cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Lehigh Steel Collection: a new open dataset for document recognition research

Document image analysis is a data-driven discipline. For a number of years, research was focused on small, homogeneous datasets such as the University of Washington corpus of scanned journal pages. More recently, library digitization efforts have raised many interesting problems with respect to historical documents and their recognition. In this paper, we present the Lehigh Steel Collection (LSC), a new open dataset we are currently assembling which will be, in many ways, unique to the field. LSC is an extremely large, heterogeneous set of documents dating from the 1960's through the 1990's relating to the wide-ranging research activities of Bethlehem Steel, a now-bankrupt company that was once the second-largest steel producer and the largest shipbuilder in the United States. As a result of the bankruptcy process and the disposition of the company's assets, an enormous quantity of documents (we estimate hundreds of thousands of pages) were left abandoned in buildings recently acquired by Lehigh University. Rather than see this history destroyed, we stepped in to preserve a portion of the collection via digitization. Here we provide an overview of LSC, including our efforts to collect and scan the documents, a preliminary characterization of what the collection contains, and our plans to make this data available to the research community for non-commercial purposes.
Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Unusual Field-Effect Behavior of Organic Transistor Semiconductor Oligomers: Inferiority of Oxadiazole Compared with Other Electron-Withdrawing Subunits

A new series of heterocyclic oligomers based on the 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring were synthesized. Other electron-deficient cores (fluorenone and fumaronitrile) were introduced to investigate the oligomers as n-channel materials. The physical properties, thin film morphologies, and field-effect transistor characteristics of the oligomers were evaluated. Thin films were deposited at different substrate temperatures and on variously coated Si/SiO(2) for device optimization. Contrary to our expectations, the thin film devices of 4 revealed p-channel behavior, and the average hole mobility was 0.14 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) (maximum value 0.18 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)). Compound 11 is the first example of an oxadiazole-containing organic semiconductor (OSC) oligomer in an n-channel organic field-effect transistor (OFET) and shows moderate mobilities. Non-oxadiazole-containing oligomers 9 and 12 showed n-channel OFET behavior on hexamethyldisilazane-treated and Cytop spin-coated SiO(2) in vacuum. These are the first fluorenone- and fumaronitrile-based n-OSCs demonstrated in transistors. However, oxadiazole-core materials 14 and 16 were inactive in transistor devices.
Lineament, linear, lineation: Some proposed new standards for old terms

The words “lineament,” “linear,” and “lineation” have become increasingly popular since the advent of spacecraft and high-altitude aircraft images. With the increased usage has come a concomitant relaxation in the definitions of these terms, until the literature now is overwhelmed with conflicting and equivocal meanings. The need for clarification of these terms is clear. We propose a return to more fundamental conceptual definitions, based on original usage. We define the word “lineament” in an essentially geomorphological sense, on the basis of the usage introduced by Hobbs: A lineament is a mappable, simple or composite linear feature of a surface, whose parts are aligned in a rectilinear or slightly curvilinear relationship and which differs distinctly from the patterns of adjacent features and presumably reflects a subsurface phenomenon. The word “linear” is restricted to its original adjectival sense to avoid the increasingly popular but grammatically and conceptually incorrect nominative use. The word “lineation” is restored to its fundamental petrographic meaning: lineation is the one-dimensional structural alignment of internal components of a rock, is imposed by external agents, and cannot be depicted as an individual feature on a map. In addition, we suggest usages of “line” and “alignment” to refer to nongeologic features and (or) questionable features that do not fit proposed criteria and where definitional restrictions or implications may be a problem.
Estimation problems for the two-parameter negative binomial distribution

Abstract This note shows a major problem in the proof of Anscombe's conjecture given in Aragon et al. (1992). It also proves that the unbiased estimator of the parameter k does not exist.
On the accuracy of calculating the scalar electrical conductivity at very low ionization levels.

Accuracy of scalar electrical conductivity calculations of partially ionized plasma using third Chapman-Enskog approximation method
Neuroticism is not associated with the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism.

A deletion/insertion polymorphism in the transcriptional control region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) was reported to be associated with dimensional measures of neuroticism,1 although subsequent replication attempts have failed.2–5 These replication attempts, however, have been dissimilar to the initial study in sample size, distribution of allelic frequency and/or assessment of neuroticism. The current study was conducted in a further attempt to replicate the initial finding using: (a) a sample that was more comparable to each of the individual samples in the initial report; and (b) identical psychometric methodology to assess neuroticism. Two hundred and twenty-five Caucasian adults were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and completed the NEO Personality Inventory.6 Results did not replicate the association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and neuroticism; individuals with the short form of this variant did not report higher NEO Neuroticism. Indeed, men with the short form reported lower Anxiety, a finding that is directionally opposite to the initial results. These findings, combined with other failures to replicate, indicate that the reproducibility of the association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and neuroticism must be regarded as questionable. The contradictory findings suggest the need for a replication attempt in a large, normative sample that is stratified by ethnicity and sex.
Regulation of HIV-1 latency by T-cell activation

