cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multi-style adaptive training for robust cross-lingual spoken language understanding

Given the increasingly available machine translation (MT) services nowadays, one efficient strategy for cross-lingual spoken language understanding (SLU) is to first translate the input utterance from the second language into the primary language, and then call the primary language SLU system to decode the semantic knowledge. However, errors introduced in the MT process create a condition similar to the “mismatch” condition encountered in robust speech recognition. Such mismatch makes the performance of cross-lingual SLU far from acceptable. Motivated by successful solutions developed in robust speech recognition, we in this paper propose a multi-style adaptive training method to improve the robustness of the SLU system for cross-lingual SLU tasks. For evaluation, we created an English-Chinese bilingual ATIS database, and then carried out a series of experiments on that database to experimentally assess the proposed methods. Experimental results show that, without relying on any data in the second language, the proposed method significantly improves the performance on a cross-lingual SLU task while producing no degradation for input in the primary language. This greatly facilitates porting SLU to as many languages as there are MT systems without any human effort. We further study the robustness of this approach to another type of mismatch condition, caused by speech recognition errors, and demonstrate its success also.
The Changing Face of the Extrasolar Giant Planet HD 209458b

High-resolution atmospheric flow simulations of the tidally locked extrasolar giant planet HD 209458b show large-scale spatio-temporal variability. This is in contrast to the simple, permanent day/night (i.e., hot/cold) picture. The planet's global circulation is characterized by a polar vortex in motion around each pole and a banded structure corresponding to approximately three broad zonal (east-west) jets. For very strong jets, the circulation-induced temperature difference between moving hot and cold regions can reach up to ~1000 K, suggesting that atmospheric variability could be observed in the planet's spectral and photometric signatures.
The Problem: American Education The Solution: Use Behavior Analytic Technology

In spite of numerous demonstrations that America's youth can be effectively educated with behavior analytic teaching techniques, few of the country's children are benefiting from the technology. In addition scholarly reviews of effective teaching strategies have often omitted reference to behavior analysis. One way to look at this problem is as a two-step operation. First, it is necessary to determine procedures that work; second it is necessary to devise strategies for effective dissemination. The present issue of JOBE (Vol. 1, No. 3, Sept. 1991) contains the recommendations of six outstanding behavioral educators as to how to deal with the dissemination problem. The initial article by Pumroy and McIntire describes the activities of an organization which trains school psychologists and teachers to use behavioral procedures and advocates for the techniques with a number of audiences. Next, Engelmann suggests that the public have more control over school activities and that legal action be taken against irresponsible administrative decisions. Hall advocates for less labor-intensive procedures and the sale of curricular materials based on behavioral principles. Binder proposes that dissemination of the technology become a private endeavor that responds to consumer needs. Rosenfield describes a collaborative model of consultation that increases treatment adherence. Finally, Albers and Greer describe research that isolates a key teacher behavior that results in greater academic proficiency.
Angle dependence of intravascular ultrasound imaging and its feasibility in tissue characterization of human atherosclerotic tissue

Abstract Background Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images vary in intensity because of the angle of the transducer relative to the plaque. The purpose of this study was to determine the angle dependence of ultrasound backscatter when the IVUS transducer is aligned coaxially in atherosclerotic arteries and to examine its feasibility in tissue characterization of human atherosclerotic tissue. Methods and Results Thirty-nine noncalcified regions of interest (ROI, 0.4 to 0.6 mm in diameter) within cross sections of formalin-fixed human iliac arterial plaque were imaged with a 3.9F, 25-MHz IVUS catheter in saline at room temperature. The catheter was moved coaxially from 8 to 16 positions and spanned 50 to 122 degrees relative to the ROI and the lumen center. Echo intensity for each ROI was defined as the videointensity relative to a standard reflector. The angle dependence of echo intensity was defined as the slope of the regression line between the angle of incidence and echo intensity. Each ROI was histologically classified into 4 groups: fibro-acellular (fibrous cap, n=7), fibro-cellular (n=9), fibro-fatty (n=13), or fatty tissue (n=10). The echo intensity of the majority (72%) of plaque components in IVUS images are significantly affected by the angle of incidence of the transducer. The angle dependence of fibro-acellular samples was significantly greater than that of the other 3 groups (4.69 ± 3.29 × 10 –3 × echo intensity/degree vs 1.06 ± 1.10 in fibro-cellular area, 2.09 ± 1.75 in fibro-fatty area, and 2.16 ± 1.92 in fatty area, P Conclusions The angle dependence of ultrasound reflections from the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque is another method of tissue characterization in addition to spatial distribution and echo intensity. This technique may be useful in determining the thickness of the fibrous cap, which may be an important predictor of plaque rupture. (Am Heart J 1999;137:476-81.)
Total yield measurements in 16O(α, γ)20Ne and 28Si(α, γ)32S

