cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlation ATR performance using Xpatch (synthetic) training data

In this paper, we discuss the performance of correlation filter algorithms trained on Xpatch (synthetic) model images. In particular, we assess the performance of the maximum average correlation height (MACH) filter and distance classifier correlation filter (DCCF) correlation algorithms on a 3-class subset of the public release MSTAR data set. The successful performance of these algorithms on a 10-class problem has been reported in previous publications. The results reported to date however were based on filters trained on actual sensor data. The approach proposed here is viewed as a means to combine advantages of purely model-based techniques and the statistical/correlation based approaches. The paper reviews the theory of the algorithm, key practical advantages and details of test results on the 3-class public MSTAR database.
SU‐FF‐T‐266: Characterizing a Multi‐Axis Ion Chamber Array

Purpose: To characterize a commercially available multi‐axis ion chamber array for use as a scanning water tank alternative. Method and Materials: The ion chamber array used in this study was the IC Profiler (Sun Nuclear Corporation: Melbourne, FL). We characterized four items of the array: reproducibility, dose linearity, backscatter response, and water tank agreement. Short and long term reproducibility's were established on a 60Co teletherapy unit (Eldorado 6; Atomic Energy of Canada Limited: Mississauga, Canada). The remaining tests were conducted with a Synergy (Elekta: Crawley, UK) linear accelerator(LINAC) operated at a nominal photon energy of 6MV. Results: Over a short time period the array displayed a maximum standard deviation of 0.55% and a mean standard deviation of 0.15%; over a long time period the array displayed a maximum standard deviation of 1.80% and a mean standard deviation of 0.76%. The array was sensitive to startup characteristics of the LINAC when operating in pulsed mode; this affected the dose linearity relative to a Farmer chamber operating under the same geometry. This effect was not observed when the array was operated in continuous mode. Both the array's central axis detector and a Farmer chamber displayed a similar increase in measured signal with increasing backscatter. However, with increasing backscatter (up to 16.6 cm) the arrays in‐beam‐profile shape changed by less than 0.7% relative to a setup with no additional backscatter. The agreement between the array and a scanning water tank differed by less than 1% in the beam. Conclusion: The IC Profiler is a viable option for water tank ‘like’ measurements. The device provides a stable platform with good dose linearity, minimal backscatter response, and uniform profile measurements. Conflict of Interest: This work was supported in part by SBIR Contract No. HHSN261200522014C, the University of Florida, and Sun Nuclear Corporation
DNA-accelerated atom transfer radical polymerization on a gold surface.

A significantly increased polymer growth rate was observed during a surface-initiated ATRP reaction in the presence of DNA molecules. To investigate this phenomenon, thiolated single-stranded DNA molecules (ssDNAs) with ATRP initiators coupled at the distal point were used as the model molecule in the study. In comparison, a small molecule, HS-(CH2)11NHCOC(CH3)2Br, was used to provide a less-polar surface coating for polymer grafting. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and monomethoxy-capped oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) were used as the ATRP monomers. The polymer growth rates were monitored by measuring the thickness of the polymer films formed at different times. Our results show that the presence of DNA molecules, although at a less-than-1% surface coverage, significantly accelerated the growth rates of both poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) at the beginning of the ATRP reactions. This accelerating effect was suspected to be a c...
Preparation of radiolabeled thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) by recombining TSI heavy chains with 125I-labeled light chains: direct evidence that the product binds to the membrane thyrotropin receptor and stimulates adenylate cyclase.

The biologically active portion of the thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI/LATS) molecule is in the Fd portion of the heavy (H) chain. Radioiodination of TSI/LATS by the chloramine T method or contact with the oxidant only results in reduction and/or abolition of its biological activity in vivo. We have found that such treatment also results in a loss of thyroid membrane adenylate cyclase stimulatory activity. We have devised a method for labeling TSI which circumvents contact of the H chain with oxidant or radioiodine. The H and L chains of TSI were separated by mild reduction, alkylation, and gel filtration in 1 M propionic acid. The separated TSI H chains were then mixed with K-type Bence-Jones L chains (molar ratio, 1:2) which had been previously iodinated by 125I (*L) or 127I (oL), and IgG was reconstituted by dialysis of the mixture in 10 DIM sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.5. IgG was then separated from free H and L chains by gel filtration. The IgG (*L-TSI or oL-TSI) thus contained iodinated L cha...
Electron Microscopic Localization of Amines in Central Nervous Tissue

CATECHOLAMINES have been detected in the central nervous system by means of a fluorescent technique1, and correlations have been made regarding the content of brain catecholamine and the presence of granules which reduce osmium tetroxide in nerve terminals2,3. No definitive electron microscopic localization of catecholamines has been achieved due to the lack of a specific fine-structural technique.
17O NMR studies of siliceous faujasite

