cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultra Efficient Acceleration for De Novo Genome Assembly via Near-Memory Computing

De novo assembly of genomes for which there is no reference, is essential for novel species discovery and metagenomics. In this work, we accelerate two key performance bottlenecks of DBG-based assembly, graph construction and graph traversal, with a near-data processing (NDP) architecture based on 3D-stacking. The proposed framework distributes key operations across NDP cores to exploit a high degree of parallelism and high memory bandwidth. We propose several optimizations based on domain-specific properties to improve the performance of our design. We integrate the proposed techniques into an existing DBG assembly tool, and our simulation-based evaluation shows that the proposed NDP implementation can improve the performance of graph construction by 33× and traversal by 16× compared to the state-of-the-art.
Contrast between Predictive and Vulnerability Approaches

While efforts to predict natural phenomena have become an important aspect of the Earth sciences, the value of such efforts, as judged especially by their capacity to improve decision making and achieve policy goals, has been questioned by a number of constructive critics. The relationship between prediction and policy making is not straightforward for many reasons. In practice, consolidative and exploratory models are often confused by both scientists and policy-makers alike, thus a central challenge facing the Community is the appropriate use of such models and resulting predictions (Sarewitz and Pielke 1999).
Relative Mechanical Strengths of Weak Bonds in Sonochemical Polymer Mechanochemistry

The mechanical strength of scissile chemical bonds plays a role in material failure and in the mechanical activation of latent reactivity, but quantitative measures of mechanical strength are rare. Here, we report the relative mechanical strength of polymers bearing three putatively “weak” scissile bonds: the carbon–nitrogen bond of an azobisdialkylnitrile (<30 kcal mol–1), the carbon–sulfur bond of a thioether (71–74 kcal mol–1), and the carbon–oxygen bond of a benzylphenyl ether (52–54 kcal mol–1). The mechanical strengths are assessed in the context of chain scission triggered by pulsed sonication of polymer solutions, by using two complementary techniques: (i) the competition within a single polymer chain between the bond scission of interest and the nonscissile mechanochemical ring opening of gem-dichlorocyclopropane mechanophores and (ii) the molecular weights at long (4 h) sonication times of multimechanophore polymers. The two methods produce a consistent story: in contrast to their thermodynamic ...
Planetary Nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds

The available photometric and spectroscopic data on the planetary nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds are discussed. Recent results regarding the distribution of the planetary nebulae in the Clouds and the kinematics of the Clouds are presented. Masses are determined for selected planetary nebulae in the Clouds, and the question about the most likely average mass is considered. The evolutionary tracks of the nuclei for two values of the average mass are compared with the actual positions in the HR diagram of the nuclei of the planetary nebulae in the Clouds.
Some Physiological Characteristics of Two Sets of Phage-Propagating Strains of Staphylococcus aureus

A number of physiological characteristics were studied on some 29 strains of phage-propagating staphylococci belonging to the Basic International Series and the Seto-Wilson bovine-adapted set. All the cultures except strain 73 were coagulase-positive, with reciprocal titers ranging from 2 to 8,192. Strain 73 was again an exception with respect to phosphatase activity. Group 1 yielded high values for both phosphatase and oxygen uptake but low values for extracellular protein. Resistance to penicillin was demonstrated only by strains 80, 81, 53, 54, 75, and 77. Strain 70, one of the highest coagulase producers, alone showed no catalase activity. Mannitol was fermented by all coagulase-positive strains. Hemolysis of one or more of three kinds of erythrocytes (sheep, rabbit, and human) was a common characteristic of most strains. However, pigmentation was a nondiscriminating parameter. Although one-half of the cultures liquefied gelatin, most of them gave similar antibiotic-sensitivity tests, except the six which were penicillinase producers. There was little difference in growth rate for all strains. Comparison of coagulase production to cell size indicated that the high-titer strains were generally larger than the low producers. The foregoing evidence avers that, in addition to lytic spectrum, physiological properties can usefully characterize staphylococcal phage-propagating strains.
Gonadotropin, prolactin, and steroid hormone levels after discontinuation of oral contraceptives

Serum levels of LSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin were measured daily for 2 months in six women after discontinuation of combination oral contraceptives. The initial LH peak occurred from 21 to 28 days after ingestion of the last tablet. Apart from variable prolongation of the follicular phase in the first postcontraceptive cycle, the patterns and levels of all hormones were indistinguishable from those found in normal ovulatory subjects. These results indicate that after a variable brief interval following discontinuation of oral contraceptive steroids, their suppressive effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis disappears. This initial recovery results in completely normal endocrine function.
Effects of Genotype, Spawn Run Time, and Substrate Formulation on Biological Efficiency of Shiitake

Substrate formulations of sawdust, wheat bran, and millet were inoculated with spawns from one hybrid and two parental genotypes of Lentinula edodes. Biological efficiency (BE) and size data on mushrooms harvested from two substrate formulations with spawn run times of 60, 90, and 120 days were analyzed. A significant genotype-spawn run time-substrate formulation interaction was observed for BE. The longer spawn runs resulted in greater BE than the shorter spawn runs. This study points to the need for more work to determine the underlying variability within genotypes.
Electrocardiographic mirror pattern studies. II. The statistical and individual validity of the heart dipole concept as applied in electrocardiographic analysis.