HIV-infected patients harbor approximately 10(5)-10(6) memory CD4 T-cells that contain fully integrated but transcriptionally silent HIV proviruses. While small in number, these latently infected cells form a drug-insensitive reservoir that importantly contributes to the life-long persistence of HIV despite highly effective antiviral therapy. In tissue culture, latent HIV proviruses can be activated when their cellular hosts are exposed to select proinflammatory cytokines or their T-cell receptors are ligated. However, due to a lack of potency and/or dose-limiting toxicity, attempts to purge virus from this latent reservoir in vivo with immune-activating agents, such as anti-CD3 antibodies and IL-2, have failed. A deeper understanding of the molecular underpinnings of HIV latency is clearly required, including determining whether viral latency is actively reinforced by transcriptional repressors, defining which inducible host transcription factors most effectively antagonize latency, and elucidating the role of chromatin in viral latency. Only through such an improved understanding will it be possible to identify combination therapies that might allow complete purging of the latent reservoir and to realize the difficult and elusive goal of complete eradication of HIV in infected patients.
Role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases in ultraviolet-B irradiation-induced activator protein 1 activation in human keratinocytes.

The effects of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases on ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation-induced activator protein 1 (AP-1) activation were studied in a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. The HaCaT cells were stably transfected with a plasmid containing a promoter fragment of human collagenase 1 driving a luciferase reporter gene. There is an AP-1-binding site within this fragment, without any other known transcription factor-binding sites. As we reported previously, UVB significantly induces activation of AP-1 and p38 in HaCaT cells. SB202190, a p38-specific inhibitor, inhibits UVB-induced p38 activation and c-fos gene expression. In the present study, we further examined the role of p38 in UVB-induced AP-1 activation. We observed that SB202190 strongly inhibited UVB-induced AP-1 transactivation at different time points and UVB doses in transfected HaCaT cells. Furthermore, SB202190 markedly inhibited UVB-induced AP-1 DNA binding as determined by mobility shift analyses. These results suggested, for the first time, that activation of p38 is required for UVB-induced AP-1 activation in human keratinocytes. In addition, a potential mechanism of UVB-induced AP-1 activation through p38 is to enhance AP-1 complex binding to its target DNA. Because c-fos gene expression plays a critical role in UVB-induced AP-1 activation and p38 is required for UVB-induced c-fos gene expression in HaCaT cells, as reported previously, a potential UVB signaling cascade for AP-1 activation in human keratinocytes has been determined. This cascade involves UVB, p38 activation, c-fos gene expression, and AP-1 activation.
Botanical aspects of Acidic precipitation

Acidic precipitation can be characterized as wet or frozen atmospheric deposition with a hydrogen ion concentration greater than 2.5 μeq liter-1. Acidic precipitation is perceived as a significant air pollution problem derived chiefly from combustion of fossil fuels, smelting of sulfide metals, and other industrial processes. Precipitation data from the northeastern United States show a mean pH of between 4.0 and 4.2 with a range of from 3.0 to 6.0 among individual events. Although visible injury to plant foliage has been documented in a variety of studies only one case of visible foliar injury from the acidity in ambient rainfalls has been documented. Acidic precipitation can contribute nutrients to vegetation and could also influence nutrient leaching rates from vegetation. Although these processes occur, there are no data that show changes in nutrient levels in foliage that relate to crop or natural ecosystem productivity. Although no consistent patterns are presently known, acidic precipitation may affect host-plant pathogen interactions. Few experiments with field-grown crops or vegetation under natural conditions have been performed. Many of the studies are inadequate because they have been conducted with inadequate replication of treatments coupled with vigorous statistical analyses. Studies with field-grown crops are evaluated. Acidification of fresh waters of the northeastern United States is caused by acid deposition. Such regions in which this acidification occurs have in common, volume weighted mean H+ concentrations of 25μeq liter-1 or higher and slow weathering of granitic or Precambrian bedrock with thin soils deficient in minerals that provide buffering capacity. As freshwater acidification occurs, many plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates are progressively eliminated. Generally, fisheries are severely impacted when lake pH falls below 5.0. Fish are almost always eliminated when the lake pH is below 4.8.
Fast Approximate Broadband Phase Retrieval for Segmented Systems

We applied an approximate technique for broadband phase retrieval to a modeled segmented-aperture system in the ultra-broadband (133% bandwidth) regime, where it yielded an over-200X improvement in runtime, but at the cost of reduced accuracy.
cis-urocanic acid down-regulates the induction of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate by either trans-urocanic acid or histamine in human dermal fibroblasts in vitro.

