cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of intergalactic deuterium abundances

Abstract In the last few years, new instruments have allowed astronomers to measure the ratio of deuterium to hydrogen in intergalactic gas clouds at high redshift. The abundances of heavy elements in these clouds show directly that little processing of gas through stars has occurred. Therefore, the measurements are thought to represent a direct sampling of the deuterium abundance produced in the Big Bang. The numbers are not consistent with expectations, in that the values are not constant across different sightlines and in that the mean is not much higher than the Galactic [D/H] values. The latter were expected to be lower than intergalactic values of [D/H] by at least a factor of two because the primordial gas has been turned into stars, producing heavy elements but burning deuterium. Here, I explore the sources of systematic errors that might be underestimated in the analysis.
Paget's disease of the vulva: Search for herpes simplex virus antigens and human papillomavirus antigen and DNA

Specimens from three women with Paget's disease of the vulva were tested for presence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) antigens and human papillomavirus (HPV) antigen and DNA. In one of the lesions, the HSV2-associated antigen ICSP 34/35 was demonstrated. Neither HPV antigens nor HPV DNA were detected in the lesions.
Multi-Resolution FOCUSS: A Source Imaging Technique Applied to MEG Data

A variety of techniques are available for imaging magnetoencephalographic (MEG) data to the corresponding cortical structures. Each performs a functional optimization that includes mathematical and physical restrictions on source activity. Unlike other imaging techniques, MR-FOCUSS (Multi-Resolution FOCal Underdetermined System Solution) utilizes a wavelet statistical operator that allows spatial resolution to be chosen appropriately for focal or extended sources. Control of focal imaging properties is achieved by specifying P in an lP norm distribution template used to construct the wavelets. In addition, incorporation of a multi-resolution wavelet operator desensitizes the mathematical algorithm to noise, (regularization). Like the FOCUSS imaging technique, an initial estimate of cortical activity is recursively enhanced to obtain the final high resolution imaging results. Studies of model MEG data representing all regions of a realistic cortical model are performed to quantify MR-FOCUSS imaging properties. These modeled data studies included single and multiple dipole sources as well as an extended source model. Thus, MR-FOCUSS is found to be very effective for imaging language processing for pre-surgical planning and provides a high-resolution method to image sequential activation of multiple correlated sources involved in language processing.
Discussion of “The infiltration approach to the calculation of surface runoff”

A paper on this subject has been long overdue. Cook's competent review of infiltration in relation to surface runoff should dispel much of the confusion and misinterpretation that has tended to retard progress in this field. The beginning was made by HOUK [see “References” at end of discussion, 1921], and lay dormant until Horton in 1034 and 1935, outlined the role of infiltration just at the time when renewed attention was being given to the effects of culture and land-use on runoff. Many ideas have been proposed since, some of which added greatly to the value of the physical approach and others, perhaps, were of profit only to the extent that they induced others to experiment with them. With this beginning now at an end, the juncture seems appropriate for Just the kind of critical review Cook has made. Especially appealing to the writer is Cook's emphasis that infiltration is determinative of surface runoff only, and not total stream flow.
Vibrational energy transfer from resummed evolution operators

This paper describes the application of our recently derived infinite order evolution operator expansion and resummation technique to the problem of vibrational energy redistribution in molecules. For a standard mass tensor coupled model of a linear hydrocarbon we show how the resummation technique allows the derivation of an approximate evolution operator that in a single time step accurately reproduces vibrational dynamics for over 25 fs in hydrocarbons. This single time evolution operator can be calculated efficiently enough so that long time dynamics with multiple time steps seem to now be within reach. In addition, the structure of the theory is such that longer chain hydrocarbons can be efficiently ‘‘built up’’ from shorter chain molecules. The theory starts with an adiabatic approximation which describes coupled vibrational degrees of freedom by uncoupled but guage shifted evolution operators. A modified version of this adiabatic approximation shows promise for application to molecules of a size too large to be handled exactly.
It’s All about Tom And Jerry, Amr Khaled and Iqra, Not Hamas’s Mickey Mouse: Palestinian Children’s Cultural Practices around the Television Set

Interest in the effect of martyrdom television programming on Palestinian children’s culture culminated in 2007, after Hamas’s Al-Aqsa television station tried to promote its political platform with the aid of a Mickey Mouse look-alike character in The Pioneers of Tomorrow. Critics of this television program assumed that martyrdom programs must have a major impact on Palestinian children. Although this assertion may seem reasonable, it is not supported by my research exploring how Palestinian children use television amidst a cultural context pervaded by ongoing conflict. My analysis reveals, among other important findings, that Palestinian children do not watch martyrdom programs. Thus, somewhat unexpectedly and contrary to concerns voiced about Palestinian martyrdom programming, Palestinian children have not been tuning in. Above all else, Palestinian children negotiate the available options by choosing to tune into global, rather than local Palestinian television content. The television program they consume the most is Tom and Jerry. Their parents, on the other hand, prefer that they watch religious programming, including that which airs on Iqra, and that which is hosted by modernist Muslim televangelist Amr Khaled. Nevertheless, family practices around the television set indicate, ultimately, that these children, not their parents, decide what to consume. My findings are based on survey analysis of Palestinian children’s television consumption decisions, surveys of their parents’ opinions about these decisions, my viewing of related television programs, and ethnographic analysis of related family practices around the television set. I conducted my analysis during a period of two and a half years with over 400 Palestinians in the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
Energy Efficient VLSI Architecture for Linear Turbo Equalizer

