cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating government-sponsored R&D consortia in Japan: who benefits and how?

Abstract A large sample of government-sponsored R&D consortia in Japan in analyzed, based on the data of 237 consortia organized over 34 years and 398 responses to questionnaires distributed to high-level corporate R&D managers who have participated in R&D consortia. My analysis shows that there is no clear link between the existence of R&D consortia and industry competitiveness. Government support of R&D consortia is modest and declining. R&D consortia participants perceive sharing complementary knowledge to be the single most important objective of R&D consortia. There is evidence that R&D consortia work as a complement of private R&D. The perceived benefits of projects are rather intangible, such as researcher training and increased awareness of R&D in general. Opportunistic behavior and spillovers of proprietary technology to participants are not perceived as severe problems in conducting cooperative R&D. The overall subjective evaluation of the typical project's success is modest, and participants do not perceive R&D consortia to be critical to the establishment of their competitive position.
Sapropterin dihydrochloride for the treatment of hyperphenylalaninemias.

Introduction: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is caused by mutation of the enzyme, phenylalanine (Phe) hydroxylase (PAH). The hyperphenylalaninemia characteristic of PKU causes devastating neurological damage if not identified and treated at birth with a Phe-restricted diet. Sapropterin dihydrochloride, a pharmaceutical formulation of the natural cofactor for PAH (6R-tetrahydrobiopterin; BH4), is now available for the management of hyperphenylalaninemia in some PKU patients, including BH4 deficiencies. Sapropterin dihydrochloride improves dietary Phe tolerance in about 20% of patients with PKU. Areas covered: This evaluation describes the identification of patients suitable for treatment of sapropterin dihydrochloride, together with its indications, therapeutic properties and efficacy. Furthermore, the article reviews its safety and tolerability in patients with PKU or BH4 deficiency. Expert opinion: A reduction in blood Phe of at least 30% occurred in ∼ 20 – 30% of sapropterin-treated PKU patients (mostly with mil...
Sustentacular cells of the organ of Corti — the tectal cells of the outer tunnel

The cells which form the roof of the outer tunnel of the organ of Corti were studied by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In the mustache bat, Pteronotus p. parnellii, the cells are characterized by: (1) a unique position in the roof and along the lateral wall of the outer tunnel; (2) no contact with the basilar membrane; (3) isolation of adjacent cell bodies; (4) an extensive endolymphatic surface with a sparse population of short microvilli; (5) a loose association with the adjacent mat of polypous surface projections on the outer tunnel surface of the first row of Hensen's cells; and (6) a darkly staining cytoplasm. These cells occur in certain other mammals (cats and mice) and have been classified previously as Hensen's or Deiters' cells, but since they lack the distinct morphological characteristics of either of these types of cells, it is suggested that they be recognized as a distinct cell type, the tectal cells of the outer tunnel.
The Jahn-Teller effect and icosahedral stability in metallic glasses

Abstract A recently proposed Jahn-Teller based theory for first order structural phase transformations is reviewed. In this work we extend the theory to the solid-liquid transition of alloys. We use the results of SCF-Xα-SW molecular orbital calculations on clusters representative of the local crystalline environment of aluminum and aluminum-manganese alloys, and indicate how Jahn-Teller-like distortions can account for both melting and glass formation. It is shown that simple chemical arguments on which the theory is based can be used to explain the observed stability of icosahedral structures in aluminum-manganese alloys.
Essential p-dimension of PGLn

Abstract An improved upper bound for the essential p-dimension of PGL n is computed using algebraic tori. It follows that ed ( PGL 8 ; 2 ) = 17 if char ( k ) ≠ 2 .
A reproducible quantitative collagenase radiofibril assay.

Abstract A radioactive fibril assay for collagenase utilizing [ 14 C]glycine-labeled chick calvaria collagen is presented. Several incubation modifications are evaluated to obtain increased sensitivity and low statistical error. The modifications described may also be applicable to other fibril assay systems.
Comparison of iron-molybdenum cofactor-deficient nitrogenase MoFe proteins by X-ray absorption spectroscopy: implications for P-cluster biosynthesis.

Abstract Nitrogenase, the enzyme system responsible for biological nitrogen fixation, is believed to utilize two unique metalloclusters in catalysis. There is considerable interest in understanding how these metalloclusters are assembled in vivo. It has been presumed that immature iron-molybdenum cofactor-deficient nitrogenase MoFe proteins contain the P-cluster, although no biosynthetic pathway for the assembly of this complex cluster has been identified as yet. Through the comparison by iron K-edge x-ray absorption edge and extended fine structure analyses of cofactor-deficient MoFe proteins resulting from nifH and nifB deletion strains of Azotobacter vinelandii, a novel [Fe-S] cluster is identified in the ΔnifH MoFe protein. The iron-iron scattering displayed by the ΔnifH MoFe protein is more similar to that of a standard [Fe4S4]-containing protein than that of the ΔnifB MoFe protein, which is shown to contain a “normal” P-cluster. The iron-sulfur scattering of the ΔnifH MoFe protein, however, indicates differences in its cluster from an [Fe4S4](Cys)4 site that may be consistent with the presence of either oxygenic or nitrogenic ligation. Based on these results, models for the [Fe-S] center in the ΔnifH MoFe protein are constructed, the most likely of which consist of two separate [Fe4S4] sites, each with some non-cysteinyl coordination. This type of model suggests that the P-cluster is formed by the condensation of two [Fe4S4] fragments, possibly concomitant with Fe protein (NifH)-induced conformational change.
In-situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Supported Ru Catalysts in the Aqueous Phase

