model/optical analyses of ASTER jitter and stability were performed as part of an overall assessment of the EOS-AM1 instrument/spacecraft system. Significant disturbance sources and mitigation approaches were identified. The modeling techniques and results are described.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Blood Pressure Increases during a Simulated Night Shift in Persons at Risk for Hypertension

Background Shift work with sleep disruption is a systemic stressor that may possibly be associated with blood pressure dysregulation and hypertension.
The stability of non-separable barotropic and baroclinic shear flows

The linear stability with respect to three-dimensional perturbations of unbounded barotropic and baroclinic shear flows depending linearly on both transverse coordinates is studied. The Boussinesq approximation is used, but the usual hydrostatic approximation in the vertical is relaxed. Dissipation effects are ignored. A baroclinic flow can always be destabilized by sufficiently large horizontal anticyclonic shear. The results are relevant for the stability of differential rotation in radiative stars and accretion disks.
A different approach permitting portal-systemic shunt for extrahepatic portal thrombosis.

Studies of the anatomy and pathology in children with extrahepatic portal thrombosis and portal hypertension have shown that the portal vein is generally free of thrombosis for a distance of 1'5 to 2 cm beyond the junction of the superior mesenteric with the splenic vein. In nine children, it has been possible to dissect out this stump of portal vein and anastomore it directly in an end-to-side fashion to either the vena cavn or to the central portion of the left renal vein where it crosses anterior to the aorta. The spleen is not removed. The operation can be employed successfully following previous splenectomy, or following a previous unsuccessful conventional splenorenal shunt. Follow-up evalution has been gratifying, with apparent relief of portal hypertension in each instance. Summary In extrahepatic block, the portal vein is generally free of disease for a distance sufficient to permit its division and an end-to-side anastomosis to the vena cava or the left renal vein near the cava. In our experience with nine consecutive patients, this has proved to be a successful and effective means of portal decompression. No adverse effects have been encountered relative to Eck fistula in the growing child.
Dispersal of Rabbit Lung into Individual Viable Cells: A New Model for the Study of Lung Metabolism

This new enzymatic method disperses rabbit lung into morphologically intact, viable individual cells. The scattered cells constitute more than 50 percent of the original tissue. At least 90 percent of the cells exclude trypan blue from the nucleus. The dispersed lung cells consumed 6.2 microliters of oxygen per hour per milligram, dry weight. They incorporated [ 1-14C ] palmitate into lecithin.
Social relations and the definition of work: Identity management in a low-status occupation

Work is an important source of self-definition in our society. Many low-status occupations, however, do not offer a definition of self that is agreeable to the worker. In these cases, workers may seek to manage the relationship between work and identity in a manner which enhances, rather than threatens, their self-conceptions. To examine this process of identity management, in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-seven custodians. It was found that the social relations between custodians and building occupants were important to this process in two ways. First, relations with clients, as well as other selected facets of work, were embraced as a fulfilling and humanizing aspect of their work on which definitions of work were based. Second, it was in the context of social relations that these selected definitions of work were asserted, negotiated, and maintained. While members of all occupations may tend to stress the silver lining of their work, for those in a non-professional position this is a continuous process, because a publicly recognized ideology which elevates the image of the occupation does not already exist.
Measurements of total scattering cross sections for intermediate-energy positrons and electrons colliding with helium, neon, and argon

Total scattering cross sections have been measured in the same apparatus for positrons and electrons colliding with helium, neon, and argon atoms in the energy range from 15 to 800 eV using a beam-transmission technique. These measurements reveal a merging of the positron and electron cross-section curves for helium at energies above 200 eV while the available theories predict this merging to occur at considerably higher energies. For neon and argon the positron and electron total-cross-section curves are slowly approaching each other at the highest energies. The present experimental approach is analyzed with regard to the discrimination against small-angle forward elastic scattering, and estimates are made of other potential errors in the measured total cross sections. The present results are used to test the zero-energy sum rule, obtained from forward dispersion relations, and it is found that these data are consistent with prior measurements in that the sum rule is found to fail for electron scattering and to be valid for positron scattering.
BEHAVIORAL SAMPLING IN THE FIELD: CONTINUOUS FOCAL VERSUS FOCAL INTERVAL SAMPLING