In this paper, energy efficient VLSI architectures for linear turbo equalization are studied. Linear turbo equalizers exhibit dramatic bit error rate (BER) improvement over conventional equalizers by enabling a form of joint equalization and decoding in which soft information is iteratively exchanged between the equalizer and decoder. However, turbo equalizers can be computationally complex and hence require significant power consumption. In this paper, we present an energy-efficient VLSI architecture for such linear turbo equalizers. Key architectural techniques include elimination of redundant operations and early termination. Early termination enables powering down parts of the soft-input soft-output (SISO) equalizer and decoder thereby saving power. Simulation results show that energy savings in the range 30---60% and 10---60% are achieved in equalization and decoding, respectively. Furthermore, we present finite precision requirements of the linear turbo equalizer and an efficient rescaling method to prevent overflow.
Achieving transparent coexistence in a multi-hop secondary network through distributed computation

Transparent coexistence, also known as underlay, offers much more efficient spectrum sharing than traditional interweave coexistence paradigm. In a previous work, the transparent coexistence for a multi-hop secondary networks is studied. In this paper, we design a distributed solution to achieve this paradigm. In our design, we show how to increase the number of data streams iteratively while meeting constraints in the MIMO interference cancelation (IC) model and achieving transparent coexistence. All steps in our distributed algorithm can be accomplished based on local information exchange among the neighboring nodes. Our simulation results show that the performance of our distributed algorithm is highly competitive when compared to an upper bound solution for the centralized problem.
Correlation of simultaneous ultraviolet (0.36 μm) and infrared (8 to 14 μm) images of Venus

Abstract We present evidence for a correlation between features observed in simultaneous infrared (8 to 14 μm) and ultraviolet (0.36 μm) images obtained during Venus' 1975 and 1977 apparitions. The sense of the observed correlation is such that bright uv markings correspond to bright (warm) ir features, and similarly, dark uv markings correspond to dark (cool) ir features.
The effect of spinal GABA receptor agonists on tactile allodynia in a surgically-induced neuropathic pain model in the rat

This study evaluated the effects of spinal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonists on the tactile allodynia observed in rats with ligation of the L5/L6 nerve roots (Chung model) and chronic lumbar intrathecal catheters. In these rats, the spinal injection of the GABAB agonist baclofen (BAC; 0.03-03 micrograms) and GABAA agonist muscimol (MUS; 0.1-1.0 micrograms) resulted in a dose-dependent antagonism of the allodynia at doses which had no detectable effect upon motor function. Intrathecal injection of the GABAB antagonist CGP 35348 (CGP; 30 micrograms) or the GABAA antagonist bicuculline (BIC; 0.3 micrograms) prior to injection of each GABA receptor agonist had little effect upon normal or tactile allodynic thresholds, but significantly reversed the anti-allodynic effects produced by the respective receptor agonists. The antagonistic effects were limited to the agonist of the respective receptor. These observations indicate that spinal GABAA and GABAB receptors modulate spinal systems activated by low threshold mechanoreceptors which mediate the allodynia observed following peripheral nerve injury.
Determination of the cannabinoid receptors in mouse × rat hybridoma NG108-15 cells and rat GH4C 1 cells

Abstract The cannabinoid receptors expressed in the mouse neuroblastoma × rat glioma NG108-15 cell and the rat pituitary tumor GH4C1 cell were determined by polymerase chain reaction, dideoxysequencing and pharmacologically. The CBI but not the C132 or CB1A cannabinoid receptor was found in both cell lines. The cDNA identified in GH4C1 cells corresponds to the rat CB 1 receptor. Interestingly, NG108-15 cells express two distinct cDNAs, one corresponds to the rat and the other to the mouse CB1 receptor. The newly developed CB1 receptor selective antagonist SR141716A was found to reverse cannabinoid agonist (WIN55212-2 or CP55940)-induced adenylyl cyclase inhibition. These results provide more direct evidence that the CB 1 receptor is mediating the pharmacological actions of cannabinoids in NG108-15 and GH4C1 cells.
The survivability of labile light‐mineral grains in fluvial, aeolian and littoral marine environments: the Permian Cutler and Cedar Mesa Formations, Moab, Utah