The size of supported Ru metal particles on various supports was monitored by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy under aqueous phase conditions typical of biomass conversion reactions. In particular, Ru/γ-Al2O3, Ru/C, Ru/TiO2, and Ru/SiO2 were evaluated at the Ru K edge at 473 K in neutral water and 0.4 M NaOH. The as-prepared samples exposed to air contained oxidized Ru that was subsequently reduced by H2-saturated water solution. Significant growth of the metal particles was observed on the Ru/γ-Al2O3 and Ru/SiO2 samples during the aqueous treatments, whereas the Ru/TiO2 and Ru/C samples were quite stable under the conditions used here. Results from post-treatment X-ray diffraction and surface area analysis revealed major structural changes of the alumina and silica supports. The structural stability of the carbon and titania account for the lack of metal particle growth on those supports. Because a reference Pt/C catalyst revealed metal particle growth under the same conditions, the results for the ...
Rethinking youth voice and institutional power: Reflections from inside a service learning partnership in a California juvenile hall

Abstract This article shares the dilemmas that emerge from a community service project that engages students in a systematic critique of the juvenile justice system from the inside. It explores how competing images of youth (as dangerous thugs, vulnerable children and kids who have made bad choices) coexist uneasily within the juvenile justice system and significantly shape and constrain this community service learning project. They influence how volunteers understand their experiences and relationships with students inside, and they shape how young people in the system speak about their own lives, the inequalities they see around them, and the juvenile justice system itself. By exploring these dynamics this article aims to develop a more nuanced understanding of youth voice.
An efficient load-balancing processor scheduling algorithm for parallelization of Gauss-Seidel type algorithms

Abstract The paper extends our earlier results on the parallelization of Gauss-Seidel (G-S) algorithms for power flow analysis. In the earlier paper, we formulate the parallelizing process as a basic coloring problem, which satisfies the constraint that no directly connected vertices have the same color, without worrying about the constraint on the number of available processors. In this paper, this extra constraint is considered. A heuristic approach is developed to maximize the processor efficiency under the number of processor constraint. The idea is to fully utilize the processor resource, to balance the computational load, and to maximize the use of newly computed data for faster convergence. Some examples and test results are described in this paper.
Brief PI stabilization of first-order systems with time delay

This paper considers the problem of stabilizing a first-order plant with dead time using a PI controller. Using a version of the Hermite-Biehler Theorem applicable to quasipolynomials, a complete and constructive characterization of all stabilizing PI gain values is obtained.
TWDM multichannel lightwave hypercube networks

Abstract The hypercube is a widely used interconnection topology as it presents a lot of attractive properties. Recently, the hypercube has been proposed as a virtual topology for TWDM multihop lightwave networks based on optical passive star couplers. However, in most of previous works, each station in the network has only one fixed or tunable transmitter and one fixed or tunable receiver. The tunable transmitters and receivers suffer from high cost, long tuning delay and small tunable range. While the fixed transceiver configuration has low cost, its performance such as transmission concurrence is greatly limited. In this paper, we propose the transceiver configuration that each station uses multiple fixed transmitters and multiple fixed receivers. This configuration can greatly improve the performance while being able to emulate the tunability of the tunable transceivers without suffering tuning delay. We will present a wavelength assignment scheme for the transceivers. The maximal concurrence that can be achieved by the network is also given in terms of the number of transmitters and receivers at each station.
Transport to the vacuole: receptors and trans elements

