cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phasing of deglacial warming and Laurentide Ice Sheet meltwater in the Gulf of Mexico

Evidence is emerging that the tropical climate system played a major role in global climate change during the last deglaciation. However, existing studies show that deglacial warming was asyn- chronous across the tropical band, complicating the identification of causal mechanisms. The Orca Basin in the northern Gulf of Mexico is ideally located to record subtropical Atlantic sea-surface temperature (SST) warming in relation to meltwater input from the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Paired d 18 O and Mg/Ca data on the planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides ruber from core EN32-PC6 are used to separate deglacial changes in SST and d 18 O of sea- water. SST as calculated from Mg/Ca data increased by .3 8C from ca. 17.2 to 15.5 ka in association with Heinrich event 1 and was not in phase with Greenland air temperature. Subtracting tem- perature effects from d 18 O values in G. ruber reveals two excur- sions representing Laurentide meltwater input to the Gulf of Mex- ico, one of .1.5‰ from ca. 16.1 to 15.6 ka and a second major spike of .2.5‰ from ca. 15.2 to 13.0 ka that encompassed melt- water pulse 1A and peaked ca. 13.8 ka during the Bolling-Allerod. Conversion to salinity through the use of a Laurentide meltwater end member of 225‰ indicates that near-surface salinity de- creased by 2‰-4‰ during these spikes. These results suggest that Gulf of Mexico SST warming preceded peak Laurentide Ice Sheet decay and the Bolling-Allerod interval by .2 k.y. and that heat was retained in the subtropical Atlantic during Heinrich event 1, consistent with modulation of deglacial climate by thermohaline circulation.
The Reduction of Cognitive Conflict: Effects of Various Types of Communication

The effectiveness of training individuals to utilize Rapoport's “region of validity” technique (1960) as well as Gibb's “supportive” types of communication (1961) in reducing cognitive conflict was examined with a sample of 122 students participating in a version of Hammond's cognitive conflict paradigm (1966). Message content analysis was employed to discern the effect of various message types on conflict reduction. Analysis indicates that training in use of the “region of validity” technique and “supportive” types of communication reduces confict and that problem-oriented messages are positively associated with conflict reduction.
Hybrid Membranes for Selective Carbon Dioxide Separation from Fuel Gas

The potential of hybrid membranes as a CO2 capture technology for integrated gasification combined cycle applications was evaluated. Commercial γ-alumina supports were modified with a variety of trichlorosilanes intended to enhance the surface adsorption of CO2. The resulting hybrids were characterized using X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and tested for performance in the separation of He and CO2. The silanization temperature was determined to be important because membranes fabricated at 273 K had substantially different performance properties than those fabricated at room temperature. Specifically, the permeances of membranes modified with alkyltrichlorosilanes at reduced temperatures were 1−2 orders of magnitude higher than those of membranes fabricated at room temperature, and the selectivities of these low-temperature silanized membranes were relatively similar to those expected from Knudsen diffusion. Supports modified with silanes containing one of a var...
Nonlinear Energy Transport Between Longitudinal Acoustic Modes in Cylindrical Combustion Chambers

The second order nonlinear longitudinal acoustics in a cylindrical combustion chamber are studied for the case of an unstable second mode. A modal analysis is undertaken and a continuation method is used to determine the limit cycle behavior of the time dependent amplitudes of the acoustic modes as functions of the linear stability of the unstable acoustic mode. It is shown that if an insufficient number of modes are included in the truncated system, bifurcations of the primary limit cycle occur. The energy in the limit cycles is analyzed and the bifurcations are shown to occur as a means of increasing the amount of energy transfer out of the unstable acoustic mode and into the stable acoustic modes through the nonlinear terms.
Exploiting processor heterogeneity for energy efficient context inference on mobile phones

In recent years we have seen the emergence of context-aware mobile sensing apps which employ machine learning algorithms on real-time sensor data to infer user behaviors and contexts. These apps are typically optimized for power and performance on the app processors of mobile platforms. However, modern mobile platforms are sophisticated system on chips (SoCs) where the main app processors are complemented by multiple co-processors. Recently chip vendors have undertaken nascent efforts to make these previously hidden co-processors such as the digital signal processors (DSPs) programmable. In this paper, we explore the energy and performance implications of off-loading the computation associated with machine learning algorithms in context-aware apps to DSPs embedded in mobile SoCs. Our results show a 17% reduction in a TI OMAP4 based mobile platform's energy usage from off-loading context classification computation to the DSP core with indiscernible latency overhead. We also describe the design of a run-time system service for energy efficient context inference on Android devices, which takes parameters from the app to instantiate the classification model and schedules the execution on the DSP or app processor as specified by the app.
Pliocene environments and climates in the western United States

