cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time-Reversible Continuum Mechanics

Levesque and Verlet developed a time-reversible and “bit-reversible” computational leapfrog algorithm. Their algorithm uses integer arithmetic and is exactly time reversible to the last computational bit describing the particle coordinates. We generalize their idea, developed for atomistic molecular dynamics, to smoothed-particle continuum mechanics. In the special case of a two-dimensional isentropic ideal gas, these two approaches, one microscopic and the other macroscopic, are isomorphic. In the more general nonadiabatic case, but still without dissipative terms, our continuum extension of the leapfrog scheme remains stable and also exhibits the exact time and bit reversibility associated with Levesque and Verlet's atomistic approach.
Predictors of short-term functional outcome following ankle fracture surgery.

Background: Ankle fractures are among the most common injuries treated by orthopaedic surgeons. However, very few investigators have examined the functional recovery following ankle fracture surgery and, to our knowledge, none have analyzed factors that may predict functional recovery. In this study, we evaluated predictors of short-term functional outcome following surgical stabilization of ankle fractures. Methods: Over three years, 232 patients who sustained a fracture of the ankle and were treated surgically were followed prospectively, for a minimum of one year. Trained interviewers recorded baseline characteristics, including patient demographics, medical comorbidities, and functional status according to the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA). Laboratory findings, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, and operative findings were recorded from the chart during hospitalization. Follow-up information included the occurrence of complications or additional surgery, weight-bearing status, functional status according to the SMFA, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score. The data were analyzed to determine predictors of functional recovery at three months, six months, and one year postoperatively. Results: Complete follow-up data were available for 198 patients (85%). At one year, 174 (88%) of the patients had either no or mild ankle pain and 178 (90%) had either no limitations or limitations only in recreational activities. According to the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, 178 (90%) of the patients had ≥90% functional recovery. A patient age of less than forty years was a predictor of recovery, as measured with the SMFA subscores, at six months after the ankle fracture. At one year, however, age was no longer a predictor of recovery. Patients who were younger than forty were more likely to recover ≥90% of function (p = 0.004), and men were more likely than women to recover function (p = 0.02). ASA Class 1 or 2 (p = 0.03) and an absence of diabetes (p = 0.02) were also predictors of better functional recovery at one year. SMFA subscores were below average at baseline, indicating a healthy population. At three and six months postoperatively, all SMFA subscores were significantly higher than the baseline subscores (p < 0.001); however, at one year, the SMFA subscores were almost back to the baseline, normal level. Conclusions: One year after ankle fracture surgery, patients are generally doing well, with most experiencing little or mild pain and few restrictions in functional activities. They have a significant improvement in function compared with six months after the surgery. Younger age, male sex, absence of diabetes, and a lower ASA class are predictive of functional recovery at one year following ankle fracture surgery. It is important to counsel patients and their families regarding the expected functional recovery after an ankle injury. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The Neoliberal City: Governance, Ideology, and Development in American Urbanism

1. The Place, Time, and Process of Neoliberal Urbanism Part 1: Governing the Neoliberal City 2. Choosing the Neoliberal Path 3. The Glocalization of Governance 4. The Public-Private Partnership Part 2: The Acceleration of Uneven Development 5. The Neoliberal Spatial Fix 6. The Reinvested Urban Core 7. Neoliberal Gentrification 8. Mega-Projects in the Urban Core: Bread or Circus? Part 3: Contesting the Neoliberal City 9. Social Struggle in a Neoliberal Policy Landscape 10. Alternative Futures at the End of History References Index
Investing in learning: why do honeybees, Apis mellifera, vary the durations of learning flights?

Honeybees and other insects departing from a newly discovered food source perform ‘learning flights’, which provide them with visual information that will guide their return. Previously, we showed that durations of learning flights are modulated in response to spatial uncertainty and profitability of a food source. Here, we examined whether longer learning flights allow bees to return to a goal with greater spatial accuracy. We found that longer learning flights performed at a new location increased the probability and accuracy of a bee's return to the departure point. After performing reorientation flights in response to uncertainty at a familiar location, bees continued to rely on previously learned information, but longer reorientation flights increased the likelihood that bees would use updated information acquired via reorientation flights. Longer reorientation flights performed in response to changes in the distribution and profitability of food within a familiar area decreased the likelihood that a bee would return to the departure point. These results suggest that longer learning flights have a greater influence on search than do shorter flights, but bees use the information obtained during the learning flights differently depending on the circumstances prompting the learning flights in the first place. Our studies reveal a richer picture of the function of learning flights than previously appreciated, and provide evidence of their role in the adaptive modification of information gathering in response to ecological changes.
Chemical Composition of Sheep Mammary Gland

