cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dissolved organic matter reduces algal accumulation of methylmercury

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) significantly decreased accumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) by the diatom Cyclotella meneghiniana in laboratory experiments. Live diatom cells accumulated two to four times more MeHg than dead cells, indicating that accumulation may be partially an energy-requiring process. Methylmercury enrichment in diatoms relative to ambient water was measured by a volume concentration factor (VCF). Without added DOM, the maximum VCF was 32 × 104, and the average VCF (from 10 to 72 h) over all experiments was 12.6 × 104. At very low (1.5 mg/L) added DOM, VCFs dropped by approximately half. At very high (20 mg/L) added DOM, VCFs dropped 10-fold. Presumably, MeHg was bound to a variety of reduced sulfur sites on the DOM, making it unavailable for uptake. Diatoms accumulated significantly more MeHg when exposed to transphilic DOM extracts than hydrophobic ones. However, algal lysate, a labile type of DOM created by resuspending a marine diatom in freshwater, behaved similarly to a refractory DOM isolate from San Francisco Bay. Addition of 67 µM L-cysteine resulted in the largest drop in VCFs, to 0.28 × 104. Although the DOM composition influenced the availability of MeHg to some extent, total DOM concentration was the most important factor in determining algal bioaccumulation of MeHg. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1712–1719. © 2012 SETAC
Quantized molecular structural mechanics modeling for studying the specific heat of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We extend the molecular structural mechanics approach to the study of the specific heat of carbon nanotubes. The vibrational modes of the nanotube are quantized according to the theory of quantum mechanics. The partition function is directly expressed by the vibrational frequencies of carbon atoms. The specific heat of finite-length individual single-walled carbon nanotubes is calculated and the temperature dependence of the specific heat is demonstrated. The specific heat is shown to increase with increasing tube diameter, but the effect mainly exists at the temperature range of $25\char21{}350\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. The tube chirality has a slight influence on the specific heat at high temperature. The specific heat is also shown to increase with increasing tube length when the nanotube length/diameter ratio is less than 20, and the effect is more distinguishable at higher temperature. The computational predictions are compared with available experimental as well as theoretical results of the specific heat of carbon nanotubes.
Farmer beliefs and concerns about climate change and attitudes toward adaptation and mitigation: Evidence from Iowa

Agriculture is both vulnerable to climate change impacts and a significant source of greenhouse gases. Increasing agriculture's resilience and reducing its contribution to climate change are societal priorities. Survey data collected from Iowa farmers are analyzed to answer the related research questions: (1) do farmers support adaptation and mitigation actions, and (2) do beliefs and concerns about climate change influence those attitudes. Results indicate that farmers who were concerned about the impacts of climate change on agriculture and attributed it to human activities had morepositive attitudes toward both adaptive and mitigative management strategies. Farmers who believed that climate change is not a problem because human ingenuity will enable adaptations and who did not believe climate change is occurring or believed it is a natural phenomenon—a substantial percentage of farmers—tended not to support mitigation.
Pulsating instability and extinction of stretched premixed flames

Based on literature analytical and computational results that Le >1 premixed flames are susceptible to exhibit pulsating instability, and that such propensity is promoted with increasing positive stretch, experiments were conducted on counterflow twin flames of lean and rich mixtures of methane in 15% O 2 /(O 2 +He) such that the mixture Lewis number uniformly exceeds unity. Experimental results on the flame luminosity and position showed that these Le >1 flames do exhibit pulsating instability as the strain rate is increased beyond a critical value, that pulsation develops for sufficiently off-stoichiometric (≤0.80 and ≥1.30) flames while steady burning and extinction are associated with near-stoichiometric flames, and that the amplitude of the oscillatory flames increases with increasing strain rate until the flame extinguishes. Computations with detailed chemistry and transport showed qualitative and quantitative agreement with the experimental results, including the oscillation frequency. The calculation further reveals that during the course of largeamplitude oscillation, when the instantaneous flame temperature falls below its value at the steady-state extinction limit, the flame cannot revive itself and extinction occurs.
Dietary mixtures of sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride: effects on lactational performance, acid-base status, and mineral metabolism of Holstein cows.

The objective of this study was to determine lactational, blood mineral, and blood acid-base responses to dietary mixtures of NaHCO3, NaCl, and KCl and dietary cation-anion difference by lactating dairy cows. Three 100:0:0 (primary) blends, three 50:50:0 (binary) blends, and one 33:33:33 (tertiary) blend of NaHCO3, NaCl, and KCl, respectively, were formulated to replace 1% of the dry matter in a diet based on corn silage. Seven treatments were defined according to a simplex-centroid mixtures design using a partially balanced incomplete block arrangement. An eighth treatment served as a control and contained 1% SiO2 instead of the mineral blends. Dietary cation-anion difference ranged from +25 to +40 meq of (Na + K ‐ Cl)/100 g of dietary dry matter. Diets were fed for three consecutive 28-d periods during summer to 36 midlactation cows. Cows that were fed the tertiary mixture had lower milk protein percentage, whole blood bicarbonate, and plasma K than did cows fed the other blends. With the exception of milk protein percentage and body weight gain, none of the mixtures had a significant impact on lactational performance. The lack of differences could have been due to the narrow range in the dietary cation-anion difference studied.
Dynamic detection and visualization of software phases

