cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CubeSat Deformable Mirror Demonstration mission (DeMi)

The high contrast requirement of 1010 needed to directly image an Earth-like exoplanet around a sun-like star at optical wavelengths requires space telescopes equipped with coronagraphs and wavefront control systems. Coronagraphs are needed to block the parent star's light and improve the ability of the system to detect photons that have reflected off of the exoplanet toward the observer. Wavefront control systems are needed to correct image plane aberrations and speckles caused by imperfections, thermal distortions, and diffraction in the telescope and optics that would otherwise corrupt the wavefront and ruin the desired contrast. The two key elements of wavefront control systems are (1) a way to detect the wavefront distortions (a wavefront sensor) and (2) a way to correct the distortions before the image plane (such as deformable mirrors, or DMs). In this paper, we investigate a compact and inexpensive CubeSat-based wavefront control testbed that can be used as a technology development precursor toward a larger mission.
Kinetics of vacancy migration in hydrogenated palladium

Strong attractive interactions between lattice vacancies and interstitial solutes can lead to the formation of vacancy concentrations which, at a given temperature, are much larger than would be observed in thermal equilibrium in the interstitial-free solvent metal. In order to facilitate rapid metal atom diffusion by a vacancy exchange mechanism, the vacancies must be produced in bulk material with sufficient rapidity to account for the observed transformation rates. Thus the kinetic problem is complex because two questions must be addressed. On the one hand there is the problem of the intrinsic mobility of H-decorated vacancies, and on the other hand the kinetics of vacancy production in the bulk hydrogenated lattice. The fact that the rapid transformations are indeed observed indicates that the kinetics are such that both excess vacancy formation and the diffusion of such vacancies are sufficiently rapid at the observed temperatures. The purpose of the present note is to indicate why this is true.
UAV-Based Stereo Vision for Rapid Aerial Terrain Mapping

Aerial terrain mapping has been used for many years to monitor natural habitats and ecosystems, assist in urban planning, and monitor trends in land usage. Recent improvements in digital imaging, L...
An improved bounded semi-Lagrangian scheme for the turbulent transport of passive scalars

An improved bounded semi-Lagrangian scalar transport scheme based on cubic Hermite polynomial reconstruction is proposed in this paper. Boundedness of the scalar being transported is ensured by applying derivative limiting techniques. Single sub-cell extrema are allowed to exist as they are often physical, and help minimize numerical dissipation. This treatment is distinct from enforcing strict monotonicity as done by D.L. Williamson and P.J. Rasch [5], and allows better preservation of small scale structures in turbulent simulations. The proposed bounding algorithm, although a seemingly subtle difference from strict monotonicity enforcement, is shown to result in significant performance gain in laminar cases, and in three-dimensional turbulent mixing layers. The scheme satisfies several important properties, including boundedness, low numerical diffusion, and high accuracy. Performance gain in the turbulent case is assessed by comparing scalar energy and dissipation spectra produced by several bounded and unbounded schemes. The results indicate that the proposed scheme is capable of furnishing extremely accurate results, with less severe resolution requirements than all the other bounded schemes tested. Additional simulations in homogeneous isotropic turbulence, with scalar timestep size unconstrained by the CFL number, show good agreement with spectral scheme results available in the literature. Detailed analytical examination of gain and phase error characteristics of the original cubic Hermite polynomial is also included, and points to dissipation and dispersion characteristics comparable to, or better than, those of a fifth order upwind Eulerian scheme.
Differential sensitivity to 5-bromodeoxyuridine during the S phase of synchronized myogenic cells.

Synchronized myogenic cell cultures have been used to demonstrate differential sensitivity to BUdR during segments of the S period. Synchronization of the cells was achieved by two methods. First, cells were initiated in medium containing FUdR, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis. Following FUdR blockade reversal with TdR after 19 hr in vitro, the synchronized cells were allowed to replicate their DNA with BUdR for periods corresponding to early and late S. Determinations of percentage labeled cells during synchronization with FUdR indicate that about 90% of the cycling population of cells accumulates at the G1S interface of the cell-cycle and that the duration of the S period following blockade reversal with TdR is not altered. Since BUdR is pulsed to these cultures immediately after the point of synchronization, a high degree of synchrony is obtained. In the second method of synchrony, cohorts of cells which had been in G2, late S, or early S during a BUdR pulse were collected in metaphase arrest with Colcemid and selectively removed from the cultures. With the mitotic selection method the point of synchronization occurred several hours after the BUdR pulse. In both methods the cells were allowed to resume myogenesis and scored for percentage fused nuclei after approx 50 hr in vitro. With both methods of synchrony, BUdR incorporation into early replicating DNA results in a striking decline in myoblast fusion, whereas incorporation into late replicating DNA is without effect. The results cannot be attributed to a disproportionate uptake of nucleotide during early S. Further fractionation of the 4-hr S phase into 1-hr periods indicates that the BUdR sensitive target is replicated during the second hr of DNA synthesis.
Pressure-Induced Changes in Chiral Separations in Liquid Chromatography

