cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automating the Web with CoScripter: An Interview with Tessa Lau

The future of computer use is undeniably on the Web. People bank, store documents, do research, and even make and maintain friendships online. With this explosion of Web-based content and applications has come a proliferation of tools to streamline and automate people's interactions on the Web, leading many users to write Web scripts to simplify their work. With CoScripter, users can automate Web activities through scripting and share scripts with others.
HYDROLOGICALLY DRIVEN HIERARCHICAL COMPETITION–COLONIZATION MODELS: THE IMPACT OF INTERANNUAL CLIMATE FLUCTUATIONS

A hierarchical competition–colonization model extensively used in ecological dynamics is driven by the stress conditions resulting from the annual fluctuations in rainfall in water-limited ecosystems. The results show that ecosystem composition is very sensitive to the inclusion of realistic amounts of interannual rainfall variability. The evolutionary dynamics of competing trees and grasses exhibit scale-invariance characteristics (i.e., a power law spectra) for the temporal changes in the relative density of the species. This temporal scaling results from the internal dynamics of the competition–colonization process, which is driven by Markovian annual rainfall amounts. The model was also implemented to approximately describe the conditions of two ecosystems characterized by grass–tree competition, one near La Copita, Texas, and one in Nylsvley, South Africa. Long-term simulations run for many different characteristics of the annual rainfall amounts show that the diversity of dynamic states in the tertiary grass/tree/bare soil system (i.e., its information entropy) is at a maximum near historically observed rainfall characteristics. This suggests that, under commonly observed interannual rainfall fluctuations, water-controlled ecosystems tend to self-organize in a manner that maximizes the richness of relative species abundances. Corresponding Editor: W. K. Lauenroth.
How can we tell if a treatment works? Further thoughts on the randomized controlled trial.

Nearly 30 years ago Rose suggested that osteoporosis was an irreversible disorder [11. That opinion was not generally accepted by the osteoporosis investigative community and, if it were to be interpreted to mean that symptoms could not be eased or function improved, it was and is demonstrably wrong. More likely, Rose meant that osteoporotic bone loss could not be arrested or lost bone restored. That, too, is now known to be wrong. However, it is quite true that compression fracture deformity is not foreseeably reversible. Neither, so far as we now know, is the loss of vertebral trabecular elements that occurs in patients with the crush fracture syndrome [21. Both changes leave a spine that is mechanically disadvantaged in ways that are probably not susceptible of pharmacological correction. The loss of normal weight-bearing alignment, which is a consequence of wedge and compression fractures, means that the anterior segments of vertebral bodies, already weakened by bone loss and reduced connectivity, are subjected to greater than normal compressive forces, and thus are probably at greater than normal risk of further damage. Moreover, since lost trabecular connnectivity contributes importantly to vertebral fragility, it seems improbable that thickening remaining trabeculae, even to the point offully restoring lost mass, would completely restore lost strength. These considerations place practical limits on how much improvement in fracture rate may be realistically achievable in patients with vertebral osteoporosis. Once the problem is established, there may be an irreducible minimum future fracture rate. Thus, in this restricted,
Factors affecting the design of untethered magnetic haptic interfaces

This paper presents an analysis of the factors affecting the performance, workspace, and stability of untethered magnetic haptic interfaces, with the goal of informing the design of future devices. We differentiate untethered magnetic interfaces, which use a stylus with an embedded permanent magnet to interact with magnetic fields projected into space by electromagnets, from the more well-known Lorentz-force magnetic interfaces, which work on different principles. We show that even though untethered magnetic interfaces have little to no damping, they still exhibit inherent stability properties as part of a sampled-data system. Although a ferromagnetic core often enables increased forces to be rendered at distances farther from the electromagnet, we show that there are cases in which larger forces can be rendered and cases in which stiffer virtual walls can be rendered by removing the ferromagnetic core.
Transactions and Organizational Forms: A Re-analysis

This paper is an attempt to extend and amplify the concept of transaction and its relation to alternative organizational forms. Based on the institutional economics tradition of Commons (1924), the economics of internal organizations (Williamson 1975), and recent developments in organization theory (Ouchi 1980), it proposes a conceptual scheme to explain what distinguishes organizational forms and the transformation of these forms under the condition of future uncertainty. The implications of this framework for organization theory and design are also discussed.
Tuning a terahertz wire laser