Abstract— It has been demonstrated that UVB radiation (290–320 nm) suppresses mammalian cell-mediated immunity by effecting the trans to cis isomerization of urocanic acid (UCA) in the stratum corneum, the uppermost layer of the skin. Trans-urocanic acid has been shown to be the photoreceptor for UVB-induced immune suppression and the cis-isomer has been demonstrated to be immunosuppressive. Little is known, however, about how the isomerization of UCA may affect the proximal or distal cells of the skin or the immune system. We report here that trans-UCA is biologically active in vitro in human dermal fibroblasts, inducing adenyl cyclase as measured by cAMP (adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate) formation in a dose-dependent manner similar to the action of histamine. Trans-UCA and histamine stimulate 50% of maximum activity at concentrations of 3.3 μM end 13.8 μM respectively. Cis-UCA does not increase cAMP in these human fibroblasts but actively down regulates the increase of cAMP induced by either histamine or trans-UCA. Cis-UCA down regulated the histamine response by 75% and the trans-UCA response by 60% at a concentration range of 1 mM to 1 nM. The trans-UCA induction of cAMP can also be downregulated with an H2 histamine receptor antagonist cimetidine. These results support the hypothesis that a cellular target for cis-UCA is the dermal fibroblast and the effects reported here may represent the initial biochemical and cellular event for UVB-induced immune suppression i.e. the immediate step following the isomerization of trans to cis-UCA is the down regulation of cAMP by cis-UCA. Regulation of such an important second messenger such as cAMP could then allow cascading signals to occur, leading to immune suppression.
RyR1/RyR3 chimeras reveal that multiple domains of RyR1 are involved in skeletal-type E-C coupling.

Skeletal-type E-C coupling is thought to require a direct interaction between RyR1 and the α1S-DHPR. Most available evidence suggests that the cytoplasmic II–III loop of the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) is the primary source of the orthograde signal. However, identification of the region(s) of RyR1 involved in bidirectional signaling with the α1S-DHPR remains elusive. To identify these regions we have designed a series of chimeric RyR cDNAs in which different segments of RyR1 were inserted into the corresponding region of RyR3 and expressed in dyspedic 1B5 myotubes. RyR3 provides a preferable background than RyR2 for defining domains essential for E-C coupling because it possesses less sequence homology to RyR1 than the RyR2 backbone used in previous studies. Our data show that two regions of RyR1 (chimera Ch-10 aa 1681–2641 and Ch-9 aa 2642–3770), were independently able to restore skeletal-type E-C coupling to RyR3. These two regions were further mapped and the critical RyR1 residues were 1924–2446 (Ch-21) and 2644–3223 (Ch-19). These results both support and refine the previous hypothesis that multiple domains of RyR1 combine to functionally interact with the DHPR during E-C coupling.
Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization fluctuation measurements of mixed gadolinium-yttrium iron garnets

We study the magnetic properties of gadolinium-yttrium iron garnet $({\text{Gd}}_{x}{\text{Y}}_{3\ensuremath{-}x}{\text{Fe}}_{5}{\text{O}}_{12},x=3,1.8)$ ferrite ceramics. The complex initial permeability is measured in the temperature range of 2--295 K at frequency of 1 kHz and in the frequency range of 100 Hz--200 MHz at temperatures of 4, 77, and 295 K. The magnetic viscosity-induced imaginary part of the permeability is observed at low frequencies. Measurements of the magnetization noise are made at 4 K. Using the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, we find that the observed magnetization fluctuations are consistent with our measurements of the low-frequency imaginary part of the permeability. We discuss some implications for proposed precision measurements as well as other possible applications.
Contrast-free T1 mapping at 3T can characterize chronic myocardial infarctions with high diagnostic accuracy

Background Characterizing myocardial infarctions (MIs) on the basis of LGE CMR requires gadolinium infusion, which poses limitations in certain patient populations and imaging workflow. We hypothesized that T1 differences between MI and remote territories at 3T would enable reliable characterization of chronic MI. Methods Canines (n = 29) underwent CMR at 7 days (acute) and 4 months (chronic) following reperfused MIs at 3T (n = 19) and 1.5T (n = 10). Contrast-free T1 maps (MOLLI; 8 TIs with 2 inversion blocks of 3+5 images; minimum TI = 110 ms; ΔTI = 80 ms; TR/TE = 2.2/1.1 ms) and LGE images (IR-prepared FLASH; TI optimized to null remote myocardium; TR/TE = 3.5/1.75 ms) were acquired. MI location, size and transmurality were determined using Mean+5SD criterion relative to remote myocardium. T2 maps (T2-prepared SSFP; T2 preparation times = 0, 24 and 55 ms; TR/TE = 2.8/1.4 ms) were acquired to compare acute and chronic MIs. Commonly used imaging parameters were slice thickness = 6 mm and spatial resolution = 1.3 × 1.3 mm 2. Histological validation was sought to confirm the presence of replacement fibrosis within the chronic infarct zones. Results Contrast-free T1 maps and LGE images of a representative mid-ventricular slice, along with AHA 17-segment bulls-eye plots depicting the MI size and transmurality acquired from a canine scanned imaged 4 months post-MI at 3T are shown in Figure 1. Bland-Altman plots, linear regression plots and receiver-operating characteristic curve comparing T1 maps and LGE images for measuring infarct volume (IV, %LV) and transmurality (IT) in the chronic phase at 3T are also shown. At 3T, T1 maps and LGE images were not different for measuring IV (5.6 ± 3.7% vs. 5.5 ± 3.7%; p = 0.61) and IT (44 ± 15% vs. 46 ± 15%; p = 0.81) in the chronic phase, but were significantly different in the acute phase (IS: 13.3 ± 8.4% vs. 11.6 ± 6.8%, p = 0.007 and IT: 64 ± 19% vs. 56 ± 17%, p = 0.007). At 1.5T, IV and IT were significantly underestimated by T1 maps relative to LGE images during acute (IS: 9.4 ± 5.6% vs. 15.5 ± 9.4%, p < 0.001 and IT: 59 ± 5% vs. 76 ± 6%, p < 0.001) and chronic phases (IS: 2.1 ± 1.2% vs. 4.8 ± 1.8%, p < 0.001 and IT: 47 ± 7% vs. 66 ± 9%, p < 0.001). At 3T and 1.5T, T1 values of the MI remained elevated in both acute (3T: p < 0.001; 1.5T: p < 0.001) and chronic phases (3T: p < 0.001; 1.5T: p = 0.037) compared to remote myocardium (Table 1). At both 3T and 1.5T, relative to the remote myocardium, T2 values of the MI were elevated in the acute phase (p < 0.001 for both cases), but were not different in the chronic phase (3T: p = 0.19, 1.5T: p = 0.55). Ex-vivo TTC and Elastinmodified Masson’s Trichrome (EMT) stainings (Figure 1) confirmed extensive replacement fibrosis within the MI territories at 4 months post MI. Sensitivity and specificity of contrast-free T1 maps at 3T for detecting chronic MIs were 95% and 97%, respectively. Conclusions Contrast-free T1 maps at 3T can determine the location, size and transmurality of chronic MIs with high diagnostic accuracy.
On some unresolved issues in non-linear fluid dynamics

