cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards Terawatt Sub-Cycle Long-Wave Infrared Pulses via Chirped Optical Parametric Amplification and Indirect Pulse Shaping.

We present an approach for both efficient generation and amplification of 4–12 μm pulses by tailoring the phase matching of the nonlinear crystal Zinc Germanium Phosphide (ZGP) in a narrowband-pumped optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA) and a broadband-pumped dual-chirped optical parametric amplifier (DC-OPA), respectively. Preliminary experimental results are obtained for generating 1.8–4.2 μm super broadband spectra, which can be used to seed both the signal of the OPCPA and the pump of the DC-OPA. The theoretical pump-to-idler conversion efficiency reaches 27% in the DC-OPA pumped by a chirped broadband Cr2+:ZnSe/ZnS laser, enabling the generation of Terawatt-level 4–12 μm pulses with an available large-aperture ZGP. Furthermore, the 4–12 μm idler pulses can be compressed to sub-cycle pulses by compensating the tailored positive chirp of the idler pulses using the bulk compressor NaCl, and by indirectly controlling the higher-order idler phase through tuning the signal (2.4–4.0 μm) phase with a commercially available acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF). A similar approach is also described for generating high-energy 4–12 μm sub-cycle pulses via OPCPA pumped by a 2 μm Ho:YLF laser.
Transcriptional Control of Liver Acute Phase Genes by Interleukin-6 and Leukemia Inhibitory Factor

The acute phase genes code for the acute phase proteins, a set of blood proteins with characteristic changes in their plasma concentrations occuring during acute and chronic inflammations. This is part of the overall acute phase response, the collective term for a complex set of systemic defense reactions of the host organism against tissue injury and infections. The acute phase proteins are mainly produced by liver hepatocytes and provide protective value for the organism in its defense against the original insult. Their functions and their regulation by mediators of inflammation have been adequately reviewed (Baumann 1989; Baumann and Gauldie 1990; Fey and Gauldie 1990; Heinrich et al. 1990; Toniatti et al. 1990). Briefly, macrophages, monocytes, and secondary cell types, including endothelial cells and keratinocytes produce the cytokines interleukin 1 (ELI), interleukin 6 (IL6), leukemia inhibitory factor (LEF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferons at peripheral sites of injury. These hormones participate both in local defense reactions and are disseminated with the bloodstream over die whole organism, triggering a systemic response. Liver hepatocytes have specific cell surface receptors for these hormones, and binding of the bloodborne mediators to the receptors induces the expression of the acute phase genes. The gene activation is primarily transcriptional, but posttranscriptional components may also occur. The intracellular signal cascades triggered by these cytokines are still incompletely understood. IL1 and IL6 receptors, but not the LIF receptor, have been purified and cloned. However, the postreceptor steps in their respective signal cascades are still not well described. The analysis of these signal cascades in different cell types, which participate in host defense reactions and respond to these mediators, is an important task for contemporary inflammation research. The inflammatory response can actually be considered a beautiful paradigm for a fundamentally interesting problem in gene regulation: how can one cell and ultimately one gene respond to several hormonal signals that arrive simultaneously? In the past few years, research in gene regulation has made good progress in understanding how a particular gene responds to a particular hormone, for example, steroid hormones, glucocorticoids, retinoic acids, and interferons. However, we are only just beginning to discover how one gene may respond to multiple hormones. During an inflammatory response, many of the cytokines described above are simultaneously present in the bloodstream at rapidly changing concentrations. Liver cells and other hormone-responsive cells must rapidly respond to the changes in the composition of this complex cocktail of inflammatory mediators to fine-tune and adapt the response to the needs of the situation.
Trend of De La Salle Lipa Education Graduates’ Performance in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) from 2011 to 2015

This study aimed to examine the trend of performance of De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) education graduates in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). Quantitative trend analysis employed on the data collected from records officially released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for the years 2011 to 2015 revealed that the performance of both elementary and secondary education passers were significantly higher than the national passing rates and showed a significant relationship between the graduates’ English proficiency and their LET- General Education performance. When grouped according to their profile, there were significant differences in the education graduates’ performance in terms of the year LET was taken, their GPA, and results of English Proficiency and Culture Fair Intelligence Tests but not in terms of their field of specialization. These results were considered in proposing a syllabus incorporating the strategies to further improve the program offerings of the Education Department particularly in terms of curriculum development, recruitment and selection of qualified students, continuous professional training for faculty, and more intensified LET review for the education graduates. Findings of the study showed that DLSL is eligible to qualify as a Center of Development in Teacher Education in the area of instructional quality.
Girl Fights and the Online Media Construction of Black Female Violence and Sexuality

This article uses content analysis to examine the media construction of violence and sexuality among young Black, White, and Latina women who fight on WorldStarHipHop.com. I explore symbolic themes...
Moving towards the benign: Automatic interpretation bias modification in dysphoria.

