cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Raman scattering of carbon nanotube bundles under axial strain and strain-induced debundling

We measure resonant Raman scattering of individual carbon nanotube bundles under axial strains of up to 17%. The main effect of this strain is to cause debundling of the nanotubes. The $G$ band Raman spectra of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes respond differently to strain and debundling, giving insight into the nature of the broad metallic ${G}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ band line shape. For metallic nanotubes, the ${G}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ band upshifts and becomes narrower with strain, making it appear more semiconductor-like. Surprisingly, this metal to semiconductor transition is not reversible with strain, indicating that nanotube-nanotube coupling plays a significant role in the observed ${G}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ band of unperturbed metallic nanotubes.
An investigation of the skin flora of dialysis and transplant patients

SUMMARY The skin flora of patients on routine haemodialysis and of outpatients with a renal transplant has been investigated and compared with that of rheumatology outpatients at the same hospital. Dialysis patients had significantly smaller numbers of organisms on the skin. No excess of pathogens or potential pathogens was found in any group.
Secondary electron distributions, ionization cross sections and loss functions for O(I)–O(V)

Abstract An analytic atomic independent-particle-model is used to generate wave functions for the bound and ionization continuum states of O(I), O(II), O(III), O(IV), and O(V). These wave functions are used in conjunction with the Born approximation to generate continuum generalized oscillator strengths (GOS). From these GOS, we obtain secondary electron distributions, which we represent by smooth analytic functions. From the secondary electron distributions, we obtain electron impact ionization cross sections, which are compared to experiment. Finally, we compute the loss functions.
Lp estimates of time-harmonic Maxwell's equations in a bounded domain

Consider the electromagnetic field scattered by a nonlinear bounded optical medium. Because of inhomogeneity of the medium, the governing equations are Maxwell's equation with jump coefficients and a source term. By using the Sommerfeld radiation condition, the model scattering problem may be truncated into a bounded domain. In this paper, Lp estimates for Maxwell's equation with jump coefficients are established. The solution of Maxwell's equation is represented by spherical harmonics. An application of the Lp estimates gives rise to the well-posedness of a linearized model.
Protective Al-rich mullite coatings on Si- based ceramics against hot corrosion at 1200 °C

Abstract The hot-corrosion behavior of uncoated SiC, bulk mullite and CVD grown mullite coatings in contact with Na 2 SO 4 were investigated at 1200 °C. The range of thermodynamic activity of Na 2 O (10 − 4 to 10 − 6 ) simulated in this study makes the oxide very basic leading to high reaction rates with SiO 2. Uncoated SiC corroded severely, forming various Na 2 O·SiO 2 compounds with a significant weight gain. Even though the thermodynamic activity of silica is reduced in mullite, several compounds in Na 2 O·SiO 2 ·Al 2 O 3 system were formed in case of bulk mullite. CVD based mullite coatings with high alumina content at the top surface of the coating, and therefore reduced SiO 2 activity, offered protection to the underlying SiC in corrosive environments. As predicted correctly by thermodynamic calculations, the trend in weight gain with the coated SiC samples followed the theoretically calculated SiO 2 activity in Al-rich mullite.
Workload-dependent relative fault sensitivity and error contribution factor of GPU onchip memory structures

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is emerging as an efficient and scalable accelerator for data-parallel workloads in various applications ranging from tablet PCs to HPC (High Performance Computing) mainframes. Unlike traditional 3D graphics rendering, general-purpose compute applications demand stringent assurance of reliability. Therefore, single error tolerance schemes such as SECDED (Single Error Correcting Double Error Detecting) code are being rapidly introduced to high-end GPUs targeting high-performance general-purpose computing. However, relative fault sensitivity and error contribution of critical on-chip memory structures such as active mask stack (AMS), register file (REG) and local memory (MEM) are yet to be studied. Also, implications of single error tolerance on various GPGPU (General Purpose computing on GPU) workloads have not been quantitatively analyzed to reveal its relative cost/fault-tolerance efficiency. To address this issue, a novel Monte Carlo simulation framework has been explored in this work to enumerate and analyze well-converged fault injection data. Instead of estimating AVF (Architectural Vulnerability Factor) of each structure individually, we have injected faults to a whole memory (AMS, REG and MEM combined) in a structure-oblivious fashion. Then, we further categorized and analyzed each structure's relative fault sensitivity and error contribution factor. Finally, we have studied implications of single error tolerance on the memory structures by further considering eight different possible ECC profiles. Results show that relative fault sensitivity and error contribution of REG is highest among the considered memory structures; therefore, ECC (Error Correction Code) protection of REG is most critical and cost-effective.
Notes: Some new Chebyshev spaces

In this note we see another circumstance where Chebyshev polynomials play a significant role. In particular, we present some new extended Chebyshev spaces that arise in the asymptotic stability of the zero solution of first order linear delay differential equations with m commensurate delays y^'(t)+@?j=0ma"jy(t-j@t)=0 where a"j,j=0,...,m, are constants and @t>0 is constant.
The concentration of calcium in neonatal cardioplegia.