Software executes in phases. JIVE is a software visualization tool that provides a high-level view of what is occurring in a Java system as it happens, offering information about both what classes are executing, what classes are being allocated, synchronizations, and what are the threads and what state each thread is in. This paper describes how we used the information available to JIVE to detect and then display the current phase of execution.
Particle Impact and Breakup in Aircraft Measurement

Abstract Measurements of cloud particle properties from aircraft by optical and impact techniques are subject to artifacts following particle breakup prior to detection. The impact kinetic energy to surface energy ratio (L) provides a breakup criterion at L ≥ 7 for water and ice with major fragmentation for L > 100. This applies to optical imaging probes for particle concentration, size, and projected area spectra measurement. Uncertainty arises should impacting particles shatter and disperse, defeating the intent of the original measurements. Particle shatter is demonstrated in Formvar replicas (University of North Dakota Citation) and video records of particle approach and impact on the Cloudscope (NCAR C-130, NASA DC-8) at airspeeds of 130 and 200 m s−1. Sufficient impact kinetic energy results in drop splash and ice shatter, with conversion to surface energy and ultimately thermal energy through viscous dissipation and ice defect production occurring down to the molecular scale. The problem is minimiz...
He says, she says. Pat says, Tricia says. How much reference resolution matters for entity extraction, relation extraction, and social network analysis

Anaphora resolution (AR) identifies the entities that pronouns refer to. Coreference resolution (CR) associates the various instances of an entity with each other. Given our data, our findings suggest that deduplicating and normalizing text data by using AR and CR impacts the literal mention, frequency, identity, and existence of about 75% of the entities in texts. Results are more moderate on the relation level: 13% of the links are modified and 8% are removed. Performing social network analysis on the relations extracted from texts leads to findings contrary to the results from corpus statistics: AR and CR cause different directions in the change of network analytical measures, AR alters these measures more strongly than CR does, and each technique identifies a different set of most crucial nodes. Bringing the results from corpus statistics and social network analysis together suggests that CR is more effective in normalizing entities, while AR is a more powerful technique for splitting up generic nodes into named entities with adjusted weights. Data changes due to AR and CR are qualitatively and quantitatively meaningful: the statistical properties of entities and relations change along with their identities. Consequently, the relational data represent the underlying social structure more truthfully. Our results can support analysts in eliminating some misinterpretations of graphs distilled from texts and in selected those nodes from social networks on which reference resolution should be performed.
Requirement of protein kinase C zeta for stimulation of protein synthesis by insulin.

The ability of insulin to stimulate protein synthesis and cellular growth is mediated through the insulin receptor (IR), which phosphorylates Tyr residues in the insulin receptor substrate-signaling proteins (IRS-1 and IRS-2), Gab-1, and Shc. These phosphorylated substrates directly bind and activate enzymes such as phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for p21Ras (GRB-2/SOS), which are in turn required for insulin-stimulated protein synthesis, cell cycle progression, and prevention of apoptosis. We have now shown that one or more members of the atypical protein kinase C group, as exemplified by the zeta isoform (PKC zeta), are downstream of IRS-1 and P13K and mediate the effect of insulin on general protein synthesis. Ectopic expression of constitutively activated PKC zeta eliminates the requirement of IRS-1 for general protein synthesis but not for insulin-stimulated activation of 70-kDa S6 kinase (p70S6K), synthesis of growth-regulated proteins (e.g., c-Myc), or mitogenesis. The fact that PKC zeta stimulates general protein synthesis but not activation of p70S6K indicates that PKC zeta activation does not involve the proto-oncogene Akt, which is also activated by PI3K. Yet insulin is still required for the stimulation of general protein synthesis in the presence of constitutively active PKC zeta and in the absence of IRS-1, suggesting a requirement for the convergence of the IRS-1/PI3K/PKC zeta pathway with one or more additional pathways emanating from the IR, e.g., Shc/SOS/p21Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase. Thus, PI3K appears to represent a bifurcation in the insulin signaling pathway, one branch leading through PKC zeta to general protein synthesis and one, through Akt and the target of rapamycin (mTOR), to growth-regulated protein synthesis and cell cycle progression.
Optimizing coverage of three-dimensional wireless sensor networks by means of photon mapping

As wireless sensor networks applied to 3D spaces gain in prominence, it becomes necessary to develop means of understanding how to optimize 3D sensor coverage while taking into account the environmental conditions in which they operate. To accomplish this goal, this paper presents the Sensor Placement Optimization via Queries (SPOQ) simulation algorithm. It determines where to place the minimal number of simulated bistatic sensors such that they cover as much of the single-source-illuminated virtual environment as possible. SPOQ performs virtual sensor placement optimization by means of making queries to the photon map generated by the photon mapping algorithm and uses this query output as input to a prevailing modified sensor placement algorithm. Since SPOQ uses photon mapping, SPOQ can take into account static or dynamic simulated environmental conditions and can use exploratory or precomputed sensing. The SPOQ method is computationally efficient, requiring less memory than other sensor placement solutions.
RPN4 is a ligand, substrate, and transcriptional regulator of the 26S proteasome: A negative feedback circuit

