cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The lodging discount coupon : an informal look

Many corporations offer travelers discounts, as a sales promotion, on hotel and motel room rates. The terms and conditions of such offers usually include advance reservations, use of a special telephone number, and the holding of a coupon or membership in a particular organization. Such programs also normally incorporate a caveat that the availability of such rooms is limited. While not specifically stated, this accessibility warning generally does not refer to the totality of unreserved rooms at a locale, but rather to the number in the block set aside for the discount program. While a particular property might not be booked to capacity, no discounted rooms may be available. The number of rooms set aside for a promotional is generally not specified and this information is not readily available. To gather some insight into the accessibility of such rooms, as a measure of the genuineness of such promotions, for some seem to question their authenticity (I), an informal inquiry was conducted during the summer and fall of 1990. A total oE 250 queries about availability of rooms, selected and done on a convenience basis, were made in response to a national hotel chain's offering of a coupon discount, at approximately 100 different properties, located in about 30 states. Availability of a nonsmoking room, with two double beds, for one night was questioned. A midweek day was specified, with a lead time of 7 to 10 days generally being provided. A minimum of two inquiries were made for each of the locations. Note was taken as ro whether a discounted room was or was not available. About 84% of the time a discounted room was avadable. Locations not having rooms available were limited to two geographical areas, with seven properties within these areas showing as not available more than once. Four establishments were dosed, had changed management, or otherwise did not participate in the program. In three instances, when a discounted room was not available at a particular site, an alternative location was suggested by the answering ngenr. Recognizing the limitations of the method and the inherent restraint upon repbcac~on of the work, the results suggest that discount coupon promotions, at least by leading hotel chains, are probably authentic in terms of availability of rooms, even though some experience and report on failings. That system failures, rather than successes, tend to be ~romulgated appears to be a behavior perhaps resulting, in part, from what might be a wide gap between what society can reasonably expect of corporations and what society thinks corporations should do.
Marxism and Capitalism in the People's Republic of China . Edited by Peter P. Cheng. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1989. vi, 70 pp. $14.50 (cloth); $7.25 (paper).

Through an examination of basic ideological, political, economic, technological and social issues, this book challenges understanding of the so-called "open door policy" as it has been employed in describing and characterizing various reforms in post-Maoist China.
An interactive interface for seizure focus localization using SPECT image analysis

Accurate epileptic focus localization using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images has proven to be a challenging endeavor. First, commonly used radiopharmaceuticals such as hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) quantitatively underestimate large blood flows, leading to subtracted SPECT images that do not reflect the true cerebral physiological conditions, and often display non-distinct epileptic foci. The proposed relative change subtraction method of SPECT image analysis helps alleviate this quantitative burden. Second, the image analysis process traditionally performed by physicians is time consuming and prone to error. Toward this end, an automated algorithm was designed to analyze SPECT images and provide feedback to users through a visual interface.
Formation of amorphous and metastable extended solid solutions in Cu-Ti alloys using the triode sputtering technique

The triode sputtering technique and a split Cu-Ti target arrangement have been used to produce metastable extended solid solutions and amorphous phases in the Cu-Ti system. Metastable extension of the solid solubility of Ti in Cu-based fcc solid solution of up to 30 at. pct was observed; nearly 20 at. pct of Cu was incorporated metastably into the hcp solid solution based on Ti. Amorphous phase formation was observed in alloys containing approximately between 26 and 84 at. pct Ti. Amorphous deposits were as thick as 250 μm, without the presence of detectable crystalline phases. Interatomic spacings in both crystalline and amorphous alloys were found to follow an approximately linear trend with composition. Microhardness measurements indicated a very substantial increase in hardness in all alloys when compared with an extrapolated linear trend between pure Cu and Ti.
Maximally reducing cardiovascular risk in the treatment of hypertension.

Abstract With the increasing recognition of relatively mild hypertension, asymptomatic patients are being started on life-long therapy with antihypertensive agents. Before the diagnosis is made or ...
Acral Necrotizing Mycosis Fungoides

Abstract A 65-year-old male with long-standing acral "eczema" and patches of mycosis fungoides suddenly developed a transformed, necrotizing ulcerative cutaneous T-cell lymphoma manifesting as necrotic lesions of the toe and lip. The tumor had brown and/or black eschars on the surface and grew multiple opportunistic organisms. Markers CD3, Epstein-Barr virus–encoded small RNA, and T-cell receptor γ gene rearrangement were positive, with CD4, 8, 30, 56, and TIA-1 negative. In spite of initial response to radiation, the patient succumbed to infection within 3 months.
Phase unwrapping and denoising for time-of-flight imaging using generalized approximate message passing

