cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multi-Duality and Classifications of General Systems

The quadratic canonical dual transformation method, presented in Chapter 3, can be generalized in different ways for solving general nonconvex systems. We begin with a special nonconvex variational problem with multi-well energy. Then, we present two powerful sequential dual transformations for general nonconvex systems with multi-well energy. These two methods produce two different duality theories. The classifications are discussed for general systems and a generalized tri-duality principle is presented in the central part of this section, which plays a core role in this book. Examples from discrete systems and continuum fields are listed. We end up by giving an application for nonconvex systems.
Internet of Things – Will Humans be Replaced or Augmented?

Augmented Intelligence - effective human-computer symbiosis - has the potential to address emerging challenges successfully, possibly more so than pure AI. It integrates the unique abilities of human beings that cannot be replicated by AI. Large-scale IoT problems often cannot be solved by either computers or human beings alone. Therefore, there are significant opportunities in IoT applications that are coupled with the notion of Augmented Intelligence. Managers need to consider carefully for which task, in which way and to what extent IoT applications will be applied. They must make their choices based on the expected performance, cost and risk of autonomous IoT solutions that would operate without human oversight. For example, automated manufacturing, predictive maintenance and security IoT solutions may be cautiously fully automated. However, human-oriented applications, such as smart retail, could still maintain a certain level of human oversight.
Superior Visual Timing Sensitivity in Auditory but not Visual World Class Drum Corps Experts

World class drum corps require cooperation among performance artists to render precisely synchronized and asynchronized events. For example, drum corps visual aesthetics often feature salient radial and rotational motion displays from the color guard. Accordingly, extensive color guard training might predict superior visual timing sensitivity to asynchronies in radial and rotational motion displays. Less intuitively, one might instead predict superior visual timing sensitivity among world class drum corps musicians, who regularly subdivide musical tempos into brief time units. This prediction arises from the possibility that auditory training transfers cross-modally. Here, we investigated whether precise visual temporal order judgments (TOJs) more strongly align with color guard's visual training or musicians' auditory training. To mimic color guard visual displays, stimuli comprised bilateral plaid patterns that radiated or rotated before changing direction asynchronously. Human participants indicated whether the direction changed first on the left or right, called a TOJ. Twenty-five percussionists, 67 brass players, and 29 color guard members from a world class drum corps collectively completed 67,760 visual TOJ trials. Percussionists exhibited significantly lower TOJ thresholds than did brass players, who exhibited significantly lower TOJ thresholds than did the color guard. Group median thresholds spanned an order of magnitude, ranging between 29 ms (percussionists judging rotational asynchronies) and 290 ms (color guard judging radial asynchronies). The results suggest that visual timing can improve more by training cross-modally than intramodally, even when intramodal training and testing stimuli closely match. More broadly, pre-existing training histories can provide a unique window into the timing sensitivity of the nervous system.
Short and intermediate-term price performance of unseasoned issues

The researchers examined the short-term and intermediate-term price performance of unseasoned issues during the period lasting from 1995 to 2014. We find that new issues, on average, are underpriced on listing day and obtain significant abnormal returns up to fifteen trading days. In case of intermediate-term performance, investors yield positive abnormal returns for the first two months of trading but not thereafter. We employ Extreme Bounds Analysis, Lasso Regression, and Stepwise Regression to select the determinant factors of short-term and intermediate-term performance and find that each econometric method has its own build-in specifications and characteristics to identify the best parameter.
Facilitated Communication: Can Children with Autism Have a Voice in Court?

Facilitated communication (FC) is a controversial method of assisted communication in which a “facilitator” provides physical and emotional support to assist a person with a communication disability in pointing to letters on an alphabet board or typing device in order to transmit a message. Proponents argue that FC has helped unlock previously unknown abilities, improved behaviors and well-being, and increased independent communication for people with autism. Critics argue, however, that FC communication is invalid citing studies showing FC to be influenced or controlled by the facilitator. The clinical debate over the use of FC came to a head in the early 1990s, prompting legal debate over its validity, when FC was used to make allegations of abuse against parents or caregivers, and the courts were asked to rule on the admissibility of such communication with varying results. This article explores the phenomenon of FC, and the implications of excluding FC as a means of participating in the legal system. It traces the introduction and widespread use of FC in this country and examines the clinical debate surrounding FC along with the legal issues of admissibility under the Frye and Daubert standards. Additionally, the article considers issues of access to the courts under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and recommends protocols for the use of FC in court proceedings to ensure that the rights of victims as well as defendants are protected.
Histologic Subtype Defines the Risk and Kinetics of Recurrence and Death for Primary Extremity/Truncal Liposarcoma.

