cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of a metastable FCC solid solution during sputter deposition of TiAlB alloys

Abstract The microstructure evolution of a nominally αTi7Al7B alloy synthesized by sputter deposition has been examined. A highly supersaturated metastable single phase solid solution with a face centered cubic structure was identified as being the only phase present in the as-sputtered material. In contrast, Ti7Al and Ti7B alloys sputtered under the same conditions were also single phase but exhibited the expected hexagonal structure of α-Ti. The selection of the fee phase is based solely on kinetics, as the thermodynamically favored phase is always α (hcp). The reasons for the kinetic bias, however, are not clear. Annealing of the Ti7Al7B sputtered film at 900 °C for 1 h yielded precipitation of nano-scale TiB dispersoids in a single phase α-Ti matrix. Preliminary hardness and microstructural stability results of the dispersion unveiled promising potential for use of the physical vapor deposition technique to deposit TiB strengthened Ti-matrices on fibers in high-temperature metal matrix composites.
Growth, biomass allocation and photosynthesis of invasive and native Hawaiian rainforest species

Growth, biomass allocation, and photosynthetic characteristics of seedlings of five invasive non-indigenous and four native species grown under different light regimes were studied to help explain the success of invasive species in Hawaiian rainforests. Plants were grown under three greenhouse light levels representative of those found in the center and edge of gaps and in the understory of Hawaiian rainforests, and under an additional treatment with unaltered shade. Relative growth rates (RGRs) of invasive species grown in sun and partial shade were significantly higher than those for native species, averaging 0.25 and 0.17 g g−1 week−1, respectively, while native species averaged only 0.09 and 0.06 g g−1 week−1, respectively. The RGR of invasive species under the shade treatment was 40% higher than that of native species. Leaf area ratios (LARs) of sun and partial-shade-grown invasive and native species were similar but the LAR of invasive species in the shade was, on average, 20% higher than that of native species. There were no differences between invasive and native species in biomass allocation to shoots and roots, or in leaf mass per area across light environments. Light-saturated photosynthetic rates (Pmax) were higher for invasive species than for native species in all light treatments. Pmax of invasive species grown in the sun treatment, for example, ranged from 5.5 to 11.9 μmol m−2 s−1 as compared with 3.0−4.5 μmol m−2 s−1 for native species grown under similar light conditions. The slope of the linear relationship between Pmax and dark respiration was steeper for invasive than for native species, indicating that invasive species assimilate more CO2 at a lower respiratory cost than native species. These results suggest that the invasive species may have higher growth rates than the native species as a consequence of higher photosynthetic capacities under sun and partial shade, lower dark respiration under all light treatments, and higher LARs when growing under shade conditions. Overall, invasive species appear to be better suited than native species to capturing and utilizing light resources, particularly in high-light environments such as those characterized by relatively high levels of disturbance.
The Energetic Response to Handling Stress in Juvenile Coho Salmon

Abstract The metabolic cost of stress increased with the severity of handling in juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch examined via respirometry. Stressed fish had rates of oxygen consumption 39–98% higher than controls. Elevation in oxygen consumption was largely eliminated within 1 h after stress. Oxygen consumption was significantly correlated to both plasma cortisol and lactate concentration in response to a moderate stressor, but no correlation was found after more severe stressors. Fish given exogenous cortisol did not experience an increase in oxygen consumption, so cortisol alone is unlikely to have a major effect on metabolic rate. Whole-body lactate concentration was significantly elevated following stress, reaching levels almost 500% higher than controls. We suggest that metabolism associated with exercise or hypoxia is the dominant source of elevated oxygen consumption following handling.
Stable histone deacetylase complexes distinguished by the presence of SANT domain proteins CoREST/kiaa0071 and Mta-L1.

Human histone deacetylases I (HDAC1) and II (HDAC2) are homologous proteins (84‥ identity) that catalyze release of acetyl groups from modified N-terminal lysines of core histones. Histone deacetylation is correlated with both transient and persistent states of transcriptional inactivity (i.e.silencing) in many eukaryotes. In this study, we analyzed complexes containing HDAC1 and HDAC2 to identify the proteins most stably associated with these deacetylases. Complex cI (9.5 S) contained transcriptional corepressor CoREST/kiaa0071 and a protein homologous to FAD-dependent oxidoreductases, kiaa0601. Complex cII (15 S) contained ≥15 proteins, including CHD3/4 (Mi-2), Mta-L1, RbAp48/46, and MBD3, characteristic of vertebrate nucleosome-remodeling complexes. Under native conditions, cI and cII may contain HDAC1, HDAC2 or both; these can be dissociated to cI and cII core complexes containing only HDAC1 or HDAC2. The mCpG-binding protein MBD2 was associated only with the HDAC1 cII core complex. A model is proposed in which HDAC1 core complexes can be targeted to methylated DNA via MBD2 with recruitment of HDAC2 occurring through formation of HDAC1/2 cII dimers. We note that the cI component CoREST/kiaa0071 and the cII component Mta-L1 share a region of homology that includes a SANT domain; this domain may play a role in complex assembly.
Measuring ocean waves from Space: 1978 to 1988

