cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Space-time functional gradient optimization for motion planning

Functional gradient algorithms (e.g. CHOMP) have recently shown great promise for producing locally optimal motion for complex many degree-of-freedom robots. A key limitation of such algorithms is the difficulty in incorporating constraints and cost functions that explicitly depend on time. We present T-CHOMP, a functional gradient algorithm that overcomes this limitation by directly optimizing in space-time. We outline a framework for joint space-time optimization, derive an efficient trajectory-wide update for maintaining time monotonicity, and demonstrate the significance of T-CHOMP over CHOMP in several scenarios. By manipulating time, TCHOMP produces lower-cost trajectories leading to behavior that is meaningfully different from CHOMP.
Behavioral Contrast in Pigeons with Qualitatively Different Reinforcers

Three white Carneaux pigeons were trained to respond on a mult VI 1-min. (milo reinforcement), VI 1-min. (pea reinforcement) schedule when each component was associated with a different key, feeder, and reinforcer. The experiment was divided into four phases. In Phases 1 and 3, baseline rates of responding were established. In experimental Phases 2 and 4, one component of the multiple schedule was changed to extinction. During the experimental phases, response rates decreased in the extinction component and increased in the unchanged component (positive behavioral contrast). The increase in responding in the unchanged component was greater when the more valued reinforcer was extinguished. These findings are very similar to those reported by Beninger and Kendall (1975) and extend the positive contrast effect to another species, pigeons.
Effects of Concanavalin A on Na+-Dependent and Na+-Independent Mechanisms for H+ Extrusion in Alveolar Macrophages

Alveolar macrophages (mφ) possess two parallel mechanisms for plasmalemmal H+ extrusion: a V-type H+ pump (V-ATPase) and a Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE). To investigate the coordinated functioning of these H+ extruders for mφ intracellular pH (pHi) regulation, we investigated the effects of the plant lectin concanavalin A (ConA) on resident alveolar mφ from rabbits. ConA (1 μM, 30-min pretreatment) activated the mφ for phagocytosis of opsonized Escherichia coli. ConA activation did not affect the baseline pHi of mφ or the initial rate of pHi recovery (dpHi/dt) from an intracellular acid load (acid-loaded pHi nadir ≈ 6.9). However, the contributions of Na+-independent H+ transport (i.e. V-ATPase activity) and Na+-dependent H+ transport (i.e. NHE activity) to dpHi/dt were altered significantly. The lectin stimulated Na+/H+ exchange and inhibited V-ATPase activity. In control mφ, V-ATPase-mediated H+ extrusion was responsible for >80% of dpHi/dt. Conversely, in ConA-treated mφ, Na+/H+ exchange was responsible for ∼65% of dpHi/dt, and V-ATPase activity was responsible for only 35% of dpHi/dt. These results underscore the complex mechanisms and signaling pathways that coordinate the activities of cellular acid-base transporters in mφ pHi regulation.
Tabular aids for fitting weibull moment estimates

On obtient la matrice de covariance asymptotique des estimateurs de moment et on fournit des listings pour des programmes informatiques BASIC qui engendrent des tables utiles pour calculer les estimations et pour estimer la matrice de covariance asymptotique en utilisant des donnees agregees
Randomized Trial of Cognitive Behavior Therapy Versus Supportive Psychotherapy for HIV-Related Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

The feasibility and acceptability of cognitive behavior therapy for HIV-related peripheral neuropathic pain was examined and the potential efficacy of the intervention was compared with that of supportive psychotherapy in reducing pain, pain-related interference with functioning, and distress. Sixty-one patients were randomly assigned to receive six weekly sessions of cognitive behavior therapy or supportive psychotherapy. Thirty-three subjects completed the protocol. Both groups showed significant reductions in pain. The cognitive behavior group improved in most domains of pain-related functional interference and distress; the supportive psychotherapy group showed fewer gains. The high dropout rate suggests that psychotherapeutic treatments for HIV-related pain may have limited feasibility and acceptability.
Measurement of patient positioning errors in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy of the prostate.

Abstract Purpose/Objective: To determine the spatial distribution of setup errors for patients treated with six-field, three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials: Port films for 50 patients were analyzed retrospectively. The port films were digitized and compared, using image registration software, to simulator films (representing the ideal treatment position). Patient positioning uncertainty for a given setup was determined using port films from three projections, two obliques, and one lateral. A total of 1239 port films and 300 simulator films were analyzed for the study. Patient position was analyzed for out-of-plane rotations and time trends over the course of treatment. Results: The distribution of systematic setup errors for the 50 patients, defined as the mean patient displacement for the treatment course, had a mean and standard deviation (SD) of (−0.1 ± 1.9) mm, and (−0.3 ± 1.3)mm in the mediolateral (ML), superior-inferior (SI) and anterior-posterior (AP) directions, and (−0.1 ± 0.2) for rotational errors. The distribution of random setup errors about the mean approximated a normal distribution and the standard deviations for the population of patients in the ML, SI, and AP directions, were 2.0 mm, 1.7 mm, and 1.9 mm, respectively. The distribution of out-of-plane rotations had 1 SD of 0.9° and 0.6° about the SI and AP axes. Ten of the 50 patients demonstrated a statistically significant time trend in their setup position resulting in shifts ranging from 2 to 7 mm. Conclusions: The setup verification protocol appears to minimize systematic setup errors to a level that approaches the sensitivity of the image registration techique. The random day to day fluctuations, represented by the average values of the standard deviations, are minor in comparison to the currently used margins, which further emphasizes the effectiveness of this protocol in conjunction with the use of the immobilization device.
Overview of recent progress in US fast ignition research

