cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perspectives on quality and productivity for competitive advantage

Starts from the premiss that quality and productivity are important tools for organizations to use to achieve competitive advantage. Takes a strategic perspective from which to examine why productivity is important to the economy and to look at quality as an integral part of productivity improvement. Considers the forces which support productivity and quality as strategic weapons, including key organizational initiatives and processes. Presents tables which compare the past, present and future states of quality, productivity and manufacturing strategies. Concludes with a presentation of ways in which to implement and measure the success of productivity and quality strategies.
Volt/Var Control on Distribution Systems with Lateral Branches Using Shunt Capacitors and Voltage Regulators Part III: The Numerical Results

In this paper, the numerical results obtained through the application of the optimal design and control schemes of the capacitor and voltage regulator problems (which are formulated and solved on an analytical basis in the previous paper, Parts I and II) are demonstrated on a thirty-bus test system with six lateral branches. The results are discussed in order to demonstrate the applicability of the theory and the bases underlying the modeling of the overall problem.
Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the cuticular hydrocarbons from parasitic wasps of the genus Muscidifurax.

Parasitic Hymenoptera can be difficult to identify by conventional taxonomic techniques. Examination of the cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) provides a basis for chemotaxonomic differentiation, which may lead to the discovery of pheromones, and can be a means of examining colonies for species cross-contamination. The parasitic wasps examined were Muscidifurax raptor, M. zaraptor, M. uniraptor, and the gregarious form of M. raptorellus. Species within the genus Muscidifurax, as well as the sex, can clearly be differentiated by examining the gas chromatograms of the CHCs. Identification of the alkanes by mass spectrometry shows uncommon dimethylalkanes and trimethylalkanes for members of the genus. The methyl branched cuticular hydrocarbons of these insects are rare compared to those found on insects reported in the literature, but are present in significant amounts on these insects. Additionally, sexual dimorphism is observed in long chain alkanes (C21–C39) present on male and female cuticular surfaces for these species. Females tend to have cuticular hydrocarbons with methyl branches located externally on the carbon backbone chain for dimethyl-, trimethyl-, and tetramethylalkanes, whereas males tend to have dimethyl- and trimethylalkanes located internally on the hydrocarbon backbone chains. Mass spectra of novel and rare methyl branched compounds identified on these parasitoids are presented.
Management history: an umbrella model

Purpose – To assist colleagues in tying current ideas to previously established practices. To generate discussion of the current relevance of students' understanding management history.Design/methodology/approach – A review of representative classic theorists with an eye toward matching their behavior to that of current newsmakers. This is presented in a model to insure that like areas are compared.Findings – The past is in the present. Although we may live in the day of “enlightened” “collaborative” management; there are still successful people who operate differently.Practical implications – Readers of the paper will be able to make immediate application of the model.Originality/value – Even presentation of the obvious has value. The model format is a dynamic document that others can use and improve upon.
The fate of the outer plasmasphere

Both the solar wind and the ionosphere contribute to Earth's magnetospheric plasma environment. However, it is not widely appreciated that the plasmasphere is a large reservoir of ionospheric ions that can be tapped to populate the plasma sheet. We employ empirical models of high-latitude ionospheric convection and the geomagnetic field to describe the transport of outer plasmasphere flux tubes from the dayside, over the polar cap and into the magnetotail during the early phases of a geomagnetic storm. We calculate that this process can give rise to high densities of cold plasma in the magnetotail lobes and in the near-Earth plasma sheet during times of enhanced geomagnetic activity, and especially during storms. This model can help explain both polar cap ionization patches and the presence of cold flowing ions downtail.
Combining multiple probability predictions using a simple logit model

Abstract This paper begins by presenting a simple model of the way in which experts estimate probabilities. The model is then used to construct a likelihood-based aggregation formula for combining multiple probability forecasts. The resulting aggregator has a simple analytical form that depends on a single, easily-interpretable parameter. This makes it computationally simple, attractive for further development, and robust against overfitting. Based on a large-scale dataset in which over 1300 experts tried to predict 69 geopolitical events, our aggregator is found to be superior to several widely-used aggregation algorithms.
Experimental model for study of Mobitz type II and paroxysmal atrioventricular block

