cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ellips — A fortran simulation of a polarization-modulation ellipsometer

Abstract Title of program : ELLIPS Catalogue number : ACXK Program obtainable from : CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland (see application form in this issue). Computer : Texas Instruments ASC II, Installation : NRL Operating system : OS4.021 Programming language used : FORTRAN IV High speed storage required : 20 500 words No. of bits in a word : 32 Overlay structure : none Peripherals used : Card reader, printer No. of cards in combined program and test deck : 1209 Card punching code : EBCDIC
Submaximal stimuli activate different nerve fiber populations at different sites

Theoretically, the largest and fastest nerve fibers are preferentially stimulated with submaximal stimuli. However, it is also well known that intraneural fascicular topography changes substantially along a proximal to distal axis. Because of this change in fascicular topography, we hypothesized that percutaneous submaximal stimuli applied to a nerve at different locations would stimulate different subpopulations of large fibers. We performed a series of collision studies by stimulating the ulnar nerve submaximally at proximal and distal sites at varying levels of stimulation intensity from motor threshold to supramaximal stimulation. The results suggest that variation in intraneural topography at different sites allows different large diameter nerve fiber subpopulations to be activated at submaximal stimuli, and emphasizes the importance of supramaximal stimulation to determine a valid conduction velocity. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Early Stimulation and Late Inhibition of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2 Phosphorylation by IGF-I: A Potential Mechanism Mediating the Switch in IGF-I Action on Skeletal Muscle Cell Differentiation

IGF-I has a unique biphasic effect on skeletal muscle cell differentiation. Initially, IGF-I inhibits differentiation and promotes proliferation of skeletal myoblasts. Subsequently, IGF-I switches to stimulating differentiation of these cells. The mechanisms responsible for this switch in IGF action remain unknown. We have examined the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk)1/2 signaling in mediating the early inhibitory and late stimulatory effects of IGF-I on the gene expression of myogenin, a skeletal muscle-specific transcription factor essential for myogenic differentiation. We find that, concurrent with its early inhibitory and late stimulatory effects on myogenin mRNA, IGF-I has a biphasic but opposite effect on phosphorylation of Erk1/2: initially, IGF-I increases and subsequently decreases the phosphorylation of Erk1/2 in comparison to untreated cells. Cotreatment with an inhibitor of Erk1/2 activation prevents the early IGF-I-stimulation of Erk1/2 phosphorylation and partially reverses IGF-I-inhibition of myogenin mRNA. Conversely, preventing the late IGF-I-induced decrease in Erk1/2 phosphorylation blocks IGF-I-stimulation of myogenin mRNA. Our data indicate that the time-dependent, opposing effects of IGF-I on skeletal muscle cell differentiation are mediated, at least in part, by biphasic but opposite effects on activation of the Erk1/2 MAPK signaling pathway.
Composable multi-level debugging with Stackdb

Virtual machine introspection (VMI) allows users to debug software that executes within a virtual machine. To support rich, whole-system analyses, a VMI tool must inspect and control systems at multiple levels of the software stack. Traditional debuggers enable inspection and control, but they limit users to treating a whole system as just one kind of target: e.g., just a kernel, or just a process, but not both.We created Stackdb, a debugging library with VMI support that allows one to monitor and control a whole system through multiple, coordinated targets. A target corresponds to a particular level of the system's software stack; multiple targets allow a user to observe a VM guest at several levels of abstraction simultaneously. For example, with Stackdb, one can observe a PHP script running in a Linux process in a Xen VM via three coordinated targets at the language, process, and kernel levels. Within Stackdb, higher-level targets are components that utilize lower-level targets; a key contribution of Stackdb is its API that supports multi-level and flexible "stacks" of targets. This paper describes the challenges we faced in creating Stackdb, presents the solutions we devised, and evaluates Stackdb through its application to a security-focused, whole-system case study.
Trajectory clustering for motion prediction

We investigate a data-driven approach to robotic path planning and analyze its performance in the context of interception tasks. Trajectories of moving objects often contain repeated patterns of motion, and learning those patterns can yield interception paths that succeed more often. We therefore propose an original trajectory clustering algorithm for extracting motion patterns from trajectory data and demonstrate its effectiveness over the more common clustering approach of using k-means. We use the results to build a Hidden Markov Model of a target's motion and predict movement. Our simulations show that these predictions lead to more effective interception. The results of this work have potential applications in coordination of multi-robot systems, tracking and surveillance tasks, and dynamic obstacle avoidance.
Contemporary Approach to Electrical and Pharmacological Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation

In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a rhythm-control strategy may be adopted when there are unacceptable symptoms from AF, failure of rate control, and/or the presence of comorbidities, such as heart failure, that may improve with restoration of sinus rhythm. When a rhythm-control strategy is chosen and the patient is in persistent AF, cardioversion will be necessary to convert the rhythm to sinus. Patients with AF present for > 48 hours must be effectively anticoagulated both prior to and after cardioversion. With newer oral anticoagulants, achieving effective anticoagulation is faster and more reliable, with no requirement for blood test monitoring. Cardioversion can be accomplished either electrically or pharmacologically, and in some cases, electrical cardioversion may be facilitated pharmacologically. Electrical cardioversion has a higher success rate compared with pharmacological cardioversion in the short-term. Pharmacological cardioversion is usually accomplished with intravenous ibutilide, oral flecainide or propafenone, or intravenous amiodarone. Oral amiodarone and dofetilide also result in chemical cardioversion in some patients over a longer period of time. Long-term success in the maintenance of sinus rhythm post-cardioversion can be increased with the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. Alternatively, when AF is recurrent and symptomatic despite the use of antiarrhythmic drugs, catheter ablation is a reasonable option for many patients. Cardioversion may be incorporated into the management approach of persistent AF when the primary therapeutic option chosen is catheter ablation.
HBO1 Histone Acetylase Activity Is Essential for DNA Replication Licensing and Inhibited by Geminin

HBO1, an H4-specific histone acetylase, is a coactivator of the DNA replication licensing factor Cdt1. HBO1 acetylase activity is required for licensing, because a histone acetylase (HAT)-defective mutant of HBO1 bound at origins is unable to load the MCM complex. H4 acetylation at origins is cell-cycle regulated, with maximal activity at the G1/S transition, and coexpression of HBO1 and Jade-1 increases histone acetylation and MCM complex loading. Overexpression of the Set8 histone H4 tail-binding domain specifically inhibits MCM loading, suggesting that histones are a physiologically relevant target for licensing. Lastly, Geminin inhibits HBO1 acetylase activity in the context of a Cdt1-HBO1 complex, and it associates with origins and inhibits H4 acetylation and licensing in vivo. Thus, H4 acetylation at origins by HBO1 is critical for replication licensing by Cdt1, and negative regulation of licensing by Geminin is likely to involve inhibition of HBO1 histone acetylase activity.
Prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

The eicosanoids are a group of substances with wideranging biological activities which are produced in cells from polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly arachidonic acid (AA). The enzymes initially involved in the production of eicosanoids and their primary products are a cyclooxygenase, which forms prostaglandin (PG) eridoperoxides, and the various lipoxygenases, which form hydroperoxy fatty acids [l] (Parker, Annu Reu Zmmunol 1987, 6:65-84; Samuelsson et al., Science 1987, 237:1171-1175). The cyclooxygenase product& PGs, thromboxanes and prostacyclin (PGIz) aker smooth muscle tone, vascular permeability, platelet adhesiveness, and lymphocyte function. The lipoxygenase products, leukotriene (LT)&, LTB4, LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, and long-chain hydroperoxides (HPETEs) and hydroxyacids (HETEs) increase cell aggregation, chemotaxis, secretion, vascular permeability and smooth muscle contractility (Parker. In Fundamental Immunology edited by Paul. Raven Press, 1984, pp 697-747). Another pathway of AA metabolism is cytochrome P450-dependent oxidation that produces 5,6and other epoxides (Pickett et al., Biocbim B@bys Acts 1987, 486:209-213; Proctor et al, Circ Res 1987, 6050-59). The 5,6-epoxide of AA bas significant vasodilator activity and may also be capable of stimulating secretion. The cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes may have roles in immune regulation other than the production of vasoactive and chemotactic mediators. Many of the effects of interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor appear to be media& via local effects on AA metabolism (Parker. In Allergy, Theory and Practice edited by Korenblat and Wedner. Grune-Stratton, 1984, pp 25-39).
Influence of seeding rate on big bluestem establishment with herbicides

Weeds interfere with establishment of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman var. gerardii Vitman) on rangeland and cropland in the central Great Plains of North America. A study was conducted to determine the influence of seeding rate on establishment of big bluestem when metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-memylethyl)acetamide] and atrazine [6-chloro-N-ethyl-N'-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine] were applied alone or in combination. 'Pawnee' big bluestem was planted in late May to early June 1990 and 1991 near Clay Center and Mead, NE, at 110, 220, and 440 pure live seed (PLS) m -2 . Metolachlor at 0, 2.2 or 3.3 kg a.i. ha -1 and atrazine at 2.2 kg a.i. ha -1 were applied alone or in combination before weeds or the seeded big bluestem emerged. Big bluestem stand frequency (the number of times the planted grasses occurred within sampling grids and expressed as a percentage of the total number of grids evaluated) and yield were measured the year after planting to determine establishment success. Big bluestem stand frequency and yield were influenced primarily by the main effects of herbicide and seeding rate. Grass stand frequencies usually increased with increasing seeding rate. Big bluestem stands were successfully established in three of the four environments evaluated when seeded at 110 PLS m -2 , and in all environments when seeded at 220 or 440 PLS m -2 . Big bluestem yields were at least 1.2 Mg ha -2 greater on areas treated with metolachlor than on areas not so treated at Clay Center in 1991 and 1992 and Mead in 1991. Atrazine increased big bluestem yields by 1.2 and 2.4 Mg ha -1 at Mead in 1991 and 1992, but had no effect on yields at Clay Center. Based on these findings, metolachlor and/or atrazine can be applied preemergence the year of planting to improve yield of big bluestem seeded at a rate as low as 110 PLS m -2 .
The organization of the fuc regulon specifying L-fucose dissimilation in Escherichia coli K12 as determined by gene cloning.