Abstract Global estimates of directional ocean wave spectra from space can help to spur improvements in the accuracy of existing ocean wave forecasts. The results of three ocean wave experiments conducted since 1978 indicate that a low altitude (∼300km) free-flying SAR could accurately monitor the performance of global wave models, and thus could help to assess the impact of both scatterometer-aided wind fields and improved wave model physics. The first opportunity to demonstrate such a potential should occur around the mid-1990s, when the European ERS scatterometer and the US Shuttle Space Radar Laboratory should be operating simultaneously.
Effects of carbon nanotube fillers on the curing processes of epoxy resin‐based composites

The effects of different grades of carbon nanotubes on the curing of a typical epoxy resin (EPIKOTE™ resin 862 and EPIKURE™ curing agent W) were examined via differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that nanotubes could initiate cure at lower temperatures, while the overall curing process was slowed as evidenced by lower total heat of reaction and lower glass transition temperatures of the cured nanocomposites compared to neat epoxy. This finding is practically important as it is essential to have a consistent degree of cure when the properties of thermosets with nanoinclusions are compared to neat resins. It was also found that the inclusion of carbon nanotubes might induce the thermal degradation of epoxy composites at lower temperatures. Morphological analysis done with scanning electron microscopy revealed good dispersion of nanotubes within the epoxy matrix. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:5248–5254, 2006
A numerical model for density-and-viscosity-dependent flows in two-dimensional variably saturated porous media

We present a formulation for water flow and solute transport in two-dimensional variably saturated media that accounts for the effects of the solute on water density and viscosity. The governing equations are cast in a dimensionless form that depends on six dimensionless groups of parameters. These equations are discretized in space using the Galerkin finite element formulation and integrated in time using the backward Euler scheme with mass lumping. The modified Picard method is used to linearize the water flow equation. The resulting numerical model, the MARUN model, is verified by comparison to published numerical results. It is then used to investigate beach hydraulics at seawater concentration (about 30 g l−1) in the context of nutrients delivery for bioremediation of oil spills on beaches. Numerical simulations that we conducted in a rectangular section of a hypothetical beach revealed that buoyancy in the unsaturated zone is significant in soils that are fine textured, with low anisotropy ratio, and/or exhibiting low physical dispersion. In such situations, application of dissolved nutrients to a contaminated beach in a freshwater solution is superior to their application in a seawater solution. Concentration-engendered viscosity effects were negligible with respect to concentration-engendered density effects for the cases that we considered.
Quick-freezing of cultured cardiac cells in situ with special attention to the mitochondrial ultrastructure.

SUMMARY A new method has been developed which allows quick-freezing in situ of primary, cardiac cell cultures grown to confluence on gas-permeable membranes (Petriperm dishes). Small pieces of the growth substratum, with rhythmically beating myocardial cells, were slam-frozen, without cryoprotectants, against the surface of a helium-cooled copper block at approximately 16 K. The quality of the cellular cryopreservation, as judged by ultrastructural criteria, was studied in freeze-substituted specimens processed for transmission electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of cryofixed cardiac cells was compared with that of unfrozen, chemically fixed samples. The severity of cryodistortions increased progressively with increasing distance from the point of first impact. Of particular interest were the dramatic alterations of the mitochondrial ultrastructure. The concept that the reticular and the outer mitochondrial membranes are intimately and strongly associated was clearly demonstrated. Optimally frozen material revealed cryopreserved ultrastructure of high quality. The method described appears to offer an ideal model system for correlating the information gained by phase-contrast microscopy of living cell cultures with the ultrastructure of the same samples fixed in situ by chemical or physical techniques. Cryofixation would be particularly useful for studying dynamic cellular processes associated with physiological and pathophysiological conditions, e.g. metabolic inhibition, anoxia and substrate deprivation.
Fission product ratios as treaty monitoring discriminants

