cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy-efficient MAC and routing design in distributed beamforming sensor networks

A major task of a wireless sensor network is energy-efficient, timely, and robust dissemination of sensor readings back to the sink node. The AIDA project [1] aims to create a new sensor network architecture, that uses antenna arrays of the distributed sensor nodes to create directional radio waves that can reach order-of-magnitude farther than individual antennas of the sensor nodes. This new network architecture, based on collaborative beamforming, drastically changes many aspects of the conventional networking stack. As part of the AIDA project, we are designing new energy-efficient MAC and routing protocols for the new, distributed beamforming physical layer, which effectively involves "many-sensors-to-many-sensors" for a single data packet transmission.
A novel accelerator tube with active protection

Abstract Three sections of an accelerator tube have been constructed using glass insulators and inorganic sealing to nickel-iron electrodes. The insulators were designed to minimise the surface electric field in the vacuum side of each gap, and the electrodes were designed to prevent ions generated in the beam region being deposited on the insulator. The sections, protected by spark gaps with active triggering, were cycled through 1000 sparkovers, each sparkover dissipating 200 J of energy per gap. At the end of this testing no noticeable deterioration of the maximum usable field strength had occurred.
Cork: dynamic memory leak detection for garbage-collected languages

A memory leak in a garbage-collected program occurs when the program inadvertently maintains references to objects that it no longer needs. Memory leaks cause systematic heap growth, degrading performance and resulting in program crashes after perhaps days or weeks of execution. Prior approaches for detecting memory leaks rely on heap differencing or detailed object statistics which store state proportional to the number of objects in the heap. These overheads preclude their use on the same processor for deployed long-running applications.This paper introduces a dynamic heap-summarization technique based on type that accurately identifies leaks, is space efficient (adding less than 1% to the heap), and is time efficient (adding 2.3% on average to total execution time). We implement this approach in Cork which utilizes dynamic type information and garbage collection to summarize the live objects in a type points-from graph (TPFG) whose nodes (types) and edges (references between types) are annotated with volume. Cork compares TPFGs across multiple collections, identifies growing data structures, and computes a type slice for the user. Cork is accurate: it identifies systematic heap growth with no false positives in 4 of 15 benchmarks we tested. Cork's slice report enabled us (non-experts) to quickly eliminate growing data structures in SPECjbb2000 and Elipse, something their developers had not previously done. Cork is accurate, scalable, and efficient enough to consider using online.
Cadaveric allotransplant immunosuppression by lymph lymphocyte depletion.

Abstract Preoperative lymph lymphocyte depletion in cadaveric renal allotransplantation as the sole means of immunosuppression in the early posttransplant period was utilized in 19 patients. It was carried out in four children, one of whom weighed 13 Kg. and another who weighed 18 Kg. Tentative criteria with which to gauge the minimal acceptable time for transplantation utilizing this method of immunosuppression have been established. Of the 15 patients who met the criteria, eight have good to excellent transplant function from two to 30 months posttransplantation.
Implementing student projects in a simulation course

The purpose of this paper is to describe an innovative approach for administering student projects in a simulation course. Using this approach, the instructor plays the role of a decision maker with a problem for the class to study. This approach provides the class with a nearly realistic project experience and overcomes many of the administrative difficulties of allowing the students to work on real projects. This paper highlights the value of student projects, discusses several administrative and educational issues involved in project assignments, explains in detail how the instructor can play the role of the user, and provides a specific example problem.
Absorption and Enjoyment of Music

For 35 participants, 12 men and 23 women, scores on the Tellegen Absorption Scale significantly correlated with ratings of how much they liked music. After completing the scale, each participant li...
Current diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis

Urolithiasis is a common cause of morbidity in industrialized societies. At least 5% of women and 12% of men have one or more episodes of renal colic caused by stone disease by the age of 70 years. In the past decade, advances in radiologic imaging and interventional techniques, along with progressive developments in the surgical management of symptomatic disease, have changed the diagnostic and therapeutic course of patients with urolithiasis. Currently, stones are imaged with conventional abdominal radiographs, linear tomography, urography, ultrasonography, or CT. Standard MR techniques are not used, because stones lack mobile protons and thus do not generate a signal. An ideal imaging study should identify those features of urinary stones that direct patient care, which include stone size, stone location, and the presence of associated complications. These complications include collecting system obstruction with or without urinary tract infection, urine extravasation, and renal or perinephric abscess. With its high sensitivity to differences in tissue contrast, CT has emerged as the most sensitive imaging examination for the detection of urolithiasis while also serving as an effective method for detecting associated complications and other abdominal processes that produce symptoms. Other modalities remain useful in specific clinical situations, such as ultrasonography during pregnancy or excretory urography for following residual stones after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
Are there degrees of belief

John Maynard Keynes claimed that not all probabilities were comparable. Frank Ramsey argued that they were, and that Keynes's views to the contrary rested on a confusion of degree of entailment and degree of belief. We will argue that Keynes and Ramsey largely talked past each other, and yet that there are issues of great significance underlying their dispute. In particular, the simple principle of maximizing expected utility may be seen in a new light as one step of a rich and complex process.
Does U.S. tax-financed health spending really incur waste?