Abstract The 28 Si(α,γ) 32 S and 16 O(α,γ) 20 Ne reactions have been investigated to provide data for the calculation of the stellar rates of these reactions. The /gg-rays were counted with a NaI(T1) detection system having a high detection efficiency which is approximately independent of the γ-ray cascade structure of a resonance level; the detection efficiency was determined experimentally. The reaction 28 Si(α, γ) 32 S was studied for He + bombarding energies from 1.4to 2.7 MeV; in this region, five new resonances were found, and their strengths, (2 J + 1) Γ α Γ γ / Γ , were measured. An upper limit for the cross section was established for bombarding energies below 1.7 MeV. The 16 O(α, γ) 20 Ne reaction was investigated in the energy region from 0.85 to 1.8 MeV; strengths for the previously known resonances were measured, and an upper limit for the cross section was determined for energies below 1 MeV. The influence of these results on the stellar reaction rates is discussed.
A case for globally shared-medium on-chip interconnect

As microprocessor chips integrate a growing number of cores, the issue of interconnection becomes more important for overall system performance and efficiency. Compared to traditional distributed shared-memory architecture, chip-multiprocessors offer a different set of design constraints and opportunities. As a result, a conventional packet-relay multiprocessor interconnect architecture is a valid, but not necessarily optimal, design point. For example, the advantage of off-the-shelf interconnect and the in-field scalability of the interconnect are less important in a chip-multiprocessor. On the other hand, even with worsening wire delays,packet switching represents a non-trivial component of overall latency. In this paper, we show that with straight forward optimizations, the traffic between different cores can be kept relatively low. This in turn allows simple shared-medium interconnects to be built using communication circuits driving transmission lines. This architecture offers extremely low latencies and can support a large number of cores without the need for packet switching, eliminating costly routers.
Work in progress - an innovative sustainable energy engineering graduate curriculum

Sustainable energy engineering is an important emerging area. A survey of sustainable energy engineering curricula shows a number of programs in Europe and Australia, but very few in the United States. We have started to offer a new sustainable energy certificate program in the College of Engineering at Villanova University and are in the process of developing this into a full Master's degree program. The certificate program is open to all engineering graduate students and comprises four courses, one offered by each of the departments in the College of Engineering. The certificate comprises four courses as follows: 1) Principles of Sustainability - offered by the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department 2) Electrochemical Power Sources - offered by the Chemical Engineering Department 3) Renewable Energy Systems - offered by the Electrical and Computer Engineering department 4) Solar Thermal Processes - offered by the Mechanical Engineering Department This paper will describe the details of these courses and how they are structured to allow students to take the courses with limited pre-requisites. Furthermore, the structure of the new Masters program under development will be described.
Effect of Transcranial Electromagnetic Stimulation on Modulation of Wrist Flexors Spasticity in Stroke Patients

Purpose: To determine the effect of rhythmical transcranial low frequency electromagnetic stimulation on wrist flexors spasticity and hand function in Stroke patients. Subjects: 30 Stroke patients of ages ranged from 50 to 77 years with mean age of (56.±6.6) years were randomly participated and divided into two equal groups of 15. Method: Group I received a designed program of physical therapy, as control group. Group II received the same designed program of physical therapy of group 1 in addition to transcranial low frequency electromagnetic stimulation as study group. Both groups were clinically assessed through Modified Ashworth Scale for degree of wrist flexor spasticity, Digital goniometer for wrist flexion and extension range of movement, and assessed electrophysiolgically for activity of flexor carpi radialis longus and hand functions through Purdue pegboard device before and after treatment program. Results: There was statistical significant difference between both groups with GII best results, regarding to clinical and electrophysiological parameters. Conclusion: Low frequency transcranial electromagnetic stimulation is considered more effective in rehabilitating wrist flexors spasticity and hand functions in Stroke patients.
Flocculation of oxides using polyethylene oxide

Abstract Flocculation of oxides using polyethylene oxide was investigated. Polyethylene oxide adsorbed strongly on and flocculated sodium kaolinite. H-bonding is considered to be the driving force for polyethylene oxide adsorption on kaolinite. The mechanism of adsorption of polyethylene oxide on kaolinite was examined by studying the adsorption/flocculation characteristics of different oxide minerals using the same polymer. Polyethylene oxide flocculated silica gel but did not adsorb on or flocculate hematite and alumina. Quartz was flocculated only below pH 3. Results are examined in terms of the type of surface groups and the degree of hydration of the solids. It is proposed that adsorption of polyethylene oxide on solids requires some optimum hydroxylation of the surface with displaceable water species.
Geologic Factors Which May Affect the Occurrence of Natural Gas in the Oklahoma Panhandle

Geologically, the Oklahoma Panhandle is situated along the NW. flank of the Anadarko Basin and separates the Dalhart Basin from the Hugoton Embayment of the Anadarko Basin. This is a geographic separation rather than a tectonic separation. As a result, the Panhandle has been subject to a basin-flank geological history as compared with the basin troughs on either side. Initial production of natural gas in the Oklahoma Panhandle was from rocks of Permian age: the Herington, Krider and Winfield porous limestones and dolomites in the Hugoton field. Production came from above 3,000 ft (drilled depth), and many wells were rated as being major producers. Prior to the early 1950's, there had been only limited, sporadic production from reservoirs older than the Permian. With the discovery of gas in Beaver county in upper Pennsylvanian limestones, major development and exploitation of other Pennsylvanian and Mississippian horizons quickly followed.
Clinical considerations in the use of corticosteroids.

