cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sources of Inspiration: A Neurophysiologic Framework for Understanding Anesthetic Effects on Ventilatory Control

Almost every medication that is presently available to provide sedation, analgesia, or general anesthesia significantly depresses one or more ventilatory control mechanisms. This places patients at risk of developing hypoventilation and hypoxemia during moderate or deep sedation as well as general anesthesia. As the neurophysiologic processes underlying normal ventilatory drive are discovered, new insights into the influence of anesthetics on ventilation have been recognized. More importantly, research into ways to circumvent these effects is underway. For example, drugs such as serotonin agonists and ampakines have been shown to counteract opioid-induced ventilatory depression without reversing the analgesic effect. On the other hand, efforts to identify agents that reverse the respiratory depression associated with propofol and the inhalation anesthetics have been less promising. Until reliable means for reversing drug-induced ventilatory depression are developed, prompt recognition of ventilatory insufficiency and initiation of resuscitative measures remain the keys to patient safety.
A Split Quasi-Lagrangian Method for Use in a Regional Barotropic Model

Abstract An economical advection scheme with linear high-order accuracy is described. A splitting technique is not only used to solve the equations a barotropic model, but is used to split the two dimensional quasi-Lagrangian advection with one-dimensional cubic spline interpolation. The adjustment process is integrated with a forward–backward scheme. The application of this numerical method to a regional barotropic model shows that it can take full advantage of the splitting method by saving CPU time for the quasi-Lagrangian advection while maintaining high accuracy.
Distributed Supervisory Controller Design for Battery Swapping Modularity in Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles

A distributed supervisory controller is proposed to achieve battery component swapping modularity (CSM) for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The CSM permits the designer to distribute a part of the supervisory controller to the battery module such that the PHEV can use a range of batteries while providing corresponding optimal fuel economy. A novel feedback-based controller for the charge sustaining mode is proposed to facilitate distributed controller design for battery CSM. The method based on sensitivity analysis of the control signals with respect to the battery hardware parameter is introduced to define the controller distribution architecture. The distributed controller gains are obtained by solving a bilevel optimization problem using the collaborative optimization and the augmented Lagrangian decomposition methods. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed distributed controller can achieve battery CSM without compromising fuel economy compared to the centralized control case.
Convergence of the bipolar expansion for the coulomb potential

The bipolar expansion of the Coulomb potential, which underlies the multipole moment expansion for interacting charge distributions, converges like a geometric series for separated charges, but converges at best only conditionally when the charges interpenetrate. This article shows how the order of summation affects the sum. Evidence is presented for simpler series when the geometry is linear. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Regeneration of a transgenic woody legume (Robinia pseudoacacia L., black locust) and morphological alterations induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation

Abstract A repeatable and fast transformation-regeneration system has been developed for a woody legume, black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia L.). Hairy roots were produced from hypocotyl segments inoculated with Agrobacterium rhizogenes R1601, a super-virulent strain with eukaryotic kanamycin resistance gene, in less than 1 week and resulted in subsequent shoot regeneration within 4 weeks. Transgenic black locust trees were established in soil 12 weeks after inoculation with the A. rhizogenes strain. The hairy root phenotype found in regenerated plants, which has been characterized as having wrinkled leaves and abundant root development, became evident after 3 months of growth. Southern blot analysis clearly showed multiple integration of T-DNA (transferred DNA) and the presence of neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII) gene sequences in the transformed black locust genome.
A stochastic inclusion principle

The objective of this paper is to formulate a stochastic version of the Inclusion Principle, which can be used to identify equivalent solutions of the LQG problems having different dimensions. The new notion is applied to the decentralized LQC problem with overlapping information structure constraints.
Organizational Communication and Decision Making for Hurricane Emergencies

This paper reviews research and theory on the processes by which emergency relevant organizations communicate with each other and with the population at risk from hurricanes. The technology for hurricane forecast, warning, and protective action has made significant advances in the past 20 years, but there is a disturbing potential for hurricane strikes that could cause a large number of casualties in addition to the predictably large economic cost from property destruction. Consequently, social science research is needed to expand the existing knowledge base on the response of households, businesses, and special facilities to hurricane warnings. Available research suggests local officials need better information about evacuation time estimates, evacuation costs, and the potential loss of life in a late evacuation. They also need improved decision support systems that will facilitate the choice of appropriate protective actions when hurricanes threaten their jurisdictions.
Assessing the Variability in GeneChip® Data

Introduction: Oligonucleotide and cDNA microarray experiments are now common practice in biological science research. The goal of these experiments is generally to gain clues about the functions of genes by measuring how their expression levels rise and fall in response to changing experimental conditions. Measures of gene expression are affected, however, by a variety of factors. This paper introduces statistical methods to assess the variability of Affymetrix GeneChip® data due to randomness.
BIRTH WEIGHT ADVANTAGE IN THE IMMIGRANT GENERATION VARIES WITH ORIGIN.† 677

