cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vocational Guidance Research: A Five-Year Overview.

Abstract This study attempts to identify the trends in vocational guidance research. There are both content areas and subject populations that have received a great deal of research while other areas and subject types are in need of more emphasis. Hopefully, editors and teachers within the field can use their influence to correct this imbalance. Researchers should also concentrate their efforts in those areas most in need of growth.
State estimation and control of the Fibonacci system

In this paper the second-order unstable Fibonacci system is defined by adding a control input to the recursion relation that generates the Fibonacci numbers, and the characteristics of its Kalman state estimator and its control using both the LQR and deadbeat control approaches are investigated. It is found that the elements of the Kalman estimator's steady state gain and error covariance matrices are functions of the golden ratio, and, under certain assumptions on the noise variance and the initial-state error covariance, that the recursion relations for the elements of the a priori error covariance matrix involve functions of the Fibonacci numbers. On the control side, as the control weight increases relative to the weights on the states in the LQR design, the elements of the feedback gain matrix and the closed loop pole locations approach functions of the golden ratio. Finally, the deadbeat design is capable of bringing the unstable Fibonacci system from any initial state to an "idle" state of (1, 1) in two control iterations, of maintaining it there with the simple control sequence {-1, -1, -1, ?}, and then of regenerating the Fibonacci sequence at any later time by simply turning off the control.
Effects of a dynamic gas on breakdown potential.

Dynamic gas velocity and pressure effects on breakdown potential of argon flow between flat parallel plate electrodes
Synthesis of protected racemic β,γ-unsaturated-α-amino acids via γ-phenylseleno-α,β-unsaturated esters

Abstract Oxidative rearrangement of γ-phenylseleno-α,β-unsaturated esters ( 1 ) with the N-chlorosuccinimide/N,N-diisopropylethylamine/alkyl carbamate reagent combination affords preparatively useful yields of protected β,γ-unsaturated-α-amino acids ( 2 ).
The identifiability of auditory icons for use in educational software for children

The research explored how subjects in grade 1 (6-7 years old) and grade 3 (8-9 years old) identify auditory icons that are commonly introduced in educational software applications. The subjects were required to identify 37 auditory icons by specifying two dimensions: the object associated with producing the sound and the action which could be causing the sound. It was hypothesized that the ecological frequency versus relative uniqueness feature would be more salient for third-graders. Thus, they would be better equipped to identify the auditory cues than the first-graders. The results indicated that the third-grade subjects were better equipped to identify auditory cues based upon two dimensions of interest than the first-grade subjects. This information is useful for interface designers incorporating auditory icons into educational software for children at various developmental levels. Suggestions for future research are provided.
Adolescents misusing prescription drugs: who’s the riskiest users of them all?

Early age of onset of alcohol use or prescription drug misuse (PDM) is associated with later alcohol or prescription drug-related substance use disorders. While the prevalence of PDM among youth continues to increase at an alarming rate, relatively little research attention has been given to the study of adolescent PDM. The present study examined differences in risky behaviors (hazardous drinking and externalizing symptoms) and impulsivity among adolescents (N = 111) who reported current PDM and underage alcohol use (i.e. PDM and alcohol use in past 30 days; n = 37), current underage alcohol use only (i.e. past-30-day alcohol use but no PDM in past 30 days; n = 37) and those who reported no alcohol or drug use in past 30 days (n = 37). Findings indicated that adolescents who reported current PDM also reported highest levels of hazardous alcohol use and impulsivity compared to adolescents in the current alcohol-only and current non-user groups. Adolescents who reported current PDM also reported higher leve...
Light and electron microscopic autoradiographic study of the dorsal root projections to the cat dorsal horn.

Abstract The distribution of terminals arising from dorsal root primary afferents was examined in the lumbar spinal cord of cats using light- and electron-microscopic autoradiography. Tritiated proline or leucine was injected into either the L6 or L7 dorsal root ganglion. The light-microscopic spinal cord distribution of radioactivity in the ganglia was independent of the type of amino acid used. Likewise, the length of the survival time after injection had no effect. The projections to the substantia gelatinosa and the marginal zone were consistently the densest. However, the topography of the dorsal horn distribution, relative the the segment of entry, varied significantly especially in the gelatinosa, depending upon the ganglia injected. Those to the substantia gelatinosa were largely limited to the segment of entry; those to the marginal zone and nucleus proprius extended many segments beyond the level of entry. At all levels the projection was exclusively ipsilateral to the side of injection. At the electron-microscopic level the distribution of radioactivity was determined in each of the three easily recognizable areas of the dorsal horn: the marginal zone, the substantia gelatinosa and the nucleus proprius. In each dorsal horn area the total terminal population was divided into four basic categories. Each of these areas was found to contain a characteristic distribution of these four terminal categories. The difference between areas arose, primarily, as a consequence of the dorsal to ventral decreasing frequency gradient of two types of terminal: those containing large, dense-cored vesicles and the increasing gradient of those containing flattened vesicles. The terminals with small pleomorphic vesicles and those with large round vesicles were frequently encountered in all three areas without a detectable frequency gradient. Similarly, the primary afferent terminal population, that is the subset of the total terminal population labelled after dorsal root ganglion injection, was also characteristic of the area, and each area was dominated by a different terminal type. In the marginal zone the terminals containing large dense-cored vesicles dominated. In the substantia gelatinosa the terminals with pleomorphic vesicles (which included the so-called ‘C’ type terminals) dominated. And the terminals containing large round vesicles dominated the primary afferent population in the nucleus proprius. The terminals containing flattened vesicles were never found to be specifically labeled in any of the areas examined.
Myosin heavy chain synthesis during the progression of chronic tachycardia induced heart failure in rabbits.

