cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A practical affine equivariant multivariate median

SUMMARY A robust affine equivariant estimator of location for multivariate data is proposed which becomes the univariate median for data of dimension one. The estimator is robust in the sense that it has a bounded influence function, a positive breakdown value and has high efficiency compared to the sample mean for heavy-tailed distributions. Perhaps its greatest strength is that, unlike other affine equivariant multivariate medians, it is easily computed for data in any practical dimension.
A general unified approach to modelling switching DC-tO-DC converters in discontinuous conduction mode

A method for modelling switching converters in the discontinuous conucction mode is developed, whose starting point is the unified state-space representation, and whose end results is a complete linear circuit model which correctly represents all essential features, namly, the input, output, and transfer properties (static dc as well as dynamic ac small signal). While the method is generally applicable to any switching converter operating in the discontinuous conduction mode, it is extensively illustrated for the three common power stages (buck, boost, and buck-boost). The results for these converters are then easily tabulated owing to the fixed equivalent circuit topology of their canonical circuit model. The outlined method lends itself easily to investigation of the discontinuous conduction mode in more complex structures (cascade connection of buck and boost converters, for example), in which more thean one inductor current may become discontinuous. As opposed to other modelling techniques, the new method considers the discontinuous conduction mode as a special case of the continuous conduction mode.
EXPERIMENTAL NON‐STIGMATIC POLLINATIONS IN CLARKIA UNGUICULATA LINDL. (ONAGRACEAE)

Within angiosperms, the stigma-style apparatus provides a barrier to direct contact between ovules and the external environment. In traversing this barrier, male gametophytes presumably are subject to intense competition and natural selection. Successful fertilizations and resultant seed set can be accomplished following surgical decapitation of the stigma and style, provided that these normally receptive sites are replaced with an optimal environment suitable for pollen germination and growth. Unlike other methodologies, these in situ-in vitro pollinations are comparatively easily accomplished, and provide a means for circumventing natural fertility barriers; additionally, they may provide a simple means of artificially selecting pollen genomes. In Clarkia unguiculata 23.0% of attempted non-stigmatic pollinations produced outcrossed F,
A Better Pacemaker: Transdifferentiation of Myocytes to Pacemaker Cells

Implantable pacemakers are a major milestone in cardiovascular medicine. In the past 50 years, they have saved the lives of many patients in which the sinoatrial node—the primary source of the heart’s electrical stimulation—was dysfunctional or electrical conduction was blocked. Despite their increasingly smaller size and higher reliability, the implanted devices come with risks. Wires may break; batteries may run out. New work by Kapoor et al . brings us closer to deploying a biological pacemaker that does not have these shortcomings. By overexpressing the transcription factor Tbx18, which is highly active in sinoatrial pacemaker cells, the authors were able to transdifferentiate cardiomyocytes into pacemaker cells. The transdifferentiated cells had the epigenetic, morphologic, and physiological properties of sinoatrial cells; started to express the necessary ion channels; and began pacing at physiological rates. After injection of a Tbx18-carrying adenoviral vector into the apex of guinea pig hearts, the transcription factor was robustly expressed. Several days later, in 5 out of 7 animals, an ectopic ventricular rhythm was detected. The transfected cells responded appropriately to adrenergic and muscarinic stimuli by increasing or decreasing the heart rate, an important feedback mechanism that adjusts cardiac output to physical activity. Six to 8 weeks after injection, the transcription of Tbx18 ceased; nevertheless, the pacemaker cell phenotype was stable. This direct conversion from cardiomyocytes to pacemaker cells in vivo is a big step forward toward the creation of biological pacemakers. N. Kapoor, W. Liang, E. Marban, H. Cheol Cho, Direct conversion of quiescent cardiomyocytes to pacemaker cells by expression of Tbx18 . Nat. Biotech. , published online 16 December 2012 (10.1038/nbt.2465). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nbt.2465.html
Gender and race: Stereotyping, coping selfefficacy and collective self-esteem in the CSET undergraduate pipeline

Gender and race play significant roles in how people view and experience the world. In certain contexts both gender and race may activate doubts about onepsilas career-related performance- and coping-related capabilities. This paper presents findings on the effects of gender and race in the undergraduate pipeline of the computing disciplines (i.e., computer engineering, computer science, software engineering, information systems, and information technology) through the more proximal impacts of stereotyping, coping self-efficacy and collective self-esteem. Data were collected in Fall 2004 from 1,208 computing discipline and 581 non-computing discipline students attending forty-two colleges and universities across the United States. Twenty-one of these institutions were Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 21 were Predominantly White Institutions. Data were analyzed using statistical and data mining techniques to investigate the influence of stereotyping, coping self-efficacy and collective self-esteem in the computing disciplines.
Parallel file system measurement and modeling using colored petri nets