Abstract By using a combination of magic angle spinning (MAS) and double rotation (DOR) NMR techniques, and also various enrichment methods, different oxygen sites in the asymmetric unit of a zeolite (siliceous faujasite) have been observed for the first time.
Branded: The Economic Geographies of Streets Named in Honor of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.*

Objectives. We investigate the economic geographies of streets named for Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK Streets), which are an increasingly common means by which various community members across the United States are attempting to commemorate the slain civil rights leader. It is our intent to characterize these negatively “branded” spaces in order to challenge some of the common perceptions about them and inform current and future MLK Street naming debates. Methods. We statistically analyze nonresidential establishments located on streets named for King in terms of scale (as measured by annual sales and employment) and industrial classification. To our knowledge, this is the first such analysis conducted at the national level. Results. Establishments located on MLK Streets do not systematically exhibit economic marginality. Establishments located on these streets do systematically exhibit unique local functions and industrial composition. Conclusion. In the absence of empirically-driven research, the negative stereotypes that surround MLK Streets have gone unchallenged and are proliferating. The research reported here calls into question a number of these stereotypes and should inform the public, city councils, and other local policymakers, who are increasingly being faced with contentious MLK Street naming debates.
Quinolinic acid, an endogenous metabolite with neurotoxic properties, alters the physical state of membrane proteins in human erythrocytes

Quinolinic acid (2,3-pyridinedicarboxylic acid), an endogenous, tryptophan metabolite, is neurotoxic when injected into rat striatum (1). To begin to investigate the molecular interactions of quinolinic acid with membranes, electron spin resonance studies of the effects of this neurotoxin on the physical state of lipids, proteins, and cell-surface sialic acid in human erythrocyte ghosts have been performed. Quinolinic acid induced a highly significant alteration in the physical state of membrane proteins (P less than 0.01) while that of sialic acid and membrane lipids was unaffected. These results are similar to those induced by ibotenic acid, an exogenous neurotoxin, and are discussed with reference to possible molecular characteristics of the interaction of these neurotoxins with membrane proteins.
Does treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin affect the survival of anemic patients with cancer

Does treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin affect the survival of anemic patients with cancer?
On the flooding criteria for liquids with high density and high interfacial tension

Abstract Experimental measurements are reported on the criteria for flooding in the counter-current flow of mercury and nitrogen or helium in a packed bed system. The experimental results were found to agree reasonably well (within a factor of 2) with predictions based on the original Sherwood—Shipley—Holloway correlation. In contrast the use of the more recent correlations, such as the Leva modification of the flooding plot would have been much less satisfactory, as these appear to have overcompensated for the effect of liquid density.
Effect of aging on the magnetic properties of Cu-Mn alloys

Abstract The susceptibility of Cu-Mn alloy specimens quenched into cold water from 850°C increases proportionally with the cumulative period of subsequent aging at 100°C at least up to four weeks. The rate of increase varies over wide limits, even with the same specimen after requenching, apparently due to inadvertent slight variations in the quenching process. This large scatter in the rate of aging may account for at least some of the apparently contradictory results reported in the literature.
The Relation between Two Types of Narcissism and Boredom

Abstract This study investigated the relation between two types of narcissism and boredom in a group of 106 women undergraduates. As expected, MMPI-based measures of overt and covert narcissism both correlated positively with the Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS) (Farmer & Sundberg, 1986) and its subscale measuring a need for challenge and excitement. Only Overt Narcissism, which is characterized by extroversion and rebelliousness, correlated with the BPS subscale measuring feelings of restlessness and impatience in response to external constraints on behavior. Only Covert Narcissism, which is characterized by a sense of inner depletion, correlated with BPS subscales measuring difficulties in keeping oneself interested and entertained (lack of internal stimulation), feelings of meaninglessness, and the perception that time is passing by slowly.
Nedagolla, a remelted iron meteorite

The Nedagolla meteorite was recognized by Axon to be a rare example of an iron which has been preterrestrially reheated to the point of melting. The dendrite secondary arms are spaced 200 microns apart, implying that Nedagolla solidified and cooled at about 0.02 C/sec. The presence of (Fe, Cr)(1-x)S inclusions precipitated during cooling in the interdendritic regions, and evidence of solute redistribution of Ni, Cr, Co, Si, and P are consistent with this cooling rate. Such a rate indicates that Nedagolla cooled very near the surface of its parent 'body'. Secondary microstructural features including the presence of isothermal taenite and minute phosphide precipitates, which have formed from the dissolution of primary phosphide material, indicate a later reheating to about 750 C for a period of several hours.
Craniostenosis following Holter valve operation.

