cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The optimal reward operator in negative dynamic programming

We consider the negative dynamic programming model of Strauch [12] and prove that the optimal reward function can be obtained by a transfinite iteration of the optimal reward operator. We show that a player loses nothing by restricting himself to measurable policies, if the returns from nonmeasurable policies are evaluated by lower integrals.
Spectral analysis technique of ultrasonic ndt of advanced composite materials

Abstract The authors describe an ultrasonic-frequency-spectral analysis method of detecting flaws in advanced composite materials. This non-destructive technique depends on the phenomenon of resonance interference of acoustical waves in materials. When the material thickness is an integral multiple of the half wavelength of the sound waves, destructive interference of a return echo by multiple reflections in the material produces anti-resonant dips in the frequency spectrum for the reflected signal. The period of these dips is related to the material thickness normal to the beam path. Delaminations or voids in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the sound waves may be observed through their characteristic anti-resonant frequencies. Graphite — epoxy composite specimens containing flat-bottom holes and small planar voids were used as examples of the application of this technique. The authors present analytical development, experimental procedures, and spectral analysis results in this paper.
Biochemistry and metabolism of human eosinophils

Abstract After a century of study, the functions of eosinophils remain uncertain. The two proposed functions supported by currently available data appear contrasting. First, the eosinophil is viewed as a killer cell, similar to the neutrophil, but having an unusual ability to destroy invasive metazoan parasites. On the other hand, it is viewed as a immunomodulatory cell which serves to minimize the unneeded spread of hypersensitivity reactions. Each of these possibilities can find support in our current knowledge of the biochemistry and metabolism of eosinophils. Eosinophils are capable of a potent oxidative metabolic response which may be directly toxic to some parasites. Eosinophil granules are rich in peroxidase, which could amplify the effect of the metabolic burst by a peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide microbicidal mechanism. Eosinophil cationic proteins may be directly toxic to parasites. Alternately, eosinophils may release a variety of substances which are capable of suppressing immediate hypersensitivity responses. These include supression of basophil degranulation by prostaglandins, inactivation of slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis by eosinophil arylsulphatase, inactivation of histamine by major basic protein. This discussion reviews the current knowledge regarding such distinctive qualities of eosinophil leucocyte biochemistry and metabolism. There are also differences between eosinophils obtained from normal individuals and those obtained from patients with eosinophilia. Moreover, some of these changes could be duplicated by stimulation of normal eosinophils in vitro . Thus, “resting” eosinophils from patients with eosinophilia or normal eosinophils stimulated in vitro , each demonstate a reduced cell surface charge, an enhanced transport of sugars into the cell and an activation of demonstrable acid phosphatase in the specific granules. Also, whereas oxidative metabolism of normal eosinophils is similar to that of normal neutrophils, eosinophils from patients with eosinophilia demonstrate a significant enhancement of oxidative metabolism in both resting cells and cells stimulated during phagocytosis. Thus, eosinophils from patients with eosinophilia appear significantly activated when compared with normal eosinophils.
The Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR)—a decade of experience

Abstract The Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR) was developed 10 years ago to fill the gap between geologic characterization and engineering design. It combines many years of geologic studies in underground coal mines with worldwide experience with rock mass classification systems. Like other classification systems, the CMRR begins with the premise that the structural competence of mine roof rock is determined primarily by the discontinuities that weaken the rock fabric. However, the CMRR is specifically designed for bedded coal measure rock. Since its introduction, the CMRR has been incorporated into many aspects of mine planning, including longwall pillar design, roof support selection, feasibility studies, extended cut evaluation, and others. It has also become truly international, with involvement in mine designs and funded research projects in South Africa, Canada, and Australia. This paper discusses the sources used in the development of the CMRR, describes the CMRR data collection and calculation procedures, and briefly presents a number of practical mining applications in which the CMRR has played a prominent role.
Combination atmospheric pressure solids analysis probe and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry ion source.

The atmospheric solids probe analysis (ASAP) probe was investigated as a means for conducting desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) using a commercially available ion source. Solid and liquid samples as well as a raw urine sample were placed on individual melting point tubes and were inserted into either a heated gas stream for ASAP analysis or a charged solvent spray for DESI-like experiments. Samples ranged in polarity, volatility, mass, (100−17 000 Da), and concentration (neat to submicromolar). Mass spectra of multiple samples were obtained within a single acquisition on a short time scale (<30 s per sample). The configuration of the ion source also allowed rapid switching (∼1 min) between ASAP, electrospray ionization (ESI), and DESI.
Structural characterization of pulsed laser-deposited AlN thin films on semiconductor substrates