A greater than 50% decrease in the percentage of labile light minerals occurs between the non-marine Cutler Formation (Permian) and its facies equivalent, the marine Cedar Mesa Sandstone, in the vicinity of Moab, Utah. Both the Cutler and Cedar Mesa Formations were derived from crystalline rocks of the Uncom-pahgre Mountains under semi-arid to arid climatic conditions. Furthermore, diagenesis had little effect on the light-mineral fraction. Therefore, the significant change in mineralogy where the fluvial Cutler beds grade into the littoral marine Cedar Mesa deposits can be directly related to active reworking of detritus in the shallow marine environment. Less coarse perthitic alkali feldspar, twinned plagioclase, undulose mono-crystalline quartz, and polycrystalline quartz in the Cedar Mesa with respect to the Cutler suggest that compositional maturation was produced by breakage of mechanically weaker grains during grain-to-grain collisions. Furthermore, the end products of compositional modification by shallow marine processes may be sufficiently different from those produced by weathering and dilution from sedimentary source rocks to allow evaluation of the relative effects of these processes on the origin of compositionally mature ancient sandstones.
Correlation of Fos expression and circling asymmetry during gerbil vestibular compensation

Vestibular compensation is a central nervous system process resulting in recovery of functional movement and control following a unilateral vestibular lesion. Small pressure injections of phosphorothioate 20mer oligonucleotides were used to probe the role of the Fos transcription protein during vestibular compensation in the gerbil brainstem. During isoflurane gas anesthesia, antisense probes against the c-fos mRNA sequence were injected into the medial vestibular and prepositus nuclei unilaterally prior to a unilateral surgical labyrinthectomy. Anionic dyes, which did not interact with the oligonucleotides, were used to mark the injection site and help determine the extent of diffusion. The antiFos oligonucleotide injections reduced Fos expression at the injection site in neurons which normally express Fos after the lesion, and also affected circling behavior induced by hemilabyrinthectomy. With both ipsilateral and contralateral medial vestibular and prepositus nuclei injections, less ipsilateral and more contralateral circling was noted in animals injected with antiFos injections as compared to non-injected controls. The degree of change in these behaviors was dependent upon the side of the injection. Histologically, antiFos injections reduced the number of Fos immunolabeled neurons around the injection site, and increased Fos expression contralaterally. The correlation of the number of neurons with Fos expression to turning behavior was stronger for contralateral versus ipsilateral turns, and for neurons in the caudal and ipsilateral sub-regions of the medial vestibular and prepositus nuclei. The results are discussed in terms of neuronal firing activity versus translational activity based on the asymmetrical expression of the Fos inducible transcription factor in the medial vestibular and prepositus nuclei. Although ubiquitous in the brain, transcription factors like Fos can serve localized and specific roles in sensory-specific adaptive stimuli. Antisense injections can be an effective procedure for localized intervention into complex physiological functions, e.g. vestibular compensation.
Numerical Studies of Azimuthal Modulations of the Solar Wind with Magnetic Fields

The evolution of azimuthal modulation of the solar wind is examined by numerical integration of the basic equations governing supersonic, super-Alfvenic, polytropic one fluid flow in the equatorial plane of the Sun with radial as well as azumuthal magnetic fields. The computations are started by introducing various sets of finite amplitude perturbations stationary with respect to the Sun. It is shown that for a properly chosen set of simultaneous perturbations of the radial velocity and temperature, quantitative agreement with the averaged observational results at 1 AU can be obtained, including the advance of the density modulation with respect to those of velocity and temperature. It is further shown that modulations at 1 AU depend on the relative azimuthal positions between the Sun and the Earth.
Kinetic Analysis of the Divergence of Reaction Pathways in the Chiral Lewis Base Promoted Aldol Additions of Trichlorosilyl Enol Ethers: A Rapid-Injection NMR Study

The aldol addition reaction of trichlorosilyl enol ethers and aldehydes with and without chiral Lewis base catalysts has been kinetically analyzed. The uncatalyzed reactions display classic first-order dependence on each component. The reactions catalyzed by bulky chiral phosphoramide 5 were examined by ReactIR and exhibited first-order dependence on the catalyst. To examine the kinetic behavior of the reaction catalyzed by phosphoramide 4, a Rapid-Injection (RI) NMR apparatus was constructed and employed to allow rapid in-situ mixing and monitoring of the reaction course. The aldol addition catalyzed by 4 displayed second-order dependence on phosphoramide, thus providing direct evidence that two catalyzed pathways (with complimentary stereochemical consequences) exist that depend on phosphoramide structure and concentration. Arrhenius activation parameters for all three reactions showed striking characteristics of negligible enthalpies and extremely high entropies of activation. Comparison of these values was precluded by the existence of complex preequilibria in the catalyzed process.
Facile hydrogen-deuterium exchange at the 5'-position of an analogue of S-adenosyl-l-methionine.

