cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Birds of a feather: a normative model of assessing consumers’ satisfaction in a generalized expectation–disconfirmation paradigm

Since consumers’ post-purchase behaviors directly indicate the extent of customer satisfaction (CS), these behaviors are relatively objective and can signal consumers’ attitudes toward the purchased product or service. Based on the basic expectation–disconfirmation paradigm, this article proposes a generalized model in evaluating CS by integrating equity, regret, and disappointment. Within this conceptual framework, CS can be assessed in a global manner so that different marketing mixes and strategies may take to meet consumers’ expectations effectively. In addition, by adopting weight and cluster to classify behaviors signaling-defined post-purchase emotional responses, this disappointment–regret–inequity disconfirmation framework and the post-purchase signal model is expected to compromise variables of chosen and forgone options with social exchange comparisons. One major benefit of this proposed post-purchase signal model is that it may partly overcome the shortcomings and reliability issues of self-report method with the measurement of CS in decomposed dimensions based on the occurred purchasing outcomes.
Optogenetic Evidence for a Direct Circuit Linking Nociceptive Transmission through the Parabrachial Complex with Pain-Modulating Neurons of the Rostral Ventromedial Medulla (RVM)

The parabrachial complex (PB) is a functionally and anatomically complex structure involved in a range of homeostatic and sensory functions, including nociceptive transmission. There is also evidence that PB can engage descending pain-modulating systems, the best characterized of which is the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). Two distinct classes of RVM neurons, "ON-cells" and "OFF-cells," exert net pronociceptive and anti-nociceptive effects, respectively. PB was recently shown to be a relay of nociceptive information to RVM ON- and OFF-cells. The present experiments used optogenetic methods in a lightly anesthetized rat and an adult RVM slice to determine whether there are direct, functionally relevant inputs to RVM pain-modulating neurons from PB. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that PB conveys direct glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs to RVM neurons. Consistent with this, in vivo recording showed that nociceptive-evoked responses of ON- and OFF-cells were suppressed by optogenetic inactivation of archaerhodopsin (ArchT)-expressing PB terminals in RVM, demonstrating that a net inhibitory input to OFF-cells and net excitatory input to ON-cells are engaged by acute noxious stimulation. Further, the majority of ON- and OFF-cells responded to optogenetic activation of channelrhodopsin (ChR2)-expressing terminals in the RVM, confirming a direct PB influence on RVM pain-modulating neurons. These data show that a direct connection from the PB to the RVM conveys nociceptive information to the pain-modulating neurons of RVM under basal conditions. They also reveal additional inputs from PB with the capacity to activate both classes of RVM pain-modulating neurons and the potential to be recruited under different physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
Spondyloarthropathies: TNF inhibitors and structural damage in ankylosing spondylitis.

Whether TNF inhibitors prevent structural damage in ankylosing spondylitis remains a controversial topic, as three prospective trials failed to show any evidence to support this notion. However, data are accumulating from retrospective analyses of well-characterized cohorts of patients that could provide the solution to this controversy.
Material aid for vaccines.

Darrell Irvine provides an overview of the recent advances in materials science that have enabled the use of innovative natural and synthetic compounds in vaccine development capable of regulating the potency and safety of new vaccines progressing towards the clinic.
Anaesthesia for surgical repair of oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula.

There appears to be no question about the advantages of endotracheal intubation in the administration of anaesthesia for the repair of oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula. Controlled respirations provide ideal working conditions when every advantage is needed for working in a small space. Ventilation is maintained even though there may be severe pulmonary disease. Minimal anaesthesia is required. Laryngeal oedema cannot be held as a deterrent with all the advantages to be gained. Finally, the anaesthesiologist is in a position to aid in the early diagnosis.
Geologic reports used in evaluation of nuclear reactor sites

More than a decade has passed since the earliest geologic reports relating to proposed nuclear reactor sites were completed. Then, guidelines were few, and the safety analysis was brief and general. Today, the geologic portions of Preliminary Safety Analysis Reports (PSARs) and Final Safety Analysis Reports (FSARs) are by requirement more complex. Through the cooperative efforts of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC; formerly the Atomic Energy Commission) and the American Nuclear Society, specific seismic and geologic criteria for nuclear plant sites and a standard format for the presentation of data have been developed. These standards and requirements have shifted the emphasis of power plant siting from one that considered mainly the economics of the site and its proximity to the service area, as in the case of fossil fuel plants, to one that gives important consideration to the geologic suitability of the site. Geologic studies of nuclear plant sites require a comprehensive exposition of the areal and structural geology, hydrology, and seismicity in addition to site exploration of engineering-geology and foundation characteristics, which are the major concerns in geologic studies for fossil fuel plants. For each site a design acceleration (g) value must be derived from studies of local andmore » regional geology and seismicity.« less
Continuously integrating security