Abstract Thin films of aluminum nitride (AlN) have been grown on semiconductor Si (100) substrates using the pulsed laser deposition method. The laser-deposition parameters and substrate temperature play an important role in fabricating high-quality AlN films. The films deposited at higher temperatures have shown better crystalline properties and also are highly oriented perpendicular to the substrate. The films have been characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. An atomic force microscope was used to obtain three-dimensional topographs of the surfaces of these films. These maps are useful both for quantitatively characterizing the roughness of the surfaces and for gaining information about the basic mechanisms involved in the film growth process. The hardness as a function of the penetration depth has been measured using the nano-indentation method.
Turducken: hierarchical power management for mobile devices

Maintaining optimal consistency in a distributed system requires that nodes be always-on to synchronize information. Unfortunately, mobile devices such as laptops do not have adequate battery capacity for constant processing and communication. Even by powering off unnecessary components, such as the screen and disk, current laptops only have a lifetime of a few hours. Although PDAs and sensors are similarly limited in lifetime, a PDA's power requirement is an order-of-magnitude smaller than a laptop's, and a sensor's is an order-of-magnitude smaller than a PDA's. By combining these diverse platforms into a single integrated laptop, we can reduce the power cost of always-on operation. This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of Turducken, a Hierarchical Power Management architecture for mobile systems. We focus on a particular instantiation of HPM, which provides high levels of consistency in a laptop by integrating two additional low power processors. We demonstrate that a Turducken system can provide battery lifetimes of up to ten times that of a standard laptop for always-on operation and three times for a system that periodically sleeps.
Domestic Farm Policy and International Trade

O UR domestic farm policies have always been influenced by our position in international trade, although the nature of this influence has varied over time. In those crops where we are normally net exporters we have gradually moved from a policy of export subsidies to one of bringing domestic and export prices closer together, while in those farm products where there is competition from imports we have increasingly attempted to keep domestic prices above world prices. This bifurcation can of course be cited as an example of the mercantilism that continues to dominate practical economic policies both here and abroad. However, this cannot be the whole story, if only because international trade is only one of the several factors that shape farm policies. It is precisely this interplay of domestic and external considerations that is our subject at this session. My reference to mercantilism may seem facetious to those of you who know all the theoretical arguments against it. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that mercantilism is the philosophy from which most protectionists and quite a few free traders draw their inspiration. Businessmen are generally more interested in selling than in buying; the idea that free trade is good for consumers because it enables them to get more value for their money holds little charm for producers or for the many legislators and administrators who usually take the producers' point of view. It is probably true, as an economist pointed out recently, that the Japanese with their cheap cars and TV sets have done vastly more for the American consumer than Ralph Nader and his cohorts, but we would never guess it from the vehemence with which people in authority now denounce Japan's export surplus (and I hasten to
Monoconjugated bilirubin is a major component of hemolysis-induced gallstones in mice

The role of bilirubin conjugates in the formation of pigment gallstones is not known. In this study, we completely solubilized and then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography specimens of black pigment gallstones from eight nb/nb mice with hereditary hemolytic anemia. Each dried gallstone specimen of about 200 micrograms was dissolved in 5 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide/0.15 M HCI/50 mM disodium-EDTA (8:1:1 by volume) at room temperature. Stone dissolution was complete by 30 min as monitored by the A456 and direct observation, and no oxidative products of bilirubin were observed in the visible spectrum, 350 to 750 nm. By high-performance liquid chromatography, the intact tetrapyrroles were separated as diconjugated and monoconjugated bilirubins; unconjugated bilirubin was resolved as XIII, IX and III alpha-isomers. The isocratic solvent system used was 0.1 M di-n-dodecylamine acetate/0.1 M di-n-octylamine acetate (4:1, v/v) in methanol, pH 7.4, at a flow of 1 ml per min. Diconjugated bilirubin accounted for 6.0 +/- 2.4 molar % (mean +/- S.E.), monoconjugated bilirubin for 37.4 +/- 8.4% and unconjugated bilirubin for 56.3 +/- 8.9% of the solubilized pigments. The IX alpha-isomer represented 96 +/- 1.9% of the unconjugated bilirubin. The presence of bilirubin conjugates in gallstones was confirmed by ethylanthranilate diazotization: the conjugated azodipyrrole in stone had the same retention time as that of conjugated azodipyrrole from rat and mouse bile. A majority of the bilirubin conjugates was sensitive to beta-glucuronidase of liver origin, indicating that the C-1 glucuronide ester was present.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Geographic Information System Applications in Emergency Management

One of the most useful and readily available technologies to aid emergency managers is the geographic information system (GIS). The potential usefulness of GIS is indicated by many of the papers presented in this conference. This paper will discuss two of the authors' experiences with a GIS in combination with simulation models, and will present an overview of other GIS applications.
The Genetic Architecture of Maize Height

