cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Managing South Asia'S Nuclear Rivalry: New Policy Challenges For The United States

The evolving strategic competition in South Asia poses an unprecedented challenge for U.S. policymakers who believe that "open-ended nuclear weapon and missile programs in India and Pakistan threaten regional and international security and increase the risk of onward proliferation from the region". Today, India and Pakistan are racing to modernize, expand, and operationalize their nuclear deterrent capabilities. Several decades of international nonproliferation measures helped to delay, but not prevent, their testing and overt production of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. In the past, the United States learned how to deal with both allies (the United Kingdom and France) and adversaries (the Soviet Union and China) that went through a similar stage of nuclear force modernization. But coping with the nuclear maturation of nations with which Washington has neither a formal alliance nor any real adversity is a novel undertaking for which the U.S. government does not yet have a coherent, long-term policy. Should the United States try to help, hinder, or not involve itself with the modernization and expansion of nuclear deterrent arsenals in South Asia? This article examines the current policy challenges for the United States in dealing with the India-Pakistan nuclear rivalry.
Cytogenetic study of workers exposed to benzene.

Abstract Cytogenetic evaluation of peripheral lymphocytes from 52 workers exposed to low levels of benzene (less than 10 ppm) has revealed an increase in aberration rates as compared to that of a 44-person group seen for preemployment examination. Statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of specific types of chromosomal aberrations. These induced-aberrations levels were not related to the age of the workers. Continued study of benzene-exposed workers (as well as industrial populations exposed to any clastogenic agent) with medical cytogenetic surveillance, environmental monitoring, and lifetime epidemiologic investigation is recommended.
Mood, Self-Awareness, and Willingness to Help

Two experiments using female subjects investigated the effects of mood and self-focused attention on the willingness to help another. Experiment 1 induced a positive, negative, or neutral mood and also two kinds of high self-awareness (by either the mirror procedure or requiring essays) as well as a low self-awareness condition. Experiment 2 used a different technique to induce the three moods and also established either high or low attention to the self with the mirror procedure. In both studies, self-awareness did not interact significantly with mood in affecting the subjects' reported feelings, although there were indications in Experiment 2 of an intensification of the negative mood under self-focus. Furthermore, in both studies self-awareness operated together with the positive mood to increase the subjects' effort in behalf of the supplicant, whereas the joint operation of self-focus and negative mood was much weaker. Also in the second experiment, self-awareness raised the frequency of positive ideas about the self in the happy subjects and increased the frequency of negative selfideas in the negative mood group. In a multiple regression analysis, these frequencies of positive and negative ideas about the self, but not a mood index, successfully predicted the amount of work the subjects did for the supplicant.
Optimal adaptive filtering using finite banks of Kalman filters applied to automatic steering of ships

The problem of minimizing energy loss in adaptive automatic steering of ships is considered. The paper presents the method chosen for the adaptive state estimation phase of the overall control problem. A maximum likelihood technique is employed for adaptively selecting the best Kalman filter from a bank of filters to estimate the ship/steering and seaway model states. The bank consists of previously designed and tested filters for different seaway conditions. The use of this methodology enables the state and parameter estimation problems to be treated separately. The overall adaptive algorithm is structurally simpler than an algorithm which performs these tasks in a combined manner, such as in extended Kalman filtering. With this approach no problem of filter divergence can occur, which is a factor that improves the overall reliability of the autopilot design. Results of simulation studies presented show that the method works very efficiently in selecting the filter gains for the controller to achieve the best performance with respect to minimization of steering related propulsion losses under different seaway conditions.
Cavitation damage prediction

Abstract New results from cavitating venturi water tests were used to reinforce the concept of cavitation erosion efficiency previously developed from tests in a vibratory facility with both water and sodium. The concept emerges from a technique which allows a priori prediction of eventual cavitation erosion rates in flow machines. Bubble collapse pulse height spectra obtained from submerged microprobes are correlated with measured erosion rates in given laboratory and/or field devices to allow this prediction. Preliminary results from such correlations are presented together with other measurements of the effects of gas content, velocity and cavitation condition upon the mechanical cavitation intensity as measured by the pulse height spectra. New results from vibratory facility tests in tap water and synthetic seawater upon three materials of variable corrodability (304 stainless steel, 1018 carbon steel and 1100-0 aluminum) are presented. The ratio between maximum erosion rates for the saltwater and freshwater tests were found to increase toward unity as the mechanical cavitation intensity is increased, i.e. increased mean depth to penetration (MDPR), as expected on theoretical grounds. The relation between the incubation period and MDPR max was examined from the vibratory test results, and was found to depend upon the material properties as well as the fluid flow conditions.
On consensus and exponentially fast social learning

