cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Joint Resource Placement and Task Dispatching in Mobile Edge Computing across Timescales

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) data and innovative mobile services has promoted an increasing need for low-latency access to resources such as data and computing services. Mobile edge computing has become an effective computing paradigm to meet the requirement for low-latency access by placing resources and dispatching tasks at the network edge near mobile users. The key challenge of such solution is how to efficiently place resources and dispatch tasks to meet the QoS of mobile users or maximize the platform’s utility. In this paper, we study the joint optimization problem of resource placement and task dispatching in mobile edge computing across multiple timescales under the dynamic status of edge servers. We first propose a two-stage iterative algorithm to solve the joint optimization problem in different timescales, which can handle the varieties among the dynamic of edge resources and/or tasks. We then propose a reinforcement learning (RL) based algorithm which leverages the learning capability of Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) technique to tackle the network variation and dynamic as well. The results from trace-driven simulations demonstrate that our proposed approaches can effectively place resources and dispatching tasks across two timescales to maximize the total utility of all scheduled tasks.
Gouverneur Morris, The Committee of Style, and the Federalist Constitution: A Commentary on Treanor's 'Dishonest Scrivener'

Dean William Treanor's masterful article, The Case of the Dishonest Scrivener: Gouverneur Morris and the Creation of the Federalist Constitution, makes a major contribution to scholarship on the founding. He uncovers a body of constitutional interpretations favored by advocates of a strong national government and emphasized by the Federalist party in the early decades of politics and policy under the Constitution, raising significant questions about present-day originalism in the process. Treanor particularly emphasizes how Constitutional Convention delegate Gouverneur Morris, acting as primary draftsman on the 'Committee of Style' which put the finishing touches on the draft 'Constitution' crafted language favorable to Federalist interpretations. But Treanor disserves his otherwise compelling argument with a narrative that portrays Morris as a 'dishonest scrivener' who 'smuggled in' substantive revisions to impose his own views, presumably against the will of an inattentive Convention majority. This narrative framing 'not sustained by the available evidence' digresses from Treanor's core argument, and works against it. A better interpretation of the historical evidence is that the Committee of Style draft had broad support and made no substantive revisions that escaped the notice of the Convention. The fifteen revisions by the Committee of Style cited by Treanor do not support the charge of 'dishonest scrivening'. Ultimately, we can dismiss the 'dishonest scrivener' narrative, while recognizing Treanor's valuable, core insights that Morris was a key player at the Convention and that the Committee of Style reinforced Federalist understandings of the original Constitution.
The Credibility Consequences of Managers' Decisions to Provide Warnings about Unexpected Earnings

This study provides a theoretical framework and experimental evidence on how managers' disclosure decisions affect their credibility with investors. Further, I examine whether investors' judgments of management credibility are based on different factors in the short- and longer-term. My results show that in the short-term, management disclosure decisions regarding negative news have larger effects on perceived management credibility than disclosure decisions regarding positive news. Specifically, managers who warn investors about unexpected negative news are rewarded with greater credibility increases than managers who warn about unexpected positive news, and managers who fail to warn about unexpected negative news are penalized with greater credibility decreases than managers who fail to warn about unexpected positive news. The results also show that these short-term credibility effects do not persist over time. In the longer-term, managers who report positive earnings news are rated as having higher credibility than managers who report negative earnings news, regardless of their disclosure decisions.
Equilibrium banding of low-density lipoproteins: I. Determination of gradients

Abstract 1. 1. Isopycnic banding of low density lipoproteins is possible on equilibrium density gradients of sucrose-NaBr in the ultracentrifuge. This paper presents the theory and calculation of such density gradients. 2. 2. Experiments are described which indicate the time required to reach equilibrium is approx. 60 h. 3. 3. Results show the effect of solute concentration, rotor speed, and meniscus position on the composite gradient. An analysis of potential errors is also given.
Extramedullary spinal tuberculoma

Summary Presentation is made of a case of treated bacteriologically proved tuberculous meningitis complicated by an intradural extramedullary spinal tuberculoma. This case was associated with a very high cerebrospinal fluid protein throughout the course of the disease.
Clinical-Pathological Agreement in Dementing Disorders: Embracing the Complexity

In Response to: Giorelli M, Losignore NA, Bagnoli J, et al. The progression of posterior cortical atrophy to corticobasal syndrome: Lumping or splitting neurodegenerative diseases? Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov. 2014; 4. doi: 10.7916/D81G0JCQ
A proposed heuristic for communicating heritability estimates to the general public, with obesity as an example.