Parallel file systems are significant challenges for high performance data-intensive system designers due to their complexity. Being able to study features and designs before building the actual system is an advantage that a simulation model can offer. This paper presents a detailed simulation-based performance model of the PVFS parallel file system. The model is developed using Colored Petri Nets. The goal of the simulation model is to provide a tool to examine end-to-end performance of a parallel file system and to build a foundation that can be easily expanded upon in the future to model many different types of parallel file systems. The performance evaluation results of the model demonstrate that the model performance behavior is close to the expected behavior of the real PVFS file system.
A progressive, fatal dystonia‐Parkinsonism syndrome in a patient with primary immunodeficiency receiving chronic IVIG therapy

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder caused by a mutation in the Bruton agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase gene that results in severe B-cell deficiency. So far, neurological complications of XLA have been primarily related to acute and/or chronic central nervous system enteroviral infections. In the last few years a progressive neurodegenerative syndrome of unknown etiology has been described in XLA patients. We describe and present a video of an XLA patient who developed a fatal dementing, dystonia-Parkinsonism syndrome 14 years into his immune disorder. Physician awareness of this rare syndrome may lead to its better characterization and management.
Heart failure: a common and complex clinical syndrome.

This issue of Medical Clinics of North America focuses on various issues dealing with heart failure (HF). It is quite evident to most clinicians that HF is a major growing public health problem. Most clinicians frequently encounter patients with HF in everyday clinical practice. HF is a leading cause for hospitalization ( 1 million admissions yearly) in the Medicare population. Appropriate treatment designed to prevent and treat heart failure can significantly reduce the associated high morbidity and mortality. It is with this focus that I have put together this compendium of articles dealing with the most important issues regarding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with HF and frequently associated comorbidities. In the first article we describe the current epidemiology and focus on the renewed understanding of the pathophysiologic process involved in various stages of the development of HF. A clear understanding of the pathophysiology should help the clinician target appropriate therapy. The secondarticle byDrChatterjeedescribes thedifferences and similarities between the signs, symptoms, and prognostic factors in systolic versus diastolic HF. This is particularly important due to the fact that, depending on the clinical setting, as many as one half of the patients with HF nowadays have diastolic HF (also known as HF with preserved ejection fraction). The advent of biomarkers, especially BNP, has revolutionized the diagnostic accuracy for HF and this along with the value of other biomarkers in HF is discussed in detail in the article by Maisel and coauthors. During the past 2 decades considerable progress has been made regarding the use of evidence-based therapy with RAAS blocking agents (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and aldosterone antagonists) and b-blocking drugs in HF. Treatment with these drugs is now recommended by all national and international guidelines as standard therapy in HF. Such evidence-based therapy not only improves symptoms but also reduces the morbidity and mortality in patients with HF, which is described in detail in article 4. Although diuretic therapy is extremely useful in relieving congestion, it is considered by many as the standard treatment in all patients with HF. It is important to recognize
Interpretation of arterial velocity waveforms

Blood flow temporal waveforms change with position along an artery. The change in the flow waveforms can be accounted for by a transmission line model of flow. According to this model, pulse waves propagate at a finite velocity in both directions along the artery. In principle, given flow waveforms measured at three locations along an artery, the pulse-wave velocity, (c) can be determined from the wave equation (d2Q/dt2 equals c2d2Q/dz2, Q is flow, t is time, z is position). Given the vessel diameter, the vessel-wall compliance can be derived from pulse-wave velocity. However, direct solution of the wave equation for pulse-wave velocity is highly susceptible to flow-measurement error. Thus, we propose a new method for estimating pulse-wave velocity from arterial flow waveforms. In our method, ideal flow waveforms are reconstructed from three measured flow waveforms. The ideal waveforms are reconstructed by minimization of the total error between the ideal and measured waveforms subject to constraints of the wave equation. Ideal flow waveforms are reconstructed for a range of assumed pulse-wave velocities. The true pulse-wave velocity is considered to be that which produces the minimum total error. The method applied to blood flow measurements made with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An Experimental Investigation of the Temperature Field Produced by a Cryosurgical Cannula

Liquid crystals, a material that exhibits brilliant changes in color over narrow temperature bands, have been successfully used to study the temperature field that is produced by a cryosurgical cannula (cryoprobe). Cryoprobe tip temperatures ranging from −36 to −117 C were used to produce frozen regions in a clear gel. Experimental results compare within experimental uncertainty with results of a one-dimensional analytical solution for predicting ice growth rates.
Electronic states in metal-ammonia solutions.