We analyze a model of social learning in which agents desire to identify an unknown state of the world using both their private observations and information they obtain when communicating with agents in their social neighborhood. Every agent holds a belief that represents her opinion on how likely it is for each of several possible states to be the true one. At each time period, agents receive private signals, and also observe the beliefs of their neighbors in a social network. They then update their beliefs by integrating the information available to them in a boundedly rational fashion. We show that in spite of agents' making new private observations perpetually and the myopic and local updating rule employed by them, agents will eventually reach consensus in their beliefs. This is proved by first showing that agents' beliefs over any state whose truth is inconsistent with their collective observations go to zero exponentially fast.
Recognizing a program's design: a graph-parsing approach

Psychological experiments have shown that programmers tend to use the same structure over and over. The authors call these commonly used programming structures 'cliches'. They describe a prototype, the Recognizer, that automatically finds all occurrences of a given set of cliches in a program and builds a hierarchical description of the program in terms of the cliches it finds. The key to the Recognizer's approach is a representation shift. Instead of looking for cliches directly in the source code, the Recognizer first translates the program into a language-independent, graphical representation called the Plan Calculus. The Plan Calculus is a program representation shared by all components of the Programmer's Apprentice, an intelligent programming system. Thus, although the authors have demonstrated the Recognizer only on small Common Lisp programs, the underlying technology is language-independent. >
From stale to spicy to superb: a spanking new Apple

Once the world took its first proverbial bite into Apple Inc. in the late 1970s, people liked what they tasted and wanted more. Today, they still cannot get enough of Apple, a company that has little to do with fruit, although with every technology product or service it releases conveys the fresh, healthy, appetising image that inspired the company from its origin. Apple, which started out in personal computers and over the years has branched out to revolutionise newer industries such as mobile phones and music devices, is a shining example of a company with exceptional leadership, marketing, and research and development, and which has been remarkably successful at managing its relationships with suppliers, partners, customers, the media and even hackers over the years. This paper will introduce the stunning case of the single most important turnaround in Silicon Valley and go in detail how it achieved tremendous success by overtaking Microsoft. The company was not always so successful in the past, but it learned valuable lessons from the years when it experienced a downturn and other challenges. As the world’s most valuable technology company, a new king of technology today, Apple and its products are more appetising than ever.
Starch fine structure and physicochemical properties of specialty rice for canning

Abstract The long-grain, specialty rice cultivars, Bolivar, Cheniere, Dixiebelle, and L-205 are used for wet-pack canning. These cultivars have similar apparent amylose content but showed differences in canning, pasting, and gelatinization properties. Starch fine structures were analyzed to rationalize observed differences in functionality. Cheniere amylopectin had the lowest weight-average molar mass ( M w ), shortest average chain length (CL), smallest z -average radius of gyration ( R z ), lowest proportion of long chains (DP 37–65), and highest polydispersity; while its amylose had the largest M w and R z . These structural features were associated with more leached solids in the canning broth, lower volume expansion, lower peak and final viscosity, and lower gelatinization temperature and enthalpy. Bolivar amylopectin had the largest M w , longest average CL, largest R z , highest proportion of long chains (DP 25–65), and lowest proportion of short chains (DP 6–12); while its amylose had the smallest M w and lowest polydispersity. These structures were associated with lower levels of leached solids, higher volume expansion, and higher peak and final viscosity. L-205 was similar to Bolivar in most structural and functional properties; those of Dixiebelle were either comparable to Bolivar or intermediate to Bolivar and Cheniere. These findings point to the importance of the molar mass of amylopectin and the proportion of long and short chains on the canning stability of rice.
Simple optical profiling of complex guiding structures

Working with complex guiding structures such as holey fibers requires coupling light into the input face of the structure. We use a simple in vivo technique to determine the scale, morphology, and orientation of the input cleave of the fiber without resorting to separate and more complex methods like optical imaging or scanning electron microscopy. Further, after obtaining the transverse scan of the fiber tip one can precisely position the focal spot anywhere relative to the fiber structure.
Optimal duration of treatment with 6-mercaptopurine for ulcerative colitis

Purpose: 6-mercaptopurine has proven to be effective in the treatment and maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis. The optimal duration of treatment with 6MP is unknown. The intention of this study is to determine the best duration of treatment with 6MP once remission has been achieved.
Localization of the Ts defect in two Ts mutants of influenza A virus: evidence for the occurrence of intracistronic complementation between Ts mutants of influenza A virus coding for the neuraminidase and nucleoprotein polypeptides.

