cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simple analysis of smoke-flow problems in high buildings

An expression is given for the maximum vertical flow in a simple shaft as a result of stack action. It is intended to relate to a simple building and to the evaluation of the airflow necessary to pressurize a building.
An improved voice-data integration protocol for fiber optic bus networks

Abstract In a recent paper [15], a new voice-data integration scheme for high-speed fiber optic bus networks (LANs/MANs) was proposed. The method was based on the pi-persistent protocol [14] and a movable-boundary framing mechanism that employed speech detection, and the method could achieve a nearly-unity channel capacity independent of the bus length and data rate. The model in [15] provided the proper protocol parameters (data station transmission probabilities) pi as functions of both the voice subframe size and the data slot position. While this scheme could be considered “optimal” in the sense that is resulted in fair sharing of each data slot by all data stations, it also resulted in enormous storage and/or computational complexity for the pi at each data station. Hence, the goal of our present work is to simplify the previous protocol and its associated complexity by studying a modified, but efficient and possibly “sub-optimal” scheme which specifies a simpler assignment of the pi (so that the protocol can be easily implemented). Now, a data station i operates with a single parameter pi whose new value is independent of the voice subframe size and the data slot position; also, these pi are chosen to approximately provide fairness of access among the data stations over the entire frame duration. Additional practical issues addressed in this paper include: (1) removing the restriction in [15] of having the number of voice stations upper bounded by the number of slots per frame (so that, even in the absence of data load, the channel utilization—due to voice loading only—can approach 100 percent, instead of the 40-percent limit in [15]), and (2) allowing voice packet buffering at the voice stations. For storing voice packets, we examine preemptive buffering [3], which is very suitable for speech and other real-time applications.
Flavor and storage stability of explosion‐puffed potatoes: autoxidation

The principal cause of off-flavor in explosion-puffed, air-packed potato dice at 23°C is autoxidation. A butylated hydroxyanisole/butylated hydroxytoluene system applied to the dice retarded autoxidation and samples were stored successfully for 12 months. The standard (nitrogen-pack, 23°C) was not significantly different from samples stored at -18°C. A trained taste panel found significant deterioration in air-packed samples, without antioxidant, after 3 months. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the headspace in all samples allowed the monitoring of n-hexanal. Relative concentrations of this compound correlated highly with flavor degradation. Explosion-puffed potato dice showed similar storage stability when packaged in oxygen scavenger pouches or in nitrogen. Pouches, however, showed susceptibility to pinhole leaks.
Observations of plasma bulk parameters and the energy balance of the solar wind between 1 and 10 AU

The solar wind bulk velocity, the product of the mass flux and the square of the heliocentric distance, and the product of the density and the square of the heliocentric distance, are all found not to vary with heliocentric distance in spacecraft observations of the radial evolutions of several solar wind bulk parameters in the 1-10 AU range. Density's anticorrelation with velocity vanishes at greater distances from the sun than 1 AU, while solar wind bulk velocity and thermal speed are correlated over the entire 1-10 AU range. Thermal process heating, bulk kinetic energy conversion to thermal energy, and electron heat conduction, are considered as mechanisms accounting for the radial variation of the solar wind proton temperature over 1-10 AU. It is found that the addition of a heat flux due to heat conduction is a persuasive alternative.
Oscillatory magnetoacoustic attenuation

Abstract Expressions for attenuation coefficients, suitable for numerical evaluation and valid for all ql, have been developed from the theory of Cohen, Harrison and Harrison. A considerable reduction in the complexity of the equations makes it feasible to retain all orders in the series. Shifts in the extrema for the magnetoacoustic oscillations are obtained.
Essential role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in monophosphoryl lipid A-induced late cardioprotection: evidence from pharmacological inhibition and gene knockout mice.

Background—Monophosphoryl lipid A (MLA), a nontoxic analogue of endotoxin, is a pharmacological agent that is known to have anti-ischemic effects. Mechanisms involved with the cardioprotection are ...
Charge competition and the linear dynamic range of detection in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

An experimental investigation and theoretical analysis are reported on charge competition in electrospray ionization (ESI) and its effects on the linear dynamic range of ESI mass spectrometric (MS) measurements. The experiments confirmed the expected increase of MS sensitivities as the ESI flow rate decreases. However, different compounds show somewhat different mass spectral peak intensities even at the lowest flow rates, at the same concentration and electrospray operating conditions. MS response for each compound solution shows good linearity at lower concentrations and levels off at high concentration, consistent with analyte “saturation” in the ESI process. The extent of charge competition leading to saturation in the ESI process is consistent with the relative magnitude of excess charge in the electrospray compared to the total number of analyte molecules in the solution. This ESI capacity model allows one to predict the sample concentration limits for charge competition and the on-set of ionization suppression effects, as well as the linear dynamic range for ESI-MS. The implications for quantitative MS analysis and possibilities for effectively extending the dynamic range of ESI measurements are discussed.
Applications of Machine Learning in Pipeline Monitoring