Quantum simulation studies have been performed on metal-ammonia solutions for a wide range of concentrations using a model consisting of excess electrons in a molecular solvent. At low electron concentrations, the electron density is localized, and the electrons pair to form peanut-shaped bipolarons. At higher electron concentrations, the bipolarons exhibit a tendency to cluster. Eventually, at yet higher concentrations, the electron density becomes delocalized and spans the system indicating that the system has become metallic.
A perturbation method applied to the buckling of a compressed elastica

Abstract We consider the problem of carrying out an asymptotic analysis for the phenomenon of bifurcation which occurs at critical values of an axial force applied to an elastic column. In the present setting a discontinuous coefficient precludes the possibility of carrying out the usual asymptotic analysis. The problem is overcome via a nonlinear change of independent variables.
Kin and nestmate recognition: the influence of W. D. Hamilton on 50 years of research

Kin selection stands among W. D. Hamilton's most influential ideas. The purpose of this review is to assess the impact of Hamilton's ideas about kin selection on studies of social recognition. Kin selection theory predicts that animals should direct aid-giving behaviour to closely related animals, provided that a positive net benefit in inclusive fitness is achieved from the altruistic act. Kin recognition is the key proximate mechanism by which animals can sort more related from less related interactants in a population. Kin recognition also has the potential to allow fine distinctions among animals based on identity by descent. Following the publications of Hamilton's 1964 papers on kin selection, studies of kin recognition focused on four disparate behavioural contexts: identification of group membership, inbreeding avoidance, alarm calls and other forms of aid-giving, and parent–offspring interactions. Investigations of eusocial insects have focused on identification of group membership by phenotypes that are shared among all members of a colony. In birds and mammals, social structure is often based on individual recognition. Some species, particularly rodents, have the ability to make discriminations based on relatedness among animals that they have not previously met. Future studies of kin recognition should be less reliant on assumptions that all forms of societal closure are due to factors related to kin selection. These studies should acknowledge that the role of individual recognition in vertebrate societies is key to understanding the full texture of social interactions, and that individual recognition may be equally important in many other types of animals. Of particular interest will be the discovery of how information about kinship is integrated with information about individual identity.
The effect of phospholipid depletion on the EPR behavior of cytochrome oxidase.

Abstract Phospholipids are essential components for electron transport activity of cytochrome oxidase. Recently, we have found that the removal of phospholipids from the oxidase affected the copper and low-spin heme signals, and conceivably other paramagnetic centers as demonstrated by EPR spectroscopy. At 4.2–30 °K, the signal amplitudes and power saturation behaviors were studied at approximately g = 2.0 for the copper signal, and in the neighborhood of g = 3.0 for the low-spin heme signal. After depletion of phospholipids the amplitude of the copper signal decreased 25–30% at 12–30 °K and below 12 °K 40–50% under nonsaturating conditions. The amplitude of the low-spin heme signal decreased 60–70% at 4.2–20 °K. Below 14 °K both signals became more resistant to power saturation, but the copper signal was more readily saturated above this temperature, compared to the oxidase with about 25% lipid. After removal of phospholipids, the spectral features of the copper signal remained essentially the same, but the low-spin heme signal broadened and became very asymmetric to show two signals as revealed by the second harmonic EPR spectra. These findings may explain, at least partially, the wide variations in percentage of EPR detectable copper and heme of cytochrome oxidase reported by different laboratories. Unequivocally, the EPR behavior of cytochrome oxidase is not only affected by the protein moiety, but also by the associated phospholipids of the enzyme.
An Evaluation of the Circular Structure of the Checklist of Interpersonal Transactions and the Checklist of Psychotherapy Transactions.

The circular structure of the Checklist of Interpersonal Transactions-Revised (CLOIT-R) and the Checklist of Psychotherapy Transactions-Revised (CLOPT-R) were evaluated in samples of 219 college students and 26 therapy dyads, respectively. The CLOIT-R was found to fit a circular structure for all scoring methods, equally well for women and men and similarly to the fit of the Interpersonal Adjective Scales-Revised. The CLOPT-R was found to fit the circular model for both therapists and clients. The support generated for the CLOIT-R and CLOPT-R upholds the use of these measures in empirical examinations of interpersonal theory.
Microanalysis of Soot Particulates using Stem

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) coupled with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) has been used to characterize the elemental composition and oxidation conditions of various soot samples. The STEM employed in this investigation was the Vacuum Generators HB603, with a microanalytical resolution approaching 1 rnm, that allowed the analysis of individual soot particles and aggregates. The aim of this research is quantification of the EDX spectra which is possible after background and absorption corrections. This information can then be used for comparative studies of different fuels and combustion processes. EELS has been employed to determine the amount of graphitic carbon in a soot particulate, and the detection of trace elements of low atomic number. It has been shown in soot that for Carbon the energy-loss of the p shell electrons increases with the amount of oxidation at high temperatures. Analysis and characterization of gas turbine soot, collected from an engine exhaust duct of a 737-300 aircraft showed an abundance of different elements. Some of these elements originated from the fuel and combustion processes, while other elements were components of the engine itself that combined with the soot particulates during the combustion process. The study showed that soot impurities were found in all discrete sections of aggregates, and that only one or two small soot particulates were necessary to obtain a chemical fingerprint. Other investigations include; coal soot, diesel soot at different engine operating conditions and soot produced from wood burning. The richness of the spectra obtained and the ability to quantify results represents an opportunity to accomplish source identification in a novel, powerful way.
Strain-Engineered Biaxial Tensile Epitaxial Germanium for High-Performance Ge/InGaAs Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors

The structural, morphological, and energy band alignment properties of biaxial tensile-strained germanium epilayers, grown in-situ on GaAs via a linearly graded InxGa1−xAs buffer architecture and utilizing dual chamber molecular beam epitaxy, were investigated. Precise control over the growth conditions yielded a tunable in-plane biaxial tensile strain within the Ge thin films that was modulated by the underlying InxGa1−xAs “virtual substrate” composition. In-plane tensile strains up to 1.94% were achieved without Ge relaxation for layer thicknesses of 15 to 30 nm. High-resolution x-ray diffraction supported the pseudomorphic nature of the Ge/InxGa1−xAs interface, indicating a quasi-ideal stress transfer to the Ge lattice. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed defect-free Ge epitaxy and a sharp, coherent interface at the Ge/InxGa1−xAs heterojunction. Surface morphology characterization using atomic force microscopy exhibited symmetric, 2-D cross-hatch patterns with root mean square roughness less than 4.5 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis revealed a positive, monotonic trend in band offsets for increasing tensile strain. The superior structural and band alignment properties of strain-engineered epitaxial Ge suggest that tensile-strained Ge/InxGa1−xAs heterostructures show great potential for future high-performance tunnel field-effect transistor architectures requiring flexible device design criteria while maintaining low power, energy-efficient device operation.
Damage control in the injured patient

The damage control concept is an essential component in the management of severely injured patients. The principles in sequence are as follows: (1) abbreviated surgical procedures limited to haemorrhage and contamination control; (2) correction of physiological derangements; (3) definitive surgical procedures. Although originally described in the management of major abdominal injuries, the concept has been extended to include thoracic, vascular, orthopedic, and neurosurgical procedures, as well as anesthesia and resuscitative strategies.
Information-Seeking Behavior in the Digital Age: A Multidisciplinary Study of Academic Researchers

This article focuses on how electronic information resources influence the information-seeking process in the social sciences and humanities. It examines the information-seeking behavior of scholars in these fields, and extends the David Ellis model of information-seeking behavior for social scientists, which includes six characteristics: starting, chaining, browsing, differentiating, monitoring, and extracting. The study was conducted at Tennessee State University (TSU). Thirty active social sciences and humanities faculty, as well as doctoral students, were interviewed about their use of electronic information resources for research purposes, their perception of electronic and print materials, their opinions concerning the Ellis model, and ways the model might apply to them. Based on the interview results, the researcher provides suggestions on how current information services and products can be improved to better serve social sciences and humanities researchers. The author makes recommendations for improving library services and technologies to better meet the needs of social sciences and humanities scholars.
Changing Activation Sequence in the Embryonic Chick Heart: Implications for the Development of the His-Purkinje System

In the mature heart, impulse propagation through the His-Purkinje system (HPS) is required for efficient ventricular contraction in an apex-to-base direction. However, the embryonic heart begins to contract as a myocardial tube without a specialized conduction system. To identify the developmental stage when the HPS begins to function, we mapped the ventricular depolarization sequence from microvolt-level electrograms recorded from embryonic myocardium using 50-micron extracellular electrodes, high-gain amplification, and signal-processing techniques. Analysis of left ventricular activation in 99 embryonic hearts revealed a transition in the activation sequence that was dependent on developmental stage. As the heart develops, a transition in the activation sequence occurred from the primitive base-to-apex pattern (in 20 of 33 hearts) at early stages (Hamburger-Hamilton stages 25 to 28) to the HPS-like apex-to-base pattern (12 of 17 hearts) late in development (stages 33 to 36). Immunohistological experiments (n = 10) also confirm that the expression pattern of two biochemical HPS markers changes in parallel with the change to the mature ventricular activation pattern. These data indicate that the ventricular activation sequence in the chick heart develops to a mature pattern at stages 29 to 31, suggesting that preferential conduction through the HPS begins shortly after ventricular septation is complete.
Tropical Convection and the Energy Balance at the Top of the Atmosphere

Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) and International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) data are used in conjunction with a radiative transfer model to estimate the effect of various cloud types on the top-of-atmosphere radiation budget in convective regions of the Tropics. This analysis shows that individual convective cloud elements can have strongly positive or negative effects on the radiation balance. Nonetheless, the ensemble of cloud types that occurs in association with deep convection in the Tropics arranges itself so that the individual positive and negative contributions cancel each other when averaged over the convective cloud system. This behavior of the cloud ensemble is extremely interesting, and the authors speculate that it is indicative of feedbacks in the climate system that have not been explored adequately. A simple model is introduced that includes feedbacks that drive the net radiation in convective regions toward the net radiation in adjacent nonconvective areas. If the nonconvective regions have small cloud forcing, then this model predicts small net radiative forcing by the convective cloud ensemble. This feedback process requires that the circulations in the Tropics be sensitive to small SST gradients and that the convective cloud albedo be sensitive to the vertical motion.
Reduction of Episcopacy as a Means to Unity in England, 1640–1662

In his inaugural address at the Union Theological Seminary, Robert T. Handy called attention to the present possibility of reexamining the whole course of church history from unitive perspectives. Handy pointed out that “the church historian in an ecumenical era can with particular profit devote special attention to the unitive hopes, dreams, and actions of the past.”
Leaky fields from damaged shields

Initial simulations and lab measurements were presented in this paper regarding leaky fields from small holes. Computer simulations provided motivation that external fields could be sensed by a rudimentary coil sensor. Lab experiments provided initial data that these external signals are detectable. The work going forward will focus on quantifying the effect of shield damage size and shape to leaky fields, the strength of the fields as the coil moves away, and optimal coil sensor design.
Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein 2 Binds to Selective, Intronic Messenger RNA and MicroRNA Targets in the Mouse Testis

Here we use an in vivo cross-linking and immunoprecipitation procedure to detect RNA targets of the multifunctional RNA-binding protein polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTBP) 2 in mouse testis. Eleven known mRNAs, including Ptbp2 mRNA, 28 RNAs matching intron sequences, and 12 small RNAs and repeat sequences are identified. The specificity of interaction between PTBP2 and its target RNAs was confirmed using RNA interference with mouse N2A cells. Reduction of PTBP2 levels led to decreases in 7 of 10 of the mRNAs, to the repression of alternative splicing of introns, and to reductions in specific miRNAs.
The Impact of Accelerating Electronic Prescribing on Hospitals' Productivity Levels: Can Health Information Technology Bend the Curve?

This paper examines how different strategies for implementing computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE) impact hospitals' productivity. We used the American Hospital Association's Annual Survey to construct hospital-level measures for 1,812 facilities and analyzed the productivity indices against CPOE use rates. The relationship between CPOE use rates and indices for "technical efficiency change" and "total factor productivity" was significant. Hospitals introducing CPOE facilitywide in a one-year period (where usage went from zero to more than 50%) experienced declines in both productivity indices. One implication is that hospitals achieving the goals of the "meaningful use" program promoted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may do so at the expense of productivity.
Role of RNase MRP in Viral RNA Degradation and RNA Recombination

RNA degradation, together with RNA synthesis, controls the steady-state level of viral RNAs in infected cells. The endoribonucleolytic cleavage of viral RNA is important not only for viral RNA degradation but for RNA recombination as well, due to the participation of some RNA degradation products in the RNA recombination process. To identify host endoribonucleases involved in degradation of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae model host, we tested eight known endoribonucleases. Here we report that downregulation of SNM1, encoding a component of the RNase MRP, and a temperature-sensitive mutation in the NME1 gene, coding for the RNA component of RNase MRP, lead to reduced production of the endoribonucleolytically cleaved TBSV RNA in yeast. We also show that the highly purified yeast RNase MRP cleaves the TBSV RNA in vitro, resulting in TBSV RNA degradation products similar in size to those observed in yeast cells. Knocking down the NME1 homolog in Nicotiana benthamiana also led to decreased production of the cleaved TBSV RNA, suggesting that in plants, RNase MRP is involved in TBSV RNA degradation. Altogether, this work suggests a role for the host endoribonuclease RNase MRP in viral RNA degradation and recombination.
The effect of early and late hatching on the escape response of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) larvae

Hatching of fish eggs fertilized at the same time occurs over a period of several days. Differences in the escape response of fish larvae during the hatching period have not hitherto been studied. In this study, the escape response of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) larvae over the hatching period was examined. Escape speed, response to multiple touches with a fine probe, response to water currents generated by a predator and predation by euphausiids (Thysanoessa inermis) and amphipods (Pleusirus secorrus) were measured in the laboratory. Otolith measurements of field-collected larvae support a broad hatching period for walleye pollock eggs in the sea similar to that observed in the laboratory. The escape response of walleye pollock larvae was affected by rank in the order of hatching, thus with respect to predation, hatching order may affect the survival of larvae in the sea. Early hatching larvae were smaller, less sensitive to tactile stimulation, had a slower, weaker escape response and higher laboratory rates of predation mortality than those that hatched later.
Initializing mesh architecture for cognitive radio based IEEE 802.22