S-3',4'-anhydroadenosyl-l-methionine is an analogue of the S-adenosyl-l-methionine coenzyme. Here we report on a rapid solvent exchange of the methylene protons at the 5'-position of this analogue. The rate of H/D exchange was measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy under buffered conditions in deuterium oxide. The reaction is specific base catalyzed and displays a second-order rate constant of 2 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), which corresponds to a rate enhancement of 10(12) compared to solvent exchange of alpha-methylene protons in acyclic, aliphatic sulfonium ions. No other carbon bonded hydrogens in the molecule exchange with solvent under the experimental conditions. Allylic stabilization of a carbanionic-like transition state for the solvent exchange process can account for these results. Solvent exchange under these mild conditions provides a simple way to prepare a 5'-2H-labeled form of the coenzyme analogue.
FLOW VISUALIZATION ON A POWERBOAT

Even small improvements in the top speed of large powerboats can give a manufacturer a significant competitive advantage. Current designs are probably at the point of diminishing returns for increases in power, so some other means of increasing speed is necessary. Because these boats typically have top speeds in excess of 100 mph, aerodynamic modifications offer a means of increasing speed for minor changes in weight and production cost. We fitted a 39 foot boat with simple fairings and vortex generators and were able to observe a repeatable increase in speed of at least 1 mph.
Analysis of a Microstructure for Highly Reflective Thermal Radiation Barrier Coatings

A highly reflective multi-layer film is studied for use as a thermal radiation barrier coating (TRBC) to significantly reduce heat transfer to the structure from the high temperature environment. The multi-layer film consists of a three dimensional (3D) periodic microstructure with cylindrical nano-pores that are arranged periodically along the in-plane directions and with axes of pores parallel to the thickness direction. The pore diameter is varied periodically through the thickness to form a multi-layer film of alternating low and high porosities. This multi-layer microstructure acts as a photonic band gap (PBG) crystal, which gives rise to high reflectivity. The primary motivation behind considering this microstructure is that it can be fabricated from aluminum dioxide, which remains stable at high temperatures. The reflectivity of the multi-layer TRBC is computed from numerical simulations of the electromagnetic wave propagation through it. A homogenization method is employed to estimate the effective dielectric constant of each layer of the film. Consideration of homogenized layers reduces the 3D microstructure to an effective 1D structure, thereby reducing the computational expense. The results of numerical simulations reveal that the reflectivity found considering the 3D multi-layer microstructure explicitly is close to that computed using homogenized layers. Finally, using the homogenized layers, it is shown that the peak as well as the average reflectivities of a multi-layer TRBC can be increased if the film consists of sets of bilayers with different thicknesses.
Recursion in logics of programs

The problem of reasoning about recursive programs is considered. Utilizing a simple analogy between iterative and recursive programs viewed as unfinite unions of finite terms, we carry out an investigation analogous to that carried out recently for iterative programs. The main results are the arithmetical completeness of axiom systems for (1) context-free dynamic logic and (2) its extension for dealing with infinite computations. Having the power of expression of these logics in mind, these results can be seen to supply (as corollaries) complete proof methods for the various kinds of correctness of recursive programs.
In vitro activity of mersacidin (M87-1551), an investigational peptide antibiotic tested against Gram-positive bloodstream isolates

Abstract We measured the in vitro activity of mersacidin (formerly M87-1551) against 183 clinical isolates (vancomycin susceptible) and 12 additional vancomycin-resistant strains of Grampositive bacteria. The activity for mersacidin increased an average twofold (range, 1.7- to 7.6-fold) in a calcium-enriched medium. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 90 for mersacidin was 8–32 times higher than vancomycin for staphylococci, 4–64 times higher for enterococci, and up to 32 times higher for other organisms tested. The MIC 90 for MDL 62873, a comparison compound, was ≤0.5 μ g/ml for all species except Staphylococcus haemolyticus (MIC 90 , 4 μg/ml), and it was ≥4- fold more active than vancomycin. Against selected vancomycin-resistant strains, mersacidin had MICs ≥16 μ g/ml for enterococci, 4–32 μg/ml for Pediococcus , and ≤2 μ g/ml for Leuconostoc species. Mersacidin may have some clinical utility in documented infections caused by staphylococci, nonenteric streptococci, Pediococcus , and Leuconostoc .
Architectonic Studies in Language and Geometry

ABSTRACTThree artworks pertaining to language and geometry are presented in this article accompanied by extended descriptions dealing with structural linguistics and the relationship between language, perception and architecture. The author proposes a perceptual interface between phonological and morphological structures in the creation of visual information upon the surface of the retina, suggesting a new way to think about the relationship between language and architecture. Language forms an adherence to the architecton within the metaphysical context and within the intricacies of structural linguistics, in which syntax, syllable, phrase and morphemic structure form a parallel understanding of the creativity of language in the creation of architecture.
The Effects of Galactosamine-Induced Hepatic Failure Upon Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability

The role of changes in blood-brain barrier permeability in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy remains uncertain. To test the hypothesis that brain microvessel permeability is nonselectively increased in hepatic encephalopathy we measured the blood-brain barrier permeability-surface area product in rats with acute liver failure induced by intraperitoneal injection of galactosamine. The permeability-surface area products to the diffusion-limited tracers, sucrose and methylaminoisobutyric acid, were determined as a measure of blood-brain barrier permeability. Animals were examined 24, 36 and 42 hr after injection, at times when they were stuporous, but not comatose. No significant elevations of the permeability-surface area products for either compound were detected in clinically affected experimental animals when compared to controls. Our results indicate there is no generalized increase in brain vascular permeability during hepatic insufficiency in precomatose animals.
Software reliability and dependability: a roadmap

Software's increasing role creates both requirements for being able to trust it more than before, and for more people to know how much they can trust their software. A sound engineering approach requires both techniques for producing reliability and sound assessment of the achieved results. Different parts of industry and society face different challenges: the need for education and cultural changes in some areas, the adaptation of known scientific results to practical use in others, and in others still the need to confront inherently hard problems of prediction and decision-making, both to clarify the limits of current understanding and to push them back. We outline the specific difficulties in applying a sound engineering approach to software reliability engineering, some of the current trends and problems and a set of issues that we therefore see as important in an agenda for research in software dependability.
Vibration attenuation approach for spaceborne optical interferometers

This paper proposes a vibration attenuation strategy for space borne optical interferometers to meet their submicron positional stability requirements. Specifically, the Stellar Interferometer Mission requires 10-nm level stabilization of optical elements distributed across a 10-m flexible structure in the presence of the primary disturbance source, spinning reaction wheel assemblies. The proposed strategy incorporates the high-frequency attenuation of six-axis vibration isolation with low-frequency attenuation of active optical control. The strategy is implemented on the micro-precision interferometer testbed, a fully functional hardware model of a future space borne interferometer. Combining measured testbed disturbance transfer functions with a stochastic model of reaction wheel disturbances enables evaluation of the vibration attenuation strategy in the expected on-orbit disturbance environment. Results indicate that the requirement of 10 nm is satisfied.
GRAF1 deficiency blunts sarcolemmal injury repair and exacerbates cardiac and skeletal muscle pathology in dystrophin-deficient mice

The plasma membranes of striated muscle cells are particularly susceptible to rupture as they endure significant mechanical stress and strain during muscle contraction, and studies have shown that defects in membrane repair can contribute to the progression of muscular dystrophy. The synaptotagmin-related protein, dysferlin, has been implicated in mediating rapid membrane repair through its ability to direct intracellular vesicles to sites of membrane injury. However, further work is required to identify the precise molecular mechanisms that govern dysferlin targeting and membrane repair. We previously showed that the bin–amphiphysin–Rvs (BAR)–pleckstrin homology (PH) domain containing Rho-GAP GTPase regulator associated with focal adhesion kinase-1 (GRAF1) was dynamically recruited to the tips of fusing myoblasts wherein it promoted membrane merging by facilitating ferlin-dependent capturing of intracellular vesicles. Because acute membrane repair responses involve similar vesicle trafficking complexes/events and because our prior studies in GRAF1-deficient tadpoles revealed a putative role for GRAF1 in maintaining muscle membrane integrity, we postulated that GRAF1 might also play an important role in facilitating dysferlin-dependent plasma membrane repair. We used an in vitro laser-injury model to test whether GRAF1 was necessary for efficient muscle membrane repair. We also generated dystrophin/GRAF1 doubledeficient mice by breeding mdx mice with GRAF1 hypomorphic mice. Evans blue dye uptake and extensive morphometric analyses were used to assess sarcolemmal integrity and related pathologies in cardiac and skeletal muscles isolated from these mice. Herein, we show that GRAF1 is dynamically recruited to damaged skeletal and cardiac muscle plasma membranes and that GRAF1-depleted muscle cells have reduced membrane healing abilities. Moreover, we show that dystrophin depletion exacerbated muscle damage in GRAF1-deficient mice and that mice with dystrophin/GRAF1 double deficiency phenocopied the severe muscle pathologies observed in dystrophin/dysferlin-double null mice. Consistent with a model that GRAF1 facilitates dysferlin-dependent membrane patching, we found that GRAF1 associates with and regulates plasma membrane deposition of dysferlin. Overall, our work indicates that GRAF1 facilitates dysferlin-dependent membrane repair following acute muscle injury. These findings indicate that GRAF1 might play a role in the phenotypic variation and pathological progression of cardiac and skeletal muscle degeneration in muscular dystrophy patients.
Variable structure control applied to underactuated robots