Height is one of the most heritable and easily measured traits in maize (Zea mays L.). Given a pedigree or estimates of the genomic identity-by-state among related plants, height is also accurately predictable. But, mapping alleles explaining natural variation in maize height remains a formidable challenge. To address this challenge, we measured the plant height, ear height, flowering time, and node counts of plants grown in .64,500 plots across 13 environments. These plots contained .7300 inbreds representing most publically available maize inbreds in the United States and families of the maize Nested Association Mapping (NAM) panel. Joint- linkage mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL), fine mapping in near isogenic lines (NILs), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) were performed. The heritability of maize height was estimated to be .90%. Mapping NAM family-nested QTL revealed the largest explained 2.1 6 0.9% of height variation. The effects of two tropical alleles at this QTL were independently validated by fine mapping in NIL families. Several significant associations found by GWAS colocalized with established height loci, including brassinosteroid-deficient dwarf1, dwarf plant1, and semi-dwarf2. GBLUP explained .80% of height variation in the panels and outperformed bootstrap aggregation of family-nested QTL models in evaluations of prediction accuracy. These results revealed maize height was under strong genetic control and had a highly polygenic genetic architecture. They also showed that multiple models of genetic architecture differing in polygenicity and effect sizes can plausibly explain a population's variation in maize height, but they may vary in predictive efficacy.
Experimental results for a hydraulic refrigeration system using n-butane

Abstract The hydraulic refrigeration system (HRS) is a vapor-compression system that accomplishes the compression and condensation of the refrigerant in a unique manner, by entraining refrigerant vapor in a down-flowing stream of water and utilizing the pressure head of the water to compress and condense the refrigerant. A multi-stage HRS was designed, fabricated, and tested using n -butane as the refrigerant. In general, both the refrigeration rate and the coefficient of performance ( COP ) increased with a corresponding decrease in the compression fluid temperature of the third and final stage. The refrigeration rate and COP were also found to increase with a corresponding increase in evaporator temperature. The predictions of an enhanced model incorporating two-phase hydraulic losses show excellent agreement with the experimental data with a maximum error of ±20%. The results of the experimental investigation indicate that the HRS offers an attractive and feasible alternative to conventional vapor-compression systems, especially in applications where direct-contact heat exchange in the evaporator is desirable.
A163: Alternative Mechanisms of Care Delivery in Pediatric Rheumatology: To What Extent Do They Expand the Reach of Pediatric Rheumatologists?

Background/Purpose: Pediatric rheumatology (PR) practitioners are concentrated in academic centers, rather than being evenly distributed throughout the US. Alternative mechanisms of care delivery, such as secondary clinic sites and telemedicine, may function as a bridge between PR practitioners and children who live far from academic centers. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of alternative mechanisms of care delivery in US PR practices. Methods: PR practices were identified using the American College of Rheumatology member directory and the Children's Hospital Association hospital directory. Practice websites were reviewed to obtain data regarding secondary clinic sites and use of telemedicine. Practices were then called to confirm website data and obtain data not available on websites. Distance between each main and secondary clinic site was calculated. Geographic information system (GIS) was used to integrate study data with census data. Results: 77/90 PR practices participated in phone calls and were included in analyses. 46 practices (60%) reported using secondary clinic sites; the number of secondary sites per practice ranged from 1–6 (total 96 sites). Frequency of clinics at secondary sites ranged from weekly to once per year; >80% of sites held clinics at least once each month. Distance from the main practice site to secondary clinic sites ranged from 6.2 to 2265 miles, with 65% (62/96) 60 miles from a main practice site and 30% of US children live >60 miles from any PR clinic site. Of the 12 states without a PR practice, 3 were served by secondary clinic sites. Seven practices (9%) reported telemedicine capability, but only 3 (4%) reported ever using it. Conclusion: Though most PR practices utilize secondary clinic sites, nearly 2/3 of those sites are 60 miles) from any PR clinic site. Few practices currently use telemedicine. Therefore, it is not clear that secondary clinic sites and telemedicine, as currently employed, significantly expand the reach of PR practitioners. Future studies should investigate the efficiency and effectiveness of alternative mechanisms of care delivery, to determine how best to serve children who live far from academic centers.
Shivering during targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest: a physiologic description.