It is well established that many continuously distributed traits have a heritable component. However, it is often difficult to communicate to the general public the meaning of quantitative estimates of heritability. To address this problem, the present paper introduces a heuristic for communicating heritability to nonscientific audiences. This heuristic involves adopting an extremely simplified model of inheritance and artificially (and somewhat arbitrarily) defining a cutoffs of “low environmental risk” and “affectation status.” Using body weight and obesity as an example, we present a table which gives estimates of the proportion of obese persons who are “genetically obese” assuming varying levels of “environmental risk” for obesity and relative body weight scores for defining obesity. The resulting statistic may prove useful for lay audiences in understanding a heritability estimate.
Warum gibt es Materie

Seit uber 30 Jahren wird die CP-Verletzung zur Erklarung der Materie-Antimaterie-Asymmetrie im Universum herangezogen. Seit kurzem ist jedoch klar, dass der Effekt viel zu gering ist, um diese Baryon-Asymmetrie zu erklaren. Theoretiker am DESY und von der Universitat Oxford haben ein Modell entwickelt, das die Baryon-Asymmetrie mit Hilfe des Zerfalls schwerer Majorana-Neutrinos erklart [1].
Weighing the risks

"I'm thinking,'Yeah, right,'" Janet Babb recalled reacting upon hearing the oddball message left on her tele phone answering machine on January 25. But a little more than a month later, on March 1–2, the freelance geologist took up the offer. Outfitted in her yellow raincoat, gloves, and gas mask, she used her rock hammer to sample hot lava near the active vent of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, and drove along the nearby Chain of Craters Road. However, Babb was not up there alone. Accompanying her was a 30-person film crew, two helicopters, and, of course, her car insurance agent.
Host-area specific climatic-matching: similarity breeds exotics

Abstract Non-indigenous species invasions carry a high price in economic and ecological terms. Preventing the establishment of nonindigenous species is preferable to post-establishment control and eradication. Predicting where the next nonindigenous species will come from can help in deterring the introduction and establishment of potential invasive species. Discriminant analyses were performed to determine the relationship between plant species distributions and 16 climatic variables for south Florida and Australia. The discriminant functions correctly identified half-degree blocks in Australia that held high numbers of species (both native and non-indigenous) shared by south Florida and Australia. Climate data for Africa and the Americas was applied to the discriminant function to predict regions with potentially high numbers of plant species that are climatically pre-adapted to south Florida. The results of these analyses will be used to focus research on areas that have the greatest potential for contributing species to the already severely invaded natural areas of south Florida. The results also suggest a mechanism to control the introduction of nonindigenous species to any host area of interest.
Genotyping of Brucella species using clade specific SNPs

Background: Brucellosis is a worldwide disease of mammals caused by Alphaproteobacteria in the genus Brucella. The genus is genetically monomorphic, requiring extensive genotyping to differentiate isolates. We utilized two different genotyping strategies to characterize isolates. First, we developed a microarray-based assay based on 1000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were identified from whole genome comparisons of two B. abortus isolates, one B. melitensis, and one B. suis. We then genotyped a diverse collection of 85 Brucella strains at these SNP loci and generated a phylogenetic tree of relationships. Second, we developed a selective primer-extension assay system using capillary electrophoresis that targeted 17 high value SNPs across 8 major branches of the phylogeny and determined their genotypes in a large collection (n=340) of diverse isolates. Results: Our 1000 SNP microarray readily distinguished B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis, differentiating B. melitensis and B. suis into two clades each. Brucella abortus was divided into four major clades. Our capillary-based SNP genotyping confirmed all major branches from the microarray assay and assigned all samples to defined lineages. Isolates from these lineages and closely related isolates, among the most commonly encountered lineages worldwide, can now be quickly and easily identified and genetically characterized. Conclusions: We have identified clade-specific SNPs in Brucella that can be used for rapid assignment into major groups below the species level in the three main Brucella species. Our assays represent SNP genotyping approaches that can reliably determine the evolutionary relationships of bacterial isolates without the need for whole genome sequencing of all isolates. Background Brucella are Gram-negative bacteria and the causative agent of brucellosis in domesticated animals, wildlife, and humans. Although the bacteria exhibit relatively strong host preference, separating the various Brucella species has proven extremely difficult due to minimal genetic differentiation [1]. Based on DNA-DNA hybridization, brucellae have previously been proposed to comprise a single species, with a series of biovars [2]. However, phylogenetic approaches explicitly incorporating host preference and virulence have upheld the six classical Brucella species: B. abortus (bovine), B. melitensis (caprine and ovine), B. suis (porcine), B. canis (canine), B. neotomae (desert woodrat), and B. ovis
Dexras1 blocks receptor-mediated heterologous sensitization of adenylyl cyclase 1.

