cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ENERGY FOR TRAVEL: THE INFLUENCE OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS

Abstract Rising energy prices and supply shortfalls have underscored the need to improve the energy efficiency of urban travel. Long run solutions may involve rearranging development patterns in urban areas, or at least locating new growth in ways which reduce the need to travel. To test the degree to which altering development patterns may effect transport energy savings, relationships between gasoline consumption and urban development characteristics were investigated in 49 U.S. metropolitan areas. The results suggest that cities of medium size with clusters of high residential densities are associated with lower levels of per capita gasoline consumption. However, it is unlikely that changes in current development patterns during the next two decades would be substantial enough to cause a significant reduction in U.S. energy consumption.
A Laplace transform certified reduced basis method; application to the heat equation and wave equation

Abstract We present a certified reduced basis (RB) method for the heat equation and wave equation. The critical ingredients are certified RB approximation of the Laplace transform; the inverse Laplace transform to develop the time-domain RB output approximation and rigorous error bound; a (Butterworth) filter in time to effect the necessary “modal” truncation; RB eigenfunction decomposition and contour integration for Offline–Online decomposition. We present numerical results to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the approach.
Fragility Assessment of Light-Frame Wood Construction Subjected to Wind and Earthquake Hazards

A fragility analysis methodology is developed for assessing the response of light-frame wood construction exposed to stipulated extreme windstorms and earthquakes. Performance goals and limit states (structural and nonstructural) are identified from a review of the performance of residential construction during recent hurricanes and earthquakes in the United States. Advanced numerical modeling tools provide a computational platform for risk analysis of light-frame wood building structural systems. The analysis is demonstrated for selected common building configurations and construction (defined, e.g., by roof sheathing, truss spacing, and roof or shear wall nailing patterns). Limit state probabilities of structural systems for the performance levels identified above are developed as a function of 3-s gust wind speed (hurricanes) and spectral acceleration (earthquakes), leading to a relation between limit state probabilities and the hazard stipulated in ASCE Standard 7, “Minimum design loads for buildings ...
Understanding Risks Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease: Translating Observational Data to Patient Care

Chronic kidney disease (CKD),3 which is defined by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or albuminuria, is projected to affect approximately 10% to 16% of adults worldwide. Over the past 2 decades, there has been growing appreciation of the increased risk of mortality and adverse clinical outcomes in individuals with a decreased eGFR, compared with those with normal renal function. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurs prematurely among patients with CKD. The prevalence is several-fold higher than in the general population, and CVD contributes substantially to increased mortality. Traditional CVD risk factors are more common in these patients, but conventional models (e.g., the Framingham predictive instrument) consistently underestimate risk of future CVD events. A scientific statement by the American Heart Association in 2003 endorsed the position that patients with CKD [eGFR <60 mL · min−1 · (1.73 m2)−1 or microalbuminuria] should be grouped with those at the highest risk for cardiovascular events (coronary risk equivalent); however, the increased CVD risk is neither well recognized nor integrated by the general medical community into the care of individual patients with decreased eGFR or albuminuria. A new clinical practice guideline from the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) group recommends altering the classification schema of CKD (Fig. 1A) (1). The new classification reflects an increasing recognition by nephrologists and cardiologists that urinary albumin excretion [defined by an albumin–creatinine ratio (ACR) >10 mg/g] is independently associated in a stepwise fashion with increased rates of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. This risk appears to increase synergistically in concert with reduction in eGFR [<60 mL · min−1 · (1.73 m2)−1]. The new system, known as CGA, leaves intact the familiar eGFR (G in CGA) categories on which the prior system was focused and adds 2 dimensions: cause (C) …
Poverty Volatility and Macroeconomic Quiescence

A consistent finding in the poverty literature is the diminution of the impact of the macroeconomy on official poverty rates in the United States since the early 1980s. Up until then, measures of aggregate economic activity (real GDP growth or the unemployment rate) had a more substantial influence on the poverty rate. Most recently, this fact has been documented by Hilary W. Hoynes, Marianne E. Page, and Ann Huff Stevens (2006, HPS hereafter). Kevin Lang (2007) notes that much has changed since the early 1980s with respect to antipoverty policy and labor market factors that affect poverty status. Important changes include the transition from cash to in-kind transfers, the stagnation in real median earnings, rising earnings inequality, and the increase in female-headed households. Nevertheless, after considering several factors that influence poverty, including wage growth, inequality, and female employment, HPS conclude their analysis of poverty trends with the view that explanation of the change in the response of poverty to macroeconomic indicators remains an open issue. This paper examines whether traction may be gained on this issue by enhancing our understanding of the volatility of poverty rates. Specifically, we examine the volatility of poverty rates over time and across demographic groups. To the extent that poverty rate variability is associated with the risk of poverty incidence, it is shown that certain eras have exposed members of particular demographic groups to more poverty risk than others. Then, we contrast the volatility of poverty rates to that of aggregate economic activity. Margaret M. McConnell and Gabriel Perez-Quiros (2000), among others, present evidence that the volatility of real GDP has been significantly Poverty Volatility and Macroeconomic Quiescence
Mental health workers' ratings of the importance of the goals of a cooperatve cmhc‐state hospital screening‐aftercare program

