cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
F P Ramsey’s 1922 (January) Cambridge Magazine, Three Page Comment on Keynes’s a Treatise on Probability Is the Foolish Ruminations of an Ignorant 18 Year Old Teenager: It Is Not “brilliant” (G. Wheeler, 2012) It Is Not “Astute and Meticulous” (Methven, 2015) and It Should Never Have Been Republished in 1989 in the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science

Ramsey’s attempted three page “review “ of Keynes’s A Treatise on Probability ,published in January ,1922 in the Cambridge Magazine, contains many false representations of Keynes’s logical theory of probability. This “review” is the foundation for Braithwaite’s 9 page editorial foreword placed at the front of Volume 8 of the 1973 Collected Writings of John Maynard Keynes edition of Keynes’s A Treatise on Probability. I was required to refute this editorial foreword by Braithwaite in late 1980 in order to be allowed to begin my June ,1983 Dissertation on Keynes. It only took me three quarters of one hour to convince one of the three supervisors on my committee to agree with me that I had made a very good case to him that Ramsey had no idea about what he was talking about since the core of the A Treatise on Probability ,Part II,is a theory of non additive, inexact, imprecise probability using approximate measures that has nothing to do with Ramsey’s ruminations on “Keynes’s mysterious logical relations” that do not satisfy the additivity and linearity axioms of the purely formal mathematical theory of the calculus of probability that forms the foundation of Ramsey’s additive ,exact, precise theory of probability ,which deals only with degrees of belief and not with Keynes’s degrees of rational belief. It is unclear to me how Ramsey could have possibly believed that he could cover Keynes’s book in a very small three page comment or how the large number of obvious errors in his review could have escaped notice for over 100 years .The explanation is that no academic ever read beyond chapter 6 of the A Treatise on Probability. Basically, what is been taught to students in academia is a grossly distorted version of Keynes’s book based on the false ruminations of Braithwaite’s editorial foreword of 1973.
A pedagogy of critical consciousness and anti-racist activism: possibilities and limitations of a community-based whiteness workshop series

This article reports on a critical qualitative study of a whiteness workshop series to understand the past experiences, contexts, and relationships that motivate White people and people of colour t...
Performance Analysis of Database Systems

Database management systems (DBMSs) handle data for commercial applications, as well as scientific and engineering data, geographical information systems, images and videos, etc. We are mainly concerned with relational databases, since it is the prevalent database technology which in some cases underlies object-oriented databases [92].
Use of labor economic theory to examine hours worked by male and female pharmacists.

Purpose. The objectives of this study were to develop a theoretically derived model of hours worked by pharmacists and estimate the model separately for male and female pharmacists.
To Write a Theriatric Oath

The Veterinarian’s Oath was a disappointment to me. When I first read it as a freshman, I suppose I was expecting something along the lines of the Hippocratic Oath; instead I was struck by the contrast to it—by the lack of eloquence, of poetry, of ancient power. As impressionable as I was then, a whole year and a half ago, it left me unmoved. Now, having had my eyes opened to its more troubling ethical difficulties, I feel the desire to create something better, something that is at least more meaningful to me. As an individual, particularly without extensive dialogue with my peers, I can’t even pretend to create an oath suitable for all veterinary graduates for all time to come. This is, at best, my endeavor to write an oath which in the very writing can help clarify and define for me my moral stand, which will challenge me to be true to that stand, and to which I can honestly and earnestly hold myself responsible.
A suite of molecular markers for identifying species, detecting introgression and describing population structure in spadefoot toads (Spea spp.).

Two congeneric species of spadefoot toad, Spea multiplicata and S. bombifrons, have been the focus of hybridization studies since the 1970s. Because complex hybrids are not readily distinguished phenotypically, genetic markers are needed to identify introgressed individuals. We therefore developed a set of molecular markers (AFLP, PCR – RFLP, and SNP) for identifying pure species, F1 hybrids, and more complex introgressed types. To do so, we tested a series of markers across both species and known hybrids using populations in both allopatry and sympatry. We retained those markers that differentiated the two pure species and also consistently identified known species hybrids. These markers are well suited for identifying hybrids between these species. Moreover, those markers that show variation within each species can be used in conjunction with existing molecular markers in studies of population structure and gene flow.
Two-Qubit Separabilities as Piecewise Continuous Functions of Maximal Concurrence. II{The Relevance of Dyson Indices

We importantly amend a certain parenthetical remark made in Part I (arXiv:0806.3294), to the eect
Automatic proof generation in Kleene algebra

In this paper, we develop the basic theory of disimulations, a type of relation between two automata which witnesses equivalence. We show that many standard constructions in the theory of automata such as determinization, minimization, inaccessible state removal, et al., are instances of disimilar automata. Then, using disimulations, we define an "algebraic" proof system for the equational theory of Kleene algebra in which a proof essentially consists of a sequence of matrices encoding automata and disimulations between them. We show that this proof system is complete for the equational theory of Kleene algebra, and that proofs in this system can be constructed by a PSPACE transducer.
Progresses on Biofilm Formation by Vaginal Lactobacilli

