cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progress with Afghanistan extractive industries: Will the country know resource success or failure evermore?

Abstract Extractive industries (EI) in Afghanistan have never been a major economic force in a country where the state owned all mineral rights and operated all mines. Reorganized now into the ministries which will ostensibly facilitate the EI so that domestic and international companies can submit bids to tender offers, the factors for desired success with the new EI include robust plans for sustainable development and resource corridors. Contentious mining law in Afghanistan has been seriously revised several times in the past decade, with the principles of EI transparency initiatives being variously weighted as Afghanistan is a candidate for admission to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) group of nations. Recent revised mining law has been touted as being friendly to foreign companies, as well as to mining mafias and armed gangs rather than the protection of local people and the environment, although the intent to use the EI to support governmental revenues is paramount. The new government of Ashraf Ghani has an opportunity to either oversee the rise of a viable set of EI processes in the country, or the failure of a perhaps flawed endeavor.
ANALYSIS OF FEEDFORWARD-BACKPROPAGATION NEURAL NETWORKS USED IN VEHICLE DETECTION

Abstract Current vision-based vehicle detection systems use image-processing algorithms to monitor the presence of vehicles on the roads. Recent research has shown that an artificial feedforward neural network can be trained to provide similar capabilities. A properly trained and configured network should be able to recognize the presence of vehicles in the images it has never been exposed to. This paper discusses the development of a feedforward-backpropagation neural network-based vehicle detection system that recognizes and tracks vehicles with satisfactory reliability and efficiency. Various issues that are important in selecting the optimal neural network model—like the architecture of the network including the number of hidden layers, their units, learning rule, tiling characteristics of the input image and the output representation of the network—are addressed in this paper. This paper also analyzes how the neural network internally learns the mapping knowledge of the input-output training pairs. The final section describes an output post processor that produces the traditional pulse and presence signals.
Structural similarities between the aspartate receptor of bacterial chemotaxis and the trp repressor of E. coli Implications for transmembrane signaling

A high resolution structure of the N-terminal ligand-binding domain of the aspartate receptor which mediates aspartate chemotaxis in Salmonella typhimurium has recently been reported. A least-squares superposition of the α-amino nitrogen, α-carbon, β-carbon, and α-carboxylate carbon of the aspartate bound to the aspartate receptor onto the equivalent atoms in the tryptophan bound to the trp repressor provides evidence for similarity between key parts of the active sites that bind to the α-amino and α-carboxylates of the respective ligands. Because the N-terminal domain of the aspartate receptor and the trp repressor also share other structural similarities, we hypothesize that the similarity between the aspartate receptor and the trp repressor derives from a similarity in ligand-induced conformational changes at the active sites of these proteins. This hypothesis also implies that an important signaling event in the aspartate receptor occurs through tertiary conformational changes within a single subunit.
Characterization of polymeric electro-optic films using metal mirror/electrode Fabry-Perot etalons

The electro-optic properties of polymeric materials are characterized using Fabry-Perot etalons in which the polymeric layer acts as the spacer layer. This technique is particularly useful since the etalon converts small electric field induced changes in the index of refraction of the spacer layer to changes in the overall transmittance and reflectance of the structure. In this paper we show that using angle tuning, the transmission characteristics of the Fabry-Perot etalons fabricated on glass substrates can be sufficiently characterized to allow for determination of the electro-optic coefficients of the spacer layer material. We also present experimental results of novel reflection mode etalons fabricated on Si. These structures exhibit a large change in reflectance as a function of the optical path length inside the etalon cavity. When fabricated with an electrooptic spacer layer, the reflectance can be modulated by applying an electric field. Reflection mode devices can also be used to study the properties of new eleciro-optic materials and also show promise for use as Si compatible modulators.
Metastable decomposition of peptide [M + H]+ ions via rearrangement involving loss of the C-terminal amino acid residue

A novel fragmentation of metastable peptide [M + H]+ ions is described. Loss of the C-terminal amino acid residue is accomqanied by retention of one of the carboxyl oxygens, as judged by 18O-labeling. The retained 8O label is located at the new C-terminus. Sequential mass spectrometric analyses indicate that the structure of the first-generation product ion is indistinguishable from that of the [M + H]+ ion of the peptide with one fewer amino acid residues. Thus, for example, the metastable decompositions of ions of m/z 904 are similar whether they correspond to des-Arg9-bradykinin [M + H]+ ions or to fragments derived from bradykinin [M + H]+ ions. No corresponding rearrangements have been observed for peptides with C-terminal amide or ester functions. The mechanism of this fragmentation may be considered to be analogous to that previously suggested for fragmentations of [M + alkali metal cation]+ ions. For the examples of bradykinin and related peptides, the rearrangement is strongly promoted when arginine is the amino acid residue lost. The same fragmentation is also favored by the presence of an arginine residue at or near the N-terminus. The strong influence of peptide amino acid composition, including residues remote from the C-terminus, on the prevalence of this fragmentation suggests mechanistic complexities that require further elucidation.
A production simulation tool for systems with an integrated concentrated solar plant with thermal energy storage

