cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Considerations in Pulse Compression Design for Weather Radars

Pulse compression is a useful technique for weather radar, as an enabling technology to facilitate use of low-power solid state transmitters. It also has the benefit of improving the dynamic range and range resolution of the radar, permitting rapid scanning of a volume. The nonlinear FMpulse waveform described produces the low sidelobe levels required for weather radar applications, while remaining Doppler-tolerant within the range of radial velocities expected for weather radar (plusmn100 m/s). Traditional pulse compression waveforms must be modified to reduce their range sidelobes to levels suitable for use in weather radar. The use of pulse compression involves some changes to the methods used during radar calibration, and places some restrictions on the design and implementation of the RF and IF components of the radar.
Characterization of the dimeric one-electron electrolytic reduction products of 1-alkylpyridinium ions in acetonitrile

Abstract A chemical-electrochemical approach for the determination of the positions of coupling in the dimeric one-electron reduction products of 1-alkylpyridinium ions in acetonitrile is described. The procedure involves the treatment of a solution of the dimeric species with an appropriate quinone followed by electrochemical examination of the resulting solution. For 1-alkylpyridinium ions without ring substituents, the dimer is concluded to be the 4,4′ coupled isomer, based on the formation in the cases of 1-methyl-, 1-ethyl-, and 1-benzylpyridinium ions of the 1,1′-dialkyl-4,4′-bipyridinium monocation radical species on treatment of the dimeric species with 1,4-benzoquinone. The characteristics, particularly the quantitative nature, of this tetrahydrobipyridine-quinone reaction have been examined.
Further evidence concerning the periodic structure in collagen.

Abstract Patterson distributions were constructed from the X-ray diffraction patterns produced by the large periodicity in beef tendon collagen. The Pattersons were interpreted in terms of the intraperiod fine structure observable in electron micrographs of collagen. It is suggested that there may be a single high density band in wet, unstained collagen and a very detailed band structure in wet, stained collagen. The Patterson from dry, stained collagen is in satisfactory agreement with one calculated from an idealized structure suggested by electron micrographs.
Effect of organic-matter type and thermal maturity on methane adsorption in shale-gas systems

► Organic matter is the key element to control gas adsorption in shales. ► TOC is a primary control on gas adsorption capacity. ► Organic-matter type and thermal maturity affect gas-sorption rate. ► The presence of moisture can greatly reduce gas-sorption capacity. ► Quantitative model prediction is developed for adsorbed gas estimate.
The effects of dimethyl ether and ethanol on benzene and soot formation in ethylene nonpremixed flames

Abstract Soot volume fractions, C1–C12 hydrocarbon concentrations, and gas temperature were measured in ethylene/air nonpremixed flames with up to 10% dimethyl ether (CH 3 O CH 3 ) or ethanol (CH 3 CH 2 OH) added to the fuel. The measurement techniques were laser-induced incandescence, photoionization mass spectroscopy, and thermocouples. Oxygenated hydrocarbons have been proposed as soot-reducing fuel additives, and nonpremixed flames are good laboratory-scale models of the fuel-rich reaction zones where soot forms in many full-scale combustion devices. However, addition of both dimethyl ether and ethanol increased the maximum soot volume fractions in the ethylene flames studied here, even though ethylene is a much sootier fuel than either oxygenate. Furthermore, dimethyl ether produced a larger increase in soot even though neat dimethyl ether flames produce less soot than neat ethanol flames. The detailed species measurements suggest that the oxygenates increase soot concentrations because they decompose to methyl radical, which promotes the formation of propargyl radical (C 3 H 3 ) through C1 + C2 addition reactions and consequently the formation of benzene through propargyl self-reaction. Dimethyl ether has a stronger effect than ethanol because it decomposes more completely to methyl radical. Ethylene does not decompose to methyl, so its flames are particularly sensitive to this mechanism; the alkane-based fuels used in most practical fuels do decompose to methyl radical, so the mechanism will be much less important for practical devices.
Humoral antibody and lymphocyte blastogenesis responses in BALE/c, C3H/HeJ and AKR/N mice following Ehrlichia risticii infection

Abstract Three strains of mice, two susceptible to Ehrlichia risticii induced disease ( balb /c and C3H/HeJ) and one resistant ( akr/n ), were evaluated for the development of Immoral and cell mediated immune responses following infection with E risticii . The production of serum antibody was determined by indirect fluorescent antibody testing of sera from mice of each strain challenged with one of three different dose levels of E risticii . Antibody was assayed on days 7, 9, 12, 15 and 20 after inoculation. Cell mediated immune responses were evaluated by measuring the blastogenesis response of spleen cells from E risticii infected mice 28 days after inoculation. All three strains of mice at the high challenge level responded with the production of antibody by day 9 after inoculation. Overall, the antibody response occurred earlier and was of greater magnitude in the susceptible balb /c and C3H/HeJ strains. A marked blastogenesis response occurred in splenocytes from E risticii infected mice of all three strains upon re-exposure to ehrlichial antigen. The findings of this study indicate that susceptibility to E risticii induced disease was not the result of deficient or delayed humoral immune responses and that E risticii infection induced the development of strong cell mediated immunity.
CYANINE BORATE PENETRATED ION PAIR STRUCTURES IN SOLUTION AND THE SOLID STATE : INDUCED CIRCULAR DICHROISM

