cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bone surface modifications in zooarchaeology

Cutmarks made by stone tools, conchoidal flake scars from hammerstone percussion, carnivore tooth marks, striations from sedimentary abrasion, and other surface modifications on bones from archaeological sites constitute a crucial body of evidence for investigating the role of human behaviors and of nonhuman taphonomic processes in site formation. This paper describes the various kinds of bone surface modifications produced by humans and by nonhuman processes and assesses the current status of bone surface modification studies with regard to such issues as the need for greater analytical standardization, the selection of instruments for examining bone specimens, tactics for identifying the origins of marks on bones, and strategies for inferring human behaviors.
The effect of concentration on Li diffusivity and conductivity in rutile TiO2

Li transport characteristics are studied by means of density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in order to investigate concentration effects on Li chemical diffusivity and conductivity in TiO(2) rutile. Our MD simulations predict one-dimensional diffusion of Li ions via jumps between the octahedral sites along the channels parallel to the c-axis. The diffusion barrier and diffusion coefficient (at room temperature) for the isolated Li, determined by means of DFT calculations, correspond to 60 meV and 9.1 × 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1), respectively. Such a small barrier suggests rapid mass transport along the channels. MD simulations are performed to evaluate the concentration dependent diffusivity profiles. The changes in Li energetics and dynamics are studied as a function of Li content, which is varied primarily between 10% and 50%. In addition, we consider a couple of compositions over 50% although this is above the intercalation limit. Our results suggest that Li diffusivity is strongly dependent on the Li ∶ TiO(2) ratio, and it decreases with increasing Li concentration. For instance, at room temperature, we find Li diffusivity for high concentrations (50% Li) to be three orders of magnitude slower than that for lower concentrations (10% Li). Our analyses on the energetics and dynamics suggest that the changes in the diffusivities originate from successive increases in the barriers with increasing concentration. The decrease in diffusivity as a function of increasing Li content is attributed to the fact that additional Li ions successively block the energetically preferred vacant sites along the channels. Our analyses also show that increasing Li concentration enhances the Li-Li repulsion within the channels, and as a result, diffusion is hindered. We also compare concentration-dependent diffusivities for Li diffusion in anatase, rutile and amorphous TiO(2). Interestingly, we find differing concentration dependence of the diffusivity in these chemically identical but structurally non-equivalent TiO(2) polymorphs. Our study suggests that these differences result from intrinsic structural characteristics of TiO(2) polymorphs, which ultimately contribute to intercalation limit, diffusivity, ionic conductivity, and the electrochemical performance in energy storage applications.
Identification of a Suspicious Drug by Using Spectroscopic Techniques: A Forensic Analytical Chemistry Project

ABSTRACT We identified a drug analog by using screening and confirmatory tests. Total ion chromatogram showed a major peak with a molecular ion of 190 m/z, but no mass spectrum match from the NIST library. A minor peak was identified as 1-benzylpiperazine (molecular ion = 176 m/z). Molecular ions of both peaks differed by 14 m/z units, suggesting a –CH2 – group. Both peaks had the same base peak of 91 m/z. Derivatizing the drug analog with trifluoroacetic anhydride confirmed the presence of 1-benzylpiperazine. No reaction occurred with the major peak. We proposed a benzyl-4-methylpiperazine structure, which was confirmed by NMR studies.
Parallel Solution of Ordinary Differential Equations

This paper presents a performance comparison of three parallel algorithms for the solution of sets of coupled first-order differential equations. A general format for comparison of the algorithms is given, and performance equations for the two processor cases are developed. The equations take into account both the computational and intercommunications requirements of the processors. These equations are applied to a benchmark of six problems and a simple, single bus multiprocessor architecture. The more than two processor case is considered for one of the parallel algorithms.
Coalescence kinetics of two-dimensional TiN islands on atomically smooth TiN(001) and TiN(111) terraces

Abstract In situ high-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was employed to follow the coalescence kinetics of two-dimensional TiN islands on atomically smooth TiN(0 0 1) and TiN(1 1 1) terraces. The results are analyzed using a numerical approach based upon Mullin’s theory for surface relaxation and experimentally determined absolute orientation-dependent step stiffnesses. From the calculated time-dependent island shapes during coalescence, in combination with the STM data, we obtain quantitative values for edge mobilities.
Sensitivity of the Avalanche Breakdown far-infrared photodetector∗

Abstract The photodetection sensitivity of the Avalanche Breakdown (AB) photodetector at λ = 151 μm has been increased by shaping the detector element so as to trap incident radiation by total internal reflection. Pulsed laser signals have been detected at powers as low as 5 × 10−15W, corresponding to the arrival at the detector is only 4–5 photons during each 300ns laser pulse. Several mechanisms are considered.
For Church or Nation? Islamism, Secular-Nationalism, and the Transformation of Christian Identities in Palestine

