cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Form for the blind (porn and description without guarantee)

ABSTRACTThis article reads the paradoxical, curious, and seemingly self-negating pornographic category known as ‘Described Video’ – focusing on PornHub’s growing archive of professional vocal transcriptions of conventional visual pornographic texts, which are described in great detail, in real time alongside the source video, ostensibly for the benefit of the visually impaired. Through a close reading of the way in which the formal language of each text is described alongside narration of sexual practices, the article argues that described video reveals the tension at the heart of pornographic form: the inadequate mediation that all pornography attempts to contravene and disavow, a confusion of description with action. While pornography might seem the Antivalue of description – Don’t tell me, show me! – I argue that the pornographic commodity is itself a positive claim about the nature of description, one that is complicated in the case of described video. Ultimately, description comes to name an interpre...
Layered SGD: A Decentralized and Synchronous SGD Algorithm for Scalable Deep Neural Network Training.

Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) is the most popular algorithm for training deep neural networks (DNNs). As larger networks and datasets cause longer training times, training on distributed systems is common and distributed SGD variants, mainly asynchronous and synchronous SGD, are widely used. Asynchronous SGD is communication efficient but suffers from accuracy degradation due to delayed parameter updating. Synchronous SGD becomes communication intensive when the number of nodes increases regardless of its advantage. To address these issues, we introduce Layered SGD (LSGD), a new decentralized synchronous SGD algorithm. LSGD partitions computing resources into subgroups that each contain a communication layer (communicator) and a computation layer (worker). Each subgroup has centralized communication for parameter updates while communication between subgroups is handled by communicators. As a result, communication time is overlapped with I/O latency of workers. The efficiency of the algorithm is tested by training a deep network on the ImageNet classification task.
Posttranslational Methylation of Arginine in Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase Has a Profound Impact on both Methanogenesis and Growth of Methanococcus maripaludis

Catalyzing the key step for anaerobic production and/or oxidation of methane and likely other short-chain alkanes, methyl coenzyme M reductase (Mcr) and its homologs play a key role in the global carbon cycle. The McrA subunit possesses up to five conserved posttranslational modifications (PTMs) at its active site. It was previously suggested that methanogenesis marker protein 10 (Mmp10) could play an important role in methanogenesis. To systematically examine its physiological role, mmpX (locus tag MMP1554), the gene encoding Mmp10 in Methanococcus maripaludis, was deleted with a new genetic tool, resulting in the complete loss of the 5-C-(S)-methylarginine PTM of residue 275 in the McrA subunit. When the ΔmmpX mutant was complemented with the wild-type gene expressed by either a strong or a weak promoter, methylation was fully restored. Compared to the parental strain, maximal rates of methane formation by whole cells were reduced by 40 to 60% in the ΔmmpX mutant. The reduction in activity was fully reversed by the complement with the strong promoter. Site-directed mutagenesis of mmpX resulted in a differential loss of arginine methylation among the mutants in vivo, suggesting that activities of Mmp10 directly modulated methylation. R275 was present in a highly conserved PXRR275(A/S)R(G/A) signature sequence in McrAs. The only other protein in M. maripaludis containing a similar sequence was not methylated, suggesting that Mmp10 is specific for McrA. In conclusion, Mmp10 modulates the methyl-Arg PTM on McrA in a highly specific manner, which has a profound impact on Mcr activity.IMPORTANCE Mcr is the key enzyme in methanogenesis and a promising candidate for bioengineering the conversion of methane to liquid fuel. Our knowledge of Mcr is still limited. In terms of complexity, uniqueness, and environmental importance, Mcr is more comparable to photosynthetic reaction centers than conventional enzymes. PTMs have long been hypothesized to play key roles in modulating Mcr activity. Here, we directly link the mmpX gene to the arginine PTM of Mcr, demonstrate its association with methanogenesis activity, and offer insights into its substrate specificity and putative cofactor binding sites. This is also the first time that a PTM of McrA has been shown to have a substantial impact on both methanogenesis and growth in the absence of additional stressors.
Fission Reactor Pressure Boundary Materials

The nuclear pressure boundary can be considered as encompassing those components of the primary and secondary systems of the power plant which contain pressurized coolant, including the reactor vessel, steam generators, steam and primary coolant piping, valves, pumps, nozzles, and assorted small components (refer to Figs. 1-1 to 1-3; Chapter 2). Steam generators are treated separately in Chapter 6.
Public Policy as the Political Calculation of Economic Value

This chapter extends the examination of entangled political economy in the preceding chapter to recognition that what is commonly described as public policy reflects a form of profit-seeking that is unique to political enterprises. Any public policy seeks to alter the structure of market prices in some fashion. Those changes, moreover, respond to political calculations of economic valuations by politically relevant entities. Political action reflects the same forces and processes as economizing action. Political environments are dominated by non-logical action, which promotes an ideological veneer that hides the peculiar form of profit-seeking that political enterprises pursue.
Evaluating pharmacy student use of ExamSoft strength and opportunity reports.