In Escherichia coli the six known genes specifying the utilization of l-fucose as carbon and energy source cluster at 60.2 min and constitute a regulon. These genes include fucP (encoding l-fucose permease), fucI (encoding l-fucose isomerase), fucK (encoding l-fuculose kinase), fucA (encoding l-fuculose 1-phosphate aldolase), fucO (encoding l-1,2-propanediol oxidoreductase), and fucR (encoding the regulatory protein). In this study the fuc genes were cloned and their positions on the chromosome were established by restriction endonuclease and complementation analyses. Clockwise, the gene order is: fucO-fucA-fucP-fucI-fucK-fucR. The operons comprising the structural genes and the direction of transcription were determined by complementation analysis and Southern blot hybridization. The fuc-PIK and fucA operons are transcribed clockwise. The fucO operon is transcribed counterclockwise. The fucR gene product activates the three structural operons in trans.
Design of Functionally Graded Structures for Enhanced Thermal Behavior

Multi-material structures take advantage of beneficial properties of different materials to achieve an increased level of functionality. In an effort to reduce the weight of vehicle components such as brake disk rotors, which are generally made of cast iron, light materials such as aluminum alloys may be used. These materials, however, may lead to unacceptable temperature levels. Alternatively, functionally graded structures may offer a significant decrease in weight without altering thermal performance. The design of such structures is not trivial and is the focus of this paper. The optimization combines a transient heat transfer finite element code with a genetic algorithm. This approach offers the possibility of finding a global optimum in a discrete design space, although this advantage is balanced by high computational expenses due to many finite element analyses. The goal is to design a brake disk rotor for minimum weight and optimal thermal behavior using two different materials. Knowing that computational time can quickly become prohibitively high, strategies, such as finite element grouping to reduce the number of design variables and local mesh refinement, must be employed to efficiently solve the design problem. This paper discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed design method.© 2005 ASME
High temperature calorimetry and use of magnesium chloride for thermal energy storage

Abstract The primary objective of this study is to develop encapsulated phase change materials (EPCMs) capable of storing thermal energy at temperatures above 750 °C. EPCM with magnesium chloride as phase change material (PCM) are considered here for application in concentrated solar power (CSP) systems. MgCl 2 is an effective storage medium because of its high melting temperature, 714 °C, and high latent heat of fusion, 454 kJ/kg. A specialized calorimeter with requisite size and high temperature capability is designed and built to prove the storage capability of MgCl 2 EPCM. The calorimeter is also used to determine heat capacities for MgCl 2 in both liquid and solid states as well as its latent heat of fusion. Calorimetric tests for the thermal storage capacities of three MgCl 2 EPCM samples show excellent agreement with published data. Based on the measured properties, the latent heat of phase change can contribute about 84% of the storage capacity of MgCl 2 PCM for a 100 °C temperature swing bracketing the salt's melting point. Repeated thermal-cycles show sustained performance of MgCl 2 EPCM capsules with no discernible diminishment in storage capacity.
Dynamic laser light scattering studies of the effects of pyrophosphate on cyclic motions of cross-bridges in isolated thick myofilaments from Limulus striated muscle

Pyrophosphate (PPi) is a non-hydrolyzable ATP analogue known to affect the binding between myosin heads and actin. By using a dynamic laser light scattering method, we have shown that 1-2 mM PPi enhances the increase in gamma values induced by Ca2+ in isolated thick myofilaments from Limulus striated muscle. However, similar treatment has no effect on the gamma values of filaments suspended in either relaxing solution or ATP-free solution. gamma is the average linewidth of the photoelectron count autocorrelation function of the light scattered. PPi had no effect on the increase of gamma values by Sr2+ but it substantially increased the gamma values of the thick myofilaments suspended in Ba(2+)-substituted Ca2+ activating solution. The results show that PPi also affects the energy-requiring cyclic cross-bridge motions.
Simultaneous allocation and scheduling using convex programming techniques

