cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving JWST science productivity by changing the detector reset mode

For large space missions maximizing the time spent observing science targets by minimizing overhead increases the scientific return of the mission. On the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the baseline mode of resetting the near infrared detectors is a pixel-by-pixel reset. For the Hawaii-2RG detectors this requires 10.5 seconds. Over the life of the mission, 2-3% of the total time is spent performing these resets. In this paper, we investigate using the much faster row-by- row reset mode of the Hawaii-2RG as an alternative. Resets in this mode can be performed in only 40 milliseconds allowing more time for science. We investigate how the changing of the reset modes affects: thermal stability of the detectors, total noise, and observed persistence after bright sources are observed. Overall, any negative side effects seem to be outweighed by the increase in the available exposure time for science during the lifetime of JWST.
The kinetic behavior of P-700 during the induction of photosynthesis in algae.

Abstract The kinetics of P -700 were examined spectrophotometrically during the induction of photosynthesis in algae. A pronounced oscillation was observed in the redox level of P -700 upon illumination of dark-adapted cells. The dark adaptation required approximately 1 min. The oscillation may be described as an initial rapid oxidation reaching a peak at approx. 50 ms followed by complete reduction of the pool of P -700. A subsequent slower oxidation resulted in attainment of the final state around 1 s. The main features of the oscillation were qualitatively the same in a wide variety of algae. The modulation in redox level of P -700 required high intensity activation of both photosystems and was eliminated by pre-illumination of the cells with weak short wavelength light but not by longer wavelengths absorbed primarily by Photosystem I. We propose that the P -700 modulation is directly related to the fast redox changes in Photosystem II which occur during the induction of photosynthesis. Cells incubated with methyl viologen did not show the P -700 oscillation confirming the suggestion previously advanced that exhaustion of Photosystem I acceptor and kinetic limitations in the carbon reduction cycle partially control the fast phase of photosynthetic induction.
External Cooling: The SWR 1000 Severe Accident Management Strategy

This paper provides the description of the basics behind design features for the severe accident management strategy of the SWR 1000. The hydrogen detonation/deflagration problem is avoided by containment inertization. In-vessel retention of molten core debris via water cooling of the external surface of the reactor vessel is the severe accident management concept of the SWR 1000 passive plant. During postulated bounding severe accidents, the accident management strategy is to flood the reactor cavity with Core Flooding Pool water and to submerge the reactor vessel, thus preventing vessel failure in the SWR 1000. Considerable safety margins have been determined by using state of the art experiment and analysis: regarding (a) strength of the vessel during the melt relocation and its interaction with water; (b) the heat flux at the external vessel wall; (c) the structural resistance of the hot structures during the long term period. Ex-vessel events are prevented by preserving the integrity of the vessel and its penetrations and by assuring positive external pressure at the predominant part of the external vessel in the region of the molten corium pool.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Interspecific competition between entomopathogenic nematodes in the genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema for an insect host in sand

Abstract Interspecific competition between Heterorhabditis heliothidis and Steinernema feltiae, S. bibionis , or S. glaseri for lepidopteran hosts in sand showed that in vertical dispersal, Steinernema spp. outcompeted H. heliothidis for insect hosts located proximally, while H. heliothidis outcompeted Steinernema spp. for hosts located distally to nematode placement. In downward dispersal of H. heliothidis and S. feltiae , the latter infected 73% of the hosts located at 5 cm from nematode placement and H. heliothidis infected 20%. At 10–25 cm from placement, H. heliothidis was the only nematode species infecting the hosts. Similar trends were observed with H. heliothidis and S. bibionis and H. heliothidis and S. glaseri when these nematodes were in competition for insect hosts. In upward dispersal, H. heliothidis in the presence of S. feltiae was the dominant species at all levels. S. bibionis or S. glaseri in combination with H. heliothidis showed trends similar to those in downward dispersal. In horizontal dispersal, interspecific interaction between H. heliothidis and S. feltiae, S. bibionis , or S. glaseri also showed that the steinernematids outcompeted H. heliothidis for hosts located distally (10 to 30 cm) from nematode placement. Dual infections of H. heliothidis and a Steinernema sp. occasionally occurred resulting in interference between the two nematode species. Although development of both species occurred, they eventually died.
Building 3D visual maps of interior space with a new hierarchical sensor fusion architecture

Abstract It is now generally recognized that sensor-fusion is the best approach to the accurate construction of environment maps by a sensor-equipped mobile robot. Typically, range data collected with a range sensor is combined with the reflectance data obtained from one or more cameras mounted on the robot. In much of the past work on sensor fusion in hierarchical approaches to map construction, the fusion was carried out only at the lowest level of the hierarchy. As a result, in those approaches, only the fused data was made available to the higher levels in the hierarchy. This implied that any errors caused by sensor fusion would propagate upwards into the higher level representations of an interior map. Our work, on the other hand, checks for consistency between the data elements produced by the different sensors at all levels of the hierarchy. This consistency checking is carried out with the help of an interval-based representation of uncertainties in the sensor data. In addition to demonstrating that our approach to the fusion of range and image data results in dense 3D maps of the interior space, we also provide validation of our overall framework by presenting a set of loop closure results. These results demonstrate that our overall errors in the maps remain small (within 0.91% of the distance traveled for map construction) even when the robot has to traverse over large loops inside a building.
Family transactions in eating disorders