Abstract Dexras1/AGS1/RasD1 is a member of the Ras superfamily of monomeric G proteins and has been suggested to disrupt receptor-G protein signaling. We examined the ability of Dexras1 to modulate dopamine D2L receptor regulation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) type 1 in HEK293 cells. Acute D2L receptor-mediated inhibition of A23187-stimulated AC1 activity (IC50, 4.0 ± 1.4 nM; 50 ± 3% inhibition) was not altered in the presence of Dexras1 (IC50, 2.4 ± 1.3 nM, 50 ± 1% inhibition); however, Dexras1 blocked acute D2L receptor-mediated activation of ERK 1/2 by approximately 50%. Heterologous sensitization of AC1 induced by persistent activation of D2L receptors was completely blocked by Dexras1 under basal and A23187-stimulated conditions. The block of sensitization was concentration-dependent and was not observed with a nucleotide binding-deficient Dexras1G31V mutant. Sensitization of AC1 was Gβγ-dependent as demonstrated using the C-terminus of β-adrenergic receptor kinase (βARK-ct). These data suggest that Dexras1 selectively regulates receptor-mediated Gβγ signaling pathways.
Diluted magnetic III-V semiconductors

A new diluted magnetic III-V semiconductor of ${\mathrm{In}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{\mathrm{x}}$As (x\ensuremath{\le}0.18) has been produced by molecular-beam epitaxy. Films grown at 300 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C are predominantly ferromagnetic and their properties suggest the presence of MnAs clusters. Films grown 200 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, however, are predominantly paramagnetic, and the lattice constant decreases with increasing Mn composition; both are indicative of the formation of a homogeneous alloy. These films have n-type conductivity and reduced band gaps.
The Solitary Pulmonary Nodule: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Management

We have presented a brief overview of an approach that has been very successful in our hands in the patient with an SPN. Even though the patient who has undergone a thoracotomy is full of gratitude to his physician when told that the resected lesion was benign and does not question the need for the thoracotomy, we have met equally happy and gratified patients when they were told that their lesion is benign be it after CT densitometry or needle biopsy. When properly performed, these techniques demand care and attention to detail much like the surgeon performing a delicate procedure. Without proper care, these procedures can in fact reflect negatively on the physician performing them and fall in disrepute. CT densitometry and transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy allow effective management of the patient with an SPN with prompt documentation of both malignant or benign lesions. With the proper application of these techniques, the majority of patients with benign disease will not need a thoracotomy for diagnosis with resultant benefits to the patient as well as to third-party payers.
Compensating thermal drift of hybrid silicon and lithium niobate ring resonances

We present low-power compensation of thermal drift of resonance wavelengths in hybrid silicon and lithium niobate ring resonators based on the linear electro-optic effect. Fabricated devices demonstrate a resonance wavelength tunability of 12.5 pm/V and a tuning range of 1 nm. A capacitive geometry and low thermal sensitivity result in the compensation of 17°C of temperature variation using tuning powers at sub-nanowatt levels. The method establishes a route for stabilizing high-quality factor resonators in chip-scale integrated photonics subject to temperature variations.
Diminished steroidogenic response of hamster granulosa cells to estrogen in vitro.

We have previously demonstrated that estrogen can exert inhibitory or atretogenic effects on the ovaries of both rats and rhesus monkeys in vivo. This study was designed to test whether the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is an appropriate model in which to test the effects of estrogens (diethylstilbestrol and estradiol-17β) on steroid accumulation by ovarian granulosa cells in vitro, and whether the effects are similar to those demonstrated for other species in vivo. Immature female hamsters were injected with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin at 28 to 30 days of age. Animals were sacrificed and follicular contents aspirated three days later. Granulosa cells were either left untreated or treated with diethylstilbestrol or estradiol (1×10-7 M) in vitro for 72 h in the presence of androstenedione (1×10-7 M), and in the presence or absence of serum (10%) or human follicle-stimulating hormone (20 ng/ml), and long-term accumulation of estrogen and progesterone was determined. Diethylstilbestrol inhibited accumulation of estrogen regardless of the presence or absence of follicle-stimulating hormone. In contrast, only estradiol plus follicle-stimulating hormone augmented accumulation of progesterone by granulosa cells. These findings that estrogen can be non-stimulatory or inhibitory to function of granulosa cells in vitro parallel those shown in vivo. Our experimental approach may therefore represent an appropriate model for study of the direct effects of estradiol on the function of granulosa cells.
Children of Divorce: The Differential Diagnosis of Contact Refusal

Contact refusal is a common phenomenon that can occur during the course of, or after, divorce, which affects the relationship between a child and the parent. This article defines the concept of contact refusal and discusses the importance of its recognition. The concept is further narrowed to focus on the child as the one refusing contact, not the parent, which can happen as well. Various types of contact refusals are illustrated in the article through clinical vignettes, and an approach to categorizing the various types of contact refusal is presented.
A method for quantitative assessment of reproductive risks to the human male

There is a need for quantitative assessment of reproductive risks following human exposure to toxic agents. Current methods only estimate exposure levels that are unlikely to produce appreciable risk; they do not address the magnitude of risk. The quantitative reproductive risk estimation (QRRE) approach presented here enables calculation of the increased incidence of infertility in a human population resulting from exposure of males to a toxic agent. The four steps involve (A) obtaining a dose-response curve in experimental animals for the effect of a toxicant on a measure of reproductive function; (B) applying an interspecies extrapolation factor (IEF) derived for a similar toxicant to relate doses in animals and humans that produce equivalent reproductive toxicity; (C) using human exposure and uptake levels, along with the IEF and the dose-response curve, to calculate impairment of the measure in humans; and (D) computing the increase in human infertility caused by that impairment. The QRRE method is used to compute reproductive risks from dibromochloropropane exposure.
Interaction orders of drug dealing spaces: local orders of sensemaking in a poor black American place

