cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An automated approach for retrieving hierarchical data from HTML tables

Among the HTML elements, HTML tables [RHJ98] encapsulate hierarchically structured data (hierarchical data in short) in a tabular structure. HTML tables do not come with a rigid schema and almost any forms of two-dimensional tables are acceptable according to the HTML grammar. This relaxation complicates the process of retrieving hierarchical data from HTML tables. In this paper, we propose an automated approach for retrieving hierarchical data from HTML tables. The proposed approach constructs the content tree of an HTML table, which captures the intended hierarchy of the data content of the table, without requiring the internal structure of the table to be known beforehand. Also, the user of the content tree does not deal with HTML tags while retrieving the desired data from the content tree. Our approach can be employed by (i) a query language written for retrieving hierarchically structured data, extracted from either the contents of HTML tables or other sources, (ii) a processor for converting HTML tables to XML documents, and (iii) a data warehousing repository for collecting hierarchical data from HTML tables and storing materialized views of the tables. The time complexity of the proposed retrieval approach is proportional to the number of HTML elements in an HTML table.
Solutions of compact and noncompact structures for nonlinear Klein-Gordon-type equation

The focusing and the defocusing branches of nonlinear Klein-Gordon-type equation KG(n,n) are considered. A framework is implemented to show that the first model exhibits compactons: solitons that do not have exponential tails, whereas the second model demonstrates solitary patterns solutions. The two variants of KG(n,n) equation will be examined in one and higher dimensions. General formulas will be developed to present a fairly complete understanding of the solutions of compact and noncompact structures.
Analysis of EHL Circular Contact Start Up: Part II—Surface Temperature Rise Model and Results

A numerical model of surface temperature rise in elastohydrodynamic lubrication start up process is presented. The frictional heat flux is modeled as the product of lubricated contact pressure or solid contact pressure with its respective coefficient of friction. The temperature rise is calculated by numerically integrating the solution of point heat source moving over a half space. The constant speed restriction is removed to allow calculation of temperature rise on a surface with a variable speed. The FFT method is incorporated to speed up the temperature rise calculation. Surface temperature rise in elastohydrodynamic lubrication start up condition is calculated, for the case when speed increase from zero to desired speed occurs in one step and the case when speed is linearly increased to desired speed.
Doctoral Students and the Impostor Phenomenon: Am I Smart Enough to Be Here?

This study explores feelings associated with the impostor phenomenon (IP) as experienced by six doctoral students in a higher education program. Using data gathered from semi-structured interviews and a focus group, our analysis revealed that participants had feelings related to perceptions of inadequacy and academic preparedness. The authors found that first semester coursework, participants’ racial identity, and family expectations shape IP feelings. Results provide insights for faculty on how doctoral students may experience the classroom.
The cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix of the Dupuytren's disease “myofibroblast”: An immunofluorescence study of a nonmuscle cell type

The cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix of myofibroblasts in nodules from Dupuytren's diseased palmar fascia were examined by indirect immunofluorescence. Primary antibodies used as probes of these tissue compartments were directed against (1) smooth muscle myosin, (2) nonmuscle myosin—components of the cytoplasmic contractile apparatus in smooth muscle and nonmuscle cells, respectively, (3) laminin, and (4) fibronectin—extracellular glycoproteins mediating cell-matrix attachment in smooth muscle and nonmuscle fibroblastic cells, respectively. The Dupuytren's nodular cells stained for nonmuscle myosin and fibronectin but not for smooth muscle myosin or laminin; this indicated that, at the level of biochemical differentiation, these cells are a nonmuscle type. Staining for fibronectin between nodular cells was dramatically increased over that seen between fibroblasts of the normal palmar fascia. Because of the nonmuscle nature of the distinctive contractile cell type of the Dupuytren's nodule, we suggest that the term myofibroblast should be considered a misnomer when applied to this pathogenic cell type.
Quantum computing: Against the odds of imperfection

For a 'real life' quantum computer, mere capability is not good enough. It also has to defy disturbances attempting to weaken its special powers. To succeed, the task has to be addressed on various levels.
Serial beta-2 microglobulin measurement as an auxilliary method in the early diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant patients

Infection by cytomegalovirus is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality after renal transplant. During episodes of acute rejection serum levels of beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) are elevated due to decreased excretion and/or increased production from T-cell proliferation. Sequential measurement of B2M in the first months after transplantation may detect patients at increased risk of rejection. This study assesses the usefulness of serum B2M for early detection of patients with increased risk of cytomegalovirus disease. Among 16 of 18 cases of CMV infection, there was an increase in serum B2M levels before CMV diagnosis. In all cases, B2M serum levels increased at an average of 10.8 days before the symptoms or the positive antigenemia. From a mean baseline B2M value of 5.0 mg/L, the mean value at the time of diagnosis was 7.7 mg/L before any clinical or laboratory evidence of CMV infection. These findings suggest that B2M serum levels can be used as a marker for early diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection.
How to compute the Frobenius-Schur indicator of a unipotent character of a finite Coxeter system