Woolhandler and Himmelstein show that close to 60 percent of U.S. h ealth s pending n ow i s tax-financed, which is about fifteen percentage points more than is reported by the actuaries o f the Centers f or M edicare a nd Medicaid Services (CMS). The difference represents funds extracted from private households as taxes but then cycled back through private insurers and thence to the providers of health care.
Utilization of hybrid oak hosts by a monophagous gall wasp: How little host character is sufficient?

We examined the utilization by the cynipid gall former, Andricus californicus, of oak trees ranging across a hybrid continuum from pure Quercus dumosa to pure Q. engelmannii. Two components of utilization were considered, the proportion of trees parasitized and the density of galls on parasitized trees. Although the wasp normally only parasitizes Q. dumosa, galls were found on trees with up to 85% of the genetic character of the non-host, as determined by a hybrid index. The proportion of hybrids utilized did not differ statistically from the proportion of pure Q. dumosa utilized. We consider competing hypotheses about the genetic mechanism behind host choice in the light of our results. The model that is most consistent with the observed incidence pattern is based on a “cluster concept”: A number of independent genetic factors in the host determine its acceptability, however, these factors are substitutable, such that no single factor is critical, but some threshold number of factors must be exceeded.
Phantasy and Vocational Choice

Believing that questions on vocational interest blanks may tempt pupils to wishful thinking or phantasy in listing their occupational choices, the author prepared an interest blank for a sampling of Detroit high school pupils. The findings and an interpretation of the results are given in this article.
Conceptualizing learning style modalities for ESL/EFL students

Abstract A major hurdle in assessing the learning styles of English as a second language (ESL) and English as a foreign language (EFL) students is the development of an instrument with established validity and reliability. This article reports the results of testing a newly developed learning styles instrument [System 29 (2001) 385; Wintergerst et al., TESL Canada Journal Revue TESL du Canada (in press)] on three groups of language learners: Russian EFL students, Russian ESL students, and Asian (specifically Chinese, Korean, and Japanese) ESL students to determine their learning style preferences. Results indicate that these students learn English under three modalities: Project Orientation, Group Activity Orientation, and Individual Activity Orientation. Findings further reveal that these three groups of language learners clearly prefer group activity above individual work, with the Russian EFL and Asian ESL students favoring group work and project work. The outcome of this study suggests that this instrument holds promise as a viable assessment tool for determining selected learning styles of ESL/EFL students and has sound implications for classroom teachers.
Two-stage growth of octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide monolayers at mica from aqueous solution below the Krafft point

The time-dependent growth of octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C18TAB) monolayers at mica surfaces from aqueous solution, at a temperature below the Krafft point, is investigated with transmission IR spectroscopy, wetting measurements, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Under these deposition conditions, C18TAB adsorbs predominately as the monomer rather than as an aggregated solution species resulting in monolayer films. Formation of the C18TAB monolayer is characterized by two distinct growth regimes. A rapid initial adsorption is observed which results in a 2-D liquid phase comprised of randomly oriented alkyl chains. When the films are allowed to assemble for times longer than 24 h, distinct, densely packed, monolayer high islands of C18TA+ molecules are observed (2-D solid). As the assembly time is increased further, the relative surface coverage of the semicrystalline islands increases substantially. In this growth regime, the mica surface is covered by a two-phase film comprised of the 2-D liquid...
Growth of a faujasite-type zeolite membrane and its application in the separation of saturated/unsaturated hydrocarbon mixtures

Abstract Faujasite type zeolite membranes were synthesized on porous ceramic alumina supports by using direct (in situ) and secondary (seeded) growth methods. In the secondary growth method a seed layer of ZSM-2 nanocrystals (prepared according to a report by Schoeman et al. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 1995, 170, 449–456) was deposited on the surface of the support before the hydrothermal growth. For both in situ and secondary growth, the mixture composition was 4.17 Na 2 O:1.0 Al 2 O 3 :10 TEA (triethanol ammonium):1.87 SiO 2 :460 H 2 O. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), indicate well intergrown 5–30 μm thick FAU films with Si/Al ∼1–1.5. The separation of saturated/unsaturated hydrocarbon mixtures is demonstrated over a range of temperatures (40–160°C). The mixtures examined (and the corresponding equimolar mixture separation factors) are benzene/cyclohexane (160), benzene/ n -hexane (144), toluene/ n -heptane (45), propylene/propane (6.2), and ethylene/methane (8.4). In all cases, the membranes are unsaturated hydrocarbon permselective. With equimolar feed mixtures (5 kPa/5 kPa benzene/cyclohexane) and in the temperature range 65–160°C, the membranes exhibit separation factor of 20–160 with the benzene flux in the range 10 −4 –10 −3 mol m −2 s −1 . Decreasing the total feed partial pressure (0.31/0.31 kPa benzene/cyclohexane) reduces both separation factor (12) and benzene flux. Similar trend is observed when the benzene/cyclohexane ratio in the feed mixture (0.5/9.5 kPa benzene/cyclohexane) is reduced. A sorption diffusion model based on the Stefan–Maxwell formulation has also been employed to show that the benzene/cyclohexane separation can mainly be attributed to differences of their adsorption properties.
Theorems of Stein-Rosenberg type. III. The singular case