Chronic tachycardia causes LV dilatation and dysfunction, with no hypertrophy. However, the contributing mechanisms responsible for the left ventricular (LV) remodeling in the absence of myocardial growth in this model of heart failure remain unclear. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to serially examine changes in LV function, steady state myosin heavy chain (MHC) mRNA levels, in vivo synthesis rates, and abundance with the progression of chronic tachycardia induced heart failure. Adult rabbits (3.5–4.5 kg) were studied after one, two, or three weeks of pacing ventricular tachycardia (VT; 400 bpm) and in controls (n=6 for all groups). LV fractional shortening was reduced by 30 % at week one and by over 50 % at week three of chronic VT. End‐diastolic dimension (EDD) increased at week two compared to controls (1.66 ± 0.10 vs 1.35 ± 0.11 cm, p < 0.05) and increased further at week three of VT (1.70 ± 0.06 cm, p < 0.05). The progressive changes in LV geometry and function with chronic VT were not associated with concomitant time dependent changes in LV mass or MHC mRNA levels. In contrast, MHC fractional synthesis rates increased and reached statistical significance at week three of VT compared to controls (8.3 ± 0.8 vs 5.5 ± 0.5 %/day, p < 0.05). Despite the stable or increased MHC protein synthesis rates, there was no change in MHC protein abundance at any point during the progression of VT induced heart failure, implicating enhanced MHC protein degradation. Thus, this study demonstrated that a contributory mechanism for the LV remodeling and lack of myocardial growth, which occurs with VT induced heart failure, is enhanced contractile protein degradative processes.
The Early Arabic Liar: The Liar Paradox in the Islamic World from the Mid-Ninth to the Mid-Thirteenth Centuries CE

We describe the earliest occurrences of the Liar Paradox in the Arabic tradition. The early Mutakallimūn claim the Liar Sentence is both true and false; they also associate the Liar with problems concerning plural subjects, which is somewhat puzzling. Abharī (1200-1265) ascribes an unsatisfiable truth condition to the Liar Sentence—as he puts it, its being true is the conjunction of its being true and false—and so concludes that the sentence is not true. Tūsī (1201-1274) argues that self-referential sentences, like the Liar, are not truth-apt, and defends this claim by appealing to a correspondence theory of truth. Translations of the texts are provided as an appendix.
On the problem of observation spillover in self-adjoint distributed-parameter systems

The problem of observation spillover in self-adjoint distributed-parameter systems is investigated. Observation spillover occurs when the output of a limited number of sensors, located at various points on the distributed domain, cannot synthesize the modal coordinates exactly. To this end, two techniques of state estimation (namely, observers and modal filters) are described. Both techniques can be used to extract modal coordinates from the system output and to implement feedback controls. It is shown that, if the residual modes are included in the observer dynamics, observation spillover cannot lead to instability in the residual modes. The problem of the unmodeled modes does remain, however. It is also shown that the modal filters have some very attractive features. In particular, modal filters can be designed to estimate the modal coordinates with such accuracy that observation spillover can be virtually eliminated. In addition, when modal filters are used, in conjunction with a sufficiently large number of sensors, the entire infinity of the system modes can be regarded as modeled, which implies that actual distributed control of the system is possible. It is also demonstrated that modal filters are quite easy to design and are not plagued by instability problems.
BV Photometry of Northern Galactic Plane Luminous Stars. II. Faint Stars in the Second Galactic Quadrant

ABSTRACT CCD‐based BV photometry of 28 stars listed in volumes I, III, and V of the Case‐Hamburg Luminous Stars in the Northern Milky Way catalog is reported. Twenty‐four stars have \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $B> 12$ \end{document} , including the binary‐nucleus planetary nebula M1‐2.
Molecular resonance effects in heavy ion excitation functions