The Fast Ignition Program in the United States has enjoyed increased funding in various forms from the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences of the Department of Energy. The program encompasses experiments on large laser facilities at various world-wide locations, and benefits enormously from collaborations with many international scientists. The program includes exploratory work in cone-target design and implosion dynamics, high electron current transport measurements in normal density materials, development of diagnostics for heating measurements, generation of protons from shaped targets, theoretical work on high gain target designs, and extensive modeling development using PIC and hybrid codes.
Knowledge and credit

A widely accepted view in recent work in epistemology is that knowledge is a cognitive achievement that is properly creditable to those subjects who possess it. More precisely, according to the Credit View of Knowledge, if S knows that p, then S deserves credit for truly believing that p. In spite of its intuitive appeal and explanatory power, I have elsewhere argued that the Credit View is false. Various responses have been offered to my argument and I here consider each of these objections in turn. I show that none succeeds in undermining my argument and, thus, my original conclusion stands—the Credit View of Knowledge is false.
Further studies on the acute dependence produced by morphine in opiate naive rats

Morphine appears to be capable of initiating the opiate dependence process with the first exposure. This can be demonstrated within 3 hrs by the administration of a low dose of naloxone which results in a significant elevation in plasma corticosterone. The response was still evident if the interval between morphine-priming and naloxone was extended to 6, 12, or 24 hours. The magnitude of the hormone elevation varied with the priming dose of morphine or with the dose of naloxone used to precipitate the response. Results are presented suggesting that the stress/withdrawal hormone response may be evident as early as 30 min after morphine-priming. Rats pretreated for eight days with either diazepam, phenobarbital, or amphetamine showed similarities in hormone responses after morphine-priming and naloxone administration when compared to saline-pretreated controls. The exception being the phenobarbital-pretreated group, where the response was attenuated and not observed at the 24 hr interval. These results emphasize the parallels between acute dependence and chronic dependence, suggesting that the same mechanism is involved.
An Overview of Neuropsychiatric Disturbances in the Elderly

In no other period of life than old age do neurophysiologic alterations seem to affect behavior and cognition so significantly. Consequently, the relationship between neurology and psychiatry remains substantial when attempts are made to understand and deal with the many problems of aging. This study concerns improvement in the organization of such an approach to the neurologic and psychiatric problems of the elderly and to various interdisciplinary factors. Special consideration is given to changes in the central nervous system with aging, and to the differential diagnosis of dementia and pseudodementia.
Trajectories of satellites under the combined influences of earth oblateness and air drag

Trajectories of satellites under the influences of earth oblateness and air drag are derived by the asymptotic method in nonlinear mechanics. Based on the assumptions: (1) the dominant oblateness factor of the earth is the second harmonic (J 2), (2) a non-rotating, spherically symmetric atmosphere and an exponential distribution of atmospheric density, (3) original elliptical orbits being of small eccentricity, closed-form solutions for the improved first order approximation are obtained. After finding the osculating orbital elements of the resulting trajectories, we expose the behavior of osculating orbits at various inclinations.
Dose-dependent liver tissue repair in chloroform plus thioacetamide acute hepatotoxicity.

Abstract The objective of this study was to test whether a binary mixture (BM) of chloroform (CHCl 3 ) and thioacetamide (TA) causes a dose-dependent liver injury and an opposing tissue repair. Liver injury was assessed by plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and histopathology. Tissue repair was measured by [ 3 H-CH 3 ]-thymidine ( 3 H-T) incorporation into hepatonuclear DNA and PCNA over a time course of 0–72 h. Male Sprague–Dawley (S–D) rats received six- and five-fold dose ranges of TA and CHCl 3 , respectively. ALT levels and 3 H-T incorporation were in complete agreement with corresponding microscopic observations, and only ALT elevation and 3 H-T incorporation data are presented here. Liver injury observed after exposure to BM was no different than addition of injuries caused by individual compounds. Tissue repair was prompt and adequate, leading to recovery from injury and animal survival. Tissue repair is dose-dependent and plays central role in the hepatotoxic outcome.
In vivo imaging of immune cell dynamics in skin in response to zinc-oxide nanoparticle exposure