Abstract The available evidence from the western United States suggests that the climate of the Early and Middle Pliocene (prior to ∼2.4 Ma) was less seasonal (more equable) and generally more humid than now. Along the Pacific coast, summer drought was less pronounced than today. In the interior of the Pacific Northwest rainfall was more abundant and mild winter temperatures prevailed across much of the High Plains. In the Northwestern interior, a trend toward drier conditions began after ∼4 Ma, although there may have been short periods of relatively humid conditions after this time. The period between 2.5 or 2.4-2.0 Ma was drier than earlier in the Pliocene throughout the American West, and apparently colder in many regions, although the occurrence of land tortoises as far north as Kansas may indicate intermittent frost-free conditions during this interval. After ∼2.0 Ma conditions became warmer and more humid. The general climatic trends in the terrestrial data parallel fluctuations seen in North Pacific and in Oxygen Isotopic records of global glacial fluctuations. Global Climate Model (GCM) simulations of the regional effects of Late Cenozoic uplift and mountain-building are generally in accord with the nature, direction, and amplitude of differences between Pliocene and modern climates.
Initial Work on the Characterization of Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Using Software Image Analysis

A current challenge in additive manufacturing (commonly known as 3D printing) is the detection of defects. Detection of defects (or the lack thereof) in bespoke industrial manufacturing may be safety critical and reduce or eliminate the need for testing of printed objects. In consumer and prototype printing, early defect detection may facilitate the printer taking corrective measures (or pausing printing and alerting a user), preventing the need to re-print objects after the compounding of a small error occurs. This paper considers one approach to defect detection. It characterizes the efficacy of using a multi-camera system and image processing software to assess printing progress (thus detecting completion failure defects) and quality. The potential applications and extrapolations of this type of a system are also discussed.
Oxidized Amino Acid Residues in the Vicinity of QA and PheoD1 of the Photosystem II Reaction Center: Putative Generation Sites of Reducing-Side Reactive Oxygen Species

Under a variety of stress conditions, Photosystem II produces reactive oxygen species on both the reducing and oxidizing sides of the photosystem. A number of different sites including the Mn4O5Ca cluster, P680, PheoD1, QA, QB and cytochrome b559 have been hypothesized to produce reactive oxygen species in the photosystem. In this communication using Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry we have identified several residues on the D1 and D2 proteins from spinach which are oxidatively modified and in close proximity to QA (D1 residues 239F, 241Q, 242E and the D2 residues 238P, 239T, 242E and 247M) and PheoD1 (D1 residues 130E, 133L and 135F). These residues may be associated with reactive oxygen species exit pathways located on the reducing side of the photosystem, and their modification may indicate that both QA and PheoD1 are sources of reactive oxygen species on the reducing side of Photosystem II.
Fast transient response of novel Peltier junctions

Abstract The fast transient response of a thermoelectric (TE) cooler with novel geometry is discussed. This geometry involves conical semiconductor legs whose hot to cold junction cross-sectional area ratios can be varied. The novel TE junctions are fabricated such that the thermal capacitance and electrical conductance are decreased while simultaneously increasing the thermal resistance. The experimental apparatus which includes the vacuum system, power supplies, pulse and control circuitry, sensing and measuring instrumentation etc. is described. With narrow pulse width and large amplitudes, additional cooling of the order of 45°C below the steady-state maximum with recovery times in the range of 1–3 sec is obtained.
Effect of nonstoichiometry on the magnetic and electrical properties of synthetic single crystal Fe2.4Ti0.6O4

A single crystal of titanomagnetite Fe2.4Ti0.6O4 (TM60) was synthesized using the floating zone technique. The Curie temperature, saturation magnetization at 5 K, and thermopower were measured for several pieces of the crystal as grown and following high temperature annealing at different oxygen fugacities within the stability field of the TM60. The magnetic and electrical data indicate that long-range ordering in TM60 is a function of nonstoichiometry with higher cation vacancy concentrations producing a more random cation distribution. This effect may explain the differences among cation distribution models for TM developed previously by other workers.
Comparison of conventional K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dating of young mafic volcanic rocks