An induced circular dichroism (CD) spectrum is observed for 1,1‘,3,3,3‘,3‘-hexamethyl-9-phenyl-indocarbocyanine, 1,1‘-diethyl-2,2‘-cyanine, 1,1‘-di-(3,5-di-tert-butyl)benzyl-2,2‘-cyanine, or 1,1‘-di-(4-tert-butyl)benzyl-2,2‘-cyanine when penetrated into a chiral cavity of either spirobi[(2-methyl)borataxanthene] or spirobi[(3-methyl)borataxanthene]. Within the ion pair, the cyanine dye exists in two (or more) interconverting conformations of unequal energy. Solid-state structural evidence suggests that a nitrogen-forward mode for penetration by the cyanine dominates the solution behavior. A critical feature for the observation of induced circular dichroism is that the dye is twisted in the ground state. The free energy difference between the diastereomers with right- and left-handed twist in the chiral cavity of the borate is less than 1 kcal/mol, but this is sufficient to induce the CD spectrum. The magnitude of the observed CD spectrum is dependent on the structure of both the cyanine and borate.
Nikon EB stepper: its system design and preliminary performance

Electron Projection Lithography (EPL) has a high potential for applicability beyond the ITRS 65 nm node, especially for contacts and gate layers. The concept of synchronization control of the Nikon EB stepper is explained. The reticle stage and the wafer stage are servo controlled to target positions individually. The residual stage position errors are compensated by the electron beam deflection control. The electron beam deflection is feed forward controlled using predicted stage position data from a subsystem called “Filter/Predictor”. The performance of the stage position prediction of the Filter/Predictor is described. This paper also reports the performance of the first EB stepper tool, the NSR-EB1A, during its preliminary adjustment phase. Dynamic scanning and stitching exposure, which requires synchronization of both the beam deflection motion and the stage scanning motion, was realized. Dynamic resolution of 100 nm and dynamic subfield stitching accuracy of 25 nm (3sigma) were obtained, and further improvement is expected.
Evolutionary relationships and polymorphisms among V kappa 10 genes from inbred and wild-derived inbred mice.

The V κ 10 family in BALB/c mice is composed of three members, two of which are utilized in a variety of immune responses. We previously demonstrated that the product of the third gene, V κ 10C, has never been detected as part of a functional antibody and productive rearrangements are selectively lost during B-cell development. Here we analyzed germline V κ 10 genes from inbred and wild-derived mice by RFLP and sequencing in order to determine the origin of the V κ 10C gene, as well as to examine the evolutionary relationships of V κ 10 genes. Our results demonstrated that the V κ 10 family is highly conserved across Mus species and subspecies, but that V κ 10C is rare, being found in only inbred mice of V κ 10 allelic group b and two of six M. m. domesticus isolates. It was not found in other M. musculus subspecies or M. spretus. V κ 10A and V κ 10B were found in all strains, with the exception of one M. m. domesticus isolate, which had only V κ 10B genes. Overall, V κ 10A sequences were more highly conserved than V κ 10B, indicating that different selective pressures may be operating on these genes. The two V κ 10C sequences from M. m. domesticus were 100% identical to that found in inbred mice. V κ 10C is more closely related to V κ 10B than to V κ 10A and our data suggest that it is a recent duplication of the V κ 10B gene.
The effect of the partition locus on plasmid stability and expression of a prolonged chemostat culture

Abstract The stability, copy number, and gene expression of the pBR322 plasmid containing the par-locus under prolonged cultivation were studied. In the initial stage of the experiment it was observed that the par-locus had a stabilization effect on plasmid maintenance. This observation was consistent with previously reported results. However, after approximately 225 h, a mixed population of plasmid-containing and plasmid-free cells appeared. The mixed culture was stably maintained for approximately 200 h. In addition, the relative plasmid copy number showed an increase as compared to the par− culture. After 100 h the copy number decreased, reached a minimum, then stabilized. The β-lactamase activity, was not significantly affected by the par-locus.
On the static and dynamic equilibrium of concentrated loads in linear acoustics and linear elasticity