SUMMARY Eight cases of craniostenosis following the insertion of the Holter valve are described. The case history, possible aetiological factors and prognosis are discussed. RESUME Craniostenose a la suite d'une pose de valve de Holter Huit cas de craniostenose a la suite de l'insertion d'une valve de Holter sont decrits. Des auteurs discutent l'anamnese, les facteurs etiologiques possibles et le pronostic. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Craniostenose nach der Holter-Klappenoperation Es werden acht Falle von Craniostenose nach Einsetzen der Holter-Klappe beschrieben. Die Verlaufe, die moglichen atiologischen Faktoren und die Prognose werden diskutiert. RESUMEN Craneoestenosis despues de colocar una valvula de Hotter Se describen ocho casos de crCneoestenosis despues de la insertion de una vdlvula de Holter. Se discuten las historias clfnicas, y los posibles factores etiologicos.
Interview with Seung Yon Rhee

Seung Yon (Sue) Rhee was born in Seoul, Korea into a working-class family. Her family immigrated to the United States when she was 13 years of age and settled in the suburbs of New York City. Her early passions were various forms of visual arts ranging from the comics to films. She attended a small liberal arts college outside of Philadelphia called Swarthmore (BA in Biology, 1992) followed by graduate training at Stanford (PhD in Biology, 1998). She performed her thesis work at the Carnegie Institution for Science.
Dielectric characteristics of spin-coated dielectric films using on-wafer parallel-plate capacitors at microwave frequencies

Dielectric properties of spin-coated dielectric insulators suitable for high-speed device fabrication are investigated. Complex dielectric permittivities and tangential losses of two polyimides, bisbenzocyclobutene (BCB), and a spin-on-glass (SOG) were extracted from the measured microwave reflection coefficient, S/sub 11/, of parallel-plate capacitors over a frequency range of 50 MHz to 40 GHz. A model for the dielectric permittivity as a function of frequency is developed based on measured data with a minimum square error of less than 10/sup -4/ between measured and modeled microwave reflection coefficients. A circuit model for the pad capacitance is obtained based on geometrical and physical considerations. The relationship between the dielectric loss and its thickness is considered. Experimental results are fitted to Debye and Cole-Cole models.
Data compression for digital data from power systems disturbances: requirements and technique evaluation

The authors discuss the need for the requirements of data compression techniques in a power-systems environment. Accuracy requirements from any compression technique are established, and two data compression techniques are evaluated. Observations regarding the performance of each technique are presented. The analysis is accomplished using both real and simulated data. The analysis is applicable to data from power system disturbances. >
A framework for context-aware privacy of sensor data on mobile systems

We study the competing goals of utility and privacy as they arise when a user shares personal sensor data with apps on a smartphone. On the one hand, there can be value to the user for sharing data in the form of various personalized services and recommendations; on the other hand, there is the risk of revealing behaviors to the app producers that the user would like to keep private. The current approaches to privacy, usually defined in multi-user settings, rely on anonymization to prevent such sensitive behaviors from being traced back to the user---a strategy which does not apply if user identity is already known, as is the case here.Instead of protecting identity, we focus on the more general problem of choosing what data to share, in such a way that certain kinds of inferences---i.e., those indicating the user's sensitive behavior---cannot be drawn. The use of inference functions allows us to establish a terminology to unify prior notions of privacy as special cases of this more general problem. We identify several information disclosure regimes, each corresponding to a specific privacy-utility tradeoff, as well as privacy mechanisms designed to realize these tradeoff points. Finally, we propose ipShield as a privacy-aware framework which uses current user context together with a model of user behavior to quantify an adversary's knowledge regarding a sensitive inference, and obfuscate data accordingly before sharing. We conclude by describing initial work towards realizing this framework.
Formally direct pathways and low-temperature chain branching in hydrocarbon autoignition: the cyclohexyl + O2 reaction at high pressure.

The OH concentration in the Cl-initiated oxidation of cyclohexane has been measured between 6.5–20.3 bar and in the 586–828 K temperature range by a pulsed-laser photolytic initiation–laser-induced fluorescence method. The experimental OH profiles are modeled by using a master-equation-based kinetic model as well as a comprehensive literature mechanism. Below ∼700 K OH formation takes place on two distinct time-scales, one on the order of microseconds and the other over milliseconds. Detailed modeling demonstrates that “formally direct” chemical activation pathways are responsible for the OH formation on short timescales. These results establish that formally direct pathways are surprisingly important even for relatively large molecules at the pressures of practical combustors. It is also shown that remaining discrepancies between model and experiment are attributable to low-temperature chain branching from the addition of the “second oxygen” to hydroperoxycyclohexyl radicals.
Terrigenous and Carbonate Clastic Facies in a Transgressive Sequence Over Volcanic Terrain: ABSTRACT