Abstract In the theory of iterative methods, the classical Stein-Rosenberg theorem can be viewed as giving the simultaneous convergence (or divergence) of the extrapolated Jacobi (JOR) matrix J ω and the successive overrelaxation (SOR) matrix , in the case when the Jacobi matrix J 1 is nonnegative. As has been established recently by Buoni and Varga, necessary and sufficient conditions for the simultaneous convergence (or divergence) of J ω and have been established which do not depend on the assumption that J 1 is nonnegative. Our aim here is to extend these results to the singular case, using the notion of semiconvergence. In particular, for a real singular matrix A with nonpositive off-diagonal entries, we find conditions (Theorem 3.4) which imply that J ω and simultaneously semiconverge for all ω in the real interval [0,1).
Prostaglandin inhibition of cartilage chondromucoprotein synthesis: Concept of “intrinsic activity”*

We have recently reported that cartilage has two sites for prostaglandin (PG) action. One site (S1) is stimulated by PGA1, PGE1 and PGF1α and elevates tissue cyclic 3′5′adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). A second site (S2) is activated by PGA1 (but not PGE1 or PGF1α) and inhibits the synthesis of cartilage macromolecules. The present study is an investigation of the effects of PGB1 on embryonic chicken cartilage chondromucoprotein synthesis in vitro. PGB1 was found to inhibit chondromucoprotein synthesis with an apparent affinity for S2 which was similar to that of PGA1. The maximal inhibition produced by PGB1 was, however, approximately one-half the maximal inhibition caused by PGA1. Studies of the combined effects of PGB1 and PGA1 were consistent with the hypothesis that both classes of prostaglandins act at a common site (S2) with about equal affinity but that PGB1 has a lower intrinsic activity than PGA1. Similar studies of the combined effects of PGE1 or PGF1α with PGA1 indicate that neither PGE1 nor PGF1α binds significantly to S2. An independent effect of PGB1 to activate S1 and elevate tissue cAMP was also found.
Effects of the ACT Raising Safe Kids Parenting Program on Children's Externalizing Problems.

Eighty-seven parents and primary caregivers of children aged 10 years or younger participated in a study examining the effects of the ACT Raising Safe Kids program on children's behavior. It was hypothesized that children of caregivers who complete ACT-RSK would demonstrate reduced behavior problems compared to children of caregivers in a treatment-as-usual comparison group. Results indicated that the behavior of children of treated caregivers improved significantly more than comparisons on a measure of conduct problems. Although further research is needed, these results suggest that ACT-RSK may contribute to the prevention of behavior problems in early childhood.
A statistical study of the relevance of lines of code measures in software projects

Lines of code metrics are routinely used as measures of software system complexity, programmer productivity, and defect density, and are used to predict both effort and cost. The guidelines for using a direct metric, such as lines of code, as a proxy for a quality factor such as complexity or defect density, or in derived metrics such as cost and effort are clear. Amongst other criteria, the direct metric must be linearly related to, and accurately predict, the quality factor and these must be validated through statistical analysis following a rigorous validation methodology. In this paper, we conduct such an analysis to determine the validity and utility of lines of code as a measure using the ISBGS-10 data set. We find that it fails to meet the specified validity tests and, therefore, has limited utility in derived measures.
Improvement of radiation-induced xerostomia with acupuncture: A retrospective analysis ☆

Abstract Objective Our previous case study introduced combination acupuncture (manual, auricular and electro-acupuncture) as a treatment for radiation-induced xerostomia. The present retrospective study evaluates the effect of combination acupuncture on the severity of dry mouth and activities of daily living as related to radiation-induced xerostomia. Design Data was retrospectively collected from twenty-two patients with xerostomia related to radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). Sixteen patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were analyzed for this report. The intervention was weekly 20 min sessions of combination acupuncture. Upon reaching a plateau in symptom improvement the length in time between treatments was increased as tolerated without return of symptoms. Outcome measures included a self-reported quality of life xerostomia questionnaire completed prior to each acupuncture session and quantitative data from documented Modified Schirmer's tests. Results Significant improvement in dry mouth and pain occurred during the initial six weeks of treatment ( p p Conclusions Combination acupuncture significantly decreases the severity of dry mouth and pain with long lasting effects, up to six months (at the end of data collection), in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia.
Effect of Density Change on Rapid Liquid-Solid Interface Kinetics and Heat Flow