Vaginal Lactobacilli in women are needed to maintain a balanced, stable and healthy milieu. These beneficial microorganisms produce bio-products involved on keeping up harmful bacteria away from the vagina; as well as secrete bio-products for biofilm formation. Biofilms are complex biological structures that allow bacteria to flourish. The understanding of the conditions involved in biofilm formation has significantly progressed. The in-vivo biofilm formation by Lactobacilli has been recently reported. We could undoubtedly predict the protection that Lactobacilli biofilm could provide not only against recurrence of bacterial infections but on the prevention of preterm birth. Journal of Nature and Science, 1(4):e70, 2015
Gene expression signatures of breast cancer stem and progenitor cells do not exhibit features of Warburg metabolism.

Cancers are believed to adapt to continual changes in glucose and oxygen availability by relying almost exclusively on glycolytic metabolism for energy (i.e. the Warburg effect). The process by which breast cancers sustain growth in avascular tissue is thought to be mediated via aberrant hypoxia response with ensuing shifts in glycolytic metabolism. Given their role in initiating and perpetuating tumors, we sought to determine whether breast cancer stem and progenitor cells play an instrumental role in this adaptive metabolic response. Breast cancer stem/progenitor cells were isolated from invasive ductal carcinomas, and benign stem cells (SC) were isolated from reduction mammoplasty tissues. Relative expression of 33 genes involved in hypoxia and glucose metabolism was evaluated in flow cytometrically isolated stem and progenitor cell populations. Significance between cohorts and cell populations was determined using Student’s 2-tailed t test. While benign stem/progenitor cells exhibited few significant inter-group differences in expression of genes involved in hypoxia regulation or glucose metabolism, breast cancer stem/progenitor cells demonstrated significant inter-group variability. Breast cancer stem/progenitor cells adapted to microenvironments through changes in stem cell numbers and transcription of glycolytic genes. One of four breast cancer stem/progenitor cells subpopulations exhibited an aerobic glycolysis gene expression signature. This subpopulation comprises the majority of the tumor and therefore best reflects invasive ductal carcinoma tumor biology. Although PI3K/AKT mutations are associated with increased proliferation of breast cancer cells, mutations in breast cancer stem/progenitor cells subpopulations did not correlate with changes in metabolic gene expression. The adaptive capacity of breast cancer stem/progenitor cells may enable tumors to survive variable conditions encountered during progressive stages of cancer growth.
Subcellular Localization of Matrin 3 Containing Mutations Associated with ALS and Distal Myopathy

Background Mutations in Matrin 3 [MATR3], an RNA- and DNA-binding protein normally localized to the nucleus, have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and distal myopathies. In the present study, we have used transient transfection of cultured cell lines to examine the impact of different disease-causing mutations on the localization of Matrin 3 within cells. Results Using CHO and human H4 neuroglioma cell models, we find that ALS/myopathy mutations do not produce profound changes in the localization of the protein. Although we did observe variable levels of Matrin 3 in the cytoplasm either by immunostaining or visualization of fluorescently-tagged protein, the majority of cells expressing either wild-type (WT) or mutant Matrin 3 showed nuclear localization of the protein. When cytoplasmic immunostaining, or fusion protein fluorescence, was seen in the cytoplasm, the stronger intensity of staining or fluorescence was usually evident in the nucleus. In ~80% of cells treated with sodium arsenite (Ars) to induce cytoplasmic stress granules, the nuclear localization of WT and F115C mutant Matrin 3 was not disturbed. Notably, over-expression of mutant Matrin 3 did not induce the formation of obvious large inclusion-like structures in either the cytoplasm or nucleus. Conclusions Our findings indicate that mutations in Matrin 3 that are associated with ALS and myopathy do not dramatically alter the normal localization of the protein or readily induce inclusion formation.
Free radical scavenging activity of red ginseng aqueous extracts.

This study was performed to investigate the free radical scavenging activity of Panax red ginseng C.A. Meyer aqueous extract on 1,1-dipheny-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), carbon-centered radical, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals using Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectrometer and spin-trapping techniques. Two different Red ginseng aqueous extracts prepared by boiling water or room temperature extraction exhibited no significant difference in free radical scavenging activity. Ginseng extracts completely eliminated DPPH radical at 2 mg/ml. About 0.5 mg/ml ginseng extracts quenched 80% carbon-centered free radicals generated from 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH). Hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical were generated by UV irradiation and trapped by 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline-N oxide (DMPO). Ginseng extracts scavenged 40% of hydroxyl radical at 0.1 mg/ml. Two mg/ml ginseng extracts completely scavenged superoxide radical. Ginseng extracts did not scavenge nitric oxide. The ESR data demonstrate that red ginseng aqueous extract is not a strong free radical scavenger.
Dependence of Antimicrobial Selectivity and Potency on Oligomer Structure Investigated Using Substrate Supported Lipid Bilayers and Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy

Sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was used to study interactions between solid-supported lipid bilayers mimicking microbial and erythrocyte cellular membranes and synthetic antimicrobial arylamide oligomers named 2, 3, and 4, designed with the facial amphiphilicity common to naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides. The three compounds have the same backbone structure but varied side chains. The inherent interfacial sensitivity of SFG allowed for simultaneous monitoring of lipid ordering in the individual bilayer leaflets and orientation of 2, 3, and 4 upon interaction with the bilayer. Critical concentrations at which the inner leaflet is disrupted were determined for each oligomer. Spectral evidence of the oligomers' interaction with the bilayer below the critical concentrations was also found. Oligomers 2 and 3 tilted toward the bilayer surface normal, in agreement with previous experimental and simulation results. These oligomers selectively interact with microbial membrane models over erythrocyte membrane models, correlating well to previously published SFG studies on antimicrobial oligomer 1. It was shown that the oligomers interact with the lipid bilayers differently, indicating their different activity and selectivity. This research further shows that SFG is a particularly useful technique for the investigation of interaction mechanisms between cell membranes and membrane-active molecules. Additionally, SFG provides details of the specific interactions between these novel antimicrobials and lipid bilayers.
Paget-Schroetter syndrome: A review and Algorithm (WASPS-IR)

Venous compression syndromes are rare and occur due to the entrapment of vein(s) in confined anatomical spaces bounded by osseous and non-osseous structures. Here we present a review of Paget-Schroetter Syndrome, an important cause of upper extremity of deep vein thrombosis, its associated clinical and radiological findings as well as treatment options.
Thermodynamic Metrics and Optimal Paths

A fundamental problem in modern thermodynamics is how a molecular-scale machine performs useful work, while operating away from thermal equilibrium without excessive dissipation. To this end, we derive a friction tensor that induces a Riemannian manifold on the space of thermodynamic states. Within the linear-response regime, this metric structure controls the dissipation of finite-time transformations, and bestows optimal protocols with many useful properties. We discuss the connection to the existing thermodynamic length formalism, and demonstrate the utility of this metric by solving for optimal control parameter protocols in a simple nonequilibrium model.
Indwelling trans-anastomotic rectal tubes in colorectal surgery: a survey of usage in UK and Ireland.

Background The use of rectal tubes in colorectal surgery appears to be a matter of individual choice, with little documented evidence to support their use. This study assesses the current practice of rectal tubes amongst consultant members of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland (ACPGBI). Methods A piloted questionnaire was sent to practising ACPGBI consultant members listed in the 2003–04 directory. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software and Fishers exact test. Results Three hundred and thirty-nine replies were received from 579 posted questionnaires (response rate = 58.5%). Rectal tubes were used by 116 (35%) of responding surgeons. Rectal tubes were more commonly used by surgeons with less than 10 years practice as a consultant (P < 0.005). The main indications for tube placement were following ileo-anal or colonic pouch surgery (73%), after any anterior resection (36%) (rectal tubes were reserved for only low anterior resections by 16% of surgeons) and in the rectal stump after total or subtotal colectomy for acute colitis (11%). Twenty-three percent of these practising surgeons would use a rectal tube as an alternative to a diverting stoma, predominantly in selected patients following ileo-anal pouch surgery. A Foley catheter was the commonest type of tube used (70%) and this was usually placed above the anastomosis (80%). Rectal tubes were left in situ for a median of 5 days (range = 1–13 days). Three surgeons (2.6%) reported serious complications including tube perforation of the bowel or anastomosis. Several different mechanisms were suggested for the purpose and functioning of the rectal tube, the commonest being to decompress the rectum and/or pouch. Conclusion Rectal tube placement is simple and safe and is used by a third of colorectal surgeons in UK and Ireland. Given their simplicity, the efficacy of rectal tubes in reducing local anastomotic complications requires further evaluation within the confines of a randomised controlled trial.
Contingency in requests of signing chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Conversational interactions depend on partners making contingent responses. This experiment examined the responses of five chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Washoe, Moja, Tatu, Dar and Loulis, to four conversational conditions. Following the chimpanzee’s request, a human interlocutor either: (1) complied with the request, (2) provided an unrequested item or activity, (3) refused to comply or (4) did not respond to the request. The chimpanzees’ responses were contingent on the conversational input of the interlocutor. When their requests were satisfied, the chimpanzees most often ceased signing. However, when their requests were misunderstood, refused or not acknowledged, the chimpanzees repeated and revised. This pattern of responses is comparable to patterns of conversational responses in human children. Keywords: chimpanzees; American Sign Language; requests; pragmatics; conversation; gesture; communication; Pan troglodytes
Transthoracic Intracardiac Monitoring Lines in Pediatric Surgical Patients: A Ten-Year Experience