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is used to treat hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), elevated intracranial pressure, status epilepticus, and other brain injuries. Shivering complicates TTM, and the associated energy burden and its response to treatment are poorly understood. We describe the pattern of shivering and response to neuromuscular blockade in a series of patients undergoing TTM after cardiac arrest using continuous indirect calorimetry.
Spatial frequency in speckle metrology

Speckle metrology, as applied to whole field displacement measurements, has been reviewed from the point of view of the relevant frequency domain. It is shown that spatial frequency defines sensitivity and resolution for both pointwise and whole field analysis. Theory and experimental results indicate several ways in which sensitivity can be increased to values comparable with those obtained with moire interferometry. Grating objective speckle measurements have yielded displacement resolutions of <0.6 mum.
A Simplified Examination, Diagnosis, and Treatment Classification of Periodontal Disease

Routine use of the periodontal screening examination and classification of case patterns should help to prevent and control periodontal disease.
Does it matter how we lower blood pressure

The risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with hypertension has decreased dramatically over the last 40 years. This impressive reduction is attributable in part to an increased awareness of the risk related to hypertension, to an emphasis on treatment to lower target blood pressures, and to the development of more effective antihypertensive drugs. Several recent studies have revealed potential blood pressure-independent protective effects of some agents, creating a debate on whether different drug classes actually confer a beneficial effect beyond the effect on blood pressure. Studies are needed to assess the contributions of blood pressure and its components versus blood pressure-independent effects on the reduction of cardiovascular risk.
Science with the Space Interferometry Mission

The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) will be NASA's first space-based optical interferometer. SIM will produce a wealth of new astronomical data and serve as a technology pathfinder for future astrophysics missions. The SIM architecture uses a 10-m Michelson interferometer in Earth- trailing solar orbit to provide 4 microarcsecond precision absolute position measurements of stars down to 20 magnitude. The corresponding parallax accuracy allows distance measurements to 10 percent accuracy on the far side of the Galaxy. With high-precision proper motions derived during its 5-year lifetime, SIM will address a variety of science questions relating to the formation and dynamics of our Galaxy. Using aperture synthesis, SIM will image in the visible waveband to a resolution of 10 milliarcsec, and will demonstrate interferometric nulling with suppression of the on-axis starlight to a level of 10-4. In this paper we present selected topics from the SIM science program focusing on some specific astronomical questions to be addressed.
Component Allocation and Partitioning for a Dual Delivery Placement Machine

Consider a computer numerically controlled placement machine for populating printed circuit cards with surface mounted components, which features two carriers for the delivery of components to the placement heads. This parallel type of delivery system requires a systems analysis to determine: the number of tape reels of each component to be allocated; and to which of the two carriers each should be assigned along with the assignment of corresponding sets of tools. Factors that impinge on the development are: the flexibility of the machine's controller, and the fixturing for component feed vibratory and/or tape reel. The allocation models maximize the number of board completions attainable by a single allocation of components to the two carriers. This reduces the demand on the automated material handling system and the machine's operators for component replenishment. We consider the case where all components allocated are accessible and the case of a "static pick sequence." The partioning model minimizes the "dead time" with respect to operation balance, excess rotation and the number of required nozzle changes, so as to support a high throughput rate. The utilization of vibratory, ski slope type fixtures for the delivery of components is also addressed in an Appendix.
Engineering protease specificity made simple, but not simpler.

Engineering protease specificity has been a long sought research goal. New findings on OmpT, an outer membrane protease from Escherichia coli, reveal the remarkable success of a simple strategy.
The Almohad Tawhid: Theology Which Relies On Logic

The Almohad dynasty of twelfth century Spain and North Africa patronized the study of Greek philosophy. Almohad scholars were largely responsible for editing and commentating the texts of Aristotle which came into the hands of Thomas Aquinas, greatly facilitating the development of scholastic theology in thirteenth century Europe. This paper investigates the theology of Ibn Tumart to describe the extent to which this taste for philosophy was consistent with the teaching of the aforementioned founder of the Almohad movement who was a Berber jurist from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. We find that Ibn Tumart's teaching assigns a radically important role to reason in theology, declaring reason to be a source of religious doctrine along with scripture (the Koran and the Hadith). Throughout the essay, internal evidence provided by an ongoing comparison between Ibn Tumart's two murshidas and what had previously been assumed to be his most important credal document, his 'aqīda, reveals the latter to have been the product of a heavy editing process which occurred after Ibn Tumart's death, probably in 1183 at the time of the writing down of the manuscript a'azzu ma yutlab which was published as Le livre d'Ibn Toumert by Luciani in 1903. The paper attempts to define Ibn Tumart's theology of tawhīd in relation to other systems in which the word functions as a concept. Possible definitions thus provided are accepted or rejected. Questions considered are: 1 Whether Almohad lawhīd can be seen as a denial of the attributes of God as in Mu'tazilite theology. 2 Whether Almohad tawhīd can be seen as the tawhīd of ittisāl or of Pantheistic monism. 2 Whether Almohad tawhīd and its aspect of anti-anthromorphism can be seen as a rejection of animistic and folkloric remnants.
Response to Drs. Calvet et al.: criteria for reporting effectiveness of herbals for Helicobacter pylori infection