Abstract Temperature-sensitive mutants of influenza A/HK/68 belonging to seven complementation-recombination groups were isolated previously and analyzed genetically. Two groups, numbers 1 and 2, were characterized as defective in the P3 and NP polypeptides, respectively. The defects in HK group 3 (prototype ts -2C) and group 4 (prototype ts -304) were studied by preparing ts recombinants of the HK mutants and wild-type influenza A/WSN virus. An analysis of the genotype of ts recombinants by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of virion RNA indicated that the locus of the ts mutation in group 3 was on the RNA segment coding for the nucleoprotein, while the group 4 ts mutation was located on the gene coding for the neuraminidase. The group 3 and 4 HK prototypes each underwent genetic interaction with WSN ts mutants bearing a ts lesion on the corresponding RNA segment, suggesting that intracistronic complementation can occur between mutants with defects in the multimeric neuraminidase or the multifunctional nucleoprotein.
Use of potassium sorbate, diethylpyro‐carbonate and heat for the preservation of prunes at high moisture levels

Normal mould and yeast growth causing spoilage in prunes containing 69% moisture could be prevented by heat processing. At 57% moisture, a dip in 10% potassium sorbate solution was effective for 40–50 days. At 43% moisture, a 5% potassium sorbate dip provided protection and at 34% even a 2% potassium sorbate dip or 550 ppm diethylpyrocarbonate was adequate to inhibit the mould and yeast growth during the 90 day duration of this study.
Meniscal transplant: bone blocktechnique for medial meniscus

Abstract The medial and lateral menisci significantly contribute to optimal knee mechanical function. When meniscusinjury and tearing occur and surgical resection is performed, then altered load-sharing and contact stress distribution can result in symptomatic dysfunction and articular cartilage degeneration. Post-meniscectomy patients who fail nonsurgical treatment may be candidates for meniscal tissue restoration through meniscal transplantation. The technique of medial meniscal transplantation using an allograft meniscal tissue and bone block composite to anchor the posterior and anterior horns has been shown to result in optimal fixation and healing. The arthroscopic-assisted approach to medial meniscal transplantation remains technically challenging particularly bond block insertion, passage and seating. Arthroscopic-assisted medial meniscal transplantation using fresh frozen allograft tissue and an osseous block technique is discussed. Operative pearls and technical tips that facilitate the procedure and postoperative care are described and illustrated.
Thirty years of heavy fermions: Scientific setting for their discovery and partial understanding

Heavy Fermions provide an extreme example of the utility of the idea of continuity and analyticity in physics. Their discovery and study in the past 30 years has added a fascinating chapter to condensed matter physics. I briefly review the origins of the heavy-fermion problem out of the study of magnetic moments in metals and the study of mixed-valent rare-earth compounds. I also review the principal ideas underlying the features understood in their Fermi-liquid phase as well as in their anisotropic superconductivity. The unsolved issues are also briefly mentioned.
Melamine-related kidney stones and renal toxicity

Several well-documented outbreaks of melamine poisoning have occurred in both animals and humans during the past 7 years, which led to the identification of melamine and cyanuric acid as nephrotoxins. This Review provides an overview of the known experimental and observational data (including toxicology, epidemiology, and pathology) concerning melamine contamination of foodstuffs, both alone and in combination with cyanuric acid. The various renal effects of ingestion of these compounds in both animals and humans are described, and a hypothesis on the mechanism of formation of melamine-based kidney stones is presented. Finally, the public health measures taken in the wake of the melamine contamination events are discussed.
The shaping of Gujarati Cinema: Recognizing the new in traditional cultures

The study of ethnographic film has turned to the study of indigenous productions, primarily nonfictional videos made by native persons for internal and external consumption. This study was prompted by the need to locate alternate ways of seeing that Nonwestern peoples may have. This paper suggests that it is important to study local genius by studying their fictional films as well, and suggests that newness may not be found at first encounter but later after native groups domesticate foreign technology and make it their own tool. In citing this, the paper describes the various genres of films within contemporary Gujarati cinema and how the hybridity of its present forms has been procured from several sources that make for a distinctiveness which underlines emergent creative social forces at play.
Protonated water and protonated methanol cluster decompositions in a quadrupole ion trap

Abstract Electrospray mass spectra of water and methanol have been studied with a quadrupole ion trap operated with background gas pressures of 2 × 10 −5 −2 × 10 −3 Torr. In each case, the most abundant ions observed consist of protonated clusters of varying size, e.g. (H 2 O) n H + in which n ranges up into the twenties. For clusters of n > 6 or so, rapid desolvation is observed. For intermediate values of n , the desolvation rate constants can be readily measured in the typical time frame of a quadrupole ion trap experiment. The internal temperature of the cluster ions can be estimated from the known thermochemical parameters and the measured decomposition rate constants. In all cases, the temperature exceeds that of the bath gas but is significantly less than 1000 K. It is also noted that the ion temperature is inversely proportional to the logarithm of the bath gas pressure.
Utilizing Dispute Review Boards in Relational Contracting: A Case Study