Based on ethnographic data, this essay analyzes the social order properties of a poor urban street, in a small city in the northeast United States, on which drug dealing is the principle occupation. Rather than treating drug dealing as an agent of disorder, we focus on the order properties of drug dealing and the ordered character of the local code of conduct that develops around it. Like Sudhir Venkatesh (American Journal of Sociology 103:82–111, 1997) we examine the interface between drug dealing and the neighborhood. However, in this small urban space the drug dealers are not outsiders, rather, they are long term residents: established insiders who are well integrated into community life. As such their work practices and the requirements they place on behavior in public spaces impact the neighborhood in comprehensive ways. We detail the phenomenon Elijah Anderson called the “code of the street” (Anderson 1999) as a set of practices and social markers, a local Interaction Order (Goffman, American Sociological Review 48:1–17, 1983; Rawls, Sociological Theory 2:136–149, 1987), that furnishes basic day to day sensemaking tools for residents (Rawls 2009). We propose that this order has a constitutive character that furnishes stable expectations (Garfinkel 1963, 1967) for meaningful social action and identity in the neighborhood. In a context of industrial decline and urban poverty, drug dealing careers constitute a major socialization factor, that touches everyone here—especially children.
Differential effects of tranylcypromine and pargyline on indoleamines in brain.

Abstract Investigations of the effects of tranylcypromine and pargyline on general activity and body temperature in mice demonstrated an increase in activity after tranylcypromine treatment and a decrease after pargyline treatment. Body temperature was unchanged with tranylcypromine and lowered with pargyline. At doses which similarly inhibited monoamine oxidase, tranylcypromine was shown to significantly raise brain tryptophan while pargyline had no effect. The rise in brain tryptophan was accompanied by increases in plasma-free tryptophan levels. The increase in brain tryptophan with tranylcypromine did not, however, lead to significant increases in accumulation of serotonin compared with pargyline-treated animals. Results were interpreted in terms of accumulation of indoleamines other than serotonin after tranylcypromine treatment.
Orientation of chromophores in reaction centers of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. Evidence for two absorption bands of the dimeric primary electron donor.

Abstract Chromatophores from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides were oriented by allowing aqueous suspensions to dry on glass plates. Orientation of reaction center pigments was investigated by studying the linear dichroism of chromatophores in which the absorption by antenna bacteriochlorophyll had been attenuated through selective oxidation. Alternatively the light-induced absorbance changes, in the ranges 550–650 and 700–950 nm, were studied in untreated chromatophores. The long wave transition moment of reaction center bacteriochlorophyll (P-870) was found to be nearly parallel to the plane of the membrane, whereas the long wave transition moments of bacteriopheophytin are polarized out of this plane. For light-induced changes the linear dichroic ratios, defined as Δa v Δa h , are nearly the same for untreated and for oxidized chromatophores. Typical values are 1.60 at 870 nm, 0.80 at 810 nm, 1.20 at 790 nm, 0.70 at 765 nm, 0.30 at 745 nm, and 0.50 at 600 nm. The different values for the absorbance decrease at 810 nm (0.80) and the increase at 790 nm (1.20) are incompatible with the hypothesis that these changes are due to the blue-shift of a single band. We propose that the decreases at 870 and 810 nm reflect bleaching of the two components of a bacteriochlorophyll dimer, the “special pair” that shares in the photochemical donation of a single electron. The increase at 790 nm then represents the appearance of a monomer band in place of the dimer spectrum, as a result of electron donation. This hypothesis is consistent with available data on circular dichroism. It is confirmed by the presence of a shoulder at 810 nm in the absorption spectrum of reaction centers at low temperature; this band disappears upon photooxidation of the reaction centers. For the changes near 760 nm, associated with bacteriopheophytin, the polarization and the shape of the “light-dark” difference spectrum (identical to the first derivative of the absorption spectrum) show that the 760 nm band undergoes a light-induced shift to greater wavelengths.
Bilateral symmetry in the mediation of circadian differences in earthworms

The rates of locomotion and light-withdrawal of earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris L., in which one circumpharyngeal connective had been severed were compared with those of normal worms during test-periods which started at 12:00 and 20:00, E.S.T. Normal worms withdrew from light and crawled faster during the evening hours than at midday. The animals in which the connective had been cut performed at essentially the same rates during the noon and evening periods. Data presented in the table show the similarity between the results of this investigation and those of earlier studies on brainless worms and on Lumbricus in which both circumpharyngeal connectives were cut (Bennett, 1967). The new findings support the earlier conclusion that an intact anterior central nervous system is necessary for the mediation of circadian differences in earthworms, and indicate that the regulating mechanism of the temporal differences is one which demands the participation of neural units of both sides of the anterior central nervous system.
Metal–insulator transition in disordered YbFe4Sb12 thin films

Abstract Results are reported for YbFe4Sb12 thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) with thicknesses (t) 6000>t>300 A. Thick films (t>1000 A) show electrical transport behavior typical of bulk specimens. Surprisingly, a metal to insulator transition (MIT) is observed for films with t
Recovery of a cell surface fetal antigen from circulating immune complexes of melanoma patients.