Abstract Automatic cognitive biases are important to theories of depression and reducing such biases may contribute to therapeutic gains. The present study examined (1) whether it was possible to reduce automatic interpretation biases (AIB) in a single session among dysphoric subjects and (2) whether the effects of modifying AIB generalized to other measures of cognition and emotion. 76 dysphoric students completed a modified semantic association paradigm in which they were randomized to receive active or random-feedback-based training. Groups did not differ on AIB at baseline. Compared to the placebo group, the active training group demonstrated decreased endorsement of negative AIB, faster endorsement of benign AIB, and slower rejection of benign AIB. AIB modification generalized to a separate measure of interpretation bias. Further, greater reductions in AIB predicted a more resilient emotional response pattern to a laboratory stressor. Implications of AIB modification for basic and clinical research are discussed.
Simple transfer from spin coating to blade coating through processing aggregated solutions

To develop an understanding of the effect spin coating or blade coating have on the morphology of polymer:fullerene thin films for organic solar cells, we have investigated the morphology of poly[5-(2-hexyldecyl)-1,3-thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione-alt-5,5-(2,5-bis(3-dodecylthiophene-2-yl)-thiophene)] (P(T3-TPD)) blended with phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) using the solvent additive 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO). When P(T3-TPD) : PC71BM mixtures are cast with DIO, we observed a fivefold increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 1% to >5% for both spin and blade coated devices. We found the morphology and OPV performance are remarkably similar for spin and blade coated films without having to re-optimize the processing solution or coating temperature. We attribute the robust coating behavior to processing an aggregated solution of P(T3-TPD) : PC71BM. Further, in order to gain insight into how the common solvent additive DIO enhances thin film morphology, in situ UV-vis absorbance and reflection spectroscopies, coupled with thin film morphology characterization, was performed to develop a mechanistic understanding of the solidification process. In situ and static measurements revealed that DIO increases the nucleation density, reducing domain size and additionally increases the polymer crystallinity and phase purity.
A rare neurological complication of Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia

Bilateral and simultaneous facial nerve palsy (FNP) is a rare clinical condition occurring in 0.3-2.0% of facial palsy cases and is typically a manifestation of an underlying systemic disease. We here describe a case of a 67-year-old Hispanic man with a known history of Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (WM) who presented to the clinic with a sub-acute onset of bilateral facial weakness. No alternate etiology for the facial weakness was identified after a thorough diagnostic approach. WM is a rare hematological condition due to low-grade B cell lymphoma, where lymphoplasmacytoid cells infiltrate different tissues and secrete monoclonal IgM. Peripheral neuropathy develops in 15-30% of the cases, being usually a chronic, progressive, symmetric, predominantly distal polyneuropathy. Facial nerve impairment is unusual; however, it could be caused by anoxic damage as a result of an increased blood viscosity from IgM monoclonal gammopathy, direct nerve infiltration of tumorous cells and an antibody (anti-MAG) mediated demyelinating process. Treatment is directed to the established mechanism for neural injury. This report highlights a rare condition (WM) with a rare complication (bilateral facial nerve palsy) and illustrates the broad differential comprised by this presenting complaint.
Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Underestimates Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Ascites Undergoing Colectomy.

The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and ascites correlate with surgical morbidity and mortality. However, the MELD score does not account for ascites. We sought to evaluate whether the MELD score accurately risk stratifies patients with ascites. We analyzed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2005–2014) to examine the risk-adjusted morbidity and mortality of cirrhotic patients with and without ascites undergoing colectomy for diverticulitis. Patients were stratified by MELD score, and the presence of ascites and outcomes were compared between patients with and without ascites to the reference group of low MELD and no ascites. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for demographic factors and comorbidities. A total of 16,877 colectomies were analyzed. For each MELD stratum, patients with ascites have increased risk of complications compared to those without ascites (P < 0.05 unless indicated): low MELD ascites OR 1.13, P = 0.69, moderate MELD no ascites OR 1.37, moderate MELD ascites OR 2.06, high MELD no ascites OR 1.93, and high MELD ascites OR 3.54. These trends hold true for mortality: low MELD ascites OR 2.91, P = 0.063, moderate MELD no ascites OR 1.47, moderate MELD ascites OR 5.62, high MELD no ascites OR 3.04, and high MELD ascites OR 9.91. Ascites predicts an increased risk for postoperative morbidity and mortality for cirrhotic patients undergoing colectomy for all MELD classifications. These findings suggest that the MELD score significantly underestimates postoperative risk as it does not account for ascites.
Improvement of Concrete Cracking Resistance and Joint Load Transfer Through Coarse Aggregate Selection