In this study, pressures less than 350 bar (<5100 psi) are shown to have a significant impact on enantioselective separations using β-cyclodextrin bonded phase. Although modest by the standards of ...
Repair theory: A generative theory of bugs in procedural skills

This paper describes a generative theory of bugs. It claims that all bugs of a procedural skill can be derived by a highly constrained form of problem solving acting on incomplete procedures. These procedures are characterized by formal deletion operations that model incomplete learning and forgetting. The problem solver and the deletion operator have been constrained to make it impossible to derive “star-bugs”—algorithms that are so absurd that expert diagnosticians agree that the alogorithm will never be observed as a bug. Hence, the theory not only generates the observed bugs, it fails to generate star-bugs. The theory has been tested on an extensive data base of bugs for multidigit subtraction that was collected with the aid of the diagnostic systems buggy and debuggy. In addition to predicting bug occurrence, by adoption of additional hypotheses, the theory also makes predictions about the frequency and stability of bugs, as well as the occurrence of certain latencies in processing time during testing. Arguments are given that the theory can be applied to domains other than subtraction and that it can be extended to provide a theory of procedural learning that accounts for bug acquisition. Lastly, particular care has been taken to make the theory principled so that it can not be tailored to fit any possible data.
Quantifying Interictal Metabolic Activity in Human Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

The majority of patients with complex partial seizures of unilateral temporal lobe origin have interictal temporal hypometabolism on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) studies. Often, this hypometabolism extends to ipsilateral extratemporal sites. The use of accurately quantified metabolic data has been limited by the absence of an equally reliable method of anatomical analysis of PET images. We developed a standardized method for visual placement of anatomically configured regions of interest on FDG PET studies, which is particularly adapted to the widespread, asymmetric, and often severe interictal metabolic alterations of temporal lobe epilepsy. This method was applied by a single investigator, who was blind to the identity of subjects, to 10 normal control and 25 interictal temporal lobe epilepsy studies. All subjects had normal brain anatomical volumes on structural neuroimaging studies. The results demonstrate ipsilateral thalamic and temporal lobe involvement in the interictal hypometabolism of unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy. Ipsilateral frontal, parietal, and basal ganglial metabolism is also reduced, although not as markedly as is temporal and thalamic metabolism.
Multigrid Bayesian methods for optical diffusion tomography

Optical diffusion imaging is a new imaging modality that promises great potential in applications such as medical imaging, environmental sensing and nondestructive testing. It presents a difficult nonlinear image reconstruction problem however. An inversion algorithm is formulated in Bayesian framework, and an efficient optimization technique that uses iterative coordinate descent is presented. A general multigrid optimization technique for nonlinear image reconstruction problems is developed and applied to the optical diffusion imaging problem. Numerical results show that this approach improves the quality of reconstructions and dramatically decreases computation times.
Testing for individual effects in autoregressive models

Abstract This note describes a test for the presence of individual effects in dynamic models. The test employs restrictions on sample moments implied by the absence of individual effects. Testing the assumption of unobserved heterogeneity is desirable because estimation methods which control for heterogeneity are typically more complicated and require more data than would be required without individual effects. The test is easily implemented as the calculation of statistics follows directly from a linear, instrumental variables estimation technique. The test is illustrated in the context of estimating a dynamic wage equation using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics.
Population stability is higher in more diverse annual plant communities

Abstract Theoretical work suggests a paradoxical effect of diversity on the temporal stability of ecological systems: increasing diversity should result in decreased stability of populations while community stability is enhanced. While empirical work indicates that community stability tends to increase with diversity, investigations of the effect of diversity on populations have resulted in few clear patterns. Here, we examine relationships between community diversity and population stability in unmanipulated annual plant communities. We show that, counter to theory, the temporal stability of annual plant populations increases with diversity. In addition, and again counter to theoretical assumptions, mean population size tends to increase with diversity, a pattern most likely due to variation in local productivity. The fact that community diversity, population size and the temporal stability of populations covaried positively suggests that abiotic factors such as productivity may govern population stability to such an extent as to override potential effects of diversity.
Fluorescent Response of CsI(Tl) to Energetic Nitrogen Ions

The light output of a CsI(Tl) crystal was measured as a function of energy for nitrogen ions from 2.9 to 23.8 Mev, for $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles up to 5.30 Mev, and for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays of 73, 279.2, and 411.8 kev. The particle energy was varied with absorbing foils. The response to nitrogen ions was proportional to energy up to about 16 Mev. Above this energy a slight curvature of the response curve away from the energy axis was observed. The response to $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles was linear above about 3.5 Mev and extrapolated to \ensuremath{\sim}1 Mev on the energy scale. The light output from the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays was proportional to their energy and parallel to the linear portion of the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle response. The specific fluorescence $\frac{\mathrm{dL}}{\mathrm{dx}}$ appears to be an increasing function of the specific energy loss $\frac{\mathrm{dE}}{\mathrm{dx}}$.
Community-based gene structure annotation