The International Monitoring System (IMS) of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is currently under construction. The IMS is intended for monitoring of nuclear explosions. The radionuclide part of the IMS monitors the atmosphere for short-lived radioisotopes indicative of a nuclear weapon test, and includes field collection and measurement stations, as well as laboratories to provide reanalysis of the most important samples and a quality control function. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington hosts the United States IMS laboratory, with the designation “RL16.” Since acute reactor containment failures and chronic reactor leakage may also produce similar isotopes, it is tempting to compute ratios of detected isotopes to determine the relevance of an event to the treaty or agreement in question. In this paper we will note several shortcomings of simple isotopic ratios: (1) fractionation of different chemical species, (2) difficulty in comparing isotopes within a single element, and (3) the effect of unknown decay times. While these shortcomings will be shown in the light of an aerosol sample, several of the problems extend to xenon isotopic ratios. Due to the difficulties listed above, considerable human expertise will be required to convert a simple mathematical isotope ratio into a criterion which will reliably categorize an event as ‘reactor’ or ‘weapon’.
Cross-Linked Polynorbornene-Coated Gold Nanoparticles: Dependence of Particle Stability on Cross-Linking Position and Cross-Linker Structure

This paper describes the preparation of cross-linked polynorbornene coated gold nanoparticles. The polymer was grown radially from the particle surface using a ring opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene and an electrophilic norbornene ester, which was cross-linked using a variety of diamines. The stability of the cross-linked nanoparticles toward oxidative etching by cyanide was evaluated. The rate of etching decreases as diamines with fewer degrees of conformational freedom are used as cross-linkers. The distance of the cross-linking block from the nanoparticle surface was systematically varied. Nanoparticles with the cross-linked block furthest from the surface were etched most slowly. This is suggested to arise as a result of the polymers adopting a mushroom conformation when the cross-linking block is close to the particle surface, while more distal cross-linking results in more rigid polymer chains that are less permeable to the cyanide etchant. These results provide new insight into how fine-tuning the polymer cross-linking architecture can modulate nanoparticle stability.
The psychosocial aspects of inflammatory bowel disease

The role of psychosocial factors in the understanding of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been a major area of clinical interest and psychosomatic research. This paper explores the scientific basis for the following contentions: (1) psychosocial factors such as stressful life events are associated with symptom onset and exacerbation; (2) research in brain-gut peptides and the new fields of psychoimmunology and psychoneuroendocrinology may establish the physiological basis for this clinical observation; (3) while there is no proof for the psychosomatic specificity hypothesis, certain psychodynamic observations, particularly conflicts relating to real or threatened loss and extreme dependency with parental figures, are frequently observed; (4) there is a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders (particularly depression) among patients with Crohn's disease; (5) the psychosocial impact of these disorders may be considerable, yet patient adjustment and perceived quality of life is generally favourable.
CORRECTIONS TO THE IMPULSE APPROXIMATION FOR PHOTON-DEUTERON SCATTERING

The validity of the impulse approximation for the scattering of 50-120 Mev photons from deuterons is investigated by the use of forward scattering dispersion relations. The only significant deviation from the impulse approximation found is in the spin-independent amplitude. Most of this deviation is shown to be the result of the exchange part of the neutron-proton potential. The exchange force is known to increase the electric dipole photodisintegration cross section; it is shown that the exchange force also increases the electric dipole elastic scattering cross section by about 10-20%.
Ischiofemoral Space Decompression Through Posterolateral Approach: Cutting Block Technique

Ischiofemoral space impingement has become an increasingly recognized extracapsular cause of atypical hip, deep gluteal, and groin pain that can be treated endoscopically. We present a minimally invasive posterolateral technique that preserves the attachment of the iliopsoas tendon and quadratus femoris insertion while decompressing the ischiofemoral space by resecting the lesser trochanter. Furthermore, we present tips to perform this technique in a manner that minimizes the potential for damage to the sciatic nerve. This technique also allows the surgeon to treat concurrent hip pathology arthroscopically.
Alternosorption—II: Inorganic oxides at high temperatures

Abstract Application of an electric field is shown to increase the adsorption of oxygen on zinc oxide at 590°C, and on copper(I) oxide at 240°C. Reversal of the field aids in desorption of the gas. The results are considered in terms of the properties of these oxides and the principles of alternosorption.
Nutlin-3 Affects Expression and Function of Retinoblastoma Protein: ROLE OF RETINOBLASTOMA PROTEIN IN CELLULAR RESPONSE TO NUTLIN-3*

The retinoblastoma protein (Rb) plays a pivotal role in regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. Nutlin-3, a small molecule MDM2 antagonist blocking interaction between MDM2 and p53, activates p53 resulting in cell growth arrest or apoptosis in various cancer cells. However, the molecular basis for the different cellular responses upon nutlin-3 treatment is not fully understood. In this study, we show that nutlin-3 activates p53 resulting in a dramatic increase in MDM2 expression and a marked reduction in total Rb protein levels. Interestingly, nutlin-3 reduces the levels of hypophosphorylated Rb and induces massive apoptosis in SJSA-1 cells, which can be largely rescued by knockdown of MDM2 or by expression of constitutively active Rb. By contrast, nutlin-3 treatment of several human cancer cells, including A549, U2-OS, and HCT116, results in an accumulation of hypophosphorylated Rb and cell cycle arrest but not apoptosis. Furthermore, we show that down-regulation of Rb by nutlin-3 does not lead to E2F1 activation nor does E2F1 play a critical role for nutlin-3-induced apoptosis in SJSA-1 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Rb plays a critical role in influencing cellular response to activation of p53 pathway by nutlin-3.
Cladistic analysis of the tribes of Dytiscinae and the phylogenetic position of the genus Notaticus Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

