cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gravitation as a gauge theory

We present theories of gravitation based, respectively, on the general linear group $\mathrm{GL}(n, R)$ and its inhomogeneous extension $\mathrm{IGL}(n, R)$ [($\mathrm{SO}(n\ensuremath{-}1, 1)$ and [$\mathrm{ISO}(n\ensuremath{-}1, 1)$ for torsion-free manifolds]. Noting that the geometry of the conventional gauge theories can be described in terms of a fiber bundle, and that their action is a scalar in such a superspace, we construct principal fiber bundles based on the above gauge groups and propose to describe gravitation in terms of their corresponding scalar curvatures. To ensure that these manifolds do indeed have close ties with the space-time of general relativity, we make use of the notion of the parallel transport of vector fields in space-time to uniquely relate the connections in space-time to the gauge potentials in fiber bundles. The relations turn out to be similar to that suggested earlier by Yang. The actions we obtain are related to those of Einstein and Yang but are distinct from both and have an Einstein limit. The inclusion of internal symmetry leads to the analogs of Einstein-Yang-Mills equations. A number of variations and less attractive alternatives based on the above groups or their subgroups are also discussed.
Solving polynomial equations with elliptic modular functions

Klein's method of solving algebraic equations is discussed and generalized to provide conditions for the unnecessity of the so-called accessory irrationality. We use the modular curve of level N to produce a "hyper-radical" of level N and discuss the accessory irrationalities involved in solving polynomial equations by means of the algebraic hypergeometric functions that define this hyper-radical. The quintic normal forms of Brioschi and Hermite elegantly fit into this framework, and we find explicit conditions for the unnecessary of accessory irrationalities for these normal forms.
Changes in fundus autofluorescence of choroidal melanomas following treatment.

We have previously shown that fundus autofluorescence (FAF) associated with pigmented choroidal lesions can be attributed to mainly lipofuscin (orange pigment) but also to hyperpigmentation, drusen, or fibrous metaplasia. The purpose of this study is to describe the effects of treatment on FAF in choroidal melanomas after plaque radiotherapy alone or in combination with transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT). Retrospective chart review of eight consecutive patients with choroidal melanoma treated with plaque radiotherapy alone or in combination with TTT who underwent FAF photography before and after treatment. The correlation between FAF patterns and foci of orange pigment, hyperpigmentation, drusen, or fibrous metaplasia was evaluated. The median follow-up time was 4 (range 2–9) months. Foci of orange pigment and hyperpigmentation became larger and more numerous after treatment. Fibrous metaplasia was also increased. A complete correlation between increased FAF and orange pigment was found in all eight tumours (100%) before and after treatment. No correlation between hyperpigmentation and increased FAF was found before treatment but a partial correlation was found in all eyes after treatment. Before treatment, correlation between fibrous metaplasia was present in three eyes and increased FAF was partial in two eyes with no correlation in one case. After treatment, this correlation was partial in all presenting eyes (7). Following treatment, choroidal melanomas may show increased FAF, mainly due to an increase in the amount of lipofuscin (orange pigment) and hyperpigmentation.
Glycoprotein expression by adenomatous polyps of the colon

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. Specificity in diagnostic imaging for detecting colorectal adenomas, which have a propensity towards malignancy, is desired. Adenomatous polyp specimens of the colon were obtained from the mouse model of colorectal cancer called adenomatous polyposis coli-multiple intestinal neoplasia (APC Min ). Histological evaluation, by the legume protein Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-1), determined expression of the glycoprotein α-L-fucose. FITC-labelled UEA-1 confirmed overexpression of the glycoprotein by the polyps on fluorescence microscopy in 17/17 cases, of which 13/17 included paraffin-fixed mouse polyp specimens. In addition, FITC-UEA-1 ex vivo multispectral optical imaging of 4/17 colonic specimens displayed over-expression of the glycoprotein by the polyps, as compared to non-neoplastic mucosa. Here, we report the surface expression of α-L-fucosyl terminal residues by neoplastic mucosal cells of APC specimens of the mouse. Glycoprotein expression was validated by the carbohydrate binding protein UEA-1. Future applications of this method are the development of agents used to diagnose cancers by biomedical imaging modalities, including computed tomographic colonography (CTC). UEA-1 targeting to colonic adenomas may provide a new avenue for the diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma by CT imaging.
Optical ellipticity and internal structure of Mars