Feeding in the human infant always demands the cooperation of another person. The continuous ongoing interactions between infant and food giver are accompanied by emotional experiences that surround food intake throughout life. This aspect has found ample attention in the clinical and psychoanalytic literature, and early family studies of obesity and anorexia nervosa were conducted under this orientation. The transactional patterns during early feeding experiences also determine the accuracy of perception and conceptualization of hunger as a distinct and identifiable sensation. Obese and anorexic patients often are inaccurate in identifying bodily states, in particular in differentiating nutritional need from other bodily sensations or emotional tensions. Absence or paucity of appropriate responses from the environment to cues indicating a child's expression of his needs was recognized as a common deficit in the background of obesity and anorexia. The broader the range of such inappropriate responses, the more extensive the deficits in total functioning, with schizophrenic development a not uncommon occurrence. The transactional patterns in families with anorexic children were reconstructed from psychotherapeutic sessions and family conferences, and three cases are presented to illustrate the occurrence of serious disturbances under the facade of seemingly normal functioning.
Tunable Tungsten Nano-gratings Deposited by a Single Femtosecond laser Beam on Dielectrics

Sub-wavelength nano-gratings of tungsten were grown using a single femtosecond laser beam on many substrates. Period of the gratings can be tuned through managing the laser power and scanning speed of substrate.
Difficult times for Humean identity

It is no wonder that the main approaches to so many central philosophical topics from causation to motivation, from concepts to morals - include one often dubbed "Humeanism" about the topic; for Hume brought both originality and penetration to almost every philosophical issue he addressed. Until the work of Donald Baxter, however, the originality and penetration of Hume's accounts of time and identity were rarely appreciated. Indeed, as Hume's Difficulty: Time and Identity in the Treatise makes clear, a long line of distinguished commentators has systemically misunderstood them. This is partly because some key passages of Hume's text readily lend themselves to misconstrual, especially when taken out of context, and partly because much of the key argumentation occurs in the insufficiently-studied Book I Part ii of the Treatise, "Of the ideas of space and time." Partly too, though, it is because some of his claims seem, when taken at face value, just too strange or contradictory to credit. Because time or duration is simply the ordering of successive objects, Hume maintains, an unchanging and uninterrupted object has no real duration or temporal complexity in itself; yet such an object can, he insists, nevertheless co-exist with each of many temporal parts of a succession that does have real duration and temporal complexity. In effect, every single object in the universe has it own time and its own temporal structure.1 It is one of the many great merits of Baxter's book that it shows this remarkable position to be well-motivated and internally consistent. Working from his incisive analysis of Hume's views on time (in Chaps. 2 and 3), Baxter goes on to give (in Chap. 4) an interpretation of Hume's account of the origin and nature of the idea of identity. Hume was led to this account by his discovery of a
Biological pH buffers in IVF: help or hindrance to success

Minimizing environmental stress helps maintain cellular homeostasis and is a crucial component in optimizing embryo development in vitro and resulting ART success. One stressor of particular interest is pH. Biologic buffers, such as HEPES and MOPS, are valuable tools for stabilizing pH. The objective of this manuscript is to summarize efficacy and impact of various pH buffers used during IVF lab procedures Keyword searches were performed using Pubmed and Medline and relevant literature reviewed. Various pH buffers have been used with varying degrees of success for gamete and embryo processing in a variety of animal species, as well as in human. Though biologic buffers off a means to improve pH stability, not all buffers may be appropriate for use with gametes and embryos. Specific buffers may have undesired effects, and these may be buffer, species, cell type or concentration dependent. Continued research is needed to further refine and improve the use of biologic buffers for use in human ART.
Laminate Propellant Combustion (Review) 1. Experimental Investigations

A review of experimental research of the combustion of laminate propellants of solid oxidizer (primarily ammonium perchlorate) and hydrocarbon binder is given. The purpose and description of the simplification of heterogeneous propellants through the use of constituent layers is detailed. This first of a two-part review describes the development of knowledge of the deflagration of laminates through a number of experimental methods used to quantitatively and qualitatively observe the condensed phase, surface structure, gas phase flame structure, burning rate, species concentrations, and temperature fields. These observations have generated a wealth of two-dimensional experimental data that can be used for validating computational and theoretical models.
Succession and fluctuation in Artemisia dominated grassland