The global awareness of the impacts of climate change is a key driver of the growing interest in effectively harnessing renewable energy resources. The concentrated solar plant (CSP) technology has emerged as a promising approach to harness solar energy, with several implement-tations under way around the world. CSP is, typically, coupled with the deployment of thermal energy storage (TES) so as to provide the CSP operator the flexibility to produce electricity beyond the sunrise-to-sunset period. Indeed, the effective utilization of TES requires a scheduler to optimize the value of the CSP-produced energy. The assessment of CSP sets up an acute need for a practical simulation tool to study the effects of the integrated CSP with TES on the systems. Such a tool must explicitly represent the uncertainty, variability and intermittency of the solar resource and its interactions with the loads and other resources. We report on the development of a probabilistic simulation tool aimed at addressing these needs. The identification of distinct direct normal irradiation (DNI) patterns is an important step in the extension of the conventional probabilistic simulation approach to the systems with the integrated CSP resource. We use clustering techniques to identify the various pattern groups - referred to as regimes - and construct the CSP power output model based on the identified regimes. We make detailed use of conditional probability concepts in the incorporation of this model into the probabilistic production simulation approach. We carry out an extensive set of simulations for testing the extended approach. To illustrate the capabilities of this approach to quantify the variable effects of the systems with the integrated CSP resources over longer-term periods, we present the representative simulation results on a modified version of the IEEE Reliability Test System (RTS), with an integrated CSP resource. The load data is based from the scaled 2011 ERCOT load data. The study results provide insights into the CSP impacts on the variable effects of the systems and demonstrate the effectiveness of the extended simulation approach.
Why good economic news depressed stock and bond prices in 1996

Abstract In the spring of 1996 good economic news depressed asset prices. This could have occurred because investors feared either inflation or a monetary contraction. Using a model with time-varying risk this paper presents evidence supporting the monetary contraction hypothesis.
A recombinant bovine gallbladder mucin polypeptide binds biliary lipids and accelerates cholesterol crystal appearance time.

Abstract Background & Aims: Mucin has a central role in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones, in part because of its ability to bind biliary lipids and accelerate cholesterol crystal appearance time. Previous studies have localized these properties to nonglycosylated mucin domains, and we have recently shown that these domains contain a series of 127−amino acid, cysteine-rich repeats. The aim of this study was to express a recombinant mucin polypeptide containing these repeats and investigate its lipid-binding and pronucleating properties. Methods: A recombinant mucin polypeptide was expressed as a glutathione S -transferase fusion protein in Escherichia coli, purified by affinity chromatography, and compared with native bovine gallbladder mucin in lipid-binding and cholesterol crystal appearance time assays. Results: The recombinant mucin polypeptide bound a hydrophobic fluorescent probe and cholesterol in a concentration-dependent manner. It accelerated the appearance of cholesterol crystals from lithogenic model bile, an effect that was both time and concentration dependent. Conclusions: The cysteine-rich repeats in the recombinant mucin polypeptide correspond to the protease-sensitive hydrophobic domains identified in earlier biochemical studies. Further delineation of the lipid-binding site(s) in these repeats will provide new insights into the mechanism of cholesterol crystal nucleation and stone growth. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1999;116:936-942
Scatterer induced mode splitting in active microcavities

Scattering induced mode splitting in microcavities with gain medium is detected directly using heterodyne technique without wavelength scan around resonant modes. Optical gain helps resolve small mode splittings, which might be missed in passive microcavities.
PHOTOTOXICITY FROM BENOXAPROFEN: IN VIVO AND IN VITRO STUDIES

Benoxaprofen (2-[4-chlorophenyl]-α-methyl-5-benzoxazole acetic acid), a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, was found to provoke phototoxicity reactions in humans. Exposure of the skin of benoxaprofen-treated subjects to either solar simulating radiation or a broad UV-A wavelength band produced intense itching and burning sensations, followed by the development of a classical wheal and flare response within 2-4 min. Phototoxicity was related to both the UV radiation fluence and the dose of orally administered benoxaprofen. Wavelengths between 320 and 340nm were active in provoking urticaria. In vitro studies demonstrated that benoxaprofen and UV irradiation produced a dose-dependent lysis of sheep erythrocytes which did not appear to be dependent on the presence of oxygen. Red cells were not lysed by pre-irradiated benoxaprofen arguing against the production of stable lytic photoproducts. Human neutrophils were lysed by benoxaprofen and UV light which resulted in the liberation of both cytoplasmic and lysosomal enzymes. Benoxaprofen failed to induce photolysis of human platelets and photoactivation of complement in human serum. It is suggested that phototoxic urticaria provoked by benoxaprofen may be due to a direct photolytic effect on human dermal mast cells.
Self-discrepancy and distress: The role of personal growth initiative.