The RPN4 (SON1, UFD5) protein of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for normal levels of intracellular proteolysis. RPN4 is a transcriptional activator of genes encoding proteasomal subunits. Here we show that RPN4 is required for normal levels of these subunits. Further, we demonstrate that RPN4 is extremely short-lived (t(1/2) approximate to 2 min), that it directly interacts with RPN2, a subunit of the 26S proteasome, and that rpn4 Delta cells are perturbed in their cell cycle. The degradation signal of RPN4 was mapped to its N-terminal region, outside the transcription-activation domains of RPN4. The ability of RPN4 to augment the synthesis of proteasomal subunits while being metabolically unstable yields a negative feedback circuit in which the same protein up-regulates the proteasome production and is destroyed by the assembled active proteasome.
A NEW OLIGACANTHORHYNCHID ACANTHOCEPHALAN DESCRIBED FROM THE GREAT HORNED OWL, BUBO VIRGINIANUS (STRIGIDAE), AND RED-TAILED HAWK, BUTEO JAMAICENSIS (ACCIPITRIDAE), FROM CENTRAL ARIZONA, U.S.A

Oligacanthorhynchus nickoli n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) is described from the great-horned owl, Bubo virginianus (Gmelin, 1788) (type host), and red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788), collected in central Arizona. The new species is most similar to Oligacanthorhynchus iheringi and Oligacanthorhynchus minor, but it differs from all congeners primarily by trunk length, proboscis size and armature, egg size, geographical range, and host species. It is distinguished from the 9 Oligacanthorhynchus species occurring in avian hosts from both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Descriptions of juvenile forms of O. nickoli from the intestine of B. jamaicensis are provided from recently ingested cystacanths with everted proboscides.
Effects of cation–anion interactions on the structures and photophysical properties of anionic d0 tungsten–benzylidyne complexes

Abstract The structures and photophysical properties of anionic tungsten–benzylidyne complexes of the type [Na(L)][W(CPh)(OBut)4] ([Na(L)]1; L=blank, 15-crown-5, crypt-2,2,2) are strongly dependent on the nature of the [Na(L)]+ ion. The structures of the 1− ions are qualitatively similar, consisting of square-pyramidal tungsten centers with short WC bonds, but differ as a function of cation in the extent of their Na–OBut interactions, the geometries of their OBut ligands, and their WO bond distances. The 1− ions exhibit long-lived luminescence (τ>1 μs) in fluid solution and the solid state at room temperature. The emission lifetimes and energies are cation dependent even in polar solvents, indicating the presence of [Na(L)]+/1− ion pairs in solution for some L. The emissive state is a spin triplet of either [π(WCPh)]1[dxy]1 or [π(WCPh)]1[π*(WCPh)]1 configuration.
Some open problems in matrix theory arising in linear systems and control

Control theory has long provided a rich source of motivation for developments in matrix theory. Accordingly, we discuss some open problems in matrix theory arising from theoretical and practical issues in linear systems theory and feedback control. The problems discussed include robust stability, matrix exponent& induced norms, stabilizability and pole assignability, and nonstandard matrix equations. A substantial number of references are included to acquaint matrix theorists with problems and trends in this application area. Feedback control theory has long provided a rich source of motivation for developments in matrix theory. The purpose of this paper is to discuss several open problems in matrix theory that arise from theoretical and practical issues in feedback control theory and the associated area of linear systems theory. Many of these problems are remarkably simple to state, are of intense interest in control theory and applications, and yet remain unsolved. Besides leading to the resolution of these problems, it is hoped that this paper will help to stimulate increased interaction between matrix and control theorists. Accord
Deterministic Model for Economic Utility of Conservation and Development Strategies

Global competition among nations results in massive and accelerated modernization and industrialization particularly in many developing countries like Philippines. However, the trend towards industrialization necessarily implies a certain degree of environmental damage which greatly affects the ecological system. Yet, while enjoying economic growth and prosperity, society should be concerned about sustainable development as well. A net social welfare function is maximized using linear utility function assuming different "competitive behaviors" in conserving and/ or developing (exploiting) resources. Conservation and development efforts are modeled as competing species on limited resources. Actual data from Pujada Bay, City of Mati, Davao Oriental were then used for empirical validation of the models.
Lifestyle intervention: results of the Treatment of Mild Hypertension Study (TOMHS).