A study of 6,690 transthoracic intracardiac monitoring (TIM) catheters in 5,666 pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures during a 10-year period demonstrates the safety of this monitoring method. The utility of TIM catheters in patients undergoing a modified Fontan procedure, those undergoing repair of tetralogy of Fallot, and those with elevated or labile pulmonary resistance is stressed. Right atrial (RA) and left atrial (LA) catheters are particularly safe; they have a low incidence of bleeding complications (RA = 0%, LA = 0.13%) and retention complications (RA = 0.15%, LA = 0.63%). Pulmonary artery (PA) catheters that are introduced through the right ventricular infundibulum have higher complication rates (1.07%); unpredictable hemodynamic compromise occurs in approximately 0.5% of such patients. PA catheters placed through the wall of the atrium have a lower complication rate-approximately equal to that for RA and LA catheters. The benefits of TIM catheters far outweight the associated risks if care is exercised in placing and removing them, and if complications are rapidly recognized and aggressively managed. The continued use of TIM catheters in pediatric cardiac surgical patients is therefore strongly recommended.
Microstructure, Kinetics, and Transport in Oil‐in‐Water Microemulsion Polymerizations

The kinetics of microemulsion polymerization depend on the structure of the initial microemulsion and the transport of species between the aqueous domain, the micelles, and the polymer particles. The water solubility of the monomer and the proximity of the initial microemulsion composition to a phase boundary are key considerations for studying microemulsion polymerization kinetics and producing the desired products. Complications frequently arise in the synthesis of copolymers or the incorporation of controlled polymerization mechanisms because of the compartmentalized nature of microemulsion polymerizations.
Calculation of natural frequencies and modes of tires in road contact by utilizing Eigenvalues of the axisymmetric non-contacting tire

Abstract Given the experimental or theoretical natural frequencies and modes of a tire mounted and inflated, but not in ground contact, an analytical method is presented that allows one to obtain the natural frequencies and modes when the tire is in ground contact. This is of practical advantage since measurements or calculations of the free axisymmetric tire are considerably simpler than directly measuring or analyzing the non-axisymmetric case of ground contact.
Fenchel decomposition for stochastic mixed-integer programming

This paper introduces a new cutting plane method for two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programming (SMIP) called Fenchel decomposition (FD). FD uses a class of valid inequalities termed, FD cuts, which are derived based on Fenchel cutting planes from integer programming. First, we derive FD cuts based on both the first and second-stage variables, and devise an FD algorithm for SMIP and establish finite convergence for binary first-stage. Second, we derive FD cuts based on the second-stage variables only and use an idea from disjunctive programming to lift the cuts to the higher dimension space including the first-stage variables. We then devise an alternative algorithm (FD-L algorithm) based on the lifted FD cuts. Finally, we report on computational results based on several test instances from the literature involving the special structure of knapsack problems with nonnegative left-hand side coefficients. The results are promising and show that both algorithms can outperform a standard direct solver and a disjunctive decomposition algorithm on large-scale instances. Furthermore, the FD-L algorithm provides better performance than the FD algorithm in general. Since Fenchel cuts can be computationally expensive in general and are best suited for problems with special structure, both algorithms exploit the special structure of the test instances by reducing the size of the cut generation problems based on the number of nonzero components in the non-integer solution that needs to be cut off.
The coin toss of B cells in rejection and tolerance: Danger versus defense

Transplantation is the preferred therapy for the end stage organ disease. Since the introduction of organ transplantation into medical practice in 1953 [1], significant progress has been achieved in patient and graft survival rates due to improvements in surgical techniques and more targeted immunosuppressive medications [2]. Nevertheless, current gaps in the management of the transplant patient stem from an incomplete understanding about the heterogeneity of the injury response in organ transplantation, at different rates and different time points after transplantation, as well as our inability to monitor the immunologic threshold of risk versus safety in each individual patient. Recent advances in immunology/transplantation biology with the advent of high throughput "omic" assays such as gene microarrays, proteomics, metabolomics, antibiomics, chemical genomics and functional imaging with nanoparticles, offers us unique methods to interrogate and decipher the variability and unpredictability of the immune response in organ transplantation (Fig. 1) [3]. Recent studies using these applications [3-8] have uncovered a critical and pivotal role for specific B cell lineages in organ injury [9] and organ acceptance [10,11] (Fig. 2). The availability of specific therapies against some of these defined B cell populations provides for an exciting new field of B cell targeted manipulation that can both abrogate the allospecific injury response, as well as promote allospecific graft accommodation and health.
Development of ultrafast computed tomography of highly transient fuel sprays