Abstract The optimal calcium concentration in cardioplegia for the newborn has not been determined. Therefore, the effect of 0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 mmol/L calcium in modified St. Thomas cardioplegia was evaluated in isolated working hearts of 7- to 10-day-old rabbits. Functional recovery was determined by comparing aortic flow, developed pressure, and first derivative of left ventricular pressure ( dP / dt ) before and after 1 hour of normothermic (37 °C) ischemia. As percentages of baseline values, recovery of developed pressure and dP / dt averaged 10% ± 1% (mean ± standard error of the mean) and 10% ± 1% with 0 mmol/L, 46% ± 7% and 44% ± 8% with 0.6 mmol/L, 79% ± 2% and 76% ± 2% with 1.2 mmol/L, 67% ± 2% and 61% ± 5% with 1.8 mmol/L, and 65% ± 5% and 65% ± 7% with 2.4 mmol/L calcium, respectively. Significant improvement in recovery of developed pressure and dP / dt was detected when the calcium concentration was increased from 0 to 0.6 mmol/ L and from 0.6 to 1.2 mmol/L, but the groups with 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 mmol/L did not differ from one another significantly in terms of developed pressure and dP / dt recovery. There was no recovery of aortic flow when 0 mmol/L calcium was used; at calcium concentrations of 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 mmol/L, recovery of aortic flow averaged 16% ± 7%, 63% ± 10%, 23% ± 10%, and 36% ± 11% of baseline values, respectively. Recovery of aortic flow with 1.2 mmol/L calcium was significantly higher than at concentrations of 0.6 and 1.8 mmol/L. In the rabbit exposed to normothermic ischemia, we conclude that neonatal cardioplegia requires calcium to be effective and that 1.2 mmol/L represents the optimal calcium concentration for the best combination of recovery in aortic flow and developed pressure.
Grade retention and enrollment in post-secondary education

Students retained in grade have dropout rates three to seven times higher than do their promoted peers, yet little is known about the outcomes for the most persistent of the retained students who graduate high school. The purpose of this research was to examine the post-secondary (PSE) enrollment rates of retained but persistent high school graduates. Ten thousand 1992 high school graduates in the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS) data base composed the sample. A logistic regression controlling for gender, socio-economic status (SES), race–ethnicity, and achievement yielded odds ratios indicating significantly lower odds of PSE enrollment for retained graduates compared to promoted graduates. Later grade retention generally reduced the odds of PSE enrollment. Findings suggest that retaining students may be related to negative educational outcomes not realized for many years. D 2003 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Medieval quantifications of qualities: The “Merton School”

According to Aristotelian theory, quantities and qualities belong to separate categories. One might suppose, therefore, that Aristotelian theorists would not attempt to quantify qualities.1 During the later Middle Ages, however, theorists who were basically Aristotelian in their approaches did attempt to quantify qualities. The medieval approach to the quantification of qualities that has so far received the most attention from modern historians is that of
X-ray mirror surfaces evaluated by an X-ray topographical technique

Abstract Topographic images have been taken with 8 and 16 keV X-rays on a variety of X-ray reflecting surfaces, e.g. a platinum mirror, silicon carbide mirror, uncoated float glass, and on a Layered Synthetic Microstructure (LSM). A fine slit produces a monochromatic diffraction image from the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR). This image is subsequently reflected from the desired substrate and recorded on photographic film. The reflected image reveals topographic information pertaining to the structure of the surface. In particular, the variance of the central peak from a straight line provides a measure of slope errors on the surface with the sensitivity of better than 1 arc second. Areas of concentrated scattering indicate regions of greater surface roughness. An advantage of this method is that the mirror quality can be evaluated with X-rays under conditions similar to those for designed operation.
Effects of long-term restricted insulin production in obese-hyperglycemic (genotype ob/ob) mice.

Primary hypersecretion of insulin has been suggested as one possibility for the genetic fault of ob/ob mice. To test this hypothesis, streptozotocin (SZO) was used to reduce permanently insulin secretion in young lean and obese mice. After establishment of hyperglycaemia and weight reduction in treated obese mice (obese-SZO), daily insulin replacement was begun in some (obese-SZO-Ins). Obese-SZO mice maintained insulin levels and body weights similar to lean controls, though they were shorter and fatter, while food intake and blood sugar levels exceeded lean values. Obese-SZO-Ins mice with reduced islet hyperplasia, but great insulin resistance, gained more weight than obese-SZO mice; had high serum insulin and controlled blood glucose; and exhibited hyperphagia. These results suggest that primary hypersecretion of insulin cannot be the genetic defect, as ob/ob mice are hyperphagic, hyperglycaemic, insulin resistant, and “obese” even when insulin levels are restricted.
The Economic Consequences of the Obama Reelection: How Stagnation Has Vanquished Growth