Abstract Background. Questions regarding the efficacy of nonpharmacologic approaches for the treatment of stage 1 hypertension were addressed as part of the Treatment of Mild Hypertension Study (TOMHS), a 4-year, randomized clinical trial (N = 902). This report describes the lifestyle intervention program used in TOMHS, presents data on the lifestyle changes observed, and focuses on the effect of weight loss on blood pressure and blood lipid levels. Methods. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or one of five different antihypertensive medications. All took part in a lifestyle intervention program to reduce weight and sodium and alcohol intake and to increase physical activity. Results. Substantial changes from baseline levels were achieved for all lifestyle intervention variables. Mean weight change was −10.5 lb (−5.6%) at 1 year, −8.5 lb (−4.5%) at 2 years, −7.4 lb (−4.0%) at 3 years, and −5.7 lb (−3.0%) at 4 years. At 4 years, 70% of participants remained below baseline weight and 34% maintained a weight loss of 10 lb or greater. Mean change in urinary sodium excretion was −12.5 mmol/8 hr (−23%) at 1 year, −10.7 mmol/8 hr (−20%) at 2 years, −8.4 mmol/8 hr (−16%) at 3 years, and −4.6 mmol/8 hr (−9%) at 4 years. Alcohol intake declined by 1.6 drinks/week among drinkers at 4 years. Reported leisure physical activity increased by 86% at 1 year and remained 50% above baseline at 4 years. Beneficial changes in blood pressure and serum lipids were associated with these changes. Conclusions. These results support a role for lifestyle interventions as the initial treatment for stage 1 hypertension and demonstrate that such interventions can be successfully implemented in the clinical setting.
Steroid Hormones, Receptors, and Perceptual and Cognitive Sex Differences in the Visual System

The actions of gonadal steroid hormones induce morphological sex differences in many tissues in the body, including brain. These occur either during development to organize tissues in a sex-specific pattern and/or in adulthood to activate specific cellular pathways. Cellular and morphological changes in the brain, induced by androgens and estrogens, underlie behavioral sex differences in both reproductive and non-reproductive behaviors, including visual perception. A growing body of evidence indicates that some sex differences related to visual perception arise as the result of the organizational actions of gonadal steroid hormones on cerebral cortical pathways involved in visual processing of objects and movement. This review addresses the influence of gonadal steroids on structural, biochemical and morphological changes in tissues in the brain and body. These effects are extended to consider how gonadal hormone effects may contribute to cognitive sex differences across species that are related to processing within the dorsal and ventral visual streams for motion and objects, respectively. Lastly, this review considers the question of how cognitive sex differences related to processing of movement and objects in humans may be reflective of two types of cognitive style that are only superficially related to gender.
Mechanisms for dynamically changing initiative in human-computer collaborative discourse

In this paper, we examine three inter-related efficiency-improving dialogue behaviors: automatic dialogue initiative setting, negotiation for conflict resolution, and summaries for plan recognition assistance. We show how to incorporate these behaviors in a task-oriented human-computer dialogue system, and we evaluate these mechanisms both analytically and via computer-computer dialogue simulation.
Operator Interface Design Issues in a Low-Bandwidth and High-Latency Vehicle Teleoperation System

Guiding a remote vehicle when real time image transmission is not possible is an important problem in the field of teleoperation. In such a situation, it is impractical to put an operator behind a steering wheel and expect accurate steering. In semi-autonomous teleoperation, an operator designates the path that the vehicle should follow in an image of the scene transmitted from the vehicle, and the vehicle autonomously follows this path. Previous techniques for semi-autonomous teleoperation require stereo image data, or inaccurately track paths on non-planar terrain. STRIPE is a method for accurate semi-autonomous teleoperation using monocular image data. By combining techniques in computer control, artificial intelligence, and intelligent user interfaces, we are designing a unique system for remote operation of a vehicle across lowbandwidth and high-delay transmission links.
A note on externalities and the placement of property rights: An alternative formulation to the standard pigouvian results

Given the usual assumptions, the traditional Pigouvian results are unassailable. Applied to externalities, the result is that a tax upon the generator of the externality alone is all that is required for obtaining optimal resource allocation.l This obtains whether participants operate independently or merge. 2 Buchanan 3 and Davis and Whinston 4 question this assertion in situations of monopoly and oligopoly; however, for the case of a large number of participants (consumers and producers) the Pigouvian results hold. As is well understood, however, the usual Pigouvian model does not explicitly analyze behavior beyond the imposition of the tax nor does it incorporate the reciprocal nature of externalities) Therefore, the unassailability of the results rests upo n a set of restrictive, neoclassical assumptions. As developed below the important assumptions include the following: first, that the externality is unidirectional; and second, that there exists a static set of production options. Furthermore, even if the Pigouvian tradition implicitly accepts the existence of new production options, it must assume that all possible abatement production options be separable, in order that the single tax upon the generator be optimal. I argue in this note that if these assumptions do not obtain, an alternative formulation exists which dominates the traditional Pigouvian solution. The argument proceeds as follows. Section I reiterates the simple model of the Pigouvian prescriptions developed by Baumol. 6 Taking the major insight of Coase's: discussion to be that every externality is essentially reciprocal in nature, I assume in Section II that the elimination of that externality (when it is bad) should also be reciprocal in nature. This reciprocity is made explicit by introducing a social abatement function into Baumol's Pigouvian model. Using this extended welfare model, I demonstrate that joint, interrelated responses (abatement costs) by pollutor and pollutee will be optimal and would require an 'alternative Pigouvian tax' be imposed upon both parties rather than 'the generator of the externality alone.' I indicate that this alternative will be Pareto superior to the standard Pigouvian
Murine pulmonary inflammation model: a comparative study of anesthesia and instillation methods