IT is a great pleasure as well as a significant honor to present this, the second George Miner Mackenzie Memorial Lecture. To many of you associated with Cooperstown and the Mary Imogene Bassett Ho...
Child reactivity moderates the over-time association between mother–child conflict quality and externalizing problems:

Constructive parent–child conflict interactions that teach children to problem-solve and negotiate can enhance children’s social adjustment. This paper identifies constructive and destructive qualities of mother–child conflict and explores whether child temperament moderated associations with changes in externalizing problems over time. One hundred and ninety mothers and their 5- to 7-year-old children participated in a laboratory conflict discussion rated on aspects of maternal sensitivity, child mood, and mothers’ and children’s contemptuous and planning comments. Mothers also reported on children’s negative reactivity and their externalizing behavior problems concurrently and one year later. Structural equation modeling revealed that constructive conflict quality was related to decreases in children’s externalizing problems, but only among children low in negative reactivity.
Carbon-coated high capacity layered Li[Li0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13]O2 cathodes

Electrodes fabricated with the layered Li[Li0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13]O2 have been coated with carbon by a thermal evaporation process and characterized. The carbon coating enhances the sample surface conductivity by 40% without degrading the layered oxide. The carbon-coated cathodes exhibit much improved rate capability and cycling performance than the bare cathode. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data reveal that the improved electrochemical performances of the carbon-coated sample are due to the suppression of the solid-electrolyte interfacial (SEI) layer and faster kinetics of both the lithium-ion diffusion through surface layer and the charge transfer reaction.
Outcomes of Aortic Root Replacement After Previous Aortic Root Replacement: The “True” Redo Root

Background Aortic reoperations are technically challenging. This study evaluated outcomes after "true" redo root replacement (previous full root replacement) stratified by cause of prosthesis failure. Methods Data were compared for 793 patients who underwent a first-time sternotomy (de novo group) and 120 patients who had previously undergone full aortic root replacement (redo group), of which 76 underwent reoperation due to structural valve deterioration (degenerative group), and 44 due to endocarditis (infection group). Results Overall mortality was 4% (n = 28) in the de novo group and 5% (n = 6) in the redo group ( p = 0.43) (degenerative group, 3%, infection group, 9%; p = 0.19). The infection group had an increased incidence of renal failure, sternal infection, prolonged ventilation, reoperation for bleeding, multisystem failure, and sepsis, and an increased hospital length of stay. The degenerative group and the de novo group had a similar risk of perioperative death and major complications. The 5-year survival was 86.3% ± 1.3% for the de novo group and 77.3% ± 4.6% for the redo group ( p ≤ 0.01; degenerative, 86.3% ± 5%; infection, 65.3% ± 7.7%; p p = 0.98 for de novo vs degenerative). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that reoperation for degenerative failure did not increase the risk of perioperative or late death. Conclusions Redo aortic root replacement can be performed with low perioperative morbidity and death. The presence of infection increases the risk of complications and worsens survival. However, redo root replacement for degenerative failure can be performed with similar short-term complication risk and midterm survival as de novo root replacement.
Sensor Optimization for Progressive Damage Diagnosis in Complex Structures

We propose a sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) based progressive structural damage diagnosis framework that tracks damage by integrating information from physics-based damage evolution models and using stochastic relationships between the measurements and the damage. The approach described in this paper adaptively configures the sensors used to collect the measurements using the minimum predicted mean squared error (MSE) as the performance metric. Optimization is performed globally over the entire search space of all available sensors. Results are presented for the diagnosis of fatigue damage in a notched laminate, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Safety of left innominate vein division during aortic arch surgery.