Disputes during construction projects are counterproductive to the progress of the project and they are not totally eliminated even when using relational contracting on projects. Using a dispute review board (DRB) during construction is one method that helps to resolve disputes on both public and private projects. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing DRB for relational contracts when disputes arise during construction. The issues discussed in this article include: defining DRBs; background information on dispute resolution methods; a description of a case study project; roles of the parties involved in the DRB; DRB member selection; causes of disputes; geotechnical design summary reports; DRB presentations by owners, contractors, construction managers, and subcontractors; and perspectives of the owner, contractor, and construction managers on the DRB process.
After “I Do”: The Newlywed Transition

Marital satisfaction, marital adjustment, and problem areas experienced during the early months of marriage were examined using a sample of 1,010 newlywed husbands and wives. Results revealed that between 8% and 14% percent of newlyweds already scored in the distressed range on measures of marital satisfaction and adjustment, respectively. For both husbands and wives, the most problematic areas in the early months of marriage were balancing employment and marriage and debt brought into marriage. However, protective factors in the marriage, including respect, appreciation, commitment, mutual affection, and trust, were the strongest predictors of marital satisfaction and adjustment. Implications for future research and family life education are proposed.
New Insights into Low-Temperature Oxidation of Propane from Synchrotron Photoionization Mass Spectrometry and Multiscale Informatics Modeling.

Low-temperature propane oxidation was studied at P = 4 Torr and T = 530, 600, and 670 K by time-resolved multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometry (MPIMS), which probes the reactants, intermediates, and products with isomeric selectivity using tunable synchrotron vacuum UV ionizing radiation. The oxidation is initiated by pulsed laser photolysis of oxalyl chloride, (COCl)2, at 248 nm, which rapidly generates a ∼1:1 mixture of 1-propyl (n-propyl) and 2-propyl (i-propyl) radicals via the fast Cl + propane reaction. At all three temperatures, the major stable product species is propene, formed in the propyl + O2 reactions by direct HO2 elimination from both n- and i-propyl peroxy radicals. The experimentally derived propene yields relative to the initial concentration of Cl atoms are (20 ± 4)% at 530 K, (55 ± 11)% at 600 K, and (86 ± 17)% at 670 K at a reaction time of 20 ms. The lower yield of propene at low temperature reflects substantial formation of propyl peroxy radicals, which do not completely de...
A note on the inhibition of DT-diaphorase by dicoumarol.

Abstract The participation of DT-diaphorase or NAD(P)H:(quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase (E.C.1.6.99.2) in metabolism or in events leading to toxicity is often implied on the basis of the inhibitory effects of dicoumarol. DT-diaphorase functions via a ping pong bi-bi kinetic mechanism involving oxidized and reduced flavin forms of the free enzyme. Dicoumarol, a potent (K1 = 10 nM) inhibitor, binds to the oxidized form of the enzyme, competitively versus reduced pyridine nucleotide. Inhibition is effectively complete at 1 μM dicoumarol in typical studies using DCPIP, one of the best known substrate for the enzyme, as electron acceptor. The antitumor quinone Diaziquone (AZQ) is a poor substrate for DT-diaphorase relative to DCPIP, but effective inhibition of its reduction requires ten-fold higher concentrations of dicoumarol than for inhibition of DCPIP reduction under otherwise similar conditions. The variable inhibition of DT-diaphorase by dicoumarol dependent on the efficiency of the electron acceptor can be explained on the basis of the complete rate equation describing its ping pong type kinetic mechanism. Thus, the concentration of dicoumarol used to inhibit DT-diaphorase must be chosen carefully and consideration should be given to the efficiency of the electron acceptor. The absence of an inhibitory effect using low doses of dicoumarol cannot rule out a reaction mediated by DT-diaphorase. Although higher doses of dicoumarol may be required to inhibit DT-diaphorase mediated metabolism of less efficient electron acceptors, the use of such doses in cells may also effect biochemical processes other than DT-diaphorase and should be approached with caution.
Factors influencing oxygen chemisorption and ignition of chars from newsprint

Abstract Cellulosic insulation is often implicated in fires, and the raw material from which this insulation is usually manufactured is newsprint. The newsprint is produced by mechanical pulping of wood and subsequent bleaching of the pulp. Accordingly, we find that newsprint contains hemicelluloses and lignin as well as cellulose, and its pyrolysis and char combustion properties have been shown to resemble wood more closely than cellulose. The oxygen chemisorption activity of newsprint chars is considerably greater than for comparable cellulose chars and is at a maximum for chars prepared at 500°C. The lowest ignition temperature in oxygen occurred with chars prepared at 375°C and is probably associated with a maximum content of reactive aliphatic components in the char. The influence of black and colored inks on formation and reactivity of newsprint chars is significant. Black ink causes little change in the form of the weight loss curve when newsprint is heated in air, but suppresses subsequent ignition of the char. Colored inks increase the rate of oxidative pyrolysis weight loss (in air) and lower the subsequent ignition temperature of the char. The latter effects are shown to be associated with metal ions introduced during the color printing process. In all cases, the removal of metal ions by mild acid washing increases the temperatures required for ignition of chars.
Development of a 1-m plasma source for heavy ion beam charge neutralization