The ability to transfer load across concrete pavement cracks and the concrete cracking resistance can be improved by careful selection of the concrete constituents, such as the coarse aggregate. The fracture energy from the wedge splitting test was used to represent the cracking resistance of the concrete material, and the power spectral area parameter was used to represent the concrete surface roughness and indicate its ability to transfer load across a crack. Three aggregate types (limestone, river gravel, and trap rock), two aggregate top sizes (25 and 38 mm), and two aggregate gradations (dense and gap gradation) were used in this research to cast six concrete mixes. The experimental results showed that concrete mixes with strong aggregates (i.e., trap rock) had greater cracking resistance and load transfer ability than concrete mixes with weak aggregate (i.e., limestone). Concrete mixes with larger aggregate top sizes (38 mm) had improved mechanical properties relative to smaller aggregate top sizes (25 mm). The aggregate gradation was found to have little effect on the cracking resistance and shear load transfer ability of cracks for 25-mm river gravel aggregates. The wedge split fracture energy test better differentiated the mechanical properties between concrete mixes that contained varying aggregate types and sizes compared with the compressive strength test.
On Negative Spectrum of Schrödinger Type Operators

The classical Cwikel-Lieb-Rozenblum and Lieb-Thirring inequalities in their general form allow one to estimate the number of negative eigenvalues N = #{λ i < 0} and the sums S γ = ∑|λ i | γ for a wide class of Schrodinger operators. We will present here some new examples (Anderson Hamiltonian, operators on lattices, quantum graphs and groups). In some cases below, the parabolic semigroup has an exponential fractional decay at t→∞. This makes it possible to consider potentials decaying very slowly (logarithmical) at infinity. We also will discuss the case of small local dimension of the underlying manifold, which is usually not covered by the general theory.
Field Data Acquisition System By “RAINFLOW METHOD” And Fatigue Life Estimation Of Automobile

“RAINFLOW METHOD” invented by Prof. Tatsuo Endo in 1968 was exported from Japan to USA and his theory was immediately authorized as a standards of fatigue life estimation. In 1979 Isuzu Motors Limited imported DATAMYTE 400 from USA which was the first re-import of Rainflow Method to Japan. The field data of heavy duty truck aquired by this method served very good to improve life estimation test procedure which, in turn, contributed greatly for high reliability design. Now integration of Rainflow Program into real time data processing system has become for every measuring instruments makers in Japan.
Plant Hormones: Section a: Indole Auxins of Plants

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses indole auxins of plants. Auxins have characteristic physiological properties to predict the biological activities of synthetic compounds. Thus, many substances not known to occur in plants can act as auxins. Similar to most hormones, auxins have manifolded other effects. Among these, at low concentrations of 10 −5 M to 10 −8 M, some are stimulatory—as in promotion of cell division, root initiation, parthenocarpy, cellular water uptake, protoplasmic streaming, and in a few special cases, flowering. However, as concentrations are increased above these values auxins will begin to inhibit these functions, and show toxic effects. The potency of an auxin can be influenced by other factors. Among these are the availability of energy reserves to the plant tissue, the ambient pH, the presence of potassium and other inorganic ions, previous or concurrent exposure of the plant to light, certain lipids, and the synergistic effects that a number of compounds may have in increasing or decreasing the auxin response when applied simultaneously with it.
M‐Pesa and the ‘Market‐Led’ Approach to Financial Inclusion

Inclusive financial systems play a critical role in fostering economic growth and development. However, the question of what is the best means of achieving this has long been a puzzle. In this article, I use the mobile money revolution in Sub‐Saharan Africa to show that the greatest examples of financial development have come from nations embracing a market‐led approach that removes repressive regulations and gives entrepreneurs the freedom to discover innovative ways to access the unbanked. Comparing the successes and failures of mobile money across the continent over the past decade, I argue that the best predictor of whether a country will reap the benefits of these transformative innovations is whether its government embraces a laissez‐faire, or ‘enabling’, regulatory approach that encourages entrepreneurship and experimentation.
Susceptibility of Influenza Viruses to the Novel Cap-Dependent Endonuclease Inhibitor Baloxavir Marboxil

The novel cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir marboxil was approved for the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections in February 2018 in Japan. Because of the need to monitor influenza viruses for reduced susceptibility to this drug, we used two cell-based screening systems - a conventional plaque reduction assay and a focus reduction assay - to evaluate the susceptibility of influenza viruses to baloxavir. First, we generated a reference virus possessing an I38T substitution in the polymerase acidic subunit (PA), which is known to be associated with reduced susceptibility to baloxavir, and demonstrated the validity of our systems using this reference virus. We then determined the susceptibility of a panel of neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor-resistant viruses and their sensitive counterparts to baloxavir. No significant differences in baloxavir susceptibilities were found between the NA inhibitor-resistant and -sensitive viruses. We also examined seasonal influenza viruses isolated during the 2017-2018 influenza season in Japan and found that no currently circulating A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), or B viruses had significantly reduced susceptibility to baloxavir and none of the viruses possessed an amino acid substitution at PA residue 38. Use of a combination of methods to analyze antiviral susceptibility and detect amino acid substitutions is valuable for monitoring the emergence of baloxavir-resistant viruses.
How Should the Law Treat Couples Who Live Apart Together