Uncertainty and inconsistency of gene structure annotation remain limitations on research in the genome era, frustrating both biologists and bioinformaticians, who have to sort out annotation errors for their genes of interest or to generate trustworthy datasets for algorithmic development. It is unrealistic to hope for better software solutions in the near future that would solve all the problems. The issue is all the more urgent with more species being sequenced and analyzed by comparative genomics – erroneous annotations could easily propagate, whereas correct annotations in one species will greatly facilitate annotation of novel genomes. We propose a dynamic, economically feasible solution to the annotation predicament: broad-based, web-technology-enabled community annotation, a prototype of which is now in use for Arabidopsis .
Syringe exchange programs: Impact on injection drug users and the role of the pharmacist from a U.S. perspective.

Abstract Objective To present a summary of the existing literature on syringe exchange programs (SEPs) and to discuss the potential role of pharmacists in providing support for injection drug users (IDUs) and such programs. Data sources To identify relevant articles published since 2000, a search of PubMed and Medline was conducted using syringe exchange programs and needle exchange programs as search terms. A manual review of each article's citation list was also conducted. Data extraction By the authors. Data synthesis Information is presented in four categories: state and federal support of SEPs, characteristics of SEP users, epidemiological studies, and social reluctance for SEP support. The information summarized in these sections is then used as a foundation for a review of the potential role of the pharmacist. Conclusion SEPs have demonstrated a clear effect in improving the health outcomes of IDUs by decreasing the transmission of blood-borne disease and lowering high-risk injecting behaviors. Despite conflicting support for SEPs at both the federal and local levels, pharmacists can play a pivotal role in the health of IDUs by providing sound medical advice and, in some states, acting as an alternative channel for obtaining clean syringes. Efforts should continue to focus on educating pharmacists about this role and how their individual actions can benefit the health of the entire population.
Distributions of dissolved titanium in porewaters of estuarine and coastal marine sediments

Sediment porewater and water column samples were collected in Chesapeake Bay and the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) and were analyzed for dissolved ( 50 times greater than bottom water (BW) Ti concentrations, with the steepest gradients occurring in muddy sediments of the mid-bay site (0.4–0.5 nM BW vs. 29 nM PW) and shallower gradients in siltier sediments of the lower bay and MAB (0.3–0.5 nM BW vs. 2.7–5.5 nM PW). Porewater Ti concentrations at all sites increased from the sediment–water interface to ∼6–9 cm depth, below which concentrations were relatively constant or decreased slightly to the bottom of the profiles (10–15 cm). The shapes of the profiles suggest the release of Ti from mineral phases or biological detritus in shallow sediments, and adsorption onto or incorporation within mineral phases or organic matter in deeper sediments. Calculated benthic diffusive fluxes of dissolved Ti range from 11–68 nmol m−2 day−1 in fine-grained mid-bay sediments to 1.5–4.2 nmol m−2 day−1 in sediments of the lower bay and MAB. A tentative estimate of the annual benthic flux of Ti in Chesapeake Bay (3.3×104 mol year−1) is comparable to the riverine input of 3.5×104 mol year−1. Experiments using both mud and sand indicated that sediment resuspension only slightly increased the Ti concentrations in overlying waters. These results suggest that benthic fluxes may be a significant source of Ti to estuaries and the ocean.
Balancing SoC Design and Technology Challenges at 45nm

The ability of advanced CMOS to integrate processor cores, memory and ASIC logic with RF and analog functions on the same die, has enabled unprecedented density and performance especially for mobile communication systems. Continuing this progress at 45nm and below requires simultaneously improving gate density, system power, and functional performance while reducing the cost per finished die
Characteristics of graduating medical students who were matched and unmatched to hospital training posts

Summary The purpose of this paper is to examine similarities and differences between graduating medical students who do and do not match through the National Internship and Resident Matching Programme (NIRMP). Data from graduates of 3- and 4-year undergraduate curricula were examined separately. A two way analysis of variance was used; the two independent variables were (1) whether the student was a 3- or 4-year medical graduate, and (2) the students’ matched vs unmatched status. The dependent variables used in this study were in the following five categories: (1) demographic and academic performance upon entrance to medical school, (2) academic performance during medical school, (3) future practice preferences projected during medical school, (4) internship/residency choices, and (5) clinical performance during internship/residency. On the basis of the data presented, it is clear that there are few differences between matched and unmatched students that could be detected in over seventy-five measures examined. Within the unmatched group, however, the 3-year graduates differ in some respects from their 4-year colleagues. It is likely, therefore, that a different constellation of factors appears to be operating in these two unmatched groups but not within the matched groups.
China and soft power