Continuous deployment is a software engineering process where incremental software changes are automatically tested and frequently deployed to production environments. With continuous deployment, the elapsed time for a change made by a developer to reach a customer can now be measured in days or even hours. To understand the emerging practices surrounding continuous deployment, three annual one-day Continuous Deployment Summits have been held at Facebook, Netflix, and Google in 2015--2017, where 17 companies have described how they used continuous deployment. This short paper will describe the practices and environment used by these companies as they strive to develop secure and privacy-preserving products while making ultra-fast changes.
“We Had to Keep Pushing”: Caregivers' Perspectives on Autism Screening and Referral Practices of Black Children in Primary Care

Black children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are diagnosed later than their White peers, are more likely to be misdiagnosed, and are less likely to receive early intervention services or a developmental evaluation by three years old. Using a grounded theory approach, we solicited the perspectives of parents and other primary caregivers of Black children with ASD on barriers and facilitators to ASD screening and referrals in primary care. A socioeconomically diverse sample of 22 female caregivers participated. Four themes emerged. First, while some caregivers noted their child's primary healthcare providers facilitated a timely ASD diagnosis, other participants reported these providers ignored early concerns about child developmental delays. Second, many participants felt racial bias negatively impacted caregiver-primary healthcare provider interactions. Third, legal/custodial issues slowed caregivers' abilities to follow up on referrals from their primary healthcare providers. Finally, caregivers described denial, shame, and stigma relating to ASD in the Black community as possible factors for delayed follow up to referrals. Differences based on socioeconomic status are discussed. Efforts to improve family-centered, culturally relevant care for all Black caregivers raising children with or at-risk for ASD are needed, particularly for those families experiencing the multiple effects of poverty.
GASNet-EX: A high-performance, portable communication library for exascale

Partitioned Global Address Space (PGAS) models, typified by languages such as Unified Parallel C (UPC) and Co-Array Fortran, expose one-sided communication as a key building block for High Performance Computing (HPC) applications. Architectural trends in supercomputing make such programming models increasingly attractive, and newer, more sophisticated models such as UPC++, Legion and Chapel that rely upon similar communication paradigms are gaining popularity. GASNet-EX is a portable, open-source, high-performance communication library designed to efficiently support the networking requirements of PGAS runtime systems and other alternative models in future exascale machines. The library is an evolution of the popular GASNet communication system, building upon over 15 years of lessons learned. We describe and evaluate several features and enhancements that have been introduced to address the needs of modern client systems. Microbenchmark results demonstrate the RMA performance of GASNet-EX is competitive with several MPI-3 implementations on current HPC systems.
Syntax-guided synthesis of Datalog programs

Datalog has witnessed promising applications in a variety of domains. We propose a programming-by-example system, ALPS, to synthesize Datalog programs from input-output examples. Scaling synthesis to realistic programs in this manner is challenging due to the rich expressivity of Datalog. We present a syntax-guided synthesis approach that prunes the search space by exploiting the observation that in practice Datalog programs comprise rules that have similar latent syntactic structure. We evaluate ALPS on a suite of 34 benchmarks from three domains—knowledge discovery, program analysis, and database queries. The evaluation shows that ALPS can synthesize 33 of these benchmarks, and outperforms the state-of-the-art tools Metagol and Zaatar, which can synthesize only up to 10 of the benchmarks.
Group PCIT: Increasing access and leveraging positive parent pressure

Adapting PCIT to a group format is an innovative strategy to reach more families, especially in settings with workforce shortages. Another potential benefit for group PCIT includes the ability to promote peer support amongst the parents, which could increase engagement in care. This chapter will give an overview of efforts to date regarding the adaptation of PCIT to a group format. Research on group PCIT will be reviewed, highlighting a randomized-control trial that compared group PCIT and individual PCIT. This trial found that group PCIT has comparable clinical outcomes as individual PCIT, pointing towards its promise as a model to serve multiple families at the same time. Providing PCIT in a group format did not lead to differences in engagement outcomes. Other brief PCIT group models that have been implemented with parents will also be discussed, including evidence for providing group PCIT to incarcerated mothers and foster parents. An illustrative case example will describe the implementation of group PCIT, and the potential benefits and challenges of group PCIT will be discussed.
Stochastic multiscale modeling with random fields of material properties defined on nonconvex domains

Abstract A methodology to model and generate spatially dependent material uncertainties in stochastic multiscale analysis is proposed. The approach consists in defining non-Gaussian random fields through transport maps acting on Gaussian fields, defined by appropriately filtering a Gaussian white noise. In contrast to standard covariance-based representations, the proposed strategy can efficiently accommodate the case of fields with anisotropic correlation structures on nonconvex domains. This case is especially relevant to computational homogenization involving random microstructures with connected phases. The theoretical stochastic framework is first laid down. A numerical application associated with a polydisperse random microstructure is then presented to illustrate various aspects of the method.
Time-Dependent Dielectric Breakdown Under AC Stress in GaN MIS-HEMTs

