cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond "Scribbling Women": Women Writing (on) the Web.

Abstract Throughout the World Wide Web, women assert their power as women: They use the Web to influence the political arena, to support one another’s careers, to celebrate women’s accomplishments, and to sabotage misogynist language and stereotypes. This article discusses how web sites developed by and largely for women work to empower women. I pay particular attention to a pervasive rhetoric of resistance in which many sites co-opt a longstanding anti-female trope and redefine it as an image of female power.
Inhaled isobutyl nitrite compromises T-dependent, but not T-independent, antibody induction

Abstract Habitual abuse of nitrite inhalants has been linked in epidemiological studies with seropositivity to human immunodeficiency virus and, separately, with Kaposi's sarcoma among AIDS patients. Mice exposed to isobutyl nitrite in an inhalation chamber for 45 min/day for 14 days had depressed IgM and IgG antibody responses. The inhibition was dose-dependent at 750–900 ppm, but antibody responses were increased at an intermediate (600 ppm) dose. Gender differences in immunotoxicity were not observed. Antibody responses to a T-independent antigen (DNP-ficoll) were not affected by the immunotoxic exposure, suggesting that B-cells were refractory to the toxic exposure. Toxic exposure to isobutyl nitrite did not selectively deplete a particular spleen cell population, but caused equivalent reductions of T-cells and B-cells. Finally, exposed mice remained immunocompromised for 3–5 days after terminating exposures. Normal immune responses returned by 5–7 days, suggesting that inhibition of cellular function was reversible.
Isolation of JC virus capsomer-like structures from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy brain

Brain tissue from a patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) was analyzed by molecular biological and electron-microscopic techniques. Viral DNA was isolated directly from brain tissue, cloned into a plasmid vector, and subjected to restriction endonuclease analysis. The pattern of restriction fragments identified by gel electrophoresis was almost indistinguishable from that of prototype JC virus. By this procedure the etiologic agent of PML in this patient was identified without the isolation of infectious virus. After centrifugal clarification of brain homogenates, high speed centrifugal pellets were studied by electron microscopy. Large numbers of 9-nm polygonal particles, sometimes in paracrystalline arrays, were observed. It was thought likely that these particles were capsomer subunits of 41-43 nm JC virus virions. That the particles were capsomers was supported by negative stain electron microscopy, including reconstruction studies with simian virus 40.
Political Ethnography: What Immersion Contributes to the Study of Power

Political ethnography: what immersion contributes to the study of power, edited by Edward Schatz, Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2009, 376 pp., US$87.00 (hardcover), ISBN 978-0226736761, US$...
Endopolygalacturonase from tomato fruit

Abstract A polygalacturonase was extracted from ripening tomato fruit. A four step procedure was developed producing a 44-fold increase in specific activity with 9% recovery. The enzyme was found to rapidly degrade pectic acid but not pectin. No transeliminase activity was detected. Viscosity and per cent hydrolysis studies formed a basis for suggesting that this enzyme cleaves its substrate in a random manner and is likely to be an endopolygalacturonase.
Convection regime flow in a vertical slot: continuum of solutions from capped to open ends

In a recent publication Buhler (Heat Mass Transfer 39:631–638, 2003) reported new results for conduction regime flow between vertical differentially-heated walls that provide a continuum of solutions between capped and open ends. In this paper we extend Buhler’s work to realize a continuum of solutions of convection regime flow using empirical results for the vertical temperature gradient that develops in tall aspect ratio geometries. The mass flux is determined analytically for this three-parameter family of solutions. Identical viscous and thermal boundary layers exist at the opposing walls when the cavity is capped. However, as the flow evolves to one with open ends, there is an intensification (attenuation) of the boundary layers near the hot (cold) walls. In the limit corresponding to an open-ended cavity, the boundary layer at the cold wall vanishes altogether.
IMPROVEMENT OF AIR QUALITY BY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

Under the United States federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977, states must implement transportation system management (TSM) tactics in urban areas that have not attained national ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide and photochemical oxidants. This paper provides a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness and feasibility of using TSM tactics to improve air quality. Based on this assessment, the authors conclude that TSM measures should be effective in eliminating localized carbon monoxide problems, but that such measures are not likely to contribute significantly toward reducing regional oxidant levels. In addition, because most individual TSM tactics can have only marginal impacts on regional motor vehicle emissions, coordinating the planning and implementation of a portfolio of TSM measures will be an essential element of an effective TSM program for improving air quality.
The cost of conservative synchronization in parallel discrete event simulations