K–Ar and 40Ar/39Ar ages have been measured on nine mafic volcanic rocks younger than 1 myr from the Snake River Plain (Idaho), Mount Adams (Washington), and Crater Lake (Oregon). The K–Ar ages were calculated from Ar measurements made by isotope dilution and K2O measurements by flame photometry. The 40Ar/39Ar ages are incremental-heating experiments using a low-blank resistance-heated furnace. The results indicate that high-quality ages can be measured on young, mafic volcanic rocks using either the K–Ar or the 40Ar/39Ar technique. The precision of an 40Ar/39Ar plateau age generally is better than the precision of a K–Ar age because the plateau age is calculated by pooling the ages of several gas increments. The precision of a plateau age generally is better than the precision of an isotope correlation (isochron) age for the same sample. For one sample the intercept of the isochron yielded an 40Ar/36Ar value significantly different from the atmospheric value of 295.5. Recalculation of increment ages using the isochron intercept for the composition of nonradiogenic Ar in the sample resulted in much better agreement of ages for this sample. The results of this study also indicate that, given suitable material and modern equipment, precise K–Ar and 40Ar/39Ar ages can be measured on volcanic rocks as young as the latest Pleistocene, and perhaps even the Holocene.
High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of N-methylated metabolites of nicotine

Abstract An analytical method has been developed, using cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, for the analysis of N-methylated metabolites of nicotine. This method has been used to detect and quantitate seven potential in vivo urinary metabolites of [2′-14C]nicotine, including four methylated nicotine derivatives, in the guinea pig.
Pentoxifylline reverses age-related deficits in spatial memory

Pentoxifylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, produces a marked reversal of an age-dependent spatial memory deficit in Fischer 344 strain male rats. Performance of 26-month-old animals treated chronically with pentoxifylline approached that of 3-month-old controls. The effect was not dependent upon concurrent administration of the acetylcholine precursor choline chloride. It is concluded that the pentoxifylline-induced reversal of the age-dependent memory decline is not dependent on any presumed facilitation of acetylation and utilization of exogenously supplied transmitter substrate.
Neuropathic pain: role for presynaptic T-type channels in nociceptive signaling

Pain is an important clinical problem and, in its chronic form, may be a disabling condition. Most currently available therapies are insufficient and/or accompanied by serious side effects. Recent studies have implicated the CaV3.2 isoform of T-type Ca channels in nociceptive signaling. CaV3.2 channels are located in the somas of dorsal root ganglion cells and in the central endings of these cells in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. These channels can support the development and maintenance of both physiological (nociceptive) and pathological (neuropathic) pain. In this review, we summarize the most recent evidence linking the presynaptic CaV3.2 channels to the etiology of neuropathic pain disorders. In particular, we focus on data linking plasticity of CaV3.2 channels with neuropathic pain disorders associated with mechanical peripheral nerve injury and with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. We also discuss the development of potential pain therapies aimed at these channels.
"Beyond the Dumping Ground": A Critique of the Basic Ecclesial Community Model as a Strategy for Development in an Urban Site

Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) are small communities of Christians organized by church workers seeking to transform the prevailing society into a more equitable and just society. The paper looks at an organized "scavenger" community located in an urban dump site. The untenable conditions of the site work against the organizers' intention to develop a self-sustaining community. Hence, they overemphasize income-generating strategies, instead of social transformation, because they must help to meet the basic needs of the residents. Unlike rural BECs which may opt to lessen their contact with the capitalist marketplace to develop more communal agrarian modes of practice, urban BECs may not so easily meet their daily subsistence needs outside the market system. This raises other questions: Are church-led and "bottom-up" initiatives enough without material support from the government? Is there a point at which capitalism becomes a sufficiently dominant ideology to render ineffective alternative courses of ac...
The 4.5S RNA component of the signal recognition particle is required for group A Streptococcus virulence

The signal recognition particle (SRP) is a ribonucleoprotein complex that targets proteins for secretion in a co-translational manner. While originally thought to be essential in all bacteria, recent data show that the SRP is dispensable in at least some streptococcal species. The SRP from the human pathogen group A Streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes) is predicted to be composed of protein Ffh and 4.5S RNA. Deletion of ffh alters the secretion of several GAS proteins, and leads to a severe reduction in virulence. Here, we report that mutation of the gene encoding 4.5S RNA results in phenotypes both similar to and distinct from that observed following ffh mutation. Similarities include a reduction in secretion of the haemolysin streptolysin O, and attenuation of virulence as assessed by a murine soft tissue infection model. Differences include a reduction in transcript levels for the genes encoding streptolysin O and NAD-glycohydrolase, and the reduced secretion of the SpeB protease. Several differences in transcript abundance between the parental and mutant strain were shown to be dependent on the sensor-kinase-encoding gene covS. Using growth in human saliva as an ex vivo model of upper respiratory tract infection we identified that 4.5S RNA mutation leads to a 10-fold reduction in colony-forming units over time, consistent with the 4.5S RNA contributing to GAS growth and persistence during upper respiratory tract infections. Finally, we determined that the 4.5S RNA was essential for GAS to cause lethal infections in a murine bacteraemia model of infection. The data presented extend our knowledge of the contribution of the SRP to the virulence of an important Gram-positive pathogen.
Shifting accountabilities? Understanding the connections between national and provincial fisheries in Papua New Guinea