In the field of structural health monitoring, researchers focus on the design of systems and techniques capable of detecting damage in structures. However, most traditional detection methods fail under environmental and operational variations that tend to distort the signals and masquerade as damage. In this paper, we investigate the applications of machine learning techniques to developing a damage detection system robust to changes in the internal air pressure of a pipe. From each of the 240 experimental datasets, we extract 167 features and implement three classification algorithms for detecting damage: adaptive boosting, support vector machines, and a method combining the two. The performances of the three classifiers are evaluated over 30 detection trials with different combinations of training and testing data, resulting in the average accuracies of 87.7%, 92.5% and 93.5%, respectively. The combined method is a promising classifier for damage detection. Through feature selection, we also demonstrate the effectiveness of features related to the curve length, the shift-invariant correlation coefficient and the peak amplitude of the signal.
The ERA 4 MeV Injector

A pulsed electron accelerator has been constructed and is now in operation at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, Berkeley. It was designed specifically for and is used as an injector for ERA (electron ring accelerator) studies. Electron bursts of 1200 amperes and 40 nanoseconds duration can be produced at energies of 1.0 MeV to 4.25 MeV. The present repetition rate is approximately one per second. Acceleration is accomplished by means of ferrite loaded accelerating sections, each of which is capable of maintaining a 250 kV voltage pulse across the accelerating gap for a period of 40 ns. The voltage pulse has a rise time of 12 ns and the total timing jitter is of the order of one nanosecond. Five sections stacked together and operated as a unit function as the electron gun. The gun employs a field emission cathode and is operated at approximately 1 MV. Additional acceleration is achieved by means of an iterated system of accelerator sections and solenoidal magnetic lenses.
Coinfection of insect cells with recombinant baculovirus expressing pp60v-src results in the activation of a serine-specific protein kinase pp90rsk.

Abstract A recombinant baculovirus was constructed for the production of the serine-specific protein kinase, pp90rsk (where rsk is ribosomal S6 kinase), in insect cells. The Xenopus pp90rsk expressed in the infected cells had nearly undetectable enzyme activity in contrast to the same enzyme coproduced with the v-src oncogene product pp60v-src. The transforming gene product pp60v-src very effectively activated pp90rsk, whereas the products of c-src and the myristoylation-minus nontransforming virus NY315 were markedly less effective. Only a fraction of the total pp90rsk population was activated, and it could be partially separated from unactivated protein by ion-exchange chromatography. When compared to the unactivated form, the activated enzyme displayed about a 4000-fold increase in the capacity to phosphorylate the ribosomal protein S6. The enhanced enzymatic activity appeared to be due to phosphorylation of pp90rsk.
Oklahoma adoptos preferential voting in the primary

Jack Walton gets the credit for frightening Oklahoma into a system of preferential voting as an escape from minority nominations.
Road traffic networks: Optimal transport and incentives

In this paper we analyze the effectiveness of incentives in reducing highway congestion by shifting some commuters to travel in the off-peak hour. We develop a model for the reduction of transport capacity due to congestion in a highway segment, building on previous work. Under this model, the “waiting time” of a commuter is taken to be equal to their actual commuting time less the time needed to traverse the highway segment under free flow. We wish to minimize the “cost of congestion”, which is equal to the sum of the waiting times of all commuters, by incentivizing some commuters to shift from the peak hour. We find that the cost of congestion is intimately related to the Wasserstein distance of optimal transport theory. Further, we find that the cost of congestion is a convex function of the arrival rate distribution. We then formulate a model for the cost of shifting user arrival times to obtain a new arrival time distribution with lower congestion. Using an example, we shall illustrate the benefits of shifting commuter behavior to reduce peak hour traffic congestion.
Steel‐framed structures

Much of the material reviewed in this article involves recent efforts to develop and apply nonlinear analysis methods for accurate limit states design of steel-framed structures. Beyond considerations related directly to methods of analysis, this includes reports of tests and other studies to provide behavioral information on members and connections. Emphasized in this review are topics related to overall frame behavior, including analysis methods and criteria for frame and beam-column stability design, inelastic analysis and behavior of frames with rigid and semi-rigid connections, and inelastic deformation capacity as influenced by buckling and fracture behavior.
13C and 19F NMR spectroscopic study of substituent effects in α,α-difluoroarylcarbeniumions [1]

Abstract In a series of α,α-difluoroarylcarbenium ions 1 , one bond 13 C- 19 F coupling constants and the 19 F chemical shifts at the cationic center have been used as criteria to follow the extent of fluorine non-bonded electron pair back donation. The electron demand at the cationic center was systematically altered by changing the nature of the substituents on the aryl ring and substituent effects were studied by 13 C and 19 F NMR spectroscopy.
Inclusive Programming for Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders Outcomes From the Children's Toddler School

The passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 mandated the provision of interventions for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) under the age of 3 years. Although Strain, McGee, and Kohler (2001) suggested that children with autism benefit from inclusive programming, inclusive early intervention programs are rare. In the current study, the authors used a quasi-experimental design to analyze the outcomes for 20 young children with ASD in an inclusive program for children under age 3. Both outcomes on standardized assessments and functional outcomes were compared at program entry and exit. Significant increases in standard scores were found for the standardized assessments from intake to exit, with 37% of the children functioning in the typical range at exit, compared to 11% at entry. Significant improvements in performance on functional measures were also seen. At intake, 50% of the study participants had no functional communication skills, whereas at exit, 90% used a...
The cellular immune response of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson) to sheep red blood cells

Abstract The cellular immune response of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, to sheep erythrocytes was investigated. Both the primary and secondary responses were measured using the migration inhibition factor (MIF), antigen-binding (ABC), and plaque-forming cell (PFC) assays. These immune function assays provide measures of both T and B cell activity. The kinetics of these three responses at 16°C were determined by sampling fish over an 18 day period for the primary response and a ten day period for the secondary response. The peak MIF response occurred two days after injection, while the primary peak PFC reponse was observed 14 days post-injection. Two ABC peaks were observed in the primary response, one at four days and one at ten days after injection. In the secondary response the peak ABC response was observed four days and the peak PFC response six days post-inoculation. The possible interrelationships of the various cell populations are discussed.
METABOLISM OF THE ASPARTYL MOIETY OF N-ACETYL-l-ASPARTIC ACID IN THE RAT BRAIN

The metabolism of N-acetyl-l-aspartic acid (NAA) was studied in rat brain. [Aspartyl-U-14C]NAA was metabolized predominantly by deacylation. Studies of NAA biosynthesis from l-[U-14C]aspartic acid have confirmed previous reports that NAA turns over slowly in rat brain. However, intracerebrally-injected N-acetyl-l-[U-14C]asparticacid was rapidly metabolized. Exogenous NAA appears to be taken up rapidly into a small, metabolically-active pool. This pool serves as substrate for a tricarboxylic acid cycle associated with the production of glutamate for the biosynthesis of glutamine. The bulk of the NAA content in brain appears to be relatively inactive metabolically.
A Compact Broadband Balun on Multilayer Organic Substrate

We present the design and development of a compact, broadband balun based on a quasi-lumped LC transformer. The balun is constructed on a multilayer liquid crystal polymer substrate. The balun has a wide range of operating frequency from 0.9 to 3.6 GHz. Within this operating band, the balun achieves a measured insertion loss of less than 1 dB, a measured return loss of better than 10 dB, a measured amplitude imbalance of less than 1 dB and a measured phase imbalance less than 7°. This balun has an extremely compact size of 2 × 2.5 mm2. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A membrane reactor with two dispersion-free interfaces for homogeneous catalytic reactions

Abstract A proof-of-concept study on the use of a membrane reactor with multiple membrane bundles for carrying out homogeneous catalytic reactions was conducted. The membrane reactor operates in a plug-flow pattern with a large dispersion-free gas-catalyst interfacial area, which requires much less catalyst loading than the conventional bubble column reactors commonly used for homogeneous catalytic reactions. The multiple membrane bundles offer additional operational options by allowing the feed and product streams to be controlled separately. The advantages and operating characteristics of multiple-membrane-bundle reactors were investigated using a membrane reactor with two membrane bundles. Experimentally, the direct oxidation of ethylene to acetaldehyde in an aqueous solution of palladium(II) chloride-cupric chloride was conducted in a two-bundle polypropylene hollow fiber membrane reactor operating both as a single-bundle and as a two-bundle membrane reactor. The experimental results were successfully analyzed with a mathematical model. The results of this study provide evidence that a two-bundle membrane reactor could achieve higher conversions than a comparable single-bundle membrane reactor by controlling the flow rates of individual feed and product streams of the two-bundle membrane reactor.
On the essential quadratic nature of LQG control-performance measure cumulants*

An in depth look at a complete statistical description of linear—quadratic—Gaussian (LQG) performance measures is presented in this paper. The development leads to computationally tractable formulas that form the basis for design performance analysis. The complete statistical description of performance developed here exhibits the essential quadratic nature of the LQG class of systems.
Differential effects of expressive anger regulation on chronic pain intensity in CRPS and non-CRPS limb pain patients