A hypothesis of the phylogeny of the tribes of Dytiscinae is presented based on a cladistic analysis of adult morphological characters. All tribes of Dytiscinae were included with larger tribes represented by multiple genera. Outgroups included members of all major lineages (subfamilies) of Dytiscidae. The matrix consists of 22 taxa and 45 characters. A single most parsimonious cladogram was produced by the analysis. It is concluded from the analysis that Dytiscinae is paraphyletic with respect to the genus Notaticus Zimmermann which has been previously recognized as the only member of the subfamily Aubehydrinae. Its position within the subfamily requires that it be placed within its own tribe, Aubehydrini. Additionally, Dytiscini was found to be paraphyletic, and a new tribe, Hyderodini, is proposed to contain the genus Hyderodes Sharp. Dytiscini is restricted to include only the genus Dytiscus Linneaus. Dytiscinae and all other tribes within the subfamily were found to be monophyletic. The proposed relationships of the tribes of Dytiscinae are Cybistrini + (Dytiscini + (Hyderodini + (Aubehydrini + (Hydaticini + (Eretini + Aciliini))))). Characters discovered to be useful for phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily are illustrated and described. The tribes are diagnosed and a key is presented for distinguishing them.
Collisional coherent excitation to the n=2 state of hydrogen

This paper presents measurements of the Lyman-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ photons emitted when target gases He, Ar, ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ are bombarded by a beam of ground-state hydrogen atoms. The collisions take place in the presence of an axial electric field and the observed Lyman-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ brightness depends on field direction. This observation is interpreted as evidence for excitation of hydrogen atoms to states which are linear superpositions of $2s$ and $2p$. Measurements are presented of a "mixed" cross section ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{sp}}$ which characterizes the degree of coherent excitation. The real part of ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{sp}}$ measures the electric dipole moment created by the collision, while the imaginary part measures the rate at which the moment is changing. It is found that these quantities vary substantially over the energy range 3-30 keV, with maximal values being about as large as permitted theoretically. Coherent excitation should be present to some degree in all inelastic collisions and, when measurable, provides new tests of scattering theory. Some implications are also discussed for precision frequency measurements and searches for weak-interaction effects in atomic physics.
Quantum entanglement and nonideal measurements: A critique of Margenau's objections to the projection postulate

I defend the projection postulate against two of Margenau's criticisms. One involves two types of nonideal measurements, measurements that “disturb” and measurements that “annihilate”. Such measurements cannot be characterized using the original version of the projection postulate. This is one of the most interesting and powerful objections to the projection postulate since most realistic measurements are nonideal, in Margenau's sense. I show that a straightforward generalization of the projection postulate is capable of handling the more realistic kinds of measurements considered by Margenau. His other objection involves the EPR (Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen) situation. He suggests that there is a significant potential for violations of the no-superluminalsignals requirement of the special theory of relativity, if projections occur in this situation and others like it. He also suggests that what is paradoxical about this situation disappears if the projection postulate is rejected. I show that it is not possible to use measurements on pairs of spatially-separated systems whose states are entangled to transmit information superluminally, and generalize this result to include nonideal measurements. I also show that EPR's dilemma does not really depend on the projection postulate.
The five-factor personality structure of dissociative experiences

The relationship between dissociative experiences and the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of Personality was investigated in a sample of 858 college undergraduates. The NEO-PI-R [Costa Jr., P.T., & McCrae, R.R. (1992). The revised NEO personality inventory (NEO-PI-R and NEO five-factor inventory (NEO-FFI)) professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.] was used to examine the factor structure of dissociative experiences as measured by the Dissociative Experiences Scale [Bernstein, E. M., & Putnam, F.W. (1986). DES; Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. J Nervous Mental Disease, 174, 727–735.] As hypothesized, the Neuroticism domain accounted for the greatest proportion of variance in the DES. Contrary to our hypotheses, neither the Openness to Experience domain nor the facet of Fantasy were significantly related to scores on the DES, after partialling out the variance associated with the other FFM domains. Exploratory factor analysis of the NEO-PI-R facet scores and the DES subscales resulted in a six-factor solution that replicated the FFM and included a dissociative experiences factor that was independent of FFM space.
Structure-property inter-relations in chalcogenide glasses and their practical implications

