cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing the association of GFR estimated by the CKD-EPI and MDRD study equations and mortality: the third national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES III).

The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation for estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFRCKD-EPI) improves GFR estimation compared with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation (eGFRMDRD) but its association with mortality in a nationally representative population sample in the US has not been studied. We examined the association between eGFR and mortality among 16,010 participants of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Primary predictors were eGFRCKD-EPI and eGFRMDRD. Outcomes of interest were all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Improvement in risk categorization with eGFRCKD-EPI was evaluated using adjusted relative hazard (HR) and Net Reclassification Improvement (NRI). Overall, 26.9% of the population was reclassified to higher eGFR categories and 2.2% to lower eGFR categories by eGFRCKD-EPI, reducing the proportion of prevalent CKD classified as stage 3–5 from 45.6% to 28.8%. There were 3,620 deaths (1,540 from CVD) during 215,082 person-years of follow-up (median, 14.3 years). Among those with eGFRMDRD 30–59 ml/min/1.73 m2, 19.4% were reclassified to eGFRCKD-EPI 60–89 ml/min/1.73 m2 and these individuals had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.34-0.84) and CVD mortality (adjusted HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.27-0.96) compared with those not reclassified. Among those with eGFRMDRD >60 ml/min/1.73 m2, 0.5% were reclassified to lower eGFRCKD-EPI and these individuals had a higher risk of all-cause (adjusted HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.01-1.69) and CVD (adjusted HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.01-1.99) mortality compared with those not reclassified. Risk prediction improved with eGFRCKD-EPI; NRI was 0.21 for all-cause mortality (p < 0.001) and 0.22 for CVD mortality (p < 0.001). eGFRCKD-EPI categories improve mortality risk stratification of individuals in the US population. If eGFRCKD-EPI replaces eGFRMDRD in the US, it will likely improve risk stratification.
Development of Irregular Interface Morphology During Unidirectional Solidification of Succinonitrile

This paper reports an experimental investigation on irregular interface morphology patterns developed in thin-film unidirectional solidification of pure succinonitrile. Solidification experiments have been conducted under various temperature gradients and interface velocities. Several irregular patterns have been observed including titled dendrites, degenerate dendrites, and seaweed. It is found that as the temperature gradient increases, steady titled dendrites may evolve into degenerate dendrites and eventually to seaweed. With the same grain orientation, the irregular patterns may transform from one form to another as the growth condition changes. Observations demonstrate that normal dendrites exhibit a higher growth rate than seaweed pattern and would overgrow them. Irregular pattern may also become strongly dynamic and different patterns may evolve into each other during growth within the same experiment. These results should shed a light into the understanding of the interface morphology development during solidification.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Upgrading, catching up, and shooting for par [PC market economics]

In general it is not odd for buyer and seller to have different perspectives. Indeed, ever since PCs migrated from the hobbyist community into the business community, such a difference has existed in the PC market. Buyers and sellers are not playing on the same course. Why does this matter? Because most PC engineers I know do not talk to their biggest customers-business managers. As a result, most PC engineers do not understand how their biggest customers think on the most basic level. These problems illustrate a more general economic phenomenon that goes to the heart of how computer technology spreads in the US economy.
Modernity, Eurocentrism, and radical politics in Ethiopia, 1961-1991

This article provides a critical reflection of radicalism in Ethiopia in the thirty years from 1961 to 1991. Radical politics among Ethiopians, both at home and abroad, grew out of the global radicalization of the 1960s. Radicalism in Ethiopia took one form: Marxism. The article highlights three main points. First, unlike any other place in the history of revolutions, Ethiopia went through three simultaneous revolutions during the 1974–1991 period: those in Eritrea, Tigray and Ethiopia at large. Second, almost all the military conflicts that consumed hundreds of thousands of lives in the country were conducted among political forces that were Marxist, or Marxist‐oriented. Third, Marxism was deeply embedded in the Eurocentric structure of knowledge. Ethiopian Marxism by extension was Eurocentric in its grasp of the Ethiopian situation. It rejected Ethiopia's past as being one reactionary pile of refuse badly in need of cleaning. The paper presents a critical reflection of this Eurocentric paradigm.
The effect of the initial water of hydration on the energetics, structures, and H/D exchange mechanism of a family of pentapeptides: an experimental and theoretical study.

