cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Past Fiscal Adjustments: Lessons from Failures and Successes

This paper analyzes large fiscal adjustment plans, defined on the basis of the envisaged reduction in the public debt or deficit, and it compares ex ante plans with ex post outcomes. The motivation for this novel approach is two-fold. First, useful lessons can be drawn not only from successes, but also from failures to meet policy objectives. Second, by taking into account whether observed outcomes stemmed from intended policies or unexpected developments, this paper sheds new light on some of the findings obtained by studies that had relied on a purely ex post approach. The evidence is based on in-depth individual country case studies for each of the G7 countries and on a systematic, cross-country statistical analysis of all fiscal adjustment plans presented by all European Union countries during the past two decades.
Precision and accuracy of chemical analysis of silicate rocks

Replicate analyses by 35 laboratories of a granite and a diabase, especially prepared as standards, give means and standard deviations which should be invaluable for calibration purposes in spectrochemical and chemical laboratories. It is clearly shown that relative error varies inversely with concentration of the constituent (e.g. 0.1% for SiO2, 10% for P2O5). A test of accuracy has also been made by 11 laboratories, each analyzing a synthetic glass of the proportions found in granite. The composition of the glass is known within +-0.02% for SiO2, +-0.01% for Al2O3 and is without significant error for the remaining constituents.The means computed from the chemical analyses showed satisfactory agreement for MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O (<0.1%). For SiO2 and Al2O3 a reciprocal systematic error appeared whereby SiO2 was 0.4% low and Al2O3 was 0.6% high; total SiO2 and Al2O3 agreed almost exactly (<0.1%) with the glass standard. As a result of these tests attention is directed anew to the practical but complex problem of evaluating error in a single analysis made by conventional methods. The advantages for many purposes of the more rapid photometric and spectrochemical methods and (for many igneous rocks) of micrometric methods are outlined.
Glutaraldehyde-fixation of yeast cells: Kinetics of a model system for enzyme cytochemistry

The kinetics of glutaraldehyde inactivation of a protoplasmic (β-fructofuranosidase) and an extracytoplasmic (acid phosphatase) enzyme inSaccharomyces rouxii cells were studied at pH 5.5 and 30°C. The effects of glutaraldehyde concentration (0.5–3%), pH value, and temperature were surveyed by varying the fixation conditions. Cells from 1- to 10-day cultures retained 50–75% of their acid phosphatase activity and 15–24% of their β-fructofuranosidase activity after 1-h exposures to 0.5% glutaraldehyde. The surviving β-fructofuranosidase activity remained physically cryptic and was revealed only after further membrane perturbation with ethyl acetate. This crypticity barrier disappeared after overnight incubation of the treated cells at 4°C, with or without added glutaraldehyde, during which time the enzyme was resistant to further inactivation. The velocity ratio for raffinose versus sucrose, as substrate, decreased in treated cells, and changes inVmax andKm were indicative of frank destruction of some enzyme molecules as well as modification of survivors. A comparable set of changes was also generated by treating cell-free extract with glutaraldehyde. Glutaraldehyde (0.5%) killed all yeast cells at 30°C within 5 min; at 4°C survival rates were quite high—81% after 15 min and 65% after 1 h. The bearing of these examples of enzyme inactivation, permeability barrier abolition, and structural stabilization on the general problems of yeast cytochemistry is discussed.
Particle diffusion in a spheromak.

The local carbon particle diffusion coefficient was measured in the Proto S-1/C spheromak with use of a test-particle injection scheme. When the plasma was not in a force-free Taylor state, and when there were pressure gradients in the plasma, the particle diffusion was 5 times that predicted by Bohm and was consistent with collisional drift-wave diffusion. The diffusion appears to be driven by correlations of the fluctuating electric field and density. During the decay of the discharge when the plasma was in the Taylor state, the diffusion coefficient of the carbon was classical.
Characterization of a Na+/glucose cotransporter cloned from rabbit small intestine.

The Na+/glucose cotransporter from rabbit intestinal brush border membranes has been cloned, sequenced, and expressed inXenopus oocytes. Injection of cloned RNA into oocytes increased Na+/sugar cotransport by three orders of magnitude. In this study, we have compared and contrasted the transport properties of this cloned protein expressed inXenopus oocytes with the native transporter present in rabbit intestinal brush borders. Initial rates of14C-α-methyl-d-glucopyranoside uptake into brush border membrane vesicles andXenopus oocytes were measured as a function of the external sodium, sugar, and phlorizin concentrations. Sugar uptake into oocytes and brush borders was Na+-dependent (Hill coefficient 1.5 and 1.7), phlorizin inhibitable (Ki 6 and 9 μm), and saturable (α-methyl-d-glucopyranosideKm 110 and 570 μm). The sugar specificity was examined by competition experiments, and in both cases the selectivity wasd-glucose>α-methyl-d-glucopyranoside>d-galactose>3-O-methyl-d-glucoside. In view of the close similarity between the properties of the cloned protein expressed in oocytes and the native brush border transporter, we conclude that we have cloned the classical Na+/glucose cotransporter.
Antimicrobial Lipopeptides In Anionic And Zwitterionic Membranes Investigated By Molecules Dynamics Simulations

