cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Henry David Thoreau, the State of Nature, and the Redemption of Liberalism

This article is an attempt to reinterpret and reevaluate Henry David Thoreau as a political theorist. While the commentary on Thoreau's political thought is extensive, no consensus has emerged on even the most fundamental aspects of his political writings. Through an examination of autobiographical works by Thoreau an effort is made to find a structural and thematic base that underlies his directly political writings. In A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, Walden, and Cape Cod, Thoreau attempts to discover and outline a "state of nature" from which a genuinely communitarian America can be rebuilt. These attempts to "redeem" liberalism through a personal examination of the origins of liberal society are frequently blocked as Thoreau's own conception of self disintegrates when it confronts American culture. Nevertheless, Thoreau's failure does inform us about the character of his political theory and also about the nature of our indigenous radicalism. E enry David Thoreau is regarded as an exemplar of a critical, radical tradition in American political thought.' "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau's masterpiece, is apocalyptic, exhortatory, and, above all, stridently moralistic. The inherent brutality of slavery is declared, as are the commercial motives behind the war with Mexico. Thoreau, American Jeremiah, complains that the "children of Washington and Franklin sit down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do, and do nothing." Americans today practice a "counterfeit" virtue. They "hesitate" and regret and "sometimes they
Statistical wireless channel propagation characteristics in underground mines at 900MHz: A comparative analysis with indoor channels

This work investigates the wideband characterization of radio propagation channel for an active, real underground mine environment. Important statistical parameters related to path loss, delay, and amplitude characteristics are extracted. Impact of different antenna heights on path loss exponent is investigated. The same measurement procedure is performed to extract the statistical characteristics of a university building due to the structural similarities between the two environments since both include long hallways, crosscuts, and turns. Based on the results, a comparative analysis is presented along with concluding remarks and future directions.
Instability of steady natural convection in a vertical fluid layer

The instability of steady natural convection of a stably stratified fluid between vertical surfaces maintained at different temperatures is analysed. The linear stability theory is employed to obtain the critical Grashof and Rayleigh numbers, for widely varying levels of the stable background stratification, for Prandtl numbers ranging from 0·73 to 1000 and for the limiting case of infinite Prandtl number. The energetics of the critical disturbance modes also are investigated. The numerical results show that, if the value of the Prandtl number is in the low to moderate range, there is a transition from stationary to travelling-wave instability if the stratification exceeds a certain magnitude. However, if the Prandtl number is large, the transition, with increasing stratification, is from travelling-wave to stationary instability. The theoretical predictions are in excellent agreement with the experimental observations of Elder (1965) and of Vest & Arpaci (1969), for stationary instability, and in fair to good agreement with the experimental results of Hart (1971), for travelling-wave instability.
RF MEMS asymmetric capacitive switch with high‐isolation at selected low‐microwave frequency

An asymmetric RF microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) capacitive switch with a novel architecture employing mode switching from a coplanar waveguide (CPW) mode to a coupled slotline (CSL) mode is reported for selected frequency within the 2–10 GHz low microwave frequency range. An additional metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor is introduced on one end of the switch membrane as a tuning capacitor. The signal line of CSL is used as a tuning inductor. These two tuning elements together can improve the isolation of a regular capacitive RF MEMS switch by about 20 dB at the induced additional low resonant frequency ranging from 2 to 10 GHz. The measurements of the fabricated asymmetric switch demonstrated excellent isolation improvements. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 702–706, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22235
Thalidomide revisited: pharmacology and clinical applications

Thalidomide is attracting new interest. Since the discovery of its remarkable efficacy in erythema nodosum leprosum, the drug has been used successfully in a variety of dermatologic and other diseases whose apparent common thread is immune dysregulation. Meanwhile, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities of thalidomide, particularly its inhibition of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), have been identified and elucidated. The drug has also been found to inhibit angiogenesis. Recent clinical trials have shown thalidomide effective in graft-versus-host disease, Behcet's syndrome and aphthous ulcers and wasting associated with HIV infection. Provocative findings in other diseases, including primary HIV infection, HIV-associated diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and sepsis, have suggested additional clinical applications. Use of thalidomide in women capable of childbearing is controversial. However, guidelines have emerged for prevention of teratogenicity and peripheral neuropathy, the drug's other major adverse effect. With appropriate safeguards, thalidomide may hold benefit for patients with a broad variety of disorders in which existing treatments are inadequate. Its current use may represent only a small part of its therapeutic potential.
Catalysis by metalloporphyrins of oxidative desulphurisation at pentacovalent phosphorus by cumyl hydroperoxide

