cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting activated carbon-based catalysts for selective hydrogen sulfide oxidation

The primary product of coal gasification processes is synthesis gas (syngas), a mixture of CO, H2, CO2, H2O and a number of minor components. Among the most significant minor components in syngas is hydrogen sulfide (H2S). In addition to its adverse environmental impact, H2S poisons the catalysts and hydrogen purification membranes, and causes severe corrosion in gas turbines. Technologies that can remove H2S from syngas and related process streams are, therefore, of considerable practical interest. To meet this need, we work towards understanding the mechanism by which prospective H2S catalysts perform in simulated fuel gas conditions. Specifically, we show that for low-temperature gas clean-up (∼140°C) using activated carbon fibers and water plays a significant role in H2S binding and helps to prolong the lifetime of the material. Basic surface functional groups were found to be imperative for significant conversion of H2S to daughter compounds, whereas metal oxides (La and Ce) did little to enhance thi...
An 80 day X-ray light curve of 3C 371

The Large Area Sky Survey (LASS) experiment on HEAO 1 that monitored the N galaxy/BL Lacertae object 3C 371 from August 19 to November 7, 1977 is discussed, noting that statistically significant threefold or larger intensity variations were observed in the flux range 0.5-20 keV. It is found that the degree of variability depends on the time of observation, with the source sometimes appearing constant and sometimes changing on time scales of 1 to 2 weeks. Also observed was an X-ray flare that lasted approximately 25 days. The total 80-day X-ray light curve is seen as suggesting either a superposition of X-ray flares or a variable injection rate that changes on weekly time scales. The observed X-ray flux is found to be consistent with that expected by extrapolating the nonthermal optical spectrum, suggesting that the optical to X-ray flux could be synchrotron radiation, provided that it is possible to account for the patterns of variability seen at optical and X-ray wavelengths and to dispose of inverse Compton difficulties.
A cytochemical study of the livers of rats treated with diethylnitrosamine/phenobarbital, with benzidine/phenobarbital, with phenobarbital, or with clofibrate.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with clofibrate (CLOF) in the diet for 2 years or with 4 i.p. injections of either diethylnitrosamine (DEN) or benzidine (BZ) followed by phenobarbital (PB) in the diet for 67 weeks, or just with PB for 41 weeks. Animals were killed at frequent intervals, some while still on treatment and others after 3 or 6 months withdrawal of treatment. The livers were subjected to cytochemical measurements of the parenchyma, foci, nodules and carcinomas. The parenchyma of the CLOF groups showed, in general, increases in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD), alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPD), 5'-nucleotidase (5'-Nu), acid phosphatase (AP) and catalase and decreases in uricase and glutathione (GSH). CLOF induced a low incidence of GSH positive foci; nodules showed universally lower levels of catalase and GSH. In the DEN/PB and BZ/PB groups the parenchyma showed increases (even before PB treatment started) in G-6PD and in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and decreases in GSH. DEN raised and BZ lowered 5'-Nu. Neither initiator affected alpha-GPD. Both initiators caused a high incidence of foci positive for G-6PD and for gamma-GT; nodules induced by DEN/PB were mainly positive for gamma-GT and showed an erratic response to the other parameters. Carcinomas, found only after DEN/PB, were all positive for G-6PD and, with one exception, all were negative for alpha-GPD, 5'-Nu, AP and GSH. All changes regressed within 3 months of withdrawal of CLOF but not after withdrawal of PB from DEN-initiated animals. In conclusion G-6PD, alpha-GPD and 5'-Nu may be useful histocytochemical parameters for studying the precarcinogenic hepatic changes and nodules induced by peroxisome proliferators and by genotoxic hepatocarcinogens.
Chemically Responsive Nanoporous Pigments: Colorimetric Sensor Arrays and the Identification of Aliphatic Amines

A general method has been developed for the preparation of microspheres of nanoporous pigments, their formulation into chemically responsive pigment inks, and the printing of these inks as colorimetric sensor arrays. Using an ultrasonic-spray aerosol-gel synthesis from chemically responsive dyes and common silica precursors, 16 different nanoporous pigment microspheres have been prepared and characterized. New colorimetric sensor arrays have been created by printing inks of these chemically responsive pigments as primary sensor elements; these arrays have been successfully tested for the detection, identification, and quantitation of toxic aliphatic amines. Among 11 structurally similar amines, complete identification of each analyte without confusion was achieved using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Furthermore, visual identification of ammonia gas was easily made at the IDLH (immediately dangerous to life or health), PEL (permissible exposure limits), and 0.1 PEL concentrations with high reproducibility.
Impaired TNF-α control of IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release in Alzheimer's disease mouse neurons