Abstract Highly ionized plasmas are being employed as a medium for charge neutralizing heavy ion beams in order to focus to a small spot size. Calculations suggest that plasma at a density of 1–100 times the ion beam density and at a length ∼0.1–1 m would be suitable for achieving a high level of charge neutralization. A radio frequency (RF) source was constructed at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in support of the joint Neutralized Transport Experiment (NTX) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to study ion beam neutralization. Pulsing the source enabled operation at pressures ∼10 −6 Torr with plasma densities of 10 11 cm −3 . Near 100% ionization was achieved. The plasma was 10 cm in length, but future experiments require a source 1 m long. The RF source does not easily scale to the length. Consequently, large-volume plasma sources based upon ferroelectric ceramics are being considered. These sources have the advantage of being able to increase the length of the plasma and operate at low neutral pressures. The source will utilize the ferroelectric ceramic BaTiO 3 to form metal plasma. A 1 m long section of the drift tube inner surface of NTX will be covered with ceramic. A high voltage (∼1–5 kV) is applied between the drift tube and the front surface of the ceramic by placing a wire grid on the front surface. Plasma densities of 10 12 cm −3 and neutral pressures ∼10 −6 Torr are expected. A test stand to produce 20 cm long plasma is being constructed and will be tested before a 1 m long source is developed.
Diffusion of micelle-solubilized pyrene through microporous membranes

Abstract The diffusion of pyrene, solubilized in three surfactant micelles (sodium dodecyl sulfate, Brij 35, and tetradecylbenzenedimethylammonium chloride), across microporous membranes was studied experimentally and compared with theoretical calculations. The calculations were based on a model that accounts for the flux of free and micelle-solubilized compounds. When attractive interactions existed between the solubilizate and the surfactant head group, the solute delivery predicted by the model was lower than that of the experimental results. It is proposed that when specific solute/surfactant interactions exist, additional diffusion processes (e.g., monomer facilitated or surface diffusion), which were neglected in the model, make significant contributions to the transport of the solute across the membrane.
Influence of the microporous substratum and hydrodynamics on resistances to drug transport in cell culture systems: calculation of intrinsic transport parameters.

□ Although cell culture models are increasingly used to study drug transport and metabolism, the influence of the substratum on the transport properties of the cell monolayer has not been studied in great detail. Furthermore, the use of effective (or apparent) permeabilities (Peff) assumes that the contribution of the microporous filter substratum and the aqueous boundary layer (ABL) to transport are negligible or are at least constant for a series of drugs. In the present study, the permeabilities of the substratum, ABL, and monolayer were obtained for a series of compounds at variable flow rates in side-by-side diffusion chambers. Comparisons of transport properties were made between cell monolayers grown on substrata made of polycarbonate (PC) and polyester (PE). All paracellular markers demonstrated a reduction in permeability and a corresponding increase in transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) through PE-grown monolayers. The permeabilities of two carrier-mediated compounds, phenylalanine and proline, were 55% higher and 48% lower through PE-grown monolayers than through the PC-grown monolayers, respectively. The resistance to progesterone transport attributed to the PE and PC filters was large (71% and 27% of total resistance, respectively) at a flow rate of 20 mL/min, indicating that the monolayer was not the rate-limiting transport barrier. Therefore, for highly permeable compounds, reporting Peff has limited value since it is an indicator of the transport properties of the substratum rather than of the monolayer. These results demonstrate that substratum properties (e.g., membrane composition, pore size, etc.) significantly affect the barrier properties of the Caco-2 cell monolayer. The most probable mechanism is by the modulation of the functional expression of nutrient and ion transporters resulting in variable transcellular and paracellular transport properties. These results further demonstrate the importance of calculating intrinsic membrane transport parameters if the monolayer is not maintained as the rate-determining barrier in the transport experiment. Using higher flow rates and higher porosity substrata supports may help maintain the monolayer as the rate-limiting transport barrier.
Quasiequilibria in open quantum systems