Ratings of the importance of the goals of a pilot community mental health center (CMHC)-state psychiatric hospital cooperative program aimed at providing screening and aftercare were obtained from 214 mental health professionals. Respondents were employed at state hospitals, at CMHCs that were participating in the program, and at CMHCs that were not participating in the pilot cooperative program. Ratings of importance were found to differ across goals, between mental health workers of state hospitals and CMHCs, between participating and nonparticipating CMHCs, between professions, and as a function of distance between CMHCs and state hospitals. Implications of the findings for the evaluation of the success of a cooperative screening-aftercare pilot program are discussed.
From “Thin” to “Thick” (and Back Again?): The Politics and Policies of the Contemporary US–Canada Border

Despite making modest progress on challenging management and security issues common to their shared border, the United States and Canada have, in recent years, slipped behind on advancing a progressive border agenda. The momentum unleashed under the 30-point Smart Border Action Plan, signed in late 2001, has slowed in the face of new regulations at the border, many of which were initiated by the United States. These include significant changes in US admission procedures under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), new border policing resources and protocols, as well as new customs and inspection fees. The much-heralded Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), designed to facilitate both trade and security between the two countries, has also lost momentum, with the last trilateral meeting of leaders resulting in little more than a press release. As a result of these and other developments, it appears that rather than “thinning,” the US–Canada border is “thickening” at precisely...
Acute and chronic effects of nicotine on serotonin uptake in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats.

We sought to investigate the effect of nicotine exposure (chronic and acute) on serotonin transporter (SERT) activity in two regions of the brain important for behavioral effects of nicotine. We first looked at the effects of chronic nicotine exposure (0.7 mg/kg nicotine, twice a day for 10 days) on [(3)H]5-HT uptake in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus of rats. A significant increase in [(3)H]5-HT uptake was observed in synaptosomes prepared from both regions. To rule out the possibility that the increases were due to the last injection given, in a separate set of experiments a single injection of nicotine was administered the evening before sacrifice. No change in uptake occurred in either region, suggesting that the increases in uptake caused by nicotine was an effect of chronic exposure and not to an acute treatment. SERT binding studies, using prefrontocortical or hippocampal membrane preparations, revealed that chronic nicotine exposure significantly increased B(max) which correlated to an increase in SERT density. Lastly, we looked at the short-term effect of nicotine on [(3)H]5-HT uptake. Rats received a single nicotine injection 15-75 min before sacrifice. PFC synaptosomes displayed a time-dependent increase in uptake, whereas hippocampal synaptosomes showed an increase at only one time point.
Perceptual masking of drug stimuli

Three separate drug-discrimination experiments, using pigeon subjects, were designed to assess the modification of a morphine (MS) stimulus by d-amphetamine (AMPH). Experiment 1 examined the drug mixture in a two-choice discriminative procedure in three groups of subjects trained to one of three doses of MS (1.0, 3.2, or 10 mg/kg) vs. saline (SAL). Blockade of the MS stimulus by concomitant AMPH administration was training dose-dependent. Complete blockade was found in the high-MS (10 mg/kg) training dose (TD) group; partial blockade was found in the intermediate-TD (3.2 mg/kg) group; and complete generalization was found in the low-TD (1.0 mg/kg) group. Experiment 2 was designed to assess whether the MS-AMPH mixture resulted in the creation of a functionally new stimulus. With a three-choice drug-discrimination procedure, two new groups were trained to discriminate between 3.2 mg/kg MS, SAL, and 1.8 mg/kg AMPH. Once training criteria were met, subjects were divided into two groups and one group's MS training dose was faded up to 10 mg/kg. Data clearly indicated that MS-AMPH combinations did not produce novel stimuli. Experiment 3 was designed to assess the MS-AMPH combinations in a three-choice quantitative discrimination using 1.8 mg/kg MS vs. SAL vs. 10 mg/kg MS as discriminative stimuli. Data suggested that if masking does occur, it is a result of shifting the dose-response function to the left (i.e., to a nondiscriminable dose). We conclude that perceptual masking of drug stimuli can occur, but the phenomenon seems dependent on training dose and/or drug and behavioral history.
Adrift on a sea of platitudes: Why we will not resolve the greenhouse issue