The misguided control of inflammatory signaling has been previously implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a central mediator of neuroinflammation, occurs commensurate with the onset of early disease in 3xTg-AD mice, which develop both amyloid plaque and neurofibrillary tangle pathologies in an age- and region-dependent pattern. Herein, we describe regulation inherent to 3xTg-AD neurons, which results in the loss of TNF-alpha mediated enhancement of inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3R)-mediated Ca2+ release. This modulation also leads to significant down-regulation of IP3R signaling following protracted cytokine exposure. Through the experimental isolation of each AD-related transgene, it was determined that expression of the PS1M146V transgene product is responsible for the loss of the TNF-alpha effect on IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release. Furthermore, it was determined that the suppression of TNF-alpha receptor expression occurred in the presence of the presenilin transgene. Our findings attribute this familial AD mutation to suppressing a Ca2+-regulated signal cascade potentially intended to "inform" neurons of proximal neuroinflammatory events and trigger compensatory responses for protection of neural transmission.
Tracking a maneuvering target in spherical coordinates

This paper presents an Extended Kalman Filter for tracking a maneuvering target, where the kinematics of a typical target aircraft maneuver have been incorporated into the filter state equations. Such a formulation allows the target's motion to be accurately determined through estimation of heading and lateral acceleration. This is an improvement over the the typical approach of modeling target motion with acceleration terms represented by random processes, such as that used in the Singer model. In the following pages, a three-dimensional target maneuver model is formulated in conjunction with the kinematic equations of a sensor tracking a target in spherical coordinates. Three degree-of-freedom simulation results of the proposed filter, simplified for planar target maneuvers, are compared to a filter modeling target motion with the Singer model.
Children of migratory agricultural workers: the ecological context of acute care for a mobile population of immigrant children

Abstract Migratory and seasonal agricultural workers fill the labor needs of United States farmers. Although migrant workers are a culturally and ethnically diverse population, presently, they are predominantly immigrants of Hispanic ethnicity. Migrant farm workers are increasingly young, financially impoverished, male, undocumented immigrants from Mexico. Families with children constitute 45% of this population. The ecological context of migrant children’s lives is characterized by poverty, social isolation, heightened inter- and intra-national mobility, limited protections from occupational safety and health legislation, and health access barriers. Moreover, the linkage of citizenship and immigration status to the receipt of public insurance and selected social services benefits has the potential to increase access barriers for migrant workers and their families. Despite these obvious vulnerabilities, few health services research studies address this population. Most of what is known relates to adults, with very little known about migrant children’s health services utilization patterns or health morbidities. In the emergency department setting, the differential approach required to care for children, as compared to adults, must be modified further in order to address the unique needs of this vulnerable population. The effective delivery of acute care to the children of migratory agricultural workers requires awareness of and attention to their unique health access barriers, issues of continuity and compliance with care, and their unique health and injury risks.
A Genome-Wide Map of Conserved MicroRNA Targets in C. elegans

Background: Metazoan miRNAs regulate protein-coding genes by binding the 3′ UTR of cognate mRNAs. Identifying targets for the 115 known C. elegans miRNAs is essential for understanding their function. Results: By using a new version of PicTar and sequence alignments of three nematodes, we predict that miRNAs regulate at least 10% of C. elegans genes through conserved interactions. We have developed a new experimental pipeline to assay 3′ UTR-mediated posttranscriptional gene regulation via an endogenous reporter expression system amenable to high-throughput cloning, demonstrating the utility of this system using one of the most intensely studied miRNAs, let-7. Our expression analyses uncover several new potential let-7 targets and suggest a new let-7 activity in head muscle and neurons. To explore genome-wide trends in miRNA function, we analyzed functional categories of predicted target genes, finding that one-third of C. elegans miRNAs target gene sets are enriched for specific functional annotations. We have also integrated miRNA target predictions with other functional genomic data from C. elegans. Conclusions: At least 10% of C. elegans genes are predicted miRNA targets, and a number of nematode miRNAs seem to regulate biological processes by targeting functionally related genes. We have also developed and successfully utilized an in vivo system for testing miRNA target predictions in likely endogenous expression domains. The thousands of genome-wide miRNA target predictions for nematodes, humans, and flies are available from the PicTar website and are linked to an accessible graphical network-browsing tool allowing exploration of miRNA target predictions in the context of various functional genomic data resources.
Patterns of labor mobility in a dual economy: The case of semiskilled and unskilled workers☆