We present a new method for simultaneously denoising and unwrapping phase in multi-frequency homodyne time-of-flight ranging for the formation of accurate depth maps despite low SNR of raw measurements. This is achieved with a new generalized approximate message passing (GAMP) algorithm for minimum mean-squared error estimation of the phase. A detailed, physically-accurate acquisition model is central in achieving high accuracy, and the use of the GAMP methodology allows low computational complexity despite dense dependencies and the nonlinearity and non-Gaussianity of the acquisition model. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our integrated approach performs better than separate unwrapping followed by denoising. This performance translates to lowering the optical power consumption of time-of-flight cameras for a fixed acquisition quality.
Driving of slow oscillations in the somatosensory system of the cat

Abstract Evoked potentials and neuronal activity, induced by repetitive stimulation of the sciatic nerve with brief electrical pulses, were recorded simultaneously from the surface and depth of the cerebral cortex and the specific and non-specific nublei of the thalamus, in cats under gallamine as well as in cats under barbiturates. Averaging and spectral analysis showed that the evoked potentials contained time locked components ranging in frequency from 0.5–6 c/sec and extending over periods as long as 3500 msec after the stimulus. When the frequency of stimulation was progressively increased from 0.25–6 pulses/sec it was found that the late oscillations could be “driven” at specific frequencies which caused an increase in the amplitudes of specific frequency components, harmonically related to each other and to the frequency of stimulation. The administration of barbiturates caused changes in the specific frequencies at which the late oscillations could be driven most effectively. These results are analogous to those obtained in the analysis of the late oscillations evoked in the human EEG by stimulation of the median nerve. Post stimulus histogram computed from the neuronal activity associated with the evoked potentials show that the peaks which indicate high levels of neuronal discharge, occur at intervals closely related to the period of the late oscillations. The time and phase relations between the late oscillations recorded from the cortex, the specific and the non specific thalamus, the time and phase relations between the discharge of different groups of neurons associated with them, and the fact that they can all be driven simultaneously at specific frequencies of stimulation, suggest that these phenomena are related to the driving, at resonant frequencies, of activities which develop in thalamic, cortical and thalamocortical feedback loops.
Weight, diet, and physical activity-related beliefs and practices among pregnant and postpartum Latino women: the role of social support

Objectives: Eating and physical activity patterns may contribute to excessive pregnancy weight gain and postpartum retention that increase the risks of obesity and diabetes for both Latino mothers and their children. Social support is an important health determinant and may affect health-related beliefs and behaviors. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of social support on weight, diet, and physical activity-related beliefs and behaviors among pregnant and postpartum Latinas. Methods: A community-based participatory project, Promoting Healthy Lifestyles among Women, was conducted in southwest Detroit to plan interventions aimed at reducing risks of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Qualitative analyses of in-depth semistructured interviews with dyads of 10 pregnant and postpartum Latinas, and 10 people who influenced them were conducted. Results: Husbands and some female relatives were primary sources of emotional, instrumental, and informational support for weight, diet, and physical activity-related beliefs and behaviors for Latina participants. Holistic health beliefs and the opinions of others consistently influenced Latinas' motivation and beliefs about the need to remain healthy and the links between behavior and health. Absence of mothers, other female relatives, and friends to provide childcare, companionship for exercise, and advice about food were prominent barriers that limited women's ability to maintain healthy practices during and after pregnancy. Conclusion: The findings support evidence that low-income, recently immigrated pregnant and postpartum Latinas could benefit from community-based, family-oriented interventions that provide social support necessary to promote and sustain healthy lifestyles.
Democratic Epistemology and Accountability

Most of the knowledge of an ordinary person has a very messy structure and cannot meet standard epistemological criteria for its justification. Rather, a street-level epistemology makes sense of ordinary knowledge. Street-level epistemology is a subjective account of knowledge, not a public account. It is not about what counts as knowledge in, say, physics, but deals rather, with your knowledge, my knowledge, the ordinary person's knowledge. I wish not to elaborate this view here, but to apply it to the problems of representative democracy. I will briefly lay out the central implications of a street-level epistemology and then bring it to bear on democratic citizenship, especially on the problem of the citizen's holding elected officials accountable for their actions.
A system for the synchronization of hydrologic records

“The moving finger writes and having writ, moves on.” Omar, the Tentmaker, who wrote these words many years ago, probably was never plagued by recording instruments that, “having writ”—move on at a different rate of speed. On the San Dimas Experimental Forest [C. J. KRAEBEL and J. D. SINCLAIR, The San Dimas Experimental Forest, Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, pp. 84–92, 1940] in southern California, however, essential measures of rainfall -intensity, stream-flow, temperature, and other variables must be made through the medium of automatic recording-instruments. Of necessity, these instruments are clock-driven and the excellence of the records obtained is directly proportional to the time the individual clocks keep. The watershed-management studies that have been under way since 1933 at this branch of the California Forest and Range Experiment Station involve hydrologic measurements from some 26 square miles of chaparral-covered watersheds (Fig. 1). These investigations are dependent to great measure upon records from 13 intensity rain-gages, 43 water-stage recorders, eight hygrothermographs, seven soil-thermographs, one barograph, and ten strip-chart recorders, a total of 82 separate clock-driven instruments; and it must be added that 19 separate functions may be recorded on each strip-chart recorder.
A Reduced Order Lunar Lander Model for Rapid Architecture Analysis