Abstract Cumyl hydroperoxide causes oxidative desulphurisation at pentacovalent phosphorus with retention of configuration in the presenceof various manganese (iii) and iron (ii) mesotetraphenylporphyrins provided imidazole is present, the yields of oxidised phosphorus compounds being influenced by the rate of destruction of the hydroperoxide by parasitic side reactions.
Swelling Characteristics of Compacted, Expansive Soils

Abstraet-The limitations of existing methods for the prediction of swelling behavior of compacted softs are examined. Both the purely theoretical approach and the purely empirical approach are found to be inadequate. The present study is based on a semi-empirical approach in which a model of swelling behavior is developed leading to equations relating swelling potential or swelling pressure of a compacted soil to its plasticity index, clay content and initial molding water content. The model is based on the concepts of the diffuse double layer, modified by introducing empirical constants to account for elastic swelling effects and other limitations involved in the direct application of double layer theory to real soils. The empirical constants are evaluated from the results of experimental investigations carried out on a large number of soil samples representing a wide variation of clay content as well as consistency limits. It is shown that the predicted values of the swelling potential and swelling pressure based on the proposed model agree closely with the experimental results of this study and those reported in the literature. Furthermore, the equations developed in this study are of a more general nature and appear to be applicable to a larger range of soil types than those previously published.
Social Capital and Emergency Management Planning: A Test of Community Context Effects on Formal and Informal Collaboration

Using a sample of U.S. counties, this article explores the relationships between community level resilience, represented by capacity (social capital), information (uses of technology), and motivation (perception of threats to county,) on the one hand, and county levels of emergency management (EM) collaboration on the other. We hypothesize that the greater relative presence of bridging social capital networks will be associated with greater levels of collaboration in county EM planning, while the greater relative presence of bonding social capital networks will be associated with lower levels of collaboration. Results indicate that first there are two collaborative environments to assess—the formal and informal—and, second, the presence of political networks (seen as predominantly bridging) relative to the presence of religious networks (viewed as predominantly bonding) has a significant and positive effect on informal collaboration levels, but not on formal collaboration levels. These findings provide in...
Numerical methods for the solution of the degenerate nonlinear elliptic equations arising in optimal stochastic control theory

Three distinct but related results are obtained. First, an iterative method is derived for obtaining the solution of optimal control problems for Markov chains. The method usually converges much faster, and requires less computer storage space, than the methods of Howard or Eaton and Zadeh. Second, nonlinear finite difference equations, which "approximate" the nonlinear degenerate elliptic equation (2) arising out of the stochastic optimization problem (1), are found. The difference equations, and their solution, may have a meaning for the control problem even when it cannot be proved that (2) has a solution. The iterative methods for the iterative solution of these nonlinear systems are discussed and compared. Both converge to the solution, provided that the difference equations were derived using the method introduced in the paper; one, new to this paper, often much faster than the other (Theorem 2). In fact, the typical time required for the numerical solution is about the time required for a related linear problem. The method of obtaining the difference equations, and the proof of convergence of the associated iterative procedures, are illustrated by a detailed example. Finally, specific numerical results for a "minimum average time" type of optimization problem are presented and discussed.
Trade Policies and the Highly Indebted Countries

In the early 1980s, faced with a mounting debt crisis, most highly indebted developing countries increased trade barriers to save foreign exchange, but in the last three to four years, they have reversed course. Almost all of these countries have undergone real devaluations, and many have undertaken significant liberalizations, so much so that some (Bolivia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, and Uruguay) are less protectionist than before the debt crisis. But industrial countries have imposed new nontariff barriers against imports from highly indebted countries. Canada, Australia, the European Community, and the United States have greatly increased the use of countervailing duties and antidumping actions. This makes it more difficult for highly indebted countries to pay off their debts, and ultimately rebounds on creditor governments and banks.
Integrated networks and health care provider cooperatives: new models for rural health care delivery and financing

Minnesota's 1994 health care reform legislation authorized the establishment of community integrated service networks (CISNs) and health care provider cooperatives, which were envisioned as new health care delivery models that could be successfully implemented in rural areas of the state. Four CISNs are licensed, and three organizations are incorporated as health care provider cooperatives. Many of the policy issues Minnesota has faced regarding the development of CISNs and health care provider cooperatives in rural areas are similar to those raised by current Medicare reform proposals.
Sem and Aes Analysis of Ion Implanted Graphite

Ion-implantation of graphite is characterized with respect to lattice damage and the distribution of implanted ions. Both the depth profile of the implanted ions and of the lattice damage are shown to follow the models previously developed for ion-implanted semiconductors. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) is used to monitor the implantation profile. The surface damage is examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while microcrystalline regions in an amorphous background are observed by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM).
Estrogen-induced uterine hyperemia and edema persist during histamine receptor blockade.