TO THE EDITOR: In response to the comments of Drs. Calvet, Carod, and Gene, we agree that the inclusion of more individuals would have enhanced the study (1). We previously showed that the method was useful (2, 3). Therefore, this approach was designed to assess whether fresh, raw, sliced garlic or jalapeno peppers, given in as high a dose as could be tolerated, could achieve a desirable anti-H. pylori effect as claimed by herbalists. We found that it didn't. The urea breath test (UBT) is not quantitative regarding the number of H. pylori and, thus, one cannot make much of the slight changes. One can always argue about study design, sample size, end points, etc. The point of our study was to counteract the increasing reports that claim anti-H. pylori activity based on in vitro results (4, 5, 6). These reports potentially provide very misleading information for consumers. We have even shown that, in vitro, sugar has anti-H. pylori activity (7). We believe that there should be criteria for making a claim of activity and propose two main criteria: the report on in vitro activity must be accompanied by in vivo and/or epidemiological evidence of activity against H. pylori. Our findings support the notion that capsacian and garlic have no in vivo efficacy in the treatment of H. pylori infection, and corroborate the findings from epidemiological studies in Korea (8, 9) and Mexico (10).
TARDBP 3′-UTR variant in autopsy-confirmed frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 proteinopathy

Pathogenic mutations in the gene encoding TDP-43, TARDBP, have been reported in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) and, more recently, in families with a heterogeneous clinical phenotype including both ALS and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). In our previous study, sequencing analyses identified one variant in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of the TARDBP gene in two affected members of one family with bvFTD and ALS and in one unrelated clinically assessed case of FALS. Since that study, brain tissue has become available and provides autopsy confirmation of FTLD-TDP in the proband and ALS in the brother of the bvFTD-ALS family and the neuropathology of those two cases is reported here. The 3′-UTR variant was not found in 982 control subjects (1,964 alleles). To determine the functional significance of this variant, we undertook quantitative gene expression analysis. Allele-specific amplification showed a significant increase of 22% (P < 0.05) in disease-specific allele expression with a twofold increase in total TARDBP mRNA. The segregation of this variant in a family with clinical bvFTD and ALS adds to the spectrum of clinical phenotypes previously associated with TARDBP variants. In summary, TARDBP variants may result in clinically and neuropathologically heterogeneous phenotypes linked by a common molecular pathology called TDP-43 proteinopathy.
Mechanical and tribological properties of polyamide 6 and high density polyethylene polyblends with and without compatibilizer

Abstract The structure and the mechanical and tribological properties of polyamide 6 (PA6) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) polyblends with and without the compatibilizing agent maleic anhydride propylene were studied. Polyplending was carried out in a modular intermeshing co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The blended materials were injection molded to provide the test samples. Polyblends with 20, 40, 60, and 80% polyamide 6 in high density polyethylene were obtained. The mechanical properties were studied in terms of the tensile strength, hardness and elongation-to-break. Friction and wear experiments were run under ambient condition in a pin-on-disk machine with the composite pin riding on the flat surface of a steel disk at a sliding speed of 1 m/s and under a normal load 19.6 N. It was found that the tensile strength of polyblends increased when polyamide proportion was more than 20 wt.% and hardness increased with any polyamide proportion. The coefficients of friction of all polyblends were lower than those of the polymers. The best polyblends for low coefficient of friction and high wear resistance were 60 wt.% PA6–40 wt.% HDPE and 80 wt.% PA6–20 wt.% HDPE. The wear behavior is explained in terms of the ability of the polyblends to form transfer film on the steel counterfaces.
Elaborate horns in a giant rhinoceros beetle incur negligible aerodynamic costs.

Sexually selected ornaments and weapons are among nature9s most extravagant morphologies. Both ornaments and weapons improve a male9s reproductive success; yet, unlike ornaments that need only attract females, weapons must be robust and functional structures because they are frequently tested during male–male combat. Consequently, weapons are expected to be particularly costly to bear. Here, we tested the aerodynamic costs of horns in the giant rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus . We predicted that the long, forked head horn would have three main effects on flight performance: increased body mass, an anterior shift in the centre of mass and increased body drag. We found that the horns were surprisingly lightweight, and therefore had a trivial effect on the male beetles9 total mass and mass distribution. Furthermore, because beetles typically fly at slow speeds and high body angles, horns had little effect on total body drag. Together, the weight and the drag of horns increased the overall force required to fly by less than 3 per cent, even in the largest males. Because low-cost structures are expected to be highly evolutionarily labile, the fact that horns incur very minor flight costs may have permitted both the elaboration and diversification of rhinoceros beetle horns.
Leveraging Software-Defined Radio Techniques in Multichannel Digital Weather Radar Receiver Design