The conceptual design of an architecture for space exploration involves the evaluation of many concepts. These design spaces may encompass millions or billions of options when each trade is evaluated at the system, vehicle, subsystem, and component level. Various techniques are typically employed to select the conf iguration of systems that best meet s the requirements of the architecture. These include multi -attribute decision making techniques as well as optimization with the use of genetic algorithms and other stochastic methods. In order to speed up the evaluati on of these options, a set of reduced -order vehicle models can be used. These models evaluate the gross weight, dry weight, cost, and reliability of a vehicle given a set of programmatic and performance options in less than a second, versus the use of des ign codes that take on the order of minutes to hours to converge to a vehicle design. The use of such reduced -order models also enables other techniques that would otherwise take too long to run, such as Monte Carlo simulation to model uncertainty, as wel l as optimization of the vehicle and studies of sensitivities to changes in programmatic and performance inputs. A reduced -order lunar lander model is presented, utilizing response surface equations (RSEs) in place of detailed disciplinary simulations. While some fidelity is lost in approximating these disciplines with RSEs , this approach can be used to evaluate the relative impact of various trade studies at the subsystem, vehicle, and architecture levels. The propulsion system is modeled using a respo nse surface of the REDTOP -2 code . In a similar manner, the trajectory for lunar descent and ascent is simulated using Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories (POST), and then approximated with a RSE for use in the reduced -order lunar lander model. The w eights and sizing model of the lunar lander is based on a combination of historical mass estimating relationships (MERs) , and physics based mass estimating relationships. Development and production c ost modeling is performed using the Cost Estimating Re lationships (CERs) from the NASA -Air Force Cost Model (NAFCOM). Because the reduced -order lunar lander model evaluates rapidly, stochastic optimization methods such as genetic algorithms can be used to find the performance inputs (such as thrust -to -weight ratios, propellant choices, and expansion ratios) that optimize the vehicle for smallest mass, highest reliability, or smallest development cost. A user -customizable Overall Evaluation Criterion (OEC) can be used to optimize the vehicle for a weighted com bination of multiple criteria. Within an architecture analysis, this quick turn -around is useful for rapidly designing the lunar lander to meet the mass constraints of the launch vehicles, and the cost and reliability constraints of the programmatics .
Polymatroidal flow network models with multiple sinks

We consider the polymatroidal flow network model which incorporates two important extensions of the standard maximal flow problem: general concave objective functions of the vector of supplies to a collection of sinks, as well as polymatroidal capacity restrictions on sets of arcs emanating from or pointing to a common node. A number of important applications are reviewed. We show that in this general model the set of feasible supply vectors is itself a polymatroid, and that an optimal solution may be determined by at most 2|V*| — 1 maximum flow computations and optimizations of the objective over a single budget constraint, where |V*| is the number of sinks. Also, it is shown that for the most common types of polymatroidal structures an equivalent flow network can be constructed on an expanded graph but with capacity restrictions on individual arcs only. This transformation allows for the use of classical maximum flow procedures resulting in an often dramatic reduction in complexity.
Implications of the possibility that sin(2 beta) is small

Recently, the Babar and Belle collaborations have reported their first measurements of the CP-violating asymmetry in B{sub d} {yields} {psi}K{sub S}, and more precise results will follow soon. We discuss what a future evidence for small sin2{beta} could mean, contrasting the usual possibility of new physics in the B{sub d} system, with the interesting alternative that the new physics effects are confined to the kaon system.
Differences between nurse- and physician-assessed ICU characteristics using a standardized survey

Objective Surveys are often used to assess intensive care unit (ICU) organizational characteristics for quality improvement. Typically these surveys target ICU nurse managers and/or physician directors. However, it is unclear whether these providers’ assessments differ. We sought to determine whether differences existed in nurse- and physician-assessed ICU characteristics using a standardized survey. Design We administered a previously developed survey to nurse managers and medical directors in adult ICUs within a single healthcare system in 2013. The survey asked about interprofessional staffing and evidence-based protocols. We examined differences between nurse managers’ and medical directors’ responses using McNemar's test and assessed concordance using the kappa statistic. Setting Twenty-three ICUs in 10 hospitals in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Results Sixteen (69%) were specialty ICUs. The median number of ICU beds was 34. Concordance was moderate for high- vs. low-intensity physician staffing (κ = 0.60) and almost perfect on questions related to interprofessional staffing (κ = 0.83 nurse practitioners/physician assistants; 1.0 respiratory therapists; 0.83 physical therapists). However, concordance was slight to fair with regard to the presence of these providers on rounds (κ = 0.20–0.21) and poor to slight for protocols for liberation from mechanical ventilation (κ = 0.19), sedation (κ = −0.03) and central line insertion (κ = −0.03). Conclusions Despite a standardized survey, we found substantial disagreement on ICU characteristics when assessed by the nurse manager or physician director. This study raises questions about the use of surveys to examine ICU organizational characteristics and suggests that differences in nurse managers’ and medical directors’ assessments could be helpful in guiding future ICU quality improvement projects.
Hormones and feed intake