Hispanic and black infants born in this country enjoy a BW advantage if their mothers were not U.S.-born. The authors used two datasets on three cohorts of infants to explore this phenomenon. The trans-generational birth file contains BW and demographic data on 267,604 infants born in Illinois in 1989-91 as well as data on those infants' mothers (born in Illinois in 1956-76). Mexican-Americans (newly immigrated and established) were compared to European-Americans and African-Americans for effects of immigration across three generations. The 1985-88 Illinois birth file contains detailed ethnicity variable which made it possible to analyze separate subgroups of non-US black mothers (African and Afro-Caribbean).
On the number of common unit roots in the term structure of interest rates

(1994). On the number of common unit roots in the term structure of interest rates. Applied Economics: Vol. 26, No. 8, pp. 815-820.
Noisy defenses: subverting malware's OODA loop

The question is how to deal in practice with complex evolved malicious software (malware). In light of recent empirical and theoretical findings, we propose moving beyond techniques premised on Turing Machine models towards iterative games and black-box process modeling within an interactive computational framework.
DEVELOPING ABILITIES AND KNOWLEDGE: STYLE IN THE INTERPLAY OF STRUCTURE AND PROCESS

As commentary for a special issue on Education and Human Ability of the British journal Educational Analysis, two recurrent themes in the volume are underscored as well as three critical educational issues that were addressed only peripherally there. The two recurrent themes deal with the roles of knowledge and of context in school learning. The three peripheral issues given central focus in the commentary are (1) the role of schooling in the development of cognitive abilities and of developed abilities in the processes of school learning; (2) the role of cognitive styles as characteristic modes of organization and regulation in information processing which afford unifying self-consistency in learning; and, (3) the problem of the match between features of the instruction and functional characteristics of the learner. The commentary thus centers on some of the salient roles in education and learning of knowledge, abilities, context, and style – especially as they merge in the problem of the match.
Metals affect the structure and activity of human plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. II. Binding affinity and conformational changes

Human plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) is a serine protease inhibitor with a metastable active conformation. The lifespan of the active form of PAI-1 is modulated via interaction with the plasma protein, vitronectin, and various metal ions. These metal ions fall into two categories: Type I metals, including calcium, magnesium, and manganese, stabilize PAI-1 in the absence of vitronectin, whereas Type II metals, including cobalt, copper, and nickel, destabilize PAI-1 in the absence of vitronectin, but stabilize PAI-1 in its presence. To provide a mechanistic basis for understanding the unusual modulation of PAI-1 structure and activity, the binding characteristics and conformational effects of these two types of metals were further evaluated. Steady-state binding measurements using surface plasmon resonance indicated that both active and latent PAI-1 exhibit a dissociation constant in the low micromolar range for binding to immobilized nickel. Stopped-flow measurements of approach-to-equilibrium changes in intrinsic protein fluorescence indicated that the Type I and Type II metals bind in different modes that induce distinct conformational effects on PAI-1. Changes in the observed rate constants with varying concentrations of metal allowed accurate determination of binding affinities for cobalt, nickel, and copper, yielding dissociation constants of ∼40, 30, and 0.09 μM, respectively. Competition experiments that tested effects on PAI-1 stability were consistent with these measurements of affinity and indicate that copper binds tightly to PAI-1.
Effects of dietary exposure to methyl parathion on egg laying and incubation in mallards

An outdoor pen study was conducted with mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) to evaluate the effects of an 8-d dietary exposure to methyl parathion (400 ppm) on egg laying and incubation when treatment was initiated at different times in the nesting cycle. Treatment groups were defined as egg laying (chemical initiated after fourth egg laid in nest), early incubation (initiated after day 4 of incubation), late incubation (initiated after day 16 of incubation) and control (no chemical). Forty-eight pairs (12/group) were allowed to nest and hatch broods. In the egg laying group, daily egg production was reduced significantly during the treatment period compared to controls, but 4 of 10 hens resumed production post-treatment. One of ten control hens abandoned its nest, whereas 17 of 23 hens in the early and late incubation groups either died or exhibited changes in incubation behavior, with 7 hens abandoning their nests and 6 displaying reduced nest attentiveness for one or more days during treatment. Reproductive parameters were not significantly different between treatment groups, but the number of hatchlings per nest was 61, 43 and 58% of controls for the egg laying, early incubation and late incubation groups, respectively. This study showed that nesting success may be impacted by short dietary exposures to methyl parathion, particularly during early incubation.
Phase mask coronagraphy at JPL and Palomar