The inelastic and fusion excitation functions are analyzed using an interference mechanism between the barrier and internal waves of the heavy ion optical potential. The undamped overlapping molecular resonances are found to be the main dynamical mechanism for the gross oscillations in the excitation function. Our result suggests a rather interesting correlation between the total reaction excitation and the direct surface reaction excitation function. Its origin may be understood as follows: At the resonance, the wave function is pulled into the nuclear interior, and thus, the total reaction cross section is at maximum. The direct surface reaction is, however, shifted by a small phase difference near the surface region. This picture should be valid in the case of overlapping molecular resonance of the heavy ion systems. Good agreement between calculated and experimental inelastic and fusion excitation functions for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$+ $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ and $^{16}\mathrm{O}$+ $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ is obtained.
From superhydrophobicity to icephobicity: forces and interaction analysis

The term “icephobicity” has emerged in the literature recently. An extensive discussion took place on whether the icephobicity is related to the superhydrophobicity and the consensus is that there is no direct correlation. Besides the parallel between the icephobicity and superhydrophobicity for water/ice repellency, there are similarities on other levels including the hydrophobic effect/hydrophobic interactions, mechanisms of protein folding and ice crystal formation. In this paper, we report how ice adhesion is different from water using force balance analysis and why superhydrophobic surfaces are not necessary icephobic. We also present experimental data on anti-icing of various surfaces and suggest a definition of icephobicity, which is broad enough to cover a variety of situations relevant to de-icing including low adhesion strength and delayed ice crystallization and bouncing.
Video-aware scheduling and caching in the radio access network

In this paper, we introduce distributed caching of videos at the base stations of the Radio Access Network (RAN) to significantly improve the video capacity and user experience of mobile networks. To ensure effectiveness of the massively distributed but relatively small-sized RAN caches, unlike Internet content delivery networks (CDNs) that can store millions of videos in a relatively few large-sized caches, we propose RAN-aware reactive and proactive caching policies that utilize User Preference Profiles (UPPs) of active users in a cell. Furthermore, we propose video-aware backhaul and wireless channel scheduling techniques that, in conjunction with edge caching, ensure maximizing the number of concurrent video sessions that can be supported by the end-to-end network while satisfying their initial delay requirements and minimize stalling. To evaluate our proposed techniques, we developed a statistical simulation framework using MATLAB and performed extensive simulations under various cache sizes, video popularity and UPP distributions, user dynamics, and wireless channel conditions. Our simulation results show that RAN caches using UPP-based caching policies, together with video-aware backhaul scheduling, can improve capacity by 300% compared to having no RAN caches, and by more than 50% compared to RAN caches using conventional caching policies. The results also demonstrate that using UPP-based RAN caches can significantly improve the probability that video requests experience low initial delays. In networks where the wireless channel bandwidth may be constrained, application of our videoaware wireless channel scheduler results in significantly (up to 250%) higher video capacity with very low stalling probability.
Non-linear vibration analysis of smart composite structures with discrete delamination using a refined layerwise theory

A non-linear vibration analysis procedure has been developed to investigate the dynamic response of composite laminates with embedded and/or surface bonded piezoelectric sensors and multiple finite/discrete delaminations. The objective is to accurately predict the sensor output in the time domain. A recently developed refined layerwise composite theory is used to develop the piezoelectric-mechanical model. A two-way coupled electro-mechanical formulation is used to derive the equations of motion. An adaptive non-linear transient implicit algorithm is used to generate the voltage time history, which is useful in characterizing the presence of delamination. The contact problem of delaminated interfacial surfaces is modelled in terms of fictitious linear springs to provide an accurate description of the transient behavior. The accuracy of the model is validated through comparison with experimental results. The validity of low frequency vibration analysis in detection of delamination(s) from in-situ sensor outputs is also established. It is anticipated that the developed framework will be a useful tool in structural health monitoring studies.
Recognizing orally spelled words: An analysis of procedures shared with reading and spelling

Some investigators have suggested that recognizing orally spelled words is dependent on the same procedures ordinarily used in spelling, whereas others have viewed it either as dependent on reading procedures or as an independent ability. In the present study, a single subject with dyslexia and dysgraphia was examined on parallel tests of recognizing orally spelled words, reading, and spelling (writing), and a comparison was made of his performance on the three tasks. On both words and nonwords, the patient's errors in recognizing orally spelled words and in reading were alike, whereas his spelling errors were often different. The distinction between recognizing orally spelled words and spelling was further shown by his inability to recognize a set of orally spelled words that he could write correctly to dictation or on the basis of word meaning. These findings suggest that the procedures normally used for reading can accept sequences of letter identities as input when orally spelled words must be recognized.
Risk, Power Distributions, and the Likelihood of War