Vegetation dynamics were studied from 1940 to 1978 in two grazed pastures and associated exclosures in sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia) dominated grassland, western Oklahoma, USA. In both pastures and one exclosure, pattern of vegetation change reflected fluctuation rather than succession. In the other exclosure, the grassland exhibited a directional change from annual grasses and forbs to dominance by perennial grasses. Rate of change was consistent during the 39 year period. Cover of grasses increased more in grazed than ungrazed areas. Grass cover was negatively correlated with high air temperatures early in the growing season. Forb cover remained relatively constant over time and shrub cover peaked during the 1960s. Abundance of annuals and cool season species was positively correlated with rainfall early in the growing season. Species diversity and richness were lowest in the ungrazed areas, as a result of increased dominance by perennial grasses such as Schizachyrium scoparium. In pastures and exclosures, richness was positively correlated with growing season precipitation. Cover of the common species differed among sample areas within years and fluctuated between years. Few general patterns emerged from correlations of environmental variables with cover of individual species. In general, vegetation dynamics in these sand sagebrush grasslands reflect a tradeoff in that total cover changes little over time because the loss of some species is compensated for by increased growth of others. Such trade-offs reflect the individualistic response of the component species within each pasture or exclosure. Although changes in growth form composition were related to climatic fluctuation, broad-scale climatic variables could not successfully predict small-scale patterns of change by individual species over time.
Comment on “Sulfur-Induced Reconstruction of Ag(111) Surfaces Studied by DFT”

U DFT calculations, we have shown that S/Ag(111) with √7 √7 R19 ordering has three Ag adatoms in addition to three S atoms in each supercell. The structure proposed by a recent paper is not energetically competitive. Adsorption of sulfur on Ag(111) has been studied experimentally using STM and theoretically using DFT in our previously published article in this journal. Aside from a novel dot-row structure, we have also studied extensively through DFT calculations the ( √ 7 √7)R19 (√7 in short) structure, which is the subject of the recent paper by Alvarez Soria et al. Our work is not cited or discussed by these authors. Specifically, we have identified two structures that are labeled √ 7-a and √ 7-b in Figure 8 in ref 1. Both of these two structures have three Ag and three S atoms in the top layer, with a complete substrate underneath it. In comparison, the structure obtained by Soria et al. at 3/7 ML S coverage has a similar structure as our √ 7-a structure in the top layer, but the second layer has three vacancies. Both the √ 7-a structure in ref 1 and the structure proposed by Alvarez Soria et al. have their origin in the model postulated by Schwaha et al., and reproduced by Yu et al. The key difference is that in the √ 7-a structure there are three extra Ag atoms in each √ 7 supercell on top of the clean surface, while in ref 2 no extra Ag atoms are introduced. To determine which structure is more favorable thermodynamically, one needs to take into account the energy cost of introducing extra Ag atoms into the system. Using DFT calculations, this can be achieved through calculating the chemical potential of S for a AgmSn complex on top of a clean surface, which at zero temperature is given by
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to characterize inflammatory atherosclerotic plaques

Despite advances in diagnosis and therapy, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Predicting metabolically active atherosclerotic lesions has remained an unmet clinical need. We hereby developed an electrochemical strategy to characterize the inflammatory states of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques. Using the concentric bipolar microelectrodes, we sought to demonstrate distinct Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopic (EIS) measurements for unstable atherosclerotic plaques that harbored active lipids and inflammatory cells. Using equivalent circuits to simulate vessel impedance at the electrode-endoluminal tissue interface, we demonstrated specific electric elements to model working and counter electrode interfaces as well as the tissue impedance. Using explants of human coronary, carotid, and femoral arteries at various Stary stages of atherosclerotic lesions (n=15), we performed endoluminal EIS measurements (n=147) and validated with histology and immunohistochemistry. We computed the vascular tissue resistance using the equivalent circuit model and normalized the resistance to the lesion-free regions. Tissue resistance was significantly elevated in the oxLDL-rich thin-cap atheromas (1.57±0.40, n=14, p 0.05). Hence, we demonstrate that the application of EIS strategy was sensitive to detect fibrous cap oxLDL-rich lesions and specific to distinguish oxLDL-absent fibroatheroma.
Species number, area and habitat diversity in the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos vascular plant species are divided into two groups, showing preferences for dry and wet habitats. This division is based on the results of a phytosociological study and is not influenced by such factors as island area, elevation, climate or soil types. The different distribution patterns of the dry and wet species are discussed and it is concluded that habitat diversity offers a better explanation for species numbers and distribution patterns than do island size and isolation. Claims that a dynamic MacArthur-Wilson type equilibrium has been reached for vascular plants in the Galapagos archipelago seem premature.
Computer technology and bioacoustics: applications in bat echolocation and behavior research