This paper analytically studies the performance of a synchronous conservative parallel discrete-event simulation protocol. The class of models considered simulates activity in a physical domain, and possesses a limited ability to predict future behavior. Using a stochastic model, it is shown that as the volume of simulation activity in the model increases relative to a fixed architecture, the complexity of the average per-event overhead due to synchronization, event list manipulation, lookahead calculations, and processor idle time approaches the complexity of the average per-event overhead of a serial simulation, sometimes rapidly. The method is therefore within a constant factor of optimal. The result holds for the worst case “fully-connected” communication topology, where an event in any other portion of the domain can cause an event in any other protion of the domain. Our analysis demonstrates that on large problems—those for which parallel processing is ideally suited— there is often enough parallel workload so that processors are not usually idle. It also demonstrated the viability of the method empirically, showing how good performance is achieved on large problems using a thirty-two node Intel iPSC/2 distributed memory multiprocessor.
Modular coils and plasma configurations for quasi-axisymmetric stellarators

Characteristics of modular coils for quasi-axisymmetric stellarators that are related to the plasma aspect ratio, number of field periods and rotational transform have been examined systematically. It is observed that, for a given plasma aspect ratio, the coil complexity tends to increase with the increased number of field periods. For a given number of field periods, the toroidal excursion of coil winding is reduced as the plasma aspect ratio is increased. It is also clear that the larger the coil-plasma separation is, the more complex the coils become. It is further demonstrated that it is possible to use other types of coils to complement modular coils to improve both the physics and the modular coil characteristics.
Attitudes of Registered Nurses Toward Nurse Practitioners

Purpose Registered nurses (RNs)work closely with nurse practitioners (NPs) in all facets of patient care and often have a direct influence on the patient's perception of the professional who is directing the care, and a patient's perceptions may affect clinical outcomes. However, few studies have been conducted to measure RN acceptance of the NP. The authors surveyed RNs in southern Illinois to assess their attitudes concerning the level of care provided by NPs. Southern Illinois was chosen because of the limited number of NPs in the area and because of concerns that limited exposure might negatively influence RN attitudes about the NP role. Data Collection A 26-item research questionnaire, previously used with school nurses, was modified to reflect RNs in general. Seven items related to demographic information, and 19 items created a five-response Likert-formatted scale (r=.93). The questionnaire was mailed to 500 randomly selected RNs from the 11 southernmost counties of Illinois. Conclusions The results showed support of the NP role. RNs believed that NPs were knowledgeable, competent health care providers. RNs were also comfortable working with NPs and often consulted them for advice and information. They saw the role of the NP as a positive addition to the health care team. Implications for Practice One identified concern was that scores indicated RNs felt that they received limited respect from NPs. Although the scores were high in this category, some RNs had concerns that NPs might not respect or understand the difficulty of the RN role in providing patient care. NPs need to recognize their collegial and professional ties to RNs and should take time to provide positive feedback to RNs as they collaborate to provide health care. Such behavior would only solidify the health team approach.
CYTOPLASMIC ORGANIZATION AND RHYTHMIC STREAMING IN GROWING BLADES OF CAULERPA PROLIFERA

A B S T R A C T Light- and electron-microscopic studies of the growing blades and their meristematic tips in Caulerpa prolifera have been correlated with time-lapse photographic studies. The growing blade may be divided into three zones based on the level of maturation. A "meristemplasm" is present at the tip of the growing blade and at sites of wounding. The cytoplasm of these growing regions has an abundant endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, amyloplasts, and nuclei, but lacks chloroplasts and a central vacuole. An intermediate zone lies between the white meristemplasm and the green, mature basal zone. The basal zone contains a parietal cytoplasm with organelles typical of the Chlorophyta and a dominant central vacuole. Two distinct systems of cytoplasmic streams occur in the basal zone and both contain packets of microtubules orientated parallel to the axis of the streams. As the blade matures and growth ceases, the dominant central vacuole forms up to the tip. In developing blades the tips become white in the absence of light as a result of basipetal movement of the chloroplasts. In plants kept on a 12-hr L: 12-hr D cycle, blade growth and chloroplast migration at the blade tip are rhythmic, and the peak occurs about 2-4 hr after initiation of the dark phase. Experiments are reported using continuous light or darkness after three 24-hr periods of 12-hr L: 12-hr D phasing.
Multidimensional phase only filter

Today’s sensor networks provide a wide variety of application domain for high-speed pattern classification systems. Such high-speed systems can be achieved by the use of optical implementation of specialized POF correlator. In this research we discuss the modeling and simulation of the phase only filter (POF) in the task of pattern classification of multi-dimensional data.
Global distribution of filaments during solar cycle No. 20

By tracing the positions of filaments on the solar disk for a series of consecutive Carrington rotations, one can make a compact representation of the changes in general topology of photospheric magnetic fields during the course of a solar cycle. Examples are shown for the time period 1964–1974, which may provide some insight into the long-term relationship of the mid-latitude diagonal filaments and the high latitude polar crown.
Plasticity in the electrophysiological properties of oxytocin neurons.