Tunable terahertz lasers are desirable in applications in sensing and spectroscopy because many biochemical species have strong spectral fingerprints at terahertz frequencies. Conventionally, the frequency of a laser is tuned in a similar manner to a stringed musical instrument, in which pitch is varied by changing the length of the string (the longitudinal component of the wave vector) and/or its tension (the refractive index). However, such methods are difficult to implement in terahertz semiconductor lasers because of their poor outcoupling efficiencies. Here, we demonstrate a novel tuning mechanism based on a unique ‘wire laser’ device for which the transverse dimension w is ≪λ. Placing a movable object close to the wire laser manipulates a large fraction of the waveguided mode propagating outside the cavity, thereby tuning its resonant frequency. Continuous single-mode redshift and blueshift tuning is demonstrated for the same device by using either a dielectric or metallic movable object. In combination, this enables a frequency tuning of ∼137 GHz (3.6%) from a single laser device at ∼3.8 THz. A terahertz wire laser with an unprecedented tuning range of ∼137 GHz has been demonstrated. This scheme relies on bringing dielectric or metallic structures into close proximity with the wire, thus modifying the properties of its guided mode.
Effects of Habitual Physical Activity on the Resting Metabolic Rates and Body Compositions of Women Aged 35 to 50 Years

Abstract Objective To examine the effect habitual physical activity has on resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body composition (fat-free mass[FFM], fat mass, and percent body fat) in active compared to sedentary adult women. Design RMR was measured (by indirect calorimetry) twice after a 12-hour fast at the same point of the menstrual cycle and 48hours after exercise. FFM, fat mass and percent body fat were measured using whole body air displacement plethysmography. Energy intake and expenditure were determined using 7-day weighed-food records and activity logs. Subjects Healthy, weight-stable premenopausal women aged 35 to 50years classified as either active (approximately 9hours per week of physical activity for 10 or more years) (n=18) or sedentary (approximately 1hour per week of physical activity) (n=14). Statistical analyses Analysis of covariance was used to investigate differences in mean RMR (kcal/day) between the groups adjusted for FFM, and independent t tests were used to determine differences in demographic, energy expenditure, and diet variables. Results Percent body fat and fat mass were lower ( P P =.045) compared with sedentary controls. In the active and sedentary groups respectively, mean adjusted RMR was 1,510kcal/day and 1,443kcal/day, body fat was 18.9% and 28.8%, and fat mass was 11.1kg and 18.8kg. Groups were similar in body mass, FFM, body mass index, and age. Mean energy balance appeared to be more negative in the active group ( P =.0059) due to significantly higher mean self-reported energy expenditures ( P =.0001) and similar mean self-reported energy intakes ( P =.52) compared with sedentary controls. These data indicate that active women who participate in habitual physical activity can maintain lower body fat and a higher RMR than sedentary controls with similar body mass, FFM, and body mass index. Applications/Conclusions This research supports and emphasizes the benefits of habitual physical activity in maintaining RMR and lower body fat levels in middle-aged women. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001;101:1181–1188 .
Lidar technique for remote measurement of temperature by use of vibrational-rotational Raman spectroscopy

Atmospheric temperature can be measured remotely by a lidar system that measures the ratio of backscattered signals from vibrational-rotational Raman scattering by N(2) to pure vibrational Raman scattering. We present simulations of the performance of an airborne lidar system (based on the Goddard Airborne Raman lidar) that employs this technique.
Photoinduced Surface Oxidation and Its Effect on the Exciton Dynamics of CdSe Quantum Dots

With increased interest in semiconductor nanoparticles for use in quantum dot solar cells there comes a need to understand the long-term photostability of such materials. Colloidal CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were suspended in toluene and stored in combinations of light/dark and N2/O2 to simulate four possible benchtop storage environments. CdSe QDs stored in a dark, oxygen-free environment were observed to better retain their optical properties over the course of 90 days. The excited state lifetimes, determined through femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, of air-equilibrated samples exposed to light exhibit a decrease in average lifetime (0.81 ns) when compared to samples stored in a nitrogen/dark environment (8.3 ns). A photoetching technique commonly used for controlled reduction of QD size was found to induce energetic trap states to CdSe QDs and accelerate the rate of electron–hole recombination. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis confirms surface oxidation, the extent of whi...
Applying the Tiers of Assessment: A Holistic and Systematic Approach to Assessing Library Collections

Abstract Collection assessment is a key component of collection development, budget allocation, and justification of library collections. Unfortunately, comprehensive collection assessment is daunting, subject to the weaknesses of individual tools and the overwhelming number of subject areas to assess. Few studies have attempted systematic assessment projects using multiple tools or methods, nor have many attempted to assess an entire collection subject-by-subject. This study implements an alternative to the single-tool model, combining multi-tool analysis with a systematic, subject-by-subject approach to the collection. The goal was to determine whether such a model of collection assessment was feasible in an academic library setting, providing usable data without overinvestment of manpower and resources. To this end, the method was tested in a pilot program at George Mason University (Mason), assessing three subjects at varying levels of depth. While there was concern that the methodology would prove too ambitious for full-scale implementation, the pilot yielded valuable, tangible results in a timely manner and provides a solid model for future assessment efforts at Mason and elsewhere.
An analysis of the witty outbreak: exploiting underlying structure for detailed reconstruction of an internet-scale event