Various techniques have been utilized historically to generate acute pulmonary inflammation in the murine system. Crystalline silica exposure results in acute inflammation followed by pulmonary fibrosis. Methods of exposure are varied in their techniques, as well as types of anesthesia. Therefore, the current study sought to compare the effects of two major anesthesia (isoflurane and ketamine) and three routes of instillation, intranasal (IN), intratracheal (IT), and trans-oral (TO), on markers of inflammation. Mice were anesthetized with isoflurane or ketamine and instilled IN with silica or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Mice were sacrificed and lavaged after 3 days. To assess inflammation, alveolar cells were assessed by cytospin and lavage fluid was analyzed for inflammatory cytokines and total protein. While all parameters were increased in silica-exposed groups, regardless of anesthesia type, there were significant increases in neutrophils and total protein in mice anesthetized with ketamine, compared to isoflurane. In comparing instillation techniques, mice were anesthetized with isoflurane and instilled IN, IT, or TO with silica. Increases were observed in all parameters, except tumor necrosis factor-alpha, following IT silica instillation as compared to the IN and TO instillation groups. In addition, fluorescent microsphere uptake by alveolar macrophages supported the notion that all methods of instillation were uniform, but IT had significantly greater dispersion. Taken together, these data show that each method of exposure tested generated significant inflammation among the silica groups, and any differences in parameters or techniques should be taken into consideration when developing an animal model to study pulmonary diseases.
Optimized Shear Wave Generation Using Hybrid Beamforming Methods

Abstract Elasticity imaging is a medical imaging modality that measures tissue elasticity as an aid in the diagnosis of certain diseases. Shear wave-based methods have been developed to perform elasticity measurements in soft tissue. These methods often use the radiation force mechanism of focused ultrasound to induce shear waves in soft tissue such as liver, kidney, breast, thyroid and skeletal muscle. The efficiency of the ultrasound beam in producing broadband extended shear waves in soft tissue is very important to the widespread use of this modality. Hybrid beamforming combines two types of focusing, conventional spherical focusing and axicon focusing, to produce a beam for generating a shear wave that has increased depth-of–field (DOF) so that measurements can be made with a shear wave with a consistent wave front. Spherical focusing is used in many applications to achieve high lateral resolution, but has low DOF. Axicon focusing, with a cone-shaped transducer, can provide good lateral resolution with large DOF. We describe our linear aperture design and beam optimization performed using angular spectrum simulations. We performed a large parametric simulation study in which we varied the focal depth for the spherical focusing portion of the aperture, the numbers of elements devoted to the spherical and axicon focusing portions of the aperture and the opening angle used for axicon focusing. The hybrid beamforming method was experimentally tested in two phantoms, and shear wave speed measurement accuracy and DOF for each hybrid beam were evaluated. We compared our results with those for shear waves generated using only spherical focusing. The results of this study indicate that hybrid beamforming is capable of producing a beam with increased DOF over which accurate shear wave speed measurements can be made for different-size apertures and at different focal depths.
Using Mutation to Automatically Suggest Fixes for Faulty Programs

This paper proposes a strategy for automatically fixing faults in a program by combining the processes of mutation and fault localization. Statements that are ranked in order of their suspiciousness of containing faults can then be mutated in the same order to produce possible fixes for the faulty program. The proposed strategy is evaluated against the seven benchmark programs of the Siemens suite and the Ant program. Results indicate that the strategy is effective at automatically suggesting fixes for faults without any human intervention.
Photometric detection of high proper motions in dense stellar fields using difference image analysis

ABSTRA C T The difference image analysis (DIA) of the images obtained by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE-II) revealed a peculiar artefact in the sample of stars proposed as variable by Wozniak in one of the Galactic bulge fields: the occurrence of pairs of candidate variables showing anti-correlated light curves monotonic over a period of 3 yr. This effect can be understood, quantified and related to the stellar proper motions. DIA photometry supplemented with a simple model offers an effective and easy way to detect high proper motion stars in very dense stellar fields, where conventional astrometric searches are extremely inefficient.
Application of a constant-output-power converter in multiple-module converter systems

The origins of the current-sharing problem of parallel-converter systems and the dual problem of voltage sharing in series-converter systems are explored. Both problems are studied by examining the output plane (output current versus output voltage) of a particular converter. It is shown that strict current source behavior is unnecessary for good current sharing in parallel-converter systems, and that converters which behave neither as current nor as voltage sources can share a load equally in an a*b array of converters. One class of converters useful in such systems is that characterized by constant output power (e.g., the clamped series resonant converter). Furthermore, it is shown that constant output power converters are a subset of a broad class of converters whose output voltage is load-dependent, all of which exhibit particular load-sharing good voltage- and current-sharing characteristics. The characteristics of discontinuous mode PWM converters as well as conventional and clamped series resonant converters are examined in detail. A small-signal model of the modular converter system is developed. Experimental results are given. >
Diverse roles for E4orf3 at late times of infection revealed in an e1b 55-kilodalton protein mutant background