For the imaging of faint companions, phase mask coronagraphy has the dual advantages of a small inner working angle and high throughput. This paper summarizes our recent work in developing phase masks and in demonstrating their capabilities at JPL. Four-quadrant phase masks have been manufactured at JPL by means of both evaporation and etching, and we have been developing liquid crystal vortex phase masks in partnership with a commercial vendor. Both types of mask have been used with our extreme adaptive optics well-corrected subaperture at Palomar to detect known brown dwarf companions as close as ~ 2.5 λ/D to stars. Moreover, our recent vortex masks perform very well in laboratory tests, with a demonstrated infrared contrast of about 10^(−6) at 3 λ/D, and contrasts of a few 10^(−7) with an initial optical wavelength device. The demonstrated performance already meets the needs of ground-based extreme adaptive optics coronagraphy, and further planned improvements are aimed at reaching the 10^(−10) contrast needed for terrestrial exoplanet detection with a space-based coronagraph.
Hydrologic properties of coal-beds in the Powder River Basin, Montana. II. Aquifer test analysis

Abstract A multiple well aquifer test to determine anisotropic transmissivity was conducted on a coal-bed in the Powder River Basin, southeastern Montana, as part of a multidisciplinary investigation to determine hydrologic conditions of coal-beds in the area. For the test, three wells were drilled equidistant from and at different angles to a production well tapping the Flowers–Goodale coal seam, a 7.6-m thick seam confined at a depth of about 110 m. The test was conducted by air-lift pumping for 9 h, and water levels were monitored in the three observation wells using pressure transducers. Drawdown data collected early in the test were affected by interporosity flow between the coal fracture network and the matrix, but later data were suitable to determine aquifer anisotropy, as the slopes of the late-time semilog time-drawdown curves are nearly identical, and the zero-drawdown intercepts are different. The maximum transmissivity, trending N87°E, is 14.9 m 2 /d, and the minimum transmissivity 6.8 m 2 /d, giving an anisotropy ratio of 2.2:1. Combined specific storage of the fractures and matrix is 2×10 −5 /m, and of the fracture network alone 5×10 −6 /m. The principal direction of the anisotropy tensor is not aligned with the face cleats, but instead is aligned with another fracture set and with dominant east–west tectonic compression. Results of the test indicate that the Flowers–Goodale coal-bed is more permeable than many coals in the Powder River Basin, but the anisotropy ratio and specific storage are similar to those found for other coal-beds in the basin.
ARCHAEOBOTANICAL STUDIES OF ELEUSINE CORACANA SSP. CORACANA (FINGER MILLET)

Two controversial archaeological specimens of finger millet, Eleusine coracana ssp. coracana (L.) Gaertn., were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Identification of the material was based on morphological and anatomical comparison with laboratory carbonized grains of modern Eleusine. Seed morphology of the Indian archaeological collection did not conform with those of domesticated or wild species of Eleusine. The other archaeological collection examined is from Ethiopia. It is estimated to date back to the third millennium B.C. These well preserved inflorescence fragments were positively identified as finger millet. If the suggested date is correct, they represent the oldest archaeological record for the crop, as well as the oldest agricultural record for Africa south of the Sahara. These findings support biosystematic evidence for an East African origin of finger
Learner Preferences and Achievement Under Differing Amounts of Learner Practice

This study examined the effects of program mode (i.e., a lean program version containing a basic amount of learner practice vs. a full mode containing expanded practice) and learner preference (matched or unmatched) for amount of practice on the achievement, time-in-program, and attitudes of university undergraduate students. Subjects completed a 10-item Likert-type prequestionnaire to indicate the amount of practice they preferred, then were randomly assigned to either the type of program they preferred or to the opposite type. Subjects who used the full version of the instructional program scored significantly higher on the posttest than those who used the lean version. Matching subjects to their preferred amount of practice did not yield a significant achievement difference over assigning subjects to their less-preferred amount. Subjects preferred the lean version of the program over the full one, even though the full version produced better test performance.
On the Relativistic Pseudoscalar Meson Theory of the Deuteron

The existence of stationary states of the neutron-proton system is discussed on the basis of a two-particle Dirac equation, including a retarded pseudoscalar interaction. This interaction (in which the possibility of creation of nucleons pairs is disregarded) is treated according to two different models: in the first one, the negative energy states of each nucleon are supposed to be filled, and the interaction is limited to transitions between positive energy states only; in the second model, which is the generalization of the "one-particle" theory, the negative energy states are considered as empty. It is shown that, in both cases, no stable stationary state exists with such an interaction.
Activation of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 is Both Necessary and Sufficient to Stimulate Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2Bε mRNA Translation and Protein Synthesis

