cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Jacobi Decomposition and Eigenvalues of Symmetric Matrices

We show that every n-dimensional orthogonal matrix can be factored into O(n 2) Jacobi rotations (also called Givens rotations in the literature). It is well known that the Jacobi method,wh ich constructs the eigen-decomposition of a symmetric matrix through a sequence of Jacobi rotations,is slower than the eigenvalue algorithms currently used in practice,but is capable of computing eigenvalues, particularly tiny ones,t o a high relative accuracy. The above decomposition, which to the best of our knowledge is new,s hows that the infinite-precision nondeterministic Jacobi method (in which an oracle is invoked to obtain the correct rotation angle in each Jacobi rotation) can construct the eigen-decomposition with O(n 2) Jacobi rotations. The complexity of the nondeterministic Jacobi algorithm motivates the efforts to narrow the gap between the complexity of the known Jacobi algorithms and that of the nondeterministic version. Speeding up the Jacobi algorithm while retaining its excellent numerical properties would be of considerable interest. In that direction,we describe,as an example,a variant of the Jacobi method in which the rotation angle for each Jacobi rotation is computed (in closed-form) through 1-dimensional optimization. We also show that the computation of the closed-form optimal solution of the 1-dimensional problems guarantees convergence of the new method.
Failure After Modern Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Study of 18,065 Knees.

Abstract Background We sought is to determine the mechanism of failure among primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) performed at a single high-volume institution by asking the following research questions: (1) What are the most common failure modes for modern TKA designs? and (2) What are the preoperative risk factors for failure following primary TKA? Methods From May 2007 to December 2012, 18,065 primary TKAs performed on 16,083 patients at a single institution were recorded in a prospective total joint arthroplasty registry with a minimum of 5-year follow-up. We retrospectively reviewed patient charts to determine a cause of failure for primary TKAs. A cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the risk of revision surgery following primary TKA. Results The most common reasons for failure within 2 years after TKA were infection and stiffness. The multivariable regression identified the following preoperative risk factors for TKA failure: history of drug abuse (hazard ratio [HR] 4.68; P = 0.03), deformity/mechanical preoperative diagnosis (HR 3.52; P Conclusion These findings add to the growing data that primary TKAs are no longer failing from polyethylene wear-related issues. This study identified preoperative risk factors for failure of primary TKAs, which may be useful information for developing strategies to improve outcomes following TKA.
Why is the simulated climatology of tropical cyclones so sensitive to the choice of cumulus parameterization scheme in the WRF model

The sensitivity of simulated tropical cyclones (TCs) to the choice of cumulus parameterization (CP) scheme in the advanced Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF-ARW) version 3.5 is analyzed based on ten seasonal simulations with 20-km horizontal grid spacing over the western North Pacific. Results show that the simulated frequency and intensity of TCs are very sensitive to the choice of the CP scheme. The sensitivity can be explained well by the difference in the low-level circulation in a height and sorted moisture space. By transporting moist static energy from dry to moist region, the low-level circulation is important to convective self-aggregation which is believed to be related to genesis of TC-like vortices (TCLVs) and TCs in idealized settings. The radiative and evaporative cooling associated with low-level clouds and shallow convection in dry regions is found to play a crucial role in driving the moisture-sorted low-level circulation. With shallow convection turned off in a CP scheme, relatively strong precipitation occurs frequently in dry regions. In this case, the diabatic cooling can still drive the low-level circulation but its strength is reduced and thus TCLV/TC genesis is suppressed. The inclusion of the cumulus momentum transport (CMT) in a CP scheme can considerably suppress genesis of TCLVs/TCs, while changes in the moisture-sorted low-level circulation and horizontal distribution of precipitation are trivial, indicating that the CMT modulates the TCLVs/TCs activities in the model by mechanisms other than the horizontal transport of moist static energy.
The Elusive Engagement Metric

Many journalism professionals and researchers have recently argued that newsrooms adopt “audience engagement” as one of their chief pursuits. Yet those who hope to make audience engagement both nor...
Scalable Fault Coverage Estimation of Sequential Circuits without Fault Injection

Industrial and automotive standards for safety critical System on Chips require fault coverage at the gate level. A scalable estimation method that avoids fault injection is presented. It is statistically correlated to the actual fault coverage.
Basic Search Patterns in Heuristic Search

A general discussion of heuristics is followed by a discussion of a particular type of problem to be solved by a heuristic method. The problem, a common one in control theory, is the searching of the highest point on a multi-dimensional, multi-modal surface. An experiment was conducted in which human subjects performed heuristic searches to find the peak of a two-dimensional, multi-modal surface. Results of this experiment indicate a subject searches a hill according to a predetermined pattern called the basic search pattern. Using the concept of a basic search pattern a theoretical procedure for a heuristic search is postulated.
Abstract 20512: Cortactin Binds to a Novel Focal Adhesion Protein, EVL, During Endothelial Cytoskeleton Rearrangement

