cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anytime capacity of Markov channels

Several new expressions for the anytime capacity of Sahai and Mitter are presented for a time-varying rate-limited channel with noiseless output feedback. These follow from a parametric characterization obtained in the case of Markov channels, and include an explicit formula for the r-bit Markov erasure channel, as well as formulas for memoryless rate processes including Binomial, Poisson, and Geometric distributions. Beside the memoryless erasure channel and the additive white Gaussian noise channel with input power constraint, these are the only cases where explicit anytime capacity formulas are obtained. At the basis of these results is the study of the threshold function for mth moment stabilization of a scalar linear system controlled over a Markov time-varying digital feedback channel that depends on m and on the channel's parameters. This threshold is shown to be a continuous and strictly decreasing function of m and to have as extreme values the Shannon capacity and the zero-error capacity as m tends to zero and infinity, respectively. Its operational interpretation is that of achievable communication rate, subject to a reliability constraint.
Direct Simulation of Drop Fragmentation under Simple Shear

The numerical investigation of drop deformation and breakup under simple shear is a basis for theoretical studies of emulsification and mixing. A three-dimensional Couette flow without gravity is considered; the matrix liquid is bounded at the top and bottom by two parallel horizontal plates and the liquid drop is suspended there. The boundaries move horizontally, and generate a simple shear flow. The fluid and flow properties, such as viscosities, Reynolds number and plate separation, influence the subsequent evolution. The pinching off of daughter drops is investigated with the use of volume-of-fluid methods. The convergence of such methods, particularly with respect to drop size distributions, is evaluated, and a novel parabolic reconstruction of the interfacial tension force for the VOF method (PROST) is introduced.
Appreciating Wireless Dynamism

Over the last several years, nearly every aspect of the burgeoning mobile broadband ecosystem – from networks and handsets to operating systems and location-based services – has been scrutinized. Indeed, policymakers and regulators at the federal, state, and local levels, along with the courts, have weighed in on a range of transactions, market developments, issues impacting network deployment, and legal issues arising in this space. While there appears to be general agreement on some core issues impacting this sector (e.g., the need for additional spectrum), there is fundamental disagreement over whether and to what extent this sector is competitive and how to assess that foundational issue. The Federal Communications Commission has, for example, declined to label the wireless space as “effectively competitive.” This skepticism is based on an overly simplified notion of how markets should work. According to this view, only the number of firms in a market and their corresponding market shares matter when assessing competition. Consumer welfare gains, on the other hand, are largely marginalized in this analysis. Market share is certainly not an irrelevant consideration, but in the modern wireless ecosystem, where service providers work in tandem with device manufacturers and content producers to deploy cutting-edge services and where wireless broadband is being used to transform entire sectors, the traditional analytical framework tends to undervalue the enormous amount of creative destruction and consumer-focused innovative dynamism that has long been present in this space. As discussed in this paper, continuing to rely on such a narrow conception of competition is wrongheaded and dismissive of the many consumer welfare gains being generated throughout the mobile ecosystem.
Filtering algorithms using shiftable kernels

It was recently demonstrated in [4] that the non-linear bilateral filter [18] can be efficiently implemented using an O(1) or constanttime algorithm. At the heart of this algorithm was the idea of approximating the Gaussian range kernel of the bilateral filter using trigonometric functions. In this letter, we explain how the idea in [4] can be extended to few other linear and non-linear filters [18, 21, 2]. While some of these filters have received a lot of attention in recent years, they are known to be computationally intensive. To extend the idea in [4], we identify a central property of trigonometric functions, called shiftability, that allows us to exploit the redundancy inherent in the filtering operations. In particular, using shiftable kernels, we show how certain complex filtering can be reduced to simply that of computing the moving sum of a stack of images. Each image in the stack is obtained through an elementary pointwise transform of the input image. This has a two-fold advantage. First, we can use fast recursive algorithms for computing the moving sum [19, 8], and, secondly, we can use parallel computation to further speed up of the computation. We also show how shiftable kernels can also be used to approximate the (non-shiftable) Gaussian kernel that is ubiquitously used in image filtering.
Prospects for engineering neurons from local neocortical cell populations as cell‐mediated therapy for neurological disorders

There is little cell replacement following neurological injury, limiting the regenerative response of the CNS. Progress in understanding the biology of neural stem cells has raised interest in using stem cells for replacing neurons lost to injury or to disease. Stem cell therapy may also have a role in rebuilding deficient neural circuitry underlying mood disorders, epilepsy, and pain modulation among others. In vitro expansion of stem cells with directed differentiation prior to transplantation is one approach to stem cell therapy. Emerging evidence suggests that it may be possible to directly convert in vivo endogenous neural cells to a neuronal fate, providing an alternative strategy for stem cell therapy to the CNS. This review assesses the evidence for engineering subtype-specific neuronal fate of endogenous neural cells in the cerebral cortex as a function of initial cell lineage, reactive response to injury, conversion factors, and environmental context. We conclude with a discussion of some of the challenges that need to be overcome to move this alternative in vivo engineered conversion process towards becoming a viable therapeutic option.
[The allergic focal reaction phenomenon. Significance for the testing, therapy and theory of clinical allergy. Study in bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases].

