cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soil moisture and biogeochemical factors influence the distribution of annual Bromus species

Abiotic factors have a strong influence on where annual Bromus species are found. At the large regional scale, temperature and precipitation extremes determine the boundaries of Bromus occurrence. At the more local scale, soil characteristics and climate influence distribution, cover, and performance. In hot, dry, summer-rainfall-dominated deserts (Sonoran, Chihuahuan), little or no Bromus is found, likely due to timing or amount of soil moisture relative to Bromus phenology. In hot, winter-rainfall-dominated deserts (parts of the Mojave Desert), Bromus rubens is widespread and correlated with high phosphorus availability. It also responds positively to additions of nitrogen alone or with phosphorus. On the Colorado Plateau, with higher soil moisture availability, factors limiting Bromus tectorum populations vary with life stage: phosphorus and water limit germination, potassium and the potassium/magnesium ratio affect winter performance, and water and potassium/magnesium affect spring performance. Controlling nutrients also change with elevation. In cooler deserts with winter precipitation (Great Basin, Columbia Plateau) and thus even greater soil moisture availability, B. tectorum populations are controlled by nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium. Experimental nitrogen additions stimulate Bromus performance. The reason for different nutrients limiting in dissimilar climatic regions is not known, but it is likely that site conditions such as soil texture (as it affects water and nutrient availability), organic matter, and/or chemistry interact in a manner that regulates nutrient availability and limitations. Under future drier, hotter conditions, Bromus distribution is likely to change due to changes in the interaction between moisture and nutrient availability.
Hydrogen sulfide detection using nucleophilic substitution-cyclization-based fluorescent probes.

Abstract While previously known as a toxic pollutant, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) has been recently classified as an important signaling molecule with potent cytoprotective actions. The study on H 2 S is a rapidly growing field in biomedical research. Nevertheless, the detection of H 2 S in biological samples is still a challenge. Fluorescent assays can be very useful in this field owing to their high sensitivity and convenience. Based on the dual nucleophilicity of hydrogen sulfide, a series of reaction-based fluorescence “turn-on” probes have been developed by our lab. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the reactivity/property of these probes and detailed protocols for the use of them in experiments.
Switched control for nonlinear discrete singular systems and application

The problem of switched control investigated for a class of nonlinear discrete singular systems. A result for the stabilization of nonlinear discrete singular systems by a switched controller is derived. Switched controllers are designed for a class of nonlinear singular systems and a class of discrete singular bilinear systems. An invariant principle is presented for such switched nonlinear singular systems. The invariant principle and the switched controllers are used to globally stabilize a class of singular bilinear systems that are not open-loop stable. Numerical examples show that the method is effective.
Tropical Lifestyles, Luxury, and the Health of Britain’s Global Power, 1793–1825

This essay argues that the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars gave British proponents of the physically healthful and prophylaxis properties of many aspects of India’s material culture a temporary advantage over those who pointed to the supposed moral dangers of tropical luxury. Britons arguing in favour of Indian material culture, moreover, often used race to support their case. The essay brings together the separate historiographies of luxury, health science, race and material culture. Building on existing work on the debate over tropical diseases and medicine, the sources used extend beyond the writings of medical practitioners and include popular writings and satirical prints, lay letters and diaries, and military and government papers. Many people still did not look primarily to medical practitioners for their understandings of healthful behaviour and consumption practices, and the broader public discourse inflected on both personal and institutional decision making.
Minimizing register requirements of a modulo schedule via optimum stage scheduling

Modulo scheduling is an efficient technique for exploiting instruction level parallelism in a variety of loops, resulting in high performance code but increased register requirements. We present an approach that schedules the loop operations for minimum register requirements, given a modulo reservation table. Our method determines optimal register requirements for machines with finite resources and for general dependence graphs. Measurements on a benchmark suite of 1327 loops from the Perfect Club, SPEC-89, and the Livermore Fortran Kernels show that the register requirements decrease by 24.8% on average when applying the optimal stage scheduler to the MRT-schedules of a register-insensitive modulo scheduler.
Intramural pilot funding and internal grant reviews increase research capacity at a school of nursing

Abstract Background Strategies for increasing research capacity such as internal funding mechanisms and internal peer reviews for grants are essential for schools of nursing. Although these are documented in the literature, their processes and outcomes have not been reported. Purpose The purposes of this study were to describe three protocols for building research capacity at a school of nursing—intramural pilot grants, Specific Objectives and Aims Reviews, and mock reviews—and quantify their outcomes. Methods We assessed outcome data on 14 intramural pilot grants and 88 external grant applications from 2012 to 2016. Findings Pilot grants produced 16 peer-reviewed articles, 33 presentations, and 11 funded grants. For grant applications that underwent any type of internal review, 41.7% (20/48) received funding compared with 20% (8/40) that did not participate, p = .03. Given the resources required to prepare grant applications, internal funding and reviews can enhance return on investment. Conclusion Schools of nursing should consider implementing intramural pilot grants and internal review sessions.
The Computational Study of Language Acquisition