The explosive development of new antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria makes it essential for us to develop new antibiotic drugs, preferably one which operate via novel pathways. Compounds based on antimicrobial peptides seem like good candidates, because they are broadly effective and largely resilient to evolved immunity. However, natural peptides tend to be much larger than typical drugs, expensive to synthesize, and tend to be rapidly digested in the bloodstream. Shai and coworkers have recently begun invesitgating a new set of compounds, synthetic antimicrobial lipopeptides, designed to have many of the strengths of natural peptides while avoiding many of their weaknesses. Here we use all-atom molecular dynamics of simulations of two of the peptides they used -- C16-KGGK and C16-KGGK -- bound to zwitterionic, “mammlian-like” membranes (POPC) and anionic, “bacterial-like” membranes (POPE:POPG). The variations in their structure and dynamics suggest new insights into the mechanism of selectivity and function.
Forgiveness and Health: Psycho-spiritual Integration and the Promotion of Better Healthcare

Psychology and religiousness/spirituality continue to be perceived as incongruent and incompatible, often resulting in a disconnection and suboptimal level of collaboration between the two fields to the detriment of healthcare. Nevertheless, forgiveness, or an absence of ill will, is a construct central to both mainstream world religion/spirituality and the field of psychology. Understanding and recognizing the construct of forgiveness and its mutually central application can foster increased collaboration between the fields. As a result, individually and collectively, the two fields will be better able to expand and further develop their many shared principles in the service of better healthcare.
Dental eruption sequence among Colobine primates

Dental development is one aspect of growth that is linked to diet and to life history but has not been investigated among colobines since the work of Schultz [1935]. This study establishes the dental eruption sequence for several colobine species and compares it to that of other catarrhines. The mandibles and maxillae of two hundred and four juvenile colobine specimens were scored for presence or absence of permanent teeth and for stages of partial eruption. Eruption was defined as ranging between tooth emergence (any part of a tooth crown above the alveolar margin) and full occlusion, with three intermediate levels manifest between these boundaries. In African colobines, represented by C. guereza, C. angolensis and P. badius, M2 erupts before I2, and in C. angolensis it also erupts before I1. The canine is delayed, erupting after the premolars in females and after M3 in males. Asian colobines show greater diversity in eruption sequences. Nasalis shows no early eruption of the molars and is very similar to Macaca. In Trachypithecus and Pygathrix M(2) erupts before I(2). The canine in Trachypithecus is delayed, erupting after the premolars and, in some males, after M3. In Presbytis M2 erupts before both incisors; M3 erupts before C in both sexes, and often before both premolars. Although the actual timing of eruption is unknown, all colobine species examined except N. larvatus showed some degree of relatively early eruption of M2 and M3. The lack of this tendency in Nasalis sets this genus apart from all other colobines represented in this study. Dental eruption sequence is thought to reflect life history patterns. Early molar eruption in colobines was thought by Schultz (1935) to be a primitive character reflecting shorter life history. Faster growth rates found in folivorous primates have been interpreted as being related to an adaptation to folivory (Leigh 1994), and early eruption of molars may be part of this dietary specialization. The relationships between dental development and both diet and life history are investigated.
Oocysts of Cryptosporidium from snakes are not infectious to ducklings but retain viability after intestinal passage through a refractory host

Abstract Six 2-week-old Cryptosporidium-free Peking ducklings (Anas platyrhynchos) each received 2.0×106 viable Cryptosporidium serpentis oocysts from 6 naturally infected captive snakes. Histological sections of digestive (stomach, jejunum, ileum, cloaca, and cecum) and respiratory tract tissues (larynx, trachea, and lungs) did not contain life-cycle stages of Cryptosporidium in any of the inoculated ducklings. Because ducklings were refractory to infection, C. serpentis transmission via a diet of Peking ducklings is improbable. Viable (per in vitro excystation assay) inoculum-derived oocysts were detected in duckling feces up to 7 days post-inoculation (PI); the number of intact oocysts excreted during the first 2 days PI was significantly higher than for the remaining 5 days PI (P
The effects of chronic alcohol self-administration on serotonin-1A receptor binding in nonhuman primates

Background Previous studies have found interrelationships between the serotonin system and alcohol self-administration. The goal of this work was to directly observe in vivo effects of chronic ethanol self-administration on serotonin 5-HT1A receptor binding with [18F]mefway PET neuroimaging in rhesus monkeys. Subjects were first imaged alcohol-naive and again during chronic ethanol self-administration to quantify changes in 5-HT1A receptor binding.
Kinetics of isomerization of αβR-isothiocyanatotetraethylenepentaammine-cobalt(III) cation