and storage vacuoles is dependent upon specific targeting information. In mammalian systems, the targeting of Most proteins that are synthesized on membrane- soluble proteins to the lytic compartment, the lysosome, bound ribosomes are transported through the Golgi is frequently mediated by mannose 6-phosphate residues and reach the trans-Golgi network to be sorted for in glycosyl side-chains of the glycoproteins ( Kornfeld, delivery to various cellular destinations, including the 1990). Vacuolar acid hydrolases in plant systems are also vacuole. Sorting involves a recognition of proteins by glycoproteins (Gaudreault and Beevers, 1983); however, receptors and the assembly of cytosol-oriented coat plants do not contain mannose 6-phosphate residues or structures that package cargo into vesicles. Vesicle M-6-P receptors (Gaudreault and Beevers, 1984). Instead trafficking is regulated by specific membrane-bound the targeting of soluble proteins and some storage proteins and soluble proteins. Several components of the to the vacuole is mediated by short peptide sequences in secretory machinery have recently been identified in the protein or precursor proteins. These targeting signals plants and are described in this review. Ongoing and can occur at the amino terminus of propeptides (NTPP) future research will characterize features of the or at the carboxy terminus (CTPP), or they may be part secretory pathway specific to plants which, because of the mature protein (Chrispeels and Raikhel, 1992). of the multiplicity of vacuole types, provide a more The role of these peptide sequences is described in detail complex paradigm than the better described mamma- in the mini review by Nakamura and Neuhaus (1998). lian and yeast systems. In mammalian systems, the functioning of M-6-P as a targeting determinant is dependent upon the ability of
Gauging Progress in a Decades-Old Fight

We are proud to present the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) [Cancer Progress Report 2012][1], which is available as a supplement to this issue of Clinical Cancer Research . Coordinated by the AACR and written with the input of a large group of leaders in the oncology community, the
Pathogenesis of Hypertension: A Review

Hypertension, with a prevalence of up to 30% throughout the world, is increasing in incidence in more affluent and aging populations. Because it is totally asymptomatic, it has been named the "silent killer," as it is the major contributor-or risk factor-to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A large body of research over the past several decades has been devoted to investigating the causes and mechanisms of hypertension. Although the causes-genetic and environmental-remain obscure, much progress has been made in elucidating some of the pathogenic mechanisms causing hypertension, as well as its common complications, ie. ischemic heart disease, stroke and renal failure. The ultimate goal of this research is to inhibit these mechanisms and thus prevent or reverse the hypertensive complications.
The Politics of Central Banks: Austerity and Unemployment in Europe

This article examines the divergences in labor market-performances in four small, open economies: Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. It argues that great unemployment in Belgium and the Netherlands is partly due to the implementation of deflationary policies during the 1980s. The decline of Keynesian intervention in Belgium and the Netherlands is traced to the institutional independence of their central banks to set monetary and exchange rate policies separate from government. Because the Swedish and Austrian central banks are more integrated in the policy process and their countries are not members of the Common Market or the European Monetary System, social democratic governments have been able to go against the European trend of monetary restrictiveness and fiscal austerity. Accordingly, business in Austria and Sweden is more optimistic about future profit returns and is more willing to invest in productive capital, resulting in lower unemployment.
When culture resists progress: masculine organizational culture and its impacts on the vertical segregation of women in Japanese companies

While the rise of non-regular women workers in Japanese firms drew much attention, little attention has been paid to employment barriers that regular women workers continue to face in Japanese firm...
Shingle-based query indexing for location-based mobile e-commerce

We present a shingle-based query index (SQI) for supporting location-based services in mobile e-commerce. SQI is used to efficiently identify moving objects that are currently located inside a geographical region. A set of virtual shingles is predefined, each with a unique ID. One or more shingles are used to cover the geographical region defined by a range query, where the covering shingles may overlap with one another. SQI maintains a direct mapping from individual shingles to the range queries that contain them. The use of covering shingles has two important properties. First, it does not impose any limit on the object moving speed or direction. Second, it allows the revaluation of continual range queries to capitalize on the incremental changes in object locations. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of SQI and compare it with a cell-based approach.
Fertilization potential and polyspermy prevention in the egg of the nemertean, Cerebratulus lacteus

We investigated the electrical properties of the egg of the nemertean worm Cerebratulus, and found evidence that an electrically-mediated polyspermy block operates for a period of about 1 hr after fertilization. At fertilization, in natural or artificial sea water, the membrane potential shifts from its resting level of about -66 mV to a peak of about +43 mV, and in most cases remains greater than 0 mV for more than 1 hr. The average potential during the first 30 min is +22 +/- 8 mV (SD, n = 12). When the external Na+ concentration is reduced from 486 to 51 mM (choline substituted) the fertilization potential amplitude is reduced; the average potential during the first 30 min is -27 +/- 21 mV (SD, n = 5). Eggs inseminated in 51 mM Na+ sea water become polyspermic, indicating that polyspermy prevention depends on an electrically-mediated mechanism. The electrical block is required for about 60 min, since transfer to 51 mM Na+ sea water during this period results in polyspermy. During the first hour following fertilization, the egg is also developing a permanent, nonelectrical block; the degree of polyspermy which results upon transfer to low Na+ sea water decreases progressively with time. The permanent block appears to be at the level of the egg plasma membrane or glycocalyx, since the egg envelope is not a barrier to sperm penetration, nor does its removal induce polyspermy. Electron micrographs show no obvious changes in the morphology of the extracellular layers, plasma membrane or cortex of the egg after fertilization.
Teaching Job Search Written And Oral Communication Skills Through An Integrated Approach