A series of gas-phase experiments and extensive theoretical modeling was done on the family of singly protonated peptides AARAA, Ac-AARAA, and AARAA-OMe. (AARAA)H+ underwent extensive H/D exchange with D2O, whereas the other two peptides with blocked termini did not, implying that a salt bridge was involved in the H/D exchange process. Ion mobility measurements and complementary molecular modeling unambiguously identified the 300 K structures of all three protonated peptides as charge solvation structures, not salt bridges. High-level density functional theory calculations indicated the global minimum of (AARAA)H+ was a charge solvation structure with the lowest-energy salt bridge structure 4.8 kcal/mol higher in energy. Uptake of the first five water molecules of hydration at 260 K showed near identical propensities for all three peptides consistent with a common structural motif. Quantitative measurements of ΔH° and ΔS° for the first two waters of hydration were very similar for all three peptides, agai...
An analysis of clutch-size in New World passerine birds

Variation in clutch-size among New World passerine birds was analysed with respect to four variables: body-mass, geographic latitude, the frequency of nest predation, and the structure of the nest. Data were analysed separately by averaging traits at three taxonomic levels: species, genus, and subfamily. Allometric scaling with body-mass did not account for significant variation in clutch-size regardless of the taxonomic level of analysis. Latitudinal effects on clutch-size were highly significant at all taxonomic levels. For species building small-pensile nests and open-cup nests, nest predation had a significant partial effect on clutch-size, with latitude held constant. When nest predation and latitude were held constant, clutch-size was significantly different among species building small-pensile nests, open-cup nests, and domed nests. These results suggest that New World passerine clutch-size is related to at least three variables: latitudinal effects, nest predation, and nest structure.
Segmenting a signal based on a local property using multicore processors

Signal segmentation is a partitioning of a signal into contiguous regions (the segments), where each segment has similar values of local properties of interest. In this paper, we consider the problem of signal segmentation by classifying on one property, where a histeresis function is applied to the output to prevent noise or other temporally short disturbances from producing an over-abundance of segments. On serial processors, such segmentation is straightforwardly performed by going through the samples in order. However, on multicore processors the histeresis function presents a problem. Data cannot simply be divided between the cores due to the fact that the output of the histeresis function at any sample can depend on the entire history of the signal up to that time. We present a parallel algorithm based on the parallel scan (also called parallel prefix or prefix scan) pattern. Both the serial and parallel method was implemented and tested on a multicore processor. The two methods produced exactly the same segments, so the two methods result in exactly the same measurement results. Speedups of several fold over the serial performance were observed when using the parallel code.
Modeling of Tropical Forcing of Persistent Droughts and Pluvials over Western North America: 1856–2000*

Abstract The causes of persistent droughts and wet periods, or pluvials, over western North America are examined in model simulations of the period from 1856 to 2000. The simulations used either (i) global sea surface temperature data as a lower boundary condition or (ii) observed data in just the tropical Pacific and computed the surface ocean temperature elsewhere with a simple ocean model. With both arrangements, the model was able to simulate many aspects of the low-frequency (periods greater than 6 yr) variations of precipitation over the Great Plains and in the American Southwest including much of the nineteenth-century variability, the droughts of the 1930s (the “Dust Bowl”) and 1950s, and the very wet period in the 1990s. Results indicate that the persistent droughts and pluvials were ultimately forced by persistent variations of tropical Pacific surface ocean temperatures. It is argued that ocean temperature variations outside of the tropical Pacific, but forced from the tropical Pacific, act to ...
Capability of the human visual system

Much of the guidance provided to designers of visual displays is highly simplified because of historical limitations of visual display hardware and software. Vast improvements have been made in processors, communication channel bandwidth, and display screen performance over the past 10 years; and the pace of these visual system improvements is accelerating. It is now time to undertake a critical review of the true performance capability of the human visual system (HVS). Designers can now expect to realize systems that optimize (increase) worker productivity rather than minimize the negative impact on human effectiveness of hardware artifacts like low resolution - spatial, gray level, and temporal - relative to the real world. Myths and realities of human vision are examined to show where some assumptions used by designers are not based on solid research. Some needed new human vision studies are identified. An ideal display system is described that would enable, rather than limit, full exploitation of HVS capability.
Better serving the needs of limited English proficient (LEP) students in the mainstream classroom: examining the impact of an inquiry‐based hybrid professional development program

In this study, the authors examine the impact of an English as a second language (ESL) professional development offering designed to meet this challenge: the Modular Design for English Language Learners (MODELL) instruction program. The authors were part of a team of faculty that designed and developed this hybrid professional development program to support classroom teachers challenged with assessing and addressing the educational needs of limited English proficient (LEP) students. The authors theorize that observing and describing the trajectory and complexities of the professional development process might offer significant insights for teacher educators regarding ways to prepare teachers for working in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms. What was discovered through this study was that the teachers learned a lot about themselves and what they were capable of doing in the classroom; they learned that their peers struggled with similar issues and that out of this camaraderie, a solid suppor...
Elevated neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in chronic haloperidol-treated rats.