In mammals, the neurohypophysial hormone oxytocin (OT) is released into the bloodstream during labor and lactation to promote uterine contraction and milk ejection, respectively. Electrophysiological studies have established that OT neurons fire in brief, synchronized bursts during this release. During pregnancy and lactation, the intrinsic membrane and synaptic properties of OT, and to a lesser extent vasopressin (VP) neurons, are altered as a part of the adaptation to these specialized states. During lactation OT neurons specifically exhibit an enhanced rebound depolarization which could assist in instigating bursts and an increased gating of firing frequency which is correlated with an enhanced Ca(2+)-dependent after hyperpolarization. Spike broadening occurs in both VP and OT neurons, but in OT neurons this and other changes are present during late pregnancy, suggesting involvement of steroidal hormones in programming neuronal adaptations. Excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity also are altered by reproductive state. There is a doubling of glutamatergic activity specific to OT neurons which is consistent with an increase in terminal numbers, but this is accompanied by an increase in paired-pulse facilitation, suggesting an increase in the probability of glutamate release during lactation as well. Together with profound changes in both pre- and postsynaptic GABAergic synaptic activity, these data suggest that neurosecretory, and particularly OT neuronal, properties are state-dependent. These modifications may adjust the responsiveness of these neurons to afferent stimulation during periods of increased hormone demand and thereby enhance stimulus-secretion coupling.
Higher Manganese Silicide Nanowires of Nowotny Chimney Ladder Phase

We report the synthesis, structural identification, and electrical properties of the first one-dimensional (1-D) nanomaterials of a semiconducting higher manganese silicide (MnSi(2-x)) with widths down to 10 nm via chemical vapor deposition of the single-source precursor Mn(CO)(5)SiCl(3). The complex Nowotny chimney ladder structure of these homologous higher manganese silicides, also referred to as Mn(n)Si(2n-m), MnSi(1.75), or MnSi(1.8), contributes to the excellent thermoelectric performance of the bulk materials, which would be enhanced by phonon scattering due to 1-D nanoscale geometry. The morphology, structure, and composition of MnSi(2-x) nanowires and nanoribbons are examined using electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy. Elaborate select area electron diffraction analysis on single-crystal nanowires reveals the phase to be Mn(19)Si(33), one of a series of crystallographically distinct higher manganese silicides that have a Nowotny chimney ladder structure. Electrical transport study of single nanowires shows that they are degenerately doped with a low resistivity (17 mohms x cm) similar to the bulk.
Dissection of a novel nuclear localization signal in open reading frame 29 of varicella-zoster virus.

Open reading frame 29 (ORF29) of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes a 120-kDa single-stranded DNA binding protein (ORF29p) that is not packaged in the virion and is expressed during latency. During lytic infection, ORF29p is localized primarily to infected cell nuclei. In contrast, ORF29p is found exclusively in the cytoplasm in neurons of the dorsal root ganglia obtained at autopsy from seropositive latently infected patients. ORF29p accumulates in the nuclei of neurons in dorsal root ganglia obtained at autopsy from patients with active zoster. The localization of this protein is, therefore, tightly correlated with the proposed VZV lytic/latent switch. In this report, we have investigated the nuclear import mechanism of ORF29p. We identified a novel nuclear targeting domain bounded by amino acids 9 to 154 of ORF29p that functions independent of other VZV-encoded factors. In vitro import assays in digitonin-permeabilized HeLa cells reveal that ORF29p is transported into the nucleus by a Ran-, karyopherin α- and β-dependent mechanism. These data are further supported by the demonstration that a glutathione S-transferase-karyopherin α fusion interacts with ORF29p, but not with a protein containing a point mutation in its nuclear localization signal (NLS). Therefore, the region of ORF29p responsible for its nuclear targeting is also involved in the association with karyopherin α. As a result of this interaction, this noncanonical NLS appears to hijack the classical cellular nuclear import machinery. Elucidation of the mechanisms governing ORF29p nuclear targeting could shed light on the VZV reactivation process.
Broadband takes off: finally cruising the information superhighway

Uses the recent penetration of broadband through the 30 percent adoption level to explore its likely impact on society. Drawing on a variety of trend data and examples like South Korea where broadband is used by 75 percent of the population, briefly examines the rise of e‐commerce, entertainment on demand, distance education, telemedicine, and bringing developing nations online. After a long delay, it seems that the promise of cruising down the information superhighway may soon become a reality.
Bone mineral density and fracture rate in response to intravenous and oral bisphosphonates in adult osteogenesis imperfecta.