The detailed analysis of the fuel sprays has been well r ecognized as an important step for optimizing the operation of internal-combustion engines to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. However, the structure and dynamics of highly transient fuel sprays have never been visualized or recons tructed in three dimensions (3D) previously due to numerous technical difficulties. By using an ultrafast x-ray detector and intense monochromatic x-ray beams from synchrotron radiation, the fine structures and dynamics of 1-ms direct-inj ection gasoline fuel sprays were elucidated for the first time by a newly developed, ultrafast computed microtomography technique. Due to the time-resolved nature and the intensive data analysis, the Fourier transform algorithm was used to ac hieve an efficient reconstruction process. The temporal and spatial resolutions of the current measurement are 5.1 µs and 150 µm, respectively. Many features associated with the transient liquid flows are readily observable in the reconstructed spray. Furthermore, an accurate 3D fuel density distribution was obtained as the result of the computed tomography in a time-resolved manner. These results not only reveal the characteristics of automotive fuel sprays with unprecedented details, but will also facilitate realistic computational fluid dynamic simulations in highly transient, multiphase systems.
Pharmacotherapy of psychiatric syndromes with comorbid chemical dependence.

Because of the paucity of research on the pharmacotherapy of psychiatric syndromes with comorbid psychoactive substance use disorders, treatment guidelines are primarily drawn from general principles of clinical psychopharmacology and the addictive disease model. Effective treatment requires the determination of a descrete psychiatric diagnosis or working differential, consideration of the range of drug effects as they vary over time, and awareness of potential pharmacologic interactions between medicationa and alcohol or drug use. Either nonspecific prescribing or failure to treat may result in protracted dysfunction, relapse, or medical morbidity and mortality. Pharmacotherapy may also determine whether treatment results in mere abstinence vs. recovery from addictive disease. Primary emphasis on non-pharmacologic strategies and the use of a formal treatment contract increase the likelihood of successful pharmacotherapy outcome.
Transfer matrix in plane-rotator model

Abstract We analyze the transfer matrix of the plane rotator model in d = 1 and 2 dimensions. In 1D we relate the magnetic field susceptibility of the ferromagnet and that of the antiferromagnet. In 2D, we produce some simple transformations that map the problem onto the s = 1 2 anisotropic Heisenberg chain, thereby reproducing all the known features of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition.
The occurrence of shear bands in isothermal, hot forging

The occurrence of shear bands in isothermal, hot forging of metals has been investigated using a variety of experimental and analytical tools. Isothermal sidepressing tests on Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo-0. 1Si were conducted at a variety of hot working temperatures and deformation rates to develop a data base on the occurrence of shear bands as a function of material properties and processing conditions. An instability criterion was developed, and the tendency to form shear bands was shown to depend strongly on the ratio of the nondimensional work-hardening (or flow-softening) rate to the strain-rate sensitivity of the flow stress. This analysis and supporting experimental data formed the basis for the development of workability maps, which delineate safe regimes for hot working in terms of strain rate and temperature. Employing a sophisticated computer code, an extensive series of simulations was also run for the sidepressing operation to obtain an idea of the detailed process by which shear bands initiate. These simulations were conducted using actual Ti-6242 material properties as well as hypothetical properties which are representative of those of other metals deformed in the hot working regime. From these simulations, predictions of the influence of flow softening and rate sensitivity on flow localization were made and found to be similar to experimental results and predictions obtained from the instability analysis. However, process simulation gave a more complete insight into the initiation and growth stages in the development of shear bands that was not possible using only the instability analysis.
Investigating the similarity of satellite rainfall error metrics as a function of Köppen climate classification

Abstract This study addressed the question: How much similarity exists in uncertainty of space-borne precipitation products for similar Koppen climate zones in different and distant landmasses? Various metrics of satellite rainfall uncertainty were identified using a six year (2002–2007) archive of NASA's TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) data product called 3B42V6 for two large distant landmasses that share many similar Koppen climate zones: 1) United States and 2) Australia. The level of quantitative similarity in error metrics for the same Koppen climate zones was then investigated. It was found that the bias and root mean squared error exhibited very close levels of similarity for similar Koppen climate zones in the US and Australia. However, similar inferences could not be drawn for other (higher-ordered) error metrics such as Probability of Detection (POD). The contrasting nature of the ground validation (GV) data (i.e., NEXRAD-radar in US and point gauge in Australia) for characterizing uncertainty may be one of the reasons for this observed lack of similarity. Using a dense gauge network of 42 gauges over a standard 3B42V6 grid box (~ 0.25°) as a ground validation benchmark, the dependence of uncertainty as a function of gauge density was quantified. These relationships were then cast in the context of our Koppen climate similarity experiment to identify the minimum level of gauge density that would be needed to resolve more accurately the actual level of similarity of error metrics for distant landmasses.
Non-linear dynamic response of a thin laminate subject to non-uniform thermal field