Advances in computer technology allow researchers to work with data sets that would have previously been unavailable or impossible to analyze. When working with the ultrasonic sounds produced by bats, computer equipment is needed both for recording and data analysis. Because a bat can produce so many signals in a short time, the amount of data is simply too large for manual analyses. We have developed a set of programs in Matlab to address several different types of issues related to these types of recordings. This includes "extraction" programs that take a long segment of recorded sounds and identifies and saves each of the ultrasonic vocalizations for analysis. We have also developed "analysis" programs that analyze the individual calls produced by the extraction programs. Finally we have developed "experimental" programs that can monitor a bat's behavior, and inform a researcher of changes in that behavior. The majority of these routines are tied together by the common use of Matlab, but some do depend on other programs. We hope to develop these programs so other researchers will have the ability to write similar routines that could be used to extend or modify the functionality of the software. The ability to compile these programs also allows them to be distributed to other researchers, further expanding their usefulness.
Salicylic acid prevents the adherence of bacteria and yeast to silastic catheters

During the pathogenesis of catheter-related urinary tract infection, bacteria attach to the catheter and migrate along a biofilm into the bladder. We studied the effect of coating silastic catheters with salicylic acid on bacterial and yeast adherence. An agar roll technique, bioluminescent assay, and radiolabeling study all produced consistent results. There was a dose related inhibition of adherence with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, and Enterococcus faecalis. Inhibition of over 90% was noted with Enterobacter and Pseudomonas. Similar results were obtained in broth and synthetic urine. A dose related reduction in adherence was seen with all gram-negative rods and yeast as measured by a radiolabeling assay. TDMAC was used to bind the salicylic acid to the catheters with > 95% inhibition of the gram-negative rods. These studies suggest the potential role of coating catheters with salicylic acid to reduce bacterial adherence and urinary tract infection.
Phonon Drag and Phonon Interactions in n -InSb

The experimental results of phonon-drag thermoelectric power of $n$-InSb are analyzed to obtain information about electron-phonon and phonon-phonon interactions. We find that for temperatures greater than 6\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, the piezoelectric mode of electron scattering is negligible as compared to the deformation potential type of scattering. A value of 8.25 eV is found for the deformation-potential constant. The relaxation time of long-wavelength acoustical phonons is given by ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{q}(T)=4.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\frac{{10}^{3}}{q{T}^{3}}$ for temperatures $\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\le}40\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K. The data also indicate that inelasticity of electron-phonon collisions as well as collision broadening of the electron energy levels are the dominant "cutoff" mechanisms involved in the quantum theory of magnetoresistance; the first dominates in relatively low fields, while the latter takes over for fields greater than 60 kG.
The Influence of Chronic Morphine Treatment on the Negative Feedback Regulation of Gonadotropin Secretion by Gonadal Steroids

The influence of continuous stimulation of opiate receptors with morphine (M) on the negative feedback effects of testosterone (T), 5a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 17β-estradiol (E2) on LH and FSH secretion was studied in rats that had been castrated 2 weeks previously. In the absence of gonadal steroids, 4 days of continuous M exposure did not alter LH or FSH levels. Similarly, Silastic capsules containing crystalline T 5 mm) or E2 [5 mm long (75 μg E2/ml) to 7.5 mm long (300 ng E2/ml)] alone had little effect on LH or FSH release. However, in M-exposed rats, T reduced serum LH by greater than 90%, and E2 reduced LH by more than 75%. Among the doses of DHT evaluated, only the highest dose (7.5-mm Silastic capsules packed with crystalline DHT) reduced LH secretion, and M exposure only slightly enhanced this suppression. M or gonadal steroids alone produced little change in FSH levels in castrated rats. However, the combination of M plus E2 or DHT further reduced FSH levels. Evaluation of pituitary respo...
Low-temperature resistivity of silver

The resistivity rho has been measured between 0.04 and 7K for 'pure' polycrystalline ingots of silver, in a dilution refrigerator with a SQUID null detector system. The measurements confirm the existence of a substantial temperature range where rho - rho 0 varies as T4. At the lowest temperatures rho - rho 0 varies as T2.19, which strongly suggests that an electron-electron scattering T2 regime may be reached using a higher-precision measuring technique.
External carbon dioxide injury and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in the ‘Empire’ apple

Abstract The effects of several factors on the susceptibility of untreated and 1-MCP-treated ‘Empire’ apple (Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill var. domestica (Borkh.) Mansf.) fruit to external CO2 injury have been investigated. These factors include CO2 partial pressure, the timing of elevated CO2 exposure, delays between harvest and exposure to elevated CO2, DPA concentration, and the timing of DPA treatment after exposure of fruit to 1-MCP. 1-MCP-treated fruit were more susceptible to external CO2 injury than untreated fruit when stored in 5 kPa, but not 1 kPa, CO2 (in 2 kPa O2). 1-MCP did not increase the period of highest susceptibility to injury during controlled atmosphere storage. The greatest sensitivity to injury occurred 0–3 weeks after harvest. Sensitivity to injury decreased when untreated fruit were kept in air for up to 14 days before exposure to 5 kPa CO2, but not for 1-MCP-treated fruit. DPA treatment prevented development of CO2 injury even at a level as low as 250 μL L−1. DPA treatment could be delayed for 4 days after 1-MCP treatment while fruit were exposed to 5 kPa CO2 in air without injury development. Overall the data indicate that 1-MCP enhances the risk of external CO2 injury, but this injury can be prevented by treatment of fruit with DPA at harvest. In the absence of DPA treatment, handling procedures such as maintaining low CO2 partial pressures in the storage atmosphere must be used.
Class Unconscious: From Dialectical Materialism to Relational Material