Higher levels of personal growth initiative (PGI; C. Robitschek, 1998) are associated with lower negative and higher positive affect (e.g., C. Robitschek & S. Kashubeck, 1999; C. Robitschek & C. L. M. Keyes, 2004). Two hypotheses that have been suggested for such findings are that (a) PGI moderates the relation between problems and affect and (b) successful resolution of potential problems mediates the relation between PGI and affect (C. Robitschek & S. Kashubeck, 1999). The current research tested these two hypotheses, using self-discrepancies (E. T. Higgins, 1987) as problems or sources of distress. Using a sequential design and a sample of predominantly European American college students (N = 134), the authors found that PGI was associated with lower social anxiety and negative affect, higher positive affect, and lower self-discrepancies. No support for the first (moderation) hypothesis was found. However, there was partial support for the second (mediational) hypothesis. The results suggest that those higher in PGI experience less social anxiety in part by maintaining lower self-discrepancies.
Additive Risk Models for Survival Data with High‐Dimensional Covariates

As a useful alternative to Cox's proportional hazard model, the additive risk model assumes that the hazard function is the sum of the baseline hazard function and the regression function of covariates. This article is concerned with estimation and prediction for the additive risk models with right censored survival data, especially when the dimension of the covariates is comparable to or larger than the sample size. Principal component regression is proposed to give unique and numerically stable estimators. Asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators, component selection based on the weighted bootstrap, and model evaluation techniques are discussed. This approach is illustrated with analysis of the primary biliary cirrhosis clinical data and the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma genomic data. It is shown that this methodology is numerically stable and effective in dimension reduction, while still being able to provide satisfactory prediction and classification results.
Ergonomic Temperature Limits for Handheld Electronic Devices

In the drive towards smaller but more powerful electronic systems, effective thermal management issues continue to be among the key challenges facing the electronic industry. With this drive comes increasing heat production that must be removed for a satisfactory and safe operation. In large systems, one of the main challenges is how to achieve acceptable junction temperature of components such as microprocessors. In small systems such as handheld devices, however, one of the main challenges is maintaining the enclosure temperature below certain threshold so that they can be handled and operated without much discomfort. Whether the device is cooled passively or actively, a portion of the total heat generated by components is dissipated through the enclosure. This heat is then dissipated from the skin by radiation and natural convection into the ambient, and by conduction into any body that is in touch with it. So, when a device is held by hand, part of the heat produced will flow into the hand by conduction. The higher the temperature of the enclosure, the greater the heat transfer into the hand will be. Thus, whereas some devices feel cool to the touch, others will feel hot when touched. In order to characterize touch comfort, we must answer some basic questions: What determines whether a device feels hot or not? That is, what are the variables that control touch comfort? Is there a maximum skin temperature limit that we can say is acceptable for touch comfort? In this paper, we shall attempt to answer these and related questions. Among the results we report in this paper include that touch comfort not only depends on the absolute enclosure temperature of the device but also on the thermal conductivity of the enclosure. Materials with high conductivity transfer greater amount of heat into the hand than materials with low conductivity. Thus, a device with aluminum enclosure will feel hotter when touched than a device with plastic enclosure dissipating the same amount of heat. Further, depending on enclosure material type and ambient conditions, one can identify a skin temperature limit beyond which touch comfort deteriorates and becomes unacceptable. For the form factor studied, it was determined that the skin temperature limit for a plastic enclosure was about 45 C, and for aluminum enclosure it was about 41 C.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Relating Narrative, Inquiry, and Inscriptions: Supporting Consequential Play

In this paper we describe our research using a multi-user virtual environment, Quest Atlantis, to embed fourth grade students in an aquatic habitat simulation. Specifically targeted towards engaging students in a rich inquiry investigation, we layered a socio-scientific narrative and an interactive rule set into a multi-user virtual environment gaming engine to establish a virtual world through which students learned about science inquiry, water quality concepts, and the challenges in balancing scientific and socio-economic factors. Overall, students were clearly engaged, participated in rich scientific discourse, submitted quality work, and learned science content. Further, through participation in this narrative, students developed a rich perceptual, conceptual, and ethical understanding of science. This study suggests that multi-user virtual worlds can be effectively leveraged to support academic content learning.
Cell cycle entry of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells controlled by distinct cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors.