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in cosmetic and sunscreen products which are applied topically to the skin. Despite their widespread use, the safety and biological response of these particles remains an active area of investigation. In this paper we present methods based on in vivo multiphoton microscopy (MPM) in skin to address relevant questions about the potential toxicity and immunological response of ZnO NPs. Registration of time-lapse volumetric MPM images allows the same skin site to be tracked across multiple days for visualizing and quantifying cellular and structural changes in response to NP exposure. Making use of the unique optical properties of ZnO enables high contrast detection of the NPs in the presence of strong autofluorescence and second harmonic generation (SHG) background from the skin. A green fluorescent protein (GFP) bone marrow (BM) transplanted mouse model is used to visualize and assess the dynamic response of BM-derived immune cells. These cells are visualized to assess the potential for ZnO NPs to interact with immune cells and elicit an immune reaction in skin. We investigate both topical and dermal exposure of the ZnO NPs. The methods and findings presented in this paper demonstrate a novel approach for tracking ZnO NPs in vivo and for visualizing the cellular response of the exposed tissue to assess the immunological response and potential toxicity of these particles.
Properties of a Light-Modified-Breakdown Detector in GaAs.

The properties of a bulk-effect millimeter-wave detector made from high-purity epitaxial GaAs are discussed. The devices are operated at 4.2 K in a new light-modified-breakdown (LMB) mode with dc bias above avalanche breakdown. When operated in the LMB mode as a direct video detector, circuit-limited response time (10–90% pulse) less than 20 nsec is observed, which is an order of magnitude faster than the response of bulk GaAs and InSb mixers. NEP values of less than 10−10 W (D* on the order of 1010) in the video detector mode have been measured over the 10–70 GHz frequency range. The dependence of detector performance on operating parameters and frequency is given and compared with the predictions of hot-electron theory developed for InSb detectors. Its performance is also compared with that of microwave-biased InSb, thermal, pyroelectric, and photoionized-impurity GaAs detectors and with point contact, Schottky barrier, and MOM (tunneling) diodes and is shown to provide significant advantages of either burnout resistance, risetime, or noise over competitors in the millimeter spectral region.
Macroeconomic price stickiness: Evidence from the postwar United States

Abstract This paper econometrically investigates price stickiness within the macroeconomy. We derive a test for the existence of price inflexibility involving the difference between aggregate output growth and expenditure growth. Results using quarterly U.S. data for the post-price control era reject price flexibility and generally satisfy criteria predicted by non-market clearing behavior. We also estimate the magnitude of price inflexibility using several aggregate demand-aggregate supply models with nominal wage contracting. The findings generally indicate that prices exhibit stickiness but not rigidity. The study contributes empirical support at the aggregate level for New Keynesian macroeconomics.
Black Mountains crustal section, Death Valley extended terrain, California

Recent reconstructions of Cenozoic extension in the southern Great Basin juxtapose the Panamint Range above the Black Mountains and indicate major tectonic denudation of the Black Mountains during Tertiary extension. Structural and geologic characteristics of the Black Mountains and consideration of the regional geology of surrounding ranges suggest that the Black Mountains block may represent a 10 to 30 km preextensional crustal section that has been uplifted along a major detachment zone. Geobarometry and ductile deformation features in a synrift, intermediate to mafic batholith and metamorphism of Eocambrian sedimentary rock on the western side of the range appear to support this hypothesis. These data suggest that the Black Mountains block is one of the youngest and perhaps among the deepest exposed examples of Cordilleran metamorphic core complexes.
An analysis of the composite step biconjugate gradient method

The composite step biconjugate gradient method (CSBCG) is a simple modification of the standard biconjugate gradient algorithm (BCG) which smooths the sometimes erratic convergence of BCG by computing only a subset of the iterates. We show that 2×2 composite steps can cure breakdowns in the biconjugate gradient method caused by (near) singularity of principal submatrices of the tridiagonal matrix generated by the underlying Lanczos process. We also prove a "best approximation" result for the method. Some numerical illustrations showing the effect of roundoff error are given.
Biodesulfurization of Organic-Sulfur Compounds

A screening assay in which dibenzothiophene (DBT) or DBT-sulfone served as the only bioavailable source of sulfur was used to obtain two new bacterial isolates, strains UM9 and UM3, that desulfurized either substrate. Strain UM9 produced the desulfurized product, 2-hydroxybiphenyl (HBP); no other identifiable desulfurized products or released sulfate or sulfite were detected. Biodesulfurization activity occurred only for growing cultures and was depressed by free sulfate. Neither isolate grew on DBT, DBT-sulfone, or HBP as sole carbon sources. Under optimized conditions of pH and temperature, strain UM9 exhibited up to 35% greater biodesulfurization of DBT-sulfone than did UM3, and both isolates also desulfurized several other organic-sulfur compounds. The kinetics and characteristics of biodesulfurization by either UM3 or UM9, tentatively identified as species ofRhodococcus, indicated mechanisms different from those reported in the literature for other bacteria.
Wave Surfaces Due to Impact on Anisotropic Plates