The stagnation of the American economy during the past decade is attributable to faulty policies at both the macro and micro level. The efforts to organize stimulus programs and manipulation tax rates create uncertainties that offset any supposed gains from Keynesian policies. At the same time, the failure to address major structural flaws in labor, real estate, free trade and positive rights have resulted in cumulative dislocations that require a shrinkage of government across the board to facilitate any reversal of economic fortune.
Late Antiquity: Before and After

Formally, the story of late antiquity in the last decades resembles that of other periods and cultures. Where we inherited what looked like fundamentally sound narratives, built up laboriously and even heroically over time but still requiring supplementation and correction, narratives deploying characters whose identities could be grasped unambiguously, what we have come away with is a new appreciation for the way in which this period especially has been interpreted through constructions of narrative and constructions of identity that are at sharp variance with what we know about the people to whom they apply. Moreover, the constructions that have been in long use are often ones that go back to the late antique period itself. Hence when we accept them, we essentially connive with one party or another ofthat period to tell a story their way about people seen through their eyes. The late antiquity that I know best is the period that has loomed largest in the scholarly debates of the last generation, roughly from Diocletian and the
Monocyte-specific accessibility of a matrix attachment region in the tumor necrosis factor locus

Abstract Regulation of TNF gene expression is cell type- and stimulus-specific. We have previously identified highly conserved noncoding regulatory elements within DNase I-hypersensitive sites (HSS) located 9 kb upstream (HSS−9) and 3 kb downstream (HSS+3) of the TNF gene, which play an important role in the transcriptional regulation of TNF in T cells. They act as enhancers and interact with the TNF promoter and with each other, generating a higher order chromatin structure. Here, we report a novel monocyte-specific AT-rich DNase I-hypersensitive element located 7 kb upstream of the TNF gene (HSS−7), which serves as a matrix attachment region in monocytes. We show that HSS−7 associates with topoisomerase IIα (Top2) in vivo and that induction of endogenous TNF mRNA expression is suppressed by etoposide, a Top2 inhibitor. Moreover, Top2 binds to and cleaves HSS−7 in in vitro analysis. Thus, HSS−7, which is selectively accessible in monocytes, can tether the TNF locus to the nuclear matrix via matrix attachment region formation, potentially promoting TNF gene expression by acting as a Top2 substrate.
Shunting for idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus: Can we predict response?

Patient selection based upon preshunt corroborative evaluation with tap test, lumbar drainage or measurement of outflow resistance provides long-term improvement in idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus patients. The key is to select patients with the idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus triad of symptoms, as well as ventriculomegaly for shunting, in order to improve the negative predictive value of our tests so that appropriate patients can be reliably excluded as being shunt refractory.
Updated Branching Plane for Finding Conical Intersections without Coupling Derivative Vectors.

The conical intersections (CIs) form a (f-2)-dimensional hyperspace on which two diabatic potential energy surfaces (PESs) belonging to the same symmetry cross, where f is the internal degree of freedom. The branching plane (BP) is a (two-dimensional) plane defined by the difference gradient vector (DGV) and the coupling derivative vector (CDV), and on the BP, the degeneracy of the two adiabatic PESs is lifted. The properties of the BP are often used in the exploration of the conical intersection hyperspace, such as determination of the minimum energy CI or the first-order saddle point in CI. Although both DGV and CDV are necessary to construct the BP in general, CDV is not always available depending on ab initio methods and programs. Therefore, we developed an approach for optimizing critical points on the CI hypersurface without CDV by using a BP updating method, which was shown to be accurate and very useful for minimum energy and saddle point optimization and for the minimum energy path following with...
A new approach to the inverse scattering and spectral problems for the Sturm-Liouville equation

New proofs of the known uniqueness theorems for the one-dimensional inverse spectral and scattering problems are given. Proof of the invertibility of all of the steps in the inversion procedures of Gelfand-Levitan and Marchenko is given. The proposed method of investigation yields some new results, for example, a Marchenko-type equation at x = 0 which holds on the whole axis, rather than on a half-axis, as usual for the scattering theory on half-axis. It also yields a new method, shorter and simpler than earlier published, for proving that the potential in the class L1,1, obtained by the Marchenko reconstruction procedure, generates the scattering data from which it was reconstructed.
Studies in thoracic aortic graft infections: the development of a porcine model and a comparison of collagen-impregnated dacron grafts and cryopreserved allografts.