Abstract The optically determined values for the ellipticity of Mars are more than double the values determined from the motion of the Martian satellites. It is assumed that the optical ellipticity represents the physical shape of the planet's surface and that the topographically high equatorial region is compensated for isostatically by variations is crustal thickness. Consideration of the effect of this equatorial bulge on the gravity field of Mars, as determined by the motion of the Martian satellites, leads to the following conclusions: The depth of compensation cannot be greater than about 226 km; we have not been justified in saying that Mars has a more homogeneous distribution of material than Earth; and it is possible that Mars has a core. In order for the equatorial bulge to be isostatistically compensated, the percentage of crustal rock in Mars must be at least an order of magnitude greater than the crustal rock in Earth. This can be best explained by assuming that the base of the Martian crust represents a change in phase from basalt to eclogite, rather than a change in chemical composition.
The Lighter Side of Early Weimar Cinema's Dark Canon: Paul Leni's Das Wachsfigurenkabinett (1924)

Scholars frequently present Paul Leni's Das Wachsfigurenkabinett (1924) as a proto-horror exemplar of early Weimar cinema's dark canon, aligning it neatly with films like Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920) and Nosferatu (1922), and actively downplaying its substantial comedic element. In this article, I argue that the scholarly reception of Leni's film reveals the biases that color early Weimar cinema as a whole. The dominance of particular films—and only select aspects of Leni's film—arose from an historically and culturally specific confluence of technological and economic factors that together created an environment in which the darker films of early Weimar cinema could flourish, while lighter popular releases were lost to the historical imagination. Das Wachsfigurenkabinett offers a clearer view into Weimar film culture not only because it offers the kind of dark, mysterious film considered characteristic of early Weimar cinema, but because it also embraces generic possibilities left unexplored by its darker brethren, exemplifying in itself the era's rich generic diversity that until recently has been suppressed.
The CCL2 chemokine is a negative regulator of autophagy and necrosis in luminal B breast cancer cells

Luminal A and B breast cancers are the most prevalent forms of breast cancer diagnosed in women. Compared to luminal A breast cancer patients, patients with luminal B breast cancers experience increased disease recurrence and lower overall survival. The mechanisms that regulate the luminal B subtype remain poorly understood. The chemokine CCL2 is overexpressed in breast cancer, correlating with poor patient prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of CCL2 expression in luminal B breast cancer cells. Breast tissues, MMTV-PyVmT and MMTV-Neu transgenic mammary tumors forming luminal B-like lesions, were immunostained for CCL2 expression. To determine the role of CCL2 in breast cancer cells, CCL2 gene expression was silenced in mammary tumor tissues and cells using TAT cell-penetrating peptides non-covalently cross linked to siRNAs (Ca-TAT/siRNA). CCL2 expression was examined by ELISA and flow cytometry. Cell growth and survival were analyzed by flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and fluorescence microscopy. CCL2 expression was significantly increased in luminal B breast tumors, MMTV- PyVmT and MMTV-Neu mammary tumors, compared or normal breast tissue or luminal A breast tumors. Ca-TAT delivery of CCL2 siRNAs significantly reduced CCL2 expression in PyVmT mammary tumors, and decreased cell proliferation and survival. CCL2 gene silencing in PyVmT carcinoma cells or BT474 luminal B breast cancer cells decreased cell growth and viability associated with increased necrosis and autophagy. CCL2 expression is overexpressed in luminal B breast cancer cells and is important for regulating cell growth and survival by inhibiting necrosis and autophagy.
Plutonium polymerization—III The nitrate precipitation of Pu(IV) polymer

Abstract The precipitation of aged Pu(IV) polymer by HNO3, LiNO3, Al(NO3)3 and NaNO3 has been observed. With the exception of LiNO3, the precipitation of 0·00678M Pu(IV) polymer was independent of the source of NO3−, and the maximum amount of precipitated polymer occurred at 1·8 NO3−. Further addition of NO3− redissolved the polymer. The nitrate precipitation of Pu(IV) polymer has been analyzed according to the solubility product principle and has been found to closely resemble a solubility product mechanism.
The role of corotating interaction regions in cosmic-ray modulation

The paper presents the first global simulations of the modulation of galactic cosmic rays by a three-dimensional solar wind with corotating interaction regions. The cosmic-ray transport equation is solved in a computed wind and magnetic-field model. The results show both the previously-neglected small-scale response to corotating interaction regions and global, drift-dominated, effects which are similar to previous models. The model predicts a correlation between the local magnetic field and the rate of decrease of the cosmic-ray intensity which is similar to that observed. This is found to be due to inhibited diffusion. It is suggested that such small-scale variations are local and that they do not change significantly the global cosmic-ray structure except, perhaps, near sunspot maximum.
Convergence in tent architecture and tent-making behavior among neotropical and paleotropical bats