Abstract This paper examines the effects of fisheries decentralization strategies in Papua New Guinea. The paper assess the financial, human resources, information, and institutional mechanisms that the National Fisheries Authority uses to connect with provincial fisheries offices to show the consequences of institutional reforms. The findings suggest both intended and unintended effects, particularly in terms of shifting accountabilities and loyalty. These findings are broadly applicable to decentralization and institutional change scholars and practitioners interested in understanding how governments implement institutional change reforms and the effects of this implementation.
Making Sense of Corpus Data: A Case Study of Verbs of Sound

This paper demonstrates the essential role of corpus data in the development of a theory that explains and predicts word behavior. We make this point through a case study of verbs of sound, drawing our evidence primarily from the British National Corpus. We begin by considering pretheoretic notions of the verbs of sound as presented in corpus-based dictionaries and then contrast them with the predictions made by a theory of syntax, as represented by Chomsky's Government-Binding framework. We identify and classify the transitive uses of sixteen representative verbs of sound found in the corpus data. Finally, we consider what a linguistic account with both syntactic and lexical semantic components has to offer as an explanation of observed differences in the behavior of the sample verbs.
Liquid frequencies and damping in compartmented cylindrical tanks

Liquid resonant frequencies and damping coefficients in compartmented cylindrical tanks undergoing forced translational oscillation
In vitro chemical reaction of the δ-endotoxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis var. dendrolimus with other proteins

Abstract The δ-endotoxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis var. dendrolimus forms a complex with proteins having alkaline isoelectric pH's [cytochrome c, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and trypsin], and at near neutral pH's causes them to precipitate. Above the pH of neutrality, no precipitation occurs, but 100% inhibition of trypsin and GAPDH can be obtained. Proteins and enzymes having acid isoelectric pH's (serum albumin, hexokinase, and pepsin) were unaffected by the δ-endotoxin. The possible mechanism by which the toxin kills susceptible insects is discussed.
Still resisting after all these years: an update on sexuo-medicalization and on the New View Campaign to challenge the medicalization of women's sexuality

In 2002, Sexual and Relationship Therapy published my leading comment, “Beyond the medical model of women's sexual problems: A campaign to resist the promotion of ‘female sexual dysfunction’”. I wr...
Volume and tissue composition preserving deformation of breast CT images to simulate breast compression in mammographic imaging

Images of mastectomy breast specimens have been acquired with a bench top experimental Cone beam CT (CBCT) system. The resulting images have been segmented to model an uncompressed breast for simulation of various CBCT techniques. To further simulate conventional or tomosynthesis mammographic imaging for comparison with the CBCT technique, a deformation technique was developed to convert the CT data for an uncompressed breast to a compressed breast without altering the breast volume or regional breast density. With this technique, 3D breast deformation is separated into two 2D deformations in coronal and axial views. To preserve the total breast volume and regional tissue composition, each 2D deformation step was achieved by altering the square pixels into rectangular ones with the pixel areas unchanged and resampling with the original square pixels using bilinear interpolation. The compression was modeled by first stretching the breast in the superior-inferior direction in the coronal view. The image data were first deformed by distorting the voxels with a uniform distortion ratio. These deformed data were then deformed again using distortion ratios varying with the breast thickness and re-sampled. The deformation procedures were applied in the axial view to stretch the breast in the chest wall to nipple direction while shrinking it in the mediolateral to lateral direction re-sampled and converted into data for uniform cubic voxels. Threshold segmentation was applied to the final deformed image data to obtain the 3D compressed breast model. Our results show that the original segmented CBCT image data were successfully converted into those for a compressed breast with the same volume and regional density preserved. Using this compressed breast model, conventional and tomosynthesis mammograms were simulated for comparison with CBCT.
Lyapunov conditions for input-to-state stability of impulsive systems

This paper introduces appropriate concepts of input-to-state stability (ISS) and integral-ISS for impulsive systems, i.e., dynamical systems that evolve according to ordinary differential equations most of the time, but occasionally exhibit discontinuities (or impulses). We provide a set of Lyapunov-based sufficient conditions for establishing these ISS properties. When the continuous dynamics are ISS, but the discrete dynamics that govern the impulses are not, the impulses should not occur too frequently, which is formalized in terms of an average dwell-time (ADT) condition. Conversely, when the impulse dynamics are ISS, but the continuous dynamics are not, there must not be overly long intervals between impulses, which is formalized in terms of a novel reverse ADT condition. We also investigate the cases where (i) both the continuous and discrete dynamics are ISS, and (ii) one of these is ISS and the other only marginally stable for the zero input, while sharing a common Lyapunov function. In the former case, we obtain a stronger notion of ISS, for which a necessary and sufficient Lyapunov characterization is available. The use of the tools developed herein is illustrated through examples from a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) oscillator and a problem of remote estimation over a communication network.
Weight control self-efficacy types and transitions affect weight-loss outcomes in obese women.