Recently, FCC defined provisions to open the sub- 900 MHz licensed TV bands for unlicensed services as one of the major steps towards dynamic spectrum access. The newly proposed IEEE 802.22 standard based on cognitive radio is seen as the solution that can harness the unused spectrum in a spatial and temporal manner while avoiding interference with licensed devices. On the other hand, the advent of wireless mesh networks has enabled a new technology for creating wide-area wireless backhaul networks with increased network resource utilization and greater performance characteristics. In this paper, we propose a scheme for IEEE 802.22 enabled devices to establish a mesh architecture. Coordination is initiated by the base station and is followed by the gradual joining of the IEEE 802.22 consumer premise equipments to the mesh in a repeated, distributed manner. Through simulation experiments, we demonstrate how the proposed mesh creation algorithm helps minimize mesh initialization latency, reduce control signaling and average number of collisions among IEEE 802.22 devices.
ORB: an on-chip optical ring bus communication architecture for multi-processor systems-on-chip

As application complexity continues to increase, multiprocessor systems-on-chip (MPSoC) with tens to hundreds of processing cores are becoming the norm. While computational cores have become faster with each successive technology generation, communication between them has become a bottleneck that limits overall chip performance. On-chip optical interconnects can overcome this bottleneck by replacing electrical wires with optical waveguides. In this paper we propose an optical ring bus (ORB) based on-chip communication architecture for next generation MPSoCs. ORB uses an optical ring waveguide to replace global pipelined electrical interconnects while preserving the interface with today's bus protocol standards such as AMBA AXI. We present experiments to show how ORB has the potential to provide superior performance (more than 2times) and significantly lower power consumption (a reduction of more than 10times) compared to traditionally used pipelined, all-electrical bus-based communication architectures, for 65-22 nm technology nodes.
Barriers to Home Purchase for African-Americans and Hispanics in Syracuse

African-Americans and Hispanics in Syracuse, New York, have lower homeownership rates than whites with comparable incomes, despite the availability of affordable housing. Using ethnographic methods, the study team examined home purchase by Hispanics and African-Americans as a multiphase process. Very few of the more than 100 households interviewed by telephone and in person had home-purchase experiences that paralleled the conventional process. They generally found homes through word of mouth rather than Realtors, and many encountered obstacles to finding, purchasing, and financing homes. Alternatives to conventional financing were relatively common, especially after 1975, and portfolio lending became increasingly important for African-American homebuyers. Barriers to homeownership included employment uncertainty, lack of understanding about the homebuying process, strict credit requirements, and cultural misunderstandings. African-Americans and Hispanics in Syracuse have a lower rate of homeownership than whites, despite a relatively affordable housing market. In our efforts to understand why this is so, we began by examining the process of buying a house. We found that most members of the Syracuse housing industry, such as lenders, Realtors, appraisers, and attorneys, share an understanding of the “normal” stages in that process and of the components of a standard, low-risk mortgage loan. We use the term “cookie-cutter” to describe that process: Someone with sufficient income decides to buy a single-family home, saves enough for the downpayment, and finds the house through a Realtor or an advertisement. A Realtor helps to negotiate a market-rate price with the seller, the prospective buyer goes to a local lender for a mortgage, and the closing takes place 60 days later. This normative model seems to be based, perhaps unconsciously, on the experiences of middle-class white homebuyers. Using telephone and in-depth personal interviews with homeowners and renters, we also found that within our study population of a little more than 100 households, very few have had home-purchase experiences that match the “cookie-cutter” stereotype. AfricanAmericans and Hispanics interviewed most commonly found the homes they bought
Distributed Optimization in Adaptive Networks

We develop a protocol for optimizing dynamic behavior of a network of simple electronic components, such as a sensor network, an ad hoc network of mobile devices, or a network of communication switches. This protocol requires only local communication and simple computations which are distributed among devices. The protocol is scalable to large networks. As a motivating example, we discuss a problem involving optimization of power consumption, delay, and buffer overflow in a sensor network. Our approach builds on policy gradient methods for optimization of Markov decision processes. The protocol can be viewed as an extension of policy gradient methods to a context involving a team of agents optimizing aggregate performance through asynchronous distributed communication and computation. We establish that the dynamics of the protocol approximate the solution to an ordinary differential equation that follows the gradient of the performance objective.
Improving the speed and scalability of distributed simulations of sensor networks