Summary The chemical composition of nonlactating mammary gland was studied in both young and mature sheep under differing ovarian hormonal conditions. Total mammary gland weight, water, fat, Na, Cl, K, DNA, RNA, histamine, and glycogen were determined in mammary gland tissue from estrous, luteal, and ovariectomized sheep. Endocrine status had little effect upon the concentration of these constituents, but significant differences in composition were found between young and mature mammary gland tissue. The mammary glands from older animals were about 50% larger than those of young sheep. Water content was about 4% higher and the amount of fat was considerably greater in the young animals, being 27% as compared weight.
Towards achieving full secrecy rate in wireless networks: A control theoretic approach

In this paper, we consider a single-user secure data communication system. Data packets arriving at the transmitter are enqueued at a data queue to be transmitted to the receiver over a block fading channel, securely from an eavesdropper that listens to the transmitter over another independent block fading channel. We address two separate problems, both of which involve the maximization of a long-term average utility, defined as a function of the number of secure packets transmitted in each time slot. We propose a transmission controller and an admission controller based on simple index policies that do not rely on any prior statistical information on the data arrival process. The former chooses a random key generation (and transmission) rate as well as the secure data transmission rate in each time slot. Part of the data is secured by the available secrecy rate while the other part is encrypted by the key bits, enqueued at both the transmitter and the receiver. The latter chooses the amount of data admitted by the transmitter to be enqueued in the data queue. We show that our controller pair has a provably efficient performance. Also, we illustrate via simulations that the use of a key queue reduces the queuing delay for the data packets, while serving packets that are admitted at the maximum admissible rate. To our best knowledge, this is the first work that addresses the queuing delay in the context of secrecy.
A comparison of techniques for computing the buckling loads of stiffened shells

Abstract Three different methods are employed to estimate the buckling loads of several ring stiffened and orthotropic cylindrical shells using finite elements. The methods used are a nonlinear bifurcation analysis and two linearized buckling analyses, one that ignores the initial displacement stiffness matrix, and one that includes it. Large differences are observed between the predictions made by the two linearized buckling analyses for a range of shell geometries. Detailed studies of a shell with six stiffeners demonstrate that these differences are caused by different versions of the linearized eigenvalue problem, rather than by the use of different numerical formulations. These discrepancies are also observed for orthotropic shells when L R is small (⩽-1) and the degree of orthotropy ( E x E y is high (⩾-10). Investigations of the prebuckling behavior of some of the cylinders show that the problem is caused by significant nonlinear prebuckling deformations. This means that a nonlinear bifurcation analysis must sometimes be used to accurately estimate the buckling load of stiffened shells.
Crops that feed the World 2. Soybean—worldwide production, use, and constraints caused by pathogens and pests

The soybean crop is one of the most important crops worldwide. Soybean seeds are important for both protein meal and vegetable oil. The crop is grown on an estimated 6% of the world’s arable land, and since the 1970s, the area in soybean production has the highest percentage increase compared to any other major crop. Recent increases in production coincide with increases in demand for meal and oil. Soybean production was 17 million metric tons (MMT) in 1960 and increased to 230 MMT in 2008. Future soybean production is expected to increase more than other crops, due to expanded production area and higher yields. There are a number of important abiotic and biotic constraints that threaten soybean production by directly reducing seed yields and/or seed quality. Abiotic constraints include extremes in nutrients, temperatures and moisture. These may reduce production directly, but also indirectly through increases in pathogens and pests. Biotic constraints tend to be geographically and environmentally restricted. Some diseases like soybean rust may be explosive by producing copious amounts of air-borne spores. This disease, more so than most, caused great concern when first found invading soybean production areas in Brazil and the United States of America. In contrast, red leaf blotch is a disease restricted to a few countries in Africa, but deserving attention since it has not been intensely studied and adequate management strategies, such as the use of resistant varieties, are not available. Significant losses in soybean yield beyond current levels may have implications for food security because of our dependence on the soybean crop, directly and indirectly for food products. In addition, because the crop is highly nutritious and versatile it offers resources to address world food issues through current and future utilization practices. Future soybean production is expected to increase in proportion to increased demand, and with application of newer genomic technologies, the crop has enormous potential to improve dietary quality for people throughout the world whether consumed as a vegetable crop or processed into various soybean food products.
New questions about steroids.

After years of research on the effects of steroids on development recent reports indicate that prolonged physiologic doses of steroids may damage brains of adult rodents. For example corticosteroids kill specific neurons in the hippocampus the same cells that die off during aging. Female rodents given steroids exhibit pituitary tumors that affect prolactin and luteinizing hormone: a process that can be prevented by ovariectomy. Further removing the pituitary retards several aspects of aging in rodents. Detailed actions of steroids on humans differ significantly from those in rodents. No clinical research on these lines has been done. The author estimates that 50-100 million people in the U.S. have taken steroids either contraceptive or postmenopausal estrogens corticosteroids or androgens daily for 5 or more years. Many athletes have self-administered extraordinarily high doses of androgens. The consequences of this intake are unknown. These considerations prompt future research on the effect of stress hormones on brain cells in particular the hippocampus affected by Alzheimers disease. Meanwhile in the absence of any definite information clinicians should prescribe the lowest effective doses of steroids.
Polymerization side reactions during protein modifications with carbodiimide.