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the problems involved in language acquisition modeling, a summary of the computational efforts in that direction, and a closer examination of a particular ongoing modeling effort. Computational models play a crucial role in developing satisfactory theories of the language acquisition process. This conviction is based on the complexity of both the grammatical system and the various learning processes that must interact in the acquisition task. The purpose of the type of modeling with which this chapter is concerned is both theoretical and experimental. The experimental function is realized when the model is run as a simulation of behavior, and the output for inputs is examined to see if it is consistent with available empirical data. Within the theoretical domain, computational models have a number of well-known advantages, including that of forcing explicitness. In facing the details concerning the components of a theory and their interactions, the possibility or impossibility of a particular hypothesized entity often becomes clear without running a simulation at all. The important feature of computational models in exploring language acquisition lies in their ability to express in a flexible manner the complex interactions among the evolving grammar, the learning processes, and the input data. It should be clear that the models examined in this chapter have a long way to go; yet they have also progressed in their sophistication in the past few years, and currently represent the best-delineated available attempts at explaining the syntactic acquisition task. Although this chapter does not treat phonological or semantic acquisition, computational models provide an equally promising tool in those areas.
Paul Gauguin's Noa Noa prints: Multi-analytical characterization of the printmaking techniques and materials

Abstract The Art Institute of Chicago holds an extensive collection of works on paper by Paul Gauguin, including 39 unique woodblock prints from the artist's famed Noa Noa Suite that he produced following his first visit to Tahiti. Although Gauguin's graphic works are among his most innovative and experimental, they have been less studied from a technical perspective than his works in other media. This paper presents results from an in-depth, multi-analytical investigation of the Noa Noa prints that employed non-invasive techniques hand-in-hand with selective analysis of microsamples of the printing inks and pigments to provide a detailed characterization of Gauguin's materials and insights into his working methods. The study reveals Gauguin's creativity in the manipulation of his materials to produce distinctive visual effects in his woodblock prints: this included the formulation of oleoresinous media to produce textural effects, and the selective use of hand- and stencil-applied colors for various impressions. The analytical findings also confirm visual evidence of fading and other alterations in pigments that help to inform our interpretation of the imagery. Overall, this research has aided understanding of Gauguin's pictorial narratives and enhanced our appreciation of the artistic significance and technical ingenuity involved in the production of this understudied part of his oeuvre.
Topological energy conversion through the bulk or the boundary of driven systems

Combining physical and synthetic dimensions allows a controllable realization and manipulation of high-dimensional topological states. In our work, we introduce two quasiperiodically driven one-dimensional systems which enable tunable topological energy conversion between different driving sources. Using three drives, we realize a four-dimensional quantum Hall state which allows energy conversion between two of the drives within the bulk of the one-dimensional system. With only two drives, we achieve energy conversion between the two at the edge of the chain. Both effects are a manifestation of the effective axion electrodynamics in a three-dimensional time-reversal-invariant topological insulator. Furthermore, we explore the effects of disorder and commensurability of the driving frequencies, and show the phenomena are robust. We propose two experimental platforms, based on semiconductor heterostructures and ultracold atoms in optical lattices, in order to observe the topological energy conversion.
Downstream: Reimagining Water

In the Introduction to this volume, editors Rita Wong and Dorothy Christian claim that “nobody can ever fully know water” (10). Not only do I agree with this statement, I think this collection of w...
Interactive effects of work psychosocial factors on participation in workplace wellness programs.

This study explored concurrent effects of six work psychosocial factors on current participation and the self-reported likelihood of future participation in workplace wellness programs using a cros...
Purification and characterization of UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase from swine trachea epithelium.

UDP-GalNac: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase from swine trachea epithelium was purified to homogeneity by procedures which included affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B columns containing bound deglycosylated Cowper's gland mucin. The enzyme, purified 12,000-fold from microsomes with a yield of 40%, showed only a single band on dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The homogenous enzyme has an apparent molecular mass of 70,000 Da, as determined by gel electrophoresis or gel filtration. The transferase has a broad pH optimum between 6.7-7.8 with maximal activity at pH 7.2, and required Mn2+ for activity with maximal activity at 5-7.5 mM. Higher concentrations of Mn2+, inhibited the enzyme. The purified transferase was specific for UDPGalNAc and glycosylated both threonine and serine residues in tryptic peptides prepared from deglycosylated Cowper's gland and swine and human trachea mucins. The apparent Km of the transferase for UDPGalNAc was 6.3 μM, and the Km values for deglycosylated Cowper's gland and human and swine trachea mucins were 0.83, 1.12 and 0.94 mg/ml, respectively.
Multiresolution Mechanics for Nano/Micro-Structured Materials