The displacement field in an unbounded linear elastic fluid subjected to a time-dependent point force is obtained by using integral transform techniques. Differentiation of the displacement field yields the pressure field. It is shown that the pressure on the surface of a spherical ball B r of radius r centered at the point where the force is applied is statically equivalent in the limit as r→0 to only one-third of the force. The remaining two-thirds are carried by the inertia terms. It is also shown, by an independent reasoning, that a point force cannot be carried in static equilibrium by a linear elastic fluid. The displacement field corresponding to an unbounded isotropic linear-elastic solid subjected to a time-dependent point force (the Stokes solution) is also obtained by using integral transform techniques. As is well-known, the tractions of the Stokes solution on the surface of a spherical ball B r are statically equivalent in the limit as r→0 to the force itself; consequently, the inertia terms do not contribute to the dynamic equilibrium of B r. The contrast between the response of a fluid and that of an isotropic solid under the action of a point force is discussed.
Farm persistence and adaptation at the rural–urban interface: Succession and farm adjustment

Abstract Despite assumptions that agriculture will automatically go into a mode of decline at the Rural Urban Interface (RUI), official statistics suggest that agriculture as a whole remains a strong (and in some cases a growing) industry in many U.S. RUI counties. RUI scholars have acknowledged internal family dynamics can significantly influence farm persistence and adaptation strategies, however, few studies have sought to document the specific role succession has on farm structure at the RUI. Building off rural geography models of farm organization at the RUI and succession research embedded in rural studies we analyze interviews from 33 U.S. farm families to 1) explore the relationship between farm adaptation and succession at the RUI, and 2) examine how succession is related to the different types of enterprises found at the RUI (direct marketers vs. commodity producers) and the types of growth strategies these farm families implement. We find that families who can not identify an heir either disinvest or enter a static management mode. Among farm families who can identify an heir we identify a variety of horizontal and vertical growth strategies (expanding, intensifying, and entrepreneurial stacking) designed to achieve farm reproduction goals. We discuss the theoretical and policy related implications of this research.
Skull Evolution in the Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla): Cartesian Transformations and Functional Interpretations

Cartesian transformation, applied as a landmark morphometric method, is used to investigate some of the evolutionary shape changes leading to the skulls of the modern rhinoceroses. The early Oligocene genusSubhyracodon serves as the primitive shape from which the extant genera (Dicerorhinus, Rhinocerso, Diceros, andCeratotherium) have been transformed. Coordinate data for 21 landmarks, defined in lateral view, are analyzed by the computer program Thinplate Splines. Each of the four transformations are interpreted separately as shape change fromSubhyracodon. Computed results forRhinoceros are also compared with previous results obtained by visual interpretation (the classic method). Among the extant genera,Ceratotherium andRhinoceros have the most derived shapes and are opposites with respect to orientation of the occiput and relative size of the mandible angle. The significance of these foci of change is discussed in terms of the functions of the masseter and posterior temporalis muscles. In head positions associated with feeding on short vs. tall grasses, the two skull shapes are consistent with a role for these muscles in support of a large mandible against gravity. This common factor may help to explain both shapes.
Inhibition and activation of orange pectinesterase.

Abstract 1. 1. Potassium cyanide, cysteine hydrochloride, mercuric chloride, sodium sulfide, and hydrogen peroxide are without effect on pectinesterase (PE). 2. 2. Silver nitrate decreases PE activity. This decrease is greater at pH 7.0 than at pH 4.0 (65.1% and 47.4%, respectively). 3. 3. Ascorbic acid and sodium bisulfite both increase PE activity, sodium bisulfite causing activation at lower concentrations. 4. 4. There is no definite indication that the increase due to bisulfite is caused by its effect on the substrate or the enzyme. Whatever the action is, it may be instantaneous as there is no increase in activity when the substrate is acted upon for a period of time by bisulfite.
Not Using a Computer in Language Assessment/Intervention

Clinicians who are not yet making direct use of computer applications with their school-age clients may have good reasons. Factors that hinder the clinical use of computers by school clinicians inc...
The effects of high hydrostatic pressure on transmission at the crustacean neuromuscular junction.

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of high hydrostatic pressure on neuromuscular transmission in a shallow-living and a deep-living crustacean were compared. High hydrostatic pressure (50–200 atm) depresses the amplitude of excitatory junctional potentials (ejp's) at the lobster neuromuscular junction. Pressure causes the input resistance of lobster muscle fibers to increase. Preliminary results suggest that the mechanism of the pressure-induced depression of ejp amplitude is a decrease in the amount of transmitter substance released by the nerve endings. 2. 2. Results of work with the moderately deep-living red crab, Ger yon quinquedens (300–1600 m), suggest two mechanisms of adaptation to high pressure. In fibers showing ejp's that are small in amplitude at low frequencies of nerve stimulation, the ejp amplitude is depressed by pressure at low frequencies of stimulation, but not at high frequencies. A pressure-induced enhancement in facilitation is probably responsible. Since these fibers contract only when the nerve is stimulated at high frequency, the ejp amplitude is independent of pressure in the physiological frequency range. Fibers showing large amplitude ejp's and contraction at low frequencies, show pressure-induced depression of ejp amplitude within the physiological frequency range. They have long ejp's that sum together at low frequencies, so that a slight increase in the frequency of nerve impulses can counteract the depressive effects of pressure.
Induction of antibody synthesis by purified immunogenic RNA in vitro.