Abstract Non-linear dynamics behavior of a thin isotropic laminate in a simply supported boundary condition is studied for its response with both mechanical and thermal loads in effect. The thermal effects of both the in-plane and transverse non-uniform temperature variations in steady-state are considered. The equation of motion for the laminate deflection is reduced to the Duffing equation in a decoupled modal form by means of a generalized Galerkin's method. The stress field as a function of deflection and temperature variation is also obtained in a plane stress condition for its non-linear elastic behavior with von Karman strain field. For an exemplary laminated microstructure used as a printed wiring board, it is found that a high rise of the in-plane temperature increases the resonance frequency and could significantly increase the stresses of the lamina. The through thickness temperature variation has no significant effect on the deflection. Failure analysis is also made based on the composite failure criteria for a laminate to identify the critical mechanical and thermal loads.
Membrane-associated calcium during pollen grain germination: a microfluorometric analysis

Pear (Pyrus communis L.) pollen was germinated and grown in hanging drop cultures containing phenothiazine drugs, trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine, potent inhibitors of the Ca2+-calmodulin complex. Responses for the two drugs were similar: at 1.0–2 10.0 ΜM pollen germination and tube growth were inhibited. Inhibition of tube growth was not uniform; at 10.0 ΜM growth of about half of those tubes which had germinated was inhibited while the remaining half of the population grew normally. This bimodal distribution of tube growth was noted, but to a lesser extent, at lower concentrations of the drugs as well. Microfluorometric analysis of membrane calcium using chlorotetracycline, a fluorescent chelate probe for membrane calcium, revealed that upon pollen grain hydration there was a sharp decrease in the concentration of calcium associated with membranes and that membrane calcium became localized primarily at the periphery of the newly hydrated pollen grain. Prior to germination there was a reloading of calcium onto membranes in the region of the germination aperture through which the pollen tube would emerge. The release of Ca2+ from membrane sites upon hydration was partially inhibited by treatment with 10 ΜM trifluoperazine. Distribution of membrane calcium in populations of the inhibitor-treated pollen grains was not bimodal however; approximately half of the population had CTC-fluorescence emissions exceeding the maximum value found in the control population. These results suggest that there is a maximum concentration of membrane-associated calcium consistent with normal pollen germination and tube growth and that phenothiazines interfere with the unloading of Ca2+ from membrane sites.
Culture of preimplantation embryos: facts and artifacts

Mammalian preimplantation embryos normally develop within the protected environment of the female reproductive tract, which virtually precludes studies on embryogenesis in situ. Information must therefore be derived from experiments on cultured embryos. Consequently, studies on the epigenetic regulation of embryogenesis have long been interwoven with efforts to formulate culture media capable of sustaining normal development. In this review, comparative information on epigenetic regulation of embryo development is discussed, including information on energy substrate and amino acid preferences of embryos. Advantages of simple versus complex culture media, and of substituting serum albumin or synthetic macromolecules for serum, are discussed. Some potential pitfalls of co-culture are described. Culture appears to induce anomalies in embryo metabolism, which may derive from disturbed intracellular pH. Rationales for selecting endpoints to evaluate the outcome of experiments are considered, including incorporation of timing of embryo development into the analysis. Poor experimental design and/or data analysis can detract from or even negate the value of data obtained from embryo culture; examples are examined to help correct this problem. All of these points are discussed with a view to using data on the needs of embryos for making improvements in the design of culture media, so that higher yields and increased viability of embryos are achieved.
Optical Radio-Frequency Double Resonance in Molecules: The OH Radical

The $g$ values for the two hyperfine components of the ${J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=\frac{3}{2}$, ${K}^{\ensuremath{'}}=2$, ${v}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ level of the $A^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ state of OH have been determined using the technique of optical radio-frequency double resonance. They are found to be $g(F=2)=0.301\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0015$ and $g(F=1)=0.492\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0045$ in agreement with the values calculated assuming Hund's case (b) coupling. From our earlier measurement of $g\ensuremath{\tau}$ for this state, the radiative lifetime is found to be (7.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.8) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$ sec, corresponding to a band oscillator strength ${f}_{00}=(9.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$.
Characterization of bacteria isolated from maize roots: Emphasis on Serratia and infestation with corn rootworms (Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica)