Business educators understand the value of improving students written and oral communication skills. However, too often assignments used to develop these important skills are taught in isolation. The purpose of this article is to enhance a students written and oral skills by integrating all aspects of the job search written documents and interview practice while utilizing a student-selected job announcement. Each student must find a job announcement for an internship or career position that is consistent with the students major. The job announcement should list the organizations needs in terms of degree required and specific skills. This article outlines an integrated process of teaching written and oral communication skills through the entire job search. Thus, the job announcement is the focal point for the students resume, cover letter, career portfolio, and mock interview. Student feedback from the integrated process described in this article has been very positive and rewarding. Students consistently indicate their satisfaction when they successfully apply their self-marketing tools and secure a desired position prior to graduation.
Thermodynamics of aqueous systems containing hydrophilic polymers or gels

A quasichemical partition function is applied to represent the thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutions of nonelectrolytes, including linear polymers and crosslinked polymers (gels). The partition function extends conventional lattice theory; to take into account strong specific interactions (hydrogen bonds) as encountered in aqueous solutions, each molecule (polymer segment) may possess three energetically different types of contact sites. We distinguish between sites that interact through dispersion forces and sites that can participate in a hydrogen bond; hydrogen-bonding sites are divided into electron-pair donating sites and electron-pair accepting sites. The Helmholtz energy of the mixture is obtained using an oriented quasichemical approximation. The final equation contains three independent adjustable binary parameters; these are the exchange energies for different types of contact paris. To represent quantitatively upper or lower critical solution phenomena, we include the semitheoretical fluctuation correction recently proposed by de Pablo. Comparison with experimental data indicates that the proposed molecular-thermodynamic model may be useful for representing phase equilibria for a variety of aqueous systems including swelling equilibria for hydrophilic gels.
Propagation dynamics of optical vortices

Optical vortices in linear and nonlinear media may exhibit propagation dynamics similar to hydrodynamic vortex phenomena. Analytical and numerical methods are used to describe and investigate the interaction between vortices and the background field. We demonstrate that optical vortices that have quasi-point core functions, such as optical vortex solitons, may orbit one another at rates that are orders of magnitude larger than those with nonlocalized cores.
Rates of convergence to equilibrium in the Prigogine-Misra-Courbage theory of irreversibility

The rates of convergence to equilibrium in the Prigogine-Misra-Courbage theory of irreversibility, as developed by Goldstein, Misra, and Courbage, are examined. It is found that arbitrarily slow convergence to equilibrium should be present; in fact, in a certain precise sense, it should be the most abundant behavior. This is compared with the common beliefs in kinetic theory.
Interdisciplinary intellect: HASTAC and the commitment to encourage collective intelligence

This article explores the role of the Humanities, Arts, Science, and Technology Advanced Collaboratory (HASTAC) in facilitating and encouraging a collaborative community of junior and senior scholars on issues of technology and humanistic learning. As a result of its emphasis on collaboration and discussion, HASTAC encourages a form of collective intelligence that can serve as a model for future iterations of online communities formed to address problems and highlight advances in teaching and technology. Written from the perspective of a graduate student who also is a HASTAC scholar, the article discusses the positive impact HASTAC can have in terms of opportunities for professional advancement for junior scholars, as well as encouraging collaboration across disciplinary boundaries on issues relating to teaching methodologies, the humanities, and technology.
TURBINS: An immersed boundary, Navier–Stokes code for the simulation of gravity and turbidity currents interacting with complex topographies

Abstract An accurate, three-dimensional Navier–Stokes based immersed boundary code called TURBINS has been developed, validated and tested, for the purpose of simulating density-driven gravity and turbidity currents propagating over complex topographies. The code is second order accurate in space and third order in time, uses MPI, and employs a domain decomposition approach. It makes use of multigrid preconditioners and Krylov iterative solvers for the systems of linear equations obtained by the finite difference discretization of the governing equations. TURBINS utilizes the direct forcing variant of the immersed boundary approach and enforces the no-slip boundary condition via the first grid point inside the solid, which yields very accurate wall shear stress results. The results of test simulations are discussed for uniform flow around a circular cylinder, and for two- and three-dimensional lock-exchange gravity currents.
Predicting Plasmid Promiscuity Based on Genomic Signature