To begin to conceptualize class from a relational perspective, the author proposes that we consider how material relations that color interpersonal relations are absorbed into the psyche and the body. The term “class unconscious” is used to describe a kind of “thirdness”: the child's intersubjective communication with both the maternal and paternal working body. Stein's writing on the “enigmatic signifier” is revisited to describe that part of the parental body that arouses implicit then explicit awareness of the material world of work and class. The author argues that a relational theory of the subject must account for the infiltration of “objective” political phenomena into “subjective” experience. Clinical and autobiographical material illustrate the dynamics of the class unconscious in the transference.
Embedding a librarian in the classroom: an intensive information literacy model

Purpose – To describe an information literacy (IL) component for an undergraduate program, and to discuss the design and implementation of a faculty/librarian collaboration to teach first‐year English students how to do appropriate and thorough research.Design/methodology/approach – The librarian was assigned to be a co‐instructor in the course, taught a significant percentage of the research material, and participated in the assigning of students' grades.Findings – Each session taught by the librarian is described in detail, and the impact of the experiment on the students, the instructors and the college is addressed.Originality/value – The paper addresses the benefits and difficulties of adding an intensive IL component on a small college campus.
A QUASI-NEWTON ALGORITHM FOR LQG CONTROLLER DESIGN WITH VARIANCE CONSTRAINTS

In this paper, we present a new algorithm for solving the LQG control problem with variance constraints which utilizes derivative information about the relevant ℋ2 costs to achieve quasi-Newton convergence. Using a lifting procedure, this algorithm is then generalized to work with linear periodically time-varying systems. This algorithm is then applied to the design of controllers for hard disk drives in order to assess the limits of performance of a particular setup. It is demonstrated that just by utilizing multirate sampling and actuation characteristics (i.e. without changing the hardware), the performance of this particular setup can improved by more than 39 %.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
A Study in Rating Technique with Special Reference to Activity in Preschool Children

(1932). A Study in Rating Technique with Special Reference to Activity in Preschool Children. The Pedagogical Seminary and Journal of Genetic Psychology: Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 330-357.
Coronary-prone behavior pattern and cardiovascular response.

Two studies were carried out examining the relationship between coronary-prone behavior pattern and cardiovascular responses to an experimental stressor. Among 52 subjects of the Type A (coronary-prone) and Type B (non-coronary-prone) behavior patterns in Study I, Type A males showed greater elevations of systolic blood pressure than Type B males on exposure to a difficult cognitive task; no reliable differences were found for Type A and B females. Due to a conceptual similarity of the coronary-prone behavior pattern and the personality dimension of Internal External locus of control, 48 male subjects in Study II were selected with respect to four subject groups: Type A-Internals, Type A-Externals, Type B-Internals, and Type B-Externals. Again, Type As showed a more pronounced systolic response than subjects of the Type B pattern, though diastolic blood pressure and heart rate responses did not vary by coronary-prone behavior pattern. While locus of control-Internals tended to show greater task-related systolic elevations than Externals, this effect was not significant. Self-reports of anxiety increased during the period of the task, but revealed no differences among Type A and B subjects of either study. It was concluded that for male subjects the Type A-Type B dimension constitutes a salient variable of individual differences mediating the systolic pressor response.
Decreased responsiveness of GH3 cells to the dopaminergic inhibition of prolactin.

The inhibitory regulation of PRL secretion by dopamine (DA) or the dopaminergic agonists bromergocryptine (CB-154) and apomorphine was studied in cultured GH3 cells, an established rat anterior pituitary cell line which producesboth PRL and GH. The basal release of PRL from GH3, cells was unaffected when incubated for 6 h with DA concentrations as high as 10-4 M. The inability of DA to suppress PRL secretioncould not be explained by the catabolism of DA or the presence of unknown inhibitors (e.g. estradiol) in the fetal calf serum present in the incubation media. Apomorphine and CB-154 were only partially effective in suppressing PRL release at high concentrations of 10-4 and 10-5 M, respectively. Various concentrations of the dopaminergic antagonist d-butaclamol did not reverse he inhibitory action of 10-5 M CB-154, while equal concentrations (10-5 M) of both d- and l-butaclamol significantlysuppressed PRL release. The greatly lowered responsiveness of GH3 cells to dopaminergic inhibition of PRL is sugge...
Agricultural soil carbon accumulation in North America: considerations for climate policy