We investigate time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) in AlGaN/GaN Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor High Electron Mobility Transistors (MIS-HEMTs) under forward bias AC stress which better emulates real-world operational conditions. To this end, we have performed TDDB experiments across a wide range of frequencies, temperatures, and recovery voltage levels. We find that TDDB under AC stress shows longer breakdown times than under DC stress and that this increase is more prominent with higher frequency, lower temperature, and more negative recovery voltage. We hypothesize that this is due to the dynamics of the gate stack in GaN MIS-HEMTs biased with a high positive gate voltage. Under these conditions, a second electron channel forms at the dielectric/AlGaN interface. This process is relatively slow as these electrons come from the 2DEG at the AlGaN/GaN interface and must overcome the energy barrier presented by the AlGaN. At the same gate voltage then, the electric field across the gate oxide is lower in magnitude under AC stress at high enough frequency than under DC stress explaining the obtained results.
Activin A receptor type 1-mediated BMP signaling regulates RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis via canonical SMAD-signaling pathway

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important mediators of osteoclast differentiation. Although accumulating evidence has implicated BMPs in osteoblastogenesis, the mechanisms by which BMPs regulate osteoclastogenesis remain unclear. Activin A receptor type 1 (ACVR1) is a BMP type 1 receptor essential for skeletal development. Here, we observed that BMP-7, which preferentially binds to ACVR1, promotes osteoclast differentiation, suggesting ACVR1 is involved in osteoclastogenesis. To investigate this further, we isolated osteoclasts from either Acvr1-floxed mice or mice with constitutively-activated Acvr1 (caAcvr1) carrying tamoxifen-inducible Cre driven by a ubiquitin promotor and induced Cre activity in culture. Osteoclasts from the Acvr1-floxed mice had reduced osteoclast numbers and demineralization activity, whereas those from the caAcvr1-mutant mice formed large osteoclasts and demineralized pits, suggesting that BMP signaling through ACVR1 regulates osteoclast fusion and activity. It is reported that BMP-2 binds to BMPR1A, another BMP type 1 receptor, whereas BMP-7 binds to ACVR1 to activate SMAD1/5/9 signaling. Here, Bmpr1a-disrupted osteoclasts displayed reduced phospho-SMAD1/5/9 (pSMAD1/5/9) levels when induced by BMP-2, whereas no impacts on pSMAD1/5/9 were observed when induced by BMP-7. In contract, Acvr1-disrupted osteoclasts displayed reduced pSMAD1/5/9 levels when induced either by BMP-2 or BMP-7, suggesting that ACVR1 is the major receptor for transducing BMP-7 signals in osteoclasts. Indeed, LDN-193189 and LDN-212854, which specifically block SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation, inhibited osteoclastogenesis of caAcvr1-mutant cells. Moreover, increased BMP signaling promoted nuclear translocation of nuclear factor–activated T-cells 1 (NFATc1), which was inhibited by LDN treatments. Taken together, ACVR1-mediated BMP–SMAD signaling activates NFATc1, a regulatory protein crucial for receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)–induced osteoclastogenesis.
Clinical Presentation, Etiology, Diagnostic Considerations, Treatment, and Results

VAAs are a rare entity; however, aneurysm rupture, which is the catastrophic complication, may lead to a mortality rate up to 90 % according to the location of the aneurysm. Timely diagnosis of VAA is the most important, and individualized treatment is tailored based on the symptoms and signs, size, location, anatomy, and etiology of the aneurysm, as well as patient’s surgical risk. Currently, there is no consensus regarding treatment guidelines. Asymptomatic patients with VAA 2.0 cm, and aneurysm with rapid increase in size ≥ 0.5 cm/year. Besides, due to the high risk of rupture, regardless of size or symptom, interventions are also recommended in female patient of childbearing age or pregnant and orthotopic liver transplant recipient who harbors an SAA patient with visceral branch aneurysms. Surgical repair includes excision of the VAA with or without revascularization or organ resection; endovascular therapy includes embolization and placement of covered stents. Regardless of the procedure performed, revascularization must be considered when there is inadequate or no collateral flow to maintain end-organ perfusion. Long-term results of open repair of VAAs are durable; endovascular treatment, as a promising alternative to open surgery especially in anatomically suitable and high risk patients, provides good short-term results; however, its long-term results are not yet well known. Follow-up data from randomized controlled trials and prospective studies are required to justify the treatment strategy for VAAs.
Evaluating the relationship between tooth color and enamel thickness, using twin flash photography, cross-polarization photography, and spectrophotometer.