Abstract Introduction This paper assesses use of ExamSoft strength and opportunity (SO this increased to 68% (48/71) after educational interventions (P = .06). Students who downloaded the report were asked to provide their perceived usefulness of the SO this increased to 94% (45/48) following educational interventions (P = .002). Fewer students reported not being able to interpret the report post-intervention vs. baseline, although the decrease was not significant (9% vs. 21%, respectively; P = .07). Conclusions Our findings indicate that providing students with a downloadable S&O report after exams is beneficial. There was a trend towards increased student use and a significant increase in perceived usefulness of the report following brief educational interventions. Our pilot data suggest that educational interventions on use of S&O reports should be included in student ExamSoft training.
Genetically Modified Organisms in Food: Ethical Tensions and the Labeling Initiative

As part of an international book on ethical tensions and agricultural biotechnology, this chapter discusses genetically modified food in the context of the recent federal labeling law (the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard). It explores the ethical implications of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food that originate from plants genetically altered through bioengineering. The tensions between the proliferation of agricultural biotechnology and consumer concerns about potential harm to human health and the environment ultimately cause us to reflect on the current regulatory scheme in the USA. Does the failure to require adequate, meaningful labeling, and the preemption of grassroots efforts to do so, violate our right to informed consent by not allowing consumers a choice as to whether to knowingly and willingly assume the risks of ingesting GMOs?
Negligent Admissions: Was it Unethical to Recruit Marcus Johnson?

This case study is based on the tragic, real life story of an illiterate athlete recruited to play Division One basketball. He later sued the college for “negligent admissions” and was the impetus for current NCAA regulations on recruitment and academic performance. Your students will be challenged to balance competing ethical interests, analyze the limits of legal recourse, and examine racial considerations. This case study is designed with two scenarios, background information, and detailed teaching notes.
Finding the way: films found on a scrap heap

Some filmmakers restrict their manipulations of found footage to the minimal act of presenting a film they have discovered with almost no changes. But others have subjected found footage to extensive editing, chemical manipulation, rephotography, or new soundtracks (or all of these processes combined). In this brief essay I cannot hope to cover all the permutations of this rich genre of experimental film, nor to mention all of its numerous practitioners (and I will deal with the visual image more than sound). However, I do want to give a sense of the range of approaches that exist using found footage to mention a few of its masters
Relationship Between Life-Space Mobility and Health Characteristics in Older Adults Using Global Positioning System Watches.

This study aimed to examine the feasibility of using global positioning system (GPS) watches to examine relationships between GPS-based life-space mobility (LSM) metrics and self-report LSM and hea...
Source location from multiple independent observables

Estimation of source range from direction-of-arrival measurements at hydrophone arrays is considered. Many array systems provide measurements that support multiple independent ranging mechanisms. An example is triangulation or depression/elevation measurements together with the bearings-only ranging mechanism. Implementation of a single, coupled filter incorporating multiple independent mechanisms can result in significant losses in practice. The presence of an unknown measurement bias and threshold nonlinearities are potential sources of estimation losses. Implementation of separate filters for each independent measurement source are shown to preserve a sufficient statistic for the estimation of deterministic processes. This decoupled approach prevents corruption of a good ranging mechanism from biases and/or threshold losses in an independent mechanism. >
Habits and Virtues: Does it Matter if a Leader Kicks a Dog?

Abstract: This paper argues that it is reasonable to make attributions about a leader’s character based on minor incidents such as kicking a dog. It begins with a short review of the relevant literature from leadership studies and social psychology on how our prototypes of leaders affect the attributions we make about them. Then the paper examines the role of virtues, habits, and dispositional statements to show why an act such as kicking a dog can offer insight into a leader’s moral character. Keywords: Leadership; Leadership Ethics; Virtue; Habit Attribution; Dispositional Statements. Costumi e virtu: conta se un leader prende a calci un cane? Riassunto: In questo articolo si sostiene che e ragionevole compiere attribuzioni concernenti il carattere di un leader basate su piccoli eventi incidentali, come prendere a calci un cane. Il testo prende le mosse da una piccola rassegna della letteratura piu importante tratta dagli studi sulla leadership e dalla psicologia sociale su come le nostre immagini prototipiche di leader influenzano le attribuzioni che di solito compiamo nei loro confronti. Successivamente il testo esamina il ruolo delle virtu, dei costumi e delle affermazioni disposizionali per mostrare la ragione per la quale un atto come il prendere a calci un cane possa gettar luce sulla caratura morale di un leader. Parole chiave: Leadership; Etica della leadership; Virtu; Attribuzione di costumi; Affermazioni disposizionali.
Positive and Negative Social Reactions to Salesperson Deviance