Simultaneous exploitation of task and data parallelism provides significant benefits for many applications. The basic approach for exploiting task and data parallelism is to use a task graph representation (Macro Dataflow Graph) for programs to decide on the degree of data parallelism to be used for each task (allocation) and an execution order for the tasks (scheduling). Previously, we presented a two step approach for allocation and scheduling by considering the two steps to be independent of each other. In this paper, we present a new simultaneous approach which uses constraints to model the scheduler during allocation. The new simultaneous approach provides significant benefits over our earlier approach for the benchmark task graphs that we have considered.
Phenotypic plasticity of reproductive traits in response to food availability and photoperiod in white-footed mice ( Peromyscus leucopus )

Although most temperate-zone mammals are seasonal breeders, many populations display variation in winter reproductive phenotype. For most mammals, the primary environmental cues regulating reproductive status are food availability and photoperiod, and these two factors can interact in their effect. Low food availability is primarily thought to suppress reproduction by reducing body mass and thereby forcing energy allocations to survival alone. However, because most small mammals rely on an increase in food intake rather than stored nutrients for reproduction, we hypothesized that food availability could act as a signal for low resource availability and affect reproduction even when body condition was not affected. We tested the prediction that restricted food access, without reduced body mass, could alter reproductive responses to short photoperiod. We used genetically distinct lines of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) derived from a wild population with genetic variation in the neuroendocrine pathway that regulates reproduction in response to environmental cues. The lines were created by artificial selection on gonad size in short photoperiods. Individuals from one line strongly suppress gonadal development in response to short photoperiods, while individuals from the other line suppress gonadal development weakly or not at all. Unresponsive individuals from the selected and an unselected control line were exposed to an intermittent food access protocol that did not affect body mass and only slightly reduced total food intake. We found that restricting food access caused reproductive suppression in short photoperiods but not long photoperiods, with no decrease in body mass. These results provide evidence for an interaction between food and photoperiod that is not dependent upon body condition or energy balance. The results also demonstrate plasticity in the reproductive response to photoperiod of otherwise reproductively nonphotoperiodic white-footed mice.
Predicting the temporal and spatial probability of orographic cloud cover in the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico using generalized linear (mixed) models

Abstract We predicted the spatial pattern of hourly probability of cloud cover in the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) in North-Eastern Puerto Rico using four different models. The probability of cloud cover (defined as “the percentage of the area covered by clouds in each pixel on the map” in this paper) at any hour and any place is a function of three topographic variables: aspect, slope and the difference between elevation and lifting condensation level. We chose the best models based on multiple statistics including the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), scaled deviance and extra-dispersion scale. As a result, the generalized linear model (GLM) and one generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with exponential spatial structure were the best candidate models. The probabilities of cloud cover in both our simulations and the observations increased with elevation, and were higher at night. They decreased in the morning after the sun rose until early afternoon, and then increased again for the rest of the day until night, apparently in response to the movement of the lifting condensation level. Two types of satellite images were available to calibrate our models: the higher spatial resolution, but expensive and infrequent Landsat-7 Enhanced Thermal Mapper plus (ETM+) images and the frequent, free, but low spatial resolution Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images. The derived probabilities of cloud cover when calibrated to the two types of remote sensing images were very similar, which justifies our using the free MODIS images instead of the Landsat images to calibrate the models. We applied the model to all months and the results indicated in agreement with the data that the probability of cloud cover is less during the dry season, higher in wet season and moderate for the rest of the year. We found our models could usually predict the probability of cloud cover for each 100 m in elevation level at a certain time with an index of agreement (IoA) of 0.560–0.919 and at a certain location over a day with an IoA of 0.940–0.994, indicating a medium to good model simulation at that particular time or location.
Autonomous Passive Localization Algorithm for Road Sensor Networks

Road networks are one of important surveillance areas in military scenarios. In these road networks, sensors will be sparsely deployed (hundreds of meters apart) for the cost-effective deployment. This makes the existing localization solutions based on the ranging ineffective. To address this issue, this paper introduces a novel approach based on the passive vehicular traffic measurement, called Autonomous Passive Localization (APL). Our work is inspired by the fact that vehicles move along routes with a known map. Using binary vehicle-detection time stamps, we can obtain distance estimates between any pair of sensors on roadways to construct a virtual graph composed of sensor identifications (i.e., vertices) and distance estimates (i.e., edges). The virtual graph is then matched with the topology of the road map, in order to identify where sensors are located on roadways. We evaluate our design outdoors on Minnesota roadways and show that our distance estimate method works well despite traffic noises. In addition, we show that our localization scheme is effective in a road network with 18 intersections, where we found no location matching error, even with a maximum sensor time synchronization error of 0.07 sec and a vehicle speed deviation of 10 km/h.
A regional market for rights to use fertilizer as a means of achieving water quality standards