Abstract To understand the effects of structural features and to locate their signatures in the glassy and the liquid states, various properties were studied as a function of average coordination number, 〈 r 〉, in chalcogenide glasses and examined in relation to the chemically ordered covalent network model and constraint theory. The former predicts a threshold at 〈 r 〉 = 2.67 and the latter a threshold at 〈 r 〉 = 2.4. It is noted that most of the properties exhibit a threshold at 〈 r 〉 = 2.67 while only some show the threshold at 〈 r 〉 = 2.4. The reasons for the existence of the thresholds and various practical applications based on composition-property relationships are discussed.
A mathematical model for scheduling and staffing multiclinic health regions

Abstract This paper describes the design and analysis of a multiobjective integer linear program for scheduling and staffing multiple clinics with itinerant health personnel in multiclinic regions. Specifically, the optimal assignment of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and/or nursing assistants to differing types of medical clinics with differing personnel needs is considered in conjunction with determination of individual clinic operating schedules. The scheduling model incorporates parameters such as distance between clinics, personnel availability, personnel time, demand for services, and the mix of personnel required to meet quality goals, minimize travel costs, and maximize staff preferences for certain assignments. The model is illustrated using data provided by family planning decision makers in a rural health care environment. Analysis of the results shows that the formulation is easily generalizable to multiple settings and that the essence of the scheduling decision can be represented by the mathematical programming framework. Because of the size of the problem, techniques for improving computational aspects are discussed. The model is designed to be used as a benchmark to enable the development of heuristic scheduling methods which can be used on a PC for near optimal scheduling.
Two Methodologies for Identifying Product Platform Elements Within an Existing Set of Products

As companies are pressured to decrease product development costs concurrently with increasing product variety, the need to develop products based upon common components and platforms is growing. Determining why a platform worked, or alternatively why it did not, is an important step in the successful implementation of product families and product platforms in any industry. Unfortunately, published literature on platform identification and product family analysis using product dissection and reverse engineering methods is surprisingly sparse. This paper introduces two platform identification methodologies that use different combinations of tools that can be readily applied based on information obtained directly from product dissection. The first methodology uses only the Bills-of-Materials and Design Structure Matrices while the second utilizes function diagrams, Function-Component Matrices, Product-Vector Matrices, and Design Structure Matrices to perform a more in-depth analysis of the set of products. Both methodologies are used to identify the platform elements in a set of five single-use cameras available in the market. The proposed methodologies identify the film advance and shutter actuation platform elements of the cameras, which include seven distinct components. The results are discussed in detail along with limitations of these two methodologies.© 2006 ASME
Exceeding of Henry's law by hydrogen peroxide associated with urban aerosols.

Simultaneous measurements of gas- and aerosol-phase hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have been made at two sites in Los Angeles, one near the Pacific coast at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and the other in downtown Los Angeles with close proximity to a heavily traveled freeway (freeway site). At both the freeway and UCLA sites, gas-phase H2O2 levels were similar, averaging 1.17 ± 1.0 and 1.05 ± 0.6 ppb, respectively. The particle-associated H2O2 in both fine (PM2.5) and coarse (>PM2.5) modes was higher at the freeway site, as compared to UCLA, by a factor of 2. However, when aerosol-phase H2O2 is normalized to particle mass loadings, the fine-mode H2O2 levels are very similar at the two sites: 0.42 ± 0.3 and 0.58 ± 0.3 ng H2O2/μg particle mass at the freeway and UCLA sites, respectively. The normalized coarse-mode H2O2 levels were significantly higher at the freeway site than at UCLA, 1.05 ± 0.3 and 0.51 ± 0.3 ng/μg, respectively. Estimating aerosol liquid water content on the basis of rela...
Aging, Comorbidity, and Reduced Rates of Drug Treatment for Diabetes Mellitus

Advanced age and its related comorbidity may affect both the patterns and goals of diabetes treatment. We examined the relationships of demographic variables and comorbidity with drug treatment for diabetes in the elderly. We studied both the 81,700 residents of New Jersey, aged 65-99 years, who were hospitalized between July 1, 1989 and June 30, 1991 and had prescription drug coverage either through Medicaid or the Pharmacy Assistance for the Aged and Disabled program, and a sample of 80,000 nonhospitalized elderly beneficiaries in these programs. Rates of utilization of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs in the 120 days before admission were substantially lower in those aged > or = 85 or in nursing homes. Among patients with previously treated and diagnosed diabetes, the likelihood of treatment after discharge declined with older age (odds ratio [OR] for treatment in those aged > or =85 relative to 65-74 years: 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-0.72), nursing home residence (OR: 0.30; CI: 0.22-0.41), and higher levels of comorbidity (OR for modified Charlson index > or = 5 relative to 0: 0.43; CI: 0.27-0.67). In patients who had a discharge diagnosis of diabetes but no prior treatment, those in nursing homes and those with greater comorbidity also had lower rates of diabetes treatment after discharge. Although the prevalence of diabetes increases with age and the risks of many consequences of diabetes remain high, the rate of drug treatment for diabetes declines with older age and greater comorbidity, perhaps because of concern about side effects or reduced treatment benefits due to competing risks of death. Absence of data from randomized clinical trials of diabetes treatment in the elderly appears to have resulted in considerable physician ambivalence on the benefits and risks of glycemic control in older diabetics.
The snake for visualizing and for counting clusters in multivariate data