Research has shown that the anger management styles of both anger-in (suppression of anger) and anger-out (direct verbal or physical expression of anger) may be associated with elevated chronic pain intensity. Only the effects of anger-out appear to be mediated by increased physiological stress responsiveness. Given the catecholamine-sensitive nature of pain mechanisms in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), it was hypothesized that anger-out, but not anger-in, would demonstrate a stronger relationship with chronic pain intensity in CRPS patients than in non-CRPS chronic pain patients. Thirty-four chronic pain patients meeting IASP criteria for CRPS and 50 non-CRPS (predominantely myofascial) limb pain patients completed the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form (MPQ), the Anger Expression Inventory (AEI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Analyses revealed no diagnostic group differences in mean scores on the anger-in (AIS) and anger-out (AOS) subscales of the AEI, or on the BDI (values of P>0.10). Results of general linear model analyses revealed significant AOS x diagnostic group interactions on both the sensory (MPQ-S) and affective (MPQ-A) subscales of the MPQ (values of P 0.10). The AIS main effect on MPQ-A ratings was accounted for entirely by overlap with negative affect. Results are consistent with a greater negative impact of anger-out on chronic pain intensity in conditions reflecting catecholamine-sensitive pain mechanisms, presumably due to the association between anger-out and elevated physiological stress responsiveness. These results further support previous suggestions that anger-in and anger-out may affect pain through different mechanisms.
A Novel Pregnane X Receptor-mediated and Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein-independent Lipogenic Pathway

The pregnane X receptor (PXR) was isolated as a xenosensor regulating xenobiotic responses. In this study, we show that PXR plays an endobiotic role by impacting lipid homeostasis. Expression of an activated PXR in the livers of transgenic mice resulted in an increased hepatic deposit of triglycerides. This PXR-mediated lipid accumulation was independent of the activation of the lipogenic transcriptional factor SREBP-1c (sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c) and its primary lipogenic target enzymes, including fatty-acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC-1). Instead, the lipid accumulation in transgenic mice was associated with an increased expression of the free fatty acid transporter CD36 and several accessory lipogenic enzymes, such as stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) and long chain free fatty acid elongase. Studies using transgenic and knock-out mice showed that PXR is both necessary and sufficient for Cd36 activation. Promoter analyses revealed a DR-3-type of PXR-response element in the mouse Cd36 promoter, establishing Cd36 as a direct transcriptional target of PXR. The hepatic lipid accumulation and Cd36 induction were also seen in the hPXR "humanized" mice treated with the hPXR agonist rifampicin. The activation of PXR was also associated with an inhibition of pro-beta-oxidative genes, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) and thiolase, and an up-regulation of PPARgamma, a positive regulator of CD36. The cross-regulation of CD36 by PXR and PPARgamma suggests that this fatty acid transporter may function as a common target of orphan nuclear receptors in their regulation of lipid homeostasis.
A practical approach for predicting fatigue reliability under random cyclic loading

The purpose of this paper is to provide a simple approach for reliability analysis based on fatigue or overstress failure modes of mechanical components, and explain how this integrated method carries out spectral fatigue damage and failure reliability analysis. In exploring the ability to predict spectral fatigue life and assess the reliability under a specified dynamics environment, a methodology for reliability assessment and its corresponding fatigue life prediction of mechanical components using a supply-demand interference approach is developed in this paper. Since the methodology couples dynamics analysis and stochastic analysis for fatigue damage and reliability prediction, the conversion of the duty cycle history for the reliability study of an individual component is also presented. Using the proposed methodology, mechanical component reliability can be predicted according to different mission requirements. For an explanation of this methodology, a probabilistic method of deciding the relationship between the allowable stress or fatigue endurance limit and reliability is also presented.
A rule-based fuzzy logic deduction technique for damage assessment of protective structures

Abstract In order to obtain the overall damage level of a protective structure, the values of each variable of the damage criteria should be determined. Assessments by experts result in the production rules for use in a knowledge-based expert system. In cases where conflicting rules occur, fuzzy set operations can be used to solve the problem. The modus ponens deduction technique can be employed for partial matching or development of new rules.
Demand-driven computation of interprocedural data flow

This paper presents a general framework for deriving demand-driven algorithms for interprocedural data flow analysis of imperative programs. The goal of demand-driven analysis is to reduce the time and/or space overhead of conventional exhaustive analysis by avoiding the collection of information that is not needed. In our framework, a demand for data flow information is modeled as a set of date flow queries. The derived demand-driven algorithms find responses to these queries through a partial reversal of the respective data flow analysis. Depending on whether minimizing time or space is of primary concern, result caching may be incorporated in the derived algorithm. Our framework is applicable to interprocedural data flow problems with a finite domain set. If the problem's flow functions are distributive, the derived demand algorithms provide as precise information as the corresponding exhaustive analysis. For problems with monotone but non-distributive flow functions the provided data flow solutions are only approximate. We demonstrate our approach using the example of interprocedural copy constant propagation.
Visualization of the public transportation infrastructure services using virtual reality standards