Abstract A survey has been made of carbodiimide reactions with four typical proteins to reveal that covalent polymerization can be a significant artifact in carbodiimide related chemical modification studies on proteins.
An impulsive stimulated scattering study of surface acoustic waves under high pressure

Abstract Impulsive stimulated scattering (ISS) offers an accurate spectroscopic method of obtaining surface acoustic velocities of materials. High-pressure ISS results are obtained for polycrystalline aluminum in a diamond anvil cell (with fluid nitrogen as the pressure-transmitting medium) and these results are compared with analytical solutions for an isotropic (polycrystalline) solid in contact with an isotropic fluid. The choice of an isotropic solid–isotropic fluid interface permits a straightforward analysis of the effect of pressure on both the Scholte and generalized Rayleigh (GR) surface acoustic modes intrinsic to such a system. The present study is the first to measure and analyze both the Scholte and GR modes under high pressure. Pressure dependent surface acoustic wave (SAW) velocities are demonstrated as a spectroscopic probe of the equation of state of materials under extreme conditions. In addition, directionally resolved ISS measurements on single crystal surfaces of Ni are compared with numerical calculations to determine the origin of dramatic changes in SAW velocities on crystal surfaces of slightly lower symmetry. The calculations show that the SAW velocity becomes strongly mixed with the bulk transverse acoustic mode for deviations of just a few degrees away from the (100) surface.
In vitro and in vivo procedures in quality control programmes

As is the case with any industrial process, the manufacture of poultry feeds is subject to considerable sources of variation. If requirements for key nutrients are not met, bird performance in the field will likely be negatively affected. As a result, most poultry companies and feed manufacturers establish quality control programmes as a means of reducing risk. Such programmes must be viewed as an integral part of the business structure of any organization. While they may not be considered ′profit centers′ per se, expenses incurred by a quality control programme must be considered investments, and investments are understood to produce economic returns. Procedures to be incorporated in quality control programmes must be selected based on the economic consequences of uncontrolled variation in given parameters, and the cost of monitoring each. Depending on the size and volume of a given feed manufacturing facility, many evaluations will be conducted on the premises, while others (including most in vivo procedures) will be sent to outside specialized testing facilities. Once a budget has been established for a quality control programme, resources should be shifted as needed to address those sources of variation of most immediate concern to the production of high quality feeds.
Structure of the Third Intracellular Loop of the Human Cannabinoid 1 Receptor

The third cytoplasmic loop (IC3) is a determinant in the dynamic life cycle of G protein-coupled receptors, including the activation, internalization, desensitization, and resensitization processes. Here, we characterize the structural features of the IC3 of the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1) in micelle solution using heteronuclear, 1H,15N-high-resolution NMR methods. The IC3 construct was designed to contain one-third of each of the transmembrane helices (TMs 5 and 6) to tether the protein to the hydrophobic portion of the micelle. Indeed, the NMR analysis illustrates prominent α-helices at the N-terminus (G1−R10) and C-terminus (Q37−T47) of the IC3 receptor domain, corresponding to the cytoplasmic termini of TM5 and TM6. The structural features of the central portion of the IC3 consist of a small α-helix, adjacent to the terminus of TM5. The remainder is mostly unstructured as indicated by the NMR-based observables (NOEs and chemical shifts). Despite the lack of secondary structure, the hydrophobic triple...
Placement and Timing for FPGAs Considering Variations

Process variation affecting timing and power is an important issue for modem integrated circuits in nanometer technologies. FPGAs are similar to ASICs in their susceptibility to these issues, but face unique challenges in that critical paths are unknown at test time. This paper presents the first in-depth study on applying statistical timing analysis with cross-chip and on-chip variations to speed-binning and guard-banding in FPGAs. Considering the uniqueness of re-programmability in FPGAs, we quantify the effects of timing-model with guard-banding and speed-binning on statistical performance and timing yield. We also develop a new variation aware placement, which is the first statistical algorithm for FPGA layout and reduces yield loss by 3.4X with guard-banding and 25X with speed-binning for MCNC and QUIP designs.
Agrobacterium induced gall formation in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and formation of shoot-like structures expressing introduced genes

The objective of this research was to define an in vitro regeneration and transformation system for bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) using six cultivars and one Guatemalan wild accession. The wild accession exhibited the best regeneration response. Only occasional elongation of shoot buds in ‘Yolo Wonder L’ was achieved by culture in the dark on a medium containing 10 mg/l BA and l mg/l IAA. Transformed shoot buds and leaf-like structures were obtained, showing beta- glucuronidase activity predominantly in the vascular and perivascular tissues, with no indication of contaminating Agrobacterium in the tissues. Attempts to regenerate whole transgenic plants from transformed shoot buds were unsuccessful.
The greenhouse effect: An interdisciplinary perspective