Consequences of the need to transport density to or from a fast-moving liquid-solid interface are examined. There can be a severe limitation of the freezing velocity and a change in the amount of heat which must be conducted. The latter effect produces a net latent heat which can be significantly different from the equilibrium value and even change sign.
Multiobjective Control of PEM Fuel Cell System With Improved Durability

A critical design goal of a fuel-cell-based renewable energy system in a smart grid scenario is to enable high efficiency while extending durability. This is particularly emphasized when the fuel-cell system becomes widely used. Towards this goal, the effort in this research paper is to develop multiobjective controllers to simultaneously realize both output tracking and durability improvement. More specifically, two types of controller are developed. With assumptions of knowledge of system parameters, the first controller enables exponentially stability of the closed-loop system. Then, with practical considerations of robustness, an adaptive extension of the first controller is developed, which is capable of handling possible mismatch between real parameters and parameters obtained from the manufacturer or system identification methods. The performance and stability is theoretically guaranteed by a Lyapunov-based proof. Together with theoretical analysis, several scenarios are considered and tested via Matlab/simulink-based simulation.
Mechanisms of normal and tumor-derived angiogenesis

Often those diseases most evasive to therapeutic intervention usurp the human body's own cellular machinery or deregulate normal physiological processes for propagation. Tumor-induced angiogenesis is a pathological condition that results from aberrant deployment of normal angiogenesis, an essential process in which the vascular tree is remodeled by the growth of new capillaries from preexisting vessels. Normal angiogenesis ensures that developing or healing tissues receive an adequate supply of nutrients. Within the confines of a tumor, the availability of nutrients is limited by competition among actively proliferating cells, and diffusion of metabolites is impeded by high interstitial pressure (Jain RK. Cancer Res 47: 3039-3051, 1987). As a result, tumor cells induce the formation of a new blood supply from the preexisting vasculature, and this affords tumor cells the ability to survive and propagate in a hostile environment. Because both normal and tumor-induced neovascularization fulfill the essential role of satisfying the metabolic demands of a tissue, the mechanisms by which cancer cells stimulate pathological neovascularization mimic those utilized by normal cells to foster physiological angiogenesis. This review investigates mechanisms of tumor-induced angiogenesis. The strategies used by cancer cells to develop their own blood supply are discussed in relation to those employed by normal cells during physiological angiogenesis. With an understanding of blood vessel growth in both normal and abnormal settings, we are better suited to design effective therapeutics for cancer.
Acute pancreatitis complicating therapy of Hodgkin disease: a case report

Acute pancreatitis developed in a young woman with disseminated Hodgkin disease coincident with cytotoxic treatment. Despite concerns about possible drug-related causes, chemotherapy was continued without further gastrointestinal consequences. This case indicates that pancreatitis need not necessarily alter therapeutic plans for Hodgkin disease. Causes of pancreatitis in the setting of malignancy are reviewed.
Intracelluar localizaion of fatty acid synthesis in chick-embryo liver and stimulation of synthesis by exogenous glucose

Abstract In homogenates of chick-embryo liver and in the subcellular fractions isolated from those homogenates the mitochondrial system of fatty acid elongation and fatty acid synthetase can be measured independently. The assay medium for measuring the microsomal system of fatty acid elongation also measures some mitochondrial elongation activity. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (acetyl-CoA: carbon dioxide ligase (ADP), EC 6.4.1.2) can be measured independently in the cytosol but not in the crude homogenates, presumably because of the activity of the mitochondrial enzymes pyruvate carboxylase (pyruvate: carbon dioxide ligase (ADP), EC 6.4.1.1) and propionyl-CoA carboxylase (propionyl-CoA: carbon dioxide ligase (ADP), EC 6.4.1.3). 1. 2. The predominant system of fatty acid synthesis in chick-embryo liver is mitochondrial elongation ; microsomal elongation and fatty acid synthetase activities are low in comparison. 2. 3. The activities of fatty acid synthetase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in livers of 15-day embryos can be stimulated by injection of 180 mg of glucose into eggs at 4.5 days of incubation.
Molecular orbital considerations in probing the stereoselective dissociations of cobalt-coordinated hexosamine monosaccharides.