In this study, qualitative methods are used to gain a broader understanding of overall dimensions of salesperson deviant behaviors. Then reactions to the behaviors by others are explored, and contingent factors are identified that lead to either positive or negative social reactions and labels. This important aspect of salesperson deviance is explored to understand why some deviant behaviors are admired and others are shunned. Ultimately, this exploration of salesperson deviance contributes to the sales literature by developing a holistic model of salesperson deviance dimensions and the contingent factors that lead to positive and negative social reactions.
Social Security and Retirees' Decision to Work

Non-linearities in the Social Security benefits formula are used to estimate the effect of benefit size on the probability married beneficiaries work after initiating benefits. Consistent with economic theory, benefit size has a significant, negative effect on the probability of post-retirement work. A 10% increase in benefit size decreases the probability of work 3-4 percentage points for recently retired husbands (from a mean of 25.5%) and 2-3 percentage points for recently retired wives (from a mean of 12.8%). For both spouses, the effect erodes in later years of retirement.
Two Nobel Prizes and a Hole-in-One

True Genius The Life and Science of John Bardeen. Lillian Hoddeson and Vicki Daitch. Joseph Henry Press (National Academies Press), Washington, DC, 2002. 479 pp. $27.95, C$37.95. ISBN 0-309-08408-3. Hoddeson and Daitch offer an account of the life and science of the researcher who won two Nobel Prizes in physics for his contributions to the invention of the transistor and the theory of superconductivity.
Strong Gravitational Lensing on the Hubble Deep Field

The Hubble Deep Field, henceforth HDF, (Williams et al 1996) is a unique data set for studies of faint galaxies. A small area was chosen well away from known local density enhancements and sources of obscuration. It was imaged for 30 complete orbits in each of four filters centered on wavelengths A300, vn450, pp606,814 nm. There are three, contiguous WFPC2 frames and a solid angle 15, 500 arcsec2 is usable. This tiny region is teeming with galaxies. At least 2500 significant features can be identified down to R = 30, though it is not clear that these are all entire galaxies.
The Unpredictable Presumption Against Extraterritoriality

In its 2010 decision in Morrison v. National Australia Bank Ltd., the Supreme Court reaffirmed a strict presumption against the extraterritorial application of federal statutes on the ground that the presumption provides “a stable background against which Congress can legislate with predictable effects.” In fact, the presumption has been anything but stable, and Morrison, which overturned forty years of circuit court precedent on the geographic reach of federal securities law, does nothing to make it more predictable. In a previous article, I argued that the Court should reject a strict presumption against extraterritoriality in favor of a renewed version of an older canon: a presumption against the extension of statutes beyond limits set by the international law of legislative jurisdiction, or a presumption against extrajurisdictionality. In this article, I explain how Morrison exacerbates the confusions inherent in the Court’s unmoored jurisprudence on the extraterritorial application of statutes, and describe how the circuit court decisions it rejected actually illustrate the virtues of a presumption against extrajurisdictionality.
A computational approach to steerable functions

We present a computational, group-theoretic approach to steerable functions. The approach is group-theoretic in that the treatment involves continuous transformation groups for which elementary Lie group theory may be applied. The approach is computational in that the theory is constructive and leads directly to a procedural implementation. For functions that are steerable with n finite number of basis functions under a k-parameter group, the procedure is efficient and is guaranteed to return the minimum number of basis functions. If the function is not steerable, a numerical implementation of the procedure could also be used to compute basis functions that approximately steer the function over a range of transformation parameters. Examples of both applications are demonstrated.
Quantifying trophic niche spaces of small mammals using stable isotopes (δ15N and δ13C) at two scales across Alaska

Changing climate conditions are causing global distribution shifts, resulting in altered food webs and novel species assemblages in terrestrial systems. How diets of sympatric small mammals overlap and whether this may translate into competitive exclusion among new species interactions remains largely unknown. Monitoring niche overlap in changing arctic and boreal communities can assist in forecasting interspecific competition and species turnover. We quantified the isotopic niche spaces of small mammals, which may reflect dietary niche spaces, at study sites along two megatransects spanning Alaska. Field sampling resulted in the capture of 724 small mammals belonging to 12 species of rodent (10 Arvicolinae and 2 Sciuridae) and 6 species of shrew (genus Sorex L., 1758). We created dietary mixing models based on hair samples for four rodent species using stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) analyses in R. We also modeled isotopic niche ellipses and quantified niche overlap among species at small and large scales...
A comparison of Asian and white patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the possible differences between Asian and white patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Methods: A retrospective review of Asian and white patients during a 12-month period was conducted. Patients with respiratory disturbance index (RDI) ≥ 15 based on polysomnography were included in the study. Variables examined include age, sex, body mass index (BMI), RDI, lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT), and cephalometric analysis data. Results: Fifty-eight Asian patients (53 men) and 293 white patients (260 men) were studied. The Asians were younger (44.1 ± 9.8 vs. 47.5 ± 11.6 y, P = .02), and the mean BMI (kg/m2) was 26.6 ± 3.7 in the Asians and 30.7 ± 5.9 in the whites (P < .001). The mean RDI was similar (56.6 ± 34.9 vs. 55.6 ± 26.9, P = NS), but the mean LSAT was lower in the whites (77.7 ± 9.9% vs. 70.0 ± 15.6%, P < .001). Based on the cephalometric data, the Asians have maxillomandibular protrusion, narrower cranial base angle, larger posterior airway space, and more superiorly positioned hyoid bone compared with the whites. Conclusions: Although male gender was found to be an important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in both Asian and white patients, obesity may be a less significant risk factor in the Asians because the majority of our Asian patients were nonobese. There was also variability in the craniomandibular factors that contributed to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the two groups.
A discourse copying algorithm for ellipsis and anaphora resolution