During the several decades that hormones have been considered for roles in the control of feeding, certain ones have gained special attention, although the role assigned to any one hormone has varied from time to time. Three classes of hormones have been considered in this review: gastrointestinal, brain, and pancreatic. Of these classes, two have obtained the most compelling evidence for a physiological role in the control of feeding. CCK, an intestinal and brain hormone, appears to be involved in satiety. Glucagon of pancreatic origin appears also to play an important role in satiety. These hormones, when sequestered by a specific antibody, cause a delay in satiety and thus increase food intake. Insulin, another pancreatic hormone, has been considered for several roles in the control of feeding. Recently, attention has been given to the possibility that insulin of the CSF provides an integrated link between the metabolic state of the adipose tissue and the brain structures concerned with the control of feeding. Thus, insulin may be a primary hormone involved in the maintenance of energy balance or of body-weight. Finally, brain opiate peptides, e.g. dynorphin, are very likely involved in the transmission of information concerned with the interaction of feeding and maintenance of energy balance. Clearly, hormones play primary roles in the control of feeding behaviour and the regulation of energy balance, but much remains to be done to establish their specific actions or components of the associated physiological systems.
Laparoscopic colectomy is cheaper than conventional open resection.

Objective International randomized trials have endorsed the routine use of laparoscopic techniques in colorectal surgery. The authors hypothesize that the overall care pathway in minimal access resection was cheaper than conventional open resection. Method This was a case-matched study of consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic resection between July 2005 and February 2006. Intraoperative (costs, duration, incision length) and postoperative [morbidity, length of stay (LOS), readmission] parameters were examined. Institutional retrospective open controls and national validated figures were used for costings. Results Thirty-five laparoscopic and 53 open resections were evaluated. Median LOS was 5 days in the laparoscopic group vs 12 in the open group (P = 0.001). There were two conversions (5.7%) and two readmissions. Mean operative cost of laparoscopic resection was €1557.08, therefore 2.4 bed days need to be saved to recoup the increased cost compared with open resection. The actual median save is 7 days (P = 0.031). A mean of €4591.38 and 7 bed days per case is saved by performing the resection laparoscopically. Subgroup analysis of laparoscopic resections clearly demonstrates similar trends. Conclusion The institutional saving is over €150 000 and 245 bed days during the study period. Despite higher operative spending, laparoscopic colorectal resections are significantly cheaper than conventional open resections.
Constrictive Pericarditis Presenting as a Late Complication of Epicardial Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation

Radiofrequency epicardial ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a safe, effective modality for treatment of VT.1 Epicardial VT circuits were originally described in Chagas disease, but the importance of nonendocardial substrates for VT increasingly are recognized in other cardiomyopathies.2 In arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), failure of endocardial VT ablation often is related to epicardial VT origination, with high rates of success seen with epicardial VT ablation.3 While hemopericardium or pericardial inflammation are rare complications of epicardial VT ablation, to our knowledge no case of pericardial constriction and heart failure following epicardial VT ablation has been reported.4 Here we describe a case of pericardial constriction and severe heart failure requiring stripping and “bridge to recovery” right-ventricular assist-device (RVAD) support, which occurred subsequent to recurrent epicardial VT ablations. ### Case Presentation A 46-year-old male who presented with palpitations and episodic syncope underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, which was consistent with ARVC, followed by implantable …
Fitting Periplasmic Membrane Fusion Proteins to Inner Membrane Transporters: Mutations That Enable Escherichia coli AcrA To Function with Pseudomonas aeruginosa MexB

AcrAB-TolC from Escherichia coli is a multidrug efflux complex capable of transenvelope transport. In this complex, AcrA is a periplasmic membrane fusion protein that establishes a functional connection between the inner membrane transporter AcrB of the RND superfamily and the outer membrane channel TolC. To gain insight into the mechanism of the functional association between components of this complex, we replaced AcrB with its close homolog MexB from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Surprisingly, we found that AcrA is promiscuous and can form a partially functional complex with MexB and TolC. The chimeric AcrA-MexB-TolC complex protected cells from sodium dodecyl sulfate, novobiocin, and ethidium bromide but failed with other known substrates of MexB. We next identified single and double mutations in AcrA and MexB that enabled the complete functional fit between AcrA, MexB, and TolC. Mutations in either the α-helical hairpin of AcrA making contact with TolC or the β-barrel domain lying on MexB improved the functional alignment between components of the complex. Our results suggest that three components of multidrug efflux pumps do not associate in an “all-or-nothing” fashion but accommodate a certain degree of flexibility. This flexibility in the association between components affects the transport efficiency of RND pumps.
Resource Scarcity and Conflict in Developing Countries