To understand the mechanics of materials, it is important to faithfully model the physics due to interactions at the microstructural scales. While brute-force modeling of all the details of the microstructure is too costly, current homogenized continuum models suffer from their inability to sufficiently capture the correct physics - especially where localization and failure are concerned.
Effective Drive Current in Scaled FinFET and NSFET CMOS Inverters

This work investigates the impact of CMOS scaling on the DC effective drive current, $I_{eff}$ [1], $I_{eff}=1/2\times(I_{high}+I_{low})=1/2\times [d_{s}(V_{gs}=0.5V_{dd},V_{ds}=V_{dd})+(V_{gs}=V_{dd},V_{ds}=V_{dd}/2)$ ] of aggressively scaled MOSFETs down to 7nm node technology. FinFET and Nanosheet (NSFET) architectures [2], [3] behave similarly, and $l_{eff)}$ continues to predict the intrinsic delay for aggressively scaled MOSFETs for both device architectures, even for supply-voltages $(V_{dd})$ as low as ~0.2V, where these devices operate in the subthreshold regime. The ratio of $l_{eff}/I_{on}, I_{on}=I_{ds}(V_{ds}=V_{gs}=V_{dd})$ , as a function of $V_{dd}$ , and threshold voltage $(V_{th})$ ) show that this ratio can be significantly modulated about a typical value of ~0.5, in a manner that can be easily related to classical MOSFET behavior.
Strategic Behavior of Distributed Energy Resources in Energy and Reserves Co-Optimizing Markets

We consider decentralized scheduling of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in a day-ahead market that clears energy and reserves offered by both centralized generators and DERs. Recognizing the difficulty of scheduling transmission network connected generators together with distribution feeder connected DERs that have complex intertemporal preferences and dynamics, we propose a tractable distributed algorithm where DERs self-schedule based on granular Distribution Locational Marginal Prices (DLMPs) derived from LMPs augmented by distribution network costs. For the resulting iterative DER self-scheduling process, we examine the opportunity of DERs to engage in strategic behavior depending on whether DERs do or do not have access to detailed distribution feeder information. Although the proposed distributed algorithm is tractable on detailed real-life network models, we utilize a simplified T&D network model to derive instructive analytical and numerical results on the impact of strategic DER behavior on social welfare loss, and the distribution of costs and benefits to various market participants.
Moral Psychology: Heartmind (Xin), Nature (Xing), and Emotions (Qing)

The central goals of Neo-Confucian philosophy are explaining why and how we humans can be good—and furthermore, why we should be good. For Zhu Xi, the basic answer to these questions is “because that is what we truly are.” We are inherently good, even though we do not always act this way. Too often, we are confused or mistaken, misperceiving our world and ourselves. Sometimes our emotions guide us well, but many times we overreact or fail to be moved when we should. The theoretical challenge which Zhu Xi shoulders is explaining how it could be that unreliable creatures like ourselves really are good, deep down, and also have the capacity to realize this goodness in a much more consistent and even spontaneous way.
Beneficial Effects of Cannabis on Blood-Brain Barrier Function in Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leads to blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction that does not resolve despite viral suppression on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. In preclinical models, cannabis restores BBB integrity. METHODS We studied persons with HIV (PWH) and HIV-negative (HIV-) individuals who had used cannabis recently. We assessed 2 biomarkers of BBB permeability: the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to serum albumin ratio (CSAR) and CSF levels of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), a receptor for uPA, a matrix-degrading proteolytic enzyme that disrupts the BBB. A composite index of the BBB markers was created using principal components analysis. Neural injury was assessed using neurofilament light (NFL) in CSF by immunoassay. RESULTS Participants were 45 PWH and 30 HIV- individuals of similar age and ethnicity. Among PWH, higher CSF suPAR levels correlated with higher CSAR values (r = 0.47, P < .001). PWH had higher (more abnormal) BBB index values than HIV- individuals (mean ± SD, 0.361 ± 1.20 vs -0.501 ± 1.11; P = .0214). HIV serostatus interacted with cannabis use frequency, such that more frequent use of cannabis was associated with lower BBB index values in PWH but not in HIV- individuals. Worse BBB index values were associated with higher NFL in CSF (r = 0.380, P = .0169). CONCLUSIONS Cannabis may have a beneficial impact on HIV-associated BBB injury. Since BBB disruption may permit increased entry of toxins such as microbial antigens and inflammatory mediators, with consequent CNS injury, these results support a potential therapeutic role of cannabis among PWH and may have important treatment implications for ART effectiveness and toxicity.
Effect of general anesthetics on the tumor micro-environment in mouse models of breast cancers of spontaneous metastasis.

e15503Background: Metastatic breast cancer is a pressing health concern worldwide. Various treatments have been developed but no significant long-term changes in overall survival are observed. Ther...
Understanding and Diagnosing Vulnerability under Adversarial Attacks.