On the basis of examinations of 654 cases of clinical allergy (487 cases of bronchial asthma) a new allergenic phenomenon is described: "The allergic focal reaction phenomenon". It is associated with the demonstration of a regularly reproducible, clinical, allergic initiating effect of very small doses of specific antigen only on the allergically diseased tissue (focus). The findings made it possible to elaborate a new method for allergy testing and therapy without any danger, and offers quite new ideas for the interpretation of allergic mechanisms. The authors tried to integrate this phenomenon into the picture of clinical allergy, and some so far unclear problems of allergy may, on this basis, have found a probable solution."
Photoacoustic Doppler axial flow measurement of homogenous media using structured illumination

We propose time and frequency domain methods for homogenous flow measurement based on the photoacoustic Doppler effect. Excited by spatially modulated laser pulses, the flowing medium induces a Doppler frequency shift in the received photoacoustic signals. The frequency shift is proportional to the component of the flow speed projected onto the acoustic beam axis. These methods do not rely on particle heterogeneity in the medium. A red-ink phantom flowing in a tube immersed in water was used to validate the methods in both frequency and time domains.
Impact of Coronary Endothelial Function on the Progression of Cardiac Transplant–associated Arteriosclerosis: Effect of Anti-oxidant Vitamins C and E

Background Excessive vascular oxidant stress has been implicated in cardiac transplant–associated arteriosclerosis (TxAA). In a recent placebo-controlled study of 40 cardiac transplant recipients, vitamin C 500 mg twice a day and vitamin E 400 IU twice a day for 1 year retarded the progression of TxAA, as assessed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Endothelial dysfunction is a key feature of TxAA and reflects oxidant stress. We hypothesized that coronary endothelial dysfunction portends greater TxAA progression and a larger therapeutic response to anti-oxidant vitamins. Methods In this pre-specified analysis, the 40 cardiac transplant recipients were categorized according to normal or abnormal coronary endothelial vasomotor function at baseline, as assessed by acetylcholine (10 −8 to 10 −6 mol/liter). The effect of anti-oxidant vitamins within these two groups of patients was assessed by the change in intimal index over 1 year using IVUS. Results With placebo ( n = 21), the increase in intimal index was greater in the presence vs absence of endothelial dysfunction (11 ± 3% vs 5 ± 1%, p n = 21), the intimal index increased 11 ± 3% with placebo, but decreased −1 ± 2% with vitamins ( p = 0.002). Among patients with normal endothelial function ( n = 14), the intimal index increased 5 ± 1% with placebo and 1 ± 1% with vitamins ( p Conclusions Endothelial dysfunction indicates rapid TxAA progression, even in the statin era. Although anti-oxidant vitamins reduce disease progression in patients with normal or abnormal endothelial function, the magnitude of benefit is larger in patients with endothelial dysfunction.
Erosion-corrosion assessment of materials for use in the resources industry

Abstract The erosion–corrosion properties of a range of ferrous-based materials that are currently being used or have potential for use in the resources industry have been assessed using a slurry pot erosion–corrosion (SPEC) test rig that has the capability of establishing the separate components of erosion, corrosion and synergy. Testing was performed, at 30 °C, in an aqueous slurry containing 35 wt% AFS 50–70 silica sand and a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Erosive action was supplied through high-speed rotation of a rubber-lined impeller. Erosion–corrosion performance of materials evaluated was related to composition/microstructure and hardness. Test data correlated with available service experience. The results showed that the cast Cr white irons with (i) a structure that was essentially a duplex stainless steel containing a distribution of hard carbides and (ii) a near eutectic Cr white iron exhibited the highest erosion–corrosion resistance of the materials tested. The evaluation of the Cr white irons also highlighted the influence of Cr and C levels on the E–C properties of these materials. E–C assessment of selected carbon steels confirmed that the erosion-only rates and synergistic levels showed a general decline with increasing carbon content and hardness. As expected, a low C steel pipe product displayed very mediocre erosion–corrosion behaviour as a consequence of its very low intrinsic corrosion resistance and inferior wear properties. This reflected service experience, however, such products are still being used, due to the comparatively low initial cost. A TiC particle-reinforced AISI 316 stainless steel exhibited an almost 45% improvement in the E–C resistance, when compared with an AISI 316L stainless steel.
Memory efficient alignment between RNA sequences and stochastic grammar models of pseudoknots

Stochastic Context-Free Grammars (SCFG) has been shown to be effective in modelling RNA secondary structure for searches. Our previous work (Cai et al., 2003) in Stochastic Parallel Communicating Grammar Systems (SPCGS) has extended SCFG to model RNA pseudoknots. However, the alignment algorithm requires O(n4) memory for a sequence of length n. In this paper, we develop a memory efficient algorithm for sequence-structure alignments including pseudoknots. This new algorithm reduces the memory space requirement from O(n4) to O(n2) without increasing the computation time. Our experiments have shown that this novel approach can achieve excellent performance on searching for RNA pseudoknots.
Transition from linear to nonlinear viscoelastic behavior. Part II. stress relaxation of polycarbonate