Power is the ability to affect others to get the outcomes one wants, and that can be done by coercion, payment or attraction.† I first published the concept of soft power in 1990 in a book about th...
Institutional Manifestations of Accessiblity and Urban Economic Development Polity

economic development policy activities. That which has been done on this subject suggests that economic need is a powerful force driving officials to adopt economic development policies ranging from loans, tax abatements, and other financial incentives to infrastructure improvements, zoning reform, and promotional activity. In the most notable research of this type, Rubin and Rubin (1987) find, for a sample of Illinois cities, that both indicators of a troubled local economy (such as unemployment rate and percentage in poverty) and indicators of fiscal need (such as property tax rate and per capita assessed valuation) are significant predictors of economic development policy activity. In a related vein, Bowman (1988: 523) finds, for a sample of cities in the southeast, some evidence that a city's history of economic distress helps account for its contemporary aggressiveness in promoting economic development. Results like these suggest that, while developmental activities may be in the "unitary interest" (Peterson 1981) of all cities, some cities must scramble to do more than others. Contrary to Peterson's (1981: 48-49) arguments that developmental policy should be insensitive to both economic need and low fiscal capacity, there is an emerging body of evidence showing that the magnitude of developmental policy effort is related to both forms of economic distress. As interesting and important as that line of research is, it has two important limits. First, it is typically based either on a single state sample or a unique, regional sample, leaving questions about generaliz-
Comparison of Thermally Driven Circulations from a Depth-Coordinate Model and an Isopycnal-Layer Model. Part I: Scaling-Law Sensitivity to Vertical Diffusivity

Abstract Two different types of numerical ocean circulation models are used in a classical idealized problem, the thermally induced circulation in an ocean basin bounded by two meridians to the east and west and by the equator and a line of constant latitude. A simple scaling theory exists for predicting poleward heat transport and the strength of meridional overturning as a function of vertical diffusivity and other external factors. However, previous studies have indicated conflicting results, and other scaling laws have been proposed. Experiments with two widely used types of numerical models, one based on depth coordinates and the other based on isopycnal layers, provide insight into the discrepancies of previous studies. In the numerical experiments vertical diffusivity is varied over a range of 200. The source of the difficulty in previous studies is in part traced to applying a fixed restoring coefficient at the upper boundary and considering the buoyancy forcing at the surface fixed irrespective o...
A micromachined tunable CPW resonator

This paper presents a novel tunable microwave resonator, consisting of a CPW spiral inductor with a cantilever interconnect structure. Tuning was achieved by applying a DC bias between the input and output of the resonator circuit. An observable resonance tuning between 3 and 7 GHz was accomplished by applying a bias from 0 to 40 V. Corresponding Q-factors between 17 and 20 were obtained in this tuning range.
Exercise capacity and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The relationship between paroxysmal AF and exercise capacity in this population is incompletely understood. Methods Patients with HCM underwent symptom-limited cardiopulmonary testing with expired gas analysis at Stanford Hospital between October 2006 and October 2012. Baseline demographics, medical histories and resting echocardiograms were obtained for all subjects. Diagnosis of AF was established by review of medical records and baseline ECG. Those with paroxysmal AF were in sinus rhythm at the time of cardiopulmonary testing with expired gas analysis. Exercise intolerance was defined as peak VO 2 Results Among the 265 patients recruited, 55 had AF (28 paroxysmal and 27 permanent). Compared with those without AF, subjects with paroxysmal AF were older, more likely to use antiarrhythmic and anticoagulant medications, and had larger left atria. Patients with paroxysmal AF achieved lower peak VO 2 (21.9±9.2 mL/kg/min vs 26.9±10.8 mL/kg/min, p=0.02) and were more likely to have exercise intolerance (61% vs 28%, p Conclusions Patients with HCM and paroxysmal AF demonstrate exercise intolerance despite being in sinus rhythm at the time of exercise testing.
Structure of HP1 chromodomain bound to a lysine 9-methylated histone H3 tail.