Committed couples who do not share a residence, commonly called ‘LATs’ (for Living Apart Together), have been little studied by family law scholars in the United States. After describing the literature on this phenomenon by British, European, Canadian, and Australian scholars, this article provides new data about LATs in the US. It presents the results of two new surveys, one of respondents in New York State and one US-wide study, along with information gleaned from qualitative interviews of LATs. These data show that LATs are as prevalent in the US as elsewhere and provide information about their lifestyle, their reasons for living apart, their economic relationships, and the family-like functions LATs undertake for each another. The article then discusses whether the US legal system should recognize LAT relationships and, if so, for what purposes, concluding that certain legal rights should be extended to LATs, limiting them in most instances to those designed to aid their mutual caretaking, not those premised on economic interdependence.
Promoting Conceptual Foundations of Manipulatives for Elementary Mathematics Instruction

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of instructional strategies on teacher self- efficacy beliefs about teaching mathematics. The findings revealed that respondents’ perceived ability to communicate feedback and accommodating student needs were two principal factors which explained teacher self- efficacy beliefs. These two factors themselves are influenced by the teachers understanding of mathematical concepts. The data showed that respondents lacked confidence in their ability to use manipulatives to explain mathematical concepts and was related to their ability to provide communication and clarification to their students.
Three-dimensional cross-field flows at the plasma-material interface in an oblique magnetic field

This article describes experimental evidence that the magnetic presheath is a fully three-dimensional structure modified by ion–neutral collisions. Velocity distributions of both ions and neutrals, obtained via laser-induced fluorescence, show that cross field ion drifts do not result from entrainment of ions in a flowing neutral background. Ion flows parallel to E × B arise and accelerate to as much as 0.2cs within several ion gyroradii of the boundary surface, where cs is the sound speed. Within measurement resolution, the onset of the E × B aligned flow occurs at the same distance to the surface that ions begin to deflect from travel along magnetic field lines. Collisional fluid and particle-in-cell simulations of the boundary region are compared to the experimental measurements. We find that, in contrast to the classical collisionless Chodura model, collisional effects between the ions and the non-flowing neutral population are essential to quantitatively predict the observed ion drift velocities. No momentum coupling between ions and neutrals, separable from noise and other effects, is observed in either signal. We discuss several explanations and implications of this observation.
A Novel Hybrid Optimization Method in Distribution Network Feeder Reconfiguration

Feeder reconfiguration is one of the most important method to optimize the distribution system operation. The efficiency of finding the solution by optimization is the key point for solving feeder recontiguration problem. However, different optimization methods have its own Pros and Cons. Such as, the local search ability of the discrete particle swarm optimization is weak and the global search performance of the ant colony system is also not strong. Furthermore, it is difficult to avoid their disadvantages only by modifying the rules. In this paper, a hybrid optimization method based on ant colony system and particle swarm optimization method is proposed. The proposed method applies a novel combination theory to combine the ant colony system and the discrete particle swarm optimization together rather than use them separately in different stages. The selection rules in the proposed method not only based on the pheromone trails like ants but also consider the velocity and position such as particles. The conclusions of the tests are verified the good performance of the hybrid optimization method.
The Importance of Job Demands and Supports: Promoting Retention Among Child Welfare Workers

Child welfare workers typically face strict deadlines, limited training periods, high caseloads, and understaffing. These high-demand positions often coupled with few organizational or supervisory supports contribute to decreased worker well-being and low retention. Informed by the Job Demands-Resources model, we examined common demand-resource sub-groups among recently-hired child welfare workers and how sub-group membership contributed to agency retention. This study used data from the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families (FSPSF), a four-year, longitudinal cohort study of child welfare workers hired in 2015–16 (n = 912). We used a three-step Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) with logistic regression to identify profiles of workers based on demand and support levels at 6 months to predict agency retention 12 months later. Findings resulted in five profiles: floundering, surviving through supervisor, surviving through role, surviving through supports, and thriving. Profile distributions indicated both demands and supports were independently important for retention. Each profile had higher odds of staying at the agency compared to the floundering profile, those floundering in role and support (ORs = 2.08–7.68). Those in the thriving profile, thriving in role and support, had higher odds of staying when compared to each other profile (ORs = 2.12–7.68). Findings identify that demands and supports operate in an additive way to promote retention and suggest that agencies can address individual aspects of workers’ role and support challenges to improve retention without requiring a single approach to combat workload and environment simultaneously.
3D Multi-Object Tracking using Random Finite Set-based Multiple Measurement Models Filtering (RFS-M 3 ) for Autonomous Vehicles

Multiple object tracking (MOT) is a critical module for enabling autonomous vehicles to achieve safe planing and navigation in cluttered environments. In tracking-by-detection systems, there are inevitably many false positives and misses among learning-based input detections. The challenge for MOT is to combine these detections into tracks, and filter them based on their uncertainties, states, and temporal consistency to achieve accurate and persistent tracks. In this paper, we propose to solve the 3D MOT problem for autonomous driving applications using a random finite set-based (RFS) Multiple Measurement Models filter (RFS-M3). In partiuclar, we propose multiple measurement models for a Poisson multi-Bernoulli mixture (PMBM) filter in support of different application scenarios. Our RFS-M3 filter can naturally model these uncertainties accurately and elegantly. We combine the learning-based detections with our RFS-M3 tracker through incorporating the detection confidence score into the PMBM prediction and update step. The superior experimental results of our RFS-M3 tracker on Waymo, Argoverse and nuSceness datasets illustrate that our RFS-M3 tracker outperforms state-of-the-art deep learning-based and traditional filter-based approaches. To the best of our knowledge, this represents a first successful attempt for employing an RFS-based approach in conjunction with 3D learning-based amodal detections for 3D MOT applications with comprehensive validation using challenging datasets made available by industry leaders.
Performance of Florida Landscape Plants When Irrigated by ET-Based Controllers and Time-Based Methods