In a previous study we demonstrated a requirement for activation of mTORC1 in the stimulation of eIF2Be mRNA translation in skeletal muscle in response to resistance exercise. Although that study established the necessity of mTORC1 activation, the experimental model used did not lend itself readily to address the question of whether or not mTORC1 activation was sufficient to produce the response. Therefore, the present study was designed to address the sufficiency of mTORC1 activation, using cultures of Rat2 fibroblasts in which mTORC1 signaling was repressed by serum/leucine-depletion and stimulated by repletion of leucine and/or IGF-1. Repletion with leucine and IGF-1 caused a shift of eIF2Be mRNA into actively translating polysomes and a stimulation of new eIF2Be protein synthesis, but had no effect on mRNAs encoding the other four eIF2B subunits. Stimulation of eIF2Be translation was reversed by pre-treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. Exogenous overexpression of FLAG-Rheb, a proximal activator of mTORC1, also caused a re-distribution of eIF2Be mRNA into polysomes and a stimulation of eIF2Be protein synthesis. The stimulation of eIF2Be mRNA translation occurred in the absence of any effect on eIF2Be mRNA abundance. RNAi-mediated knockdown of eIF2Be resulted in reduced cellular proliferation, a result that phenocopied the known cytostatic effect of mTORC1 repression. Overall the results demonstrate that activation of mTORC1 is both necessary and sufficient to stimulate eIF2Be mRNA translation and that this response may represent a novel mechanism through which mTORC1 can affect mRNA translation initiation, rates of protein synthesis, and cellular growth/proliferation.
Promoting the organization-wide learning of application software

This paper describes the characteristics of a system designed to promote one sort of organizational learning (Senge, 1990), in particular, to enhance the organization-wide learning of application software (note 1). The system presented here will (1) capture evolving expertise from a community of practice (Lave & Wenger 1991), (2) support less-skilled members of the community in acquiring that expertise, and (3) serve as an organizational memory for the expertise it captures. One version of the system has been partially implemented for a software engineering environment (Linton, 1990).In many workplaces … mastery is in short supply and what is required is a kind of collaborative bootstrapping of expertise. (Eales & Welch, 1995, p. 100)The main goal of the design is to continuously improve the performance of application users by providing individualized coaching based on the automated comparison of user logs to expert models. The system discussed here would be suitable for situations in which the following assumptions are true:(1) People who hold similar jobs and perform similar tasks have similar software usage patterns, e.g., managers use spreadsheet financial functions when preparing budgets, researchers use multiple views of the text when preparing journal articles, and salespeople use standard request forms when making travel arrangements.(2) Some people systematically make better use of their applications than others.(3) Everyone benefits when employees become optimal users of their application software (note 2).The fundamental requirement of the envisioned system is the capability to log the software usage patterns of a large number of individuals. Networked PC computing has recently made this logging requirement practical.
Maximization of the throughput of a computerized automated warehousing system under system constraints

SUMMARY This paper attempts to determine the maximum number of storage and retrieval requests that can be handled by automated warehousing systems under physical and operational constraints. The system is formulated as a stochastic constrained optimization problem and an algorithm is developed for its solution. Due to the stochastic nature of the operation of the system, a simulation model is constructed to evaluate the system for various values of its parameters. The optimization routine interacts with the simulation model and systematically moves towards the optimum solution. The problem is studied under various levels of constraints. Also several levels of the risk of violation of constraints are examined.
Subunit Architecture and Functional Modular Rearrangements of the Transcriptional Mediator Complex

The multisubunit Mediator, comprising ∼30 distinct proteins, plays an essential role in gene expression regulation by acting as a bridge between DNA-binding transcription factors and the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription machinery. Efforts to uncover the Mediator mechanism have been hindered by a poor understanding of its structure, subunit organization, and conformational rearrangements. By overcoming biochemical and image analysis hurdles, we obtained accurate EM structures of yeast and human Mediators. Subunit localization experiments, docking of partial X-ray structures, and biochemical analyses resulted in comprehensive mapping of yeast Mediator subunits and a complete reinterpretation of our previous Mediator organization model. Large-scale Mediator rearrangements depend on changes at the interfaces between previously described Mediator modules, which appear to be facilitated by factors conducive to transcription initiation. Conservation across eukaryotes of Mediator structure, subunit organization, and RNA polymerase II interaction suggest conservation of fundamental aspects of the Mediator mechanism.
Clinical Management: A Burn Center Experience with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Toxic epidermal necrolysis, a disease that produces skin loss, was encountered in 18 patients in a burn center. Drugs were associated in all cases, but six patients had symptoms of fever or cough before drug exposure. Liver function abnormalities were noted in all 18 patients. Corticosteroids were ineffective in preventing skin loss, and sepsis caused death in 11 patients. The unacceptably high incidence of septic deaths led to the current protocol of debridement, rapid steroid taper, topical chemotherapy, and cover age with homograft or synthetic skin substitute. Gastrointestinal ulcerations may have been a part of the disease process or a complication of high-dose corticosteroids.
Anemia detection utilizing diffuse reflectance spectra from the palpebral conjunctiva and tunable liquid crystal filter technology