A well-characterized 69.5×103 dalton glycoprotein fetal antigen (FA), isolated from the spent culture medium of a melanoma cell line, UCLA-SO-14 (M14), was utilized to characterize the antigen component of circulating immune complexes (CIC) from melanoma patients. Ten serum samples from five patients with stage II melanoma at 1 and 4 months prior to the clinical detection of recurrent disease were selected for study. The CIC were dissociated with low pH and ultrafiltered through a 100¢103 dalton exclusion limit membrane. The low pH treatment resulted in an increase in antibody titer in eight of ten serum samples. The antibody activity in membrane immunofluorescence was quantitatively inhibited by the filtered antigen fraction and purified FA, suggesting the presence of anti-FA antibodies in the treated serum, which possibly were complexed with FA in the untreated sample. As determined by competitive inhibition in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the filtrate (antigen fraction) contained an antigen that was immunologically similar to FA. These results clearly demonstrate that FA, expressed on the cell surface of melanoma cells, is present in CIC of selected melanoma patients.
Institutions, information asymmetry and democratic responsiveness: A cross-national and multi-level analysis

This study probes the institutional mechanism of democratic responsiveness and elite–public policy agreement in particular. The theoretical idea is that institutions impact policy agreement via information asymmetry built into elite–public relations. As institutions concentrates public authority and hence increase clarity of responsibility, the information asymmetry in elite–public relations gets lower which, in turn, enhances the public’s ability to sanction elites and, as a result, makes elites more responsive to the public. Relying on the 1996 Top Decision Makers Survey on European integration, a cross-national and multi-level analysis confirms the information asymmetry hypothesis. In particular, the results show that elite–public policy agreement on European integration is stronger in countries with greater clarity of responsibility. However, evidence also reveals that the horizontal clarity of responsibility induces greater agreement between elites and the public than the vertical clarity of responsibility.
Who's Minding the Store?

Management service organizations are all the rage these days. They free dentists to concentrate on dentistry, but they also raise certain legal and professional questions. What's more, using one might leave your patients wondering who's really in charge.
Simple global minimization algorithm for one-variable rational functions

Sturm's chain technique for evaluation of a number of real roots of polynomials is applied to construct a simple algorithm for global optimization of polynomials or generally for rational functions of finite global minimal value. The method can be applied both to find the global minimum in an interval or without any constraints. It is shown how to use the method to minimize globally a truncated Fourier series. The results of numerical tests are presented and discussed. The cost of the method scales as the square of the degree of the polynomial.
A History of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire

A. R. Disney. A History of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire: From Beginnings to 1807, vol. 1. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009. 416 pp., $90.00, ISBN 978-0521843188. ——. A History of Po...
Magnetostatic wave convolvers

The present paper reviews recent theoretical results, and reports initial experimental results, on the convolution of contra-propagating magnetostatic forward volume waves (MSFVWs), in the form of cw signals or time-limited cw pulses, in an epitaxial yttrium iron garnet (YIG) film. Computations of the convolver bilinearity factorFint indicate an efficient convolution process over a wide bandwidth, with values ofFint that are of the same order as, or better than, the reported experimental results for MSW convolution in a YIG cylindrical or plate geometry. The values of Fint determined experimentally are in excellent agreement with theory. These results are of interest to microwave system developers particularly if bandwidths of 1 GHz or larger can be realized in practice. A limiting feature of magnetostatic wave (MSW) convolvers is that the maximum delay time of a delay line that is realizable without excessive insertion loss is in the order of 0.5μs. The advantage of MSW convolvers, of course, lies in their ability to perform signal processing directly at microwave frequencies, and in applications such as electronic warfare the advantageously large bandwidths would mitigate the limitations in delay time.
Diverse Pathways of Activation and Deactivation of Half-Sandwich Aryloxide Titanium Polymerization Catalysts

A series of half-sandwich aryloxide titanium complexes, [CpTi(OAr)Me2] (Cp = C5H5; OAr = OC6H3Me2-2,6, OC6H3Et2-2,6, OC6H3iPr2-2,6, OC6H3tBu2-2,6, and OC6HPh4-2,3,5,6), have been synthesized. These...
HERCULES/PL: the pattern language of HERCULES