I compared data collection rates for continuous and interval focal samples during a two-year, single-observer field study of white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) in Costa Rica. I also compared the basic activity budgets generated by the two sampling methods, estimates of numbers in proximity, and rates at which additional ad libitum observations could be recorded. I collected 1238 hours of focal data (620 hr continuous, 618 hr interval). I found focal interval sampling to be 25% more time efficient, despite higher rate of sample loss, partly because interval samples are easier to obtain in difficult conditions. I found no evidence that interval sampling provided better opportunities for ad libitum observation than continuous sampling. Overall, the two methods yielded similar estimates of activity budgets. However, continuous sampling resulted in somewhat higher estimates of time spent eating, while interval data gave somewhat lower estimates of time spent foraging (looking for or handling food items) and moving, resulting in lower estimates of foraging success. Interval sampling also yielded slightly lower estimates of time spent vigilant. I attribute these patterns to two major effects: (1) errors of omission (missing rare behaviors of short duration) during interval samples and (2) a greater tendency toward conditional sampling bias (under-representing behaviors due to difficult sampling conditions such as rapid travel) under a continuous sampling regime.
Anscombe's Three Theses Revisited: Rethinking the Foundations of Medical Ethics

At the start of her vigorously argued and classic article, “Modern Moral Philosophy,” G. E. M. Anscombe stated three focal theses. First, that philosophers of the time needed to dispense with investigation into talk of what is morally right, wrong; permissible, forbidden, required; and of moral obligation or duty, what we morally ought to do. Second, there was no adequate philosophical psychology then available of the sort needed for doing good moral philosophy. Third, the differences among the modernist moral philosophers ( from, roughly, Hume's time through the mid-20th century) that had been most widely discussed were not as important as what they agreed on. I wish here to make some remarks about the sequel. More specifically, I will briefly discuss some aspects of how things have since played out with the first two theses, in order to say something about the relation between the first and second theses and about the state of things with respect to her third thesis, especially as it impacts today's medical ethics, a field of inquiry that barely existed at the time Anscombe wrote “Modern Moral Philosophy.”
Salir adelante (perseverance): Lessons from the Mexican immigrant experience:

SummaryAlthough migration and immigrant issues have been well studied in sociology, economics, and demography there is significantly less information specific to Latino immigrants within the field of social work. This is of particular concern as the population of Latino immigrants and their children continues to grow and access areas of social work practice and policy development. This research study focuses on understanding the experience of first-generation immigrants of Mexican origin living in Denver, Colorado, through the use of qualitative research methods. Seven Mexican immigrants living in Denver described their experience through an in-depth interview process. Grounded theory was the chosen method for analysis.FindingsFour themes emerged during the data analysis process: (1) ‘We are working people’; (2) ‘I am not an animal’ (experiencing racism, prejudice and discrimination); (3) fear; and (4) internal strength. Together these themes create a conceptual framework that is useful as a starting plac...
Acyclic stereoselection. 19. Total synthesis of (±)-ristosamine and (±)-megalosamine.

Abstract (±)-Ristosamine ( 1 ) has been synthesized in seven straightforward operations from ketone 5 and O-benzyllactaldehyde. The key step is a stereoselective aldol addition reaction in which diastereomeric aldols 7 and 8 are produced in a ratio of 78:22. A simple modification of the synthesis provides (±)-megalosamine ( 4 .
Nonlinear attitude motion of a dual-spin spacecraft containing spherical dampers