Abstract The focus of recent stratification research demonstrates increasing recognition of the structured nature of social inequality. Among the forms these efforts have taken has been the development of a number of models drawing attention to the importance of various labor market decisions or cleavages. The crucial role which restricted labor mobility must play in maintaining these cleavages, while largely untested, has long been recognized. We argue that analysis of the patterns of job sequencing can be used to draw important inferences regarding the existence and character of labor market structures. From this premise, we use job transition data to test a number of propositions derived from dual economy theory, relating to the extent of intersectoral moves and the patterns of intersectoral and intrasectoral moves. Using log-linear methods, we find the hypothesized restricted evidence of intersectoral job shifts and also find patterns of intrasectoral moves indicative of the pervasiveness of rigidly structured internal labor markets in the core. While these results are consistent with a dualistic interpretation, they are equally as consistent with any model emphasizing the existence of strong intrafirm and intraindustry job structures.
BLOCKADE OF CONTRALATERAL CAROTID SINUS NERVE ENHANCES IPSILATERAL NERVE ACTION POTENTIAL UNDER HALOTHANE ANAESTHESIA

In 10 dogs, one carotid sinus was isolated from the systemic circulation without disturbing its sympathetic innervation. The isolated sinus was connected to a servo-controlled pressure generator which kept mean intrasinus pressure, pulse pressure, and frequency of pulsation constant. The carotid sinus baroreceptor nerve action potentials (NAP) were measure, together with the intransinus and systemic pressures. Following control measurements, the end-tidal concentrations of halothane in oxygen were varied between 0.0 and 2%, in randon increments of 0.5%, each with 30 min of stabilization. The carotid sinus NAP response to halothane was biphasic in a dose-dependent manner. The series was repeated after neural blockade of the contralateral sinus with 1% lignocine 2–3 ml. This blockade enhanced all NAP responses (P
Comparison of Oral Prednisone and Prednisone Combined with Metronidazole for Induction Therapy of Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized‐Controlled Trial

Background Although prednisone and metronidazole are commonly used to treat canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), no randomized-controlled trials have been performed. Hypothesis Combination drug therapy with prednisone and metronidazole will be more effective than prednisone alone for treatment of canine IBD. Reduction in disease severity will be accompanied by decreased canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI) scores and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Animals Fifty-four pet dogs diagnosed with IBD of varying severity. Methods Dogs were randomized to receive oral prednisone (1 mg/kg; n = 25) or prednisone and metronidazole (10 mg/kg; n = 29) twice daily for 21 days. Clinical (CIBDAI) scores and serum CRP were determined at diagnosis and after 21 days of drug therapy. The primary efficacy measure was remission at 21 days, defined as a 75% or greater reduction in baseline CIBDAI score. Results Differences between treatments in the rate of remission (both exceeding 80%) or the magnitude of its change over time were not observed. CRP concentrations in prednisone-treated dogs were increased because of many dogs having active disease. Both treatments reduced CRP in comparison with pretreatment concentrations. An interaction between CIBDAI and CRP was identified in 42 of 54 dogs (78%), whereas 8 of 54 dogs (15%) showed disagreement between these indices. Conclusions and clinical importance Prednisone is as effective as combined treatment with prednisone and metronidazole for induction therapy of canine IBD. CRP may be normal or increased in dogs with IBD and may be useful in assessing the response of individual dogs to treatment along with changes in the CIBDAI.
Interactive visualization of a high-resolution reconstruction of the Moon

In recent years, we have witnessed accelerated developments in digital photography and spacecraft technology. current spaceborne and airborne platforms can generate several hundred high-resolution images very quickly. Although these platforms can easily produce enormous image data sets on the order of hundreds of Gbytes or several Tbytes, the interactive visualization of such large image databases is still a long and tedious process. Today's visualization systems strictly limit the number and size of images that can be displayed. Clearly, the efficient visual exploration and analysis of this type of data requires interactivity.
A coherence encoding method for optical switching, encryption, and arithmetic ☆

The concept of coherence encoding, as used for direct image transmission through optical fibers, is used to implement an optical switch which simultaneously has arithmetic and encryption capabilities. The device can operate in free space or through a single-mode fiber link. The coherence encoding switch is analyzed and computer simulation and experimental results are presented.
Children's humor: Implications for teaching

Humorous play appears to enhance the development of young children. Major characteristics of early humor based on the child's level of developmental mastery, are described in an extensive review of the literature. Characteristics of playfulness, experimentation, and incongruous comparisons are discussed as well as, the area of social conditions comprised of safety cues, play cues, group contagion and playful models. A conceptual model of humorous play is proposed to portray the interaction of major characteristics as children engage in their humorous productions. Teachers may use the Humorous Play Assessment Chart presented in the paper to help determine the extent areas of their own early childhood programs foster humorous play.
Biomechanics as a basis for management of intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus

This article presents a critical examination of biomechanics studies in the literature that could shed light on or contribute to the development of methods of managing intra-articular calcaneal fractures. An appreciation and understanding of such studies is predicated on a sound knowledge of a number of germane topics: the anatomy of the normal calcaneus, the pathomechanics of the calcaneus, fracture-classification schemes, and fracture-management methods. The first part of this review presents overviews of these topics. The biomechanics studies are then reviewed in detail. The article concludes with a description of research areas that might close the gaps identified in these studies.
Thwarting the renewal (relapse) of conditioned fear with the explicitly unpaired procedure: Possible interpretations and implications for treating human fears and phobias