Abstract Objective: A porcine model of thoracic aortic graft infection was created, and various anatomic sites and the timing of inoculation of the graft to induce infection were investigated. Ultimately, the ability of cryopreserved allograft to resist infection was compared with that of collagen-impregnated Dacron graft. Methods: Yorkshire pigs (n = 16) underwent placement of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch graft in the ascending aorta and the left atrial appendage (phase I). Eight animals were immediately given a 50-mL bolus (1 × 10 8 cfu/mL) of Staphylococcus aureus whereas the other 8 received the infusion 24 hours later. Animals were put to death 8 weeks later and the grafts were sterilely explanted and analyzed via microbiologic culture and standard histologic procedures for evidence of infection. The results displayed that the aortic graft and a delay of induced bacteremia of 24 hours were more reliable methods of producing infection. During phase II, 13 pigs were randomized to receive either a collagen-impregnated Dacron graft (n = 6) or a cryopreserved allograft (n = 7) in the ascending aortic position only and infusion of S aureus 24 hours after the operation. The experiment then proceeded to completion. Results: Phase I results displayed that use of an aortic graft and induced bacteremia 24 hours after the operation was a more reliable and reproducible method of producing infection. In phase II, graft infection was present in 38.5% (5/13) of animals, with only 16.7% (1/6) in the collagen-impregnated Dacron graft group and 57.2% (4/7) in the cryopreserved allograft group becoming infected. There was no significant difference between the collagen-impregnated Dacron graft and cryopreserved allograft groups in the incidences of thoracic aortic graft infections ( P = .27, Fisher exact test). Conclusions: This novel porcine model of thoracic aortic graft infection is a reproducible method for the investigation of thoracic aortic graft infections. The phase I study investigated the timing of the induced bacteremia and the most susceptible position of a graft. Phase II demonstrated that collagen-impregnated Dacron grafts are equivalent, if not superior, to cryopreserved allografts in resisting central vascular graft infections in the ascending aorta. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;118:857-65)
Changing character of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in the United States

We analyzed National Registry data from 575 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in the United States to assess changes in patient characteristics and SSPE epidemiology. Racial proportions have changed in recent years with an increasing number of Hispanic patients reported in relation to a constant black:white ratio; however, the male:female ratio of approximately 2:1 has remained. The most striking feature of the data is the rapid decline in SSPE incidence. Corresponding to this decrease is an increase in the proportion of cases following measles vaccination. There also is a shorter incubation period for SSPE following vaccination than after measles infection.
Applications of nonmaximally decimated multirate filterbanks in partial response channel ISI cancellation

We study applications of nonmaximally decimated multirate filterbanks (NMDMF) in partial response channels, where the partial response transfer functions may not have inverses, such as frequency-selective fading channels. The NMDMF plays the preprocessing (or precoding) role. We present a necessary and sufficient condition on an FIR channel transfer function in terms of its zero set such that an FIR NMDMF with N channels and decimation by K, 0<K<N, for the encoder exists so that the decoder is able to recover the original signal with an FIR synthesis system, where the integers K and N are arbitrarily fixed. The condition is easy to check and satisfy. In addition to the conditions on the channel transfer functions, the practical design of the FIR NMDMF precoders and their FIR synthesis banks for the reconstruction is also given. An numerical example is presented to illustrate the theory.
Nuclear Interaction of a Proton of about 10 15 ev Producing an Electron-Photon Cascade of 2.4×10 13 ev

A nuclear interaction initiated by a proton of type 6 + l6/sub p/ was found in a nuclear emulsion flown above 110,000 fect. The angular distribution of the shower particles indicates that the primary energy was between 10 and l0/ sup 15/ ev. An unusually cnergetic electron-photon cascade was initiated which could be followed by 22.6 cm. This cascade appears to have been started by a single highenergy The effects of decaying into rays. Assuming a primary energyof 5 x 10/sup 14/ ev ( /sub c/ = 500), an energy of at least 15 Bev, in the center of mass systems would be obtained for the high-energy The effects of / sup 0/ meson. (A.C.)
Density and Compressibility of Oxygen in the Critical Region

Density-versus-height profiles have been measured in the critical region of oxygen by means of capacitance techniques. Results are given for the liquid and vapor densities at coexistence, for compressibilities along the coexistence curve to within $t\ensuremath{\equiv}\frac{(T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c})}{{T}_{c}}=\ensuremath{-}6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, for compressibilities along the critical isotherm to within $\frac{(\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{c})}{{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{c}}=5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, and for compressibilities along the critical isochore to within $t=2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$. The data are analyzed in terms of power-law descriptions and are shown to be in excellent agreement with recent scaling-law analyses of data for other fluids.
Validation of hourly pain intensity profiles with chronic pain patients

This study examines how empirically derived pain intensity profiles relate to psychological adjustment in chronic pain patients. Hourly pain intensity ratings over the course of a day of 189 chronic pain patients were categorized into 6 groups using a hierarchical regression analysis technique. The profiles reflected linear, curvilinear, multilinear or "no profile" effects. Judges' ratings of pain intensity profiles were found to be less reliable than ratings based on empirical analysis. The majority of patients showed linear profiles while 26% of the patients showed no consistent relationship between hourly pain intensity and time of day. Patients who showed no consistent trend in their pain ratings reported having significantly higher ratings of emotional distress. They tended to have conflicts at home and showed more pain behavior than patients who had a distinct pain profile. Support is given for the potential clinical utility of pain rating profiles.
The CO+NO Reaction over Pd: A Combined Study Using Single-Crystal, Planar-Model-Supported, and High-Surface-Area Pd/Al2O3Catalysts