This paper is a discussion of some open problems concerning generalizations of Navier-Stokes fluids and other non-linear fluids, which are in need of thorough investigation. The first topic is an interesting generalization of the Navier-Stokes model which is appropriate, in particular, in the description of fluids like water subjected to processes in which the normal stresses are very large. Discussed next is the modelling of non-Newton fluids at a distance from the boundary of the volume occupied by the fluid. Attention is then given to the necessity of a careful revision of conditions obtained at the boundary of the fluid volume, and finally, the modelling of "turbulent" flows is discussed.
Finite Element Method Simulations of the Near-Field Enhancement at the Vicinity of Fractal Rough Metallic Surfaces

Near-field optical enhancement at metal surfaces and methods such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), fluorescent quenching and enhancement, and various near-field scanning microscopies (NSOM) all depend on a metals surface properties, mainly on its morphology and SPR resonant frequency. We report on simulations of the influence of different surface morphologies on electromagnetic field enhancements at the rough surfaces of noble metals and also evaluate the optimal conditions for the generation of a surface-enhanced Raman signal of absorbed species on a metallic substrate. All simulations were performed with a classical electrodynamics approach using the full set of Maxwells equations, which were solved with the three-dimensional finite element method (FEM). Two different classes of surfaces where modeled using fractals, representing diffusion limited aggregation growth dendritic structures, such as one on the surface of electrodes, and second one representing the sponge-like structure used to model surfaces of particles with high porosity, such as metal coated catalyst supports. The simulations depict the high inhomogeneity of an enhanced electromagnetic field as both a field enhancement and field attenuation near the surface. While the diffusion limited aggregation dendritical fractals enhanced the near-field electromagnetic field, the sponge fractals significantly reduced the local electromagneticmore » field intensity. Moreover, the fractal orders of the fractal objects did not significantly alter the total enhancement, and the distribution of a near-field enhancement was essentially invariant to the changes in the angle of an incoming laser beam.« less
Phase-locked loop simulations using the latency insertion method

In this paper we present a novel and simple behavioral model based simulation method for PLLs. We also demonstrate the use of LIM for simulating PLLs. The methods exploit the latency in the PLL formulation and utilize a leapfrog time-stepping discretization scheme to solve for the transient response of the PLL. Various PLL dynamic responses such as lock-in, pull-in and pull-out conditions are simulated and comparisons with analytical solutions are depicted when available. Due to the formulation in the voltage-phase domain, the method does not suffer from the dual time scale problem which is a main issue in full transistor level simulations of PLLs.
Array-Based Sensing of Proteins Using Conjugated Polymers

A sensor array comprising six functionalized poly(p-phenyleneethynylene) polymers was constructed and used to detect and identify protein analytes. The presence of proteins alters the fluorescence properties of the polymers, generating a distinct fluorescence response pattern for a given protein. Linear discriminant analyses accurately differentiate the patterns of 17 proteins at nano- to micromolar concentrations. An identification accuracy of 97% was obtained on the basis of the tests with 68 unknown protein samples from the training set.
Once more on algebras generated by two projections

We consider von Neumann algebras generated by two arbitrary orthoprojections on a Hilbert space. A canonical decomposition is obtained for elements A of these algebras in terms of the operator angle between the ranges of the above-mentioned projections. This decomposition leads to explicit descriptions and formulas for kernels, ranges, spectra and essential spectra, (generalized) inverses, and other objects related to A.
Isomorphisms ofp-adic group rings