Abstract For each finite, irreducible Coxeter system ( W , S ) , Lusztig has associated a set of “unipotent characters” Uch ( W ) . There is also a notion of a “Fourier transform” on the space of functions Uch ( W ) → R , due to Lusztig for Weyl groups and to Broue, Lusztig, and Malle in the remaining cases. This paper concerns a certain W -representation ϱ W in the vector space generated by the involutions of W . Our main result is to show that the irreducible multiplicities of ϱ W are given by the Fourier transform of a unique function ϵ : Uch ( W ) → { − 1 , 0 , 1 } , which for various reasons serves naturally as a heuristic definition of the Frobenius–Schur indicator on Uch ( W ) . The formula we obtain for ϵ extends prior work of Casselman, Kottwitz, Lusztig, and Vogan addressing the case in which W is a Weyl group. We include in addition a succinct description of the irreducible decomposition of ϱ W derived by Kottwitz when ( W , S ) is classical, and prove that ϱ W defines a Gelfand model if and only if ( W , S ) has type A n , H 3 , or I 2 ( m ) with m odd. We show finally that a conjecture of Kottwitz connecting the decomposition of ϱ W to the left cells of W holds in all non-crystallographic types, and observe that a weaker form of Kottwitz’s conjecture holds in general. In giving these results, we carefully survey the construction and notable properties of the set Uch ( W ) and its attached Fourier transform.
Shape discrimination and transfer in the California sea lion

Two sea lions (Zalophus californianus) were trained under water to discriminate stimulus figures differing in shape. Each of 12 problems was immediately followed by a transfer test in which either positive, negative or both shapes underwent changes in orientation of 45°, 90° or 180°. An efficient learning set was formed by one of the animals and both animals evidenced considerable or perfect transfer on most of the problems.
CMOS Compatible High Power Erbium Doped Distributed Feedback Lasers

On chip, high power (75mW), erbium-doped distributed feedback lasers are demonstrated in a CMOS compatible fabrication flow. The laser cavities consist of silicon nitride waveguide and grating features defined by wafer-scale immersion lithography and a top erbium-doped aluminum oxide layer deposited as the final step in the fabrication process.
The proteoglycan metabolism of articular cartilage in joint-scale culture.

Understanding and controlling chondrocyte and cartilage metabolism in osteochondral tissues may facilitate ex vivo maintenance and application, both for allografts and tissue-engineered grafts. The hypothesis of this study was that maintenance of chondrocyte viability and matrix content and release of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) in the articular cartilage of joint-scale osteochondral fragments are temperature and metabolism dependent. The aims were to assess, for adult goat joints, the effects of incubation temperature (37°C vs. 4°C) on cartilage chondrocyte viability and tissue matrix content and mechanical function, and the effects of temperature and cellular biosynthesis on sGAG release. Chondrocyte viability was maintained with 37°C incubation for 28 days, but decreased by ∼30% with 4°C incubation. Concomitantly, with 37°C incubation, cartilage sGAG was depleted by ∼52% with the lost sGAG predominantly unable to aggregate with hyaluronan, whereas collagen content, tissue thickness, and tissue st...
A note on defective colorings of graphs in surfaces

A graph is (m, k)-colorable if its vertices can be colored with m colors in such a way that each vertex is adjacent to at most k vertices of the same color as itself. In a recent paper Cowen, Cowen, and Woodall proved that, for each compact surface S, there exists an integer k = k(S) such that every graph in S can be (4, k)-colored. They also conjectured that the 4 could be replaced by 3. In this note we prove their conjecture.
Comparative in vitro antitumor activity of homoharringtonine and harringtonine against clonogenic human tumor cells

Harringtonine and its derivative homoharringtonine are ester-containing anti-leukemic alkaloids isolated from the tree Cephalotaxus harringtonia. In order to compare their antitumor activity against solid tumors, in vitro culture of fresh tumor cells from 23 patients was carried out with a soft agar assay system. Tumor cells were exposed to 0.001-1.0 micrograms/ml of each agent for either 1 h prior to plating or by continuous exposure. Significant antitumor activity was noted for harringtonine in ovarian and endometrial carcinoma at the 0.01 micrograms/ml concentration. In the continuous exposure studies, homoharringtonine proved to be more potent than harringtonine. Significant antitumor activity of homoharringtonine was noted in sarcoma and breast cancer as well as in ovarian and endometrial carcinoma. In the continuous exposure studies the mean area under the survival-concentration curve was significantly less for homoharringtonine than for harringtonine (5.04 +/- 3.87 and 6.15 +/- 3.46, respectively (p less than 0.005). The ratio of mean ID50 (harringtonine/homoharringtonine) was 5.2. However, there was no significant difference between those two agents with a 1 h exposure. Our results suggest that homoharringtonine and harringtonine may be of use in selected solid tumors, and that homoharringtonine has a greater degree of colony inhibition with continuous exposure.
New 0.54 aperture i-line wafer stepper with field-by-field leveling combined with global alignment