Abstract A kinetics study of the CO+NO reaction over Pd has been carried out using single-crystal, model planar-supported, and conventional high-surface-area Pd/Al2O3catalysts. A pronounced structure sensitivity is evident that results in a rate enhancement over the Pd(111) single crystal relative to the more open (100) and (110) faces, and for larger supported particles relative to smaller ones. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data indicate that the Pd(100) face is more active for NO dissociation and atomic N stabilization than the close-packed (111) plane. Similarly, TPD results show that smaller particles in the model supported catalysts are more active for atomic N formation and stabilization. The inverse correlation between reaction activity and Naformation and stabilization suggests that an inactive atomic N species plays a role in determining the reaction rate.
Almost complete intersections and the Lex-Plus-Powers Conjecture

Abstract We prove the almost complete intersection case of the Lex-Plus-Powers Conjecture on graded Betti numbers. We show that the resolution of a lex-plus-powers almost complete intersection provides an upper bound for the graded Betti numbers of any other ideal with regular sequence in the same degrees and the same Hilbert function. A key ingredient is finding an explicit comparison map between two Koszul complexes. Finally, we obtain bounds on the Hilbert function of an almost complete intersection, including a special case of a conjecture of Eisenbud–Green–Harris.
Altering Intracellular pH Disrupts Development and Cellular Organization in Preimplantation Hamster Embryos

In early cleavage stage hamster embryos, the inability to regulate intracellular pH (pHi) properly is associated with reduced developmental competence in vitro. The disruption of mitochondrial organization is also correlated with reduced development in vitro. To determine the relationship between pHi and the disruption of cytoplasmic organization, we examined the effects of altering pHi on hamster embryo development, mitochondrial distribution, and cytoskeletal organization. The weak base trimethylamine was used to increase pHi and was found to reduce embryo development and disrupt the perinuclear organization of mitochondria. The weak acid 5,5-dimethyl-2,4-oxazolinedione was used to decrease pHi and was also found to reduce development and disrupt the perinuclear organization of mitochondria. With either treatment, the microfilament organization was perturbed, but the microtubule cytoskeleton was not. However, the temporal progression of the disruption of mitochondrial distribution was more rapid in alkalinized embryos than acidified embryos, as revealed by two-photon imaging of living embryos. Additionally, the disruption of the microfilament network by the two treatments was not identical. The cytoplasmic disruptions observed were not due to acute toxicity of the compounds because embryos recovered developmentally when the treatment compounds were removed. These observations link ionic homeostasis, structural integrity and developmental competence in preimplantation hamster embryos.
Introducing Control Flow into Vectorized Code

Single instruction multiple data (SIMD) functional units are ubiquitous in modern microprocessors. Effective use of these SIMD functional units is essential in achieving the highest possible performance. Automatic generation of SIMD instructions in the presence of control flow is challenging, however, not only because SIMD code is hard to generate in the presence of arbitrarily complex control flow, but also because the SIMD code executing the instructions in all control paths may slow compared to the scalar original, which may bypass a large portion of the code. One promising technique introduced recently involves inserting branches-on-superword-condition-codes (BOSCCs) to bypass vector instructions. In this paper, we describe two techniques that improve on the previous approach. First, BOSCCs are generated in a nested fashion so that even BOSCCs themselves can be bypassed by other BOSCCs. Second, we generate all vec_any_* instructions to bypass even some predicate-defining instructions. We implemented these techniques in a vectorizing compiler. On 14 kernels, the compiler achieves distinct speedups, including 1.99X over the previous technique that generates single- level BOSCCs and vec_any_ne only.
Dynamic fuzzy wavelet neuroemulator for non‐linear control of irregular building structures

A new non-linear control model is presented for active control of three-dimensional (3D) building structures. Both geometrical and material non-linearities are included in the structural control formulation. A dynamic fuzzy wavelet neuroemulator is presented for predicting the structural response in future time steps. Two dynamic coupling actions are taken into account simultaneously in the control model: (a) coupling between lateral and torsional motions of the structure and (b) coupling between the actuator and the structure. The new neuroemulator is validated using two irregular 3D steel building structures, a 12-story structure with vertical setbacks and an 8-story structure with plan irregularity. Numerical validations in both time and frequency domains demonstrate that the new neuroemulator provides accurate prediction of structural displacement responses, which is required in neural network models for active control of structures. In the companion paper, a floating-point genetic algorithm is presented for finding the optimal control forces needed for active non-linear control of building structures using the dynamic fuzzy wavelet neuroemulator presented in this paper. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transmit signal design for optimal estimation of correlated MIMO channels