As time passes, renewable resource scarcities are becoming more common. There is increasing evidence that these scarcities are a causal factor in political conflict, especially in developing countries. We present a simple dynamic model of renewable resource and population interaction featuring the possibility of conflict triggered by per capita resource scarcity. In the model, conflict diverts resources away from resource harvesting, increases the death rate, and damages the resource. The two former effects may speed the return to a peaceful steady state. If conflict results in resource destruction, however, it may destabilize the system, leading it towards collapse. Conflict due to renewable resource scarcity could be cyclical, implying recurring phases of conflict. However, such conflict cannot last for ever. We use the model to examine various policy scenarios concerning population control and technical innovations in harvesting and natural resource growth. A key insight of the model is the importance ...
Safety and efficacy of renal denervation as a novel treatment of ventricular tachycardia storm in patients with cardiomyopathy

Background Modulation of the autonomic nervous system has been used to treat refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT). Renal artery denervation (RDN) is under investigation for the treatment of sympathetic-driven cardiovascular diseases. Objective The purpose of this study was to report the largest case series to date using RDN as adjunctive therapy for refractory VT in patients with underlying cardiomyopathy. Methods Four patients with cardiomyopathy (2 nonischemic, 2 ischemic) with recurrent VT despite maximized antiarrhythmic therapy and prior endocardial (n = 2) or endocardial/epicardial (n = 2) ablation underwent RDN ± repeat VT ablation. RDN was performed spirally along each main renal artery with either a nonirrigated (6 W at 50°C for 60 seconds) or an open irrigated ablation catheter (10–12 W for 30–60 seconds). Renal arteriography was performed before and after RDN. Results RDN was well tolerated acutely and demonstrated no clinically significant complications during follow-up of 8.8 ± 2.6 months (range 5.0–11.0 months). No hemodynamic deterioration or worsening of renal function was observed. The number of VT episodes was decreased from 11.0 ± 4.2 (5.0–14.0) during the month before ablation to 0.3 ± 0.1 (0.2–0.4) per month after ablation. All VT episodes occurred in the first 4 months after ablation (2.6 ± 1.5 months). The responses to RDN were similar for ischemic and nonischemic patients. Conclusion This case series provides promising preliminary data on the safety and effectiveness of RDN as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of patients with cardiomyopathy and VT resistant to standard interventions.
Infrared Spectroscopy of the ν3 Band of Hydrogen Cyanide in Comet C/1995 O1 Hale–Bopp

Abstract Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) was detected in Comet Hale–Bopp at infrared wavelengths near 3.0 μm on four dates between Feb 24.0 and May 1.0 1997 using high-resolution spectroscopy. The average rotational temperature retrieved for the (001) vibrational level on UT 1997 April 29.9 was (95±6) K near the nucleus, increasing to (122±8) K in the intermediate coma (4″–10″ off the nucleus). The HCN production rate on April 29.9 was (3.09±0.13)×10 28 molecules s −1 . When compared with the water production rate obtained from direct measurements of the H 2 O 100-010 band on common observation dates using the same instrument and data processing algorithms, the weighted average (for the four dates) of the relative abundance (HCN/H 2 O) was (0.40±0.05)%. The measured spatial distribution for HCN is consistent with its release at the nucleus—no significant contribution from a distributed source is required within 10,000 km of the nucleus.
Differential regulation of a low-molecular-weight protein in oviductal and uterine fluids by ovarian hormones.

Uterine and oviductal fluids of intact estrous rabbits contain a low-molecular-weight protein, which assumes a cone-shaped profile upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by a modified Amido Black staining and destaining procedure. This protein is under ovarian hormonal control. It disappears from both uterine and oviductal fluid following ovariectomy. In uterine fluid, it is strongly induced by exogenously administered progesterone and to lesser degree by estradiol-17². In contrast, in oviductal fluid, progesterone induction of the cone protein is very slight, whereas its induction by estrogen, although of lesser absolute magnitude than in uterine fluid, is far more significant than the effects of progesterone. Thus, the cone proteins in oviductal and uterine fluids are differentially responsive to these two ovarian hormones, estrogen being its prime inducer in oviductal fluid and progesterone its major inducer in uterine fluid. Neither the uterine nor the oviductal fluid cone proteins could be ...
Percutaneous closure of a complex posttraumatic muscular ventricular septal defect.