In this work, the steady-state or quasiequilibrium resulting from periodically modulating the Liouvillian of an open quantum system, L-circumflex-circumflex(t), is investigated. It is shown that differences between the quasiequilibrium and the instantaneous equilibrium occur due to nonadiabatic contributions from the gauge field connecting the instantaneous eigenstates of L-circumflex-circumflex(t) to a fixed basis. These nonadiabatic contributions are shown to result in an additional rotation and/or depolarization for a single spin-1/2 in a time-dependent magnetic field and to affect the thermal mixing of two coupled spins interacting with a time-dependent magnetic field.
Oscillator Strengths for High-level Transitions in Hydrogen

TRANSITIONS between high quantum levels of atomic hydrogen can produce spectral lines in the radio region. Observers have detected a number of such emissions from hydrogen gas in various radio sources. Theoretical interpretation of such observations requires knowledge of the oscillator strengths fn+c,n for transitions described by the quantum transition n+c→n. For n large and c small, the fs follow the asymptotic formula with Jc(c) is the Bessel function of equal order and argument and J′c(c) is the first derivative with respect to the argument. Table 1 contains a few representative values of M(c).
From Local to Global: One Hundred Years of Neighborhood Planning

Problem: Over the past 100 years, city planners have used neighborhood planning to address a variety of vexing social problems such as community disintegration, economic marginalization, and environmental degradation. To date, there has been no comprehensive review and critique of these planning initiatives and how they have influenced the profession. Purpose: This article traces the history of neighborhood planning in the United States to learn from past experience and to identify its contributions to the planning profession. Methods: I review the literature on the various forms of neighborhood planning, which I define as planning initiatives that focus on altering the physical environment of one or more neighborhoods in pursuit of larger social objectives. Results and conclusions: Each of the six forms of neighborhood planning discussed in this article has made important contributions to the planning profession. Perry's neighborhood unit formula provided planners with a template for good neighborhood de...
Hexaruthenium and Heptaruthenium Clusters Possessing μ4-Imido Ligands

Preparation de Ru 6 (μ 4 -NPh) 2 (CO) 15 et structure cristalline. Un produit secondaire est Ru 7 (μ 4 -NPh) 2 (CO) 16
Understanding on the Pooled Test for Controlled Clinical Trialsn

Several independent clinical trials are usually conducted to demonstrate and support the evidence of the efficacy of a new drug. When not all the trials demonstrate a treatment effect because of a lack of statistical significant finding, the sponsor sometimes conducts a post hoc pooled test and uses the pooled result as extra statistical evidence. In this paper, we study the extent of type I error rate inflation with the post hoc pooled analysis and the power of interaction test in assessing the homogeneity of the trials with respect to treatment effect size. We also compare the power of several test procedures with or without pooled test involved and discuss the appropriateness of pooled tests under different alternative hypotheses.
Alterations in hemodynamics and left ventricular contractility during carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum

Background: Carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum has been shown to adversely affect hemodynamics in patients. This study specifically examines the potential contribution of altered left ventricular contractility (LVC) to hemodynamic changes observed during CO2 pneumoperitoneum.
Multiple Contingency Table Analyses of the Deviance Syndrome: How Much Overlap is There?

ABSTRACT This is a study of 1,621 adolescent who attended 13 schools, grades seven through eleven, in a southern metropolitan school district. The purpose of the study is twofold: (a) to find out exactly how much overlap there is in individuals who smoke cigarettes, get drunk on alcohol, use marijuana, and have sexual intercourse, and (b) to examine how much overlap there is in these behaviors according to age, gender, race and family structure. Log-linear statistics are used and examine multiple contingency tables for all possible main effects and interactions while selecting the most parsimonious model that minimizes the differences between observed cell counts and expected values assuming there are no relationships (null hypothesis). While there are statistically significant relationships between heavy alcohol use, use of marijuana and sexual activity, most teenagers do not engage in all four of these behaviors. Also, all demographic factors enter into interactions with these behaviors. Implications of...
A quantitative comparison of numerical methods for the compressible Euler equations: fifth-order WENO and piecewise-linear Godunov

A numerical study is undertaken comparing a fifth-order version of the weighted essentially non-oscillatory numerical (WENO5) method to a modern piecewise-linear, second-order, version of Godunov's (PLMDE) method for the compressible Euler equations. A series of one-dimensional test problems are examined beginning with classical linear problems and ending with complex shock interactions. The problems considered are: (1) linear advection of a Gaussian pulse in density, (2) Sod's shock tube problem, (3) the "peak" shock tube problem, (4) a version of the Shu and Osher shock entropy wave interaction and (5) the Woodward and Colella interacting shock wave problem. For each problem and method, run times, density error norms and convergence rates are reported for each method as produced from a common code test-bed. The linear problem exhibits the advertised convergence rate for both methods as well as the expected large disparity in overall error levels; WENO5 has the smaller errors and an enormous advantage in overall efficiency (in accuracy per unit CPU time). For the nonlinear problems with discontinuities, however, we generally see both first-order self-convergence of error as compared to an exact solution, or when an analytic solution is not available, a converged solution generated on an extremely fine grid. The overall comparison of error levels shows some variation flom problem to problem. For Sod's shock tube, PLMDE has nearly half the error, while on the peak problem the errors are nearly the same. For the interacting blast wave problem the two methods again produce a similar level of error with a slight edge for the PLMDE. On the other hand, for the Shu-Osher problem, the errors are similar on the coarser grids, but favors WENO by a factor of nearly 1.5 on the finer grids used. In all cases holding mesh resolution constant though, PLMDE is less costly in terms of CPU time by approximately a factor of 6. If the CPU cost is taken as fixed, that is run times are equal for both numerical methods, then PLMDE uniformly produces lower errors than WENO for the fixed computation cost on the test problems considered here.
Lithospheric heating by mantle plumes