Objectives To understand (a) the effects of labial enamel on tooth color (b) relationship of color data taken by nonpolarized (NP), cross-polarization photography (CP), and spectrophotometry (SP). Materials and methods Fifty extracted human maxillary incisors were coated with resin on their palatal surfaces. Their color was measured with NP, CP, and SP and their dimensions were scanned by an intraoral scanner. The labial enamel was removed using a modified selective enamel demineralization technique. Tooth dimensions and color were recorded again. The differences in the labial enamel thickness (ΔT) and color (∆E*00 and ∆L*, ∆a*, ∆b*) were statistically analyzed with the Pearson correlation coefficient and simple linear regression. Results In CP and SP methods, ΔT and ∆E*00 were weakly to moderately positively correlated (r = .38 and .27). In NP, CP, and SP methods, ∆T and ∆b* are weakly positively correlated (r = .27, .27 and .29). The color data of three measuring methods were highly positively correlated (r > .8). A linear relationship between ∆E*00 and ∆T were found (CP and SP groups). Conclusions (a) Thicker labial enamel has a greater impact on tooth color. (b) Reducing labial enamel thickness shifts the tooth color toward yellow. (c) Tooth color measured from the three methods were highly correlated. Clinical significance Knowing the relationship between enamel thickness and tooth color, a clinician can better predict the stump shade before tooth preparation. Due to the highly correlated measuring outcomes, it is reasonable to combine these three methods during shade matching.
Two decades of havoc: A synthesis of criticism against PISA

The Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) has become one of the most influential forces in global education. The growing influence has been accompanied by growing criticism. For nearly two decades since the first round of PISA was conducted in 2000, the global assessment program has been roundly scrutinized and criticized by education researchers all over the world. But the mounting criticism seems to have had little impact on PISA’s influence as evidenced by its growing power in global education policy and practice. The lack of impact of criticism does not mean the criticism is not valid or PISA has improved. It simply means that the criticism has been largely ignored. The lack of impact is no reason to give up exposing PISA as a flawed business that has great power to misguide education. The expanding influence of the PISA enterprise makes it more even more important to be critical of this juggernaut today. It is also important to consider more effective and more straightforward approaches to present the criticism. The purpose of this article is to present a summary of criticisms that reveal the most fundamental flaws of PISA in non-technical language in one place. Specifically, the article focuses on criticisms of PISA’s three fundamental deficiencies: its underlying view of education, its implementation, and its interpretation and impact on education globally.
Stromal Platelet–Derived Growth Factor Receptor-β Signaling Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis in the Brain

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRβ) is a receptor tyrosine kinase found in cells of mesenchymal origin such as fibroblasts and pericytes. Activation of this receptor is dependent on paracrine ligand induction, and its preferred ligand PDGFB is released by neighboring epithelial and endothelial cells. While expression of both PDGFRβ and PDGFB has been noted in patient breast tumors for decades, how PDGFB-to-PDGFRβ tumor-stroma signaling mediates breast cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis remains unclear. Here we demonstrate this paracrine signaling pathway that mediates both primary tumor growth and metastasis, specifically, metastasis to the brain. Elevated levels of PDGFB accelerated orthotopic tumor growth and intracranial growth of mammary tumor cells, while mesenchymal-specific expression of an activating mutant PDGFRβ (PDGFRβD849V) exerted proproliferative signals on adjacent mammary tumor cells. Stromal expression of PDGFRβD849V also promoted brain metastases of mammary tumor cells expressing high PDGFB when injected intravenously. In the brain, expression of PDGFRβD849V was observed within a subset of astrocytes, and aged mice expressing PDGFRβD849V exhibited reactive gliosis. Importantly, the PDGFR-specific inhibitor crenolanib significantly reduced intracranial growth of mammary tumor cells. In a tissue microarray comprised of 363 primary human breast tumors, high PDGFB protein expression was prognostic for brain metastases, but not metastases to other sites. Our results advocate the use of mice expressing PDGFRβD849V in their stromal cells as a preclinical model of breast cancer-associated brain metastases and support continued investigation into the clinical prognostic and therapeutic use of PDGFB-to-PDGFRβ signaling in women with breast cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: These studies reveal a previously unknown role for PDGFB-to-PDGFRβ paracrine signaling in the promotion of breast cancer brain metastases and support the prognostic and therapeutic clinical utility of this pathway for patients.See related article by Wyss and colleagues, p. 594.
Education Level and Self-rated Health in the United States: Immigrants’ Diminished Returns