WE have described an RNA fraction derived from phenol-extracted livers of immunized rabbits, which induced specific antibody production when mixed with normal rabbit spleen cells in vitro1,2. Similar fractions have been described by others using spleen, lymph node or peritoneal exudate cells of mice, rats or rabbits3–12 as sources of the RNA fraction. In all cases it has been assumed that the RNA-donor cell type was a macrophage. Considerable controversy has been generated by these experiments and data have been published to show that (a) the RNA is neither specific13 nor newly synthesized14 and (b) the RNA fraction contains antigen or fragments thereof15–18. Here we show that the data obtained with the rabbit-DNP system2 extend to another laboratory model, the mouse-sheep red blood cell (RBC) system. Our earlier work1,2 suggested that the immunogenic RNA is produced in the macrophage cell, that it is specific and that it is confined to a discrete fraction of the extractable RNA. For these reasons we thought it desirable (a) to compare directly the capacities of both liver and spleen tissue RNA extracts to induce antibody-plaque-forming cells in vitro, (b) to compare the effects of RNAase and pronase on the immunogenic capacity of the RNA fraction and (c) to investigate the distribution of the immunogenic RNA fraction relative to the total RNA fractions.
High Performance Data Mining Using R on Heterogeneous Platforms

The exponential increase in the generation and collection of data has led us in a new era of data analysis and information extraction. Conventional systems based on general-purpose processors are unable to keep pace with the heavy computational requirements of data mining techniques. High performance co-processors like GPUs and FPGAs have the potential to handle large computational workloads. In this paper, we present a scalable framework aimed at providing a platform for developing and using high performance data mining applications on heterogeneous platforms. The framework incorporates a software infrastructure and a library of high performance kernels. Furthermore, it includes a variety of optimizations which increase the throughput of applications. The framework spans multiple technologies including R, GPUs, multi-core CPUs, MPI, and parallelnet CDF harnessing their capabilities for high-performance computations. This paper also introduces the concept of interleaving GPU kernels from multiple applications providing significant performance gain. Thus, in comparison to other tools available for data mining, our framework provides an easy-to-use and scalable environment both for application development and execution. The framework is available as a software package which can be easily integrated in the R programming environment.
Investigation of characteristics and factors associated with avian mycobacteriosis in zoo birds

The objective of the current study was to identify factors associated with avian mycobacteriosis in zoo birds. Inventory data, population health records, and necropsy data from eligible birds in the Zoological Society of San Diego's (ZSSD) collection from 1991-2005 (n 5 13,976) were used to describe disease incidence, prevalence, and postmortem findings. A matched case-control study was then conducted to identify factors describing demographic, temporal, and enclosure characteristics, along with move and exposure histories. Cases (disease-positive birds; n 5 167) were matched in a 1:7 ratio with controls (disease- negative birds; n 5 1169) of similar age and taxonomic grouping. Potential risk factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariable conditional logistic regression. Disease prevalence and incidence were estimated for the study period at 1.2% and 3 cases/(1,000 bird-years at risk), respectively. Lesion characteristics and order prevalence are described. In the multivariable model, case birds were more likely to have been previously housed with a bird with mycobacterial disease involving the intestinal tract (odds ratio (OR) 5 5.6, P , 0.01) or involving only nonintestinal sites (OR 5 2.0, P , 0.01). Cases were more likely to have been imported into the collection than hatched at the ZSSD (OR 5 4.2, P , 0.01). Cases were moved among ZSSD enclosures more than controls (OR 5 1.1 for each additional move, P , 0.01). Findings will help guide future management of this disease for zoo bird populations.
Reconstructing the serial order of events: a case study of September 11, 2001

SUMMARY Participants reconstructed the serial order of events associated with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Accuracy was stable as the retention interval doubled from 9 weeks to 18 weeks, but most participants (63%) made errors sequencing even the ‘unforgettable’ events of that day, with most errors (72%) falling within one position of being correct. This positional gradient (near misses more common than far misses) mirrored that found in laboratory studies of order memory, despite basic differences in how ordinal information was presented to observers, suggesting that the positional gradient may generalize across many different circumstances of serial-order reconstruction. Monte Carlo simulations illustrate this possibility by showing that simple constraints on pairs of events explain substantial variance in the data. Copyright # 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This article examines how well people were able to reconstruct the serial order of events associated with the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, and asks what the resulting error patterns tell us about memory representations that support order reconstruction in real-world situations. To motivate the interest in serial order reconstruction, as distinct from more general tests of recall, consider a hypothetical situation in which a witness observes an altercation between two individuals and is later asked to testify in an inquiry in which one party is claiming self-defense. Conceivably, the focus of the inquiry might not be on whether a fight occurred, but on whether blame can be assigned by identifying the person who struck first. As a second example, consider the inquiry into the crash of EgyptAir fl ight990 off the coast of Massachusetts in 1999 (NTSB, 2002). Two very different hypotheses were proposed for the cause of the crash—mechanical vs. psychological—and deciding between them depended on correctly reconstructing the serial order of two events: The onset of the fatal dive into the ocean, and the onset of the pilot’s prayers commending his life to God. These examples illustrate that the relative order of two events can be a critical factor in causal reasoning in a wide range of circumstances. To the extent that human memory is a source of information about serial order of events, it is important to understand how such memory functions.
Converging evidence for a cognitive anomaly in early psychopathology