Abstract : A perturbation formulation and the generalized method of averaging are used to investigated the attitude motion of a symmetric dual-spin spacecraft which contains two spherical dampers arbitrarily located on the axisymmetric rotor and platform (one damper on each). The spherical dampers are intended to represent fully filled fuel tanks. The motions of these spherical dampers are treated as sources of perturbations which affect the otherwise torque-free attitude motion. Approximate attitude motion equations, valid through first order in the ratios of the damper moments of inertia to the spacecraft moment of inertia, are obtained. The generalized method of averaging is used to find an approximate analytical expression for the nutation angle for the case of equal damper moments of inertia and a constant speed rotor. This approximate expression is used to investigate the stability of the spacecraft attitude motion. Conditions for stability are presented and are found to agree well with a previous linear and energy-sink analyses obtained for small nutation angles. Results obtained using the approximate analytical expression for the nutation angle are compared to corresponding numerical solution to the full set of nonlinear equations for several choices of system parameters and very good agreement is found, even for large nutation angles. (Author)
Social Responsibility, Substance Use, and Sexual Risk Behavior in Men Who Have Sex With Men

Considerable public health literature focuses on relationships between problematic human characteristics (e.g., psychopathology) and unhealthy behaviors. A recent movement termed positive psychology emphasizes the advantages of assessing relationships between human strengths (e.g., altruism) and beneficial health behaviors. The present study assessed social responsibility, an orientation to help or protect others even when there is nothing to be gained as an individual, and its relationship to HIV-relevant behaviors. In our sample of 350 men who have sex with men (MSM), social responsibility was negatively correlated with substance use and HIV risk behaviors. Men who had been tested for HIV and knew their HIV status—a behavior that helps men protect their partners but does not protect themselves from the virus—also scored higher in social responsibility. Interventions designed to reduce HIV risk behavior in MSM may benefit from efforts to promote human strengths.
An evidence-based evaluation of intradialytic parenteral nutrition

Malnutrition is a well-recognized comorbid condition in dialysis patients that contributes to the increased mortality seen in these patients. Multiple interventions have been tried in an effort to decrease mortality. The most controversial of these is intradialytic parenteral nutrition. In an era of high costs and shrinking budgets, it is important to critically examine published data to determine the quality of the data and to determine whether the reported results are valid and clinically applicable. Using an evidence-based approach, all published literature concerning intradialytic parenteral nutrition was reviewed, quality of the data determined, number needed to treat (NNT) calculated, and potential costs of treatment determined. Twenty-four studies that met the search criteria were identified. Only three studies were randomized; one of these was a feasibility study, and the other two were only of level B quality. The remaining studies were either case reports or observational studies of level C quality. The absolute risk reduction in mortality with intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) usage ranged from 0.12 to 0.65; relative risk reduction ranged from 0.48 to 0.74; NNT ranged from 2 to 17; cost ranged from $150,000,000 to $877,500,000; and 588 to 9,750 patients might be expected to experience a decrease in mortality. The results of this review indicate that the data supporting the use of IDPN are weak and a clear recommendation cannot be made. IDPN use in hemodialysis patients seems to be associated with decreased mortality. IDPN should be available for use in patients who meet previously published guidelines and who are not normoalbuminemic.
Three-dimensional laser radar simulation for autonomous spacecraft landing

A sophisticated 3D laser radar sensor simulation, developed and applied to the task of autonomous hazard detection and avoidance, is presented. This simulation includes a backward ray trace to sensor subpixels, incoherent subpixel integration, range dependent noise, sensor point spread function effects, digitization noise, and AM-CW modulation. Specific sensor parameters, spacecraft lander trajectory, and terrain type have been selected to generate simulated sensor data.
Color-Flow Duplex Screening for Upper Extremity Proximity Injuries: A Low-Yield Strategy for Therapeutic Intervention