The mechanisms for the stereoselective dissociation pathways of isomeric [CoIII(diaminopropane)2(hexosamine−2H)]+ complexes are studied by ion trap and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). The exact masses of product ions were measured in order to determine the composition of each loss, and isotopic labeling experiments were used to determine which atoms were lost during dissociation. MS3 studies were used to probe the structures of the product ions from MS2 experiments. Based on the experimental evidence obtained, mechanisms explaining the dissociations are postulated. In deciphering the mechanisms, careful attention was paid to the molecular orbital alignment of the reacting bonds, and based on the molecular orbitals, transition state conformations were postulated. These transition states suggest how the observed stereoselectivity occurs. In each case, the carbohydrate/metal interaction was crucial in the dissociation processes.
40 × 112 Gb/s transmission over an unrepeatered 365 km effective area-managed span comprised of ultra-low loss optical fibre

We experimentally demonstrate transmission of 40 × 112 Gb/s PM-QPSK channels over a 365 km unrepeatered span enabled by ultra-low loss fibres in an effective area-managed configuration using only backward-pumped Raman with 25 dB gain and EDFA amplification.
Dynamic partitioning of multiprocessor systems

Partitioning of processors on a multiprocessor system involves logically dividing the system into processor partitions. Programs can be executed in the different partitions in parallel. Optimally setting the partition size can significantly improve the throughput of multiprocessor systems. The speedup characteristics of parallel programs can be defined by execution signatures. The execution signature of a parallel program on a multiprocessor system is the rate at which the program executes in the absence of other programs and depends upon the number of allocated processors, the specific architecture, and the specific program implementation. Based on the execution signatures, this paper analyzes simple Markovian models of dynamic partitioning. From the analysis, when there are at most two multiprocessor partitions, the optimal dynamic partition size can be found which maximizes throughput. Compared against other partitioning schemes, the dynamic partitioning scheme is shown to be the best in terms of throughput when thereconfiguration overhead is low. If the reconfiguration overhead is high, dynamic partitioning is to be avoided. An expression for the reconfiguration overhead threshold is derived. A general iterative partitioning technique is presented. It is shown that the technique gives maximum throughput forn partions.
Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: An Overview

Approximately 50% of patients with colorectal cancer develop locally recurrent or distant metastatic disease during the course of their illness and eventually die. Since the 1950s the mainstay of treatment for patients in need of palliative therapy has been and continues to be the fluoropyrimidines. When 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was first introduced into the clinic it was used as a single agent given by rapid intravenous injection. Results with this drug have been disappointing, with response rates consistently low, usually of brief duration, and with little or no impact on survival. During the 1970s and 1980s, multidrug regimens were evaluated with little or no improvement in outcome. More recently, our understanding of the metabolism, pharmacology, and the mechanisms of action as well as the potential mechanisms of resistance to 5-FU has led to its more rational use. This knowledge has resulted in the design of treatment programs with improved therapeutic effects by changing its route of administration, combining it with biochemical modulators and using it in conjunction with other chemotherapeutic agents. These strategies have created new optimism for improved results with less toxicity. More potent inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS) such as tomudex and trimetrexate have been developed and are currently being evaluated in the clinic either alone or in combination with 5-FU. Semisynthetic topoisomerase inhibitors such as irinotecan have shown encouraging results as first-line therapy, in combination with 5-FU or as salvage therapy.
Ipsilateral cerebellar lesions prevent learning of the classically conditioned nictitating membrane/eyelid response

Abstract Unilateral lesions of the cerebellum in the rabbit prior to any training completely prevented learning of the classically conditioned eyelid and nictitating membrane responses of the eye ipsilateral to the lesion. In marked contrast, subsequent training of the eye contralateral to the lesion yields normal learning.
A Spectral Theory for Direct Integrals of Operators.

A spectral theory for certain operators on a finite direct sum of Hilbert spaces was established in 1966 by N. Dunford [4]. In this paper, we shall show by using the approach of reduction theory of von Neumann (cf. [2, 7]) that his Theorem 2.7, 1-4] is true for a wider class of operators. In fact, we proved that any closed psectral operator in a Hilbert space can be decomposed into a direct integral of closed irreducible spectral operators. In Sections 1 and 3, we shall include some already developed results about the reduction theory of bounded and unbounded operators. Our main results are in Sections 2 and 4. A method of decomposition of closed spectral operator into irreducible part is included in the last section, in which we also indicate a problem of structure theory that we shall investigate in the future. The various applications of our results will appear elsewhere. Throughout this paper, the Hilbert space will be over the complex field. The author is grateful to Professor N. Suzuki for his suggestion of the problem and many valuable sessions of discussion with him.
Composantes et contrôle de la dépense énergétique cellulaire chez l'endotherme

Quelques tentatives de prediction et de mesure du cout energetique de l'homeostasie ionique cellulaire chez l'endotherme sont passees en revue, et l'importance du maintien des flux ioniques transmembranaires ― autant que celui des gradients ― pour la preservation des structures et fonctions cellulaires est soulignee
Film dosimetry of multiple electron beam ports with wedges

Treatment plans that call for the use of multiple adjacent electron beam ports over large areas require careful consideration of the dose in the zones of overlap. A method is described to reduce the inhomogeneity utilizing acrylic resin wedges placed over contiguous treatment cone edges and a water-filled extruded polystyrene container designed to simulate the contour of the patient. The resulting improvement is demonstrated by the film dosimetry of a patient planned for post-operative radiotherapy to an intercostal malignant schwannoma with a 27 cm. long scar.
Structural and electrical properties of granular metal films