Background. The surgical approach to the aortic arch via median sternotomy can be hindered by the left innominate vein (LIV). Retraction of the LIV may injure the vein. The safety of LIV ligation has been controversial. Opinion has also differed regarding whether a divided vein should be reanastomosed after arch replacement is completed. We report our experience with division and ligation of the LIV for improved aortic arch exposure and facilitated excision of mediastinal tumors. Methods. From January 1996 to June 1998, the LIV was divided and ligated in 14 patients (8 men, 4 women) after consideration of local anatomy, adequacy of aortic arch exposure, level of distal aortic anastomosis, and in case of mediastinal tumors, extent of involvement of mediastinal structures. The LIV was divided between clamps, doubly ligated, and the ends oversewn. Patients were assessed at 1 month and at yearly intervals for upper extremity edema and neurologic symptoms. Results. In 12 patients LIV division improved aortic arch access, and in 2 patients, it facilitated excision of mediastinal tumors. The mean age of patients was 56 years (range 22 to 80). Follow-up ranged from 1 week to 30 months. All patients had left upper extremity edema for 7 to 10 days, which resolved with arm elevation. One early patient required reexploration for bleeding from the LIV stump. One patient died because of multiorgan dysfunction. None had any residual left upper extremity edema or neurologic symptoms. Conclusions. We conclude that, although not uniformly or commonly necessary, division of the LIV can safely be utilized to facilitate aortic arch exposure without significant long-term morbidity. LIV reanastomosis is not necessary.
The Role of Mammography in Male Patients With Breast Symptoms

OBJECTIVE To determine the contribution of mammography to the comprehensive clinical evaluation of men with breast symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of all men who underwent mammography between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2004, at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. Medical history, mammographic findings, and breast cancer diagnoses were assessed. RESULTS A total of 198 men had 212 mammograms. Nine mammograms (from 9 different men) (4%) showed suspicious findings. Eight men underwent biopsy, which yielded a breast cancer diagnosis in 2 (1%). Of the 212 mammograms, 203 (96%) showed benign findings, including gynecomastia on 132 (62%). One patient with a benign-appearing mammogram later underwent breast biopsy, and malignant disease was diagnosed. All the men with breast cancer had a dominant mass on clinical examination and other findings suggestive of breast cancer. Of the 132 mammograms showing gynecomastia, 110 (83%) were from men who had taken predisposing medications or who had predisposing medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS Mammography added little information to the initial patient evaluation. Breast cancer may be suspected by the presence of a dominant mass. Gynecomastia can be predicted on the basis of the patient's symptoms or preexisting condition. Patients with suspicious findings on examination warrant appropriate clinical management regardless of mammographic findings. Mammography in men may be of benefit only for image guidance of percutaneous biopsy of a suspicious mass.
Using geoprocessing specification as semantic metadata with GEOLEM

This paper and associated poster describe research to improve the loose integration of GIS-based processing services with client software, chiefly environmental simulation models (ESMs). The approach taken avoids implementing client business logic within a GIS server environment or forcing large changes in the client architecture to internalize geoprocessing. Instead, metadata is used to map ESM-specific knowledge about geoprocessing methodology to the terminology used to signify the geographic information concepts within an ESM. This mapping provides an explicit operational definition of an ESM concept by describing how to manufacture an appropriate representation of it. The metadata is therefore more semantically relevant in a computational environment than standard forms of metadata that provide natural language descriptions or terminological crosswalks. In order to exploit the geoprocessing knowledge contained in the metadata, a middleware, called GEOLEM, has been developed. GEOLEM controls the execution of the methodological specifications, marshalling geoprocessing services that provide implementations of basic GIS commands as needed. Beyond the standard benefits of encapsulation and interoperability that this or any of a number of other middleware approaches can yield, this research seeks to provide semantic definition of client-specific geographic information concepts based on the geoprocessing methodology used to derive representation of instances of the concepts. In future, the authors seek to develop techniques to analyze a database of these definitions to promote methodological reuse and the appropriate exchange of geographic information between ESMs
Cytoskeletal Proteins Are Coordinately Increased in Maize Genotypes with High Levels of eEF1A

The opaque2 (o2) mutation increases the Lys content of maize (Zea mays) endosperm by reducing the synthesis of zein storage proteins and increasing the accumulation of other types of cellular proteins. Elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) is one of these proteins, and its concentration is highly correlated with the amount of other Lys-containing proteins in the endosperm. We investigated the basis for this relationship by comparing patterns of protein accumulation and gene expression between a high (Oh51Ao2) and a low (Oh545o2) eEF1A inbred, as well as between high and low eEF1A recombinant inbred lines obtained from their cross. The content of α-zein and several cytoskeletal proteins was measured in high and low eEF1A inbred lines, and the levels of these proteins were found to correlate with that of eEF1A. To extend this analysis, we used an endosperm expressed sequence tag microarray to examine steady-state levels of RNA transcripts in developing endosperm of these genotypes. We identified about 120 genes coordinately regulated in association with eEF1A content. These genes encode proteins involved in several biological structures and processes, including the actin cytoskeleton, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the protein synthesis apparatus. Thus, higher levels of eEF1A in o2 mutants may be related to a more extensive cytoskeletal network surrounding the rough endoplasmic reticulum and increased synthesis of cytoskeleton-associated proteins, all of which contribute significantly to the Lys content of the endosperm.
Androgen therapy induces muscle protein anabolism in older women