Subcomponents of the N200 component of the event-related brain potential believed to be differentially sensitive to involuntary and voluntary cognitive processes were examined. Nonpatients (N = 131) identified initially by the Chapman and Depue research scales and classified later on the basis of diagnostic symptom clusters and family psychiatric history provided converging evidence for an intact mismatch negativity subcomponent. In contrast, the N2b subcomponent distinguished several groups of subjects. Results suggested abnormal voluntary cognitive processing, perhaps reflecting compensatory efforts in subjects at risk for or manifesting psychopathology, particularly those showing negative symptoms.
DNA damage-induced replication arrest in Xenopus egg extracts.

Chromosomal replication is sensitive to the presence of DNA-damaging alkylating agents, such as methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). MMS is known to inhibit replication though activation of the DNA damage checkpoint and through checkpoint-independent slowing of replication fork progression. Using Xenopus egg extracts, we now report an additional pathway that is stimulated by MMS-induced damage. We show that, upon incubation in egg extracts, MMS-treated DNA activates a diffusible inhibitor that blocks, in trans, chromosomal replication. The downstream effect of the inhibitor is a failure to recruit proliferating cell nuclear antigen, but not DNA polymerase α, to the nascent replication fork. Thus, alkylation damage activates an inhibitor that intercepts the replication pathway at a point between the polymerase α and proliferating cell nuclear antigen execution steps. We also show that activation of the inhibitor does not require the DNA damage checkpoint; rather, stimulation of the pathway described here results in checkpoint activation. These data describe a novel replication arrest pathway, and they also provide an example of how subpathways within the DNA damage response network are integrated to promote efficient cell cycle arrest in response to damaged DNA.
Violent Collisions of Spinning Protons

High energy polarized proton beams and polarized proton targets have allowed good measurements of spin effects in high energy elastic proton-proton scattering. Since I have written about this subject several times In recent years, I will only briefly review the earlier work and refer the Interested reader to some rather detailed lectures.1
Integrating a misprediction recovery cache (MRC) into a superscalar pipeline

In modern processors, deep pipelines couple with superscalar techniques to allow each pipe stage to process multiple instructions. When such a pipe must be pushed and refilled, as when predicted program flow beyond a branch is subsequently recognized as wrong, the temporary performance loss is significant. While modern branch target buffer (BTB) technology makes this flush/refill penalty fairly rare, the penalty that accrues from the remaining branch mispredictions is a serious impediment to even higher processor performance. Advanced mechanisms that can reduce this residual misprediction penalty can be of enormous value in future microprocessor designs. One promising new mechanism, the Misprediction Recovery Cache (MRC) is proposed previously. In this paper, we focus especially on MRC integration into existing pipelines.
Vitamin D Earns More than a Passing Grade

respiratory tract infections and pneumonia [4]. In this issue of the Journal, Mehta and colleagues [5] present data suggesting that infants born to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected women with low vitamin D levels have an increased risk of acquiring HIV infection at each of the following stages: in utero, intrapartum, and during breast-feeding. In addition, HIVinfected mothers with low vitamin D levels and their infants, regardless of HIV status, are more likely to die than are those with adequate levels of vitamin D. At first glance, these data might be dismissed. Previous studies by this group of investigators were predominantly designed to investigate the benefits of multivitamin supplements and vitamin A on mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV as well as on maternal and child outcomes in Tanzania [6, 7]. The assessment of vitamin D levels was part of a secondary study and surely will need to be confirmed by other investigators. However, are these results biologically plausible? Having become a recent convert to believing in the benefits of vitamin D, I would argue that the data presented are not only plausible but provide insight into a potential approach to improving the outcomes of children born
Limit-push training reduces motor variability

Variability in human motor control has been a long observed phenomenon, which has come to be known by some as repetition without repetition. There are several explanations for this. One such explanation asserts that many equally optimal solutions exist for accomplishing the same task that naturally allows choices in how it can be successfully executed. The aim of this study was to determine whether variability could be conditioned within an invisible subspace, using visual and force feedback. We utilized a novel haptic-graphic boundary-oriented environment to condition motor variability. Subjects reduced the variability of their movements, such that action predominated within a subspace determined apriori; while the untreated group did not. These results show encouraging preliminary evidence that neural rehabilitative haptic-graphic interfaces can condition human motor variability. This type of training may benefit neurologically impaired individuals, who exhibit the commonly seen motor deficits of large trial to trial variability, such as victims of stroke and traumatic brain injury.
Why personalized medicine will fail if we stay the course.