Long-term administration of neuroleptic drugs, such as haloperidol, in the management of psychiatric disorders may adversely cause an irreversible neurological syndrome of tardive dyskinesia, which is associated with dopamine (DA(2)) receptor supersensitivity in the basal ganglia. Recent studies also indirectly suggest an involvement of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in dopaminergic supersensitivity; however, chronic neuroleptic effects on neuronal NOS (nNOS) expression in the basal ganglia have not been reported. In this investigation, we treated rats with saline or haloperidol (1 mg/kg, s.c.) daily for 21 days. Five days later, we detected a significant increase of NOS activity in the striatum of haloperidol-treated rats when compared to saline controls. This effect was associated with elevated levels of nNOS mRNA and protein expression in the striatum, but not in the nucleus accumbens, as evidenced by the use of in situ hybridization, Western blot and immunohistochemical techniques. The involvement of the nNOS system after chronic haloperidol treatment coincides with increases of striatal DA(2) receptor sites, calmodulin kinase II activity, animal locomotor and stereotypy behaviors. This study suggests an integral role between nNOS, DA(2) receptor and calmodulin system in the development of dopaminergic behavioral supersensitivity resulting from chronic neuroleptic drug treatment. Furthermore, the toxic effect of chronic haloperidol on NOS system selectivity takes place in the neostriatum.
Ligand-induced internalization selects use of common receptor neuropilin-1 by VEGF165 and semaphorin3A.

Neuropilin-1 (Npn-1) is a receptor shared by class 3 semaphorins and heparin-binding forms of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), protein families that regulate endothelial and neuronal-cell function. Ligand interaction with Npn-1 dictates the choice of signal transducer; plexins transduce semaphorin signals, and VEGF receptors transduce VEGF signals. It is not clear how class 3 semaphorins affect endothelial-cell function and how the shared receptor Npn-1 selects its ligand. We report that semaphorin3A (Sema3A) inhibits endothelial-cell lamellipodia formation, adhesion, survival, proliferation, and cord formation. VEGF165, but not VEGF121, could block all these effects of Sema3A. VEGF165 competed with Sema3A for binding to endothelial cells, effectively reduced cell-surface Npn-1, and promoted its internalization. Use of soluble forms of Npn-1 or VEGF receptor-1 to block VEGF165 binding to Npn-1 or to VEGF receptors provided evidence that surface Npn-1 and VEGF receptors are required for VEGF165-induced Npn-1 internalization. Sema3A also reduced cell-surface Npn-1 in endothelial cells and promoted its internalization, but required a higher concentration than VEGF165. These results demonstrate that preferential receptor binding and internalization by a ligand are mechanisms by which the common receptor Npn-1 can play an essential role in prioritizing conflicting signals.
Instability of SDS-denatured proteins prepared from musle myofibrils

Abstract Evidence is presented showing that myofibrils solubilised by sodium dodecyl sulphate undergo proteolysis upon being allowed to warm to room temperature overnight or on storage for several days at 0–4°C. Results indicate that the extra protein bands occurring under such conditions are due to the presence of an indigenous muscle protease(s). Modifications in the handling of samples are suggested in order to avoid these artifacts. The possible significance of the protease(s) to meat tenderness is briefly discussed.
A PSEUDO "FOLK" THEOREM IN THE STRATEGIC PROVISION OF STOCK EXTERNALITIES

The paper discusses the relationship between the efficient provision and the Nash equilibrium of stock externalities in a dynamic setting. The following proposition has been proved: under certain conditions, the maximal gains of an agent in the economy by deviating from the Pareto optimal provision of stock externalities is less ∊, an arbitrary small positive number, when the time discount rate of the agents are sufficiently close to 0. Namely, under the same conditions, a Pareto efficient path is an ∊-Nash equilibrium where ∊ could be smaller than any predetermined level. The propositions are different from the folk theorems in repeated games because supporting of the ∊-Nash equilibrium does not require the threat of retaliations from other agents. The policy implications of the above results are also discussed here.
Herbert C. Kelman: A Tribute

Five quite special features characterize Herbert Kelman and his work in social psychology: (a) his research is uniquely multilevel and contextualized; (b) there is a consistent moral dimension in all of his work and actions; (c) Kelman elicits trust from all sides; (d) he goes his own way independent of research fashions; and (e) he bravely bears the heat in the social policy kitchen. This article illustrates each of these enviable characteristics and demonstrates why Herbert Kelman richly deserves this recognition.
Epigenetic Regulation of MDR1 Gene in Breast Cancer CpG Methylation Status Dominates the Stable Maintenance of a Silent Gene

Winship Cancer Institute; Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, Georgia,USA*Correspondence to: Dipali Sharma; Winship Cancer Institute; Emory UniversitySchool of Medicine; 1365-C; Clifton Road; Room 4060; Atlanta, Georgia 30322USA; Email: dsharma@emory.eduReceived 05/28/04; Accepted 06/24/04Previously published online as a
Population density and fertility in 22 Indian villages.