Context: Normal healthy men and women undergo a gradual loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with advancing age. While androgens are protein anabolic in older men, the metabolic effects in older women are poorly understood. Objective and Design: The objective of this study was to determine whether oral administration of a synthetic derivative of testosterone [oxandrolone, Oxandrin (OX)] (7.5 mg orally twice daily for 14 d) to five older women (age, 65 ± 2 yr) would enhance skeletal muscle anabolic biomarkers including mixed muscle fractional synthetic rate (FSR), net phenylalanine balance, androgen receptor, and IGF-I protein expression at d 0, 5, and 14 of treatment. As a positive control, seven older men were examined after 14 d of OX (10 mg orally twice daily). Setting: The study was performed at the General Clinical Research Center. Results: Fourteen days of OX significantly increased skeletal muscle FSR in older women (d 0, 0.073 ± 0.006 vs. d 5, 0.092 ± 0.006 vs. d 14, 0.115 ± 0.007%/h) (P < 0....
Total Potential Frequency of Autologous Blood Transfusion in Olmsted County, Minnesota

Objective To calculate the total "potential" frequency of preoperatively donated autologous erythrocyte (red blood cell or RBC) units in the entire population of patients who received transfusions in a specific US county, in a hypothetical situation in which all patients who received transfusions for elective surgical procedures (and were considered medically eligible for preoperative autologous blood donation [PABD]) predeposited a number of autologous RBCs appropriate for their procedure. Material and Methods All Olmsted County residents who received RBC transfusions during 1991 and 1992 were retrospectively assessed for eligibility for PABD. Patients who were eligible to donate blood were assigned a number of autologous RBC predeposits appropriate for their scheduled procedure. Calculated total potential frequency figures for PABD were compared statistically on the basis of age, gender, and surgical service. Results Study patients were eligible for PABD in 459 of 1,038 surgical admissions. The percentage eligibility for PABD was similar across age and gender patient groups but differed across admitting surgical services. Reasons for ineligibility for PABD differed across the patient categories studied. Under the afore-mentioned assumption, theoretically 786 of the 8,137 RBC units transfused to all study patients (9.7%) could have been provided by PABD. Conclusion From the standpoint of an entire community population, the total potential effect of PABD on the blood supply can amount to a maximum of 9.7% of all transfused units of RBCs, an upper limit that is similar across age and gender patient groups but differs across transfusing surgical services.
Vibration mitigation in multi-degree-of-freedom structural systems using filter-augmented delayed-feedback algorithms

Due to their ability to augment system delays and produce greater damping for smaller control efforts, delayed-feedback control algorithms have been widely utilized as effective means for vibration mitigation and oscillation reduction on various systems. However, a critical issue remains in their implementation on multi-degree-of-freedom and distributed-parameter (structural) systems. The reason being that the presence of delay in the control loop renders the characteristic polynomial of the transcendental type thus producing an infinite number of eigenvalues for every discrete controller's gain and time delay. As such, choosing a gain-delay combination that stabilizes the lower vibration modes can easily destabilize the higher modes. In this paper, we explore the prospect of incorporating low-pass filters into the control loop to resolve this issue. We investigate the effect of the filter's order and cut-off frequency on the stability diagram in the gain-delay space for single and multi-degree-of-freedom systems. We show that, by choosing the filter's design parameters appropriately, it is possible to increase the stability margins and enhance the robustness of the controller. We also demonstrate that vibrations of multiple modes can be simultaneously mitigated using a single gain-delay combination. To validate these concepts, a controller is experimentally implemented to reduce the vibrations of a macrocantilever beam and a microcantilever sensor. Results demonstrate excellent performance in rejecting external disturbances and reducing the response amplitude under persistent harmonic excitations.
Fast-growing till over ancient ice in Beacon Valley, Antarctica

We analyze published cosmogenic 3He depth profiles through the till that covers relict glacier ice in Beacon Valley, Antarctica, in order to derive rigorous constraints on the till thickness history, and on the amount and rate of ice loss by sublimation. The till is a residue of debris-laden ice that sublimed. The 3He profiles show that the lower 80% of the till formed in the past 310–43 k.y. under sublimation rates averaging >7 m·m.y.−1 (meters per million years). Such rapid recent growth of the till contradicts previous interpretations that it is older than 8.1 Ma at an adjacent site, where it encloses volcanic ash of this age. We question whether the ash provides a valid age constraint for the ice. Cosmogenic nuclide analysis of the till where the ash was collected for dating should resolve this question.
Origins of Media Exposure Linking Personality Traits to TV, Radio, Print, and Film Use

This investigation of the five-factor model of personality as a correlate of mass media use was designed to validate key links in a basic model of the uses and gratifications paradigm. Survey data collected from 219 university students who kept diaries of time spent using the mass media and participating in nonmediated communication activities were submitted to canonical correlation analysis. Minutes devoted to TV viewing, radio listening, pleasure reading, and movie attendance were correlated with the five personality traits of the NEO-PI—neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. The strongest relationships for mass media use were between openness and pleasure reading, extroversion and negative pleasure reading, and openness and negative TV viewing. Individuals who scored higher on extroversion and agreeableness exhibited a preference for nonmediated activities, especially conversation.
Two-dimensional analysis of self-sustained pulsation for narrow-stripe AlGaAs lasers

