cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heat Transfer Simulation Using PSpice

Heat transfer considerations are important in almost all areas of technology. However, heat transfer analysis can be very difficult for complicated systems such as very large-scale integrated (VLSI) electric circuits and systems, making the simulation an attractive technique for studying heat transfer of those systems. This paper presents methods of heat transfer simulation using PSpice. First, typical heat transfer modes are discussed and heat transfer equations are presented. Then, equivalent electrical models are developed, and PSpice representations of those models are investigated. Finite-difference RC network models are developed and used for the simulation of complicated heat transfer problems using PSpice. Two typical heat transfer examples are studied. Simulations are performed to investigate and study the heat transfer and energy flow of the two examples using PSpice.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Cyclic AMP stimulation and prostaglandin inhibition of Na transport in freshwater mussels

Abstract 1. 1. Pondwater acclimated Carunculina texasensis and Ligumia subrostrata experienced a 230% increase in Na influx when injected with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.4mM/l blood). 2. 2. Theophylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, or indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin (PG) synthetase, caused a dose dependent stimulation of Na transport. 3. 3. Prostaglandin E 2 injected into mussels caused an inhibition of Na influx. Arachidonic acid, the precursor of PGE 2 , inhibited Na influx or stimulated Na efflux depending on the animal's acclimation conditions. 4. 4. Chloride transport was unaffected by the drugs used in this study.
Advances in Seismic Event Location

Advances in Seismic Event Location is a collection of nine papers presented at a workshop held in the Dead Sea region in January 1998. The motivating influence of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a common theme throughout the book, but a broad perspective on basic Earth science research is also maintained. Although the book is comprised of papers presented at a single conference, it comprehensively discusses relevant research, including a broad review of classical, derivative-based location methods using one-dimensional Earth models through modern innovations that incorporate three-dimensional models. Also covered are global optimization algorithms, different types of data, probabilistic approaches to earthquake location that convey uncertainties more accurately, optimal network configuration, and prospects for automation, including refining automatic phase detection and an artificial intelligence approach that includes pattern recognition.
Visual-centered narratives of the deaf

Some deaf children produce discourse—signed and written—that is incomprehensible to hearing adults. This article explores aspects of these texts that indicate a structure of visual images and scenes, producing visual-centered narratives. The data for this study are derived from several sources, from both children and adults. Signed data sources include a preschool class at a school for the deaf, a language assessment session, informal conversations and stories told by deaf adults, and a television production by the National Theotre of the Deaf. Written samples were collected both from children who sign and children who are educated to rely wholly upon oral communication. Visual-centered narratives may originate as a biological propensity to relate to the world visually, which has been developed rhetoricaly in Deaf Culture. Deafness causes individuals to experience the world visually, and this is fundamentally interrelated to their language and culture. Visual-centered narratives may be structures which start with a biological condition and develop culturally into a complex linguistic discourse form.
A singular perturbation analysis of optimal aerodynamic and thrust magnitude control

This paper illustrates the application of singular perturbation methods to optimal thrust magnitude control (TMC) and optimal lift control in flight mechanics. The modeling is restricted to horizontal plane dynamics. A multiple time scale analysis results in nonlinear feedback control solutions for lift and thrust during a turn to a specified down range position. The analysis is carried out to rust order with respect to the position state variables. Numerical results for a medium range and a short range air-launched missile are given, and comparisons are made to two alternative propulsion control concepts. The multiple time scaling procedure used here is applicable to solving a wide class of optimal control problems. It avoids the problem in asymptotic methods of picking the unknown adjoints to suppress unstable modes in the boundary layer and reduces the two-point boundary value problem to a series of pointwise function extremizations. Hence, the optimal control solution is essentially analytic and algebraic.
Adsorption of Some Alkaloids by Different Clays

The adsorption of strychnine, atropine, and quinine from aqueous solution by six different clays was studied. The clays were Permagel, attapulgite, halloysite, dickite, kaolinite, and kaolin N. F. Adsorption isotherms at 24 ± 1° were determined and Langmuir's constants were calculated. The adsorption power of the clays was found to be in the same order for each of the three alkaloids. Permagel, attapulgite, and halloysite were better adsorbents for the alkaloids than kaolin N. F. Dickite was found to be a poor adsorbent. The effect of pH on the adsorption was studied in one of the cases.
A HIGH-RESOLUTION STUDY OF GAS AND DUST AROUND YOUNG INTERMEDIATE-MASS STARS: EVIDENCE FOR CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS IN HERBIG Ae SYSTEMS