Abstract The attributes and effects of one possible arrangement of a market for rights to use fertilizer are discussed in this article. Because of some similarities in effect, this type of policy is compared with the imposition of a fixed per unit excise tax on fertilizer. Some empirical results for the establishment of a market for rights to use nitrogen fertilizer and for the imposition of a tax on nitrogen fertilizer only in Illinois are presented. These results are derived from a national spatial equilibrium model of crop production in the United States.
The axisymmetric flow in a rotating annulus due to a horizontally applied temperature gradient

The axisymmetric flow of fluid, confined within a rapidly rotating annulus and caused by a horizontally applied temperature gradient, is discussed under the assumptions of small thermal Rossby number and small Taylor number. It is initially assumed that the transfer of heat is purely conductive, and the flow is calculated for when the upper fluid surface is either rigid or free. The analysis of the problem in which the upper surface is rigid is extended so as to allow con-vective as well as conductive transfer of heat.
The role of race and trust in tissue/blood donation for genetic research

Background: Public willingness to donate tissue samples is critical to genetic research. Prior work has linked minority status and mistrust with less willingness to provide specimens. Some have suggested recruitment of prior research participants to address these barriers. We present data from a genetic epidemiology study with a request for blood and/or saliva specimens to (1) measure willingness to donate tissue/blood samples, (2) identify demographic, trust, and other factors associated with willingness to donate samples, and (3) measure willingness to participate in future genetic research. Methods: We surveyed participants in the North Carolina Colorectal Cancer Study, which included biologic sample collection from consenting participants. Participants were later asked about sample provision; trust in researchers, and future research participation. Results: African Americans were less likely to give a blood sample, when compared with whites (21% vs. 13%, P < 0.05). After controlling for “trust,” this difference was no longer statistically significant (17% vs. 13%, P = 0.27). Those who had given samples were more likely to express willingness to participate in future research. Conclusion: Despite prior participation in a genetic epidemiology study, factors associated with provision of tissue samples reflected many previously identified demographic factors (race and trust). Interventions to improve and demonstrate the trustworthiness of the research team and recruitment of subjects with a record of sample donation might enhance future study participation.
Secure and practical defense against code-injection attacks using software dynamic translation

One of the most common forms of security attacks involves exploiting a vulnerability to inject malicious code into an executing application and then cause the injected code to be executed. A theoretically strong approach to defending against any type of code-injection attack is to create and use a process-specific instruction set that is created by a randomization algorithm. Code injected by an attacker who does not know the randomization key will be invalid for the randomized processor effectively thwarting the attack. This paper describes a secure and efficient implementation of instruction-set randomization (ISR) using software dynamic translation. The paper makes three contributions beyond previous work on ISR. First, we describe an implementation that uses a strong cipher algorithm--the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), to perform randomization. AES is generally believed to be impervious to known attack methodologies. Second, we demonstrate that ISR using AES can be implemented practically and efficiently (considering both execution time and code size overheads) without requiring special hardware support. The third contribution is that our approach detects malicious code before it is executed. Previous approaches relied on probabilistic arguments that execution of non-randomized foreign code would eventually cause a fault or runtime exception.
Hard-copy versus Computer Presentation of the SuperShrink Interview Simulation:

The effects of realism and perceived control on student satisfaction with the SuperShrink interview simulation were investigated via a 2 x 2 comparison of active/passive and computer/hard-copy conditions. Students rated the computer versions as more satisfying and as promoting a greater sense of realism than the printed materials. Students perceived having more control in the active than the passive conditions, but this perception was not accompanied by differences in satisfaction. These data suggest that computers are superior to hard-copy simulations of human interaction, perhaps because they enhance realism rather than control.
Antioxidant responses to oxidant-mediated lung diseases

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are generated throughout the human body. Enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants detoxify ROS and RNS and minimize damage to biomol...
Visualization and microscopic modeling of phase inversion during compounding

A detailed description of the sequence of deformation steps leading to phase inversion during compounding in a low-viscosity-ratio co-polyester/polyethylene blend is presented. Visualization using a glass window and sampling of the blend at different mixing times enabled identification of the intermediate morphologies of the major component en route to phase inversion. Based on these observations, a theoretical model is developed to predict the time to phase inversion. The model incorporates a simplified flow-field approximation and the calculation of strain imparted to the major component domains. A strain-based criterion for phase inversion is then proposed, which, in conjunction with the model, yields an explicit expression for the time to phase inversion during compounding, t P.I. . The model predictions are seen to be in good agreement with the increase of t P.I. on scaleup between two mixing bowls. The correct functional dependence of t P.I. on the nominal maximum-shear-rate is predicted. Using combination of pure drag and planar extensional flow, the model predictions are shown to be consistent with the observed dependence of t P.I. on the volume fraction of the minor component and the blend viscosity ratio.
Teaching electromagnetic field theory using differential forms