We introduce the ‘snake’, a new tool for the visualization and exploration of a multivariate dataset. The snake connects each data point along a single short path. Using techniques from the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), it is possible to find such a path in polynomial (nearly quadratic) computational time. A plot of the individual segment lengths versus their position along the path transforms the original multidimensional dataset into a one-dimensional ‘time-series’ of interpoint distances. The snake traces the local structure of a datacloud, so this visualization is most useful for detecting density fluctuations: regions of high density appear as many consecutive short segments, while regions of low density appear as many consecutive long segments. Dips in the time series reveal the presence of clustering and can be used to count the number of modes in the datacloud. We illustrate the technique on a variety of artificial and real-world datasets. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 3: 236-252, 2010
Topotecan: A New Topoisomerase I Inhibiting Antineoplastic Agent

OBJECTIVE:To review the pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, therapeutic, and safety aspects of topotecan, a new antineoplastic agent, and to assess its role in the treatment of cancer.DATA SOURCES:MEDLINE database English language only, January 1990–March 1998; SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals; published articles, books, and abstracts.STUDY SELECTION:Studies in humans with cancer, clinical case reports, open clinical trials, and controlled clinical studies. Efficacy studies were limited primarily to trials with at least 20 evaluable patients.DATA EXTRACTION:Relevant data were extracted only from published reports. Data were obtained from studies in both articles and abstracts. Only articles written in English were reviewed.DATA SYNTHESIS:Topotecan is an effective second- or third-line therapy for patients with advanced ovarian cancer and is comparable to ifosfamide, liposomal doxorubicin, and paclitaxel. Activity in combination with other agents and as a first-line agent is yet to be determined. Limited dat...
Release of weak and strong copper-complexing agents by algae1

By means of potentiometric titrations, the copper-complexing properties of organic compounds released by 21 algal species are characterized. Most eucaryotic species released measurable amounts (10/sup -6/ M) of copper-complexing agents that could be modeled as weak organic acids with log)*K/sub CuL./ = 0.5. Of seven blue-green algal species studied, four produced about 5 x 10/sup -7/ M concentrations of strong copper-complexing agents with conditional stability constants in the range 10/sup 8/ to 10/sup 12/; two produced complexing agents similar to those produced by the eucaryotes. In time-course experiments with three chlorophytes and two cyanophytes, the release of measurable concentrations of copper-complexing agents occurred principally during stationary phase.
Order equalities for some functionals and their application to the estimation of the best n-term approximations and widths

where is a positive function, as n! 1: The obtained results are used to establish the exact order equalities (as n!1 ) for the best n-term approximations of q-ellipsoids in metrics of the spaces S p ': We also consider the applications of the obtained results to the determination of the exact orders of the Kolmogorov widths of octahedra in the Hilbert space.
High speed interconnects of multi-layer PCB analysis by using non-conformal domain decomposition method

A non-conformal domain decomposition method (DDM) is proposed to investigate signal integrity (SI) of high-speed interconnects on multi-scale, multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) in this paper. The accuracy and robustness of the proposed method is first demonstrated by analysis of a 4-layer differential pair. Then we studied a 14-layer 16 traces interconnect model to demonstrate the efficiency of the method. Eye diagrams of the two models are studied for time domain SI.
Fractal geometry in antenna system design: miniaturized-multiband element, phased array and frequency selective surface design

Fractal geometry has been used in the design of antenna elements to achieve miniaturization, to lower the Q of the antennas and to attain multiple resonances. These benefits and design techniques have been applied to the design of scanned phased arrays and frequency selective surfaces. These designs have been simulated using the moment method and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) techniques as well as fabricated and measured.
A simple reconfigurable microstrip antenna for wideband applications

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new resonant frequency reconfigurable antenna for wideband wireless communications. The proposed antenna is composed of a rectangular microstrip antenna, a partial ground plane, and a microstrip line connected to the partial ground to enable frequency reconfigurability. We present a preliminary design that includes antenna simulations and their comparison with measured data.
Holistic Sensing and Active Displays for Intelligent Driver Support Systems

A multidisciplinary research effort at UCSD focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of novel computational frameworks for vehicle-based safety systems. The dynamic active display presents visual alerts to the driver based on the surrounding environment, vehicle dynamics, and driver's state as well as a driver-intent analysis and situational awareness system.
A Thermal Management and Profiling Method for Reconfigurable Hardware Applications