Distributed simulation techniques are commonly used to improve the speed and scalability of wireless sensor network simulators. However, accurate simulations of dynamic interactions of sensor network applications incur large synchronization overheads and severely limit the performance of existing distributed simulators. In this paper, we present two novel techniques that significantly reduce such overheads by minimizing the number of sensor node synchronizations during simulations. These techniques work by exploiting radio and MAC specific characteristics without reducing simulation accuracy. In addition, we present a new probing mechanism that makes it possible to exploit any potential application specific characteristics for synchronization reductions. We implement and evaluate these techniques in a cycle accurate distributed simulation framework that we developed based on Avrora. In our experiments, the radio-level technique achieves a speedup of 2 to 3 times in simulating 1-hop networks with 32 to 256 nodes. With default backoffs, theMAC-level technique achieves a speedup of 1.1 to 1.3 times in the best case scenarios of simulating 32 and 64 nodes. In our multi-hop flooding tests, together they achieve a speedup of 1.5 to 1.8 times in simulating networks with 36 to 144 nodes. The experiments also demonstrate that the speedups can be significantly larger as the techniques scale with the number of processors and radio-off/MAC-backoff time.
Experimental deformation of partially melted granitic aggregates

Abstract The effects of varying amounts of partial melt on the deformation of granitic aggregates have been tested experimentally at conditions (900°C, 1500 MPa, 10-4 to 10-6/s) where melt-free samples deform by dislocation creep, with microstructures approximately equivalent to those of upper greenschist facies. Experiments were performed on samples of various grain sizes, including an aplite (150 μm) and sintered aggregates of quartz-albitemicrocline (10–50 and 2–10 μm). Water was added to the samples to obtain various amounts of melt (1–15% in the aplite, 1–5% in the sintered aggregates). Optical and TEM observations of the melt distribution in hydrostatically annealed samples show that the melt in the sintered aggregates is homogeneously distributed along an interconnected network of triple junction channels, while the melt in the aplites is inhomogeneously distributed. The effect of partial melt on deformation depends an melt amount and distribution, grain size and strain rate. For samples deformed with ˜ 1% melt, all grain sizes exhibit microstructures indicative of dislocation creep. For samples deformed with 3–5% melt, the 150 μm and 10–50 μm grain size samples also exhibit dislocation creep microstructures, but the 2–10 μm grain size samples exhibit abundant TEM-scale evidence of dissolution-precipitation and little evidence of dislocation activity, suggesting a switch in deformation mechanism to predominantly melt-enhanced diffusion creep. At natural strain rates melt-enhanced diffusion creep would predominate at larger grain sizes, although probably not for most coarse-grained granites. The effects of melt percentage and strain rate have been studied for the 150 μm aplites. For samples with ˜ 5 and 10% melt, deformation at 10–6/s squeezes excess melt out of the central compressed region allowing predominantly dislocation creep. Conversely, deformation at 10-5/s produces considerable cataclasis presumably because the excess melt cannot flow laterally fast enough and a high pore fluid pressure results. For samples with 15% melt, deformation at both strain rates produces cataclasis, presumably because the inhomogeneous melt distribution resulted in regions of decoupled grains, which would produce high stress concentrations at point contacts. At natural strain rates there should be little or no cataclasis if an equilibrium melt texture exists and if the melt can flow as fast as the imposed strain rate. However, if the melt is confined and cannot migrate, a high pore fluid pressure should promote brittle deformation.
Multiple group membership and schizophrenia.

The following study examines the effect of the individual's place in the social structure on his mental health. The more restrictive his social environment, the greater is his frustration, and consequently, the greater the likelihood of mental illness.
Vaccination strategies for the prevention of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia

Herpes zoster disease and its most common complication, postherpetic neuralgia, are associated with significant morbidity in the elderly. The zoster vaccine boosts cell-mediated immunity to varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes both varicella and herpes zoster. This vaccine has demonstrated the ability to reduce the zoster-related burden of illness and the incidence of both zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in a randomized, controlled trial conducted in individuals aged 60 years and older, an age group at increased risk of herpes zoster. Widespread use of this vaccine could prevent as many as a quarter of a million cases of zoster disease each year. The design and outcomes of the Shingles Prevention Study, which examined the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, and the rationale for widespread immunization against varicella-zoster virus, are presented here.
Nonlocal nonlinear formulations for bending of classical and shear deformation theories of beams and plates

Abstract The classical and shear deformation beam and plate theories are reformulated using the nonlocal differential constitutive relations of Eringen and the von Karman nonlinear strains. The equations of equilibrium of the nonlocal beam theories are derived, and virtual work statements in terms of the generalized displacements are presented for use with the finite element model development. The governing equilibrium equations of the classical and first-order shear deformation theories of plates with the von Karman nonlinearity are also formulated. The theoretical development presented herein should serve to obtain the finite element results and determine the effect of the geometric nonlinearity and nonlocal constitutive relations on bending response.
The torsion of isotropic beams