The effect of bisphosphonate treatment on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture rates was assessed in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). This observational nonrandomized study included 90 OI adults treated with intravenous pamidronate (n = 28), oral alendronate (n = 10), or oral residronate (n = 17) or not treated (n = 35). There were 63 type I, 15 type III, and 12 type IV OI patients. BMD results were observed for up to 161 months and an average of 52 months of treatment. For type I and grouped type III/IV patients, treatment with pamidronate showed an increasing rate in L1–L4 BMD from baseline (0.006 [P = 0.03] and 0.016 [P < 0.001] gm/cm2/year, respectively); oral bisphosphonate treatment showed a significant increasing rate in L1–L4 BMD (0.004 gm/cm2/year [P = 0.047]) for type I patients. Pamidronate-treated type III/IV and oral bisphosphonate-treated type I patients showed significant increases in total-hip BMD (0.006 [P = 0.003] and 0.011 [P = 0.046] gm/cm2/year, respectively). Bisphosphonate effect on fracture rate was assessed for 5-year periods before and after treatment in 51 treated and 22 nontreated individuals matched for age at which bisphosphonate was first administered to the treated group. Bisphosphonate treatment did not decrease fracture rate in type I OI patients. Fracture rate decreased in type III/IV patients following pamidronate but not following oral bisphosphonate treatment. These results underscore a need to consider whether bisphosphonate treatment is appropriate for all adults with OI.
Disjoining Pressures and Ordering in Thin Liquid Films Containing Charged Diblock Copolymers Adsorbed at the Interfaces

We report force measurements in thin liquid films containing charged diblock copolymers (poly(tert-butylstyrene)−poly(styrenesulfonate)) adsorbed at the film surfaces. Although the film surfaces are likely to be covered by copolymer layers with a brush structure, the observed features, both film ordering and force ranges, cannot be explained within the framework of interacting or overlapping brushes. Under compression, the films show stratified structures with layers of constant thickness (∼45 nm). These films share some similarities with surfactant films where free homopolyelectrolyte chains are confined, but they are far less sensitive to addition of salt. The changes observed when the polymer mass and concentration are varied can be attributed to viscosity variations. The strong asymmetry of the diblock copolymers used here, resulting in poor surface anchoring, is probably the reason for the above peculiar features.
Reflexion and refraction of elastic waves in presence of separation

The common assumption in treating the reflexion and refraction of elastic waves at the interface between two solids is that the bodies adhere, and that the required tensile tractions can be transmitted. This paper investigates the opposite case when the solids are pressed together, but do not adhere at all, so that the process for strong incident waves involves localized separation. It is shown that the reflected and refracted waves undergo a phase shift that depends on the extent of separation, and contain higher frequencies. The gaps open smoothly at the leading edges of the zones of separation, but close with discontinuous slopes at the trailing edges. This is due to the fact that the solids slam together as they come back into contact at the trailing edges. Accordingly, the interface tractions have jump discontinuities at the trailing edges. If the solids are not pressed together, steadily maintained incident waves see a free surface. The results also indicate, however, that a well-behaved steady state solution is not necessarily possible for all combinations of materials and angles of incidence.
Perceptual weighting strategies of children with cochlear implants and normal hearing

Abstract Purpose This study compared perceptual weighting strategies of children with cochlear implants (CIs) and children with normal hearing (NH), and asked if strategies are explained solely by degraded spectral representations, or if diminished language experience accounts for some of the effect. Relationships between weighting strategies and other language skills were examined. Method One hundred 8-year-olds (49 with NH and 51 with CIs) were tested on four measures: (1) labeling of cop–cob and sa–sha stimuli; (2) discrimination of the acoustic cues to the cop–cob decision; (3) phonemic awareness; and (4) word recognition. Results No differences in weighting of cues to the cop–cob decision were observed between children with CIs and NH, suggesting that language experience was sufficient for the children with CIs. Differences in weighting of cues to the sa–sha decision were found, but were not entirely explained by auditory sensitivity. Weighting strategies were related to phonemic awareness and word recognition. Conclusions More salient cues facilitate stronger weighting of those cues. Nonetheless, individuals differ in how salient cues need to be to capture perceptual attention. Familiarity with stimuli also affects how reliably children attend to acoustic cues. Training should help children with CIs learn to categorize speech sounds with less-salient cues. Learning outcomes : After reading this article, the learner should be able to: (1) recognize methods and motivations for studying perceptual weighting strategies in speech perception; (2) explain how signal quality and language experience affect the development of weighting strategies for children with cochlear implants and children with normal hearing; and (3) summarize the importance of perceptual weighting strategies for other aspects of language functioning.
The Uniform Hieroglyphic: A Contemporary Graphological Study of Whitman's Signature

Discusses and reprints graphologist William T. Call's 1887 character-analysis of Whitman's signature. Skinner, Quinton. "Spotlight: Ode to Walt Whitman." City Pages (Minneapolis/St. Paul) 27 (July 12, 2006). Review of Bart Buch's puppet show, "Ode to Walt Whitman," featuring Federico Garcia Lorca and Whitman; performed in July 2006 at Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis.
DNA polymorphism and the susceptibility to diabetes.