A recent, rather typical, essay argues that even if the greenhouse threat is real, even if temperatures rise and low-lying lands must be protected forever by an enormous system of dikes, such unlikely occurrences do not justify “imposing vast costs on the present generation rather than helping developing countries overcome the environmental problems that they are facing today.” This review shows that anyone willing to cross disciplinary boundaries, or willing to listen to scholars who have taken this less-traveled road, can easily ascertain that this surprisingly popular viewpoint is mistaken. This review's interdisciplinary journey begins with an exposition of a few fundamental, noncontroversial, ecological insights. These are followed by a brief case study in environmental history: the CFC-ozone link. The natural greenhouse effect is then introduced, relying for the most part on comparative astronomical data and insights. The nature of, evidence for, and the largely uncertain consequences of, the enhanced greenhouse effect on Earth are taken up next. For argument's sake, a conservative and arbitrary estimate is adopted, assuming that the chances of adverse greenhouse consequences within the next century are 10%; of a cataclysm, 1%. Such chances, this review then conclusively shows, should not be taken, because there is no conceivable reason for taking them: the steps that will eliminate the greenhouse threat will also save money and cut pollution, accrue many other beneficial consequences, and only entail negligible negative consequences. Thus, a holistic review leads to the surprising conclusion that humanity is risking its future for less than nothing. Claims that the greenhouse controversy is legitimate, that it involves hard choices, that it is value-laden, or that it cannot be resolved by disinterested analysis, are tragically mistaken. Given the stakes of the greenhouse debate—the future of humanity—concerned scholars and citizens ought to understand this issue. This review provides an accessible, factual, holistic, and self-contained portrayal of the greenhouse threat.
Nursing home-acquired bloodstream infection.

Objectives:This article reviews published studies of nursing home-acquired BSI in North America to determine whether there have been changes in the epidemiology of this infection in the past 20 years and to define indications for blood cultures in the nursing home setting.Methods:A Medline search was conducted for the period from 1980 to August 2003.Results:Seven studies of nursing home-acquired BSI were identified. The incidence of nursing home-acquired BSI was low (0.3 episode per 1,000 resident care-days). Sources of BSI changed little during the past two decades, with urinary tract infection representing approximately 50% of the episodes. The bacteriology also did not change substantially during the past 20 years; gram-negative bacilli were isolated in approximately 50% of the episodes and Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated organism. In the most recent study, covering the period 1997-2000, resistance to fluoroquinolones and broad-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporins was uncommon among gram-negative blood isolates; MRSA was the most common resistant organism causing nursing home-acquired BSI. Case-fatality rates changed little during the past 20 years; urinary tract infection was associated with the lowest mortality and pneumonia had the highest case-fatality rate.Conclusion:There has been little change in the epidemiology of nursing home-acquired BSI in the past 20 years. Given the low incidence of BSI and the low overall yield of positive results of blood cultures (probably ≤ 6%), there is currently no support for the routine use of blood cultures in the nursing home setting.
Space exploration and human survival

Abstract I am sympathetic to the view that, given the likelihood of massive natural disasters, such as collisions between the Earth and large asteroids, we should engage in large-scale space exploration and colonization so as to hedge our bets against extinction. I will consider several criticisms of this view. For example, some philosophers may raise objections against the notion of long-term human survival as a value. How can we have obligations towards beings who have not even been conceived yet and thus cannot be properly said to have rights? On a different note, Wendell Berry argues that the abundance of resources in space will produce bad character, for good character requires the discipline of finitude. Others challenge the connection between space exploration and survival, for they fear that by entertaining the promise of new Earths in the heavens we are more likely to neglect our planet, thus leading to our downfall. Presumably, we should instead increase our efforts to restore and preserve the balance of nature. I will advance a variety of replies. For example, we do decide for posterity to a great extent. We may plant the trees from which “our” descendants will receive nourishment and shade, or we may destroy what could have given them a fighting chance against drought and famine. We have an obligation not to plant a bomb that will go off two years from now in a hospital nursery, and another to ensure that the buildup of chemicals in the hospital water tank will not reach critical mass and kill most of the newborns in ten years. The “balance of nature” involved in another objection is a myth that cannot be justified by natural history, whether astronomical or biological. Moreover, the inevitable changes in the environment, independent of asteroid impacts, will make the Earth uninhabitable in a few hundreds of millions and years. In addition, in order to act wisely we need an understanding of the Earth as a planet, and this requires the exploration of space.
Occurrence and Fertility of Feral Hybrid Barberry Berberis × ottawensis (Berberidaceae) in Connecticut and Massachusetts