Abstract 1. 1. A procedure for determining accurately the degree to which electrocardiographic potentials may be ascribed to a dipolelike source has been experimentally evaluated. The method makes use of the cancellation properties of mirror patterns and has a sensitivity of approximately 2 per cent. 2. 2. In a study of seventeen normal subjects and thirty-seven cardiac patients, mirror patterns were found along approximately 100 different anatomic axes through the heart, no direction giving significantly better mirror patterns than any other direction. 3. 3. In general, approximately 90 per cent of the electrocardiographic potential appearing at any point on the body, including the precordial areas, may be ascribed to a dipolelike current source at the heart, in that only 9 per cent of any pair of mirror patterns, on the average, failed to cancel. 4. 4. Although different points on the body are at different electrical distances from the heart, a study of bodily and cardiac dimensions failed to reveal any significant correlation between physical dimensions and electrical distance. 5. 5. All of the studies were made using a Wilson central terminal. Since excellence of cancellation of mirror patterns depends on having a truly neutral central terminal as well as on having actual dipolelike activity of the heart, the Wilson terminal, accordingly, is shown to be quite satisfactory for leads in the anteroposterior direction as well as in the frontal plane. It was indicated, however, that careful derivation of a properly weighted central terminal might be expected to improve the degree of cancellation obtainable. 6. 6. Since only a dipolelike source is capable of yielding mirror patterns in a wide variety of directions through the heart, the results obtained were taken to be a verification of the dipole theory for semiquantitative, as well as qualitative, purposes. The projection areas of the so-called Unipolar Electrocardiography must be regarded as having relatively little meaning.
Die Praxis der Bündel-Nagelung

In den einzelnen Kapiteln des Speziellen Teiles werden nur die Besonderheiten von Indikationsstellung, Lagerungs- und Repositionstechnik, Abdeckung und Nagelung besprochen, die sich fur die einzelnen Nagelungsarten ergeben. Uberhaupt nicht eingegangen wird hier auf Wahl des Operationstermins, Vorbehandlung, Stabilitatsprufung, krankengymnastische Behandlung und sonstige (nichtkrankengymnastische) Behandlung, da diese im Allgemeinen Teil in genugender Ausfuhrlichkeit abgehandelt wurden.
Building problem solvers

From the Publisher: For nearly two decades, Kenneth Forbus and Johan de Kleer have accumulated a substantial body of knowledge about the principles and practice of creating problem solvers. In some cases they are the inventors of the ideas or techniques described, and in others, participants in their development. Building Problem Solvers communicates this knowledge in a focused, cohesive manner. It is unique among standard artificial intelligence texts in combining science and engineering, theory and craft to describe the construction of AI reasoning systems, and it includes code illustrating the ideas. After working through Building Problem Solvers, readers should have a deep understanding of pattern directed inference systems, constraint languages, and truth-maintenance systems. The diligent reader will have worked through several substantial examples, including systems that perform symbolic algebra, natural deduction, resolution, qualitative reasoning, planning, diagnosis, scene analysis, and temporal reasoning. Along the way Forbus and de Kleer teach the art of building robust AI software. They begin with simple examples such as search programs, and move to more complex cases on the cutting edge of AI techniques, such as model-based diagnosis systems and a qualitative reasoner. This software has been tested and used extensively by graduate students and programmers in industry. Although Building Problem Solvers is designed primarily as a text for advanced AI classes or AI programming classes, it can be used by researchers in universities and industrial laboratories who want to apply these techniques in their work, and by programmers who want to incorporate these ideas in their applications.
Social Stratification of Linguistic Forms in Text Messages of Selected Cebuanos

While cellular phones have become common among Filipinos, it is contended that, even though, such accessibility may have bridged the digital gap, it is far from eradicating social divides between the rich and the poor. The class divide is very apparent based on usage alone. This divide is more a function of income and education than the availability of technology. Three aims of this study include: 1) finding out whether social stratification is evident in the text messages of people from lower, middle, and upper classes; 2) affirming the relationship between social stratification and linguistic forms usage; and 3) exploring noticeable patterns in texting styles of participants. Employing mixed methods design, linguistic forms used by participants were described and analyzed. Noticeable patterns in the texting styles of 18 participants (six for each social class, males and females equally represented) were also accounted. Three linguistic forms: shortenings, punctuations, and letters/numbers/homophones are frequently used by the participants across the three social classes to facilitate ease of texting and to shorten long words. Two form categories are socially stratified: punctuations and accent stylization. Thus, knowing the linguistic forms used by an individual can lead to knowledge of his/her social status. Keywords- Sociolinguistics, Computer-mediated Communication (CMC), social stratification, linguistic forms, textual analysis, mixed methods design, Philippines
Modeling radiation belt electron dynamics during GEM challenge intervals with the DREAM3D diffusion model