We report the percutaneous closure of a complex traumatic ventricular septal defect resulting from a stab wound to the anterior chest. The patient presented with heart failure 3 months after the initial trauma. Evaluation revealed a new large ventricular septal defect with diminished cardiac function. Closure was accomplished with a combination of an Amplatzer muscular ventricular septal defect occluder and two Amplatzer vascular plugs. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Next generation FLTSAT tactical network control

The US Navy Fleet Satellite Communication System (FLTSAT) relies on a set of information exchange subsystems (IXS) to manage shared satellite resources. The navy has developed application specific IXS protocols for end-user communities. The goals are to develop a single common, interoperable IXS capable of serving the requirements of any user community; and simultaneously, to improve the quality of service offered to end-users. To meet these goals, ViaSat has developed a system called multi-user UHF Satcom for TDMA-1 (MUST). Through innovative multislot control, MUST is able to provide high-performance access to the TDMA-1 navy demand assignment multiple access (DAMA) waveform. Simulated performance comparisons show that MUST has the capability to provide over twice the throughput of OTCIXS II. In addition, it offers a wide variety of user-oriented services, such as voice, reliable packet transfer, and tactical data transfer. >
Comparative Regional Development in Antebellum Manufacturing

A reconsideration of regional economic development during the antebellum period is underway. Emphasis thus far has tended to center on economic aggregates, on one region (the South) or on a single sector (agriculture). While the results of this work have altered our understanding of the antebellum South's relative economic positionâ€”or at least have sharpened the debate on the issuesâ€”comprehension of the role and position of the period's industrial sector remains faulty, largely because it has been derived from indirect evidence.
Brazil as an Emerging Donor in Africa: From Discourse to the Frontline

Much has been said in the past few years about the growing presence of so-called emerging donors in Sub-Saharan Africa, and how they may be changing the development aid landscape crystallized during decades of Western dominance. Few such commentaries however have gone beyond policy, discourses, and figures to look at how South-South cooperation initiatives are actually unfolding on African grounds. This paper will discuss the case of Brazil, which has significantly increased its reach across the Southern Atlantic during the past decade or so, based on fieldwork research on technical cooperation in tropical agriculture being currently provided to the continent, with a focus on West Africa (Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso). It will present an overview of the key drivers and institutional architecture sustaining Brazilian cooperation, along with a discussion of how and whether technology transfer projects and capacity-building trainings have reflected broader principles of South-South engagement. It will provide an account of some of the responses to such efforts by African frontliners, most of whom are engaging for the first time with Brazilian institutions and individuals. This discussion brings not definite conclusions  even the earliest initiatives are still ongoing , but an appreciation of the potentialities of this emerging interface.
The Equity Premium Puzzle: Defining a Robust Risk Aversion Coefficient

The equity premium puzzle has confounded economists since its presentation in 1985. Numerous solutions have been offered that challenge the risk aversion coefficient or α. These solutions have been discredited due to “implausibly large” levels of risk aversion. However, when examining the Allais paradox, we find these “implausibly large” levels of risk aversion. These levels of risk aversion are also present in analysis of contestant behavior from the game show Deal or No Deal. By incorporating Ellsberg's (1961) ambiguity parameters into an overall risk aversion coefficient, we are able to define a more theoretically robust α. The puzzle appears not to be the equity premiums witnessed over time; rather the true puzzle is the rationale of the artificial risk aversion parameter constraints.
Stretchable bioelectrodes

In this paper, we present a stretchable electrode array for studying cell behavior subjected to mechanical strain. The electrode array consists of four gold nail-head pins (250µm tip diameter and 1.75mm spacing) inserted into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) platform (25.4×25.4mm2). Fusible indium alloy (liquid at room temperature) filled microchannels are used to connect the electrodes to the outside, thus providing the required stretchability. The electrode platform is biocompatible and can withstand strains of up to 40%. We tested these electrodes by repeatedly (100 times) subjecting them to 35% strain and did not notice any failure. We also successfully cultured mice cardiomyocytes onto the platform and performed electrical pacing.
Symmetry breaking and preliminary results about a Hopf bifurcation for incompressible viscous flow in an expansion channel

This computational study shows, for the first time, a clear transition to two-dimensional Hopf bifurcation for laminar incompressible flows in symmetric plane expansion channels. Due to the well-known extreme sensitivity of this study on computational mesh, the critical Reynolds numbers for both the known symmetry-breaking pitchfork bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation were investigated for several layers of mesh refinement. It is found that under-refined meshes lead to an overestimation of the critical Reynolds number for the symmetry breaking and an underestimation of the critical Reynolds number for the Hopf bifurcation.
Thermal energy charge transfer between S 2 + and H 2 , N 2 , and CO

We measured the charge transfer rate coefficients for the reactions S 2 + +H 2 →products, S 2 + +N 2 →products, and S 2 + + CO→products using a radio frequency trap. S 2 + ions are produced by laser ablation of a solid tungsten disulfide target. We derive the rate coefficient of the reaction from the decay rate of the stored ions in the trap. The rate coefficients for the above three reactions are 1.58(0.13)× 10 - 9 cm 3 s - 1 at T e q u i v = 1077 K, and 1.67(0.12) × 10 - 9 and 1.78(0.13)×10 - 9 cm 3 s - 1 at T e q u i v = 6462 K.
4-D Taxi Clearances: Pilots' Usage of Time- and Speed-Based Formats