Abstract The Kyoto Protocol introduces the possibility that changes in carbon stock on agricultural and forest land and soils may be counted against countries’ commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Including activities related to land use change and forestry in the international climate change agreement may stimulate new incentives for soil-conservation practices domestically. However, a primary criteria for their inclusion relates to the level of accuracy and transparency with which carbon stock changes can be assessed. Parties will also be concerned with the wider environmental impact of different sequestration practices, and the impact of offsets on overall emissions targets. This paper examines these issues for agricultural soils, considering recent research in North America. It is argued that incentives for carbon sequestration practices may need to be implemented independently of actual stock changes because farm-level soil monitoring would be very costly. In the USA, priority should be given to establishing incentives for cover crops and to expanding conservation tillage programs. These activities provide a range of ancillary environmental benefits. In contrast, improvements in biomass yield tend to rely on higher fertilizer inputs with their related environmental costs. Carbon accumulated through any of these activities is easily lost if the practices are discontinued, and so assessment procedures are needed that would avoid overestimating sequestration. Annual accumulation in agricultural soils could be equivalent to about 10% of Annex I carbon dioxide emissions, and therefore options for limiting sink credits from soils should be considered.
A study on aluminum–steel composite metal foam processed by casting

Abstract Composite metal foam (CMF), a new material belonging to the class of advanced cellular and porous materials, has been processed using gravity casting technique for the first time at North Carolina State University. This material comprises of steel hollow spheres and a solid aluminum alloy matrix. The energy absorption behavior of the material under static compression has been studied extensively. Experimental results show that CMF not only has a higher energy absorption capability than that of other commercially available metal foams produced from similar materials, but also possess a higher strength to density ratio. The microstructural analysis of the material was used to study and explain the formation of different phases at the aluminum–steel interface and their effect on the deformation behavior of the foam under compression. As the result of high strength and strain rates, the increase in energy absorption of the composite metal foam samples observed ranges over 30 times compared to that of 100% Al foams and over twice compared to that of 100% steel foams.
Spatial effects on voting power in representative democracies

In representative democracies, social choice requires the election of representatives to a legislature, and then the enactment of legislation by its members. In this paper, numerical simulation is used to investigate the extent to which the relative voting power of representatives in a legislature is affected by locational considerations. Results of the simulation indicate that voting power tends to decrease when supporters of one of two competing political parties are more concentrated spatially. The results are consistent with empirical evidence concerning electoral bias accruing against parties whose supporters are concentrated.
The mode of inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation by efrapeptin (A23871): measurement of substrate effects on rates of inactivation by a tight-binding inhibitor.

Abstract Equations are derived for predicting the effects of substrate concentration on the inactivation rate constants of tight-binding competitive and uncompetitive inhibitors. These relationships are used to study the inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by efrapeptin. The results show that the apparent rate constant for efrapeptin inactivation of ATP synthesis decreases with increase in phosphate concentration. The reciprocal of the observed rate constant varies linearly with changes in the level of phosphate as predicted for a competitive inhibitor. The concentrations of ADP during ATP synthesis and of ATP during ATP hydrolysis, on the other hand, have no effect on the rate of inactivation by efrapeptin. This is in contrast to previous observations that adenine nucleotide substrates influence the level of efrapeptin bound at equilibrium (R. L. Cross, and W. E. Kohlbrenner, 1978, J. Biol. Chem.253, 4865–4873) . The results suggest that efrapeptin interacts primarily at the phosphate binding site and that adenine nucleotides may influence equilibrium binding of efrapeptin by affecting the rate of dissociation of the inhibitor. Studies of efrapeptin inhibition of ATP synthesis under pseudo-first-order conditions show that the onset of inhibition is first order with respect to efrapeptin. The maximum apparent rate constant for efrapeptin binding, obtained by extrapolation to zero phosphate concentration, is 1.5 × 105 m −1 s−1. Also described is a computer program for calculating the concentrations of complexes formed in a mixture of interacting species. The program may be used for most multiple-equilibrium calculations and permits the estimation of the levels of protonated complexes at any pH. The program was used to select Mg2+ concentrations which ensure that a large and relatively constant fraction of added ADP is present as MgADP. In the range of phosphate and ADP concentrations commonly used in studies of oxidative phosphorylation a 3 m m excess of Mg2+ relative to ADP was found sufficient to maintain high levels of MgADP at pH 8.0.
Morphine affects HIV-induced inflammatory response without influencing viral replication in human monocyte-derived macrophages