The endothelial cell (EC) cytoskeleton is a complex array of proteins intimately involved in the diverse cell shape changes critical to dynamic regulation of lung vascular barrier integrity, particularly in the phases of onset and recovery during ARDS and VILI. Cortactin is structurally designed to be a central actin filament regulatory protein with an SH3 domain that directly binds non-muscle myosin light chain kinase (nmMLCK) and other effectors, and an acidic N-terminus that directly binds to Arp2/3, the protein complex regulating actin branching. In this study, we demonstrate cortactin binding to a focal adhesion protein, EVL, an actin polymerization-enhancing effector involved in linear actin filament formation and cortactin-mediated EC cytoskeleton regulation. To confirm the binding of cortactin to other cytoskeleton effector proteins, including nmMLCK, we generated a unique GFP-tagged proline-deficient nmMLCK mutant predicted to alter cortactin SH3 binding to MLCK. EC transfected with GFP-tagged proline-deficient nmMLCK mutant construct exhibit significantly higher stress fiber density and reduced localization in the cell periphery, highlighting the regulatory influence of cortactin on nmmLCK spatial localization. Cortactin-nmMLCK interaction is increased by tyrosine phosphorylation of either nmMLCK or cortactin by c-Abl, during S1P mediated cytoskeleton rearrangement. Importantly, c-Abl-mediated nmMLCK phosphorylation reverses nmMLCK’s inhibitory effects on cortactin/Arp2/3-induced pyrene-labeled actin polymerization. Cortactin binds to EVL, at basal level, with binding promoted during cytoskeleton rearrangement stimulated by S1P. The binding with EVL is critical for the cortactin translocation and interaction with nmMLCK in lamellipodia, as the silencing of EVL by siRNA significantly attenuated these essential cellular events (lamellipodia formation, cortactin translocation to lamellipodia, and binding of cortactin with nmMLCK) during cytoskeleton rearrangement. These findings reveal novel cellular mechanisms of endothelial cytoskeleton rearrangement and barrier function in ARDS and VILI.
Diagnosis of intrathyroidal ectopic thymus in thyroid fine needle aspiration samples.

Aims Intrathyroidal ectopic thymus (ITET) is a rare cause of paediatric thyroid nodules. Although ultrasonography of ITET demonstrates a characteristic appearance similar to that of normal thymus, accurate differentiation from other thyroid nodule etiologies by ultrasonography is difficult, and so that fine needle aspiration (FNA) is usually performed for further analysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of flow cytometry (FCM) in confirming the diagnosis of ITET in thyroid FNA samples. Methods Five cases of ITET were retrieved from our thyroid FNA database within a 3-year period. Their clinical information, ultrasonographic features, cytology and FCM findings were retrospectively reviewed. The FCM results were compared with those of 22 T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) cases. Results The FNA smears of all five ITET cases demonstrated abundant lymphocytes of variable sizes, which included some immature lymphoid cells. No Hassall’s bodies or atypical epithelioid cells were recognised. By multicolour FCM analysis including antibodies against CD1a, CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD10, CD34, TDT and TCR, all ITET cases showed antigen expression patterns consistent with normal thymocyte maturation. All T-ALL/LBL cases exhibited significant immunophenotypic aberrancy. Conclusions The diagnosis of ITET based on FNA cytology is often inconclusive. The presence of immature lymphocytes often raises the concern for LBL. FCM with adequate antigen coverage can reliably distinguish ITET from T-ALL/LBL and make the diagnosis of ITET in FNA samples. Avoiding unnecessary further invasive procedures, providing reassurance to clinician and patient, the accurate diagnosis of ITET by FCM in FNA samples is clinically important.
Perceptions of Media Roles in Serbia and Croatia: Does News Orientation Have an Impact?

ABSTRACTThis study examined the perceptions of media roles among journalism students in Serbia and Croatia (N = 401). The results showed that the most important were citizen-oriented and watchdog r...
So what do you think of this laser eye surgery, doc?

Laser eye surgery has been a subject of focus in Ophthalmology in the last few years and patients increasingly want to know about its use in eye conditions, as Jaheed Khan and Victor Chong explain
Mid-Infrared dual-comb spectroscopy (Conference Presentation)