The issue of greenhouse warming has received a great deal of attention in recent years. It has become the object of much scientific scrutiny, media coverage, and political rhetoric. What is our current state of knowledge regarding this phenomenon? What are the possible options for preventing or slowing its advance, or for living with its consequences? What obstructs our taking actions to deal with this issue? These are the questions addressed here. Beginning with a brief overview of our current knowledge, I then examine potential policy options, and finally assess the likelihood of constructive actions. The conclusion reached is that we will probably not deal with this issue, not because we lack a sufficient understanding of the phenomenon, its consequences and workable solutions, but because we lack the philosophical, ethical, and political will to do so. As a result we are likely to continue to drift across a sea of platitudes.
Heterotrophic Bacterioplankton Dynamics at a Site off the Southern Shore of Lake Superior

Abstract Evolution of the paradigm regarding the relative importance of allochthonous and autochthonous sources of organic matter in aquatic systems has rekindled interest in the role of bacteria in energy transfer. The development of material budget calculations characterizing conditions of net heterotrophy requires knowledge of spatiotemporal dynamics in the bacterial community. Here we present results from three years of measurement of bacterioplankton abundance and production at three locations on the south shore of Lake Superior. In general, bacterial numbers (0.63 × 10 6 ± 0.29 × 10 6 cells·mL −1 ) and production (0.037 ± 0.055 mgC·m −3 ·hr −1 ) were comparable to those reported previously for Lake Superior and were consistent with the system's place along the trophic gradient. Interannual differences in abundance and production were apparently related to the timing and magnitude of seasonal phytoplankton dynamics. There was no inter-transect variation or systematic nearshore-offshore gradients in bacterial activity despite substantial differences in proximity to sources of terrigenous materials (between transects) and in phytoplankton biomass (with distance offshore). The most striking signals in bacterial activity were those evidenced by peaks in bacterial production associated with the deep chlorophyll maximum and with the decline in the phytoplankton community with the approach to turnover. It is hypothesized that bacterioplankton activity in Lake Superior exists in a near steady state, fueled by labile organic matter produced through phytoplankton excretion and the photolytic processing of refractory terrigenous materials. Superimposed on this rather stable signal are peaks in bacterial production apparently related to senescence of the phytoplankton community and, perhaps, the generation of nutrients by the grazing community.
Optimal self-triggering for nonlinear systems via Approximate Dynamic Programming

In this paper we investigate optimal intermittent feedback for nonlinear control systems. Using the currently available measurements from a plant, we develop a methodology that outputs when to update the controller with new measurements such that a given cost function is minimized. Our cost function captures trade-offs between the performance and energy consumption of the control system. The optimization problem is formulated as a Dynamic Programming problem, and Approximate Dynamic Programming is employed to solve it. Instead of advocating a particular approximation architecture for Approximate Dynamic Programming, we formulate properties that successful approximation architectures satisfy. In addition, we consider problems with partially observable states, and propose Particle Filtering to deal with partially observable states and intermittent feedback. Finally, our approach is applied to a mobile robot trajectory tracking problem.
Abstract 1428: Bone marrow adipocyte-derived CXCL1 and CXCL2 in prostate tumor progression in bone.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cause of death from cancer in men. Bone is a primary site for tumor metastasis and obese and overweight men have a three-fold higher risk of progression to metastatic disease compared to normal-weight men receiving the same treatment. Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that obesity is an independent prognostic contributor to the development of distant metastases and death from PCa. Obesity leads to adipocyte accumulation within the bone marrow, which stimulates infiltration of inflammatory cells, particularly macrophages, and promotes inflammation. Many of the inflammatory cytokines released by both adipocytes and macrophages are involved in increased tumor growth, neovascularization, and cell survival. CXCL1 and CXCL2 are two such chemokines that have been implicated in prostate, breast, and ovarian tumorigenesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that obesity-induced bone marrow adiposity and inflammation would alter prostate tumor behavior in the bone via CXCL1- and CXCL2-dependent mechanisms. Histological evaluations confirmed that mice fed high fat diet (HFD) had increased adipocyte accumulation within the bone. PC3-DsRed cells intratibially injected into HFD mice progressed strikingly faster and grew much larger than those injected into mice on normal (LFD) diet. RT PCR analyses revealed an induction of several inflammatory genes, including CXCL1 and CXCL2, in the marrow of obese mice, and these levels were further increased in tumor-bearing tibiae of HFD hosts. In vitro short-term exposure of tumor cells to media conditioned by primary bone marrow derived adipocytes (Adipo CM) led to increased growth and invasiveness. This effect was further potentiated by chronic exposure to Adipo CM. CXCL1 and CXCL2 expression and secretion increased in co-culture of tumor cells with bone marrow macrophages in the presence of adipocyte-derived factors. Studies are currently underway to determine the role of obesity-induced marrow CXCL1 and CXCL2 in osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. We are also investigating additional inflammatory mediators that sustain the upregulation of CXC1 and CXCL2 in the tumor microenvironment. Collectively, the results of our studies demonstrate that adipocyte-induced upregulation of CXCL1 and CXCL2 may play a critical role in promoting prostate tumor aggressiveness and survival in the bone metastatic niche. Citation Format: Aimalie L. Hardaway, Mackenzie M. Herroon, Erandi N. Rajagurubandara, Izabela Podgorski. Bone marrow adipocyte-derived CXCL1 and CXCL2 in prostate tumor progression in bone. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1428. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1428
Policy analysis is what information systems are not