Automated surface management systems are being developed that utilize dynamic algorithms to calculate the most efficient movement of all surface traffic in order to increase the efficiency with which airport surfaces are utilized. If these systems are to be implemented, pilots will be required to comply with 4-D taxi clearances, in which a pilot is required to be at a specific location at a specific time. This pilot-in-the-loop simulation study is an investigation of how to present the information necessary for pilots to comply with such 4-D taxi clearances. This study is aimed at determining the fundamental abilities that pilots have in complying with clearances given as time-based versus speed-based commands, without the use of an advanced display. Using a medium-fidelity surface operations simulator at NASA Ames Research Center, with Boeing 737 modeled dynamics, 18 commercial airline Captains each completed 45 taxi clearance scenarios. Each taxi clearance scenario required pilots to follow a cleared taxi route and to make an active runway crossing at a specific future time by following either a time-based or speed-based clearance. Taxi clearances were presented using: 1) a Speed format that displayed current ground speed and a commanded average ground speed; 2) a Time format that displayed elapsed time and a commanded time of arrival; or, 3) a Speed/time format that displayed all of the information from the Speed and Time formats simultaneously. Pilots’ time-of-arrival (TOA) absolute error, TOA error bias, and velocity standard deviation (SD) were recorded for each trial. Overall, the results suggest that having both speed and time information provides more accurate and less variable 4-D clearance compliance. Additionally, the results indicate that utilizing shorter taxi clearances can maximize TOA accuracy. This baseline study indicates that the development of flight deck displays for 4-D taxi clearances may likely require the presentation of both time-based information and speed-based information for accurate and efficient use by the flight crew.
Abstract B77: Pomegranate extract inhibits MMTV‐Wnt‐1 mammary tumor cell growth and induces apoptosis in vitro

In this study we report the effects of a standardized pomegranate extract (PE), as well as individual phytochemicals derived from pomegranate, on the growth of an aggressive, fast‐growing mammary tumor cell line derived from the MMTV‐Wnt‐1 mouse (designated A4). PE caused a concentration‐ and time‐ependent decrease in A4 cell proliferation (IC50 of approximately 25 microg/ml culture medium). PE also caused a concentration‐dependent increase in cell death, with an IC50 of 50 microg/ml culture medium. PE caused an increase in caspase‐3 activity in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner. We also examined the effect of individual phytochemicals present in PE. Ellagic acid, luteolin, and ursolic acid inhibited the proliferation of A4 cells and induced cell death, but caffeic acid had no effect. These results indicate that PE and pomegranate phytochemicals inhibit the growth and are cytotoxic to MMTV‐Wnt‐1 mammary tumor cells. PE may therefore be natural and safe chemopreventive agent against breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B77.
Characterization and Usefulness of Soil-Habitat Preferences in Identification of Phyllophaga (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Larvae

To address taxonomic and habitat-preference questions relating to Phyllophaga larvae, 120 cultivated and uncultivated sites in Wisconsin were sampled. Larvae were found at 58% of these sites, and 11 species of Phyllophaga larvae, pupae, or teneral adults (39% of the state's fauna based upon records of adults) were collected. Habitat profiles for the 11 species focus on soil characteristics, vegetation, topography, and site history. Several species show habitat preferences; this information may assist in the identification of larvae presently difficult to separate by using traditional morphological characters.
Conceptual Advances in the Study of Electoral Authoritaianism – Disaggregating Hegemony and Competitiness and an African Application

Increasing attention has been given to differences in electoral authoritarian outcomes, often noted as the distinction between competitive and hegemonic electoral authoritarianism. These distinctions appear to be of crucial theoretical importance, but are often unclear and under conceptualized. How are we to understand the variety of electoral authoritarian experience? Do our current conceptual tools match the empirical realities of current authoritarianism? This paper provides a new conceptualization of electoral authoritarian regimes based on two central factors. It first classifies regimes by separating electoral authoritarianism into the two dimensions of competitiveness and hegemony. The former refers to the capacity of voters to actually translate their preferences into electoral outcomes while the latter refers to the capacity of incumbents to dominate electoral outcomes. Second, it looks at electoral periods rather than simply classifying elections. The paper develops some preliminary operationalization and measurement and offers some initial empirical insights from the sub-Saharan African context into the variety of electoral authoritarianism and the impact of repeated elections upon regimes.
pP Internal Argument—Figure Reflexives and Object ‘Demotion’

