cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating X-ray Emission from PPN and PN using numerical simulations

The shaping of Pre-planetary nebulae (PPN) and Planetary Nebulae (PN) is believed to result from the interaction of a fast, collimated post-AGB wind (CFW) plowing into the slow, dense wind emitted during the AGB phase, followed by an isotropic tenuous wind during the PN phase (Sahai & Trauger 1998). The expanding shell which forms the PPN and later the PN is expected to produce extended X-ray emission due to the large speed of the fast wind and resulting high temperatures in the shocked gas. X-ray emission was only detected in 3 of 60 PNs observed with ROSAT, followed by a few more from CHANDRA and XMM (e.g. Guerrero et al. 2005). In the case of PPNs, there is so far only one confirmed X-ray detection (Sahai et al. 2003), although many have been observed with CHANDRA. The general problem of understanding the formation and shaping of PNs has been addressed analytically and numerically (see Balick & Frank 2002, and references therein). X-ray emission is one of the most direct probes of the fast wind and the interaction process which drives PN formation. However, this probe has not been fully exploited in previous modeling studies. Very recently, Akashi et al. (2006, hereafter ASB06) used analytical, self-similar, spherically symmetric models to address this problem. We are performing numerical simulations with the hydrodynamics code FLASH varying the basic parameters of the fast and slow wind over an extensive parameter grid and computing the X-ray emission as a function of these parameters and the time history of the fast wind.
Transmission of a Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Complex Alphavirus by Culex (Melanoconion) gnomatos (Diptera: Culicidae) in Northeastern Peru

Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) complex alphaviruses are serious health threats in the Americas and regularly infect humans living in or near Amazonian rain forests. As part of a larger surveillance program, we placed six hamster-baited mosquito traps in a disturbed white sand forest of northeastern Peru for 3 d. Virus isolations from hamster serum and trapped mosquito pools demonstrated that a VEE subtype IIIC alphavirus was transmitted to a hamster by the mosquito Culex (Melanoconion) gnomatos Sallum, Hutchings & Ferreira. This species, like the other seven proven VEE complex alphavirus vectors, is a member of the Spissipes section of this subgenus. The composition of mosquitoes collected at the site over the sampling period was typical for the region.
Signifying nothing: reply to Hoover and Siegler

After William Gosset (1876–1937), the ‘Student’ of Student's t, the best statisticians have distinguished economic (or agronomic or psychological or medical) significance from merely statistical ‘significance’ at conventional levels. A singular exception among the best was Ronald A. Fisher, who argued in the 1920s that statistical significance at the 0.05 level is a necessary and sufficient condition for establishing a scientific result. After Fisher many economists and some others – but rarely physicists, chemists, and geologists, who seldom use Fisher‐significance – have mixed up the two kinds of significance. We have been writing on the matter for some decades, with other critics in medicine, sociology, psychology, and the like. Hoover and Siegler, despite a disdainful rhetoric, agree with the logic of our case. Fisherian ‘significance,’ they agree, is neither necessary nor sufficient for scientific significance. But they claim that economists already know this and that Fisherian tests can still be use...
Renewable Rosin Acid-Degradable Caprolactone Block Copolymers by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization and Ring-Opening Polymerization

Renewable rosin acid-degradable caprolactone block copolymers were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and ring-opening polymerization (ROP). Two-step sequential polymerization using either poly(2-acryloyloxyethyl dehydroabietic carboxylate)-OH (PAEDA-OH) or poly(e-caprolactone)-Br (PCL-Br) as macroinitiators resulted in well-defined block copolymers with low polydispersity. One-pot polymerization was carried out with three different sequential feeds of AEDA and e-CL monomers. The control of one-pot polymerization depended on the interactions of coexisting ATRP catalysts and ROP catalysts. While the minimal interactions between copper(I) and tin(II) catalysts produced well-defined block copolymers, excess copper(II) or tin(II) led to the formation of block copolymers with polydispersity >1.5. It was suggested that the tin(II) catalysts reduced the persistent radicals copper(II) of ATRP, leading to a poorly controlled polymerization. PCL segments of the block copolymers exhibited excell...
Self-heating structural materials

Self-heating structural materials, being useful for deicing and space heating, are reviewed. They include cement–matrix and polymer–matrix composites that are rendered self-heating through enhancing their effectiveness for resistance heating. The enhancement is attained by the use of electrically conductive fibers (continuous or discontinuous) and interlayers. The interlaminar interface between continuous carbon fiber laminae provides a two-dimensional array of heating elements. Power up to 6.5 W, maximum temperature up to 134 °C and time to reach half of the maximum temperature rise down to 14 s have been attained.
Paternal Genetic History of the Basque Population of Spain