Genomic science and associated technologies are providing scientists and clinicians with novel insights that are transforming the delivery of healthcare and the overall well-being of society. However, these insights inform us that historical population sampling approaches for investigating rare and common genetic variations are not representative of the complex ancestral backgrounds of today’s patients. In order for personalized medicine to be meaningful and applicable to the global populations, we will need to know how common and rare genetic variants found in different parts of the world influence health and drug response. This article demonstrates the importance of increasing ethnic and racial diversity among participants in genomic research, highlights areas of opportunity for improving our understanding of genomic diversity among populations, and provides examples of successful models that help to resolve these concerns.
Chapungu: The Bird That Never Drops a Feather. Male and Female Identities in an African Society

Chapungu: The Bird That Never Drops a Feather. Male and Female Identities in an African Society. Anita Jacobson-Widding. Stockholm: Elanders Gotab, 2000. 525 pp., maps, photographs, glossary, appendixes, index.
A Platform for Evaluating Autonomous Intersection Management Policies

There is a significant push towards greater vehicular autonomy on roads to increase convenience and improve overall driver experience. To enable this autonomy, it is imperative that cyber-physical infrastructure be deployed to enable efficient control and communication. An essential component of such road instrumentation is intersection management. This paper develops an intersection management platform that provides the sensing and communication infrastructure needed to enable efficient intersection management policies. The test bed, located in a indoor laboratory, consists of an intersection and multiple robotic vehicles that can sense and communicate. Whereas traditional approaches to intersection management rely on simulations, this test bed enables the first realistic evaluation of several intersection management policies. Six simple but practical centralized and distributed policies are evaluated and compared against the current state of the art, i.e., traffic signals and stop signs. Through extensive experimentation, this paper concludes that, in the scenario tested, even a simple coordinated management policy can halve vehicular delay, while improving the aggregate traversal time of the intersection by 169%.
EFFECT OF THAWING AND SUBSEQUENT CHILLING ON THE QUALITY OF PRAWN, MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII

A study was made on the shelf life of thawed, freshwater prawns. Prawns frozen by various methods were held frozen for 1 month at – 18° C, then thawed and held under ice-chilled condition up to 48 h. Their physical, chemical, microbiological and sensory attributes were examined. Results showed that ice-chilling up to 48 h immediately after thawing induced some changes on the peak force/plateau force ratios of the textural profiles, soluble/ insoluble collagen ratio and microbial counts. However, no significant differences were observed between the fresh and the treated prawns on texture, flavor and acceptance suggesting that quality of prawns held under ice-chilled condition up to 48 h after thawing was comparable to the fresh ones.
Scaffolds in tissue engineering of blood vessels.

Tissue engineering of small diameter (<5 mm) blood vessels is a promising approach for developing viable alternatives to autologous vascular grafts. It involves in vitro seeding of cells onto a sca...
Viral infections in immunocompromised patients: what's new with respiratory viruses?

Purpose of reviewThe leading cause of death in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients is infection. The respiratory viruses, particularly respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, and picornaviruses, are increasingly recognized as significant pathogens
Garnetites of the Cardigan Pluton, New Hampshire: Evidence for Peritectic Garnet Entrainment and Implications for Source Rock Compositions

The Cardigan Pluton, located in southwestern New Hampshire, USA, is a strongly peraluminous granodiorite that contains distinctive, meter-sized pods consisting of 50–70 modal % garnet (+sillimanite + biotite + plagioclase + quartz). The presence of fibrolitic mats and flat, unzoned major and trace-element garnet profiles provide evidence for prograde metamorphism and single-stage garnet growth from biotite dehydration melting. Melt-depleted, bulk-rock compositions indicate that the garnetites are either fragments of restite or melt-depleted xenoliths. Comparison of the Nd and Sr isotopic compositions of the garnetites and the Cardigan granitic rocks indicates an equilibrium relationship as required in the restite model. Additionally, plagioclase and garnet compositions are the same in the garnetites and the most mafic host rocks, also permissive of a restite origin for the garnetites. Temperature and pressure calculated using garnet–biotite thermometry and garnet–aluminum silicate–quartz–plagioclase (GASP) barometry yield estimates of 800°C and 6–7 kbar. These temperatures are probably lower than the peak melting temperature because major element modeling subtracting a granodiorite composition from an average calc-pelite metasediment requires greater than 45% melting to generate garnetite sample CP-23G. Such high melting percentages require temperatures of ∼900°C, near the biotite-out curve. We infer that the heat required for such high amounts of melting was obtained from asthenospheric upwelling and basaltic underplating. Inherited zircons with 600 Ma U–Pb ages suggest that the Cardigan Pluton does not have a Laurentian source, consistent with thermobarometric calculations that place the depth of melting below the decollement between the basement and the Central Maine Trough metasediments. A peri-Gondwanan basement source is inferred. Calculated ascent rates of >1000 km/yr allowed preservation of restite in the Cardigan Pluton whereas slower rates in other peraluminous plutons could account for the paucity of restite in most peraluminous plutons.
Foucault Steals Political Science