Matching obesity treatments to heterogeneous clients is a recent evolution in the development of more effective weight-control programs, yet most interventions emphasize the external features of treatments rather than the internal belief structures of individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Q methodology would identify distinct types of weight-control self-efficacy beliefs in obese women that would be linked to outcomes of a weight-loss program. Fifty-four women (45 +/- 9 yrs, Mean +/- SD) 136 +/- 10% over ideal body weight participated in a 9-month nutritional/behavioral weight loss program. Two major self-efficacy categories emerged through factor analysis of Q sorts: assureds and disbelievers. The assureds (n = 28) had the strongest self-efficacy beliefs and at baseline reported significantly (p < .01) greater self-esteem and less depression than the disbelievers (n = 26). By posttreatment, the assureds had lost significantly more weight (10 +/- 6 vs. 7 +/- 7 kg). Regrouping the data for analysis by posttreatment self-efficacy types demonstrated transitions in the self-efficacy beliefs of the women during treatment. Those who were disbelievers at baseline but became assureds posttreatment (n = 7) lost twice as much weight as the women who started and finished as disbelievers (n = 19) (10 +/- 7 kg vs. 5 +/- 5 kg). The posttreatment assureds (n = 32) lost significantly more weight than the disbelievers (n = 22) (10 +/- 6 vs. 6 +/- 5 kg), and reported better self esteem, mood, and eating patterns. Thus, assessment of intrinsic belief systems, particularly weight-control self-efficacy, may provide new directions for designing interventions that target distinctly different needs of obese women to affect greater weight loss and more positive affective states.
Aflibercept: a Potent Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antagonist for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Other Retinal Vascular Diseases.

Introduction In the western hemisphere, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual loss in the elderly. Currently approved therapies for AMD include argon laser, photodynamic therapy, and antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. The index review discusses aflibercept (VEGF Trap-Eye) in the context of current anti-VEGF therapies for neovascular AMD and other retinal vascular diseases. It highlights important differences between VEGF Trap-Eye and currently used anti-VEGF therapies for neovascular AMD; and discusses the efficacy of these treatments utilizing information from landmark clinical trials.
Daily and Seasonal Forage Availability Under Rotational Grazing of a Mixed-Species Temperate Pasture

ABSTRACT Sustainable use of mixed species pastures under management intensive rotational grazing requires information on forage dry matter availability on a daily basis for feed budgeting purposes. Forage availability, forage nutritive quality, and species composition were measured during May to September in 1994 and 1995. Forage available for daily consumption declined in both years as the season progressed. However, the magnitude of this decline varied between years during summer (July to September), which was attributed to differences in soil moisture availability. Under adequate moisture conditions observed in 1994, forage was available at an average rate of 70, 68, 51, 66, 24, and 11 kg dry matter ha−1 d−1 during May, June, July, August, September, and October, respectively. Due to extended periods of dry weather in the summer of 1995, forage availability during the months of July, August and September was reduced to 26, 47, and 11 kg ha−1 d−1, respectively. Total forage consumed during 1994 and 1995...
Therapy and Prophylaxis of Systemic Protozoan Infections

This article summarises current therapy and prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania species, African trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense), and American trypanosome (Trypanosoma cruzi) infections. Each agent and the disease it causes is briefly reviewed, and current data on the structure, mode of action, indications for treatment, dosage, administration, duration of therapy, efficacy, toxicity, and necessary monitoring during therapy are discussed for each drug. Drugs considered include cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole), pentamidine, dapsone (diaphenylsulfone), trimetrexate, eflornithine (DFMO), and primaquine/clindamycin and pyrimethamine/sulphonamide combinations for Pneumocystis pneumonia; pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine, spiramycin, and clindamycin for toxoplasmosis; pentavalent antimonials (‘Pentostam’ and ‘Glucantime’), pentamidine, amphotericin B, allopurinol, ketoconazole, and itraconazole for leishmaniasis; suramin, pentamidine, melarsoprol, tryparsamide, Mel W, berenil, and eflornithine (DFMO) for African trypanosomiasis; and nifurtimox, benznidazole and gentian violet for American trypanosomiasis.
CREDITS AND CRAFT PRODUCTION: FREELANCE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION IN THE HOLLYWOOD FILM INDUSTRY, 1964–1978*