Abstract In 26 anesthetized dogs ligation of the anterior septal artery in conjunction with rapid atrial pacing resulted in a relatively high frequency (75 percent) of Mobitz type II block and paroxysmal atrioventricular (A-V) block (50 percent). Electrode catheter recordings from the His bundle and bundle branches as well as plunge wire recordings from the His bundle allowed a localization of block within the ischemic HisPurkinje system within 1 to 4 hours after ligation. Intra-His bundle blocks, manifested as first, second or third degree A-V block, alone or in combination, were found in 18 animals (75 percent). Right bundle branch block was found in 15 and left bundle branch block in 8. Bradycardia- and tachycardia-dependent bundle branch block was a common observation. The use of this preparation has provided insights into the nature of Mobitz type II and paroxysmal A-V block as well as other phenomena usually reported only in clinical settings.
Introduction to the Minutes of the Proprietors of the Province of East New Jersey, 1682-1684

This article offers insights into Richard P. McCormick’s involvement with the acquisition of the East Jersey Proprietors’ Minutes 1682-84. The author also describes some of the characteristics of the minutes which he has transcribed in-full at the end of this volume.
Parallel mining of maximal frequent itemsets from databases

In this paper, we propose a parallel algorithm for mining maximal frequent itemsets from databases. A frequent itemset is maximal if none of its supersets is frequent. The new parallel algorithm is named parallel max-miner (PMM), and it is a parallel version of the sequential max-miner algorithm by R.J. Bayardo (1998). Most of existing mining algorithms discover the frequent k-itemsets on the kth pass over the databases, and then generate the candidate (k + 1)-itemsets for the next pass. Compared to those level-wise algorithms, PMM looks ahead at each pass and prunes more candidate itemsets by checking the frequencies of their supersets. We implemented PMM on a cluster of workstations, and evaluated its performance for various cases. PMM demonstrated better performance than other sequential and parallel algorithms, and its performance is quite scalable, even when there are large maximal frequent itemsets (i.e. long patterns) in databases.
Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome in the Pediatric Population

The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of specific anthropometric, physiological, and biochemical abnormalities predisposing affected individuals to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The syndrome is well described in the adult literature. However, its description in the pediatric literature is more limited. Due in large part to the normal physiological changes that occur in children and adolescents with respect to growth and puberty, investigators have also struggled to establish a standard definition of the syndrome in the pediatric age group, hindering coordinated research efforts. However, whatever definition of the syndrome is used, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the pediatric age group has increased worldwide. Insulin resistance is the principal metabolic abnormality that is common to the development of the metabolic syndrome in both children and adults. This review summarizes current research regarding the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and how this may c...
Curse-of-Dimensionality Free Method for Bellman PDEs with Semiconvex Hamiltonians

Max-plus methods have been explored for solution of first-order, nonlinear Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman partial differential equations (HJB PDEs) and corresponding nonlinear control problems. Although earlier, eigenvector-based, max-plus methods could be quite fast, they still suffered from the curse-of-dimensionality. We now consider HJB PDEs where the Hamiltonian takes the form of a (pointwise) maximum of quadratic forms. We obtain a numerical method not subject to the curse-of-dimensionality. The method is based on construction of the dual-space semigroup corresponding to the HJB PDE. This dual-space semigroup is constructed from the dual-space semigroups corresponding to the constituent quadratic Hamiltonians. The actual computations in the algorithm involve repeatedly computing coefficients of quadratics which are obtained as the maxima of two other quadratics. In previous efforts, we considered Hamiltonians which were pointwise maxima of purely quadratic forms. However, such problems corresponded only to HJB PDEs whose solutions were quadratic along straight lines through the origin. By allowing some of the constituent Hamiltonians to have constant and linear terms as well as quadratic, we get the full panoply of behaviors
Operator localization of virtual objects