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are known to be vulnerable to adversarial attacks. Currently, there is no clear insight into how slight perturbations cause such a large difference in classification results and how we can design a more robust model architecture. In this work, we propose a novel interpretability method, InterpretGAN, to generate explanations for features used for classification in latent variables. Interpreting the classification process of adversarial examples exposes how adversarial perturbations influence features layer by layer as well as which features are modified by perturbations. Moreover, we design the first diagnostic method to quantify the vulnerability contributed by each layer, which can be used to identify vulnerable parts of model architectures. The diagnostic results show that the layers introducing more information loss tend to be more vulnerable than other layers. Based on the findings, our evaluation results on MNIST and CIFAR10 datasets suggest that average pooling layers, with lower information loss, are more robust than max pooling layers for the network architectures studied in this paper.
Failure modes of protection layers produced by atomic layer deposition of amorphous TiO2 on GaAs anodes

Amorphous titanium dioxide (a-TiO2) films formed by atomic layer deposition can serve as protective coatings for semiconducting photoanodes in water-splitting cells using strongly alkaline aqueous electrolytes. Herein, we experimentally examine the mechanisms of failure for p+-GaAs anodes coated with a-TiO2 films (GaAs/a-TiO2). Galvanic displacement of exposed GaAs by Au allowed imaging of pinholes in the a-TiO2 coatings, and enabled collection of quantitative and statistical data associated with pinhole defects. A combination of imaging, electrochemical measurements, and quantitative analyses of corrosion products indicated that extrinsic pinholes were present in the a-TiO2 films before electrochemical operation. During electrochemical operation these pinholes led to pitting corrosion of the underlying GaAs substrate. The dominant source of pinholes was the presence of atmospheric particulate matter on the GaAs surface during deposition of the a-TiO2 layer. The pinhole density decreased substantially when the thickness of the a-TiO2 coating increased beyond 45 nm, and approached zero when the thickness of the film exceeded 112 nm. The density of pinholes in films thinner than 45 nm decreased when the a-TiO2 coating was deposited in an environmentally controlled cleanroom. Pinhole-free GaAs/a-TiO2 devices were also tested via chronoamperometry to quantify the rate of pinhole formation during electrochemistry. The time-to-failure increased with thickness, suggesting that the failure mechanism may involve diffusion or migration through the film. However, other mechanisms may also contribute to the degradation of thicker films (>112 nm). Nevertheless, as previously hypothesized, extrinsic pinhole defects formed during deposition and testing control the short-term protective performance of the a-TiO2 film for GaAs anodes evolving O2 from water.
Despaire and Briton Moniments: Moments of Protestant Clarity in The Faerie Queene

Two moments in The Faerie Queene, the Redcrosse Knight's rescue from suicide in the cave of Despaire and Arthur's rapture at reading the truncated chronicle of the Britons, are strangely similar. I...
The effect of longer-range waviness on X-ray reflectivity measurements.

A model for calculating the X-ray reflectivity (XRR) of surfaces to extract both roughness and waviness features is presented. Expressions of reflectivity intensity are derived as a function of root-mean-square (RMS) roughness σ, RMS waviness σL, and the cut-off frequency between the features ω0. Experiments were conducted at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, beamline 8.3.2, on BK7 glass manufactured with a multi-step polishing process to validate the model, and were compared with atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fizeau interferometry and surface profilometry measurements. The parameter results and their deviations for XRR measurements were σ = 2.9 ± 0.2 nm and σL = 14.6 ± 0.5 nm with a wavelength cut-off of 1/(18 ± 2) µm-1, while the results from the AFM, Fizeau and profilometry measurements were σAFM = 3.4 ± 0.4 nm, σL,Fizeau = 21.6 nm, σprof = 4.0 ± 0.1 nm, and σL,prof = 21.4 ± 0.1 nm with cut-offs for the profilometry and Fizeau measurements limited to frequencies of (1/16) µm-1 to (1/4) mm-1.
The Enduring Legacy of John Paul Ii

Ronald Rychlak reviews George Weigel’s The End and the Beginning, the long-awaited complement to Weigel’s early work documenting Pope John Paul II’s life, Witness to Hope. The book, divided into three main sections, reveals John Paul II’s battles with Soviet Communism, details his efforts to spread Catholic teachings, and discusses his inner motivation and place in history. Rychlak applauds Weigel for his dutiful research and chronicling of the secret war between the Vatican and Soviet Union. In addition, Rychlak appreciates Weigel’s ability to show John Paul II as a real human being — a genius with a sense of humor and warrior with a tender heart — who, in his early years, confronted Communism, and, in his later years, faced many difficult issues including the sex scandal of the Catholic Church, calls for resignation, Islamic terrorism, and the war in Iraq.
Uncoupling protein 1-independent effects of eicosapentaenoic acid in brown adipose tissue of diet-induced obese female mice