Abstract The combination of inefficient irrigation of residential and commercial landscapes and prolonged drought conditions has overextended the water supply in many areas of Florida. New irrigati...
Therapeutic Doses of Valproate (VAL) Affect Liver Glucose, Fat, Amino Acid, Adenylate, Coenzyme-A (CoA) and Carnitine (CARN) Metabolism in Infant Mice

We have reported that chronic VAL administration reduced ketonemia in suckling mice and fasting epileptic children. This study shows that acute VAL has a similar effect. Thirty min after s.c. injection of 4-d-old mice (N=8) with 60 mg/kg of VAL, plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) levels fell 79% (0.197 ± 0.011 mM (mean ± SE) vs 0.952 ± 0.023 in controls), and plasma glucose, 33% (3.95 ± 0.33 mM vs 5.89 ± 0.18). In liver, free CoA levels dropped 67% (22.8 ± 2.5 μmol/kg vs 69.3 ± 4.4), and acetyl-CoA, 73% (7.6 ± 0.7 μmol/kg vs 28.3 ± 2.4) . Liver free CARN decreased 47% (74.5 ± 9.2 μmol/kg vs 140 ± 14). Liver metabolism was inhibited at CoA-requiring steps; pyruvate and α-ketoglutarate levels increased 50%. Citrate and malate levels fell 50%. While liver alanine doubled, levels of aspartate, glutamate and glutamine decreased 40% to 50%. AMP levels fell 34%, but ATP and ADP were unchanged. P values for above differences < 0.001. Since CoA and CARN are essential cofactors in fatty acid oxidation and acetyl-CoA levels control ketogenesis, it is not surprising that VAL reduced plasma β-OHB levels. Glucose and amino acids may be reduced due to their use as metabolic fuels. Gluconeogenesis may also have been inhibited (pyruvate carboxylase is acetyl-CoA dependent). Decreases in aspartate and glutamine support possible decreased AMP synthesis. Findings appear relevant to the hepatotoxicity of VAL in some children and suggest stratagems for prevention and/or treatment.
The 25Mg(3He, α) reaction at E(3He) = 33.0 MeV

Abstract Angular distributions of the (3He, α) neutron pickup reactionon 25 Mg (J π = 5 2 + ) leaving the final nucleus 24Mg in its ground-state rotational band (K = 0; Jπ = 0+, 2+, 4+) have been measured at an incident energy E( 3 He ) = 33.0 MeV . The striking similarity between the shapes of the three observed angular distributions suggests a pure l = 2, j = 5 2 transition to the two excited states, as for the ground state. Relative spectroscopic factors have been extracted by DWBA calculations. The results were compared with previous experiments in which the neutron pickup from 25Mg was investigated by means of the (p, d) and (d, t) reaction and with values calculated from the rotational model. The elastic scattering angular distribution 25Mg(3He, 3He) at 33 MeV has been measured and analysed in terms of an optical model.
The Effect of Race-Crime Typicality on Judicial Sentencing Decisions

This paper combined economic and psychological theory to test whether, when sentencing criminal cases, judges adhere to statistic-based stereotypes relating the race of an offender to the crime committed. Past research suggests that white and black offenders committing crimes that are perceived to be typical for their race are sentenced more harshly than those committing race-atypical crimes. Furthermore, there is evidence that this effect may be mediated by the dispositional or situational attribution of guilt, and that expectations of recidivism based on statistical discrimination may also impact sentence severity. This study examined how race-crime typicality, attributions of guilt, and recidivism influenced how law student "judges" sentenced white and black offenders for six crimes varying in race-typicality and severity. The results showed no effect of race-crime typicality on sentence length, however there was a direct effect of race on sentence: white offenders were sentenced more harshly than black offenders. Moreover, white defendants received more dispositional attributions than black defendants, and nonwhite judges gave more extreme attributions of guilt than did white judges. White and nonwhite mock judges also differed in their decision-making processes. For white mock judges, attribution mediated the relationship between defendant race and expectations of recidivism (without significantly affecting sentencing severity); for nonwhite mock judges, attribution mediated the relationship between defendant race and sentence severity. These results are explained in terms of statistical discrimination, just-world belief, and social dominance orientation.
Bose-Einstein condensates: Superfluids mixing it up

At low enough temperatures, collections of certain types of atom can collapse into a Bose-Einstein condensate, in which the atoms lose their individuality and occupy a single quantum state. Only three years after this was first achieved in the lab, physicists are now beginning to play with multiple condensates. New theoretical work predicts striking properties for a particular two-component condensate formed from sodium and rubidium atoms.
Linear and nonlinear theory of grid excitation of low frequency waves in a plasma

Steady state excitation by electron tube grids in collisionless plasma of low frequency waves with linear and nonlinear theory
The effect of relaxin and progesterone on rat uterine contractions.