SupposeP is the ring ofp-adic integers,G is a finite group of orderpn, andPG is the group ring ofG overP. IfVp(G) denotes the elements ofPG with coefficient sum one which are of order a power ofp, it is shown that the elements of any subgroupH ofVp(G) are linearly independent overP, and if in additionH is of orderpn, thenPG≅PH. As a consequence, the lattice of normal subgroups ofG and the abelianization of the normal subgroups ofG are determined byPG.
Nuclear medicine at the crossroads

Many nuclear medicine procedures, originally developed more than 20 years ago, are now performed with new radiopharmaceuticals or instruments; it is therefore apposite to reappraise what we are doing and why we are doing it. The clinical utility of nuclear medicine is discussed with reference, by way of example, to gated blood pools scans and myocardial perfusion imaging; the importance of the referred population for the outcome of studies is stressed. Attention is drawn to the likelihood that the detection of ischemia would be enhanced by the administration of nitroglycerin prior to rest thallium injection. Emphasis is also placed on the increasing acceptance of dual-tracer studies. The significance of expression of p-glycoprotein by some tumors for sestamibi imaging is discussed, and advances in respect of fluorodeoxyglucose imaging are reviewed. The final section covers issues relating to the development of new procedures, such as the value of nuclear medicine in the detection and characterization of tissue oxygen levels and the possible future role of nuclear medicine in the management of sleeping and eating disorders.
Structures and facies associated with the flow of subaerial basaltic lava into a deep freshwater lake: The Sulphur Creek lava flow, North Cascades, Washington

Abstract The ca. 8800 14C yrs BP Sulphur Creek lava flowed eastward 12 km from the Schriebers Meadow cinder cone into the Baker River valley, on the southeast flank of Mount Baker volcano. The compositionally-zoned basaltic to basaltic andesite lava entered, crossed and partially filled the 2-km-wide and > 100-m-deep early Holocene remnant of Glacial Lake Baker. The valley is now submerged beneath a reservoir, but seasonal drawdown permits study of the distal entrant lava. As a lava volume that may have been as much as 180 × 106 m3 entered the lake, the flow invaded the lacustrine sequence and extended to the opposite (east) side of the drowned Baker River valley. The volume and mobility of the lava can be attributed to a high flux rate, a prolonged eruption, or both. Basalt exposed below the former level of the remnant glacial lake is glassy or microcrystalline and sparsely vesicular, with pervasive hackly or blocky fractures. Together with pseudopillow fractures, these features reflect fracturing normal to penetrative thermal fronts and quenching by water. A fine-grained hyaloclastite facies was probably formed during quench fragmentation or isolated magma-water explosions. Although the structures closely resemble those developed in lava-ice contact environments, establishing the depositional environment for lava exhibiting similar intense fracturing should be confirmed by geologic evidence rather than by internal structure alone. The lava also invaded the lacustrine sequence, forming varieties of peperite, including sills that are conformable within the invaded strata and resemble volcaniclastic breccias. The peperite is generally fragmental and clast- or matrix-supported; fine-grained and rounded fluidal margins occur locally. The lava formed a thickened subaqueous plug that, as the lake drained in the mid-Holocene, was exposed to erosion. The Baker River then cut a 52-m-deep gorge through the shattered, highly erodible basalt.
Sildenafil citrate, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and disordered pulmonary gas exchange: any benefits?

Sildenafil citrate, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and disordered pulmonary gas exchange: any benefits?
Irrotationality of uniform electro-osmosis

Steady electroosmotic flow of uniform liquids in uniform media is irrotational provided the electric double layers adjacent to surfaces are negligibly thin, the surfaces are non-conducting and impermeable, and the total pressure imposed at inlets and outlets is uniform. Because many microfluidic devices employing electroosmosis approximately satisfy these requirements, this ideal electrosmosis is a limiting case with considerable practical significance. In ideal electroosmosis, fluid motion follows current lines. Flow-fields have no Reynolds number dependence and are everywhere proportional to the electric field. Both fields may be obtained by a single solution of the Laplace equation. In this paper, we discuss these features of ideal electroosmotic flows and present particle-image derived velocity fields that confirm ideal flow conditions in glass microchannel networks.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Estimation of Mission Reliability from Multiple Independent Grouped Censored Samples

Aircraft or missiles are flown for missions of varying durations. Data are collected at the end of each mission which indicate the mission duration and whether the equipment failed. The data are considered as multiple s-independent grouped censored samples with failure times unknown. The underlying failure model considered is the 2-parameter Weibull distribution. Maximum likelihood estimates are derived. The exponential distribution is used for comparison. Monte Carlo simulations are used to compare s-efficiency of estimates for grouped data with estimates if failure times were known. The asymptotic variance-covariance matrix was computed for the sampling conditions studied and was used to obtain lower s-confidence bounds on the system reliability.
Policy Substitutability in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies A Model of Individual Choice and International Response