Abstract Berberis ×ottawensis is the hybrid of B. vulgaris (common barberry) and B. thunbergii (Japanese barberry). In the wild, this interspecific taxon appears to have been largely overlooked. Here, we report that this hybrid is relatively widespread in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Furthermore, we present evidence that the hybrid individuals are capable of producing some viable seed and pollen.
Development of a Flow Spreader for Fish Bypass Outfalls

Abstract An outfall structure, intended to minimize juvenile mortality subsequent to release into the tailrace, was designed while developing juvenile salmonid bypass systems at dams in Washington. A unique end configuration for the outfall structure was developed in an effort to minimize the stress and exposure to predation that the plunge from an outfall may induce. The flow spreader minimizes the initial plunge depth and maximizes the initial flow dispersion from the outfall. Enhancement of outfall plunge hydraulic conditions such as these may increase survival of juvenile salmonids following release from the bypass system.
Mobile Anaerobe Laboratory

A laboratory cart equipped for obtaining clinical samples at bedside or operatory and for inoculating prereduced media for cultivation of medically important anaerobes is described.
A wireless, passive carbon nanotube-based gas sensor

A gas sensor, comprised of a gas-responsive multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT)-silicon dioxide (SiO/sub 2/) composite layer deposited on a planar inductor-capacitor resonant circuit is presented here for the monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO/sub 2/), oxygen (O/sub 2/), and ammonia (NH/sub 3/). The absorption of different gases in the MWNT-SiO/sub 2/ layer changes the permittivity and conductivity of the material and consequently alters the resonant frequency of the sensor. By tracking the frequency spectrum of the sensor with a loop antenna, humidity, temperature, as well as CO/sub 2/, O/sub 2/ and NH/sub 3/ concentrations can be determined, enabling applications such as remotely monitoring conditions inside opaque, sealed containers. Experimental results show the sensor response to CO/sub 2/ and O/sub 2/ is both linear and reversible. Both irreversible and reversible responses are observed in response to NH/sub 3/, indicating both physisorption and chemisorption of NH/sub 3/ by the carbon nanotubes. A sensor array, comprised of an uncoated, SiO/sub 2/ coated, and MWNT-SiO/sub 2/ coated sensor, enables CO/sub 2/ measurement to be automatically calibrated for operation in a variable humidity and temperature environment.
Government and Guns for Hire: Odd Couple or Lasting Love?

The Market for Force: The Consequences of Privatizing Security. By Deborah D. Avant Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. 324 pp., $75.00 cloth (ISBN: 0-521-85026-6), $29.95 paper (ISBN: 0-521-61535-6). The provision of security has, for many years, been recognized as one of the most important roles of government. Yet, changes in the international system and in the nature of conflicts have created favorable conditions for the rise of a market for private military and security services. Indeed, the number of private military firms and private security companies has grown at a startling rate in the last two decades. They make up the third largest force in Iraq today. The range of activities these companies offer has also expanded—from primarily logistical services to military training, advice, and even direct operational support. Not surprisingly, given its controversial and polarizing nature, media coverage of this industry has fluctuated between simple descriptions of its role in particular conflicts to sensational articles on the new “dogs of war” or on the “saviors” in twenty-first-century conflicts. Within academia, the few articles written have been largely descriptive, unconnected to a systematic research program and lacking a theoretical framework within which to study the companies, the industry, or the overall impact of this phenomenon. Against this background, Deborah Avant's The Market for Force stands as a long-awaited academic analysis of this phenomenon—a thoughtful and significant contribution to the literature on security studies and security privatization. The civil–military relations literature has traditionally examined questions about the control of force. Samuel Huntington (1957) emphasized the importance of professionalism in building military capacity, and Morris Janowitz (1967) asserted that the military's commitment to broader social values determines the level of control needed to manage it. Many other scholars have studied the ways in which a state's political process affects its control of military forces (Finer 1962; Feaver and Kohn 2001; Feaver 2002 …
Three-Dimensional Organization of Extracellular Matrix in Elastic Cartilage as Viewed by Quick Freeze, Deep Etch Electron Microscopy

Freeze-etch electron microscopy was used to reexamine the ultrastructure of extracellular matrix in elastic cartilage. This revealed that extremely delicate, ∼4 nm diameter fibrils join end-to-end and sometimes side-to-side to form a tightly woven mesh that extends continuously from the cell membrane throughout the intercellular space. Within this meshwork were found large, irregularly contoured and densely packed elastin fibers as well as long, thin (20 nm) fibers with the appearance of type II collagen. By comparison, type I collagen fibers found in the skin surrounding the cartilage appeared much thicker (30 nm) and displayed the usual periodic banding pattern. Freeze-etching the latter fibers displayed a helicoidal arrangement of subfibrils within. In both cartilage and type I collagen-rich extracellular matrix, some of the ∼4 nm filaments in the matrix could be seen to contact collagen fibers orthogonally, apparently connecting adjacent fibers at regular intervals. The organization of these fine fila...
Exotic organic superconductors based on BEDT-TTF and the prospects of raising Tc'S