We have studied the relationship between the DNA polymorphisms and the development of diabetes in Caucasians and US black populations. The analyses suggest that disease susceptibility differs in the two populations. In a large population with low frequency of diabetes, DNA fragments detected in the studies of the human insulin gene and HLA-DR regions seem to have a minor role in the development of diabetes. However, the currently available data also show that alleles with insertion in the 5′-flanking region of the insulin gene in the US black populations induce noninsulin-dependent diabetes fivefold more often than in white populations. To draw a more reliable conclusion, further DNA polymorphism surveys in different ethnic groups need to be conducted.
Letter to the Editor---The Output of an M/G/∞ Queuing System is Poisson

Burke [Burke, P. J. 1956. The output of a queuing system. Opns. Res.4 699--704.] has shown that, in steady state, a queuing system with a Poisson input and independent negative exponential service times has an output that is also a Poisson process with a rate equal to the input rate, regardless of the number of channels. He has also shown that the interdeparture interval is independent of the state of the system at the end of the interval. We will show that if a queuing system has a Poisson input and an infinite number of channels, the output is also Poisson, regardless of the distribution of service times, provided that these times are independent.
Effect of Dialyzed Enterogastrone Upon Twelve-Hour Nocturnal Gastric Secretion in Man.

Conclusions1. The output of hydrochloric acid in the 12-hour nocturnal gastric secretion of 4 patients with peptic ulcer was unchanged following the intramuscular administration of 200 to 2000 mg of a dialyzed preparation of enterogastrone. 2. Gastric secretion was reduced slightly in one and markedly in five of six patients with peptic ulcer, given 5000 mg. The transitory inhibition consisted chiefly of a decrease in the concentration of acid and, to a lesser extent, of the volume of secretion.
Growth Factors Reverse the Impaired Sprouting of Microvessels from Aged Mice

Aging is accompanied by impaired angiogenesis and deficient expression of several angiogenic growth factors. To test the hypothesis that replacement of these factors would improve angiogenesis in aged animals, we cultured microvessels derived from the epididymal fat pad of aged and young mice ("aged" and "young" microvessels) in three-dimensional collagen gels for 2 weeks and measured their sprouting (formation of branch points) in response to fetal bovine serum (FBS), endothelial cell growth supplement (ECGS), and the specific growth factors transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). In the presence of culture medium with 1% FBS (Minimal medium), sprouting of aged microvessels was significantly less than sprouting of young microvessels. The addition of high levels of FBS and ECGS to Minimal medium enhanced the sprouting of microvessels from aged mice to a greater degree than that of young mice, such that the difference between the two age groups was no longer significant. Formation of branch points by aged microvessels was also significantly increased by Minimal medium supplemented with TGF-beta1, bFGF, IGF-1, or VEGF (listed in order of highest to lowest stimulation). Sprouts generated in the presence of VEGF possessed a particularly high percentage of endothelial cells. Mitomycin C did not diminish the degree of sprouting induced by TGF-beta1, VEGF, or IGF-1, a result indicating that early stages of angiogenesis, including formation of branch points, do not require cell division. From our findings in vitro, we propose that age-related deficiencies in angiogenesis in vivo are likely to be due, in part, to a decrease in angiogenic growth factors in the extracellular milieu.
Universality and diffusion in nonequilibrium critical phenomena.

Etude par simulations, expansions en series, et par la theorie du champ moyen, des modeles de reseau hors equilibre dans lesquels les particules sont produites de facon autocatalytique et annihilees spontanement. Il y a une transition continue vers un etat absorbant quand la vitesse de creation est reduite en dessous d'une valeur critique. Les resultats demontrent l'universalite du comportement critique en presence de variations dans un schema reactionnel. On prend, aussi en consideration des modeles presentant des processus d'annihilation binaire et ternaire (triplet). Dans le dernier cas, la competition entre la diffusion et l'annihilation produit une nouvelle phase surprenante a des vitesses de creations faibles. Pour une diffusion suffisament rapide, il y a un etat stable non absorbant pour toute vitesse de creation non nulle
Reckoning Schemes of Legitimation: On Commissions of Inquiry as Power/Knowledge Forms

Drawing upon literature from Australia, Canada, England, India, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States this article offers an alternative framework for the study of Commissions of Inquiry. Conventional understandings of such inquiries as policy-making instruments of Government fail to grasp the significance of their political form. A reading which stresses the symbolic and ritual aspects of their work and analyses the forms of communication which are organized through public inquiries provides a better framework for grasping the place of these institutions in the reproduction of State power. This article argues that public inquiries derive authority from their distinctive legal, social, and epistemological status. The work of such inquiries can be characterized as ‘reckoning schemes of legitimation’, and this work structures political discourse in three phases: investigative, persuasive, and archival. The abiding significance of Commissions lies not simply in the investigation of facts and the recommendation of policy, but in the elaboration of the ‘idea of the state’. Such schemes of legitimation serve in constituting a realm of discourse through which collective action vis-a-vis Society by those who act in the name of the State becomes thinkable, and thereby organizable.
Coagulation defects in infancy and childhood

Summary Twenty-one cases of varying bleeding disorders are presented because they represent the frequency with which hypoprothrombinemic states develop in infancy and childhood. A report of laboratory and clinical detection of hypoprothrombinemia has been simply presented. A reclassification of hemorrhagica hypoprothrombinemia neonatorumis offered which renders the disease fairly common. A suggestion for correct therapy with vitamin K is made.
Computational topology for configuration spaces of hard disks.