We give an analysis of ellipsis resolution in terms of a straightforward discourse copying algorithm that correctly predicts a wide range of phenomena. The treatment does not suffer from problems inherent in identity-of-relations analyses. Furthermore, in contrast to the approach of Dalrymple et al. [1991], the treatment directly encodes the intutive distinction between full NPs and the referential elements that corefer with them through what we term role linking. The correct predictions for several problematic examples of ellipsis naturally result. Finally, the analysis extends directly to other discourse copying phenomena.
A MICROCHEMICAL STUDY OF SOYBEANS DURING GERMINATION

A review of the literature on the germination of seeds shows a growing need of further studies of the chemical changes that occur during germination. Both macrochemical and microchemical methods of study have been used, but the majority of the work has been macrochemical. Choate (4) and Toole (22) have reported microchemical work on the germination of starchy seeds. The present investigation has been an attempt to use microchemical tests as a means of following the chemical changes that occur from the time an oily seed begins to germinate until the seedling dies because of the depletion of reserve foods.
Typing and computational properties of lambda expressions

Abstract We use a perception of second-order typing in the λ-Calculus, as conveying semantic properties of expressions in models over λ-expressions, to exhibit natural and uniform proofs of theorems of Girard (1971/1972) and of Coppo, Dezani and Veneri (1981) about the relations between typing properties and computational properties of λ-expressions (solvability, normalizability, strong normalizability), and of some generalizations of these theorems.
CT of cystic diseases of the lung.

Cystic lung diseases can be evaluated accurately by high-resolution CT. The distribution of the cysts, thickness of the cyst wall, and changes in the lung parenchyma between the cysts are all findings that can be used to narrow the differential and, in many cases, arrive at a specific diagnosis.
Fast solution of load shedding problems via a sequence of linear programs

Given a power network consisting of nodes (generators/loads) and edges (lines), there exist a set of constraints that must be satisfied in order for the system to be operational. When one or more power lines are cut, the bus phases and load/generator power values may need to be altered in order to restore the system to operation. The load shedding problem is to find the smallest adjustment to the loads that achieves this restoration. In this work, we show how to solve this nonlinear optimization problem by solving a sequence of linear programs. On random graphs with 1500 edges, we find that our method is at least 40 times faster than competing nonlinear optimization methods. We show that our method is capable of solving load shedding problems for a real graph with 19840 edges, and that the method scales with an O(n2) running time where n is the number of edges. For real subgraphs with hundreds of edges, we are able to rapidly solve all possible load shedding problems in which at most two lines are deleted. This work takes a first step towards a scalable load shedding algorithm capable of handling large networks that will arise in the future.
Overweight is associated with decreased cognitive functioning among school-age children and adolescents.

Objective: Childhood overweight and obesity have increased substantially in the past two decades, raising concerns about their psychosocial and cognitive consequences. We examined the associations between academic performance (AP), cognitive functioning (CF), and increased BMI in a nationally representative sample of children. Methods and Procedures: Participants were 2,519 children aged 8–16 years, who completed a brief neuropsychological battery and measures of height and weight as a part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional survey conducted between 1988 and 1994. Z-scores were calculated for each neuropsychological test, and poor performance was defined as z-score <2. Results: The association between BMI and AP was not significant after adjusting for parental/familial characteristics. However, the associations between CF remained significant after adjusting for parental/familial characteristic, sports participation, physical activity, hours spent watching TV, psychosocial development, blood pressure, and serum lipid profile. Z-scores on block design (a measure of visuospatial organization and general mental ability) among overweight children and children at risk of overweight were below those of normal-weight children by 0.22 (s.e. = 0.16) and 0.10 (s.e. = 0.10) unit, respectively (P for trend <0.05). The odds of poor performance on block design were 1.97 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–3.83) and 2.80 (1.16–6.75), respectively, among children at risk or overweight compared to normal-weight peers. Discussion: Increased body weight is independently associated with decreased visuospatial organization and general mental ability among children. Future research is needed to determine the nature, persistence, and functional significance of this association.
Prevalence of nitrous oxide reducing capacity in denitrifiers from a variety of habitats