Through the use of a theory of individual rational decision-making that is explicitly linked to the systemwide assumptions of Realpolitik theorists, I show that no particular distribution of power has exclusive claim as a predictor of peace or war either in theory or in the empirical record of the period 1816–1965. Assumptions related to variable attitudes toward risk-taking are used to build a simulation of decision-making under the constraint of expected utility maximization. Within the simulation I show that peace through power parity and peace through power preponderance can be supported in isolated instances, while no particular power distribution is linked to the expectation of peace in general. Similar results are reported in a replication by Singer et al. (1972) of the empirical analysis of the association between power distributions and major power war.
Land transition estimates from erroneous maps

If a scientist overlays two perfectly accurate maps of land categories of the same place from two points in time, then the differences indicate land change. A land transition matrix summarizes the amount of land that changes from each category at the initial time to each category at the subsequent time. This article proposes methods to compute the land transition matrix in a manner that accounts for errors in the maps, where confusion matrices estimate those errors. If empirical confusion matrices are not available, sensitivity analysis can show the effect of possible errors. The proposed methods produce maps that show the probability of any land transition, given the maps and their confusion matrices. Additional techniques show how possible errors in the maps influence the total land change in terms of two components of quantity and allocation. This article illustrates the methods using data from 1971 to 1999 in Massachusetts, USA.
Evidence for a universal process underlying clonal attenuation

Abstract It is shown by computer simulation that an established commitment model of clonal attenuation can account for clone size distribution data obtained from three vertebrate species — chick, hamster and human — from two evolutionarily divergent classes. The different in vitro replicative lifespans of each cell strain can be explained simply by differences in cell kinetics. These results suggest that the process of clonal attenuation is qualitatively similar in fibroblasts from all vertebrate species.
iPlant atmosphere: a gateway to cloud infrastructure for the plant sciences

The cloud platform complements traditional compute and storage infrastructures by introducing capabilities for efficiently provisioning resources in a self-service, on-demand manner. The new provisioning model promises to accelerate scientific discovery by improving access to customizable and task-specific computing resources. This paradigm is well-suited, especially for those applications tailored to leverage cloud-style of infrastructure capabilities.Adoption of the cloud model has been challenging for many domain scientists and scientific software developers due to the technical expertise required to effectively utilize this infrastructure. Some of the key limitations of cloud infrastructure are: limited integration with institutional authentication and authorization frameworks, lack of frameworks to enable domain-specific configurations for instances, and integration with scientific data repositories alongside existing computational clusters and grid deployments. Specifically designed to address some of these operational barriers towards adoptions by the plant sciences community, the iPlant Collaborative cloud platform, aptly named Atmosphere, is an open-source, robust, configurable gateway that extends established cloud infrastructure to meet the diverse computing needs for the plant science.Atmosphere manages the Virtual Machine (VM) lifecycle while maximizing the utilization of cloud resources for scientific workflows. Thus, Atmosphere allows researchers developing novel analytical tools to deploy them with ease while abstracting the underlying computing infrastructure, at the same time making it relatively easy for the users to access these tools via web browser. Atmosphere also provides a rich extensible Application Programming Interface (APIs) for integration and automation with other services. Since its launch, Atmosphere has seen a wide adoption by the plant sciences community for a broad array of applications that range from image processing to next generation sequence (NGS) analysis and can serve as a template for providing similar capabilities to other domains.
Capitalism as World-Ecology: Braudel and Marx on Environmental History

This essay considers the relevance of Fernand Braudel’s world-historical studies for the theory and practice of environmental history. Arguing against the conventional viewthat Braudel regarded the environment as a backdrop, the essay points to his sophisticated layering of time, space, and nature in which society and ecology actively shape each other. Braudel’s greatest historical-geographical insight is the idea that world-economies are not simply social constructions but also ecological projects. In this fashion, Braudel implicitly suggests the concept “world-ecology.” Although never spelled out in precisely these terms, the idea that ecogeographical processes permeate the ever-shifting relations of region, state, and world-economy runs like red thread through Braudel’s corpus. Braudel understood nature in terms of transitory but identifiable socio-ecological moments that shape and are shaped by a world-ecological whole. Unfortunately, Braudel’s underconceptualized approach prevented him fromidentifyin...
A Test of the Schema Theory of Discrete Motor Learning

The recall schema in a response class of discrete movements was investigated, with variability of practice being manipulated before transfer to a new instance in the response class. After the transfer, the varied-practice group performance was superior to the continuous practice group. The interaction of the low-and high-variability groups from training to recall performance supported the prediction that a group with more variable training would exhibit an increased rate of learning when introduced to a new instance of the response class. After two days, the superiority of the high-variability group over the low disappeared, suggesting the memory representations of the two groups were no different under withdrawal of knowledge of results.
GES DAAC tools for accessing and visualizing MODIS data

The NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Distributed Active Archive Center (GES DAAC) has the unique position of an intermediary between users and MODIS data. To help users accessing and manipulating MODIS data, various tools were developed by the MODIS Data Support Team (MDST). Some of these tools are described below: WHOM - the Web based Hierarchical Ordering Mechanism (WHOM) for Terra data is a customized version of the larger DAAC Web-based data gateway. WHOM offers enhanced graphic interfaces to identify temporal and spatial data coverage while searching and ordering MODIS data archived at the GES DAAC. An alternative "No Frills" page provides quick access (by passing navigation) directly to WHOM pages for products which users want to order. Browse images allow science data users to evaluate the data before ordering. MODIS Level 1B browse images are produced from the 1 km Calibrated Radiances product using channels 1, 4, 3 as true color during the day, and channel 32 as false color during the night. Subsampled at 5-km resolution products are generated at the GES DAAC so users can download smaller files. Subsetting Tools - calibrated radiance (Level 1B) channel subsetting is being developed as an extension to the EOS Core System (ECS). The front end, a graphic user interface, is part of WHOM. The new Simple Scalable Script-Based Science Processor (S4P) that interacts with ECS drives the back end for data retrieval, archiving and distribution of the subsetted data. Visualization Tools - the MDST has developed two very simple IDL-based tools to map MODIS swath products. The first, geoview, has a simple, graphic interface, while the second, simap, is a command line utility. Modis-atmos was designed to work with atmospheric products. HDFLook for MODIS is a result of joint collaboration between the GES DAAC and the University of Lille, France. An HDF-EOS version of a popular MSPHINX program was developed to work with all MODIS and many other HDF-EOS data. Its main features include: geo-mapping, geo-projection conversion, interactive and batch mode processing, subsetting and subsampling, stitching of several granules, multi-granule processing, and conversion into GIS-compatible formats.
Atrial natriuretic factor stimulates Na/K/Cl cotransport in vascular smooth muscle cells

Abstract Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a collective term used to describe a group of peptides isolated from mammalian atria which have vasorelaxant activity as well as diuretic and natriuretic activity. Recently, ANF peptides have been shown to bind to specific receptors on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and to cause an elevation in cGMP levels. We have previously demonstrated that VSMC possess a prominent, cyclic-nucleotide-sensitive Na/K/Cl cotransport system. In the present study, the effects of the ANF peptide rat atriopeptin III (rAP III) were measured on Na/K/Cl cotransport of VSMC by using primary cultures derived from rat thoracic aorta. It was found that rAP III caused a marked elevation of Na/K/Cl cotransport. Maximal stimulation occurred at 100 nM, and the dose of rAP III required for half-maximal potassium influx (K1/2) was 9 nM. We also investigated the effect of rAP III on cGMP levels in VSMC. It was found that rAP III increased cGMP in a dose-dependent manner, with a K1/2 value of 10 nM. Finally, we measured the effect of the permeable cGMP analog 8-bromo-cGMP on Na/K/Cl cotransport. It was found that 8-bromo-cGMP stimulated cotransport to the same extent as did a saturating dose of rAP III (K1/2 = 0.2 microM). Saturating doses of rAP III and 8-Br-cGMP in combination did not stimulate cotransport in an additive manner, suggesting that rAP III probably does not elevate cGMP via inhibition of phosphodiesterase. These findings suggest that activation of Na/K/Cl cotransport via elevations in cGMP may be associated with ANF-mediated vasorelaxation and/or ANF-mediated diuresis and natriuresis.
Stable ergodicity of the time-one map of a geodesic flow

We prove that the time-one map of the geodesic flow for a closed, negatively curved surface is stably ergodic.
Transitory Renal Failure Following Rapid Administration of a Relatively Large Amount of Hematin in a Patient with Acute Intermittent Porphyria in Clinical Remission

Transitory renal failure occurred in a patient with acute intermittent porphyria in clinical remission following i.v. administration of 1 000 mg hematin. The clinical and biochemical picture suggested "acute tubular necrosis", which was followed by a prompt and complete return of renal function without any late sequelae. The renal failure is thought to have resulted from the presence of circulating free hematin, formed as a result of rapid administration of such a relatively large amount. Such a complication has not occurred in patients given hematin for acute porphyric relapse, in whom much smaller amounts have been infused.
Drosophila Paired regulates late even-skipped expression through a composite binding site for the paired domain and the homeodomain