Fifteen species of neotropical and three species of paleotropical bats are known either to roost in or to make tents in over 80 species of vascular plants. We summarize the current knowledge of bat-tent architecture, report two new styles of tents (conical and apical) from the Paleotropics, compare the similarity in tents constructed, or used, by neotropical and paleotropical bats, and consider possible functions of tents. Seven styles of tents are known from the Neotropics, three (conical, palmate umbrella, and apical tents) are known from both the Neo- and the Paleotropics, and one (stem tent) is unique to the Paleotropics. In the Neotropics tent-roosting and/or tent-making appears to be a behavior unique to the diverse microchiropteran family Phyllostomidae (subfamily Phyllostomatinae: tribe Stenodermatini), and in the Paleotropics two members of the megachiropteran family Pteropodidae and one member of the microchiropteran family Vespertilionidae are known to construct or roost in tents. Despite the variety of plant taxa used by bats in tent construction, there appears to be a limited number of different leaf forms that can be altered by bats and used as tents. We suggest that the similarity in tent architecture observed among the neotropical and paleotropical bats is a consequence of convergence in leaf morphology among forest understory plants. The congruence in tent-making/roosting behavior observed in members of the Stenodermatini and the Pteropodidae (genusCynopterus) suggests a phylogenetic influence on these behaviors. The similarity in tent-making and/or tent-roosting behavior and life-history traits (small, <70 g, mostly foliage-roosting frugivores) among these divergent neotropical and paleotropical taxa supports a convergence hypothesis in which members of these groups have become ecological equivalents. Although actual tent-making has been observed in only one bat species to date, we suggest that the principal selective force leading to the evolution of tent-making is a polygynous mating system whereby males construct tents to gain access to females. Tents in turn provide resources that offer protection from predators and inclement weather.
Effects of differing rates of protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation

Background. Protamine sulfate reversal of heparin anticoagulation may be associated with adverse cardiovascular side effects. The purpose of this study was to determine whether diminished systemic oxygen consumption and hemodynamic changes were more likely to accompany rapid versus slow protamine administration. Methods. Fifteen patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm resection in a prospective randomized double-blinded study received intravenous protamine (1.5 mg/kg) rapidly during a 3-minute period (group I, n=7) or slowly during a 15-minute period (group II, n=8). Systemic oxygen consumption (VO2) and hemodynamic parameters were assessed for up to 20 minutes after protamine administration began. Results. Blood pressure declines (millimeters of mercury) were greatest in group I with rapid protamine administration (−19 systolic and −9 diastolic) compared with group II with slow protamine administration (−12 systolic and −1 diastolic). Heart rate fell markedly in both groups I and II. Cardiac output (CO) declined in group I at virtually all time periods. Similar CO declines in group II occurred 10 minutes after protamine infusion had begun and persisted for 3 minutes after protamine administration was complete. Maximum VO2 decreases were −16% (60 seconds into protamine infusion) and −13% (1.5 minutes after protamine infusion) in groups I and II, respectively, with statistically significant declines (p Conclusions. Significant declines in systemic VO2 and hemodynamic perturbations accompany protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation during aortic surgery. Rapid protamine administration increases the magnitude of these adverse responses.
Biomechanical Properties of Volar Hybrid and Locked Plate Fixation in Distal Radius Fractures

Purpose We compare the biomechanical properties of a volar hybrid construct to an all-locking construct in an osteoporotic and normal comminuted distal radius fracture model. Methods Groups of 28 normal, 28 osteoporotic, and 28 over-drilled osteoporotic left distal radius synthetic bones were used. The normal group consisted of synthetic bone with a standard foam core. The osteoporotic group consisted of synthetic bone with decreased foam core density. The over-drilled osteoporotic group consisted of synthetic bone with decreased foam core density and holes drilled with a 2.3 mm drill, instead of the standard 2.0 mm drill, to simulate the lack of purchase in osteoporotic bone. Within each group, 14 synthetic bones were plated with a volar locking plate using an all-locking screw construct, and 14 synthetic bones were plated with a volar locking plate using a hybrid screw construct (ie, both locking and nonlocking screws). A 1-cm dorsal wedge osteotomy was created with the apex 2 cm from the volar surface of the lunate facet. Each specimen was mounted to a materials testing machine, using a custom-built, standardized axial compression jig. Axial compression was delivered at 1 N/s over 3 cycles from 20 N to 100 N to establish stiffness. Each sample was stressed to failure at 1 mm/s until 5 mm of permanent deformation occurred. Results Our results show no difference in construct stiffness and load at failure between the all-locking and hybrid constructs in the normal, osteoporotic, or over-drilled osteoporotic synthetic bone models. All specimens failed by plate bending at the osteotomy site with loss of height. Clinical Relevance Although volar locking plates are commonly used for the treatment of distal radius fractures, the ideal screw configuration has not been determined. Hybrid fixation has comparable biomechanical properties to all locking constructs in the fixation of metaphyseal fractures about the knee and shoulder and might also have a role in the fixation of distal radius fractures.
Prolonged inactivation of cortical pyramidal tract neurones in cats by distension of the carotid sinus.