Dual-comb spectroscopy has recently attracted significant interest due to its fast acquisition times, absolute frequency accuracy, negligible lineshape, and coherent probe light. We have recently expanded our near-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy efforts to the mid-infrared, which offers significantly improved sensitivity for many trace gas species and access to other species which cannot be measured in the Near-Infrared. Our Mid-Infrared spectrometer is based on two erbium fiber optical frequency combs that generate light spanning from about 3 to 5 microns using a two-branch difference frequency generation (DFG) design with a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal (PPLN). The data product of the spectrometer are interferograms. Once digitized, the interferograms are corrected for residual phase noise of the frequency combs and coadded in real-time on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Finally, the optical spectrum is calculated through a Fourier transform of the coadded interferogram. I will present three measurement modalities we implemented with this spectrometer. In a laboratory gas cell measurement, we characterized low-pressure gas phase propane, demonstrating excellent agreement with literature spectra obtained with high-resolution FTIR. In a separate measurement, we performed in-situ monitoring of a chemical reaction using attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. Finally, open-path measurements of atmospheric trace gases (methane, CO2, water, ethane) and volatile organic compounds (acetone, isopropanol) demonstrate the spectrometer's capability to monitor atmospheric trace gases and quantify emissions from sources like oil and gas, forest fires and industry.
Circulations, Accumulations, and Superdiversity

This chapter traces evidence for the “confluences of scripts” linking language and sexuality before Stonewall: Forms of linguistic practice expressed sexual references within geographic, racial, ethnic, and other social boundaries, as well as across them, frequently taking the form resembling what Blommaert and Rampton term superdiversity (2011). The chapter considers examples from several dictionaries of homosexual language and also traces how regulatory assumptions (the ideologies) orienting language and sexuality limited the presence of language other than English in these dictionary-based discussions of sexual sameness. A rich example of language, sexuality, accumulation, and its social inflections can be found in early twentieth-century Harlem (the area of New York City which, at that time, may have had the largest, greatest concentration of African Americans per square mile in the world [Johnson 1930]). Harlemese, Harlem’s everyday vernacular, had its sexual (and homosexual) varieties, too, but all forms of Harlemese were very different from the English usage expected from the elite group—the “Talented Tenth” (DuBois 1903)—who were to lead African American people up the mountain path to the new Canaan. And the comments of proponents of “Talented tenth” were very clear: Speakers of Harlemese, and (homo)sexual Harlemese in specific, were not welcome to join the leadership team and would be expelled if they did. Meanwhile, other studies praised Harlemese for demonstrating the artistic skills of the “Negro furthest down” (in Zora Neale Hurston’s phrasing, 1938). Those studies did not make opportunity dependent on assimilation, but they did acknowledge that linguistic practices embodied conflicts over race and class, opportunity and sexuality in the 1920s Harlem, and the legacies of those conflicts still haunt discussions of Harlemese today.
Effects of chemogenetic manipulation of the nucleus accumbens core in male C57BL/6J mice

Abstract Binge drinking is a widespread public health concern with limited effective treatment options. To better select pharmaceutical targets, it is imperative to expand our knowledge of the underlying neural mechanisms involved in binge drinking. Our previous experiments in C57BL/6J female mice found that increasing activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core using excitatory Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) reduced binge-like drinking. These results differed from what has been found in males; however, it is unclear whether differences in experimental procedures or sex underlie these discrepancies. We matched the conditions used in our female study and asked whether bidirectional manipulation of NAc core activity has different effects on binge-like drinking in males. Male C57BL/6J mice were stereotaxically injected with AAV2 hSyn-HA hM3Dq (excitatory), -hM4Di (inhibitory), or -eGFP bilaterally into the NAc core. We tested the effects of altering NAc activity on binge-like ethanol intake using Drinking in the Dark (DID). During the first week, mice were pre-treated with vehicle to establish baseline ethanol intake. In week 2, mice were treated with 1 mg/kg CNO prior to DID to determine the effects of DREADD-induced changes in NAc core activity on ethanol intake. Decreasing activity via CNO/hM4Di significantly decreased binge-like drinking in male mice relative to eGFP and hM4Di groups. We also measured intake of sucrose, quinine, and water after CNO treatment and found that increasing NAc core activity via CNO/hM3Dq increased quinine intake, and increased water intake over time. We did not observe significant differences in the GFP or hM4Di groups. This work suggests there exist apparent sex-related differences in NAc core contributions to binge-like alcohol drinking, thus demonstrating the need for inclusion of both sexes in future work.
Trusts as Institutions in China's Financial Markets

China passed a law of trusts in 2001 intending it to be useful to financial market participants. Drawing heavily from literature on economic institutions and economic development, this article assesses the potential success of the trust’s becoming institutionalized in China. The conclusion is that a legislature’s passing of a trust law does not alone make the trust an institution. A law is not an institution until it functions to predictably incentivize and constrain human behavior. A number of provisions in China’s Trust Law are unclear, and this prevents the law from functioning with predictability. Further, there is some question whether conditions in China are hospitable to the institutionalization of the trust, and whether the Trust Law can be a catalyst for the development of financial markets.
Symptomatic Presentation of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Heart Transplantation Patients.