This article documents changes in Palestinian Christian identities during the Oslo Peace Process, 1993–2000. Drawing on a year of formal fieldwork in 1999–2000, and five years of experience living in the Occupied Territories during the first intifada (1987–1993), the author uses diaries, field notes, and life history interviews with activists from across the political spectrum to identify diverging interpretations of what it means to be both a Palestinian and a Christian in the face of unrelenting Israeli occupation, sharp demographic decline, a powerful Islamist movement, and the corresponding weakening of the secularnationalist milieu. The resulting portrayal depicts the emergence of three synchronic identity orientations within the generation of Christians who came of age during and after the first intifada. The first tendency perpetuates traditional secular-nationalism; the second advocates for a religio-communal revitalization similar to the Islamist one; the third expresses an apolitical piety resulting in an otherworldly "flight from the world." The emergence of these tendencies sheds new light not only on the Palestinian situation today, but also on identity formation processes, generally. The study also raises questions for the comparative analysis of majoritarian religious and ethnic revitalization and its impact on minorities within the modern nation-state.
Is flotation isolation a relaxing environment

Abstract The present study was an attempt to evaluate the relaxation potential of the flotation environment, employing both subjective and objective measures. The subjects were 20 male and 20 female adult volunteers who were floated in a commercially produced tank for up to 150 minutes for each of three runs at intervals of one week. Phsyiological monitoring of heart rate was done just before and just after each run and during all the flotation periods. Most subjects remained for about 2/3rds of possible time in tank. Heart rate appears to follow a general trend across and within floats starting at a higher value, proceeding to a lower value, and then increasing again. Post-run differences in subjective indices of well-being, relaxation, or anxiety appear to be associated with the age and sex of subjects. Thus, while this environment does seem generally to be a relaxing one, the degree of relaxation potential is related to individual subject differences.
Challenges in developing a cross-serotype rhinovirus vaccine

A great burden of disease is attributable to human rhinovirus (HRV) infections which are the major cause of the common cold, exacerbations of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and are associated with asthma development. Despite this there is currently no vaccine for HRV. The first vaccine studies showed some promise in terms of serotype-specific protection against cold symptoms, but antigenic heterogeneity amongst the >150 HRVs has been regarded as a major barrier to effective vaccine development and has resulted in little progress over 50 years. Here we review those vaccine studies conducted to date, discuss the difficulties posed by antigenic heterogeneity and describe some recent advances in generating cross-reactive antibodies and T cell responses using peptide immunogens.
Surface vapor transport for accurate microoptics fabrication in compound semiconductors

A comprehensive model has been developed for surface-energy-induced vapor transport on etched compound semiconductor substrates heat treated in a protective atmosphere with a cover plate. Analytical solutions have been obtained for the evolution of slowly varying sinusoidal surface profiles and are useful for accurate fabrication of microoptical elements.
Capillary condensation of water vapor within a particulate bed

For situations in which capillary condensation of water occurs (e.g., within porous media), the thermodynamics can usually be studied by means of the Laplace and Young equations and a compressibility equation. We show here that the compressibility equation for the liquid does not reflect the criteria of equal gas and liquid phase potential changes at equilibrium, for departures from a specified reference state. Carman (1953) concluded that the capillary condensate can exist in a state of tension for large vapor-liquid pressure differentials and may exhibit physical properties that differ substantially from normal values. The familiar Kelvin equation is used to calculate the capillary curvature and is derived from the general Laplace and Young relationship. Melrose (1966) has obtained this relationship by matching the coefficients of the internal free energy and hydrostatic balances of the system shown in Figure 1.
Cytoplasmic pH and human erythrocyte shape

Altered external pH transforms human erythrocytes from discocytes to stomatocytes (low pH) or echinocytes (high pH). The mechanism of this transformation is unknown. The preceding companion study (Gedde and Huestis) demonstrated that these shape changes are not mediated by changes in membrane potential, as has been reported. The aim of this study was to identify the physiological properties that mediate this shape change. Red cells were placed in a wide range of physiological states by manipulation of buffer pH, chloride concentration, and osmolality. Morphology and four potential predictor properties (cell pH, membrane potential, cell water, and cell chloride concentration) were assayed. Analysis of the data set by stratification and nonlinear multivariate modeling showed that change in neither cell water nor cell chloride altered the morphology of normal pH cells. In contrast, change in cell pH caused shape change in normal-range membrane potential and cell water cells. The results show that change in cytoplasmic pH is both necessary and sufficient for the shape changes of human erythrocytes equilibrated in altered pH environments.
Bacteriologic and surgical determinants of survival in patients with mycotic aneurysms