Chapter 4 turns to the structure of internal argument prepositional phrases, arguing that they are syntactically parallel to verb phrases. This is presented in Sect. 4.2: just as a functional head (Voice) provides a position where an argument may (but need not) be added to a vP, so too does a functional head (p) provide a position where an argument may (but need not) be added to a PP. Section 4.3 focuses on self-directed motion verbs which I call “figure reflexives,” and alternations such as I squeezed through the crowd versus I squeezed John through the crowd. ‘John’, in the latter sentence, is introduced by p; I show in this chapter that the syntax of anticausatives proposed in Chap. 3, which revolves around Voice, extends to the syntax of figure reflexives, which revolves around p. The ‘reflexive’ interpretation of figure reflexives derives from the fact that pP is lower than VoiceP, so p may introduce a theta-role which is saturated semantically by an argument in a higher position. After showing how this works, I turn, just as in Chap. 3, to the issue of idiosyncratic lexical roots, and the effects of embedding different roots in different structures. I also show why the “reflexive” interpretation of figure reflexives is distinct from the reflexive interpretation achieved with a reflexive pronoun. Section 4.4 turns to a prediction made by the combination of analyses in Chap. 3 and the first part of Chap. 4, namely, that there should be an alternative interpretation available for the structures presented in Sect. 4.3. It is shown that these alternative interpretations do exist, and there are lexical roots that instantiate them.
Impact of Surgeon Case Volume on Reoperation Rates after Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Surgery

Purpose: We investigated the impact of surgeon annual case volume on reoperation rates after inflatable penile prosthesis surgery.Materials and Methods: The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was queried for inflatable penile prosthesis cases from 1995 to 2014. Multivariate proportional hazards regression was performed to estimate the impact of surgeon annual case volume on inflatable penile prosthesis reoperation rates. We stratified our analysis by indication for reoperation to determine if surgeon volume had a similar effect on infectious and noninfectious complications.Results: A total of 14,969 men underwent inflatable penile prosthesis insertion. Median followup was 95.1 months (range 0.5 to 226.7) from the time of implant. The rates of overall reoperation, reoperation for infection and reoperation for noninfectious complications were 6.4%, 2.5% and 3.9%, respectively. Implants placed by lower volume implanters were more likely to require reoperation for infection b...
Target tracking on triangulation graphs

We investigate a variation of the art gallery problem in which a team of mobile guards tries to track an unpredictable intruder in a simply-connected polygonal environment. The guards are confined to move along the diagonals of a polygon, and are deployed according to the strategy proposed in [1] that provides an upper bound of ⌊ n/4 ⌋ mobile guards to cover a simply-connected polygonal environment. We introduce the concept of critical regions to generate event-triggered strategies for the guards. Based on these strategies, we present sufficient conditions for ⌊ n/4 ⌋ guards to track an unpredictable mobile intruder forever.
Training and Supervision

In addition to reviewing related research and pedagogical models, this chapter outlines a comprehensive curriculum for use in mental health clinical training programs and includes suggested readings, in-class lectures, in-class meditations, at-home meditations, journals/logs, online modules, community building, and instructor role. Detailed instructions for in-class learning exercises are provided for chocolate mediation, mindful yoga, ice meditation, mindful listening, “being seen,” and stress-reducing visualization.
Estimating Vertical Motion Profile Top-Heaviness: Reanalysis Compared to Satellite-Based Observations and Stratiform Rain Fraction

AbstractA method for representing geographic variability in vertical motion profile top-heaviness in reanalysis data is introduced. The results from this method are compared to a satellite-based method for estimating top-heaviness of vertical motion profiles over the oceans. The satellite-based method utilizes basis functions, idealized or from reanalysis, along with scatterometer wind convergence data and rainfall to estimate the top-heaviness of the vertical motion profile. Results from the two methods of estimating top-heaviness are significantly correlated. Both estimates of top-heaviness are compared to stratiform, shallow, and convective rain fraction. Findings show geographic variability in stratiform rain fraction is not well correlated with estimated profile top-heaviness. Shallow rain fraction is not variable enough to explain this finding. The results may be due to geographic variations in the shape of convective or stratiform heating profiles. An example is given of how variations in convectiv...
The Relative Efficiency of Four Response-Elimination Techniques Following Variable-Ratio Reinforcement Training

In the present experiment humans received training on a variable-ratio reinforcement schedule and were then shifted to one of 4 response-elimination procedures: extinction training, omission training, response cost, or omission training plus response cost. Results indicated that response cost, omission training plus response cost, and omission training eliminated responding significantly faster than did extinction training. In addition, response cost and omission training plus response cost reduced responding signi-ficandy more rapidly than did omission training, although the effects of the former 2 procedures were not significantly different.
Feminist Spaces and Women’s Pages: Rebecca West and Socialist Periodicals

This chapter takes up feminist appropriations of the women’s pages within two socialist papers, the Daily Herald and Robert Blatchford’s weekly, the Clarion. During the early 1910s, Rebecca West contributed to both papers, as well as continuing to publish within the avant-garde feminist paper the New Freewoman. The chapter borrows from the interdisciplinary field of gender and space studies a rich vocabulary for describing the ideas of containment, circulation, border-crossing, and redesign that allowed socialist feminists to imagine the women's page as a “space” to be remade.