The even-skipped (eve) pair-rule gene plays a key role in the establishment of the anterior-posterior segmental pattern of the Drosophila embryo. The continuously changing pattern of eve expression can be resolved into two phases. Early expression consists of seven broad stripes in the blastoderm embryo, while late expression, which occurs after cellularization, consists of narrow stripes with sharp anterior borders that coincide with the odd-numbered parasegment boundaries. Previous studies have shown that these two phases are controlled by separate classes of cis elements in the eve promoter. Early stripes are expressed by multiple stripe-specific elements under the control of maternal-effect genes and gap genes, while late stripes are expressed by a single regulatory element, the 'late element', under the control of pair-rule genes including eve itself. We report here that paired (prd), a pair-rule gene which had been considered to be below eve in the regulatory hierarchy of pair-rule genes, in fact plays a critical role in the regulation of late eve expression. Transgenic analysis shows that this regulation is largely mediated by an evolutionarily conserved sequence within the late element termed PTE (Paired Target Element). In vitro analysis shows that the Prd protein binds strongly to this sequence. Interestingly, PTE contains juxtaposed binding sites for the two DNA-binding domains of the Prd protein, the paired domain and the homeodomain. Mutagenesis of either binding site leads to significant reduction in the activity of the late element, indicating that both DNA-binding domains in the Paired protein are required for regulation.
Ionization evolution in low-pressure air irradiated by a ∼70-kv electron-beam

Summary form only given. We are investigating electron-beam-driven gas ionization over a range of beam current density and air pressure, with emphasis on the weakly-collisional regime. A roughly 70-kV, 2-4 kA, 80-ns electron beam is injected into a 10-cm-deep gas cell. The peak beam current density is varied between 6-300 A/cm2. The beam is injected into dry air at pressures from 0.020 to 100 torr. This pressure range covers the transition from collisionless to collisional behavior. A highly-sensitive interferometer at 1.06 mum measures the time-dependent electron density integrated across the beam. The laser location is varied axially and radially to get the spatial profile of the electron density. This is compared with the time-integrated beam profile obtained from contact radiography. We also record the net cell current measured outside the beam channel. We see that at low beam current density, the measured electron density is consistent with simple collisional ionization, and the net current is equal to the injected current. As the current density increases, we measure an enhanced electron density that is attributed to the effect of inductively-driven plasma current. A strong influence of air pressure is seen, with the density enhancement being most pronounced in the neighborhood of 0.1 torr. As the beam current density increases still further, a pronounced increase in plasma density occurs on axis. The plasma conductivity becomes high enough that inductive currents drive increased ionization for almost a microsecond after the diode current has ceased, leading to a local ionization fraction on the order of unity. Examination of the net current signals indicates that only a fraction of the plasma current connects to the cell walls. This fraction can be strongly affected by the wall material. Results will be compared with predictions of a Monte Carlo model developed in tandem with these experiments.
Poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (3Dpol) is sufficient for template switching in vitro

We have performed a systematic, quantitative analysis of the kinetics of nucleotide incorporation catalyzed by poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, 3Dpol. Homopolymeric primer/templates of defined length were used to evaluate the contribution of primer and template length and sequence to the efficiency of nucleotide incorporation without the complication of RNA structure. Interestingly, thermodynamic stability of the duplex region of these primer/templates was more important for efficient nucleotide incorporation than either primer or template length. Surprisingly, products greater than unit length formed in all reactions regardless of length or sequence. Neither a distributive nor a processive slippage mechanism could be used to explain completely the formation of long products. Rather, the data were consistent with a template-switching mechanism. All of the nucleotide could be polymerized during the course of the reaction. However, very few primers could be extended, suggesting an inverse correlation between the efficiency of primer utilization and that of nucleotide incorporation. Therefore, the greatest fraction of incorporated nucleotide derives from a small fraction of enzyme when radioactive nucleotide and homopolymeric primer/template substrates are employed. The impact of these results on mechanistic studies of 3Dpol-catalyzed nucleotide incorporation and RNA recombination are discussed.
An algorithm for learning from hints

To take advantage of prior knowledge (hints) about the function one wants to learn, we introduce a method that generalizes learning from examples to learning from hints. A canonical representation of hints is defined and illustrated. All hints are represented to the learning process by examples, and examples of the function are treated on equal footing with the rest of the hints. During learning, examples from different hints are selected for processing according to a given schedule. We present two types of schedules; fixed schedules that specify the relative emphasis of each hint, and adaptive schedules that are based on how well each hint has been learned so far. Our learning method is compatible with any descent technique.
Key Challenges of Military Tactical Networking and the Elusive Promise of MANET Technology