The subject matter of what has been traditionally considered central to political science, namely, power and government, has been stolen by Foucault while central trends in the discipline as a whole have departed markedly from serious engagement with those topics. Yet Foucault's discussions and analyses of power and government are so original, so striking in their import not only for the way we do political science, but for our lives, thought, and practices as scholars, that his work ought by now to have become a focal point for the resurrection of these topics and their restoration to centrality in the discipline.
A framework of stochastic power management using hidden Markov model

The effectiveness of stochastic power management relies on the accurate system and workload model and effective policy optimization. Workload modeling is a machine learning procedure that finds the intrinsic pattern of the incoming tasks based on the observed workload attributes. Markov Decision Process (MDP) based model has been widely adopted for stochastic power management because it delivers provable optimal policy. Given a sequence of observed workload attributes, the hidden Markov model (HMM) of the workload is trained. If the observed workload attributes and states in the workload model do not have one-to-one correspondence, the MDP becomes a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP). This paper presents a framework of modeling and optimization for stochastic power management using HMM and POMDP. The proposed technique discovers the HMM of the workload by maximizing the likelihood of the observed attribute sequence. The POMDP optimization is formulated and solved as a quadraticly constrained linear programming (QCLP). Compared with traditional optimization technique, which is based on value iteration, the QCLP based optimization provides superior policy by enabling stochastic control.
A Combinatorial Approach Towards Functionalizing Copolymers with Effector Molecules that Attenuate Cyto-inflammatory Responses at the Biotic-abiotic Interface

Functionalized copolymers offer the opportunity for tailored biology, where specific functionalities within these materials can be rapidly engineered on demand. Embedding effector molecules, for example, into these copolymers transforms an otherwise inactive component into a functional matrix for envisioned in vivo applications such as suppression of cellular inflammation/stress or immuno-regulatory implant coating, etc. Furthermore, our ability to utilize these copolymers in both a vesicular/planar configuration, coupled with their versatility in block composition empowers opportunities of utilizing vesicle-encapsulated effector molecules as dedicated drug delivery vehicles with targeting capabilities, or as modalities to replenish exhausted effector molecule stores within planar copolymer thin films. As such, these copolymeric membrane materials may potentially impact multiple medically-relevant fields in both scientific and technological contexts. An important element empowering this transition is the examination of the bio-inert properties of these materials. This includes the interrogation of the stress response of macrophages to the chemical/topographical stimuli presented by these materials. We have previously developed copolymers as neural implant coatings functionalized with a glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory Dexamethasone (Dex) using Langmuir-Blodgett deposition. This technology successfully suppressed, to a significant degree, RAW264.7 macrophage transcriptional machinery of several cytokines including TNFα, Il-6, and Il-12 analyzed using real time PCR (RT-PCR). These findings offered insight into both bio-abio material fabrication, as well as analysis of stress specific gene program activation which may be used to generate principles for optimizing neural implant biocompatibility and chronicity by attenuating innate immune responses. This study has broadened the range of applications of this material via its integration with a combination of intracellular signaling agonists (e.g. Liver X receptor-α/β (LXR α/β)) that function as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to block transcriptional machinery associated with cell stress among other disorders. Here we demonstrate both planar encapsulation of an additional effector in the form of a robust, cell permeable LXRα/β agonist 3-((4-Methoxyphenyl)amino)-4-phenyl-1-(phenylmethyl)-1H-pyrrole-2, 5-dione using a crosslinked copolymer thin film. In addition, we investigated the underlying mechanisms of the attenuation of cellular inflammation via RT-PCR analysis of the resultant inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated secretion of proinflammatory cytokine in murine macrophages. These advancements may potentially result in multi-functional nanoscale thin films that are chronically active, and can suppress cellular inflammation as implant coatings or bio-inert vesicular carriers of a non-steroidal pharmacological system.
The Road to Redemption: Reclaiming the Value in Assessment Retention Exams

A good assessment plan combines many direct and indirect measures to validate the collected data. One often controversial assessment measure comes in the form of retention exams. Although assessment retention exams may come with faults, others advocate for their inclusion in program assessment. Objective-based tests may offer insight to instructors about course objectives that students comprehend well and other concepts that need more attention. This research shows that using retention exams as an assessment measure can generate useful and meaningful data for both the students and the program. Students can learn strengths and weaknesses based on scores. Faculty and programs can learn where gaps may exist within the program. But, whenever a program decides to use retention exams as an assessment tool, faculty members need to be included in the process. Discussions about content need to occur constantly. Exams need to consistently reflect current standards and student learning objectives. And faculty need to stay involved in the process to know exactly where any inconsistencies may lie within their courses, and how they contribute to the students' overall experience within the program.
Growth and Reproductive Performance of Holstein Heifers as Affected by Ruminal Degradation of Supplemental Protein