Interrogating the structure of a program for patterns of interest is attractive to the broader spectrum of software engineering. The very approach by which a pattern is constructed remains a concern for the source code mining community. This paper presents a pattern programming model, for the C and Fortran programming languages, using a compiler directives approach. We discuss our specification, called HERCULES/PL, throughout a number of examples and show how different patterns can be constructed, plus some preliminary results.
Production of Muon Pairs by 150-GeV/ c π + and Protons

We have measured the cross section for ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ production in the reactions $({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}, p)+\mathrm{Be}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+X$, at an incident momentum of 150 GeV/c. This Letter covers the pairs with masses above 2 GeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$, in which region the signal is dominated by production of the $J(3.1)$. No events with $\ensuremath{\mu}$-pair mass g4.1 GeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$ were seen, although the experiment is sensitive up to \ensuremath{\ge}12 GeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$.
The New Metropolis: Rethinking Megalopolis

Lang R. and Knox P. K. The new metropolis: rethinking megalopolis, Regional Studies. The paper explores the relationship between metropolitan form, scale, and connectivity. It revisits the idea first offered by geographers Jean Gottmann, James Vance, and Jerome Pickard that urban expansiveness does not tear regions apart but instead leads to new types of linkages. The paper begins with an historical review of the evolving American metropolis and introduces a new spatial model showing changing metropolitan morphology. Next is an analytic synthesis based on geographic theory and empirical findings of what is labelled here the ‘new metropolis’. A key element of the new metropolis is its vast scale, which facilitates the emergence of an even larger trans-metropolitan urban structure – the ‘megapolitan region’. Megapolitan geography is described and includes a typology to show variation between regions. The paper concludes with the suggestion that the fragmented post-modern metropolis may be giving way to a ne...
Concurrent regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase and SIRT1 in mammalian cells

We examined in HepG2 cells whether glucose-induced changes in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity could be mediated by SIRT1, an NAD-dependent histone/protein deacetylase that has been linked to the increase in longevity caused by caloric restriction. Incubation with 25 vs. 5 mM glucose for 6 h concurrently diminished the phosphorylation of AMPK (Thr 172) and ACC (Ser 79), increased lactate release, and decreased the abundance and activity of SIRT1. In contrast, incubation with pyruvate (0.1 and 1 mM) for 2 h increased AMPK phosphorylation and SIRT1 abundance and activity. The putative SIRT1 activators resveratrol and quercetin also increased AMPK phosphorylation. None of the tested compounds (low or high glucose, pyruvate, and resveratrol) significantly altered the AMP/ATP ratio. Collectively, these findings raise the possibility that glucose-induced changes in AMPK are linked to alterations in SIRT1 abundance and activity and possibly cellular redox state.
Effect of Age on QT Variability

Heart rate variability is influenced significantly by age. Recent studies have shown the utility of QT variability to study temporal repolarization lability, and increased QT variability is reportedly associated with sudden death. Because beat-to-beat QT interval variability appears to closely follow heart rate variability, this study investigated the relationship between age and QT variability. We obtained QT variability measures in 34 adults (22–55 years of age) and 15 children (6–14 years of age) using a novel algorithm to compute beat-to-beat QT intervals. QT variability corrected for mean QT interval was significantly inversely correlated with age. Coherence in the band of 0 to 0.5 Hz and high-frequency coherence (0.15–0.5 Hz) were also significantly inversely correlated with age. QTvi (QT variability corrected for mean QT interval over heart rate variability corrected for mean heart rate) was not significantly related to age in supine posture during spontaneous or controlled breathing, whereas there was a modest negative relationship in standing posture. These findings suggest that coherence between QT and heart rate time series appears to be modulated by cardiac vagal activity.
Biological functions of multistable proteins

Abstract Multistable proteins are defined as those that have available more than one most stable conformation. This capability requires a reversal of the most stable and metastable designations dependent upon environmental conditions. The concept of multistability is discussed with regard to enzyme maturation, hybrid vigor, metabolic temperature compensation, developmental gradients, membrane transport and the classical theory of allostery.
Internet search engines' response to metadata Dublin Core implementation

The research described here examined performance of major search engines with regard to two groups of web pages: those with metadata and those without metadata. Introduction of metadata Dublin Core, especially the Subject element, should improve retrievability of a web page and, subsequently, its visibility. The visibility of a web page in a search engine results list is defined and used in this study to measure retrievability performance of major search engines. Results show there are significant differences among these two groups in most search engines. The reasons for the differences are analyzed.
Changes in tremor as a function of type of augmented visual information