A total of 81 strains isolated by T. N. Gamble from soils from eight countries, fresh water lake sediments and nitrified poultry manure were examined for their ability to grow on N2O as their electron acceptor, as well as for their tendency to produce N2O from NO 3 − in the absence and presence of acetylene. Seventy-seven of the 81 strains were confirmed as denitrifiers. Fifty-nine of the 77 strains grew on N2O, while 12 strains produced N2O but could not utilize it. Six strains reduced NO 3 − to N2 but could not grow on N2O, suggesting that even if N2O is always an intermediate product of denitrification, it is not always a freely diffusible intermediate. The organisms, however, would consume N2O that accumulated early in growth and accumulated N2O in the presence of acetylene. Thus the total number of N2O users was 65 strains or 83% of the total tested. This implies that the N2O reducing capacity of denitrifiers occur widely in nature. A high proportion ofPseudomonas fluorescens biotype II reduced N2O. The accumulation of N2O from NO 3 − in the presence of acetylene provides strong evidence that N2O is generally an intermediate in denitrification as well as provides additional support for the usefulness of this chemical as a general inhibitor of N2O reduction.
A computational model of the human left-ventricular epicardial myocyte.

A computational model of the human left-ventricular epicardial myocyte is presented. Models of each of the major ionic currents present in these cells are formulated and validated using experimental data obtained from studies of recombinant human ion channels and/or whole-cell recording from single myocytes isolated from human left-ventricular subepicardium. Continuous-time Markov chain models for the gating of the fast Na+ current, transient outward current, rapid component of the delayed rectifier current, and the L-type calcium current are modified to represent human data at physiological temperature. A new model for the gating of the slow component of the delayed rectifier current is formulated and validated against experimental data. Properties of calcium handling and exchanger currents are altered to appropriately represent the dynamics of intracellular ion concentrations. The model is able to both reproduce and predict a wide range of behaviors observed experimentally including action potential morphology, ionic currents, intracellular calcium transients, frequency dependence of action-potential duration, Ca2+-frequency relations, and extrasystolic restitution/post-extrasystolic potentiation. The model therefore serves as a useful tool for investigating mechanisms of arrhythmia and consequences of drug-channel interactions in the human left-ventricular myocyte.
The Direct Determination of Mercury in Sweat

Abstract Excretion of trace metals in perspiration, or sweat, can be of importance in the balance of elements in the human body. The loss of essential trace elements through perspiration can be a factor in nutrition studies and excretion of toxic metals plays a role in toxicity studies. It has been suggested1 that such excretion is a means of removing non-essential components from the body. Iodine, bromine, silver, mercury and other pharmacological substances administered can be discharged in this manner.2 In 1928, Lomholt3 found small amounts of mercury in the perspiration of patients injected with mercuric ion as a treatment for syphilis. The secretion by the sweat glands is far greater than the secretion of most other larger glands; for example, typical sweat glands weighing a total of 40 g secrete 3–10 kg of fluid/day compared to typical saliva glands, which weigh 70 g and secrete 1.5 kg saliva/day.2 Since a portion of human perspiration is insensible and does not involve the sweat glands,2 loss of tr...
Immune biomarker differences and changes comparing HCV mono-infected, HIV/HCV co-infected, and HCV spontaneously cleared patients.

Background Immune biomarkers are implicated in HCV treatment response, fibrosis, and accelerated pathogenesis of comorbidities, though only D-dimer and C-reactive protein have been consistently studied. Few studies have evaluated HIV/HCV co-infection, and little longitudinal data exists describing a broader antiviral cytokine response
Beta-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids by human fibroblasts: evidence for a novel long-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase.

Abstract Fibroblasts from patients with long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency were found to oxidize [1-14C]linoleate at an average rate of 60% of normal but [9,10(n)-3H]myristate at an average rate of only 37% of normal, a relationship reverse from that predicted by the chain-length specificities of the three known straight-chain mitochondrial acyl-CoA dehydrogenases. The residual long-chain beta-oxidative activity was found to be mitochondrial and associated with the accumulation of tetradecadienoate (C14:2w6) when the mutant fibroblasts were incubated with 100 μmol/L linoleate (C18:2w6) or eicosadienoate (C20:2w6). The results suggest the presence in human fibroblasts of a novel acyl-CoA dehydrogenase with activity toward 15 to 20 carbon-length fatty acids.
Effect of lithium salts on electrolyte metabolism.