Do agriculturists in the Third World sometimes adjust to increasing population density by having fewer children? Over-time data (1961–1972) for 22 farm villages in India point to such a possibility. Cross-sectionally, villages with higher density tend to have lower fertility, even with controls for village caste composition, prior fertility, female literacy, and agricultural production. Similarly, the regression coefficient for village density is negative when the cross-sections are “pooled.” Population density apparently has an inhibiting effect on fertility in these villages.
On the Fermi Theory of β -Radioactivity. II. The "Forbidden" Spectra

Fermi's theory of the energy distribution of $\ensuremath{\beta}$-particles is extended to first and second forbidden transitions for arbitrarily charged nuclei. The calculations are done not only for Fermi's original "polar vector" form of the theory but also for the scalar, tensor, axial vector and pseudoscalar forms. Selection rules appropriate for these are given in Table I. The final results are given in the form of a "correction factor" $C$, by which the allowed distribution must be multiplied to give a forbidden spectrum. They are listed in \textsection{}4. The energy dependence of the correction factors was found to be completely independent of knowledge concerning the details of the nuclear states only for the scalar and pseudo-scalar interactions (which give identical results) and for certain special selection rules in the other interactions. Comparison with experimental data on ${\mathrm{Na}}^{24}$, ${\mathrm{P}}^{32}$ and RaE seems to eliminate the scalar, pseudo-scalar and axial vector possibilities, all of which yield results independent of detailed knowledge concerning the nuclear states involved in these cases. The polar vector and tensor results depend on the unknown ratio of the magnitudes of certain nuclear matrix elements. Arbitrary adjustment of the unknown ratios allows fairly good fitting of the data. Especially striking is the reproduction of a "K-U type" shape for the RaE spectrum. Although the tensor and polar vector theories are equally favored by the evidence of the energy distributions, the fact that the tensor theory leads to Gamow-Teller selection rules perhaps make it preferable.
Spatially distributed fiber sensor with dual processed outputs

Given the rapid aging of the world’s population, improvements in technology for automation of patient care and documentation are badly needed. We have previously demonstrated a 'smart bed' that can non-intrusively monitor a patient in bed and determine a patient's respiration, heart rate and movement without intrusive or restrictive medical measurements. This is an application of spatially distributed integrating fiber optic sensors. The basic concept is that any patient movement that also moves an optical fiber within a specified area will produce a change in the optical signal. Two modal modulation approaches were considered, a statistical mode (STM) sensor and a high order mode excitation (HOME) sensor. The present design includes an STM sensor combined with a HOME sensor, using both modal modulation approaches. A special lens system allows only the high order modes of the optical fiber to be excited and coupled into the sensor. For handling output from the dual STM-HOME sensor, computer processing methods are discussed that offer comprehensive perturbation analysis for more reliable patient monitoring.
Endogenous environmental degradation and land conservation: agricultural land use in a large region

Abstract This paper studies endogenous land conservation and maintenance in agriculture in a large region with fixed population and endogenous wage. Farmers allocate labor between cultivation on the one hand and conservation and maintenance on the other to maximize output while compensating for depressing effects of cultivation practices. We compare large-region results with those for a small region with fixed wage and endogenous population. Higher product prices and larger populations exacerbate environmental degradation throughout a region and contribute to deforestation. An exogenous increase in the wage in a small region reduces cultivated area, but may increase or decrease equilibrium land degradation. In a large region, greater technical interaction in production between agricultural inputs reduces the impact of population and price increases on deforestation. Higher input prices take degradation pressure off land, whether the total population is fixed or variable. Improvements in transfortation unambiguously exacerbate environmental deterioration if they occur in a small region, but if they occur throughout a large region, their impact is ambiguous and could relieve environmental pressure on existing cultivated area. Extension of transfortation infrastructure at the edge of cultivation has somewhat different effects. More environmentally degrading production techniques encourage farmers to cultivate less intensively, while improvement of environmental conditions encourages the opposite. Less effective techniques of mitigating environmental damages are used less than more effective ones.
Error propagation models to examine the effects of geocoding quality on spatial analysis of individual-level datasets

The quality of geocoding has received substantial attention in recent years. A synthesis of published studies shows that the positional errors of street geocoding are somewhat unique relative to those of other types of spatial data: (1) the magnitude of error varies strongly across urban-rural gradients; (2) the direction of error is not uniform, but strongly associated with the properties of local street segments; (3) the distribution of errors does not follow a normal distribution, but is highly skewed and characterized by a substantial number of very large error values; and (4) the magnitude of error is spatially autocorrelated and is related to properties of the reference data. This makes it difficult to employ analytic approaches or Monte Carlo simulations for error propagation modeling because these rely on generalized statistical characteristics. The current paper describes an alternative empirical approach to error propagation modeling for geocoded data and illustrates its implementation using three different case-studies of geocoded individual-level datasets. The first case-study consists of determining the land cover categories associated with geocoded addresses using a point-in-raster overlay. The second case-study consists of a local hotspot characterization using kernel density analysis of geocoded addresses. The third case-study consists of a spatial data aggregation using enumeration areas of varying spatial resolution. For each case-study a high quality reference scenario based on address points forms the basis for the analysis, which is then compared to the result of various street geocoding techniques. Results show that the unique nature of the positional error of street geocoding introduces substantial noise in the result of spatial analysis, including a substantial amount of bias for some analysis scenarios. This confirms findings from earlier studies, but expands these to a wider range of analytical techniques.
Synthesis and stability of [3H] 5—demethoxyubiquinone-9