The stress waves induced in anisotropic plates by transverse, short- duration impact forces are examined in this report The anisotropy is related to the layup angles of the fibers of a fiber composite laminated plate. Using a modification of Mindlin's approximate theory of plates, it is shown that both extensional and bending waves are generated by transverse impact. The magnitudes of the wave velocities in different directions are calculated for graphite fiber-epoxy matrix plates for various layup angles. Finally, the shapes of the wave fronts or wave surfaces due to point impact are also presented for the cases mentioned.
Convergent and stereospecific synthesis of complex skipped polyenes and polyunsaturated fatty acids

A convergent route to stereodefined skipped polyenes, which proceeds through the direct union of vinylcyclopropanes with alkynes, is described. Overall, C?C bond formation occurs in concert with the establishment of up to three stereodefined alkenes, through a tandem stereoselective metallacycle-mediated coupling/stereospecific fragmentation sequence.
Estimation of pulmonary arterial wedge pressure by pulsed Doppler echocardiography and phonocardiography

Abstract Pulsed Doppler echocardiography is widely used to evaluate left ventricular diastolic function. Limited data are available regarding the use of this technique in the noninvasive assessment of left ventricular filling pressure. Recent Doppler studies indicated a direct relation between the ratio of early-to-late transmitral diastolic filling velocity ( E A ratio) and left ventricular filling pressure. 1–4 In addition, earlier work showed that left ventricular isovolumic relaxation time is inversely related to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. 5 The aims of this study were to further examine these relations, and to determine if E A ratio and isovolumic relaxation time could be used to predict pulmonary arterial wedge pressure noninvasively.
Decoupling carbon effects and UV protection from terrestrial subsidies on pond zooplankton

Studies on spatial subsidies have overwhelmingly addressed their trophic nature. However, certain subsidies might affect recipient communities beyond the feeding pathway. Terrestrial colored dissolved organic matter (DOM) is such a subsidy providing a carbon source for bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates which zooplankton can consume (trophic pathway), but also protecting zooplankton against damaging UV radiation through its color (non-trophic pathway). These mechanisms have been quantified separately, but few studies have attempted to decouple them and evaluate their effects in the context of subsidies. In this study, I experimentally isolated the trophic and non-trophic pathways by which DOM (as maple leaf leachate) affects zooplankton, and also addressed how local food resources (i.e., phytoplankton) could mediate the response of zooplankton to DOM subsidies. Terrestrial subsidies (DOM) effectively shielded zooplankton against damaging UV radiation. Local resources (i.e., phytoplankton), however, did not seem to mediate the fitness response of zooplankton to UV radiation. This study also suggested that the carbon in DOM might be slightly detrimental to zooplankton independent of the UV protection effect. High levels of local resources combined with carbon subsidies from DOM did not translate into higher zooplankton survival, presumably because of the detrimental effects of DOM on zooplankton. This study provides further support for the importance of terrestrial subsidies in affecting communities through non-trophic pathways (UV attenuation) and documents that the trophic pathway might be strongly dependent on subsidy quality. Further studies on the role of subsidies that include the less documented non-trophic pathways are needed to improve our mechanistic understanding of how communities and ecosystems respond to spatial subsidies.
USING MOLECULAR MARKERS TO MAP MULTIPLE QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI : MODELS FOR BACKCROSS, RECOMBINANT INBRED, AND DOUBLED HAPLOID PROGENY

To maximize parameter estimation efficiency and statistical power and to estimate epistasis, the parameters of multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs) must be simultaneously estimated. If multiple QTL affect a trait, then estimates of means of QTL genotypes from individual locus models are statistically biased. In this paper, I describe methods for estimating means of QTL genotypes and recombination frequencies between marker and quantitative trait loci using multilocus backcross, doubled haploid, recombinant inbred, and testcross progeny models. Expected values of marker genotype means were defined using no double or multiple crossover frequencies and flanking markers for linked and unlinked quantitative trait loci. The expected values for a particular model comprise a system of nonlinear equations that can be solved using an interative algorithm, e.g., the Gauss-Newton algorithm. The solutions are maximum likelihood estimates when the errors are normally distributed. A linear model for estimating the parameters of unlinked quantitative trait loci was found by transforming the nonlinear model. Recombination frequency estimators were defined using this linear model. Certain means of linked QTLs are less efficiently estimated than means of unlinked QTLs.
Synthesis and bioactivity of analogs of maculosin, a host-specific phytotoxin produced by Alternaria alternata on spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)