As part of a long-term program of observations to search for and characterize disks of gas and dust around intermediate-mass counterparts to solar-mass T Tauri stars, we have probed the environments of seven pre-main-sequence stars of spectral type Ae using millimeter-wave continuum and molecular line aperture synthesis imaging. In each case we identify a compact region of thermal continuum emission centered on the star. Upper limits to radii are in the range 200-300 AU for five members of our sample, and 680 AU for the distant source HD 245185. We identify an elongated continuum source around HD 163296, with a semimajor axis of 110 AU. Adopting relatively high values for dust grain opacities, we obtain minimum masses of circumstellar dust and gas in the range 0.005-0.034 M☉ for the seven sources, assuming that the observed continuum emission is optically thin. We detect molecular line emission from gas regions centered on four of the stars. Two of these regions are spatially resolved and are found to be elongated, with semimajor axes of 310 and 450 AU for HD 163296 and AB Aur, respectively. Ordered velocity gradients along the major axes of both of these structures point strongly to the presence of orbiting material in disklike configurations, and we argue that the nebular environments of our entire sample include substantial disk components.
The Impact of Health Communication on the Culture of College Drinking

While recent research has documented that it is a myth that all college students drink excessively (or at all), at least 30–40% of students drink dangerously on the majority of college campuses and...
Seismic risk analysis of highway systems using loss estimation methodology with geospatial technologies

Effects of earthquake damage to highway components (e.g., bridges, tunnels, roadways, etc.) can go well beyond life-safety risks and costs to repair the damaged components. Such damage can also disrupt traffic flows which, in turn, can impact the region's economic recovery and emergency response. These impacts will depend not only on the seismic performance of the components, but also on the characteristics of the overall highway system such as its network configuration and roadway-link characteristics (e.g., link locations, redundancies, and traffic capacities). Unfortunately, such traffic impacts are usually not considered in seismic risk reduction activities at state transportation departments. One reason for this has been the lack of a technically-sound and practical tool for estimating these impacts. Therefore, since the mid-1990s, the FHWA has sponsored multi-year seismic-research projects at MCEER that have included development and programming of such a tool with geospatial technologies. This has led to new software named REDARS (Risks from Earthquake DAmage to Roadway Systems) that was released for public use in March 2006.REDARS is a multi-disciplinary tool for seismic risk analysis (SRA) of highway systems nationwide based on geospatial technologies. For any given earthquake, REDARS uses state-of-knowledge models to estimate: (a) the seismic hazards (ground motions, liquefaction, and surface fault rupture) throughout the system; (b) the resulting damage states (damage extent, type, and location) for each component in the system; and (c) how each component's damage will be repaired, including its repair costs, downtimes, and time-dependent traffic states (i.e., its ability to carry traffic as the repairs proceed over time after the earthquake). REDARS incorporates these traffic states into a highway-network link-node model, in order to form a set of system-states that reflect the extent and spatial distribution of roadway closures at various times after the earthquake. Then, REDARS applies network analysis procedures to each system-state, in order to estimate how these closures affect system-wide travel times and traffic flows. Finally, REDARS estimates corresponding economic losses and increases in travel times to/from key locations or along key lifeline routes. These steps can be applied for single earthquakes and no uncertainties (deterministic analysis) or for multiple earthquakes and simulations in which uncertainties in earthquake occurrence and in estimates of seismic hazards and component damage are considered (probabilistic analysis). This presentation will provide the overview of the FHWA seismic risk analysis program, REDARS.
On the Optimal Use of Suboptimal Forecasts of Explanatory Variables

Ashley (1983) gave a simple condition for determining when a forecast of an explanatory variable (Xt ) is sufficiently inaccurate that direct replacement of Xt by the forecast yields worse forecasts of the dependent variable than does respecification of the equation to omit Xt . Many available macroeconomic forecasts were shown to be of limited usefulness in direct replacement. Direct replacement, however, is not optimal if the forecast's distribution is known. Here optimal linear forms in commercial forecasts of several macroeconomic variables are obtained by using estimates of their distributions. Although they are an improvement on the raw forecasts (direct replacement), these optimal forms are still too inaccurate to be useful in replacing the actual explanatory variables in forecasting models. The results strongly indicate that optimal forms involving several commercial forecasts will not be very useful either. Thus Ashley's (1983) sufficient condition retains its value in gauging the usefulness of a...
Model and scheduling of a continuous galvanizing line

In this paper, we introduce a continuous galvanizing line in a steel plant which is one of the biggest iron and steel enterprises of the world. The continuous galvanizing line we research produces principally two kinds of coils, inner coils and outer coils. Due to the technical constraint, outer coils can not be produced continuously more than a specified number. So the inner coils must be inserted between outer coils. The difficulty of solving the problem is the interrelation of sequencing these two kinds of coils. No model and algorithm about such a scheduling problem has been published. We propose an integer programming model to describe the scheduling problem. To solve the problem, a heuristic based on tabu search is developed. Due to the model of the scheduling problem is an integer programming model, problems with less than 100 coils can be solved by CPLEX 11.0 MIP optimizer to obtain the optimal solution or a lower bound of the problem. By comparing our heuristic schedule and the CPLEX schedule, the tabu search heuristic is proven to be effective.
A study of the function of the epididymis. II. The importance of an aging process in sperm for the length of the period during which fertilizing capacity is retained by sperm isolated in the epididymis of the guinea‐pig