Species C human adenovirus mutants that fail to express open reading frame 3 of early region 4 (E4orf3) are phenotypically indistinguishable from the wild-type virus when evaluated in cells cultured in vitro. However, E4orf3 gene function has been productively studied in the context of additional viral mutations. This study identifies diverse roles for the E4orf3 protein that are evident in the absence of early region 1B 55-kDa protein (E1B-55K) function. In an E1B-55K-deficient background, the E4orf3 protein promotes viral replication by increasing both the burst size and the probability that an infected cell will produce virus. Early viral gene expression is not impaired in E1B-55K/E4orf3 double mutant virus-infected cells. Cells infected with the double mutant virus accumulated concatemers of viral DNA. However, the E1B-55K/E4orf3 double mutant virus did not replicate any better in MO59J cells, in which viral DNA concatemers did not accumulate, than in MO59K cells, in which viral DNA concatemers were produced, suggesting that viral DNA concatenation is not the primary growth defect of the E1B-55K/E4orf3 double mutant virus. Accumulation of viral mRNA in the nucleus and cytoplasm of E1B-55K/E4orf3 double mutant virus-infected cells was severely reduced compared to that on wild-type virus-infected cells. Thus, in an E1B-55K mutant background, the E4orf3 protein promotes the accumulation of late viral RNA and enhances late gene expression. Finally, within the context of an E1B-55K mutant virus, the E4orf3 protein acts to suppress host cell translation and preserve the viability of cells at moderately late times of infection.
Cartomania: Sensation, Celebrity, and the Democratized Portrait

“Sensation” in the early 1860s was more than just a series of scandalous novels. Critics hurled the insult at any object that courted novelty, from mouthwash to photographs. This essay examines an aspect of sensation’s visual culture in “carto-mania,” the craze for cartes-de-visite that inspired the creation and collection of millions of small photographic portraits. The carte introduced a new kind of celebrity, one based on image, notoriety, and a fleeting kind of fame familiar to us from today’s tabloid culture. The greatest sensations were generated by cartes of questionable women—actresses, courtesans, and female criminals. Like the sensation novel, the carte upended traditional divides of class and gender by foregrounding powerful women of dubious backgrounds.
Proposed Safety Index Based on Risk-Taking Behavior of Drivers

A new safety indicator takes into consideration the risk-taking behavior of drivers as well as the prevailing traffic conditions at an intersection. The indicator is based on the idea that an intersection at which drivers are willing to take a higher risk is not as safe as one at which drivers are not willing to take high risks. Driver risk-taking behavior is modeled as a function of a driver's reaction to a possible collision scenario. Binary logistic regression was used to understand how the probability of a driver reacting to a possible collision scenario changes as a function of the variables defining the scenario. The data collection and safety index definition are presented from the perspective of permissive left turns; however, the concept of risk taking is universal; thus it is a feasible alternative for other maneuver types if appropriate data are obtained. Use of a safety index based on risk taking helps solve the engineer's dilemma of which of two intersections that have no crash history, or th...
Calorimetric measurements of the low-temperature heat capacity, standard molar enthalpy of formation at 298.15 K, and high-temperature molar enthalpy increments relative to 298.15 K of tungsten disulfide (WS2), and the thermodynamic properties to 1500 K

Low-temperature (5 to 350 K) heat capacity, fluorine combustion, and high-temperature (350 to 1500 K) drop-calorimetric measurements have been performed on a pure synthetic specimen of tungsten disulfide, WS2. The following molar thermodynamic quantities are reported at To = 298.15 K: the standard enthalpy of formation, ΔfHmo(To), −(240.8±3.1) kJ·mol−1; the heat capacity, Cp,mo(To), (63.82±0.32) J·K−1·mol−1; the standard entropy, Smo(To), (67.78±0.34) J·K−1·mol−1; and the standard Gibbs energy of formation, ΔfGmo(To), −(232.1±3.1) kJ·mol−1. The thermodynamic quantities have been calculated to 1500 K. Standard enthalpies of formation deduced from high-temperature equilibrium and e.m.f. studies in the literature are, in general, not in good agreement with one another or the present result. There have been no previous measurements of the low-temperature heat capacity, but the high-temperature enthalpy increments are in fair agreement with results published for WS1.97. There is some indication of a γT (i.e. conduction electrontribution to the heat capacity at low temperatures, but the evidence for this is not strong. The present thermodynamic quantities are consistent with geochemical field observations that molybdenite (MoS2) and not tungstenite (WS2) but tungstates and not molybdates are formed in hydrothermal deposits.
A PLA-based algorithm for estimating transition densities in two-level combinational logic circuits