Introduction: Although education is among the major socioeconomic status (SES) resources that influence populations’ and individuals’ health, social marginalization may reduce the health gain that follows access to SES indicators such as education, a pattern called marginalization-related diminished return (MDR). The literature on MDRs, however, has been mainly derived from studies that have defined marginalization based on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Thus, more research is needed on MDRs that may follow as a result of immigration. To extend what is known on immigration status related MDRs, this study compared a national sample of immigrants and non-immigrants for the effect of education on the poor self-rated health (SRH) of adults in the United States. Methods: With a cross-sectional design, this study employed data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a survey that had enrolled 33,654 adults who were either immigrants (n = 6225; 18.5%) or non-immigrants (n = 27 429; 81.5%). The independent variable was education level, treated as a categorical variable. The dependent variable was poor SRH treated as a dichotomous variable. Race, ethnicity, age, gender, marital status, and region were the confounders. Immigration (nativity) was the moderator. Logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results: Higher education credentials were associated with better SRH in the pooled sample; however, immigration showed a significant statistical interaction with education level (college graduation) on the outcome. This interaction was indicative of a smaller protective effect of college graduation on poor SRH among immigrants than non-immigrant adults. Conclusion: In line with the MDRs framework, the effect of education on SRH is weaker for immigrants than for non-immigrant adults. There is a need to help highly educated immigrants to mobilize their human capital to secure their best health outcomes, similar to non-immigrants. Such strategies may require bold and innovative policy solutions to reduce discrimination against immigrants, so they can more effectively translate their education and human capital into tangible outcomes such as health.
Recharging of Distributed Loads via Schedule Optimization with Autonomous Mobile Energy Assets

As the development and use of multi-agent autonomous systems increases for use in applications such as planetary exploration, military reconnaissance, or microgrid systems, optimized operations needs to be considered in order to maximize the utility of resources. In autonomous mobile systems, mission plans involving path planning, scheduling, and energy management are all of immense concern and priority in operations where energy resources are limited or scarce. An optimization method with the ability to allocate tasks is a valuable tool for use in these systems. Mobile microgrids, with the ability to adapt and reconfigure to better service electrical loads, requires this optimized mission planning. This paper proposes multiple algorithm optimization strategies of task allocation for energy assets in an autonomous mobile sub-microgrid system. The objective is to create an optimal mission plan to navigate to and recharge distributed and fixed electrical loads wirelessly, in order to extend and maximize their operational life. Data collection from sub-mission testing with a Clearpath Husky robotic unmanned ground vehicle is utilized for Monte Carlo simulations to better understand algorithm mission response to variable parameters. The novel results will show that the optimization approach and methods can be regarded as a reliable schedule optimization tool for this application of wireless recharging of loads/subsystems. The proposed approach can be extended to a multitude of applications in mission planning, involving different objectives such as recharging wireless sensor networks, unmanned aerial vehicles, or other UGVs to extend mission operation time.
A Low-complexity Tube Controller using Contractive Invariant Sets

The control of fast sampling systems in the presence of safety-critical constraints and uncertainty poses unique computational challenges. This paper presents a novel method for synthesizing low-complexity controllers with strong robustness properties by design, i.e., robust exponential stability and recursive feasibility. The proposed controllers are based on the notion of tubes (sequence of sets of states) that can be parametrized by a tube center and cross-section. By constructing a suitable polyhedral control Lyapunov function from invariant set theory, we show how to design the central tube path using a small-scale optimization problem. Furthermore, this optimization problem can be formulated as multiparametric linear program whose solution can be efficiently computed offline. The advantages of the proposed low-complexity controller are illustrated on a benchmark problem.
NOX2 inhibitor GSK2795039 metabolite identification towards drug optimization.

Abstract Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to several disease states, such as diabetic nephropathy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. One of the most studied mechanisms to inhibit the over production of ROS is the inhibition of NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes, which catalyze the conversion of cytoplasmic NADPH to NADP+, resulting in the formation of superoxide anions. GSK2795039 has been shown to selectively inhibit the NOX2 isoform, however, clearance of the compound was high in rats and mice. Therefore, identifying metabolic soft spots would be crucial in guiding the optimization process to improve its pharmacokinetic properties. GSK2795039 (10 μM) was incubated in the presence of mouse, rat and human liver microsomal (1 mg/mL) and cytosolic (2 mg/mL) fractions and appropriate co-factors, followed by MSe fragment analysis to identify metabolic soft spots. GSK2795039 showed marked species differences in its metabolism. The alkyl side chains and indoline moiety were the most common sites of biotransformation. The compound was identified to be an aldehyde oxidase substrate. Additionally, unique human metabolites were observed in vitro. Our study sheds light on structure optimization opportunities for developing improved NOX2 inhibitors, and it will help overcome the challenges involved in preclinical species selection for its safety evaluations.
Finite element approximation of the Levi-Civita connection and its curvature in two dimensions.