This study examines the genetic variation in Basque Y chromo- some lineages using data on 12 Y-short tandem repeat (STR) loci in a sample of 158 males from four Basque provinces of Spain (Alava, Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa, and Navarre). As reported in previous studies, the Basques are characterized by high frequencies of haplogroup R1b (83%). AMOVA analysis demonstrates genetic homogeneity, with a small but significant amount of genetic structure between provinces (Y-short tandem repeat loci STRs: 1.71%, p 0.0369). Gene and haplotype diversity levels in the Basque population are on the low end of the European distribution (gene diversity: 0.4268; haplotype diversity: 0.9421). Post-Neolithic contribution to the paternal Basque gene pool was estimated by measuring the proportion of those haplogroups with a Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) previously dated either prior (R1b, I2a2) or subsequent to (E1b1b, G2a, J2a) the Neolithic. Based on these estimates, the Basque provinces show varying degrees of post-Neolithic contribution in the paternal lineages (10.9% in the combined sample). The debate concerning the genetic composition of the modern European gene pool is currently a matter of degree. Did the Paleolithic inhabitants of Europe contribute to the modern gene pool? If so, how much? Or are modern Europeans the result of a replacement of the Paleolithic groups by technologically advanced Neolithic farmers? Two models have been proposed to explain the patterns of gene distribution found in Europe. The demic diffusion model (DDM) states that the majority of genetic variation present in modern Europeans is the result of Neolithic farmers spreading their technology (and genes) into Europe with the advent of agriculture (Ammerman and Cavalli-Sforza 1984). The cultural diffusion model (CDM) posits that while technology spread into Europe 10,000 years ago, people did not, leaving the Paleolithic gene pool largely intact
An unbiased Kalman consensus algorithm

This paper investigates the consensus problem for a team of agents with inconsistent information, which is a core component for many proposed distributed planning schemes. Kalman filtering approaches to the consensus problem have been proposed, and they were shown to converge for strongly connected networks. However, it is demonstrated in this paper that these previous techniques can result in biased estimates that deviate from the centralized solution, if it had been computed. A modification to the basic algorithm is presented to ensure the Kalman filter converges to an unbiased estimate. The proof of convergence for this modified distributed Kalman consensus algorithm to the unbiased estimate is then provided for both static and dynamic communication networks. These results are demonstrated in simulation using several simple examples.
Exploring Social Psychology

Part 1 Introducing social psychology: doing social psychology did you know it all along? Part 2 Social thinking: intuition - the power and limits of our inner knowing reasons for unreason clinical intuition - the perils of psychologizing the fundamental attribution error a new look at pride the power of positive thinking behaviour and belief who is miserable, and why? who is happy, and why? Part 3 Social influence: east meets west - individualism, collectivism, and communitarianism gender and genes how nice people get corrupted two routes to persuasion indoctrination and innoculation the mere presence of others many hands make diminished responsibility doing together what we would never do alone how groups intensify decisions power to the person. Part 4 Social relations: the dislike of diversity the roots of prejudice the nature and nurture of aggression do the media influence social behaviour? who likes whom? the ups and downs of love when do people help? causes of conflict blessed are the peacemakers big ideas.
Excitation energies and oscillator strengths in the silver isoelectronic sequence

Excitation energies and oscillator strengths for electric dipole transitions between low-lying states in the silver isoelectronic sequence are studied using relativistic Hartree-Fock wave functions. For Z ≥ 61, our calculation shows that the ground state of Ag-like ions is 4f2F5/2 rather than 5s 2S1/2. We found a diminishing role of the spin-orbit effect on transitions between levels with high angular momenta. Effects of anticrossings between 4d9 4f2 and 4d10 5l (l = 0,2,4) states at high Z are discussed.
The Empathic Imagination of Art Therapy: Good for the Brain?

This editorial discusses the premise that art therapy may function as a catalyst for mobilizing the healing potential locked within a person's neural circuitry and by inducing new learning at the structural level of the brain that is in a constant state of becoming. The ability of an empathic art therapist to creatively imagine into another's state of being not only is good for the brain but also is at the heart of effective and humane practice.
Acousto-optic localization using a dynamic, spatio-temporal array

A remote, aerial, acousto-optic sensing method has been devised to detect underwater sound from the air - breaching the air-water boundary. An acousto-optic sensor detects underwater acoustic signals by probing the water surface with a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) thereby achieving acoustic to optical signal conversion. The small optical reflections from the air-water interface can be used to measure the pressure field in the water. Acoustic pressure waves propagating within the water environment will cause vibrations on an air-water interface, which can be optically detected by observing the amplitude or phase characteristics of the optical beam when directed upon a vibrating surface. The acousto-optic sensor detection on a dynamic water surface relies on obtaining a representation of a signal transmitted by a sound source located underwater. A glint tracking system is utilized to obtain signal portions of interest at various spatial locations on the water surface. This is equivalent to having a single sensor at the water surface moving at a moderately high speed with near instantaneous discrete jumps in position being possible. The use of novel beamforming methods is required to provide signal reconstruction. A nontraditional, adaptive algorithm to process spatio-temporal, sparse array data for use with a laser-based sonar concept is presented with simulation results and discussed for localizing and continuously tracking an in-water sound source.
Space-based laser altimeter technology and applications