Abstract Below the glass transition temperature Tg (ca. 150° C), the vis-coelastic behavior of the polycarbonate of bisphenol A is linear up to a strain level of about 1%, whereas, at higher strains, the iso-chronous relaxation modulus drops steadily with increasing strain. The critical strain level diminishes from about 1.2 to about 0.7% as the temperature of glassy polycarbonate increases from 23° to 130° C. Comparison of this finding with earlier independent observations above Tg indicates rather unexpectedly that, in terms of the strain level alone, linear viscoelasticity theory should be minimally applicable near Tg. These conclusions emerge from a detailed study of stress relaxation at constant uniaxial strain performed on amorphous, elastically isotropic specimens of this polycarbonate.
Competitive adsorption of cesium, cobalt and strontium in conditioned clayey soil suspensions

Abstract Competitive adsorption of the ions (solutes) cesium, cobalt and strontium by soil samples from Hudspeth County, Texas, was investigated in laboratory experiments. Binary and ternary mixtures containing same weight percentage of each ion were placed in contact with the soil, at constant soil: solution ratio, temperature and pressure, until equilibrium was reached. Once it was determined that the adsorption of single adsorbates was well represented by the Freundlich equation, the Sheindorf-Rehbun-Sheintuch (SRS) equation was used to obtain the competitive coefficients for each component of the binary mixtures. The SRS-equation for ternary mixtures predicts the adsorption of each ion based on the parameters of its respective single-analog isotherm and the competitive coefficients obtained for binary mixtures. Predicted values were very close to those obtained experimentally for ternary mixtures. Competition coefficients vary from 0·15 to 0·20 for cobalt in the presence of strontium and 1·0 to 1·3 in the presence of cesium; 0·3 to 0·6 for cesium in the presence of strontium and 0·4 to 0·8 in the presence of cobalt; 3·0 to 6·3 for strontium in the presence of cesium, and 4·5 in the presence of cobalt. These values suggest heterogeneous interactions between ions and adsorption sites: cobalt and cesium do not compete for adsorption sites as much as cobalt does with strontium, or cesium with strontium. The predictive capability of these coefficients has the potential to reduce experimental effort and to provide a more realistic representation of radionuclide adsorption in soils than single-component isotherms. Experimental work needs to be extended in three general areas at least: a lower range of solute concentrations than in this study (below 1 mg/liter) to simulate other scenarios of possible contamination; additional concentration ratios among competing ions to further test the applicability of the competitive coefficients; and evaluation of the response of the coefficients to changes in water and soil composition, pH and temperature, among other important variables.
Interaction of Helium Rydberg State Atoms with Superfluid Helium

The pair potentials between ground state helium and Rydberg He ∗ (2s, 2 p, 3s) atoms are calculated by the full configuration interaction electronic structure method for both the electronic singlet and the triplet manifolds. The obtained pair potentials are validated against existing experimental molecular and atomic data. Most states show remarkable energy barriers at long distances (R > 5 A), which can effectively stabilize He ∗ against the formation of He ∗ at low nuclear kinetic energies. Bosonic density functional theory calculations, based on the calculated pair potential data, indicate that the triplet ground state He ∗ reside in spherical bubbles in superfluid helium with a barycenter radius of 6.1 A at the liquid saturated vapor pressure. The pressure dependency of the relative He ∗ 2s 3 S → 2 p 3 P absorption line blue shift in the liquid was obtained through both the statistical line broadening theory as well as the dynamic adiabatic following method. The pronounced difference between the results from the static and dynamic models is attributed to the dynamic Jahn-Teller effect that takes places in the electronically excited state within the dephasing time of 150 fs. Transient non-thermalized liquid surroundings near He ∗ may contribute to an artificial reduction in the absorption line blue shift by up to 30 cm −1 .
Selectively Probing the Glass Transition Temperature in Multilayer Polymer Films: Equivalence of Block Copolymers and Multilayer Films of Different Homopolymers

The temperature dependence of the fluorescence of trace levels of pyrene was employed to measure the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) of polystyrene (PS) domains within ultrathin films of poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate) (P(S-b-MMA)) and poly(styrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) (P(S-b-2VP)) diblock copolymers supported on silica after self-assembly into lamellar morphologies. The PS domains within the two block copolymers exhibited dramatically different Tg−nanoconfinement behavior. The Tgs of the PS domains within the P(S-b-MMA) films were observed to decrease with decreasing film thickness in accordance with Tg reductions observed for single-layer PS homopolymer films; in contrast, the Tg of the PS domains within the P(S-b-2VP) films exhibited no change within experimental uncertainty upon confinement. The Tgs of the block copolymer films showed excellent agreement with those of multilayer films constructed from homopolymer layers with an equivalent morphology, indicating that chain connectivity ac...
RTS - an integrated analytic solution for managing regulation changes and their impact on business compliance