SummaryThe effect of H1 and H2 hista-mine receptor antagonists on estrogen-induced increases in uterine blood volume and uterine water content (edema) was determined. Neither the H1 or H2 histamine receptor antagonists nor the combination of both significantly altered either estrogen-induced increases in uterine blood volume or uterine water content. These results suggest that histamine does not play a major role in these physiological responses of the uterus to estrogen.
The Dark Side of Church/State Separation: The French Revolution, Nazi Germany and International Communism

Stephen Strehle, a professor of philosophy and religion at Christopher Newport University, has undertaken in this provocative work to expose the dire consequences of the Enlightenment project to se...
Induction of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity in the Reuber H-4-II-E hepatoma cell culture.

The rat Reuber H-4-II-E continuous cell line contains 4-methylumbelliferone-UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity. This enzyme is induced 3- to 6-fold by polycyclic aromatic compounds such as benzo[a]pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, benz[a]anthracene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, by phenobarbital, or by isoproterenol. Induction of the transferase by most compounds is maximal by 48 hours; however, upon treatment with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or 3-methylcholanthrene, the activity rises for at least 72 hours. Certain hydroxylated metabolities of benzo[a]pyrene, at the same concentration as used for benzo[a]pyrene, are shown to be inferior inducers of activity. Available hydroxylated metabolites of benzo[a]anthracene or 3-methyicholanthrene do not induce transferase activity. Combinations of a polycyclic aromatic compound and phenobarbital—at their optimal concentrations when added individually—cause additive induction of transferase activity whereas combinations of two polycyclic aromatic compounds do not cause greater activity than the best inducer alone. The induction of activity by the best inducer, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, is progressively inhibited by increasing concentrations of either actinomycin D or cycloheximide. In contrast, if cells are first exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and cycloheximide for a period of time and then washed, treatment with actinomycin D causes an unusually rapid rise in transferase activity, as compared with that in cells transferred to control medium. The Reuber H-4-II-E cultures therefore contain a UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity which is inducible by the three different classes of inducers already known to exist for monooxygenase activity in cell culture (2). Furthermore, substrates for UDP-glucuronosyltransferase(s) do not appear to function as very efficient inducers of the transferase activity.
The Dimension of Affine Rings

In this section we shall prove Theorems A and A1, explained in Chapter 8. Theorem A1 is a form of the Noether normalization theorem, due to Nagata [1962]. It gives a kind of universal tool for the solution of many problems about affine rings. We shall illustrate this assertion by proving three other famous results: Hilbert’s Nullstellensatz, Noether’s theorem on the finiteness of the integral closure of an affine domain, and, in the next chapter, Grothendieck’s lemma of generic freeness, with its applications to the semi-continuity of fiber dimensions.
Endovascular Drug Delivery and Drug Elution Systems: First Principles

Endovascular drug delivery continues to revolutionize the treatment of atherosclerosis in coronary and peripheral vasculature. The key has been to identify biologic agents that can counter the hyperplastic tissue responses to device expansion/implantation and to develop effective local delivery strategies that can maintain efficacious drug levels across the artery wall over the course of device effects. This article reviews the evolution of endovascular drug delivery technology, explains the mechanisms they use for drug release, and provides a quantitative mechanistic framework for relating drug release mode to arterial drug distribution and effect.
Taming Passion for the Public Good: Policing Sex in the Early Republic. By Mark E. Kann. (New York, NY: New York University Press, 2013. Pp. 248. $49.00.)

In this largely synthetic study, the author finds that the American Revolution did not destroy patriarchy. Even as liberalism introduced the consenting individual as the basis of legitimate governm...
Hot stuff: a rare diagnosis of a mitral valve mass confirmed on cardiac fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography

A 29-year-old male with chest pain was incidentally found to have an anterior mitral valve leaflet mass during tomographic screening for pulmonary embolism. His history included pre-cursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, with multiple extramedullary relapses, despite chemotherapy and matched sibling donor stem cell transplant. His treatment was complicated by acute graft vs. host disease …
Great Harvest Bread Company: Leveraging the Supply Chain for Competitive Advantage

The foundation of the Great Harvest Bread Company is the "Freedom Franchise," within which its more than 200 franchisees enjoy an amount of autonomy unusual for franchise operations. CEO Mike Ferretti is now faced with the matter of the rising costs of ingredients, some of which are based on longstanding contracts and others of which are obtained locally from a variety of sources, all of which have a direct impact on the product. Is there a way Ferretti can streamline the supply chain? Does the central tenet of the Freedom Franchise mean he stands more to lose than to gain by mandating procurement changes? What role does logistics play? This field-based case provides a means of addressing a hosts of issues related to supply chain optimization as well as strategic considerations. Excerpt UVA-OM-1437 Rev. Jun. 7, 2011 GREAT HARVEST BREAD COMPANY: LEVERAGING THE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE On a flight from Bozeman, Montana, to his home in Charlotte, North Carolina, Mike Ferretti, CEO of Great Harvest Bread Company (Great Harvest), wondered what the future held for his firm's supply chain development. Bakery owners now understood more about supplies and ingredients—what they bought from whom and how it got to them. But Ferretti still wondered how Great Harvest might optimize its supply chain and capture more of its potential value. Great Harvest Bread Company . . .
TACL'ing supportive care needs in pediatric early phase clinical trials for acute leukemia: A report from the therapeutic advances in childhood leukemia & lymphoma (TACL) consortium supportive care committee