Anemia is a serious worldwide disorder affecting 2 billion people globally. While the only clinically accepted method of diagnosis remains an invasive blood draw and laboratory analysis, numerous attempts have been made to measure total blood hemoglobin noninvasively. Although the palpebral conjunctiva can be used as a poor qualitative indicator of anemia, a quantitative analysis of the conjunctiva using visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy can provide an accurate and easy method of noninvasive measurement. Preliminary studies using a traditional grating based spectrometer have shown this method of analysis to be effective and accurate at diagnosing anemia and are presented here. An alternative device to collect diffuse reflectance spectroscopy based on tunable liquid crystal technology that is comparatively inexpensive and compact is also presented. Deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystals (DHFLC) can be tuned fully across the visible spectrum and have a narrow bandwidth of reflection. A handheld microspectrometer facilitates this technique becoming a clinically viable method of analysis and enables total hemoglobin to be measured quickly, and without the need of a blood draw. The rapidity of this test can make total hemoglobin measurement a new vital sign, increasingly important because of the concurrent appearance of anemia with numerous other disorders.
Tree-structured wavelet transform for textured image segmentation

A tree-structured wavelet transform has been developed for texture classification in our previous work. The new transform, which offers a non-redundant representation, is able to zoom into dominant frequency channels containing significant information of textures and can be interpreted as the decomposition of a 2-D function with the wavelet packet basis. In this research, we extend our work to the texture segmentation problem. A new multiscale texture segmentation algorithm based on the tree-structured wavelet transform and hierarchical fuzzy clustering technique is proposed. Numerical experiments are given to demonstrate the performance of our new algorithm.
Mental Depreciation and Marginal Decision Making

Abstract We propose that individuals practice “mental depreciation,” that is, they implicitly spread the fixed costs of their expenses over time or use. Two studies explore how people spread fixed costs on durable goods. A third study shows that depreciation can lead to two distinct errors in marginal decisions: First, people sometimes invest too much effort to get their money's worth from an expense (e.g., they may use a product a lot to spread the fixed expense across more uses). Second, people sometimes invest too little effort to get their money's worth: When people add a portion of the fixed cost to the current costs, their perceived marginal (i.e., incremental) costs exceed their true marginal costs. In response, they may stop investing because their perceived costs surpass the marginal benefits they are receiving. The latter effect is supported by two field studies that explore real board plan decisions by university students.
Subharmonics and vortex merging in mixing layers

In the present study, it is shown that the spreading rate of a mixing layer can be greatly manipulated at very low forcing level if the mixing layer is perturbed near a subharmonic of the most-amplified frequency. The subharmonic forcing technique is able to make several vortices merge simultaneously and hence increases the spreading rate dramatically. A new mechanism, ‘collective interaction’, was found which can bypass the sequential stages of vortex merging and make a large number of vortices (ten or more) coalesce.A deeper physical insight into the evolution of the coherent structures is revealed through the investigation of a forced mixing layer. The stability and the forcing function play important roles in determining the initial formation of the vortices. The subharmonic starts to amplify at the location where the phase speed of the subharmonic matches that of the fundamental. The position where vortices are seen to align vertically coincides with the position where the measured subharmonic reaches its peak. This location is defined as the merging location, and it can be determined from the feedback equation (Ho & Nosseir 1981).The spreading rate and the velocity profiles of the forced mixing layer are distinctly different from the unforced case. The data show that the initial condition has a longlasting effect on the development of the mixing layer.
Setting standards on educational tests

Method A standard is a special score that serves as a boundary between those who perform well enough and those who do not. The practical steps in selecting it include: deciding on the type of standard; deciding the method for setting it; selecting the judges; holding the meeting; calculating the cutpoint, and deciding what to do afterwards. Four of the more popular methods are illustrated for both written and clinical examinations. Results The most important criteria for selecting a method for setting standards are whether it is consistent with the purpose of the test, based on expert judgement, informed by data, supported by research, transparent, and requires due diligence. The credibility of the standard will rely largely on the nature of the standard setters and the selection of a broadly representative and knowledgeable group is essential. After the standard has been set, it is important to ensure that stakeholders view the results as credible and that the pass rates have sensible relationships with other markers of competence. Conclusions A standard is an expression of professional values in the context of a test’s purpose and content, the ability of the examinees, and the wider social or educational setting. Because standards are an expression of values, methods for setting them are systematic ways of gathering value judgements, reaching consensus and expressing that consensus as a single score on a test.
Cognitive mechanisms of word learning in bilingual and monolingual adults: The role of phonological memory