Variable structure control is applied to an underactuated two and three-link robot. Control laws are developed to invert the robot from its stable, downward equilibrium position to an inverted position. This maneuver is accomplished by pumping energy into the system with the variable structure controller. A linear balancing controller is activated once the robot nears the inverted position. Numerical simulations are presented for both the two and three-link robot.
Tin in volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits; an example from the Geco Mine, Manitouwadge District, Ontario, Canada

Tin and tin-bearing minerals are prominent in the metamorphosed (amphibolite-granulite facies) Geco Cu-Zn volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit as well as in some of the smaller massive sulfides in the Manitouwadge district. Cassiterite and minor Sn-bearing andradite, epidote, rutile, and phlogopite occur within the massive sulfide ores. Nigerite-24R of composition (Sn, Ti) x (Zn, Mg, Fe, Mn) (sub 8-2x) (Al, Fe) 16 O 32 , with x [asymp] 2, and mixed polytypes of hoegbomite with the general formula (Ti, Sn) x (Fe, Mg, Zn, Mn) (sub 8-2x) (Al, Fe) 16 O 32 , with x [asymp] 1, occur in the footwall rocks which comprise the feeder zone. Hoegbomite is the primary tin-bearing mineral in the districtwide cordierite-gedrite gneisses which represent footwall conformable alteration zones.A relatively high f (sub O 2 ) during metamorphism and also during the formation of the ores accounts for the presence of cassiterite rather than stannite or the simple tin sulfides in the ores. Nigerite and hoegbomite occur only in Ca-Na-deficient Mg-Fe-rich aluminous rocks and are associated with Zn staurolite, corundum, cordierite, sillimanite, (Zn, Fe) spinels, and Fe-Ti oxides.Bulk-rock tin assays systematically increase as the Geco orebody is approached: districtwide cordierite-gedrite gneisses (10-30 ppm), feeder zone (50-330 ppm), and orebody (100-3,000 ppm). Hanging-wall felsic gneisses and nearby mafic gneisses and granites contain less than 3 ppm tin. Small nearby pegmatites contain 2 to 10 ppm tin.From textural evidence, phase equilibria calculations, and the lithologic distribution of tin, a model for the Geco deposit is developed in which the districtwide cordierite-gedrite gneisses represent one segment of the fossil hydrothermal system and in which Cu-Zn and Sn mineralizations are closely associated. Nigerite, hoegbomite, and spinel from Geco occupy distinct and characteristic (Zn, Fe, Mg, Mn) solid solution fields. Hence, these species, which are known to occur as detrital heavy minerals may be useful pathfinders in geochemical exploration for eroded volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits.
Using Wikipedia for Co-clustering Based Cross-Domain Text Classification

Traditional approaches to document classification requires labeled data in order to construct reliable and accurate classifiers. Unfortunately, labeled data are seldom available, and often too expensive to obtain. Given a learning task for which training data are not available, abundant labeled data may exist for a different but related domain. One would like to use the related labeled data as auxiliary information to accomplish the classification task in the target domain. Recently, the paradigm of transfer learning has been introduced to enable effective learning strategies when auxiliary data obey a different probability distribution. A co-clustering based classification algorithm has been previously proposed to tackle cross-domain text classification. In this work, we extend the idea underlying this approach by making the latent semantic relationship between the two domains explicit. This goal is achieved with the use of Wikipedia. As a result, the pathway that allows to propagate labels between the two domains not only captures common words, but also semantic concepts based on the content of documents. We empirically demonstrate the efficacy of our semantic-based approach to cross-domain classification using a variety of real data.
Pattern association and retrieval in a continuous neural system

This paper studies the behavior of a large body of neurons in the continuum limit. A mathematical characterization of such systems is obtained by approximating the inverse input-output nonlinearity of a cell (or an assembly of cells) by three adjustable linearized sections. The associative spatio-temporal patterns for storage in the neural system are obtained by using approaches analogous to solving space-time field equations in physics. A noise-reducing equation is also derived from this neural model. In addition, conditions that make a noisy pattern retrievable are identified. Based on these analyses, a visual cortex model is proposed and an exact characterization of the patterns that are storable in this cortex is obtained. Furthermore, we show that this model achieves pattern association that is invariant to scaling, translation, rotation and mirror-reflection.
A background layer model for object tracking through occlusion

Motion layer estimation has recently emerged as a promising object tracking method. In this paper, we extend previous research on layer-based tracker by introducing the concept of background occluding layers and explicitly inferring depth ordering of foreground layers. The background occluding layers lie in front of, behind, and in between foreground layers. Each pixel in the background regions belongs to one of these layers and occludes all the foreground layers behind it. Together with the foreground ordering, the complete information necessary for reliably tracking objects through occlusion is included in our representation. An MAP estimation framework is developed to simultaneously update the motion layer parameters, the ordering parameters, and the background occluding layers. Experimental results show that under various conditions with occlusion, including situations with moving objects undergoing complex motions or having complex interactions, our tracking algorithm is able to handle many difficult tracking tasks reliably.
Patterns of population differentiation of candidate genes for cardiovascular disease