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a key role in energy expenditure through its thermogenic function, making its activation a popular target to reduce obesity. We recently reported that male mice housed at thermoneutrality with uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) deficiency had increased weight gain and glucose intolerance, but eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ameliorated these effects. Whether female mice respond similarly to lack of UCP1 and to EPA remains unknown. We hypothesize that the effects of EPA on BAT activation are independent of UCP1 expression. We used female wild type (WT) and UCP1 knockout (KO) mice housed at thermoneutrality (30°C) as an obesogenic environment and fed them high fat (HF) diets with or without EPA for up to 14 weeks. Body weight (BW), body composition, and insulin and glucose tolerance tests were performed during the feeding trial. At termination, serum and BAT were harvested for further analyses. Mice in the KO-EPA group had significantly lower BW than KO-HF mice. In addition, KO-HF mice displayed significantly impaired glucose tolerance compared to their WT-HF littermates. However, EPA significantly enhanced glucose clearance in the KO mice compared to KO-HF mice. Protein levels of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunits I, II, and IV were significantly lower in KO mice compared to WT. Our findings support that ablation of UCP1 is detrimental to energy metabolism of female mice in thermoneutral conditions. However, unexpectedly, EPA's protective effects against diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance in these mice were independent of UCP1.
P-134: Quality of life, psychological distress, and prognostic awareness in caregivers of patients with Multiple Myeloma

Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematologic malignancy requiring long-term, continuous therapy. Although caregivers of MM patients play a critical role in supporting their loved ones throughout the illness course, studies examining caregiver quality of life (QOL), psychological distress, and prognostic awareness are lacking. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, multisite study of patients undergoing treatment with MM (excluding maintenance therapy) and their caregivers between 6/2020-3/2021. Eligible caregivers were identified by the patient as the primary caregiver and enrolled to 1 of 3 cohorts based on lines of therapy: 1) newly diagnosed receiving first-line therapy; 2) 2-3 lines; 3) ≥4 lines of therapy. Caregivers completed validated questionnaires to assess their QOL, psychological distress, and perceptions of prognosis. Patients also completed validated questions to assess their perception of prognosis. We used descriptive statistics to describe caregiver QOL, psychological distress, and perception of prognosis. We then descriptively compared psychological distress and perception of prognosis between patient and caregiver dyads. Results We enrolled 127 caregivers of MM patients (newly diagnosed (n=43), 2-3 (n=40), and ≥ 4 lines of therapy (n=44)). Median caregiver age was 61.8 years (range 24.0-81.9); 71.7% (91/127) were female. Caregiver QOL and psychological distress did not differ by lines of therapy. The rate of clinically significant depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms were 15.8% (20/127), 44.1% (56/127), and 24.4% (31/127), respectively. When examining dyads, caregivers reported higher rates of clinically significant anxiety symptoms (44.4% vs. 22.5%) compared to MM patients. Caregivers reported less clinically significant depression symptoms (15.3% vs. 24.2%) and similar rates of clinically significant PTSD symptoms (24.2% vs 25.0%). Overall, 89.6% (112/125) of caregivers reported that it is ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ important to know about the patient’s prognosis and 55.6% (70/126) stated that they had received adequate information regarding the patient’s prognosis. Most caregivers (84.2%, 101/120), reported that the oncologist told them the patient’s cancer was incurable. In contrast, only 53.6% (59/110) of caregivers reported that they thought the patient’s cancer was incurable and 37.9% (58/114) acknowledged that the patient is terminally ill. When examining dyads, caregivers were more likely to report that the patient is terminally ill (50.1% vs. 30.1%). There was no difference in caregivers’ and patients’ report that the oncologist said MM is incurable (83.3% vs. 84.2%). Conclusions Caregivers of patients undergoing treatment for MM experience substantial psychological distress across the disease continuum. Interventions are needed to improve caregivers’ QOL, to reduce their psychological distress and to enhance caregiver perceptions of the patient’s prognosis to facilitate informed decision-making.
Legal Reason: The Use of Analogy in Legal Argument

Preface Introduction 1. Analogical and inductive and deductive reasoning 2. Steamboats, broadcast transmissions, and electronic eavesdropping 3. Analogical legal reasoning 4. Analogical reasoning, legal education, and the law Appendix A: note on analogical reasoning Appendix B: biographical notes Notes Index.
Type II Errors in Leisure Research

Statistical tests can lead to erroneous conclusions about the null hypothesis. Attention frequently is focused exclusively on the probability of incorrectly rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true. We argue that the probability of failing to reject the null hypothesis in favor of an alternative hypothesis deserves increased attention and emphasis in exploratory research.
Control-system techniques for improved departure/spin resistance for fighter aircraft