Governance, Risk Management and Compliance are key success factors for corporations. Every company worldwide must ensure a proper compliance level with current and future laws and regulations, but managing the dynamic nature of the regulatory environment is a challenge, for both small and medium business as well as large corporations. Specifically the challenge is knowing and interpreting which regulations impact a particular business. Governments and standard bodies keep producing new, revised legislation, and businesses today rely on employees and consultants for tracking and understanding impact on their operations.This paper introduces a novel prototype solution that addresses these concerns through the use of advanced text analytics. In particular the system is able to discover sources of regulatory content on the world wide web, track the changes to these regulations, extract metadata and semantic information and use these to provide a semantically guided comparison of regulation versions. Moreover, by leveraging the IBM DeepQA architecture, the solution is able to cross reference business objectives with the regulatory database and provide insights about the impact of new and revised laws on a company's business.
Glycan Catabolism by Human Gut Symbionts involves Dynamic Protein Interactions

The human gut hosts trillions of bacteria that directly influence human health. The majority of gut microbiota play an important role in nutrition by metabolizing host-indigestible complex glycans into short-chain fatty acids. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt), a prominent bacterial symbiont in the distal gut, metabolizes over a dozen complex glycans using membrane-associated protein complexes. The Starch Utilization System (Sus), a multi-protein complex in Bt that is essential for growth on starch, uses eight proteins (SusRABCDEFG) to process starch. SusCDEFG localize in the outer membrane and likely form a complex to facilitate starch binding, degradation and import. However, conventional biochemical methods have been unable to completely reveal the assembly and dynamics of these proteins in response to starch. We have applied single-molecule super-resolution imaging to characterize the Sus complex response to different sugars in live Bt under anaerobic conditions. Protein correlation studies performed with HaloTag-labeled SusG and other fluorescent antibody-labeled Sus proteins demonstrated that simple sugars such as glucose or maltose do not induce Sus complex assembly. Conversely, incubation of Bt cells with starch enhanced the co-localization of Sus proteins, suggesting starch-induced assembly of the complex. Furthermore, single-molecule tracking revealed that in the absence of starch, SusG predominately moves in a fast diffusion mode corresponding to freely diffusing SusG. In contrast, two-color single-molecule experiments performed with fluorophore-labeled starch and SusG showed that starch confines the free motion of SusG and induces the assembly of Sus proteins. Overall, our results suggest that starch catabolism involves dynamic interactions of Sus proteins, which assemble as a complex in the presence of starch in live cells.
Three-stage hardening in tantalum single crystals.

Three-stage hardening in tantalum single crystals deformed in tension over limited range of orientations, temperatures and strain rates
Integrated Treatment with a Prescribed Burn and Postemergent Herbicide Demonstrates Initial Success in Managing Cheatgrass in a Northern Colorado Natural Area

ABSTRACT: Eradicating the invasive species cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) presents a significant challenge to land managers across the western United States and can require integrated and adaptive management, including biological, chemical, and prescribed fire control strategies. Resource managers in the Larimer County Open Space Program in Northern Colorado began a cheatgrass reduction program at the Devil's Backbone Open Space preserve that consisted of prescribed burns in fall 2007 and spring 2008, followed by post-emergent imazapic treatments at 0.44 L/ha. The fire was characterized as a slow-moving, highly consumptive burn, and managers monitored results intermittently following the integrated treatments. Post treatment, average cheatgrass cover was reduced from 82% to 9% from 2007 to 2009 based on six permanent monitoring transects. While quantitative data was not taken for the emergence of native grasses and forbs, incidence of bare ground did not increase significantly following treatment. This case...
Cultural knowledge and social competence within a preschool peer culture group

In this ethnographic analysis, social competence and incompetence in an early childhood classroom is examined from a sociocultural perspective. Educational researchers with a sociocultural perspective hold that classrooms can be viewed as cultures where life is patterned, constructed over time by its members interacting with, and reacting to, each other. The study was conducted as part of a larger ethnography that has produced a series of mutually informing analyses that, in tum, have allowed the researchers to move back and forth between a broad understanding of everyday life and more focussed topics such as social competence. Thus, social success in this analysis is not examined as something separate from the flow of everyday life; rather, it is viewed as part of the social history of the group, and as practiced "in the ways" of the group. Specifically, the analysis focusses on a salient peer group in the classroom and traces the participation of three children, each of whom had differing success and involvement with this group. The experiences of these individuals is understood in juxtaposition with an understanding of the complex and locally constructed cultural knowledge held by the group of peer players. Thus, the analysis makes visible the challenge for each individual child to contribute to, understand, and access this knowledge. A multifaceted and integrated view of young children's social competence is offered, one that signals a shift from viewing social competence as a static set of abilities, bounded by particular contexts, to a more complex, fluid, and dynamic interpretation. Last, results are discussed in terms of corroborative themes and points of departure with the extant perspectives on social competence represented by sociometric and social interactional research approaches.
Brain-computer interface (BCI) operation: signal and noise during early training sessions