Abstract Patients with acute myocardial infarction with a history of an orthotopic heart transplantation rarely present with classic anginal symptoms, secondary to cardiac denervation. We present 2...
A Case of Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome with Positive Serum Antibody Against Ganglionic (Alpha-3) Acetylcholine Receptor (774)

Objective: NA Background: Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is characterized by the combination of opsoclonus and action myoclonus that predominantly involves trunk and limbs usually accompanied by axial ataxia and dysarthria. The three most common etiologies of OMS are para-infectious, paraneoplastic, and idiopathic. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is still unknown but is suggested to be immune-mediated. Design/Methods: NA Results: We report a 37 year-old previously healthy woman who presented with confusion, agitation, lethargy, and abnormal movements within days of initiating antibiotic treatment for a urinary tract infection. Neurological exam revealed non-rhythmic jerky movements of face and upper extremities, ataxia, and abnormal dancing eye movements, all of which were consistent with OMS. Brain MRI revealed a few small discrete FLAIR signal hyperintense foci and subtle left greater than right small regions of abnormal cortical FLAIR signal without enhancement seen within the inferior aspects of the frontal lobes. CSF analysis showed mildly elevated WBC with normal RBC, protein and glucose levels. Viral and bacterial meningoencephalitis PCR testing was negative. Paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis panel from CSF and serum showed a higher than normal titer of antibodies against the ganglionic (alpha-3) acetylcholine receptor. Two PET scan studies with 5 months interval revealed mild hypermetabolism in the neck area especially in the tonsils, thyroid and few cervical lymph nodes, but repeated CT scans of the neck with and without contrast revealed no evidence of neoplastic lesion in the area. The patient showed significant improvement in her symptoms after receiving four courses of IVIG treatment and prolonged oral steroid therapy. This patient is a rare case of idiopathic opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome in a young adult with mildly elevated serum antibody titer against the alpha-3 cholinergic ganglionic receptor. Conclusions: In patients with OMS of uncertain etiology, aggressive management with combined IVIG and oral steroids should be given. Disclosure: Dr. Mohammad-Khanli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Strong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Richardson has nothing to disclose.
Conjoint Analysis of Residential Preferences

A methodology for studying the effect of different locational factors on individual residential preferences is developed. Observations on the overall preferences of individuals are used to construct profiles of prospective residents. The Conjoint Analysis (CA) method is used for this purpose. Preferences for alternative development proposals are measured with a multidimensional composite index of Residential Location Utility (RLU). Criteria for the selection of the dimensions of the index and the form of the compositional rule are postulated. A vector of the RLU is estimated by the use of ordinal regression in conjunction with linear programming. The methodology was implemented in the study of residential preferences of the population of Assistant Professors of Stanford University. The data collection technique is described and results of the analysis are presented. The members of the population are classified according to their demonstrated behavior in selecting a residential place. An informal validation of the results is made by comparison with direct statements by the respondents on their preferences.
聚(吡唑)硼酸基-氨基钽化合物的合成、表征及和氧气的反应性

TaCl(NMe 2 ) 4 ( 1 )与Tp*K [Tp* = 三(3,5-二甲基吡唑)硼化氢]的反应给出两个产物：第一个产物是Tp*Ta(NMe 2 ) 4 ( 2 ), 其中Tp*配体的一个N原子跟钽配位成键; 第二种产物是[Tp*Ta(NMe 2 ) 4 ]?2Tp*K ( 3 ), 其中[Tp*Ta(NMe 2 ) 4 ] ( 2a ) 的Tp*配体的三个N原子跟钽配位成键. 过量的化合物 1 加入化合物 3 中并没有跟其中的Tp*K 反应. 化合物 2 与氧气的进一步反应给出产物Tp*BH(NMe 2 ) ( 4 ). 通过类似的方法, 化合物 1 与TpK [Tp =三(吡唑)硼化氢] 的反应产出化合物TpTa(NMe 2 ) 4 ( 5 ). 研究了化合物3和5与氧气的反应. 用核磁共振, 元素分析和单晶X射线衍射对化合物 2 , 4 , 和 5 进行了表征.
The Genetics of Blood Pressure and Hypertension: The Role of Rare Variation

The role of heredity in influencing blood pressure and risk of hypertension is well recognized. However, progress in identifying specific genetic variation that contributes to heritability is very limited. This is in spite of completion of the human genome sequence, the development of extraordinary amounts of information about genome sequence variation and the investigation of blood pressure inheritance in linkage analysis, candidate gene studies and, most recently genome-wide association studies. This paper considers the progress of this research and the obstacles that have been encountered. This work has made clear that the genetic architecture of blood pressure regulation in the population is not likely to be shaped by commonly occurring genetic variation in a discrete set of blood pressure-influencing genes. Rather heritability may be accounted for by rare variation that has its biggest impact within pedigrees rather than on the population at large. Rare variants in a wide range of genes are likely to be the focus of high blood pressure genetics for the next several years and the emerging strategies that can be applied to uncover this genetic variation and the problems that must confronted are considered.
SOOTS FROM USED DIESEL ENGINE OILS -- THEIR EFFECTS ON WEAR AS MEASURED IN 4-BALL WEAR TESTS