In this chapter the torsion problem for isotropic cylindrical or prismatic beams is considered. Methods of approaching the problem are examined and the general solution is obtained whenever the crosssection is simply connected and can be mapped on a circle. Applications of the principles of virtual displacements and virtual stresses to give approximate solutions are illustrated.
Adaptive Time Stepping in Real-Time Motion Planning

Replanning is a powerful mechanism for controlling robot motion under hard constraints and unpredictable disturbances, but it involves an inherent tradeoff between the planner’s power (e.g., a planning horizon or time cutoff) and its responsiveness to disturbances. We present a real-time replanning technique that uses adaptive time stepping to learn the amount of time needed for a sample-based motion planner to make monotonic progress toward the goal. The technique is robust to the typically high variance exhibited by planning queries, and we prove that it is asymptotically complete for a deterministic environment and a static objective. For unpredictable environments, we present an adaptive time stepping contingency planning algorithm that achieves simultaneous safety-seeking and goal-seeking motion. These techniques generate responsive and safe motion in simulated scenarios across a range of difficulties, including applications to pursuit-evasion and aggressive collision-free teleoperation of an industrial robot arm in a cluttered environment.
Effects of growth rate and compensatory growth on body composition in lambs.

Fifty lambs were used in a comparative slaughter experiment to determine the effects of growth rates and compensatory growth on body composition. The study consisted of a growing and a finishing phase. During the growing phase, lambs (20 to 30 kg) were fed three different concentrate levels (30, 50 or 70%) to gain at three different rates (slow, medium and rapid). The finishing phase was evaluated in two periods (early, 30 to 38 kg; late, 38 to 45 kg). All lambs received 70% concentrate diets during the finishing phase. Groups of five lambs were sacrificed at 20, 30, 38 and 45 kg fleece-free weights for whole-body chemical analysis. At 30 kg live weight, lambs on a rapid growth diet were the fattest (P less than .01) and contained the least protein (P less than .05) in their empty bodies. The slower the lambs gained during the growing phase, the greater (P less than .05) was the response in rate of gain and feed efficiency during both periods of the finishing phase. Compensatory growth occurred in two stages; a greater proportion of protein gain was made early while a greater proportion of the fat gain was made during the late period of the finishing phase.
RECOGNITION OF DESIGNS AFTER A UNILATERAL STROKE

with damage to the right hemispheres, were tested for tachistoscopic recognition of nonverbal designs. Forty abstract designs, similar to Kimura's (1966) shapes, were used as targets. After practice trials, designs were presented for 120 msec. each, half 3-5" to the left, the other half 3-5" to the right of a central fixated digit. Two seconds after target presentation, a response slide containing the target and 3 distractors was shown for 6 sec. The patient pointed to the fixated digit on a 5-digit display and then to the target. Responses were recorded only if die fixated digit was correctly identified. Both groups had better recognition (t = 2 26. p = 0.03) through the visual field projecting to their undamaged (78.5 + 16.5%) than to their damaged hemispheres (68.5 + 21.6%). However, the scores of stroke patients with right-side damage reflecting their undamaged left hemispheres were highcr (6 = 1.94, p = 0.05) than those of the undamaged right hemispheres of stroke patients with damage to the left hemispheres. This difference did not relate to the extent of brain damage or of language dysfunctions and indicates that these abstract designs required both verbal and visuo-perceprual processing. When verbal coding was difficult or slowed, as for left-scroke patients, perceprual coding alone was not as efficient as the verbal and residual perceptual coding of right-stroke patients, suggesting interactive rather than unilateral processing of designs.
Zooar Zoo Based Augmented Reality Signage

This work describes the development of an augmented reality (AR) based informational signage system for zoological parks. Pre-development surveys detailed an interest in technology implantation whi...
Effect of Crystallographic Orientation on The Fracture Toughness of NiAl Single Crystals

In the present study, single-edge notched bend specimens of NiAl single crystals were tested in {l_brace}100{r_brace}{l_angle}010r{angle}, {l_brace}101{r_brace}{l_angle}101{r_angle}, and {l_brace}101{r_brace}{l_angle}010{r_angle} orientations before and after heat-treating the notched specimens at 1,000 C for one hour. The fracture toughness data for the non heat-treated specimens were found to be consistent with the previous results. An increase in the fracture toughness of NiAl was observed in all orientations studied upon heat-treating the notched specimens. The toughness ratio for the two orientations obtained from the heat-treated notched specimens was found to be 1.2. This ratio is in agreement with the reported stress analysis considering the crack kinking in {l_brace}100{r_brace} oriented specimens. A detailed SEM analysis revealed that the electric discharge machine (EDM) cutting of the notch caused the formation of sharp microcracks at the notch front and also created internal stresses in the vicinity of the notch. The increase in toughness upon heat treatment is attributed to the modification of EDM damage.