Abstract The effect of porcine relaxin on electrically stimulated in vitro contractions of isolated uterine horn segments from estrogen-pretreated immature rats was studied. Relaxin decreased the amplitude of contractions. A mean of 8.3 ng/ml of relaxin produced a 90% decrease in contraction amplitude. There was a minimal effect of 1.0 μg/ml of progesterone on contraction amplitude. In vitro pretreatment of the isolated uterine segment with this dose of progesterone for 15 minutes did not significantly affect the dose of relaxin needed to decrease the amplitude of contractions. In contrast, pretreatment with progesterone for 45 minutes significantly decreased the concentration of relaxin needed to decrease contraction amplitude. Only 4.7 ng/ml of relaxin was needed to produce a 90% decrease in amplitude after progesterone pretreatment for 45 minutes (p
Kinematics and dynamics of two industrial robots in assembly

The dynamics and kinematic behavior of two coordinating robots in assembly is mathematically modeled. A typical assembly task can be decomposed into three phases: independent-motion phase, contact phase, and constraint-motion phase. Mathematical modeling is conducted in these phases as well. In the first phase, dynamic equations for robots holding an object are derived from individual dynamic equations of the robot and object. In the second phase, collision effects on the robot motions are studied and modeled. In the third phase, the emphasis is on the modeling of the kinematic constraints, from which a unified set of dynamic equations is obtained for the two coordinating robots. >
Humoral Antibody Response and Tumor Transplantation Resistance Elicited by Fetal Tissues in Mice

Immune responses to fetal antigen immunization were studied in C57BL/6 (B6), C3H/HeN (C3H), and BALB/c (BALB) mice. In tests by the isotopic antiglobulin technique, the mice could be grouped in three classes according to their antibody responses: good responders (B6), poor responders (C3H), and nonresponders (BALB). In tumor transplantation experiments, protection against syngeneic tumor-cell challenge, after fetal tissue immunization, was observed only with B6 mice. In addition, experiments on B6 mice showed that resistance to tumor challenge after fetal tissue immunization depended on the quantitative expression of fetal antigens by the tumor cells. Our results indicated that, in addition to other well-known factors, the effectiveness of fetal tissue immunization in tumor-challenge resistance depended on both host responsiveness and the amount of fetal antigen expressed by the tumor cells.
Morphine Reduces Myocardial Infarct Size via Heat Shock Protein 90 in Rodents

Opioids reduce injury from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in humans. In experimental models, this mechanism involves GSK3β inhibition. HSP90 regulates mitochondrial protein import, with GSK3β inhibition increasing HSP90 mitochondrial content. Therefore, we determined whether morphine-induced cardioprotection is mediated by HSP90 and if the protective effect is downstream of GSK3β inhibition. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8–10 weeks, were subjected to an in vivo myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury protocol involving 30 minutes of ischemia followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Hemodynamics were continually monitored and myocardial infarct size determined. Rats received morphine (0.3 mg/kg), the GSK3β inhibitor, SB216763 (0.6 mg/kg), or saline, 10 minutes prior to ischemia. Some rats received selective HSP90 inhibitors, radicicol (0.3 mg/kg), or deoxyspergualin (DSG, 0.6 mg/kg) alone or 5 minutes prior to morphine or SB216763. Morphine reduced myocardial infarct size when compared to control (42 ± 2% versus 60 ± 1%). This protection was abolished by prior treatment of radicicol or DSG (59 ± 1%, 56 ± 2%). GSK3β inhibition also reduced myocardial infarct size (41 ± 2%) with HSP90 inhibition by radicicol or DSG partially inhibiting SB216763-induced infarct size reduction (54 ± 3%, 47 ± 1%, resp.). These data suggest that opioid-induced cardioprotection is mediated by HSP90. Part of this protection afforded by HSP90 is downstream of GSK3β, potentially via the HSP-TOM mitochondrial import pathway.
Direct demonstration of intrinsic follicle-stimulating hormone receptor-binding activity in acid-treated equine luteinizing hormone.