Invited paper Ambient-pressure superconductivity has now been discovered in five systems based on BEDT-TTF:X, X - = polyatomic, monovalent anion. The highest T c reported is 5 K, in (BEDT-TTF) 2 AuI 2 , and it appears that much higher T c 's are possible if disorder (molecular and anionic), and structural modulation, can be avoided in new derivatives containing monovalent triatomic anions. A modulated structure has been observed in (BEDT-TTF) 2 1, using neutron and X-ray scattering, but does not appear to form in (BEDT-TFF) 2 X, X = I 2 Br - , AuI - 2 and IBr2 down to T = 10-20 K.
The polarimetric matched image filter: application to speckle reduction and optimal background clutter discrimination in microwave sensing and imaging

Summary form only given. Scattering matrix optimization procedures were applied to the complex scattering matrix, associated covariance matrix, and power density matrix and their Lie SU(n)-group theoretic expansions (n=2,3,4), in order to derive a set of more robust target detection, speckle reduction, and clutter suppression algorithms. The covariance matrix invariance ratio was introduced and found to provide a good measure of speckle reduction as well as being useful for obtaining an optimal high resolution image. A PMSF/PMIF (polarimetric matched signal filter/image filter) filtering process, which is based on the target/clutter characteristic polarization state plus optimal stochasticity coefficient approaches, was developed. Results were obtained for POL-SAR image data sets collected with the airborne NASA-JPL (P/L/X)-band SAR polarimetric system over the San Francisco Bay area. >
Quarterware for middleware

We make two observations about communications middleware: first, most middleware are similar, the differences are in their interfaces and optimizations; second, neither a fixed set of abstractions nor a fixed implementation of a set of abstractions is likely to be sufficient and well-performing for all applications. Based on these observations, we present Quarterware, a customizable middleware architecture. It abstracts basic middleware functionality, and admits application specific specializations and extensions. We demonstrate its flexibility by deriving implementations for core facilities of CORBA, RMI, and MPI. The performance results show that the derived implementations equal or exceed the performance of corresponding native versions. These results suggest that customizing middleware on a per-application basis is an effective approach for building robust, high-performance applications.
When Winning Is Really Losing: Teaching Awards and Women Political Science Faculty

Based on a recent survey of political science professors in the United States, women tend to win teaching awards at higher rates than their male counterparts. This may seem like good news for female faculty, particularly amid continuing reports of gender gaps in publications and citations as well as the “leaky pipeline” phenomenon within promotions. However, a closer look at these findings suggests that in cases in which such awards might be most beneficial to women, they are less likely than their male colleagues to receive such acknowledgments. In fact, women are more likely than men to receive these awards only in institutional contexts in which research output is more important for tenure and promotion than teaching. Thus, the achievement of teaching excellence may have an overall negative impact on the advancement of female faculty by reducing their time and focus available for research.
The Transmissible Dementias and Other Brain Disorders Caused by Unconventional Viruses

Kuru and the transmissible virus dementias have been classified in a group of virusinduced slow infections that we have described as subacute spongiform virus encephalopathies because of the strikingly similar histopathological lesions they induce. Scrapie, mink encephalopathy, and the chronic wasting disease with spongiform encephalopathy of captive mule deer and of captive elk all appear, from their histopathology, pathogenesis, and the similarities of their infectious agents, to belong to the same group (Gajdusek and Gibbs, 1975; Gajdusek et al., 1965, 1966; Masters et al., 198la,b; Williams and Young, 1980,1982; Williams et al., 1982). The basic neurocytological lesions in all these diseases are a progressive vacuolation in the dendritic and axonal processes and cell bodies of neurons and, to a lesser extent, in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes; an extensive astroglial hypertrophy and proliferation; and spongiform change or status spongiosis of gray matter, and extensive neuronal loss (Beck et al., 1975, 1982; Klatzo et al., 1959).
Cell Locomotion and Contact Guidance in Amphibian Gastrulation