We construct finite element approximations of the Levi-Civita connection and its curvature on triangulations of oriented two-dimensional manifolds. Our construction relies on the Regge finite elements, which are piecewise polynomial symmetric (0,2)-tensor fields possessing single-valued tangential-tangential components along element interfaces. When used to discretize the Riemannian metric tensor, these piecewise polynomial tensor fields do not possess enough regularity to define connections and curvature in the classical sense, but we show how to make sense of these quantities in a distributional sense. We then show that these distributional quantities converge in certain dual Sobolev norms to their smooth counterparts under refinement of the triangulation. We also discuss projections of the distributional curvature and distributional connection onto piecewise polynomial finite element spaces. We show that the relevant projection operators commute with certain linearized differential operators, yielding a commutative diagram of differential complexes.
Functional Repair of Myelinated Fibers in the Spinal Cord by Transplantation of Glial Cells

Axons fulfill the essential role of conducting action potentials from the neuron’s re­ceptive pole, i.e., the dendrites and cell body, to synaptic terminals which impinge on other neurons. In myelinated axons the myelin provides a high-resistance, low-capacitance shield, and conduction occurs in a saltatory manner at a conduction velocity which is line­arly related to fiber diameter. In contrast, in non-myelinated fibers, the action potential propagates in a continuous manner, and conduction velocity is proportional to (diame­ter)1/2. The two conduction velocity-diameter relationships intersect so that, above a criti­cal diameter of 0.2 μm, myelinated axons conduct more rapidly than their non-myelinated counterparts of the same size (Waxman and Bennett, 1972). Myelination thus results, in practice, in an increase in conduction velocity. In axons that have sustained damage to their myelin sheaths (i.e., demyelinated axons), and in axons that have not acquired nor­mal myelin sheaths (i.e., dysmyelinated axons), conduction velocities are reduced com­pared to those of normally myelinated axons of the same diameter. In addition, the refractory period for transmission is increased in demyelinated axons (Smith et al., 1983) and the ability to conduct trains impulses at high frequencies is impaired (Honmou et al., 1996). In the most severely affected demyelinated fibers, conduction block occurs and ac­tion potentials fail to propagate beyond the region of myelin damage. These conduction abnormalities are known to be associated with clinical deficits (Waxman et al., 1995).
Quantum-bit rotations in single quantum dots: Rabi oscillations of excitons and biexcitons

Summary form only given. We use transient nonlinear optical spectroscopy to demonstrate Rabi oscillations between each of the dipole coupled states, corresponding to qubit rotations. The interface fluctuation GaAs quantum dots are probed with sub-micron spatial resolution. The resonant excitation of the biexciton requires a two-color scheme in a hyper Raman gain configuration. To demonstrate exciton Rabi oscillations, the laser wavelength is fixed at the exciton resonance. Exciton and biexciton Rabi oscillations correspond to qubit rotations of the |00> to |01> or |10> state and the |01> or |10> to |11> state respectively, depending on the polarization of the excitation field.
Rendering Pacioli's rhombicuboctahedron

We analyse the glass rhombicuboctahedron (RCO) appearing in a famous painting of Pacioli (1495), considering the extent to which it might agree with a physically correct rendering of a corresponding glass container half filled with water. This investigation shows that it is unlikely that the painter of the RCO was looking at such a physical object. We then ask what a proper rendering of such an object might look like. Our computer renderings, which take into account multiple internal and external reflections and refractions, yield visual effects that differ strongly from their depictions in the painting. Nevertheless, the painter of the RCO has clearly succeeded in providing a rendering that appears plausible and awe-inspiring to almost all observers.
Secularism and Muslim Democracy in Turkey

A book review of Hakan Yavuz’s Secularism and Muslim Democracy in Turkey, which explores the question whether political parties with deeply held religious ideologies can integrate themselves into liberal Democracy using the contemporary example of Turkey.
Covariogram, Examples of

Covariogram is a term for covariance function of a second-order process and is instrumental for spatial interpolation. This article provides some examples of isotropic covariograms for stationary-spatial processes that have been used in kriging. Keywords: covariogram; isotropy; kriging; spatial interpolation
Mercury budget of an upland-peatland watershed

Inputs, outputs, and pool sizes of total mercury (Hg) were measured in a forested 10 ha,watershed consisting of a 7 ha hardwood-dominated upland surrounding a 3 ha coniferdominated peatland. Hydrologic inputs via throughfall and stemflow, 13 +/- 0.4/ug m-2 yr-1 over the entire watershed, were about double precipitation inputs in the open and were significantly higher in the peatland than in the upland (19.6 vs. 9.8/ug m-2 yr-1). Inputs of Hg via litterfall were 12.3 +/- 0.7/ug m-2 yr-1,/sup> , not different in the peatland and upland (11.7 vs. 12.5 ug m-2 yr-1). Hydrologic outputs via streamflowwere 2.8 +/- 0.3/ug m-2 yr-1 and the contribution from the peatland was higher despite its smaller area. The sum of Hg inputs were less than that in the overstory trees, 33+/-3 ug m-2 above-ground, and much less than either that in the upland soil, 5250+/-520ug m-2, or in the peat, 3900+/-100ug m-2 in the upper 50cm. The annual flux of Hg measured in streamflow and the calculated annual accumulation in the peatland are consistent with values reported by others. A sink for Hg of about 20ug m-2 yr-1 apparently exists in the upland, and could be due to either or both storage in the soil or volatilization.
The Evolution of the US Advisory Effort in Viet Nam:: Lessons Learned