Abstract Radioactive [ 3 H]5-demethoxyubiquinone-9 (3-methyl-2-nonaprenyl-6-methoxy-1,4-benzo-quione), an intermediate in the biosynthesis of ubiquione-9 by selected microorganisms and by the rat, has been synthesized. 4-Methyl-3-nitrophenol was converted to the corresponding anisole with [ 3 H]methyl iodide and the anisole was then reduced to the corresponding aniline. Oxidation of 6-methyl-3-methoxy [ 3 H]aniline with chromic acid gave the corresponding 1,4-benzo-quinone which was reduced and alkylated with solanesol in the presence of boron trifluorideetherate. Oxidation with ferric chloride gave two isomers, 5-demethoxyubiquinone-9 and 6-methyl-2-nonaprenyl-3-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinone which were separated by thin layer chromatography. The [ 3 H]methoxyl-5-demethoxyubiquinone-9 prepared had a specific radioactivity of 100 mCi/mmole.
Overexpression of the MnSOD transgene product protects cryopreserved bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells from ionizing radiation.

Abstract Epperly, M. W., Epperly, L. D., Niu, Y., Wang, H., Zhang, X., Franicola, D. and Greenberger, J. S. Overexpression of the MnSOD Transgene Product Protects Cryopreserved Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells from Ionizing Radiation. Radiat Res. 168, 560–566 (2007). We determined whether manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD)-plasmid liposome (PL) transfection of C57BL/ 6NHsd mouse bone marrow protected cells irradiated at room temperature (24°C) or in the cryopreserved state. MnSOD-overexpressing hematopoietic progenitor 2C6 cells were radioresistant compared to the parent 32D cl 3 cells when irradiated frozen or at 24°C. Fresh whole marrow from mice injected intravenously with MnSOD-PL prior to explant as well as explanted marrow single cell suspensions transfected in vitro were irradiated at 24°C or −80°C. In vivo or in vitro transfection of marrow with MnSOD-PL produced significant radiation protection of irradiated marrow progenitor cells compared to controls at 24°C or −80°C. (in vivo tra...
Interaction of inflammation, hyperuricemia, and the prevalence of hypertension among adults free of metabolic syndrome: NHANES 2009-2010.

Background Hyperuricemia and markers of inflammation are correlated with the risk for hypertension. Whether hyperuricemia has any impact on the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) and hypertension is not known. Methods and Results We analyzed cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2010, using ordinary least squares and logistic regression models. Those who met the criteria for metabolic syndrome, had self-reported gout, or were <20 years old were excluded. For each 1-SD increase in serum urate, the serum CRP concentration was 20% higher in unadjusted linear regression models and 13% higher in multivariable linear regression models, after accounting for the effects of age, sex, race, socioeconomic and educational strata, renal function, lipids, smoking, and body mass index. In multivariable models adjusting for the same covariates, hyperuricemia was associated with hypertension with an odds ratio of 2.21 (1.71 to 2.85). When analyzed separately, this was observed in men and women. In multivariable analyses of the overall sample, elevated CRP levels were not associated with hypertension. Conclusions Among adults free of metabolic syndrome, elevated uric acid, but not elevated CRP, is independently associated with prevalent hypertension.
A Novel Scanning Probe Array with Multiple Tip Sharpness for Variable-Resolution Scanning Probe Lithography Applications

We report the development and application of a novel scanning probe array that consists of "blunt" and "sharp" tips with precisely defined contact areas. A new micromachining process based on SOI (silicon-on-insulator) substrates has been successfully developed to enable the fabrication of the scanning probe array. To demonstrate its capability for variable-resolution scanning probe lithography, the scanning probe array has been used to simultaneously generate fluorescent patterns with different linewidths in a parallel mode.
Interleukin-1 is an astroglial growth factor in the developing brain

The immunomodulator interleukin-1 (IL-1) is found to be an astroglial growth factor during development of the mammalian brain. In vitro studies indicate that ameboid microglia, a class of brain mononuclear phagocytes, are the likely source of IL-1. Examination of different brain regions during development shows IL-1 production only after the appearance of ameboid microglia. These observations suggest that brain mononuclear phagocytes secrete growth factors that regulate normal growth and development of the CNS.
The Weighted Random Test-Pattern Generator