The therapeutic promise of hematopoietic stem cells in medicine has been expanded as broader differentiation potential of the cells has gained experimental support. However, hurdles for stem cell manipulation in vitro and tissue regeneration in vivo remain because of lack of the molecular biology of the stem cells. In particular, elucidating the molecular control of cell cycle entry is necessary for rational stem cell expansion strategies. Understanding how the stem and progenitor cell populations are controlled by negative regulators of cell cycle entry may provide one basis for manipulating these cells. In this mini-review, we focus on the rationale of targeting the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) in stem cell biology. Two CKI members, p21Cip1/Waf1 (p21) and p27kip1 (p27), have been shown to govern the pool sizes of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, respectively. Of note, their inhibitory roles in primitive hematopoietic cells are distinct from the action of the inhibitory cytokine, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Therefore, the distinct roles of p21, p27, and TGF-β1 in hematopoietic cells offer attractive targets for specific manipulation of the stem or progenitor cell populations in therapeutic strategies.
Nanette Gottlieb, Kanji politics: Language policy and Japanese script. London & New York: Kegan Paul International, 1995. Pp. 245. [Distrib. by Columbia University Press, hb $76.50.] J. Marshall Unger, Literacy and script reform in Occupation Japan: Reading between the lines. Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Pp. xi, 176. Hb $39.95.

The Japanese writing system is frequently singled out for the dubious distinction of being the modern world's most complex, and the amount of time and effort that public figures in Japan have spent promoting and resisting script reform in this century seems to have been in direct proportion to the system's complexity. The two books under review are important contributions to the documentation and interpretation of this protracted and acrimonious struggle.
Moisture absorption impact on Cu alloy/low-k reliability during process queue time

The moisture absorption impacts on electromigration (EM) and time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) were investigated in Cu/low-k interconnects that is adopting CuAl alloy seed technique. A long queue time (Q-time) has a serious impact on kinetics of both EM and TDDB characteristics. The moisture absorption causes the loss of alloy effects on EM lifetime improvements. The ultra-thin SiN (UT-SiN) remarkably suppresses the moisture absorption impacts due to Q-time. It also inhibits kinetics degradations of EM and TDDB that depend on the moisture absorption to low-k.
Predatory functional morphology in raptors: interdigital variation in talon size is related to prey restraint and immobilisation technique.

Despite the ubiquity of raptors in terrestrial ecosystems, many aspects of their predatory behaviour remain poorly understood. Surprisingly little is known about the morphology of raptor talons and how they are employed during feeding behaviour. Talon size variation among digits can be used to distinguish families of raptors and is related to different techniques of prey restraint and immobilisation. The hypertrophied talons on digits (D) I and II in Accipitridae have evolved primarily to restrain large struggling prey while they are immobilised by dismemberment. Falconidae have only modest talons on each digit and only slightly enlarged D-I and II. For immobilisation, Falconini rely more strongly on strike impact and breaking the necks of their prey, having evolved a ‘tooth’ on the beak to aid in doing so. Pandionidae have enlarged, highly recurved talons on each digit, an adaptation for piscivory, convergently seen to a lesser extent in fishing eagles. Strigiformes bear enlarged talons with comparatively low curvature on each digit, part of a suite of adaptations to increase constriction efficiency by maximising grip strength, indicative of specialisation on small prey. Restraint and immobilisation strategy change as prey increase in size. Small prey are restrained by containment within the foot and immobilised by constriction and beak attacks. Large prey are restrained by pinning under the bodyweight of the raptor, maintaining grip with the talons, and immobilised by dismemberment (Accipitridae), or severing the spinal cord (Falconini). Within all raptors, physical attributes of the feet trade off against each other to attain great strength, but it is the variable means by which this is achieved that distinguishes them ecologically. Our findings show that interdigital talon morphology varies consistently among raptor families, and that this is directly correlative with variation in their typical prey capture and restraint strategy.
On faithful representations of the holomorph of Lie groups

Let G be a Lie group and let Aut(G) denote the group of all automorphisms of the Lie group G, endowed with its natural structure of a Lie group. The natural semidirect product G >~ Aut(G) is called the holomorph of G. In [2], Hochschild has shown that if the nilradical (that is, the maximum nilpotent analytic normal subgroup) N of a real or complex analytic group G is simply connected, then the holomorph of G is faithfully representable. Moreover, one of the authors in [4] has given an intrinsic characterization of those complex analytic groups whose holomorph is faithfully representable. In this paper, we are interested in determining when the holomorph of a Lie group G is faithfully representable (that is, admits a faithful finite-dimensional continuous representation). Our first result (Theorem 1) answers this question when G is an f.c.c. Lie group. Also in this work, we extend the result of [4] to real analytic groups (Theorem 2). Our method is entirely different from that of [4] and may be adapted to cover the complex case as well. We would like to thank the referee for making valuable suggestions for improvements of this paper.
3D prostate shape modeling from sparsely acquired 2D images using deformable models