1. We have investigated the effects of stimulating carotid sinus baroreceptors upon the activity of single cortical pyramidal tract cells (PT-cells) in anaesthetized cats. 2. Extracellular potentials were recorded from PT-cells, which were driven orthodromically (1/sec) by stimulating thalamic nuclei (N. ventralis lateralis, N. ventralis posterolateralis) or afferent nerves in the contra-lateral forepaw. Baroreceptors were stimulated by inflating small balloons placed in the bifurcations of one or both common carotid arteries. 3. Distension of the carotid sinus caused a prolonged depression of the orthodromically evoked discharge of eighteen of thirty-two PT-cells, the effect ranging from a 15% reduction in firing to complete cessation of activity (average reduction, 39%). The depression of firing outlasted the period of balloon inflation by an average of 85 sec; in some experiments inhibition persisted for as long as 2-3 min. 4. Inflation of the balloon caused a reflex fall in arterial pressure (mean decrease, 29 mmHg), pressure reverting to the control level as soon as the balloon was deflated. Single fibre recording from the carotid sinus nerve confirmed that stimulation was confined to baroreceptors and that carotid chemoreceptors were unaffected by balloon distension. 5. Depression of PT-cell activity could not be explained simply by a fall in cerebral blood flow resulting from the reflex fall in arterial blood pressure. When a comparable or greater degree of hypotension was produced by bleeding or peripheral vagal stimulation, PT-cell firing fell in a third of experiments but reverted immediately to the control level when arterial pressure was restored. Thus some factor other than a decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure was responsible for the prolonged inhibition evoked by carotid sinus distension. 6. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that baroreceptor input to the reticular formation exerts an ascending influence on cortical mechanisms, with prolonged inhibitory effects comparable to those previously demonstrated at spinal level.
Balancing the efficacy and safety of misoprostol: a meta-analysis comparing 25 versus 50 micrograms of intravaginal misoprostol for the induction of labour

Background The optimal dose of misoprostol for the induction of labour remains uncertain. Objectives To compare the efficacy and safety of 25 versus 50 micrograms of intravaginal misoprostol tablets for the induction of labour and cervical ripening. Search strategy We performed electronic and manual searches to identify relevant randomised trials. Selection criteria The efficacy outcomes assessed were rates of vaginal delivery within 24 hours, delivery within one dose, and oxytocin augmentation, and interval to delivery. The safety outcomes assessed were incidences of tachysystole, hyperstimulation, caesarean delivery, cesarean delivery for non-reassuring fetal heart rate (FHR), operative vaginal delivery, abnormal 5-minute Apgar score, abnormal cord gas values, admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and meconium passage. Data collection and analysis Thirteen studies (1945 women) were included. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using fixed-effects and random-effects models. Main results We found that 25 micrograms was less efficacious, with lower rates of delivery after one dose (RR 0.59; 95% CI 0.39–0.88) and vaginal delivery within 24 hours (RR 0.88; 95% CI 0.79–0.96), and with increased rates of oxytocin augmentation (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.36–1.75). We noted an improved safety profile with 25 micrograms, however, with decreased rates of tachysystole (RR 0.46; 95% CI 0.35–0.61), hyperstimulation (RR 0.5; 95% CI 0.31–0.78), caesarean deliveries for non-reassuring FHR (RR 0.67; 95% CI 0.52–0.87), NICU admissions (RR 0.63; 95% CI 0.4–0.98), and meconium passage (RR 0.65; 95% CI 0.45–0.96). Conclusions Although 50 micrograms of intravaginal misoprostol may be more efficacious, safety concerns make the 25-microgram dose preferable.
Effects of red light camera enforcement on fatal crashes in large US cities

Objective To estimate the effects of red light camera enforcement on per capita fatal crash rates at intersections with signal lights. Methods From the 99 large U.S. cities with more than 200,000 residents in 2008, 14 cities were identified with red light camera enforcement programs for all of 2004-2008 but not at any time during 1992-1996, and 48 cities were identified without camera programs during either period. Analyses compared the citywide per capita rate of fatal red light running crashes and the citywide per capita rate of all fatal crashes at signalized intersections during the two study periods, and rate changes then were compared for cities with and without cameras programs. Poisson regression was used to model crash rates as a function of red light camera enforcement, land area, and population density. Results The average annual rate of fatal red light running crashes declined for both study groups, but the decline was larger for cities with red light camera enforcement programs than for cities without camera programs (35% vs. 14%). The average annual rate of all fatal crashes at signalized intersections decreased by 14% for cities with camera programs and increased slightly (2%) for cities without cameras. After controlling for population density and land area, the rate of fatal red light running crashes during 2004-2008 for cities with camera programs was an estimated 24% lower than what would have been expected without cameras. The rate of all fatal crashes at signalized intersections during 2004-2008 for cities with camera programs was an estimated 17% lower than what would have been expected without cameras. Conclusions Red light camera enforcement programs were associated with a statistically significant reduction in the citywide rate of fatal red light running crashes and a smaller but still significant reduction in the rate of all fatal crashes at signalized intersections. Impact on industry The study adds to the large body of evidence that red light camera enforcement can prevent the most serious crashes. Communities seeking to reduce crashes at intersections should consider this evidence.
Inline Analysis: Beyond Selection Heuristics