Given large circuit sizes, high clock frequencies, and possibly extreme operating environments, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are capable of heating beyond their designed thermal limits. As new circuits are developed for FPGAs and deployed remotely, engineers are challenged to determine in advance if the device will operate within recommended thermal ranges. The amount of power consumed by the circuit depends on how an algorithm is compiled into hardware, how the circuit is placed and routed, and the patterns of data that pass through the system. The amount of heat that can be dissipated depends on the thermal transfer characteristics of the package, the air flow that passes over the package, and the ambient temperature of the remote systems. Rather than designing a system to handle unreasonable worst-case situations, we have implemented a thermal management system that continuously monitors the temperature of the FPGA and reprograms the device if the temperate approaches the outer limits of safe operating conditions. Our system measures the junction temperature of a Xilinx Virtex FPGA using a built-in thermal diode. Using the temperature monitoring mechanism, we have studied the steady-state and transient conditions of multiple benchmark circuits implemented in an FPGA logic on the Field-programmable Port Extender (FPX) development platform. We observed properties of these benchmark circuits that enable us to predict power and thermal characteristics for real applications. We propose a Dynamic Thermal Management (DTM) strategy for FPGAs based on temperature feedback.
Effectiveness of Long-Term, Intensive, Inpatient Treatment for Seriously Disturbed Young Adults: A Reply to Bein

Bein's criticisms of Therapeutic Change: An Object Relations Perspective are based on a misreading of the book; on a confusion between two independent types of analysis that were conducted; on a lack of appreciation of the nature of severe psychopathology and of long-term inpatient treatment; and on an attempt to impose a methodology from studies of treatment efficacy onto the investigation of the effectiveness of a comprehensive, multifaceted, intensive, long-term, inpatient treatment program designed to assist severely disturbed, treatment-resistant patients. Thus, we still contend that our findings, across a wide range of independent measures derived from the evaluation clinical case records and several different psychological assessment procedures, indicate that severely disturbed patients made significant therapeutic gain in long-term, intensive, inpatient treatment. Beins Kritik der Arbeit “Therapeutische Veranderung: Eine Objektbezichungsperspektive” grundet aufeinem falschen Verstandnis des Buches...
Common Representations of Abstract Quantities

Representations of abstract quantities such as time and number are essential for survival. A number of studies have revealed that both humans and nonhuman animals are able to nonverbally estimate time and number; striking similarities in the behavioral data suggest a common magnitude-representation system shared across species. It is unclear, however, whether these representations provide animals with a true concept of time and number, as posited by Gallistel and Gelman (2000). In this article, we review the prominent cognitive and neurobiological models of timing and counting and explore the current evidence suggesting that nonhuman animals represent these quantities in a modality-independent (i.e., abstract) and ordered manner. Avenues for future research in the area of temporal and mathematical cognition are also discussed.
Cortical Folding Development Study based on Over-Complete Spherical Wavelets

We introduce the use of over-complete spherical wavelets for shape analysis of 2D closed surfaces. Bi-orthogonal spherical wavelets have been shown to be powerful tools in the segmentation and shape analysis of 2D closed surfaces, but unfortunately they suffer from aliasing problems and are therefore not invariant under rotations of the underlying surface parameterization. In this paper, we demonstrate the theoretical advantage of over-complete wavelets over bi-orthogonal wavelets and illustrate their utility on both synthetic and real data. In particular, we show that over-complete spherical wavelets allow us to build more stable cortical folding development models, and detect a wider array of regions of folding development in a newborn dataset.
The Chloroplast Outer Envelope Membrane: The Edge of Light and Excitement

The chloroplast is surrounded by a double-membrane envelope at which proteins, ions, and numerous metabolites including nucleotides, amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates are exchanged between the two aqueous phases, the cytoplasm and the chloroplast stroma. The chloroplast envelope is also the location where the biosynthesis and accumulation of various lipids take place. By contrast to the inner membrane, which contains a number of specific transporters and acts as the permeability barrier, the chloroplast outer membrane has often been considered a passive compartment derived from the phagosomal membrane. However, the presence of galactoglycerolipids and β-barrel membrane proteins support the common origin of the outer membranes of the chloroplast envelope and extant cyanobacteria. Furthermore, recent progress in the field underlines that the chloroplast outer envelope plays important roles not only for translocation of various molecules, but also for regulation of metabolic activities and signaling processes. The chloroplast outer envelope membrane offers various interesting and challenging questions that are relevant to the understanding of organelle biogenesis, plant growth and development, and also membrane biology in general.
Whole body energy expenditure and fuel oxidation after 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol administration