Maculosin (cyclo-Pro-Tyr), a host-specific phytotoxin produced by Alternaria alternata on spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), is an ideal prototype for creating a safe and an environmentally fri...
Factors Impacting Long-term Local Control in Nonmetastatic Medulloblastoma

Purpose/Objective(s): To assess postoperative changes of cerebral glucose metabolism in craniopharyngioma patients receiving proton therapy. Materials/Methods: From 2011 to 2012, 17 patients enrolled in a prospective proton therapy trial for craniopharyngioma and received longitudinal PET and MR imaging for tumor and normal tissue response. Sixteen of them underwent craniotomies before baseline FDG PET studies followed by proton therapy of 54 CGEs. One did not require surgical intervention before radiation. Patient FDG PET images were nonlinearly warped to a 3D reference template in Talairach coordinates created from images of normal subjects. Left-right asymmetry of the count per voxel in each of 63 anatomical regions and region-based statistics of activity were computed. Regional asymmetry was considered significant when its Z score exceeded two standard deviations of normal population. To exclude any potential bias in PET acquisition, 12 control children with extracranial diseases but normal cerebral PET scans were also analyzed. Results: Median age of craniopharyngioma patients at diagnosis was 13 years (range, 4-18 years). Median time from craniotomies to baseline PET studies and from PET to proton therapy was 136 days (range, 7-226 days) and 32 days (range, 20-52 days). Significantly decreased glucose uptake was most prominent in right frontal lobe, striatum, and thalamus. It occurred in 7 of 10 patients who underwent transcranial craniotomies and in 2 of 3 patients receiving endoscopic craniostomy for cyst drainage, but in none of the 4 patients who received transphenoidal surgery or no surgery. Significant asymmetry in superior frontal gyrus is related to the surgical approach (89% occurrence in right frontal, bifrontal, and interhemispheric approaches vs 0% in other approaches). Significant asymmetry in caudate nucleus, putamen, and thalamus likely resulted from mass effect, venous occlusion, and surgical damage. A large, but not significant, uptake asymmetry (averaged 9%) in the inferior occipital gyrus was observed in both craniopharyngioma and control patients. This asymmetry is possibly due to the left occipital petalia commonly seen in right handers. None of the uptake asymmetry in superior frontal lobe, striatum, and thalamus was significant in control subjects. Conclusions: Postoperative metabolic abnormalities in the right superior frontal gyrus, striatum, and thalamus were noted in craniopharyngioma patients before proton therapy. The latter two are of particular interest since they subsequently receive the tumoricidal dose or are in high dose gradient regions and play an important role in regulation of motor control, sensory function, memory, sleep, and consciousness. The association with observed clinical deficits before and after proton therapy in this population will be reported. Author Disclosure: C. Hua: None. H.M. Conklin: None. M.A. Madey: None. D.J. Indelicato: None. B.L. Shulkin: None. T.E. Merchant: None.
Does parenting mediate the effects of exposure to violence on violent behavior? An ecological-transactional model of community violence.

Abstract Three waves of longitudinal data from a high poverty sample of 1544 African American youth were used to test an ecological–transactional model of violence. SEM analyses were conducted to determine whether parenting (Time 2) mediated the effects of exposure to violence (Time 1) on violent behaviors (Time 3). Findings supported the specified model. Multigroup SEM analyses indicated that neither family structure nor developmental stage (early versus middle/late adolescence) moderated these effects. However, exposure to violence had a larger effect on violent behaviors in female versus male youth, although the difference was simply in magnitude, not direction. A final model that predicted change scores also provided support for the hypothesized ecological–transactional model of violence.
Development and Stability in Visual Sustained Attention in 14, 20, and 26 Week Old Infants

Infants were studied at 14, 20, and 26 weeks of age in a longitudinal design. They were presented with varying and complex patterns on a TV screen. Two-thirds of the presentations were accompanied by a stimulus in the periphery delayed in time from the onset of fixation on the central stimulus. As in previous research, the infants were not as easily distracted by the interrupting stimulus when the presentation occurred at the point of maximal heart rate deceleration as when the presentation occurred at the end of the heart rate response. Infants with large amounts of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (i.e., heart rate variability) in a baseline recording were less distractible during the deceleration-defined trials than were infants with low amounts of respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Intra-individual patterns of development in respiratory sinus arrhythmia over the testing ages were closely paralleled by patterns of heart rate responding during sustained attention. Individual differences in baseline levels of heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia were more stable than individual differences in sustained attention. The stability of attention responses over age may be mediated by the stability of the physiological system (e.g., heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, etc.), and by the within-age relation of attention to heart rate variability.
An Empirical Study into the Relationship between Bisexual Identity Congruence, Internalized Biphobia and Infidelity among Bisexual Women

This study examined the relationship between bisexual identity congruence, internalized biphobia and infidelity among women who are attracted to men and women. Bisexual identity congruence was measured by an adapted Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, internalized biphobia was measured by an adapted version of the Lesbian Internalized Homophobia Scale and infidelity was measured by a questionnaire created by the authors measuring sexual and emotional infidelity in relationships with men and with women. Results showed a significant relationship between bisexual identity congruence and internalized biphobia, and a significant difference between faithful and unfaithful women in terms of their levels of internalized biphobia.
Ten simple rules for approaching a new job.