Mycotic aneurysms are a fulminant infectious process frequently resulting in rupture and death if not properly treated. A review of the University of California, Los Angeles, medical records identified 10 patients with extrathoracic, extracranial mycotic aneurysms. In addition, a search of the English literature revealed 178 patients with 243 mycotic aneurysms. These patients were reviewed to identify the aneurysm location, etiology, bacteriology, and modality of treatment in order to determine the relationship between these factors and the outcome. The femoral artery was the most common site (38%), followed by the abdominal aorta (31%). Arterial trauma was the primary etiology in 42% of mycotic aneurysms. In 25% no clear source of infection could be identified. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from 28% of mycotic aneurysms, and Salmonella from 15%. A trend toward the involvement of more gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes is noted. Aortic aneurysms were repaired with in situ Dacron in 61% of patients with a 32% mortality rate and 16% reinfection rate. Simple ligation of femoral artery mycotic aneurysms resulted in a 34% incidence of ischemia necessitating amputation. Methods of treatment of superior mesenteric, carotid, iliac, and peripheral arteries are also analyzed. On the basis of these data, specific surgical procedures are recommended for the treatment of mycotic aneurysms.
Refractive surgery and ectasia: what are we doing differently this year?

At the time of this writing in 2008, I think we can confidently say that refractive surgery has become a widely accepted standard of practice option for the surgical correction of refractive error. It is certainly no longer experimental, but rather regarded as highly effective and safe. As described
The efficient synthesis of (3R,4R,5R)-3-amino-4,5-dimethyl-octanoic acid, a chiral β-amino acid with potent affinity for the α2δ protein

Abstract A chiral β-amino acid containing three contiguous chiral centers was synthesized efficiently in 11 steps, employing enantio-enriched β-ketoester as a key intermediate, via stereoselective catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding enamide. Stereoselective 1,4-addition of a methyl group and protonation were key to the preparation of the desired acid 12. Mild and efficient reaction conditions were applied to the enamine formation and protection to avoid epimerization at C-4 of compounds 13 and 14. The final compound was found to display potent affinity for the α2δ-protein that is a recognized drug target for the treatment of a variety of diseases.
Multi-scale genetic analysis of Uniola paniculata (Poaceae): a coastal species with a linear, fragmented distribution

Geographic and fine-scale population genetic structures of Uniola paniculata, the dominant coastal dune grass in the southeastern USA, were examined. The linear, naturally fragmented distribution of this native perennial was hypothesized to lead to high genetic structure and lower genetic diversity at the margin of the species range. The extensive ramet production and low seed germination of this species were also expected to cause populations to be dominated by a few large clones. At 20 sites throughout the range of the species, leaf tissue was collected from 48 individuals. Clonal structure was examined using leaf tissue collected from an additional 60 individuals, each in four patches at two sites. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to resolve 27 allozyme loci. The results indicated that Uniola had greater genetic structure (G(ST) = 0.304) than most other outcrossing species, indicating moderate barriers to gene flow. There was a weak but significant positive relationship between genetic distance and geographic distance, supporting an isolation-by-distance model of gene flow. There were no obvious disjunctions between regions. Genetic diversity (H(e)) was relatively uniform throughout most of the range of the species but was lower in all western Gulf of Mexico populations. Clonal diversity varied both within and among sites, but clones were often small, suggesting that sexual reproduction and recruitment from seeds are important factors maintaining genetic diversity.
A fault diagnosis method of Smart Grid based on rough sets combined with genetic algorithm and tabu search

Most of the existing methods of fault diagnosis in Smart Grid focus primarily on the information of the protective relays and switches. There is still some incomplete or uncertain information in the process of receiving data. Usually, relying only on the information may obtain wrong conclusions. Large numbers of methods have been applied in the fault diagnosis of power system. An improving accuracy of fault diagnosis method in Smart Grid is put forward in this paper using rough sets combined with genetic algorithm (GA) and Tabu search (TS). The reduction in continuous attributes and their value reduction are the major application of rough sets. The proposed algorithm can combine the parallel global searching capability of genetic algorithm with the local searching ability of Tabu search and significantly improve the efficiency of execution and ensure the optimal result. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm has been demonstrated using Changchun south substation and its distribution grid. To validate the proposed approach adequately, simulation studies have also been carried out on the simulated Smart Grid model. A series of tests are conducted toward three fault categories: the single faults, the multiple faults, and the loss information faults. All the results demonstrate that the proposed method in this paper is better than the preceding algorithms.
The spirits of capitalism and christianity and their impact on the formation of healthcare leaders.