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are considered by many as fundamental to realizing the global information grid (GIG) and the vision of network-centric warfare. Indeed, a fully realized MANET would be powerful in enabling highly mobile, highly responsive, and quickly deployable tactical forces. However, significant technical challenges remain before this realization is viable. Addressing these deficiencies is a significant task that will require the invention and adoption of new technology. The goal of this article is not to declare these capabilities impossible to achieve. Rather, it is to manage the expectation of the capabilities achievable in the foreseeable future through edification on the technical difficulties standing between current technology and the desired capabilities. This article provides an overview of the military MANET problem space, describing the ideal military MANET solution. Several deficiencies are highlighted that exist between MANET technologies and the desired capability. Identified technical issues include system-level architecture, routing (both interior and exterior), management, security, and medium access control (MAC), with an emphasis on the former two areas
Einsatz von Supercomputern für Crashberechnung

Wurden Crashsimulationen von Gesamtfahrzeugen noch vor wenigen Jahren als ‘numerisches Abenteuer’ bewertet (1), so hat sich dieser Zweig der Berechnung inzwischen so weit entwickelt, das er heute als zielfindend eingestuft wird (2).
The seven ages of the leader

Leaders go through many transitions in their careers. Each brings new crises and challenges--from taking over a damaged organization to having to fire somebody to passing the baton to the next generation. These moments can be wrenching--and can threaten your confidence--but they're also predictable. Knowing what to expect can help you get through and perhaps emerge stronger. In this engaging article, Warren G. Bennis, professor and founding chairman of the University of Southern California's Leadership Institute, reflects on leadership, recounting his own experiences as a young lieutenant in the infantry in World War II, as the new president of a university, and as the mentor to a unique nursing student. Bennis also describes the experiences of other leaders he has known throughout his career. Drawing on more than 50 years of academic research and business expertise--and borrowing from Shakespeare's seven ages of man--Bennis says the leader's life unfolds in seven stages. "The infant executive" seeks to recruit a mentor for guidance. "The schoolboy" must learn how to do the job in public, subjected to unsettling scrutiny of every word and act. "The lover with a woeful ballad" struggles with the tsunami of problems every organization presents. "The bearded soldier" must be willing--even eager--to hire people better than he is, because he knows that talented underlings can help him shine. "The general" must become adept at not simply allowing people to speak the truth but at actually being able to hear what they are saying. "The statesman" is hard at work preparing to pass on wisdom in the interests of the organization. And, finally, "the sage" embraces the role of mentor to young executives.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: Summary of an AASLD Single Topic Conference

Fatty liver disease that develops in the absence of alcohol abuse is recognized increasingly as a major health burden. This report summarizes the presentations and discussions at a Single Topic Conference held September 20-22, 2002, and sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. The conference focused on fatty liver disorders. Estimates based on imaging and autopsy studies suggest that about 20% to 30% of adults in the United States and other Western countries have excess fat accumulation in the liver. About 10% of these individuals, or fully 2% to 3% of adults, are estimated to meet current diagnostic criteria for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Sustained liver injury leads to progressive fibrosis and cirrhosis in a fraction, possibly up to one third, of those with NASH, and NASH may be a cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis. NASH is now a significant health issue for obese children as well, leading to cirrhosis in some. The diagnostic criteria for NASH continue to evolve and rely on the histologic findings of steatosis, hepatocellular injury (ballooning, Mallory bodies), and the pattern of fibrosis. Generally recognized indications for biopsy include establishing the diagnosis and staging of the injury, but strict guidelines do not exist. Liver enzymes are insensitive and cannot be used reliably to confirm the diagnosis or stage the extent of fibrosis. Older age, obesity, and diabetes are predictive of fibrosis. The pathogenesis of NASH is multifactorial. Insulin resistance may be an important factor in the accumulation of hepatocellular fat, whereas excess intracellular fatty acids, oxidant stress, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, and mitochondrial dysfunction may be important causes of hepatocellular injury in the steatotic liver. Efforts are underway to refine the role of insulin resistance in NASH and determine whether improving insulin sensitivity pharmacologically is an effective treatment. An altered lifestyle may be a more effective means of improving insulin sensitivity. The research agenda for the future includes establishing the role of insulin resistance and abnormal lipoprotein metabolism in NASH, determining the pathogenesis of cellular injury, defining predisposing genetic abnormalities, identifying better noninvasive predictors of disease, and defining effective therapy.
The unhealthy physician

Background: Physicians, if affected by transmissible or impairing diseases, could be hazardous for third persons. Aim: To solve the apparent chasm between patient’s and sick worker’s rights, a consensus-building process leading to hospital-wide policies is the better alternative to individual decision making. Conclusions: Policies have to balance the rights of the sick worker, the right of the other workers, patients and customers, and society’s expectations.
Iterative Abstraction using SAT-based BMC with Proof Analysis