Accounts of human rights abuses and stories of shooting incidents have dominated the image of the private security industry in the media. Despite plenty of anecdotal evidence, to date there has been no empirical research analyzing whether there is a professional identity emerging among individuals who sign on with private security firms to assume roles traditionally reserved for the military. Using a survey of more than 200 American private security contractors with law enforcement backgrounds and operational experience in conflict regions, this research explores their social identities and examines the extent to which these identities shape their values, attitudes, and professional self-conceptions. It concludes with some preliminary recommendations for the future of outsourcing security functions to the private sector and the utility of using contractors in peace and stability operations.
Macromolecular insoluble cold globulin (MICG): a novel protein from mouse lymphocytes--II. T-cell origin of MICG and response to mitogens.

Abstract Macromolecular insoluble cold globulin (MICG) is synthesized selectively by mouse T-cells. In support of this conclusion is evidence derived from mitogenic stimulation of thymic and splenic lymphocytes. PHA and Con A stimulated a disproportionately large increase in MICG compared to total protein synthesis in spleen and thymus cells, while IgM synthesis in spleen cells only rose parallel with the increase in total protein synthesis. In LPS-treated spleen cells, MICG synthesis rose only in proportion to total protein. Therefore, selective enhancement of MICG synthesis, i.e. as a proportion of total protein synthesis, only occurred under conditions where T-cells were activated. In the presence of complement, antibody to MICG was cytotoxic to virtually all thymocytes and half of the spleen cells. Furthermore, antibody to MICG eliminated the mitogenic effect of PHA and Con A on spleen cells, while the response of these lymphocytes to LPS was normal. Cytotoxicity with antibody and complement also caused a significant diminution of MICG synthesis in spleen cells. Finally, isolated T-cells demonstrated a significant amount of MICG synthesis, while only a trace of MICG synthesis was atrributable to B-cells.
A computational study of residual KPP front speeds in time-periodic cellular flows in the small diffusion limit

Abstract The minimal speeds ( c ∗ ) of the Kolmogorov–Petrovsky–Piskunov (KPP) fronts at small diffusion ( ϵ ≪ 1 ) in a class of time-periodic cellular flows with chaotic streamlines is investigated in this paper. The variational principle of c ∗ reduces the computation to that of a principle eigenvalue problem on a periodic domain of a linear advection–diffusion operator with space–time periodic coefficients and small diffusion. To solve the advection dominated time-dependent eigenvalue problem efficiently over large time, a combination of spectral methods and finite element, as well as the associated fast solvers, are utilized to accelerate computation. In contrast to the scaling c ∗ = O ( ϵ 1 / 4 ) in steady cellular flows, a new relation c ∗ = O ( 1 ) as ϵ ≪ 1 is revealed in the time-periodic cellular flows due to the presence of chaotic streamlines. Residual propagation speed emerges from the Lagrangian chaos which is quantified as a sub-diffusion process.
Oscillator Strengths in N, N+,O and O+ Obtained from the First Order Theory of Oscillator Strengths (FOTOS)

While transitions of the type 1s22sm2pn → 1s22sm−12pn+1 can be reliably calculated for most multiply ionized systems1 results for neutral and singly ionized systems are more uncertain1. A second class of transitions presenting difficulties is those where a shell jump occurs. An example of the latter is the 2p4 3p-2p3 3s 3So resonance transition in O I for which the Restricted Hartree Fock (RHF) length value is .024, the velocity value .039 and the experimental value2,3 .048. Earlier work on this transition yielded no significant change of the RHF values.
Prediction-based object tracking algorithm with load balance for wireless sensor networks

Power efficiency is one of the major concerns of wireless sensor networks applications. Most existing power efficient routing algorithms for wireless sensor networks concentrates on finding efficient ways to forward data. Yet not much work has been done on collecting local data, tracking the detected objects, predicting the future motion, and then generating the data report. This paper presents the effect of object tracking prediction on power saving for wireless sensor networks. An object tracking prediction method, i.e., prediction-based object tracking algorithm with load balance (POTL) has been proposed to achieve significant power savings by reducing unnecessary transmission. Performance analysis, based on numerical analysis for one dimensional case, demonstrates that our scheme can dramatically reduce the power consumption and improve the lifetime of the overall network system.
Development of Sensitivity to Information Provided by Cast Shadows in Pictures