Abstract The isomerization of αβR -Co(tetren)NCS 2+ to the αβS isomer has been studied spectrophotometrically in 0·1–1·0 F HOAc and 0·2–1·0 F NaSCN (μ 1·4 M, NaClO 4 ) at 50–70°. The observed first-order rate constant k obs. has the form k obs. = k 1 + k 2 [SCN − ] at 0·10 F HOAc; k 1 has a small hydrogen ion dependence. In 0·10 F HOAc at 25° (by extrapolation), k 1 = (3·0±0·3) × 10 −8 sec −1 and k 2 = (4·6±0·9) × 10 −9 M −1 sec −1 ; for the thiocyanate-independent ( k 1 ) path, E a = 34·5±0·9 kcal mole −1 and log PZ (sec −1 ) = 15·0±0·5, and for the thiocyanate ( k 2 ) path, E a = 34·5±0·9 kcal mole −1 and log PZ (M −1 sec −1 ) = 16·7±0·6. The isomerization probably occurs via a proton-exchange mechanism involving the secondary amino group common to the two coplanar chelate rings.
Numerical characterization of effective fully coupled thermo-electro-magneto-viscoelastic-plastic response of smart composites

Abstract The focus of the present paper is to construct a general purpose micromechanics model to predict the effective fully coupled time-dependent and non-linear multiphysics responses of smart composites. The present model is established on the basis of the variational asymptotic method and implemented using the finite element method. In light of the time-dependent and non-linear characteristics of composites, an incremental procedure in conjunction with an instantaneous tangential electromagnetomechanical matrix of composites was established. The accuracy of the proposed model was verified through the comparison with ABAQUS results. Finally, a numerical example was employed to demonstrate the capability of the proposed model.
The sunk‐time effect: An exploration

We explored the potential for a sunk-cost effect in the realm of time. Questionnaire studies (Experiments 1-4) obtained a sunk-time effect that was robust to manipulations of prospective value, individual versus group consequences, and the effort or enjoyment inherent in the time. Behavioral experiments (Experiments 5-7) also suggested a sunk-time effect and found support for a personal responsibility by sunk cost interaction on choice behavior. We discuss theoretical implications and a potential connection to animal sunk cost phenomena.
Risk quantification in antiphospholipid syndrome

Evaluation of: Urbanus RT, Siegerink B, Roest M, Rosendaal FR, de Groot PG, Algra A: Antiphospholipid antibodies and risk of myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke in young women in the RATIO study: a case–control study. Lancet Neurol. 8(11), 998–1005 (2009). In a multicenter, population-based case–control study of women younger than 50 years of age, 175 patients with ischemic stroke, 203 patients with myocardial infarction and 628 healthy controls were analyzed. Lupus anticoagulant positivity increased the odds ratio (OR) of ischemic stroke (OR: 43.1; 95% CI: 12.2–152) and myocardial infarction (OR: 5.3; 95% CI: 1.4–20.8). Moreover, additional traditional thrombosis risk factors, such as smoking or oral contraceptives, further increased the OR of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction in lupus anticoagulant-positive patients, supporting the evidence in support of a multifactorial nature of thrombosis in antiphospholipid antibody-positive patients.
The development of an emotion lexicon for the coffee drinking experience

Abstract Consumer products are perceived via sensory aspects that stimulate emotional responses. A small number of emotion lexicons for food have been developed, and these emotion instruments for general consumption experience might not uncover the deeper and distinct emotions created by specific products, especially those consumed primarily for pleasure (e.g., coffee). The objective of this study was to develop an emotion lexicon that could be used to identify and describe feelings that occur during coffee drinking. In the first part of the study, focus groups of coffee drinkers were held to generate emotion terms related to coffee drinking. The terms generated were further refined by 48 coffee drinkers using check-all-that-apply scale with two coffee samples. The final list comprised of 86 items, 47 generated by coffee drinkers and 39 terms from the Essence Profile® (King & Meiselman, 2010). In the second part, six coffees were tested with 94 consumers using the developed lexicon. The emotion questionnaire was administered twice — before and during coffee drinking on a 5-point scale. Overall acceptability of the samples was also asked in the study. The consumers were clustered into 6 clusters using the overall acceptability scores. Stepwise regression analysis with forward selection was done on the entire data set, by each consumer cluster, and by each coffee sample to identify the important emotion terms, which resulted in the selection of 44 emotion terms out of which 17 terms were from the Essence Profile®. It is evident that a complex product like coffee may need a specific emotion lexicon to uncover more information about how different coffee samples impact emotional responses in diverse coffee drinkers.
Effect of retina-derived basic and acidic fibroblast growth factor and lipoproteins on the proliferation of retina-derived capillary endothelial cells