This paper describes the instrumentation, design, and implementation of an inexpensive nearly all-digital field-programmable gate-array (FPGA)-based radar receiver useful in a variety of applications including single-/dual-polarization weather radar, sidelobe cancellation, subarray modules for a digital beam-forming phased-array radar, and other applications where a compact, low-power, and low-cost receiver is needed. The design of the receiver includes a minimal analog radio-frequency front-end followed by an analog-to-digital converter utilizing a bandpass sampling technique which allows the FPGA to produce baseband in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals without the use of multipliers or lookup tables.
Scavenger Receptor class B type I (SR-BI): A versatile receptor with multiple functions and actions

Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), is a physiologically relevant HDL receptor that mediates selective uptake of lipoprotein (HDL)-derived cholesteryl ester (CE) in vitro and in vivo. Mammalian SR-BI is a 509-amino acid, ~82 kDa glycoprotein that contains N- and C-terminal cytoplasmic domains, two-transmembrane domains, as well as a large extracellular domain containing 5-6 cysteine residues and multiple sites for N-linked glycosylation. The size and structural characteristics of SR-BI, however, vary considerably among lower vertebrates and insects. Recently, significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the posttranscriptional/posttranslational regulation of SR-BI in a tissue specific manner. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current body of knowledge about the events and molecules connected with the posttranscriptional/posttranslational regulation of SR-BI and to update the molecular and functional characteristics of the insect SR-BI orthologs.
Oceanic concentrations of228Radium

This paper evaluates the worldwide oceanic distribution of228Ra. Nearshore waters, especially waters from restricted bays and sounds, are very high in unsupported228Ra. The concentrations decrease away from land. The228Ra content of surface waters bears a close correlation with the proximity to land. Samples from the Atlantic Ocean are higher than those from the Pacific Ocean. Apparently the source of228Ra in surface waters is diffusion from232Th-bearing sediments in contact with these waters. Deep water samples collected < 100m from the sea floor have significant228Ra concentrations. Apparently228Ra is diffusing from deep-sea sediments as it is from nearshore sediments. Deep Pacific samples are generally lower than deep Atlantic samples. This may mean that228Ra released from Pacific sediments is mixed upward more rapidly, thereby decreasing the near-bottom concentrations. Intermediate water samples have less228Ra than either surface or bottom samples from the same area. These concentrations are near the lower limit of detection. Because the vertical mixing rate of the ocean is much greater than the mean life of228Ra, little228Ra can penetrate into the intermediate ocean.
Psychological investigations: the private language argument and inferences in contemporary cognitive science

Some of the methods for data collection in experimental psychology, as well as many of the inferences from observed behavior or image scanning, are based on the implicit premise that language use can be linked, via the meaning of words, to specific subjective states. Wittgenstein’s well known private language argument (PLA), however, calls into question the legitimacy of such inferences. According to a strong interpretation of PLA, all of the elements of a language must be publicly available. Thus the meaning of words is not fixed by reference to our private experiences, and so data from subjective state claims indicates nothing about our subjective experiences. Application of PLA to psychological studies based on descriptions of the experience of orgasm offers support for the strong version of the conclusion of PLA. We show that PLA has deep implications for data collection methods and inferences in experimental psychology. In particular we critique two contemporary research projects in neuroscience: one studying the ability to remember emotionally loaded words and the other studying experience of attraction. Both of these projects attempt to link subjective experiences and thought processes to particular observable brain states. The research methods appeal to (implicit) inferences from linguistic usage to subjective states. Application of PLA will show that such inferences cannot be made because the meaning of a word is not determined by any subjective state of the speaker.
Driver activity analysis for intelligent vehicles: issues and development framework

This paper examines the feasibility of a semantic-level driver activity analysis system. Several new considerations are made to construct the hierarchy of driver activity. Driver activity is represented and recognized at multiple levels: individual body-part pose/gesture at the low level, single body-part action at the middle level, and the driver interaction with the vehicle at the high level. Driving is represented in terms of the interactions among driver, vehicle, and surround, and driver activity is recognized by a rule-based decision tree. Our system works with a single color camera data, and it can be easily expanded to incorporate multimodal sensor data.
Seismic Evaluation of Low-Rise Reinforced Masonry Buildings with Flexible Diaphragms: II. Analytical Modeling:

Abstract This and a companion paper compare the results from shaking-table testing, quasi-static testing, and analytical predictions to provide a coherent description of the seismic response of low-rise reinforced masonry buildings with flexible roof diaphragms. This paper presents the development, implementation, and results of coordinated analytical modeling intended to corroborate and extend the results of experimental work discussed in a companion paper, Part I: Seismic and Quasi-Static Testing, and more important, examine the efficacy and accuracy of different analytical modeling approaches. Specifically, linear elastic finite-element models, simplified two-degree-of-freedom models, and nonlinear lumped-parameter models are created and all agree well with measured responses. Based on these, a simple design tool for the analysis of low-rise reinforced masonry buildings with flexible diaphragms is developed and verified.
Direct write processing for photovoltaic cells

Direct writing of solar cell components is an attractive processing approach. We have fabricated a 6.8% Si solar cell using silver ink based electrodes. Ohmic contact through the antireflection (AR) coating was obtained with pure Ag electrodes at 850/spl deg/C. We also report on highly conductive silver metallizations and initial results on direct-write TCO demonstrating a 100-micron spatial resolution produced by inkjet printing.
Scalability aspects of instruction distribution algorithms for clustered processors

In the evolving submicron technology, making it particularly attractive to use decentralized designs. A common form of decentralization adopted in processors is to partition the execution core into multiple clusters. Each cluster has a small instruction window, and a set of functional units. A number of algorithms have been proposed for distributing instructions among the clusters. The first part of this paper analyzes (qualitatively as well as quantitatively) the effect of various hardware parameters such as the type of cluster interconnect, the fetch size, the cluster issue width, the cluster window size, and the number of clusters on the performance of different instruction distribution algorithms. The study shows that the relative performance of the algorithms is very sensitive to these hardware parameters and that the algorithms that perform relatively better with four or fewer clusters are generally not the best ones for a larger number of clusters. This is important, given that with an imminent increase in the transistor budget, more clusters are expected to be integrated on a single chip. The second part of the paper investigates alternate interconnects that provide scalable performance as the number of clusters is increased. In particular, it investigates two hierarchical interconnects - a single ring of crossbars and multiple rings of crossbars - as well as instruction distribution algorithms to take advantage of these interconnects. Our study shows that these new interconnects with the appropriate distribution techniques achieve an IPC (instructions per cycle) that is 15-20 percent better than the most scalable existing configuration, and is within 2 percent of that achieved by a hypothetical ideal processor having a 1-cycle latency crossbar interconnect. These results confirm the utility and applicability of hierarchical interconnects and hierarchical distribution algorithms in clustered processors.
The Content Mastery Program Facilitating Students' Transition into Inclusive Education Settings

Describes a service delivery program that helps students with mild and moderate disabilities move into inclusive education programs
A programmer's guide to ZPL

ZPL is a new array programming language for science and engineering computation. Designed for fast execution on both sequential and parallel computers, it is intended to replace languages such as Fortran and C. Because ZPL benefits from recent research in parallel compilation, it provides a convenient high-level programming medium for supercomputers with efficiency comparable to hand-coded message-passing programs. Users with scientific computing experience can usually learn ZPL in a few hours, and those who have used MATLAB or Fortran 90 may already be acquainted with the array programming style.This guide provides a complete introduction to ZPL. It assumes that the reader is experienced with an imperative language such as C, Fortran, or Pascal. Though thorough and precise, it does not attempt to be a ZPL reference manual. Rather, it illustrates typical ZPL usage and explains in an intuitive manner how the constructs work. The emphasis is on teaching the reader to be a ZPL programmer. Scientific computations are used as examples throughout.
United States prescription drug crisis. Reimportation of Canadian prescription drugs is not the answer.

Andrea is a 40-year-old mother from Illinois who suffers from diabetes and whose children suffer from asthma. 1 Like millions of Americans, Andrea and her children require prescription drugs to tre...
ENGINEERING TEST REACTORS WITH LARGE CENTRAL IRRADIATION CAVITIES

Abstract : It is shown that a cavity test reactor with some 4000 liters of central irradiation space may achieve MTR flux levels while operating with MTR fuel plates under established conditions. Only computed results of pertinent characteristics are given.
The MetaMP approach to parallel programming

The authors are researching techniques for the programming of large-scale parallel machines for scientific computation. They use an intermediate-level language, MetaMP, that sits between High Performance Fortran (HPF) and low-level message passing. They are developing an efficient set of primitives in the intermediate language and are investigating compilation methods that can semi-automatically reason about parallel programs. The focus is on distributed memory hardware. The work has many similarities with HPF efforts although their approach is aimed at shorter-term solutions. They plan to keep the programmer centrally involved in the development and optimization of the parallel program. >
When Comes “The End of the Day?”: A Comment on the Dialogue between Dax Cowart and Robert Burt