Larval corn rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are soil-dwelling insect pests that damage maize (Zea mays L.) by consuming root tissues, thus lowering grain yield. Little is known about interactions between rootworms and soil bacteria, including potential impacts of maize rhizobacteria, such as entomopathogenic Serratia spp., on subterranean rootworm pests. We used selective growth medium (caprylate-thallous agar, CT) to quantify and isolate Serratia spp. from: (1) bulk soil, (2) roots of four field-grown maize genotypes, half of which were infested with rootworm eggs from a reared colony, and (3) non-diseased, larval rootworms from the same colony. Phenotypic testing and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to identify bacteria, including non-Serratia spp., that were successfully isolated on the CT solid medium. We also isolated and identified Serratia spp. associated with non-diseased and diseased Diabrotica adults. Serratia spp. associated with maize roots were more abundant than those associated with bulk soil, where they were undetectable with our methods except for Serratia grimesii. There was no impact of plant genotype on densities of bacteria isolated from maize roots. S. grimesii was frequently associated with maize roots, regardless of infestation with rootworm eggs. Serratia marcescens biotype A4, Serratia plymuthica and several other Enterobacteriaceae genera were also associated with maize roots. Infesting the soil with rootworm eggs enhance the occurrence of two strains of the S. marcescens biotype A1b, with comparable densities of these orange and pink strains within infested roots. However, both strains were associated with larval rootworms from the reared colony, which may indicate that rootworms were introducing these bacteria into infested maize roots. In addition, within larvae the orange strain was significantly more abundant than the pink strain, and was also associated with diseased rootworm adults. Our studies identified specific Serratia strains associated with diseased rootworms that may have potential as biological control agents, and additional Serratia biotypes associated with the maize rhizosphere that, based on the literature, may function as plant growth promoting agents via antagonistic action against plant-pathogenic fungi.
Comparative effects of vitamin-A deficiency and controlled food consumption on adenosine 5′-triphosphate: sulfate adenylyltransferase

Abstract The specific activity of adenosine 5′-triphosphate:sulfate adenylytransferase in liver and colon soluble supernatant is found to vary with the nutritional state of the rat. When the difference in energy nutritional state of the vitamin-A deficient and supplemented rat is minimized, the difference in the activity of the enzyme is within experimental error. Furthermore, when the deficient rat is administered vitamin A, the activity of the enzyme does not increase at an early stage in the recovery of the rat but only following restoration of food intake. These observations do not support the hypothesis that vitamin A plays a direct role in the activity of adenosine 5′-triphosphate:sulfate adenylyltransferase.
More searches for cold fusion

Following the announcement of cold nuclear fusion being observed in electrochemical cells by Fleischmann and Pons1 and by Jones,2 we have searched for the characteristic radiations of thed+d andp+d fusion reactions in cells similar to those described in Refs. 1 and 2. No fusion product neutrons or gamma rays have been observed from either palladium or titanium cathodes. From measured D/Pd ratios in the systems with the palladium cathodes, we set upper limits on the fusion rates for our systems.
Status Updates: Keeping the Campus Community Informed

To keep the campus informed about scheduled maintenance and unscheduled outages, Geneseo uses a status system built on WordPress and a monitoring server running Opsview. We will show how we use the two of these systems to provide information to the college community and provide ways for users to check the status themselves. We will also talk about best practices for communication during emergencies and the use of social media to inform the community.
A performance model for a BPI middleware

With today's fast changing business environment and distributed global organizations, business processes of enterprises need to be able to quickly adapt to the new business requirements. BPI middlewares are thus developed to facilitate the integration of various types of enterprise applications that operate within or across enterprise boundaries. Due to the varying complexity and distributed nature of the business processes and the wide range of enterprise applications' characteristics, capacity planning and performance tuning of BPI middleware has been a challenge for engineers who develop and deploy BPI solutions. This poster presents a layered queueing network-based performance model for a BPI middleware to address this challenge.
Shape Writing on Tablets: Better Performance or Better Experience?

Shape writing is a technology for text input that involves „drawing‟ the desired word with your finger or a stylus in one continuous motion on the virtual keyboard. Swype, initially introduced to s...
Moderators of Sexual Behavior in Gay Men

We investigated factors that might moderate the association between sexual behavior desires and sexual behavior enactments in gay men. Condom eschewal, number of STIs, HIV serostatus, age, and relationship status were each hypothesized to moderate this association. An Internet survey collected data from 219 self-identifying gay men. Results indicated that sexual behavior desires and enactments were highly correlated, and of the five moderators tested, four varied this association. Condom eschewers had a stronger association between desires and enactments than condom users. Gay men with fewer STIs/STDs (excluding HIV) also had a stronger association between the two variables. HIV serostatus did not exclusively moderate the association. Rather, a three-way interaction was produced such that HIV-positive men with STIs had a stronger association between sexual behavior desires and enactments than HIV-negative men with STIs. Finally, gay men in monogamous relationships were least likely to have their desires associated with enactments. Age was not found to be a significant moderator. Overall, we concluded the moderators representing sexual health and sexual health behaviors were most influential over the enactment of sexual behavior desires.
U.S. Presidential Decisions on Ozone Depletion and Climate Change: A Foreign Policy Analysis