i-line wafer steppers are evolving as established production tools, and it is evident that they will be used to realize features in the sub-half-micron region. Consequently, i-line steppers can be expected to be the equipment of choice for volume production of 16 MBit DRAMs and possibly the first generation of 64 Mbit devices, before the introduction of DUV lithography. However, for this sub-half-micron resolution, lenses with higher apertures and large field sizes will be required. In this paper a new family of wafer steppers is introduced, with a new mechanical frame design and modular architecture which can accommodate a family of large field i-line and deep UV lenses. Results from the first lens type with NAequals0.54 and a field diameter of 25.5 mm are described. To overcome the anticipated depth of focus problems on production wafers, a field-by-field leveling system is introduced, ensuring optimum focus over the whole image field. A challenging problem of wafer steppers using this option is the alignment accuracy during stepping of stage and active leveling of the wafer chuck. The stepper concept introduced here is able to realize the field-by-field leveling without the need for the throughput consuming field-by-field alignment. For that purpose a wafer stage with a new metrology system and improved accuracy has been designed, resulting in an overlay accuracy better than 85 nm in the global alignment mode. Simultaneously a throughput of more than 80 150 mm wafers per hour is realized. Along with the new lens and metrology concept, the stepper contains local environmental control systems performing better than class 1, to ensure clean handling of 8-inch wafers without the need for space consuming environmental enclosures. This paper reports practical results from the new stepper, including resist features below 0.4 micrometers , overlay measurements, particle control, as well as a general description of the new stepper architecture.
Three euchromatic DNA sequences under-replicated in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila are localized in constrictions and ectopic fibers.

We examined three regions of under-represented euchromatic DNA sequences (histone, Ubx, and 11 A), for their possible correlation with euchromatic constrictions in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. Cloned sequences were hybridized to filters and to chromosomes prepared for light microscopy. Under-represented sequences hybridized to DNA within constrictions and in ectopic fibers. In contrast, adjacent sequences that were fully endoreplicated in the Ubx and 11A regions in polytene cells hybridized to sites just adjacent to their respective constrictions. For one region (Ubx), sequences under-represented in salivary gland cells were fully endoreplicated in fat body cells. For this particular region, the morphology of the polytene chromosomes differs between these two cell types in that the specific constriction is absent at this region in fat body polytene chromosomes, thus strengthening the correlation between under-representation and chromosome constrictions. Although all three sequences are in regions that have been classified by others as “intercalary heterochromatin,” we detect no common functional or sequence organizational feature for these examples of under-represented DNA. We suggest that the lower efficiencies of the replication origins, or special regions of termination at these sites, are the primary cause of the under-replication, and that this under-replication is sufficient to confer the properties of intercalary heterochromatin.
Multiscale modeling of wurtzite InN/GaN quantum Dot LEDs

The objective of this paper is to study the (competing) effects of various internal (built-in) fields on the electronic structure and optical properties of wurtzite InN/GaN quantum dot light emitting diodes (LEDs). A multiscale approach has been employed where: 1) the atomistic NEMO 3-D tool is used to calculate the strain distribution and one-particle electronic states, and 2) using the NEMO 3-D outputs, the Synopsys TCAD tool is then used to determine the terminal electrical and optical properties of the device. A list of the main findings is as follows: 1) Internal fields are long-ranged and their proper treatment demands simulation of realistically extended structures with millions of atoms; 2) Electronic structures show unconventional characteristics related to level shifts, non-degeneracy in the excited P states, and rotation (symmetry breaking) of the wavefunctions; and 3) Internal fields in these nanostructured LEDs lead to strong suppression in the interband optical transitions (near the center of the Brillouin zone) and the conversion efficiency.
Sex Discrimination as “Actuarial Equality”: A Rejoinder to Kimball

Debate continues over the Supreme Court's decision in City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power v. Manhart.' As most readers of this article already know, Manhart held illegal an annuity plan in which both sexes would receive equal periodic benefits after retirement although women made larger contributions while working. In collaboration with two colleagues, we defended the decision in another journal.2 Although we tried to answer all of Manhart's critics, much of our attention was devoted to our colleague Spencer Kimball, who had published the most thorough and powerful of the attacks on Manhart. 3 He has now published a reply.4 In the interests of having the main arguments on both sides summarized in the same journal, and of correcting misimpressions about the nature and extent of our argument, we offer this comment.
Posttraumatic sesamoid arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb

The articular interface between the radial sesamoid and the radial condyle of the metacarpal head, which is the radial subsesamoid joint, is the most frequently involved area of abnormality in the metacarpophalangeal joint complex. More than 85% of all adult cadavers demonstrate degenerative arthritis of the radial subsesamoid joint. Confusing this condition with degenerative arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint may lead to unnecessary joint fusions. The predisposition of the radial subsesamoid to degenerative arthritis is related to the asymmetry of the palmar condyles of the metacarpal. The ulnar sesamoid has a flatter and broader condyle compared with the radial sesamoid, which rides on a high, narrow ridge. Thirty-six patients with symptomatic sesamoiditis have been treated by sesamoidectomy since 1978. Twenty-one of these patients were available for follow-up examination between 1 and 5 years after surgery, and 19 had relief of proximal thumb pain after sesamoidectomy.
Systems and Control Impact in a Changing World

The later half of the twentieth century can be characterized as a golden age for systems and control. A tremendous research effort led to the discovery of new knowledge that had a dramatic impact on the solution of many challenging engineering problems. We now face a new century and a new set of engineering problems many that lie at the boundaries of established fields. At the same time many technological innovations are constantly changing the landscape. This creates challenges as well as opportunities for systems and control research. The new century and global realities also create a new set of issues for engineering education. In the educational arena many questions are being raised as to how engineering education should be shaped in both structure and content to better address the needs of the 21st century. Of course research and education are inextricably connected as past research developments shape the current engineering educational system and educational systems are in many ways crafted to facilitate research. It is a fact that systems and control educators have historically played a fundamental role in engineering education and we are now poised to take a leadership role in shaping it for the future. The author believe that the systems and control community has an opportunity to have a much greater impact on research and education in the 21st century. In this talk the author discuss these issues from his personal perspective drawing from his experiences over the last thirty years.
Method for correction of errors in observation angles for limb thermal emission measurements

Thermal emission measurements of the earth's stratospheric limb from space platforms require an accurate knowledge of the observation angles for retrieval of temperature and constituent distributions. Without the use of expensive stabilizing systems, however, most observational instruments do not meet the required pointing accuracies, thus leading to large errors in the retrieval of atmospheric data. This paper describes a self-constituent method of correcting errors in pointing angles by using information contained in the observed spectrum. Numerical results based on temperature inversions of synthetic thermal emission spectra with assumed random errors in pointing angles are presented.
Insulin improves cardiac contractile function and oxygen utilization efficiency during moderate ischemia without compromising myocardial energetics.

Insulin improves myocardial contractile function during moderate ischemia, but the mechanism is unknown. To determine effects of insulin on myocardial oxygen utilization efficiency (O2UE) and energetics, regional left coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) was lowered sequentially from 100 to 60, 50, and 40 mmHg in 24 anesthetized, open-chest dogs. Regional power index (PI), myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2), and O2UE index (PI/MVO2) were determined in untreated and insulin treated (4 U/min, i.v.) hearts. Biopsies were obtained from six untreated and six insulin-treated hearts at CPP=40 mmHg for determining high energy phosphates and the cytosolic phosphorylation potential. Measurements were compared with data from normal, untreated myocardium (n=11). MVO2fell (P 40 mmHg, and fell only 26% at CPP=40 mmHg. O2UE increased (P<0.05) in all hearts at CPP=60 mmHg. In insulin treated hearts, O2UE was greater (P<0.05) at CPP=50 and 40 mmHg than at CPP=100 mmHg, and greater (P<0.05) than in untreated hearts at CPP=40 mmHg. Reducing CPP to 40 mmHg produced similar metabolic changes in all hearts. Compared to normal myocardium, ATP content of untreated and treated hearts was unchanged, creatine phosphate content decreased 21 and 14%, creatine content increased 24 and 30%, inorganic phosphate concentration increased 108 and 140%, and phosphorylation potential decreased 80 and 77%. We conclude that insulin markedly improves PI and O2UE without altering cytosolic energetics during moderate myocardial ischemia.
Macroeconomic conditions in the U.S. and congressional voting on environmental policy: 1970–2008

Using the Environmental Scorecard ratings of Congressmen and Senators published annually by the League of Conservation Voters, we explore empirically whether political support for pro-environment legislation, aggregated across each legislative body, is sensitive over time to changing economic conditions — that is, whether there is a political trade-off between economic conditions and the environment. Using LCV scorecard ratings from 1970 to 2008, we find evidence, consistent across both the House and Senate, that political support for the environment is related to per capita income, but this general tendency can be decomposed into sharp differences by party.
Experimental observation of on-off intermittency

We observe on-off intermittency in a nonlinear electronic circuit tuned near a Hopf bifurcation point. The circuit is driven randomly through the bifurcation point, resulting in intermittent switching between a fixed point (laminar phase) and a limit cycle. The distribution of lengths of laminar phases exhibits -3/2 power law scaling for shorter phases, and an exponential drop for longer phases, due to noise in the system. These results agree with a theoretically predicted distribution. In addition, the crossover from power law to exponential decay obeys the predicted scaling law.
A History of the Supreme Court