Summary form only given. Case studies of the Shuttle Laser Altimeter for Earth orbit and the Mars Orbiting Laser Altimeter, two space flight laser altimeter sensors, are examined to discover what space-based laser altimeter technology is in place and where improvements are needed. A future multibeam laser altimeter capable of narrow swath imaging of topography and vegetation and incorporating an order-of-magnitude higher measurement rate than the first generation devices is also discussed to illustrate the technology that is being developed for the space flight environment.
Novel injectable bioartificial tissue facilitates targeted, less invasive, large-scale tissue restoration on the beating heart after myocardial injury.

Background— Implantation of bioartificial patches distorts myocardial geometry, and functional improvement of the recipient heart is usually attributed to reactive angiogenesis around the graft. With the liquid bioartificial tissue compound used in this study, we achieved targeted large-scale support of the infarcted left ventricular wall and improvement of heart function. Methods and Results— A liquid compound consisting of growth factor-free Matrigel and 10 6 green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive mouse (129sv) embryonic stem cells (ESCs) was generated and injected into the area of ischemia after ligation of the left anterior descending artery in BALB/c mice (group I). Left anterior descending artery-ligated mice (group II) and mice with Matrigel (group III) or ESC treatment alone (group IV) were used as the control groups (n=5 in all groups). The hearts were harvested for histology 2 weeks later after echocardiographic assessment with a 15-MHz probe. The liquid injectable tissue solidified at body temperature and retained the geometry of the infarcted lateral wall. Immunofluorescence stains revealed voluminous GFP grafts. The quality of restoration (graft/infarct area ratio) was 45.5±10.8% in group I and 29.1±6.7% in group IV ( P =0.034). ESCs expressed connexin 43 at intercellular contact sites. The mice treated with the compound had a superior heart function compared with the controls ( P Conclusions— Injectable bioartificial tissue restores the heart’s geometry and function in a targeted and nondistorting fashion. This new method paves the way for novel interventional approaches to myocardial repair, using both stem cells and matrices.
Assessing abuse risk beyond self-report: Analog task of acceptability of parent-child aggression

Objectives The present investigation reports on the development and initial validation of a new analog task, the Parent-Child Aggression Acceptability Movie Task (P-CAAM), intended to assess respondents’ acceptance of parent-child aggression, including both physical discipline and physical abuse. Methods Two independent samples were utilized to develop and evaluate the P-CAAM: an undergraduate sample to initially pilot the task and a separate sample of normative parents for additional assessment of validity. Scores from the P-CAAM were compared to related measures, including measures of self-reported disciplinary attitudes, child abuse potential, harsh parenting style, and use and escalation of physical discipline practices on another analog parenting task. Results Across the studies, the P-CAAM demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and construct validity, evidencing mild to moderate associations with both self-report and analog measures. Participants demonstrating increased acceptance of physical discipline and physical abuse on the P-CAAM analog task also reported greater approval of physical discipline, greater use of and escalation of physical discipline, harsher parenting styles, and higher child abuse potential on two separate measures. Conclusions The P-CAAM analog appears to offer a promising alternative and/or supplement to conventional self-report measures, assessing attitudes regarding the acceptability of parent-child aggression in a way that is less likely to be influenced by social desirability. Suggestions for future evaluations with alternative samples, as well as possible implications of the data for disciplinary reactions are discussed. Practice implications The development of alternatives to self-report measurement may lead to clarification of theoretical models of abuse in ways that lead to improvements in intervention programming; analogs may also provide a useful means to assess intervention programming outcomes.
Linear optical and surface-enhanced Raman scattering study on metallic membranes with subwavelength complementary patterns

An efficient technique is developed to fabricate optically thin metallic films with subwavelength patterns and their complements simultaneously. By comparing the spectra of the complementary films, we show that Babinet's principle nearly holds in the optical domain. A discrete-dipole approximation can qualitatively describe their spectral dependence on the illuminating polarization. Using pyridine as probe molecules, we studied surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from the complementary structures. Although the complementary structures possess closely related linear spectra, they have quite different near-field behaviors. For hole arrays, their averaged local field gains as well as the SERS enhancements are strongly correlated to their transmission spectra. We therefore can use cos4θ to approximately describe the dependence of the Raman intensity on the excitation polarization angle θ, while the complementary particle arrays present maximal local field gains at wavelengths generally much larger than their localized surface plasmonic resonant wavelengths.
Hierarchical Abstraction, Distributed Equilibrium Computation, and Post-Processing, with Application to a Champion No-Limit Texas Hold'em Agent