Abstract In three experiments using the barpress conditioned suppression task with albino rats, we studied the renewal (relapse) of conditioned fear in an ABA fear-renewal paradigm. We found that explicitly unpaired (EU) deliveries of conditioned stimuli (CSs) and unconditioned stimuli (USs) in Context B thwarted fear renewal in Context A. Evidence contraindicated a suggestion by Rauhut, Thomas, and Ayres (2001) that US habituation plays a key role in this effect. For example, renewal was thwarted only when EU CSs and USs were intermingled rather than given in succession. The possibility that EU treatments thwart renewal by creating a CS that inhibits fear in the test context also received no support. Thus, summation and retardation tests in Context A found no evidence that the EU CS became inhibitory, finding instead evidence for a residual excitation. Other possible interpretations of the results and some implications for clinical practice are noted.
Approval voting with endogenous candidates

Abstract We present a formal model of political competition under approval voting which allows for endogenous candidate entry. Our analysis yields a number of novel insights. First, we develop a notion of sincere voting behavior under approval voting, called relative sincerity . We then show that the relatively sincere voting behavior is consistent with the strategic calculus of voting. Second, we show that in a one-dimensional model with distance preferences, equilibria in relatively sincere strategies and without spoiler candidates always generate outcomes close to the median voter. Moreover, approval voting satisfies Duverger's Law in the sense that there are at most two winning positions! Finally, we extend our analysis to arbitrary policy spaces. In the general setting, approval voting is shown to be susceptible to the same kinds of problems as the plurality rule, such as the possibility of non-majoritarian outcomes, failure to elect the Condorcet winner and existence of spoiler candidates.
Psychometric evaluation of the eating disorder examination and eating disorder examination-questionnaire: a systematic review of the literature.

Objective The purpose of this study was to systematically review the reliability of scores on the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and to examine the validity of their use as measures of eating disorder symptoms.
Multiscale control of flooding and riparian-forest composition in Lower Michigan, USA

Despite general agreement that river-valley hydrology shapes riparian ecosystems, relevant processes are difficult to distinguish and often inadequately specified in riparian studies. We hypothesize that physical constraints imposed by broad-scale watershed characteristics and river valleys modify local site conditions in a predictable and probabilistic fashion. To test this hypothesis, we employ a series of structural equations that decompose occurrence of riparian ecotypes into regional temperature, catchment storm response, valley hydraulics, and local site wetness via a priori specification of factor structure and ask (1) Is there evidence for multiscale hydrologic control of riparian diversity across Lower Michigan? (2) Do representations of key constraints on flood dynamics distinguish regional patterns of riparian vegetation? (3) How important are these effects? Cross-correlation among geospatial predictors initially obscured much of the variation revealed through analysis of semipartial variance. Causal relationships implied by our model fit with observed variation in riparian conditions (chi-square P = 0.43) and accounted for between 84% and 99% of the occurrence probability of five riparian ecotypes at 94 locations. Results suggest strong variation in the effects of regional climate, and both the relative importance and spatial scale of hydrologic factors influencing riparian vegetation through explicit quantification of relative flood frequency, duration, intensity, and relative overall inundation. Although climate and hydrology are not the only determinants of riparian conditions, interactions of hydrologic sourcing and flood dynamics described by our spatial models drive a significant portion of the variation in riparian ecosystem character throughout Lower Michigan, USA.
When Federal and State Systems Converge: Foreign National Human Trafficking Victims Within Juvenile and Family Courts

This article highlights the concerns facing foreign national children who are both victims of human trafficking and under the jurisdiction of juvenile and family courts. Human trafficking is modern day slavery in which individuals, including children, are compelled into service and exploited. Foreign national human trafficking victims in juvenile and family court systems must navigate both the state system and a complex federal immigration system. This article explains the federal benefits available to these children and identifies the best practice approaches for juvenile and family court systems to increase identification of and support for foreign national child trafficking victims.
Damping of flexural vibration by coupling to low-density granular materials

Heavy structures (such as machine-tool bases) are sometimes filled with granular materials (such as sand, gravel, or lead shot) to increase their damping. Traditionally, relatively dense granular fills have been selected for such applications in order to obtain strong coupling between the structure and the granular material. But recent experiments indicate that a low-density granular fill can provide high damping of structural vibration if the speed of sound in the fill is sufficiently low. We describe a set of experiments in which aluminum beams are filled with a granular material whose total mass is three per cent of that of the unfilled beam and damping coefficients as high as 0.04 are obtained. The experiments indicate that the damping at high frequencies is essentially a linear phenomenon. We present a simple model that qualitatively explains the essentially linear high-frequency damping observed in the experiments.
Romans 1.1-5 and Paul’s Christological Use of Hab. 2.4 in Rom. 1.17: An Underutilized Consideration in the Debate