Despite the important contribution of self-transmissible plasmids to bacterial evolution, little is understood about the range of hosts in which these plasmids have evolved. Our goal was to infer this so-called evolutionary host range. The nucleotide composition, or genomic signature, of plasmids is often similar to that of the chromosome of their current host, suggesting that plasmids acquire their hosts’ signature over time. Therefore, we examined whether the evolutionary host range of plasmids could be inferred by comparing their trinucleotide composition to that of all completely sequenced bacterial chromosomes. The diversity of candidate hosts was determined using taxonomic classification and genetic distance. The method was first tested using plasmids from six incompatibility (Inc) groups whose host ranges are generally thought to be narrow (IncF, IncH, and IncI) or broad (IncN, IncP, and IncW) and then applied to other plasmid groups. The evolutionary host range was found to be broad for IncP plasmids, narrow for IncF and IncI plasmids, and intermediate for IncH and IncN plasmids, which corresponds with their known host range. The IncW plasmids as well as several plasmids from the IncA/C, IncP, IncQ, IncU, and PromA groups have signatures that were not similar to any of the chromosomal signatures, raising the hypothesis that these plasmids have not been ameliorated in any host due to their promiscuous nature. The inferred evolutionary host range of IncA/C, IncP-9, and IncL/M plasmids requires further investigation. In this era of high-throughput sequencing, this genomic signature method is a useful tool for predicting the host range of novel mobile elements.
Using human observer eye movements in automatic image classifiers

We explore the way in which people look at images of different semantic categories (e.g., handshake, landscape), and directly relate those results to computational approaches for automatic image classification. Our hypothesis is that the eye movements of human observers differ for images of different semantic categories, and that this information can be effectively used in automatic content-based classifiers. First, we present eye tracking experiments that show the variations in eye movements (i.e., fixations and saccades) across different individuals for images of 5 different categories: handshakes (two people shaking hands), crowd (cluttered scenes with many people), landscapes (nature scenes without people), main object in uncluttered background (e.g., an airplane flying), and miscellaneous (people and still lives). The eye tracking results suggest that similar viewing patterns occur when different subjects view different images in the same semantic category. Using these results, we examine how empirical data obtained from eye tracking experiments across different semantic categories can be integrated with existing computational frameworks, or used to construct new ones. In particular, we examine the Visual Apprentice, a system in which image classifiers are learned (using machine learning) from user input as the user defines a multiple level object definition hierarchy based on an object and its parts (scene, object, object-part, perceptual area, region), and labels examples for specific classes (e.g., handshake). The resulting classifiers are applied to automatically classify new images (e.g., as handshake/non-handshake). Although many eye tracking experiments have been performed, to our knowledge, this is the first study that specifically compares eye movements across categories, and that links categoryspecific eye tracking results to automatic image classification techniques.
Ofatumumab for a rituximab-allergic child with chronic-relapsing paraneoplastic opsoclonus–myoclonus†

Ofatumumab is a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in phase II-III trials for various autoimmune and lymphoreticular diseases. We used it to treat a rituximab-allergic child with severe, chronic-relapsing, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS), characterized by persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) B-cell expansion and T-cell dysregulation. He had relapsed despite chemotherapy, plasma exchange with immunoadsorption, and resection of ganglioneuroblastoma, detected 3 years after OMS onset. The four ofatumumab infusions (1,195 mg/m(2) total dose) were well tolerated, and CSF B-cell expansion was eliminated. No further relapses have occurred in 3 years, but he remains on low-dose ACTH with neuropsychiatric residuals of OMS.
Two-wave-plate compensator method for single-point retardation measurements

The two-wave-plate compensator (TWC) technique is introduced for single-point retardation measurements. The TWC method uses a known wave plate together with a wave plate of unknown retardation and produces a linearly polarized output that allows a null of intensity to be detected. The TWC method is compared both theoretically and experimentally with the existing Brace–Kohler and Senarmont methods. The resolution of the TWC is shown to be 0.02 nm. TWC enables the measurement of a sample retardation with as little as 0.13% error and thus is more accurate than either the Brace–Kohler or the Senarmont method.
Effect of number of motile, frozen-thawed boar sperm and number of fixed-time inseminations on fertility in estrous-synchronized gilts ☆

There are advantages for use of frozen-thawed boar sperm (FTS) as a tool for preservation and transfer of valuable genetic material, despite its practical limitations. It was hypothesized that increasing the number of motile FTS and number of fixed-time artificial inseminations (AI) would improve pregnancy rate and litter size. Semen from six boars was frozen in 0.5mL straws at 500x10(6)cells/mL. Gilts approximately 170 days of age, were induced into estrus with PG600 and synchronized using MATRIX (synthetic progestagen). Following last feeding of MATRIX (LFM), gilts were checked twice daily for estrus. At onset of estrus, gilts were randomly assigned in a 3x2 factorial treatment design to receive 1x10(9) motile FTS (n=19), 2x10(9) motile FTS (n=19), 4x10(9) motile FTS (n=19) in a single AI at 32h after onset of estrus, or 1x10(9) motile FTS (n=18), 2x10(9) motile FTS (n=17), or 4x10(9) motile FTS (n=19) in each of the two AI at 24 and 32h following onset of estrus. Ultrasonography was performed at 12h intervals after estrus to estimate time of ovulation. Reproductive tracts were collected 28-34 days following AI. Estrus occurred at 139+/-2h (mean+/-SE) after LFM and ovulation at 33+/-1h following onset of estrus. Dose and number of inseminations did not interact or individually influence pregnancy rate at slaughter (73+/-4.2%) or numbers of normal fetuses (10.8+/-0.5). However, number of fetuses tended (P=0.14) to increase with double AI but not with dose. Boar did not affect pregnancy rate but did affect number of normal fetuses and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Longer intervals from insemination to ovulation reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.05), number of normal fetuses (P<0.001), and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Ovarian abnormalities at slaughter were associated with reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.001). The results of this experiment indicate that a double insemination using 2x10(9) motile sperm would produce the greatest number of piglets with fewest numbers of frozen sperm used, while double AI with 1x10(9) motile sperm would be most practical for pig production with limited genetic resources. Fertility was also influenced by boar, interval from insemination to ovulation, and gilt ovarian abnormalities.
Ferroelectric and dielectric properties of bismuth ferrite based thin films by Pulsed Laser Deposition