Diesel engine oil soot from different engines have the appearance of carbon black but contains significant concentrations of engine oil additive elements. Evaluation of the soot in 4-ball wear tests supported the theory that the soot reduces the antiwear additive effectiveness by preferentially adsorbing the active antiwear additive components before they can form the essential antiwear surface coating rather than removing the surface coatings by abrasion after they are formed. Engine load and exhaust gas recirculation have large effects on the soot prowear characteristics, whereas engine refinements, engine make and oil type have lesser effects. No antiwear additives were found more effective than the currently used zinc dialkyldithiophosphates. Several preferential adsorber additives were effective in simple blends but not in fully formulated engine oils.
Simplicity is worse than theft: A constraint-based explanation of a seemingly counter-intuitive russian saying

In many practical situations, simplified models, models that enable us to gauge the quality of different decisions reasonably well, lead to far-from-optimal situations when used in searching for an optimal decision. There is even an appropriate Russian saying: simplicity is worse than theft. In this paper, we provide a mathematical explanation of this phenomenon.
Observational Properties of Coronal Mass Ejections

Abstract : Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have been known and observed for over 30 years. The total number of observed CMEs is now approaching 10,000, most of them detected with the LASCO coronagraph on the SOHO spacecraft. We review statistical work on CME widths, latitudes, accelerations, speeds, masses, and rates of occurrence. Solar-cycle variations of these parameters are presented. Recent work has focused on CME internal properties and compositions and on CME dynamics, particularly at low (< 3 solar radii) altitudes. The challenges to understand the magnetic topology of narrow (< 20 deg width) CMEs, to determine the relationship of coronal holes to CMEs, and to observe magnetic reconnection that effects magnetic disconnections of CMEs from the Sun are discussed.
Comorbidity in Compulsive Hoarding: A Case Report.

A 56-year-old male presented with compulsive hoarding along with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and schizotypal personality disorder. Hoarding has been described as difficult to treat both pharmacologically and behaviorally, and this patient's comorbid conditions also contributed to his overall impairment. The patient's treatment regimen of fluvoxamine, amphetamine salts, and risperidone, along with behavioral therapy, has helped with hoarding behaviors, motivation, procrastination, and increased socialization. Hoarding may be a unique subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder with poorer prognosis and distinct neuroanatomic dysfunction. Augmentation with stimulants may provide benefits in aspects of hoarding such as procrastination, especially in patients with comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Dynamic topography, plate driving forces and the African superswell

Discovering the connection between processes observed to occur at the surface of the Earth and its internal dynamics remains an essential goal in the Earth sciences. Deep mantle structure, as inferred from seismic tomography or subduction history, has been shown to account well for the observed surface gravity fieldand motions of tectonic plates1,2,3. But the origin of certain large-scale features, such as the anomalous elevation of the southern and eastern African plateaux, has remained controversial. Whereas the average elevation of most cratons is between 400 and 500 m, the southern African plateau stands more than 1 km above sea level, with the surrounding oceans possessing a residual bathymetry in excess of 500 m (ref. 4). Global seismic tomography studies have persistently indicated the existence of a large-scale low-velocity anomaly beneath the African plate5,6,7,8,9,10 and here we show that mantle flow induced by the density variations inferred from these velocity anomalies can dynamically support the excess elevation of the African ‘superswell’. We also find that this upwelling mantle flow—which is most intense near the core–mantle boundary—constitutes a significant driving force for tectonic plates in the region.
Taking the Lord's Name in Vain: The Impact of Connected Directors on 19th Century British Banks

This paper utilizes data on the presence of prominent individuals -- that is, those with political (e.g., Members of Parliament) and aristocratic titles (e.g., lords) -- on the boards of directors of English and Welsh banks from 1879-1909 to investigate whether the appointment of well-connected directors enhanced equity value for bank shareholders. Our analysis of panel data shows that the appointment of connected directors did not increase the rate of return on bank equity. In fact, we find that the appointment of MPs to directorships had negative effects on bank equity returns. Our event-study analysis corroborates this finding, showing that a bank's shares exhibited negative abnormal returns when their directors were elected to Parliament. Taken together, our results indicate that connected directors yielded little -- or even negative -- economic payoff to bank shareholders in pre-war Britain.
State-space approach to approximation by phase matching

A state-space realization of the stable part of the phase function of a proper spectral factor is provided. The phase matching problem (Jonckheere and Helton 1985, Harshavardhana and Jonckheere 1985) can now be solved completely in the state-space framework, using existing numerically reliable procedures. Further, a connection is made between the stochastic balancing approach and the phase approximation procedure for the stochastic realization approximation.
Experimental Evidence for Chaotic Scattering in a Fluid Wake.