Objective We sought to define the prognostic significance of histologic subtype for extremity/truncal liposarcoma (LPS). Background LPS, the most common sarcoma, is comprised of 5 histologic subtypes. Despite their distinct behaviors, LPS outcomes are frequently reported as a single entity. Methods We analyzed data on all patients from a single-institution prospective database treated from July 1982 to September 2017 for primary, nonmetastatic, extremity or truncal LPS of known subtype. Clinicopathologic variables were tested using competing risk analyses for association with disease-specific death (DSD), distant recurrence (DR), and local recurrence (LR). Results Among 1001 patients, median follow-up in survivors was 5.4 years. Tumor size and subtype were independently associated with DSD and DR. Size, subtype, and R1 resection were independently associated with LR. DR was most frequent among pleomorphic and round cell LPS; the former recurred early (43% by 3 years), and the latter over a longer period (23%, 3 years; 37%, 10 years). LR was most common in dedifferentiated LPS, in which it occurred early (24%, 3 years; 33%, 5 years), followed by pleomorphic LPS (18%, 3 years; 25%, 10 years). Conclusions Histologic subtype is the factor most strongly associated with DSD, DR, and LR in extremity/truncal LPS. Both risk and timing of adverse outcomes vary by subtype. These data may guide selective use of systemic therapy for patients with round cell and pleomorphic LPS, which carry a high risk of DR, and radiotherapy for LPS subtypes at high risk of LR when treated with surgery alone.
Analyzing changes in the complexity of climate in the last four decades using MERRA-2 radiation data

The energy balance of the Earth is controlled by the shortwave and longwave radiation emitted to space. Changes in the thermodynamic state of the system over time affect climate and are noticeable when viewing the system as a whole. In this paper, we study the changes in the complexity of climate in the last four decades using data from the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2). First, we study the complexity of the shortwave and longwave radiation fields independently using Approximate Entropy and Sample Entropy, observing that the rate of complexity change is faster for shortwave radiation. Then, we study the causality of those changes using Transfer Entropy to capture the non-linear dynamics of climate, showing that the changes are mainly driven by the variations in shortwave radiation. The observed behavior of climatic complexity could be explained by the changes in cloud amount, and we research that possibility by investigating its evolution from a complexity perspective using data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP).
Civilizations’ Economic Drivers: Babylon to Bitstream

Economic drivers, or scarce resources, determine the social, political, and economic structure of civilizations and when they change, the civilization changes and its entire power structure changes. These changes are wrenching and give rise to extreme social tensions and often violence. The economy is now in the middle of such a transformation, to an information economy: cyber-civilization. We can learn lessons from the past changes, as social, political, and economic strains are now emerging. Suggestions for coping with these stresses focus, inter alia, on educating the workforce for a new economy. Today’s policymakers need to address these issues.
Array-based comparative genomic hybridization for detecting children with mental retardation and congenital multi-malformations

Copy number variations (CNVs) were the variations of the DNA fragment whose length ranges from 1 kb to 3 Mb.And these variations were widely distributed in the whole genome of human.Recent studies showed that CNVs closely related to the microdeletion and microduplication syndromes of chromosome.The microdeletion and microduplication syndromes of chromosome were the key factors in mental retardation and multi-malformations,which contributed to the high incidence in perinatal babies and neonates.Although the conventional cytogenetic karyotyping has been widely used in the diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities,it has some limitations:low resolution,long period of cell culture,and so on.Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH),developing from CGH,was a new diagnostic technology for chromosomal disease.The resolution of aCGH reached 0.05 Mb,so aCGH can detect the microdeletion or microduplication that traditional karyotyping can' t detect and is a technology of molecular cytogenetics with great expectation in the research of microdeletion and microduplication.Our review was to describe the advances of aCGH for detecting the children with mental retardation and multi-malformations. Key words: Array-based comparative genomic hybridization; Copy number variations; Microdeletion; Microduplication
The Great Materials Network

A general overview of the field of Materials Science is presented. Emphasis is given to its historical evolution, its successes, and the opportunities for future exploration and exploitation.
Label Augmentation via Time-based Knowledge Distillation for Financial Anomaly Detection.

Detecting anomalies has become increasingly critical to the financial service industry. Anomalous events are often indicative of illegal activities such as fraud, identity theft, network intrusion, account takeover, and money laundering. Financial anomaly detection use cases face serious challenges due to the dynamic nature of the underlying patterns especially in adversarial environments such as constantly changing fraud tactics. While retraining the models with the new patterns is absolutely essential; keeping up with the rapid changes introduces other challenges as it moves the model away from older patterns or continuously grows the size of the training data. The resulting data growth is hard to manage and it reduces the agility of the models' response to the latest attacks. Due to the data size limitations and the need to track the latest patterns, older time periods are often dropped in practice, which in turn, causes vulnerabilities. In this study, we propose a label augmentation approach to utilize the learning from older models to boost the latest. Experimental results show that the proposed approach provides a significant reduction in training time, while providing potential performance improvement.
Occult Brain Arteriovenous Malformation Superimposed on a Pial Arteriovenous Fistula: Case Report.