Research on procedure inlining has mainly focused on heuristics that decide whether inlining a particular call-site maximizes application performance. However, other equally important aspects of inline analysis such as call-site analysis order, indirect effects of inlining, and selection of the most profitable version of a procedure warrant more attention. This paper evaluates a number of different sequences in which call-sites are examined for inlining and shows that choosing the correct order is crucial to obtaining the best run-time performance. We then present a novel, work-list-based, and updated sequence that achieves the best results. While applying cross-module inline analysis on large applications with thousands of files and millions of lines of code, we separate the analysis from the transformation phase and allow the former to work solely on summary information in order to reduce compile-time and memory consumption. A focus of this paper is to enumerate the summaries that our compiler maintains, present a technique to compute the goodness factor on which the work-list sequence is based, and describe methods to continuously update the summaries as and when a call-site is accepted for inlining. We then introduce inline specialization, a new technique that facilitates inlining into call chains selectively. The power of inline specialization lies in its ability to choose the most profitable version of the called procedure without having to maintain multiple versions at any point of time. We discuss implementation of these techniques in the HPUX Itanium/spl reg/ production compiler and present experimental results showing that a dynamic work-list based analysis order, comprehensive summary updates, and inline specialization significantly improve performance of applications.
Beyond blasphemy or devotion: Art, the secular, and Catholicism in Paris

In this article I explore the relationship between the secular and ‘cultural’ Catholicism in France through the lens of a contemporary art exhibit displayed at a new project of the French Catholic Church. Visitors’ varied responses to the exhibit, I argue, ultimately reinforced the organizers’ claim that the activities that occur within this ‘non-religious’ space of the French church are self-evident aspects of a broadly recognizable and ‘secular’ French or European culture.
Tracking COL1A1 RNA in osteogenesis imperfecta. splice-defective transcripts initiate transport from the gene but are retained within the SC35 domain.

This study illuminates the intra-nuclear fate of COL1A1 RNA in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) Type I. Patient fibroblasts were shown to carry a heterozygous defect in splicing of intron 26, blocking mRNA export. Both the normal and mutant allele associated with a nuclear RNA track, a localized accumulation of posttranscriptional RNA emanating to one side of the gene. Both tracks had slightly elongated or globular morphology, but mutant tracks were cytologically distinct in that they lacked the normal polar distribution of intron 26. Normal COL1A1 RNA tracks distribute throughout an SC-35 domain, from the gene at the periphery. Normally, almost all 50 COL1A1 introns are spliced at or adjacent to the gene, before mRNA transits thru the domain. Normal COL1A1 transcripts may undergo maturation needed for export within the domain such as removal of a slow-splicing intron (shown for intron 24), after which they may disperse. Splice-defective transcripts still distribute thru the SC-35 domain, moving ∼1–3 μm from the gene. However, microfluorimetric analyses demonstrate mutant transcripts accumulate to abnormal levels within the track and domain. Hence, mutant transcripts initiate transport from the gene, but are impeded in exit from the SC-35 domain. This identifies a previously undefined step in mRNA export, involving movement through an SC-35 domain. A model is presented in which maturation and release for export of COL1A1 mRNA is linked to rapid cycling of metabolic complexes within the splicing factor domain, adjacent to the gene. This paradigm may apply to SC-35 domains more generally, which we suggest may be nucleated at sites of high demand and comprise factors being actively used to facilitate expression of associated loci.
Raising the baseline for high-precision text classifiers

Many important application areas of text classifiers demand high precision andit is common to compare prospective solutions to the performance of Naive Bayes. This baseline is usually easy to improve upon, but in this work we demonstrate that appropriate document representation can make out performing this classifier much more challenging. Most importantly, we provide a link between Naive Bayes and the logarithmic opinion pooling of the mixture-of-experts framework, which dictates a particular type of document length normalization. Motivated by document-specific feature selection we propose monotonic constraints on document term weighting, which is shown as an effective method of fine-tuning document representation. The discussion is supported by experiments using three large email corpora corresponding to the problem of spam detection, where high precision is of particular importance.
Increased reactive oxygen species production and functional alterations in antioxidant enzymes in human failing myocardium.