Intraoperative quality assessment during prostate brachytherapy could improve the clinical outcome by ensuring the delivery of a prescribed tumoricidal radiation dose to the entire prostate gland. Accurate prostate boundary segmentation is an essential first step towards this. Classical segmentation techniques fail to generate a reliable edge map in ultrasound images. Modeling the 3D prostate shape in a deformable model framework could lead to more reliable prostate segmentation since missing information in some parts of the images due to the indistinct prostatic margins could be reconstructed using information in adjacent slices, and the resulting boundary elements could be integrated into a coherent mathematical description. We first experimented with deformable superquadrics to generate 3D surfaces that match the manually-outlined prostate contours. The superquadrics were found to capture the global shape, but had limited capability of modeling local shape variations. Then, closed and tubular surfaces were generated using Fourier descriptors to fit the prostate data. The modeling errors were compared with the disagreement between manual outlines by three experts. The preliminary results from 12 patient data sets show that the Fourier descriptors are capable of generating tubular surfaces that closely match the manual outlines. The minimum number of parameters required to reconstruct a tubular prostate surface with a tolerable error margin is 52.
Cattle grazing increases microbial biomass and alters soil nematode communities in subtropical pastures

Abstract This study focused on examining the impacts of cattle grazing on belowground communities and soil processes in humid grasslands. Multiple components in the soil communities were examined in heavily grazed and ungrazed areas of unimproved and improved bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) pastures in south-central Florida. By using small (1-m×1-m) sampling plots, we were able to detect critical differences in nematode communities, microbial biomass, and mineralized C and N, resulting from the patchy grazing pattern of cattle. Soil samples were collected on three occasions between June 2002 and June 2003. Microbial C and N were greater ( P ⩽ 0.01 ) in grazed than in ungrazed plots on all sampling dates. Effects of grazing varied among nematode genera. Most genera of colonizer bacterivores were decreased ( P ⩽ 0.10 ) by grazing, but more persistent bacterivores such as Euteratocephalus and Prismatolaimus were increased, as were omnivores and predators. Higher numbers of persisters indicated that grazing resulted in a more structured nematode community. Some herbivores, particularly Criconematidae, were decreased by grazing. Abundance of omnivores, predators, and especially fungivores were strongly associated with C mineralization potential. Strong correlation of microbial C and N with nematode canonical variables composed of five trophic groups illustrates important links between nematode community structure and soil microbial resources. Including the analysis of nematode trophic groups with soil microbial responses reveals detection of grazing impact deeper into the hierarchy of the decomposition process in soil, and illustrates the complexity of responses to grazing in the soil foodweb. Although highly sensitive to grazing impacts, small-scale sampling could not be used to generalize the overall impact of cattle grazing in large-scale pastures, which might be determined by the intensity and grazing patterns of various stocking densities at the whole pasture level.
The Organization of Language and the Brain

The study of the organization of the brain for language has been based of necessity on investigations in man. The bulk of our information in this area has come from careful studies of patients suffering from isolated damage as a result of vascular disease, whose brains have, after death, been subjected to careful anatomical examination. Disorders of language resulting from brain damage, almost always on the left side, are called aphasias. Carl Wernicke, nearly 100 years ago. described the linguistic differences between aphasias resulting from damage in different anatomical locations and outlined a theory of the organization of language in the brain. Not only have Wernicke’s localizations stood up under repeated examinations but his theory has been the only one which has permitted the prediction of new phenomena, or has been able to account for new observations. Several remarkable disorders, such as isolated disturbances of reading and the symptomatology of the corpus callosum, are examples of the explanatory power of this theory.
Conceptual Design of a Communication-based Deep Space Navigation Network