Some fundamental information on control system effects on controllability of highly-maneuverable aircraft at high angles of attack and techniques for enhancing fighter aircraft departure/spin resistance using control system design is summarized. The discussion includes: (a) a brief review of pertinent high angle-of-attack phenomena including aerodynamics, inertia coupling, and kinematic coupling; (b) effects of conventional stability augmentation systems at high-alpha; (c) high-alpha control system concepts designed to enhance departure/spin resistance; and (d) the outlook for applications of these concepts to future fighters, particularly those designs which incorporate relaxed static stability.
A highly efficient and secure shared key for direct communications based on quantum channel

The reported research in literature for message transformation by a third party does not provide the necessary efficiency and security against different attacks. The data transmitted through the computer network must be confidential and authenticated in advance. In this paper, we develop and improve security of the braided single stage quantum cryptography. This improvement is based on a novel authentication algorithm by using signature verification without using the three stages protocol to share the secret key between the sender and receiver. This approach will work against attacks such as replay and man-in-the-middle by increasing the security as well as the over efficiency, reducing the overhead through using three stages and increasing the speed of the communication between two parties.
Outcomes in men denied access to a California public assistance program for prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES To improve access to prostate cancer treatment for low income uninsured men, California initiated a program called IMPACT Improving Access, Counseling and Treatment for Californians with Prostate Cancer. The program administered free treatment, case management, counseling, and educational materials to all eligible men until budget cuts led to a state-mandated suspension of enrollment and the establishment of a temporary waitlist in February 2005. To assess the effect of suspension of enrollment on patient outcomes, the authors compared health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in waitlisted and enrolled men. METHODS Eighty-three men in each group were matched on disease stage, age, and race. HRQOL was captured with the UCLA Prostate Cancer Index short form (PCI-SF), the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 (SF-12), and McCorkle and Young's Symptoms and Degrees of Distress in Patients with Cancer Scale (SDS). Self-efficacy was measured with the Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions (PEPPI) Questionnaire. RESULTS At intake, waitlisted men demonstrated significantly more symptom-related distress (2.9; p=0.04) and less perceived self-efficacy (2.5; p=0.005) compared to enrollees. Waitlisted men were significantly less likely to have access to a doctor or nurse case manager, treatment medications, nutrition information, or counseling services (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Men denied enrollment into the IMPACT program exhibited significantly worse symptom distress and self-efficacy compared to enrolled men at initial assessment. The multivariate model suggests that HRQOL in the waitlisted men may be related to their lack of access to medical services. This data illustrates the importance of ongoing public assistance for low income men with prostate cancer.
Translating images to keywords: problems, applications and progress

The development of technology generates huge amounts of non-textual information, such as images. An efficient image annotation and retrieval system is highly desired. Clustering algorithms make it possible to represent visual features of images with finite symbols. Based on this, many statistical models, which analyze correspondence between visual features and words and discover hidden semantics, have been published. These models improve the annotation and retrieval of large image databases. However, image data usually have a large number of dimensions. Traditional clustering algorithms assign equal weights to these dimensions, and become confounded in the process of dealing with these dimensions. In this tutorial, first, we will present current state of the art and its shortcomings. We will present some classical models (e.g., translation model (TM), cross-media relevance model etc.). Second, we will present weighted feature selection algorithm as a solution to the existing problem. For a given cluster, we determine relevant features based on histogram analysis and assign greater weight to relevant features as compared to less relevant features. Third, we will exploit spatial correlation to disambiguate visual features, and spatial relationship will be constructed by spatial association rule mining. Fourth, we will present the continuous relevance model and multiple Bernoulli model for avoiding clustering. We will present mechanisms to link visual tokens with keywords based on these models. Fifth, we will present mechanisms to improve accuracy of classical model, TM by exploiting the WordNet knowledge-base. Sixth, we will present a framework to model semantic visual concept in video/images by fusing multiple evidence with the usage of an ontology. Seventh, we will show that weighted feature selection is better than traditional ones (TM) for automatic image annotation and retrieval. Finally, we will discuss open problems and future directions in the domain of image and video.
Astronomical Time Series Analysis

Mathematical research has yielded new time series methods, such as multi-taper spectral analysis, and wavelets and their extensions. The corresponding algorithms are rapidly being developed for unevenly sampled time series data, characteristic of astronomy and other sciences. Combinations of several new and old techniques yield powerful tools for detecting and characterizing periodic, quasiperiodic, and aperiodic signals. I describe several such combined methods and apply them to bizarrely spaced radial velocity data from one of the newly-discovered extrasolar planetary systems.
On the existence of joint production functions