The calculus of differential forms has significant advantages over traditional methods as a tool for teaching electromagnetic (EM) field theory. First, films clarify the relationship between field intensity and flux density, by providing distinct mathematical and graphical representations for the two types of fields. Second, Ampere's and Faraday's laws obtain graphical representations that are as intuitive as the representation of Gauss's law. Third, the vector Stokes theorem and the divergence theorem become special cases of a single relationship that is easier for the student to remember, apply, and visualize than their vector formulations. Fourth, computational simplifications result from the use of forms: derivatives are easier to employ in curvilinear coordinates, integration becomes more straightforward, and families of vector identities are replaced by algebraic rules. In this paper, EM theory and the calculus of differential forms are developed in parallel, from an elementary, conceptually oriented point of view using simple examples and intuitive motivations. We conclude that because of the power of the calculus of differential forms in conveying the fundamental concepts of EM theory, it provides an attractive and viable alternative to the use of vector analysis in teaching electromagnetic field theory.
Does preoperative rofecoxib (Vioxx) decrease postoperative pain with laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract Background A prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial was designed to study the effects of preemptive rofecoxib (Vioxx) analgesia in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods One hundred-twenty patients were enrolled in the study over a 21-month period, and 116 completed the study. One half of the patients received 50 mg rofecoxib preoperatively and the other half, placebo. Both groups were demographically similar. Medical information, patient and nursing assessments, and surgical data were evaluated. Results A significant reduction in requirements for postoperative narcotic analgesic dosing was noted in the rofecoxib group. In addition, patients receiving rofecoxib reported significantly less nausea and improvement in their activity level when compared with the control group. No complications were encountered with the preoperative use of rofecoxib. Conclusions We conclude that in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, preoperative administration of rofecoxib in selected patients may facilitate postoperative recovery and decrease postoperative narcotic requirements.
Location representation in enclosed spaces: what types of information afford young children an advantage?

It has been suggested that young children can only reorient, locating a target object, when the geometry of an enclosed space provides distinctive shape information [e.g., Hermer, L., & Spelke, E. (1994). A geometric process for spatial reorientation in young children. Nature, 370, 57–59]. Recently, however, young children were shown to specify location in a square-shaped space, where geometry is uninformative, so long as scale-like information was available on the walls of the space [Huttenlocher, J., & Lourenco, S. F. (2007a). Coding location in enclosed spaces: Is geometry the principle? Developmental Science, 10, 741–746]. Here we build on this work by examining more closely what types of cues afford 18- to 24-month-olds an advantage in locating a target object following disorientation. Their performance was assessed when linear scale-like information was presented either in isolation or in composite form. It was found that, even in isolation, young children searched at the appropriate locations, with added benefit when presented as a composite. We suggest that linear scale-like dimensions, especially when available in composite form, play a critical role in supporting location representation in young children.
Variable-trigger voltage ESD Power Clamps for mixed voltage applications using a 120 GHz/100 GHz (f T /f MAX ) Silicon Germanium Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor with Carbon incorporation

A novel ESD Power Clamps for 40 GHz applications, using a 120 GHz/100 GHz f T /f MAX Silicon Germanium Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT) with Carbon incorporation, is developed by modification of the circuit to avoid the Johnson Limit constraints for non-native voltage applications. The theory, operation, and ESD results of the ESD power clamp will be shown.
Children's Artistic Creativity Detrimental Effects of Competition in a Field Setting

Girls whose ages ranged from 7 to 11 years made paper collages during I of 2 residential parties. Those in the experimental group were competing for prizes, whereas those in the control group expected that the prizes would be raffled off Artist-judges later rated each collage on several artistic dimensions, including creativity, technical goodness, and aesthetic appeal. A high level of interjudge reliability was found, and there was a clear separation between creativity judgments and judgments of technical goodness and aesthetic appeal. The control group was significantly higher than the experimental group on judged creativity of the collages and on several other dimensions of judgment that correlated with creativity. The control group was lower, however, on some dimensions related to technical aspects of the performance. In addition, there was significantly more variability in the control group on a number of objective features of the collages. The results are consistent with the proposition that intrins...
Resource need and use of multiethnic caregivers of elders in their homes.