[1] As a response to the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) “Global Radiation Belt Modeling Challenge,” a 3D diffusion model is used to simulate the radiation belt electron dynamics during two intervals of the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) mission, 15 August to 15 October 1990 and 1 February to 31 July 1991. The 3D diffusion model, developed as part of the Dynamic Radiation Environment Assimilation Model (DREAM) project, includes radial, pitch angle, and momentum diffusion and mixed pitch angle-momentum diffusion, which are driven by dynamic wave databases from the statistical CRRES wave data, including plasmaspheric hiss, lower-band, and upper-band chorus. By comparing the DREAM3D model outputs to the CRRES electron phase space density (PSD) data, we find that, with a data-driven boundary condition at Lmax = 5.5, the electron enhancements can generally be explained by radial diffusion, though additional local heating from chorus waves is required. Because the PSD reductions are included in the boundary condition at Lmax = 5.5, our model captures the fast electron dropouts over a large L range, producing better model performance compared to previous published results. Plasmaspheric hiss produces electron losses inside the plasmasphere, but the model still sometimes overestimates the PSD there. Test simulations using reduced radial diffusion coefficients or increased pitch angle diffusion coefficients inside the plasmasphere suggest that better wave models and more realistic radial diffusion coefficients, both inside and outside the plasmasphere, are needed to improve the model performance. Statistically, the results show that, with the data-driven outer boundary condition, including radial diffusion and plasmaspheric hiss is sufficient to model the electrons during geomagnetically quiet times, but to best capture the radiation belt variations during active times, pitch angle and momentum diffusion from chorus waves are required.
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 genetic polymorphisms and the risk for advanced pelvic organ prolapse.

Objective Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a protease associated with degradation of collagen and elastin. Because increased MMP-9 activity in vaginal tissue has been associated with pelvic organ prolapse, we sought to comprehensively estimate MMP-9 genetic variants and the risk for advanced prolapse.
Synthetic applications of the photolysis of the cyclopentadienyliron-(ρ-xylene) cation

Abstract Photolysis of CpFe(ρ-xylene)+ (Cp = η5-cyclopentadienyl) in the presence of suitable 6- or 2-electron donor ligands results in replacement of the aromatic ring with one 6-electron or three 2-electron donor ligands. The compounds [CPFe(η6-C7H8)]BF4 (C7H8 = cycloheptatriene), [CpFe(η6-C8H8)]PF6, (C8H8 = cyclooctatetraene), [CpFe(η6-PCP)]PF6 (PCP = 2,2-paracyclophane), [CpFe-(P(OCH3)3)3]PF6 and [CpFe(P(OCH2CH3)3)3]PF6 were prepared in this manner. The compound [CpFe(TM4)3FeCp](PF6)2 · CH3COCH3 (TM4 = 2,5-dimethyl-2,5 diisocyanohexane) was prepared in two steps. First, [CpFe(ρ-xylene)]PF6 was irradiated with an excess of the free TM4 ligand producing a mixture of [CpFe(TM4)3]+ and [CpFe(TM4)3FeCp]2+. An additional equivalent of [CpFe(p-xylene)]PF6 was added to this mixture and photolysis yielded [CpFe(TM4)3FeCp](PF6)2 · CH3COCH3.
Pattern formation during the directional solidification of binary systems

Abstract Interface pattern formation during the directional solidification of succinonitrile-acetone system is studied in situ and the dynamics of the pattern formation are presented for the cases in which an initially unstable planar interface reorganizes into a stable cellular or dendritic shape. Two different mechanisms of pattern formation have been shown to exist. One of these mechanisms leads to the cellular pattern, whereas the other to the dendritic pattern. The wave vectors of the transient patterns have been found to lie within the unstable band predicted by the linear stability analysis. However, only two initial characteristic wave vectors are observed experimentally and the values of these observed wave vectors are significantly smaller than the theoretically predicted value which gives the largest amplification rate. These two characteristic wavelengths have been shown to exhibit simple scaling laws with all steady-state dendrite lengths, i.e. dendrite tip radius, primary spacing, initial secondary spacing and the first sidebranch perturbation location. The magnitudes of the smaller and the larger characteristic wavelengths are shown to be controlled by the solute and thermal diffusion process, respectively.
Are your credits worthy

Chemical and petrochemical manufacturing processes have potential for high consequence, low frequency events. Process safety management programs should identify and eliminate or control the conditions leading to the catastrophic hazards associated with these events. In recent years, industry has increasingly turned to quantitative or semiquantitative risk assessment tools to prioritize and manage the hazards they have identified. Risk assessment, whether qualitative, quantitative, or semiquantitative, is a powerful tool when used properly; however, companies must ensure that the safeguards for which they take credit are robust enough to truly manage hazards. This article discusses possible inconsistencies in process hazard analysis (PHA) claims. If a PHA claims credit for a good mechanical integrity (MI) program, what happens when that MI program has numerous deficiencies or violations? When a PHA bases a failure scenario frequency on industry historical experience, how does the site know that this experience is actually applicable to their processes? When a safeguard is challenged, is it available on-demand? What are the consequences if a claimed safeguard does not perform as designed/credited? © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 32: 8–11, 2013
Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Pulmonary Metastases