We present the first experimental evidence of chaotic scattering in a fluid wake. Measurements of tracer particles and dye in the stratified wake of a moving cylinder are shown to be consistent with four predictions based on simple models and direct numerical simulation: unstable periodic orbits were shadowed by tracer particles; streaklines marked by wake-delayed dye are shown to be fractal; early time-delay statistics of fluid elements interacting with the wake decayed exponentially; and finally, the fractal dimension of the wake is consistent with the dynamics of the wake, as measured by characteristic time delays and Lyapunov exponents.
P- and SV-wave separation by polarization-dependent velocity filtering: application to vertical seismic profiles from Kola superdeep borehole, Russia

Abstract In multicomponent seismic surveys, separation of interfering compressional (P) and shear-wave (S) energy provides valuable information for the interpretation of mode conversions and seismic anisotropy. We present a technique for such a separation using a polarization-dependent velocity filtering. At the first step of the procedure, a linear two-channel filter is designed in the frequency-wavenumber domain, with filter coefficients determined by the angles of incidence of respective seismic waves. Due to several physical reasons, the filter is unstable near the high end of the P-wave spectrum. We stabilize the filter with the use of S-wave spectrum balancing. This operation results in a robust decomposition into P- and SV-responses, while retaining the full energy of the vector wavefield. We implement this method in a module of our seismic processing system. The module employs a versatile parametrization scheme, as well as structured data input/output. It is able to process VSP or surface data, with velocities varying by either depth or offset. Application of the module to the processing of an offset VSP from the Kola Superdeep Borehole demonstrates that the program successfully separates P- and S-wave phases in crustal VSP data.
Writing contradictions: Feminist research and feminist writing

Abstract The focus of this paper is the difficulties that arise when a feminist social science research project with an emancipatory aim, collaborative style, and an empathic approach is conducted among women who reject feminism and discuss race in insensitive and intolerant ways. The research project involved long, unstructured interviews and participant observation with White, working-class women in a gender segregated occupation (clerical workers and secretaries). There were several dilemmas in “writing up” the research: the limited reciprocity between researcher and participants in the study, questions of power and knowledge involved in analysis, and the complexities of writing a coherent narrative that adequately captured the contradictory interpretations and consciousness revealed in this research. Moreover, these dilemmas were sharpened by the challenge to present this research to an academic audience without reinforcing negative stereotypes of White, working-class women.
Discrimination of flavonoids and red wine varietals by arrays of differential peptidic sensors

The chemical structures and concentrations of an organism's natural products are dependent upon its genome and environmental factors. Examples are the complex metabolite solutions resulting from plant and fermentation processes. Here, we describe sensor arrays composed of supramolecular ensembles that undergo indicator displacement and discriminate selected flavonoids and mixtures thereof: wine varietals. Changes in UV-vis absorbance upon indicator displacement in the array were analyzed using pattern recognition protocols. The flavonoids were differentiated in terms of structure and concentration, while red wines were generally classified by varietals, even from different vintners. The technique highlights the power of differential sensor arrays to classify mixtures by metabolite distribution, even when the natural products are not known.
Catalytic Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Alkenes

Computations utilizing the ONIOM scheme have been used to model key features of the the Rh(chiral bisphosphine)-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral enamides. Extensive computations and comparison with detailed mechanistic studies demonstrate that major features of the catalytic mechanism are reproduced by computation. These features include (1) relative stabilities of diastereomeric catalyst-enamide adducts (2) the anti “lock-and-key” motif, in which the majority of catalytic flux is carried by the less stable catalyst-enamide adduct (3) reversal of the sense of enantioselection when the enamide substrate bears a bulky, electron-donating group in the α-position. Based on the computational results, simple models demonstrate how specific steric effects of the chiral ligand environment co-mingle with orbital interactions between the catalyst and substrate to result in distinctive, and often surprising, mechanistic features of enantioselective hydrogenation reactions.
The Laplace transform and the integral stability of certain linear processes

Abstract This paper is concerned with the relationship between the stability of certain linear processes, which are not necessarily semi-groups, and their Laplace transforms.
Second harmonic generation measurements of molecular orientation and coadsorption at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions

Abstract Resonant optical second harmonic generation (SHG) is obtained from monolayers of 4- n -octyloxybenzoic acid (OBA) and n -octyl-4-hydroxybenzoate (OHB) adsorbed at the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface. The polarization dependence of the SHG from pure monolayers of OBA and OHB indicates that the molecular axis of the OBA molecules is tilted 6° closer to the surface normal than that of the OHB molecules. The SHG from a series of mixed monolayers of OBA and OHB exhibits interference effects that demonstrate that the dipole moments of the coadsorbed molecules are oriented in opposite directions at the interface.
Brain edema in acute liver failure: mechanisms and concepts