The fructose analogue 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol (2,5-AM) increases food intake in nondeprived rats. Several lines of evidence indicate that vagal signals arising from the liver are critical for this effect. In addition, 2,5-AM decreases plasma glucose and increases lipolysis, resulting in an increase in plasma free fatty acids and ketone bodies. In these respects 2,5-AM produces a state analogous to that observed after food deprivation. Using an indirect calorimeter, we determined that 2,5-AM (300 mg/kg ip) causes a potent and long-lasting decrease in respiratory quotient, indicating a decrease in the fraction of total energy derived from carbohydrate oxidation and an increase in the fraction derived from fatty acid oxidation. These metabolic variables were altered without affecting total metabolic rate. This dose of analogue also stimulated significantly greater food intake than injections of vehicle. These results support the continued use of 2,5-AM as a tool to probe the metabolic controls of food intake.
The Role of Zinc in Brain and Nerve Functions

Although the role of zinc in microorganisms, plants, and animals has been known for many years, its role in humans was recognized only in the early 1960s (Prasad et al., 1963). Severe growth retardation, hypogonadism in males, hepatosplenomegaly, rough and dry skin, mental lethargy, and susceptibility to infections were reported in zinc-deficient humans from the Middle East in 1963 (Prasad et al., 1963).
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos

A variety of techniques including the Frobenius method of infinite power series could solve almost all linear DEs of physical interest. However, some very fundamental questions such as the stability of the solar system led to DEs that were not linear, and for such DEs no analytic (including series representation) solution existed. In the 1890s, Henri Poincare, the great French mathematician, took upon himself the task of gleaning as much information from the DEs describing the whole solar system as was possible. The result was the invention of one of the most powerful branches of mathematics (topology) and the realization that the qualitative analysis of (nonlinear) DEs could be very useful.
The importance of exercise training in rehabilitation of patients with end-stage renal disease

Exercise capacity in patients with kidney failure undergoing dialysis is low compared with age-predicted values. The level of exercise tolerance in these patients is such that the energy requirements for activities of daily living and occupational tasks impinge on their capacity to perform these tasks. Therefore, it is not surprising that many patients do not seek or are unable to work because they are physically unable to sustain the energy required for such activity. There are several ways to increase exercise tolerance in these patients--transplant, exercise training, and recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin) therapy. Successful kidney transplant increases exercise capacity to near normal values for sedentary healthy individuals. Exercise training after transplant further increases exercise capacity and counteracts some of the negative side effects of glucocorticoid therapy, such as muscle wasting and excessive weight gain. Exercise training in patients on dialysis increases exercise tolerance approximately 25% (in studies performed before epoetin administration). Similar increases are observed after correction of the anemia of kidney failure with epoetin. However, the increase in exercise capacity is small compared with the magnitude of change in hematocrit level. It is possible that epoetin therapy unmasks a muscle limitation to exercise that may be improved by exercise training. Anecdotal evidence suggests that exercise training in patients on epoetin therapy may result in an exercise capacity similar to that of transplant recipients. However, epoetin therapy to improve hematocrit levels does not automatically make patients exercise. Active counseling and encouragement are necessary to improve physical functioning.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Probation and Plea Bargaining

Though originally an interloper in a system of justice mediated by courtroom battles, plea bargaining now dominates American criminal justice. This study examines its rise, drawing lessons from an empirical analysis of nineteenth century Massachusetts court records. Plea bargaining's rise was largely a function of the powers and incentives of individual courtroom actors. Prosecutors of course found natural incentives to plea bargain in plea bargaining's efficiency and automatic victories. But judges, not prosecutors, held most of the power to sentence, and without that power, prosecutors generally could not plea bargain. In those rare cases in which prosecutors could dictate sentence unilaterally, they used that power to negotiate deals. Court records show prosecutorial charge bargaining in certain crimes dating at least to the first decade of the nineteenth century. Until the last third of the nineteenth century, judges apparently felt no incentive to lend their considerable sentencing power to the process of plea bargaining-and they felt considerable disincentives, both in a principled aversion to haggling over sentences and in a prideful disinclination to share their sentencing power with prosecutors. Various events in the last part of the century overcame each of these disincentives. Perhaps the most important was the tort suit revolution that grew out of the mechanization of manufacture and transportation. A flood of complex civil cases overwhelmed judges' caseloads and forced them to economize on the criminal side of their dockets. For this reason and others, plea bargaining spread vigorously in the last decades of the century. Serving well the interests of both prosecutor and judge, plea bargaining has become the dominant institution of American criminal justice. Both probation and public defenders' offices owe their emergence and success at least in part to their role in facilitating plea bargaining. And the indeterminate sentence owes its fall at least in part to the threat it posed to the viability of plea bargaining. It is in fact difficult to name a successful innovation in American criminal procedure in the last 150 years that has been incompatible with plea bargaining's progress.