Objectives Surgical resection is the preferred treatment in selected patients with pulmonary metastases. In high-risk patients, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may offer an alternative option. RFA may be used alone or combined with surgical resection as a lung parenchymal-sparing approach. Our objectives were to evaluate the intermediate term outcomes after RFA and to determine the prognostic variables associated with outcome in patients with pulmonary metastases. Methods Thoracic surgeons evaluated and performed RFA under computed tomography (CT) guidance or combined with surgical resection. Patients were monitored in the thoracic surgery clinic for recurrence and survival. Results Twenty-two patients (10 men, 12 women; median age, 63 years [range, 37 to 88]) underwent RFA. The primary cancer was colorectal in 9 (41%), renal in 2 (9%), sarcoma in 4 (18%), and other in 7 (32%). CT-guided RFA was the sole treatment in 17 patients (77%) and combined with surgical resection in 5 (23%). No procedurally related deaths occurred. At a mean follow-up of 27 months (range, 13.3 to 53.6 months), 9 patients are alive. The median survival was 29 months (95% confidence interval, 9.1 to 33.8). Lesion size was an important prognostic variable associated with overall and disease-free survival ( p ω 0.05). Conclusions RFA is safe in this group of pulmonary metastases patients, with reasonable results. Surgical resection remains the standard for resectable patients, but RFA offers an alternative in selected patients or may be used as a parenchymal-sparing approach in combination with surgical resection in selected patients.
The association of affective and continuance commitment with correctional staff life satisfaction

Abstract Previous research suggests that life satisfaction is a stronger predictor of job performance than job satisfaction, and life satisfaction is negatively associated with absenteeism and a desire to retire early. Despite the fact that employees with high life satisfaction are essential for organizations’ optimal efficiency, little empirical research exists to determine the individual and workplace factors that shape and maintain high correctional staff life satisfaction levels. This study investigates the impact of two types of organizational commitment, continuance and affective, on correctional staff life satisfaction at two Midwestern prisons, one private and one public. Continuance commitment was negatively related and affective commitment was positively related with life satisfaction for staff in both prisons. Possible methods to increase affective commitment and life satisfaction for correctional staff are discussed.
Five factor model of schizophrenia: Replication across samples

In order to examine the effect of neuroleptic medication on the factor structure of schizophrenic symptomatology, 517 DSM-III-R schizophrenic in-patients enrolled in a multicenter phase II drug study were evaluated on their pre-existing neuroleptic at screening on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and after a one-week drug-free period. Separate principal components analyses of the PANSS were done at each time point. PANSS total and component scores were assessed for differences utilizing paired t-tests. Both factor analyses confirmed the five factor model (negative, positive, cognitive, excitement and depression components) explaining 51.7 and 56.2% of the variances at each time point. After medication wash-out psychopathology significantly worsened as measured by total PANSS score and by each of the components. The overall worsening of component scores appeared global and uniform, as evidenced by the fact that at washout, the proportion of individual component scores to total psychopathology remained constant for most components. The lack of change of most components in proportion to the psychopathology total is evidence for the stability of these individual psychopathological dimensions of patients while on and off neuroleptics. The results further support the validity of the five-factor model of schizophrenic psychopathology as measured by the PANSS.
Motivators, resources and barriers in voluntary international migration of the elderly: The case of Israel-bound aged.

A conceptual model was developed and tested to identify personal and situational factors which differentiate successful from unsuccessful planners of voluntary long-distance moves among the elderly. Potential migrants to Israel were identified at their point of origin and followed-up to ascertain whether they actually moved. This group generally shared a desire for a more challenging lifestyle and for opportunities to help others. A comparison group of movers (N = 97) revealed that ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors in the environment of destination were far more important in differentiating these two groups than were factors in the environment of origin. Attachments, personal ties and familiarity with the new environment also emerged as significant predictors of moving. Selective evaluations of advantages of the new environment and obstacles to the move also differentiated movers from non-movers. Being married and in good health served as useful resources to facilitate the move. ka]Key Words kb]cross-national migration kb]voluntary relocation kb]elderly migration kb]migrant characteristics kb]environments kb]migration
Substance Disorder Among Persons With Mild Mental Retardation