Previous studies have indicated that bilingualism may facilitate lexical learning in adults. The goals of this research were (i) to examine whether bilingual influences on word learning diverge for phonologically-familiar and phonologically-unfamiliar novel words, and (ii) to examine whether increased phonological memory capacity can account for bilingual effects on word learning. In Experiment 1, participants learned phonologically-familiar novel words that were constructed using the phonemes of English – the native language for all participants. In Experiment 2, participants learned phonologically-unfamiliar novel words that included non-English phonemes. In each experiment, bilingual adults were contrasted with two groups of monolingual adults: a high memory-span monolingual group (that matched bilinguals on phonological memory performance) and a low-span monolingual group. Results showed that bilingual participants in both experiments outperformed monolingual participants, both high-span and low-span. High-span monolinguals outperformed low-span monolinguals when learning phonologically-unfamiliar novel words, but not when learning phonologically-familiar novel words. The findings suggest that the bilingual advantage for novel word learning is not contingent on the phonological properties of novel words, and that phonological memory capacity as measured here cannot account for the bilingual effects on learning.
Making DTNs robust against spoofing attacks with localized countermeasures

In this paper, we propose countermeasures to mitigate damage caused by spoofing attacks in Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTNs). In our model, an attacker spoofs someone else's address (the victim's) to absorb packets from the network intended for that victim. Address spoofing is arguably a very severe attack in DTNs, compared to other known attacks, such as dropping packets. Without a Public Key Infrastructure in DTNs, providing protection against this attack is challenging. We propose SPREAD (countermeasure against SPoofing by REplica ADjustment), a solution that assesses evidence of spoofing and offers countermeasures designed for quota-based multi-copy routing protocols. Our solution relies on reducing the weight of packet copies, charged to the routing quota, when these packets are given to a node suspected of spoofing. The weight reduction increases as spoofing evidence mounts against a node. The approach is designed to probabilistically maintain the same number of packet copies in the network as would be the case in the absence of attacks, despite the actual occurrence of spoofing. We show that SPREAD makes DTNs robust against spoofing attacks, does not overburden the network, and limits the overall overhead within a certain bound.
Construction of centered shortest‐path trees in networks

Many researchers in the area of distributed networks have found it convenient to assume the existence of a facility for routing broadcast messages to all the nodes in the network. We are investigating an approach called center-based forwarding which routes messages via the branches of the shortest-path tree for some node near the center of the network. In this article we show that this approach results in broadcasts that finish with low delay; we then explain how to construct centered trees in a loosely coupled network environment.
A data link layer in support of swarming of autonomous underwater vehicles

Swarms of underwater autonomous vehicles (UAVs) are being increasingly used in civilian and military applications. Formations of UAVs are being utilized to detect mine-like objects and oilfields, collect water quality information, detect intruders, and in navigation assistance applications, among others. This paper introduces a new data link layer for underwater communications suitable for non-synchronized ad-hoc networks using multiple frequency channels that supports linear and polygon formations of UAVs. At the MAC layer, the 2MAC protocol is introduced. 2MAC is a contention-based and collision avoidance scheme designed to work on top of an OFDMA-based acoustic channel at the physical layer and coordinate the simultaneous transmissions of multiple OFDMA sub-channels simultaneously with only one transceiver. This 2MAC-OFDAM multichannel transmission solves the hidden, exposed terminal, capture, and deafness problems commonly found in ad-hoc networks and also increases the network throughput and packet delivery rate considerably. In addition, since the nodes are only equipped with one transceiver, the design preserves the low cost advantage of current single-channel single-transceiver CSMA-based nodes. In addition, 2MAC includes an improvement of the Binary Exponential Backoff algorithm (BEB), more adequate for underwater channels. At the logical link layer, we present SW-MER, a new protocol based on Stop and Wait and Sliding Window approaches that includes an exponential retransmission strategy to achieve better channel utilization and high reliability. A performance evaluation is carried out using the well-known Bernoulli error model and also a more realistic underwater channel simulated using synthetic traces that correspond to a shallow water channel. Simulation results in terms of reliability and throughput efficiency demonstrate the superior performance of the new data link protocol when compared with the current CSMA/CA protocol at the mac sublayer or traditional Stop and Wait protocols at the logical link control sublayer.
Frequency tunable CPW-fed slot dipole using piezoelectric transducer

A frequency tunable CPW-fed slot dipole using a piezoelectric transducer (PET) is presented. A dielectric perturber attached on a PET is used to change the effective dielectric constant of the slot line at the slot dipole. The electrical length of the slot dipole is changed due to the variation of the air gap between the slot dipole and the perturber by an external voltage. The resonant frequency of the slot dipole is tuned over 300 MHz from 4.65 to 4.35 GHz using an external voltage of 60 V.
Longitudinal Effects of a Decade of Aging on Carotid Artery Stiffness The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background and Purpose—Arterial stiffening is associated with hypertension, stroke, and cognitive decline; however, the effects of aging and cardiovascular disease risk factors on carotid artery stiffening have not been assessed prospectively in a large multiethnic longitudinal study. Methods—Distensibility coefficient and the Young’s elastic modulus (YEM) of the right common carotid artery were calculated at baseline and after a mean of 9.4 (standard deviation [SD], 0.5) years in 2650 participants. Effects of age and cardiovascular disease risk factors were evaluated by multivariable mixed regression and ANCOVA models. Results—At baseline, participants were 59.9 (SD, 9.4) years old (53% women; 25% black, 22% Hispanic, 14% Chinese). YEM increased from 1581 (SD, 927) to 1749 (SD, 1306) mm Hg (P 75 years...
Formative and non-formative evaluation