A Supportive Care Committee was recently developed within the Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia & Lymphoma (TACL) Consortium. This was substantiated by the significantly high rate of serious adverse events (SAE) (CTCAE Grade ≥3 toxicity) experienced by patients with relapse/refractory acute leukemia enrolled on our phase I trials. Such treatment-related toxicity has resulted in patients being removed from study and thus potentially not receiving clinical benefit from the novel therapy. In addition, increased treatment-related toxicity may compromise new agents from moving forward in their clinical development. To address these challenges, TACL initiated a Supportive Care Committee to help mitigate the treatment-related toxicity risk that exists in heavily pre-treated patients with relapse/refractory leukemia. This manuscript reviews the mission of the TACL Supportive Care Committee presented at the 2016 TACL Investigators' Meeting (Los Angeles, CA) and the future direction in providing enhanced supportive care guidelines for all TACL studies.
Experimental and analytical evaluation of a hydro-pneumatic compressed-air Ground-Level Integrated Diverse Energy Storage (GLIDES) system

Abstract In recent times, there has been a significant increase in intermittent renewable electricity capacity additions to the generation mix. This, coupled with an aging electrical grid that is poorly equipped to handle the ensuing mismatch between generation and use, has created a strong need for flexible, advanced bulk energy storage technologies. In this paper, one such technology recently invented and demonstrated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is introduced and characterized. Similar to compressed-air energy storage, the Ground-Level Integrated Diverse Energy Storage (GLIDES) technology is based on gas compression/expansion, however, liquid-piston compression and expansion are utilized. In common with pumped-storage hydroelectricity, hydraulic turbomachines (pump/turbine) are utilized for energy storage and recovery, however, pressure vessels are utilized to create artificial elevation (head) difference, allowing pressure head of several thousands of feet to be reached. This paper reports on the experimental performance of the first GLIDES proof-of-concept prototype, and presents formulation and results from a validated physics-based simulation model.
Enhanced Empirical Mode Decomposition

Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) associated with the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) deconstructs a time-series signal into a set of monocomponent signals called intrinsic mode functions (IMF). EMD also acts as a filter limiting the frequency range of each IMF. EMD filtering is less than ideal and can lead to misleading results. This difficulty is ameliorated by first subjecting the time-series to bandpass filtration, where the pass-band frequency range is sufficiently narrow that the entire pass-band is captured in a single IMF. A series of such filtrations are required to treat a multicomponent signal. This approach avoids partial representation of those frequencies at the crossover between two successive IMF's. Bandpass enhanced EMD is applied to a bat chirp signal. That the fundamental, the first, second, and part of the third harmonic are expressed, demonstrates the improved sensitivity of this method over the standard HHT approach. The fundamental and harmonics of this chirp have an exponential form with a decay rate proportional to the square root of the time.
Introduction to Management Science w/ Student CD-ROM

Introduction to Management Science, 2e offers a unique case study approach and integrates the use of Excel. Each chapter includes a case study that is meant to show the students a real and interesting application of the topics addressed in that chapter. This most recent revision has been thoroughly updated to be more “user-friendly” and more technologically advanced. These changes include, a completely new chapter on the art of modeling with spreadsheets. This unique chapter goes far beyond anything found in other textbooks and are based on the award winning methodologies used by Mark Hillier in his own course. The technology package has also been greatly enhanced to include, Crystal Ball 2000 (Professional Edition) a Management Science Online Learning Center, and an Excel add-in called Alver Table for performing sensitivity analysis. Crystal Ball is the most popular Excel add-in for computer simulation and includes OptQuest (an optimizer with simulation) as well as a forecasting module. The Management Science Online Learning Center (website) includes several modules that enable students to interactively explore certain management science techniques in depth. Solver Table is an Excel add-in developed by the author to help perform sensitivity analysis systematically, as well as substantially expanded coverage of computer simulation, including Crystal Ball. We now have two chapters on computer simulation instead of one, where the second chapter features the use of Crystal Ball.all. Table of contents 1. Introduction 2. Linear Programming: Basic Concepts 3. The Art of Modeling with spreadsheets 4. Linear Programming: Formulation and Applications 5. What-If Analysis for Linear Programming 6. Transportation and Assignment Problems 7. Network Optimization Problems 8. Project Management with PERT/CPM 9. Integer Programming 10. Nonlinear Programming 11. Goal Programming 12. Decision Analysis 13. Forecasting 14. Queuing Models 15. Computer Simulation: Basic Concepts 16. Computer Simulation with Crystal Ball
A mathematical model applying the random-walk method to the environment of a neuron.