The authors compared the nature and severity of substance disorder (SD) in patients with mental retardation (MR) compared with SD in non-MR patients. Subjects were patients sequentially admitted to alcoholism/addiction programs in two university medical centers (MR+SD = 40; SD-only = 308). Data were collected on demographic characteristics, substance use history, SD duration and severity, and family history of SD. Subjects with MR+SD began substance use at a later age, used fewer substances during their lifetime (especially illicit substances), used less frequently in the past year, had lower severity scores on measures of substance abuse severity, and demonstrated milder and briefer substance use histories. It appears that less substance abuse is required in MR than in non-MR persons to precipitate psychosocial crises and health problems associated with psychoactive substances.
Phase coherence and dynamics in weakly-coupled periodic and quasiperiodic superconductor arrays

Abstract We have fabricated and studied the transport properties of arrays of proximity-coupled superconductor islands arranged in a quasiperiodic Penrose tile geometry. In the magnetic field response, we identify coarse structure arising from the irrational area ratio of the two fundamental tile shapes, and fine structure due to the long-range quasiperiodic order of the array. By varying the voltage bias of the sample, which governs the rate of vortex diffusion, we can adjust the range of phase coherence in the array and identify the origin of specific features in the magnetoresistance. These ideas have been corroborated by measurements on ladder arrays with varying widths and on periodic arrays with two irrationally-related cell areas. Measurements of the resistive transition and nonlinear current-voltage characteristics are consistent with a Kosterlitz-Thouless vortex-unbinding phase transition at zero field, but show more complicated behavior at finite fields.
CATALASE ACTIVITY AS AN INDEX OF MICROBIAL LOAD AND END-POINT COOKING TEMPERATURE OF FISH

Psychrotrophs that are responsible for spoilage of many aerobically cold-stored foods are strongly catalase positive. This study was conducted to ascertain the feasibility of using the Pasteur pipette catalase test developed by Fung (1985) to estimate the microbial population in raw fish during aerobic cold storage and to determine the end-point cooking temperature of fish. Fish samples (cod fillets, catfish, halibut fillets, rainbow trout, and salmon fillets in three replications each) were stored at 7C and monitored at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h and up to 7 days. Fish surface, fish juice, and fish meat samples were obtained by conventional microbiological methods and were serially diluted in 0.1% of peptone water to a final 1:100 dilution. To perform the catalase test 0.1 mL of the 1:10 or 1:100 dilution of the sample was placed into the wider portion of the heat-sealed Pasteur pipette followed by 0.1 mL of 3% H2O2. The liquid mixture then was shaken into the heat-sealed capillary portion. The pipette was then inverted and after 5 min, the lengths of the gas column and the liquid column were measured in mm; the gas column was expressed as a percentage of the total, which was considered as the percentage catalase activity (% CA). Viable cell counts (VCCs) of these samples also were made. As VCCs increased on fish surface, in fish juice, and in fish meat samples, concomitant increases occurred in % CA. The lowest level detect by this method was about 103-4 CFU/cm2, mL, or g. Catalase activities of 0.0-0.5% on fish surface, <4.3% in fish juice, and <2% in fish meat, corresponded to low total counts of 104-5 CFU/cm2, 105 CFU/mL, and 103-4 CFU/g, respectively. Catalase activities of 0.6-1.5% on fish surface, 4.3-8.2% in fish juice, and 2.3-5% in fish meat, corresponded to high total counts of 106 CFU/cm2, 106 CFU/mL, and 105-6 CFU/g, respectively. Catalase activities of 1.7-2.5% on fish surface, 8.3-12.4% in fish juice, and 5–6% in fish meat, indicated that fish was unacceptable for consumption. Fish samples were cooked at temperatures of 40C, 50C, 55C, 60C, 65C, 70C, and 75C to determine the end-point temperature. Each sample was heated at each temperature for: 36 s, 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, and 5 min in a temperature-controlled water bath. Samples that had reached an internal temperature of 65C showed no catalase activity in the test tube method or very little activity in the capillary tube method and contained no live bacteria, indicating that fish was safe for consumption.
French Education and the Limits of State Autonomy

IN another of those pendulum swings so familiar to observers and practitioners of political science, the popularity of society-centered models of the democratic policy process recently has provoked a series of counterattacks by proponents of "state-centered" models (Nordlinger 1981; Krasner 1978, 1984; Skocpol 1985; and, on neomarxist theories, Carnoy 1984, and Carnoy and Levin 1985). Neither the pluralist nor the orthodox Marxist school, it is argued, gives adequate consideration to the ability of the state to act autonomously. The only means of ascertaining the extent of state autonomy, and the utility of state-centered models, is through case studies of the policy process in different countries and policy areas. The purpose of the following analysis will be twofold: first, to demonstrate the limits of state autonomy in a policy arena which would seem to favor it, and, second, to suggest some general problems with state-centered models in the study of the democratic policy process. The case studies of French education to be presented are not intended to offer a definitive test. Limited as they are in number and scope, they do, however, offer important evidence, for they deal with a policy arena which has a number of characteristics commonly associated with state autonomy. Among Western nations, France often is perceived to be the most perfect democratic embodiment of the strong and centralized state (Krasner 1978: 58-61; Nordlinger 1981: 103, 105; Skocpol 1985: 34, N. 29). 1 In a survey of the development of uses of the concept of the state, J. P. Nettl concludes that ". .. it is the French state and the idea of the state that provide the basic European model" (Nettl 1968: 567). From the time of Louis XIV and his energetic minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to postwar economic planners, high political authorities have taken a broad view of the state's responsibility for guiding social and economic development. Within French Government, the Ministry of Education is one of the most highly centralized, with extensive formal control over curriculum, personnel and funding allocations. And yet, as will be shown, state autonomy in French education is limited by intrastate conflict and rivalry between public-private coalitions.
Horizontal transmission of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill

Summary 1 Factors influencing horizontal transmission of the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana in the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) were examined through a series of laboratory studies. 2 Cadaver density, cadaver life stage, ambient temperature and conidial density were the factors manipulated. 3 Mortality and sporulation of burrowing CPB prepupae both increased significantly with increased sporulating second-instar cadaver density on the soil surface. 4 Mortality rates were significantly higher when prepupae were released into laboratory arenas containing third-instar cadavers compared to second-instar cadavers. 5 Mortality and sporulation decreased significantly as temperature increased from 15 °C to 30 °C, however, no temperature-dependent behavioural response by prepupae could be identified as a potential cause. 6 An 86.1% decrease in conidial density per cadaver had no significant effect on mortality or sporulation of prepupae, indicating that this level of environmental degradation of cadavers may not significantly reduce the probability of horizontal transmission.
Censored rank independence screening for high-dimensional survival data

In modern statistical applications, the dimension of covariates can be much larger than the sample size. In the context of linear models, correlation screening (Fan and Lv, 2008) has been shown to reduce the dimension of such data effectively while achieving the sure screening property, i.e., all of the active variables can be retained with high probability. However, screening based on the Pearson correlation does not perform well when applied to contaminated covariates and/or censored outcomes. In this paper, we study censored rank independence screening of high-dimensional survival data. The proposed method is robust to predictors that contain outliers, works for a general class of survival models, and enjoys the sure screening property. Simulations and an analysis of real data demonstrate that the proposed method performs competitively on survival data sets of moderate size and high-dimensional predictors, even when these are contaminated.
Analysis of the effect of partial vitrification on stress development in cryopreserved blood vessels

Thermal stress development in blood vessels, during processes associated with vitrification (vitreous means glassy in Latin), is studied. This paper addresses the limiting case where the specimen completely crystallizes, while the cryoprotectant medium (CPA) completely vitrifies. This case is expected to provide upper boundary estimates for stresses for the more common problem of a partially vitrified sample. The CPA is modeled as a linear viscoelastic medium, with viscosity increasing exponentially with decreasing temperature; given the assumption of complete crystallization, the blood vessel is modeled as linear elastic below the freezing temperature. Consistent with previous observations, the CPA is found to behave linear elastically below a set-temperature, at which point the viscosity rises sufficiently quickly with further cooling. This observation reduces computational efforts and allows for parametric studies based on suitably chosen wholly elastic models. Both 2D concentric cylinder models of the blood vessel in a straight configuration and a 3D model of the vessel curled in a vial of CPA are studied; 2D models are shown to bound the results of the more general 3D problem. It is found that stress in the CPA decreases with increase in CPA volume, at least under conditions where the temperature can be viewed as uniform. Planar cracks are predicted to form transverse to the vessel axis, and to propagate right up to the blood vessel wall. Should such cracks propagate into the vessel, even over only a few μm, the mechanical damage to the lumen, or to endothelial cells, may cause the blood vessel to completely loose its functionality at the end of the cryopreservation protocol.
Tectonics and Volcanism of Eastern Aphrodite Terra, Venus: No Subduction, No Spreading

Eastern Aphrodite Terra, a deformed region with high topographic relief on Venus, has been interpreted as analogous to a terrestrial extensional or convergent plate boundary. However, analysis of geological and structural relations indicates that the tectonics of eastern Aphrodite Terra is dominated by blistering of the crust by magma diapirs. The findings imply that, within this region, vertical tectonism dominates over horizontal tectonism and, consequently, that this region is neither a divergent nor a convergent plate boundary.
Synthesis and antimalarial activity of new 4-amino-7-chloroquinolyl amides, sulfonamides, ureas and thioureas.

Abstract We report the synthesis and in vitro antimalarial activities of more than 50 7-chloro-4-aminoquinolyl-derived sulfonamides 3 – 8 and 11 – 26 , ureas 19 – 22 , thioureas 23 – 26 , and amides 27 – 54 . Many of the CQ analogues prepared for this study showed submicromolar antimalarial activity versus HB3 (chloroquine sensitive) and Dd2 (chloroquine resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum ) and low resistance indices were obtained in most cases. Systematic variation of the side chain length and introduction of fluorinated aliphatic and aromatic termini revealed promising leads that overcome CQ resistance. In particular, sulfonamide 3 exhibiting a short side chain with a terminal dansyl moiety combined high antiplasmodial potency with a low resistance index and showed IC 50 s of 17.5 and 22.7 nM against HB3 and Dd2 parasites.
An All-or-None Response in the Release of Potassium by Yeast Cells Treated with Methylene Blue and Other Basic Redox Dyes