Introduction Pial arteriovenous fistulas are characterized by an abnormal connection between an intracranial artery and vein without an intervening nidus. Their predominant symptoms largely arise from mass effect, shunting, or hemorrhage. Most conservatively managed cases progress to death, but endovascular and/or surgical intervention is often successful. Case presentation We present the unique case of a 15-year-old girl with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage from a single-vessel arteriovenous fistula. Although preoperative imaging failed to show a distinct nidus, intraoperative indocyanine green angiography performed after successful clipping of the primary fistulous site revealed residual shunting from a peri-lesional arteriovenous malformation. Discussion/conclusion This case demonstrates the importance of intraoperative imaging and meticulous circumferential inspection of these lesions to detect residual vascular shunting.
Mood and behavior disorder in pediatric epilepsy

Pediatric epilepsy is frequently associated with psychiatric comorbidities such as mood, anxiety, psychosis, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and disruptive behavior disorder. The incidence of suicide is also higher in this population. Psychiatric conditions were traditionally considered to be a consequence of the seizure disorder; however, more recent advances in the field suggest a bidirectional relationship. Thus, the existence of psychiatric disorders may increase the likelihood of developing a seizure disorder, while the presence of chronic epilepsy and the use of antiepileptic drugs can increase the incidence of comorbid psychiatric disorders and impact the quality of life for affected patients. In this review, internalizing (depression, anxiety and suicide) and, externalizing (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder) disorders, and psychosis in pediatric epilepsy are discussed. The role of evidence-based psychosocial and psychopharmacological interventions for these mood and behavior disorders, in addition to the validity of neuropsychological testing to assist identification of these combined conditions in pediatric epilepsy are also reviewed.
The endogenous Mtv-8 provirus resides within the V kappa locus.

Abstract The endogenous Mtv-8 provirus previously has been mapped within approximately 0.52 centimorgan from several V kappa markers on mouse chromosome 6. Using Southern blotting and DNA from a recombinant backcross mouse from the C57BL/6 (Mtv-8 positive) and C58 (Mtv-8 negative) strains, Mtv-8 was localized to the same side of the crossover point as immunoglobulin kappa (Ig kappa)-V24 but on the opposite side of the crossover from Ig kappa-V10 and Ig kappa-V21. Molecular cloning and characterization of cellular DNA adjacent to Mtv-8 revealed a functional V kappa 9 gene approximately 4.6 kb downstream and in the same transcriptional orientation as the provirus. These data suggest that Mtv-8 is within the centromere-proximal portion of the V kappa locus.
Automatic dynamic mixed-mode simulation through network reconfiguration

The performance of dynamic mixed-mode simulation depends upon the modes of simulation used and the duration of simulation at each mode. The requirements for automatic dynamic mixed-mode simulation are stipulated. A new approach is presented to perform dynamic mixed-mode simulation in a static mixed-mode simulation environment using network reconfiguration. The approach is implemented in Lsim, a commercially available mixed-mode simulation environment. A performance increase of an order of magnitude in speed is observed even for small circuits.
Formation of empty B19 parvovirus capsids by the truncated minor capsid protein

We previously reported that empty capsids of B19 parvovirus were formed by the major capsid protein (VP2) alone expressed in a baculovirus system, but the minor capsid protein (VP1), longer by 227 amino acids, alone did not form empty capsids. We report here further investigations of the constraints on capsid formation by truncated versions of VP1. Studies were performed with recombinant baculoviruses expressed in Sf9 cells. Severely shortened VP1, extended beyond the VP2 core sequence by about 70 amino acids of the unique region, formed capsids normal in appearance; longer versions of VP1 also formed capsids but did so progressively less efficiently and produced capsids of more markedly dysmorphic appearance as the VP1-unique region was lengthened.
Limit cycles in state-space pipelined scattered look-ahead filters

Limit cycles of various pipelined scattered look ahead (SLA) filters are analyzed. Regions free of overflow limit cycles using two's complement arithmetic are obtained in both parameter space and in the z-domain for SLA filters. Results for zero-input quantization limit cycle stability using two's complement truncation and rounding are extended to direct form (DF) SLA filters. Combining these results. the region of global asymptotic stability from zero-input limit cycles of DF SLA filters is found. In consequence, the DF SLA structure is proved to have merits implementing high Q filters except at certain regions near the unit circle, where the structure is highly susceptible to roundoff noise and coefficient quantization noise. DF and minimum roundoff noise based structures are compared for the purpose of reducing complexity or improving numerical performance. >
Evolution of Antioxidant Mechanisms: Thiol-Dependent Peroxidases and Thioltransferase Among Procaryotes

Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase both utilize glutathione (GSH) to destroy organic hydroperoxides, and these enzymes are thought to serve an antioxidant function in mammalian cells by catalyzing the destruction of lipid hydroperoxides. Only two groups of procaryotes, the purple bacteria and the cyanobacteria, produce GSH, and we show in the present work that representatives from these two groups (Escherichia coli, Beneckea alginolytica, Rhodospirillum rubrum, Chromatium vinosum, andAnabaena sp. strain 7119) lack significant glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase activities. This finding, coupled with the general absence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in procaryotes, suggests that GSH-dependent peroxidases evolved in eucaryotes in response to the need to protect against polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation. A second antioxidant function of GSH is mediated by glutathione thiol-transferase, which catalyzes the reduction of various cellular disulfides by GSH. Two of the five GSH-producing bacteria studied (E. coli andB. alginolytica) produced higher levels of glutathione thiol-transferase than found in rat liver, whereas the activity was absent in the other three species studied. The halobacteria produced γ-glutamylcysteine rather than GSH, and assays for γ-glutamylcysteine-dependent enzymes demonstrated an absence of peroxidase and S-transferase activities but the presence of significant thioltransferase activity. Based upon these results it appears that GSH and γ-glutamylcysteine do not function in bactera as antioxidants directed against organic hydroperoxides but do play a significant, although not universal, role in main-taining disulfides in a reduced state. The function of GSH in the photosynthetic bacteria, aside from providing a form of cysteine resistant toward autoxidation, remains a puzzle, as none of the GSH-dependent enzymes tested other than glutathione reductase were present in these organisms.
Colour reactions of some 1,4-dihydroxy-anthraquinones with aluminium and beryllium

Abstract The colour reactions of 2-quinizarinsulphonic acid (sodium salt) and 2-phenoxyquinizarin-3,4'-disulphonic acid (dipotassium salt) with aluminium or beryllium have been studied and compared with the normal acid-base colour changes. pK values for these compounds were determined spectrophotometrically and compared with the ionisation of 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone-3-sulphonic acid (sodium salt). The application of the colour reactions of 2-phenoxyquinizarin-3,4'-disulphonic acid (dipotassium salt) with aluminium and beryllium to the spectrophotometric determination of both metallic ions is discussed.
The effect of minor constituents on swelling in stainless steel

Abstract The small quantities of solute interstitial elements in stainless steel (C, N and possibly Si) reduce the swelling under neutron irradiation ( ∼ 2 × 10 22 neutrons/cm 2 ) by more than an order of magnitude between 500 and 600° C over high purity material. The solute interstitials reduce both the numbers and sizes of irradiation-caused voids. Current swelling models ignore — of necessity — this gross effect. Several possible mechanisms are suggested to account for the effect.
Technology challenges for Earth observation from higher orbits

Advances in Earth observing technologies are required to fulfill NASA's long-term vision for Earth system prediction in the years 2010 to 2020. The observing system during these years will include satellites in a variety of orbits including smaller, smarter ones in low Earth orbit, large aperture sensors in medium Earth orbit and geostationary orbit to provide enhanced temporal coverage and perhaps sentinel satellites at Lagrange points L1 and L2 to provide synoptic views of the entire globe. These higher vistas can meet pending science challenges in a variety of areas directly relevant to NASA’s plans. They include, among others, meeting high temporal and spatial resolutions to observe rapidly evolving chemical events in the global atmosphere, meeting the requirements of increased spatial and temporal sensing of varying precipitation events over portions of the globe, and the increased temporal coverage necessary to see clear skies over coastal regions for coastal process monitoring. A set of technology tradeoffs and needs that meet the above science challenges can be identified. They include an increase in collecting aperture for passive measurements, increased transmitted power for active measurements, and improved on-board processing coupled with enhanced bandwidth communications as data collection increases. The technologies will involve differentiating filled versus sparse aperture collection systems, developing advanced scanning capabilities and large array detectors, as well as large structure pointing control and metrology. This talk will examine these issues for a range of NASA Earth science measurements.
Efficient approximation algorithms for clustering point-sets

In this paper, we consider the problem of clustering a set of n finite point-sets in d-dimensional Euclidean space. Different from the traditional clustering problem (called points clustering problem where the to-be-clustered objects are points), the point-sets clustering problem requires that all points in a single point-set be clustered into the same cluster. This requirement disturbs the metric property of the underlying distance function among point-sets and complicates the clustering problem dramatically. In this paper, we use a number of interesting observations and techniques to overcome this difficulty. For the k-center clustering problem on point-sets, we give an O(m+nlogk)-time 3-approximation algorithm and an O(km)-time (1+3)-approximation algorithm, where m is the total number of input points and k is the number of clusters. When k is a small constant, the performance ratio of our algorithm reduces to ([email protected]) for any @e>0. For the k-median problem on point-sets, we present a polynomial time ([email protected])-approximation algorithm. Our approaches are rather general and can be easily implemented for practical purpose.
Monte Carlo model of low-coherence enhanced backscattering (LEBS) from anisotropic disordered media

We report the development of first photon random walk model of low-coherence enhanced backscattering (LEBS) to further our understanding of origin of LEBS in biological tissue. The results are in good agreement with experimental data.
Irrational beliefs underlying type A behavior: evidence for a cautious approach.