As the need grows for increased autonomy and position knowledge accuracy to support missions beyond Earth orbit, engineers must push and develop more advanced navigation sensors and systems that operate independent of Earth-based analysis and processing. Several spacecraft are approaching this problem using inter-spacecraft radiometric tracking and onboard autonomous optical navigation methods. This paper proposes an alternative implementation to aid in spacecraft position fixing. The proposed method Network-Based Navigation technique takes advantage of the communication data being sent between spacecraft and between spacecraft and ground control to embed navigation information. The navigation system uses these packets to provide navigation estimates to an onboard navigation filter to augment traditional ground-based radiometric tracking techniques. As opposed to using digital signal measurements to capture inherent information of the transmitted signal itself, this method relies on the embedded navigation packet headers to calculate a navigation estimate. This method is heavily dependent on clock accuracy and the initial results show the promising performance of a notional system.
Association between proton pump inhibitor use and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increase enteric bacterial colonization, overgrowth, and translocation, all effects which might predispose to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. We investigated whether PPI usage is associated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Our retrospective case-control study included 116 consecutive cirrhotic patients with ascites who underwent diagnostic paracentesis upon hospital admission (2002–2005). Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was defined as paracentesis yielding ≥250 polymorphonuclear leukocytes/ml. We performed logistic regression to determine the risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis by PPI usage. Of the 116 subjects, 32 had spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Patient characteristics were similar between groups with and without infection, with the exception of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (median: 23 and 18, respectively; P = 0.002). Crude and adjusted odds ratios for the development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis by exposure to PPIs were 1.22 (95% confidence interval: 0.52–2.87) and 1.05 (0.43–2.57), respectively. In conclusion, we did not find a positive association between PPI use and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
P-values after repeated significance testing: a simple approximation method

The P-value after a repeated significance test is a useful measure of the strength of evidence against the null hypothesis. Its computation, however, requires a computer-intensive numerical integration method. The P-value is not conceptually straightforward, because it depends on how the sample space is ordered, which can be arbitrary. We look at two orderings of the sample space, one proposed by Tsiatis et al. and the other by Rosner and Tsiatis, and Chang. Although studies have shown that the latter ordering gives more reasonable confidence intervals than the former, the former gives a conservative and therefore more reasonable P-value. Both, however, should yield an identical P-value in most applications. In this paper we present a simple method of approximating P-values. We provide tables to implement the method for two to ten stages with alpha = 0.1, 0.05 and 0.01 for the Pocock and O'Brien-Fleming procedures. The proposed method can be applied to both orderings.
Method and apparatus for echo transit time determination

A method and an apparatus for determining the transit time of echoes triggered by exposure of the bottom of a body of water to sonic pulses, in order to improve the echo detection in a received signal intercepted via at least one receiving lobe, particularly for mapping the surface profile of a sea bed. A temporal echo expectation window is opened up on either side of an echo expectation time, the temporal length of the window being dimensioned greater than a maximum echo length to be expected on the basis of an assumed maximum slope of the sea bed and/or a reception angle of the receiving lobe deviating from the vertical. The center of gravity integral is formed from the received signal defined by the echo expectation window, and the time component of the center of gravity is defined as the echo transit time. The echo expectation time is derived from the echo propagation at a known sounding depth. To this end, an edge descriminator is provided, and the echo transit time ascertained by edge discrimination is used as the echo expectation time.
Abstract IA23: Functional and structural studies of HP1 heterochromatin

During normal development the spread of heterochromatin provides a mechanism to heritably silence large regions of the genome. This allows selective transcription of a subset of genes required for determining and maintaining cell identity. Defects in heterochromatin assembly are associated with various cancers including breast cancer metastasis and acute myeloid leukemias. The most conserved form of heterochromatin is characterized by methylation of lysine 9 on histone H3 (H3K9me3). Key to both the assembly and the spreading process is the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), which binds the H3K9me3 mark via its chromodomain (CD). This interaction forms a versatile platform for recruitment of diverse chromatin modifying proteins. However, the molecular basis of how the HP1-H3K9me3 chromatin complex achieves these diverse interactions is poorly understood. Our work on the major S. pombe HP1 protein, Swi6, suggests that Swi6 switches between an auto-inhibited state and a spreading competent state upon binding methylated chromatin. Cryo-EM allows visualization of the spreading competent state of Swi6 on a methylated nucleosome. Our data suggest testable hypothesis for how specific post-translation modifications on HP1 can regulate its association with methylated chromatin and its interaction with different heterochromatin proteins. Citation Format: Daniele Canzio, Moafu Liang, Nariman Naber, Adam Larson, Diana Marina, Jennifer Garcia, Hiten Madhani, Roger Cooke, Peter Schuck, Yifan Cheng, Geeta J. Narlikar. Functional and structural studies of HP1 heterochromatin. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer; Jun 19-22, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(13 Suppl):Abstract nr IA23.
Normal Stresses in Flow through Tubes of Non-Circular Cross-Section