When the first Supreme Court convened in 1790, it was so ill-esteemed that its justices frequently resigned in favor of other pursuits. John Rutledge stepped down as Associate Justice to become a state judge in South Carolina; John Jay resigned as Chief Justice to run for Governor of New York; and Alexander Hamilton declined to replace Jay, pursuing a private law practice instead. As Bernard Schwartz shows in this landmark history, the Supreme Court has indeed travelled a long and interesting journey to its current preeminent place in American life. In A History of the Supreme Court, Schwartz provides the finest, most comprehensive one-volume narrative ever published of our highest court. With impeccable scholarship and a clear, engaging style, he tells the story of the justices and their jurisprudence--and the influence the Court has had on American politics and society. With a keen ability to explain complex legal issues for the nonspecialist, he takes us through both the great and the undistinguised Courts of our nation's history. He provides insight into our foremost justices, such as John Marshall (who established judicial review in Marbury v. Madison, an outstanding display of political calculation as well as fine jurisprudence), Roger Taney (whose legacy has been overshadowed by Dred Scott v. Sanford), Oliver Wendell Holmes, Louis Brandeis, Benjamin Cardozo, and others. He draws on evidence such as personal letters and interviews to show how the court has worked, weaving narrative details into deft discussions of the developments in constitutional law. Schwartz also examines the operations of the court: until 1935, it met in a small room under the Senate--so cramped that the judges had to put on their robes in full view of the spectators. But when the new building was finally opened, one justice called it "almost bombastically pretentious," and another asked, "What are we supposed to do, ride in on nine elephants?" He includes fascinating asides, on the debate in the first Court, for instance, over the use of English-style wigs and gowns (the decision: gowns, no wigs); and on the day Oliver Wendell Holmes announced his resignation--the same day that Earl Warren, as a California District Attorney, argued his first case before the Court. The author brings the story right up to the present day, offering balanced analyses of the pivotal Warren Court and the Rehnquist Court through 1992 (including, of course, the arrival of Clarence Thomas). In addition, he includes four special chapters on watershed cases: Dred Scott v. Sanford, Lochner v. New York, Brown v. Board of Education, and Roe v. Wade. Schwartz not only analyzes the impact of each of these epoch-making cases, he takes us behind the scenes, drawing on all available evidence to show how the justices debated the cases and how they settled on their opinions. Bernard Schwartz is one of the most highly regarded scholars of the Supreme Court, author of dozens of books on the law, and winner of the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award. In this remarkable account, he provides the definitive one-volume account of our nation's highest court.
Conformal microwave tomography using a broadband non-contacting monopole antenna array

Microwave imaging has shown clinical value based on its ability to detect a wide range of dielectric properties. Tomographic microwave images are traditionally reconstructed using a uniform mesh. Dartmouth College's microwave tomographic imaging system requires that imaged volumes be submerged in the system's coupling medium. Due to the fact that the electrical properties of the coupling medium are known, we have investigated a conformal imaging technique that deploys the reconstruction mesh directly to the imaged zone, such that all reconstruction nodes lie on or within the volume of interest. The broadband nature of the system [.5–3 GHz] allows the use of a frequency-hopping, phase-unwrapping technique, where low frequency phase information is used to guide the phase unwrapping at higher frequencies. In this paper we present the results from a simulation and phantom experiment to verify the use of conformal microwave imaging with our current imaging system.
Structural requirements for the formation of ordered lipid multibilayers—A spin probe study

Abstract Spin probes were intercalated in oriented films formed from a series of lipids to study their ability to form ordered bilayers. Factors found to be important are the size and charge of the headgroup, the number, length, and degree of unsaturation of the acyl chains, the presence of cholesterol, and the type and concentration of ions in the aqueous phase. Unsaturated diglycerides and monoglycerides did not form bilayers; saturated monoglycerides formed well-ordered bilayers above their transition temperatures and cholesterol allowed the formation of ordered bilayers at lower temperatures. Saturated diglycerides did not form bilayers at temperatures at which the probe was dissolved in the system. The addition of calcium ions increased the anisotropy of films formed from a mixture of lecithin, cholesterol, and phosphatidic acid, but disrupted films formed from phosphatidylserine. Caution must be exercised in interpreting electron spin resonance spectra of films since films of tightly packed lipids tend to exclude spin probes and preparations which are clearly lamellar manifest a high degree of disorder within the bilayers.
Testing-based translation validation of generated code in the context of IEC 61508

Production code generation with Model-Based Design has successfully replaced manual coding across various industries and application domains. Furthermore, code generated from executable graphical models is increasingly being deployed in high-integrity embedded applications. To validate the model-to-code translation process, generated software components and its precursory stages (i.e. models) should be subjected to an appropriate combination of quality assurance measures. For high-integrity applications, compliance with safety standards such as IEC 61508 needs to be demonstrated as well. On principle, translation validation of generated code could be carried out in the same manner as for manually written code. However, this would not leverage the advantages of Model-Based Design and w.r.t. process efficiency this would leave something to be desired. Therefore, engineering methods and tools for effective and efficient translation validation of generated code are highly desirable. As a step towards this goal, a workflow for verification and validation of models and generated code will be proposed and as far as possible mapped onto the objectives of IEC 61508-3. A cornerstone of this workflow is testing for numerical equivalence between models and generated code.
Feasibility of determining cloud-top heights using the backscattered ultraviolet satellite observation technique