Abstract Granular metal films (50–200,000 A thick) were prepared by co-sputtering metals (Ni, Pt, Au) and insulators (SiO2, Al2O3), where the volume fraction of metal, x, was varied from x = 1 to x = 0.05. The materials were characterized by electron micrography, electron and X-ray diffraction, and measurements of composition, density and electrical resistivity at electric fields e up to 106 V/cm and temperatures T in the range of 1.3 to 291 K. In the metallic regime (isolated insulator particles in a metal continuum) and in the transition regime (metal and insulator particles in a metal continuum) and in the transition regime (metal and insulator labyrinth structure) the conduction is due to percolation with a percolation threshold at x⋍0.5. Tunnelling measurements on superconductor-insulator-granular metal junctions reveals that the transition from the metallic regime to the dielectric regime (10–50 A size isolated metal particles in an insulator continuum) is associated with the breaking up of a metal ...
TURNOUT DIFFERENCES AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS

Much of what we know about turnout in American elections is based on national surveys of voters participating in presidential elections. Much less is known about voter participation in other types of elections. Using verified turnout and registration data, we surveyed registered voters to determine the demographic and attitudinul differences between two groups of voters: those who participated only in presidential elections and others who participated in midterm congressional, state, and local elections as well as presidential elections. We find that age, education, gender, social connectedness, personal contact with local public officials, and satisfaction with government services are significant factors in explaining electoral participation by registered voters.
Frequency-resolved optical gating characterisation of passively modelocked quantum-dot laser

A unique, ultra-sensitive frequency-resolved optical gating system was constructed, and the pulse shape and chirp of a quantum-dot modelocked laser was unambiguously measured using this technique for the first time. A clear pulse asymmetry was detected, and evidence that the pulses are recompressible to sub-picosecond lengths is presented.
Epididymal carbohydrate metabolism. II. Substrates and pathway utilization of caput and cauda epididymal tissue from the rabbit, rat and mouse.

Abstract 1. 1. The patterns of 14CO2 evolution from specifically labeled glucose substrates by caput and cauda epididymal tissue were similar in rabbit, rat and mouse and were consistent with an Embden-Meyerhof glycolysis and Krebs cycle pathway of metabolism. 2. 2. The glucose-1-14C : glucose-6-14C ratios of 14CO2 evolution after 2 hr incubation were 3·45, 2·70 and 4·44 for the caput and 2·22, 2·91 and 3·13 for the cauda of the rabbit, rat and mouse, respectively, suggesting some pentose cycle activity in epididymal tissue. 3. 3. In the rabbit and rat, glucose was a more important epididymal substrate than fructose; whereas fructose was utilized equally in the caput and at twice the rate of glucose in the cauda of the mouse. 4. 4. In the rabbit, oxidation of acetate-1-14C and glucuronate-6-14C was twice as great in the caput as in the cauda, but there are no differences between these two tissues from either the rat or the mouse although both substrates were metabolized at a markedly lower rate by the mouse epididymis.
False Aneurysm of the Aorta Secondary to an Esophageal Foreign Body

False aneurysm of the aorta developed in a 14-month-old child following endoscopic removal of an open safety pin from the esophagus. The diagnostic techniques and operative repair of this rare complication of foreign body ingestion are described.
Portable holographic interferometer for residual stress measurement and nondestructive testing (NDT) of pipelines

Introducing a small scratch (10 - 25 (mu) depth) on the surface of a part containing residual stresses produces a small change in displacements around of the scratch on the surface. When the displacements are measured as a function of the depth of a scratch, a very small depth releases displacements of about (lambda) /10. The present paper shows that introduction of an additional faze shift permits determination of very small displacements and also presents the portable interferometer and the technique for measurement of residual stress in field conditions.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Barrels XXII meeting report: Barrels blow into the Windy City

The 22nd Annual Barrels Meeting blew into Evanston, near the Windy City, in November 2009 as the meeting was hosted on the Evanston, IL campus of Northwestern University. The longest running satellite meeting to the Society for Neuroscience Meeting annually brings together researchers from around the world focused on the development, function, behavior, and physiology of the rodent whisker-to-barrel system and other associated cortical and subcortical areas. The 2009 edition of the meeting was focused on three central themes: the molecular development and developmental plasticity in barrel cortex, optical analysis of barrel cortex function, and the coding of touch. The main symposia were complemented by short talks, data blitz sessions, and a poster session.
What are the real risks of sport-related concussion, and are they modifiable?