A mathematical model describing the supply and demand relationships existing in the environment of a brain cell (neuron of the cerebral cortex) was developed. The stochastic random-walk technique was applied to the representation and solution of the system which consisted of a neuron being supplied with nutrients by an adjoining capillary. The random-walk method incorporated a uniformly generated random number which was weighted by the normal distribution curve to determine the random walk of a molecule. The resultant weighted value was designated as defining the motion of any particular species in space. The distribution curve was a function of diffusivity and time. The method allowed the tracking of individual molecules as they proceeded through the metabolic reactions in the cell. Oxygen, glucose, carbon dioxide and lactate were selected as the primary components of study, since they represent the major input and output parameters of metabolism inside the cell. The consumption and/or production of these components were dependent on probability values assigned to each metabolic reaction into which they entered. The solution of the model was based on the number of molecules existing in the tissue as a fuction of PO2, (partial pressure of oxygen), glucose level, etc. The model was very sensitive to perturbations of metabolic scheme parameters and to PO2 levels in the capillary. The model predicted an excess of 02, (oxygen) in the tissue. The effects of edema on intercapillary distances as well as changes in the size and number of mitochondria within the neuron were examined using the model. Apart from the results which are presented later in the text, the primary limitation of the modeling method was the constraint put on by the large amount of computer time necessary for a simulation. This work is intended to be a methodology for the theoretical analysis of biochemical processes at the cellular and subcellular level. As this is the primary emphasis, the results have not been experimentally verified.
System Identification of Linear Systems With A Linear Neural Network: — On Relationship of LMS Learning and Least Squares Estimation

In this work, the relationship between the parameter estimation of linear discrete systems by the Ordinary Least Squares method (OLS) and by LMS learning using a Linear Neural Network (LNN) is established when the input and output of the system are applied to the LNN through tapped delay lines. That is, the m past inputs and the n past outputs are both applied as inputs to the LNN. Here m and n are assumed to be known system order parameters and the LNN is considered to be recurrent or feedback network since the outputs are fed-back as inputs. Under the assumption that the system under estimation is stable and with the input chosen such that the system is fully excited (i.e. assuming that the system is identifiable), and the noise in the data measurement is white (i.e. it has zero mean), then it can be shown the statistical expected values of all trained weights of the LNN (parameters of the system) are equal to those obtained by the OLS. Simulations are performed to show convergence of LMS learning in parameter estimation.
A Data-Driven Control Strategy for Trip Length-Conscious Power Management of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles

This paper presents a novel data-driven control strategy for the computationally efficient power management of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The proposed method relies on a set of real-time control policies trained through a linear regression process based on a large set of optimal powertrain decisions obtained from dynamic programming. The control policies receive the real-time powertrain system information such as the demanded propulsion force, vehicle speed, battery state-of-charge, etc. to compute the required torque values for the engine and the electric drivetrain system. The proposed controller makes near-optimal decisions when it is evaluated for the same test conditions as trained. When the test and training settings are different, however, the controller decisions deviate from optimality. We show that this deviation can be mitigated by including future drive cycle information such as trip length in the control computations.
BlockArt: Visualizing the 'Hundred Languages' of Code in Children's Creations

This paper introduces BlockArt - a colorful visualization tool designed to let users discover their own unique programming patterns on Scratch, the leading block-based online creative coding platform for children. Existing tools and dashboards often utilize data about the types of blocks used in children's projects to generate a narrow quantitative assessment of a project's computational complexity. BlockArt serves both as an alternative approach and an artistic provocation that challenges this view. Rather than datafying children's creations, the tool utilizes data to reveal a hundred ways children create and express their ideas with code. For any given username, the tool dynamically generates colorful visualizations representing the diversity of blocks used in each of their shared projects over time. I discuss the design rationale and illustrate the functionality through examples. I conclude by discussing future work exploring the social potential of the tool in helping young creators connect with others in the community based on their creative computational styles.
Sexual Minorities in Modern Russia

This article outlines the history of sexual minorities in modern Russia, beginning with a discussion of the methodological challenges posed by the interpretation of Western sources, on the one hand, and of Russia's discursive silence, on the other. The history of Russia's sexual minorities is divided into three historical periods: prerevolutionary Russia, Soviet Russia, and post-Soviet Russia. Special attention is paid to the differences between literary and other representations of homosexuality and the descriptions of gay and lesbian life provided in the diaries of Russian gays and lesbians, revealing a deep-seated ambivalence regarding the phenomenon of homosexuality in Russia.
Exchange networks, markets and trust