We address optimal estimation of correlated multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels using pilot signals, assuming knowledge of the second-order channel statistics at the transmitter. Assuming a block fading channel model and minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimation at the receiver, we design the transmitted signal to optimize two criteria: MMSE and the conditional mutual information between the MIMO channel and the received signal. Our analysis is based on the recently proposed virtual channel representation, which corresponds to beamforming in fixed virtual directions and exposes the structure and the true degrees of freedom in the correlated channel. However, our design framework is applicable to more general channel models, which include known channel models, such as the transmit and receive correlated model, as special cases. We show that optimal signaling is in a block form, where the block length depends on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as well as the channel correlation matrix. The block signal corresponds to transmitting beams in successive symbol intervals along fixed virtual transmit angles, whose powers are determined by (nonidentical) water filling solutions based on the optimization criteria. Our analysis shows that these water filling solutions identify exactly which virtual transmit angles are important for channel estimation. In particular, at low SNR, the block length reduces to one, and all the power is transmitted on the beam corresponding to the strongest transmit angle, whereas at high SNR, the block length has a maximum length equal to the number of active virtual transmit angles, and the power is assigned equally to all active transmit angles. Consequently, from a channel estimation viewpoint, a faster fading rate can be tolerated at low SNRs relative to higher SNRs.
Soft Semantic Web services agent

Web services play an active role in the business integration and other fields such as bioinformatics. Current Web services technologies such as WSDL, UDDI, BPEL4WS and BSML are not semantic-oriented. Several proposals have been proposed to develop Semantic Web services to facilitate the discovery of relevant Web services [1][8]. In our vision, with the mature of Semantic Web services technologies, there will be a lot of public or private Semantic Web services Registries based on specific ontologies. These Registries may provide a lot of similar Web services. So how to provide the high quality of service (QoS) Semantic Web services for specific domain using these Registries will be a challenge task. Different domains have different requirements of QoS, it is impractical to use classical mathematical modeling methods to evaluate the QoS of Semantic Web services. In this paper, we propose a framework called Soft Semantic Web services Agent (SSWSA) for providing high QoS Semantic Web services using soft computing methodology. And we will use fuzzy neural network with GA learning algorithm as our study case. Simulation result shows that the SSWSA could handle fuzzy and uncertain QoS metrics effectively.
Grid pattern based residential area detection from Hyperion data

Satellite hyperspectral imagery has been widely used in geological and agricultural studies. However, its use for an urban environment is limited due to low spatial resolution. Few methods in the literature attempt to use both spectral and spatial information in hyperspectral imagery. In this paper, a new method of performing spectral correlation and detecting urban signatures by analyzing discrete Fourier components of a correlation image is presented. The results from the recognition of residential building areas are demonstrated.
Recurrent Seizures in Patients with Dementia: Frequency, Seizure-types and Treatment Outcome

Abstract Objective Patients with a primary neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive impairment are at increased risk for epilepsy. The goal of the present study was to characterize seizure type(s), etiological diagnosis of dementia, electroencephalogram (EEG) and imaging findings, and response to antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in these individuals. Methods A retrospective study was performed identifying patients in the Mayo Alzheimer Disease Patient Registry (ADPR) and Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) who were classified as having dementia and epilepsy from 1986 to 2006. Multiple clinical parameters were extracted from patient charts and evaluated to characterize the primary neurodegenerative disorder and seizure outcomes. Results Sixty-three of the 1738 ADPR and ADRC patients (3.6%) had epilepsy. Twenty-four of the 63 patients were excluded because of insufficient information regarding their epilepsy. The remaining 39 patients were analyzed. Twenty-eight of the 63 patients (72%) experienced complex partial seizures. Head MRI was performed in 35 patients (90%). Fourteen patients (36%) had MRI-identified structural lesions that included remote stroke and prior intracerebral hemorrhage. EEGs were obtained in 29 patients (74%). Fifteen patients (38%) had epileptiform discharges. Overall, it was found that 79% had an excellent response to AED therapy. Approximately one-third of the patients had dose-related side effects from an AED. Conclusion The present study indicated that most individuals with the comorbidity of epilepsy and dementia have complex partial seizures that may be adequately controlled on AED therapy. The long-term effect of seizure activity on the neurodegenerative disorder is unknown.
Histone H1 modulates DNA replication through multiple pathways in Xenopus egg extract