A technique for determining cloud-top height by means of backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) solar radiation is presented. Cloud-top heights can be inferred using this technique of both the BUV radiance and its degree of polarization are measured by a spacecraft and compared with theoretical values. The cases of satellites with high-inclination orbits and geosynchronous satellites are discussed here. Based on calculations of radiance and polarization, the resolutions of cloud-top height determinations are roughly estimated in both cases. The estimates show that inference is possible as long as the angle between the direction of the sun and the satellite from the point of interest in the atmosphere is larger than about 10 deg. The estimates also indicate that the cloud-top-height resolution depends on solar zenith angle theta(0) in the case of nadir observation by satellites in nonequatorial orbits: The resolution is about 0.5 km for theta(0) = 30 and about 0.3 km for larger theta(0). On the other hand, when observations are made by geosynchronous satellites, the resolution depends strongly on the latitude of the point of interest, alpha(1); a resolution within 0.4 km can be achieved for alpha(1) less than or equal to 65 deg (0.2 km resolution can be obtained for middle latitudes). Resolution becomes rapidly worse with increasing latitude, and alpha(1) = about 70 deg seems to be the limit of observations with this technique.
NextSlidePlease: agile hyperpresentations

In this video presentation, we introduce NextSlidePlease, a novel slide authoring and presentation application. The video begins with a dramatization illustrating the shortcomings of existing slide-ware tools identified through our prior research. We then describe our theoretical framework for addressing these identified problems and present a dramatization of the process by which our NextSlidePlease application can be used to overcome such issues in a business context. In addition, we illustrate the novel functional aspects of our application algorithm that enable effective time management and flexible presentations. Finally, we present promising results from two user studies.
Evidence of nitric acid uptake in warm cirrus anvil clouds during the NASA TC4 campaign

[1] Uptake of HNO3 onto cirrus ice may play an important role in tropospheric NOx cycling. Discrepancies between modeled and in situ measurements of gas-phase HNO3 in the troposphere suggest that redistribution and removal mechanisms by cirrus ice have been poorly constrained. Limited in situ measurements have provided somewhat differing results and are not fully compatible with theory developed from laboratory studies. We present new airborne measurements of HNO3 in cirrus clouds from anvil outflow made during the Tropical Composition, Cloud, and Climate Coupling Experiment (TC4). Upper tropospheric (>9 km) measurements made during three flights while repeatedly traversing the same cloud region revealed depletions of gas-phase HNO3 in regions characterized by higher ice water content and surface area. We hypothesize that adsorption of HNO3 onto cirrus ice surfaces could explain this. Using measurements of cirrus ice surface area density and some assumptions about background mixing ratios of gas-phase HNO3, we estimate molecular coverages of HNO3 on cirrus ice surface in the tropical upper troposphere during the TC4 racetracks to be about 1 × 1013 molecules cm−2. This likely reflects an upper limit because potential dilution by recently convected, scavenged air is ignored. Also presented is an observation of considerably enhanced gas-phase HNO3 at the base of a cirrus anvil suggesting vertical redistribution of HNO3 by sedimenting cirrus particles and subsequent particle sublimation and HNO3 evaporation. The impact of released HNO3, however, appears to be restricted to a very thin layer just below the cloud.
America's best medical schools: a critique of the U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Rankings of American medical schools published annually by the news magazine U.S. News & World Report are widely used to judge the quality of the schools and their programs. The authors describe and then critique the rankings on methodologic and conceptual grounds, arguing that the annual U.S. News medical school evaluation falls short in both areas. Three categories of program quality indicators different from those used by U.S. News are presented as alternative ways to judge medical schools. The authors conclude that the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of American medical schools are ill-conceived; are unscientific; are conducted poorly; ignore medical school accreditation; judge medical school quality from a narrow, elitist perspective; and do not consider social and professional outcomes in program quality calculations. The medical school rankings have no practical value and fail to meet standards of journalistic ethics. Acad. Med. 2001;76:985‐992.
The Hippocampal Neuroproteome with Aging and Cognitive Decline: Past Progress and Future Directions