In this article, I portray how the ethos of Christianity, broadly speaking, and the mores of capitalism intersect in the formation of healthcare leaders and the difficult decisions they make in insuring the viability of healthcare institutions. More particularly, I argue that healthcare leaders in Christian healthcare institutions are largely formed by and dependent on a capitalistic ethos in making decisions and less so by a Christian ethos. There are key differences in these two meaning systems, and these differences, in part, reveal an incompatibility between them. This incompatibility does not imply a rejection of capitalism, if that is even possible, but rather a recognition of its effects and limits vis-a-vis the formation of healthcare leaders and their decision-making process. Finally, I offer an approach that deals with the spirits of capitalism and Christianity in forming healthcare leaders and their decision-making.
Chemical binding in silicate minerals Part III. Application of energy calculations to the prediction of silicate mineral stability

Abstract Combining Coulomb energies with appropriate corrections makes possible quantitative prediction of stability relations of minerals. Melting and decomposition temperatures of some minerals including corundum and quartz have been calculated from the binding energies. Agreement between calculated and observed melting points of minerals is exceptionally good when covalency, radius-ratio and coordination effect corrections are made to the melting points determined from Coulomb binding energies. Thermal stabilities of some phyllosilicates are predicted semiquantitatively. Calculated energies show that the stability of montmorillonite with respect to other phyllosilicates in most low-temperature geochemical environments is probably the result of hydration of the inter-layer space. Also, when small amounts of magnesium are present in a silicate system montmorillonite is the phase which minimizes the total energy of the system.
Interleukin-6 inhibits oxidative injury and necrosis after extreme liver resection

Extreme hepatectomy or resection of more than 80% of liver mass often leads to liver failure and death and is a major limitation to therapeutic liver resection for patients with liver tumors. We sought to define the mechanisms leading to liver failure and to determine the utility of interleukin-6 (IL-6) administration to improve outcomes. Mice were injected with Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human IL-6 or no recombinant protein, or were administered recombinant IL-6 or carrier by osmotic mini-pump. Mice were then subjected to 70% or 87% hepatectomy. Light and electron microscopy of liver sections after 87% hepatectomy showed ballooning hepatocytes, vacuolar changes, and mitochondrial abruption, with absence of anoikic nuclei. No significant activation of executor caspases or DNA laddering was observed, although a dramatic decrease in cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) stores was measured, suggesting cell death was by a necrotic pathway involving mitochondrial dysfunction. A large increase in protein oxidation was observed, indicative of significant oxidative stress. IL-6 treatment before 87% hepatectomy resulted in less biochemical and histological evidence of liver injury as well as earlier proliferating chain nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and accelerated recovery of liver mass. IL-6 pretreatment induced the antioxidative injury proteins, ref-1 and GPX1, decreased protein oxidation, vacuolar changes and leakage of mitochondrial products, improved ATP stores, and maintained cellular ultrastructure after 87% hepatectomy. Conclusion: Massive oxidative injury and mitochondrial dysfunction occurs in the liver after extreme hepatectomy. IL-6 improves recovery and survival from extreme liver resection by enhancing pro-growth pathways, reducing oxidative stress, and maintaining mitochondrial function. (HEPATOLOGY 2007.)
Peripheral metabolic actions of leptin

The adipocyte-derived hormone, leptin, regulates food intake and systemic fuel metabolism; ob /ob mice, which lack functional leptin, exhibit an obesity syndrome that is similar to morbid obesity in humans. Leptin receptors are expressed most abundantly in the brain but are also present in several peripheral tissues. The role of leptin in controlling energy homeostasis has thus far focused on brain receptors and neuroendocrine pathways that regulate feeding behaviour and sympathetic nervous system activity. This chapter focuses on mounting evidence that leptin's effects on energy balance are also mediated by direct peripheral actions on key metabolic organs such as skeletal muscle, liver, pancreas and adipose tissue. Strong evidence indicates that peripheral leptin receptors regulate cellular lipid balance, favouring beta-oxidation over triacylglycerol storage. There are data to indicate that peripheral leptin also modulates glucose metabolism and insulin action; however, its precise role in controlling gluco-regulatory pathways remains uncertain and requires further investigation.
The effects of eelgrass habitat loss on estuarine fish communities of southern New England

We studied the late June–August fish community in extant and former eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) habitats in 15 estuaries of Buzzards Bay, and in Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts, U.S. Our objective was to quantify the effects of eelgrass habitat loss on fish abundance, biomass, species composition and richness, life-history characteristics, and habitat use by examining the response of the fish community to eelgrass loss in Waquoit and Buttermilk Bays over an 11-yr period (1988–1999) and in 14 other embayments of Buzzards Bay during 1993, 1996, and 1998. Sampling sites were located in present-day or historical eelgrass beds and were classified according to eelgrass habitat complexity (zero complexity: no eelgrass; low complexity: <100 eelgrass shoots or <100 g wet weight m−2; high complexity: ≥100 shoots and ≥100 g wet weight m−2). Habitats that had lost eelgrass included a variety of substratum types, from bare mud bottom to dense accumulations of red, brown, and green macroalgae (up to 7,065 g wet weight m−2). Contemporaneous sampling of fish (by otter trawl) and vegetated habitat (by divers) was conducted at each site. Overall, fish abundance, biomass, species richness, dominance, and life history diversity decreased significantly along the gradient of decreasing eelgrass habitat complexity. Loss of eelgrass was accompanied by significant declines in these measures of fish community integrity. Ten of the 13 most common species collected from 1988–1996 in Waquoit and Buttermilk Bays showed maximum abundance and biomass in sites with high eelgrass habitat complexity. All but two common species declined in abundance and biomass with the complete loss of eelgrass.
The role of drug use in brief alcohol interventions: a multi-ethnic/racial analysis