We investigated the effects of histone H1s on DNA replication using Xenopus egg extract. Mouse variants H1c and H10 were assembled onto Xenopus sperm chromatin by the extract during the remodeling that accompanies nuclear decondensation. The association of H1 with chromatin was rapid and concentration dependent. H1-associated chromatin displayed a typical nucleosomal repeat pattern indicating that linker histones are properly positioned along the DNA. The presence of H1 on sperm chromatin reduced both the rate and extent of DNA replication in egg extract. This reduction in rate is due, in part, to a delay in initiation of replication within individual nuclei. Initiation in extract is dependent upon nuclear assembly. Analysis of the assembly process revealed that H1 does not inhibit nuclear membrane formation or the import of nuclear protein, however, it does slow the rate of nuclear lamina formation. This H1-induced delay in lamina assembly is responsible for the delay in initiation as pre-assembled H1-containing nuclei initiate replication at the same time as control nuclei. However, H1 inhibits replication even when lamina assembly is complete suggesting that H1 also affects replication directly. These data indicate that H1 modulates DNA replication through multiple pathways in egg extract.
A direct method for computing extreme value Gumbel parameters for gapped biological sequence alignments

We develop a general method for computing extreme value distribution Gumbel, 1958 parameters for gapped alignments. Our approach uses mixture distribution theory to obtain associated BLOSUM matrices for gapped alignments, which in turn are used for determining significance of gapped alignment scores for pairs of biological sequences. We compare our results with parameters already obtained in the literature.
Safety and predictors of aneurysm retreatment for remnant intracranial aneurysm after initial endovascular embolization

Introduction Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a rare but devastating form of stroke. Endovascular therapy has been criticized for its higher rate of recanalization and retreatment. The safety and predictors of retreatment are unknown. We report the clinical outcomes, imaging outcomes and predictors for aneurysm retreatment after initial endovascular embolization. Method We identified patients who underwent endovascular retreatment from July 2005 through November 2011. Aneurysm and patient data were collected. Periprocedural complications were reported as intraoperative perforation (IOP) or thromboembolic event (TEE). Aneurysm and patient characteristics were compared between aneurysms requiring retreatment and those not requiring retreatment to evaluate aneurysm retreatment predictors. Results A total of 111/871 (13%) aneurysms underwent retreatment. Two (0.2%) were retreated for recurrent acute SAH, 82 (74%) aneurysms were located in the anterior circulation, 47 (42%) required stent and 5 (5%) required balloon assist during retreatment. There were a total of 5 (5%) IOP and 6 (5%) TEE from which 2 (2%) and 1 (1%) were symptomatic, respectively. Overall symptomatic events rate were 2.7%. Patients were followed up for an average of 15±14 months. Seven (0.8%) aneurysms required a second retreatment without any recurrent SAH. Multivariable analysis revealed an OR for aneurysms requiring retreatment of 2.965 for aneurysms presenting as aneurysmal SAH, 1.791 for aneurysms in the posterior circulation and 1.053 for aneurysms with large dome size. Conclusions Aneurysm retreatment is a safe option without a significant increase in morbidity or mortality. SAH, posterior circulation aneurysms and larger aneurysm dome size are predictors of aneurysms requiring retreatment.
Ultrastructural studies on the cleistothecium of Ajellomyces dermatitidis

Aspects of the external morphology of the cleistothecium as well as various stages of ascosporogenesis of Ajellomyces dermatitidis as observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy are described and illustrated. The most conspicuous surface features of the cleistothecium are the peridial coils and the hyphae which arise from the tightly coiled spirals to form the supporting matrix of the fruiting body proper. The hyphae of the spirals are flattened perpendicularly to the axis of the helix. No conspicuous surface sculpturing was observed for either the spirals, ascogenous hyphae, or hyphae of the cleistothecial matrix. The ascospores develop from haploid nuclei which are seen in association with 2 pairs of parallel membranes enclosing the nuclei as well as mitochondria, ribosomes and endoplasmic reticulum. As the ascospore matured, an electron dense outer layer of the cell wall is formed which is profusely sculptured with short projections. The cytoplasm of the ascus degenerates with loss of cel...
Intratumoral Heterogeneity in a Trp53-Null Mouse Model of Human Breast Cancer

Intratumoral heterogeneity correlates with clinical outcome and reflects the cellular complexity and dynamics within a tumor. Such heterogeneity is thought to contribute to radio- and chemoresistance because many treatments may target only certain tumor cell subpopulations. A better understanding of the functional interactions between various subpopulations of cells, therefore, may help in the development of effective cancer treatments. We identified a unique subpopulation of tumor cells expressing mesenchymal-like markers in a Trp53 -null mouse model of basal-like breast cancer using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and microarray analysis. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed the existence of cross-talk between these “mesenchymal-like” cells and tumor-initiating cells. Knockdown of genes encoding ligands upregulated in the mesenchymal cells and their corresponding receptors in the tumor-initiating cells resulted in reduced tumorigenicity and increased tumor latency. These studies illustrate the non–cell-autonomous properties and importance of cooperativity between tumor subpopulations. Significance: Intratumoral heterogeneity has been considered one important factor in assessing a patient's initial response to treatment and selecting drug regimens to effectively increase tumor response rate. Elucidating the functional interactions between various subpopulations of tumor cells will help provide important new insights in understanding treatment response and tumor progression. Cancer Discov; 5(5); 520–33. ©2015 AACR . See related commentary by Brooks and Wicha, [p. 469][1] This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, [p. 453][2] [1]: /lookup/volpage/5/469?iss=5 [2]: /lookup/volpage/5/453?iss=5
Transient behavior of the FDDI protocol under heavy load