Background Although the incidence of injury to the upper extremity screened with angiography as a result of proximity penetrating trauma is similar to that of the lower extremity, intervention rates seem to be higher. However, studies evaluating the incidence of injury as a result of proximity penetrating trauma have primarily focused on the lower extremity. This study shows the incidence and clinical significance of vascular injury as a result of proximity trauma to the upper extremity in a large cohort of patients screened with color-flow duplex. Materials and Methods A retrospective study was conducted from January 1, 2005 to January 1, 2012 on all patients undergoing color-flow duplex as a result of proximity penetrating trauma to the upper extremity. Data on injury location, mechanism, associated extremity and nonextremity injuries, and use and results of color-flow duplex were recorded and analyzed. Results A total of 341 patients were identified who underwent color-flow duplex because of proximity penetrating trauma to the upper extremity. Injuries occurred in 370 extremities, with 253 located in the upper arm and 117 in the forearm. Overall, 18 (4.9%) injuries were identified on screening duplex ultrasound, of which 12 (3.2%) were arterial and 5 (1.4%) were venous. The therapeutic intervention rate for detected injuries to the upper arm was 1.6% (4/253), whereas no injuries of the forearm were identified that necessitated intervention. Conclusions Although color-flow duplex is an inexpensive and noninvasive means of detecting injuries as a result of proximity penetrating trauma, screening upper extremity wounds is unlikely to detect clinically significant arterial injuries in need of therapeutic intervention. Venous injuries in the form of deep venous thromboses were detected in only 1.4% of patients. These findings suggest that screening for proximity penetrating trauma of the upper extremity is unlikely to detect injuries at a rate that would prove cost-effective on formal decision analysis.
Robots as interfaces to haptic and locomotor spaces

Research on spatial cognition and navigation of the visually impaired suggests that vision may be a primary sensory modality that enables humans to align the egocentric (self to object) and allocentric (object to object) frames of reference in space. In the absence of vision, the frames align best in the haptic space. In the locomotor space, as the haptic space translates with the body, lack of vision causes the frames to misalign, which negatively affects action reliability. In this paper, we argue that robots can function as interfaces to the haptic and locomotor spaces in supermarkets. In the locomotor space, the robot eliminates the necessity of frame alignment and, in or near the haptic space, it cues the shopper to the salient features of the environment sufficient for product retrieval. We present a trichotomous ontology of spaces in a supermarket induced by the presence of a robotic shopping assistant and analyze the results of robot-assisted shopping experiments with ten visually impaired participants conducted in a real supermarket.
Could there be a science of rationality

L'A. mesure les pretentions scientifiques de la theorie unifiee du langage et de l'action, fondee sur la theorie de la verite de Tarski et sur la theorie de la decision de Jeffrey. Traitant des concepts de croyance, desir et signification linguistique, la theorie unifiee repose sur des structures normatives dictees par notre concept de rationalite
Pyrolysis of a large-scale molecular model for Illinois no. 6 coal using the ReaxFF reactive force field

Abstract Reactive molecular dynamics simulations are a useful approach for investigating chemical reactions and structural transformations in complex systems. Coal pyrolysis is one such area in which additional insights would be beneficial for utilization improvements and pollution control. Here the ReaxFF reactive force field was used to perform pyrolysis simulations on a large-scale (>50,000 atoms) molecular model for Illinois no. 6 coal to examine structural modifications and reactions associated with coal pyrolysis. The previously constructed large-scale molecular model of Illinois no. 6 coal composed of 728 diverse molecules was used in pyrolysis simulations at 2000 K for 250 ps. This high temperature enabled chemical reactions to occur within a practical simulation time. The ReaxFF simulation was performed until about 60% of the cross-links had been disrupted primarily through thermolysis. For this coal pyrolysis was mainly initiated by the release of hydroxyl groups, dehydrogenation of hydroaromatic structures, and by cleavage of heteroatom-containing cross-links. The main pyrolysis products were hydrogen, methyl, ethylene, acetylene, formaldehyde, ethynol, alkylphenols, alkylnaphthalenes and alkylnaphthols, in agreement with experimental data. During pyrolysis the molecular weight distributions shifted to lower molar mass values due to thermal decomposition to form smaller fragments. Tar structural components were also found to be in reasonable agreement with literature data. The thermal degradation of sulfurated and oxygenated cross-links was more substantial than that of alkyl linkages, indicating a higher reactivity around these heteroatoms. Analysis of sulfur form distribution showed that aliphatic sulfur decomposed more rapidly while thiophenic sulfur was more thermally stable, in agreement with experimental results. The extent of decomposition for heterocyclic 5-membered rings was as follows: 57% for pyrrolic, 47% for thiophenic, and 29% for furanic type structures. The ReaxFF simulation was repeated on a sulfur-free model to further analyze the role of organic sulfur forms in Illinois coal pyrolysis. Analysis of trajectories showed that the rate of generation of inorganic gases and tars was higher in the presence of sulfur. Further analysis of ReaxFF simulations showed that aryl and alkyl C S bonds are weaker than aryl and alkyl C C bonds. Hence, cleavage of the C S bonds resulted in more extensive fragmentation leading to larger quantities of aliphatic and aromatic structures that evolved as inorganic gases and tars within Illinois coal model (sulfur containing) compared to sulfur-free model. Thus, sulfur atoms enhanced the reaction kinetics during coal pyrolysis. This work demonstrates that ReaxFF integration with representative coal molecular models can be a useful tool for probing complex chemical processes and transformations involved in coal pyrolysis.
Fine particle deposition to initially starved, stationary, planar beds.