Romans 1.1-5 provides contextual evidence that Paul cites Hab. 2.4 in Rom. 1.17 as a reference to Christ. Within the rhetorically and epistolographically significant expansion of the letter opening, Rom. 1.1-5 introduces the  as being about Christ and, more specifically, his resurrection – as promised beforehand ‘through the prophets in the holy writings’. Given certain recognizable correspondences between 1.1-5 and 1.16-17 and Paul’s continued association of Christ with the gospel in 1.9, Rom. 1.1-5 prepares the reader to hear  in 1.17 as a prophetic reference to Christ, the Righteous One who will live because of his faithfulness.
Effects of exploitation on an overabundant species: the lesser snow goose predicament.

Summary 1. Invasive and overabundant species are an increasing threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning world-wide. As such, large amounts of money are spent each year on attempts to control them. These efforts can, however, be thwarted if exploitation is compensated demographically or if populations simply become too numerous for management to elicit an effective and rapid functional response. 2. We examined the influence of these mechanisms on cause-specific mortality in lesser snow geese using multistate capture–reencounter methods. The abundance and destructive foraging behaviours of snow geese have created a trophic cascade that reduces (sub-) Arctic plant, insect and avian biodiversity, bestowing them the status of ‘overabundant’. 3. Historically, juvenile snow geese suffered from density-related degradation of their saltmarsh brood-rearing habitat. This allowed harvest mortality to be partially compensated by nonharvest mortality (process correlation between mortality sources: q = � 0� 47; 90% BCI: � 0� 72 to � 0� 04). Snow goose family groups eventually responded to their own degradation of habitat by dispersing to non-degraded areas. This relaxed the pressure of density dependence on juvenile birds, but without this mechanism for compensation, harvest began to have an additive effect on overall mortality (q =0 � 60; 90% BCI: � 0� 06 to 0� 81). In adults, harvest had an additive effect on overall mortality throughout the 42-year study (q =0 � 24; 90% BCI: � 0� 59 to 0� 67). 4. With the aim of controlling overabundant snow geese, the Conservation Order amendment to the International Migratory Bird Treaty was implemented in February of 1999 to allow for harvest regulations that had not been allowed since the early 1900s (e.g. a spring harvest season, high or unlimited bag limits and use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns). Although harvest mortality momentarily increased following these actions, the increasing abundance of snow geese has since induced a state of satiation in harvest that has driven harvest rates below the long-term average. More aggressive actions will thus be needed to halt the growth and spread of the devastating trophic cascade that snow geese have triggered. 5. Our approach to investigating the impacts of population control efforts on cause-specific mortality will help guide more effective management of invasive and overabundant species world-wide.
Climate isn’t everything: Competitive interactions and variation by life stage will also affect range shifts in a warming world

 Premise of the study: The extent to which climate controls species’ range limits is a classic biological question that is particularly relevant given anthropogenic climate change. While climate is known to play a role in species distributions, biotic interactions such as competition also affect range limits. Furthermore, climatic and biotic controls of ranges may vary in strength across life stages, implying complex range shift dynamics with climate change.  Methods: We quantifi ed climatic and competitive infl uences on growth of juvenile and adult trees of three conifer species on Mt. Rainier, Washington, United States. We collected annual growth data of these trees, which we compared to the competitive environment and annual climate (100 years of data) experienced by each individual.  Key results: We found that the relationships between growth and climate and between growth and competition differed by life stage and location. Growth was sensitive to heavy snowpack and cold temperatures at high elevation upper limits (treeline), but growth was poorly explained by climate in low elevation closed-canopy forests. Competitive effects on growth were more important for saplings than adults, but did not become more important at either upper or lower range limits.  Conclusions: In all, our results suggest that range shifts under climate change will differ at leading vs. trailing edges. At treeline, warmer temperatures will lead to increased growth and likely to range expansion. However, climate change will have less dramatic effects in low elevation closed-canopy forest communities, where growth is less strongly limited by climate, especially at young life stages.
The canid genome: behavioral geneticists' best friend?