Brain edema and associated increase in intracranial pressure continue to be lethal complications of acute liver failure (ALF). Abundant evidence suggests that the edema in ALF is largely cytotoxic brought about by swelling of astrocytes. Elevated blood and brain ammonia levels have been strongly implicated in the development of the brain edema. Additionally, inflammation and sepsis have been shown to contribute to the astrocyte swelling/brain edema in the setting of ALF. We posit that ammonia initiates a number of signaling events, including oxidative/nitrative stress (ONS), the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT), activation of the transcription factor (NF-κB) and signaling kinases, all of which have been shown to contribute to the mechanism of astrocyte swelling. All of these factors also impact ion-transporters, including Na+, K+, Cl− cotransporter and the sulfonylurea receptor 1, as well as the water channel protein aquaporin-4 resulting in a perturbation of cellular ion and water homeostasis, ultimately resulting in astrocyte swelling/brain edema. All of these events are also potentiated by inflammation. This article reviews contemporary knowledge regarding mechanisms of astrocyte swelling/brain edema formation which hopefully will facilitate the identification of therapeutic targets capable of mitigating the brain edema associated with ALF.
Positional cloning of an obesity/diabetes susceptibility gene(s) on chromosome 11 in Pima Indians.

: Prior results from our genomic scan in Pima Indians indicated an obesity locus in a region on chromosome 11q23-24 that was also linked to diabetes. Bivariate linkage analysis for the combined phenotype “diabesity” gave the strongest evidence for linkage (LOD = 5.2). Our aim is to positionally clone the gene(s) responsible for the linkage. Linkage disequilibrium mapping is being used to narrow the chromosomal region. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are being systematically identified and genotyped at 50-kb intervals across the region of linkage. To date, 455 SNPs have been genotyped in 1229 Pimas. A region containing a cluster of SNPs strongly associated with BMI and a second region, approximately 2 Mb telomeric, containing a cluster of SNPs associated with diabetes have been preliminarily identified.
Two-Dimensional Echocardiographic Identification of Peripheral Coronary Artery Ectasia in an Adult

Coronary artery aneurysms (ectasia) have been reported to be present in up to 4.9% of patients undergoing coronary angiography. In children with Kawasaki's disease or coronary arteriovenous fistula, the transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiographic findings associated with peripheral vessel aneurysms have been previously described. Echocardiographic imaging of peripheral coronary artery segments in the adult is difficult and to date only imaging of large, proximal coronary artery aneurysms has been reported. We report a case of an adult patient with angiographically documented extensive right coronary artery ectasia in which peripheral vessel aneurysms were identified with transthoracic echocardiography.
CD4 Count and Physical Symptoms Among Urban African American Mothers with HIV: An Examination of the Role of Optimism and Depressive Symptoms

The current study examined the link between immune functioning (CD4 count) and physical symptoms, as well as the moderating role of optimism and depressive symptoms, in a sample of 99 low income, inner city African American women with HIV. Although there was no main effect of CD4 count on physical symptoms, depressive symptoms moderated the association between CD4 count and physical symptoms. More compromised immune functioning (lower CD4 count) was associated with more physical symptoms under conditions of higher levels of depressive symptoms, but not lower levels of depressive symptoms. This finding was observed using both a self-report measure and a clinician-rating of women’s depressive symptoms. There were no main or interactive effects for optimism. Clinical implications and future research directions are presented.
Transport in Metals: Effect of the Nonequilibrium Phonons

The coupled Boltzmann equations for phonons and electrons in a metal are solved simultaneously using first-order perturbation theory. Use is made of the Kohler variational principle to put the transport coefficients in terms of determinants. The final results are in the form of integrals involving the phonon-phonon relaxation time $\ensuremath{\tau}(\ensuremath{\sigma})$ and the electron-electron relaxation time. The details of how a finite electrical conductivity exists by means of umklapp processes even when $\ensuremath{\tau}(\ensuremath{\sigma})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$ (the Peierls equilibrium problem) is revealed in the electrical conductivity expression. In general, the effects may be described as "phonon relaxation" effects, altering all the transport coefficients somewhat when $\ensuremath{\tau}(\ensuremath{\sigma})$ gets large, and "phonon-drag" or drift effects, altering appreciably only the thermoelectric power.
Balantidium prionurium n. sp., Symbiont in the Intestine of the Surgeonfish, Prionurus punctatus

During the spring of 1984, the ciliate Balantidium prionurium n. sp. was collected from the intestinal lumen of the herbivorous surgeonfish, Prionurus punctatus, from the Gulf of California. The symbionts were found in five fish from two well separated collection sites. Morphostatic specimens average 51 μm x 42 μm, and thus fall within the size range of several other fish balantidia. But the presence of Balantidium in a saltwater fish has not been reported, and such a host difference alone supports at least provisional recognition of this organism as a new species.
The use of gas discharge lasers in plasma diagnostics