Network-based transactions are attractive as a system for economic exchange because they give network members greater protection against opportunism and exchange hazards compared to more anonymous ...
On zero dimensional sequential spaces

We develop tools to recognize sequential spaces with large inductive dimension zero. We show the Hawaiian earring group $G$ is 0 dimensional, when endowed with the quotient topology, inherited from the space of based loops with the compact open topology. In particular $G$ is $T_4$ and hence inclusion $G \rightarrow F_M (G)$ is a topological embedding into the free topological group $F_M (G)$ in the sense of Markov.
Aging of the progenitor cells that initiate prostate cancer

Many organs experience a loss of tissue mass and a decline in regenerative capacity during aging. In contrast, the prostate continues to grow in volume. In fact, age is the most important risk factor for prostate cancer. However, the age-related factors that influence the composition, morphology and molecular features of prostate epithelial progenitor cells, the cells-of-origin for prostate cancer, are poorly understood. Here, we review the evidence that prostate luminal progenitor cells are expanded with age. We explore the age-related changes to the microenvironment that may influence prostate epithelial cells and risk of transformation. Finally, we raise a series of questions about models of aging and regulators of prostate aging which need to be addressed. A fundamental understanding of aging in the prostate will yield critical insights into mechanisms that promote the development of age-related prostatic disease.
Molecular weight and dispersity affect chain conformation and pH-response in weak polyelectrolyte brushes

The impact of brush molecular weight distribution on the conformation and response of weak polyacid brushes was investigated. We show that weight-average degree of polymerization (Nw) and dispersity (Đ) alter the pH-responsive conformation of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brushes grafted to silica nanoparticles. We quantified the average brush length (lb) at various pH using dynamic light scattering. The lb of low-Nw PAA brushes (Nw = 45) increased as Đ was increased from 1.09 to 1.69, but lb for the high-Nw PAA brushes (Nw ≈ 813) did not vary substantially when Đ was increased from 1.23 to 1.76. This result indicates that the presence of a small fraction of long chains in a broad dispersity brush has a greater impact on lb when Nw is low. Additionally, the extent of pH-response in lb/lb,max increased with Nw or Đ (when Nw is low), where the maximum brush length (lb,max) was lb measured at pH 10. The scaling of lb/lb,max with degree of dissociation (α), however, was influenced by Nw but not Đ, indicating the low- and high-Nw PAA brushes were in the quasi-neutral brush (q-NB) and salted brush (SB) regimes, respectively. Differing behaviors in the pH-response and α-response of lb at low Nw arose from subtle differences in dissociation behaviors among brushes of varying Đ. At low Đ, the low-Nw brush adopted a pH-independent extended conformation due to strong excluded volume interactions, whereas the conformation of the high-Nw brush varied from collapsed to stretched with increasing pH arising from electrostatic interactions. At high-Đ, we suggest the brush conformation also varied from collapsed to stretched with increasing pH regardless of Nw.
Management Of Optics Programs Through Technology Coordination In DoD And NASA

One of the ways in which optics related programs are managed in DoD and NASA is through the coordination of programs by Working Group D (Mainly Lasers) of the Advisory Group on Electron Devices. The objective of this paper is to explain the purpose, responsibilities, organization, and method of operation of the Advisory Group on Electron Devices (AGED) and, in particular of Working Group D.
Individual Differences in Visual Working Memory Capacity: Contributions of Attentional Control to Storage

Visual working memory (VWM) allows us to actively represent a limited amount of visual information. This capacity limitation is known to vary considerably across individuals. Traditionally, this difference has been interpreted as differences in the size of the available mental storage space. Alternatively, several studies have suggested that capacity strongly covaries with individuals' ability to regulate what gets into the VWM store. In this chapter, we report the findings of three experiments that directly examined the nature of the individual differences in a standard VWM capacity estimate. We found that the capacity estimate is heavily influenced by individuals' ability to attentionally regulate the competition induced by excessive number of memory items. This finding provides not only a clear explanation for a robust relationship between VWM capacity and attentional control measures, but also a new perspective to refine our understanding of the variability of VWM capacity.
Synaptic mechanisms and cholinergic regulation in auditory cortex.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the cholinergic actions of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors (nAChRs and mAChRs) to understand the development and function of auditory cortex (ACx). Neurons in ACx receive synaptic inputs from a much wider range of frequencies than the range that overtly excites the neuron. The synaptic receptive field of a neuron in ACx—produced by integrated thalamocortical and intracortical activity—may be an important target of cholinergic regulation. Cortical plasticity, including reorganization of topographic maps and single cell receptive fields, can involve cholinergic inputs and differential strengthening and weakening of existing synapses. Rapid, transient changes in receptive fields that result from shifting attention may also depend on cholinergic modulation of synaptic strength, given likely cholinergic involvement in mechanisms of attention. The transient expression and function of α 7 nAChRs during development of ACx suggest the existence of a “critical period” of heightened sensitivity to sensory experience, especially given the proximity to the onset of hearing.
Toward an Enlargement of the Role of Natural Languages in Information Processing, Decision and Control