A number of studies have demonstrated relationships between various self-endorsed “irrational beliefs” and Type A coronary-prone behavior in young, healthy college student samples and in healthy, middle-management executives. The present study examined the relationship between Type A personality and irrational beliefs in a sample with coronary heart disease. Extensive analyses yielded some statistically significant results. Type A behavior and its components were related to beliefs reflecting inordinate need for competence and concern about control issues. The observed relationships were small and, by themselves, appeared to have limited clinical utility. While it was concluded that cognitive intervention may be effective in reducing some facets of coronary-prone behavior in certain individuals, such therapies would best be applied after the identification of specific target beliefs.
Specificity of anti-nucleoside antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus

The titer of IgG antinucleoside antibodies in the sera of 162 individuals was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The nucleosides used in the assay were adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, and thymine-riboside conjugated to human serum albumin. The specificity of IgG antinucleoside antibodies was indicated by appropriate reduction in antibody binding after solid-phase adsorptions of antibody with specific immobilized nucleoside conjugates. Disease-associated increases in serum IgG antibodies to cytidine and guanosine but not to adenosine or thymine-riboside occurred in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The epitope density of nucleosides in the conjugates and differences in the sensitivity of each nucleoside assay were not responsible for disease-associated IgG antinucleoside antibody responses. These findings support a possible pathogenic role for cytidine and guanosine as antigens or crossreactive antigenic determinants in some patients with SLE.
Regulation of the Arabidopsis defense transcriptome

Transcriptional re-programming is a key step of plant defense in response to pathogen recognition. Microarray analyses combined with genetic and biochemical approaches are now enabling us to study basic principles and details of regulatory mechanisms controlling the defense transcriptome in Arabidopsis. Recent results show that signaling pathways used by different defense systems converge and target overlapping gene sets. Furthermore, a quantitative mechanism common to multiple defense systems modulates transcript levels of these defense-associated genes. Most importantly, some transcription factors have been proven to play a pivotal role in disease resistance. Regulatory circuits linking signaling and gene regulation are emerging, suggesting that a complex interplay of transcriptional activators and repressors fine-tunes expression of the defense transcriptome.
The engine of the underground: the Elite-Kiddie divide

Underground innovation communities, such as hackers and computer game modifiers have formed a unique type of information sharing community. As the nature of their communitions evolved to take advantage of new technologies like computer Bulletin Boards and the Internet, the social structure of these communities evolved as well. Understanding how these communities are internally socially divided into innovative "Elites" and follower "Kiddies" can shed important light on these influential, if sometimes destructive, underground electronic communities.
Modeling peak load reduction and energy consumption enabled by an integrated thermal energy and water storage system for residential air conditioning systems in Austin, Texas

Abstract This paper discusses the development of a model for evaluating peak load reduction and change in overall energy consumption for a residential air conditioning (AC) compressor with and without condenser-side thermal storage. Stored rainwater (or any other type of on-site water storage) could be utilized as a heat sink for the condenser during peak hours, allowing for more efficient and lower power compressor operation, then re-chilled at night during off-peak hours. The system evaluated in this manuscript is referred to as ‘integrated thermal energy and rainwater storage’ (ITHERST). The model used simulated cooling load data for a typical home in Austin, Texas, based on summer 2011 historical and typical meteorological year (TMY) datasets. The analysis suggests that the ITHERST system with 3785–18,925 l of water could reduce on-peak compressor power demand by approximately 29–53%, as compared to a traditional AC with an air-cooled condenser. However, total compressor energy consumption increases 5–15% because of the inefficiencies of re-cooling the thermal mass, but this additional energy consumption occurs during low demand off-peak hours. System performance varied depending on weather data, the individual compressor, and thermal storage volume.
Exploratory observations of marine aggregates at sub-euphotic depths