Reported here are results from new flume experiments examining deposition and entrainment of inert, silt-sized particles (with spherical diameters in the range from 20 to 60 μm) to and from planar, impermeable and initially starved beds underlying channel flows. Bed surfaces comprised smooth or fixed sand-size granular roughness and provided hydraulically smooth to transitionally rough boundaries. Results of these experiments were analysed with a simple model that describes the evolution of vertically averaged concentration of suspended sediment and accommodates the simultaneous delivery to and entrainment of grains from the bed. The rate of particle arrival to a bed diminishes linearly, and the rate of particle entrainment increases by the 5/2 power, as the value of the dimensionless Saffman parameter S = u*3/g’ν approaches a threshold value of order unity, where u is the conventional friction velocity of the turbulent channel flow, g’ is the acceleration due to gravity adjusted for the submerged buoyancy of individual particles and ν is the kinematic viscosity of the transporting fluid. This transport behaviour is consistent with the notion that non-cohesive, silt-sized particles can neither reach nor remain on an impermeable bed under flow conditions where mean lift imposed on stationary particles in the viscous sublayer equals or exceeds the submerged weight of individual particles. Within the size range of particles used in these experiments, particle size and the characteristic size of granular roughness, up to that of medium sand, did not affect rates of dimensionless arrival or entrainment to a significant degree. Instead, a new but consistent picture of fine-particle transport is emerging. Silt-sized material, at least, is subject to potentially significant interaction with the bed during intermittent suspension transport at intermediate flow speeds greater than the value required for initiation of transport (ca 20 cm sec−1) but less than the value (ca 50 cm sec−1) required by the Saffman criterion ensuring transport in fully passive suspension or, equivalently, ‘wash-load’.
Development of 2dTCA for the Detection of Irregular, Transient BOLD Activity

The temporal clustering algorithm (TCA) has been developed in order to detect irregular, transient functional MRI (fMRI) activation signals when the timings of the stimuli are unknown. Unfortunately, such methods are also sensitive to signal changes caused by motion and physiological noise. We have developed a modified TCA technique, 2dTCA, which can detect multiple different timing patterns within a dataset so that signals of interest can be separated from artifacts and those of no interest. The objective of this work was to further develop the 2dTCA methods and evaluate their performance in simulated functional MRI datasets. Comparisons were made with TCA and a freely-distributed independent component analysis algorithm (ICA). We created two different sets of six computer-generated phantoms with one and two different simulated activation time courses present in 10 regions of interest. The phantoms also contained real subject rigid and nonrigid body motion and noise. Sensitivity of detection, defined as the true-positive activation rate at false-positive activation rates varying between 0.0001 and 0.01, was compared between methods. Additionally, specificity of detection of the irregular, transient signal of interest was assessed by comparing the number of signal time courses detected by each algorithm. The results suggest that the increased sensitivity of 2dTCA over TCA in detecting this particular signal of interest is comparable to the detection with ICA, but with fewer other signals detected. A few examples of the successful application of 2dTCA to the localization of interictal activity in preliminary studies of temporal lobe epilepsy are also described.
Lung deformations and radiation-induced regional lung collapse in patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy

Purpose: To differentiate radiation-induced fibrosis from regional lung collapse outside of the high dose region in patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for lung tumors. Methods: Lung deformation maps were computed from pre-treatment and post-treatment computed tomography (CT) scans using a point-to-point translation method. Fifty anatomical landmarks inside the lung (vessel or airway branches) were matched on planning and follow-up scans for the computation process. Two methods using the deformation maps were developed to differentiate regional lung collapse from fibrosis: vector field and Jacobian methods. A total of 40 planning and follow-ups CT scans were analyzed for 20 lung SBRT patients. Results: Regional lung collapse was detected in 15 patients (75%) using the vector field method, in ten patients (50%) using the Jacobian method, and in 12 patients (60%) by radiologists. In terms of sensitivity and specificity the Jacobian method performed better. Only weak correlations were observed between the dose to the proximal airways and the occurrence of regional lung collapse. Conclusions: The authors presented and evaluated two novel methods using anatomical lung deformations to investigate lung collapse and fibrosis caused by SBRT treatment. Differentiation of these distinct physiological mechanisms beyond what is usually labeled “fibrosis” is necessary for accurate modeling of lung SBRT-induced injuries. With the help of better models, it becomes possible to expand the therapeutic benefits of SBRT to a larger population of lung patients with large or centrally located tumors that were previously considered ineligible.
A Queueing System in Which Customers Require a Random Number of Servers

We consider a multiserver queueing system in which customers request service from a random number of identical servers. In contrast to batch arrival queues, customers cannot begin service until all required servers are available. Servers assigned to the same customer may free separately. For this model, we derive the steady-state distribution for waiting time, the distribution of busy servers, and other important measures. Sufficient conditions for the existence of a steady-state distribution are also obtained.
Activation of Cdc42 is necessary for sustained oscillations of Ca2+ and PIP2 stimulated by antigen in RBL mast cells

Antigen stimulation of mast cells via FceRI, the high-affinity receptor for IgE, triggers a signaling cascade that requires Ca2+ mobilization for exocytosis of secretory granules during the allergic response. To characterize the role of Rho GTPases in FceRI signaling, we utilized a mutant RBL cell line, B6A4C1, that is deficient in antigen-stimulated Cdc42 activation important for these processes. Recently the importance of stimulated intracellular oscillations has emerged, and we find that B6A4C1 cells exhibit severely attenuated Ca2+ oscillations in response to antigen, which are restored to wild-type RBL-2H3 levels by expression of constitutively active Cdc42 G12V or by a GEF for Cdc42, DOCK7, but not when the C-terminal di-arginine motif of active Cdc42 is mutated to di-glutamine. We found that antigen-stimulated FceRI endocytosis, which occurs independently of Ca2+ mobilization, is also defective in B6A4C1 cells, and Cdc42 G12V reconstitutes this response as well. Thus, activation of Cdc42 occurs prior to and is critical for antigen-stimulated pathways leading separately to both Ca2+ mobilization and receptor endocytosis. Accounting for these downstream functional consequences, we show that Cdc42 G12V reconstitutes antigen-stimulated oscillations of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) at the plasma membrane in mutant B6A4C1 cells, pointing to Cdc42 participation in the regulation of stimulated PIP2 synthesis.
PING: a Group-to-Individual Distributed Meeting System