Following the isolation of sperm in the epididymides of male guinea-pigs by the separation of this organ from the testis, the animals were found to remain fertile for periods varying from twenty to thirty-five days, whether they were allowed to mate but once during this period, or five times during the period, or twenty times during the period. Motile sperm were found as long as fifty-nine days after the operation. It was concluded, on the basis of these data, that an aging process which sperm isolated in the epididymis undergo is more important than the number of matings (up to at least nine or ten) in the determination of the period during which sperm motility is retained and in the determination of the period during which fertilizing capacity is retained. If the behavior of sperm isolated in the epididymides can be taken as an indication of the processes of sperm development which occur normally, the epididymis would seem to be an organ in which sperm may at one time be attaining an optimal functional state and may at another time be aging and becoming incapable of functioning. The possible significance of this suggestion for the rǒle of the epididymis in sperm development and for the history of sperm after they leave the testis is discussed.
An immunoassay for atrazine using tunable immunosorbent.

Abstract A novel, simple, economical, and environmentally friendly tunable immunosorbent-based immunoassay for sensitive and selective determination of atrazine is reported. Tunable immunosorbents consisting of a fusion between an elastin-like polypeptide made up of 77 repeating units of the pentapeptide VPGVG and a single-chain Fv of an anti-atrazine antibody were synthesized biologically and purified by temperature-triggered phase transition. A competitive immunoassay based on the competition of atrazine–horseradish peroxidase and atrazine was established with IC 50 and lower detection limit of 0.16 and 0.01 ppb, respectively. Excellent recoveries (mean values ranging between 92 and 104%) were demonstrated in simulated atrazine-contaminated water samples.
Abstract IA3: Functional implications of relocation of regulated transcription units in prostate cancer

Despite the long-standing recognition of distinct subnuclear architectural features and the recent discovery of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), their potential interacting roles in gene regulation remain elusive. We have found that two ncRNAs, TUG1 and NEAT2, located in Polycomb body (PcGs) and interchromatin granules, respectively, control relocation of growth control genes required for regulation of cell cycle between these two subnuclear structures, depending on the status of Polycomb 2 protein (Pc2) methylation in response to growth signals. These ncRNAs direct the assembly of multiple transcriptional co-repressor/coactivator complexes and, surprisingly, can alter “reading” of the histone tail marks by the Pc2 chromodomain, thereby specifying growth control gene expression and cell proliferation in a spatially organized manner. Binding of NEAT2 to demethylated Pc2, which promotes the SUMOylation of E2F1, which culminates in activation of the growth control gene program. These observations provide a molecular logic integrating actions of transcription factor/co-regulators, non-histone protein methylation, and ncRNAs resident in distinct subnuclear architectural structures to achieve coordinated programs of regulated gene expression in the three-dimensional space of the nucleus. We also will present data linking these strategies to mechanisms of ligand-induced activation of AR target genes in prostate cancer cells. Citation Format: Liuqing Yang, Chunru Lin, Esperanza Nunez, Wenbo Li, Eugin Destici, Michael G Rosenfeld. Functional implications of relocation of regulated transcription units in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2012 Feb 6-9; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(4 Suppl):Abstract nr IA3.
Optical circuits from anisotropic films

The theory for inductive and capacitive elements realized from anisotropic slabs is developed. These elements are shown to have low sensitivity to angle of incidence and nondispersive performance. It is therefore possible to realize optical circuits that perform more effectively than would be possible with isotropic materials. Low-pass filtering and antireflection examples are given. Desirable anisotropy can be achieved using a metal-insulator stack operating in the effective-medium metamaterial regime. The approach allows circuit synthesis at optical wavelengths.
Detection of Cortical Laminar Architecture Using Manganese-Enhanced MRI

Abstract Changes in manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) contrast across the rodent somatosensory cortex were compared to the cortical laminae as identified by tissue histology and administration of an anatomical tracer to cortex and thalamus. Across the cortical thickness, MEMRI signal intensity was low in layer I, increased in layer II, decreased in layer III until mid-layer IV, and increased again, peaking in layer V, before decreasing through layer VI. The reeler mouse mutant was used to confirm that the cortical alternation in MEMRI contrast was related to laminar architecture. Unlike in wild-type mice, the reeler cortex showed no appreciable changes in MEMRI signal, consistent with absence of cortical laminae in histological slides. The tract tracing ability of MEMRI was used to further confirm assignments and demonstrate laminar specificity. Twelve to 16 h after stereotaxic injections of MnCl 2 to the ventroposterior thalamic nuclei, an overall increase in signal intensity was detected in primary somatosensory cortex compared to other brain regions. Maximum intensity projection images revealed a distinctly bright stripe located 600–700 μm below the pial surface, in layer IV. The data show that both systemic and tract tracing forms of MEMRI are useful for studying laminar architecture in the brain.
Low-density lipoprotein receptor activity in the guinea pig adrenal cortex. II. Zonal response to aminoglutethimide and 17α-ethinylestradiol