Formative and non-formative evaluation are examined from the viewpoints of adaptation to improve individual performance and maintenance to preserve an existing system. Distinctions are made in terms of the experimental method, criterion-referenced measures, accessible events, and individual behavior. The functions of other distinguishing features are also examined, such as the quantification of weak and indirect variables for active maintenance. A case is made for the advantages and disadvantages of both types of evaluations. An increased role for formative evaluation is advocated as well as a deliberate rather than an “accidental” use of non-formative evaluation.
To capture the essence of Chinese rhetoric: An anatomy of a paradigm in comparative rhetoric

(1996). To capture the essence of Chinese rhetoric: An anatomy of a paradigm in comparative rhetoric. Rhetoric Review: Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 318-335.
A NONLINEAR PROGRAMMING ALGORITHM FOR REAL‐TIME HOURLY RESERVOIR OPERATIONS

: The optimization of real-time operations for a single reservoir system is studied. The objective is to maximize the sum of hourly power generation over a period of one day subject to constraints of hourly power schedules, daily flow requirement for water supply and other purposes, and the limitations of the facilities. The problem has a nonlinear concave objective function with nonlinear concave and linear constraints. Nonlinear Duality Theorems and Lagrangian Procedures are applied to solve the problem where the minimization of the Lagrangian is carried out by a modified gradient projection technique along with an optimal stepsize determination routine. The dimension of the problem in terms of the number of variables and constraints is reduced by eliminating the 24 continuity equations with a special implicit routine. A numerical example is presented using data provided by the Bureau of Reclamation, Sacramento, California.
Clustered inactivating mutations and benign polymorphisms of the calcium receptor gene in familial benign hypocalciuric hypercalcemia suggest receptor functional domains.

The predominant variety of familial benign hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FBHH) is FBHH(3q), which is associated with presumed inactivating mutations of the cell surface calcium receptor (CaR) gene on chromosome 3q13.3-q21. We sought mutations of the CaR gene in FBHH by direct sequencing of PCR-amplified genomic DNA from 14 affected families: 8 mapped to 3q13, 1 mapped to chromosome 19p, and 5 unmapped. We sequenced the entire coding region of the gene (exons 2-7) in one or two affected members of each family and found six point mutations that altered one amino acid, cosegregated with hypercalcemia, and were absent in more than 100 unaffected persons. Four mutations were unique (S53P, D215G, S657Y, and P748R), and two had been reported previously (P55L and R185Q). Of four mutant CaR proteins expressed in Xenopus oocytes, three were deficient in extracellular Ca2+-induced signaling. No CaR mutations were found in eight families, including the one mapped to chromosome 19p. Three benign polymorphisms occurred ...
Vulnerabilities and Countermeasures – A Survey on the Cyber Security Issues in the Transmission Subsystem of a Smart Grid

With the increased investment and deployment of embedded computing and communication technologies in the power system – the smart grid vision is shaping up into a reality. The future power grid is a large cyber physical system (CPS) which is vulnerable to cyber security threats. Among the three major subsystems of a power grid – generation, transmission and distribution – this survey focuses on the transmission subsystem because most of the cyberization of the grid has been happening in this subsystem. This is due to the need for distributed measurement, monitoring and control to retain the stability, security, and reliability of power transmission system. Given the geographically dispersed generation facilities, substations, control centers, data concentrators etc., efficient data communication is required, and therefore large scale networking – either proprietary or leased – is happening. The goal of this paper is not to be comprehensive to include all efforts of securing the transmission system from cyber borne threats, but to provide a survey of various vulnerabilities, and countermeasures proposed by various research efforts. One of the focus area in this survey is the Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) and Wide Area Measurement System (WAMS) technology – mostly due to our familiarity with the issues for this specific technology deployment – rather than any attempt to indicate that this is the most vulnerable technology in the transmission subsystem. Our hope is that this survey will familiarize any uninitiated reader with the issues and provide incentive to un
Compound parabolic concentrators for narrowband wireless infrared receivers