The Kawainui marsh in Hawaii and its adjacent broad barrier accretion plain has been deposited over a former coralline algal-coral reef embayment surrounded by high slope volcanic hills. In late Holocene time, littoral transport formed a beach accretion plain which cut off the former marine embayment leading to deposition of lagoonal and deltaic facies which were eventually covered by a dense salt marsh formed of Scirpus sp. and "California" grass. A core program was used to obtain data for a three dimensional analysis of the resultant transgressive coastal environmental lithosomes. By use of a large number of radiocarbon dates and three relatively important archeological sites surrounding the marsh, the late Holocene settings and times of deposition of the various sedime tary environmental units were determined. This transgressive sequence began at least 5,000 years before present and continues to build landward and upward. The vertical stratigraphic sequence from top to bottom includes salt marsh peats, lagoonal marine muds or terrigenous deltaic deposits, in some areas a basal marsh peat, and a coralline algal-coral reef tract, underlain by basalts. The adjacent barrier accretion sands overlie a coralline algal-coral reef tract underlain by basalts. Preservation potential of such a sequence in a volcanic terrain appears to be fairly high as deposits of many previous high sea stands have been identified in the Hawaiian Island chain. Final burial under deep marine muds or oozes will eventually occur as the islands subside as evidenced by the previous his ory of the Hawaii-Midway Island chain. Buried similar sequences of transgressive coastal sedimentary facies should be anticipated along other volcanic terrains such as the Kelvin chain (Mytilus sea-mount) off the eastern Atlantic coast of North America, the Jordan Knoll in the southeast Gulf of Mexico, the Tonga-Fiji volcanic arc, and other similar geologic settings. End_of_Article - Last_Page 589------------
Characterization of the solution conformations of leuprolide acetate

Leuprolide acetate (pGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-d-Leu-Leu-Arg-Pro-NHEt), a potent LHRH agonist in wide clinical use, was characterized conformationally by NMR and circular dichroism. It displayed quite different preferred conformations under different solution conditions: two low population beta-turns in water, a nascent helix in TFE/water at low pH, and a high population beta-turn in TFE/water at slightly acidic pH. The pH-related conformational change in TFE/water is attributed to the pK(a) of the acetate counterion, not to ionizable groups on the peptide. None of these conformations are in exact agreement with previous computational predictions.
Dependent Array Type Inference from Tests

We present a type-based program analysis capable of inferring expressive invariants over array programs. Our system combines dependent types with two additional key elements. First, we associate dependent types with effects and precisely track effectful array updates, yielding a sound flow-sensitive dependent type system that can capture invariants associated with side-effecting array programs. Second, without imposing an annotation burden for quantified invariants on array indices, we automatically infer useful array invariants by initially guessing very coarse invariant templates, using test suites to exercise the functionality of the program to faithfully instantiate these templates with more precise likely invariants. These inferred invariants are subsequently encoded as dependent types for validation. Experimental results demonstrate the utility of our approach, with respect to both expressivity of the invariants inferred, and the time necessary to converge to a result.
Airway Inflammation after Bronchial Thermoplasty for Severe Asthma

Rationale: Bronchial thermoplasty is an alternative treatment for patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma in which the airway smooth muscle is eliminated using radioablation. Although this emerging therapy shows promising outcomes, little is known about its effects on airway inflammation.Objectives: We examined the presence of bronchoalveolar lavage cytokines and expression of smooth muscle actin in patients with severe asthma before and in the weeks after bronchial thermoplasty.Methods: Endobronchial biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage samples from 11 patients with severe asthma were collected from the right lower lobe before and 3 and 6 weeks after initial bronchial thermoplasty. Samples were analyzed for cell proportions and cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage and for the presence of α-SMA in endobronchial biopsies.Measurements and Main Results: α-SMA expression was decreased in endobronchial biopsies of 7 of 11 subjects by Week 6. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, both transforming grow...
Decadal Δ17O record of tropospheric CO2: Verification of a stratospheric component in the troposphere

For quantification and prediction of global warming due to anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, high-resolution determination of carbon cycle reservoir size and rates of exchange is vital. Isotope ratio measurements of 13C and 18O in CO2 have proven their utility in resolving the carbon cycle. Here we report a long-term record of triple oxygen isotopic composition of tropospheric CO2. A presence of a steady state stratospheric component (Δ17O = ln[(δ17O + 1) − 0.522 ln(δ18O + 1)] = 0.08 ± 0.04‰) is observed in tropospheric CO2 after modeling via a long-term spline fit of the record, adding an additional technique for quantification of CO2 fluxes. The δ18O of CO2 (measured as O2 for oxygen triple isotopic composition) from the present study is compared to the measurements of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography CO2 network (measured as CO2 for δ13C and δ18O) and found to be comparable. We note that the triple oxygen isotopic signal (Δ17O) significantly decreased to 0.02 ± 0.02‰ from the steady state value of 0.08 ± 0.04‰ during the 1997–1999 time period. The possible causes for this depletion are evaluated and discussed. An enhanced role of global primary productivity, facilitating water-CO2 isotope exchange is possible, and future measurements and modeling strategies may develop this further.
Critical role of adrenal glands in precocious increase in jejunal sucrase activity following premature weaning in rats: negligible effect of food intake.