Ericksen [1]2) showed that uniform rectilinear motion of an incompressible non-Newtonian fluid in a straight tube of non-circular cross-section is not, in general, possible. The problem of the nature of the flow in such a tube was considered by Green and Rivlin [2] for a slightly non-Newtonian fluid obeying a constitutive equation of particular form, and by Langlois and Rivlin [3] for a slightly viscoelastic fluid of rather general type. The problem was discussed by considering the flow as a perturbation on the flow of a Newtonian fluid. It was found that as a result of the slightly non-Newtonian character of the fluid, a flow in transverse planes is superposed on the longitudinal flow.
A field induced guide-antiguide modulator of GaAs-AlGaAs

A guide-antiguide modulator of GaAs-AlGaAs using the electric-field-induced waveguide concept was demonstrated. The device was formed with a central waveguide electrode sandwiched between two antiguide electrodes on the surface of a p-i-n multiple quantum well (MQW). Switching between lateral guiding and antiguiding was accomplished by reverse biasing either the central electrode or the adjacent electrodes to increase the index beneath these respective regions. The on-off ratio was measured to be 20:1 with a propagation loss of the on-state of about 5 dB/mm. >
Exploring a knowledge-based procedure for developmental suitability analysis

Abstract Traditional methods developed to assist in the determination of developmental suitability have been criticized for their subjective nature, methodological complexity, lack of uniformity and lack of mathematical validity. While these limitations may raise questions regarding the correctness of a given suitability interpretation, the pressures to develop land dictate an ever-increasing need to incorporate concepts like capability and suitability into the equation to ensure the careful and rational use of land resources. An alternative approach to the suitability analysis problem is presented in this paper. This abandons traditional map-based procedures, replacing them with a knowledge-based procedure that enables an expert system to form the critical expression of developmental constraint. The prototype expert system, SUITABLY, was writtten using the EXSYS expert system shell and consists of 110 rules that guide the user through the land evaluation process.
Damage awards and jurors' responsibility ascriptions in medical versus automobile negligence cases.

Many critics of the tort system have accused juries of assessing larger awards against defendants perceived to have the ability to pay. Juries are said to be particularly prone to go after the 'deep pockets' of doctors in medical malpractice cases as compared to defendants found negligent in automobile accidents. This hypothesis was put to a test in an experiment that manipulated cause of the injury (medical malpractice versus negligent driving) and degree of possible contributing responsibility by the plaintiff (mandatory versus elective surgery and plaintiff as another driver or as a passenger). Responsibility ascriptions to the plaintiff differed across conditions, but jurors did not differentially award pain and suffering damages across conditions. Language: en
Hypertension in Women

Hypertension is a common disorder which affects over 40 million individuals in the United States alone. Systemic (idiopathic) hypertension is particularly prevalent in elderly women who seem to tolerate this affliction better than their male counterparts. Women with hypertension should be cautioned about the effects of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives which may cause a further elevation in systemic blood pressure. However, postmenopausal estrogen supplementation does not produce adverse effects on blood pressure and, in fact, may offer cardiovascular protection. Renovascular hypertension, particularly as a result of fibromuscular hyperplasia, is more prevalent in women than men. For women, as for men, tobacco abuse and advanced age are associated with an increased prevalence of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.
Demonstration of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by dual radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging.

This case illustrates that observation of noncardiac distribution of radionuclide may suggest the presence of other systemic disease.
Chronic Helminthic Infection among Puerto Ricans residing in the Continental U.S.

Abstract Infestation with Schistosoma mansoni, Necator americanus , or Strongyloides Stercoralis of many years' standing is found in many patients of Puerto Rican origin and in others who have been exposed to infestation in areas where these parasites are prevalent. The generally non-specific complaints, lack of findings on physical examination, and undependability of ancillary laboratory tests in cases of this kind are discussed. Etiological diagnosis of such syndromes is possible if consideration is given to the history of the patients and if the search for the parasites is carefully carried out.
Determination of solanidine in human plasma by radioimmunoassay

A radioimmunoassay for solanidine, the major hydrolysis product of potato glycoalkaloids, has been established and validated for application to human plasma. All 34 samples of human plasma tested contained solanidine, with a mean of 1.27 +/- 0.97 ng/ml (3.18 +/- 2.43 nmol/litre).
Quantum Cascade Laser Development Efforts for Implementation into Chemical and Remote Sensing Systems

Quantum cascade laser (QCL) offer many desirable attributes as mid-infrared laser sources for chemical and remote sensing. Some key advantages are a narrow linewidth, wide bandwidth current modulation characteristics and moderate tunability (15 cm -1 ). Combined, these characteristics allow for applications to a wide variety of chemical and remote sensing techniques such as wavelength and frequency modulation based detection techniques, cavity enhanced point sensors as well as techniques such as LIDAR and DIAL. This paper will describe laser development efforts to enhance QCL frequency stabilization and QCL injection locking and to develop robust external cavity QCL designs.
The influence of suspect gender in domestic violence arrests

This study examines heterosexual domestic violence incidents involving male and female suspects. The sample includes 428 incident reports filed at the Columbia (South Carolina) Police Department between 1993 and 1997. Police officers appear to use different arrest determinants for women than for men. The implications of these differential law enforcement practices are discussed.
Relaxation of hcp(0001) surfaces: A chemical view.