In this talk we discuss an analysis of the propagation in March 2004 of the "Witty" worm, which infected more than 12,000 hosts worldwide in 75 minutes. We show that by carefully exploiting the structure of the worm, especially its pseudo-random number generation, from limited and imperfect telescope data we can recover a wealth of information with high fidelity. The corresponding paper, coauthored with Abhishek Kumar and Nicholas Weaver, appears in the Proceedings of the 2005 ACM Internet Measurement Conference.
Predictors of Prolonged Length of Intensive Care Unit Stay After Stage I Palliation: A Report from the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative

The objective of this study is to identify predictors of prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) for single ventricle patients following Stage I palliation. We hypothesize that peri-operative factors contribute to prolonged ICU stay among children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and its variants. In 2008, as a part of the Joint Council on Congenital Heart Disease initiative, the National Pediatric Cardiology-Quality Improvement Collaborative established a data registry for patients with HLHS and its variants undergoing staged palliation. Between July 2008 and August 2011, 33 sites across the United States submitted discharge data essential to this analysis. Data describing the patients, their procedures, and their hospital experience were entered. LOS estimates were generated. Prolonged LOS in the ICU was defined as stay greater than or equal to 26 days (i.e., 75th percentile). Statistical analyses were carried out to identify pre-operative, operative, and post-operative predictors of prolonged LOS in the ICU. The number of patients with complete discharge data was 303, and these subjects were included in the analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Multivariate analysis revealed that lower number of enrolled participants (e.g., 1-10) per site, the presence of pre-operative acidosis, increased circulatory arrest time, the occurrence of a central line infection, and the development of respiratory insufficiency requiring re-intubation were associated with prolonged LOS in the ICU. Prolonged LOS in the ICU following Stage I palliation in patients with HLHS and HLHS variant anatomy is associated with site enrollment, circulatory arrest time, pre-operative acidosis, and some post-operative complications, including central line infection and re-intubation. Further study of these associations may reveal strategies for reducing LOS in the ICU following the Norwood and Norwood-variant surgeries.
Multidimensional Outcome Considerations in Assessing the Efficacy of Medical Educational Programs

Background: To be accredited, schools must evaluate the effectiveness of their programs. Educators are looking for specific indicators beyond the traditional measures. Data from multiple methods, including indicators of student performance and of the institutional environment, can be used to determine if educational program goals are met. Summary: This article outlines specific ways to consider three types of efficacy outcomes that are consistent with accreditation guidelines: educational, clinical career, and environmental outcomes. Specific measurable outcomes for each of these categories are derived from higher education literature: for example, learning approaches and information acquisition for education; professional behaviors and interpersonal dimensions for clinical career, and scholarship of teaching and teaching itself as a shared and valued activity for environmental outcomes. These outcomes address student assessment and program evaluation. Data from problem-based learning programs illustrate ...
Seasonal variations in the production and consumption of amino acids by coastal microplankton

Abstract A seasonal study on coastal microplankton was conducted in surface waters near Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Phytoplankton biomass, particulate production and extracellular organic release were examined in conjunction with microheterotrophic biomass and the uptake and respiration of amino acids. In situ dissolved free amino acid (DFAA) concentrations were also determined. Several phytoplankton blooms occurred throughout the year, in mid-summer, late autumn and in mid-winter. Heterotrophic activity and biomass paralleled phytoplankton extracellular release more closely than either phytoplankton particulate production or biomass. DFAA concentrations were not wholly dependent on extracellular release. Heterotrophic uptake did not appear to be dependent on DFAA concentrations but rather on rates of production of DOC by phytoplankton.
CONTRASTING THE EFFECTS OF INGESTION AND EXPECTORATION IN SENSORY DIFFERENCE TESTS

. Paired comparison and triangle tests were used to contrast the effects of ingestion and expectoration in two distinct systems: added salt in kidney beans and nonfat milk with added milkfat. Probit analysis was used to determine panel difference thresholds. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate significant differences between the methods of sampling and for effects of fatigue due to ingestion of the sample. No significant differences between the two methods of sampling were found for either thresholds or fatigue effects.
The transport of chloride in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The steady state transport and distribution of chloride between the intracellular and extracellular phases was investigated when the extracellular chloride concentration was varied by isosmotic replacement with nitrate, bromide and acetate. The results of these experiments show that chloride transport, measured by uptake of 36Cl, is sensitive to the replacement anion. In the presence of nitrate, chloride transport is a linear function of the extracellular chloride concentration. The relationship between chloride transport and extracellular chloride in the presence of bromide is concave upward which suggests that this anion inhibits chloride movement. However, when acetate replaces chloride, the relationship between chloride transport and extracellular chloride is concave downward. The chloride distribution ratio of cells incubated in 145–155 mM chloride medium is 0.386 and is not effected by the replacement of chloride with nitrate, bromide or acetate. These findings are consistent with the assertion that chloride transport is composed of two parallel pathways, a diffusional plus a saturating, mediated component. Of the total chloride flux (9.1 mmoles Cl-/kg dry weight per minute) measured in chloride medium (145–155 mM Cl -), the mediated component represents 40% and the diffusional component 60%.
Quantitative analysis of total carbon dioxide in sea water: A new extraction method