The chromodomain of the HP1 family of proteins recognizes histone tails with specifically methylated lysines. Here, we present structural, energetic, and mutational analyses of the complex between the Drosophila HP1 chromodomain and the histone H3 tail with a methyllysine at residue 9, a modification associated with epigenetic silencing. The histone tail inserts as a β strand, completing the β-sandwich architecture of the chromodomain. The methylammonium group is caged by three aromatic side chains, whereas adjacent residues form discerning contacts with one face of the chromodomain. Comparison of dimethyl- and trimethyllysine-containing complexes suggests a role for cation-π and van der Waals interactions, with trimethylation slightly improving the binding affinity.
Occupational exposure to particulate matter from three agricultural crops in California

Abstract Agricultural work is a major contributor to California's and the nation's economy and employs a large number of workers. However, agricultural work can have numerous risks, such as exposure to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) and other airborne pollutants with potential adverse health effects. To determine the magnitude of occupational exposures, PM levels were assessed for 89 workers from three major crops in California; almonds, melons and tomatoes. Personal samples were collected for PM 2.5 and inhalable PM using personal sampling equipment. Geometric mean concentrations from personal exposure for workers in almonds (inhalable PM = 4368 μg/m 3 , PM 2.5 = 122 μg/m 3 , N = 5), tomatoes (inhalable PM = 1410 μg/m 3 , PM 2.5 = 12 μg/m 3 , N = 33), and melons (inhalable PM = 1118 μg/m 3 , PM 2.5 = 19 μg/m 3 , N = 51) showed high PM exposure when working with these three crops. Large exposure differences by crop were more common than by task (i.e. harvesting, packing and weeding) among the three crops studied. This is the largest study of agricultural workers engaged in hand harvesting, a significant employer of farm labor, and relatively high levels of exposure to PM were measured.
Choroidal Nevus in the United States Adult Population: Racial Disparities and Associated Factors in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Purpose To describe the prevalence of choroidal nevus in the US population and identify possible associated factors. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants A total of 5575 participants aged ≥40 years from the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) who underwent retinal imaging examination. Methods Predictor variables included a spectrum of demographic, ophthalmic, dermatologic, systemic, socioeconomic, or occupational factor variables available in NHANES. Main Outcome Measures Choroidal nevus on retinal imaging. Results The prevalence of choroidal nevus was 4.7% overall and increased with age (4.7%, 3.1%, 5.4%, 6.6%, and 7.5% in subjects aged 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥80 years, respectively). The prevalence was 5.0% in men, 4.4% in women, 5.6% in whites, 2.7% in Hispanics, 0.6% in blacks, and 2.1% in others. After adjusting for age and race, the odds of choroidal nevus were 10-fold higher in whites than in blacks, 5-fold higher in Hispanics than in blacks, 4-fold higher in others than in blacks, and 2-fold higher in whites than in Hispanics. Choroidal nevus was associated with hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99–1.98); psoriasis (OR, 3.90; 95% CI, 1.57–9.66); lower high-density lipoprotein (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98–0.99); higher uric acid (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04–1.22); working in installation, maintenance, or repairs (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.03–1.96); and having never worked (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03–2.37; P = 0.04). There was no association with visual symptoms, visual functioning, visual acuity, refractive error, visual field, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, or elevated cup-to-disc ratio on retinal imaging. There was no association with skin melanoma, other cancers, lung/liver/kidney/thyroid disease, alcohol/drug use, income/education, hemoglobin A1C, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, electrolytes, or urine albumin. Conclusions Among US adults, the prevalence of choroidal nevus located within two 45° areas centered on the macula and optic disc is 4.7%. The prevalence increases with age, is highest among whites (5.6%), is lowest among blacks (0.6%), and has been previously under-recognized among Hispanics (2.7%). Extrapolating to the entire fundus, the true prevalence of choroidal nevus is even higher but difficult to accurately estimate. Possible associations with cardiovascular, renal, autoimmune, and occupational risk factors warrant further investigation.
Dinuclear platinum(II) 4,6-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine complexes tethered by a rigid bridging ligand: synthesis and photophysics in solution and in LB film

Two dinuclear platinum(II) 4,6-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine (C^N^N) complexes (1 and 2) with a rigid bridging ligand cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene were synthesized and their photophysical properties were systematically investigated in solution for 1 and 2 and in LB film for 2. Similar to their corresponding mononuclear complexes, both complexes exhibit intense 1π,π* absorption in the UV region and a broad, moderate absorption band in the visible region, which likely stems from the mixed 1MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer), 1ILCT (intraligand charge transfer) and 1π,π* transitions. Both complexes are emissive in solutions at room temperature and in glassy matrix at 77 K. The emitting state is tentatively assigned as 3MLCT for 1 and 3MLCT/3ILCT/3π,π* for 2 at room temperature. At 77 K, the emission observed for 1 is mainly from the emissive ground-state aggregates, which is concentration dependent; while in 2 the emission from the monomer dominates. Unlike the dinuclear platinum complex with flexible bridging ligand diphenylphosphinoethane, the electronic absorption and emission energies of 1 and 2 at room temperature are independent of their concentration, indicating a fixed conformation for these two complexes. In addition, the presence of alkoxyl substituents on the diphenylbipyridine ligands causes a bathochromic shift of the lowest-energy absorption band and the emission band at room temperature for 2, presumably due to the involvement of the ILCT character into the lowest excited states. The presence of alkoxyl substituents in 2 also makes 2 amphiphilic, allowing for the fabrication of LB films of 2. The electronic absorption and emission characteristics in the LB films of 2 are quite similar to those in solutions, indicating no intermolecular Pt–Pt interactions occur in the LB films. The dinuclear complex without alkoxyl substituent (1) exhibits vapochromic behavior to heteroatom-containing volatile organic compounds (VOC's).
What Happened to Post-Partisanship? Barack Obama and the New American Party System