The dynamics of postural finger tremor is typically investigated under conditions of natural vision of the finger. Here we investigated the effect of different types of augmented visual information feedback on finger tremor and on inter-limb tremor coordination. Four visual information conditions of postural finger tremor from either the dominant hand only or from both hands were investigated. The visual conditions were: (1) no vision, (2) natural vision, (3) augmented vision with instantaneous acceleration on a computer display, and (4) augmented vision with instantaneous and past acceleration on a computer display. Acceleration was measured with a 3D accelerometer on the distal phalanx of the index finger(s). The amount of tremor variability did not change as a function of visual information conditions. However, removing visual feedback increased tremor predictability and reduced small, random deviations of tremor acceleration output in the one finger condition. In the two-finger condition, augmented visual information increased the irregularity of the combined tremor variability. The no vision condition showed a stronger coupling between fingers than natural vision or augmented vision with past information. The findings revealed that augmented visual information increased tremor irregularity and facilitated coupling in two-hand tremor dynamics.
What Is a Bilingual School Psychologist? A National Survey of the Credentialing Bodies of School Psychologists: Implications for the Assessment of Bilinguals

The present study explored the credentialing practices for bilingual school psychologists in the United States. Credentialing agencies of school psychologists, mostly State Departments of Education...
Electrochemical Oxidation of 5-Hydroxytryptophol.I: Studies in Acid Solution

Abstract The oxidation chemistry of the endogenous central nervous system indole 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) has been studied at pH 2 using electrochemical methods. The first voltammetric oxidation peak (I) appears to involve an initial one-electron abstraction giving a transient radical cation that, in the rate-controlling step, deprotonates to give a neutral radical.A radical-substrate reaction then occurs to give a dimer radical which is further oxidized to yield three simple dimers (4, 4′-, 4, 6′-, and 2, 4′-linked). The neutral radical can be further oxidized ( 1e ) to a quinone imine that, as a result of very fast follow-up chemistry and electrochemistry, yields tryptophol-4, 5-dione ( B ) which has been isolated in pure form. Reactions between intermediate species also result in three dimers containing residues of 5-HTOL and B and an unusual oxygen-bridged trimer.
Using the Timed Up & Go Test in a Clinical Setting to Predict Falling in Parkinson's Disease

Objective To investigate the ability of the Timed Up & Go test to identify patients with Parkinson's disease at risk for a fall.
Principles and strategies for monitoring data collection integrity in a multi-site randomized clinical trial of a behavioral intervention

Although treatment fidelity strategies for enhancing the integrity of behavioral interventions have been well described, little has been written about monitoring data collection integrity. This article describes the principles and strategies developed to monitor data collection integrity of the “Stories and Music for Adolescent/Young Adult Resilience During Transplant” study (R01NR008583, U10CA098543, and U10CA095861)—a multi-site Children's Oncology Group randomized clinical trial of a music therapy intervention for adolescents and young adults undergoing stem cell transplant. The principles and strategies outlined in this article provide one model for development and evaluation of a data collection integrity monitoring plan for behavioral interventions that may be adapted by investigators and may be useful to funding agencies and grant application reviewers in evaluating proposals. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 34:362–371, 2011
Non-invasive thermal assessment of tissue phantoms using an active near field microwave imaging technique

An active microwave imagxsing system for non—invasive temperature sensing has been developed and evaluated. The system is designed to assess biological tissues undergoing thermal therapy. This paper presents results that demonstrate the imaging capabilities of the microwave method using simulated and experimental phantom materials. Results from both numerical studies and laboratory experiments have been analysed and are presented. The imaging system uses a 16 channel fixed monopole array transceiver unit operating over a bandwidth of 300–900 MHz. The annular array diameter is 14.75 cm and is immersed in a 0.9% saline solution. Standard heterodyning principles are used for signal detection leading to a dynamic range of the system of better than 115dB. Image formation is accomplished with a 2-D finite element based, near-field iterative technique. This allows the simultaneous reconstruction of both the real and imaginary components of the dielectric property distribution in tissue equivalent phantoms. Data ...
Oxidation of guanosine derivatives by a platinum(IV) complex: Internal electron transfer through cyclization

Many transition-metal complexes mediate DNA oxidation in the presence of oxidizing radiation, photosensitizers, or oxidants. The DNA oxidation products depend on the nature of the metal complex and the structure of the DNA. Earlier we reported trans-d,l-1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetrachloroplatinum (trans-Pt(d,l)(1,2-(NH(2))(2)C(6)H(10))Cl(4), [Pt(IV)Cl(4)(dach)]; dach = diaminocyclohexane) oxidizes 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-dGMP) to 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate (8-oxo-5'-dGMP) stoichiometrically. In this paper we report that [Pt(IV)Cl(4)(dach)] also oxidizes 2'-deoxyguanosine 3'-monophosphate (3'-dGMP) stoichiometrically. The final oxidation product is not 8-oxo-3'-dGMP, but cyclic (5'-O-C8)-3'-dGMP. The reaction was studied by high-performance liquid chromatography, (1)H and (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The proposed mechanism involves Pt(IV) binding to N7 of 3'-dGMP followed by nucleophilic attack of a 5'-hydroxyl oxygen to C8 of G and an inner-sphere, 2e(-) transfer to produce cyclic (5'-O-C8)-3'-dGMP and [Pt(II)Cl(2)(dach)]. The same mechanism applies to 5'-d[GTTTT]-3', where the 5'-dG is oxidized to cyclic (5'-O-C8)-dG. The Pt(IV) complex binds to N7 of guanine in cGMP, 9-Mxan, 5'-d[TTGTT]-3', and 5'-d[TTTTG]-3', but no subsequent transfer of electrons occurs in these. The results indicate that a good nucleophilic group at the 5' position is required for the redox reaction between guanosine and the Pt(IV) complex.
Prenatal Toxicology Screening for Substance Abuse in Research: Codes and Consequences