We review a range of studies on the genetic contribution to behavior in canid species. We begin by identifying factors that make canids a promising model in behavioral genetics and proceed to review research over the last decade that has used canids to identify genetic contributions to behavior. We first review studies that have selectively bred dogs to identify genetic contributions to behavior and then review studies that estimate heritability from populations of non-laboratory bred dogs. We subsequently review studies that used molecular genetics to identify gene–behavior associations and note associations that have been uncovered. We then note challenges in canid behavioral genetics research that require further consideration. We finish by suggesting alternative phenotyping methods and identify areas in which canids may have as yet unexploited advantages, such as in gene–environment interaction studies where genetic factors are found to moderate the effects of environmental variables.
Design space exploration for 3D integrated circuits

Three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC) is emerging as an attractive option for overcoming the barriers in interconnect scaling, thereby offering an opportunity to continue performance improvements using CMOS technology. 3D IC offers the advantages of high performance, low power, smaller form-factor, and heterogeneous integration benefits. However, to enable the wide adoption of the 3D integration technology, there exist many challenges that need to be addressed. First, cost analysis at the early design stage to help the decision making on whether 3D integration should be used for the application is very critical. EDA design tools are the key to enable effective 3D IC designs; design space exploration at the architecture design is also important to fully take advantages that 3D offers. This article provides a tutorial on the design tools and methodologies to help design space exploration in 3D IC designs.
Three-dimensional time-slice migration

Three‐dimensional migration of zero‐offset data using a velocity varying with depth can be performed in one pass using Fourier transforms of time slices. The migration process is carried out entirely in the two‐dimensional spatial Fourier domain. The algorithm consecutively filters and adds time slices of the 3-D data volume in a way that is equivalent to summing energy over the diffraction surface of a point scatterer. The partial energy being distributed along a circle in a time slice is properly added in each summation step. Time‐slice migration is based on an integral solution of the acoustic wave equation known as the “Kirchhoff integral.” The wavelet shape in a 3-D data volume is preserved throughout the entire migration process. The frequency characteristics are maintained by summing weighted differences between time slices instead of summing the time slices themselves. Automatic weighting is achieved by time slicing at equal increments of diffraction radius. Tapering the summation operator reduces...
RESIDUAL CLOSENESS AND GENERALIZED CLOSENESS

In the last few years a new definition for closeness has been established because of the ability to measure not connected graphs and the possibility to create convenient formulas for calculations. Based on this definition a new, more sensitive measure for network vulnerability is created - residual closeness. The residual closeness utilizes closeness received after the removal of a link or a vertex and its links. In this article some formulas for easy calculation of residual closeness are given. The definition for closeness is generalized and its properties are explored.
Making the implicit explicit: Supporting teachers to bridge cultures

In this paper, we report the results of a longitudinal action research project in which elementary teachers used a cultural framework (individualism–collectivism) to understand differences between the culture of immigrant Latino families and the culture of U.S. schools. Making explicit the culture-based beliefs implicit in home and school practices allowed teachers to think differently about their students and their own teaching, and with that change in thinking came the immediate and ongoing creation of a wide range of innovations to bridge home and school cultures. Shifting to a preschool emphasis, we discuss how the individualism–collectivism framework has been used in professional development for early childhood educators. A broad view of professional development is discussed including the role of college faculty, early childhood program administrators, teachers, and families. We suggest how such professional development might be mounted through use of methods and materials that promote explicit models of immigrant cultures to reduce home–school cultural mismatches for immigrant children.
Control Technique for Series Input-Parallel Output Converter Topologies

A series input-parallel output DC-DC converter topology inherently provides output current sharing among the phases, provided the input voltages are forced to share. With conventional output voltage feedback controls, input voltage sharing is unstable. Recent literature work proposes complicated feedback loops to provide stable voltage sharing, at the expense of dynamic performance. In the current work, a simple controller based on the sensorless current mode approach (SCM) stabilizes voltage sharing without compromising system performance. The SCM controllers reject source disturbances, and allow the output voltage to be tightly regulated by additional feedback control. With SCM control in place, a "super-matched" current sharing control emerges. Sharing occurs through transients, evolving naturally according to the power circuit parameters. The control approach has considerable promise for high-performance voltage regulator modules, and for other applications requiring high conversion ratios. Experimental results confirm the control operation. A sample four-phase converter has demonstrated good disturbance rejection, static sharing, and dynamic sharing
Managing mobile multitasking: the culture of iPhones on stanford campus

This paper discusses three concepts that govern technosocial practices among university students with iPhones. First is the social expectation of constant connection that requires multitasking to achieve. Second is the resulting technosocial pecking order of who gets interrupted or ignored for whom. Third is the way that many students push back against these demands with techno-resistance, deliberately curtailing constant connection to reduce the negative effects of multitasking, in spite of the risk of social censure. These concepts are developed from interviews with 57 students, 30 hours of field observations, and a survey of 177 students on Stanford campus, which in particular explored iPhone use. This research concludes that so-called "digital natives" must still navigate familiar social dynamics and personal desires, both online and off. Providing a detailed description of how students from across campus make sense of iPhones in their everyday technosocial assemblages, this research suggests opportunities for more socially and cognitively sensitive design of smartphone features.
A Length-Matching Routing Algorithm for High-Performance Printed Circuit Boards