We discuss the design of optical concentrators based on dielectric and hollow compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs), for use in free-space infrared communication receivers. In order to acheive a high signal-to-noise ratio in a direct-detection receiver, it is desirable to use an optical bandpass filter that passes the signal but attenuates ambient radiation. Placement of a planar bandpass filter at the entrance aperture of a CPC results in a receiver having a narrow passband and high gain, but a narrow acceptance angle. The addition of a second, angle-transforming CPC at the entrance aperture allows the receiver to achieve simultaneously a narrow passband and an acceptance angle approaching 90 deg. We have employed a Monte Carlo ray tracing method to calculate the optical gains of several optical concentrator designs. We find that the optical gains of single and double CPCs are, respectively, about 94% and 93% those of ideal optical concentrators, while addition of planar bandpass filters decreases these gains to about 88% and 86%, respectively. We compare the performance and size of CPC-based concentrators with those based on dielectric hemispheres fitted with hemispherical bandpass filters.
Plasticity of high and low nutrient-adapted grasses to added sulfur and nitrogen

Abstract Crop and native plants can be characterized as high and low nutrient‐adapted based on their expected response to native and applied nutrients. Our objective was to compare the plasticity of biomass allocation and tissue nutrient concentrations to added sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) across a continuum of high and low nutrient‐adapted grasses, represented by barley (Hordeum vulgare), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), and Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis). In our greenhouse study, treatments included two S sources (pyrite and gypsum), at 150 and 300 kg S ha‐1, N at 50 kg ha‐1, and a check. Shoot biomass of barley, smooth brome, and bluebunch wheatgrass was enhanced by S plus N. Shoot biomass of barley and smooth brome was greater with pyrite than with gypsum. Root biomass of smooth brome and bluebunch wheatgrass was greater with pyrite than with gypsum. Plant S concentrations of barley and Idaho fescue were enhanced by added S. Plant S concentrations in bar...
Unilateral absence of an extensor digitorum longus muscle and variations of toe tendons

The extensor digitorum longus and brevis (EDL, EDB) muscles, along with the extensor hallucis longus and brevis, extend the toes. During routine dissection in our anatomy course, the author found the EDL muscle and tendons were absent in the right leg; but the left leg had a small EDL muscle with a single fifth toe tendon. The left EDL also gave rise to a fibularis tertius muscle. In the right foot, the EDB had a variant tendon slip to the fifth toe that crossed superficial to its tendon to the fourth toe. The left EDB had an extra muscle belly whose tendon inserted on the second toe by crossing an additional EDB tendon to the second toe. Each foot had a fibularis digiti minimi tendon arising from the fibularis brevis. The lack of an EDL muscle and/or tendons may have caused this person to have foot drop during the swing phase of walking, as well as causing unexpected problems for surgeons who use EDL tendons for grafts.
Rumen bacterial communities can be acclimated faster to high concentrate diets than currently implemented feedlot programs

Aims Recent studies have demonstrated RAMP ®, a complete starter feed, to have beneficial effects for animal performance. However, how RAMP may elicit such responses is unknown. To understand if RAMP adaptation results in changes in the rumen bacterial community that can potentially affect animal performance, we investigated the dynamics of rumen bacterial community composition in corn‐adapted and RAMP‐adapted cattle.
Synthesizing Cooperative Conversation

We describe an implemented system which automatically generates and animates conversations between multiple human-like agents with appropriate and synchronized speech, intonation, facial expressions, and hand gestures. Conversations are created by a dialogue planner that produces the text as well as the intonation of the utterances. The speaker/listener relationship, the text, and the intonation in turn drive facial expressions, lip motions, eye gaze, head motion, and arm gesture generators.
A Unifying Theory of Contract Damages

This article justifies a reformulation of modern contract damage rules articulated in a new restatement of contract damages, see Barnes and Zalesne, The Shadow Code, 56 SOUTH CAROLINA L. REV. 93 (2004). The unifying principles of the surplus-based approach offered here lies in the shadows of contract remedies as articulated in Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (U.C.C.), the Restatement (Second) of Contracts. The Shadow Code presented in this Article combines these principles and formulas into a new image of legal remedies for contract breach. This reconceptualization is based on the foundational principle that parties injured by contract breach are entitled to any surplus of benefits over costs those parties would have realized had the breaching parties performed. The Shadow Code reflects the modern understanding that damages are intended to ensure that the injured party is as well off as if the other party had performed as promised.
Magnesium Incorporated Polycaprolactone-Based Composite Nanofibers

Recent advances in developing composite nanofibers are of great interest for scientific community due to their wide range of potential applications in biomedical engineering such as drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering and implant coatings. Here, we present a fabrication of Mg incorporated polycaprolactone/low molecular weight chitosan (PCL/LMW-CS) composite nanofiber via an electrospinning technique. PCL, a synthetic polymer, has good mechanical properties, whereas, chitosan, a natural polymer, has good bio-functional properties and good cell adhesion properties. Furthermore, magnesium is the second most abundant intracellular cation in the body and is important to metabolism. These nanofibers were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), ImageJ, and Instron Universal Testing Machine.Copyright © 2015 by ASME