The effect of jejunal sucrase activity of premature weaning (PW) of rats is studied and compared with the effect of starvation. Within 24 hours after PW of rats on postnatal day 16 onto a high sucrose diet, there is a highly significant increase in sucrase activity as compared with that in nonseparated controls. During this time, food intake is minimal, the rats lose weight and there is an arrest of jejunal growth. Rats starved from day 16 onward exhibit the same increase of sucrase activity. Adrenalectomy on day 14, i.e. 2 days before PW, results in 33% mortality on the second postweaning day, i.e. on day 18, and in progressive loss of jejunal protein. Sucrase activity in adrenalectomized prematurely-weaned rats does not differ from the activity of intact suckling controls on day 18. Our experiments suggest that the increase in sucrase activity following PW is not related to food intake, but is primarily mediatd by the adrenal glands. Presented results stress the importance of the endocrine system in the intestinal "adaptive" response to PW in the rat. Endocrine factors should be considered in any evaluation of the effect of nutritional manipulation during the weaning period.
Constraint satisfaction algorithms for graphical games

We formulate the problem of computing equilibria in multi-player games represented by arbitrary undirected graphs as a constraint satisfaction problem and present two algorithms. The first is PureProp: an algorithm for computing approximate Nash equilibria in complete information one-shot games and approximate Bayes-Nash equilibria in one-shot games of incomplete information. PureProp unifies existing message-passing based algorithms for solving these classes of games. We also address repeated graphical games, and present a second algorithm, PureProp-R, for computing approximate Nash equilibria in these games.
The intracellular distribution of sterols in Eurycotis floridana and its possible relation to subcellular membrane structures

The roach Eurycotis Joridana was reared on a semisynthetic diet containing minimal cholesterol-4-14C (0.005%) supplemented with cholestanol-7~~-~H (O.lyo), and various tissues of the insect were separated into "nuclear," "mitochondrial," and "microsomal" fractions by differential centrifugation. Muscle and salivary gland were satisfactorily fractionated and results from these are reported together with some, as yet, incomplete results for nerve. The major concentrations of unesterified sterol and lipid phosphorus were in the mitochondrial and microsomal frac- tions. The unesterified sterols of the subcellular fractions were separated by alumina and gas-liquid chromatography. The emergent peaks corresponding to cholesterol, cholestanol, and A'-cholestenol (a metabolite of cholestanol) were assayed for 3H and 14C. No sterol was confined to any one subcellular frac- tion. The proportions of the three sterols were closely similar in all membranous components of the same tissue, but were different in different tissues. It is suggested that the different subcellular membranes of a given tissue contain similar repeating structural units in which the individual sterols occupy sterically characteristic spaces.
Development of automated postoperative enteral nutrition: restricting feeding site inflow to match peristaltic outflow

Surgical stress accelerates postoperative metabolism, while simultaneously compromising gut activity. The dysfunction may be worsened by early feeding. These patients are not expected to fully meet their optimum metabolic requirements using current nutritional regimens. For optimum postoperative enteral nutrition, we must automatically match the patients’ feeding site inflows to their impaired peristaltic outflows. An essential adjunct is virtually complete exclusion of swallowed air. The small diameter post-pyloric duodenum is an efficient site for both aspiration and feeding. A multi-lumen feeding-decompression tube is utilized to feed an “elemental diet” (1 kcal/ml) at the rate of 3000–5000 ml/day immediately postoperatively. Outflow from the feeding site, relative to inflow, is monitored. Excess aspirate is discarded automatically, so that the re-fed inflow exactly matches the peristaltic outflow. The aspirate (digestive secretions, feedings, and swallowed air) is degassed. The aspirate is then directed by one-way valves alternately, every 30 s, into a pair of 30 ml collection chambers for re-feeding. Simultaneously, the previously collected aspirate (less discarded volume, if required) is delivered by gravity into the slightly more distal duodenum. Within 2 h, the return of the entire aspirate volume is tolerated. The patients’ increased metabolic demands are met early on the initial day of surgery. They achieve positive protein balance, with documented enhanced healing (experimentally) and immune globulin synthesis (clinically). Breakfast is tolerated the morning following operation, with discharge soon thereafter. X-ray motility and nutrient absorption studies document the more rapid return of clinically normal peristalsis. Automatically keeping the proximal duodenum and stomach continuously decompressed, while simultaneously re-feeding tolerated degassed duodenal aspirate, leads to more rapid return of clinically adequate G-I function postoperatively. In addition to maximizing immediately postoperative nourishment, the secretory globulins are salvaged, and spontaneously delivered into the colon, where they provide natural antimicrobial protection.
The Challenge of Providing Mental Health Services in Schools

It is considered “imperative” by most researchers and policy makers that schools meet mental health needs of students particularly when academic achievement and learning in general are affected, with full realization that schools cannot meet every need of every student (Paternite, 2005). The growth of school-based services to meet the mental health needs of children and adolescents has been driven to some extent by federal initiatives. The US Surgeon General’s report in 1999 and the US Public Health Services report in 2000 placed students’ mental health in focus. Both reports advocated for school-based approaches to meeting mental health needs (Paternite, 2005).
PERSONAL IDENTITY AND POSTMORTEM SURVIVAL