Self-sustained pulsation in narrow stripe geometry AlGaAs laser diodes is investigated numerically and experimentally. By taking account of the time-dependent two-dimensional optical field, carrier spreading in the cladding layers, and multilongitudinal modes, we succeeded in clarifying the mechanism for the pulsation. Fluctuation of the optical field plays an important role in forming saturable absorption. The numerical analysis clearly shows that our newly proposed real refractive index-guided structure is very suitable for a pulsation laser in which the optical field distribution and current spreading can be independently controlled. Furthermore, me show that the new structure gives much lower threshold current than that of a conventional loss-guided structure. These predicted advantages of the real refractive index-guided structure are verified experimentally with good agreement. >
Development by design: blending landscape‐level planning with the mitigation hierarchy

Compensatory mitigation, or biodiversity offsets, provide a mechanism for maintaining or enhancing environmental values in situations where development is being planned, despite detrimental environmental impacts. Offsets are generally intended as an option for addressing any remaining environmental impacts of a development plan, after efforts have been made to avoid, minimize, or restore on-site impacts. Although offset programs require that developers adhere to the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, minimize, and restore biodiversity on-site before considering an offset for residual impacts, no quantitative guidelines exist for this decision-making process. What criteria are needed to require that impacts be minimized or avoided altogether? Here, we examine how conservation planning can provide a way to address this issue. By blending landscape-level conservation planning with application of the mitigation hierarchy, we can ensure that the use of biodiversity offsets is consistent with sustainable developmen...
Fiber optic chlorine sensor based on evanescent field absorption

The feasibility of detecting chlorine in water by using a fiber-optic technique is investigated. The technique is based on evanescent field absorption through the color development of reacting diethyl phenylene diamine with chlorine, which forms an azo compound. Transmission attenuation results through color absorption of the fiber-optic waveguide from the azo species surrounding the fiber. Sensor systems with single- and multifiber sensing elements have been designed, constructed, and evaluated for linearity of response, sensitivity, and reproducibility of results. The experimental results establish the feasibility of detecting low-concentration chlorine in water using the proposed fiber-optic technique. >
Phase I and II Cannabinoid Disposition in Blood and Plasma of Occasional and Frequent Smokers Following Controlled Smoked Cannabis

BACKGROUND: Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH) have been reported in blood from frequent cannabis smokers for an extended time during abstinence. We compared THC, 11-OH-THC, THCCOOH, cannabidiol, cannabinol, THC-glucuronide, and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC-glucuronide (THCCOO-glucuronide) blood and plasma disposition in frequent and occasional cannabis smokers. METHODS: Frequent and occasional smokers resided on a closed research unit and smoked one 6.8% THC cannabis cigarette ad libitum. Blood and plasma cannabinoids were quantified on admission (approximately 19 h before), 1 h before, and up to 15 times (0.5–30 h) after smoking. RESULTS: Cannabinoid blood and plasma concentrations were significantly higher in frequent smokers compared with occasional smokers at most time points for THC and 11-OH-THC and at all time points for THCCOOH and THCCOO-glucuronide. Cannabidiol, cannabinol, and THC-glucuronide were not significantly different at any time point. Overall blood and plasma cannabinoid concentrations were significantly higher in frequent smokers for THC, 11-OH-THC, THCCOOH, and THCCOO-glucuronide, with and without accounting for baseline concentrations. For blood THC >5 μg/L, median (range) time of last detection was 3.5 h (1.1–>30 h) in frequent smokers and 1.0 h (0–2.1 h) in 11 occasional smokers; 2 individuals had no samples with THC >5 μg/L. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis smoking history plays a major role in cannabinoid detection. These differences may impact clinical and impaired driving drug detection. The presence of cannabidiol, cannabinol, or THC-glucuronide indicates recent use, but their absence does not exclude it.
Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices

A doubling in global food demand projected for the next 50 years poses huge challenges for the sustainability both of food production and of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Agriculturalists are the principal managers of global useable lands and will shape, perhaps irreversibly, the surface of the Earth in the coming decades. New incentives and policies for ensuring the sustainability of agriculture and ecosystem services will be crucial if we are to meet the demands of improving yields without compromising environmental integrity or public health.
The Correlation Between Improvements In Telecommunications Technology And Growth Of Cities

This paper examines the correlation between improvements in telecommunication technology and growth of cities. By developing a general and then an urban model we want to examine the impact of telecommunication improvements on city growth assuming first that face-to-face interactions and electronic communications are substitutes and then they are complements. The placement of the general model within an urban framework shows that city size increases with electronic communications if face-to-face interactions and electronic communications are complements.
Effects of cross-linking and spacer groups on beta-cyclodextrin bonded liquid chromatographic separation