Abstract Lithium carbonate was administered to 18 patients with recurrent affective or schizoaffective disorders and a number of parameters of water and electrolyte metabolism and related adrenal cortical functions were studied longitudinally. Serum K + and Mg ++ levels increased significantly while patients were on lithium but serum Na + and Ca ++ levels did not change. There were transient increases in urinary volume and 24-hr Na + and aldosterone output, but no change in urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. There were also sustained increases in urinary volume and urinary aldosterone output. Eleven of the patients had repeated measurements of 24-hr exchangeable sodium as well as several measurements of extracellular space. There was a significant increase in 24-hr exchangeable sodium mass and space during lithium administration. These changes were much larger in patients whose affective disorders improved while on lithium, whether they were manic or depressed when treatment began. The interrelationship between some of these changes is analyzed and discussed in detail.
Natural Gas Production from Methane Hydrate Deposits Using COClathrate Sequestration: State-of-the-Art Review and New Technical Approaches

This paper focuses on reviewing the currently available solutions for natural gas production from methane hydrate deposits using CO2 sequestration. Methane hydrates are ice-like materials, which form at low temperature and high pressure and are located in permafrost areas and oceanic environments. They represent a huge hydrocarbon resource, which could supply the entire world for centuries. Fossil-fuel-based energy is still a major source of carbon dioxide emissions which contribute greatly to the issue of global warming and climate change. Geological sequestration of carbon dioxide appears as the safest and most stable way to reduce such emissions for it involves the trapping of CO2 into hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers. Indeed, CO2 can also be sequestered as hydrates while helping dissociate the in situ methane hydrates. The studies presented here investigate the molecular exchange between CO2 and CH4 that occurs when methane hydrates are exposed to CO2, thus generating the release of natural gas and the trapping of carbon dioxide as gas clathrate. These projects include laboratory studies on the synthesis, thermodynamics, phase equilibrium, kinetics, cage occupancy, and the methane recovery potential of the mixed CO2&#x2013;CH4 hydrate. An experimental and numerical evaluation of the effect of porous media on the gas exchange is described. Finally, a few field studies on the potential of this new gas hydrate recovery technique are presented.
Effect of Sulfur Surface Structure on Nucleation of Oxide Seed Layers on Textured Metals for Coated Conductor Applications

We present a study of the {100} biaxially textured Ni (001) surface and oxide seed layer nucleation by in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. Our observations revealed the existence of a c(2×2) superstructure on the textured Ni surface due to segregation of sulfur contained in the bulk metal. The sulfur superstructure promotes the epitaxial (002) nucleation of seed layers such as Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) and CeO2 on the metal and optimizes the biaxial texture necessary for high Jc superconductors on RABiTS.
Complete Atrioventricular Canal Malformation: Further Clarification of the Anatomy of the Common Leaflet and Its Relationship to the VSD in Surgical Correction

Thirty-four heart specimens showing complete atrioventricular (AV) canal malformation were studied. The size of defects underneath the anterior common leaflet was compared with the size of those beneath the posterior common leaflet. Wherever such defects were present, they were either of the same size or larger underneath the anterior leaflet. There was no correlation between the type of posterior common leaflet and the size of ventricular communication. The importance of the location of the ventricular defect in relation to surgical correction, especially in small infants, is discussed.
Holistic run-time parallelism management for time and energy efficiency

The ubiquity of parallel machines will necessitate time- and energy-efficient parallel execution of a program in a wide range of hardware and software environments. Prevalent parallel execution models can fail to be efficient. Unable to account for dynamic changes in operating conditions, they may create non-optimum parallelism, leading to underutilization or contention of resources. We propose ParallelismDial (PD), a model to dynamically, continuously and judiciously adapt a program's degree of parallelism to a given dynamic operating environment. PD uses a holistic metric to measure system-efficiency. The metric is used to systematically optimize the program's execution.We apply PD to two diverse parallel programming models: Intel TBB, an industry standard, and Prometheus, a recent research effort. Two prototypes of PD have been implemented. The prototypes are evaluated on two stock multicore workstations. Dedicated and multiprogrammed environments were considered. Experimental results show that the prototypes outperform the state-of-the-art approaches, on average, by 15% on time and 31% on energy efficiency, in the dedicated environment. In the multiprogrammed environment, the savings are to the tune of 19% and 21% in time and energy, respectively.
Systematics, distribution, and bibliography of the frog Leptodactylus insularum Barbour, 1906 (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)

Abstract The Leptodactylus bolivianus complex has recently been assessed and determined to be comprised of three species – L. bolivianus, L. guianensis, and L. insularum (Heyer & de Sa 2011). The aim of this study is to amplify data for L. insularum that were not included in the Heyer & de Sa (2011) publication. The earlier paper based distributional data only on specimens evaluated by Heyer. Later literature searches identified further information and a greater number of localities for Leptodactylus insularum resulting in a comprehensive summary and a more precise distribution for the species. The purpose of this paper is to summarize information for the currently understood single species Leptodactylus insularum. Pertinent literature is reviewed and summarized for biology, life history, systematics, nomenclature, conservation, and distribution.
Interlacing Bypass Rings to Torus Networks for More Efficient Networks