Opiate-abusing individuals are in the top three risk-factor groups for HIV infection. In fact, almost 30% of HIV-infected individuals in the USA are reported to abuse opiates, highlighting the intersection of drugs of abuse with HIV/AIDS. Opiate-abusers are cognitively impaired and suffer from neurological dysfunctions that may lead to high-risk sexual behavior, poor adherence to antiretroviral regimens, and hepatitis-C virus infection. Collectively, these factors may contribute to accelerated HIV central nervous system (CNS) disease progression. To understand the role of morphine in disease progression, we sought to determine whether morphine influences HIV-induced inflammation or viral replication in human monocyte-derived macrophages (h-mdms) and MAGI cells infected with HIV and exposed to morphine. Chronic morphine exposure of HIV-infected h-mdms led to significant alterations in the secretion of IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 2 (MCP-2). Morphine enhanced IL-6 secretion and blunted MCP-2 secretion from HIV-infected h-mdms. However, exposure of HIV-infected h-mdms to morphine had no effect on tumor necrosis factor alpha secretion. Morphine had no effect on later stages of viral replication in HIV-infected h-mdms. Morphine had a potentially additive effect on the HIV-induced production of IL-6 and delayed HIV-induced MCP-2 production. These results suggest that in HIV-infected opiate-abusers, enhanced CNS inflammation might result even when HIV disease is controlled.
Self-Optimizing Memory Controllers: A Reinforcement Learning Approach

Efficiently utilizing off-chip DRAM bandwidth is a critical issuein designing cost-effective, high-performance chip multiprocessors(CMPs). Conventional memory controllers deliver relativelylow performance in part because they often employ fixed,rigid access scheduling policies designed for average-case applicationbehavior. As a result, they cannot learn and optimizethe long-term performance impact of their scheduling decisions,and cannot adapt their scheduling policies to dynamic workloadbehavior.We propose a new, self-optimizing memory controller designthat operates using the principles of reinforcement learning (RL)to overcome these limitations. Our RL-based memory controllerobserves the system state and estimates the long-term performanceimpact of each action it can take. In this way, the controllerlearns to optimize its scheduling policy on the fly to maximizelong-term performance. Our results show that an RL-basedmemory controller improves the performance of a set of parallelapplications run on a 4-core CMP by 19% on average (upto 33%), and it improves DRAM bandwidth utilization by 22%compared to a state-of-the-art controller.
Soil properties in old-growth Douglas-fir forest gaps in the western Cascade Mountains of Oregon.

Abstract This was a study of vegetation and soil properties in tree-fall gaps in a coniferous forest of the Pacific Northwest. It had three objectives: (1) to determine if there are correlations between above-ground vegetation and below-ground soil properties within large 50 m diameter gaps, (2) to determine how large gaps influence forest soils compared with non-gap soils, and (3) to measure the effects of differently sized gaps on gap soils. To address these objectives, circular canopy gaps were created in old-growth Douglas-fir forests of the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest in the western Oregon Cascade Mountains. To address the first objective, within-gap soil spatial patterns were compared with above ground distributions of both vegetation and large woody debris in two large gaps. Spatial and Pearson correlation analyses showed no consistent correlations between soil characteristics and above ground vegetation and coarse woody debris. With reference to the second objective, statistically significan...
An in-band easy-to-deploy mechanism for network-to-transport signaling

Network-to-transport signaling is desirable for ensuring efficient resource usage and timely notice of network status. ICMP is the standard way for signaling, but unfortunately it generates extra load and does not traverse firewalls. In this paper, we develop M-ECN, an in-band network-to-transport signaling mechanism, which does not generate any extra packets and does not require dedicated header bits. The key idea is to sneak messages into the stream of ECN bits, but without interfering with ECN congestion signaling. Compared to other alternatives, M-ECN is easy to deploy because routers read/write to the IP header, and the mechanism requires no change to legacy routers along the path which do not participate in the signaling.
Estimating the atmospheric boundary layer height over sloped, forested terrain from surface spectral analysis during BEARPEX

Abstract. The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height ( z i ) over complex, forested terrain is estimated based on the power spectra and the integral length scale of cross-stream winds obtained from a three-axis sonic anemometer during the two summers of the BEARPEX (Biosphere Effects on Aerosol and Photochemistry) Experiment. The z i values estimated with this technique show very good agreement with observations obtained from balloon tether sondes (2007) and rawinsondes (2009) under unstable conditions ( z/L h ) with respect to the power spectra of the v -wind component and temperature under stable conditions ( z/L > 0) is also presented. The nocturnal boundary layer height is found to be fairly well predicted by a recent interpolation formula proposed by Zilitinkevich et al. (2007), although it was observed to only vary from 60–80 m during the 2009 experiment in which it was measured. Finally, significant directional wind shear was observed during both day and night soundings. The winds were found to be consistently backing from the prevailing west-southwesterlies within the ABL (the anabatic cross-valley circulation) to southerlies in a layer ~1–2 km thick just above the ABL before veering to the prevailing westerlies further aloft. This shear pattern is shown to be consistent with the forcing of a thermal wind driven by the regional temperature gradient directed east-southeast in the lower troposphere.
Links between Parents' and Children's Levels of Gratitude, Life Satisfaction, and Hope