Retina-derived capillary endothelial (RCE) cells have been established in culture, taking advantage of their ability to proliferate at clonal density when maintained on extracellular matrix (ECM)-coated dishes in the presence of serum-supplemented medium. This cell type formed at confluence a monolayer of small, tightly packed, contact inhibited cells which expressed Factor VIII-related antigen. Both retina-derived basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors (FGF) were mitogenic when RCE cells were maintained on gelatin-coated dishes and exposed to serum-supplemented medium. Half-maximal stimulation of cell proliferation was observed with concentrations of 13 pg ml-1 for basic FGF and 2.5 ng ml-1 for acidic FGF. Maintaining RCE cells on extracellular matrix (ECM)-coated dishes greatly reduced their requirement for EGF in order to proliferate actively. Heparin strongly reduced the proliferative response of RCE cells to either basic or acidic FGF, as well as their response to serum alone, regardless of whether cells were maintained on gelatin or on ECM-coated dishes. When RCE cells maintained on ECM-coated dishes were exposed to defined medium, high density lipoproteins, transferrin, and FGF were required in order for these cells to proliferate actively.
Beyond NP: the work and legacy of Larry Stockmeyer

Shortly after Steve Cook and Richard Karp showed the ex-istence of many natural NP-complete languages, researchers started to realize the great importance of the P versus NP problem and the difficulty of settling it. One graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology started to look beyond NP, asking what problems have a higher complexity and how do we classify them. Larry Stockmeyer discovered an amazing structure of complexity classes that continues to direct the research in complexity to this day. Stockmeyer passed away on July 31, 2004 at the age of 55 and in this paper we review some of his research and the legacy he has left on the community.
An evaluation of multi-criteria methods in integrated assessment of climate policy

Those who conduct integrated assessments (IAs) are aware of the need to explicitly consider multiple criteria and uncertainties when evaluating policies for preventing global warming. MCDM methods are potentially useful for understanding tradeoffs and evaluating risks associated with climate policy alternatives. A difficulty facing potential MCDM users is the wide range of different techniques that have been proposed, each with distinct advantages. Methods differ in terms of validity, ease of use, and appropriateness to the problem. Alternative methods also can yield strikingly different rankings of alternatives. A workshop was held in which climate change experts and policy makers evaluated the usefulness of MCDM for IA. Participants applied several methods in the context of a hypothetical greenhouse gas policy decision. Methods compared include value and utility functions, goal programming, ELECTRE, fuzzy sets, stochastic dominance, min max regret, and several weight selection methods. Ranges, rather than point estimates, were provided for some questions to incorporate imprecision regarding weights. Additionally, several visualization methods for both deterministic and uncertain cases were used and evaluated. Analysis of method results and participant feedback through questionnaires and discussion provide the basis for conclusions regarding the use of MCDM methods for climate change policy and IA analyses. Hypotheses are examined concerning predictive and convergent validity of methods, existence of splitting bias among experts, perceived ability of methods to aid decision-making, and whether expressing imprecision can change ranking results. Because participants gained from viewing a problem from several perspectives and results from different methods often significantly differed, it appears worthwhile to apply several MCDM methods to increase user confidence and insight. The participants themselves recommended such multimethod approaches for policymaking. Yet they preferred the freedom of unaided decision-making most of all, challenging the MCDM community to create transparent methods that permit maximum user control. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In search of behavioral individuality.

Living things are not created identical: In sexually reproducing species, individuals—except monozygotic twins—are different. Although widely acknowledged, behavioral individuality has received relatively little empirical or theoretical attention. Yet it seems likely that research focusing on individual differences will yield important insights for evolutionarily minded students of behavioral biology, including those interested in better understanding Homo sapiens.
Switching classes of directed graphs

By analogy with Seidel switching classes of graphs, and two-graphs, this paper develops a theory of switching classes of directed graphs. The elements of the theory are these: there is a one-to-one correspondence among switching classes of directed graphs, two-digraphs, and cyclic triple covers of the complete digraph. If G is a group of automorphisms of a switching class of digraphs, there is a cohomological invariant γ which vanishes if and only if some digraph in the switching class is fixed by G. If G is cyclic then γ ≠ 0 if and only if all orbits on vertices have size divisible by 3 and a certain sum (defined in Theorem 3.5) is nonzero. There is a second cohomological invariant β which vanishes if and only if G can be realized as a group of automorphisms of the cyclic triple cover associated with the switching class. If G is cyclic, then β ≠ 0 if and only if G has a subgroup of order 3 for which γ ≠ 0. There is a formula for the number of isomorphism types of two-digraphs on n vertices which is a sum over the symmetric group Sn of a simple function of the cycle structure of its elements. Finally, the only elements of Sn which fix a digraph in every switching class of digraphs they fix are those elements containing a cycle whose length is not divisible by 3.
Chemistry of thienopyridines. XXIII. Mass spectra of some N‐oxides, sulfoxides, and sulfones

The mass spectral fragmentation patterns of a series of thienopyridine N-oxides, S-oxides, and S,S-dioxides were elaborated as a means of structural determination. Observation of a significant (M-16) peak is diagnostic for the presence of either an N-oxide or an S-oxide function (indistinguishable from one another by this method) but does not occur for an S,S-dioxide function. For a substituted thieno[2,3-b]pyridine 7-oxide, structural rearrangement to a pyridone (followed by emission of carbon monoxide or formyl radical) or side-chain fission may be competitive with de-N-oxygenation. For two tricyclic parent S-oxides, rearrangement and de-S-oxygenation are competing initial processes. For parent S,S-dioxides structural rearrangement precedes fragmentation, wherein the oxygen is ejected in such forms as sulfur monoxide, carbon monoxide, formyl or cyanate radicals, and ketene.
Alpha-C-Galactosylceramide as an Adjuvant for a Live Attenuated Influenza Virus Vaccine