Craig Field is with the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA -- Geral Cochran is with the Center for Social Work Research, The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, Austin, TX, USA -- Raul Caetano is with the School of Health Professions, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
Buckling behavior of single-walled carbon nanotubes and a targeted molecular mechanics approach

During the general (conventional) molecular mechanics (GMM) simulation of the buckling of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), the load is displacement controlled and the calculated critical buckling strain is very sensitive to the specific displacement increment and convergence threshold chosen in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which may have led to the contradictory and diverged results in the previous studies. In this paper, a targeted-molecular mechanics (TMM) simulation method is proposed to study the buckling behavior of SWCNTs under axial compression, bending, and torsion. Comparing with the GMM method, the TMM technique is independent of the displacement increment and thus the solution is converged. The critical buckling strain computed from the TMM is higher than that from the GMM under axial compression and torsion, and the TMM results are similar to the GMM results upon bending. The TMM result approaches to the intrinsic critical buckling strain of a perfect tube; in addition, the TMM significantly reduces the computational cost and thus may be more efficient to study larger systems with atomistic simulations.
Studies towards the synthesis of the marine alkaloid chartelline C

Abstract 2,6-Dibromoindole 5 underwent regioselective Sonogashira coupling at the 2 position with simple acetylenic partners. While, imidazole-acetylene 16 failed to couple to 5, cyclic carbonate 19 succeeded to give 20, which was further elaborated into indole-imidazole 23.
Dramatic Structural and Thermodynamic Consequences of Repacking a Protein's Hydrophobic Core

Abstract Background: Rop is an RNA binding, dimeric, four-helix bundle protein with a well-defined, regular hydrophobic core ideally suited for redesign studies. A family of Rop variants in which the hydrophobic core was systematically redesigned has previously been created and characterized. Results: We present a structural and thermodynamic analysis of Ala 2 Ile 2 -6, a variant of Rop with an extensively redesigned hydrophobic core. The structure of Ala 2 Ile 2 -6 reveals a completely new fold formed by a conformational "flip" of the two protomers around the dimeric interface. The free-energy profile of Ala 2 Ile 2 -6 is also very different from that of wild-type Rop. Ala 2 Ile 2 -6 has a higher melting temperature than Rop, but undergoes a slightly smaller free-energy change on unfolding. Conclusions: The structure of Ala 2 Ile 2 -6, along with molecular modeling results, demonstrate the importance of tight packing of core residues and the adoption of favorable core side chain rotamer values in determining helix-helix interactions in the four-helix bundle fold. Structural disorder at the N and C termini of Ala 2 Ile 2 -6 provides a basis for the large differences in the enthalpy and entropy of Ala 2 Ile 2 -6 folding compared with wild-type Rop.
Integrated ethylene and temperature conditioning for induction of ripening capacity in ‘Anjou’ and ‘Comice’ pears

Abstract ‘Anjou’ and ‘Comice’ pears from three harvest dates were conditioned to develop ripening capacity by exposure to 100 μL L −1 ethylene at 20 °C for 0, 24, 48, or 72 h, followed by varying durations of temperature conditioning at −0.5 or 10 °C. Ripening capacity was tested by measuring fruit firmness after 7 d at 20 °C after completion of conditioning treatments. Fruit firmness was also measured after conditioning but before ripening, and was designated “shipping firmness”, indicative of the potential for the fruit to withstand transport conditions without physical injury. Ripening capacity in both cultivars developed more rapidly with later harvest date, increasing duration of ethylene conditioning, and increasing duration of temperature conditioning. Ripening capacity developed much more rapidly at 10 °C than at −0.5 °C. Useful durations of temperature conditioning at 10 °C were limited by fruit softening below acceptable values of shipping firmness. However, sequential combinations of ethylene and temperature conditioning at both −0.5 and 10 °C were identified wherein post-conditioning shipping firmness was acceptable.
BOLD Granger causality reflects vascular anatomy.