Abstract Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity and the concentration of cholesterol were measured in the outer (glomerulosa/fasciculata) and inner (reticularis) zones of the adrenal cortex of the guinea pig to examine the relation between cholesterol content and LDL receptor activity. While the concentration of cholesterol was 2–3-times higher in the outer cortical zone, the maximum high-affinity binding capacity for LDL was essentially the same for the two zones, or slightly higher for the inner zone. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) caused a significant increase in LDL receptor activity only in the outer zone, but led to a reduction in the cholesterol content in both adrenocortical zones. The treatment of animals with 17α-ethinylstradiol also resulted in a reduction of cholesterol in both adrenocortical zones, but an increase in LDL receptor number only in the outer zone. The latter effect was partially reversed by the administration of dexamethasone. Aminoglutethimide, which was used in a dose that did not block steroidogenesis but did block the hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters in response to ACTH, did not prevent the ACTH-induced increase in LDL receptor number in the outer zone. Thus, the number of LDL receptors was increased in the zona fasciculata by ACTH in the absence of a reduction in cellular cholesterol content, while the number of LDL receptors in the zona reticularis was not increased by ACTH even in the face of a reduction in cellular cholesterol. Exclusive of the experiments employing aminoglutethimide, when the cellular cholesterol content was plotted against LDL binding activity, an excellent inverse correlation was revealed for the zona fasciculata, but essentially no correlation was noted for the zona reticularis. It is concluded that the outer and inner cortical zones of the guinea pig adrenal are quite distinct in the nature of their LDL receptor activity and regulation: the LDL receptor of the outer zone appears to function in a way similar to what has been reported for the whole adrenal cortex of other species in that receptor number correlates with tissue cholesterol content and is primarily regulated by ACTH; the LDL receptor number of the inner zone, however, does not correlate with tissue cholesterol content and is apparently not regulated by ACTH.
Brief note concerning Melvin's solution

The Petrov type of Melvin's magnetic universe is shown to be type D. This appears to be the only type-D electrovac solution with three commuting Killing vectors.
Molecular dynamics simulations of B‐DNA: An analysis of the role of initial molecular configuration, randomly assigned velocity distribution, long integration times, and nonconstrained termini

Molecular dynamics simulations of three DNA sequences using the AMBER 3.0 force field were performed with implicit inclusion of water through a distance-dependent dielectric constant and solvated counterions. Simulations of the self-complementary DNA dodecamer d(CGCGAATTCGCG) were started from a regular B-DNA structure and the x-ray single crystal B-DNA structure. Although mean convergence during the 89-ps calculation was confirmed, localized differences in backbone torsionals and base-pair helicoidals were observed. A nanosecond simulation of the nonself-complementary 14 base-pair DNA d(GGCGGAATTGGCGG) indicates that most structural parameters stabilize within the first 100–200 ps, while isolated features show low-frequency oscillations throughout the calculation. The lack of harmonic constraints on the ends of the molecules was shown not to perturb the structural dynamics of the internal oligonucleotide beyond the external 2 base pairs. Comparison of three simulations of the nonself-complementary 14 base-pair DNA d(GGCGAAATTCGCGG), identical in all respects other than the assignment of initial Maxwellian atomic velocity distributions, revealed the inherent systematic variability. The three calculations result in nearly superimposable global structures, with localized variations in torsionals and helicoidals. Our results provide a basis for performing a comparative analysis of the effect of DNA sequence on localized structure. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Electronic properties of Y-junctions in SnO2 nanowires

Growth conditions leading to kinking and branching in SnO2 nanowires have been investigated. Lower temperature growth at 750 °C leads to Y-junctions as seen previously in carbon nanotubes, whereas straight nanowires are obtained at 880 °C. Photoemission valence band spectroscopy is used to show that the carrier concentration and Fermi level position vary with diameter. Thus, the stem and branches in a Y-junction can have completely different semiconducting properties, leading to opportunities in novel device construction.
A Modest Movie Migration: Digitizing and Providing Institutional Repository Access to a Small Archive of Motion Picture Films at a Liberal Arts College

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine...
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Comb-Branched Poly(epoxide ether)-Based Polymer Electrolytes