The basis for ethnic differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) susceptibility is not fully understood. We investigated patterns of population differentiation (F ST ) of a set of genes in etiologic pathways of CVD among 3 ethnic groups: Yoruba in Nigeria (YRI), Utah residents with European ancestry (CEU), and Han Chinese (CHB) + Japanese (JPT). We identified 37 pathways implicated in CVD based on the PANTHER classification and 416 genes in these pathways were further studied; these genes belonged to 6 biological processes (apoptosis, blood circulation and gas exchange, blood clotting, homeostasis, immune response, and lipoprotein metabolism). Genotype data were obtained from the HapMap database. We calculated F ST for 15,559 common SNPs (minor allele frequency ≥ 0.10 in at least one population) in genes that co-segregated among the populations, as well as an average-weighted F ST for each gene. SNPs were classified as putatively functional (non-synonymous and untranslated regions) or non-functional (intronic and synonymous sites). Mean F ST values for common putatively functional variants were significantly higher than F ST values for nonfunctional variants. A significant variation in F ST was also seen based on biological processes; the processes of 'apoptosis' and 'lipoprotein metabolism' showed an excess of genes with high F ST . Thus, putative functional SNPs in genes in etiologic pathways for CVD show greater population differentiation than non-functional SNPs and a significant variance of F ST values was noted among pairwise population comparisons for different biological processes. These results suggest a possible basis for varying susceptibility to CVD among ethnic groups.
Realizing the full potential of silicon carbide power devices

Silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET power devices are expected to replace silicon IGBTs in power electronics applications requiring higher efficiency and power density, as well as capability to operate at higher temperatures. This paper reports on the development of high efficiency SiC power MOSFETs, power modules and switching converters at GE. The prototype 30A, 1200V discrete devices have on-resistance below 50 mΩ and the total switching energy of 0.6 mJ, offering performance superior to any competing 1200V devices. A back-to-back buck-boost converter was built using 15A MOSFETs and experimental results are presented. The 15A devices were also used for fabrication of 150A all-SiC modules. The modules have 10 mΩ on-resistance and the total switching energy is 3.3 mJ, both significantly better than competing designs. The results demonstrate the full potential of the SiC devices for power conversion applications.
A 20MS/s 5.6 mW 6b Asynchronous ADC in 0.6µm CMOS

The design of an N-comparator based asynchronous Successive Approximation Analog-to-Digital Converter(SAR ADC) is described (with N = 6) working at 20 MS/sand consuming only 5.6 mW for low power high speed applications like communication systems. Resetting the comparators in each conversion cycle is avoided (reducing power consumption compared to [1]) and only N latches are used overall (incl. comparator latches) for the output code. Further using only N comparators instead of 2^N − 1 as in [2], leads to huge savings in terms of area at comparable power consumption. For example, a saving of ~90% comparator area is achieved for the 6 bit ADC design when compared to the design in [2].
Toward a model of political participation among young adults: the role of local groups and ICT use

Civic engagement in politics and public affairs lies at the heart of participatory models of democracy [26]. Prior studies have found that politically interested citizens use information and communication technology (ICT) to facilitate and sometimes augment their political and civic engagement [17][8][29][15] [16][34][22][21]. In the areas of political expression and civic engagement support, local groups' ICTs play important roles for communication and information sharing [16]. Do these findings also apply to young adults in local groups? In particular, earlier research about young adults' political participation shows that they increasingly turn to ICT to gather political information and as a channel of engagement [31]. This study examines the interplay of individual and local group factors for young adults by using household survey data from the town of Blacksburg, VA and environs in 2005. In this research, we present findings about who these young adults are and what they are doing with ICT for political and civic engagement in local groups. Our findings show that local group affiliation is positively associated with online political and civic engagement among young adults. Furthermore, young adults who are affiliated with local groups are more likely to report that the Internet has helped them become more involved in local issues that interest them. For a more in depth investigation of young adults affiliated with local groups, this paper suggests a framework of multilevel analysis.
Issues in genetic testing for ultra-rare diseases: background and introduction.