A number of studies have tried to exploit subtle phase differences in BOLD time series to resolve the order of sequential activation of brain regions, or more generally the ability of signal in one region to predict subsequent signal in another region. More recently, such lag-based measures have been applied to investigate directed functional connectivity, although this application has been controversial. We attempted to use large publicly available datasets (FCON 1000, ADHD 200, Human Connectome Project) to determine whether consistent spatial patterns of Granger Causality are observed in typical fMRI data. For BOLD datasets from 1,240 typically developing subjects ages 7–40, we measured Granger causality between time series for every pair of 7,266 spherical ROIs covering the gray matter and 264 seed ROIs at hubs of the brain’s functional network architecture. Granger causality estimates were strongly reproducible for connections in a test and replication sample (n=620 subjects for each group), as well as in data from a single subject scanned repeatedly, both during resting and passive video viewing. The same effect was even stronger in high temporal resolution fMRI data from the Human Connectome Project, and was observed independently in data collected during performance of 7 task paradigms. The spatial distribution of Granger causality reflected vascular anatomy with a progression from Granger causality sources, in Circle of Willis arterial inflow distributions, to sinks, near large venous vascular structures such as dural venous sinuses and at the periphery of the brain. Attempts to resolve BOLD phase differences with Granger causality should consider the possibility of reproducible vascular confounds, a problem that is independent of the known regional variability of the hemodynamic response.
Surveying Recent Literature on the Arabic and Persian Mirrors for Princes Genre

The study of the medieval Arabic and Persian ‘mirror for princes’ literatures in many respects resembles that of the similarly abundant literatures produced in Byzantium and the Latin West. In earlier scholarship, the predominant approach was that of the history of ideas, and scholars tended to focus on depictions of the ideal ruler and other aspects of the ‘political thought’ expressed in the mirror literatures. A secondary area of interest concerned textual transmission within and across these literatures. More recent scholarship has continued to develop and refine these established approaches, and has also developed new directions of research. Notably, several scholars have explored the Sitz im Leben of individual mirrors, and have studied their meaning and significance in the historical settings in and for which they were composed. Certain recent publications have highlighted the flexibility of mirrors, the multiple purposes they often served, the range of perspectives represented by their authors, and the importance of authors’ choices of language and genre in shaping the composition and reception of their works.
Filter design oriented EMI prediction model for DC-fed motor drive system using double fourier integral transformation method

This work proposes a frequency-domain EMI prediction model for common mode (CM) and differential mode (DM) noises for the purpose of designing EMI filters before the system construction. The parameters in the model can be extracted from system detail switching model or measured from the real system. The Double Fourier Integral Transformation (DFIT) method is used to calculate the noise sources in the model. When the system topology modulation method and modulation index is fixed, the system EMI noise can be predicted from the calculation of the equivalent model. Verifications are carried out through simulation and experiment system by comparing the calculated EMI spectrums and simulated and measured EMI spectrums. Based on the proposed model, this paper also proves that the resonances in EMI noise propagation path will have a significant impact on the EMI filter design for DC fed motor drive system with long cables.
Bridging a Disciplinary Divide: The Summer Institute in Political Psychology

Like many other social scientists, political scientists often incorporate theories and findings from other academic disciplines into their research. In fact, many research questions posed by political scientists can be answered adequately only by linking political science theories with insights from other disciplines. How, for example, do voters decide which candidate to support on election day? We could answer this question by focusing only on the economic interests of the voters. Our answer
Optimal tracking control for unknown nonlinear systems based on locally weighted learning

This paper considers the optimal tracking control of unknown nonlinear systems. To deal with the uncertainties in the system, a locally weighted learning observer (LWLO) is first proposed. Based on the proposed LWLO, analytic optimal controllers are proposed in the sense of pointwise min-norm. To show effectiveness of the proposed controllers, numerical simulations are presented.
A juxtamembrane mutation in the N terminus of the dopamine transporter induces preference for an inward-facing conformation.

The human dopamine transporter (hDAT) regulates synaptic dopamine (DA) levels and is the site of action of abused and therapeutic drugs. Here we study the effect of a threonine residue (Thr62 in hDAT) that is highly conserved within a canonical phosphorylation site (RETW) in the juxtamembrane N-terminal region of monoamine transporters. In stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293T cells, expression of T62D-hDAT was reduced compared with hDAT or T62A-hDAT. T62D-hDAT displayed dramatically reduced [3H]dopamine up-take but exhibited a higher basal dopamine efflux compared with hDAT or T62A-hDAT, as determined by measurements of [3H]dopamine efflux and amperometry. The high constitutive efflux in T62D-hDAT precluded the measurement of amphetamine-stimulated [3H]dopamine efflux, but when dopamine was added internally into voltage-clamped T62D-hDAT cells, amphetamine-induced efflux comparable with hDAT was detected by amperometry. In accordance with findings that Zn2+ can rescue reduced DA uptake in mutant transporters that are predominantly inward-facing, micromolar concentrations of Zn2+ markedly potentiated [3H]dopamine uptake in T62D-hDAT and permitted the measurement of amphetamine-stimulated dopamine efflux. These results suggest that T62D-hDAT prefers an inward-facing conformation in the transition between inward- and outward-facing conformations. For T62A-hDAT, however, the measured 50% reduction in both [3H]dopamine uptake and [3H]dopamine efflux was consistent with a slowed transition between inward- and outward-facing conformations. The mechanism underlying the important functional role of Thr62 in hDAT activity suggested by these findings is examined in a structural context using dynamic simulations of a three-dimensional molecular model of DAT.
Partitioning hydrologic contributions to an ‘old‐growth’ riparian area in the Huron Mountains of Michigan, USA