Ascending to the presidency in the midst of a severe economic crisis and an ongoing war on terrorism, Barack Obama faced numerous political and policy challenges. We examine the responsibilities he faced in assuming the received tasks of modern presidential leadership amid a polarized political system. To a point, Obama has embraced partisan leadership, indeed, even further articulating developments in the relationship between the president and parties that Ronald Reagan had first initiated, and George W. Bush built upon. Thus Obama has advanced an executive-centered party system that relies on presidential candidates and presidents to pronounce party doctrine, raise campaign funds, mobilize grassroots support, and campaign on behalf of their partisan brethren. Just as Reagan and Bush used their powers in ways that bolstered their parties, so Obama's exertions have strengthened the Democratic Party's capacity to mobilize voters and to advance programmatic objectives. At the same time, presidential partisanship threatens to relegate collective responsibility to executive aggrandizement. Seeking to avoid the pitfalls that undermined the Bush presidency, Obama has been more ambivalent about uniting partisanship and executive power. Only time will tell whether this ambiguity proves to be effective statecraft—enshrining his charisma in an enduring record of achievement and a new Democratic majority—or whether it marks a new stage in the development of executive dominion that subordinates party building to the cult of personality.
Earlier nesting by loggerhead sea turtles following sea surface warming

The onset of spring, noted by the timing of wildlife migratory and breeding behaviors, has been occurring earlier over the past few decades. Here, we examine 15 years of loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, nesting patterns along a 40.5 km beach on Florida’s Atlantic coast. This small section of beach is considered to be the most important nesting area for this threatened species in the western hemisphere. From 1989 to 2003, the annual number of nests fluctuated between 13 000 and 25 000 without a conspicuous trend; however, based on a regression analysis, the median nesting date became earlier by roughly 10 days. The Julian day of median nesting was significantly correlated with near-shore, May sea surface temperatures that warmed an average of 0.81C over this period. This marine example from warm temperate/subtropical waters represents another response of nature to recent climate trends.
Reconceiving the hippocampal map as a topological template

The role of the hippocampus in spatial cognition is incontrovertible yet controversial. Place cells, initially thought to be location-specifiers, turn out to respond promiscuously to a wide range of stimuli. Here we test the idea, which we have recently demonstrated in a computational model, that the hippocampal place cells may ultimately be interested in a space's topological qualities (its connectivity) more than its geometry (distances and angles); such higher-order functioning would be more consistent with other known hippocampal functions. We recorded place cell activity in rats exploring morphing linear tracks that allowed us to dissociate the geometry of the track from its topology. The resulting place fields preserved the relative sequence of places visited along the track but did not vary with the metrical features of the track or the direction of the rat's movement. These results suggest a reinterpretation of previous studies and new directions for future experiments.
Knowledge discovery of gene functions and metabolic pathways

In the biosphere, biological phenomena manifest as gene functions and metabolic pathways. A challenging problem is the representation, learning and reasoning about these biochemical reactions, relationships between genotypes and phenotypes, and their interplay. Building knowledge bases of gene functions and metabolic pathways often requires integrating various different kinds of knowledge into a single hierarchical framework. On one hand, the knowledge of metabolic pathways consists of kinetic simulation, graphical representation and databases. On the other hand, the complexity of gene functions includes QTL (quantitative trait locus) mappings and higher-level data mining analysis. This paper describes a hierarchical model of cognitive maps for representing signaling and metabolism knowledge as well as genotype-to-phenotype mappings. Cognitive maps are bi-directional graphs that can learn and reason quantitatively and qualitatively. This knowledge representation scheme, coupled with numerical and statistical packages, becomes a useful tool for understanding genomics and metabolism.
Pottery in Rajasthan: Ethnoarchaeology in Two Indian Cities

Pottery in Rajas than: Ethnoarchaeology in Two Indian Cities. Carol Kramer. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1997.264 pp.
Air Ions and Respiratory Function Outcomes: A Comprehensive Review

Background From a mechanistic or physical perspective there is no basis to suspect that electric charges on clusters of air molecules (air ions) would have beneficial or deleterious effects on respiratory function. Yet, there is a large lay and scientific literature spanning 80 years that asserts exposure to air ions affects the respiratory system and has other biological effects.
A laboratory model of the wind-driven ocean circulation