At some point in your professional career, you will be faced with a job interview. This may range from visiting a graduate school where you already have a placement should you want it, to interviewing for a very high-profile position in industry, government, or academia where there is significant competition for that job. Thinking both as a job applicant and a job interviewer about how I have approached job situations over the years before, during, and after the interview and how those situations have turned out, I can offer the following ten simple rules as you prepare. Where appropriate, I conclude a rule with an illustrative scenario for a junior- and/or senior-level position since while the general principles are universal, how they are applied depends somewhat on the seniority of the position.
Estimating Bohm’s quantum force using Bayesian statistics

In this paper we develop an approximate methodology for estimating the multidimensional quantum density associated with a statistical bundle of de Broglie–Bohm trajectories. The quantum density is constructed as a discrete sum of nonequivalent Gaussian components. We incorporate the ideas of Bayesian statistical analysis and an expectation-maximization procedure to compute an approximate quantum force that drives the statistical ensemble quantum trajectories.
Exhaust emissions from two intercity passenger locomotives

To enhance the effectiveness of intercity passenger rail service in mitigating exhaust emissions in California, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) included limits on exhaust emissions in its intercity locomotive procurement specifications. Because there were no available exhaust emission test data on which emission reduction goals could be based, Caltrans funded a test program to acquire gaseous and particulate exhaust emissions data, along with smoke opacity data, from two state-of-the-art intercity passenger locomotives. The two passenger locomotives (an EMD F59PH and a GE DASH8-32BWH) were tested at the Association of American Railroads Chicago Technical Center. The EMD locomotive was equipped with a separate Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) 8V-149 diesel engine used to provide 480 V AC power for the trailing passenger cars. This DDC engine was also emission tested. These data were used to quantify baseline exhaust emission levels as a challenge to locomotive manufacturers to offer new locomotives with reduced emissions. Data from the two locomotive engines were recorded at standard fuel injection timing and with the fuel injection timing retarded 4 deg in an effort to reduce NO[sub x] emissions. Results of this emissions testing were incorporated into the Caltrans locomotive procurement process by including emission performance requirementsmore » in the Caltrans intercity passenger locomotive specification, and therefore in the procurement decision. This paper contains steady-state exhaust emission test results for hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NO[sub x]), and particulate matter (PM) from the two locomotives. Computed sulfur dioxide (SO[sub 2]) emissions are also given, and are based on diesel fuel consumption and sulfur content. Exhaust smoke opacity is also reported.« less
CFAR detection algorithm for acoustic-seismic landmine detection

Automating the detection process in acoustic-seismic landmine detection speeds up the detection process and eliminates the need for a human operator in the minefield. Previous automatic detection algorithms for acoustic landmine detection showed excellent results for detecting landmines in various environments. However, these algorithms use environment-specific noise-removal procedures that rely on training sets acquired over mine-free areas. In this work, we derive a new detection algorithm that adapts to varying conditions and employs environment-independent techniques. The algorithm is based on the generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) test and asymptotically achieves a constant false alarm rate (CFAR). The algorithm processes the magnitude and phase of the vibrational velocity and shows satisfying results of detecting landmines in gravel and dirt lanes.
Alienation and self-reported deviance.

The present study assessed the relationship between alienation and criminal deviance by administering Dean's Alienation Scale and a modified version of Canter's Self-reported Deviance Checklist to 113 undergraduate students of whom 40 were men. The over-all correlation was slight but further analysis showed sex differences. Alienation was moderately related to criminal deviance among men, but not among women.
A large rotation flap raised across the midline to close lumbo-sacral meningomyelocoeles

PATERSON (1959) stated that in about a quarter of cases of meningomyelocoele, closure of the skin defect was not possible by direct suture with or without relieving incisions. In the smaller of such defects a single lateral flap based superiorly or inferiorly will suffice for closure. For very large defects, the method described by Mustarde (1968) has much to recommend it. In between these 2 extremes are defects apparently too large for a single flap and 2 flaps are often used. The disadvantage of double flaps is that the suture line which unites them, overlies the spinal defect and if any vascular insufficiency develops it is here that breakdown occurs with possible disruption of the underlying repair. We have used a transverse bipedicled flap but such flaps are under intermittent tension as the child’s back is flexed, actively or passively. In addition, in our experience, the advancement actually obtained with a bipedicled flap is less than expected. In 5 patients we have used a large rotation flap which transgresses 2 of the rules usually applied to random pattern flaps: it may be half as long again as it is broad and it crosses the midline. The defects which were covered averaged 73 x 6 cm. TECHNIQUE
Helping Japanese Economic Reform