The so-called “problem of personal identity” can be viewed as either a metaphysical or an epistemological issue. Metaphysicians want to know what it is for one individual to be the same person as another. Epistemologists want to know how to decide if an individual is the same person as someone else. These two problems converge around evidence from mediumship and apparent reincarnation cases, suggesting personal survival of bodily death and dissolution. These cases make us wonder how it might be possible for a person to survive death and either temporarily or permanently animate another body. And they make us wonder how we could decide if such postmortem survival has actually occurred. In this essay I argue, first, that metaphysical worries about postmortem survival are less important than many have supposed. Next, I'll consider briefly why cases suggesting postmortem survival can be so intriguing and compelling, and I'll survey our principal explanatory options and challenges. Then, I'll consider why we need to be circumspect in our appraisal of evidence for mind-body correlations. And finally, I'll try to draw a few tentative and provocative conclusions.
Focus on . . . SIMPLE Plans

The SIMPLE plan, a new retirement vehicle created by the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, may be something of a misnomer. Actually, two plans-an IRA and a 401(k)-the SIMPLE plan differs from its predecessors in various ways. In search of the promised simplicity, the author explains the new provisions step-by-step, examining eligibility, employer contributions, and reporting requirements, and offers commentary.
Conformational Changes of Trialanine Induced by Direct Interactions between Alanine Residues and Alcohols in Binary Mixtures of Water with Glycerol and Ethanol

Despite the increasing relevance of characterizing local conformational distributions in the unfolded state, an unambiguous description of the role that solvation and the addition of certain cosolv...
ACID MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES IN THE SKIN OF LATHYRITIC RATS.

SummaryThe MPS composition of normal and lathyritic rat skins has been studied. Determination of the total hexosamine content, chromatographic separation of glucosamine and galactosamine, extraction and purification of the MPS, identification through analysis of their components did not demonstrate any difference in the MPS composition between normal and lathyritic skin.
Distinguishing Between Coherent Interdiffusion and Incoherent Roughness in Synthetic Multilayers Using X-Ray Diffraction

We have developed a method to separate coherent interfacial interdiffusion from incoherent interfacial roughness by extending an electromagnetic dynamical theory to calculate the reflectivity of a multilayer having an arbitrary interfacial profile with a variable degree of randomness in the repeating layer thicknesses. We find that the intensity of the subsidiary maxima are extremely sensitive to incoherent roughness while the intensity of the Bragg maxima are largely determined by the interfacial electron density profiles. Experimental data are modeled in a manner similar to that used by Warren and Averback to determine domain size of crystallites. We divide the multilayer into coherent domains differing from one another by small deviations from the average layer thicknesses. The diffraction intensity from each of these domains is then added to obtain the experimental pattern. The diffraction spectra of a set of Pt/Co multilayers with similar layer thicknesses but prepared with different sputtering gases illustrates the ability to separate the effects of coherent interdiffusion from incoherent roughness. The extent of incoherent roughness obtained using this model to analyze the diffraction data of these Pt-Co multilayers is in good agreement with TEM and STM results from the same samples. The diffraction patterns could not be simulated with abrupt concentration profiles and the extent of interdiffusion was found to be correlated with the energy of reflected neutrals present during the synthesis of the multilayers.
Regulating the Finances of the Agent

In a principal-agent relationship the principal monitors and evaluates the agents. One of the ways in which the public exercises these oversight functions over the nonprofit as an agent of public policy is to control critical aspects of its financing. This is done partly by requiring that the nonprofit demonstrate a high level of public financial support. The theory here is that the lack of public financial support may be an indicator of lack of public interest or perceived value of what the organization is doing.
The accretion and impact history of the ordinary chondrite parent bodies