Over the past two decades, the management of sport-related concussion has been the topic of increased attention in the scientific literature and in the popular media. Despite a proliferation of competing guidelines for concussion management, the widespread use of neuropsychological “baseline” testing designed to monitor postinjury recovery, and several prospective controlled studies of the natural history of concussion, there has been virtually no attempt to quantify the risks associated with sport-related concussion or to determine whether these risks are modifiable via management strategies. Using American football as a model, the short- and long-term risks of sport-related concussion are reviewed. It is concluded that serious short-term consequences of sport-related concussion are extremely rare and unlikely to be significantly modified via management strategies that rely on baseline testing. Other less serious short-term adverse outcomes are also quite rare, transient, and not likely to be altered by specific management guidelines. The long-term consequences of multiple sport-related head trauma remain unclear but are potentially of greater public health concern and should be the focus of increased research. Based on available evidence, there is little rationale for the use of rigid strategies or guidelines in the place of individual clinical decision-making in the management of these injuries. (JINS, 2009, 15, 512–520.)
The scientific life of Victor Franz (Francis) Hess (June 24, 1883–December 17, 1964)

Abstract On the seventh of August 1912, from the measurements upon his seventh balloon ride that had taken him up to an altitude of 5.350 m, Victor Franz (Francis) Hess (1883–1864) discovered the cosmic radiation. His colleagues having continued casting doubts on the existence of such extra-terrestrial impingement for many years, the Austrian scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1936 only. Victor F. Hess’ discovery opened novel fields of research with topics challenging until today. Hess was teaching physics at the Universities of Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck and, from 1938 onwards, of Fordham, New York, and all his life long continued being true to ‘his’ topic. Suffering himself of radium burns, Hess pioneered to install the first routine measurements of radium poisoning in the USA.
Parents' Recall of Childhood Relationships and Sense of Love Worthiness: Associations with Children's Socioemotional Functioning in Middle Childhood.

The association of parents' recollections of childhood parental acceptance and cur rent sense of love worthiness with children's socioemotional functioning was evalu ated in a sample of 73 6to 7-year-olds. A multimethod approach to assessing chil dren's peer functioning was used: Observers rated children's peer competence in a play and problem-solving laboratory procedure, mothers reported on their children's behaviors and peer relationships, and children provided their self-perceptions regarding acceptance by peers. Mothers who recalled greater parental acceptance by their own parents during childhood had children who perceived themselves as being more accepted by peers and performed more competently in a laboratory peer interaction session. Fathers' recollections of their early parental relationships were not associated with their children's socioemotional functioning.
Subconjunctival Sirolimus for the Treatment of Chronic Active Anterior Uveitis: Results of a Pilot Trial

Purpose To evaluate the safety and possible efficacy of subconjunctival sirolimus for the treatment of chronic active anterior uveitis. Design Prospective, nonrandomized, open-label clinical trial. Methods This single-center pilot trial enrolled 5 patients with chronic active anterior uveitis. The study drug was administered as a single subconjunctival injection of 30 μL (1320 μg) sirolimus in the study eye at the baseline visit. Study visits were performed at baseline, at 2 weeks, at 4 weeks, and monthly until 4 months, and included a complete ophthalmic examination, review of systems, adverse event assessment at each visit, physical examination, and ancillary ophthalmic testing at some visits. The primary outcome measure was a 2-step reduction in the anterior chamber inflammation within 4 weeks of injection of the study drug. Results There were 3 female and 2 male patients; 4 patients had idiopathic anterior uveitis and 1 had psoriatic arthritis-associated anterior uveitis. Three of the 5 patients met the primary outcome criteria by showing at least a 2-step decrease in inflammation within 4 weeks; 2 patients showed a 1-step decrease in inflammation within the same time frame. No recurrence was encountered during a 4-month follow-up. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusions Subconjunctival sirolimus appears to be well tolerated in this pilot trial and shows promise as a treatment for active inflammation in patients with chronic anterior uveitis. Larger studies are needed to assess its usefulness in uveitis.
Sustaining the Ancient Olive Community: Strategies for Mediterranean Sustainable Development

This article presents the findings of a six month investigation conducted by a network of six non-government organizations (NGOs) from five European-Mediterranean nations, representatives from five rural farming communities, and academicians from three institutions. The aim of the investigation was to identify strategies for reversing rural marginalization in Mediterranean communities through the establishment of sustainable forms of community development based on cooperative efforts in the production and trade of olive oil. Funded by the Anna Lindh Foundation for Dialogue Between Cultures, the investigation brought together knowledgeable community organizations, farming communities, and community development experts in order to address systemic problems that threaten the survival of rural agricultural communities. It was determined that regional economic cooperation had the potential of being an effective strategy for the long term revitalization of rural communities that have been disadvantaged by the effects of globalization. The investigation resulted in a sustainable development business strategy that promoted cooperative reliance among rural communities of the Mediterranean region.
Rejection of a serial founder effects model of genetic and linguistic coevolution