The overarching question this paper addresses is whether and, if so, to what extent can existing IR theories commonly associated with high politics decision making be applied to low politics issue areas, specifically international environmental policy. The paper serves to test poliheuristic theory against two case studies, The Montreal Protocol and The Kyoto Protocol, to assess its ability to explain the decision-making processes of four United States presidents. The paper concludes that poliheuristic theory adequately explains the presidents' behavior in virtually all cases. It is especially effective in explaining the first phase of the decision-making process. The paper also suggests in the conclusion that a president's “environmentalness” may affect his decision-making behavior in the first phase.
Comparison of Frequentist and Bayesian Confidence Analysis Methods on a Viscoelastic Stenosis Model

We compare the performance of three methods for quantifying uncertainty in model parameters: asymptotic theory, bootstrapping, and Bayesian estimation. We study these methods on an existing model for one-dimensional wave propagation in a viscoelastic medium, as well as corresponding data from lab experiments using a homogeneous, tissue-mimicking gel phantom. In addition to parameter estimation, we use the results from the three algorithms to quantify complex correlations between our model parameters, which are best seen using the more computationally expensive bootstrapping or Bayesian methods. We also hold constant the parameter causing the most complex correlation, obtaining results from all three methods which are more consistent than those obtained when estimating all parameters. Concerns regarding computational time and algorithm complexity are incorporated into a discussion on differences between the frequentist and Bayesian perspectives.
Complex extreme points in Marcinkiewicz spaces

In this paper we characterize complex extreme points in Marcinkiewicz spaces $$M_W$$ , with a non-increasing weight $$w$$ . We showed that $$f \in S_{M_W}$$ is a complex extreme point of the unit ball $$B_{M_W}$$ if and only if $$\liminf _{t\rightarrow \infty }\{\int _0^t w(s)\,ds-\int _0^t f(s)\,ds\}=0$$ . Moreover, we proved that the unit ball is the weak star closure of its complex extreme points.
The synchronous-transit method for determining reaction pathways and locating molecular transition states

Abstract In the synchronous-transit method, a model linear synchronous transit pathway is first constructed and is then refined by optimizing one or more intermediate structures subject to the constraint that the optimized structure retain the same relative position along the path ( orthogonal optimization ). The method yields a series of energy estimates which progressively bound the energy of the transition state from above and from below. High computational efficiency is attainable, and sufficient flexibility is provided to deal with asynchronous processes. Comparisons are made to the alternative “reaction-coordinate” approach, which is shown to be subject to several serious deficiencies. The method is applied to a model two-dimensional energy surface and to the allowed electrocyclic interconversions of the cyclopropyl and allyl cations and of cyclobutene and cis -butadiene.
Density functional theory calculations of Ti-TEMPO complexes : Influence of ancillary ligation on the strength of the Ti-O bond

A series of mono(cyclopentadienyl)titanium TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) complexes were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the influence of the ligands on the Ti−O bond energies. Mono-Cp complexes with pendant amino groups were found to possess significantly weaker Ti−O bonds than those lacking pendant donor ligands. On the basis of DFT predictions, a novel mono-Cp pendant dimethylamino complex, CpNTiCl2(TEMPO) (12; CpN = C5H4CH2CH2N(CH3)2), was identified as a mono-Cp titanium TEMPO complex with a weak Ti−O bond (25 kcal/mol). The calculated bond energy of this complex is comparable to that of Cp2TiCl(TEMPO) (3; 17 kcal/mol). Thermolysis of 12 in the presence of CCl4 at 100 °C resulted in the formation of CpNTiCl3, consistent with the predicted low Ti−O bond energy.
Deficit Round-Robin Based Message Ferry Routing

Message Ferrying is a mobility assisted scheme in which a special node, called a message ferry, is tasked with delivering data among a set of disconnected wireless nodes. One key challenge for such scheme is to design the ferry route in a way that improves certain network characteristics such as average data delivery delay or data loss ratio. Previous work has optimized ferry travel time, rather than directly optimizing message delivery performance metrics. In this paper, we revisit the basic ferry route design problem for stationary nodes with the goal of providing a framework for optimizing delay performance. We start with a Markovian Decision Problem (MDP) formulation which produces the optimal ferry route that minimizes the average data delivery delay. While this formulation, in principle, enables optimal ferry route design, it is numerically intractable for moderate to large size problems. Solutions to small problems, however, yield insight into the properties of optimal ferry routes. These insights, in turn, lead us to propose a ferry route design algorithm that takes advantage of the similarity between our problem and the link scheduling problem in traditional networks. Our algorithm is inspired by the Deficit Round Robin (DRR) algorithm which has provable properties for delay optimization when applied to link scheduling. Using simulations we show that our DRR-based algorithm produces ferry routes that are close to optimal when compared to the MDP-derived solutions for small problems. Our results also show that our algorithm produces ferry routes for moderate to large problems that significantly outperform existing solutions.