We explore the topology of configuration spaces of hard disks experimentally and show that several changes in the topology can already be observed with a small number of particles. The results illustrate a theorem of Baryshnikov, Bubenik, and Kahle [2] that critical points correspond to configurations of disks with balanced mechanical stresses and suggest conjectures about the asymptotic topology as the number of disks tends to infinity.
PREDICTION OF NOISE GENERATED BY A ROUND NOZZLE JET FLOW USING COMPUTATIONAL AEROACOUSTICS

This paper demonstrates an application of computational aeroacoustics to the prediction of noise generated by a round nozzle jet flow. In this study, the nozzle internal flow and the free jet flow outside are computed simultaneously by a high-order accurate, multi-block, large-eddy simulation (LES) code with overset grid capability. To simulate the jet flow field and its radiated noise, we solve the governing equations on approximately 370 million grid points using high-fidelity numerical schemes developed for computational aeroacoustics. Projection of the near-field noise to the far-field is accomplished by coupling the LES data with the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings method. The main emphasis of these simulations is to compute the jet flow in sufficient detail to accurately capture the physical processes that lead to noise generation. Two separate simulations are performed using turbulent and laminar inflow conditions at the jet nozzle inlet. Simulation results are compared with the corresponding experimental measurements. Results show that nozzle inflow conditions have an influence on the jet flow field and far-field noise.
Soil translocation by pocket gophers in a Mima moundfield.

We measured soil translocation due to the tunneling of valley pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae) in a Mima moundfield at Miramar Mounds National Landmark, San Diego, California, from December, 1984 through December, 1985. We placed 1-l soil plugs containing 20 11-g iron pellets into pocket gopher tunnels at locations between mound tops and points about one mound radius beyond mound edges. After about 4–10 d, sites to which the marker-containing soil had been translocated were located with a metal detector and the horizontal and vertical displacements measured. Between 1 October and 15 May (the cooler, wetter portion of the year), pocket gophers removed an average of 63% of the experimental plugs and moved an average of 38% of the markers that we recovered. From 15 May through 1 October (the hotter, drier portion of the year), only 32% of plugs were cleared and 12% of the recovered markers were moved. On average, markers that were moved were displaced 41 cm moundward and 4.9 cm upward in elevation. The intensity of moundward translocation increased with distance from the mound center. At a distance of 0.5–1.0 mound radius beyond the edge of the mound, the moundward translocation tendency averaged 71 cm. The intensity of moundward translocation was also inversely related to maximum mound height. These observations provide strong support for the fossorial rodent hypothesis of Mima mound origin, and constitute a first step in development of a mathematical model of mound formation.
Ab initio relativistic effective potentials with spin‐orbit operators. VI. Fr through Pu

Ab initio averaged relativistic effective core potentials (AREP), spin-orbit (so) operators, and valence basis sets are reported for the elements Fr through Pu in the form of expansions in Gaussian-type functions. Gaussian basis sets with expansion coefficients for the low-energy states of each atom are given. Atomic orbital energies calculated under the j-j coupling scheme within the self-consistent field approximation and employing the AREP's in their unaveraged form (REP's) agree to within 10% of orbital energies due to numerical all-electron Dirac-Fock calculations
A Novel Capability for Crush Testing Crash Energy Management Structures at Intermediate Rates

The crush performance of lightweight composite automotive structures varies significantly between static and dynamic test conditions. This paper discusses the development of a new dynamic testing facility that can be used to characterize crash performance at high loads and constant speed. Previous research results from the Energy Management Working Group (EMWG) of the Automotive Composites Consortium (ACC) showed that the static crush resistance of composite tubes can be significantly greater than dynamic crush results at speeds greater than 2 m/s. The new testing facility will provide the unique capability to crush structures at high loads in the intermediate velocity range. A novel machine control system was designed and projections of the machine performance indicate its compliance with the desired test tolerances. The test machine will be part of a national user facility at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and will be available for use in the summer of 2002.
Controlled dynamic performance analysis

We are interested in obtaining detailed performance information on-the-fly from long-running systems without adversely affecting the performance of the systems. We have developed a methodology consisting of a framework, DYPER, and a number of specialized agents called proflets each of which analyzes a different performance aspect. DYPER gathers performance information with a guaranteed maximum overhead that is dynamically settable by the programmer using priorities set by the proflets. Moreover, the type of information that the system can provide is generally only available for tools that generally have too much overhead to be usable in production or long-running systems. DYPER includes the ability to control and display performance data as the program is run.
A fault-tolerant switching scheme for a photovoltaic high-frequency-link inverter