Basic redox dyes, such as methylene blue, induce a loss of K+ from yeast cells. The maximal loss, rather than the rate of loss, is related to the dye concentration, the response following a normal distribution on a plot of log-dose, versus percentage loss of K+. This fact taken together with the observed correlation between K+ loss and frequency of staining (as measured by microscopic observation), indicates that the response is all-or-none for individual cells. The response is produced by all the basic redox dyes tested (9), but by none of the acidic dyes (4). However, only the oxidized form of the dye is effective. Cations protect the cells from the basic dyes in a competitive manner, the bivalent cations (especially UO2++) being more effective than monovalent cations. It is suggested that the action of the dyes involves two steps, the first a binding to ribonucleic acid in the cell membrane (with competition from cations) and the second, an oxidation of neighboring sulfhydryl groups to the disulfide form. At a threshold level, unique for each cell, a generalized membrane breakdown occurs, resulting in the release of potassium and of other cytoplasmic constituents.
And the question is? Knowledge growth in welfare policy research

This study examines how federally sponsored research questions about welfare policy have evolved from 1981 to 2001, through a content analysis of Requests for Proposals (RFPs). We treat the RFP as a document that identifies what information is sought as well as what is treated as established knowledge. Results show that research questions represent a mixture of constancy and change. The greatest similarity in research questions is in the areas of employment and earnings/income, with greater variability in the areas of family formation and child outcomes. The research questions, notwithstanding their sophisticated terminology, often boil down to who the poor are, how welfare recipients can be coaxed or forced into the labor market, whether fundamental work supports such as health insurance and reliable childcare are helpful in sustaining employment, and whether welfare is implicated in pregnancy, marital behavior and multi-generational poverty. We interpret these findings in relation to concepts on research utilization.
Daily Behavior report cards and systematic direct observation: An investigation of the acceptability, reported training and use, and decision reliability among school psychologists

More than ever, educators require assessment procedures and instrumentation that are technically adequate as well as efficient to guide data-based decision making. Thus, there is a need to understand perceptions of available tools, and the decisions made when using collected data, by the primary users of those data. In this paper, two studies that surveyed members of the National Association of School Psychologists with regard to two procedures useful in formative assessment, (i.e., Daily Behavior Report Cards; Systematic Direct Observation), are presented. Participants reported greater overall levels of training and use of Systematic Direct Observation than Daily Behavior Report Cards, yet both techniques were rated as equally acceptable for use in formative assessment. Furthermore, findings supported that school psychologists tend to make similar intervention decisions when presented with both types of data. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.
Architecture of the Atg17 Complex as a Scaffold for Autophagosome Biogenesis

Summary Macroautophagy is a bulk clearance mechanism in which the double-membraned phagophore grows and engulfs cytosolic material. In yeast, the phagophore nucleates from a cluster of 20–30 nm diameter Atg9-containing vesicles located at a multiprotein assembly known as the preautophagosomal structure (PAS). The crystal structure of a 2:2:2 complex of the earliest acting PAS proteins, Atg17, Atg29, and Atg31, was solved at 3.05 A resolution. Atg17 is crescent shaped with a 10 nm radius of curvature. Dimerization of the Atg17-Atg31-Atg29 complex is critical for both PAS formation and autophagy, and each dimer contains two separate and complete crescents. Upon induction of autophagy, Atg17-Atg31-Atg29 assembles with Atg1 and Atg13, which in turn initiates the formation of the phagophore. The C-terminal EAT domain of Atg1 was shown to sense membrane curvature, dimerize, and tether lipid vesicles. These data suggest a structural mechanism for the organization of Atg9 vesicles into the early phagophore.
Oxidation and loss of heme in soluble guanylyl cyclase from Manduca sexta.

Oxidation and loss of heme in soluble guanylyl/guanylate cyclase (sGC), the nitric oxide receptor, is thought to be a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and is the target of compounds BAY 58-2667 and HMR1766. Using spectroelectrochemical titration, we found a truncated sGC to be highly stable in the ferrous state (+234 mV) and to bind ferrous heme tightly even in the presence of NO, despite the NO-induced release of the proximal histidine. In contrast, oxidized sGC readily loses ferric heme to myoglobin (0.47 ± 0.02 hr−1). Peroxynitrite, the presumed cellular oxidant, readily oxidizes sGC in 5 mM glutathione.
A detailed study of some uranium series nuclides at an abyssal hill area near the east Pacific Rise at 8°45'N