The task of analysis is to create problems, preferences tempered by possibilities, which are worth solving. A difficulty is not necessarily a problem; that depends on what I can do about it, including whether it is worth my while to try. My inability to go to Mars, a famous gap between aspirations and actuality, is not a problem but a longing to overcome my limitations. My inability to explain the influence of the tides on the rise and fall of the stock market is not a problem unless I have a hypothesis suggesting how I might influence factors by which the two events might be linked. Only by suggesting solutions, such as programs linking governmental resources with social objectives, can we understand what might be done. Policy analysis involves creating problems that are solvable by specific organizations in a particular arena of action. A problem in policy analysis, then, cannot exist apart from a proposed solution, and its solution is part of an organization, a structure of incentives without which there can be no will to act.
Using Argument Diagramming Software in the Classroom

Introduction After teaching a wide variety of philosophy courses at the undergraduate level, I came to believe that the fundamental barrier students faced in my classes was an inability to read philosophy, especially primary sources. Most students, it seemed, could get the general idea of a text, but could not follow the argument. Indeed, most students did not recognize that the text presented an argument; rather, they would read the text as a story. This type of reading was plain when, for example, students were asked to give presentations; generally the student merely highlighted the points the author made, in the sequence the author made them.
Rossby Wave Breaking and Transport between the Tropics and Extratropics above the Subtropical Jet

AbstractRossby wave breaking is an important mechanism for the two-way exchange of air between the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere and the extratropical lower stratosphere. The authors present a 30-yr climatology (1981–2010) of anticyclonically and cyclonically sheared wave-breaking events along the boundary of the tropics in the 350–500-K potential temperature range from ECMWF Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim). Lagrangian transport analyses show net equatorward transport from wave breaking near 380 K and poleward transport at altitudes below and above the 370–390-K layer. The finding of poleward transport at lower levels is in disagreement with previous studies and is shown to largely depend on the choice of tropical boundary. In addition, three distinct modes of transport for anticyclonic wave-breaking events are found near the tropical tropopause (380 K): poleward, equatorward, and symmetric. Transport associated with cyclonic wave-breaking events, however, is predominantly poleward. ...
Practice and sleep form different aspects of skill

Sleep is implicated in consolidating procedural skills. Here, Song and Cohen train subjects on a repeating sequence of key-presses and show that practice contributes to transitional information-based aspects of skill whereas sleep contributes to ordinal information-based aspects of skill.
The effects of a surround on vibrotactile thresholds: Evidence for spatial and temporal independence in the non-Pacinian I (NP I) channel

Detection thresholds were measured for sinusoidal vibrations applied to the thenar eminence and volar forearm. Stimuli were applied via a 0.72‐cm2 circular contactor, with and without a rigid surround. At low frequencies, below about 40 Hz, the thresholds were higher without the surround than with the surround. However, in contrast to earlier reports, the shape of the threshold function was the same with and without the surround, suggesting that the temporal and spatial tuning characteristics of the non‐Pacinian I (NP I) channel are independent.
Identifying comparison groups for evaluating occupational hearing loss: a statistical assessment of 22 industrial populations.

Finding appropriate comparison groups to study occupational hearing loss has been difficult. Recently, however, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health sponsored the compilation of potentially useful data from 22 diverse industrial companies in the U.S.A. and Canada. We conducted a statistical evaluation to determine which of the 22 populations might be suited as comparison groups in future studies of workers exposed to hazardous noise. In a Cox Proportional Hazards model that included age and sex, the relative risk of developing hearing loss in each company was estimated at two, five, and ten years of follow-up. We ranked the companies based on their relative risks, and rated them on a five-point scale from “excellent” to “poor” to indicate their suitability as comparison groups. The risk profiles developed and other variables described in this study will assist researchers in selecting appropriate comparison groups for evaluating occupational hearing loss. Am. J. Ind. Med. 31:243–249, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
CrmA-inhibitable Cleavage of the 70-kDa Protein Component of the U1 Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein during Fas- and Tumor Necrosis Factor-induced Apoptosis