There is a substantial need to develop better influenza virus vaccines that can protect populations that are not adequately protected by the currently licensed vaccines. While live attenuated influenza virus vaccines induce superior immune responses compared to inactivated vaccines, the manufacturing process of both types of influenza virus vaccines is time consuming and may not be adequate during a pandemic. Adjuvants would be particularly useful if they could enhance the immune response to live attenuated influenza virus vaccines so that the amount of vaccine needed for a protective dose could be reduced. The glycolipid, alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer), has recently been shown to have adjuvant activity for both inactivated and replicating recombinant vaccines. The goal of these experiments was to determine whether a derivative of alpha-GalCer, alpha-C-galactosylceramide (alpha-C-GalCer) can enhance the immune response elicited by a live attenuated influenza virus vaccine containing an NS1 protein truncation and reduce the amount of vaccine required to provide protection after challenge. Our results indicated that the adjuvant reduced both morbidity and mortality in BALB/c mice after challenge with wild type influenza virus. The adjuvant also increased the amount of influenza virus specific total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a antibodies as well as IFN-gamma secreting CD8(+) T cells. By using knockout mice that are not able to generate NKT cells, we were able to demonstrate that the mechanism of adjuvant activity is dependent on NKT cells. Thus, our data indicate that stimulators of NKT cells represent a new avenue of adjuvants to pursue for live attenuated virus vaccines.
Food, Hunger, and Poverty: A Thematic Approach to Integrating Service Learning.

Service learning, the integration of community service and curricular content, is being embraced by sociologists in a variety of teaching settings. One of the primary challenges of service-learning pedagogy is incorporating the community-based experience into the curriculum. This article will center on my strategy for meeting this challenge. My Introduction to Sociology course employs a thematic approach in order to create a fully integrated experiential learning experience. I have used this highly adaptable approach successfully in two types of institutional settings. This article will describe the institutional contexts, course content and objectives, service-learning component, use of themes for integrating service and curriculum, and student outcomes. In addition, I will explore the potential pitfalls of this approach and suggest strategies for avoiding them.
Oxidative stability of gelatin coated pork at refrigerated storage.

Abstract As consumers are chiefly concerned with odor and appearance, refrigerated meats have a greater possibility of rejection due to their perishability. A treatment was designed to preserve the quality parameters such as color and oxidation rate. The treatment encompassed coating pork loin samples with aqueous porcine gelatin solutions (175 bloom) at three concentrations (0%, 10% and 20%) and studying its effect on lipid oxidation, protein oxidation, oxidation pre-cursors, color and purge of meat. Vacuum packed Longissimus dorsi muscle was cut into 10 × 5 × 1 cm samples and randomly dipped in one of three solutions. Samples were stored at 4 °C and analyzed for thio-barbituric acid reactive substances, metmyoglobin content, protein carbonyls, heme iron content and color change. There was a significant difference ( p p > 0.05) between 10% and 20% gelatin coating on any of the parameters between storage days.
Use of an insulating mask for controlling anisotropy in multilayer electrospun scaffolds for tissue engineering

Tissue engineering of various musculoskeletal or cardiovascular tissues requires scaffolds with controllable mechanical anisotropy. However, native tissues also exhibit significant inhomogeneity in their mechanical properties, and the principal axes of anisotropy may vary with site or depth from the tissue surface. Thus, techniques to produce multilayered biomaterial scaffolds with controllable anisotropy may provide improved biomimetic properties for functional tissue replacements. In this study, poly(e-caprolactone) scaffolds were electrospun onto a collecting electrode that was partially covered by rectangular or square shaped insulating masks. The use of a rectangular mask resulted in aligned scaffolds that were significantly stiffer in tension in the axial direction than the transverse direction at 0 strain (22.9 ± 1.3 MPa axial, 16.1 ± 0.9 MPa transverse), and at 0.1 strain (4.8 ± 0.3 MPa axial, 3.5 ± 0.2 MPa transverse). The unaligned scaffolds, produced using a square mask, did not show this anisotropy, with similar stiffness in the axial and transverse directions at 0 strain (19.7 ± 1.4 MPa axial, 20.8 ± 1.3 MPa transverse) and 0.1 strain (4.4 ± 0.2 MPa axial, 4.6 ± 0.3 MPa, transverse). Aligned scaffolds also induced alignment of adipose stem cells near the expected axis on aligned scaffolds (0.015 ± 0.056 rad), while on the unaligned scaffolds, their orientation showed more variation and was not along the expected axis (1.005 ± 0.225 rad). This method provides a novel means of creating multilayered electrospun scaffolds with controlled anisotropy for each layer, potentially providing a means to mimic the complex mechanical properties of various native tissues.
Inverse Kinematic and Forward Dynamic Models of the 2002 Denali Fault Earthquake, Alaska