Abstract A working timeline for the history of ordinary chondrites includes chondrule formation as early as 0–2 Ma after our Solar System’s earliest forming solids (CAIs), followed by rapid accretion into undifferentiated planetesimals that were heated internally by 26Al decay and cooled over a period of tens of millions of years. There remains conflict, however, between metallographic cooling rate (Ni-metal) and radioisotopic thermochronometric data over the sizes and lifetimes of the chondrite parent bodies, as well as the timing of impact related disruptions. The importance of establishing the timing of parent body disruption is heightened by the use of meteorites as recorders of asteroid belt wide disruption events and their use to interpret Solar System dynamical models. Here we attempt to resolve these records by contributing new 207Pb–206Pb data obtained on phosphates isolated from nine previously unstudied ordinary chondrites. These new results, along with previously published Pb-phosphate, Ni-metal and thermometry data, are interpreted with a series of numerical models designed to simulate the thermal evolution for a chondrite parent body that either remains intact or is disrupted by impact prior to forming smaller unsorted “rubble piles”. Our thermal model and previously published thermometry data limit accretion time to 2.05–2.25 Ma after CAIs. Measured Pb-phosphate data place minimum estimates on parent body diameters of ∼260–280 km for both the L and H chondrite parent bodies. They also consistently show that petrologic Type 6 (highest thermal metamorphism) chondrites from both the H and L bodies have younger ages and, therefore, cooled more slowly than Type 5 (lesser metamorphism) chondrites. This is interpreted as evidence for Type 5 chondrite origination from shallower depths than Type 6 chondrites within initially concentrically zoned bodies. This contrasts metallographic cooling rate data that are inconsistent with such a simple onion shell scenario. One model that can reconcile these two data sets takes into account subtle differences in temperature to which each system responds. This working model requires that disruption occur early enough such that the Ni-metal system can record the cooling rate associated with a rubble pile ( 30 Ma). For this 30–70 Ma timeline, reaccretion into smaller rubble piles will ensure that the originally deeply buried and hot Type 6 samples will always cool faster as a result of disruption, yielding nearly uniform ages that record the time of parent body disruption. This is consistent with the available Pb-phosphate data, where all but one Type 6 chondrite (H, n = 3; L, n = 4) yields a cooling age within a narrow 4505 ± 5 Ma timeframe. These data collectively imply that both the H and L chondrite parent bodies were catastrophically disrupted at ∼60 Ma. In addition, combined Ni-metal and Pb-phosphate models confirm that a subset of Type 4 chondrites record early rapid cooling likely associated with erosional impacting of the H and L parent bodies on ∼5 Ma timescales.
GPOP: Scalable Group-level Popularity Prediction for Online Content in Social Networks

Predicting the popularity of online content in social networks is important in many applications, ranging from ad campaign design, web content caching and prefetching, to web-search result ranking. Earlier studies target this problem by learning models that either generalize behaviors of the entire network population or capture behaviors of each individual user. In this paper, we claim that a novel approach based on group-level popularity is necessary and more practical, given that users naturally organize themselves into clusters and that users within a cluster react to online content in a uniform manner. We develop a novel framework by first grouping users into cohesive clusters, and then adopt tensor decomposition to make predictions. In order to minimize the impact of noisy data and be more flexible in capturing changes in users' interests, our framework exploits both the network topology and interaction among users in learning a robust user clustering. The PARAFAC tensor decomposition is adapted to work with hierarchical constraint over user groups, and we show that optimizing this constrained function via gradient descent achieves faster convergence and leads to more stable solutions. Extensive experimental results over two social networks demonstrate that our framework is scalable, finds meaningful user groups, and significantly outperforms eight baseline methods in terms of prediction accuracy.
Navigating the Development Aid Challenge: Toward a More Encompassing Framework

Contemporary international communication and development studies have been grappling with philosophical divides. The controversial concept of neoliberalism has been conspicuously intensifying the dichotomy between (dematerialized) poststructuralism and political economy perspectives, making the most of the development endeavors perceived as either top-down (non-participatory) or bottom-up (participatory). In particular, the latter perspective tends to champion participatory approaches, perhaps because non-participatory development has manifested formidable failures. Through a discursive approach, this chapter presents a sketch of debates and concerns that have led to conceptual dichotomies and controversies in the field of development and related communications. Then, within the context of international development aid and by considering neoliberalism as discourse, the discussion explores a more encompassing way of understanding neoliberalism and recommends an integrative or holistic approach, since development is a fleeting concept.
Two-chambered right ventricle without outflow obstruction in ventricular septal defect: A case of spontaneous correction☆

Abstract A 19 day old infant in extremis with congestive failure was shown to have a two-chambered right ventricle, ventricular septal defect and tricuspid regurgitation. There have been previous reports of patients with two-chambered right ventricle in whom an anomalous muscle bundle obstructed outflow of the right ventricle, creating a tetralogy-like function. By contrast, in this patient there was a partitioned off high-pressure apical chamber secondary to hypertrophy of an abnormally oriented septal band of the crista supraventricularis and moderator band. The infant was resuscitated, and over several days improved remarkably with medical management. Digitalis was discontinued at age 6 months, and at the age of 1 year there were no significant cardiac findings. Cardiac catheterization confirmed spontaneous closure of the ventricular septal defect; the high-pressure, apical chamber was absent, and there was no tricuspid regurgitation.
Coronaviruses use Discontinuous Extension for Synthesis of Subgenome-Length Negative Strands