Mesoporous glass beads and 5 μm silica particles were modified with beta-cyclodextrin ( Β-CD) by means of directly bonding, linking spacer group, and cross-linking agent. The selectivities of the Β-CD modified silica particles were measured by simple column chromatography to separate a model mixture of 1-and 2-hydroxy-naphthalene (naphthols) and ortho, meta, and para-xylene. In the packed column chromatography experiments, two major controlling factors (inclusion complex formation effect and steric hindrance effect of the analytes) on the separations were observed. The elusion orders of the Β-CD directly bonded glass beads were meta-, para-, ortho-xylene and 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol. The phenomena of Β-CD pore blocking and narrowing by spacer groups and cross-linking agent were observed. The spacer group and cross-linking agent decreased inclusion complex formation of 2-naphthol.
Glypican-1 regulates anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome substrates and cell cycle progression in endothelial cells.

Glypican-1 (GPC1), a member of the mammalian glypican family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans, is highly expressed in glioma blood vessel endothelial cells (ECs). In this study, we investigated the role of GPC1 in EC replication by manipulating GPC1 expression in cultured mouse brain ECs. Moderate GPC1 overexpression stimulates EC growth, but proliferation is significantly suppressed when GPC1 expression is either knocked down or the molecule is highly overexpressed. Flow cytometric and biochemical analyses show that high or low expression of GPC1 causes cell cycle arrest at mitosis or the G2 phase of the cell cycle, accompanied by endoreduplication and consequently polyploidization. We further show that GPC1 inhibits the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)–mediated degradation of mitotic cyclins and securin. High levels of GPC1 induce metaphase arrest and centrosome overproduction, alterations that are mimicked by overexpression of cyclin B1 and cyclin A, respectively. These observations suggest that GPC1 regulates EC cell cycle progression at least partially by modulating APC/C-mediated degradation of mitotic cyclins and securin.
TROPHIC ECOLOGY OF THE FREE-TAILED BATS NYCTINOMOPS FEMOROSACCUS AND TADARIDA BRASILIENSIS (CHIROPTERA: MOLOSSIDAE) IN BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS

Abstract We analyzed fecal pellets from 59 Nyctinomops femorosaccus and 54 Tadarida brasiliensis to assess dietary overlap in an area of sympatry. Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera were the most abundant orders of insects. Niche-breadth indices were narrow overall and highest in June for both species. Indices of overlap indicated nearly complete overlap in use of resources. There does not appear to be resource partitioning of diet at the taxonomic level examined in these species during summer when sources of food are expected to be more abundant. There was a dietary shift from predominantly Lepidoptera to Hemiptera in March for N. femorosaccus, but not for T. brasiliensis. Resources other than food may impose a greater limitation on size of these populations.
Mixed Scaling for Open-Channel Flow over Gravel and Cobbles

AbstractMixed scaling that includes inner and outer variables is performed on open-channel flow over gravel and cobbles. A similarity analysis is performed following classification of the flow as an equilibrium turbulent boundary layer using the asymptotic invariance principle. A mixed scale that accounts for the variation of turbulent length in the vertical direction is used to parameterize the external boundary impact on the flow for the logarithmic and outer layers. The resultant scale uses free-stream velocity, hydraulic radius, and bed particle size in which 84% of the sediment is finer. The results are consistent with empirical gravel-bed river research and applications, and nicely include the variation of the turbulent flow structure into the scaling. The results are verified using data from gravel- and cobble-bed flumes and rivers and by comparison with earlier methods. A single coefficient, semitheoretical model collapses laboratory and field data well. An integral approach is applied to allow th...
Transmission power control in wireless ad hoc networks: challenges, solutions and open issues

Recently, power control in mobile ad hoc networks has been the focus of extensive research. Its main objectives are to reduce the total energy consumed in packet delivery and/or increase network throughput by increasing the channel's spatial reuse. In this article, we give an overview of various power control approaches that have been proposed in the literature. We discuss the factors that influence the selection of the transmission power, including the important interplay between the routing (network) and the medium access control (MAC) layers. Protocols that account for such interplay are presented.
A structure theorem for semibounded sets in the reals