Over the past century, annual snowfall has increased across the ‘snow-belt’ region of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, yet total annual precipitation has not changed, with potential impacts on hydrological processes and ecosystem composition. Using an integrated hydrochemical approach, we characterized groundwater discharge and quantified the contribution of snow- and rain-derived waters to groundwater for an old-growth riparian area within the Huron Mountains in northern Michigan. We then quantified the relative contribution of lateral, hillslope-derived groundwater and upstream lake water to streamwater, and the extent of hyporheic zone expansion and contraction during one growing season. During a period of above-average snowfall, yet below average growing season precipitation, ∼80% of the riparian area's groundwater reservoir was derived from snowmelt. The relative contribution of groundwater to streamflow ranged from 70% in June to 100% in August. The remainder was derived from upstream lakes and wetlands, which dropped in elevation and relative contribution from June to August. Finally, the extent of the hyporheic zone was small (<50 cm from streambed surface) and contracted towards the stream during the recession limb of the hydrograph. We conclude that if snowfall continues to rise while total annual precipitation declines, in line with climate change scenarios for the region, then water fluxes from snowmelt will increasingly dominate summer baseflow and could potentially increase spring flooding. However, because of overall declines in precipitation, streamflow patterns will likely change towards lower overall flow following the influence of the snowmelt period. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Object Pose Detection in Range Scan Data

We address the problem of detecting complex articulated objects and their pose in 3D range scan data. This task is very difficult when the orientation of the object is unknown, and occlusion and clutter are present in the scene. To address the problem, we design an efficient probabilistic framework, based on the articulated model of an object, which combines multiple information sources. Our framework enforces that the surfaces and edge discontinuities of model parts are matched well in the scene while respecting the rules of occlusion, that joint constraints and angles are maintained, and that object parts dont intersect. Our approach starts by using low-level detectors to suggest part placement hypotheses. In a hypothesis enrichment phase, these original hypotheses are used to generate likely placement suggestions for their neighboring parts. The probabilities over the possible part placement configurations are computed using efficient OpenGL rendering. Loopy belief propagation is used to optimize the resulting Markov network to obtain the most likely object configuration, which is additionally refined using an Iterative Closest Point algorithm adapted for articulated models. Our model is tested on several datasets, where we demonstrate successful pose detection for models consisting of 15 parts or more, even when the object is seen from different viewpoints, and various occluding objects and clutter are present in the scene.
Choosing the currency structure for sovereign debt : a review of current approaches

This paper acknowledges the fact that some countries have to borrow in foreign currencies due to the various constraints they face. Starting from this point, the author reviews approaches for trying to determine the currency structure for sovereign debt, and discusses some issues inherent in these approaches. The analysis mainly focuses on the correlations of domestic fundamentals with the actual versus equilibrium exchange rate in light of the long-term perspective of a debt manager and changing exchange rate regimes. In addition, the author makes some observations on the characterization of exchange rate volatilities in the existing approaches.
Asynchronous algorithms for approximate distributed constraint optimization with quality bounds

Distributed Constraint Optimization (DCOP) is a popular framework for cooperative multi-agent decision making. DCOP is NP-hard, so an important line of work focuses on developing fast incomplete solution algorithms for large-scale applications. One of the few incomplete algorithms to provide bounds on solution quality is k-size optimality, which defines a local optimality criterion based on the size of the group of deviating agents. Unfortunately, the lack of a general-purpose algorithm and the commitment to forming groups based solely on group size has limited the use of k-size optimality.This paper introduces t-distance optimality which departs from k-size optimality by using graph distance as an alternative criteria for selecting groups of deviating agents. This throws open a new research direction into the tradeoffs between different group selection and coordination mechanisms for incomplete DCOP algorithms. We derive theoretical quality bounds for t-distance optimality that improve known bounds for k-size optimality. In addition, we develop a new efficient asynchronous local search algorithm for finding both k-size and t-distance optimal solutions --- allowing these concepts to be deployed in real applications. Indeed, empirical results show that this algorithm significantly outperforms the only existing algorithm for finding general k-size optimal solutions, which is also synchronous. Finally, we compare the algorithmic performance of k-size and t-distance optimality using this algorithm. We find that t-distance consistently converges to higher-quality solutions in the long run, but results are mixed on convergence speed; we identify cases where k-size and t-distance converge faster.
Supporting self-adaptation in streaming data mining applications