Abstract Fas and the type I tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R) are two cell surface receptors that, when stimulated with ligand or cross-linking antibody, trigger apoptotic cell death by a mechanism that has yet to be elucidated. The CrmA protein is a serpin family protease inhibitor that can inhibit interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE) and ICE-like proteases. We showed previously that expression of CrmA potently blocks apoptosis induced by activation of either Fas or TNF-R, implicating protease involvement in these death pathways (Tewari, M., and Dixit, V. M.(1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 3255-3260). Here we report that the 70-kDa component of the U1 small ribonucleoprotein (U1-70 kDa) is a proteolytic substrate rapidly cleaved during both Fas- and TNF-R-induced apoptosis. This cleavage was inhibited by expression of CrmA but not by expression of an inactive point mutant of CrmA, confirming the involvement of an ICE-like protease. These data for the first time identify U1-70 kDa as a death substrate cleaved during Fas- and TNF-R-induced apoptosis and emphasize the importance of protease activation in the cell death pathway.
Discovery and assignment of excited 0 + levels in even- A Mo isotopes

The first excited ${0}^{+}$ levels, some of which are previously unobserved, in each of the even-$A$ isotopes 92, 94, 96, and 100, have energies of 2517 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.5, 1742 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 2, 1147, and 694 keV, respectively. These states were identified using $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray data from ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$) reactions and the strong anisotropy of the angular distribution of ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) reactions in ${0}^{+}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${0}^{+}$ transitions.[NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{92,94,96,100}\mathrm{Mo}(n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma})$, ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$), $E=1.4\ensuremath{-}3.5$ MeV. For ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$) measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(E,{90}^{\ensuremath{\circ}})$; deduced levels. For ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$; deduced $J$.]
Progress on the variable reflectivity electrochromic window

Recent research progress on an electrically-tunable, variable reflectivity, completely inorganic thin film electrochromic window is discussed. Some of the properties of window cells composed of rf diode sputter-deposited electrochromic layers of cathodically-coloring tungsten oxide and of anodically-coloring lithium cobalt oxide are presented and discussed. It is highly probable that what has been learned regarding the production of such research window cells by rf diode sputtering can be transferred readily to determining the conditions needed to fabricate variable-reflectivity electrochromic windows by one or more production-worthy processes.
Effect of contaminating bacteria on the radiolabeling of nucleic acids from seedlings: false DNA "satellites".

Abstract The problem of bacterial contamination during radiolabeling of nucleic acids from pea (Pisum sativum L., cv. Alaska), oat (Avena sativa L., cv. Victory) and rye (Secale cereale L., cv. Antelope) seedlings was investigated. Procedures were developed for detecting contaminating bacteria and their nucleic acids, and for axenic labeling. In preparative CsCl gradient centrifugation, DNA from bacteria present on the roots of seedlings during labeling banded as a peak of radioactivity distinct from that associated with the absorbance band of plant DNA. These “satellite” bands were observed in DNA isolated from contaminated seedlings labeled in the presence of streptomycin plus penicillin, but not from seedlings labeled axenically, and were more evident with [32P]phosphate than with [3H]thymidine labeling. When no measures were taken against bacterial contamination, the majority of radioactivity in RNA isolated from pea seedlings labeled for 3 h with [32P]phosphate was found associated with bacterial-size (16 S and 23 S) ribosomal RNA in sucrose gradient centrifugation. When the roots of the seedlings were treated briefly with hypochlorite, the radioactivity and absorbance cosedimented as plant-size (16 S and 25 S) ribosomal RNA.
Demonstrating exoplanet coronagraphs

The exoplanet instrumental community has decided to place new emphasis on demonstrating coronagraph techniques through performing actual astronomy from the ground and from suborbital platforms. By building an experience base at low cost, we hope to develop better techniques faster and at lower cost. In this talk I present the current technical and managemental situation in the quest for finding Earth-like planets. I then show how a program of active demonstration of new technologies for the laboratory through suborbital demonstration and on to orbit provides the best chance of procuring a flagship mission in 2020.
Unified address translation for memory-mapped SSDs with FlashMap

Applications can map data on SSDs into virtual memory to transparently scale beyond DRAM capacity, permitting them to leverage high SSD capacities with few code changes. Obtaining good performance for memory-mapped SSD content, however, is hard because the virtual memory layer, the file system and the flash translation layer (FTL) perform address translations, sanity and permission checks independently from each other. We introduce FlashMap, an SSD interface that is optimized for memory-mapped SSD-files. FlashMap combines all the address translations into page tables that are used to index files and also to store the FTL-level mappings without altering the guarantees of the file system or the FTL. It uses the state in the OS memory manager and the page tables to perform sanity and permission checks respectively. By combining these layers, FlashMap reduces critical-path latency and improves DRAM caching efficiency. We find that this increases performance for applications by up to 3.32x compared to state-of-the-art SSD file-mapping mechanisms. Additionally, latency of SSD accesses reduces by up to 53.2%.
A note on optimal filtering in the presence of unknown biases