Abstract The concentration of total carbon dioxide in sea water has been determined to a precision of ±0·15% standard deviation and an accuracy of about ±0·2% by a new method which employs a vacuum extraction and infra-red analysis. A comparison of extractions made on shipboard and extractions made later in the shore laboratory on preserved samples show that ocean water sterilized with 100 ppm of mercuric chloride does not change its total carbon dioxide on storage in stoppered Pyrex bottles at room temperature for a period up to 3 months.
Electron-stimulated desorption total cross-section determination for digermane on Si(100)

We have studied digermane-covered Si(100) using electron-stimulated desorption (ESD). Estimates are presented for the total H(a) ESD removal cross-section for digermane-exposed Si(100) substrates at 85 K using electrons incident at 150 eV energy. It is found that electron-enhanced deposition of Ge occurs only when physisorbed digermane is present. Auger electron spectroscopy provided the means for determining the relative amounts of germanium adsorbed on the Si(100) surface following digermane exposures, electron irradiation and surface reconstruction. It is found that two coverage regimes are important: initial dosing of digermane on Si(100) at 85 K results in overlayers consisting of both physisorbed digermane and chemisorbed GeH x (a) (x = 1, 2 or 3) species; and short anneals to 200 K following exposure of the Si(100) surface at 85 K lead to the presence of only chemisorbed GeH x (a). The two coverage regimes exhibit different ESD behavior. Two kinetic energy distribution (KED) peaks are seen when physisorbed digermane is present, and only one when it is absent. The ESD signal decay curves obtained from the two surfaces are also different: the presence of physisorbed digermane results in a two-component exponential signal decay; the absence of the physisorbed species results in a single-exponential decay. The total H removal cross-section from the physisorbed digermane overlayer was determined to be σ ∼ 1.4 x 10 -15 cm 2 , while that from Si(100) with only adsorbed GeH x present was found to be σ ∼ 2.6 x 10 -16 cm 2 . Our results suggest that adsorbed GeH x (a) species remain intact on the surface even when the Si(100) substrate is annealed to 200 K, indicating that hydrogen migration from surface GeH x (a) to Si surface sites does not occur at 200 K.
Fast global optimization of SixHy clusters: new mutation operators in the cluster genetic algorithm

An improved strategy for finding the ab initio global minimum of SixHy clusters based on a cluster genetic algorithm (CGA) is presented. Four new mutation operators are introduced which better facilitate retention of desirable structural features between the different generations of clusters in the CGA. The new CGA generally finds global minima with fewer energy evaluations and is now able to find the problem global minima for Si14H20 and Si6H6 which were not as readily located by our previous CGA. The new CGA is used to find the global minima for the even larger Si18H24 and Si18H22 clusters. 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The structure of the atmosphere of Uranus

Models of the interior of Uranus suggest that the abundances of such substances as CH4 are greatly enhanced with respect to solar abundances of heavy elements. Such enhancement leads to a new type of model atmosphere for Uranus, which agrees with observation if the internal energy flux is small (no more than 10%) compared with the absorbed solar energy. An important feature of the models is the presence of a cloud of CH4 droplets whose top is at a temperature of approximately 90 K and a pressure of about 4 atm. Above the cloud, the atmosphere is stable because of the rapid decrease in the thermal flux with depth. Being saturated, most of the observable gaseous CH4 is near the cloud; the CH4 abundance above the cloud, of the order of 5 km-am, is a very sensitive function of the cloud-top temperature.
Spontaneous rupture of left ventricular true aneurysm

The rupture of left ventricular true aneurysm is a rare event. We report the case of a 52-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with cardiac tamponade that was due to a ruptured left ventricular true aneurysm. An emergency operation was successfully performed to address this rare event.
Terrorists and Democrats: Individual Reactions to International Attacks

Three experiments conducted in 1997 and 1998 explored individual responses to reported fictitious international conflict involving the United States and other nations. Participants escalated the conflictual level of their responses to repeated attacks. In Experiment 1, escalation of conflict was greater in response to terrorist attacks than to military ones. In Experiment 2, after the initial attacks, men were more conflictual in responding to terrorist attacks by a democratic nation than by a nondemocratic nation, whereas the opposite pattern was found for women. In Experiment 3, participants responded with a higher level of conflict to terrorist attacks on military targets than to attacks on cultural/educational targets. Participants with greater personality dominance showed steeper escalation of conflict in their responses across successive attacks. These results are interpreted within the framework of an image theory of international relations and an expansion of the democratic peace hypothesis. Language: en
Relationship of follicle size and concentrations of estradiol among cows exhibiting or not exhibiting estrus during a fixed-time AI protocol.