The shadow cast by an object in a two-dimensional picture can specify for the observer the spatial relations between that object and its surroundings, and also the shape and size of the object itself. Some sensitivity to this information is present even in three-year-old children. Experiment 1 provided evidence that three- and four-year-old children can rely on the shape of the shadow cast by an object to judge the shape of the object. In experiment 2, with adults and three- and four-year-old children, the location of the shadow cast by an object influenced the perceived depth and height off the ground plane of the object. Although even the three-year-old children were sensitive to the location of the cast shadows, there was evidence of improvement with age in judging the distance and size of the object. The three-year-olds were not able to judge the object's size when the location of the cast shadow provided the only differential information for size. In contrast, they were significantly better in judgin...
Replacement of Self-Assembled Monolayers of Di(phenylethynyl)benzenethiol on Au(111) by n-Alkanethiols

The replacement of self-assembled monolayers of Di(phenylethynyl)benzenethiol (1) on a Au(111) surface by immersion in n-alkanethiols solutions is followed ex situ using scanning tunneling microsco...
trp, a Novel Mammalian Gene Family Essential for Agonist-Activated Capacitative Ca2+ Entry

Abstract Capacitative calcium entry (CCE) describes Ca 2+ influx into cells that replenishes Ca 2+ stores emptied through the action of IP3 and other agents. It is an essential component of cellular responses to many hormones and growth factors. The molecular basis of this form of Ca 2+ entry is complex and may involve more than one type of channel. Studies on visual signal transduction in Drosophila led to the hypothesis that a protein encoded in trp may be a component of CCE channels. We report the existence of six trp -related genes in the mouse genome. Expression in L cells of small portions of these genes in antisense orientation suppressed CCE. Expression in COS cells of two full-length cDNAs encoding human trp homologs, Htrp1 and Htrp3, increased CCE. This identifies mammalian gene products that participate in CCE. We propose that trp homologs are subunits of CCE channels, not unlike those of classical voltage-gated ion channels.
Temperature Dependence of the Electron Density of States and dc Electrical Resistivity of Disordered Binary Alloys

A model calculation of the temperature dependence of the electronic density of states and the electrical conductivity of disordered binary alloys, based on the coherent-potential approximation is made by introducing thermal disorder in the single-band model (Velicky and others). Thermal disorder is found to broaden and smear the static-alloy density of states. The electrical resistivity in weak-scattering alloys always increases with temperature. However, in the strong-scattering case, the temperature coefficient of resistivity can be positive, zero, or negative, depending on the location of the Fermi energy.-
The plight of software engineers: An examination of people who will have the whole world at their fingertips

Those of you now preparing to be software engineers will be the architects of computer systems which will profoundly influence life in the early twenty-first century. You will face challenges as large as those that brought us railroads, airplanes, and space travel. And as in all engineering disciplines, acceptable trade-offs will have to be made among economic factors, the laws of nature, and concern for safe and practical end results.
Summated response of the retina to light entering different parts of the pupil.

Contradictory additivity data of previous investigators, defined as the summated response of the retina to light entering different parts of the pupil, have led to an intensive study of variables inherent in these measurements. The experimental results have demonstrated that the Maxwellian and the ordinary type of viewing may be used interchangeably in Stiles-Crawford and additivity effect experiments. The experiments conducted in this research have revealed that additivity data are affected by at least the following two factors: the Stiles-Crawford effect and the blur of the retinal image. When blur is eliminated in additivity studies, the Stiles-Crawford effect does not reduce perceived brightness as much as might be predicted. The blur effect, caused by ocular aberrations, spherical and chromatic aberrations in particular, is a variable dependent upon the observer. This variability is thought to account for the several discrepancies in the data found in the literature. Experiments concerning the effect of blur on perceived brightness have been completed. It was shown that blur reduces perceived brightness of a field, and the degree of the reduction is dependent upon the test method.
Creating low consumer product expectations

Abstract The introduction of generic grocery products brought warnings from trade observers that retailers might suffer negative consequences from consumer dissatisfaction with these products. This study investigated consumer expectations and the degree of satisfaction provided consumers by one category of generic products. The study also examined some relationships between the creation of these satisfaction levels and appropriate retail strategies. The study consisted of 320 homemakers evaluating the effect on posttrial satisfaction of positive and negative disconfirmation of expectations concerning generic peaches. The findings suggest that positive disconfirmation increased satisfaction ratings, whereas negative disconfirmation decreased satisfaction ratings. The relationship between merchandising techniques utilized on generic products and consumers' formation of expectations as observed in the study indicates that, in terms of creating satisfaction, promotion of generic products with essentially negative cues has been appropriate.