A modulation-based fault-tolerant scheme is outlined for an isolated photovoltaic high-frequency-link (HFL) inverter. It comprises a front end dc/pulsating-dc dc/ac converter followed by a unidirectional ac/dc converter followed by an ac/ac converter. The fault-tolerant scheme ensures operation under different types of fault conditions in the front end dc/pulsating-dc dc/ac converter without redundant circuits. Detailed results on the switching scheme as well as experimental validation using a fabricated prototype are presented.
Organic Tracers in Ambient Aerosols and Rain

Partitioning of organic matter (i.e., solvent-extractable) was examined between ambient aerosols and rainwater particulate and dissolved phases. A rainfall event during April 10–11, 1982, was sampled in combination with 24-hour high-volume aerosol samples (before, during, and after the storm) at West Los Angeles and Pasadena, CA. Solvent-extractable organic matter (> C15) was analyzed for total neutral and acidic components. These extract fractions were quantified by high-resolution gas chromatography and then screened for hydrocarbons, ketones, carboxylic acids as esters, alcohols, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) by high-resolution gas chromatography / mass spectrometry. Comparisons of the total mass loadings and chemical speciation were made between the total ambient aerosols and the filtered rainwater (with particles of diameters 0.22 μm). Both rain particles and ambient aerosols had significant levels of plant wax...
Structuring STIL for incremental test development

The Standard Test Interface Language (STIL) facilitates the transportation of digital test data from creation, to use on Automated Test Equipment. Constructs of the language, when used properly, support this operation. But these same constructs may also complicate the process. This paper discusses the appropriate use of STIL constructs for incremental test development, including an organizing paradigm for STIL data.
Space Climate and the Solar Stellar connection: What can we learn from the stars about long-term solar variability?

Abstract While it is well-known that solar variability influences the near-Earth Space environment at short timescales of days – an effect collectively termed as Space Weather, a more subtle influence of solar variability at longer timescales is also present and just beginning to be appreciated. Long-term solar forcing and its consequences – which has come to be known as Space Climate – has important consequences for the formation and evolution of planetary atmospheres, the evolution of life and global climate on Earth. Understanding the Sun’s variability and its heliospheric influence at such scales, stretching from decennia to stellar and planetary evolutionary timescales, is therefore of fundamental importance. However, our knowledge of this variability, which is in part due to the evolution of the solar magnetic dynamo, is limited by direct solar observations which exist only from early 17th Century onwards. In this review we introduce a novel concept – how the Solar–Stellar connection can be exploited to understand the long-term variability of the Sun and its influence on Space Climate. We present some preliminary studies, in which, through theoretical dynamo modeling and analysis of magnetic activity observations of solar-like stars at various evolutionary phases relative to the Sun, we show how the above concept is implemented in practice.
Use of a Milk Assay to Evaluate the Effects of Potassium on Commercial Yeast Lactases

A reliable enzyme assay was developed that could routinely be used to accurately reflect lactase activity. The assay was performed with a nonfat dry milk substrate at 37°C. This procedure was then utilized to evaluate the effects of potassium ions as a stabilizer and activator on four yeast lactase enzymes. Low levels of potassium ions (K+), incorporated as potassium chloride (KCl), increased enzyme units by 20% and 30% in two liquid lactases derived from Saccharomyces lactis. Levels as high as 9.4% KCl increased the activity of one liquid lactase as much as 160%. The K+ activated and stabilized a powdered form of lactase isolated from Kluyveromyces fragilis. The activity of the fourth lactase tested, also derived from S. Zactis, was slightly enhanced.
Handwriting and Gender: A Multi-Use Data Set.

Can individuals guess the gender of a writer based on a sample of his or her handwriting? We administer an electronic survey twice to the same individuals to find out. The resulting data set is int...
What is the nature of serotonergic abnormalities in human aggression

T he archival report by Rylands et al. (1) in this issue of Biological Psychiatry represents exciting new work in the biology of human aggression. Although a role for central serotonin (5-HT) in human aggression has been studied for more than 30 years, the very specific aspects of how the 5-HT system may be altered in aggressive individuals are only now being examined because of newer technologies and the willingness to look beyond basic biologic principles. Rylands et al. (1) performed ligand-binding positron emission tomography studies, targeting the 5-HT transporter (SERT) and the 5-HT-2a receptor, in 14 subjects characterized as being impulsive aggressive and 13 subjects characterized as compared being not impulsive aggressive. In brief, the investigators reported that SERT availability is significantly increased in brain stem areas and reduced, although nonsignificantly, in cortical brain areas. More importantly, although the investigators reported a direct association between SERT availability and several measures of impulsivity and aggression in their subjects, they reported that the strongest association was with measures of adversity and stressful life events in childhood. They suggest, furthermore, that this latter finding points to an exciting, potential, etiologic link to altered 5-HT function and impulsive aggression in humans. In this commentary, I will discuss several aspects of this report in terms of methodology and in terms of how it relates to the field as it has developed since the late 1970s. The idea that brain 5-HT has any relationship with aggression was first proposed in the 1970s when demonstrated that altering brain levels of 5-HT uncovered an inverse relationship with aggression in animal models. In other words, when 5-HT was experimentally reduced, aggressive responding in the model animal increased, and when 5-HT was experimentally enhanced, aggressive responding decreased. The first evidence of this in human subjects was published in 1979 when Brown et al. (2) reported an inverse correlation between lifetime levels of actual aggressive behavior and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the major 5-HT metabolite, 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (CSF 5HIAA) in personality-disordered subjects. This was followed by the work of Linnoila et al. (3), who reported that reduced CSF 5HIAA levels in humans were linked to aggressive behavior that was specifically impulsive in nature. At the same time, Stanley et al. reported that victims of violent suicide, compared with those who also died violently but by accident, had lower numbers of SERT (4), and higher numbers of 5-HT-2, receptors in frontal cortex (5). Together this suggested that presynaptic 5HT activity was low and that postsynaptic receptors had
New Model for Nucleon Generalized Parton Distributions