As the clock frequencies used in industrial applications increase, the timing requirements imposed on routing problems become tighter. Therefore, it becomes important to route the nets within tight minimum and maximum length bounds. Although the problem of routing nets to satisfy maximum length constraints is a well-studied problem, there exists no sophisticated algorithm in literature that ensures that minimum length constraints are also satisfied. In this paper, the authors propose a novel algorithm that effectively incorporates the min;max length constraints into the routing problem. The approach is to use a Lagrangian-relaxation (LR) framework to allocate extra routing resources around nets simultaneously during routing them. The authors also propose a graph model that ensures that all the allocated routing resources can be used effectively for extending lengths. Their routing algorithm automatically prioritizes resource allocation for shorter nets and length minimization for longer nets so that all nets can satisfy their min;max length constraints. This paper demonstrates that this algorithm is effective even in the cases where length constraints are tight, and the spacing between adjacent nets is small
Modeling human function learning with Gaussian processes

Accounts of how people learn functional relationships between continuous variables have tended to focus on two possibilities: that people are estimating explicit functions, or that they are performing associative learning supported by similarity. We provide a rational analysis of function learning, drawing on work on regression in machine learning and statistics. Using the equivalence of Bayesian linear regression and Gaussian processes, we show that learning explicit rules and using similarity can be seen as two views of one solution to this problem. We use this insight to define a Gaussian process model of human function learning that combines the strengths of both approaches.
Selective modification of apoB-100 in the oxidation of low density lipoproteins by myeloperoxidase in vitro.

Oxidative modification of LDL may be impor- tant in the initiation and/or progression of atherosclerosis, but the precise mechanisms through which low density lipo- protein (LDL) is oxidized are unknown. Recently, evidence for the existence of HOCl-oxidized LDL in human athero- sclerotic lesions has been reported, and myeloperoxidase (MPO), which is thought to act through production of HOCl, has been identified in human atherosclerotic lesions. In the present report we describe the formation of 2,4-dini- trophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-reactive modifications in the apolipoprotein (apo) by exposure of LDL to myeloperoxi- dase in vitro. In contrast with the complex mixture of pep- tides from oxidation of LDL with reagent HOCl, oxidation with MPO in vitro produced a major tryptic peptide show- ing absorbance at 365 nm. This peptide was isolated and characterized as VELEVPQL(*C)SFILK . . . , corresponding to amino acid residues 53-66 . . . on apoB-100. Mass spec- trometric analyses of two tryptic peptides from oxidation of LDL by HOCl indicated formation of the corresponding methionine sulfoxide (M › O), cysteinyl azo (*C), RS-N › N-DNP, derivatives of EEL(*C)T(M › O)FIR and LNDLNS VLV(M › O)PTFHVPFTDLQVPS(*C)K, which suggest oxida- tion to the corresponding sulfinic acids (RSO 2 H) by HOCl. The present results demonstrate that DNPH-reactive modifi- cations other than aldehydes and ketones can be formed in the oxidation of proteins and illustrate how characterization of specific products of protein oxidation can be useful in as- sessing the relative contributions of different and unex- pected mechanisms to the oxidation of LDL and other target substrates. The data also suggest a direct interaction of the LDL particle with the active site on myeloperoxidase and in- dicate that effects of the protein microenvironment can greatly influence product formation and stability. —Yang, C-y., Z-W. Gu, M. Yang, S-N. Lin, A. J. Garcia-Prats, L. K. Rogers, S. E. Welty, and C. V. Smith. Selective modification of apoB- 100 in the oxidation of low density lipoproteins by myeloper- oxidase. J. Lipid Res. 1999. 40: 686-698.
Carnitine is a Pivotal Contributor for Butyrate Oxidation in Colon Cancer Cells

Butyrate, derived from colonic microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, is the primary energy substrate of the colonocyte. Butyrate also regulates gene expression in the colonocyte via inhibition o...
Component-based iterative methods for sparse linear systems: Research Articles

Iterative methods play an important role in solving large-scale systems of linear equations that arise in real-world applications. Due to numerous linear system properties that may affect the solution, it is rather difficult for a user to develop a good sparse linear system solver from scratch. Thus, various collections of solution methods are made available to the user. One such software package is SPARSKIT, which is well known in the scientific community. Written in FORTRAN77 and provided with a cumbersome interface, it is considered, however, a legacy code. Our objective is to enable its wider usage in modern applications and to facilitate further SPARSKIT enhancements. Applying a ‘peer-component’ design, we have created a set of SPARSKIT components that: (a) incorporate both original and new iterative methods; (b) are readily extensible with more methods; (c) may be connected to applications in a component framework; and (d) provide access from a variety of programming languages. Tools available from the Common Component Architecture (CCA) Forum enabled our component design of SPARSKIT. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CBM-03MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF GLIOMA CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS (gCTCs) AT SINGLE CELL RESOLUTION