The leading approach for solving large imperfect-information games is automated abstraction followed by running an equilibrium-finding algorithm. We introduce a distributed version of the most commonly used equilibrium-finding algorithm, counterfactual regret minimization (CFR), which enables CFR to scale to dramatically larger abstractions and numbers of cores. The new algorithm begets constraints on the abstraction so as to make the pieces running on different computers disjoint. We introduce an algorithm for generating such abstractions while capitalizing on state-of-the-art abstraction ideas such as imperfect recall and earth-mover's distance. Our techniques enabled an equilibrium computation of unprecedented size on a supercomputer with a high inter-blade memory latency. Prior approaches run slowly on this architecture. Our approach also leads to a significant improvement over using the prior best approach on a large shared-memory server with low memory latency. Finally, we introduce a family of post-processing techniques that outperform prior ones. We applied these techniques to generate an agent for two-player no-limit Texas Hold'em, called Tartanian7, that won the 2014 Annual Computer Poker Competition, beating each opponent with statistical significance.
Using Nighttime Lights Data as a Proxy in Social Scientific Research

This chapter presents a formal statistical approach to estimate the amount of information that can be provided by proxy variables to improve current estimation of variables in social scientific research. The chapter introduces two useful geocoded datasets, satellite-based nighttime lights and Geographically-based Economic Data (GEcon), and demonstrates how the proposed statistical approach can be used to estimate information provided by lights data as a proxy for economic statistics. An application of lights data to urbanization measures also shows that proxy-based subnational estimates of urbanization in poor countries can improve results in testing theoretical relationships between urbanization and poverty rates. The chapter concludes that both the proposed methodology and nighttime lights data holds great potential for social scientific research where data availability and quality of data at smaller scales have proven a hindrance in past research.
Process-based characterization of evapotranspiration sources over the North American monsoon region

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a poorly constrained flux in the North American monsoon (NAM) region, leading to potential errors in land-atmosphere feedbacks. We quantified the spatiotemporal variations of ET using the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model, modified to account for soil evaporation (Esoil), irrigated agriculture, and the variability of land surface properties derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer during 2000–2012. Simulated ET patterns were compared to field observations at 59 eddy covariance towers, water balance estimates in nine basins, and six available gridded ET products. The modified VIC model performed well at eddy covariance towers representing the natural and agricultural land covers in the region. Simulations revealed that major sources of ET were forested mountain areas during the summer season and irrigated croplands at peak times of growth in the winter and summer, accounting for 22% and 9% of the annual ET, respectively. Over the NAM region, Esoil was the largest component (60%) of annual ET, followed by plant transpiration (T, 32%) and evaporation of canopy interception (8%). Esoil and T displayed different relationships with P in natural land covers, with Esoil tending to peak earlier than T by up to 1 month, while only a weak correlation between ET and P was found in irrigated croplands. Based on the model performance, the VIC-based estimates are the most realistic to date for this region. Furthermore, spatiotemporal patterns reveal new information on the magnitudes, locations, and timing of ET in the North American monsoon region with implications on land-atmosphere feedbacks.
Biomedical Aspects of Nuclear Engineering Education

Based on the experience at MIT, nuclear engineering can play a vital role in training research personnel for nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, and radiation therapy. Any individual nuclear engineer wishing to engage in the training of students for such fields should establish a close rapport with research scientists and clinicians within a medical institution and be familiar with the medical resources available for such training. (auth)
Quantified Incision Placement for Postseptal Approach Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty.

Purpose: This study quantifies the incision location in transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty to optimize postspetal (direct) access to the eyelid/orbital fat. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing transconjunctival blepharoplasty by one surgeon (GGM) from January 2013 to January 2014 was performed. Simultaneous globe retropulsion and lower eyelid inferior displacement was used to balloon the conjunctiva forward to maximally visualize the transconjunctival surface anatomical landmarks of importance. A caliper was used to measure the distance in millimeters from the inferior tarsus to the most superior projection of visible fat. The conjunctival incision was made 0.5 mm posterior to this measured distance. For each procedure it was noted whether the preseptal or postseptal plane was entered. Results: Sixty-six patients were assessed. Fifty patients were women, and the mean patient age was 54 years (range 36–71 years). The mean distance from the inferior tarsus to the visualized superior tip of fat was 6.03 mm (range 5–7 mm) and the mean incision placement was 6.53 mm (range 5.5–7.5 mm). The postseptal space (direct access to fat) was entered in 54 cases (82%). The inferior vascular arcade was identified in 23 cases (35%) cases. In this instance, the incision was placed below this landmark in 16 cases (70%). There were 5 cases (7.6%) of postoperative chemosis which all resolved within 2 months with conservative measures. There were no other complications related to the conjunctival incision. Conclusion: Placing the conjunctival incision for postseptal approach transconjunctival blepharoplasty 0.5 mm posterior to the most superior projection of clinically visible fat (with adjunctive globe retropulsion and lower eyelid infraplacement) accesses the postspetal space directly in 82% of cases. Previously suggested incision placements: between 2 and 5 mm below the tarsus, at the fornix, or at the inferior vascular arcade are subjective/anecdotal at best and without similar quantitative validation.
Chromosomal and Gonadal Aberrations Observed in Hybrid Offspring of Mexican Boophilus annulatus × B. microplus,,