We perform inverse kinematic and forward dynamic models of the M 7.9 2002 Denali fault, Alaska, earthquake to shed light on the rupture process and dynamics of this event, which took place on a geometrically complex fault system in central Alaska. We use a combination of local seismic and Global Positioning System (gps) data for our kinematic inversion and find that the slip distribution of this event is characterized by three major asperities on the Denali fault. The rupture nucleated on the Susitna Glacier thrust fault, and after a pause, propagated onto the strike-slip Denali fault. Approximately 216 km to the east, the rupture abandoned the Denali fault in favor of the more southwesterly directed Totschunda fault. Three-dimensional dynamic models of this event indicate that the abandonment of the Denali fault for the Totschunda fault can be explained by the Totschunda fault’s more favorable orientation with respect to the local stress field. However, a uniform tectonic stress field cannot explain the complex slip pattern in this event. We also find that our dynamic models predict discontinuous rupture from the Denali to Totschunda fault segments. Such discontinuous rupture helps to qualitatively improve our kinematic inverse models. Two principal implications of our study are (1) a combination of inverse and forward modeling can bring insight into earthquake processes that are not possible with either technique alone, and (2) the stress field on geometrically complex fault systems is most likely not due to a uniform tectonic stress field that is resolved onto fault segments of different orientations; rather, other forms of stress heterogeneity must be invoked to explain the observed slip patterns.
Hierarchical processors-and-memory architecture for high performance computing

This paper outlines a cost-effective multiprocessor architecture that takes into consideration the importance of hardware and software costs as well as delivered performance in the context of real applications. The proposed architecture, HPAM, is organized as a hierarchy of processors-and-memory subsystems. Each subsystem contains a homogeneous parallel machine. Across the levels of the hierarchy, processor speeds and interconnection technology vary. The HPAM design is driven by several considerations: the observed characteristics of real applications, cost-efficiency considerations and the need for ease-of-usage. Rationales and the results of a preliminary study that motivated the design of this architecture are presented. These results include benchmark data that expose the advantages of HPAM over other architectures. Technology trends that support the desirability and viability of the proposed machine organization are also presented. Two classes of applications that demand 100 Teraops computation rates and that will drive future HPAM work are discussed. Furthermore a flexible software environment is proposed for this architecture, which facilitates several programming scenarios: automatic program translation, library based programming and performance-guided coding by expert programmers.
Endoscopic choanal atresia repair

Choanal atresia (CA) is a congenital anomaly, with an incidence of 1:5,000–8,000 births. It occurs more frequently in girls than boys and is more often unilateral than bilateral. The presenting symptoms vary from mild airway obstruction in unilateral disease to acute respiratory distress in bilateral atresia. The diagnosis is based on endoscopy and computed tomography scan. In this report, we review the variety of surgical procedures that have been proposed for CA repair, including transnasal puncture, transnasal drillout, transseptal, transpalatal, and endoscopic transnasal technique. Special attention is given to endoscopic technique with powered instrumentation, which is the technique routinely used in our institution. During the past 2 years we performed 10 endoscopic CA repairs, including 1 revision. One case was navigation-assisted. We have used endoscopic equipment in all cases, including revisions, with an initial success rate of 80%. The described approach is chracterized by low morbidity and an immediate alleviation of the child's nasal obstruction, with a prompt return to normal diet and breathing. We believe that endoscopic technique is the best approach available today, and it should be used in primary repair as well as in revisions.
A 2000 year atmospheric history of methyl chloride from a South Pole ice core: Evidence for climate-controlled variability

Methyl chloride (CH3Cl) is a naturally occurring ozone-depleting gas with a complex biogeochemical cycle involving tropical vegetation, soils, biomass burning and the oceans. This study presents CH3Cl measurements in air extracted from a 300 m ice core from South Pole, Antarctica, covering the time period from 160 BC to 1860 AD. The data exhibit an increasing trend of 3 ppt (parts per trillion) over 100 years and higher frequency variations that appear to be climate-related. CH3Cl levels were elevated from 900–1300 AD by about 50 ppt relative to the previous 1000 years, coincident with the warm Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA). CH3Cl levels decreased to a minimum during the Little Ice Age cooling (1650–1800 AD), before rising again to the modern atmospheric level of 550 ppt. These variations most likely reflect changes in tropical and subtropical conditions, and raise the possibility that a warmer future climate may result in higher tropospheric CH3Cl levels.
Slope-area thresholds of road-induced gully erosion and consequent hillslope-channel interactions

Pikes Peak Highway is a partially paved road between Cascade, Colorado and the summit of Pikes Peak. Significant gully erosion is occurring on the hillslopes due to the concentration of surface runoff, the rearrangement of drainage pathways along the road surface and adjacent drainage ditches, and the high erodibility of weathered Pikes Peak granite that underlies the area. As a result, large quantities of sediment are transported to surrounding valley networks causing significant damage to water quality and aquatic, wetland, and riparian ecosystems. This study establishes the slope/drainage area threshold for gullying along Pikes Peak Highway and a cesium-137 based sediment budget highlighting rates of gully erosion and subsequent valley deposition for a small headwater basin.
Video Completion for Perspective Camera Under Constrained Motion