It is a deep-seated tradition in science to view the use of natural languages in scientific theories as a manifestation of mathematical immaturity. The rationale for this tradition is that natural languages are lacking in precision. However, what is not recognized to the extent that it should, is that adherence to this tradition carries a steep price. In particular, a direct consequence is that existing scientific theories do not have the capability to operate on perception-based information exemplified by “Most Finns are honest.” Such information is usually described in a natural language and is intrinsically imprecise, reflecting a fundamental limitation on the cognitive ability of humans to resolve detail and store information. Because of their imprecision, perceptions do not lend themselves to meaning-representation through the use of precise methods based on predicate logic. This is the principal reason why existing scientific theories do not have the capability to operate on perception-based information.
Singular perturbation analysis of the atmospheric orbital plane change problem

A three-state model is presented for the aeroassisted orbital plane change problem. A further model order reduction to a single state model is examined using singular perturbation theory. The optimal solution for this single state model compares favorably with the exact numerical solution using a four-state model; however, a separate boundary layer solution is required to satisfy the terminal constraint on altitude. This, in general, involves the solution of a two-point boundary value problem, but for a two-state model. An approximation is introduced to obtain an analytical control solution for lift and bank angle. Included are numerical simulation results of a guidance law derived from this analysis, along with comparison to earlier work by other researchers.
Multi-criteria service selection with optimal stopping in dynamic service-oriented systems

Advanced, service oriented systems can dynamically re-compose service invocations at run time. For this purpose they may opportunistically select services that are available on the Internet or on open platforms in general. In this paper, a multi criteria selection approach is developed on two optimization goals, quality of service and cost of service invocation. Also, stopping theory is applied to optimize the multi criteria service re-composition. An efficient algorithm is presented which is run time capable since it decides within a predefined time frame. The algorithm yields the best possible lower probability bound for taking an optimal choice. The applied theory is confirmed in simulation experiments.
Ca2+/H+ countertransport and electrogenicity in proteoliposomes containing erythrocyte plasma membrane Ca-ATPase and exogenous lipids.

A reconstituted proteoliposomal system was obtained with Ca-ATPase purified from human erythrocyte membrane (plasma membrane, PM ATPase), and liposomes prepared by reverse-phase evaporation. The reconstituted PM ATPase behaved as an electrogenic Ca2+/H+ exchanger and, under optimal conditions, utilization of 1 mol of ATP was accompanied by uptake of one Ca2+ by the vesicles, and ejection of one H+ from the lumen of the vesicles. Ca2+ uptake was greatly (5-fold) stimulated by the addition of calmodulin, and by collapsing the H+ gradient with the ionophore carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. In the presence of calmodulin and p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, the reconstituted system sustained transport rates of 1.00 +/- 0.12 mumol of Ca2+/mg of protein min-1 (30 degrees C), reaching asymptotic levels of 8.05 +/- 0.41 mumol of Ca2+/mg of protein (i.e. 20 mM lumenal Ca2+). The corresponding net charge transfer produced a maximal electrical gradient of 40.5 +/- 1.8 mV at steady state. Demonstration of the electrogenic behavior of the PM ATPase, obtained for the first time with these experiments, was critically dependent on the detergent used in the reconstitution procedure. The lumenal pH rise had a much greater rate-limiting effect on the pump, than the electrical potential developed by the pump.
Developing Parallel Applications Using the JAVAPORTS Environment

The JavaPorts system is an environment that facilitates the rapid development of modular, reusable, Java-based parallel and distributed applications for networked machines with heterogeneous properties. The main goals of the JavaPorts system are to provide developers with: (i) the capability to quickly generate reusable software components (code templates) for the concurrent tasks of an application; (ii) a Java interface allowing anonymous message passing among concurrent tasks while keeping the details of the coordination code hidden; (iii) tools that make it easy to define, assemble and reconfigure concurrent applications on clusters using pre-existing and/or new software components. In this paper we provide an overview of the current state of the system placing more emphasis on the tools that support parallel applications development and deployment.
ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMITS: AN EVOLVING AGENDA