The biological basis of brain aging and non-neurodegenerative cognitive decline is unknown and for a number of decades steady progress on understanding brain aging has been made using traditional anatomic, immunohistochemical, and molecular technologies. With the development and maturation of proteomic technologies the application of these approaches to neuroproteomic studies of brain aging and cognitive decline is becoming more widespread. This review examines the progress in the field and challenges to be addressed. Accumulating neuroproteomic data demonstrate that brain aging involves dysregulation of metabolism, increased oxidative stress, altered protein modification and trafficking, and decreased synaptic function. Additionally, growing evidence suggests that cognitive decline does not represent a ‘more aged’ phenotype, but rather is associated with specific neuroproteomic changes that occur in addition age-related alterations. Understanding if and how age-related changes to the neuroproteome contribute to cognitive decline and elucidating the pathways and processes that lead to cognitive decline are critical objectives that remain to be achieved. Broad collaborative efforts and establishment of standard models and approaches are required to maximize the benefit of comprehensive neuroproteomic analyses to the aging research field.
Applications of Fuzzy and Neuro-Fuzzy in Biomedical Health Sciences

Fuzzy and Neuro Fuzzy logic concepts have been used for variety of applications, where machine intelligence can be used for the system. The fuzzy logic concept has been used for a number of biomedical applications also. We have used fuzzy and neuro fuzzy approach for tackling surgery procedures of a patient suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). We have further extended the application of Fuzzy and Neuro Fuzzy logic for predicting the approximate recovery time of a patient under physical therapy suffering from stroke, paraplegia, quadriplegia etc. Here, we have outlined methods for above mentioned biomedical applications based on a knowledge base created from the patients of different age groups. We have shown our simulation results with input data and possible outcomes with the Fuzzy and Neuro Fuzzy system.
Abelian varieties and Weil representations

The main goal of this article is to construct and study a family of Weil representations over an arbitrary locally noetherian scheme without restriction on characteristic. The key point is to recast the classical theory in the scheme-theoretic setting. As in work of Mumford, Moret-Bailly and others, a Heisenberg group (scheme) and its representation can be naturally constructed from a pair of an abelian scheme and a nondegenerate line bundle, replacing the role of a symplectic vector space. Once enough is understood about the Heisenberg group and its representations (e.g., the analogue of the Stone–von Neumann theorem), it is not difficult to produce the Weil representation of a metaplectic group (functor) from them. As an interesting consequence (when the base scheme is SpecF¯p), we obtain the new notion of mod p Weil representations of p-adic metaplectic groups on F¯p-vector spaces. The mod p Weil representations admit an alternative construction starting from a p-divisible group with a symplectic pairing. We have been motivated by a few possible applications, including a conjectural mod p theta correspondence for p-adic reductive groups and a geometric approach to the (classical) theta correspondence.
Osteoclast signalling pathways

The osteoclast is a monocyte-derived cell with complex regulatory control due to its role, balancing calcium homeostasis with skeletal modelling and repair. Normal differentiation requires tyrosine kinase- and tumor necrosis-family receptors, normally fms and RANK. Ligands for these receptors plus unidentified serum or cell-presented factor(s) are needed for in vitro differentiation, possibly signalling via an immune-like tyrosine kinase acceptor molecule. Osteoclast development and activity are increased by cytokines signalling through GP130, such as IL-6, by TGF-beta, and by IL-1, although these cannot replace serum. Other tyrosine kinase receptors including kit and met can augment fms signalling, and TNFs other than RANKL, including TNFalpha and TRAIL, modify RANK signalling, which is also susceptible to interference by interferons. The situation is further complicated by G-protein coupled receptors including the calcitonin receptor, by integrin or calcium-mediated signals, and by estrogen receptors, which operate in bone largely via NO downstream signals. Differentiation, activity, and survival signals merge in intracellular second messengers. These include cytoplasmic kinases of several families; differentiation pathways often terminate in Erk/Jun kinases or NF-kappaB. Key regulatory intermediates include TRAF6, src, Smad3, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, Jak/Stat, and the cGMP-dependent protein kinase I. There are substantial uncertainties regarding how intracellular agents connect to primary signals. The frontier includes characterization of how scaffolding/adapter proteins, such as cbl, gab, grb, p130Cas, and shc, as well as itam-containing proteins and nonreceptor tyrosine kinase adapters of the src and syk families, delimit and integrate signals of multiple receptors to bring about specific outcomes.
Flexible Composite Piezoelectric Sensors

The piezoelectric properties of several different composites with 0-3 connectivity are reviewed. In these composites a piezoelectric ceramic powder such as PbZr1-,Tix03 (PZT), PbTi03 or Pbl-xBixTil-TFex03 is used as a filler in a polymer matrix. The values of hydrostatic voltage coefficient ih of these composites are higher than the corresponding properties of single phase materials. Composites with PbTi03 or (Pb.Bi)(Ti.Fe)03 as fillers have higher piezoelectric voltage coefficients than PZTpolymer composites because of the greater anisotropy and lower dielectric constants of these systems. By adding a small amount of carbon to the piezoelectric composite, poling can be carried out at much lower voltages and shorter poling times, making it possible to mass produce the composites. Fabrication of 0-3 composites is a
Synthesis of perfectly bifunctional polyacrylates by single-electron-transfer living radical polymerization