The transient behavior of the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) protocol is analyzed, under the assumption of a heavy-load for a single asynchronous priority level. The analysis leads to a simple characterization of the asynchronous transmission times for the different stations. From this characterization, an algorithm to calculate the token rotations and times at which different stations in the ring begin to transmit asynchronous data is derived. Simulation results show that the behavior predicted by the algorithm is approached under heavy Poisson asynchronous load in the network. >
Fatigue Crack Propagation in Stiffened Panels

Fatigue crack propagation in Al alloy panels stiffened with bolted and integral stringers, determining stress intensity factor/crack growth rate relationship
Fatal reactions in bison following systemic organophosphate treatment for the control of Hypoderma bovis.

Straw B, 6th ed., pp. 426-428. Iowa State University Press, Ames, 4. Peet RL, Fry J, Lloyd J, Henderson J, Curran J, Mour D: 1983, IA. Haemophilus parasuis septicaemia in pigs. Aust Vet J 80: 187. 3. Nielsen R, Danielson V: 1975, An outbreak of Glasser’s disease. 5. Pijoan C, Morrison FB, Hilley HD: 1983, Dilution technique Studies on etiology, serology and the effect of vaxxinrion. Nord for isolation of Hemophilus from swine lungs collected at slaughVeterinaermed 27:20-25. ter. J Clin Microbiol l8:143-145.
Bismuth-doped yttrium iron garnet guided-wave magnetooptic Bragg cells and applications

Superior performance figures obtained with guided-wave magnetooptic Bragg cells using magnetostatic forward volume waves (MSFVWs) in bismuth-doped yttrium iron garnet-gadolinium gallium garnet (YIG-GGG) waveguides operating at an optical wavelength of 1.303 mu m are reported. The figures include a center-frequency tuning range of 3.7 to 12.0 GHz, a diffraction efficiency of 12% at a MSFVW power of 56 mW and a linear dynamic range greater than 40 dB, and a null-to-null MO bandwidth of 1.40 GHz centered at 10.5 GHz. These results are significantly better than those obtained previously with pure YIG-GGG guided-wave MO Bragg cells. By tuning the RF frequency around 10.0 GHz at a fixed DC magnetic field of 3640 Oe and by varying the DC magnetic field around 3640 Oe at a fixed RF frequency of 10.0 GHz, scan angles of 6 degrees and 5.3 degrees , respectively, for the diffracted light beam were measured. RF spectral-analysis experiments over the entire frequency band from 3.7-12.0 GHz were also carried out. A frequency resolution of approximately 30 MHz was demonstrated. >
Barriers to adopting technology for teaching and learning in Oman

This study investigates the perceived barriers to adopting information and communication technologies (ICT) in Omani higher education. One hundred faculty members from four different departments at the College of Applied Sciences in Oman participated in the study. The participants took a survey, which was developed based on the Western literature. Five factors were extracted from the survey: lack of equipment, lack of institutional support, disbelief of ICT benefits, lack of confidence, and lack of time. The findings showed that the faculty members perceived moderate degrees of barriers in applying ICT to their teaching practices. Group differences based on gender, academic rank, and academic field were generally not found except for the interaction effects on the barriers related to lack of equipment, disbelief of ICT benefits, and the overall mean. Male faculty members with less usage of ICT perceived more barriers regarding the lack of computing equipment, disbeliefs of ICT benefits, and the overall barrier than the female counterparts. It is recommended that the survey be further refined to include more subtle and culturally relevant items, larger sample sizes, and more heterogeneous samples to validate and extend the findings. Important implications of this study include a need to provide more institutional support, technical training, and personal time for faculty members to learn and upgrade their knowledge and skills in educational technologies.
Testing hypotheses regarding the genetics of adaptation

Many of the hypotheses regarding the genetics of adaptation require that one know specific details about the genetic basis of complex traits, such as the number and effects of the loci involved. Developments in molecular biology have made it possible to create relatively dense maps of markers that can potentially be used to map genes underlying specific traits. However, there are a number of reasons to doubt that such mapping will provide the level of resolution necessary to specifically address many evolutionary questions. Moreover, evolutionary change is built upon the substitution of individual mutations, many of which may now be cosegregating in the same allele. In order for this developing area not to become a mirage that traps the efforts of an entire field, the genetic dissection of adaptive traits should be conducted within a strict hypothesis-testing framework and within systems that promise a reasonable chance of identifying the specific genetic changes of interest. Continuing advances in molecular technology may lead the way here, but some form of genetic testing is likely to be forever required.