Summary. A broad topographic swell is associated with the Hawaiian hotspot. A kinematic model is developed assuming that downstream of the hotspot this swell is produced by lithospheric heating by a mantle plume. Material from the model plume flows radially in the asthenosphere and eventually heats the lower lithosphere. Upstream from the hotspot, the model swell owes its existence mainly to hot material at asthenospheric depths. The model predicts extensive lithospheric heating downstream from the hotspot. Interpreted data to tell if the lower lithosphere behaves in this way are lacking.
Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis: clinicopathologic features and outcome analysis

To describe clinical features and outcomes of 26 patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis from a single center, we reviewed medical records of consecutive patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis evaluated at our facility from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2013 for clinical features, laboratory and radiographic findings, management, and outcomes. Twenty-six patients met criteria for idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis and were included in the study. Median age at diagnosis was 58 years; male–female ratio was 3.3:1.0. Median duration of symptoms was 7 weeks. Abdominal, flank, and/or low back pain were the most common presenting symptoms. Four patients (15 %) had associated autoimmune or fibrosing disorders. Baseline erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated in 17 (77 %) of 22 patients tested and C-reactive protein was elevated in 10 (56 %) of 18 patients tested. Hydronephrosis was present in 17 (68 %) patients; 8 (47 %) of 17 had bilateral hydronephrosis. Retroperitoneal mass biopsy was performed in 18 (69 %) patients. Two patients had idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis classifiable as IgG4-related disease. Therapy consisted of medications alone in 7 cases, surgical interventions alone in 7 cases, and a combination in 11 cases. One patient achieved remission with no treatment. Most patients treated medically received initial corticosteroids. Methotrexate (1 case), azathioprine (1 case), mycophenolate mofetil (1 case), and tamoxifen (5 cases) were used. No relapses occurred after a median 5-year follow-up. Two (8 %) patients died; five (19 %) developed cancer after diagnosis. In this series, we emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and therapy for overall favorable prognosis of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.
Functional diversity in extreme environments: effects of locomotor style and substrate texture on the waterfall‐climbing performance of Hawaiian gobiid fishes

Juveniles of three species of Hawaiian gobiid fishes climb waterfalls during migration to adult habitats using two kinematically distinct patterns: Awaous guamensis and Lentipes concolor use rapid, intermittent bouts of axial undulation (‘powerbursts’), whereas Sicyopterus stimpsoni inches up waterfalls by alternately attaching oral and pelvic suckers to the substrate. Despite the differing kinematics and speed of these behaviors, the extreme demands of locomotion up waterfalls might require similar levels of performance from all climbing goby species. However, the roughness of climbing surfaces might affect performance differently between climbing styles, with rough surfaces decreasing inching performance by impairing the grip of sucking discs on the substrate, but improving powerburst performance by allowing the pectoral fins better purchase as they push against the substrate to start climbing bouts. To test whether species of Hawaiian climbing gobies differ in climbing performance, we filmed multiple individuals of each species as they ascended distances of several body lengths over substrates with three different degrees of roughness. Substantial differences in climbing performance among species were independent of climbing style. For example, the powerburst climber L. concolor always had a faster net climbing speed (speed over 20 cm, including rests between climbing bouts) than the inching climber S. stimpsoni; however, the powerburst climber A. guamensis was similar in net speed to S. stimpsoni, or, on smooth substrates, climbed more slowly. Yet, some differences in performance did emerge between the climbing styles. Substrate roughness did not affect climbing speed in S. stimpsoni, but, as predicted, both powerburst climbers climbed faster on rougher surfaces. In addition, the intermittent motion and rest periods for both powerburst climbers seem of appropriate durations to facilitate an increase in the distance that these species travel before fatigue, but the inching climber S. stimpsoni spent more time in motion than either powerburst climber, and the relative durations of its motion and rest periods seem less likely to convey any performance advantages. These results indicate considerable functional diversity among Hawaiian climbing gobies beyond the two varieties of climbing styles, and show that a wide range of performance capabilities can persist among members of a fauna even under extreme environmental conditions.
Toward Objective Phonetic Transcription - An On-Line Interactive Technique for Machine-Processed Speech Data