This paper presents a novel technique to fill in missing background and moving foreground of a video captured by a static or moving camera. Different from previous efforts which are typically based on processing in the 3D data volume, we slice the volume along the motion manifold of the moving object, and therefore reduce the search space from 3D to 2D, while still preserve the spatial and temporal coherence. In addition to the computational efficiency, based on geometric video analysis, the proposed approach is also able to handle real videos under perspective distortion, as well as common camera motions, such as panning, tilting, and zooming. The experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm performs comparably to 3D search based methods, and however extends the current state-of-the-art repairing techniques to videos with projective effects, as well as illumination changes.
Positioning on substrates, positioning changes, and diel drift periodicities in mayflies.

Diel changes in the positioning of several mayflies (Ephemeroptera) on the top and bottom surfaces of artificial substrates were examined. Stream drift samples were taken in conjunction with substrate samples. No significant diel changes in positioning were observed while all taxa exhibited nocturnal increases in drift. All taxa had apparent surface preferences. Baetis species occurred largely on top surfaces while Ephemerella spp., Paraleptophlebia mollis, and Heptageniidae largely occupied bottom surfaces. Diel positioning changes did not appear to be an important mechanism producing diel drift periodicities. Drift propensity showed large variation between taxa and was positively correlated with the proportion of individuals on top surfaces. For most taxa, drift probability varied markedly between dates and was correlated with high growth rates.
Comparing protein abundance and mRNA expression levels on a genomic scale

Attempts to correlate protein abundance with mRNA expression levels have had variable success. We review the results of these comparisons, focusing on yeast. In the process, we survey experimental techniques for determining protein abundance, principally two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass-spectrometry. We also merge many of the available yeast protein-abundance datasets, using the resulting larger 'meta-dataset' to find correlations between protein and mRNA expression, both globally and within smaller categories.
Transforming system formulations in robotics for efficient perception and planning

For efficient perception and planning, it is necessary for an autonomous robot to find a formulation with good computational properties. An especially important computational property is decomposability. The perspective of this work is to view a system's state space as though it were physical space, and the system's behavior as though it were physical motion. Following the analogy with physics, a formulation is an abstract coordinate system whose axes specify a decomposition, and formulations are transformed by changing coordinates. The mathematical basis for this analogy is given. Continuous and discrete formulations for a robot vehicle are transformed to yield decompositions, which shed light on the relationship between the continuous and discrete formulations.
Pilot Study: Investigating the Effects of Kinesio Taping® in an Acute Pediatric Rehabilitation Setting

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this pilot study is to describe the use of the Kinesio Taping ® method for the upper extremity in enhancing functional motor skills in children admitted into an acute rehabilitation program. METHOD. Fifteen children (10 females and 5 males; 4 to 16 years of age), who were receiving rehabilitation services at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago participated in this study. For 13 of the inpatients, this was the initial rehabilitation following an acquired disability, which included encephalitis, brain tumor, cerebral vascular accident, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. The Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function (Melbourne Assessment) was used to measure upper-limb functional change prior to use of Kinesio Tape ® , immediately after application of the tape, and 3 days after wearing tape. Children’s upper-limb function was compared over the three assessments using analysis of variance. RESULTS. The improvement from pre- to posttaping was statistically significant, F(1, 14) = 18.9; p < .02. CONCLUSION. These results suggest that Kinesio Tape may be associated with improvement in upperextremity control and function in the acute pediatric rehabilitation setting. The use of Kinesio Tape as an adjunct to treatment may assist with the goal-focused occupational therapy treatment during the child’s inpatient stay. Further study is recommended to test the effectiveness of this method and to determine the lasting effects on motor skills and functional performance once the tape is removed.
Designing an optical force transducer

The optical method of reflected caustics is used for the determination of axial force in polymeric members and small components. The mechanical properties of the polymeric member are not required. The method has the advantage of simplicity. It is proposed that the member itself be used to determine the load in a two-force machine and structural elements. The test models are statically loaded in tension. A classification of errors with respect to their sources and influence on the results are discussed. The mechanical and optical parameters are investigated to optimize the design of the experiment. Two-loading apparatus are used to verify the results obtained using the proposed method.
Perceptions of the Formal and the Informal Organizations: Objective Measurement Through the Semantic Differential Technique

Many behavioral scientists have assumed that the informal organization has a greater impact on organizational effectiveness than the formal organization. Contrary to this assumption, this research ...
Uncovering performance problems in Java applications with reference propagation profiling

Many applications suffer from run-time bloat: excessive memory usage and work to accomplish simple tasks. Bloat significantly affects scalability and performance, and exposing it requires good diagnostic tools. We present a novel analysis that profiles the run-time execution to help programmers uncover potential performance problems. The key idea of the proposed approach is to track object references, starting from object creation statements, through assignment statements, and eventually statements that perform useful operations. This propagation is abstracted by a representation we refer to as a reference propagation graph. This graph provides path information specific to reference producers and their run-time contexts. Several client analyses demonstrate the use of reference propagation profiling to uncover run-time inefficiencies. We also present a study of the properties of reference propagation graphs produced by profiling 36 Java programs. Several cases studies discuss the inefficiencies identified in some of the analyzed programs, as well as the significant improvements obtained after code optimizations.
Toxicity of older and younger patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy for node-positive breast cancer: the Cancer and Leukemia Group B Experience.