Presumptive mesodermal cells in amphibian gastrulae migrate from the blastopore toward the animal pole by using the inner surface of the ectodermal layer as their substratum. During migration, the mesodermal cells form lamellipodia and filopodia predominantly in a direction toward the animal pole. There is a network of the extracellular fibrils on the inner surface of the ectodermal layer. The fibrils seem to serve as an adequate substratum for attachment of the filopodia and locomotion of the mesodermal cells. A significant alignment of the fibril network along the blastopore—animal pole axis suggests a hypothesis that it directs morphogenetic cell movements by contact guidance in combination with contact inhibition of movement. New culture conditions allow the gastrula mesodermal cells to move actively in vitro with a similar cell shape and at a similar rate as in vivo . Such culture conditions enabled an in vitro experiment to test the hypothesis of contact guidance. Explanted ectodermal layers deposit the fibril network on the surface of a cover slip. Dissociated gastrula mesodermal cells seeded on such a conditioned surface attach to the surface and move about actively. A computer analysis of the time—lapse films shows that the cell trails are significantly aligned along the blastopore—animal pole axis of the ectodermal layer that conditioned the surface. The deposited fibril network shows the alignment along the same axis. There is also a tendency of the mesodermal cells to move in a polarized fashion preferentially toward the animal pole. These results support the hypothesis of contact guidance of mesodermal cell migration in vivo by oriented extracellular fibrils
Cognitive Biases and the Strength of Political Arguments

Competition in political debate is not always sufficient to neutralize the effects of political rhetoric on public opinion. Yet little is known about the factors that shape the persuasiveness of political arguments. In this article, I consider whether cognitive biases influence the perceived strength of political arguments, making some arguments more persuasive than others. Lessons from neurobiology and recent political psychology research on emotion lead to the expectation that individuals are more likely to be persuaded by political arguments that evoke loss aversion via a fearful response—even in the face of a counterargument. Evidence from two experiments corroborates this expectation. I consider the normative implications of these empirical findings and potential avenues for future research.
An antisocial strategy for scheduling mechanisms

Previous work on task scheduling mechanisms assumed that the agent's goal is to maximize its own profit without considering the effect of its strategy on the other agents' profit. This is not always the case, an agent may want to cause loses to the other agents besides maximizing its profit. Such an agent is said to be an antisocial agent. An antisocial agent will try to gain as much profit as possible relative to the other agents. In this paper we consider a mechanism for task scheduling on related machines in which each machine is associated with an agent. We develop an antisocial strategy, which can be used by an antisocial agent to inflict losses to the other participating agents. We analyze the effect of different degrees of agent's antisociality on the losses inflicted to the other agents.
Recollection and self-understanding in the Phaedo

Etude du sens de l'argument du souvenir developpe par Socrate dans le «Phedre» de Platon. Rappelant a Simmias que l'apprentissage se fait par le souvenir, Socrate a pour but de modifier la comprehension de soi de son interlocuteur, l'engageant sur le chemin de la morale et de la philosophie. Definissant le souvenir comme un aspect de la separation de l'âme et du corps, participant au double detachement de la pensee perceptive et des valeurs fondees sur le corps, Platon invite l'âme a mieux se souvenir, c'est-a-dire a plus d'affinite avec les Idees d'egalite, beaute, bien et justice
The Emerging Field of Neuroepigenetics

Over the past 25 years, the broad field of epigenetics and, over the past decade in particular, the emerging field of neuroepigenetics have begun to have tremendous impact in the areas of learned behavior, neurotoxicology, CNS development, cognition, addiction, and psychopathology. However, epigenetics is such a new field that in most of these areas the impact is more in the category of fascinating implications as opposed to established facts. In this brief commentary, I will attempt to address and delineate some of the open questions and areas of opportunity that discoveries in epigenetics are providing to the discipline of neuroscience.
The effect of simulated microgravity on osteoblasts is independent of the induction of apoptosis

Bone loss during spaceflight has been attributed, in part, to a reduction in osteoblast number, altered gene expression, and an increase in cell death. To test the hypothesis that microgravity induces osteoblast apoptosis and suppresses the mature phenotype, we created a novel system to simulate spaceflight microgravity combining control and experimental cells within the same in vitro environment. Cells were encapsulated into two types of alginate carriers: non-rotationally stabilized (simulated microgravity) and rotationally stabilized (normal gravity). Using these specialized carriers, we were able to culture MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells for 1-14 days in simulated microgravity and normal gravity in the same rotating wall vessel (RWV). The viability of cells was not affected by simulated microgravity, nor was the reductive reserve. To determine if simulated microgravity sensitized the osteoblasts to apoptogens, cells were challenged with staurosporine or sodium nitroprusside and the cell death was measured. Simulated microgravity did not alter the sensitivity of C3H10T-1/2 stem cells, MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells, or MLO-A5 osteocyte-like cells to the action of these agents. RT-PCR analysis indicated that MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts maintained expression of RUNX2, osteocalcin, and collagen type I, but alkaline phosphatase expression was decreased in cells subjected to simulated microgravity for 5 days. We conclude that osteoblast apoptosis is not induced by vector-averaged gravity, thus suggesting that microgravity does not directly induce osteoblast death.
“BOYS WHO WILL BE MEN”: DESIRE IN TOM BROWN’S SCHOOLDAYS

IN AN 1835 ARTICLE PUBLISHED in the Rugby Magazine under the title “School a Little World,” A. P. Stanley wrote:
Voltage Stresses in Reactors in Service

THE authors have presented experimental data together with a physical explanation of the phenomena revealed. They have endeavored as far as possible to abstain from mathematics and obstruse theoretical considerations.
Risk factors associated with poult enteritis mortality syndrome-positive turkey flocks.