Recent genetic studies attribute the negative correlation between population genetic diversity and distance from Africa to a serial founder effects (SFE) evolutionary process. A recent linguistic study concluded that a similar decay in phoneme inventories in human languages was also the product of the SFE process. However, the SFE process makes additional predictions for patterns of neutral genetic diversity, both within and between groups, that have not yet been tested on phonemic data. In this study, we describe these predictions and test them on linguistic and genetic samples. The linguistic sample consists of 725 widespread languages, which together contain 908 distinct phonemes. The genetic sample consists of 614 autosomal microsatellite loci in 100 widespread populations. All aspects of the genetic pattern are consistent with the predictions of SFE. In contrast, most of the predictions of SFE are violated for the phonemic data. We show that phoneme inventories provide information about recent contacts between languages. However, because phonemes change rapidly, they cannot provide information about more ancient evolutionary processes.
Optimization of multicast routing for network lifetime with directional listening

Energy and spectrum constrained wireless ad hoc networks must employ efficient forwarding schemes to conserve resources. The incorporation of directional antennas allows for focusing transmitted energy toward a specific node, or increasing reception gain in a specific direction. This provides not only a means to conserve power, but also allows for spatial multiplexing by reducing inter-node interference. In many cases of interest, it is likely that only a subset of nodes in a network will be equipped with directional transmission/reception capabilities. The existing literature on the impact of directional antennas on the lifetime of ad hoc networks does not consider node heterogeneity or model directional listening. In this paper, we develop a Mixed Integer Linear Program to model directional reception. The program's objective is to maximize network lifetime in multicast applications. We consider cases where some (but not all) network nodes are equipped with directional antennas. Our results illustrate the impact of node density and proportion of nodes with directional capabilities on network lifetime.
Clinical safety of the selective PKC-β inhibitor, ruboxistaurin

The aim of this manuscript is to report the safety profile of patients treated with ruboxistaurin mesylate (RBX; LY333531), a selective protein kinase C-beta (PKC-beta) inhibitor, for up to 4 years. Data from patients with diabetes (1396 RBX 32 mg/day; 1408 placebo) were combined from 11 placebo-controlled, double-masked studies. The proportion of patients who reported one or more serious adverse events was greater in the placebo group than in the RBX-treated group (23.2 versus 20.8%, respectively). There were 51 deaths (21 RBX; 30 placebo) reported in this patient cohort; none of the deaths was attributed to study drug by the investigators. Common adverse drug reactions (> or = 1/100 - < 1/10 patients) that were reported in the RBX-treated patients were dyspepsia and increased blood creatine phosphokinase. In controlled, randomised clinical trials, RBX had an adverse event profile comparable to placebo, and was well tolerated.
Handling uncertainty: Do managers in the People's Republic of China, the US, and the UK differ?

The article focuses on how an executive's culture influences managerial decision making in the face of ambiguous situations. It examines a study that examined managers from Great Britain, the United States, and the People's Republic of China to see what extent managers rely on specific sources of guidance and support when dealing with uncertainty in the workplace. It mentions that previous studies of China and other Asian countries reported that Eastern countries tend to utilize teamwork and group processes in problem solving. The article comments that research confirmed variations in how management in Great Britian, the U.S., and China handled uncertainty.
How bacterial protein toxins enter cells: the role of partial unfolding in membrane translocation

Summary Bacterial protein toxins translocate across membranes by processes that are still mysterious. Studies on diphtheria toxin have shown that partial unfolding processes play a major role in toxin membrane insertion and translocation. Similar unfolding behaviour is seen with other bacterial toxins. The lessons gained from this behaviour allow us to propose novel mechanisms for toxin translocation.
Im Brüsseler Think Tank Biotop —zur Kultur politischer Beratung in der Hauptstadt Europas

Wenn von politischer Beratung die Rede ist, wei\ jeder was er meint. Kaum zwei aber stimmen darin uberein, was sie sich dabei vorzustellen haben. Der eine hat die Institution eines nationalen Sicherheitsoder PrAsidentenberaters vor Augen, der andere denkt an von staatlicher Seite berufene Gremien wie SachverstAndigenrAte, ein dritter wiederum hat wissenschaftliche Forschungsinstitute oder Think Tanks im Kopf. Wenn im folgenden von politischer Beratung die Rede ist, dann geht es in erster Linie um diese nichtstaatlichen, privat finanzierten und unabhAngigen Institutionen, die in offentlichem Interesse oder auch mit Gewinnabsicht bestimmte politische Themen besetzen und Entscheidungshilfen fur politische Akteure anbieten.
Reducing the Tendency to Aggress: Insights from Social and Personality Psychology

The social and personality psychology literature on aggression has largely focused on the factors that are associated with an increase in aggression such as provocation, violent media exposure, and trait anger. This work has been quite important in developing models of aggression. Less emphasis, however, has been placed on examining the factors that reduce this harmful behavior. We use a widely researched model of aggression to examine some factors that are associated with aggression reduction including self-control, pro-social experiences, and appraisal processes. These variables reduce the tendency to aggress, and our review addresses some potential processes involved. We suggest that a stronger research focus on the factors that reduce aggression can aid our understanding of not only why aggression occurs but also how to control it.