This paper describes a system of work and patterns of productivity in the Hollywood film industry. Describing the social organization of the film industry entails two primary tasks. One is to describe the administration of work activities among technical specialists. The second is to investigate empirically the organization of those work activities. We argue that because of the particular needs of filmmaking, efficiency is achieved utilizing craft methods of work administration. An analysis of longitudinal data on film specialist’s productivity provides some preliminary answers to Becker’s theoretical idea of the recurrent nature of work activities in the production of art works. Finally, accounting for the disproportionate work contributions among specialists, some explanations are offered based upon an analysis of the process by which coalitions of specialists are joined. This is an empirical study of a major American industry organized along craft modes of production-specifically , a study of the freelance administration of work among producers, directors, screenwriters, and cinematographers in the film business. Our problem is to “understand” a rather extensive network of collective action in the crude, almost a-theoretical sense of being able to discern the shape of work distribution, to show how temporary work coalitions (the benchmark of craft organization) create enduring social structures, and to distinguish the highly productive participants from those who are not. We seek to clarify empirically the practice and outcomes of freelancing. The effort will be directed not to the formulation of a comprehensive analysis of craft production but to a detailed consideration of some aspects of it. Even a cursory review of recent literature on “art worlds” and “craft worlds” impresses the reader with a number of promising directions. Substantively, empirical research has directed attention to collective action in the recurrent work activities of newspaper,
Automatic generation of analytical models for interconnect capacitances

An analytical-model generator for interconnect capacitances is presented. It obtains analytical expressions of self and coupling capacitances of interconnects for commonly encountered configurations, based on a series of numerical simulations and a partial knowledge of the flux components associated with the configurations. The configurations which are currently considered by this model generator are: (a) single line; (b) crossing lines; (c) parallel lines on the same layer; and (d) parallel lines on different layers (both overlapping and nonoverlapping). >
All God's children: religion, divorce, and child custody

Many young Americans, married and marriageable, are turning to more traditional or fundamentalist religions. Religiosity and ultra-strict morality often leads to attitudes that alter decision-making in marriage, divorce, and the disposition of the children of divorce. Judgmental pastoral counseling may affect these decisions even more. This paper discusses these issues, emphasizing the need for forensic psychiatrists involved in the custody arena to be aware of the religious, spiritual, irreligious, or even anti-religious feelings of the battling partners. It also presents detailed information about the four major American religions (Roman Catholicism, traditional Judaism, Mormonism, and Islam) that have specific doctrine, protocols, or customs affecting decisions in marriage, divorce, and child custody and visitation. This information is presented from the viewpoint of a child advocate. Mental health experts consulting in child custody must understand the backgrounds of the battling parents, including the religious pressures that well may adversely affect their interspousal disputes, particularly those over child custody. The experts must also recognize the attitudes of the religious communities in which the custodial parent may reside after divorce. Those attitudes may be rejecting of the children as well as of the divorced parent(s). Mental health experts may have a better chance to reach agreement between the battling parents if the experts reverse the historic reluctance of psychiatrists to evaluate and discuss the religious feelings and beliefs of their forensic evaluatees.
Covariation in the Use of Physical and Sexual Intimate Partner Aggression Among Adolescent and College-Age Men: A Longitudinal Analysis

A longitudinal examination of male perpetration of physical aggression toward a romantic partner and its covariation with sexual aggression reveals a decline from adolescence through 4 years of college. Witnessing domestic violence and experiencing parental physical punishment increased the likelihood of physical aggression in adolescence, but not thereafter. Prior perpetration best predicted subsequent perpetration. Although adolescence was the time of greatest risk, the 2nd year in college was an additional time of increased risk. Furthermore, physical and sexual aggression covaried with each other in the sample at rates significantly greater than chance, indicating that covariation may be a unique form of perpetration. Witnessing domestic violence and experiencing parental physical punishment were associated with an increased likelihood of men committing both forms of intimate partner aggression in adolescence.
Stability of a vortex street of finite vortices

The stability of the finite-area Karman ‘vortex street’ to two-dimensional disturbances is determined. It is shown that for vortices of finite size there exists a finite range of spacing ratio κ for which the array is stable to infinitesimal disturbances. As the vortex size approaches zero, the range narrows to zero width about the classical von Karman value of 0·281.
MscS-like proteins control plastid size and shape in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Background Mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels provide a mechanism for the perception of mechanical stimuli such as sound, touch, and osmotic pressure. The bacterial MS ion channel MscS opens in response to increased membrane tension and serves to protect against cellular lysis during osmotic downshock. MscS-like proteins are found widely in bacterial and archaeal species and have also been identified in fission yeast and plants. None of the eukaryotic members of the family have yet been characterized. Results Here, we characterize two MscS-like (MSL) proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana, MSL2 and MSL3. MSL3 can rescue the osmotic-shock sensitivity of a bacterial mutant lacking MS-ion-channel activity, suggesting that it functions as a mechanosensitive ion channel. Arabidopsis plants harboring insertional mutations in both MSL3 and MSL2 show abnormalities in the size and shape of plastids, which are plant-specific endosymbiotic organelles responsible for photosynthesis, gravity perception, and numerous metabolic reactions. MSL2-GFP and MSL3-GFP are localized to discrete foci on the plastid envelope and colocalize with the plastid division protein AtMinE. Conclusions Our data support a model wherein MSL2 and MSL3 control plastid size, shape, and perhaps division during normal plant development by altering ion flux in response to changes in membrane tension. We propose that MscS family members have evolved new roles in plants since the endosymbiotic event that gave rise to plastids.
''I May Be Crackin', But Um Fackin''': Racial Humor in The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963