This note considers some aspects of the optimal filtering problem for linear processes in the presence of unknown biases in the input and the observations. It is proved via duality that the optimal filtering problem in the presence of an input bias is equivalent to a certain optimal regulator problem incorporating integral feedback. The question of observability of the augmented system used in the state and bias estimation is answered by deriving necessary and sufficient conditions when bias is present (1) in the input, (2) in the observations and (3) both in the input and the observations.
The Market Provision of Addiction Control Services

This article is about addiction control. Using the economic theory of labor market tournaments, the authors derive the positive characteristics of an addiction control tournament and compare the effectiveness of a tournament versus self-constraining methods of addiction control. The authors also consider the socially optimal implementation of tournaments and the role of public policy in developing the addiction control marketplace.
Emergence of the capacity for LTP during reinnervation of the dentate gyrus: evidence that abnormally shaped spines can mediate LTP

The present study analyzes how the capacity for LTP emerges during lesion-induced sprouting of the crossed temporo-dentate (CTD) pathway of the rat. Adult rats received unilateral entorhinal lesions and were allowed to survive for intervals from 6 to 40 days. The CTD pathway was then studied using conventional acute neurophysiological procedures. Extracellular field potentials were used to measure the synaptic efficacy of the CTD pathway before and after 400 Hz conditioning stimulation (the typical regimen for inducing LTP in the temporodentate system). The normal CTD pathway does not exhibit LTP, as noted in previous studies. LTP was first observed in animals recorded at 8–10 days post-lesion, although the increases in synaptic efficacy were not statistically significant until days 12–16 post-lesion. Electron microscopic analyses of the spine and synapse population of the dentate molecular layer at 8 days post-lesion reveal that spines on the postsynaptic cells are structurally immature when the capacity for the LTP first appears. These results are discussed as they relate to the postulated role of the CTD in behavioral recovery following entorhinal cortical lesions, and the potential cellular mechanisms of LTP.
The Rules of the Game: Union Solicitation in the Twenty-First Century Workplace

Even though union membership has declined steadily over the last 20 years, unions are dramatically increasing their efforts to organize the workplace. As a consequence, union solicitation drives are on the rise. While the case law in this area is relatively settled, many managers in nonunion environments are generally unfamiliar with the federal case governing union solicitations. This article examines the federal case law surrounding union solicitation and provides some practical guidelines for managerial conduct for dealing with union solicitation drives. It also discusses future directions in an interconnect world.
Safety of epoprostenol and treprostinil in children less than 12 months of age

There is a paucity of data on infant intravenous prostacyclin use, the gold standard for therapy for severe pulmonary hypertension (PH). This review aimed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and outcomes of infant prostacyclin use. A retrospective observational study was performed in a large pediatric hospital with a dedicated pediatric PH program. Subject medical records, bedside flow sheets, and progress notes were reviewed to identify use of intravenous epoprostenol or treprostinil within the first year of life. The indication for prostacyclin use was recalcitrant hemodynamic compromise associated with PH, identified as either idiopathic PH, persistent PH of the newborn, PH associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, congenital heart disease, bronchiolitis, or chronic lung disease. Prostacyclin-related adverse events included 7 episodes of hypotension, 6 episodes of perceived pain, 2 episodes of cyanosis, and 1 episode of feeding intolerance. Prostacyclin was stopped only for cyanotic episodes associated with use in severe chronic lung disease. Two hemorrhagic events occurred during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which were unlikely to be prostacyclin related. Outcomes included 21 deaths unrelated to prostacyclin, 1 lung transplant, 6 PH resolutions, 8 transitions to oral PH medications, and 1 continuation of treprostinil. In conclusion, efficacy could not be evaluated in this study because of the loss of equipoise for neonatal prostacyclin use. Prostacyclin use was well tolerated in neonatal diseases associated with PH, but dose titration was limited by hypotension and hypoxemia.
Crystal Structure of the Ternary Complex of a NaV C-Terminal Domain, a Fibroblast Growth Factor Homologous Factor, and Calmodulin

Summary Voltage-gated Na + (Na V ) channels initiate neuronal action potentials. Na V channels are composed of a transmembrane domain responsible for voltage-dependent Na + conduction and a cytosolic C-terminal domain (CTD) that regulates channel function through interactions with many auxiliary proteins, including fibroblast growth factor homologous factors (FHFs) and calmodulin (CaM). Most ion channel structural studies have focused on mechanisms of permeation and voltage-dependent gating but less is known about how intracellular domains modulate channel function. Here we report the crystal structure of the ternary complex of a human Na V CTD, an FHF, and Ca 2+ -free CaM at 2.2 A. Combined with functional experiments based on structural insights, we present a platform for understanding the roles of these auxiliary proteins in Na V channel regulation and the molecular basis of mutations that lead to neuronal and cardiac diseases. Furthermore, we identify a critical interaction that contributes to the specificity of individual Na V CTD isoforms for distinctive FHFs.
N-heterocycles tethered graphene as efficient metal-free catalysts for an oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells

Heteroatom-doped graphene serves as a metal-free cathode catalyst in fuel cells, and has attracted great attention because of its low-cost, abundance, high activity, and robust stability. However, the heteroatom configuration in the graphene sheet is difficult to control, which prevents an understanding of the catalytic mechanisms and synthesis strategies. Herein, we introduce an organic condensation method to selectively functionalize graphene edges and defects with heterocycles under mild conditions. This method is an efficient way to dope graphene with structure-defined heteroatom clusters. By this method, the as-prepared heteroatom-doped graphene shows promising performance for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline conditions with a preferred four-electron transfer process, demonstrating that graphene containing heteroatom clusters have high catalytic activity as metal-free cathodes.
Spaces whose regular preimages are normal

Abstract Call a regular space X Pin(κ) if every ⩽ κ-to-1 continuous regular preimage of X is normal. We investigate Pin(κ) for κ ⩽ ω. Some of our results include: Pin(1) spaces are hereditarily normal, every subset of a Pin(ω) space is a Gδ, and there is a ZFC example of a Pin(1) space that is not Pin(2).
Globalizing Writing Studies: The Case of U.S. Technical Communication Textbooks

In an increasingly globalized world, writing courses, situated as they are in local institutional and rhetorical contexts, need to prepare writers for global writing situations. Taking introductory technical communication in the United States as a case study, this article describes how and to what extent global perspectives are incorporated into writing. Based on an analysis of eight textbooks and a closer analysis of four of them, we illustrate the representation of technical communication and communicators as well as multiculturalism and multilingualism in these textbooks and point out the limitations vis-a-vis the cultural and linguistic complexity of global technical communication in today’s world. We conclude by considering implications for U.S. college composition as it continues to contribute to the international discourse of writing studies.
Effect of composition and microstructure on the creep and stress-rupture behavior of tungsten alloy wires at 1366-1500 K

The stress-rupture behavior of tungsten and tungsten alloy wires (200–380μ in diameter) has been studied from 1366 to 1500 K. The investigated wires are lamp (218), W + 1.0 at.% thoria (ST300), W + 0.4 at.% hafnium carbide (WHfC), W-Re(24 at.% Re) + 0.4 at.% hafnium carbide (W24ReHfC) and Mo-W(34 at.% W) + 0.1 hafnium carbide (MoWHfC). The rupture strength of the ST300 wires (310 MPa) is slightly higher than of the 218 wires (290 MPa) treated at 1500 K for 200 h; but substantially lower than those of the WHfC and W24ReHfC wires (510 MPa and 400 MPa respectively). The creep behaviours of the 218, ST300 and WHfC wires have been studied from 1400 to 1500 K. The steady state creep rate of the ST300 wires is lower than that of the 218 wires but higher than that of the WHfC wires. The WHfC has the lowest steady state creep constant in the stress range 200–500 MPa at 1500 K. The superior creep and stress-rupture strength of the WHfC wires over those for the 218 wires are due to their microstructural stability, as determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy evaluation. The stability of the fibrous microstructures arises from the fine hafnium carbide disperoids (of average particle diameter 34 mm). For similar thermal exposures, the fibrous subgrain width of the WHfC wires remained nearly unchanged at approximately 0.35 μm, whereas significant grain broadening (increasing from 0.3 to about 1.5 μm) was observed in the 218 and ST300 wires.
Axiomatic functional and object-oriented product design framework

This paper describes an axiomatic functional and object-oriented design framework for co-design and co-analysis of product functions, physical structures, and their mapping relations. This design framework consists of function model, object model, information flow model, and axiomatic design model. These models are constructed level-by-level and side-by-side to form a concurrent and coordinated design paradigm. The components of the resulting design are reviewed by the design team, summarized in a task assignment table, and allocated to respective disciplinary engineers for detail design. This methodology enables mechanical, electronic, and software engineers to collaborate and develop mechatronic products in a concurrent and integrated fashion.
Spaces which do not embed in topological groups of the same dimension

Abstract Easy examples are given, for all n >0, of n -dimensional compact metric spaces which do not embed in n -dimensional topological groups, completing the answer to a question of Bel'nov. It is shown that the complete bipartite graph K 1,3 does not embed in a 1-dimensional topological group, and that J ( ω 1 ), the hedgehog with ω 1 spines, embeds in no finite dimensional topological group. These examples answer several questions of Kimura and Shakhmatov regarding dimension and topological groups.
Erythropoietin production by human renal carcinoma cells in culture.