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using many-body polarizable force field were performed on comb-branched poly(epoxide ether) (PEPE) polymer electrolytes doped with lithium bistrifluoromethanesulfonamide (LiTFSI) salt as a function of temperatures from 333 to 423 K at ether oxygen (EO) to lithium ratio of 20. MD simulations predicted electrolyte conductivity in good agreement with experiments. The fraction of solvent-separated ions and lithium cation environment for PEPE/LiTFSI were similar to those found for the linear poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/LiTFSI electrolyte. The Li+ cations had the highest probability to be coordinated by EOs near the PEPE polymer backbone and the lowest probability being coordinated by EO's at the end of side chains. Segmental dynamics of the backbone was slower by 2 orders of magnitude compared to the dynamics of side-chain ends. The Li+ self-diffusion coefficient was approximately an order of magnitude lower than the TFSI- anion self-diffusion coefficient. Visualization of th...
Cell cycle remodeling requires cell–cell interactions in developing Xenopus embryos

Flow cytometric analysis has revealed a general remodeling of the cell cycle in developing Xenopus embryos. During early gastrulation the cell cycle is dominated by S phase, with 82% of all interphase nuclei in the S phase fraction. As development proceeds over the next 60 hours, a gradual decline in S phase cells is proportional to an increase in the number of cells in G1. By the late tailbud stage, 85% of all nuclei are found in the G1 fraction, approximating the cell cycle profile of adult somatic cells. Cell cycle remodeling occurs on schedule even in embryos that have been dissociated into a loose mound of cells which remain in close proximity to one another. However, cells that have been widely separated by manual dispersion do not undergo remodeling. These dispersed cells maintain an S phase-dominated cell cycle and continue to show patterns of blastula and gastrula gene expression at least 30 hours beyond gastrulation. We conclude that cell cycle remodeling occurs in the absence of an intact embryo but requires the inductive influences associated with a community of cells. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Molecular evolution of DNA-(cytosine-N4) methyItransferases: evidence for their polyphyletic origin

DNA N4-cytosine methyltransferases (N4mC MTases) are a family of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet)-dependent MTases. Members of this family were previously found to share nine conserved sequence motifs, but the evolutionary basis of these similarities has never been studied in detail. We performed phylogenetic analysis of 37 known and potential new family members from the multiple sequence alignment using distance matrix, parsimony and maximum likelihood approaches to infer the evolutionary relationship among the N4mC MTases and classify them into groups of orthologs. All the treeing algorithms employed as well as results of exhaustive sequence database searching support a scenario, in which the majority of N4mC MTases, except for M. Bal I and M. Bam HI, arose by divergence from a common ancestor. Interestingly, MTases M. Bal I and M. Bam HI apparently originated from N6-adenine MTases and represent the most recent addendum to the N4mC MTase family. In addition to the previously reported nine sequence motifs, two more conserved sequence patches were detected. Phylogenetic analysis also provided the evidence for massive horizontal transfer of MTase genes, presumably with the whole restriction-modification systems, between Bacteria and Archaea.
Zoonotic diseases of common pet birds: psittacine, passerine, and columbiform species

Zoonotic transmission of disease from pet birds is uncommon, but there are some recognized dangers. Most notably, Chlamydophila psittaci can be transmitted from pet birds to humans. Allergic responses to pet birds, including pneumonitis and contact dermatitis, have also been documented. Bite wounds from pet birds are rarely reported but can cause trauma and develop infection. The other diseases discussed here are considered potential zoonotic diseases of pet birds because of either isolated reports of suspected but unconfirmed transmission to humans or from reports of wild conspecifics being reported to have the disease.
Off-line diagnostic analyses of a three-dimensional PM model using two matrix factorization methods

Abstract Error diagnosis of fine-grid photochemical transport models (CTM) has become a formidable task, which requires thorough understanding of complex microphysical and photochemical processes in the atmosphere as well as scientific computing. In an initial modeling exercise conducted for the California Regional PM10/PM2.5 Air Quality Study (CRPAQS), abnormally high, unrealistic, PM sulfate concentrations were simulated in central California. To aid the error diagnosis, two matrix factorization methods, namely absolute principal component analysis (APCA) and an efficient non-negative matrix factorization method (NMFROC), were used to analyze the relationships among the input and output parameters of a CTM for PM modeling and to apportion the relative importance of individual factors to an abnormal sample. The APCA method corroborated sciences implemented in the PM model, but failed to apportion the relative importance of individual factors to PM sulfate in an abnormal case. On the other hand, the NMFROC method performed well on the apportionment of an abnormally high PM sulfate. The factors produced from the NMFROC method shared common features with the APCA method, but significant differences remain between the two methods, which can be understood from their difference in methodology. Subsequent PM modeling results were shown to validate the results from the NMFROC method.
Recovering popper: For the left?