Complex humanitarian emergencies involve population movements on a massive scale, driven by drought, famine, or war. The international community may respond with humanitarian aid or peacekeeping operations but local responses to international intervention may exacerbate the emergency. Combatants divert aid to finance coercive activities, and peacekeeping operations are resisted by those who benefit from social disruption. This article develops a rational choice model that shows how individuals' choices among their options of production, coercion, and relocation affect the aggregate supply and demand of food in ongoing conflicts. This model demonstrates that humanitarian aid and peacekeeping operations have complementary strengths and that the international community can best achieve its goals by carrying out both kinds of operations. This simple model captures important aspects of the policy substitutability and alternative trigger effects in complex humanitarian emergencies, and suggestions for future re...
Simultaneous Scanning Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Microscopy by Use of a Metallized Optical Fiber

A technique for combining scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning photoelectrochemical microscopy (PEM) is described. The experimental setup is described and the several modes of operation are discussed. The electrochemical characteristics of the probe, collection efficiency, current efficiency, and the coupling efficiency for the two techniques, are examined in several model systems. SPECM was used to identify pitting precursor (PPS) sites on a titanium sample with a 50 A oxide layer in an acidic KBr solution. It was found that the PPS site could be imaged photoelectrochemically and that the photocurrent is reduced at the PPS.
Hemoglobin S-nitrosation on oxygenation of nitrite/deoxyhemoglobin incubations is attenuated by methemoglobin.

Abstract Nitrite is present in red blood cells (RBCs) and is proposed to be the largest intravascular storage pool of vasoactive NO. The mechanism by which nitrite exerts NO vasoactivity remains unclear but deoxyHb exhibits nitrite reductase activity. NitrosylHb (HbFe II NO) is formed on nitrite reduction by excess deoxyHb, and S -nitrosated Hb (HbSNO) has also been detected in nitrite/deoxyHb incubations. We report data consistent with efficient HbSNO generation from a nitrosylHb intermediate on oxygenation of anaerobic deoxyHb incubations containing physiologically revelant levels of nitrite, whereas previously a labile nitrosylmetHb (HbFe III NO) transient was proposed. The HbSNO yield as a function of the initial nitrite concentration varies with the nitrite/deoxyHb ratio, the incubation time, the concentration of added metHb (a nitrite trap), and the concentration of added cyanide (a strong metHb ligand). Our results reveal that metHb strongly attenuates HbSNO formation, which suggests that the met protein may play a regulatory role by limiting the amount of free (or non-Hb-bound) nitrite within RBCs to prevent hypotension.
Non-smooth analysis and approximation

Etude des problemes de stabilite (sensibilite) et d'approximation stochastique. Relation entre la theorie de l'approximation et l'analyse non lineaire
Fine-sediment transport associated with cold-front passages on the shallow shelf, Gulf of Mexico

Abstract The eastern part of the chenier plain of the Louisiana coast has been prograding seaward over the last few decades while much of the rest of the Louisiana coast is experiencing high erosion rates. The source of sediment is the Atchafalaya River, which has been delivering sediment to the coastal ocean since the 1940s. Researchers have suggested that the repeated passage of cold fronts during winter and early spring plays an important role in delivering sediment to the coast. A sediment-transport study on the Atchafalaya coast was conducted between October 1997 and March 2001, which included several field experiments in early March, the period of high discharge from the Atchafalaya and frequent cold-front activity. A combination of shipboard profiling and time-series measurements from a bottom tripod and array of wave sensors on the inner shelf has resulted in a data set that illustrates the mechanism of onshore transport. For a cold-front passage sampled in 2001, during pre-front conditions, sediment is resuspended and mixed throughout the water column, with transport rates onshore and to the west of 53 and 184 g s−1 m−1, respectively. Post-front conditions also result in onshore transport due to onshore flow (upwelling) in the lower meter of the water column and formation of a high-concentration bottom layer. Post-front onshore transport rates are 32 g s−1 m−1 and most of the transport occurs in the bottom meter of the water column. The repeated cycling of cold-front passages leads to a positive feedback with transport onshore during both pre- and post-front conditions, and effective attenuation of wave energy over the muddy inner shelf inhibits erosion at the coast. Thus, the chenier-plain coast is experiencing high progradation rates (up to 29 m yr−1), while most of the Gulf coast is eroding.
Value and the quest for the core of capitalism

Abstract Despite its exasperating opacity and lack of closure, the value debate has a vital objective: to grasp those defining aspects of capitalist society that do not appear on the visible surface space of conscious individual actors. In pursuit of this objective, careful conceptual analysis reveals that the long-standing “transformation problem” is misconceived; that the labor value dimension in the abstract capitalist economy is determinate and unique. This solution to age-old puzzles enables us to renew the study of the relation between labor-as-value and the homeostatic and systemic aspects of capitalist reproduction that cannot be reduced to individual constrained optimization.
Hetero 2 3D integration: A scheme for optimizing efficiency/cost of Chip Multiprocessors