Poly(methyl acrylate)s, poly(ethyl acrylate)s, and poly(butyl acrylate)s with α,ω-di(bromo) chain ends and Mn from 8500 to 35,000 were synthesized by single-electron-transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP). The analysis of their chain ends by a combination of 1H and 2D-NMR, GPC, MALDI-TOF MS, chain end functionalization, chain extension, and halogen exchange experiments demonstrated the synthesis of perfectly bifunctional polyacrylates by SET-LRP. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4684–4695, 2007
A spectral Lanczos decomposition method for solving 3-D low-frequency electromagnetic diffusion by the finite-element method

A very efficient three-dimensional (3-D) solver for the diffusion of the electromagnetic fields in an inhomogeneous medium is described. The proposed method employs either the node-based or the edge-based finite-element method (FEM) to discretize Maxwell's equations. The resultant matrix equation is solved by the spectral Lanczos decomposition method (SLDM), which is based on the Krylov subspace (Lanczos) approximation of the solution in the frequency domain. By analyzing some practical geophysical problems, it is shown that the SLDM is extremely fast and, furthermore, the electromagnetic fields at many frequencies can be evaluated by performing the SLDM iteration only at the lowest frequency.
Girls' Perceptions of Violence and Prevention

This research examines girls' perceptions of violence and its prevention. A purposive sample of 32 young women ages 12–18 who were incarcerated, affiliated with the juvenile justice system, or self-identified as living in disadvantaged neighborhoods participated in 1 of 4 focus groups. Recursive, iterative analysis yielded seven themes, including: violence is learned, violence is contagious, violence is unstoppable, violence is necessary to manage stress and conflict, violence is belonging, violence is connected to other crime, and maybe it can be stopped. These themes provide important insights into young women's thoughts on violence and may inform policies and programs as prevention strategies.
Noise figure measurement of parametric wavelength conversion in a quasi-phase-matched LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguide

We firstly measure the noise figure of parametric wavelength conversion in a quasi-phase-matched LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguide. The measured noise figures depend on the pump laser quality and conversion efficiency, and agree well with the proposed analytical model.
Effects of Organizational Process Change on Management Control Systems and Revelations of Managers' Private Knowledge

This paper presents theoretical analysis and longitudinal field-study evidence that the effect of responsibility-center performance measurement and management control system (MCS) boundaries on organizational performance depends on whether organizations have a strategy of continuous or discontinuous organizational process change. Using social psychology theory, we develop a model consisting of three expectations of how continuous or discontinuous organizational process change influences responsibility-center performance measurement and competitive or cooperative MCS boundaries. In turn, these measurements and MCS boundaries have a disordinal interactive effect on responsibility-center managers' revelations of their private knowledge that is needed to identify and extract organization-wide performance gains from the organizational process change. The evidence presented from the longitudinal field study provides support for the theoretical model.
Multitap microwave photonic phase filter

We demonstrate multitap microwave photonic filter with complex coefficient taps as a programmable spectral phase filter based on single-sideband modulation of an optical frequency comb, and line-by-line optical pulse shaping in an interferometeric scheme.
Some Geometric Constraints on Ring-Width Trend

Simulations of tree rings from trees of undisturbed forest sites are used to describe natural, long-term width trends. Ring-width trends of canopy-sized white oak are simulated from regressions of BAI (ring area) data of real trees. Examples are given of a tree from a typical re-growth forest in Illinois and of a more slowly growing tree from an old-growth forest in Kentucky. The long-term width trend was simulated as being toward constant ring width regardless of growth rate of the tree. Conditions by which either increasing or decreasing ring-width trends could be simulated from the same linear BAI trend are examined. I conclude that curvilinear width trends, either increasing or decreasing, represent width adjustments to changes in growth rate (BAI trend) after which the width trend stabilizes to a near-constant value. Interpretation of ring-width trends of trees from undisturbed stands may be useful in assessing stand disturbance history.
Docetaxel With Cyclophosphamide Is Associated With an Overall Survival Benefit Compared With Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide: 7-Year Follow-Up of US Oncology Research Trial 9735

Purpose We previously reported that four cycles of docetaxel/cyclophosphamide (TC) produced superior disease-free survival (DFS) compared with four cycles of doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) in early breast cancer. Older women are under-represented in adjuvant chemotherapy trials. In our trial 16% of patients were ≥ 65 years. We now report 7-year results for DFS and overall survival (OS) as well as the impact of age, hormone receptor status, and HER2 status on outcome and toxicity. Patients and Methods Patients were randomly assigned to receive either four cycles of standard-dose AC (60/600 mg/m2; n = 510), or TC (75/600 mg/m2; n = 506), administered by intravenous infusion every 3 weeks. Results The median age in women younger than 65, was 50 years (range, 27 to 64) and for women ≥ 65 was 69 years (range, 65 to 77). Baseline characteristics in the two age subgroups were generally well matched, except that older women tended to have more lymph node involvement. At a median of 7 years follow-up, the diffe...