The derivation of phonetic transcription is one component of speech processing that can utilize man-data techniques. This involves the assignment and time location of phonetic symbols to speech data. Conventional transcription methods are suspect in at least two respects. First, the symbols assigned are often based on "talker intention," or what "should be," rather than on physical evidence; and, second, symbol location is usually related to subsequent machine processing only minimally. An exploratory procedure is described that operates on-line, in an interactive mode, utilizing a graphic display with an IBM System/360 model 40. Available for display are a digital sound spectrogram, the power spectrum at a given time sample, an average spectrum for a given sound class, and correlations of a current spectrum with average spectra. Using this technique, location and assignment of phonetic symbols are less dependent upon operator expertise (and/or bias) and highly related to subsequent processing.
A randomized pilot study of the use of concept maps to enhance problem-based learning among first-year medical students.

Background: Medical student education is challenging, and concept maps (CMs) can help students link new and existing knowledge, promote critical thinking and identify knowledge gaps. Aims: To study the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of CMs in problem-based learning (PBL) tutorials. Method: Students and tutors were randomized to tutorials that used or did not use CMs. A mixed-methods approach generated qualitative and quantitative results of participants’ perspectives on and the effects of CMs in PBL tutorials. Results: Student survey response rate was 71% (122/172). Most students (82.6%) planned to use CMs in the future at least occasionally, and students in CM tutorials endorsed increased likelihood of using CMs in the future ( p ¼ 0.02) versus students in non-CM tutorials. Qualitative analyses identified consistent associations between CMs and recurrent themes: integration of physiological mechanisms, challenging students’ knowledge of the material, and identification of knowledge gaps. Quantitative assessment of final exam scores revealed a statistically significant increase in the students’ scores in CM tutorials versus students in non-CM tutorials with an a priori of 50.10. Conclusions: CMs are well accepted by students and faculty, feasible to incorporate into PBL tutorials, and may result in improved exam performance and student learning of physiologic concepts.
Spectrally efficient relay selection protocols in wireless networks

Relay networks face a fundamental challenge in terms of spectral efficiency, because relays must repeat the source information. To address this key problem, this paper presents two relay selection protocols that salvage spectral efficiency by adroitly leveraging the multiple relays. Both protocols have the feature of letting the source transmit all or most of the time. The diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) of Zheng-Tse is used to show the advantage of our protocols. The proposed protocols require minimal overhead and feedback, and have similar complexity compared to existing protocols.
Conservative Transport Schemes for Spherical Geodesic Grids: High-Order Reconstructions for Forward-in-Time Schemes

Abstract The finite-volume transport scheme of Miura, for icosahedral–hexagonal meshes on the sphere, is extended by using higher-order reconstructions of the transported scalar within the formulation. The use of second- and fourth-order reconstructions, in contrast to the first-order reconstruction used in the original scheme, results in significantly more accurate solutions at a given mesh density, and better phase and amplitude error characteristics in standard transport tests. The schemes using the higher-order reconstructions also exhibit much less dependence of the solution error on the time step compared to the original formulation. The original scheme of Miura was only tested using a nondeformational time-independent flow. The deformational time-dependent flow test used to examine 2D planar transport in Blossey and Durran is adapted to the sphere, and the schemes are subjected to this test. The results largely confirm those generated using the simpler tests. The results also indicate that the sche...
Pulse-shaping-based two-photon FRET microscopy

We present quantitative pulse-shaping-based two-photon fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy. We tailor the spectral phase of the excitation pulses to achieve selective excitation of donor and acceptor, demonstrating the method in live cells.
Anticonvulsant activity of AMPA/kainate antagonists: comparison of GYKI 52466 and NBQX in maximal electroshock and chemoconvulsant seizure models

The anticonvulsant activities of a noncompetitive (GYKI 52466) and a competitive (NBQX) AMPA/kainate antagonist were compared in the maximal electroshock (MES) seizure test and various chemoconvulsant models. Both antagonists were protective in the MES and pentylenetetrazol tests. GYKI 52466 was also protective against seizures and lethality induced by 4-aminopyridine, kainate and AMPA, but not by NMDA, whereas NBQX was ineffective in these chemoconvulsant tests. Both GYKI 52466 and NBQX produced motor impairment at doses similar to those that were protective in the MES test. Under some circumstances, noncompetitive AMPA/kainate antagonists could offer advantages over competitive antagonists in seizure therapy. However, neurological toxicity is an obstacle to the potential clinical use of both classes of agents.