Abstract Background The nature of oxidative stress and the activity of antioxidant enzyme systems are incompletely characterized in the failing human heart. Methods and Results We obtained ventricular myocardium from failing, explanted human hearts in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy at the time of heart transplant to examine whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant enzyme activity or expression were altered in end-stage human heart failure. Nonfailing myocardium was obtained from organ donors who were not eligible for transplantation. Electroparamagnetic resonance (EPR) with the O 2 − spin trap 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide demonstrated that formation of superoxide anion was increased more than 2-fold in the failing ( P P =.05) and 116% ( P P P Conclusion The decrease in MnSOD activity in failing myocardium, in the setting of increased mRNA expression, may reflect decreased translation or processing, or a posttranslational modification of MnSOD. The increase in MnSOD mRNA in failing hearts is consistent with the thesis that there is increased oxidative stress in failing myocardium that leads to increase transcription of antioxidant enzymes. The source of this direct measure of ROS is likely superoxide. These observations have implications for the pathophysiology and treatment of heart failure.
Simulation of LWD Tool Response Using a Fast Integral Equation Method

In this paper, we present a precorrected fast Fourier transform (pFFT) accelerated volume-surface-wire integral equation (VSWIE) method for the simulation of logging-while-drilling (LWD) tool responses in borehole environments. In this approach, the entire geometry, composed of inhomogeneous formation, borehole, metallic mandrel, and receiver coils, is modeled using irregular meshes, and the VSWIE method is used to formulate the problem. The method of moments is applied to solve the integral equation, and the pFFT method is employed to speed up the solution and reduce the memory requirement as well. The resultant method is efficient and flexible for 3-D simulation of LWD logging responses in complex media and geometries present in realistic oilfield problems.
Cognitive Sciences Research: More Than Thinking About Drug Abuse

On May 23, 1997, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the American Psychological Society co-sponsored a conference titled “Cognitive Sciences Research: More Than Thinking About Drug Abuse.” The conference highlighted important lines of research, both within and outside of drug abuse, that may elucidate the relationships between substance abuse and cognitive processes. This Special Section of Psychological Science presents a compilation of articles from that conference by scientists who are working in the forefront of this exciting new research area. The research questions posed by these articles take the following forms: What are the cognitive and developmental effects (i.e., the consequences) of substance abuse? What are the antecedents or precursors of drug use that render persons vulnerable to taking drugs? How do the effects of drugs, in turn, become antecedents for changes in perception, behavior, and cognition that further enhance vulnerability to drugs?
Concept for Titan Exploration Using a Radioisotopically Heated Montgolfiere

This paper describes the results of a recent Titan exploration mission study aimed at investigating optimal methods for scientific observation of the atmosphere and surface of this veiled moon. During the course of this study a mission design concept was evolved which involves sending a two element mission to Titan, consisting of an orbiter for global observations and data relay, and an aerial vehicle which would drift in the atmosphere for more detailed surface study. The type of aerial vehicle proposed is a hot air balloon, or montgolfiere, which would use the Titan atmosphere, heated using the waste heat from its radioisotope power system to provide long term buoyancy. Once deployed, the montgolfiere would ride with the easterly winds, occasionally changing altitude to take advantage of possible reverse wind directions and even descending to the surface to physically sample sites of interest as they come up. Seasonal and tidal north-south winds would allow the mission to explore different latitudes, which Cassini data have shown to be amazingly diverse in geologic nature. Communication from the montgolfiere would be relayed through the accompanying orbiter spacecraft, as well as directly to Earth, providing the potential for data return from Titan's surface equivalent to that provided by many comparable orbiter missions at much closer destinations.
Control of Longitudinal Wave Propagation in Conical Periodic Structures

Conical periodic structure with single cells and multiple subcells is used to control longitudinal wave motion. It is well known that periodic structures by nature act as mechanical filters, allowing waves to propagate within specific frequency bands called pass bands, and blocking wave propagation within other frequency bands called stop bands. However, the conical geometry of cells and the use of conical subcells provide a conical periodic structure with the possibility of adjusting its impedance mismatch without the use of conventional active devices such as electromechanical, electrohydraulic, or piezoelectric actuators. The behavior of such a conical periodic structure is evaluated using single cells and cells with two, three, and four subcells. Theoretical predictions obtained by means of finite element modeling are compared with experimental results. Both experimental and theoretical results have converged in pointing to the effectiveness and the potential of using conical cells, and the concept of...
The Experience of High Levels of Grief in Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia

An abundance of literature on caregivers of individuals with dementia has been written since the mid-1980s. However, most of this literature focused on the experience of stress, burden, and depression in caregivers, thus excluding the grief experience that also accompanies the caregiving experience. The purpose of this multimethod study is to describe the lived experience of 44 spouses and adult children who are caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and scored high on the Marwit and Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory, Short Form (MM-CGI-SF). This study presents qualitative results from a mixed-methods descriptive study (N = 201). Seven themes emerged from the qualitative data that detailed the caregiving experience of the individuals with high grief: (a) yearning for the past, (b) regret and guilt, (c) isolation, (d) restricted freedom, (e) life stressors, (f) systemic issues, and (g) coping strategies. The first 2 themes reflect grief reactions, whereas isolation, restricted freedom, life stressors, and systemic issues possessed elements of both grief and caregiver burden and stress. Coping strategies used by this group of caregivers included spiritual faith, social supports, and pets. Quantitative analysis confirmed that these themes are unique to individuals with high levels of grief compared with those with moderate/low levels of grief, except for the coping strategies of social support and spiritual faith. Caregivers with high levels of grief may benefit from supportive interventions that are based on reducing feelings of isolation, lack of freedom, and increased guilt and regret, while also addressing feelings of loss. Interventions that facilitate building a supportive network are suggested. Using a screening tool such as the MM-CGI-SF will help in identifying caregivers with high levels of grief who may be in need of additional support.
Discriminative Feature-Tied Mixture Modeling for Statistical Machine Translation

In this paper we present a novel discriminative mixture model for statistical machine translation (SMT). We model the feature space with a log-linear combination of multiple mixture components. Each component contains a large set of features trained in a maximum-entropy framework. All features within the same mixture component are tied and share the same mixture weights, where the mixture weights are trained discriminatively to maximize the translation performance. This approach aims at bridging the gap between the maximum-likelihood training and the discriminative training for SMT. It is shown that the feature space can be partitioned in a variety of ways, such as based on feature types, word alignments, or domains, for various applications. The proposed approach improves the translation performance significantly on a large-scale Arabic-to-English MT task.
Identifying Optimal Sample Types and Decision Thresholds for the Urinary Albumin–Creatinine Ratio

A major aim of the study by Saydah and coworkers (1) described in this issue of Clinical Chemistry was to evaluate the prevalence of albuminuria in adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2010 as an estimate of the prevalence of increased urinary albumin excretion in the US population. As their data show, increased urinary albumin is a common disorder, with >3% of a cross-sectional sample of the US population showing an increase with repeat sampling. In addition, their evaluation of >5000 paired random and first morning urine samples has provided a large data set that bears on how sample type influences test results and how values for the albumin–creatinine ratio should be interpreted. Although clinical testing of albumin excretion in the urine has been applied widely for many years, there are still questions about how best to perform such testing and interpret the results (2). Additional data that characterize more fully the sources of pre- and postanalytical variation and better approaches for standardizing measurements are needed to help resolve these remaining issues. Several previous studies reported that urine samples obtained in the first morning void yield lower values than random samples collected throughout the day (3–5), and the first morning void sample has been observed to correlate more closely with results of a 24-h collection than results for a random urine sample (5). It is logical that random urine samples collected later in the day would have higher values than first-void samples, because urinary excretion of albumin usually is higher during the …
Temperature Dependence of Ion Beam Mixing in Al

The atomic mixing of evaporated Al/Sb films and of Al/Ag films on Al crystal substrates by 400 keV Xe ion beams has been investigated. Concentration depth profiles were measured in situ by 1.5 MeV He scattering as a function of Xe fluence from 2 to 32 x 10/sup 15/ Xe/cm/sup 2/. The initial mixing rates are similar at 85 and 300 K; mixing proceeds by rapid motion of Al (approx. = 15 Al/Xe) into and uniformly through the thickness of the Sb film and by a slow motion of Sb (approx. = 0.5 Sb/Xe) into the Al substrate. More rapid Sb mixing into Al occurs for polycrystalline Al. The rate for Al into Sb slows at concentrations approaching the stable AlSb phase. Appreciably higher rates of Sb mixing into Al (2.2 to 2.8 Sb/Xe) occur at 575 K. Mixing rates for the highly soluble system, Al/Ag, are compared to the nearly insoluble Al/Sb at 85 and 300 K. Appreciably higher rates are found for Ag than for Sb, suggesting the influence of chemical driving forces even at these low temperatures.
Hierarchical approach to enhanced active shape model for color video tracking

Tracking and recognizing non-rigid objects in video image sequences are complex tasks of increasing importance to many applications. In this paper, we present a hierarchical realization of an enhanced active shape model for color video tracking and we study the performance of hierarchical and non-hierarchical implementations in the RGB, YUV, and HSI color spaces.
Annotating 3D electronic books

The importance of annotations, as a by-product of the reading activity, cannot be overstated. Annotations help users in the process of analyzing, re-reading, and recalling detailed facts such as prior analyses and relations to other works. As elec-tronic reading become pervasive, digital annotations will become part of the essential records of the reading activity. But creating and rendering annotations on a 3D book and other objects in a 3D workspace is non-trivial. In this paper, we present our exploration of how to use 3D graphics techniques to create realistic annotations with acceptable frame rates. We discuss the pros and cons of several techniques and detail our hybrid solution.
Advanced high school biology in an era of rapid change: a summary of the biology panel report from the NRC Committee on Programs for Advanced Study of Mathematics and Science in American High Schools.