The need for reform has changed Tokyo's policymaking process, opening up fissures in what used to look like “Japan, Inc.” Can the United States influence the likelihood, pace, and shape of reform in a new Japan?
Prehispanic human ecology of the Río Verde drainage basin, Mexico

Abstract This article discusses the results of ten years of interdisciplinary archaeological research along the Rio Verde drainage basin, Oaxaca, Mexico. In the highland valleys of the upper drainage basin we have documented six periods of significant geomorphic change. The first two were probably the result of climatic change during the mid‐Holocene. The four subsequent periods of landscape change are correlated with major shifts in demographics and human land use; we argue that these factors may be causally related. Erosion in the highland valleys led to modification of stream channel dynamics, alluviation and expansion of the agriculturally rich floodplain in the lower Rio Verde Valley. Increasing agricultural productivity in the lowlands may explain in part the rapid increase in population and social complexity beginning in the Late Formative. However, increased flooding also created risks for people living on the floodplain. The research demonstrates the dynamic nature of prehispanic ecology in the R...
Indian summer monsoon rainfall and its link with ENSO and Indian Ocean climate indices

We examine the relationship between the state of the equatorial Indian Ocean, ENSO, and the Indian summer monsoon rainfall using data from 1881 to 1998. The zonal wind anomalies and SST anomaly gradient over the equatorial Indian Ocean are used as indices that represent the condition of the Indian Ocean. Although the index defined by the zonal wind anomalies correlates poorly with Indian summer monsoon rainfall, the linear reconstruction of Indian summer monsoon rainfall on the basis of a multiple regression from the NINO3 and this wind index better specifies the Indian summer monsoon rainfall than the regression with only NINO3. Using contingency tables, we find that the negative association between the categories of Indian summer monsoon rainfall and the wind index is significant during warm years (El Nino) but not during cold years (La Nina). Composite maps of land precipitation also indicate that this relationship is significant during El Nino events. We conclude that there is a significant negative association between Indian summer monsoon rainfall and the zonal wind anomalies over the equatorial Indian Ocean during El Nino events. A similar investigation of the relationship between the SST index and Indian summer monsoon rainfall does not reveal a significant association. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society.
Equally Shared Parenting

Conventional images of motherhood and fatherhood, social interactions, and gender-based job pressures push couples toward unequal parenting. Equally sharing parents resist those pressures, and construct equality through everyday negotiations and ongoing decisions about family and work. They do not believe that mothers are more responsible for children, or more suited to care for them, than fathers. They avoid gender-based decisions about jobs that reinforce a gender-based division of labor at home. Qualitative research is necessary to unravel the complex interactions between work and family arrangements, and to show how economic, social, and ideological factors constrain family arrangements, but are also transformed in their creation.
Vascular effects of ginsenosides in vitro

Ginsenosides (saponins extracted from Panax ginseng) elicit qualitatively and quantitatively different responses in isolated, contracted ring preparations of different blood vessels from rabbits, dogs and humans. Ginsenosides themselves did not affect the tone of 'resting' isolated blood vessels directly, but contracted slightly the renal vein of rabbits at the maximum concentration tested. The mixture caused relaxation of the noradrenaline (NA) or prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha)-induced contraction of the pulmonary artery and intrapulmonary artery of rabbits, and the PGF 2 alpha-induced contraction of the canine mesenteric vein. Ginsenosides potentiated, in a concentration-dependent manner, the contractile responses of renal veins of dogs and rabbits to PGF2 alpha The reason for such heterogeneous responses of different blood vessels to ginsenosides in unknown. It is suggested that either potentiation of contraction or relaxation of contracted blood vessels might be mediated by interaction with endogenous vasoactive substances. The potentiation of PGF2 alpha-induced contraction may be related to the reduction of renal blood flow observed in anaesthetized dogs. The simultaneous contraction and relaxation effects may explain its biphasic actions on blood pressure.
SOS: sequential or simultaneous nuclear multifragmentation

Abstract A computer code that simulates the phenomenon of nuclear fragmentation occuring in nuclear collisions at intermediate energies is presented. To underline the observable distinctions between different breakup mechanisms, the code produces multifragment events using a sequential binary decay and a simultaneous breakup resulting in two sets of momenta distributions with the same mass distribution and total energy.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF NANOPARTICLE-ASSISTED DIFFUSION BRAZING

Nano- and microtechnologies offer many benefits to society and promise the prospect of paradigm shifts on many technological fronts, including health care, alternative energy production, and efficient chemical processing. Current manufacturing processes for the production of nano- and microscale products, however, are energy and waste-intensive — requiring energy and creating wastes/emissions at orders of magnitude greater than traditional production. Therefore, research is needed to quantify environmental performance improvements in nano- and microproduction technologies, nickel nanoparticle (NiNP) deposition is compared with more traditional nickel phosphorus (NiP) electroplating for facilitating diffusion brazing of arrayed microfluidics. These two technologies are analyzed on a functional basis from an environmental perspective. Potential areas of improvement and future research opportunities are identified and discussed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Charge Collection Efficiency of ALICE Silicon Drift Detectors