Errors in the localization of nearby virtual objects presented via see-through, helmet mounted displays are examined as a function of viewing conditions and scene content. Monocular, biocular or stereoscopic presentation of the virtual objects, accommodation (required focus), subjects' age, and the position of physical surfaces are examined. Nearby physical surfaces are found to introduce localization errors that differ depending upon the other experimental factors. The apparent physical size and transparency of the virtual objects and physical surfaces respectively are also influenced by their relative position when superimposed. Design implications are discussed.
Charleston's Irish labourers and their move into the Confederacy

In 1861, thousands of recently arrived Irish immigrants marched off to battlefields like Petersburg, Sharpsburg, and Cold Harbor carrying Confederate flags and Irish banners. Most, like those from Charleston, South Carolina, were not slave holders but young, impoverished, unskilled workers. Their motives remain shrouded in mystery. Were they hapless pawns of the powerful slave-owning elite? What were they fighting for? What was it in their view of the world that brought them to the decision to join the Confederate forces? The answer is embedded in their past experiences, current social relations, and sense of identity. In part, Charleston's Irish workers brought the memory of social exclusion with them to America and struggled to write a different history on Southern soil. Their position as free, white workers in a slave society and their constructed and publicly reinforced identity as exiled patriots and dutiful sons of their new homeland influenced their actions on the eve of the Civil War. In this essa...
On the construction and training of reformulated radial basis function neural networks

Presents a systematic approach for constructing reformulated radial basis function (RBF) neural networks, which was developed to facilitate their training by supervised learning algorithms based on gradient descent. This approach reduces the construction of radial basis function models to the selection of admissible generator functions. The selection of generator functions relies on the concept of the blind spot, which is introduced in the paper. The paper also introduces a new family of reformulated radial basis function neural networks, which are referred to as cosine radial basis functions. Cosine radial basis functions are constructed by linear generator functions of a special form and their use as similarity measures in radial basis function models is justified by their geometric interpretation. A set of experiments on a variety of datasets indicate that cosine radial basis functions outperform considerably conventional radial basis function neural networks with Gaussian radial basis functions. Cosine radial basis functions are also strong competitors to existing reformulated radial basis function models trained by gradient descent and feedforward neural networks with sigmoid hidden units.
Scalable Authentication and Key Management in SCADA

In this paper we develop a SCADA key management system to provide better security, performance, and scalability. Conventional symmetric key based approaches have several problems. We adopt public key based approaches due to its flexibility in authentication and access control and efficiency in rekeying. However, existing public key based approaches are not scalable. Simple replication of CAs (certificate authorities) raises security concerns. We consider several novel designs to bridge the gaps in existing approaches. First, a master key based semi-autonomous key refreshing scheme has been developed to shift the rekeying burdens from CAs to individual SCADA node. Then, we design a CA-grid approach, which combines the threshold scheme and replication of CAs to achieve better protection of the master keys, improved availability, and enhanced performance by load sharing. Analyses show that our scheme has many advantages than the existing SCADA key management systems.
Design of Sensor-Embedded Radio Frequency Identification (SE-RFID) Systems

Sensor-Embedded Radio Frequency Identification (SE-RFID) is introduced to enhance the sensing functions of the current RFID systems. Two innovative architectures for SE-RFID systems are proposed and analyzed; the preliminary simulation of the proposed SE-RFID systems based on EDA software has been conducted successfully. An effort to design, simulate and develop a real-time Health Monitoring System (HEMS) based on SE-RFID is now under way.
A comparison of serotonin neuromodulation of mouse spinal V2a interneurons using perforated patch and whole cell recording techniques.

Whole cell recordings (WCRs) are frequently used to study neuronal properties, but may be problematic when studying neuromodulatory responses, due to dialysis of the cell’s cytoplasm. Perforated patch recordings (PPR) avoid cellular dialysis and might reveal additional modulatory effects that are lost during WCR. We have previously used WCR to characterize the responses of the V2a class of Chx10-expressing neurons to serotonin (5-HT) in the neonatal mouse spinal cord (Zhong et al. 2010). Here we directly compare multiple aspects of the responses to 5-HT using WCR and PPR in Chx10-eCFP neurons in spinal cord slices from 2-4 day old mice. Cellular properties recorded in PPR and WCR were similar, but PPR cells remained healthy for significantly longer. Both WCR and PPR cells could respond to 5-HT, and although neurons recorded by PPR showed a significantly greater response to 5-HT in some parameters, the absolute differences between PPR and WCR were small. We conclude that WCR is an acceptable recording method for short-term recordings of neuromodulatory effects, but the less invasive PPR is preferable for detailed analyses and is necessary for stable recordings lasting an hour or more.
Effects of bovine lactoferrin on in vitro replication of feline herpesvirus.