Abstract Objective People can learn to control mu (8–12 Hz) or beta (18–25 Hz) rhythm amplitude in the electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded over sensorimotor cortex and use it to move a cursor to a target on a video screen. The recorded signal may also contain electromyogram (EMG) and other non-EEG artifacts. This study examines the presence and characteristics of EMG contamination during new users' initial brain-computer interface (BCI) training sessions, as they first attempt to acquire control over mu or beta rhythm amplitude and to use that control to move a cursor to a target. Methods In the standard one-dimensional format, a target appears along the right edge of the screen and 1 s later the cursor appears in the middle of the left edge and moves across the screen at a fixed rate with its vertical movement controlled by a linear function of mu or beta rhythm amplitude. In the basic two-choice version, the target occupies the upper or lower half of the right edge. The user's task is to move the cursor vertically so that it hits the target when it reaches the right edge. The present data comprise the first 10 sessions of BCI training from each of 7 users. Their data were selected to illustrate the variations seen in EMG contamination across users. Results Five of the 7 users learned to change rhythm amplitude appropriately, so that the cursor hit the target. Three of these 5 showed no evidence of EMG contamination. In the other two of these 5, EMG was prominent in early sessions, and tended to be associated with errors rather than with hits. As EEG control improved over the 10 sessions, this EMG contamination disappeared. In the remaining two users, who never acquired actual EEG control, EMG was prominent in initial sessions and tended to move the cursor to the target. This EMG contamination was still detectable by Session 10. Conclusions EMG contamination arising from cranial muscles is often present early in BCI training and gradually wanes. In those users who eventually acquire EEG control, early target-related EMG contamination may be most prominent for unsuccessful trials, and may reflect user frustration. In those users who never acquire EEG control, EMG may initially serve to move the cursor toward the target. Careful and comprehensive topographical and spectral analyses throughout user training are essential for detecting EMG contamination and differentiating between cursor control provided by EEG control and cursor control provided by EMG contamination. Significance Artifacts such as EMG are common in EEG recordings. Comprehensive spectral and topographical analyses are necessary to detect them and ensure that they do not masquerade as, or interfere with acquisition of, actual EEG-based cursor control.
Single-molecule analysis of 1D diffusion and transcription elongation of T7 RNA polymerase along individual stretched DNA molecules

Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we directly visualize in real-time, the 1D Brownian motion and transcription elongation of T7 RNA polymerase along aligned DNA molecules bound to substrates by molecular combing. We fluorescently label T7 RNA polymerase with antibodies and use flow to convect them orthogonally to the DNA alignment direction, permitting observation and estimation of the protein diffusivity along the DNA at the single-molecule level. Our observations suggest that the 1D diffusion coefficient varies from molecule to molecule over the range 6.1 x 10(-11) cm2/s to 4.3 x 10(-9) cm2/s. We also observe binding and transcription by T7 RNA polymerases on single combed T7 DNA molecules with an apparent association rate of 1.6 microM(-1)s(-1). From the measured dependence of the rate of transcription on concentration of nucleotide triphosphate, we infer that the combed DNA molecules capable of interacting with proteins are under an average tension of 25 pN.
Historic Preservation Policy and Regime Politics in Atlanta

Stone and others described historic preservation policy in Atlanta as a failure because of the inability of preservation advocates to participate effectively in the governing regime. Yet in 1989, Mayor Andrew Young approved a comprehensive new preservation ordinance that reflected a shift in priorities by the city’s business and political leaders to recognize the importance of preserving and reusing older buildings. The enactment of this new preservation-based redevelopment policy was the result of a process of social learning by Atlanta’s regime participants. This research examines the development of the new historic preservation policy, its effects on neighborhoods and commercial areas, and its connections to regime theory. Rather than being a failure, historic preservation policy in Atlanta succeeded in balancing the interests of developers, property owners, and preservation advocates.
Yeast Diversity and Persistence in Botrytis-Affected Wine Fermentations