The charge collection efficiency (CCE) is an important characteristic of the overall detector quality. And as such, the CCE is a good parameter to control detector production process. The ALICE Silicon Drift Detectors are going to be used for particle identification providing specific ionization loss, dE/dx, measurements. The knowledge of CCE is important to achieve precision in dE/dx measurements. Impurities presented in Si bulk of Silicon Drift Detectors could trap drifting charge carriers. This results in the dependence of the charge collected on the anode on the carriers drift time. The Shockley-Read-Hall recombination-generation model is used to analyze the charge loss phenomena. The CCE data were obtained during laser testing of small "`baby'" detectors and accepted ALICE Silicon Drift Detectors. Results and discussion of the CCE measurements are presented.
A Developmental Study of Single Fiber Strength: Greenhouse Grown SJ-2 Acala Cotton

Single fiber strengths (breaking force in grams and breaking tenacity in g/tex) are reported for greenhouse grown SJ-2 Acala cotton fibers during growth and development. The developmental stages, w...
A task level metric for measuring web search satisfaction and its application on improving relevance estimation

Understanding the behavior of satisfied and unsatisfied Web search users is very important for improving users search experience. Collecting labeled data that characterizes search behavior is a very challenging problem. Most of the previous work used a limited amount of data collected in lab studies or annotated by judges lacking information about the actual intent. In this work, we performed a large scale user study where we collected explicit judgments of user satisfaction with the entire search task. Results were analyzed using sequence models that incorporate user behavior to predict whether the user ended up being satisfied with a search or not. We test our metric on millions of queries collected from real Web search traffic and show empirically that user behavior models trained using explicit judgments of user satisfaction outperform several other search quality metrics. The proposed model can also be used to optimize different search engine components. We propose a method that uses task level success prediction to provide a better interpretation of clickthrough data. Clickthough data has been widely used to improve relevance estimation. We use our user satisfaction model to distinguish between clicks that lead to satisfaction and clicks that do not. We show that adding new features derived from this metric allowed us to improve the estimation of document relevance.
Nonlinear model based coordinated adaptive robust control of electro-hydraulic robotic arms via overparametrizing method

This paper studies the coordinated motion control of robotic manipulators driven by single-rod hydraulic actuators. We present a physical model based adaptive robust control (ARC) strategy to explicitly take into account the strong coupling among various hydraulic cylinders (or joints). The property that the adjoint matrix and determinant of the inertial matrix could be linearly parametrized by certain suitably selected parameters is fully exploited and the overparametrizing method is used. Furthermore, the proposed ARC controller guarantees a prescribed output tracking transient performance and final tracking accuracy while achieving asymptotic output tracking in the presence of parametric uncertainties only. Simulation and experimental results on a three degree-of-freedom hydraulic robot arm are presented to illustrate the proposed control algorithm.
Ideal free settlement of California's Northern Channel Islands

The prehistoric establishment and expansion of permanent settlements on the Northern Channel Islands of southern California generally follows a pattern predicted by the population ecology model, the ideal free distribution (IFD). We determine this by comparing the abundant archaeological record of these Islands against a careful quantification of habitat suitability using areal photography, satellite imagery, and field studies. We assess watershed area, length of rocky intertidal zone, length of sandy beach for plank canoe pull-outs and area of off-shore kelp beds, for 46 coastal locations. A simple descriptive analysis supports key IFD predictions. A Bayesian model fitted with the Gibbs sampler allows us to reconstruct the Native assessment of habitat that appears to underlie this process. Use of the Gibbs sampler mitigates the impact of missing data, censored variables, and uncertainty in radiocarbon dates; it allows us to predict where new settlements may yet be discovered. Theoretically, our results support a behavioral ecology interpretation of settlement history, human population expansion, and economic intensification in this region. They also demonstrate Bayesian analytical methods capable of making full use of the information available in archaeological datasets.
Active simultaneous harmonic source and load pull assisted by local polyharmonic distortion models

The efficiency of a power amplifier is a strong function of the core transistor technology and the circuitry that is wrapped around it. There are many theoretical approaches to obtaining full DC-to-RF conversion from an ideal transistor, however real-world technologies do not perform equally well with each. The parasitic reactances and non-ideal DC characteristics of a transistor technology result in matching and bias requirements that can deviate significantly from those of ideal theory. In this paper we describe the use of an active simultaneous source and load pull system that quickly ascertains the conditions required to achieve a transistor technology's peak efficiency performance. The speed with which the system is able to achieve these results is facilitated by local polyharmonic distortion models that provide a quick and reliable method for finding the path of steepest ascent.