Public infrastructure services like transportation, energy, air quality, water quality, etc., are characterized by a presence of rich information that can be leveraged to provide more efficient support to public infrastructure decision-making. That information has significant geospatial and temporal characteristics and consists of large quantities of data from a variety of data sources that should be stored efficiently and then integrated in a common framework. A mapping between the data elements and their spatial and temporal locations may be used to provide service information (e.g. traffic conditions) in a meaningful form. Service information is, in general, complex, multi-dimensional , physical or abstract information that is intrinsically difficult to represent and manipulate. Visualization techniques, in conjuction with simulation and data modeling can be extremely useful tools to address many public infrastructure issues and problems. In our previous work, a virtual reality based interface for simulation and evaluation of airport Automated People Movers (APMs) has been implemented using Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML). That work has been extended to use Extended 3D (X3D) virtual reality standard. Since the X3D standard is based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML), the integration with the available data sources is improved. The paper focuses on issues related to public infrastructures serivces in transportation and how to include and visualize information from the real world in a virtual environment. The real world in transportation includes building structures, streets and other guide-ways, vehicles, pedestrians, control signals, etc. while the transportation data sources provide information about vehicular and pedestrian traffic and current control strategies.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
If a Leader's Role is not to Manage, then what is it?

There is an emerging paradigm that views leadership as the result of social processes rather than as the result of a set of goals and activities conceived and conducted by the leader. This paradigm necessarily emphasizes the process of leadership as something apart from the characteristics, traits, style, motivations, or actions of the leader, or from merely some interaction of leader style and situational variables. The insights of the Dead Leaders Society are used to explore the nature, context, and role of leadership and to distinguish leadership from management.
The effect of fentin hydroxide (triphenyltin hydroxide) on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and rice (Oryza sativa L.) photosynthesis, respiration, and leaf ultrastructure

Abstract Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr., cv. Swift] plants at the second trifoliate leaf stage and rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Starbonnet) plants 25 cm tall were treated with 0, 0.56, and 2.24 kg/ha of fentin hydroxide (triphenyltin hydroxide) to determine the effect of this fungicide on photosynthesis, respiration, and leaf ultrastructure. Photosynthesis and respiration were measured with an infrared CO 2 analyzer in an open flow system prior to fentin hydroxide application and at 4, 24, 48, and 96 hr after treatment with fentin hydroxide. No significant detrimental effects on photosynthesis or respiration were evident in either soybean or rice through 96 hr after treatment. Tissue samples from soybean and rice plants, 9 days after fentin hydroxide application, examined for ultrastructure changes with the transmission electron microscope showed no effect due to the fungicide treatment.
HETEROLOGOUS ACELLULAR MATRIX GRAFT FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE RABBIT URETHRA: HISTOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION

Purpose: In a rabbit model we evaluated urethral replacement by a free heterologous dog acellular matrix graft and compared these results with those of a homologous graft with the exclusion of antigenicity as a major goal.Materials and Methods: In 14 male New Zealand rabbits a 0.8 to 1.1 cm. segment of urethra was resected and replaced with a tubular acellular 1.0 to 1.5 cm. (mean 1.3) urethral matrix graft placed on an 8Fr feeding tube. Seven animals received a rabbit graft, 7 received a canine graft and 3 untreated rabbits served as controls. All animals underwent urethral pressure profile determination and retrograde urethrography before 8 and 6 were sacrificed at 6 and 8 months, respectively. Grafted and normal specimens were evaluated by histological testing.Results: In all animals the acellular matrix graft remained in its original position. Histological examination showed complete epithelialization and progressive vessel infiltration. At 6 months more than a third of the homologous grafts had smoot...
Increased ornithine decarboxylase activity and protein level in the cortex following traumatic brain injury in rats

There is increasing evidence that the elevated levels of polyamines play an important role in the secondary injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis. Presently, we measured the ODC protein levels by Western blot analysis in the cerebral cortex of rats sacrificed at 2 h, 6 h, 24 h, 72 h and 168 h after controlled cortical impact injury. TBI resulted in a significant increase in ODC protein levels (2.5 to 5.5 fold, P<0.05) and enzyme activity (13 to 21 fold, p<0.01) between 2 and 6 h after the injury. ODC protein levels and enzyme activity returned to normal, control levels by 72 h after the injury. Increased ODC protein and enzyme activity could contribute to vasogenic edema and the pathogenesis of neuronal dysfunction after TBI by stimulating the formation of polyamines.
Remote sensing and hydrology