Cows exhibiting estrus near fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) had greater pregnancy success than cows not showing estrus. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between follicle size and peak estradiol concentration between cows that did or did not exhibit estrus during a fixed-time AI protocol. Ovulation was synchronized in beef cows by applying the CO-Synch protocol [GnRH (100 μg) on day-9, prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α; 25 mg) on day-2, and a second injection of GnRH 48 h after PGF2α (day 0)] to both suckled (experiment 1) and nonsuckled (experiment 2) cows. Follicle size (day 0) and ovulation (day 2) was determined by ultrasonography. Blood samples were collected every 3 or 4 h beginning at the time of PGF2α injection (0 h). Estrus was detected by visual observation with the aid of estrus-detection patches, and cows that ovulated were classified as exhibited estrus (n = 46) or did not exhibit estrus (n = 63). In both suckled and nonsuckled cows, there was a positive relationship between all cows (P 0.50) between follicle size and peak estradiol concentration was observed among cows not exhibiting estrus. Cows that exhibited estrus had greater (P < 0.01) peak estradiol concentrations than cows that did not exhibit estrus. Suckled cows exhibiting standing estrus had greater (P < 0.001) preovulatory concentrations of estradiol beginning 6 h (replicate 1) or 4 h (replicate 2) after the injection of PGF2α on day-2 compared with cows not exhibiting standing estrus. Nonsuckled cows exhibiting standing estrus had greater (P < 0.001) preovulatory concentrations of estradiol beginning at the injection of PGF2α on day-2 compared with cows not exhibiting standing estrus. Furthermore, cows that exhibited estrus had an increased (P < 0.01) rate in the rise in concentrations of estradiol following the PGF2α to peak estradiol than cows not exhibiting estrus. In summary, follicle diameter had a positive relationship with peak concentrations of estradiol, but only among cows that exhibited standing estrus, and estradiol increased earlier in cows that exhibited estrus compared with cows that did not.
The NDIIPP preservation network: progress, problems, and promise

Summary form only given. The national digital information infrastructure and preservation program (NDIIPP), authorized by Congress in 2000 and led by the Library of Congress, is addressing a variety of critical issues that confront all who are working on long-term access to digital information: the nature of collecting in the digital age; the IP and data-privacy barriers that can stymie collection and access policies that serve the public interest; thorny technical and format problems that make digital data especially vulnerable to loss; curatorial practices that do not scale well in the digital realm; and above all, modeling and testing the organizational structures that are best positioned to ensure longevity of authentic digital data over time. NDIIPP makes multimillion-dollar investments in digital preservation research, testing preservation architectures, and building new models of collaborative collecting and preserving digital knowledge, reaching across a broad spectrum of communities to develop the key nodes of a national network of committed preserving institutions. This panel will outline several specific investments and describe how LC plans to continue building out a digital preservation network
On the calculation of electric dipole strengths of 4f→4f transitions in lanthanide complexes

Abstract Electric dipole strengths calculated with the combined static coupling (SC)/dynamic coupling (DC) intensity model for 4f → 4f transitions in lanthanide complexes contain SC/DC cross-term (“interference”) contributions which may add to or subtract front the purely static and dynamic contributions. Calculations for europium (III) complexes show that cross- terms cannot be neglected in characterizing 4f→4f intensities.
The social implications of mind-body cancer research.

AbstractThere is a constant interplay between scientific medicine and the sociocultural context in which it exists. Ideas for scientific pursuits, and decisions about where to channel energies and dollars for research, do not occur in a vacuum. They are influenced importantly by the social values and beliefs of their particular time and place.
Influence of mineral additives on the corrosiveness of slags relative to the lining of the steelcasting ladles

An investigation was carried out of the effect of mineral additives in the slag on its corrosiveness relative to chamotte and silica refractories. For a chamotte lining the additives which reduce the corrosiveness of the slag most effectively are the silica and aluminosilicate (chamotte composition) types introduced in the proportion of 20–30% on the weight of the slag. In the case of a silica lining the recommended additive to the slag is a silica composition.
Virtual Pilgrimages on the Internet

Abstract Virtual pilgrimage on the Internet is an important religious phenomenon for understanding the new ways of being spiritual in the postmodern world. While often conservative in character, linked as they are to actual sacred sites that are permeated by the mythical imaginare of tradition, virtual pilgrimages exploit the new technological possibilities of the Internet to re-imagine the sacred. In what follows, I argue that virtual pilgrimage has four key characteristics as a form of religious travel. First, it creates a mythscape, an immaterial mental geography that originally comes from sacred oral or scriptural traditions. Second, it exists as an interactive visual-auditory medium for experiencing a sense of sacred presence. Third, it generates symbolic forms of entertainment that are liminoid in character. Fourth, as a leisure activity of individuals ‘Net surfing’ from their home or office computers, it can create ‘virtual travelling communities’ of pilgrims who use the discourse of communitas to describe their experience.
A new instrument for the measurement of vertical currents in the ocean