Group-to-individual (G2I) distributed meeting is an important but understudied area. Because of the asymmetry between different parties in G2I meetings, it has two unique challenges: 1) the remote participant tends to be ignored by the local participants; and 2) the remote participant has inferior audio, video, and data experience than the local participants. To address these issues, in this paper we present PING, a system explicitly designed for G2I distributed meetings that combines recent advances in both hardware, e.g., microphone arrays, remote person stand-in devices, and software, e.g., audio-video processing, to improve users' G2I meeting experience. We report how PING addresses the above two challenges and its system design and implementation.
Design and Modeling for Self-organizing Autonomic Systems

Describing, understanding, and modeling the behavior of systems built upon self-organizing principles (such as many bio-inspired systems) is key to engineering self-organizing systems that can solve problems in real computing environments. Capturing the properties of the micro-macro linkage that connects local behaviors of system components to global emergent properties of the system as a whole is particularly important. Different kinds of models have been proposed, each focusing on a different aspect of the problem: descriptive models provide notations that support the design activity and the application of self-organzing principles; validation models allow formal examination of dynamic properties; and analytic models provide techniques for mathematical exploration of abstracted collective behaviors. Our goal is to identify and select the best tools available from these families, extend them where needed, and tie them together to support the creation and analysis of self-organized autonomic computing systems in an integrated way.
Constructing synthetics from deep earth tomographic models

Recent studies of deep mantle structure indicate strong heterogeneity. To conduct high-resolution waveform modelling of these structures, we have developed a new method to construct 2-D synthetics directly from block-style tomographic models. Unlike the WKBJ approximation, which utilizes rays overshooting and undershooting receivers, our method (WKM approximation) uses rays that arrive at the receiver. First, the ray paths from the 1-D layered reference model are used to localize each ray segment, where the anomalous velocities are applied by overlay, as in tomography. Next, new p_i (t_i) (p_i ray parameter, ti traveltime) are computed to satisfy Snell’s law along with their numerical derivative (δp/δt), which is used to construct a synthetic seismogram similar to the WKBJ method. As a demonstration of the usefulness of this method, we generated WKM synthetics for the D″ region of high velocities beneath Central America based on Grand’s tomography model. Reasonable fits to broad-band data are obtained by condensing his distributed anomalies into his lowermost mantle layer; such a 2-D model predicts synthetics containing a laterally varying S_cd triplication similar to observations.
Stratosphere–Troposphere Coupling in a Relatively Simple AGCM: The Importance of Stratospheric Variability

Abstract The impact of stratospheric variability on the dynamical coupling between the stratosphere and the troposphere is explored in a relatively simple atmospheric general circulation model. Variability of the model’s stratospheric polar vortex, or polar night jet, is induced by topographically forced stationary waves. A robust relationship is found between the strength of the stratospheric polar vortex and the latitude of the tropospheric jet, confirming and extending earlier results in the absence of stationary waves. In both the climatological mean and on intraseasonal time scales, a weaker vortex is associated with an equatorward shift in the tropospheric jet and vice versa. It is found that the mean structure and variability of the vortex in the model is very sensitive to the amplitude of the topography and that Northern Hemisphere–like variability, with a realistic frequency of stratospheric sudden warming events, occurs only for a relatively narrow range of topographic heights. When the model ca...
TAE-JS: automated enhancement of JavaScript programs by leveraging the Java annotations infrastructure

Recent state-of-the-art approaches enhance JavaScript programs with concerns (e.g., persistence, security, transactions, etc.) by modifying the source code by hand to use special libraries. As a result, adding concerns to a JavaScript program creates divergent codebases that must be maintained separately. At the core of the problem is that JavaScript lacks metadata to express concerns declaratively. In this paper, we present a declarative approach to enhancing JavaScript programs that applies the Java annotations infrastructure to JavaScript, without extending the JavaScript language. An IDE combines JavaScript and Java during the development, but processes the languages separately. Programmers declare how concerns should be added to a JavaScript program using Java annotations. Based on the annotations, a code generator synthesizes aspect code that adds the specified concerns. Although these enhancements are implemented as third-party libraries, our approach can transparently insert them into JavaScript programs given a declarative specification.