Recommendations made in 1974 to the National Academy of Sciences on applications of remote sensing to hydrology research ‘remain valid but mostly unmet,’ concludes a panel of the National Research Council's Space Applications Board. Included with the findings of the Panel on Water Resources are recommendations for research priorities for the 1980's. Some progress has been made in remote-sensing applications to hydrology, the panel notes. It cites as examples Landsat, Seasat, the Heat Capacity Mapper, and the Landsat-D. However, the application has been too slow, according to the panel.
Characteristics of Lake Chad Level Variability and Links to ENSO, Precipitation, and River Discharge

This study used trend, correlation, and wavelet analysis to characterize Lake Chad (LC) level fluctuations, river discharge, El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and precipitation regimes and their interrelationships. Linear correlation results indicate a negative association between ENSO and LC level, river discharge and precipitation. Trend analysis shows increasing precipitation in the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) but decreasing LC level. The mode of interannual variability in LC level, rainfall, and ENSO analyzed using wavelet analysis is dominated by 3-4-year periods. Results show that variability in ENSO could explain only 31% and 13% of variations in LC level at Kindjeria and precipitation in the northern LCB, respectively. The wavelet transform coherency (WTC) between LC level of the southern pool at Kalom and ENSO is statistically significant at the 95% confidence level and phase-locked, implying a cause-and-effect association. These strong coherencies coincide with the La Nina years with the exception of 1997-1998 El Nino events. The WTC shows strong covariance between increasing precipitation and LC level in the northern pool at a 2- to 4-year band and 3- to 4-year band localized from 1996 to 2010. Implications for water resource planning and management are discussed.
The American Community Survey: practical considerations for researchers

– This paper seeks to provide researchers and librarians with an overview of the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), with a specific focus on practical issues that users must face when choosing and using ACS datasets., – Each of the following issues are explored subsequent to a general overview of the ACS: choosing among census datasets from different census programs, interpreting and choosing between the different ACS period estimates, selecting census geography, understanding and recalculating margins of error, and accessing the data. Samples of ACS tables and formulas for creating derived estimates are used to illustrate how to interpret and work with the data., – The ACS datasets are fundamentally different from the decennial census as they are period estimates created from rolling sample surveys. The ACS has a steeper learning curve; this complexity is due in part to the number of choices users must make between datasets, but the primary challenge is learning how to understand and work with estimates as opposed to population counts., – While other papers have discussed the benefits and challenges of the ACS, this paper is structured around the practical issues that researchers must face when using it. Special consideration is given to calculating derived estimates using spreadsheet formulas, as this is a key task that many users will need to perform and spreadsheets are the most likely tool users will employ to manipulate the data.
A widespread self-cleaving ribozyme class is revealed by bioinformatics.

To date, five classes of naturally occurring self-cleaving ribozymes have been reported. The bioinformatic discovery in bacteria and eukaryotes of twister RNAs, a new ribozyme class that contains a double pseudoknot fold, adds to the list of catalytic RNAs that have roles in cells.
Monolayer-Protected Clusters: Molecular Precursors to Metal Films

Monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs) are used to prepare solid, continuous metal films containing a single white metal or an alloy thereof. MPCs consist of nanoscopic metal cores coated with monolay...
Reductions of ideals in local rings with finite residue fields

Let I be a proper nonnilpotent ideal in a local (Noetherian) ring (R, M) and let J be a reduction of I; that is, J C I and JI n = I n+1 for some nonnegative integer n. We prove that there exists a finite free local unramified extension ring S of R such that the ideal IS has a minimal reduction K C JS with the property that the number of elements in a minimal generating set of K is equal to the analytic spread of K and thus also equal to the analytic spread of I.
On the importance of precision for short-range forecasting and climate simulation

Abstract This paper presents results of experiments designed to test the importance of arithmetic precision in short-term forecasts and long-term climate simulations with the NCAR global circulation model. It is expected that the next-generation computers will have a sizable speed gain when using lower-precision arithmetic. To determine how precision affects the model results, we compare several short- and long-term experiments using 48-bit mantissa arithmetic (normal for the CDC 6600 and 7600 computers) with corresponding experiments using 24- and 21-bit mantissa arithmetic. The errors due to the lower precision are much smaller than typical observational errors. In addition, it appears that in the short-term experiments the rapid error growth of the model dominates the round-off error accumulation resulting from the lower-precision arithmetic. Therefore, the lower precision used by the next-generation computers should not have a detrimental effect on short-term forecast accuracy. The long-term climate s...
Alpha-Numerics for Raster Displays

The possibility of using small TV type raster displays in airborne applications raises many problems. One of these is the size of alpha-numeric characters. A legibility experiment is described which suggests that under particular conditions there is an optimum height for characters. This optimum height was found to be different for six-letter words and single digits.
An equations-of-motion method for anharmonic vibrations: Application to a degenerate shell model

Abstract An equations-of-motion method is proposed for calculating anharmonic effects in doubly even spherical nuclei. The method can be viewed as an extension of the QRPA theory for spherical nuclei, and its applicability is demonstrated for the case of a degenerate shell model of configuration ( 21 2 )6 by comparison with the results of a previous exact diagonalization.
Cocaine: an overview of current issues