Two (non-resonant) methods using a gas discharge laser as a light source in connection with plasma measurements are discussed: A Michelson interferometer setup to determine the integral index of refraction (f n(l) dl) as a function of time and space; and a Faraday rotation experiment determining the integral ~ = u f B(1) n(l) dl. Several experimental arrangements and recording methods are described and their problems and limitations considered. Results indicate in both cases that gas discharge lasers will provide very useful instrumentation for plasma measurements. 1. The use of pulsed or c.w. lasers - modulated or not - W, ith many possible transitions between 6000 and 30000 A in an interferometer experiment eliminates several problems and permits a number of experiments in an electron density range which has not been easily accessible so far to interferometric techniques. It also allows or necessitates slightly different methods from those used with extended light sources. In the following slides we discuss briefly the theoretical basis of the measurement; then study two different methods of displaying the phase shift produced in a Michelson interferometer illuminated by a He-Ne laser, and determine the accuracy of the method: Figure 1 Basic equations; Figure 2, The product n_ 1 as a function of )t with Ar as parameter; Figure 3, Experimental setup ; Figure 4, Phase shift measurements by means of a photomultiplier; Figure 5, Streak camera representation of the fringe pattern. 2. Another method to measure plasma properties uses the rotation of a linear polarized electromagnetic wave. If (by another measurement) the electron density is known, we may obtain from the rotation the actual magnetic field trapped inside of the plasma. Using a laser as light source in the visible or infrared offers again several advantages, in particular high spatial resolution and high sensitivity. The theoretical background of the measurement and the experimental setup are shown.
An analytical model for interval caching in interactive video servers

Design of servers to meet the quality of service (QoS) requirements of interactive video-on-demand (VOD) systems is challenging. Recognizing the increasing use of these systems in a wide range of applications, as well as the stringent service demands expected from them, several design alternatives have been proposed to improve server throughput. A buffer management technique, called interval caching, is one such solution which exploits the temporal locality of requests to the same movie and tries to serve requests from the cache, thereby enhancing system throughput. In this paper, we present a comprehensive mathematical model for analyzing the performance of interactive video servers that use interval caching. The model takes into account the representative workload parameters of interactive servers employing interval caching and calculates the expected number of cached streams as an indication of the improvement in server capacity due to interval caching. Especially, user interactions, which sensitively affect the performance of interval caching, are realistically reflected in our model for an accurate analysis. A statistical admission control technique has also been developed based on this model. Using this model as a design tool, we apply the model to measure the impact of different VCR operations on client requests and rejection probability, as well as the effect of cache size.
Enhancement of human natural killer cell activity by subcellular components of Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract The ability of sonicates and subcellular fractions of the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii to enhance in vitro human natural killer (NK) cell activity was examined. Incubation of nylon-wool-non-adherent human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with sonicates of T. gondii for 18–72 hr resulted in increased NK activity against an NK-sensitive, as well as an insensitive, target cell. Single-cell assays revealed that augmentation of NK activity was not due to an increased binding of K562 target cells to effector cells. Differential centrifugation studies indicated that NK-augmenting activity was distributed in membrane-enriched and cytoplasmic fractions. This activity was found to be resistant to treatment with ribonuclease (RNase) and deoxyribonuclease (DNase), but susceptible to proteolysis. Antibodies present in the serum of humans infected with Toxoplasma blocked the NK cell-augmenting effect of the membrane-enriched fractions. Enhancement of NK activity by PBL incubated with Toxoplasma sonicate was accompanied by a concomitant increase in interferon (IFN), but not of interleukin 2 (IL-2), levels in supernatants of the cell cultures.
Thermoregulation and water requirements in semiarid and montane populations of the least chipmunk, Eutamias minimus-III. Acclimatization at a high ambient temperature.

Abstract 1. Acclimatization at 34°C results in a reduction of metabolism, body temperature (Th), and evaporative heat loss (EHL) and an increase in dry heat conductance as compared to values reported for chipmunks acclimatized at 22°C. 2. At high ambient temperatures, the semiarid population, as compared to the montane population, maintains a lower Th under all conditions examined. The lower Th occurs because of a higher EHL when water is available and because of reduced metabolism when dehydrated. 3. Adaptation of E. minimus to the semiarid habitat has involved changes in response to acute and chronic heat and water stress which increase the time the chipmunks can survive exposures to high ambient temperature, regardless of water availability.
(Self) Regulating War?: Voluntary Regulation and the Private Security Industry

Private security companies' growing participation in U.S. and international military missions has raised concern about whether the private security industry is subject to sufficient controls. Industry self-regulation is often proposed as part of a multilayered framework of regulations to govern PSCs. But what can self-regulation contribute to regulation of the private security industry? This matters because privatization in the security realm has moved beyond understandings of the proper breakdown of public and private functions concerning the use of force. This article assesses what self-regulation can contribute to the control of this industry and whether the private security industry lends itself to effective self-regulation. It concludes that the private security industry does not exhibit the capacity to adopt and implement effective self-regulation on its own. If self-regulation is to complement state and international regulation, participation in the design and oversight of self-regulation must be b...