A neutrally buoyant instrument able to measure and record vertical flow, water temperature, and pressure at any oceanic depth for extended periods is described. Principles of operation, design of the measurement, recorder, recovery, acoustic telemetry, and relocation sub-systems are discussed. Special features of the electronic design are very low power consumption and circuit flexibility to adapt the instrument to a range of oceanic experiments.
Redundancy in Unipolar Field-Effect Transistor Circuits

A concept for approximate digital integration is presented. The integrator is equivalent to the RC-integrator (but has no drift) and has an arbitrary long time constant. An example is given showing application to polarity coicidence correlatioin detection of signals in noise.
Mechanisms and genes of cellular suicide

Apoptosis is a morphologically distinct form of programmed cell death that plays a major role during development, homeostasis, and in many diseases including cancer, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and neurodegenerative disorders. Apoptosis occurs through the activation of a cell-intrinsic suicide program. The basic machinery to carry out apoptosis appears to be present in essentially all mammalian cells at all times, but the activation of the suicide program is regulated by many different signals that originate from both the intracellular and the extracellular milieu. Genetic studies in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster have led to the isolation of genes that are specifically required for the induction of programmed cell death. At least some components of the apoptotic program have been conserved among worms, insects, and vertebrates.
Stimulus control and compounding with ambient odor as a discriminative stimulus on a free-operant baseline.

Previous experiments have demonstrated that the simultaneous presentation of independently established discriminative stimuli can control rates of operant responding substantially higher than the rates occasioned by the individual stimuli. This “additive summation” phenomenon has been shown with a variety of different reinforcers (e.g., food, water, shock avoidance, cocaine, and heroin). Discriminative stimuli previously used in such studies have been limited to the visual and auditory sensory modalities. The present experiment sought to (1) establish stimulus control on a free-operant baseline with an ambient olfactory discriminative stimulus, (2) compare olfactory control to that produced with an auditory discriminative stimulus, and (3) determine whether compounding independently established olfactory and auditory discriminative stimuli produces additive summation. Rats lever pressed for food on a variable-interval schedule in the presence of either a tone or an odor, with comparable control developed to each stimulus. In the absence of these stimuli responding was not reinforced. During stimulus compounding tests, the tone-plus-odor compound occasioned more than double the responses occasioned by either the tone or odor presented individually. Thus, the current study (1) established stimulus control with an ambient olfactory discriminative stimulus in a traditional free-operant setting and (2) extended the generality of stimulus-compounding effects by demonstrating additive summation when olfactory and auditory discriminative stimuli were presented simultaneously.
Calculation of metameric reflectances

Object-color metamerism becomes visually apparent if two objects match under one light, but not under a second. In the present article, a method is derived by which metameric object colors can be calculated, given the light under which they are to match, and the light under which they are to mismatch. The method gives practical guidance for avoiding or achieving metamerism. The method is not primarily a matter of trial and error and statistics, but depends on a simple calculation that operates on the spectral power distributions of the two lights, along with a set of three color matching functions. The method can deal as well with “observer metamerism,” meaning the effects of observer differences.
Radiation effects on flame stabilization on flat flame burners

Abstract This study investigates the impact of radiative heat transfer on the behavior of flat flame burners within the framework of a simplified one-dimensional model. Flat flame burners stabilize planar premixed flames downstream of a porous plug. Within this study, the porous plug is modeled as a thermally conducting, optically thick medium, allowing for both conductive and radiative heat transfer. Based on the simplified model, the impact of radiative heat exchange between the porous plug exit and the downstream environment is investigated. In “surface” combustion, flame stabilization occurs due to heat transfer between gas phase and porous solid. Results demonstrate that radiative heat transfer from a hot downstream environment to the porous plug significantly increases maximum attainable mass fluxes. For a cold downstream environment, plug properties do not affect the maximum supportable mass flux, although plug porosity and heat transfer between gas and solid have a significant impact on the “stand-off” distance between flame and plug exit. In addition, the model provides insight to a second “submerged” combustion mode, where the flame is stabilized within the porous plug of the burner. Here, increased flame temperatures lead to a dramatic increase of the maximum supportable mass flux. Overall, results show that radiative heat losses play a critical role in both combustion modes: in surface combustion, they are an important mode of heat dissipation, where they can prevent “flash-back” conditions with the flame moving into the porous matrix; in submerged combustion, they prevent flame stabilization close to inlet and exit faces and enable a “slow” solution branch that does not exist without radiative losses.
Breaking the Precision Barrier for Aircraft Inertial Systems