BiFeO 3 (BFO) has stimulated a great interest in recent years for its room temperature multiferroic behavior with very high remnant polarization. However, the leakage current of BFO films is very high. To lower the leakage current, we have developed thin films with following target compositions on SrRuO 3 buffered on SrTiO 3 substrate by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD): (A) BiFeO 3 , (B) 0.88Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 -0.08Bi 0.5 K 0.5 TiO 3 -0.04BaTiO 3 , (C) 0.6BiFeO 3 -0.4(Bi 0.5 K 0.5 TiO 3 ) The phase, growth orientation, microstructural characterization and electrical properties were investigated as a function of deposition parameters. The epitaxial bi-layered 300nm BNT-BKT-BT/BFO thin films (150nm each) exhibited ferroelectric behavior as: 2P r = 44.0 μC.cm−2, 2E c = 200 kV.cm−1 and K = 140. Thin films with a composition of 0.6BFO-0.4BKT have also been deposited with different oxygen pressures of 300–500 mTorr. Preliminary results of 0.6BFO-0.4BKT films show that the leakage current can be suppressed by about 4 orders of magnitude which in turn improves the ferroelectric and dielectric properties of the films. It is observed that the remnant polarization increases from 8 to 19 μC.cm−2 as the oxygen pressure is changed from 500 to 300mtorr.
Recovery of nonrigid motion and structure

The authors introduce a physically correct model of elastic nonrigid motion. This model is based on the finite element method, but decouples the degrees of freedom by breaking down object motion into rigid and nonrigid vibration or deformation modes. The result is an accurate representation for both rigid and nonrigid motion that has greatly reduced dimensionality, capturing the intuition that nonrigid motion is normally coherent and not chaotic. Because of the small number of parameters involved, this representation is used to obtain accurate overstrained estimates of both rigid and nonrigid global motion. It is also shown that these estimates can be integrated over time by use of an extended Kalman filter, resulting in stable and accurate estimates of both three-dimensional shape and three-dimensional velocity. The formulation is then extended to include constrained nonrigid motion. Examples of tracking single nonrigid objects and multiple constrained objects are presented. >
Survival Strategies: Cooperation and Conflict in Animal Societies

R. Gadagkar 1997. Survival Strategies: Cooperation and Conflict in Animal Societies. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, x + 196 pp. ISBN 0-674-17055-5, price (hardcover), $22.00. This book describes a number of instances in which social behavior can be explained as a by-product of genetic relatedness. The intended readership is avowed by the author to be “ordinary people from all walks of life” (p. ix), and the book's organization, tone, and style reflect this intent. The examples, too, are drawn more for illustrative purposes than for a synthesis or a comprehensive treatment. Perhaps as a result of this intended readership, the book is thin for someone working on problems of evolutionary ecology. Unfortunately, inconsistencies in tone and levels of explanation may make it less than satisfying for the interested nonecologist as well. More seriously, some of the language describing natural selection is reifying, which does a disservice to Darwin and to people who do not fully understand the mechanisms causing natural selection. Outwardly, the organization is straightforward enough. Gadagkar begins with 4 chapters of definitions: social animals, the basics of natural selection and genetic relationships, and an outline of cooperation, altruism, selfishness, and spite. Through the next 5 chapters, Gadagkar uses a series of examples, often returning repeatedly to the same systems, to deal with topics such as inclusive fitness, Hamilton's Rule, nepotism, kin recognition, the Prisoner's dilemma, tit-for-tat, animal consciousness, and situations in which individuals are in reproductive conflict. The final brief chapter summarizes a few conclusions and paints a simplistic view of future research areas. In a short book, this coverage of topics is impressive. Gadagkar has chosen examples from a variety of taxa (mostly social insects, but also sticklebacks, bee-eaters, moths, chimpanzees, crickets, vampire bats, house mice, and others). This diversity of taxa is a strength of the book because these animals do display interesting social behavior. Given the intent of the book, most …
THE RESIDUAL PARALYSIS AND DEFORMITY OF ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS

1. Anterior poliomyelitis is an infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the gray substance of the spinal cord, and attended by motor paralysis and deformity. It is of wide distribution and often occurs in epidemics. 2. Experiments have shown that the infecting organism enters the body probably through upper respiratory passages. 3. In the Mayo Clinic series the disease occurred during the first three years of life in forty-four per cent. of the patients. 4. The onset is acute, but the residual state of deformity is permanent, and may progress or become accentuated by the growth of the child. 5. Usually the patient does not seek aid until after the deformity has become well established. The average duration of the paralysis in a series of 350 cases was eight and four-tenths years. 6. The paralysis is most marked in the lower extremities. The anterior tibial muscle was the one most commonly paralyzed. 7. Talipes equinus and talipes valgus were the most common deformities. 8. Scoliosis occurred in 31.4 per cent. of the cases. 9. Marked improvement follows proper treatment given early in the disease. The treatment consists of rest, massage, the application of heat, muscle training, and the use of splints and braces. 10. In many cases surgical treatment of the residual deformity is of great benefit. It aids in correcting deformities, stabilizing the limb, and increasing the function of the limb.
Assessing the impact of comorbidities on autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT) outcomes using the hematopoietic cell transplant-comorbidity index (HCT-CI) in lymphoma

7102 Background: Sorror et al. has identified HCT-CI as a valid scoring of pretransplant comorbidities that predicted nonrelapse mortality and survival after allogeniec HCT. We recently reported on...
Motivation to Develop as a Leader

This chapter explains the role of motivation in readying leaders to succeed. Suggestions are also offered for leadership developers in harnessing motivational factors to optimize their educational programs.
Cuffing-based photoacoustic flowmetry in humans at depths in the diffusive regime

Using a handheld photoacoustic probe, we proposed a cuffing-based method to quantify blood flow speed in humans. By cuffing and releasing the blood vessel, we can measure the blood flow speed downstream. In phantom experiments, we demonstrated that the minimum and maximum measurable flow speeds were 0.035 mm/s and 42 mm/s, respectively. In human experiments, flow speeds were measured in three different blood vessels: a radial artery in the right forearm, a radial artery in the index finger of the right hand, and a radial vein in the right forearm.
Irradiation of mitochondria initiates apoptosis in a cell free system.

The ability to modulate the sensitivity of mammalian cells to ionizing radiation (IR) (e.g. using chemotherapeutics) is dependent on our understanding of the primary target and biochemical pathway that leads to IR-induced apoptosis. We demonstrate using a cell free assay that irradiation of mitochondria is a primary event that initiates IR-induced apoptosis. IR results in loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP) and the release of cytochrome c (cyto c). Apaf-1 and ATP were required to initiate apoptosis upon release of cyto c from mitochondria. The importance of mitochondrial events in the initiation of IR-induced apoptosis was also supported by the observation that inhibition of caspase-9 by the over-expression of dominant negative mutants resulted in the inhibition of IR-induced apoptosis. In contrast, inhibition of caspase-8 had only a minor impact on IR-induced apoptosis. Over-expression of Bcl-X(L) inhibited the initiation of IR-induced apoptosis due to its ability to prevent the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, PTP opening and cytochrome c release. In a cell free assay for apoptosis, mitochondria as well as cytosol derived from Bcl-X(L) over-expressing cells were less efficient at supporting apoptosis in response to IR suggesting multiple roles for Bcl-X(L) in the regulation of apoptosis.
Analysis of State of the Art Practices for the Reduction of Cost and Schedule in Launch Vehicle DDT&E

With the advent of a new heavy-lift launch vehicle, the Space Launch System, NASA has indicated clear interest in not only the performance but also the affordability and sustainability of its programs. To this end, they seek to minimize the cost and time required for Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT&E). This is achieved in two parts, an analysis of the state of the art of DDT&E and a validation of the results using the NASA Air Force Cost Model (NAFCOM). The state of the art analysis was completed using the Lean / Six Sigma methodology. The validation was conducted by automating NAFCOM and running a sensitivity analysis. Key results include the significant impact of utilizing new designs, particularly in the structural and thermal control subsystems, on DDT&E cost, and the significant impact of manufacturing methods and engineering management on DDT&E schedule.
Immunological interaction of erythrocyte isoantigens: effects of passive antibody.