SUMMARY. Poult enteritis mortality syndrome (PEMS) has been an economically devastating disease in North Carolina since the early 1990s. Though much is known about the disease, many questions remain unanswered about the syndrome, including its cause, transmission of causative agent(s), and control methods. This study was designed to investigate the association between PEMS and farm management factors. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted by collecting farm data and monitoring weekly mortality in 54 commercial turkey flocks raised in PEMS-affected regions. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses revealed that enhancing rodent control methods was negatively associated (P = 0.0228) with PEMS.
What Actually is a Living System Materially

This book by philosophers of biology urges an organizational view of biological systems. They intend to contrast this materialist approach against the currently ascendant genetic (one might say, idealistic) perspective in biology. They claim as precursors Nicolas Rashevsky and Robert Rosen as well as Francisco Varela, and refer back as well to the antireductionist and holistic organicist tradition. The authors attempt an extension of this organizational view by way of laboriously constructing a ‘‘principled’’ understanding of autonomy, thus attempting to naturalize this concept by discovering its basic requirements—that is, to capture it in a net of logic. Their book could be placed in the systems science tradition as well. (It might be noted that the logic used in any science is mechanistic, and so any productions informed by it would be in the form of mechanisms.) Why autonomy? What is autonomy generally? From Wikipedia, we can boil it down to:
Novel features of 3q29 deletion syndrome: Results from the 3q29 registry.

3q29 deletion syndrome is caused by a recurrent, typically de novo heterozygous 1.6 Mb deletion, but because incidence of the deletion is rare (1 in 30,000 births) the phenotype is not well described. To characterize the range of phenotypic manifestations associated with 3q29 deletion syndrome, we have developed an online registry (3q29deletion.org) for ascertainment of study subjects and phenotypic data collection via Internet-based survey instruments. We report here on data collected during the first 18 months of registry operation, from 44 patients. This is the largest cohort of 3q29 deletion carriers ever assembled and surveyed in a systematic way. Our data reveal that 28% of registry participants report neuropsychiatric phenotypes, including anxiety disorder, panic attacks, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Other novel findings include a high prevalence (64%) of feeding problems in infancy and reduced weight at birth for 3q29 deletion carriers (average reduction 13.9 oz (394 g), adjusted for gestational age and sex, P = 6.5e-07). We further report on the frequency of heart defects, autism, recurrent ear infections, gastrointestinal phenotypes, and dental phenotypes, among others. We also report on the expected timing of delayed developmental milestones. This is the most comprehensive description of the 3q29 deletion phenotype to date. These results are clinically actionable toward improving patient care for 3q29 deletion carriers, and can guide the expectations of physicians and parents. These data also demonstrate the value of patient-reported outcomes to reveal the full phenotypic spectrum of rare genomic disorders.
Path Planning for a Bistatic Sonar Receiver on an Autonomous Undersea Vehicle Tracking Multiple Targets

In an effort to address innovative applications for underwater networks, we present an autonomous bi-static configuration of vehicles demonstrating the future need for successful underwater communication. Specifically, this work addresses improving undersea multiple target track (MTT) estimation by improving sensor location management for multi-static sonar applications [1]. By leveraging autonomous undersea vehicles (AUV) as mobile receivers, a sonar system may broaden its detection region, adapting its spatial configuration to maximize the received sonar return signal from targets. When tracking multiple targets, this configuration is a function of the transmitter, receiver(s), and target geometries (including position and heading information). When these configurations over all targets are analyzed, intelligent decisions can be made as to which target (or combination thereof) may be tracked with greatest confidence based on projected signal strength. AUV movement is dictated via model predictive control (MPC) strategies, and preliminary findings indicate that leveraging an autonomous mobile receiver within a bi-static system improves tracking performance versus a stationary receiver.
Family Communication and its Effects on Child Developmental Progression

Because divorce rates are high in the United States, the current paper assesses how stepchildren may respond to the introduction of a stepparent, and at what age this introduction may make the most impact. The current study seeks to assess the relationship between family communication in a divorced family with the recent introduction of a stepparent and a stepchild’s subsequent developmental progression through Sigmund Freud’s and Erik Erikson’s life stages. This study also observes the association between reported closeness and levels of satisfaction within the stepparent and stepchild relationship. It was hypothesized that participants who were introduced to a stepparent at an older age, such as adolescence or young adult, would be more impacted in their development. Results did not indicate a significant relationship between age at introduction to stepparent and subsequent relational satisfaction F (5, 45) = .84, p > .05. This study makes contributions toward further study in the subject of age at introduction and subsequent relational satisfaction while making suggestions for the introduction of a stepchild and stepparent.