When mission requirements dictate long-term unaided inertial navigation with a low terminal position error, then the approach suggested in this paper can be used. The current aircraft precision barrier of 0.1 nm/hr long-term error rate can be reduced to 0.02 nm/hr by use of a constant readiness premission calibration, on board gravity deflection compensation and system modifications for finer accelerometer resolution and gyro speed control.
Denial of Service Attacks Using Internet Key Exchange Protocol

In this paper we answer two questions: 1) How can an attacker push the CPU utilization of a state-of-art Internet Key Exchange (IKE) responders to 100% thereby inflecting a Denial of Service (DoS) attack and 2) What are the mitigation mechanisms that can be deployed on IP networks without modifying the protocol? We emulated the DoS attacks in our test lab. We outline our experiments and present the results.
Time-domain imaging of objects within enclosures

The imaging of objects within an enclosure using short electromagnetic pulses is investigated. A simulated image of a metallic cylinder within a plywood box is constructed using the numerical scattered field found by solving an integral equation. Comparison with images found experimentally shows good agreement, and the object is easily detected through the walls of the box. Multiple objects placed within the plywood box are imaged with similar clarity.
Decreased expression of adipose CD36 and FATP1 are associated with increased plasma non-esterified fatty acids during prolonged fasting in northern elephant seal pups (Mirounga angustirostris).

SUMMARY The northern elephant seal pup ( Mirounga angustirostris ) undergoes a 2–3 month post-weaning fast, during which it depends primarily on the oxidation of fatty acids to meet its energetic demands. The concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) increases and is associated with the development of insulin resistance in late-fasted pups. Furthermore, plasma NEFA concentrations respond differentially to an intravenous glucose tolerance test (ivGTT) depending on fasting duration, suggesting that the effects of glucose on lipid metabolism are altered. However, elucidation of the lipolytic mechanisms including lipase activity during prolonged fasting in mammals is scarce. To assess the impact of fasting and glucose on the regulation of lipid metabolism, adipose tissue and plasma samples were collected before and after ivGTTs performed on early (2 weeks, N =5) and late (6–8 weeks; N =8) fasted pups. Glucose administration increased plasma triglycerides and NEFA concentrations in late-fasted seals, but not plasma glycerol. Fasting decreased basal adipose lipase activity by 50%. Fasting also increased plasma lipase activity twofold and decreased the expressions of CD36, FAS, FATP1 and PEPCK-C by 22–43% in adipose tissue. Plasma acylcarnitine profiling indicated that late-fasted seals display higher incomplete LCFA β-oxidation. Results suggest that long-term fasting induces shifts in the regulation of lipolysis and lipid metabolism associated with the onset of insulin resistance in northern elephant seal pups. Delineation of the mechanisms responsible for this shift in regulation during fasting can contribute to a more thorough understanding of the changes in lipid metabolism associated with dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in mammals.
Addition of non-genomically encoded nucleotides to the 3'-terminus of maize mitochondrial mRNAs: truncated rps12 mRNAs frequently terminate with CCA

The 3′-termini of maize mitochondrial RNAs were characterized by ligation of an anchor oligonucleotide, reverse transcription and amplification. DNA sequence analysis of cDNA clones for tRNASer and 18S rRNA confirmed the expected 3′-terminal nucleotides and demonstrated the accuracy and fidelity of the protocol. Analysis of cDNAs for rps12, cox2 and atp9 indicated that non-genomically encoded nucleotides were present at the 3′-terminus. rps12 cDNAs exhibited the highest degree of modification, with 94% of 35 cDNA clones analyzed containing one to four non-genomically encoded C or A residues; 83% of these cDNAs terminated with the trinucleotide CCA. DNA sequence and transcript mapping analyses demonstrated that four positions exhibited modified 3′-termini within a small region of the 3′ flank of rps12 transcripts. These transcript termini represented low abundance, truncated forms of rps12 mRNAs which may be intermediates in degradation. cox2 mRNAs are also modified at a truncated position. Sixty percent of the cox2 cDNAs were modified with 1–5 nt that most frequently included A and C residues, but also included a few G and T residues. Non-genomically encoded nucleotides were detected in 27% of the atp9 cDNAs as a single C or A residue.
On lifetime-based node failure and stochastic resilience of decentralized peer-to-peer networks

To understand how high rates of churn and random departure decisions of end-users affect connectivity of P2P networks, this paper investigates resilience of random graphs to lifetime-based node failure and derives the expected delay before a user is forcefully isolated from the graph and the probability that this occurs within his/her lifetime. Our results indicate that systems with heavy-tailed lifetime distributions are more resilient than those with light-tailed (e.g., exponential) distributions and that for a given average degree, k-regular graphs exhibit the highest resilience. As a practical illustration of our results, each user in a system with n = 100 billion peers, 30-minute average lifetime, and 1-minute node-replacement delay can stay connected to the graph with probability 1 - 1 n using only 9 neighbors. This is in contrast to 37 neighbors required under previous modeling efforts. We finish the paper by showing that many P2P networks are almost surely (i.e., with probability 1-o(1)) connected if they have no isolated nodes and derive a simple model for the probability that a P2P system partitions under churn.
Compositional Analysis of Multi-mode Systems