This article examines the utilization of racial humor in Christopher Paul Curtis’ novel, The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963. The theoretical perspectives that inform the analysis include critical race theory and humor theory. The results of the analysis reveal that the use of humor in this book is influenced to a significant degree by race and racism.
Diabetic nephropathy. An update.

• Nephropathy is a serious microvascular complication in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In the United States, diabetes accounts for one fourth of new cases of end-stage renal disease each year. Complication rates and costs are much higher for diabetic than for nondiabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. Despite numerous studies, the pathophysiology of diabetic renal disease is not completely understood. We reviewed the current status of the structural, functional, biochemical, pathogenetic, and treatment modalities of diabetic renal disease and examined future therapeutic interventions. (Arch Intern Med.1990;150:31-43)
On Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Clock Offset and Skew in Networks With Exponential Delays

Clock synchronization represents a crucial element in the operation of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). For any general time synchronization protocol involving a two-way message exchange mechanism, e.g., timing synch protocol for sensor networks (TPSN) [see S. Ganeriwal, R. Kumar, and M. B. Srivastava, "Timing Synch Protocol for Sensor Networks," in Proceedings of the First International Conference on Embedded Network Sensor Systems," 2003, pp. 138-149], the maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) for clock offset under the exponential delay model was derived in [D. R. Jeske, ";On the Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Clock Offset," IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 53-54, January 2005] assuming no clock skew between the nodes. Since all practical clocks are running at different rates with respect to each other, the skew correction becomes important for achieving long term synchronization since it results in the reduction of the number of message exchanges and hence minimization of power consumption. In this paper, the joint MLE of clock offset and skew under the exponential delay model for a two way timing message exchange mechanism and the corresponding algorithms for finding these estimates are presented. Since any time synchronization protocol involves real time message exchanges between the sensor nodes, ML estimates for other synchronization protocols can be derived by employing a similar procedure. In addition, due to the computational complexity of the MLE, a simple, computationally efficient and easy to implement algorithm is presented as an alternative to the ML estimator which particularly suits the low power demanding regime of wireless sensor networks.
The RoboFlag SURF competition: results, analysis, and future work

The culmination of the 2002 RoboFlag Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program, jointly operated between California Institute of Technology and Cornell University, was a final competition between two teams of three undergraduate researchers. After ten weeks of preparation, Team Pasadena defeated Team Ithaca in two of the three final games. This paper provides the detailed results of the competition, an analysis of the competition, and reviews the future work.
High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation Successful in Controlling Refractory Asthma

Introduction. High-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) has been traditionally implemented for airway secretion clearance in conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and bronchiectasis. There have been few reports of its use in refractory asthma. Case report. A 36-year-old, non-smoker male presented with a lifelong history of poorly controlled asthma. Despite multiple controller medications, he reported daily chest congestion, copious phlegm, and frequent exacerbations. Imaging, blood work, and bronchoscopy ruled out atypical infections, immunodeficiency, CF, and other chronic conditions. Pulmonary function tests supported a diagnosis of asthma. Results. We initiated HFCWO therapy twice daily in addition to standard inhaled pharmacological therapy. After 2 months, the patient noted resolution of respiratory symptoms as well as improvement in lung function. He remained symptom-free at his 2-year follow-up. Conclusion. High-frequency chest oscillation may be useful in phenotypes of asthma characterized b...
Spectral Imaging With The Michelson Interferometer

Geometric subdivision of the interferometer angular field allows essentially unrestricted total solid angle, leading to the superthroughput interferometer. In conjunction with a matrix detector array and specialized processing, this approach permits spectral imaging over large angular fields with virtually the same spectral resolution for all angular resolution elements. The use of correlation spectrometry in the output interferogram greatly simplifies the data processing aspect and permits the simplification of the output presentation to indicate the presence of key spectral signatures within the field with strong background suppression. Experimental data are presented indicating the quality of spectral imaging over the field. The change in optical path difference with angle in the field produces a corres-ponding shift in spectral calibration. This can be corrected by adjusting the reference scale or programming the spectral shift into the correlation functions. Higher frame rates and improved contrast can be obtained by limited scanning at selected offset positions in the wings of the interferograms, and trade-off between processing flexibility and false alarm rate is necessary. Since spectral correlation is done electronically, "filter" functions can be arbitrarily defined, allowing multiband sensing and simultaneous multiple channels, as well as the discrimination of spectral lines. Rapid remote reprogramming of functions is possible, consistent with processing complexity.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Continuous state reliability analysis