Chromosome patterns in excised gonads of laboratoryreared hybrids of Mexican Boophilus annulatus (Say) × B. microplus (Canestrini) were studied. Upon dissection, ovaries of hybrids appeared to be essentially normal as compared to both parent species, but testes were either absent or vestigial. Only mitotic cells, with one possible exception, were observed in male gonads. The few resolvable male chromosome complements ranged from 2n = 19 to 2n = 25, the most common being 2n = 21 with 20 autosomes and an X. Female complements most commonly consisted of 2n = 22 with 20 autosomes and 2 heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Measurable male autosomes ranged in length from 2.0 to 3.lμ at metaphase and the sex chromosomes averaged 4.6μ. In hybrid females, autosomal lengths ranged from 1.7 to 3.4μ. The heteromorphic sex chromosomes in female hybrids of annulatus ♂ × microplus ♀ averaged 8.1 and 4.6μ in length. In hybrid females of the reciprocal cross, sex chromosomes averaged 4.3 and 5.4μ in length. Mitosis and presumably precocious meiosis through anaphase I were observed in oocytes and at least 4 types of chromosomal aberrations were seen at diakinesis.
A Dynamic Charging System With Reduced Output Power Pulsation for Electric Vehicles

This paper proposes a continuous dynamic wireless power transfer system for electric vehicles that reduces power pulsations during the charging process. Multiple rectangular unipolar coils are used at the primary side as the transmitters, and another unipolar coil works as a receiver at the secondary side. The transmitters are placed closely together to reduce the variation of magnetic fields along the moving track of the receiver. This structure induces self-coupling between the adjacent transmitters. An LCC -compensated circuit topology is utilized, and a compensation parameter design is provided which considers self-coupling between the primary coils. Finite-element analysis of the dynamic charging system is performed using Maxwell. The receiver size is optimized to reduce the variation of the coupling coefficient. A 1.4-kW dynamic charging prototype is constructed according to the designed coil structure and circuit parameters. There are six transmitters, each with dimensions 388 mm×400 mm, and one receiver with dimensions 485 mm×400 mm. Experimental results show that the output power pulsation is within ±7.5% in the dynamic charging process, and the maximum efficiency is 89.78%. If the edge effects of the transmitters are neglected, then the power pulsation is within ±2.9%.
ZBMF: Zone Based Message Ferrying for Disruption Tolerant Networks

We introduce Zone Based Message Ferrying (ZBMF), a hybrid protocol for Disruption Tolerant Networks (DTN) which combines the concept of message ferrying with the well known DTN routing protocols. ZBMF, transforms the disrupted network space into a connected network topology by dividing it into overlapping ferry routing zones. ZBMF gives DTN message routing a sense of direction, thus providing both contained dissemination of copies of messages and faster delivery of messages in the network. ZBMF does not dictate a strict movement pattern to message ferries, which can be very useful in the real world. Rescue helicopters, school buses, tanks or soldiers in the battle field, all can be designated as message ferries and carry messages without changing their activity and movement schedules. Due to its low overhead, ZBMF can be used to cover large areas of disrupted communication such as cities and large disaster areas. Finally, we implement our ZBMF on the Opportunistic Network Environment (ONE) Simulator and evaluate it as performing better in terms of overhead and latency than other well known protocols for Disruption Tolerant Networks while maintaining equally high delivery ratios.
Cognitive screening in the primary care setting. The role of physicians at the first point of entry.

Case presentation Mrs. S, an 85-year-old, widowed, white woman and mother of two, is brought to your office by her daughter, who lives 30 miles away. The daughter is quite concerned about her mother?s weight loss. She indicates that Mrs. S has dropped from 160 to 120 pounds within 10 weeks, and the daughter suspects that her mother is not eating well on her own. When the daughter visits her mother, approximately every 3 weeks, they go out to eat, and her mother eats very well. Nevertheless, the daughter is upset with Mrs. S not only because of the weight loss and not eating properly at home, but also because her apartment is messier than ever. Further, the daughter has recently learned that Mrs. S is not taking her antihypertensive medication.
600 V/ $1.7~\Omega$ Normally-Off GaN Vertical Trench Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor

This letter reports a GaN vertical trench metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) with normally-off operation. Selective area regrowth of n+-GaN source layer was performed to avoid plasma etch damage to the p-GaN body contact region. A metal-organic-chemical-vapor-deposition (MOCVD) grown AlN/SiN dielectric stack was employed as the gate “oxide”. This unique process yielded a 0.5-mm2-active-area transistor with threshold voltage of 4.8 V, blocking voltage of 600 V at gate bias of 0 V, and on-resistance of $1.7~\Omega $ at gate bias of 10 V.
Model seismicity and faulting parameters

abstract A frictional sliding model consisting of lumped masses and elastic springs has been constructed to simulate a seismic strike-slip fault. The model was capable of generating stick-slip events with some statistical features similar to those of natural earthquakes. The patterns of strain buildup and release associated with a long sequence of shocks are described in the hope that they may reflect to some extent the behavior of a real seismic fault: (1) Shocks of greatly different sizes were generated, although the friction inhomogeneity along the fault was small. (2) The recurrence relation for the shock sequence resembled that for earthquakes. (3) Large shocks occurred at irregular time intervals and released most of the strain energy of the sequence. (4) The logarithm of the product of average particle displacement and rupture length increased linearly with shock size (logarithm of strain-energy release). (5) Shocks of the same rupture length sometimes had considerably different particle displacements. (6) The shear stress drops increased with shock size from about 1 per cent of the preshock stress for small shocks to 40 per cent for the largest shock; the occurrence of small and moderate shocks did not greatly perturb the operating stress level. (7) The preshock stresses and energy densities along the ruptured segments did not increase much with the shock size; larger shocks occurred mainly when a longer segment of the fault was stressed simultaneously to near the breaking level. (8) Ruptures preferred to propagate in the forward direction owing to a built-in asymmetry of the model fault. (9) Particle displacements were approximately finite ramp functions of time with periods of acceleration at the beginning and deceleration at the end. (10) Particle velocities increased with particle displacements, ranging from 2 to nearly 30 cm sec −1 . (11) Rupture propagation velocities scattered considerably but tended to increase slightly with rupture length. (12) Aftershocks were few but occasionally occurred at places where slippage was small during the main shocks. The lack of a significant number of aftershocks in the model probably results from the absence of such time-dependent elements as viscosity or moving pore fluids that operate along natural faults.
Fiber Optic Links for Data Acquisition, Communication, and Control

The era of fiber optics communications began in 1970 when Kapron, Keck, and Maurer of Corning Glass Works [1] produced the first fiber with low loss, less than 20 db per kilometer. Today fiber optics communication links are commonplace, particularly in the telephone industry, where they are replacing coaxial cable links for long distance communications; and increasingly in the data communications field for digital data transfer and computer networking.
Two new species of the Aglajid genus Melanochlamys (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia)

Sao descritas duas especies novas de opistobrânguios aglajideos do genero Melanochlamys. M. papillata e proveniente da Tailândia e M. barryi foi coletada apenas em "False Bay", Africa do Sul. Ambas as especies diferem pronunciadamente de outras congenericas em detalhes da sua anatomia reprodutiva e na morfologia peniana. A disposicao dos orgaos reprodutivos em M. barryi representa o modelo mais primitivo dentro do genero e fornece dados adicionais para a pesquisa da filogenia da familia Aglajidae.
A Synthetically Tunable System To Control MLCT Excited-State Lifetimes and Spin States in Iron(II) Polypyridines.

2,2′:6′,2″-Terpyridyl (tpy) ligands modified by fluorine (dftpy), chlorine (dctpy), or bromine (dbtpy) substitution at the 6- and 6″-positions are used to synthesize a series of bis-homoleptic Fe(II) complexes. Two of these species, [Fe(dctpy)2]2+ and [Fe(dbtpy)2]2+, which incorporate the larger dctpy and dbtpy ligands, assume a high-spin quintet ground state due to substituent-induced intramolecular strain. The smaller fluorine atoms in [Fe(dftpy)2]2+ enable spin crossover with a T1/2 of 220 K and a mixture of low-spin (singlet) and high-spin (quintet) populations at room temperature. Taking advantage of this equilibrium, dynamics originating from either the singlet or quintet manifold can be explored using variable wavelength laser excitation. Pumping at 530 nm leads to ultrafast nonradiative relaxation from the singlet metal-to-ligand charge transfer (1MLCT) excited state into a quintet metal centered state (5MC) as has been observed for prototypical low-spin Fe(II) polypyridine complexes such as [Fe(t...
Interfaith Dialogue and the Challenge of Indifference: Reflections from Fieldwork in the City of Peace and Reconciliation

From recent qualitative research investigating interfaith dialogue in the English city of Coventry, it becomes apparent that committed individuals work hard running interfaith activities and organizations and the local authority is taking a leading role in supporting these. However, the reach of such work is unclear.
The decidua of preeclamptic-like BPH/5 mice exhibits an exaggerated inflammatory response during early pregnancy