Decades of research confirm familial links in mental illness, but little is known about the relationships between parents’ and children’s levels of positive emotions. The current study used a past, present, and future framework of positive emotions to explore parent and child levels of gratitude, life satisfaction, and hope. Correlations between self-reported levels of gratitude, life satisfaction, and hope were analyzed in a sample of 148 fourth and fifth grade students and their biological parents (137 mothers, 109 fathers). Findings include statistically significant relationships between (1) mother and child gratitude (but not father and child gratitude) and (2) child life satisfaction and both mothers’ and fathers’ life satisfaction. No significant relationships emerged between parent hope and child hope, although higher parent life satisfaction was associated with higher child hope. Research is needed to investigate the causes of the links identified in the current study.
VARIATIONS IN THE YIELD OF GONADOTROPIC MATERIAL FROM GREEN PLANTS IN RELATION TO THE SEASON OF GROWTH AND THE PH OF THE FRESH JUICE1

IN SOME EARLIER EXPERIMENTS (1) attempts were made to prepare gonadotropic extracts from dehydrated leaves of alfalfa and immature oat plants. The extracts prepared from some samples of these plants were active, but those from many other samples were inactive. At best the yields of gonadotropic material, as measured by the rabbit ovulation test, were unsatisfactory. They were not greater than i ovulating dose for every 30 gm. of dried leaf3 and were more commonly 1 dose for each 150 gm. More recently, a yield of 1 ovulating dose for every 4 gm. of dried leaf (2) was obtained from young oats.4 The potency of this preparation, however, was not much better than the potency of the earlier extracts; i.e., about 200 mg. perovulating dose. By using the juice of young oat leaves, which was available from a commercial laboratory in Missouri,5 it was possible to prepare much more satisfactory gonadotropic extracts.
Behavior and peripheral amine concentrations in relation to ractopamine feeding, sex, and social rank of finishing pigs.

Aggression can impair productivity and well-being. The association between aggression in fin- ishing pigs and the feed additive ractopamine (RAC), a β-adrenoreceptor agonist, is unknown and warrants further investigation. Our goal was to examine behav- ioral activity, including aggression, in the home pen and concentrations of peripheral amines in barrows and gilts, taking into account diet (RAC) and social rank. Sixty-four finishing pigs, housed in pens of 4 by sex, were fed either a control (CTL) or RAC-added (5 mg/ kg for 2 wk plus 10 mg/kg for another 2 wk) diet. The top dominant and bottom subordinate pigs in each pen were determined at mixing (2 wk pretrial). The behavior of all pigs was recorded continuously during the pretrial week (baseline) and for the following 4 wk. These behavioral data were used to evaluate home pen aggression, including the number of agonistic interac- tions (AINX) and constituent aggressive actions, dur- ing a 3-h period (0800 to 1100 h) once per week and their change in relation to the baseline. Time-budget behaviors and postures were analyzed over eight 24-h periods (2 d/wk) using 10-min instantaneous scan sam- pling that focused on only the dominant and subordi- nate pigs in each pen. These 2 pigs were also subjected to blood collection once per week during the trial to determine concentrations of dopamine, norepineph- rine, epinephrine, and serotonin (5-HT) using HPLC. Gilts performed more bites and total actions per AINX than barrows, and RAC-fed gilts increased bites and pursuits, whereas these behaviors decreased compared with baseline values in all other subgroups (P 0.10). Greater activity and the increase in oral-related behaviors observed in RAC-fed pigs may be mediated by the increase in arousal caused by RAC. Intensified aggression in gilts, especially when fed RAC, may be linked to reduced central 5-HT and greater noradrener- gic activity, and further research on brain neurotrans- mitters in gilts is needed.
Anti-Individualism, Content Preservation, and Discursive Justification

Most explorations of the epistemic implications of Semantic Anti-Individualism (SAI) focus on issues of self-knowledge (first-person authority) and/or external-world skepticism. Less explored has been SAI's implications for the epistemology of reasoning. In this paper I argue that SAI has some nontrivial implications on this score. I bring these out by reflecting on a problem first raised by Boghossian (1992). Whereas Boghossian's main interest was in establishing the incompatibility of SAI and “the a priority of logical abilities” (Boghossian 1992: 22), I argue that Boghossian's argument is better interpreted as pointing to SAI's implications for the nature of discursive justification.
DIFFERENCES IN THE FORAGING OF JUVENILE AND ADULT BIRDS: THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPMENTAL CONSTRAINTS

Summary Juvenile birds differ from conspecific adults in their diet and methods of prey capture and prey handling. Juvenile-adult differences in foraging result from (1) immaturity of the beak, skeleto-muscular and neurological systems and (2) the time required to learn foraging skills. These conclusions are largely based on field observations. More experimental studies to assess the relative importance of the various constraints are needed. Juvenile birds appear to be under strong selection to reach adult form and function as rapidly as possible. Remaining differences between juveniles and adults are largely attributable to constraints. In contrast to many other taxa there are few examples in which juvenile-adult differences in foraging have been accentuated by selection on the juvenile behaviours.