In [MPP] it was shown that in every reduct of = ‹ ℝ, +, ·, <› that properly expands ℳ = ‹ℝ, +, <, λa›a∈ℝ, all the bounded semi-algebraic (that is, -definable) sets are definable. Said differently, every such is an expansion of = ‹ℝ, +, <, λa, Bi›a∈ℝ, i∈I where {Bi}i∈I is the collection of all bounded semialgebraic sets and the λa's are scalar multiplication by a. In [PSS] (see Theorem 1.2 below) it was shown that the structure is a proper reduct of ; that is, one cannot define in it all the semialgebraic sets. In [Pe] we show that is the only reduct properly between ℳ and . As a first step towards this result, we investigate in this paper the definable sets in reducts such as . (We point out that ‘definable’ will always mean ‘definable with parameters’.)Definition 1.1. Let X ⊆ ℝn. X is called semi-bounded if it is definable in the structure ‹ℝ, +, <, λa, B1, …, Bk›a∈ℝ, where the Bi's are bounded subsets of ℝn.The main result of this paper (see Theorem 3.1) shows roughly that, in Ominimal expansions of that satisfy the partition condition (see Definition 2.3), every semibounded set can be partitioned into finitely many sets, each of which is of a form similar to a cylinder. Namely, these sets are obtained through the “stretching” of a bounded cell by finitely many linear vectors. As a corollary (see Theorem 1.4), we get different characterizations of semibounded sets, either in terms of their structure or in terms of their definability power.The following result, by A. Pillay, P. Scowcroft and C. Steinhorn, was the main motivation for this paper. The theorem is formulated here in a slightly stronger form than originally, but the proof itself is essentially the original one. A short version of the proof is included in §4.
Standard Operating Procedure: Mediating Torture

Errol Morris's Standard Operating Procedure offers the U.S. soldiers accused of detainee abuse at the Abu Ghraib military prison in Iraq a forum in which to give accounts of their infamous photographs. However, the vexing digitality of those images foregrounds the role of interpretation in the construction of visual evidence.
An integrated impact assessment and weighting methodology: Evaluation of the environmental consequences of lead-free solder alternatives

The focus of this paper is on the use of established management decision-making tools to address some of the limitations in implementing conventional life cycle assessment, for example, the evaluation and comparison of materials alternatives, the quantitative elicitation of stakeholderspsila preference structure as weighting factors, the simultaneous consideration of other economic and technological factors and the sensitivity analysis to examine the reliability of results. An integrated analytical approach, integrated industrial ecology function deployment (I2-EFD), previously developed by the authors, is designed to assess the environmental behavior of materials alternatives in correlation with their performance and economic characteristics. The assessment for lead-free solder alternatives is used in this paper as a more complex case study to further develop our methodology through the modification and integration of various quality management tools (e.g., quality function deployment, prioritization matrix), decision aid tools (e.g., analytical hierarchy process), and statistical methods (e.g., Monte-Carlo simulation).
Assessing incentives for service-level selection in private health insurance exchanges

Even with open enrollment and mandated purchase, incentives created by adverse selection may undermine the efficiency of service offerings by plans in the new health insurance Exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act. Using data on persons likely to participate in Exchanges drawn from five waves of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we measure plan incentives in two ways. First, we construct predictive ratios, improving on current methods by taking into account the role of premiums in financing plans. Second, relying on an explicit model of plan profit maximization, we measure incentives based on the predictability and predictiveness of various medical diagnoses. Among the chronic diseases studied, plans have the greatest incentive to skimp on care for cancer, and mental health and substance abuse.
Curative effects of the antipiroplasms amicarbalide and imidocarb on Trypanosoma brucei infection in mice.

SYNOPSIS The babesicides imidocarb and amicarbalide, which have structural similarities to the antitrypanosomatid diamidines, proved active against Trypanosoma brucei mouse infections: both cured infections when doses were administered daily for 3 days 24 h post-inoculation (curative dose imidocarb, 10 mg/kg; amicarbalide, 25 mg/kg). Mice were considered cured after survival 30 days longer than untreated infected controls, with no trypanosomes present in blood or cerebrospinal fluid smears. Both agents also cured when administered 48 and 72 h after challenge with T. brucei and prolonged the lives of animals 94 h after challenge. The results are discussed in respect to the potential of these carbanilides and their precursors, the antitumor phthalanilides, as lead compounds in chemotherapy of mammalian trypanosomiases.
Polyaniline/single-walled carbon nanotube composite electronic devices

Composites of high molecular weight polyaniline (PANI) and various weight percentages of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) were fabricated using solution processing. Electrical characteristics of metal–semiconductor (MS) devices fabricated from the PANI/SWNT composites were studied. Current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of these devices indicate a significant increase in current with an increase in carbon nanotube concentration in the composite. The dominant transport mechanisms operating in these devices were investigated by plotting the forward I–V data on a log–log scale, which revealed two power-law regions with different exponents. In the lower voltage range, the exponent is approximately 1, implying that the charge transport mechanism is governed by Ohm's law. The charge transport mechanism in the higher voltage range, where the exponent varies between 1.1 and 1.7, is consistent with space-charge-limited (SCL) emission in the presence of shallow traps. The critical voltage (Vc), which characterizes the onset of SCL conduction, decreases with increasing SWNT concentration. In addition, Vc was observed to increase with temperature. These initial results indicate that with further improvements in material consistency and reduction in defect densities, the polyaniline/single-walled carbon nanotube composite material can be used to fabricate organic electronic devices leading to many useful applications in microelectronics.