Objective To investigate the effects of bovine lactoferrin on in vitro replication of feline herpes virus (FHV-1) and to determine at what points during viral replication these effects occur. Sample population Cultured Crandell-Reese feline kidney (CRFK) cells and FHV-1 strain 727. Procedure Five concentrations of bovine lactoferrin (0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 mg/mL) were added at one or more of three time points during conventional plaque reduction assays: (a) uninfected CRFK cells were incubated in lactoferrin-containing medium for 30 min prior to viral adsorption; (b) virus was suspended in lactoferrin-containing medium prior to and during adsorption, or (c) CRFK cells were incubated with lactoferrin-containing medium for 48 h following viral adsorption. Plaques were counted and antiviral effect expressed as percent inhibition relative to control medium that contained no lactoferrin. Results Exposure of CRFK cells to lactoferrin prior to or during viral adsorption inhibited FHV-1 replication by 87–96% (mean: 91%). Application of lactoferrin following viral adsorption had no appreciable effect on FHV-1 replication. No additive or synergistic effects were noted when lactoferrin was added at multiple steps. These effects were similar at all concentrations of lactoferrin tested. Cytotoxic effects of lactoferrin on CRFK cells were not observed at any concentration tested. Conclusions and clinical relevance Bovine lactoferrin has a notable inhibitory effect on the in vitro replication of FHV-1 prior to and during, but not following viral adsorption. These findings strongly suggest that lactoferrin inhibits FHV-1 adsorption to the cell surface and/or penetration of the virus into the cell. Clinical effects of topical lactoferrin in acute or recrudescent herpetic episodes in cats warrant investigation.
Adapting Pediatric Psychology Interventions: Lessons Learned in Treating Families From the Middle East

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric psychologists are increasingly called upon to treat children from non-Western countries, whose cultures may contrast with a Western medical setting. Research on cultural adaptations of evidence-based treatments (EBTs), particularly for individuals from the Middle East, is sparse. To address this need, we discuss clinical issues encountered when working with patients from the Middle East. METHODS: Synthesis of the literature regarding culturally adapted EBTs and common themes in Middle Eastern culture. Case vignettes illustrate possible EBT adaptations. RESULTS: Integrating cultural values in treatment is an opportunity to join with patients and families to optimize care. Expectations for medical and psychological treatment vary, and collaborations with cultural liaisons are beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: Critical next steps include systematic development, testing, and training in culturally adapting EBTs in pediatric medical settings. Increased dialogue between clinicians, researchers, and cultural liaisons is needed to share knowledge and experiences to enhance patient care. Language: en
Comparison of the cochlear toxicity of sodium ethacrynate, furosemide, and the cysteine adduct of sodium ethacrynate in cats.

Abstract Ninety-one cats were recorded from the cochlear round window in order to evaluate the degree of N1 depression produced by iv sodium ethacrynate (NaEA), furosemide (FUR), and the cysteine adduct of NaEA (NaCEA). The dose-response curves for NaEA, FUR, and NaCEA are parallel, NaCEA being more potent than NaEA, and NaEA more potent than FUR. Their dose vs time to maximal effect curves are also parallel, except that there is an irreducible latent period after NaEA. The cysteine adduct of sodium ethacrynate is more potent than FUR in this relationship, and FUR more potent than NaEA. Thus, NaEA, FUR, and NaCEA appear to produce ototoxicity by acting on the same cochlear site and by way of the same mechanism of action. The durations of the N1 depression produced by NaEA and NaCEA are much longer than that produced by FUR. These differences, however, are probably due to NaEA and NaCEA not diffusing out of the cochlea as readily as FUR, or to FUR being inactivated in some way by tissue in the cochlea. In addition, NaEA may be converted, in part if not wholly, to NaCEA before exerting an ototoxic effect. Finally, the data support the clinical observations that ethacrynic acid is more liable to produce ototoxicity than furosemide. This is probably due to the greater ototoxic potency of ethacrynic acid and its much longer duration of ototoxic action.
A privacy-preserving technique for Euclidean distance-based mining algorithms using Fourier-related transforms