Anomalous behavior of several uranium series nuclides has been observed at a metalliferous-hemipelagic site near the East Pacific Rise. Observations included a uranium peak at 30–125 cm depth in the sediment and excess radium in the biologically mixed zone which appears to correlate with manganese oxidation (0–8 cm). A model is presented which suggests that the adsorptive capacity of the sediment in regard to radium changes with manganese content, and that some radium is scavenged from the overlying seawater. The Σ 230 Th xs agrees with what is expected for removal from the overlying water column, but there is more Σ 231 Pa xs than expected. No 210 Pb xs is observed; it is possibly masked by 226 Ra scavenged from the seawater. Very high 222 Rn standing crops in the overlying water were also seen and several possible sources are discussed.
Thermal neutron analysis (TNA) explosive detection based on electronic neutron generators

Abstract Thermal neutron analysis explosive detection systems have been developed and demonstrated for inspection of checked airline baggage and for detection of buried land mines. Thermal neutrons from a moderated neutron source impinge on the inspected object, and the resulting capture gamma ray signatures provide detection information. Isotopic neutron sources, e.g. 252 Cf, are compact, economical and reliable, but they are subject to the licensing requirements, safety concerns and public perception problems associated with radioactive material. These are mitigated by use of an electronic neutron generator — an ion accelerator with a target producing neutrons by a nuclear reaction such as D(d, n) 3 He or 9 Be(d, n) 10 B. With suitable moderator designs based on neutron transport codes, operational explosive detection systems can be built and would provide effective alternatives to radioactive neutron sources. Calculations as well as laboratory and field experience with three generator types will be presented.
Normal Multiresolution Approximation of Curves

A multiresolution analysis of a curve is normal if each wavelet detail vector with respect to a certain subdivision scheme lies in the local normal direction. In this paper we study properties such as regularity, convergence, and stability of a normal multiresolution analysis. In particular, we show that these properties critically depend on the underlying subdivision scheme and that, in general, the convergence of normal multiresolution approximations equals the convergence of the underlying subdivision scheme.
The effect of margin guarantees on pricing and production

The modelling of supply contracts has recently received a considerable amount of attention in the supply-chain literature. A 'guarantee of margins' is a form of supply contract that reflects the recent shift of power from manufacturers to retailers in several industries. These agreements ensure a certain profit margin for the retailer even if markdowns are required to move the product. Very little research, however, has been conducted on this specific type of supply contract. Thus, a single-period, two-echelon pricing/inventory model is developed to analyse profit margin guarantees. We show that a guarantee of margins can improve the expected channel profit, as long as the margin is not set at too high a level and that the customers may benefit as well, through higher output and lower prices.
Reducing Lead in Air and Preventing Childhood Exposure Near Lead Smelters: Learning from the U.S. Experience

Childhood lead exposure and poisoning near primary lead smelters continues in developed and developing countries. In the United States, the problem of lead poisoning in children caused by smelter emissions was first documented in the early 1970s. In 1978, Environmental Protection Agency set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for lead. Attainment of this lead standard in areas near operating lead smelters took twenty to thirty years. Childhood lead exposure and poisoning continued to occur after the lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards were set and before compliance was achieved. This article analyzes and discusses the factors that led to the eventual achievement of the 1978 lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards near primary smelters and the reduction of children's blood lead levels in surrounding communities. Factors such as federal and state regulation, monitoring of emissions, public health activities such as blood lead surveillance and health education, relocation of children, environmental group and community advocacy, and litigation all played a role.
Physical modeling of tsunamis generated by three-dimensional deformable granular landslides

[1] Tsunamis generated by deformable granular landslides are physically modeled in a three-dimensional tsunami wave basin based on the generalized Froude similarity. The dynamic landslide impact characteristics were controlled by means of a novel pneumatic landslide generator. The wave amplitudes, periods, and wavelengths are related to the landslide parameters at impact with the landslide Froude number being a dominant parameter. Between 1 and 15% of the landslide kinetic energy at impact is converted into the wave train energy. The wave amplitudes decay in radial and angular directions from the landslide axis. The first wave crest mostly travels with speeds close to the theoretical approximation of the solitary wave speed. The measured tsunami wave profiles were either of the nonlinear oscillatory or nonlinear transition type depending primarily on the landslide Froude number and relative slide thickness at impact. The generated waves range from shallow to deep water depth regimes, with the majority being in the intermediate water depth regime. Wave characteristics are compared with other two- and three-dimensional landslide tsunami studies and the results are discussed.
Generation of cellular immune responses against a glioma-associated antigens(s)

The study demonstrated that RT2, a highly malignant anaplastic glioma, expresses antigens that make it susceptible to in vivo adoptive immunotherapy with cytotoxic T lymphocyte-containing immune cell populations. Rats were immunized with irradiated RT2 tumor cells and the adjuvant C. parvum. Lymphocytes from immunized rats were restimulated in vitro with irradiated RT2 tumor cells plus interleukin-2 (IL-2). The cells that proliferated and differentiated in vitro effectively killed RT2, but only low levels of cytotoxicity were observed against other histopathologically related and unrelated, syngeneic and allogeneic target cells. Adoptive transfer of immune cells combined with a 5-day course of systemic IL-2 produced specific regression of brain tumors growing as lung microfoci.