Culture-dependent and -independent methods were used to examine the yeast diversity present in botrytis-affected ("botrytized") wine fermentations carried out at high ( approximately 30 degrees C) and ambient ( approximately 20 degrees C) temperatures. Fermentations at both temperatures possessed similar populations of Saccharomyces, Hanseniaspora, Pichia, Metschnikowia, Kluyveromyces, and Candida species. However, higher populations of non-Saccharomyces yeasts persisted in ambient-temperature fermentations, with Candida and, to a lesser extent, Kluyveromyces species remaining long after the fermentation was dominated by Saccharomyces. In general, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of yeast ribosomal DNA or rRNA amplified from the fermentation samples correlated well with the plating data. The direct molecular methods also revealed a Hanseniaspora osmophila population not identified in the plating analysis. rRNA analysis also indicated a large population (>10(6) cells per ml) of a nonculturable Candida strain in the high-temperature fermentation. Monoculture analysis of the Candida isolate indicated an extreme fructophilic phenotype and correlated with an increased glucose/fructose ratio in fermentations containing higher populations of Candida. Analysis of wine fermentation microbial ecology by using both culture-dependent and -independent methods reveals the complexity of yeast interactions enriched during spontaneous fermentations.
An Expert Novice Study of Metacognitive Behavior in Four Types of Mathematics Problems.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between the metacognitive behaviors exhibited by experts and novices. Of particular interest was the degree to which subjects managed or controlled their behavior and the extent to which solutions, particularly by experts, were schema driven. Nine novices (college freshman) and six experts (first and second year graduate students in mathematics) were asked to think aloud while solving four mathematics problems: (1) a routine problem; (2) a problem with more than one obvious path; (3) a nonroutine problem that involved the use of the skills used in the routine problem; and (4) a problem with insufficient or contradictory information. The verbal protocols provide evidence that: experts in this study possessed and used schemas to solve problems but schema use did not fully or adequately characterize expertise; of the two aspects of metacognition - beliefs about cognition and control of cognition - beliefs played a more important role than cont...
Immigration, Skill Mix, and Capital Skill Complementarity

Over the past thirty years, U.S. manufacturing plants invested heavily in automation machinery. This paper shows these investments substituted for the least-skilled workers and complemented middle-skilled workers at equipment and fabricated metal plants. Specifically, it exploits the fact that some metropolitan areas experienced faster growth in the relative supply of less-skilled labor in the 1980s and 1990s due to an immigration wave and the tendency of immigrants to regionally cluster. Plants in these areas adopted significantly less machinery per unit output, despite having similar adoption plans initially. The results imply that fixed rental rates for automation machinery reduce the effect that immigration has on less-skilled relative wages.
Alternative Investments in Japanese M&As: A Market Review and Some Empirical Evidence

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are increasing in Japan in response to economic pressure and new legislation, and this increased activity creates a new frontier of opportunities for investment professionals. This article discusses the current M&A environment in Japan, and presents evidence on the market performance of Japanese bidders in the past decade. The findings indicate that the M&A market was relatively flat before 1999. However, after major legislative changes in 1999 to boost M&A growth in Japan, abnormal returns could be earned by Japanese bidders for Japanese targets. On the contrary, Japanese bidders for non-Japanese targets incurred insignificant negative abnormal returns over the same period, perhaps reflecting the challenge faced by the bidders in coordinating cross-border transactions. The article provides insight into the Japanese M&A market and helps M&A professionals assess gains from trading strategies in Japan.
Cell surface changes in alloantigen activated T lymphocytes.

MANY interactions which take place between T lymphocytes and other cells are presumably mediated at the level of the cell surface. In a mixed leukocyte culture (MLC), interaction between allogeneic lymphocytes results in transformation of the responding small T lymphocytes to large blast-like cells and their development into killer, helper1 and suppressor lymphocytes2. Some blasts subsequently revert to small memory or ‘secondary-type’ lymphocytes3. An important question is whether significant changes occur in T lymphocyte membrane proteins as a result of these interactions. We have attempted to answer this question by comparing iodine-labelled surface proteins of the following cells: T lymphocytes before stimulation, blast cells and small lymphocytes purified by lg velocity sedimentation from an MLC on day five, and reversion T lymphocytes following an additional 5 d of culture of the separated blast T lymphocytes. The results demonstrate that iodine-labelled components change during blast transformation and provide evidence for membrane differences between ‘secondary-type’ T lymphocytes and unsensitised cells.
CN Andromedae: A Broken-Contact Binary?

We solve new UBV light curves of the eclipsing binary CN Andromedae simultaneously with radial velocities by the method of differential corrections. We find it semidetached with the more massive star filling its limiting lobe and the less massive star very close to lobe-filling. Our solutions of earlier light curves have the same configuration. Within the uncertainties, the system may be in a broken or a marginal contact stage as it undergoes thermal relaxation oscillations. The light curves are strongly affected by a large dark spot at high latitude on the more massive star and by a bright substellar spot on the companion. Spot locations and temperatures do not differ significantly from epoch to epoch. Based on single star evolutionary models, the primary's mass (1.299 ± 0.045 M⊙) and radius (1.425 ± 0.016 R⊙) are consistent with those of a star of age 2.9 × 109 yr that will leave the main sequence in another 2.0 × 109 yr. The orbital period has decreased during the past 50 yr according to traditional eclipse timings and also according to our generalized light and velocity solutions that include a reference epoch T0 and a rate of period change dP/dt. We find dP/dt = -0.01951 ± 0.00054 s yr-1, which is consistent with mass transfer from the more to the less massive star of 1.4 × 10-7 M⊙ yr-1, assuming no mass is lost from the system. Reliable absolute dimensions are determined.
New Classes of Toda Soliton Solutions