A heuristic method for generating large-scale integration (LSI) test patterns is described. In particular, this paper presents a technique for generating statistically random sequences to test complex logic circuits. The algorithms used to obtain a set of tests by means of weighted logic signal variations are included. Several techniques for assigning these weights and for varying them are discussed on the basis of the primary algorithm. Also described is a means of obtaining a minimal number of test patterns. This approach has proved successful in obtaining fault-detecting patterns.
Intense visible and near infrared upconversion in M2O2S: Er (M=Y, Gd, La) phosphor under 1550 nm excitation

Abstract The 1550 nm excited upconversion spectral studies of Yb 3 + and Er 3 + co doped M 2 O 2 S (M = La, Gd, Y) phosphors were reported for the first time. Studies show that all the compositions are stronger in red emission with the highest intensity in Gd 2 O 2 S and lowest in Y 2 O 2 S.The red to green emission intensity ratios are 2.7, 3.6 and 3 in Gd 2 O 2 S, La 2 O 2 S and Y 2 O 2 S respectively. Mechanisms of up conversion by multiphoton absorption and energy transfer processes are interpreted and explained.
A fast exact k-nearest neighbors algorithm for high dimensional search using k-means clustering and triangle inequality

The k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) algorithm is a widely used machine learning method that finds nearest neighbors of a test object in a feature space. We present a new exact k-NN algorithm called kMkNN (k-Means for k-Nearest Neighbors) that uses the k-means clustering and the triangle inequality to accelerate the searching for nearest neighbors in a high dimensional space. The kMkNN algorithm has two stages. In the buildup stage, instead of using complex tree structures such as metric trees, kd-trees, or ball-tree, kMkNN uses a simple k-means clustering method to preprocess the training dataset. In the searching stage, given a query object, kMkNN finds nearest training objects starting from the nearest cluster to the query object and uses the triangle inequality to reduce the distance calculations. Experiments show that the performance of kMkNN is surprisingly good compared to the traditional k-NN algorithm and tree-based k-NN algorithms such as kd-trees and ball-trees. On a collection of 20 datasets with up to 106 records and 104 dimensions, kMkNN shows a 2- to 80-fold reduction of distance calculations and a 2- to 60-fold speedup over the traditional k-NN algorithm for 16 datasets. Furthermore, kMkNN performs significant better than a kd-tree based k-NN algorithm for all datasets and performs better than a ball-tree based k-NN algorithm for most datasets. The results show that kMkNN is effective for searching nearest neighbors in high dimensional spaces.
Interference in Large Wireless Networks

Since interference is the main performance-limiting factor in most wireless networks, it is crucial to characterize the interference statistics. The two main determinants of the interference are the network geometry (spatial distribution of concurrently transmitting nodes) and the path loss law (signal attenuation with distance). For certain classes of node distributions, most notably Poisson point processes, and attenuation laws, closed-form results are available, for both the interference itself as well as the signal-to-interference ratios, which determine the network performance. This monograph presents an overview of these results and gives an introduction to the analytical techniques used in their derivation. The node distribution models range from lattices to homogeneous and clustered Poisson models to general motion-invariant ones. The analysis of the more general models requires the use of Palm theory, in particular conditional probability generating functionals, which are briefly introduced in the appendix.
Field Test of High-Temperature Corrosion Sensors in a Waste-to-Energy Plant

Abstract Electrochemical probes originally designed for use in aqueous environments were shown to measure corrosion rates in a high-temperature gaseous environment where electrolyte consisted of conductive ashes and liquid slag. The field trial of the probes was conducted over a five-month period to monitor fireside corrosion in a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant. The three-electrode air-cooled corrosion sensors, each including a thermocouple to monitor sensor temperature, were installed in four different ports at approximately the same level of the WTE boiler. A total of 12 sensors were tested: six with electrodes using the carbon steel boiler tube material and six using the nickel-chromium alloy used for weld overlays for the electrodes. Corrosion rates and temperatures of the sensors were monitored continuously throughout the trial. Metallographic measurements of sensor thickness loss were used to calibrate the electrochemical corrosion rates. Air cooling of the sensors was found to be necessary to bring th...
On global stability of Internet congestion control

In this paper, we address the question of global asymptotic stability of TCP/AQM congestion control protocols. We analyze a well-known model, whose dynamics were previously shown to be locally stable via analysis of its linearization. We show that in fact the nonlinear dynamics are globally stable, and we explicitly account for the effects of both nonlinearities and time-delays in the dynamics. These results apply to the case of a single link with sources of identical fixed delay, and show that global stability holds under the same conditions that local stability does. The dynamic model analyzed is nonlinear, nonsmooth, and contains a delay, and the proof is based on the theory of integral-quadratic constraints.
Deterministic Excitation Forces for Simulation and Identification of Nonlinear Hysteretic SDOF Systems