A period of ascendancy of cocaine use has had implications in matters of science, public health, and national and international politics and has been the subject of numerous reviews. The present paper provides a critical overview concerning use and prevalence, and addresses a range of current issues of interest. Patterns of use, dose, tolerance, sensitization, routes of administration, and hazards of use are considered based on laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical data. Aspects of treatment are discussed. The need for developing a model of drug abuse recognizing pharmacological-neurochemical-behavioral-environmental interactions is noted. Suggestions are made concerning future directions of policy and research. The need to develop scientific goals and public policy vis-a-vis cocaine, and other stimulants, based on a historical perspective as well as current concerns is emphasized.
A systematic update on the state of novel anticoagulants and a primer on reversal and bridging.

Background Current prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) includes familiar agents that have been in use for many years, including unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). A number of novel oral anticoagulants are currently developed or are in stages of development to either replace VKAs in concert with initial heparin or LMWH, or to replace both heparin/LMWH and VKAs totally as monotherapy. These agents hold the promise of not requiring monitoring, being safer in terms of bleeding risk than current agents, and being of equal or improved efficacy compared with established anticoagulants. Methods In the following report, we systematically review the oral agents currently approved or closest to approval for both VTE and atrial fibrillation treatment, focusing on the treatment of VTE: dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban. Results Findings of clinical use and comparisons to standard care of these agents are summarized in depth, by succinctly reviewing all major randomized controlled trials. Mechanistic and functional differences are reviewed, as Dabigatran targets activated factor II (factor IIa), while rivaroxaban and apixaban target activated factor X (factor Xa). We also discuss the inability at the present time to reliably reverse the anticoagulant effects of these agents, provide a suggested strategy for reversal, and finally discuss an approach to bridging these agents when other procedures are required while currently taking one of these three agents. Conclusions These agents, while still with many unanswered questions, demonstrate great promise in the prevention and treatment of VTE.
Railroad, Oil and Other Foreign Interests in the Mexican Revolution, 1911–1914

A polarisation of foreign railroad, oil and other business interests in Mexico occurred during the early years of the Mexican Revolution. Some of the American interests resented Porfirio Diaz's favouritism towards Europe and supported Francisco Madero for a change, and later, Venustiano Carranza. There is evidence of limited logistical support by the US government in May 1911 for the Madero revolution, and of financial support by US railroad and oil magnate Henry Clay Pierce. The overthrow of President Madero at the instigation of General Victoriano Huerta and General Felix Diaz, with the tacit support of British railroad and oil magnate Weetman Pearson, had very strong repercussions through President Huerta's subsequent alliance with British interests in Mexico. The US military superpower intervention in Veracruz of April 1914 was the action involving US business lobbying which had the greatest impact on the outcome of the Mexican Revolution, in favour of Carranza.
"When the Sleeper Wakes": A Short Story Extending Themes in Radical Organization Theory

This is a short story about the two minds of Mike Armstrong, Dialectical Marxist Theory's romantic "everyman " and Critical Theory's "anti-hero." The story contrasts day and night versions of Armstrong's worklife as a skilled operator in the control room of a large phosphate plant located in Tampa, Florida. The two versions are presented to illustrate theoretical descriptions of psychic processes engaged when human actors confront an alien world and make sense of it. Alternative forms of subjective alienation, relied consciousness (drawn from Critical Theory), and reflective militancy (drawn from Dialectical Marxism) are developed as deep psychic states through which meaning is constructed in the world. It is proposed that subjective alienation is shaped by mythical forces in the broader symbolic environment and that it profoundly conditions actions and attitudes. Its importance in understanding organizational behavior and the practice of humanistic management is discussed in terms of human meaning-making...
Images and Influences in the Promotion of Physical Activity

I am truly honored to have been chosen by Marilyn Buck to be the 13th Delphine Hanna Lecturer. Being in the motor learning/motor control area, I was initially puzzled by how to incorporate the convention's theme into my presentation, but at the same time felt it was appropriate to do so. So I hope you will all bear with me as I wander beyond my subdiscipline. I will weave into this presentation a number of different but, I think, related topics that are worthy of our discipline's reflection.
System modeling and verification with UCLID

Formal verification has had a significant impact on the semiconductor industry, particularly for companies that can devote significant resources to creating and deploying internally developed verification tools. Most existing verifiers model system operation at a detailed bit level. We have developed UCLID, a prototype verifier for infinite-state systems. The UCLID modeling language extends that of SMV, a bit-level model checker, to include integer and function state variables, addition by constants, and relational operations. The underlying logic is expressive enough to model a wide range of systems, but it still permits a decision procedure where we transform the formula into propositional logic and then use either binary decision diagrams (BDD) or a Boolean satisfiability (SAT) solver.
Frenkel Biexcitons in 1D J-aggregates

We calculate the pump-probe spectrum of an ensemble of ID molecular aggregates, taking into account coherent exciton transport and exciton-exciton interactions. Comparison with recent experiments show that small radius biexcitons may be optically induced in PIC J-aggregates.
Understanding the Acculturation Experience of Chinese Adolescent Students: Sociocultural Adaptation Strategies and a Positive Bicultural and Bilingual Identity.