Purpose Older node-positive patients treated with newer adjuvant chemotherapy regimens have improvements in relapse-free and overall survival similar to younger patients. We compared toxicity of older and younger patients in three randomized trials of adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients and Methods Toxicity data were available for 93% of 6,642 patients enrolled. The three trials included: Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 8541, a comparison of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil in three dose schedules; CALGB 9344: cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin with or without paclitaxel; and CALGB 9741: cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel every 2 versus every 3 weeks. National Cancer Institute grade 3 to 5 toxicities were compared among age groups. Results Seven percent of patients (n = 458) were age 65 or older, 3% were 70 or older, 38% were 51 to 64, and 55% were 50 or younger. Twenty-four deaths (0.4%) were attributed to treatment; seven (1.5%) of 486 in patients 65 or older, 10 (0.40%) of 2,480...
Thyroid hormone receptor isoform content in cultured type 1 and type 2 astrocytes.

Immunohistochemical studies previously reported from this laboratory showed that astrocytes in adult rat brain appear devoid of all thyroid hormone receptor (TR) isoforms. These findings, however, contrast with reports of measurable nuclear T3 binding in astrocytes in cell culture. To address this discrepancy, TR protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) content of type 1 and type 2 astrocytes in culture were assayed. Type 1 cells represent astrocytes present in brain in vivo. Type 2 astrocytes differentiate in culture from bipotential progenitor O-2A cells in the presence of serum. Under serum-free conditions, these progenitor cells differentiate into oligodendroglia. Total nuclear T3 binding capacity in both type 1 and type 2 astrocytes was approximately 3000 sites/cell. Northern blots showed the presence of mRNA for TRbeta1, TRalpha1, and TRalpha2 in type 2 cells but failed to reveal the presence of these mRNAs in type 1 astrocytes. Moreover, Northern blots also failed to reveal TRbeta2 mRNA in both type 1 and ...
IDENTIFICATION OF JET INSTABILITY WAVES AND DESIGN OF A MICROPHONE ARRAY

We propose a diagnostic technique to detect instability waves in a round jet using a conical microphone array. The detection algorithm is analogous to the beam-forming technique, which is used with a far-fleld microphone array to localize noise sources. By replacing the reference solutions used in the conventional beam-forming with eigenfunctions from a linear stability analysis, the amplitude of the low-frequency azimuthal instability waves can be inferred. We use a DNS database and experimental measurements of the mean ∞ow to design a phased microphone array which is placed just outside the shear layer near the nozzle exit. We validate the technique in experiments by checking for consistency of the radial decay, phase correlation, and streamwise evolution of the hydrodynamic pressure. The comparison between the experiment and linear stability analysis shows good agreement, particularly near the most amplifled frequency of each azimuthal mode.
Independent Effects of K and k+ Alleles and Maternal Origin on Mortality and Performance of Crossbred Chickens

Abstract Rapid feathering daughters of White Leghorn X Rhode Island Red reciprocal crosses were backcrossed to K/k+ heterozygous White Leghorn males to form four synthetic sublines. Each subline represented a unique combination of slow (K) and rapid (k+) feathering with the heavy or light breed maternal origin of the W sex chromosome. Higher mortality rates in the growing and adult stages of the backcross female progeny were associated with the K genotype but not with k+. However, higher mortality in the adult period was also independently associated with the heavy breed maternal origin. Hen-housed rate of lay, confounded with mortality and sexual maturity, was depressed by K, but hen-day rate was unaffected. Body and egg weights at 40 weeks of age were higher in the maternal line originating from Leghorns than in the line originating from Rhode Island Reds but were unaffected by feathering genotype.
Towards a practical face recognition system: Robust registration and illumination by sparse representation

Most contemporary face recognition algorithms work well under laboratory conditions but degrade when tested in less-controlled environments. This is mostly due to the difficulty of simultaneously handling variations in illumination, alignment, pose, and occlusion. In this paper, we propose a simple and practical face recognition system that achieves a high degree of robustness and stability to all these variations. We demonstrate how to use tools from sparse representation to align a test face image with a set of frontal training images in the presence of significant registration error and occlusion. We thoroughly characterize the region of attraction for our alignment algorithm on public face datasets such as Multi-PIE. We further study how to obtain a sufficient set of training illuminations for linearly interpolating practical lighting conditions. We have implemented a complete face recognition system, including a projector-based training acquisition system, in order to evaluate how our algorithms work under practical testing conditions. We show that our system can efficiently and effectively recognize faces under a variety of realistic conditions, using only frontal images under the proposed illuminations as training.