We present a model based on the PLA implementation of logic circuits to estimate the transition densities in two-level combinational logic circuits. Given the primary input signal probabilities and transition densities, our model computes the transition densities at the internal and output nodes directly from the sum-of-products representation of the two-level logic circuits without further converting the circuits into other representations. The experimental results from our model compared to those from SPICE simulations are within an average of 1.7% error, confirming the effectiveness of our model.
Calcium buffering in coronary smooth muscle after chronic occlusion and exercise training

Objective: Exercise promotes “sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ unloading” in porcine coronary smooth muscle, resulting in decreased agonist-induced Ca2+ release. We studied Ca2+ handling in healthy, non-occluded right coronary artery cells from hearts chronically occluded at the circumflex artery. Methods: Myoplasmic free Ca2+ (Cam) was assessed with fura-2 in cells from sedentary ( n =8) and aerobically exercise-trained ( n =6) female Yucatan pigs after 6-month circumflex artery ameroid occlusion (OCC) and in cells from non-occluded, sedentary pigs (SED, n =5). First, Ca influx was induced by 80 mM KCl depolarization (priming step) followed by 5 mM caffeine to elicit maximal Ca2+ release and depletion. The SR was Ca-loaded again by depolarization and then exposed to caffeine after 2- or 11-min recovery to compare SR Ca2+ unloading. Results: Baseline Cam, caffeine-induced peak Cam, and depolarization-induced maximum Cam were decreased, and depolarization-induced time-to-half-maximum was increased in OCC vs. SED pigs, suggesting a tonic Ca2+ buffering (lowering) effect of occlusion. Exercise did not alter these effects. SR Ca2+ unloading occurred only in SED, as evidenced by decreased caffeine-induced Ca2+ release after 11 min of recovery, and was inhibited by low extracellular Na+. Conclusions: SR Ca2+ unloading can be demonstrated in coronary smooth muscle from sedentary pigs using a novel SR Ca2+ unloading protocol, and Ca2+ unloading partly depends on Na+–Ca2+ exchange activity. Furthermore, SR Ca2+ unloading in cells from non-occluded right coronary arteries of chronically circumflex-occluded pig hearts was not altered by exercise, perhaps due to enhanced tonic Ca2+ extrusion versus cells from normal, sedentary animals.
ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND THE TECHNOLOGY OF WAR IN PRE-INDUSTRIAL EUROPE*

In pre-industrial Europe the technology of war advanced at an unusually rapid pace. The period’s almost incessant warfare ensured a strong demand for improvements in the technology of war. At the same time, rapid economic development created an environment that was conducive to the supply of such improvements.
Das Determinationsgeschehen bei Insekten mit Ausschluß der frühembryonalen Determination.

Die postembryonalen Entwicklungsleistungen des Insektenorganismus sind vielgestaltig. Ihre deskriptive Untersuchung hat die aufeinanderfolgenden Entwicklungsschritte, ihre Latenzperioden, die Veranderungen der Gewebe (Histolyse) im Lauf der Entwicklung aufgezeigt. Die Fragen nach den Ursachen, den auslosenden und reagierenden Faktoren, die jene Entwicklungsfolge und ihre Veranderungen bedingen, und auf welche Weise die korrelative Zusammenarbeit der Gewebe zustande kommt, um aus dem Larvenkorper den so ganzlich anders gestalteten Organismus des fertigen Insektes auszubilden, sind jedoch noch kaum beantwortet. Aber es sind gerade diese Fragen, die im vorliegenden Artikel besprochen werden sollen. Da unser Wissen auf diesem Gebiet noch sehr luckenhaft ist, wurde mit vollem Bedacht auf eine Verallgemeinerung und Vergleichung der Befunde mit solchen von anderen Tiergruppen oder mit denen der Embryonalentwicklung verzichtet. Die an den einzelnen Insektengruppen ermittelten Tatsachen wurden unabhangig voneinander dem Rahmen der Fragestellung angepast.
Simulation in Emergency Medicine

Emergency medicine is a specialty with a high decision load in an environment where communications and teamwork are essential to patient safety. These two factors combined with the wide range of uncommon yet critical illnesses and breadth of procedures make simulation training in emergency medicine a necessity. Driven by these demands, the emergency medicine simulation community has been at the forefront of simulation-based assessment and education over the last 10 years. This chapter will provide a description of the state of the art in emergency medicine simulation which is applicable both to emergency medicine educators and educators from other specialties. Included are discussions of simulation-based education through the entire range of training, team-based education, procedures, fellowships, equipment, space, and funding. Much of what has been done well in emergency medicine can be easily applied to a variety of clinical disciples. There is currently a strong national simulation community in emergency medicine that continues to work on future applications of simulation to high-stakes assessment, maintenance of certification, patient safety, and quality.
The Effect of Red Light on Reproduction in Peromyscus maniculatus

Pairs of deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus ) were exposed to low-intensity red or white light during the active period of their daily cycle for 16 weeks. Analyses of 17 variables, including interlitter interval, percent of pairs breeding, mean litter size, testes mass, and several measures of puberty, indicated that there was no effect of red light on reproduction. However, moving young deer mice from their room of birth influenced gain in mass and growth of testes negatively.
Blood Oxygenation. III. The Vertical Revolving Cylinder. IV. The Vertical Revolving Cone.