Abstract : Within a general framework of production correspondences satisfying a set of weak axioms necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a joint production function are given. Without enforcing the strong disposability of inputs or outputs it is shown that a joint production function exists if and only if both input and output correspondences are strictly increasing along rays. (Author)
Protecting Privacy of Sensitive Data Dissemination Using Active Bundles

The solution for protecting data privacy proposed in this paper&#8212, called Active Bundles&#8212, protects sensitive data from their disclosure to unauthorized parties and from unauthorized dissemination (even if started by an authorized party). The Active Bundles solution protects private or sensitive data throughout their entire lifecycle, from creation through dissemination to partial or total destruction (such as evaporation or apoptosis defined in the paper). In addition, it protects identity of entities exchanging private data. The core of the solution are active bundles themselves, which are containers with a payload of sensitive data, metadata, and a virtual machine specific to the active bundle. Metadata control access to private data and dissemination of active bundles. The main virtual machine roles are: validating integrity of its active bundle, and enforcing access control policies and dissemination policies for data of the active bundle. The Active Bundles solution also includes the active bundle exchange protocol for transmitting the bundles between hosts. The protocol uses buddies to provide anonymity to senders and receivers. The performance of the Active Bundles solution for data dissemination is evaluated analytically and by a simulation. The results indicate that: (i) the percentage of sensitive data that reaches unauthorized hosts during dissemination can be high, (ii) the apoptosis mechanism protects sensitive data from dissemination to unauthorized hosts, (iii) the Active Bundles solution provides a level of anonymity to hosts while it does not decrease significantly the throughput of buddies.
Chemical order lifetimes in liquids, and a second fictive temperature for glassformers

Abstract Recent efforts to deal with the complexities of the liquid state, particularly those of glassforming systems, have focused on the “energy landscape” as a means of dealing with the collective variables problem (Nature 410 (2001) 259). The “basins of attraction” that constitute the landscape features in configuration space represent a distinct class of microstates of the system. So far only the microstates that are related to structural relaxation and viscosity have been considered in this paradigm. But most of the complex systems of importance in nature and industry are solutions, particularly solutions that are highly non-ideal in character. In these, a distinct class of fluctuations exists, the fluctuations in concentration, and their character may be of much importance to the liquid properties. The mean square amplitudes of these fluctuations relate to the chemical activity coefficients (Phys. Rev. B 9 (1974) 435), and their rise and decay times may be much longer than those of the density fluctuations—from which they are statistically independent. Here we provide experimental information on the character of chemical order fluctuations in viscous liquids and on their relation to the density and enthalpy fluctuations that determine the structural relaxation time, and hence the glass transition temperature. Using a spectroscopically active chemical order probe, we identify a “chemical fictive temperature”, T chm , by analogy with the “fictive temperature” T f commonly used to denote the temperature where the structural arrest occurred during cooling a glassformer. Like T f , T chm must be the same as the real temperature for the system to be in complete equilibrium. It is possible for mobile multicomponent liquids to be permanently non-ergodic, insofar as T chm > T f = T , which must be accommodated within the landscape paradigm. We note that, in appropriate systems, an increase in concentration of slow chemically ordering units in liquids can produce a crossover to fast ion conducting glass phenomenology.
Role of angiotensin II in retinal leukostasis in the diabetic rat

To study if the endogenous renin-angiotensin system affects diabetic retinal leukostasis, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were treated with an ACE inhibitor (ramipril), an angiotensin II AT(1) receptor antagonist (losartan) and the Ca channel blocker, (nifedipine). In the diabetic rats, these drug treatments reduced systolic blood pressure by approximately 16 mmHg but did not change blood glucose. After 2 weeks, the rats were examined for retinal leukostasis in vivo with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO). Retinal leukostasis, which was defined as no movement of arrested leukocytes over 2 min, was markedly higher in diabetic rats than normal controls (P<0.01). Leukostasis was significantly decreased by ramipril and losartan (P<0.01 vs. untreated diabetic rats) but was still higher than normal. Retinal leukostasis after nifedipine treatment was not significantly different than in untreated diabetic rats. The same trend was observed when leukostasis was analyzed on retinal flat mounts with concanavalin A and CD45 immunofluorescence; ramipril and losartan treatment, however, decreased leukostasis to values no different than controls. Retinal leukostasis was lowered by nifedipine (P<0.05, untreated diabetes vs. nifedipine-treated) but was still higher than in normal, ramipril-, or losartan-treated rats. Assays of gene expression of retinal intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) by semi-quantitative RT-PCR indicated that ICAM-1 mRNA was increased in diabetic rats but was decreased markedly by treatment with losartan or ramipril, and modestly by nifedipine. In summary, suppressing the activity of the endogenous renin-angiotensin system markedly decreases, perhaps even normalizes, the retinal leukostasis that accompanies type I diabetes in rats. These effects seem to be partly independent of blood pressure and to be associated with a decrease in ICAM-1 gene expression. Angiotensin II may, thus, mediate retinal leukostasis in early diabetes.
Beam maser measurements of hyperfine structure in chloroacetylene-d