A simple laboratory model for the wind-driven ocean circulation is re-studied experimentally and theoretically. Introduced by Pedlosky & Greenspan (1967), the model consists of a rotating cylinder with sloping bottom, the fluid inside being driven by the steady relative rotation of the cylinder's lid. A linear theory is developed to illustrate the modification in the interior and Stewartson boundary layers caused by variation of the bottom slope from 0 to O(1); Stommel's (1948) model is obtained when the bottom slope tan α [Lt ] E¼, and the Munk & Carrier (1950) model is obtained for E¼ [Lt ] tan α [Lt ] 1 (E is the Ekman number). Measurements of the interior cross-contour ‘Sverdrup’ velocity agree well with theory when the Ekman-layer Reynolds number RE is ≈ 1 or less. The western boundarylayer azimuthal velocity agrees reasonably well with theory, although the observed variation with depth and bottom slope were not predicted. The western boundary layer shows downstream intensification when RE is increased from ≈ 1 until topographic Rossby waves appear in the transition region between western boundary layer and interior. The motion becomes unstable when a critical value of RE is reached, independent of the bottom slope, and a low-frequency two-dimensional flow oscillation is observed. A brief comparison is made with previous wind-driven ocean circulation studies.
Remote monitoring of primates using automated GPS technology in open habitats.

Automated tracking using a satellite global position system (GPS) has major potential as a research tool in studies of primate ecology. However, implementation has been limited, at least partly because of technological difficulties associated with the dense forest habitat of many primates. In contrast, primates inhabiting relatively open environments may provide ideal subjects for use of GPS collars, yet no empirical tests have evaluated this proposition. Here, we used an automated GPS collar to record the locations, approximate body surface temperature, and activity for an adult female baboon during 90 days in the savannah habitat of Amboseli, Kenya. Given the GPS collar’s impressive reliability, high spatial accuracy, other associated measurements, and low impact on the study animal, our results indicate the great potential of applying GPS technology to research on wild primates. Am. J. Primatol.
Sprinkler and Corn Canopy Effects on Water Application Characteristics

Water application characteristics of a very low pressure spray sprinkler (40kPa), a low pressure spray sprinkler (100 kPa), a medium pressure impact sprinkler (170 kPa), and a high pressure impact sprinkler (345 kPa) were evaluated under field conditions. Average field application rates varied from 42 to 156 mm/h and maximum 5-minute application rates varied from 54 to 226 mm/h. Both were inversely related to sprinkler nozzle pressure in a manner that can be described by a logarithmic relationship. Maximum 5-min and 10-min application rates were, respectively, about 20 and 10% higher than average rates for the irrigation events. The 100, 170, and 345 kPa sprinklers produced application uniformity coefficients of 95% for single events and up to 99% for sequential events. About 70% of applied irrigation water reached the soil surface within a 200-mm diameter area at the base of corn plants. Maximum water application rates at the base of corn plants were amplified from three to four times when compared with above-canopy rates.
A Trademark Justification for Design Patent Rights

In a series of cases spanning more than one hundred years, courts and the US patent office have made clear that design patents are not to be justified by a fact that the newly invented ornamental design aids in distinguishing a company's product from those of its competitors. This article reverses that conclusion and argues instead that the trademark-like distinctiveness function that helps eliminate customer confusion is the most compelling policy justification for the continued protection of design patent rights in the US. In cursory language, a number of courts have suggested that the foundation of design patents policy follows the same incentive-to-create approach of copyright and utility patent law. I tentatively reject this traditional incentive model as unlikely to be important in most situations involving ornamental designs. Rather, I suggest the better justification for design patent doctrine lies in the notion that design patent rights serve as an alternative rule of evidence for trade dress protection. However, design patents are not merely a parallel alternative to trade dress. Rather, the existence of practical differences between the doctrines means that design patents rights are available in situations where trade dress protection is unavailable or uncertain. This article presents a new set of empirical results to support the theoretical construct that design patents fill a gap in trade dress law protection. Based on the data, I tentatively reject the oft-stated conventional wisdom that design patents are worthless for many because procurement is too slow, expensive, and difficult. Rather, based on a first-of-its-kind analysis of the prosecution history files of a large sample of recently issued design patents, I conclude that the current design patent examination system operates as a de facto registration system. Notably, more than ninety-eight percent (98%) of the patents in my study were issued without the Patent Office challenging their inventiveness. The dramatic rise in the number of design patents being issued indicates that designers find value in design patent protection, and a study of parallel design patent and trade dress litigation suggests that design patents are serving as a back-up or replacement for trade dress rights.
Fracture Toughness of TiB2 and B4C Using the Single-Edge Precracked Beam, Indentation Strength, Chevron Notched Beam, and Indentation Strength Methods