We introduce a new technique for generating more efficient networks by systematically interlacing bypass rings to torus networks (iBT networks). The resulting network can improve the original torus network by reducing the network diameter, node-to-node distances, and by increasing the bisection width without increasing wiring and other engineering complexity. We present and analyze the statement that a 3D iBT network proposed by our technique outperforms 4D torus networks of the same node degree. We found that interlacing rings of sizes 6 and 12 to all three dimensions of a torus network with meshes 30 × 30 × 36 generate the best network of all possible networks, including 4D torus and hypercube of approximately 32,000 nodes. This demonstrates that strategically interlacing bypass rings into a 3D torus network enhances the torus network more effectively than adding a fourth dimension, although we may generalize the claim. We also present a node-to-node distance formula for the iBT networks.
Tricuspid Valve Repair in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) remains an obstacle for staged palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Because previous results from our institution suggested that posterior leaflet obliteration (PLO) is effective in tricuspid valve repair (TVR), we preferentially used this method. This report analyzes the effect of this preference on repair success and patient survival. All HLHS patients with 3–4+ preoperative TR undergoing TVR between 2002 and 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and echocardiographic data were used to determine outcomes. Seventy-one percent (17 of 24) of patients had success at early outcome; the remaining 29% experienced early failure. Sixty-three percent (15 of 24) of patients demonstrated success at late outcome. Early outcome status was found to be a predictor of late outcome status (OR 22.9, P = 0.0037). Overall survival was 71% (17 of 24). Survival could not be shown to be associated with early or late outcome status (odds ratio = 0.96). A preference for PLO was found to give improved, long-lasting results for HLHS patients. Success at immediate outcome was predictive of success with time. PLO has the advantage of being simple and reproducible and produces good outcomes in this challenging group. Continued follow-up will be necessary to confirm long-term outcomes.
Low-cost membrane-type deformable mirror with high-density actuator spacing

A design for a Deformable Mirror (DM) with closely spaced actuators is presented. The DM surface is made of a thin membrane type glass with a thickness of 300 microns. It is supported by a series of piezoelectric actuator tubes with a square grid spacing of 4 mm. A conventional epoxy bond is used to hold the actuators to the membrane, with a small steel ball interfacing between the two (at each actuator) for desirable deformation characteristics. The actuators are also bonded to a base structure made of commercially pure Titanium to help athermalize the overall design. The base structure is designed to protect the epoxy bonds from atmospheric moisture. With this design, an actuator could be capable of up to 7 microns of displacement with respect to neighboring actuators, allowing for considerable ability to correct wavefront error in a compact design. Such capability is required to achieve the goals of adaptive coronagraph systems on large, ground based telescopes. Low cost is achieved through the use of inexpensive actuators and a relatively simple fabrication process.
Vibrational features in inelastic electron tunneling spectra

A theoretical analysis of inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) experiments conducted on molecular junctions is presented, where the second derivative of the current with respect to voltage is usually plotted as a function of applied bias. Within the nonperturbative computational scheme, adequate for arbitrary parameters of the model, we consider the virtual conduction process in the off-resonance region. Here we study the influence of few crucial factors on the IETS spectra: the strength of the vibronic coupling, the phonon energy, and the device working temperature. It was also shown that weak asymmetry in the IETS signal with respect to bias polarity is obtained as a result of strongly asymmetric connection with the electrodes.
Factors influencing the binding of large immune complexes to the primate erythrocyte CR1 receptor

This study was undertaken to ascertain the relationship between the size of immune complexes and their capacity to be bound by primate erythrocytes, and to examine the role of complement in the binding of very large immune complexes to erythrocytes. Preformed bovine serum albumin-rabbit anti-bovine serum albumin immune complexes were solubilized in a fivefold antigen excess, and the supernatant fluids were subjected to differential centrifugation to select immune complexes of varying size. The size profile of immune complexes was measured on isokinetic sucrose gradients. Immune complexes were incubated with erythrocytes, and unbound immune complexes were separated from erythrocyte-bound immune complexes by centrifugation on Percoll. The results indicate that large immune complexes were bound more efficiently by primate erythrocytes than were smaller immune complexes. Depletion of complement by a variety of procedures abrogated binding of immune complexes to erythrocytes. Only the erythrocytes of primates had the capacity to bind immune complexes. Baboon or rabbit sera supported immune complex binding to baboon or human erythrocytes. In contrast, human and guinea pig sera supported immune complex binding to human erythrocytes, but these sera failed to support immune complex binding to baboon erythrocytes. These data indicate that the immune complex size and the source of serum complement are important factors which influence the binding of immune complexes to primate erythrocytes.
Electrical properties of zinc ferrites Fe 3 − x Zn x O 4 with 0≤ x <0.3