We have developed a new model for coronavirus transcription, which we call discontinuous extension, to explain how subgenome-length negatives stands are derived directly from the genome. The current model called leader-primed transcription, which states that subgenomic mRNA is transcribed directly from genome-length negative-strands, cannot explain many of the recent experimental findings. For instance, subgenomic mRNAs are transcribed directly via transcription intermediates that contain subgenome-length negative-strand templates; however subgenomic mRNA does not appear to be copied directly into negatives strands. In our model the subgenome-length negative strands would be derived using the genome as a template. After the polymerase had copied the 3′-end of the genome, it would detach at any one of the several intergenic sequences and reattach to the sequence immediately downstream of the leader sequence at the 5′-end of genome RNA. Base pairing between the 3′-end of the nascent subgenome-length negative strands, which would be complementary to the intergenic sequence at the end of the leader sequence at the 5′-end of genome, would serve to align the nascent negative strand to the genome and permit the completion of synthesis, i.e., discontinuous extension of the 3′-end of the negative strand. Thus, subgenome-length negative-strands would arise by discontinuous synthesis, but of negative strands, not of positive strands as proposed originally by the leader-primed transcription model.
Quantitative modeling of user performance in multitasking environments

Abstract Multitasking is one of the most important skills required for human operators to perform highly-complex and safety-critical jobs. This study proposed and validated a quantitative model for the study of user performance improvement in a multitasking environment. The Multi-Attribute Task Battery-II (MATB-II) was used in the experiments as a multitasking platform. The proposed model included quantification of stimuli from each MATB-II subtask as baud rate (bits per second), selection of task difficulty and task weight, as well as the rearrangement of task weights. This research followed a two-phase experimental approach. The first phase applied the proposed model and identified a performance baseline for each individual in a multitasking environment, MATB-II. The second phase validated the proposed model using a rearranged set of multitasks for each individual. Individual differences in working memory capacity (WMC) have been estimated as predictors of varying cognitive abilities. This study also investigated the relationship between WMC, task difficulty, and multitasking performance. Significant improvement of user performance was found after the rearrangement of tasks based on the proposed approach. This research provides a framework to quantitatively evaluate multitasking systems and improve human performance in order to understand the interaction between systems and human operators.
Optimal pricing and seat allocation for a two-cabin airline revenue management problem

Abstract We consider the single-flight leg two-cabin airline revenue management problem in which there is a flexible partition of the business and economy cabins and determine the optimal cabin partition and the optimal fares for both cabins with both a general and an isoelastic multiplicative price-demand function and three different random demand distributions. We conclude numerically that the optimal partitioning and the optimal pricing is not sensitive to the random demand distributions and that our findings are comparable for two different aircraft types. We also consider the similar problem with a capacity constraint on business and conclude that this constraint drives business class fares up and total revenue down (compared to the unconstrained problem).
LOCATION AND MECHANISM OF AIRWAY CONSTRICTION AFTER INHALATION OF HISTAMINE AEROSOL AND INORGANIC SULFATE AEROSOL

Abstract Inhalation of histamine phosphate aerosol composed of particles less than 2×5 μ in projected area diameter by paralyzed, artifically ventilated cats for 3 min increased pulmonary resistance, decreased pulmonary compliance, and increased end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure. Aerosols were generated by means of a Dautrebande D 30 l nebulizer, sampled with an oscillating thermal precipitator and sized from electron photomicrographs. Cooling of the vagi or injection of atropine did not prevent the changes in compliance but did decrease the changes in resistance seen after histamine aerosol. Isoproterenol administered intravenously or as aerosol prior to inhalation of histamine aerosol prevented the changes following inhalation of histamine, suggesting that the changes were due to smooth muscle contraction. Cardiac arrest during histamine aerosol inhalation did not prevent the changes, indicating that histamine acts directly on the airway smooth muscle and is not dependent on the circulatory route. Anatomic studies, performed after rapid freezing of the lungs in the open thorax, showed that the principal sites of constriction were the alveolar ducts and terminal bronchioles; however, bronchioles up to 400 μ in diameter were also constricted. The changes in pulmonary resistance and compliance were also observed, but to a lesser degree, after inhalation of aerosols of zinc ammonium sulfate. Our further studies suggested that the mechanisms associated with response to this irritant aerosol are the same as those associated with response to histamine aerosol. These findings are discussed with respect to the effects following exposure to air pollutants in the form of particulate sulfates.
Inorganic nanoparticles and the microbiome

Routine exposure to inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) that are incorporated into consumer products such as foods/drinks, packaging materials, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (e.g. cosmetics, sunscreens, shampoos) occurs on a daily basis. The standard everyday use of these products facilitates interactions between the incorporated inorganic NPs, mammalian tissues (e.g. skin, gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity), and the community of microbes that resides on these tissues. Changes to the microbiome have been linked to the initiation/ progression of many diseases and there is a growing interest focused on understanding how inorganic NPs can initiate these changes. As these mechanisms are revealed and defined, it may be possible to rationally design microbiotamodulating therapies based on inorganic NPs. In this article, we will: (i) provide a background on inorganic NPs that are commonly found in consumer products such as those that incorporate titanium, zinc, silver, silica, or iron, (ii) discuss how NP properties, microbiota composition, and the physiological microenvironment can mediate the effects that inorganic NPs have on the microbiota, and (iii) highlight opportunities for inorganic NP therapies that are designed to interact with, and navigate, the microbiome.