Resolution-based proof analysis techniques have been proposed recently to identify a sufficient set of reasons for unsatisfiability derived by a CNF-based SAT solver. We have adapted these techniques to work with a hybrid SAT solver. We use the proof analysis technique with SAT-based BMC, in order to, generate useful abstract models. Our abstraction procedure is used iteratively in a top-down framework, starting from the concrete design, where we apply BMC on increasingly more abstract models. We apply various SAT-based and BDD-based verification methods on these abstract models, in order to obtain proofs of correctness, or to perform deeper searches for counterexamples. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our prototype implementation on several large industry designs.
Consolidation state of incoming sediments to the Nankai Trough subduction zone: Implications for sediment deformation and properties

The hydromechanical properties of accreted and underthrust sediments are key parameters controlling the mechanics of earthquakes and the development of fluid pressure in subduction zones. We conducted consolidation tests on sediments from the Philippine Sea Plate (PSP) in the Nankai Trough to understand the consolidation state and hydraulic properties of the incoming sediment section before its incorporation into the subduction zone. We used mudstone and sandstone cores sampled from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment at two reference sites (Site C0011 located on a basement low; and Site C0012 located on a basement high). Our experimental results indicate that most of the mudstone samples are normally consolidated or overconsolidated, with overconsolidation ratios (OCR) ranging from 0.89 to 2.52 at Site C0011 and 0.86 to 3.85 at Site C0012. Higher OCR values at Site C0012, at least at shallow depths, are likely caused by erosional unloading. This implies that Site C0011 may serve as a better geotechnical reference site. We also find that mudstones accreted along the frontal thrust are severely overconsolidated relative to coeval mudstones at Site C0011, which likely reflects enhanced consolidation due to increased horizontal tectonic stress. Sandstones in the incoming section on the PSP exhibit 2–3 orders of magnitude higher in situ permeability than the mudstones, and the siliciclastic sandstone we tested maintains a high permeability at stresses up to at least 70 MPa, suggesting that the sandstones may act as important pathways for drainage or pore pressure translation from depths of several kilometers.
A repellent to reduce mouse damage to longleaf pine seed

Direct seeding is a potential method for reforestation of pines on many southern sites. The success of direct seeding, however, depends, at least in part, in reducing seed predation by birds and rodents. We conducted a series of tests to assess the efficacy of capsicum and thiram in reducing mouse damage to longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) seeds. House mice (Mus musculus) predation was reduced (P<0.05) by treating seeds with either capsicum or thiram or a mixture of the two ingredients. Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) avoided seeds treated with a mixture of capsicum and thiram. We conclude that the capsicum and thiram mixture should be pursued as a potential repellent to protect longleaf pine seeds from animal predation when these seeds are used in direct seeding efforts to establish southern pine forests.
Optimal sequential-decisions in the presence of exogenous-inputs with structured variations

Contemporary decision-theoretic methodologies used to develop “optimal” sequential-decisions for dynamicprocesses in industrial-applications rely on Markov-models of uncertain exogenous-inputs that act-on the underlying dynamic process. In this paper it is shown that, for some types of uncertain exogenous-inputs, a novel alternative to the classical Markov-model may be better suited for calculating optimal sequential-decisions. A specific, simple Example is worked to illustrate incorporation of the proposed alternative model of an uncertain exogenous-input into the Dynamic Programming “solution” of an optimal sequential-decision problem.
Detection of Asymptomatic Fungal Infections of Soybean Seeds by Ultrasound Analysis.

Walcott, R. R., McGee, D. C., and Misra, M. K. 1998. Detection of asymptomatic fungal infections of soybean seeds by ultrasound analysis. Plant Dis. 82:584-589. Different levels of asymptomatic, seed-borne infection by storage fungi ( Aspergillus and Penicillium spp.) or Phomopsis seed decay (PSD) (Phomopsis longicolla, Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae, and D. phaseolorum var. caulivora) were induced in sub-lots of separate soybean seed lots by incubation of seeds or pods, respectively, for different times at 25°C and at a relative humidity >95%. Seeds were then air-dried to a constant moisture content in the laboratory atmosphere, and each sub-lot was tested for incidence of infection, germination, and moisture content. Individual seeds in each sub-lot also were dr opped 10 cm onto a transducer in an ultrasound analyzer. The average peak value of the ultrasound signals for each sub-lot, which indicates the weight of seeds, decreased linearly as the incidence of seed infection by storage fungi (r 2 = 0.85) or PSD (r 2 = 0.82) increased. The slope and width of the signal, which indicates seed softness, increased as seed infection increased for both groups of fungi, although coefficients of determination were lower (r 2 ranged from 0.42 to 0.59). Germination values, which decreased as seed infection for both pathogens increased, showed similar but inverse relationships to ultrasound parameters. Peak values of ultrasound signals decreased, and slope and width increased, as seed moisture content increased for sub-lots of soybeans at three levels of infection by Phomopsis seed decay. The potential for ultras ound technology to identify soybean seeds with asymptomatic infections of seed-borne pathogens was thus established.