Abstract After dissociating equine gonadotropins as a function of time at pH 3, we examined them by radioligand assay and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondissociating conditions (low, 0.1% SDS). Equine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) rapidly lost its receptor-binding activity, and low SDS-polyacrylamide gels demonstrated dissociation into subunits. Maximum dissociation occurred after 20–30 min of pH 3 incubation. Equine luteinizing hormone (LH), however, retained most biologic activity and was largely intact after 72 h of pH 3 incubation. Dose-response curves of acid-treated equine LH and FSH and intact equine LH and FSH were compared in five types of radioligand receptor assays. LH and FSH receptor-binding activities of equine LH were unaffected by pH 3. Equine LH showed 19- and 32-times more activity in the rat testis FSH assay than it did in chicken or horse FSH assays, respectively, directly demonstrating the intrinsic FSH receptor-binding activity of equine LH and the relative lack of specificity for these hormone preparations of the rat FSH receptor. Acid-treated equine FSH lost 95% of its biologic activity in FSH assays. In LH assays, the slight (0.2%) activity of equine FSH was relatively unaffected by acid treatment, suggesting that contamination by equine LH accounts for this activity.
Chromium(III) complexes as intermolecular probes.

Abstract Metal ion complexes provide flexible paramagnetic centers that may be used to define intermolecular contacts in a variety of solution phase environments because both the charge and electronic relaxation properties of the complex may be varied. For most complex ions, there are several proton equilibria that may change the effective charge on the complex as a function of pH which in turn affects the efficacy of application for defining the electrostatic surfaces of co-solute molecules. We report here spectrophotometric and nuclear spin relaxation studies on aqueous solutions of chromium(III) complexes of EDTA, DTPA, and bis-amides of both. The effective charges available from these paramagnetic centers range from −3 to +1 and we report the pH ranges over which the effective charge is defined with confidence for application in magnetic relaxation experiments.
Organizational Factors Affecting the Evaluation of Information Systems Performance

This paper reports a Delphi study aimed at exploring organizational factors affecting the evaluation of information systems IS function performance. Information System Executives ISEs and corporate planners identified and rated factors influencing the prioritization of performance evaluation dimensions. The factors included IS function structure, impact of computer downtime, industry, and organization size. The variations in dimension rankings and measurement usage based upon these factors are consistent with the respondents' perceived value of the factors. A framework is presented to focus the development of pragmatic approaches to IS function performance measurement.
A service-oriented, scalable approach to grid-enabling of legacy scientific applications

This paper describes a scalable approach to the enabling of legacy scientific applications on computing grids using a service-oriented architecture. In the context of this paper grid-enabling means turning an existing application, installed on a grid resource, into a service and generating the application-specific user interfaces to use that application through a Web portal. Scalability is achieved by providing a common abstraction for a category of applications and providing a "generic" application service to wrap those applications as services. The focus of this paper's approach is on grid-enabling "command-oriented" scientific applications. The novel aspect of the approach is that the entire process -from turning an application into a service to the user-interface generation for that application - is done automatically, without requiring coding or grid-system downtime. Portlet technology is used to dynamically generate application-specific interfaces. Further, the approach makes it possible to customize the applications for different user groups by way of simplifying, restricting or composing the functionalities of applications. The approach is useful for building grid portals on which a large number of applications need to be dynamically enabled.
Quality of Feather Meal as Affected by Feather Processing Conditions

Abstract Feather meal contains three sulfur amino acids: cystine, lanthionine, and methionine. Procedures were investigated to determine the best conditions for quantitating the sulfur amino acids in feather meal. To separate the sulfur amino acids by ion exchange chromatography, an elution system using 100 mM citrate buffer at pH 3.5 was found to be acceptable. Performic acid oxidation followed by acid hydrolysis oxidized lanthionine but also cleaved a substantial portion to form cysteic acid and an unknown compound. This result suggested that samples containing lanthionine should not be oxidized before hydrolysis. The effects of pH and of pressure during feather processing were determined. The pH was 5,7, or 9; and the steam pressures were 207, 276, or 345 kPa for 30 min. Increasing the pH or pressure increased the percentage of the protein that was pepsin digestible. As the pepsin digestibility increased, the cystine content of the feather meal decreased and mat of lanthionine increased. The experimental feather meals were included at 2.5% in a diet low in sulfur amino acids. The preparation of the feather meal had no effect on the feed:gain ratio or on weight gains by the chicks.
Glycine betaine uptake, retention, and degradation by microorganisms in seawater