We provide a detailed investigation of limits of N–soliton solutions of the Toda lattice as N tends to infinity. Our principal results yield new classes of Toda solutions including, in particular, new kinds of soliton–like (i.e., reflectionless) solutions. As a byproduct we solve an inverse spectral problem for one–dimensional Jacobi operators and explicitly construct tri–diagonal matrices that yield a purely absolutely continuous spectrum in (-1,1) and give rise to an eigenvalue spectrum that includes any prescribed countable and bounded subset of \(\MR\bs[-1,1]\).
The Accuracy of Reported Insurance Status in the MEPS

Estimates of the number of insured and uninsured Americans are watched by numerous policymakers and the public, yet studies find respondents do not report their insurance status perfectly. Using four sources of validation data, including surveys of employers and providers, this paper assesses the quality of respondents' reports of private insurance and uninsurance in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC), a nationally representative household survey. Regression analysis is used to assess the extent to which factors are associated with disagreements in reported insurance status across sources.
Determination of the physic and mechanical characteristics of isotropic pyrolitic graphite by dynamic indentation method

The ability to evaluate the physic and mechanical characteristics (elastic modulus, hardness, and strength) of isotropic pyrographite by dynamic indentation has been shown. The reliability of the technique was confirmed by independent tests with the use of the ultrasonic method. The correlation between the physic and mechanical characteristics determined by dynamic indentation and those estimated by the standard destructive tests has been established. The proposed method not only allows one to omit the preparation of the standard samples; it also allows the inspection of the final isotropic pyrographite-based products during their use without violating their integrity.
Chemically induced dynamic electron polarization. The isotropic g-factor differences and the CIDEP of radicals produced by pulse radiolysis☆

Abstract Time resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to examine the electron spin polarization in the ·CH 2 OH radical. The observation of the CIDEP dependence on the isotropic g -factor differences of the radical pair components leads to the conclusion that the S-T o mixing of the electron-nuclear states in radical pairs is a dominant polarization pathway.
Falling into Time in Homer's Iliad

Abstract This paper addresses the question of the relation between mortal and immortal time in the Iliad as it is represented by the physical act of falling. I begin by arguing that falling serves as a point of reference throughout the poem for a concept of time that is specifically human. It is well known that mortals fall at the moment of death in the poem, but it has not been recognized that the movement of the fall is also connected with the time of birth, aging, and generation. In light of the significance of falling for mortals, I then go on to examine the problematic case of two particular immortals who fall in the Iliad . When Hephaestus tumbles down to earth from Olympus, and when Ares is knocked flat on the battlefield, both gods, I argue, also ““fall into”” human time. This complicates their status as ageless and eternal beings, and draws into question the different temporal registers at work in the narrative (such as repetition, ““long time,”” and time that is steady or continuous [ empedos ]). The single action of falling brings together several key concepts in the poem which hinge on the issue of the separation between the mortal and immortal spheres in the Iliad.
Peer, parent, and media influences on the development of weight concerns and frequent dieting among preadolescent and adolescent girls and boys.

Objective. To assess prospectively the influence of peers, parents, and the media on the development of weight concerns and frequent dieting. Design. Prospective cohort study. Setting. Questionnaires mailed annually to participants throughout the United States. Participants. One-year follow-up of 6770 girls and 5287 boys who completed questionnaires in 1996 and 1997 and were between 9 and 14 years of age in 1996. Main Outcome Measure. Onset of high levels of concern with weight and dieting frequently to control weight. Results. During 1 year of follow-up, 6% of girls and 2% of boys became highly concerned with weight and 2% of girls and 1% of boys became constant dieters. Peer influence was negligible. Independent of age and body mass index, both girls (odds ratio [OR]): 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–3.1) and boys (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.1–6.4) who were making a lot of effort to look like same-sex figures in the media were more likely than their peers to become very concerned with their weight. Moreover, both girls (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1–5.0) and boys (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1–6.0) who reported that their thinness/lack of fat was important to their father were more likely than their peers to become constant dieters. Conclusions. Our results suggest that parents and the media influence the development of weight concerns and weight control practices among preadolescents and adolescents. However, there are gender differences in the relative importance of these influences.
Effects of selenocystine and selenomethionine on activation of sulfhydryl enzymes

Abstract Selenocystine increased the rate of activation, peak activity, and time-integrated activity of the sulfhydryl enzymes papain and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehy-drogenase, with sulhydryl compounds. Selenocystine also increases the rate and extent of inactivation of ribonuclease with cysteine. The effects on activation of papain, of Selenomethionine, of varying selenoamino acid concentration, and of the presence of N 2 , O 2 , and EDTA are reported. A general mechanism of activation, involving catalytic participation of Selenocystine in sulfhydryl-disulfide exchange reactions is postulated. Papain activated in the presence of Selenocystine and Selenomethionine is partially protected against oxidative inactivation. The characteristics of the assay plots of substrate hydrolysis versus time, the effects of variation of assay parameters, and the dialysis of solutions containing protected papain indicate that the selenoamino acids bind reversibly to enzyme sulfhydryl groups to provide protection. The implications of the results are discussed in terms of the possible functions of selenium in biochemical systems.
The value of information sharing in the presence of supply uncertainty and demand volatility