Timing the transition of a processor design to a new technology poses a provocative tradeoff. On the one hand, transitioning as early as possible offers a significant competitive advantage, by bringing improved designs to market early. On the other hand, an aggressive strategy may prove to be unprofitable, due to the low manufacturing yield of a technology that has not had time to mature. We propose exploiting two complementary forms of heterogeneity to profitably exploit an immature technology for Chip Multiprocessors (CMP). First, 3D integration facilitates a technology alloy. The CMP is split across two dies, one fabricated in the old technology and the other in the new technology. The alloy derives benefit from the new technology while limiting cost exposure. Second, to compensate for lower efficiency of old-technology cores, we exploit application and microarchitectural heterogeneity: applications which gain less from technology scaling are scheduled on old-technology cores, moreover, these cores are retuned to optimize this class of application. For a defect density ratio of 200 between 45nm and 65nm, Hetero2 3D gives 3.6× and 1.5× higher efficiency/cost compared to 2D and 3D homogeneous implementations, respectively, with only 6.5% degradation in efficiency. We also present a sensitivity analysis by sweeping the defect density ratio. The analysis reveals the defect density break-even points, where homogeneous 2D and 3D designs in 45nm achieve the same efficiency/cost as Hetero2 3D, marking significant points in the maturing of the technology.
Conditionals by inversion provide a universal method for the generation of conditional alleles

Conditional mutagenesis is becoming a method of choice for studying gene function, but constructing conditional alleles is often laborious, limited by target gene structure, and at times, prone to incomplete conditional ablation. To address these issues, we developed a technology termed conditionals by inversion (COIN). Before activation, COINs contain an inverted module (COIN module) that lies inertly within the antisense strand of a resident gene. When inverted into the sense strand by a site-specific recombinase, the COIN module causes termination of the target gene’s transcription and simultaneously provides a reporter for tracking this event. COIN modules can be inserted into natural introns (intronic COINs) or directly into coding exons as part of an artificial intron (exonic COINs), greatly simplifying allele design and increasing flexibility over previous conditional KO approaches. Detailed analysis of over 20 COIN alleles establishes the reliability of the method and its broad applicability to any gene, regardless of exon–intron structure. Our extensive testing provides rules that help ensure success of this approach and also explains why other currently available conditional approaches often fail to function optimally. Finally, the ability to split exons using the COIN’s artificial intron opens up engineering modalities for the generation of multifunctional alleles.
Poly-Silicon Based Latching RF MEMS Switch

A latching RF MEMS switch has been fabricated in a multi-user polysilicon surface micromachining process. The switch uses 5 V, 35 mA thermal actuation for 25 dB return loss, and >75 dB isolation at 1 GHz. The switch has potential applications in low duty-cycle, low power RF tuning and switching applications.
Dopant anion controlled ion transport behavior of polypyrrole

A combination of electrochemical and microgravimetric techniques, utilizing the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), has been employed to study the ion transport behavior of polypyrrole films, prepared with a variety of electrolytes, during redox switching. Systems investigated include poly(pyrrole chloride), poly(pyrrole dodecylsulfate), poly{pyrrole-co-[3-(pyrrol-1-y1)propanesulfonate]}, and polypyrrole/Nafion composites. It has been demonstrated that controlled ion transport properties of polypyrrole can be achieved by incorporating properly selected dopant anions into the polypyrrole film during electrosynthesis.
Predicting natural mortality rates of plants and animals

Understanding the factors that control the mortality rates of species in their natural environments is important for understanding the structure and dynamics of populations, communities and ecosystems. Here, we test a model of natural mortality that yields explicit, quantitative predictions based on the constraints of body size and temperature on individual metabolism. Extensive field data from plants, invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals indicate that much of the heterogeneity in rates of natural mortality can be predicted, despite the many extrinsic sources of mortality in natural systems. These results suggest that common 'rule(s)' govern mortality rates in ecological communities for organisms as diverse as plants and animals.
Rat ovarian angiotensin II receptors, renin, and angiotensin I-converting enzyme during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

The ovarian renin-angiotensin system (RA5) has been studied extensively in the virgin cycling rat, but little information is available about this system in pregnant and postpartum rats. We show that renin and angiotensin I.converting enzyme (ACE)the key enzymes involved in angiotensin II (Ang II) formation-and Ang II receptors, are present in pregnant and postpartum rat ovaries. From gestation Days 2-4 to 10-12, active ovarian renin ranged from 1.12 * 0.13 to 1.27 ± 0.19 ng Ang I/h/mg and comprised between 68 and 86% of total (active + inactive) ovarian renin activity. Between Days 10-12 and Days 14-16 of pregnancy, ovarian active renin activity increased slightly, but inactive renin disappeared, suggesting its activation; the remaining active renin then decreased 62% by Days 18-20 (p < 0.05). On postpartum Day 2, both active and total ovarian renin activity exceeded that of Days 2-20 of pregnancy (p < 0.05); levels of both then declined sharply by postpartum Day 3 (p <
Predictors of Outcome in Patients with Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis (PVE) and Potential Advantages of Homograft Aortic Root Replacement for Prosthetic Ascending Aortic Valve‐Graft Infections