Preeclampsia is a devastating complication of pregnancy characterized by late-gestation hypertension and proteinuria. Because the only definitive treatment is delivery of the fetus and placenta, preeclampsia contributes to increased morbidity and mortality of both mother and fetus. The BPH/5 mouse model, which spontaneously develops a syndrome strikingly similar to preeclampsia, displays excessive inflammation and suppression of inflammation improves pregnancy outcomes. During early pregnancy, decidual macrophages play an important role in promoting maternal tolerance to fetal antigens and regulating tissue remodeling, two functions that are critical for normal placental development. BPH/5 pregnancies are characterized by abnormal placentation; therefore, we hypothesized that macrophage localization and/or function is altered during early pregnancy at the site of placental formation (the decidua) compared to C57BL/6 controls. At early gestation time points, before the onset of maternal hypertension or proteinuria, there was a reduction in the number of macrophages in BPH/5 decidua and a concomitant increase in activated T cells compared with C57BL/6. BPH/5 decidua also exhibited decreased expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine, IL-10, and increased expression of pro-inflammatory, inducible nitric oxide synthase. Together, these data suggest that a reduction in decidual macrophages during pregnancy is associated with immune activation in BPH/5 mice, inadequate placental development and may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes in this model.
Susannah Rutherglen and Charlotte Hale. In a New Light: Giovanni Bellini's “St. Francis in the Desert.”

This publication is devoted to the study of a single artwork: Giovanni Bellini's Venetian Renaissance masterpiece St. Francis in the Desert. The painting — purchased by Henry Clay Frick in 1915, an...
Design for security: Guidelines for efficient, secure small satellite computation

Historically, satellites have been built with large budgets and expensive, bespoke, “rad-hard” technology. For typical low Earth orbit missions, however, designers can now leverage commercial components to reduce cost and development time. Commercial processors provide these satellites with computational horsepower comparable to terrestrial desktop systems … which leads to the temptation of terrestrial desktop software and all of the cybersecurity headaches and mistakes made in that realm over the years. We highlight key differences in processing environments, identify common tools for security design and application, and provide design guidelines that can lead to more secure on-orbit processing while remaining mindful of the overarching drumbeat of “smaller, faster, cheaper.”
The Ethics in Risk Regulation: Towards a Contractualist Re-Orientation

This brief essay, written for a symposium inaugurating the Rutgers Institute for Law and Philosophy at the Rutgers School of Law-Camden, sketches a promising alternative to the consequentialist approach to governmental risk regulation that dominates public policy; one that is inspired by T. M. Scanlon's contractualist moral theory. Rather than revolving around interpersonal aggregation, as consequentialism -- and the method of cost-benefit analysis that is predicated upon it -- does, the contractualist approach to risk regulation takes intrapersonal aggregation as its lodestar, comparing the effects of principles of risk regulation on individuals in pair-wise comparison. While in many cases these two approaches will render the same verdict on specific cases, they nevertheless part in practice in many other cases, illustrating the practical importance of founding a regime of risk regulation upon the correct theory.
[117] Interview with Raoul Bott

This is the edited text of two interviews with Raoul Bott, conducted by Allyn Jackson in October 2000.
Tensile and conductivity properties of epoxy composites containing carbon black and graphene nanoplatelets

Adding conductive fillers to an insulating polymer matrix produces composites with unique properties. Varying amounts of carbon black (0.33, 0.67, and 1 wt%) and graphene nanoplatelets (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) were added to epoxy. In addition, a few carbon black/graphene nanoplatelet/epoxy formulations were also fabricated. The conductivity and tensile properties were determined and analyzed. The single filler composites containing 5 and 10 wt% graphene nanoplatelet and 0.33 wt% carbon black could be used for electrically insulating applications. Composites containing 15 and 20 wt% graphene nanoplatelet could be used for static dissipative applications. The following composites could be used for semi-conductive applications: 0.67 wt% carbon black/epoxy, 1 wt% carbon black/epoxy, 0.33 wt% carbon black/5 wt% graphene nanoplatelet/epoxy, and 0.33 wt% carbon black/10 wt% graphene nanoplatelet/epoxy. At the 95% confidence level, the combination of 0.33 wt% carbon black with 5 wt% graphene nanoplatelet caused th...
Social Cognitive Theories of Personality

Social cognitive theory is based upon two key principles: (a) that the psychological person, the environment, and behavior reciprocally influence one another; and (b) that people are best understood in terms of conscious cognitive capabilities that enable them to symbolically represent events, to reflect upon themselves, and to act as agents of their own development Bandura, 1986, Bandura, 1997; Cervone & Williams, 1992. Social cognitive theory evolved from efforts to understand complex psychosocial functioning and adaptation according to basic principles of learning, with special emphasis on how people learn from one another (Bandura, 1969; Bandura & Walters, 1963). Originally called social learning theory, it drew much of its early inspiration from behavioral approaches (e.g., Skinner, 1953). Social cognitive theory retains an admiration of behaviorism’s empirical and technical rigor, its focus on overt coping behavior as a primary phenomenon to be explained by psychological theories, its documentation of strong environmental influences on behavior, and its numerous benefits to society in ameliorating otherwise intractable human problems. But long before social learning theory came to be called social cognitive theory, it departed sharply from behaviorism. By the late 1960s, it had become outspokenly cognitive in orientation (Bandura, 1969). Subsequent elaborations on the theory (Bandura, 1977b>, Bandura, 1986, Bandura, 1988, Bandura, 1997) and developments in closely related social-cognitive conceptions (Mischel & Shoda, 1995; see Cervone & Shoda, in press) have moved it farther still from its early origins in behaviorism.
“Where Many Books Have Gone Before”: Using Star Trek to Teach Literature