Abstract Aggregates >0.25 mm were collected over a 4-year period below the euphotic zone at depths between 40–251 m and at a 400–1000 m deep station in the Monterey Submarine Canyon system using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The aggregates were sized and characterized to determine their origins and possible association with local production cycles at a station regularly monitored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute’s (MBARI’s) ocean monitoring program. We present a first-time inventory of particle types with their size distribution for Monterey Bay. Phytoplankton-containing aggregates number about half of the total aggregates in the upper, 40–251 m layer, but decline to 5% at 400 m, possibly due to offshore transport of sinking material, input of resuspended aggregates at depth, and/or intense biological recycling of aggregates in the midwater. In the upper layer, only the abundance of the phytoplankton containing aggregates was weakly correlated with local phytoplankton abundance as measured by in situ fluorescence on that day at a near-by mooring: correlations did not exist for total numbers of aggregates. Instead, aggregates were mostly of detrital origin, with organic matter of unrecognizable origin and sometimes with conspicuous lithogenic material. Particles of fecal origin were third in abundance, and their numbers are relatively low (25 l -1 ) compared with aggregates, likely because of their higher sinking rates. We suggest that many of the sub-euphotic aggregates in this system may be derived from additional sources or events not directly tied to production cycles. Because particles such as these are likely responsible for the observed mass flux at this site (see Pilskaln et al., 1998), the concept of a simple, surface-driven “biological pump” may not be applicable on short-time scales in predicting material flux in dynamic continental margin systems.
Spectral differentiation of trace concentrations of NO 2 from NO by laser photofragmentation with fragment ionization at 226 and 452 nm: quantitative analysis of NO–NO 2 mixtures

Laser-induced photofragmentation with fragment ionization is used to detect and spectrally differentiate trace concentrations of NO(2) from NO in NO-NO(2) mixtures. A laser operating near 226 or 452 nm ionizes the target molecules, and the resulting electrons are collected with miniature electrodes. NO is detected by (1 + 1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization by means of its A (2)?(+) ? X (2)? (0, 0) transitions near 226 nm, whereas NO(2) is detected near 226 nm by laser photofragmentation with subsequent NO fragment ionization by means of both its A (2)?(+) ? X (2)? (0, 0) and (1, 1) transitions. The NO fragment generated from the photolysis of NO(2) is produced rovibrationally excited with a significant population in the first vibrational level of the ground electronic state (X (2)?, upsilon? = 1). In contrast, ambient NO has a room-temperature, Boltzmann population distribution favoring the lowest ground vibrational level (X (2)?, upsilon? = 0). Thus discrimination is possible when the internal energy distributions of both fragment NO and ambient NO are probed. We also demonstrate this approach using visible radiation, further simplifying the experimental apparatus because frequency doubling of the laser radiation is not required. We measured up to three decades of NO-NO(2) mixtures with limits of detection (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) in the low parts per billion for both NO and NO(2) for a 10-s integration time using both ultraviolet or visible radiation.
Molecular design of antibrowning agents: antioxidative tyrosinase inhibitors

Abstract Dodecyl (C12) gallate (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate) was found to inhibit the oxidation of l -3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine ( l -DOPA) catalyzed by tyrosinase. This inhibition is a slow and reversible reaction with residual enzyme activity. The inhibition kinetics analyzed by Lineweaver–Burk plots revealed that dodecyl (lauryl) gallate is an uncompetitive inhibitor (KIS=0.636 mM). Gallic acid, the parent compound of dodecyl gallate, acts as a reducing agent for o-quinone produced by the enzymic oxidation.
Cluster size and boundary distribution near percolation threshold

It is shown that the shape of the large, random clusters, near the critical percolation concentration ${c}_{0}$, is such that their mean boundary $〈b〉$ is proportional to their mean bulk $〈n〉$ and this is illustrated by an argument which shows that the dimension of the boundary is the same as that of the bulk. The resulting ratio $\frac{〈b〉}{〈n〉}$ is simply related to the critical concentration ${c}_{0}$. The detailed results of a Monte Carlo calculation, previously reported, are given for $cl{c}_{0}$ on a simple square lattice; they yield an empirical formula for the probability distribution $\mathcal{P}(n,b)$, for finding a cluster of size $n$ and boundary $b$, that is proportional to a Gaussian in $\frac{b}{n}$, which is independent of concentration and which narrows to a $\ensuremath{\delta}$ function at $\frac{b}{n}={\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}$, $n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. The asymptotic behavior of the Gaussian form gives the critical exponents $\ensuremath{\beta}=0.19\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.16$, and $\ensuremath{\gamma}=2.34\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3$, and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}$, gives the critical concentration ${c}_{0}=0.587\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.14$, in agreement with previous determinations.
Integrating statistical software into laboratories and laboratory courses

Reasonable quality statistical software that is easy to use and easy to learn to use is available, and more will become available. This paper describes nine features of statistical software programs that make such programs easy to use. Some methods for evaluating the capability, accuracy, and speed of statistical software are discussed. In addition, some issues about university and software company support are considered. Finally, a technique for integrating software into laboratories is presented.
The transcriptional repressor REST/NRSF modulates hedgehog signaling