The mode I fracture toughness (KIc) of boron carbide (B4C) and titanium diboride (TiB2) was determined using four competing techniques. The indentation strength (IS), chevron notched beam (CNB), and indentation fracture (IF) methods are common techniques that were compared to the recently standardized single-edge precrack beam (SEPB) method. The SEPB method was more difficult to apply, but it represents the most rigorous method for KIc determination, because it uses few assumptions and requires a direct measurement of crack length. The IS method was an expeditious and economical alternative when low indentation loads were used. CNB KIc values were virtually rate-independent when displacement rates less than or equal to 0.5 mm/min were used. The IF method was the least satisfactory technique, because of high variability in Kc values and because of the low differentiation between the two materials studied.
“We have to think like capitalists but continue being socialists”: Medicalized subjectivities, emergent capital, and socialist entrepreneurs in post-Soviet Cuba

Through an engagement with historical, epistemological, and ethnographic modes of analyses, I trace how individual bodily practices—that is, practices relating to the body and its health—in contemporary Cuba provide a fertile terrain for examining the multiple pathways through which political subjectivities are created and transformed. Specifically, I highlight the ways in which these practices serve as de facto access to basic health services and supplies and actively contribute to the daily functioning of Cuba's socialist health care system. I argue that scholars must move beyond contrasting rote descriptions of socialism vis-a-vis capitalism and, rather, look to new fields of inquiry that address the coproduction and coexistence of different forms of capital and new configurations of statecraft and subjectivity in 21st-century Cuba. [Cuba, state, capital, bodily practices, subjectivity, socialism]
Somatic gene therapy to treat heart failure is one step closer to reality.

Despite recent advances in heart failure therapy, patients with end-stage cardiac failure have a poor prognosis and die within 5 years. Diagnosis of the hereditary form of heart failure is becoming increasingly prevalent due to the identification of causative mutations in many structural genes encoding contractile and cytoskeletal proteins. The majority of muscular dystrophies including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cause functional deficits not only in skeletal muscle but also in cardiac muscle since the proteins affected are normally present in all striated muscle. DMD is caused by mutations in the very large dystrophin gene. Dystrophin binds the submembranous cytoskeleton at one end and at the other end to a complex of membrane glycoproteins ( Figure 1 ) called the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC). The DGC plays an essential role in maintaining the integrity of the cell membrane by forming a structural link between the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton, and in this way, the entire complex transduces the force of contraction and thereby protects the cell membrane from damage. Mutations in dystrophin and several other members of this complex, known as the sarcoglycans, destabilize the entire complex from the membrane and cause both skeletal and cardiac myopathies characterizing DMD and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. In addition to causing muscular dystrophies, certain mutations in dystrophin and DGC lead primarily to … *Corresponding author. Tel: +1 614 292 2310; fax: +1 614 292 4888. E-mail address : periasamy.1{at}osu.edu
The thermal degradation of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(vinyl alcohol) binder in alumina ceramics

Abstract The thermal degradation in air of poly(ethylene) glycol, poly(vinyl alcohol), and a combination of the two polymers in alumina-containing additives has been studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, and CP-MAS 13 C NMR. Both polymers in alumina degraded as previously described for the pure polymers. For the polymer mixture, both polymers degraded independently of each other. Thermal analysis of the various samples showed that the additive, sodium lignosulfonate, required the highest temperature for burnout. Product analysis of the pure and combined polymers along with the respective decomposition mechanisms are summarized.
Motion does matter: an examination of speech-based text entry on the move

Desktop interaction solutions are often inappropriate for mobile devices due to small screen size and portability needs. Speech recognition can improve interactions by providing a relatively hands-free solution that can be used in various situations. While mobile systems are designed to be transportable, few have examined the effects of motion on mobile interactions. This paper investigates the effect of motion on automatic speech recognition (ASR) input for mobile devices. Speech recognition error rates (RER) have been examined with subjects walking or seated, while performing text input tasks and the effect of ASR enrollment conditions on RER. The obtained results suggest changes in user training of ASR systems for mobile and seated usage.
The Tradeoff Between Shorter and Longer Courses of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Implantation of Newer Generation Drug-Eluting Stents

The benefit of prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DESs) remains uncertain. In 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of 31,666 predominantly low-risk patients undergoing DES implantation, shorter courses (3-12 months) of DAPT resulted in lower mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.83, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.69-0.98) and major hemorrhage (OR 0.60, 95 % CI 0.48-0.75) but increased myocardial infarction (MI, OR 1.34, 95 % CI 1.04-1.73) and stent thrombosis (ST, OR 1.75, 95 % CI 1.08-2.82) than did longer courses (12-36 months) of DAPT. A risk-benefit analysis identified 3 fewer deaths and 5 fewer bleeds but 4 more MIs and 3 more STs annually for every 1000 patients treated with the shorter courses. In the predominantly low-risk population enrolled in RCTs, limiting DAPT to 3 to 12 months after DES implantation saved lives and prevented bleeding at the expense of increased ST and MI.