Prenatal substance abuse has long been identified as a risk factor for the developing fetus, and implicated in pediatric cognitive, neuropsychological and physiologic problems. Conservative estimates suggest that prenatal substance abuse affects hundreds of thousands of pregnancies annually and is associated with developmental delays, learning disabilities, social disturbances and lifelong health issues for the child. Prenatally substance-exposed children experience higher levels of child abuse and neglect, are more likely to need foster parenting, and have higher rates of subsequent substance abuse than non-exposed children (1, 2). The scientific necessity to screen for substance abuse in research participants raises ethical issues when illicit drug use is uncovered. The impact of legislative policies restricting maternal rights in the setting of substance abuse needs to be considered by researchers as potentially intruding into confidential relationships between research participants and investigators. Moreover, the legal implications for substance-abusing pregnant research subjects may not surprisingly act as a deterrent to their participation in research studies altogether. By its nature, research with pregnant women involves the protection of two research participants. Even observational studies in pregnancy require extra scrutiny by the IRB, with adherence to special requirements mandated for vulnerable populations. Complicated by ongoing contentious debate over maternal and fetal rights, the resolution of research dilemmas in pregnancy is often not ideal. It is important for those involved in perinatal research to be familiar not only with current controversies about the consequences of perinatal substance abuse for both mother and child, but also with policies guiding ethical obligation of the provider under these circumstances, and pertinent legislation directing provider action in certain cases.
Forest canopy cover and land use in four Eastern United States cities

Abstract Four cities in the eastern United States were divided into ten land-use classes and measured for canopy cover with black-and-white, monoscopic aerial photographs. Mean citywide canopy cover is 24–37%, with a range of 5–60% for the mean canopy coverage of ten land uses. Available space for growing trees is 55–66% of the sample cities' area; the percentage of that space filled with canopy is 37–57%. The dominant land-use class, one- and two-family residential covering an average of 46% of the cities' area, shows little variation in both canopy cover and canopy stocking within the sample and, where available growing space increases, so does canopy stocking. Vacant land is second in areal coverage (14% of cities' area), and varies only moderately in canopy cover and stocking when the values in this class are divided into abandoned and undeveloped land. Regularities in the spatial distribution of canopy, among the sample cities, occur as a result of the location and extent of land use.
The System AI2SiO5 at High Temperatures and Pressures

Experiments on the system Al2SiO5 at high temperatures and pressures with the belt apparatus indicate that kyanite melts incongruently above about 1500°C at 25,000 bars to Al2O3 (corundum) plus liquid. The pressure-temperature curves obtained by starting with either a 1/1 Al2O3/SiO2 gel or with kyanite are essentially identical but differ considerably from the results with andalu-site and sillimanite. The structure of the starting material has considerable influence on the kinetics of the reaction and the metastable formation of corundum in this system. An “equilibrium” curve based on the andalusite-sillimanite data is described by P= 33.8 × 10-3T - 26.4 (Pin kbars, Tin°C).
Strength Evaluation and Failure Prediction of Short Carbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon Spur Gears by Finite Element Modeling

In this paper, short carbon fiber reinforced nylon spur gear pairs, and steel and unreinforced nylon spur gear pairs have been selected for study and comparison. A 3D finite element model was developed to simulate the multi-axial stress-strain behaviors of the gear tooth. Failure prediction has been conducted based on the different failure criteria, including Tsai-Wu criterion. The tooth roots, where has stress concentration and the potential for failure, have been carefully investigated. The modeling results show that the short carbon fiber reinforced nylon gear fabricated by properly controlled injection molding processes can provide higher strength and better performance.
Structural Variations to the 9-N-Methyladeninium Diterpenoid Hybrid Commonly Isolated from Agelas Sponges

Four novel 9-N-methyladeninium diterpenoids, agelasine M (3), 2-oxo-agelasine B (4), gelasine A (5), and gelasine B (6) accompanied by the known-agelasine B (1) and F (2) were isolated from the marine sponge Agelas sp. collected in Papua New Guinea. Compounds 3–6 represent higher unsaturated 9-N-methyladeninium bicyclic diterpenoid derivatives including 5 and 6 as unusual norditerpenoid-agelasines. Their structures were elucidated through detailed physical data analyses and comparison with literature properties. All pure compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against Trypanosoma brucei as well as for cytotoxicity against Jurkat cells.