Resistivity and Seebeck coefficients are reported in the range 50 KT300 K for zinc ferrite single crystals ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Zn}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ in the composition range 0\ensuremath{\le}x0.3. Samples with 0x\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.012 exhibited first-order phase transformations at the Verwey transition; in the range 0.012x\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.036 second- or higher-order continuous phase changes were observed. No transitions were encountered for x\ensuremath{\gtrsim}0.036. The electrical properties of the zinc ferrites are analyzed in terms of hopping charge-carrier transport involving valence fluctuations on cations located on octahedral sites. The electrical properties and Verwey transitions of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Zn}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3(1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}})}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ match very well with the compositional correspondence x\ensuremath{\rightleftarrows}3\ensuremath{\delta}. Various implications of the above findings are discussed.
The role of bromide in the dissipation of chlorine in sea-water

Abstract Chlorinated natural waters with a wide range of salinities are used as coolants in coastal power plants. When chlorine is added to waters of different salinities, the concentration ratio of bromide, a major constituent of marine waters, to the added chlorine can significantly alter the rate and mechanism of the dissipation of chlorine. In this study, the bromide concentration was varied by one of three methods: by diluting sea-water with de-ionized water, adding bromide to river water and collecting natural waters at various salinities. In the first and second methods both the concentration of bromide and the concentration as well as the composition of dissolved organic matter were altered in a predictable and systematic manner. In the third method, only the concentration of bromide can be varied in a controlled and systematic way. The behavior of chlorine in these waters at doses of 10, 5 and 1 mg l−1 were examined. The molar ratio of bromide to added hypohalite ranged from
“The deer hunter”: Rhetoric of the warrior

Using a Psychological/Ritual Model of criticism, the essay argues that the rhetorical force of “The Deer Hunter” is explained by men's participation in rituals, such as deer hunting, which affect the patterns of psychological change they experience during and after war. These changes affect the future regeneration of the society.
Potassium channel structure: domain by domain

Since the determination of the structure of a bacterial potassium channel, the ion channel community has managed to gain momentum in the quest for a complete picture. The information is coming at a steady flow, on a domain by domain basis. Recent discoveries are starting to reveal clues to the complex manner in which potassium channels show enormous diversity of function and also to their methods of regulation. Currently, the structures of four domains are known, with the most recent addition being the Kvbeta structure. As efforts continue in the study of the transmembrane domains, especially the voltage-sensing apparatus, there has been a new realization with respect to the identification and role of the cytoplasmic domains in protein-protein interactions in particular. An additional discovery, considerably aided by recent genomic analysis, is that potassium channels comprising subunits with two pore regions and four transmembrane helices combined in a dimeric fashion are abundant and are probable targets for local anesthetics.
Gas chromatographic stationary phase properties of two room-temperature liquid organi salts

Abstract The gas chromatographic properties of two room-temperature liquid organic salts, triethyl-n-hexylammonium triethyl-n-hexylboride (TEHAB) and stearylmethyldipolyoxethyl(15)ammonium chloride (Ethoquad 18 25 , are described. Triethyl-n-hexyl-ammonium triethyl-n-hexylboride could be used up to temperatures of 130°C but showed poor stability towards air and undesirable reactivity towards some dipolar and proton donor/acceptor solutes when used as a column packing material. In contrast, Ethoquad 18 25 had a maximum column operating temperature of 280°C, or 300°C after vacuum conditioning. From a calculation of mcReynolds' phase constants and the molar free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of solution for polarity test probes, it was established that Ethoquad 18 25 showed intermediate selectivity for dipolar and proton-donor solutes compared to results for conventional non-ionic phases. Ethoquad 18 25 is an excellent phase for the profiling of essential oils.
Interaction of protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS) proteins with the TATA-binding protein, TBP.

Transcription activators often recruit promoter-targeted assembly of a pre-initiation complex; many repressors antagonize recruitment. These activities can involve direct interactions with proteins in the pre-initiation complex. We used an optimized yeast two-hybrid system to screen mouse pregnancy-associated libraries for proteins that interact with TATA-binding protein (TBP). Screens revealed an interaction between TBP and a single member of the zinc finger family of transcription factors, ZFP523. Two members of the protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS) family, PIAS1 and PIAS3, also interacted with TBP in screens. Endogenous PIAS1 and TBP co-immunoprecipitated from nuclear extracts, suggesting the interaction occurred in vivo. In vitro-translated PIAS1 and TBP coimmunopreciptated, which indicated that other nuclear proteins were not required for the interaction. Deletion analysis mapped the PIAS-interacting domain of TBP to the conserved TBPCORE and the TBP-interacting domain on PIAS1 to a 39-amino acid C-terminal region. Mammals issue seven known PIAS proteins from four pias genes, pias1, pias3, piasx, and piasy, each with different cell type-specific expression patterns; the TBP-interacting domain reported here is the only part of the PIAS C-terminal region shared by all seven PIAS proteins. Direct analyses indicated that PIASx and PIASy also interacted with TBP. Our results suggest that all PIAS proteins might mediate situation-specific regulatory signaling at the TBP interface and that previously unknown levels of complexity could exist in the gene regulatory interplay between TBP, PIAS proteins, ZFP523, and other transcription factors.