Summary1. More oxygen can be introduced into blood per unit volume of film in a vertical revolving cylinder of 18 cm diam. if segments 18 cm long are used than if the segments are 38 cm long. An increase in efficiency of 23% was obtained. 2. Speed of rotation does not, within the ranges of 100 to 250 r.p.m., affect film content or oxygenation in such a vertical revolving cylinder. 3. The vertical revolving cone does not make a good oxygenator but may conceivably be used to collect blood atraumatically from vertical cylinders.
Floating-Gate a-Si:H TFT Nonvolatile Memories

Charge and discharge phenomena of the floating-gate amorphous silicon thin film transistor have been studied under dynamic operation conditions. The charge storage capacity decreases with the increase of the drain voltage because it is easier for electrons to be transported to the drain electrode than to be injected into the gate dielectric layer. The discharge efficiency with respect to the drain voltage has been investigated using three different discharge methods: negative gate bias voltage, light exposure, and thermal annealing, separately. The channel length affected both the charge capacity and the discharge efficiency due to the charge storage mechanism and the channel resistance. Majority of the stored charges were removed with the above method through various mechanisms. The low temperature favors the charge storage but the high temperature favors the discharge. This study revealed key parameters for the optimum operation of the low temperature fabricated nonvolatile memory device.
A New Method of Reproducting Fingerprints from Putrefactive Corpese by Using Latex

In view of the problems arising while fingerprinting putrefactive corpses,especially in case of mummification and carbonization,the author proposes an innovative technique which uses latex film.The technique is versatile,easy to apply,and allows the operator to work quickly on cadavers without amputating parts,except in rare cases.Through the latex technique,a perfect and enduring negative copy of the fingerprint is obtained,ready to be inked and photographed.The numerous copies produced in this way can be inked several times allowing for the repeatability of the procedure and this is crucial in cases of problematic legal identification of corpses.
Using Stimulants to Tackle Social Disadvantages: Interesting in Theory, Problematic in Practice

Keisha Ray is right that there is no sound ethical reason for ruling out a priori the legitimacy of giving psychopharmaceuticals to young people who do not suffer from a medical condition, and that...
Channel Frequency Response-Based Secret Key Generation in Underwater Acoustic Systems

Preestablished secret keys are often used to encrypt and decrypt data in communication systems, which are not secure once the keys are compromised. One desirable method is to generate secret keys dynamically using correlated channel measurements. We explore this concept in underwater acoustic (UWA) channels, and present a protocol that can generate secret keys dynamically based on the channel frequency response (CFR) in orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing systems. The multi-bit quantization is carried out on the amplitude of each tone, and the Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem codes are used for information reconciliation. Part of the protocol was implemented in lake tests, and multiple data sets were collected. The lake test results verify that the amplitude of CFR can be used as a randomness source for key generation in UWA channels, and we also find the low correlation between the mutual channels of the legitimate users. Based on the lake test results, we incorporate two modules into the protocol for performance improvement. The first module employs the adaptively weighted probing signaling to increase the channel correlation, and the second module of block-sliced key verification is used to deal with channel dynamics and increase the key agreement probability. The simulation results demonstrate the improved performance of the enhanced protocol.
Prevalence of physical activity levels by ethnicity among adults in Hawaii, BRFSS 2001.

BACKGROUND Few studies have examined the differences in physical activity levels between subgroups of Asian or Pacific Islanders living in the United States. This study compared levels of physical activity for three subgroups of Asian or Pacific Islanders residing in Hawaii. METHODS Data on Native Hawaiian/Part Native Hawaiian (N=585), Filipino (N=548), Japanese (N=871), and White (N=1728) adults were obtained from the Hawaii 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which contained more detailed questions on ethnicity than are collected by most states. Six physical activity categories were compared: inactive, insufficient (some activity but less than recommended activity), moderate activity (> or = 30 minutes of moderate activity > or = 5 days a week), vigorous activity (> or = 20 minutes of vigorous activity > or = 3 days a week), recommended activity (meeting either moderate or vigorous activity requirements), and a recently suggested target of > or = 60 minutes of moderate activity 7 days a week or > or = 20 minutes of vigorous activity > or = 4 days a week. RESULTS Among Asians or Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians/Part Native Hawaiians were most active (38.9% moderate and 23.9% vigorous), followed by Japanese (32.1%, 20.4%) and Filipinos (31.8%, 18.6%). Whites were more active than any of these three subgroups (47.2%, 35.4%). CONCLUSIONS Differences in physical activity levels between subgroups of Asians or Pacific Islanders in Hawaii suggests that aggregated data for all subgroups obscures important information about disparities in activity levels. State efforts to reduce disparities in activity levels should take into account differences between Asian or Pacific Islander subgroups.