Aims. The aim of this study was to predict South Florida family caregivers’ need for and use of informal help or formal services, specifically, to explore the predictive power of variables suggested by the Caregiver Identity Theory and the literature and develop and test a structural model. Background. In the USA, most of the care to older adults is given by family members. Caregivers make economic and social sacrifices that endanger their health. They feel burdened, if they receive no assistance with their tasks; however, services available are not sufficiently used. Design. This cross-sectional correlational study was a survey of family caregivers in their home, using standardized and/or pre-tested scales and a cognitive status test of their patients. Methods. A random sample of 613 multiethnic caregivers of frail elders were recruited in home care and community agencies. The interviews were held between 2006–2009. Analyses involved correlation and regression analyses and structural equation modelling. Outcome measures were need and use of family help and formal services. Results/Findings. The model yielded excellent fit indices replicated on three random samples of 370. The patients’ functional limitations yielded the strongest predictive coefficients followed by caregiver stress. Cultural indicators played a minor role. Conclusion. The lack of a link between resource need and use suggested access barriers. Important for policy makers and service providers are the delivery of high-quality services and the use of a personal and individualized approach with all ethnicities. Quality service includes understanding the caregiving situations and requires a trusting relationship with family caregivers.
Activity of the rat GluR4 promoter in transfected cortical neurons and glia

AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate) receptors are assembled from four subunits, GluR1-4. Although GluR4 is widely expressed in brain its abundance is less than GluR1-3. We have isolated � 5 kb of the rat GluR4 promoter region and analyzed its capacity to drive expression of a luciferase reporter gene in transfected rat cortical neurons and glia, and C6 glioma cells. Multiple transcriptional start sites were identified in a GC-rich region lacking TATA-boxes between ) 1090 and ) 1011 bp from ATG. In transfected mixed cortical cultures, luciferase expression driven by GluR4 promoter segments were found predominantly in TuJ1-positive neurons, indicating neuronal preference of GluR4. The GluR4 promoter fragments were 6‐12-fold more active in neurons than glia, compared with a 30-fold neuronal selectivity of GluR2. Deletion of the GluR4 transcriptional initiation region decreased luciferase activity in neurons, but increased activity in C6 cells, suggesting that regulatory elements governing neuronal expression reside in this region. An intron within the 5¢-untranslated region and Sp1, IK2 and E-box sites are conserved in the rat, mouse and human GluR4 promoters. The relative activity of GluR4 and GluR2 promoters in transfected cells correlates with their expression in brain, and in both promoters regulatory elements for neuronal expression reside near the initiation sites.
Column-Integrated Moist Static Energy Budget Analysis on Various Time Scales during TOGA COARE

Moist static energy (MSE) budgets on different time scales are analyzed in the TOGA COARE data using Lanczos filters to separate variability with different frequencies. Four different time scales (;2-day, ;5-day, ;10-day, and MJO time scales) are chosen based on the power spectrum of the precipitation and previous TOGA COARE studies. The lag regression-slope technique is utilized to depict characteristic patterns of the variability associated with the MSE budgets on the different time scales. This analysis illustrates that the MSE budgets behave in significantly different ways on the different time scales. On shorter time scales, the vertical advection acts as a primary driver of the recharge‐discharge mechanism of column MSE. As the time scale gets longer, in contrast, the relative contributions of the other budget terms become greater, and consequently, on the MJO time scale all the budget terms have nearly the same amplitude. Specifically, these results indicate that horizontal advection plays an important role in the eastward propagation of the MJO during TOGA COARE. On the MJO time scale, the export of MSE by the vertical advection is in phase with the precipitation. On shorter time scales, the vertical velocity profile transitionsfrombottomheavytotopheavy,whileonlongertimescales,theshapebecomesmoreconstantand
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEARY FAILURE

The enormous impact of the growing epidemic of heart failure mandates the development of easily accessible registries for patients with all classes of CHF, particularly those with advanced heart failure. It also is important to compile data from patients not enrolled in randomized trials to truly appreciate the natural history of this disease. The continued aging of the United States population will surely lead to continual increase in the prevalence of heart failure and its impact on the health care economy. It also is important to develop methods to reliably identify patients with systolic versus primary diastolic dysfunction to better understand the demographics, risk factors, and natural history of diastolic dysfunction. Increased attention clearly is warranted to better understand the demographics and risk factors for development CHF and to help devise strategies to reduce the morbidity, mortality, and economic impact of this disease.
Vaginoplasty in the female exstrophy population: Outcomes and complications.

Abstract Objective Vaginal stenosis is a common sequela in adolescents who have undergone reconstruction for classic bladder exstrophy in infancy. We sought to determine the incidence of vaginal stenosis in our patient population and the outcome of treatment in the first three decades of life. Patients and Methods An institutional review board approved bladder exstrophy database was used to identify and retrospectively review classic female bladder exstrophy patients aged 12–30 years treated at the authors' institution. Patients who underwent vaginoplasty were identified and the following outcomes were measured: age at surgery, method used for the reconstruction, complications and incidence of re-stenosis. Results Ninety-one female classic bladder exstrophy patients were identified. Twenty-nine patients (31.8%) underwent vaginoplasty because of vaginal stenosis at a mean (SD) age of 15 (3) years. Twenty-four patients underwent perineal flap vaginoplasty, three posterior cut-back vaginoplasty and two YV vaginoplasty. One patient developed wound infection and dehiscence which required reoperation (3.4%). No patient experienced vaginal re-stenosis. Conclusions vaginal stenosis is common after reconstruction of female classic bladder exstrophy. Vaginoplasty is highly successful in the exstrophy population when performed in the second or third decade of life with a low risk of complications.
Lost River System - A Water Quality Management Study