This paper provides a conceptual foundation for understanding the impact of supply uncertainty on the value of information sharing when it co-exists with demand volatility under various scenarios. Specifically, we consider a two echelon supply chain in which a manufacturer distributes a single product through a number of independent retailers. The retailers consistently share their replenishment policy and inventory level to the manufacturer. We define operational measures of the value of information with a cost structure which captures inventory holding cost, backorder cost, and ordering/setup cost. Accordingly, a simulation model is developed to experimentally generalize a number of qualitative insights. In general, we find that information sharing is more beneficial for the manufacturer than for the retailers in the presence of supply uncertainty and demand volatility. Our results indicate that, interestingly, the value of information sharing for the manufacturer can increase or decrease with productio...
Sister-chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes exposed in vitro to therapeutic ultrasound.

Abstract Human lymphocytes were exposed in vitro to therapeutic levels of ultrasound (1 W/cm 2 , CW, 0.87 MHz, durations of 80 and 160 sec). There were no significant differences in sister-chromatid exchange frequencies between controls and ultrasound-exposed cells. Exposure of lymphocytes to the positive control (mitomycin C) resulted in a significant increase in sister-chromatid exchanges. The data do not verify a report by Stella et al. (Mutation Res., 138 (1984) 75–85) that such exposures result in increased frequencies of SCEs.
Decrease in angiotensin I conversion by acute hypoxia in dogs.

SummaryConversion of AI to AII and inactivation of bradykinin are regulated by converting enzyme. In this study, conversion of AI in vivo is decreased during acute alveolar hypoxia. At a PaO2 of 30 mm Hg, conversion of AI is decreased to one half control values. The decrease in AI conversion could not be related to hemodynamic factors in the pulmonary vasculature induced by hypoxia. It may be related to the effects of hypoxia on endothelial cell function or conformation.
SU‐E‐J‐207: Assessing the Validity of 4D‐CT Based Target Volumes and Free Breathing CBCT Localization in Lung Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy (SABR)

Purpose: Four-dimensional-computed-tomography(4D-CT) imaging for target-volume delineation and cone-beam-tomography(CBCT) for treatment localization are widely utilized in lung-SABR.Aim of this study was to perform a quantitative-assessment and inter-comparison of Internal-targetvolumes( ITV) drawn on various phases of breathing-cycle 4D-CT-scans, Maximum-intensity-projection(MIP), average-intensity-projection(AIP)and static CT-scans of lung-motion-phantom to simulate lung-SABR patient geometry. We also analyzed and compared the ITVs drawn on freebreathing- CBCT. Materials & Methods: 4D-CT-scans were acquired on Philips big-bore 16slice CT and Bellows-respiratory monitoring-system using retrospective phase-binning method. Each respiratory cycle divided into 10-phases. Quasar-Phantom with lung-inserts and 3cm-diameter nylonball to simulate tumor and was placed on respiratory-motion-platform for 4D-CT and CBCT-acquisition. Amplitudes of motions: 0.5,1.0,2.0,3.0cm in superior-inferior direction with breathing-cycle time of 6,5,4,6sec, respectively used.4D-CTs with 10-phases(0%to90%)for each excursion-set and 3D-CT for static-phantom exported to iPlan treatment-planningsystem( TPS).Tumor-volumes delineated in all phases of 4D-CT, MIP,AIP,CBCT scans using fixed-HU-threshold(−500to1000)values automatically.For each 4D-dataset ITV obtained by unifying the tumorcontours on all phases.CBCT-ITV-volumes were drawn in Eclipse-TPS. Results: Mean volume of tumor contours for all phases compared with static 3D-CT were 0.62±0.08%, 1.67±0.26%, 4.77±0.54% and 9.27±1.23% for 0.5cm,1cm,2cm,3cm excursions respectively. Differences of mean Union-ITV with MIP-ITV were close(≤2.4%).Mean Union-ITV from expected-theoretical values differed from −4.9% to 3.8%.Union-ITV and MIP-ITV were closer within 2.3%. AIP-ITVs were underestimated from 14 to 32% compared to union-ITV for all motion datasets. Differences of −5.9% to −44% and −5% to 6.7% for CBCT-ITV from MIP-ITV and AIP-ITV respectively.Motion excursions and centroid positions were within 2mm for 4D-CT and CBCT-ITVs to that of expected values. Conclusion: 4D-CT MIP-ITV and Union-ITV showed very good agreement that validates that ITV can be fast contoured on MIP.Contouring ITV in AIP must be avoided as it significantly underestimates the volume with all excursions. Free breathing CBCT-ITV showed good agreement with AIP-ITV but underestimated the MIP-ITV. Estimation of excursions and centroid values for 4D-CT and CBCT were in good agreement with expected values.