Privacy preserving data mining has become increasingly popular because it allows sharing of privacy-sensitive data for analysis purposes. However, existing techniques such as random perturbation do not fare well for simple yet widely used and efficient Euclidean distance-based mining algorithms. Although original data distributions can be pretty accurately reconstructed from the perturbed data, distances between individual data points are not preserved, leading to poor accuracy for the distance-based mining methods. Besides, they do not generally focus on data reduction. Other studies on secure multi-party computation often concentrate on techniques useful to very specific mining algorithms and scenarios such that they require modification of the mining algorithms and are often difficult to generalize to other mining algorithms or scenarios. This paper proposes a novel generalized approach using the well-known energy compaction power of Fourier-related transforms to hide sensitive data values and to approximately preserve Euclidean distances in centralized and distributed scenarios to a great degree of accuracy. Three algorithms to select the most important transform coefficients are presented, one for a centralized database case, the second one for a horizontally partitioned, and the third one for a vertically partitioned database case. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
A hybrid approach in TADE for derivation of execution time bounds of program-segments in distributed real-time embedded computing

Guaranteeing response times of real-time (RT) distributed computing systems has been recognized as one of the biggest challenges by the RT software research community for three decades. The concept of a hybrid approach that combines analytical derivation approaches and testing-based statistical derivation approaches in a symbiotic form for meeting this challenge was presented in recent years. However, concrete practical hybrid approaches are still in early stages of development. One such approach pursued by the authors and their collaborators is presented here. This paper focuses on the cases of deriving tight execution time bounds of the segments of object methods which do not involve calls for services from the operating system kernel and middleware. A case-study that demonstrates how the adopted approach works in handling a simple practical application is also presented.
MUC1-C Oncoprotein Induces TCF7L2 Transcription Factor Activation and Promotes Cyclin D1 Expression in Human Breast Cancer Cells

MUC1 is a heterodimeric glycoprotein that is overexpressed in breast cancers. The present studies demonstrate that the oncogenic MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) associates with the TCF7L2 transcription factor. The MUC1-C cytoplasmic domain (MUC1-CD) binds directly to the TCF7L2 C-terminal region. MUC1-C blocks the interaction between TCF7L2 and the C-terminal-binding protein (CtBP), a suppressor of TCF7L2-mediated transcription. TCF7L2 and MUC1-C form a complex on the cyclin D1 gene promoter and MUC1-C promotes TCF7L2-mediated transcription by the recruitment of β-catenin and p300. Silencing MUC1-C in human breast cancer cells down-regulated activation of the cyclin D1 promoter and decreased cyclin D1 expression. In addition, a MUC1-C inhibitor blocked the interaction with TCF7L2 and suppressed cyclin D1 levels. These findings indicate that the MUC1-C oncoprotein contributes to TCF7L2 activation and thereby promotes cyclin D1 expression in breast cancer cells.
Hybrid Dynamics Simulation Engine for Metalloproteins

Quality computational description of metalloproteins is a great challenge due to the vast span of time- and lengthscales characteristic of their existence. We present an efficient new method that allows for robust characterization of metalloproteins. It combines quantum mechanical (QM) description of the metal-containing active site, and extensive dynamics of the protein captured by discrete molecular dynamics (DMD) (QM/DMD). DMD samples the entire protein, including the backbone, and most of the active site, except for the immediate coordination region of the metal. QM operates on the part of the protein of electronic and chemical significance, which may include tens to hundreds of atoms. The breathing quantum-classical boundary provides a continuous mutual feedback between the two machineries. We test QM/DMD using the Fe-containing electron transporter protein, rubredoxin, and its three mutants as a model. QM/DMD can provide a reliable balanced description of metalloproteins’ structure, dynamics, and electronic structure in a reasonable amount of time. As an illustration of QM/DMD capabilities, we then predict the structure of the Ca2+ form of the enzyme catechol O-methyl transferase, which, unlike the native Mg2+ form, is catalytically inactive. The Mg2+ site is ochtahedral, but the Ca2+ is 7-coordinate and features the misalignment of the reacting parts of the system. The change is facilitated by the backbone adjustment. QM/DMD is ideal and fast for providing this level of structural insight.
De Re Modality: Lessons From Quine