This paper investigates how to design deterministic excitation forces in studying nonlinear single-degree-of-freedom systems, especially those with rate and path dependency and strength and stiffness degradation. One frequency-modulated periodic excitation and its amplitude-modulated counterpart are proposed as a solution, and a series of numerical exercises are carried out to show that these forces can be designed for sufficient forcing functions to study the complex nonlinear hysteresis. To rapidly reveal the underlying characteristics of the system and also to further lead to an effective system identification, four evaluation tools are proposed to be utilized together with the proposed excitation forces. These tools include the response curves, force-state map, intercycle drift, and intercycle pattern change, based on which some distinctive "patterns" are obtained to reveal the existence of nonlinearities, types of nonlinearities, existence of memory, and degradation. By using both Bouc-Wen and Bouc-Wen-Baber-Noori models for the system in all the simulations, the writers compare the commonly used forces with the proposed excitation forces to further demonstrate the advantages of the proposed excitation forces and evaluation tools. The writers also explore challenges in terms of implementing the proposed excitation forces. The results of this study are expected to benefit both physical testing and numerical simulation of complex nonlinear hysteretic systems in a time- and cost-effective manner, as well as leading to efficient schemes for system identification.
Simulation versus constraint-based graphical modeling of construction processes

The paper introduces a new constraint-based graphical approach to modeling construction processes, Foresight, designed to combine the versatility of discrete-event simulation, the ease-of-use of the Critical Path Method, and the visual insight of linear scheduling. The usability of Foresight is compared with Stroboscope (a construction-specific simulation system) in a case study of the classic earthmoving problem. The Foresight model is shown, first, to be visually more insightful than its Stroboscope equivalent, and second, to require a fraction of the number of modeling terms and modeling concepts in its definition.
Isolated soy protein consumption reduces urinary albumin excretion and improves the serum lipid profile in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nephropathy

Soy protein was shown to exhibit several beneficial effects on renal function in nondiabetic patients with nephropathy, and to improve serum lipids. This study examined the effects of isolated soy protein consumption on urinary albumin excretion, serum lipids, plasma amino acids, and isoflavones in diabetic patients with nephropathy. Male patients (n = 14) with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy were followed in a crossover design for 7 mo. The study comprised two 8-wk intervention periods, placed between a 4-wk lead-in and two 4-wk washout periods. In the 2 intervention periods, 0.5 g/(kg. d) of the dietary protein was provided as either isolated soy protein (ISP) or casein, in random order. Blood and urine samples were collected at the beginning and end of each period. Data were analyzed by multiple linear regression for a repeated-measure design. ISP consumption led to changes of -9.5% in urinary albumin excretion (P < 0.0001), -0.45 in the total-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio (P < 0.05), -0.20 in the LDL-to-HDL cholesterol ratio (P < 0.05), and +4.3% in HDL cholesterol (P = 0.0040). Plasma arginine concentrations, the arginine-to-lysine ratio, and plasma isoflavone concentrations were higher after ISP consumption (P < 0.05). Urinary albumin excretion was negatively correlated with plasma total isoflavones (rho = -0.441), daidzein (rho = -0.326), and O-desmethylangolesin (rho = -0.389) (P < 0.05). The findings indicate that isolated soy protein consumption improves several markers that may be beneficial for type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy.
Guided Formation of Nanostructures in Thin Films

A thin two-component epilayer grown on a solid surface may separate into distinct phases. Sometimes the phases select sizes about 10 nm, and order into an array of stripes or disks. However, the pattern types are limited and the location of the features is not controlled. This paper develops a dynamic model to simulate guided self-assembly. In particular, we look at the effect of surface chemistry on the pattern formation process. The simulations suggest that diverse patterns may be produced by tuning the surface chemistry of a substrate. In addition, the self-assembled features may be anchored at specific locations.
What is the Role of Universities in High-tech Economic Development? The Case of Portland, Oregon, and Washington, DC

This paper focuses on two regions in the United States that have emerged as high-technology regions in the absence of major research universities. The case of Portland's Silicon Forest is compared to Washington, DC. In both regions, high-technology economies grew because of industrial restructuring processes. The paper argues that in both regions other actors—such as firms and government laboratories—spurred the development of knowledge-based economies and catalysed the engagement of higher education institutions in economic development. The paper confirms and advances the triple helix model of university–government–industry relationships and posits that future studies have to examine degrees of university-region engagement.
Target-tracking-based ultra-low-bit-rate video coding

In this paper, we present an automated region-of-interest-based video coding system for use in ultra-low-bandwidth applications. Region-of-interest (ROI) coding methodology specifies that targets or ROIs be coded at higher fidelity using a greater number of available bits, while the remainder of the scene or background is coded using fewer bits. This allows the target regions within the scene to be well preserved, while dramatically reducing the number of bits required to code the video sequence, thus reducing the transmission bandwidth and storage requirements. In the proposed system, the ROI contours are specified automatically by a video target detection and tracking algorithm that continuously monitors the incoming video stream for the presence of targets. When targets appear in the scene, the detection/tracking stage feeds the target position and size information to the video compression stage, which applies a greater percentage of available bits to these areas, thereby preserving their appearance relative to the non-target or background portion of the scene. In the proposed system, position information is updated in real time and is efficiently exchanged between the transmitter and receiver. Coding examples are presented for infrared (IR) video sequences to demonstrate the outstanding performance of the proposed system.
Speech-Language Pathologists Collaborating with Head Start to Improve Children’s Early Language and Literacy Skills: Efficacy and Intensity Effects