Abstract The J = 1-0 transitions in 35ClCCD were measured using a beam maser spectrometer giving a molecular resonance linewidth of 3 kHz (FWHM). Analysis of the data yielded quadrupole coupling strengths eqQ(D) = 208.5 ± 1.5, eqQ(35Cl)= 79 739.5 ± 1 kHz and the 35Cl spinrotation interaction strength C(Cl) 1.3 ± 0.1 kHz. The rotational constant obtained is B = 5 186 973.9 ± 1.0 kHz. The accuracy of measured molecular parameters is improved by a factor of 20 or better.
Stereo-vision system for finger tracking in breast self-examination

Early detection of breast cancer, one of the leading causes of death by cancer for women in the US is key to any strategy designed to reduce breast cancer mortality. Breast self-examination (BSE) is considered as the most cost- effective approach available for early breast cancer detection because it is simple and non-invasive, and a large fraction of breast cancers are actually found by patients using this technique today. In BSE, the patient should use a proper search strategy to cover the whole breast region in order to detect al possible tumors. At present there is no objective approach or clinical data to evaluate the effectiveness of a particular BSE strategy. Even if a particular strategy is determined to be the most effective, training women to use it is still difficult because there is no objective way for them to know whether they are doing it correctly. We have developed a system using vision-based motion tracking technology to gather quantitative data about the breast palpation process for analysis of the BSE technique. By tracking position of the fingers, the system can provide the first objective quantitative data about the BSE process, and thus can improve our knowledge of the technique and help analyze its effectiveness. By visually displaying all the touched position information to the patient as the BSE is being conducted, the system can provide interactive feedback to the patient and create a prototype for a computer-based BSE training system. We propose to use color features, put them on the finger nails and track these features, because in breast palpation the background is the breast itself which is similar to the hand in color. This situation can hinder the ability/efficiency of other features if real time performance is required. To simplify feature extraction process, color transform is utilized instead of RGB values. Although the clinical environment will be well illuminated, normalization of color attributes is applied to compensate for minor changes in illumination. Neighbor search is employed to ensure real time performance, and a three-finger pattern topology is always checked for extracted features to avoid any possible false features. After detecting the features in the images, 3D position parameters of the colored fingers are calculated using the stereo vision principle. In the experiments, a 15 frames/second performance is obtained using an image size of 160 X 120 and an SGI Indy MIPS R4000 workstation. The system is robust and accurate, which confirms the performance and effectiveness of the proposed approach. The system is robust and accurate, which confirms the performance and effectiveness of the proposed approach. The system can be used to quantify search strategy of the palpation and its documentation. With real-time visual feedback, it can be used to train both patients and new physicians to improve their performance of palpation and thus visual feedback, it can be used to train both patients and new physicians to improve their performance of palpation and thus improve the rate of breast tumor detection.
The Father Enigma

Parenting is tough for daddy longlegs living in the Brazilian Atlantic forest, but their efforts aren't in vain. Having a parent to watch over the eggs makes a huge difference to their survival; without one, a third of clutches are eaten. Although humans no longer need to protect their progeny from hungry predators, they are accustomed to thinking that parenting is crucial if offspring are to survive and thrive. Yet, among the myriad organisms on the planet, this is rare. What's more, in those species that do care for their young there is a strong bias towards females doing all the work. That makes the daddy longlegs a real oddity--it is among the few examples where males alone raise the young. Here, Ogden why fathers care at all.
Effects of buoyancy-driven convection on melting within spherical containers

A computational study of the effects of buoyancy-driven convection on constrained melting of phase change materials within spherical containers is presented. The computations are based on an iterative, finite-volume numerical procedure using primitive-dependent variables, whereby the time-dependent continuity, momentum and energy equations in the spherical coordinate system are solved. A single-domain enthalpy formulation is used for simulation of the phase change phenomenon. The effect of phase change on convection is accounted for using a Darcy's law-type porous media treatment. Early during the melting process, the conduction mode of heat transfer is dominant, giving rise to concentric temperature contours. As the buoyancy-driven convection is strengthened due to the growth of the melt zone, melting in the top region of the sphere is much faster than in the bottom region due to the enhancement of the conduction mode of heat transfer. When buoyancy effects are very marked, as many as three time-dependent recirculating vortices are observed. In comparison to the diffusion-controlled melting, buoyancy-driven convection accelerates the melting process markedly. The Prandtl number plays an important role in the melting process. With the Rayleigh number fixed, changing the Prandtl number from 0.03 to 1.0 and 50 brings about totally different flow and melting patterns. The computational findings are verified through qualitative constrained melting experiments using a high-Prandtl number wax as the phase change material.