B oth Dax Cowart and Robert Burt agree that there is an "end of the day," a time when resistance to a competent patient's demand to cease lifesaving treatment should shift to acceptance. They differ, however, on when that point in time is reached. When comes the "end of the day"? Cowart says "an hour was an eternity, with the burns and the pain I was going through. Certainly no longer than one day under those circumstances. There may be a time when we would want to extend that to a week or maybe a month, depending on how severe the pain was." Burt seems to wonder whether it might not even be seven years in a case like Dax's, where it took that long for the patient to again appreciate the worthwhile nature of his life. He portrays caregivers as justified in saying to their patients, "No, I won't stop your treatment. Give me time to do my job." That job, presumably, is both to manage the pain and to bring the patient to an appreciation of the likely worthwhile nature of his or her life once the pain is managed. One translation of how the phrase "end of the day" functions is to minimize "rash" decisions by patients to end their life-prolonging care. To focus on resistance to rash decisions, however, merely moves the controversy to determining what is "rash." Left standing are objections to paternalistic interference with the decisions-admittedly rash ones-that utterly competent and responsible persons will sometimes make. Is there any way to determine the "end of the day" both with some functional precision and without disguised paternalism in the mix? In particular, can we do so in cases such as that of Dax in which professional caregivers believe, on the basis of considerable experience, that it is likely that the patient will recover to a point where he or she is "happy to be alive," but where patient and providers are also wrestling with immediate and difficult matters of pain management? Is there some functional conception of the "end of the day" that might satisfy both Dax Cowart and Robert Burt, or is any more precise conception bound to yield temporal judgments about the end of the day that are either premature to Burt or insultingly late to Cowart? In this comment we articulate a conceptual procedure for determining the "end of the day." We have tried to shape it so that it not only respects patient self-determination and avoids significant paternalism, but also accounts for the caring obligations of providers. In our discussion we assume that providers are employing all reasonable means to control pain (as we believe they should be), and that the patient is deemed competent by psychiatric evaluation.'
Unfolding sheet metal parts : a graph-based approach

In sheet metal fabrication, bending is used in order to obtain rigidity and to obtain a part of desired shape and function. In analysing a sheet metal part, an important consideration is how to unfold the part after a bending operation or series of bending operations. The unfolding process is the first major step in process planning for generating NC paths for a sheet metal blank. This paper addresses the problem of determining whether or not a part can be unfolded. A graph-based approach using the face-edge of the sheet metal part is at the heart of the algorithm presented here. Using this algorithm one can determine which faces are unfoldable and which cannot be unfolded. This algorithm can be used to help facilitate the process of NC path generation. It also sheds some light on the kind of design practices that make a part easily unfoldable or otherwise.
A Stretchable Cell Culture Platform with Embedded Electrode Array

In this paper, we present a stretchable electrode array for studying cell behavior subjected to mechanical strain. The electrode array consists of four gold nail-head pins (250?m tip diameter and 1.75mm spacing) inserted into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) platform (25.4×25.4mm2). Fusible indium alloy (liquid at room temperature) filled microchannels are used to connect the electrodes to the outside, thus providing the required stretchability. The electrode platform is biocompatible and can withstand strains of up to 40%. We tested these electrodes by repeatedly (100 times) subjecting them to 35% strain and did not notice any failure. We also successfully cultured mice cardiomyocytes onto the platform and performed electrical pacing.
Construction and early commissioning results of the AGS booster

The AGS (Alternating Gradient Synchrotron) booster synchrotron has been designed to accelerate protons from 200 MeV to 1.5 GeV and heavy ions from several MeV per nucleon to several hundred MeV per nucleon for all the nuclei up to gold. The design requirements and measurement results of major accelerator components and systems are presneted. The early commissioning results of the injection are also presented. >
A novel approach to bottleneck analysis in networks

In this paper, we devise a novel method for bottleneck analysis of UDP networks based on the concept of network utility maximization. To determine the losses on the links in a UDP network, we propose an optimization problem (geometric program) for which we find and prove conditions under which it accurately determines the true losses. We further extend this analysis to stochastic rates using stochastic optimization techniques and provide a new metric to flag bottleneck links. This method does not rely on time-consuming packet-level simulations, but is instead based on robust mathematical models. Alternatively, one could determine the losses by solving a fixed point problem and extend it to random rates using a Monte Carlo simulation. However, lack of knowledge of convergence makes it difficult to predict the end of such simulations. Our method is more advantageous as it involves solving an optimization problem, the solution to which can be numerically determined to the desired accuracy. Also, compared to a black and white approach between worst-case analysis and average-case analysis, our method offers network managers the flexibility of choosing the shades of gray in between.