First-principles calculations predict 7.8{percent} and 6.3{percent} contractions of the outermost layer spacings of Ti(0001) and Zr(0001). Charge smoothing, slight at close-packed metal surfaces, cannot explain such large relaxations. Bond-order bond-length correlation is a more promising concept. Bonds to undercoordinated Ti or Zr should be unusually short, given the small ratio, {approximately}0.7, of dimer bond length to nearest-neighbor distance for these elements. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Proline Precursors to Sustain Mammalian Collagen Synthesis

Biochemically, one-third of the collagen molecule is composed of glycine. The next largest amino acid component is formed by proline (PRO) and hydroxyproline, which together comprise ∼23% of the collagen molecule. The best method to support wound collagen biosynthesis is to provide adequate host nutrition, assuring adequate provision of calories and protein. However, despite adequate nutrition, clinically, there is a need to enhance collagen synthesis and research has focused on methods to enhance collagen precursor availability. PRO biosynthesis is related to both the citric acid cycle and the urea cycle. During the early phases of wound healing, wound fluid PRO levels are at least 50% higher than plasma levels, suggesting active import of PRO into the wound. Providing additional PRO in the diet to enhance PRO bioavailability for collagen biosynthesis does not result in increased collagen accumulation. Provision of other citric cycle precursors such as glutamine also does not enhance wound collagen synthesis. In looking at other PRO biosynthetic pathways, the arginine (ARG)→ ornithine (ORN)→ glutamic semialdehyde → PRO pathway looks the most promising. ARG administration in quantities above those required for growth and reproduction results in a marked enhancement in wound collagen deposition. This effect is also shared by ORN, which cannot replace ARG for growth requirement but shares many of its biological and pharmacological activities. Several mechanisms have been postulated to explain the positive effect of ARG on wound healing, although none have been firmly proven. In conclusion, ARG and ORN supplementation are most effective in increasing collagen deposition, but whether this is accomplished by conversion to PRO is uncertain.
Model checking C programs using F-Soft

With the success of formal verification techniques like equivalence checking and model checking for hardware designs, there has been growing interest in applying such techniques for formal analysis and automatic verification of software programs. This paper provides a brief tutorial on model checking of C programs. The essential approach is to model the semantics of C programs in the form of finite state systems by using suitable abstractions. The use of abstractions is key, both for modeling programs as finite state systems and for reducing the model sizes in order to manage verification complexity. We provide illustrative details of a verification platform called F-Soft, which provides a range of abstractions for modeling software, and uses customized SAT-based and BDD-based model checking techniques targeted for software.
Modeling technology impact on cluster microprocessor performance

The growing speed gap between transistors and wire interconnects is forcing the development of distributed, or clustered, architectures. These designs partition the chip into small regions with fast intracluster communication. Longer latency is required to communicate between clusters. The hardware and/or software are responsible for scheduling instructions to clusters such that critical path communication occurs within a cluster. This paper presents GENEric SYstems Simulator (GENESYS), a technology modeling tool that captures a broad range of materials, device, circuit, and interconnect parameters across current and future semiconductor technology. This tool is used to explore the relationship between key technology parameters (intercluster wire delay and transistor switching delay) and key architecture parameters (superscalar versus multithreaded instruction dispatch, and value prediction support). GENESYS is used to predict intercluster latencies as VLSI technology advances. The study provides quantitative data showing how conventional superscalar performance is degraded with increasing wire latency. Threaded designs are more tolerant to wire delay. Optimal thread size changes with advancing VLSI technology, suggesting a highly adaptive architecture. Value prediction is shown to be useful in all cases, but provides more benefit to the multithreaded design.
Translating Nutrition Science into Policy as Witness and Actor

The sustained effort to witness and participate in the targeted translation of nutritional science and policy forms the structure of this narrative. The memoir starts with an early career-directing experience with nutrition and cholera and proceeds with a long thread of interest in folic acid malabsorption as one of the determinants of nutritional anemia in Asia and the tropics. The thread continues with the relationship of folate and associated vitamins to brain function and aging as a prototype of the study of the interface of aging biology and nutritional biology. My current interest in world hunger and famine and their impact on human security may circle back to studies of the great Bengal famine and the first Bangladesh survey of malnutrition.