Abstract In his biography of Karl Popper, Malachi Hacohen brilliantly reconstructs the development of Popper's ideas through 1946, correcting many errors regarding the sequence of their emergence. In addition he recreates Popper's Vienna and provides insights into Popper's complex personality. A larger goal of Hacohen's narrative is to show the relevance of Popper's philosophical and political thought for the left. Unfortunately this leads him to neglect and distort certain aspects of the story he tells, particularly when it comes to the relationship between Popper and F.A. Hayek.
Differential impact of heart rate on arterial wall stiffness and thickness in young adults: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Abstract Heart rate, a hemodynamic parameter, is an important determinant of arterial wall stiffness. However, information on the relationship of heart rate to arterial wall thickness is inconsistent. This study examined the influence of heart rate on arterial stiffness and thickness in Black and White young adults. The study cohort consisted of 255 Black and 659 White adults age 25 to 43 years enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by B-mode ultrasound and aorta-femoral pulse wave velocity (af-PWV) by echo-Doppler. There was no difference in heart rate between Blacks and Whites. Males vs. females displayed lower heart rate and higher segmental and composite carotid IMT; Blacks vs. Whites had higher composite carotid IMT (0.83 mm vs. 0.80 mm, P P P = .01 for Blacks; β = .06, P = .07 for Whites; β = .09, P = .003 for total sample), but not with carotid IMT. These results indicate that heart rate plays differential roles in the development of arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis during young adulthood.
Solid-state physics: A polariton laser

Polaritons — particles comprising both light and matter — can form a coherent state, just as light and matter can individually. This fact has now been exploited to make the first room-temperature polariton laser.
Sea nettle and man-o'war venoms: a chemical comparison of their venoms and studies on the pathogenesis of the sting.

Sea nettle and Portuguese Man-O'War venoms have many common characteristics and several differences. The mouse lethal factors of both jellyfish have molecular weights of approximately 150,000 and isoelectric points of 4.0–4.5. At least nine lethal fractions can be isolated from each jellyfish by preparative gel electrophoresis. Only sea nettle venom could be easily purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation. The pain induced by the sea nettle sting may be produced by histamine, histamine releasers, serotonin, kinins, or prostaglandins, all of which are associated with the venom. At this time, no correlation can be made between the enzymatic content of these venoms and their toxicologic actions.
Creating change and innovation in Human Resource management courses: Developing a model organizational consulting project as a learning application

Changes in the various economies have caused many adults to return back to school for additional education and degrees to help them improve their current job status or perhaps enter new careers/professions. As a result, students are seeking courses and degrees focused on help them to excel in certain areas and raise their level of income. In particular, many Human Resources Management students are seeking specializations in areas like consulting and Human Resource Development. This paper will focus on how one school uses its Organizational Consulting course to enable its students to learn more about entrepreneurship and becoming innovative in the field of consulting. This paper will discuss how the teacher-centered approach has been replaced with a more user-friendly, student-centered approach to help to personalize or customize this final consulting project work in the context of an e-Portfolio, as well as focusing on the use of such a strategic tool for future career endeavors. The author will discuss potential applications of e-Portfolios to help student set up a potential electronic consulting practice and learn more about the area of entrepreneurship. Further, this paper will discuss how the e-Portfolio was created and developed in this university program in terms of assessing the student's content knowledge and application towards a potential consulting practice. Rather than just assigning a series of unrelated projects, this course helps students work weekly on practical projects to apply their content knowledge and build up a consulting practice from a basic framework to a final business plan. According to the student input, as well as the faculty members teaching this course, it appears that the implementation of this e-Portfolio element has helped students to learn more about consulting and its potential application in the field of Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development. This particular academic tool has been helpful for the instructor to evaluate the students' abilities and skills to apply content knowledge gained from the course, as well as evaluating their innovative approach to building a potential consulting practice. Finally, this paper will help to demonstrate, from an appreciative inquiry perspective, the positive benefits of incorporating an e-Portfolio into HR and business courses, as well as helping students apply their knowledge in terms of being innovative and creative with a potential consulting business. Also, it will help to illustrate how the students learn from their peers as to how they are achieving similar or comparable results with their approaches to e-Portfolio work.
"Reform and Openness": Why China's Economic Reforms Have Delayed Democracy

Most theories that seek to explain democratization look to changes in the economy as the precursor to significant political liberalization, locating the main causal factor in either severe economic crisis or rapid economic growth. In the Chinese context, by contrast, the Communist Party has extricated itself from the socialist social contract with the urban working class without losing its grip on political power. Moreover, China has maintained a rapid pace of economic growth for over twenty-five years without significant political liberalization. Comparative analysis of China's post-1978 reform policies yields insights both across types of socialist transition, comparing China with Eastern Europe and Russia, and across time, comparing China with other high-growth East Asian economies. A key factor in China's ability to reform the economy without sacrificing political control is the timing and sequencing of its foreign direct investment (FDI) liberalization. There are two key variables that are important to this comparative analysis: China's pattern of ownership diversification and China's mode of integration into the global economy. The article relates these two variables to the success of economic change without political liberalization, in particular, how FDI liberalization has affected relations between workers and the ruling Communist Party. "Reform and openness" in this context resulted in a strengthened Chinese state, a weakened civil society (especially labor), and a delay in political liberalization.
Disturbance and the temporal variability of invertebrate assemblages in two Andean streams