This paper presents a framework for understanding energy issues in the context of sustainable development. It posits that there are three important ways in which energy is related to sustainable development: (a) energy as a source of environmental stress, (b) energy as a principal motor of macroeconomic growth and (c) energy as a prerequisite for meeting basic human needs. These three dimensions correspond to the three dimensions of the often-used triangle of sustainable development: environmental, economic, and social. Using this framework, the paper traces how successive environmental summits at Stockholm (1972), Rio de Janeiro (1992) and Johannesburg (2002) have dealt with energy issues. It identifies a slow, surprising and important evolution of how energy issues have been treated at these global discussions. Energy has received increasing prominence at these meetings and become more firmly rooted in the framework of sustainable development. Stockholm was primarily concerned with the environmental dimension, Rio de Janeiro focused on both the environmental and economic dimensions, and the major headway made at Johannesburg was the meaningful addition of the social dimension and the linking of energy issues to the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
HSV-1 migration in latently infected and naive rabbits after penetrating keratoplasty.

PURPOSE. To investigate the migration of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) between latently infected and naive corneal tissues and trigeminal ganglion (TG) in rabbits after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and transcorneal epinephrine iontophoresis. METHODS. Two mutants, genetically constructed from HSV-1 strain 17syn 1 , were used to inoculate rabbit corneas: 17DPst, a latency associated transcript (LAT) negative, low-reactivating virus and 17Pr, a high-reactivating, LAT-positive rescuant of 17DPst. Latently infected rabbits were given corneal allografts from naive rabbits, and naive rabbits received grafts from latently infected rabbits. Ninety days after PKP, groups of the transplanted rabbits were induced to reactivate by transcorneal epinephrine iontophoresis, but others were not induced. Viral shedding was monitored by tear film cultures. Rabbits were killed 5 days after iontophoresis. Transplanted grafts, recipient corneal rims, and corresponding TG were obtained. Nucleic acids were extracted and amplified for detection of HSV-1 DNA and viral gene transcription. RESULTS. In naive rabbits receiving grafts transplanted from rabbits latently infected with 17Pr (LAT 1 ), 3 of 6 corneal rims contained HSV DNA after induction. In contrast, none of the 5 corneal rims from naive rabbits receiving grafts from rabbits latent with 17DPst (LAT 2 ) contained viral DNA. Viral DNA and gene transcripts were detected in 2 of 6 TG from naive rabbits that received grafts from 17Pr (LAT 1 ) latently infected rabbits. In recipient corneal rims and TG of latently infected rabbits receiving grafts from naive rabbits, viral DNA concentration was significantly greater with induced reactivation, compared with the results in noninduced rabbits. The amount of viral DNA in naive grafts transplanted into 17Pr (LAT 1 ) latently infected rabbits was significantly higher with induction than without induction (P 5 0.018). More viral DNA and viral gene transcripts were found in tissues from rabbits latently infected with 17Pr (LAT 1 ) than in rabbits latently infected with 17DPst (LAT 2 ). CONCLUSIONS. Corneas from latently infected rabbits contain HSV-1 DNA that can replicate after induced reactivation. Viral migration can occur in both anterograde and retrograde directions between the transplanted graft and the recipient corneal rim and TG. The LAT negative HSV-1 construct 17DPst has a significantly reduced ability to replicate and migrate. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1999;40:2490 ‐2497)
A40-K40 dating of igneous rocks and sediments

Abstract The discrepancy in A 40 K 40 ratios between micas and feldspars reported by Wetherill has been confirmed. Assuming no A40 to be inherited by potassium minerals, a branching ratio of 0.113 is calculated from dated mica samples. This implies that the micas investigated have retained 85% or more of their argon. The branching ratio of R = 0.085 is interpreted to be an empirical calibration constant which corrects for argon loss. The A 40 K 40 ratios in four authigenic minerals have been determined and the ages are found to be in reasonable agreement with the times assigned to the geologic periods by Holmes.
An algorithmic approach to the total least-squares problem with linear and quadratic constraints

Proper incorporation of linear and quadratic constraints is critical in estimating parameters from a system of equations. These constraints may be used to avoid a trivial solution, to mitigate biases, to guarantee the stability of the estimation, to impose a certain “natural” structure on the system involved, and to incorporate prior knowledge about the system. The Total Least-Squares (TLS) approach as applied to the Errors-In-Variables (EIV) model is the proper method to treat problems where all the data are affected by random errors. A set of efficient algorithms has been developed previously to solve the TLS problem, and a few procedures have been proposed to treat TLS problems with linear constraints and TLS problems with a quadratic constraint. In this contribution, a new algorithm is presented to solve TLS problems with both linear and quadratic constraints. The new algorithm is developed using the Euler-Lagrange theorem while following an optimization process that minimizes a target function. Two numerical examples are employed to demonstrate the use of the new approach in a geodetic setting.