Reproductive performance of primiparous and multiparous dairy cows has been improved by increasing the proportion of undegraded intake protein (UIP) in the diet, especially when fish meal (FM) was supplemented. This positive response has not been documented with dairy heifers, in general, or under grazing
The Appearance of a Moose Rutting Ground

While traversing a portage in Quebec, Canada, on September 1, 1954, that had fallen into disuse, I was fortunate to find a moose ( Alces alces ) rutting ground. The area lies 175 airline miles north northwest of Montreal on the southeast bank of the Simard River just before it empties into Lake Dandurand. The portage, from …
SIGNIFICANCE OF SYMPATRY TO BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION OF GREAT PLAINS MEADOWLARKS.

Cases of interspecific territoriality are uncommon among birds that hold multipurpose breeding territories where they feed, mate and nest. Various authors (e.g., Simmons, 1951; Johnson, 1963; Orians and Willson, 1964) have noted that interspecific territories are likely to be maintained as a result of interspecific competition. Orians and Willson (1964) specifically comment that divergence in feeding habits sufficient for overlapping territories may be impossible when either the structure of the vegetation is simple, or when species are adapted to exploit the same stratified food sources in complex vegetation, or when other species are already exploiting similar resources in a diversified habitat. Johnson (1963) has proposed a hypothetical scheme for the origin of interspecific territoriality which is based on the process of geographic speciation. He notes that whether or not interspecific territories are defended depends upon the releasers that stimulate territorial defense. Species having similar vocal and behavioral signals of territory possession would not necessarily be expected to diverge in these characters when establishing secondary contact, even if their feeding habits were sufficiently different for coexistence. Orians and Willson (1964:737) seem to dismiss the possibility of such a fortuitous occurrence of interspecific territoriality by observing that the defense of a territory against individuals of other species demands increased expenditure of time and energy. However,
Photoinduced reactions of surface-bound species on titania nanotubes and platinized titania nanotubes: An in situ FTIR study

Photoinduced conversion of surface-bound species on titania nanotubes that were first oxidized and then reduced (Ti–NT–O2–H2) and on platinized titania nanotubes subjected to oxidation and reduction (Pt–Ti–NT–O2–H2) has been investigated by means of in situ FTIR spectroscopy. Bidentate and monodentate carbonates as well as bicarbonates and carboxylates are formed subsequent to exposure of both Ti–NT–O2–H2 and Pt–Ti–NT–O2–H2 to CO2. Formic acid was only observed on Pt–Ti–NT–O2–H2. UV illumination of the nanotubes led to an increase in the number of surface-bound species as a result of the further reaction with gas-phase CO2 with a greater increase in surface species on Ti–NT–O2–H2 than on Pt–Ti–NT–O2–H2. The underlying basis of the photoinduced increase in adsorbed species is discussed for both types of nanotubes. Photoinduced reactions of surface species also take place and are remarkably different on the two types of nanotubes. UV illumination of Ti–NT–O2–H2 converts bidentate carbonates and bicarbonates...
Controlling Wavefront in Lightweight Reflector Systems using Piezocomposite Actuator Arrays

As part of a three-year research task, we have investigated active reflector systems as a less costly, lightweight alternative for future missions needing high surface precision reflectors. An active reflector can correct thermally-induced deformations, which reduces the structural constraints and gives the required thermal performance with a lighter system. Active reflectors can also correct manufacturing errors that dominate large composite reflector fabrication, which in turn reduces the manufacturing cost required to meet a given surface tolerance. As an added benefit, an active reflector adds robustness to the mission performance, with the ability to correct for deployment misalignments, mechanical creep in the structure, and other unpredicted disturbances. The benefits of an active reflector are balanced against increased complexity. The original Active Composite Reflector (ACR) testbed was developed to assess the authority of flat piezoelectric patches integrated into the back facesheet of a large (meter-scale) microwave reflector. Based on the success of the initial results, a control and metrology testbed was developed to pursue open-loop and closed-loop thermal distortion compensation in the meter-scale reflector and achieved sub-micron RMS surface quality under 10 microns of thermally-induced distortion. Smaller bench-scale reflectors at the 150-250 mm scale were also tested to assess surface performance as a function of substrate mechanical properties such as thickness and modulus. Final testing pushed the limits of the distributed actuator array concept to reach optical performance. A parallel multiphysics model was developed to support orbital performance simulations. This report describes the final experimental and modeling results for lightweight, low-cost, reflector systems with piezocomposite actuators.