On Star Trek, the crew members of the USS Enterprise have a number of impressive tools at their disposal, from phasers to tricorders. Yet, one of their most useful items is one to which we already have access today: literature. From Shakespearean-line titles in Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), to the Dickensian and Melvillean themes in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (ST:II), to Data and his Sherlock Holmes fixation, literature has always served as a template for Star Trek, reinforcing its continued power and relevance; even in a world of interplanetary travel, real books still matter. This emphasis on literature makes Star Trek an excellent teaching tool. As Star Trek privileges texts, particularly the classics, the series and films can be used to effectively teach literature, from providing intertextual references to specific works to providing excellent examples for teaching concepts and themes in literature. In addition, Star Trek clearly portrays the value of literature and literary studies, even for those whose lives and work are outside traditional roles in the humanities.
Syntactic Weight Versus Information Structure in Word Order Variation

The focus of the present paper is word order variation within languages. There is a widespread view in the literature that the selection among truth-conditionally equivalent word order variants permitted by the grammar is determined primarily by considerations of “information structure”, i.e. pragmatic-semantic notions such as predictability or importance (Givon 1983, 1988), agency, definiteness (Jacobs 1988), etc. It is generally agreed that syntactic weight or length is also relevant in performance, but the extent of this relevance is usually seen as being limited to a handful of structures that are particularly difficult for processing, such as center embeddings and the positioning of finite clause complements (cf. e.g. Grosu & Thompson 1977, Dryer 1980).
The Development of the Brain and the Evolution of Language

There exist many theories of the evolution of language, and many were produced in the 19th Century. These theories tried to account for the production of language. They all lead to a paradox. If a mutation occurred which made a man capable of speech, he would have no language to speak nor anyone to understand him. If a mutation made a man capable of comprehension what language would he learn and who would speak it? The possibility of simultaneous mutations in two men in contact seems highly unlikely. More recent theories which stress the origin of language through gesture face exactly the same paradox.
Severity Exploratory Model Analysis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma with Heart Rate and SpO 2

Managing Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at home have immense potential to progress in healthcare. At home measurements of severities of the chronic diseases by telehealth technologies enables effective self-management and can reduce sudden deterioration. The number of COPD, asthma, and healthy subjects collected from MIMIC III databases are 168. Time series signals and principal components are explored as predictive features from the heart rate and SpO 2 collected via pulse oximeter. The goal of the work is to develop models, then to select the best predictive model and to compare the severity groups with clustering of the diseases. Severity estimation algorithms are built with mathematical functions. Finally, four hyper-parameter models and K Means Clustering algorithms are implemented for the distributions of severities of the diseases. The COPD and asthma severity models are capable to classify the subjects according to the GOLD and GINA severity stages respectively. The proposed solution can provide immediate feedback to the patient for self-awareness of the disease and sharing of the severity score with other community members can lead to an improvement of overall community health towards a Smart and Connected Community (SCC).
Molecular and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of normal stem cell radiosensitivity.

Ionizing radiation (IR) therapy is a major cancer treatment modality and an indispensable auxiliary treatment for primary and metastatic cancers, but invariably results in debilitating organ dysfunctions. IR-induced depletion of neural stem/progenitor cells in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus where neurogenesis occurs is considered largely responsible for deficiencies such as learning, memory, and spatial information processing in patients subjected to cranial irradiation. Similarly, IR therapy-induced intestinal injuries such as diarrhea and malabsorption are common side effects in patients with gastrointestinal tumors and are believed to be caused by intestinal stem cell drop out. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently used to reinstate blood production in leukemia patients and pre-clinical treatments show promising results in other organs such as the skin and kidney, but ethical issues and logistic problems make this route difficult to follow. An alternative way to restore the injured tissue is to preserve the stem cell pool located in that specific tissue/organ niche, but stem cell response to ionizing radiation is inadequately understood at the molecular mechanistic level. Although embryonic and fetal hypersensity to IR has been very well known for many decades, research on embryonic stem cell models in culture concerning molecular mechanisms have been largely inconclusive and often in contradiction of the in vivo observations. This review will summarize the latest discoveries on stem cell radiosensitivity, highlighting the possible molecular and epigenetic mechanism(s) involved in DNA damage response and programmed cell death after ionizing radiation therapy specific to normal stem cells. Finally, we will analyze the possible contribution of stem cell-specific chromatin’s epigenetic constitution in promoting normal stem cell radiosensitivity.