Seventy-five surgically treated patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis were treated at the Stanford University Medical Center. This was a multivariate analysis analyzing both patient related factors, bacteriology, and surgical findings. The conclusions among 10 patients with allograft valves, 20% had an annular abscess; this occurred in 36% of 29 patients with porcine valves, and 65% of these with mechanical prosthesis. Though prevention, again, is key in this especially devastating disease, once infection has been established and an aggressive approach is indicated, it would appear that a homograft re-replacement or free aortic homograft valve replacement can deal with severe tissue destruction to prevent recurrence.
A class of multiple sample tests based on empirical coverages

A class of multiple sample tests based on empirical coverages is proposed which is a generalization of Greenwood's and Sherman's one-sample goodness-of-fit test statistics. The asymptotic normality of the tests is established by embedding the empirical coverages into a stationary process satisfying the strong mixing condition.
Join minimization in XML-to-SQL translation: an algebraic approach

Consider an XML view defined over a relational database, and a user query specified over this view. This user XML query is typically processed using the following steps: (a) our translator maps the XML query to one or more SQL queries, (b) the relational engine translates an SQL query to a relational algebra plan, (c) the relational engine executes the algebra plan and returns SQL results, and (d) our translator translates the SQL results back to XML. However, a straightforward approach produces a relational algebra plan after step (b) that is inefficient and has redundant joins. In this paper, we report on our preliminary observations with respect to how joins in such a relational algebra plan can be minimized. Our approach works on the relational algebra plan and optimizes it using novel rewrite rules that consider pairs of joins in the plan and determine whether one of them is redundant and hence can be removed. Our study shows that algebraic techniques achieve effective join minimization, and such techniques are useful and can be integrated into mainstream SQL engines.
Alternative approaches in detecting asymmetry in farm‐retail price transmission of fluid milk

Testing for asymmetric price transmission and calculating elasticities of price transmission are important areas of research for providing insights into market efficiency issues. We analyze the behavior of tests for asymmetry according to the conventional Houck approach and to the von Cramon-Taubadel and Loy error correction model (ECM) approach. We also estimate the short-run and long-run elasticities of price transmission between the farm and retail levels of the marketing channel for whole milk and 2% milk for seven U.S. cities by model specification. We employ monthly data over the period from January 1994 to October 2002. Consistent with the extant literature, empirical results suggest that the farm-retail price transmission process for milk is asymmetric. Price transmission elasticities, in conjunction with rising farm prices, are generally larger than corresponding elasticities associated with falling farm prices, but they all are quite inelastic. [JEL Classification: Q11, Q13]. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 23: 313–331, 2007.
Acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: a prospective study of prevalence, course, and predictors in a sample with major burn injuries.

This is one of the largest prospective studies of patients with major burn injuries to use psychometrically sound methods to track and predict posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) across 2 years after burn. The principal objectives were to investigate the utility of self-report measures in detecting acute stress disorder (ASD) and PTSD, and in tracking and predicting PTSD. Participants were adult patients admitted for treatment of a major burn injury. The Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ) was used to assess ASD symptomatology at discharge (n = 178), and the Davidson Trauma Scale was used to assess PTSD symptoms at scheduled follow-ups at 1 (n = 151), 6 (n = 111), 12 (n = 105), and 24 (n = 71) months after burn. The prevalence of in-hospital ASD was 23.6%, and 35.1, 33.3, 28.6, and 25.4% of the participants met PTSD criteria at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Clinically significant and reliable change in PTSD symptomatology during the 24 months was uncommon. SASRQ diagnostic cutoff and total scores each robustly predicted PTSD at the first three follow-ups and all four follow-ups, respectively. A SASRQ empirically derived cutoff score (> or =40) yielded moderate-high sensitivities (0.67-0.71) and specificities (0.75-0.80), and predicted PTSD at each follow-up. In conclusion, ASD and PTSD are prevalent following major burn injuries, ASD symptomatology can reliably predict PTSD up to 24 months later, and, once established, PTSD usually persists. Research is needed to determine whether early recognition and treatment of persons with in-hospital ASD can improve long-term outcomes. Language: en
Economic Development and Crime: The Two May Be Associated as an Adaptation to Industrialism in Social Revolution

Crime and economic development are discussed as part of a third major human adaptation to a new form of civilized life called industrialism. Most humans have lived the lives of hunters and gatherers while a much smaller minority has lived as members of societies based on agriculture and animal domestication. A much smaller group is now embarked on an adaptation to urbanization, technology and industrialization. Within this paradigm the process of economic development is viewed in stages, as suggested by W. W. Rostow. This allows a more extensive consideration of the social, cultural, and historicalcontexts of crime. Clusters of circumstances distinctive of specific developmental stages, or criminogenic contexts, are suggested as means of characterizing such variables. Two such contexts are briefly described. The first is a product of the unplanned drift of rural populations to urban areas in search of a better life. The second is a product of the changeover of elite groups in societies seeking to make the transition to modernization and sustained economic growth. Policy options in the interest of minimizing crime in the developmental process are briefly considered.