Cells from human renal tumors were grown in monolayer cultures, and the media obtained at each medium change were assayed for erythropoietin activity. The medium from carcinoma I (a granular cell tumor) contained a high level of activity initially. The concentration of erythropoietin activity decreased with time in culture, but was significantly higher than that in controls after four months in vitro. There was, in addition, evidence of an inhibitory material present in the culture media. The activity formed by the tumor cells could be neutralized by an antibody to human urinary erythropoietin. The difference between activity measured in marrow cell cultures and that found by in vivo assay, and the chromatographic properties of the active preparation, suggest that the tumor-derived activity may be largely asialoerythropoietin. Two other renal carcinomas, of a different cellular type, produced significant erythropoietic activity. (Endocrinology 99: 504, 1976)
Noninvasive near infrared optical imaging of human brain function with subsecond temporal resolution

Our understanding of human brain function can clearly benefit from neurophysiological techniques capable of providing dynamic maps of activity. A series of studies is reviewed indicating that noninvasive nearinfrared optical imaging methods can provide a unique combination of spatial and temporal resolution that could be used to derive dynamic maps of human brain activity. The noninvasive NIR optical data reviewed are based on the frequency-domain time-resolved measurement of photon migration parameters (intensity and delay) through brain tissue. These measurements are taken through the intact surface of the head. With these methods, two distinct components of the optical response can be identified: the ‘‘slow optical signal’’ (2–10 s latency), presumably due to hemodynamic and metabolic changes, and the ‘‘fast optical signal’’ (or event-related optical response) occurring as early as 50 to 100 ms from stimulation, and probably due to neuronal activation.
Role of membrane organization in the Mg+2-mediated regulation of excitation energy transfer in barley chloroplasts

Photosystem II fluorescence of barley chloroplasts has been monitored to understand the role of membrane organization in the cation mediated regulation of excitation energy transfer from photosystem II to photosystem I. Membrane organization has been perturbed by adding 60 mM benzyl alcohol which is known to increase the membrane fluidity and decrease its thickness. An addition of 60 mM benzyl alcohol increases the fluorescence at 683 nm (excitation at 436 mn) by 43% whereas 5 mM Mg+2 increased the fluorescence by 38%. An addition of 5 mM Mg+2 to benzyl alcohol treated chloroplasts resulted in only a small increase in the fluorescence (6.5%). Circular dichroic measurements showed that 5 mM Mg+2 decreased the circular dichroic signals suggesting an alteration in the orientation of the chromophores. However, the effect was insignificant on the benzyl alcohol treated chloroplast membranes. Benzyl alcohol itself had large effect on the circular dichroic signals. Based on these results, it appears that a change in the orientation of photosystem I and photosystem II, rather than their segregation, is responsible for the cation-induced increase in the photosystem II fluorescence.
Technical note Leak detection in nuclear piping outside containment

Abstract The results of an experimental investigation performed at Wyle Laboratories to evaluate various methods for detecting small leaks in high energy piping system is described. These experiments were designed to support the leak-before-break methodology currently being employed by the United States nuclear industry. This methodology requires that: 1. (1) the flow rate through a hypothetical leak be accurately predicted, and 2. (2) the lower limits of detecting the flow rate through such a leak be established. The research described in this work was designed to establish experimentally this limit of detectability. The experiments performed covered a range of leakage flow rates between 0.1 and 5 gpm (378–18925 cm3/min through small penetrations in a 6-in. diameter carbon steel pipe. Insulation, typical of the types found in nuclear power plants, covered the test pipe. The key observation made is that leak rates down to 0.1 gpm (378 cm3/min) are easily detectable.
Extracellular β-N-acetylhexosaminidases of Gliocladium virens RV14

Abstract Studies of the contribution of enzymatic activity to biological control of plant pathogens have usually relied on enzymes purified from late log phase or stationary phase cultures and ignored the possibility that different enzymes may be produced at different times. We found two distinct extracellular β - N -acetylhexosaminidases in culture fluid of the biocontrol fungus Gliocladium virens . The enzymes were punified to apparent homogeneity based on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and purification as great as 150-fold with yields up to 38% were obtained. The β - N -acetylhexosaminidase punified from 24-h-old cultures (NAH1) migrated as a single band with M r = 70K in SDS-PAGE, had pI = 4.5, and lost 50% of its activity at 50†C in 87 min. The β - N -acetylhexosaminidase from 8-day-old cultures (NAH2) resolved into three bands with M r = 75, 68, and 60K, had pI = 5.7, and lost 50% of its activity at 37†C in 82 min. The kinetic parameters for chitobiose were K m = 2.2 m m , V max = 0.023 (NAH1) and K m = 2.8 m m , V max = 0.015 (NAH2). Among the p -nitrophenyl-containing substrates tested, both enzymes showed a preference for p-NP- N -acetyl- β -D-glucosaminide ( K m = 0.12 and 0.14 m m , respectively). Carbohydrate staining of the purified proteins and changes in electrophoretic mobility after digestion with peptide- N -glycosidase F (PGNase F) or endoglycosidase H (Endo H f ) showed that both enzymes were glycosylated.