Since 1994, at least three national advisory committees have addressed issues involving access to high-quality genetic testing for ultra-rare genetic diseases. These included the Institute of Medicine (1994), a National Institutes of Health-Department of Energy Task Force on Genetic Testing (1997), and the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing (2000). All identified the limited availability of high-quality testing for these rare diseases as a very high priority and a number of recommendations to improve access were made. However, little systematic progress was made as a direct result of these committee recommendations. Beginning in 2004, a series of national workshops on “Quality Laboratory Testing for Rare Diseases” was organized by a group of clinical laboratory directors experienced in rare disease testing working with the Centers for Disease Control and the Office of Rare Diseases at National Institutes of Health. These meetings included broad-based community involvement, with stakeholders from appropriate federal agencies, professional societies, patient advocacy groups as well as clinical geneticists and clinical genetics laboratory experts. Two successful outcomes of these workshops were the formation of a National Laboratory Network for Rare Disease Testing and a National Institutes of Health-funded program to aid in the translation of new genetic tests from research laboratories to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-certified diagnostic laboratories known as the Collaboration and Education in Test Translation program. This article briefly reviews the history and current status of genetic testing for ultra-rare genetic diseases in the United States, with a primary focus on molecular genetic testing by DNA sequencing. Other articles in this series provide more detailed reports on the significant progress in improving access to quality genetic testing for rare diseases within the last few years.
The Effect of Accidental Coincidences in Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography

An accidental coincidence is defined as the erroneous registration of two photons, originating from separate positron annihilations, as having originated from the same positron annihilation. Previous analyses which did not consider accidental coincidences indicated that for a certain radioactivity distribution a gain in image signal-to-noise ratio of about 5 dB is achieved by the time-of-flight method over the conventional method. Subsequent experiments have validated this prediction in low counting rate situations. For higher, typical counting rates these experiments showed a significantly larger gain of about 9 dB, which was attributed to the way in which the time-of-flight method suppresses the degrading effects of accidental coincidences. We present an analytical model, extended from a previous model, which considers accidental coincidences. Calculations of signal-to-noise ratio, using this model, compare well with the experiments and show that the additional gain is indeed due to the treatment of accidental coincidences. An understanding of the model leads to an intuitive explanation of the gain mechanism and a determination of an effective coincidence-timing window that is achieved by the time-of-flight method.
Predictors of Success for High School Students Enrolled in Online Courses in a Single District Program.

PREDICTORS OF SUCCESS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ONLINE COURSES IN A SINGLE DISTRICT PROGRAM By David T. Rankin A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013 Director: Jonathan D. Becker, J.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership The rapid growth in online learning opportunities and online courses in K-12 education is well documented in the literature. Studies conducted by various researchers that have focused on the K-12 population of online learners demonstrate that certain online learner characteristics and online learning environment characteristics may impact the likelihood of students passing or failing online courses. Research has produced models that predict online course success with measurable degrees of accuracy. This descriptive study examines characteristics of students enrolled in online high school courses provided by a virtual learning program administered by a single Virginia public school district. The study determined that students’ prior academic success; confidence in their technology skills and access to technology; confidence in their ability to achieve; and strong beliefs in their organizational skills proved to have a significant statistical relationship with online course success. The study developed a model with these factors that predicted success in online courses with a high degree of accuracy and predicted failure with a moderate degree of accuracy. The study has policy implications for public school leaders in Virginia as they implement recent state legislation requiring students to successfully complete a virtual course to graduate from public high school. The study indicates that additional research is warranted to further delineate learner and learning environment characteristics producing a model that more accurately predicts failure in online courses. Additional research is warranted with larger samples from single district virtual programs.
APPLICATION OF LOW TEMPERATURE HEAT TREATMENTS BEFORE RETORTING IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF CANNED POTATOES

Low temperature heat treatments applied to potatoes (cv Atlantic, Snowden, and Pike) prior to retorting were evaluated for their effect on sloughing in canned potatoes. Blanching in water for 30 min at 60 - 77C before retorting decreased potato breakage, brine turbidity, and brine soluble solids without adversely affecting firmness or color. Low temperature blanching was only effective when potatoes were retorted in CaCl 2 (0.1 %) brine solutions. Sloughing was also decreased by a hot-fill and hold process that utilized brine fill temperatures of 77 - 93C followed by a 30 min hold in CaCl 2 (0.1%) brine before commercial sterilization. The hot-fill and hold method for control of sloughing in canned potatoes is an improvement over current methods because it eliminates the need for a blanching step and requires only minimal changes in equipment or product flow.
CHILDREN'S LAWYERS IN CALIFORNIA FAMILY LAW COURTS

There simply is no dos-and-don'ts checklist that will address the myriad issues facing children's attorneys and eliminate the difficult questions that face them. Conscientious lawyering is the key to alleviating potential ethical culpability. This requires the commitment of significant time to learn about the child client and his or her special needs. Unique responses are often required to meet individual problems. Beyond that, attorneys for children are left to determine their own subjective criteria to guide their representation.1 The child is a person, not an object of concern.2
Simulation study of PEM Fuel cell and its dynamic characteristics

This paper presents a complete modeling and simulation work of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) in PSCAD/EMTDC. The PEMFC model is established according to some concise electrochemical equations. To verify this model, the static and dynamic characteristics are investigated respectively and simulation results are discussed in detail. As a base for future work, the developed model also shows a potential to study the control system of PEMFC stack as well. Some definite conclusions referred to the operation characteristic of PEMFC are summed up in the end of this paper.