Substantial kills of wild fowl on northern California refuges directed attention to use of agricultural pesticides and the influence on water quality of recycling irrigation waters in the Lost River system. This complicated water use-reuse scheme was simulated with an electronic computer program capable of processing, in sequence, monthly data for precipitation, water supply, consumptive use, and drainage for eleven major subdivisions of the system. Reuse factors, taken as indicative of relative concentrations of conservative pollutants, were determined for critical operation periods at key points and were found to reflect the potential for build-up of pesticides and other pollutants in the terminal sumps.
The Politics of Education Inequality in South Africa

This paper examines the current education inequalities in South Africa. Even though the South African government has highlighted the importance of education, there continue to be significant disparities in the quality of education that South Africans receive. After briefly describing these disparities, the paper examines the way in which civil society organizations have interacted with the state to address education inequalities. An analysis of these strategies reveals that civil society organizations have adopted a multi-dimensional approach where they are active at both the local and national levels. The paper concludes with providing an assessment of these efforts and how this issue relates to the political legitimacy of South Africa's democracy.
A regularization framework for fingerprint-based reconstruction of mobile trajectories

In many systems, due to the lack of an adequate positioning capability or the need for energy saving, it is infeasible to track the location of a mobile device as it is moving. Its trajectory, however, may be reconstructed from the real-time fingerprint data that are obtained by the sensors built in the device. For this purpose, we investigate a regularization framework aimed to maximize the localization accuracy by taking into account the spatiotemporal properties regarding the fingerprint space in relation to the location space. The viability of this framework is demonstrated in an evaluation using real-world datasets, which shows its potential to outperform conventional approaches to location fingerprinting.
The human promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger gene is regulated by the Evi-1 oncoprotein and a novel guanine-rich site binding protein

PLZF (promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger ) is a transcription factor disrupted in t(11;17)-associated acute promyelocytic leukemia which is highly expressed in undifferentiated myeloid cells. To address the tissue-specific regulation of the promoter, we isolated sequences 1.2-kb 5' to the transcriptional start site. Sequence analysis demonstrated that this region contains one TATA box and several putative transcription factor binding sites including four G/C-rich sites and one Evi-1-like site. A fragment of the promoter spanning 158-bp upstream of the transcription start site displayed relative specificity for PLZF-expressing myeloid cells. Functional promoter assays revealed that an Evi-1-like site at -140/-130 was essential for full promoter activity in every cell line tested while a G-rich site at -15/-7 was important for tissue specificity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that Evi-1 binds specifically to -140/-130 Evi-1-like site and overexpression of Evi-1 in K562 cells activated the PLZF promoter. UV cross-linking assays showed that the proximal, tissue specific element at -15/-7 bound a novel 28 kDa protein. These results indicate as with other myeloid genes, a relatively small segment of DNA can direct tissue-specific expression, but unlike other myeloid promoters, no critical PU.1 or C/EBP sites were found.
A Natural Gas Supplementary Fuel System to Improve Air Quality and Energy Security

The aviation industry has set ambitious goals for the next 50 years to both curtail the environmental impacts of aircraft, and maintain the current economic growth trajectory. The CEO of Cathay Paci c stated that the industry seeks performance improvements until 2020, and carbon neutral growth from 2020-2050 in Feb 17th 2011 speech to the Wings Club. Additionally, both major aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, have estimated that air travel demand will grow 50% between now and 2050. Future limitations in the jet fuel supply will create serious obstacles to achieving these goals. Jet fuel prices are likely to remain volatile and the supply may not be able to keep pace with demand. The aviation industry has consequently begun developing alternative clean bio-fuels to add to the fuel supply but these fuels also need time to develop a large enough supply base. As shown in Figure 1, our team estimates that up to 23% of the fuel demand will remain un lled by carbon neutral fuels when clean bio fuels and operational improvements are factored in. The remaining options to ll this gap will need to be available in su cient supply and work with existing aircraft. A prime candidate to ll the gap are fossil-based Fischer-Tropsch fuels. These fuels use natural gas and other fuels which are then converted into jet fuel. These fuels, while available in ample supply have an increased carbon footprint relative to jet fuel of up to 15%. A fuel that has a lower carbon footprint, is available in su cient supply, and at a lower cost is the best candidate for lling the remaining supply gap and maintaining the ecological trajectory of fuel e ciency improvements and future carbon neutral growth.