The spatial and temporal control of gene expression is key to generation of specific cellular fates during development. Studies of the transcriptional repressor REST/NRSF (RE1 Silencing Transcription Factor or Neural Restrictive Silencing Factor) have provided important insight into the role that epigenetic modifications play in differential gene expression. However, the precise function of REST during embryonic development is not well understood. We have discovered a novel interaction between zebrafish Rest and the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. We observed that Rest knockdown enhances or represses Hh signaling in a context-dependant manner. In wild-type embryos and embryos with elevated Hh signaling, Rest knockdown augments transcription of Hh target genes. Conversely, in contexts where Hh signaling is diminished, Rest knockdown has the opposite effect and Hh target gene expression is further attenuated. Epistatic analysis revealed that Rest interacts with the Hh pathway at a step downstream of Smo. Furthermore, we present evidence implicating the bifunctional, Hh signaling component Gli2a as key to the Rest modulation of the Hh response. The role of Rest as a regulator of Hh signaling has broad implications for many developmental contexts where REST and Hh signaling act.
Eye for design: why, where, and how to look for causal structure in visual scenes

Before addressing the problem of visual recognition, we need to understand what the result of visual cognition is: What is new in memory after a scene has been understood? For an agent that is to interact with the scene, the most important result of visual understanding is an analysis of the causal structure of the scene: How motion is originated, constrained, and prevented, and what will happen in the immediate future. With respect to the agent's goals, such an understanding describes the scene in terms of its functional properties -- how the agent may interact with the scene. In order to arrive at such an understanding, a robot must have a sophisticated theory of how the world is designed. We discuss some of the consequences of this view for the construction of purposeful vision systems, and show examples from our own work in the understanding of complex scenes.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Bayesian Optimal Overhaul Interval Model for the Weibull Restoration Process Case

Abstract This article presents Bayesian estimators of the parameters of the Weibull hazard function in the restoration process case. These estimators are used in a model which optimizes the interval between machine overhauls. Since the properties of the model are not in closed form, a simulation experiment is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. The simulation results show that the model does yield lower machine operating costs than the non-Bayesian approach. The effectiveness of the model could be increased by improvements in the quality of the prior estimates used in Bayesian estimation.
Leading creative people: Orchestrating expertise and relationships

Abstract Global competition, new production techniques, and rapid technological change have placed a premium on creativity and innovation. Although many variables influence creativity and innovation in organizational settings, there is reason to suspect that leaders and their behavior represent a particularly powerful influence. In the present article, we review the available literature examining leadership behaviors contributing to creativity and innovation in organizational settings. Based on the findings obtained in these studies, we argue that the leadership of creative people requires expertise. Moreover, the successful leader must employ a number of direct and indirect influence tactics—tactics consistent with the needs of creative people working in an organizational environment. The implications of these observations for theory and practice are discussed.
Cells to Surgery Quiz: September 2015

QUESTIONS 1. The principal finding in the clinical images is which of the following? a. Sebaceous gland hyperplasia. b. Folliculitis secondary to Propionibacterium acnes. c. Closed comedones. d. Milia. Cells to Surgery Quiz: September 2015 Brian J. Simmons1, Fleta N. Bray1, Mohammed Alsaidan1, Stephanie Mlacker1, Vidhi Shah1 and Keyvan Nouri1 Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2015) 135, e17. doi:10.1038/jid.2015.265
The social logic of political choice: Picking a political party in the context of immediate social circles

The Social Logic of Politics places social learning at the center of political choice. People develop their political preferences, knowledge, values, perceptions of ability, and decisions about political behavior in interactions with others, usually members of their social circles. Political attitudes and goals are not derivatives of exogenous economic preferences. They are not the results of careful calculations, in which optimization of personal needs guides the mode of reasoning. This theoretical stance draws sustenance from recent work across the social science, even as it harkens back to established, if neglected principles of political analysis.
Molecular beam scattering of linear and branched butane on graphite (HOPG)

Abstract The adsorption of n -butane and iso -butane on HOPG (highly-oriented pyrolitic graphite) has been studied by molecular beam scattering. The initial adsorption probability, S 0 , decreases with impact energy, E i , and is independent of surface temperature, T s , i.e., molecular adsorption is present. The adsorption probability, S , increases with coverage, Θ , which is most distinct at large E i and low T s . Thus, precursor mediated adsorption is concluded. Whereas S 0 of the linear alkane is larger than the one of the branched alkane, consistent with their molecular structure, the shapes of S ( Θ ) curves are approximately identical. The rotational excitation of the molecules appears to affect S 0 for n -butane but not for iso -butane. Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) have been conducted to extract dynamics parameters from the S ( Θ ) curves.
Morphological and functional correlates of VIP neurons in cerebral cortex

Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) promotes the hydrolysis of 3H-glycogen newly synthesized from 3H-glucose by mouse cortical slices. This effect occurs rapidly, approximately 50% of the maximal effect being reached within one minute. The maximal effect is achieved after 5 minutes and maintained for at least 25 minutes. Furthermore the glycogenolytic effect of VIP is reversible, and pharmacologically specific. Thus several neuropeptides present in cerebral cortex such as cholecystokinin-8, somatostatin-28, somatostatin-14, met-enkephalin, leu-enkephalin, do not affect 3H-glycogen levels. VIP fragments 6-28, 16-28 and 21-28 are similarly inactive. Furthermore, among the peptides which share structural homologies with VIP, such as glucagon, secretin, PHI-27 and Gastric Inhibitory Peptide, only secretin and PHI-27 promote 3H-glycogen hydrolysis, with EC50 of 500 and 300 nM respectively, compared to an EC50 of 25 nM for VIP. Immunohistochemical observations indicate that each VIP-containing bipolar cell is identified with a unique radical cortical volume, which is generally between 15-60 micrograms in diameter and overlaps with the contiguous domains of neighbouring VIP-containing bipolar cells. Thus this set of biochemical and morphological observations support the notion that VIP neurons have the capacity to regulate the availability of energy substrates in cerebral cortex locally, within circumscribed, contiguous, radial domains.
Microscopic study of oxygen-vacancy defects in ferroelectric perovskites

We investigate the nature of atomic relaxations around oxygen-vacancy defects in the ferroelectric perovskite ${\mathrm{PbTiO}}_{3}$ through first-principles pseudopotential total energy calculations. A tail-to-tail polarization is one of the patterns that emerges from atomic relaxations around oxygen vacancies and its stability is found to be enhanced by charge trapping. Oxygen vacancies in Ti-O-Ti chains along the polarization axis are more favorable than those in Ti-O-Ti planes normal to the axis. The possible role of oxygen vacancies in fatigue and aging is discussed.
Transient Thermal Response of Servers Through Air Temperature Measurements

Transient CFD analysis of data centers requires appropriate representations of the transient thermal characteristics of servers. Thermal conductance and thermal capacitance are two determining characteristics for the response of servers under unsteady conditions. Previous studies proposed tests that require detailed temperature and thermal capacitance measurements for each of the server component, requiring access to individual components inside the server. In this paper, we propose a method for obtaining the transient thermal characteristics of a server from server inlet and outlet temperatures under transient operating conditions.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A 14-bit 10- mu s subranging A/D converter with S/H

A microprocessor-compatible, 14-bit, 10- mu s subranging analog-to-digital converter with a sample/hold amplifier (SHA) is described. The chip architecture is based on a five-cycle subranging flash technique using both analog and digital error correction. The conversion speed is enhanced by an analog correction method, whereby redundant bit currents allow digital/analog converter updates without changing bits determined in previous cycles. The residue signal path uses simple circuitry and is highly differential. Prototype performance has been demonstrated. >
Research Spotlight: Dual‐dynamic approach improves soil water transport model

[1] To simulate perfectly the flow of water through the ground, one would need to know the details of every pore, passage, and air pocket in the soil. To circumvent such daunting requirements, researchers simulate soil moisture transport as if the water were flowing through a series of cylindrical tubes, with the groundwater transport influenced by both gravity and pressure. This simplified representation holds up well when the soil is wet, but the analogy begins to break down when moisture levels drop. At very low moisture levels a dynamic nearly negligible at high flow rates begins to dominate: the adsorption of water onto soil particles. Water creates a thin film around individual grains of soil through molecular, ionicelectrostatic, and other attraction forces, but these interactions, while well known, are generally overlooked in models of soil moisture transport.
Band asymptotics with non-smooth potentials

Let s” denote the n-dimensional sphere with its canonical Riemannian metric, and A its Laplace-Beltrami operator. If q is a real-valued function on S”, we can consider the self-adjoint operator S = A + q. For the case when q is smooth, Weinstein proved in [W] the following very beautiful theorem on the asymptotic behavior of the spectrum of S. Let dk = k(k + n 1) be the kth eigenvalue of A, and let d, be its multiplicity. By the minimax principle, the eigenvalues of S can be written in the form & = Ak + P~,~, i= l,..., dk, where IpcLk,il is bounded by a constant independent of k and i. Let 0 denote the space of oriented, closed geodesics on S”. and let dp be the unique probability measure on 0 which is rotationally invariant. By integrating q along closed geodesics we obtain a smooth function, S, on 0, which we call the x-ray transform of q. Then Weinstein’s theorem is
Regional studies of serotonin and dopamine metabolism and quantification of serotonin uptake sites in human cerebral cortex.

An increasing number of studies have indicated that neuronal metabolism of serotonin (5-HT) and other monoamines may be altered in patients with affective disorders and in completed suicides. However, studies have yielded discordant results. The purpose of this study was to determine the regional variation of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA), (5-HT) and 5-HT uptake sites within the human cerebral cortex.