SUMMARY 1. Monthly variation in patterns of invertebrate density was examined in two streams in the Venezuelan Andes that differed in elevation, geomorphology, and disturbance regime. 2. At one stream, located in the Andean piedmont, invertebrate densities displayed large fluctuations and between-month variation differed by as many as four orders of magnitude. Major declines in invertebrate numbers were generally associated with frequent disasters, defined as channel-shifting spates and drought. 3. At the other stream, a montane site located at higher elevation, invertebrate densities varied by tittle more than an order of magnitude over the duration of the study. Reductions in invertebrate numbers between successive months generally occurred during the rainy season. 4. Monthly invertebrate densities were inversely related to rainfall at each site. In addition, a highly significant positive relationship was observed between invertebrate density and the number of days elapsed since the previous major rainstorm event. Relationships between rainfall and invertebrate densities differed between streams, however, with significantly steeper regression slopes being found at the piedmont than the montane site. 5. We suggest that disturbance plays a seasonally important role in structuring neotropical stream communities in which changes in discharge are severe and unpredictable. Our data contrast with studies from tropical floodplain rivers in which rainy-season floods are predictable events that cannot be readily characterized as disturbances.
Visual quantitative estimation: semiquantitative wall motion scoring and determination of ejection fraction

Ejection fraction (EF) is the most commonly used parameter of left ventricular (LV) systolic function and can be assessed by echocardiography. Quantitative echocardiography is time consuming and is as accurate as visual estimation, which has significant variability. We hypothesized that each echocardiographer has developed a mental set of guidelines that relate to how much individual segment shortening constitutes normal function or hypokinesis of varying extents. We determined the accuracy of applying these guidelines to an accepted technique of EF determination using a retrospective analysis of consecutive two-dimensional echocardiographic studies performed on patients who had radioventriculography (RVG) within 48 hours. Using a 12 segment model, we scored each segment at the base and mid-ventricular level based on segmental excursion and thickening. The apex was scored similarly but with 1/3 of the value based on a cylinder-cone model. EF was determined from the sum of segment scores and was estimated visually. We termed this approach visual quantitative estimation (VQE). We correlated the EF derived from VQE and visual estimation with RVG EF. In the training set, VQE demonstrated a strong correlation with RVG (r = 0.969), which was significantly greater than visual estimation (r = 0.896, P < 0.01). The limits of agreement for VQE (+12% to -7%) were similar to the limits of RVG agreement with contrast ventriculography (+10% to -11%) with similar intraobserver and interobserver variabilities. Similar correlation was noted in the prediction set between VQE and RVG EF (r = 0.967, P < 0.001). We conclude that VQE provides highly correlated estimates of EF with RVG.
Multilevel Broadcast Networks

This paper is eligible for the student paper award. We formulate a broadcast problem, where based on their quality of observations, outputs at various receivers are represented on a graph (called "degradation graph"). If receiver Z is a physically degraded version of receiver Y, then node Z is a child of node Y in this graph. This generalization of the classical degraded broadcast channel provides a framework for various situations where at least some information should be available to receivers with partial (or noisier) observations. Upper and lower bounds are obtained on the capacity region. The upper bound is based on auxiliary variables, whose structure is described by the mirror image of the channel's degradation graph. As a special case of our problem, a packet broadcast network is considered.
Sandstone Extrusions and Slope Channel Architecture and Evolution: Mio-Pliocene Monterey and Capistrano Formations, Dana Point Harbor, Orange County, California, U.S.A.

Abstract The Miocene Monterey Formation and deepwater channels of the Mio-Pliocene Capistrano Formation crop out at Dana Point Harbor (California) and are locally separated by a series of extruded sandstone bodies. Stratigraphic columns, photo panels, and high-resolution lidar data are used to describe the stratigraphy of the 840-m-wide, 30-m-thick exposure. The studied exposure contains: (1) a lower unit composed of Monterey slope mudstone, (2) an up to 13-m-thick, discontinuous middle unit of structureless sandstone bodies, and (3) an upper sandstone unit composed of the laterally and vertically stacked breccia-, conglomerate-, and sand-filled channels of the Capistrano Formation. Several observations collectively suggest that the structureless sandstone bodies in the middle unit are remobilized: (1) The lower mudstone unit contains centimeter- to meter-scale injections of structureless, poorly sorted, coarse-grained sandstones. (2) The facies in the middle sandstone unit are identical to the injected sandstones facies observed in the lower mudstone unit. (3) The structureless sandstone bodies of the middle unit form disconnected bodies below the upper sandstone unit and have an average aspect ratio of 4:1 whereas the Capistrano channels have an aspect ratio greater than 10:1. (4) Quartz and feldspar grains in the injected sandstone of the lower unit and the structureless sandstone of the middle unit are fractured. (5) The structureless sandstone bodies of the middle unit contain meter-scale angular mudstone clasts of composition similar to that of the Monterey mudstones. (6) These clasts contain internal sandstone injections and are deformed. (7) The Monterey strata around the structureless sandstone bodies display distinct variations of strike and dip relative to the regional trend. The remobilized sandstone bodies forming the middle unit are interpreted as extruded sandstone bodies that incorporated large mudstone clasts (rafts) during the migration from a deep sand source interpreted as being a lower sandy Monterey interval. These sand extrusions were emplaced at the seafloor in multiple phases, following slope channel incision and preceding channel-fill deposits. These extruded fluidized sands triggered local syndepositional deformation of the channel fills in the form of large load structures. The processes that caused the source sands to fluidize are interpreted to be related to deep fluid migration toward a structural high located below the study area. The mechanism triggering the upward migration of sand is likely related to slope channel incision.
Wavelength modulation detection of water vapor with a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser

A vertical cavity surface-emitting laser was studied for gas-sensing applications. Properties of the 962-nm laser that were measured include side-mode suppression, wavelength tuning with temperature and current, power versus injection current, and the amplitude noise spectrum. With wavelength modulation spectroscopy, a rms noise level of 2 × 10-4 absorbance units was achieved. The large current tuning range (25 cm-1) and smaller amplitude modulation (11%/cm-1) of the vertical cavity laser compare favorably with Fabry–Perot and distributed feedback diode lasers for spectroscopic gas sensing, especially at atmospheric pressure.
Non-metric image-based rendering for video stabilization

We consider the problem of video stabilization: removing unwanted image perturbations due to unstable camera motions. We approach this problem from an image-based rendering (IBR) standpoint. Given an unstabilized video sequence, the task is to synthesize a new sequence as seen from a stabilized camera trajectory. This task is relatively straightforward if one has a Euclidean reconstruction of the unstabilized camera trajectory and a suitable IBR algorithm. However, it is often not feasible to obtain a Euclidean reconstruction from an arbitrary video sequence. In light of this problem, we describe IBR techniques for non-metric reconstructions, which are often much easier to obtain since they do not require camera calibration. These rendering techniques are well suited to the video stabilization problem. The key idea behind our techniques is that all measurements are specified in the image space, rather than in the non-metric space.
Effects of Second Messengers on Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication of Ovine Luteal Cells Throughout the Estrous Cycle

Abstract Corpora lutea (CL) from Days 5, 10, and 15 after superovulation were enzymatically dispersed, and a portion of the cells were elutriated to obtain fractions enriched with small or large luteal cells. Mixed, small, and large luteal cell fractions were incubated with no treatment or with agonists or antagonists of cAMP (dbcAMP or Rp-cAMPS), protein kinase C (PKC; TPA or H-7), or calcium (A23187, EGTA, or A23187 + EGTA). The rate of contact-dependent gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) was evaluated by laser cytometry. Media were collected for progesterone (P4) radioimmunoassay, and luteal cells cultured with no treatment were fixed for immunocytochemistry or frozen for Western blot analysis. Luteal cells from each stage of the estrous cycle exhibited GJIC. The dbcAMP increased (P < 0.05) GJIC for all cell types across the estrous cycle. The Rp-cAMPS decreased (P < 0.05) GJIC for small luteal cells on Day 5 and for all cell types on Days 10 and 15. The TPA inhibited (P < 0.01), but H-7...
LANGUAGE, experience and history: ‘What happened’ in World War II

Sociolinguistics can contribute to our understanding of history by showing how language helps to develop and maintain a sense of a communal past. This paper focuses on the referring terms for the World War II experiences of European Jews and of Japanese Americans, as evinced through various sources of public discourse (newspapers, library cataloguing systems, book titles). The analysis of linguistic form and function combines with discussion of the social and cultural history of Holocaust awareness in the U.S. to show how the word Holocaust (as a referring term for the experience of European Jews) became part of an American lexicon. A comparison of this stable term with the variety of nouns and verbal expressions used to index the Japanese American experience allows us to more fully consider how language helps to create and preserve collective memory.
Open Access Web Resources for Library Continuing Education and Training

Continuing education and training are essential for a vital and productive organization and for employee adaptability and job satisfaction. Libraries of all types are organizations that value learning. Training and development for library employees is expensive, and can be out of reach for smaller institutions, or libraries that are not well-funded. Regardless of funding, libraries of all types can benefit from the wide variety of training and continuing education opportunities available on the Web as open access resources. These include documentation, journal articles, reports and white papers, online courses, videos, podcasts, and so on, from many different reliable sources. This chapter surveys major sources and types of open access online learning, and evaluates their usefulness for library employees.