A recently released National Research Council (NRC) report, Learning and Understanding: Improving Advanced Study of Mathematics and Science in U.S. High Schools, evaluated and recommended changes in the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and other advanced secondary school science programs. As part of this study, discipline-specific panels were formed to evaluate advanced programs in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Among the conclusions of the Content Panel for Biology were that AP courses in particular suffer from inadequate quality control as well as excessive pressure to fulfill their advanced placement function, which encourages teachers to attempt coverage of all areas of biology and emphasize memorization of facts rather than in-depth understanding. In this essay, the Panel's principal findings are discussed, with an emphasis on its recommendation that colleges and universities should be strongly discouraged from using performance on either the AP examination or the IB examination as the sole basis for automatic placement out of required introductory courses for biology majors and distribution requirements for nonmajors.
WHAT DOES A SCHOOL MEAN TO A COMMUNITY? ASSESSING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF SCHOOLS TO RURAL VILLAGES IN NEW YORK

A study identified community-level characteristics associated with the presence or absence of a school. Data from the 1990 Census and the New York Department of Education identified 64 villages in New York with populations of 500 or less, 36 of which had schools, and 233 villages with populations of 501-2,500, 192 of which had schools. Results indicate that for the smallest rural communities, the presence of a school was associated with many social and economic benefits. Housing values were considerably higher in small villages with schools, and municipal infrastructure was more developed. Occupational structure differed qualitatively, in that places with schools had more people employed in more favorable occupational categories and more employment in civic occupations. While average household income was not markedly different across places with and without schools, income inequality and welfare dependence was lower in villages with schools. Although differences between places with and without schools were not as dramatic in larger rural communities, larger rural communities with schools ranked higher than communities without schools on virtually every indicator of social and economic well-being. This study shows that schools serve as important markers of social and economic viability and vitality, and that the money that might be saved through school consolidation could be forfeited in lost taxes, declining property values, and lost business. (Contains 21 references.) (TD) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. WHAT DOES A SCHOOL MEAN TO A COMMUNITY? ASSESSING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF SCHOOLS TO RURAL VILLAGES IN NEW YORK Thomas A. Lyson Department of Rural Sociology Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14853 tal2@cornell.edu U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educafional Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) IVI:t*:s document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating d. 0 Minor changes have been made to Improve reproductron Qua lay o Points of view or opinions stated in this docu. went do not necessanly represent otficral OERI positron or policy PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TA 0 ivICk4 f. san TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 Support for this research was provided in part by the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station and the National Science Foundation in conjunction with USDA/CSREES regional research project NE-185 and NSF project No. 9905904, Civic Community and Civic Welfare.
Approximation and characterization of molecular surfaces

The representation and characterization of molecular surfaces are important in many areas of molecular modeling. Parametric representations of protein molecular surfaces are a compact way to describe a surface, and are useful for the evaluation of surface properties such as the normal vector, principal curvatures, and principal curvature directions. Simplified representations of molecular surfaces are useful for efficient rendering and for the display of large-scale surface features. Several techniques for representing surfaces by expansions of spherical harmonic functions have been reported, but these techniques require that the radius function is single valued, that is, each ray from an origin inside the surface intersects the surface at one and only one point. A new technique is described that removes this limitation and can be used to compute surface shape properties. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Dependence of the Circadian Rhythm of Hepatic β-Hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A on Ribonucleic Acid Synthesis A POSSIBLE SECOND SITE OF INHIBITION BY DIETARY CHOLESTEROL

Abstract The circadian rhythm in the level of activity of rat hepatic β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (EC 1.1.1.34) is characterized by a rapid, 5- to 8-fold increase in activity from the basal level (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to a peak at midnight followed by a rapid decrease back to the basal level. In this study actinomycin D, even in high doses (400 µg/100 g), was found to have no effect on the basal enzyme level or on the rate of decline from the peak but did partially suppress the increase. Epinephrine administration during the period of basal or declining enzyme activity elicited a marked increase in reductase activity which could be prevented by concurrent actinomycin D treatment. Administration of cholesterol in corn oil by stomach tube at the time of peak reductase level produced decreases in activity 4 to 8 hours later to levels less than 50% of those in controls given oil alone. Since previous evidence indicates little or no synthesis of reductase during this period in normal rats, these results suggest that cholesterol may be stimulating the rate of breakdown or inactivation of the reductase. Cholesterol administration during the basal level period gave a 50% reduction of enzyme activity 5 hours later. Preliminary results on microsomal-free and esterfied cholesterol indicated that 4 to 7 hours after cholesterol feeding a decrease in microsomal reductase activity was correlated with an increase in the ester fraction. It is at present not clearly established whether an increase in concentration of microsomal cholesterol esters must precede the inhibition of reductase activity brought about by dietary cholesterol.