There are many application classes where the users are flexible with respect to the output quality. At the same time, there are other constraints, such as the need for real-time or interactive response, which are more crucial. This paper presents and evaluates a runtime algorithm for supporting adaptive execution for such applications. The particular domain we target is distributed data mining on streaming data. This work has been done in the context of a middleware system called GATES (grid-based adaptive execution on streams) that we have been developing. The self-adaptation algorithm we present and evaluate in this paper has the following characteristics. First, it carefully evaluates the long-term load at each processing stage. It considers different possibilities for the load at a processing stage and its next stages, and decides if the value of an adaptation parameter needs to be modified, and if so, in which direction. To find the ideal new value of an adaptation parameter, it performs a binary search on the specified range of the parameter. To evaluate the self-adaptation algorithm in our middleware, we have implemented two streaming data mining applications. The main observations from our experiments are as follows. First, our algorithm is able to quickly converge to stable values of the adaptation parameter, for different data arrival rates, and independent of the specified initial value. Second, in a dynamic environment, the algorithm is able to adapt the processing rapidly. Finally, in both static and dynamic environments, the algorithm clearly outperforms the algorithm described in our earlier work and an obvious alternative, which is based on linear-updates.
Decentralized Markov Decision Processes with Event-Driven Interactions

Decentralized MDPs provide a powerful formal framework for planning in multi-agent systems, but the complexity of the model limits its usefulness. We study in this paper a class of DEC-MDPs that restricts the interactions between the agents to a structured, event-driven dependency. These dependencies can model locking a shared resource or temporal enabling constraints, both of which arise frequently in practice. The complexity of this class of problems is shown to be no harder than exponential in the number of states and doubly exponential in the number of dependencies. Since the number of dependencies is much smaller than the number of states for many problems, this is significantly better than the doubly exponential (in the state space) complexity of DEC-MDPs. We also demonstrate how an algorithm we previously developed can be used to solve problems in this class both optimally and approximately. Experimental work indicates that this solution technique is significantly faster than a naive policy search approach.
Data engineering in Software Development Environments

The design of a Software Development Environment (SDE) represents a very interesting point of contact between data engineering and software engineering. In this context data engineering becomes the cornerstone for successful software engineering practice. This paper attempts to bring about a better understanding of the difficulties associated with this task by considering sources of complexity in SDE design.
Tabu search exploration for on-policy reinforcement learning

On-policy reinforcement learning provides online adaptation, a characteristic of intelligent systems and lifelong learning. Unlike dynamic programming, an exhaustive sweep of the search space is not necessary for convergence in reinforcement learning with an efficient exploration strategy. For efficient and "believable" online performance, an exploration strategy also has to avoid cycling through previous solutions and know when to stop without getting stuck in a local optimum. This paper addresses the above problem with tabu search (TS) exploration. Several strategies for reinforcement learning are introduced. Experimental results are presented in the game of Go, a deterministic, perfect-information two-player game, and Sarsa learning vector quantization (SLVQ), an on-policy reinforcement learning algorithm.
Thermal Conductivity, Electrical Resistivity, and Seebeck Coefficient of Uranium Mononitride

Measurements are reported for the thermal conductivity, λ(80° to 400°K), electrical resistivity, ρ(4.2° to 400°K), and absolute Seebeck coefficient, Q(6° to 400°K), of pressed and sintered uranium mononitride. The measurements between 77° and 400°K were made using an absolute longitudinal heat flow apparatus. These data and literature values for the thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity at higher temperatures were used to separate the electronic and lattice portions of the thermal conductivity. The results indicate that the lattice conductivity peaks in the range 250° to 300°K and that the high-temperature limit of the Lorenz function may be greater than the Sommerfeld value of 2.443 × 10-8 (V2°K-2). The electrical resistivity and the absolute Seebeck coefficient exhibit sharp slope changes near the Neel temperature, TN(∼50° to 60°K). The Seebeck coefficient has a minimum at 34°K and then rises to a local maximum at 10°K. This low-temperature peak is probably due to magnon drag. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity is dominated by the magnetic contribution which increases as T2.38±0.08 between 10° and 52°K. The magnetic contribution is constant at high temperatures with an estimated value of 142 μΩ-cm.
Modeling of dish-Stirling solar thermal power generation

Dish-Stirling solar power generation has emerged as an efficient and reliable source of renewable energy. As the technology moves into commercialization, models become necessary to predict system behavior under various operating conditions. Current literature on dish-Stirling modeling is scattered, focusing on individual components within the system. This paper establishes a background of the individual component models, and provides a method for integration of the various component models to form a comprehensive model. The thermal, electrical, and control systems of the dish-Stirling system are presented, along with a method for simulation. Typical results are provided for the instantaneous working gas temperature, pressure, and torque, along with results indicating how these parameters vary with solar irradiance in steady state.