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive and most common malignant adult brain tumor, accounts for ∼50% of all gliomas and it is classified histologically as grade IV. Growing evidence for intratumor heterogeneity shows that single-site biopsies or selected profiling of a portion of a resected tumor falls short of revealing the complete genomic landscape of the entire tumor. EGFR amplification occurs in ∼50% of primary GBM tumors, and is frequently associated with the expression of a constitutively active, ligand-independent mutant form of the receptor, EGFRvIII. Glioma circulating tumor cells (gCTCs) have recently been identified in the blood of glioma patients by our research group. In this study, we report that gCTCs can be captured, enumerated and genetically characterized for EGFRvIII. To achieve this goal, we have thus far a) detected gCTCs through a Telomerase promoter–based assay, b) isolated individual gCTCs using a vacuum-assisted capillary microdissection approach, c) performed whole transcriptome amplification and d) analyzed the expression of EGFRviii by qPCR under optimized conditions. Furthermore, our group is conducting an IRB-approved pilot study with the purpose of examining the feasibility of this approach (to support initiation of an expanded study). In this study, we seek to characterize the genetic heterogeneity of individual gCTCs from high grade glioma patients. This approach would have major impact as it will clarify the biologically-relevant question of heterogeneity of gCTCs in a given patient with glioma, predict whether a patient would respond or be resistant to a molecularly targeted therapy, unravel the overall mechanistic underpinnings of a given patient's brain tumor, and lastly, track the biological evolution of the tumor over the patient's treatment course and post-treatment period. Our ultimate goal is to streamline predictive testing and effectively utilize a Neurooncology targeted biomarker to benefit patients.
A GENERAL APPROACH TO LINEAR PROBLEMS FOR NONLINEAR ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the general approach to linear problems for nonlinear ordinary differential equations. It presents the summary of a few recent results on the existence of periodic solutions of a differential equation and presents the illustrations of a broad approach to various linear problems in which the desired solutions are required to satisfy a given set of much more general linear constraints.
TRANSFER OF TRAINING AFTER FADING AND STANDARD DISCRIMINATION TRAINING

Summary.-Standard discrimination and fading techniques were utilized to teach preschool children a two-choice discrimination task in which their nondominant dimension (color or form) was relevant for solution. The fading group performed better than the standard discriminacion group on both an initial and a later generalization-discrimination task. On the generalization task, the superiority of the fading technique was limited to form-dominant Ss. When retested for dimensional dominance after 1 wk. fading significantly decreased Ss' choices of their previously dominant dimensions while the standard discrimination trained Ss showed no change in preference. Learning rate on discrimination tasks has been shown to increase as a function of the number and saliency of the relevant stimulus dimensions and decrease with the number and saliency of the irrelevant dimensions (Trabasso & Bower, 1968). Ultimately, the probability of solution hinges upon S's attending to the relevant dimensions, and his attention to these dimensions is in turn a function of their saliency relative to that of the irrelevant dimensions. Dimensional dominance or preference may be viewed as an example of dimensional saliency. Dimensional preferences influence the accuracy and probability of solution in a wide variety of discrimination-learning and concept-attainment tasks (Caron, 1969; Dahlem & McLaughlin, 1969; Suchman, 1966; Wolff, 1966). If dimensional dominance is an example of dimensional saliency, it should be possible to improve performance on S's nonpreferred dimension by reducing the saliency of his preferred dimension and/or by increasing the saliency of his nonpreferred dimension. Once S has been trained to attend to his originally nonpreferred dimension, increasing the physical saliency of cues of his originally dominant and conflicting dimension then should not produce a decrement in performance. This training procedure is a special application of the errorless or fading discrimination procedure. Essentially, it involves converting gradually a simple discriminacion problem into a more difficult problem by "fading in" cues associated with the difficult problem. Fading discrimination procedures have been used to teach form, position, and right-left concepts to normal and retarded children (Bijou, 1963; Moore & Goldiamond, 1964; Stoddud LQ Sidman, 1967). Typically, fewer errors and more solutions are produced by fading procedures than by standard discrimination learning procedure. Adopting the Zeaman and House ( 1963) attentional model as a basis it may be suggested that the fading technique serves as a more efficient teaching pro=Now at The Devereaux Foundadon, Devon, Pennsylvania.
Emergent behavior in lung structure and function.

The investigation of biological systems such as the lung can be thought of as proceeding through a series of stages. The first stage is observational, involving the cataloguing of structures, patterns and behaviors that impinge on our everyday experience at the macroscopic level. This leads to the