In this paper, the authors extend binary state reliability analysis to continuous state reliability analysis. This extension enables the analysis of both catastrophic failure and performance degradation simultaneously. The modeling of degradation is based on an independent increment random process or a normal random process. Regression analysis is used to estimate degradation parameters. The state tree method is introduced to conduct system reliability analysis for both degradation and catastrophic failures. ANOVA and DOE techniques are used to assess the criticality of product parameters or components to performance degradation.
Nonlinear model of single hippocampal neurons with dynamical thresholds

Neurons transform a series of presynaptic spikes into a series of postsynaptic spikes through a number of nonlinear mechanisms. A nonlinear model with a dynamical threshold was built using a Volterra Laguerre kernel method to characterize the spike train to spike train transformations of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Inputs of the model were broadband Poisson random impulse trains with a 2 Hz mean frequency, and outputs of the model were the corresponding evoked post-synaptic potential (PSP) and spike train data recorded from CA1 cell bodies using a whole-cell recording technique. The model consists of four major components, i.e., feedforward kernels representing the transformation of presynaptic spikes to PSPs; a dynamical threshold kernel determining threshold value based on output inter-spike-intervals (ISIs); a spike detector; and a feedback kernel representing the spike-triggered after-potentials.
Iterated linear maps on a cone and Denjoy–Wolff theorems

Abstract Let C be a closed cone with nonempty interior int( C ) in a finite dimensional Banach space X . We consider linear maps f : X → X such that f (int( C )) ⊂ int( C ) and f has no eigenvector in int( C ). For q ∈ C ∗ , with q ( x ) > 0 ∀ x ∈ C ⧹{0} we define T ( x ) = f ( x ) q ( f ( x ) ) and Σ q = { x ∈ C ∣ q ( x ) = 1}. Let ri( Σ q ) denote the relative interior of Σ q . We are interested in the omega limit set ω ( x ; T ) of x ∈ ri( Σ q ) under T . We prove that the convex hull co( ω ( x ; T )) ⊂ ∂ Σ q , and if C is polyhedral we also show that ω ( x ; T ) is finite. Thus if C is polyhedral there is a face of C such that the orbit of any point in the interior of C under iterates of f approaches that face after scaling.
DO BUSINESS CYCLES INFLUENCE LONG-RUN GROWTH? THE EFFECT OF AGGREGATE DEMAND ON FIRM- FINANCED R&D EXPENDITURES

Do business cycles influence long-run growth? Traditional macroeconomics says no and treats business cycles and growth as separate phenomena. If business cycles influence productivity, however, they might influence long-run growth. This paper examines one potential link between business cycles and growth: firm-financed R&D expenditures. Many economists believe business cycles should negatively affect growth. Ramey and Ramey [1995] use output volatility as a measure of the business cycle and find that increased volatility reduces growth. Geroski and Walters [1995] find a positive relationship between inventive activity and demand in the United Kingdom. If negative demand shocks make output more volatile, the Geroski and Walters [1995] finding might explain why volatility reduces growth. One might not think that volatility should matter for long-run growth since the decrease in inventive activity during recessions is offset by the increased inventive activity during expansions. The business cycle, however, is asymmetric with longer and less steep expansions than recessions. This means that the effect of recessions may exceed the effect of expansions or vice versa. Even if the business cycle were symmetrical, increased volatility may reduce firm-financed R&D in much the same way that increased volatility reduces investment if there are irreversibilities associated with R&D projects. This argument is similar to the argument developed by Bernanke [1983] and Pindyck [1991]. A number of factors may explain why inventive activity increases with demand. In this paper, I focus on the ability of firms to finance inventive activities out of cash flow (the cash-flow effect). For example, during expansions credit constraints slacken and firms increase investment and inventive activity, but during recessions the constraints bind and firms decrease these activities. Hall [1992], Himmelberg and Petersen [1994], and Mulkay, Hall, and Mairesse [2001] find a significant amount of evidence supporting the view that firm-financed R&D expenditures respond to cash flow. Asymmetries in the business cycles suggest that the business cycle might have a net positive or net negative effect on R&D expenditures. In this case, recessions and expansions can have long-run effects by changing the amount of R&D expenditures.