The paper presents a model for multi-mode real-time applications and develops new techniques for the compositional analysis of systems that contain multiple such applications. An algorithm for constructing an interface for a single multi-mode application is presented. Then, a method for computing an interface of a composite application is presented, which uses only the interfaces of constituent applications. A case study of an adaptive streaming system demonstrates that multi-mode analysis offers more precise results compared to a unimodal worst-case analysis.
Limiting cumulants of U-statistics

Abstract A simple expression is derived for the cumulants of the asymptotic distribution of U-statistics of arbitrary degree with degenerate kernels.
Understanding the diversity of public interests in wildlife conservation.

Abstract: North American state wildlife agencies are increasingly faced with the challenge of effectively representing a diverse public. With increasing social conflict over wildlife issues, the future of wildlife conservation hinges on preparedness of the profession to respond to this challenge. In the interest of finding ways to improve response, 19 agencies in the western U.S. joined forces to initiate an investigation that would provide a better understanding of the diversity of wildlife-related interests in the region. Specific objectives, accomplished through use of a mail survey administered in 2004, were to categorize people on the basis of their value orientations toward wildlife and explore how different groups were distributed across states and to examine differences on sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes toward wildlife-related topics among groups. The focus was on two orientations: domination (view of wildlife that prioritizes human well-being over wildlife and treats wildlife in utilitarian terms); and mutualism (view of wildlife as capable of relationships of trust with humans and defined by a desire for companionship with wildlife). Four types of people were identified on the basis of these orientations. Types differed in their geographic distribution and wildlife-related attitudes and behaviors, revealing how value orientations can form the foundation for conflict on wildlife issues. Our characterizations of stakeholder groups offer a framework that can be applied over time and across geographic scales to improve conservation planning efforts and inform broader thinking about the social aspects of wildlife conservation.
Eukaryotic Phospholipid Biosynthesis

The current status of the biochemistry of phospholipid biosynthesis is presented. The review focuses on the identification and characterization of molecular tools such as purified enzymes and cloned genes and cDNAs for those enzymes. The enzymes discussed are those involved in the biosynthesis of the major phospholipid classes, namely, phosphatidate, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylinositol and its phosphorylated derivatives, and cardiolipin. The review centers on the pathways in mammals and yeast. Novel genetic approaches used to delineate pathways and clone cDNAs are discussed. The regulatory roles played by some of the enzymes involved in controlling the biosynthetic pathways are presented.
An electrothermal SCS micromirror for large bidirectional 2D scanning

The paper reports the design, fabrication and operation of a two-dimensional (2D) micromirror that can generate large bidirectional scans at low actuation voltages. The micromirror device has been fabricated using a unique DRIE CMOS-MEMS process that can simultaneously provide thin-film and single-crystal silicon microstructures. A fabricated micromirror has negligible initial tilt angle, and can perform large bidirectional 2D optical scans (over /spl plusmn/30/spl deg/) at less than 12 Vdc. 2D scanning using this mirror has been demonstrated by obtaining a 14/spl deg/ by 50/spl deg/ angular raster scan pattern.
Stability and accuracy of periodic flow solutions obtained by a POD-penalty method

We develop a new penalty method to derive low-dimensional Galerkin models for fluid flows with time-dependent boundary conditions. We then outline a procedure based on bifurcation analysis in selecting the proper values of the penalty parameter(s) that yield asymptotically stable periodic solutions of the highest possible accuracy. We illustrate this new approach by studying flow past a circular cylinder using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data, and a wave-structure interaction problem using particle image velocimetry (PIV) data.
Stonewalling Drosophila stem cell differentiation by epigenetic controls

During Drosophila oogenesis, germline stem cell (GSC) identity is maintained largely by preventing the expression of factors that promote differentiation. This is accomplished via the activity of several genes acting either in the GSC or in its niche. The translational repressors Nanos and Pumilio act in GSCs to prevent differentiation, probably by inhibiting the translation of early differentiation factors, whereas niche signals prevent differentiation by silencing transcription of the differentiation factor Bam. We have found that the DNA-associated protein Stonewall (Stwl) is also required for GSC maintenance. stwl is required cell-autonomously; clones of stwl - germ cells were lost by differentiation, and ectopic Stwl caused an expansion of GSCs. stwl mutants acted as Suppressors of variegation, indicating that stwl normally acts in chromatin-dependent gene repression. In contrast to several previously described GSC maintenance factors, Stwl probably functions epigenetically to prevent GSC differentiation. Stwl-dependent transcriptional repression does not target bam , but rather Stwl represses the expression of many genes, including those that may be targeted by Nanos and Pumilio translational inhibition.