We describe a new type of models for nucleon generalized parton distributions (GPDs) H and E. They are heavily based on the fact nucleon GPDs require to use two forms of double distribution (DD) representations. The outcome of the new treatment is that the usual DD+D-term construction should be amended by an extra term, {xi} E{sub +}{sup 1} (x,{xi}) which has the DD structure {alpha}/{beta} e({beta},{alpha}, with e({beta},{alpha}) being the DD that generates GPD E(x,{xi}). We found that this function, unlike the D-term, has support in the whole -1 <= x <= 1 region. Furthermore, it does not vanish at the border points |x|={xi}.
Comment to ``Distribution and geochronology of the Oregon Plateau (U.S.A.) flood basalt volcanism: The Steens Basalt Revisited'' by M.E. Brueseke et al. [J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 161 (2007), 187-214]

Abstract The 40 Ar/ 39 Ar stepheating results of Brueseke et al. (2007) are critically evaluated, firstly for possible alteration of the samples dated. Steps passing the alteration index test (Baksi, 2007a) can then be used to derive plateau ages, which must satisfy rigorous statistical tests. Of the eleven samples studied by Brueseke et al. (2007), only four yield plateau values that reflect eruption ages. These suggest Steens Basalt was erupted within a relatively short period of time, ∼ 0.2 m.y., considerably less than the ∼ 1 m.y. suggested by the authors. The seeming difference between the plateau ages for the Steens Mountain Basalts obtained by these authors and two earlier attempts, is resolved by (a) proper adjustment of ages at various laboratories for interlaboratory calibration differences, and by rejecting ages from altered samples. The age of the important Steens Mountain geomagnetic polarity transition is 16.59 ± 0.03 Ma.
Comparison of Four Performance Metrics for Evaluating Sampling Techniques for Low Quality Class-Imbalanced Data

Erroneous attribute values can significantly impact learning from otherwise valuable data. The learning impact can be exacerbated by the class imbalanced training data. We investigate and compare the overall learning impact of sampling such data by using four distinct performance metrics suitable for models built from binary class imbalanced data. Seven relatively free of noise, class imbalanced software engineering measurement datasets were used. A novel noise injection procedure was applied to these datasets. We injected domain realistic noise into the independent and dependent (class) attributes of randomly selected instances to simulate lower quality measurement data. Seven well known data sampling techniques with the benchmark decision-tree learner C4.5 were used. No other related studies were found that have comprehensively investigated learning by sampling low quality binary class imbalanced data containing both independent and dependent corrupted attributes. Two sampling techniques (random undersampling and Wilson's editing) with better and more robust learning performances were identified. In contrast, all metrics concurred on the identification of the worst performing sampling technique (cluster-based oversampling).
Controlling the complement system for prevention of red cell destruction.

Purpose of review Complement sensitization of red blood cells (RBCs) can lead to both intravascular and extravascular red cell destruction. Altered levels of naturally occurring complement regulatory proteins on red cells can result in hemolysis, while defective expression of these proteins on immune cells can cause breakdown of tolerance to self antigens and is associated with autoimmune disease. Recent findings To date several complement inhibitors, including recombinant forms of complement regulatory proteins, humanized antibodies, and synthetic molecules have been described that limit complement activation by interfering with different steps in the complement cascade. However, few have been evaluated for prevention of complement-mediated RBC destruction. In this review, possible applications of these complement inhibitors for treatment of complement-mediated hemolysis in specific disease states are described. Furthermore, the implication of the regulatory role of complement in the development of autoimmune hemolytic anemia is discussed. Summary Complement therapeutics has potential for effective and safe prophylactic use and treatment of hemolytic transfusion reactions and complement-mediated hemolytic diseases. Furthermore, the regulatory function of complement may be exploited to prevent and treat autoimmune hemolytic anemia.