SummaryThe effects of passively coating, with specific isoantibodies, erythrocyte isoantigens determined by the B blood-group locus in chickens on the immune response to A blood-group system isoantigens were investigated. Antibody synthesis to the B isoantigens was suppressed while the immunological response to A isoantigens, present on the same erythrocytes, was significantly enhanced. Since B isoantigens act as an adjuvant to A isoantigens, these results suggest that passive anti-B antibodies diminish competition between B and A antigens or, alternatively, enhance the adjuvant activity of the B antigens.
Hybrid genetic programming with modified conjugate direction search for 3D metamaterial design

Hybridization of Genetic Programming and global low-level optimizer, namely Genetic Algorithm was previously developed. With the aim of improving computational efficiency, conjugate direction search method is modified and proposed as a new low-level optimizer for upper level Genetic Programming. In order to demonstrate computational efficiency, Genetic Programming and two low-level optimizers are employed to design broadband, low frequency ground plane (225 MHz–450 MHz). When applying optimizers on a single processor, preliminary results show that optimized unit cell found by new low level optimizer has a better reflection magnitude (at least 0.8 over the frequency range) than the one found by Genetic Algorithm (as low as 0.25 over the frequency band). Details of proposed method will be presented and discussed in the paper.
ADVANCES OF THE STUDY ON PURIFYING TECHNOLOGY OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE

This paper summarizes the research progress of the removal of hydrogen sulfide.General methods for purifying hydrogen sulfide include oxidation,absorbent and adsorbent.New methods for purifying hydrogen sulfide include biological methods,ozone oxidation,electrochemical treatment and electron beam irradiation decompounds.A more detailed discussion was presented for biological methods and electrochemistry methods.The biological treatment is suitable for low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide emissions from processing and it's advantages include simple equipment,lower operating costs,less secondary pollution.Electrochemical treatment has the advantages of high efficiency,simple operation,none by-products and secondary pollutants.These two methods have very broad prospects for development in future.
Discuses the Ways and Measure of Exploit about Archive of Control Disease in Message Era

Come out of message times has new requests for utilized and exploited about archives.The article discussed the ways and measure of exploit and utilize about archive of controlling disease in message times,so as to adapt the demand for circumstance change.Reinforce exploit and utilize about archive of prevention and control disease and use it the efficiently,as well as better service for the health work.
STATISTICAL MECHANICS OF INTERACTING SYSTEMS: THE METHOD OF CLUSTER EXPANSIONS

This chapter discusses the method of cluster expansion for interacting systems obeying real gas properties. For a real contact between theory and experiment, the interparticle interactions operating in the system should be taken into consideration. The mathematical expressions for the various physical quantities pertaining to systems such as low-density gas can be written in the form of series expansions, whose main terms denote the corresponding ideal-system results while the subsequent terms provide corrections arising from the interparticle interactions in the system. A systematic method of carrying out such expansions, in the case of real gases obeying classical statistics, is known as the method of cluster expansions. This chapter also discusses a formal theory for the calculation of higher-order cluster integrals that could be used for treating quantum-mechanical systems. The basic approach in this theory is to evolve a scheme for expressing the grand partition function of the given system—the same way cluster expansion does for a classical gas. However, because of the interplay of quantum-statistical effects and the effects arising from interparticle interactions, the mathematical structure of this theory is considerably involved.
Moving Objects Databases

Each moving objects database represents the trajectory and speed of moving objects. In all moving objects reprentations the spatial and the temporal extents of the objects depend on each other. This is in contrast to some earlier data models, such as, the rectangles and the Worboys data models, that had spatial and temporal extents that were independent of each other. Therefore, the earlier data models could only represent objects that appear and disappear suddenly. Hence they cannot represent continuously moving objects.
Transposon Mutagenesis and Analysis of Mutants in UniformMu Maize (Zea mays)

A wealth of maize mutants is now available with known sites of transposon insertions in over 45% of maize genes. Materials can be obtained free of charge from the UniformMu public resource through MaizeGDB.org or directly from the Maize Genetics COOP Stock Center. Specific mutants can be sought online based on gene-sequences of interest. A key feature of the UniformMu resource is the uniformity of wild-type controls, which facilitates characterization of mutant phenotypes. Methods developed for construction (transposon mutagenesis), analysis and utilization of the resource are described here. These include the high-throughput Mu-seq genotyping protocol that enables both forward and reverse approaches for linking genotypes-to-phenotypes. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: maize; Mu-seq; transposon; UniformMu; W22
Server platform power design optimization using switching voltage regulator modeling techniques

Simulation based voltage regulator (VR) design is an important means to make predictive platform power delivery design, improve power performance, reduce product design iterations, conduct what if studies and reduce validation time and cost. In the switching VR modeling methodology, we adopt the unique controller topology and supply specific features from each VR vendor, and these models are far more accurate and fundamentally different than the traditional state average model in the regular spice simulations. Applying this methodology closes the board level VR simulation to validation correlation gaps from the traditional methodology.
Writing beyond the call: One woman’s response to Gloria Anzaldúa’s “Speaking in Tongues”:

In her manuscript, “Speaking in Tongues: A Letter to Third World Women Writers,” author Gloria Evangelina Anzaldua composes several open and honest letters to women of color, challenging them to ac...