The current study examined the efficacy of a speech-language pathologist–designed and implemented emergent literacy program for Head Start preschoolers and the influence of intensity of intervention on children’s gains. Results indicated that children who participated in the intervention program exhibited greater gains than the control group on oral language, phonological awareness, and alphabet/print knowledge. Children who received a higher dosage of intervention made greater gains on vocabulary and oral language compared to the lower intensity group. Speech-language pathologists may be valuable collaborators in promoting emergent literacy skills in at-risk children.
Stimuli-responsive layer-by-layer nanocomposites

The fast-growing area of materials prepared with the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique has become firmly established over the last three decades. Responsive LbL assemblies present one attractive type of LbL materials, useful in sensing, controlled delivery and actuation. However, stimuli-responsive LbL films made exclusively from polymers or organic molecules are somewhat restricted in the types of responses that can be applied to a material, and often suffer from poor mechanical strength and limited durability. Assembly of inorganic nanoparticles (INPs), including spherical nanoparticles, nanorods, nanotubes, and nanosheets, among others, within multilayer films brings additional benefits by not only improving mechanical, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of these materials, but also endowing them with the capability to transform external signals and transfer them to other film components. Combining INPs with temperature-, pH-, or light-responsive polymers within LbL films yields novel materials with unique characteristics and properties easily controllable by external stimuli. In this paper, we discuss strategies for designing various types of INP–organic LbL assemblies, the nature of their stimuli response and potential applications.
Silica-based multimodal/multifunctional nanoparticles for bioimaging and biosensing applications.

In the last decade, the field of nanoparticle (NP) technology has attracted immense interest in bioimaging and biosensing research. This technology has demonstrated its capability in obtaining sensitive data in a noninvasive manner, promising a breakthrough in early-stage cancer diagnosis, stem cell tracking, drug delivery, pathogen detection and gene delivery in the near future. However, successful and wide application of this technology relies greatly on robust NP engineering and synthesis methodologies. The NP development steps involve design, synthesis, surface modification and bioconjugation. Each of these steps is critical in determining the overall performance of NPs. It is desirable to obtain NPs that are highly sensitive, stable, imageable, biocompatible and targetable. It is also desirable to obtain multimodal/multifunctional NPs that will enable imaging/sensing of the target using multiple imaging/sensing modalities. In this review, we focus on silica NPs that have been developed for biosensing...
Post-processor for data path synthesis using multiport memories

A novel design methodology for data path synthesis using multiport memories is presented which can be applied to scheduled algorithms or to already synthesized data paths as a postprocessor to reduce the design space. Based on simple and clear but powerful principles, the proposed technique not only groups variables to a minimum number of multiport memories depending on their ports and taking into consideration the variables' access requirements, but also minimizes their interconnection hardware (such as buses, multiplexers, and tri-state buffers) to functional units. The system, MAP, supports the synthesis of architecture in both linear topology and random topology for the application-specific design. The minimization problems have been formulated as 0-1 integer linear programming problems. Experiments on benchmarks show very promising results and the CPU time for all the benchmarks is less than 1.4 s. >
Building Bensalem at Massachusetts Bay: Francis Bacon and the Wisdom of Eden in Early Modern New England

Francis Bacon's influence on seventeenth-century New England has long passed unnoticed, but his plan for the restoration of prelapsarian intellectual perfections guided John Winthrop's initial colonization efforts, shaped New England's educational policies, and had an impact on civic and religious leaders from John Cotton to Jonathan Edwards.
A comment on the topic of topic-comment

Topic–comment structures are an important ingredient of the grammars of languages that are not normally thought of as topic-prominent or discourse-configurational. This paper presents an integrated topic–comment approach to a subtype of specificational pseudo-clefts and three constructions generally grouped under the rubric of relative clause constructions: ‘subject contact relatives’ in dialects of English, ‘V2 relatives’ in Dutch and German, and extraposed relative clauses. All are argued to have a syntactic structure in which the first clause is the topic, occupying the specifier position of a TopP whose head takes the second clause, the comment, as its complement. The restrictive or specificational relationship between the second clause and the focus of the first clause, common to all the constructions discussed under the rubric of topic–comment structures in this paper, is shown to be the interpretive reflex of the fact that the second clause is introduced as the complement of the abstract head ‘Top 0 ’, and is thereby earmarked as a comment. # 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.