The uptake of nanomolar levels of methyl- 14 C-glycine betaine (GBT) was studied in surface water samples from the Gulf of Maine, Mobile Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico. At all locations, 14 C-GBT was rapidly taken up into particulate material (>0.2 μm). Formalin treatment, autoclaving, or prefiltration of water through 0.2-μm membranes completely inhibited 14 C-GBT uptake, indicating the process was biologically mediated, probably by bacteria. During the first several hours of uptake, >80% of the label found in particulates was recovered as untransformed 14 C-GBT. This fraction diminished over longer incubations but never fell below 16%, indicating some longer term storage of GBT in microorganisms. Respiration of the added label to 14 CO 2 was typically <5% of the total uptake during 5-10-min incubations but increased to approximately 40-60% after 24-48 h. Increasing the salinity of an estuarine water filtrate culture from 14 to 25 or 35 resulted in greater retention of 14 C-GBT in particulates and less production of 14 CO 2 , suggesting that GBT may be used as an osmolyte by microorganisms. Uptake, retention, and degradation patterns were similar in <0.8-μm filtrates and whole seawater, and size fractionation experiments showed that most GBT uptake was by organisms of <1 μm, suggesting bacteria as the microbes most likely responsible for GBT uptake. Uptake rates followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with saturation at <20 nM added GBT in most cases and K, + S n values ranging from 1.2 to 49 nM. Turnover times for S n were short, ranging from 0.52 to 11 h. V max values ranged from 0.39 to 44 nmol liter -1 h -1 , and V max could be increased by enriching <1.0-μm filtrates for 48 h with 100 μM glucose or acrylate. GBT uptake displayed temperature optima from 20°C to 30°C, with optima close to the in situ temperature on the day of sample collection. Together, the results indicate that nanomolar levels of GBT are rapidly scavenged by seawater microorganisms for use as an osmolyte or carbon and energy source. The relative proportion of retention vs. degradation is likely to depend on the composition of the microbial community and environmental factors such as osmotic stress and the availability of alternative osmotic or carbon and energy substrates.
Strongly nonlinear perturbations of nonnegative boundary value problems with kernel

where the linear operator A is a nonnegative self-adjoint operator on the real Hilbert space&(Q), and the kernel of A is one dimensional. In the applications A will be defined by a differential operator subject to boundary conditions. The results extend easily to certain monotone nonlinear operators A. (See Remark 7 of Sect. 3.) As examples, the reader should bear in mind the following. Let 52 be a nice bounded open subset of IWn and g: [w --f [w continuous.
On a Local Ordinal Binary Extension to Gabor Wavelet-Based Encoding for Improved Iris Recognition

Daugman's iris recognition algorithm introduced in early 90s and later undergoing continuous refinements remains potentially the most efficient and scalable in iris field. The encoding part of the algorithm relies on application of Gabor wavelets that in terms of their imaging capabilities mimic capabilities of human eye receptor field. In this work, we design and test an algorithm that can be used both individually and as a natural extension scheme to Gabor wavelet-based algorithm. It is based on the local ordinal information extracted from original unfiltered images. This scheme holds a number of promises: (1) it is robust with respect to a number of nonidealities in iris images and (2) because of the binary nature of the local ordinal information this scheme can be flawlessly integrated into the traditional filter-based recognition systems. The proposed scheme was extensively tested individually and when combined with Gabor wavelet-based approach.
Use of the TRMM-PR for Estimating the TMI Beam Filling Correction

The unresolved rainfall structure within the Field of View (FOV) of a microwave radiometer, such as TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI), causes errors in the rainfall estimation due to the nonlinear relationship between the rain rate and brightness temperature. We have used rainfall structure data from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR) to estimate the bias caused by this structure, the random (FOV-to-FOV) error, and a rough estimate of the regional/seasonal scale uncertainty in the bias. We have expressed this bias in terms of a rainfall variance, V, over the FOV in the form: V=a b where is the FOV average rain rate in mm h-1. The data were best fit by a=0.144 mm2h-2 and b=2.46 at the pre-boost 19.35 GHz resolution. The beam filling error is very small relative to the rain rate at small rain rates but increases with increasing rain rate.
Effect of operational parameters and their interplay in differential cross-phase-modulation wavelength converters

DXPM wavelength-converters are analyzed via simulations to quantify sensitivity to device parameters. 0.2 rad phase-drift causes 3-dB power-penalty. Optimal operating conditions are shown to depend on input signal parameters pointing to the requirement of adaptive optimization.
The societal impact of student politics in contemporary South Korea

This article considers contemporary South Korean student activism characterized by complicated ideological formulations, highly developed organizing tactics and connections with other social powers. The activism is located within an ideological framework of Marxism-Leninism and is actively engaged in the struggles against imperialism and Fascism, as well as a movement for the reunification of South and North Korea. The recent growth of student organizations to the national level, contributes to the effective functioning of these groups both on and off campus. Despite its national influence, student activism is being criticized by the public and by students themselves because of the underlying revolutionary ideologies and several episodes of violence. In this context, it will be necessary to observe how students will respond to public criticism and to the changing national and world environment.
Yellow Perch Length–Fecundity and Length–Egg Size Relationships in Indiana Waters of Lake Michigan

Abstract This study was undertaken to quantify the length–fecundity and length–egg size relationships for yellow perch Perca flavescens in the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan. Data were pooled from gill-net collections made in 1985, 1986, and 1999, resulting in a wide length range of mature female yellow perch (172–332 mm total length (TL)). The length–fecundity relationship was log10 F = −3.220 + 3.223·log10TL (r 2 = 0.89), where F is fecundity. The mean preserved egg volume (V; mL) increased with yellow perch TL and was represented by the following equation: log10 V = −2.06 + 1.10·log10TL (r 2 = 0.48). These results reveal that larger females produced both more and larger eggs than did smaller females. Therefore, the intense harvest targeting large yellow perch (primarily females) in the 1980s and 1990s may have had an effect on the quantity and quality of eggs spawned by the population, possibly resulting in reduced recruitment.