The acculturation of Chinese immigrant high school students was examined as it relates to students’ level of interaction with teachers and peers and participation in American school activities. Findings from a regression analysis revealed five variables (sociocultural adaptation strategies) that facilitate students’ adjustment process: intercultural contact with American teachers, interaction and communication with American friends, exploring contexts beyond the Chinese community, culture learning through technology, and dialoging about American and Chinese cultures. These variables define a “cross-cultural identity” that explains the bicultural and bilingual approach Chinese students use to balance their primary (native) and second (mainstream) cultures.
CHEMILUMINESCENCE FROM THE REDUCTION OF AROMATIC AMINE CATIONS AND RUTHENIUM(III) CHELATES

Abstract— –Chemiluminescence is reported from two types of reactions; those involving the reduction of amine cations yield fluorescence amines: RN H2+m+ reductant → RN H2+hv and those involving reduction of transition metal chelates where the reduced form of the chelate is fluorescent: MLx+(n+1)+ reductant →MLx+n+hv The results reported here are for reduction of the cation radical of 1,6-diaminopyrene and ruthenium (III) chelates where chelate ligands are substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines or 2,2'-bipyridine. Reducing agents for 1,6-diaminopyrene were hydrazine or the naphthalene radical anion; for the ruthenium chelates either hydroxyl ion or hydrazine in acid solution. A detailed study is reported for the kinetics of the ruthenium (III)-hydrazine reaction, using a computer kinetic modeling program. A quantitative fit of the experimental data to computer-generated curves can be accomplished at low hydrazine concentrations. At higher hydrazine concentrations the correct qualitative shapes of curves can be generated but the quantitative fit is not exact.
The Effect of Foreclosures on Crime in Indianapolis, 2003–2008*

Objective Until recently, few studies have examined the relationship between home foreclosures and crime. Foreclosures are one major source of neighborhood instability and can be expected to affect crime from several theoretical perspectives. Some recent research has found conflicting results on whether foreclosures cause crime. Method This study examines whether foreclosures are a robust predictor of crime and whether the effect of foreclosures on crime varies across neighborhood contexts. We estimate fixed-effects negative binomial models using geocoded Indianapolis foreclosure and crime data for 2003–2008 to predict crime counts in 1,000 feet × 1,000 feet square grid cells. Result Foreclosures exhibit consistent positive effects on indices of overall, property, and violent UCR-reported (where UCR is Uniform Crime Report) offenses in a cell and rape, aggravated assault, and burglary counts. In addition, foreclosures had greater effects on reported UCR crimes in stable neighborhoods, especially those with more owner-occupied homes. Conclusion Foreclosures were a robust predictor of crime in the current study.
Update on the Role of Topotecan in the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an aggressive disease that is generally resistant to chemotherapy. As a result, the prognosis for patients with NSCLC is poor. Currently, platinum-based regimens are the standard of care for patients with advanced NSCLC. However, these regimens are associated with severe and often cumulative hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities, limiting dose intensity. Therefore, novel chemotherapeutic agents and combination regimens may improve the outcome for these patients. A variety of new agents and combinations have been investigated in the treatment of NSCLC. However, to date, no clearly superior single-agent or combination regimen has emerged. Topotecan (Hycamtin; GlaxoSmithKline; Philadelphia, PA), a topoisomerase I inhibitor, is currently approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and is associated with manageable, noncumulative, hematologic toxicities. In addition, topotecan demonstrates a favorable nonhematologic tolerability profile compared with agents currently used in the treatment of patients with NSCLC. The success of topotecan in patients with SCLC has made it an attractive option in the NSCLC setting. Topotecan-based combination regimens in the first-line treatment of NSCLC have demonstrated promising antitumor activities with favorable toxicity profiles. Many topotecan combination regimens have induced stable disease, a response that may offer meaningful clinical benefit in the palliative treatment of patients with advanced disease. Topotecan plus gemcitabine (Gemzar; Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis, IN) and single-agent topotecan may be particularly appropriate for patients in the second-line setting, in which palliation of symptoms is an important outcome of chemotherapy. Herein, the future role of topotecan in the first- and second-line treatment of NSCLC and the potential role of resistance mechanisms obtained from in vivo dose-response studies in designing future combination regimens are discussed.