The aim of this paper is twofold: i) to give a logically explicit formulation of a slight generalization of Quine’s master argument about de re modality — an argument which imposes important constraints on modal semantics, ii) to briefly present my favored account of modal locutions (especially locutions of the de re metaphysical flavor) and show how it successfully copes with Quine’s argument. Let me apologize in advance for spending a good deal of time, as I do in this paper, making explicit an argument that Quine laid out so many years ago and that has been very often discussed and alluded to since. However, I have come to the conviction that this argument is still widely misunderstood, and so the careful attention to detail seems warranted. In espousing my favored view of modal locutions in various venues, a broad appeal to “Quinean considerations” has often been made by way articulating a worry for me. Sometimes the objection is simply: “But what about Quine’s argument?” Since I think of the view I am promoting as very nearly Quinean, this response has always puzzled me. From what I have seen, philosophers’ attitudes towards Quine’s master argument fall into two kinds: i) there are those that think that the argument has no force, because it is based on some mistake (usually, something about definite descriptions), and ii) there are those that think that the argument poses some insuperable barrier to any kind of de re modality. Neither of these attitudes is justified. So, I hope to make plain along the way that a) the original version of Quine’s argument is sound, b) there is a version of this same basic argument which imposes very definite constraints on any proposed account of de re “metaphysical” modality in particular, and c) there is an account that satisfies these constraints. Part 1 of this paper will be concerned with laying out and discussing three versions of Quine’s argument, in the service of establishing points (a) and (b).
Triggering by ATP of product release by mucous granules of the land slug Ariolimax columbianus

The body wall of the pulmonate land slug Ariolimax columbianus secretes mucus packaged in granules bounded by two closely adjacent membranes. Newly secreted granules rupture in the presence of ATP ...
Blood Transfusion in Major Abdominal Surgery for Malignant Tumors: A Trend Analysis Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Importance Blood transfusion can be a lifesaving treatment for the surgical patient, yet transfusion-related immunomodulation may underlie the association of allogeneic transfusion with increased perioperative morbidity and possibly poorer long-term oncologic outcomes. Objective To evaluate trends in transfusion rates for major abdominal oncologic resections to assess changes in recent clinical practice (given the accumulating evidence of the deleterious effects of blood transfusion). Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective review of a population-based registry of all hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (2005-2013 Participant Use Data Files), which was queried for patients who underwent major resection of a pancreatic, hepatic, or gastric malignant tumor. Data analysis was performed from July to August 2015. Main Outcome and Measures The primary outcome was the transfusion of any quantity of packed red blood cells. Transfusion rates were calculated for the perioperative period, which was defined as the time from the start of surgery to 72 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes included wound infection, myocardial infarction, and renal insufficiency, and the rates of these complications were calculated as well. Trend analysis was performed for each year of data to evaluate for changes over the study period. Results A total of 19 680 patients (median age, 65.0 years [interquartile range, 57.0-73.0 years]) were identified, of whom 5900 (30.0%) received a blood transfusion (of 13 657 patients who underwent a pancreatic resection, 4074 required transfusion [29.8%]; of 1605 patients who underwent a gastric resection, 378 required transfusion [23.6%]; and of 4418 patients who underwent a hepatic resection, 1448 required transfusion [32.8%]). There was a significant trend toward decreasing rates of transfusion during the study period ( z = −7.89, P z = 3.15, P = .002). Conclusions and Relevance Over 9 years of contemporary practice, a trend of less perioperative blood transfusions for oncologic abdominal surgery was observed. Further studies are needed to assess whether these trends reflect changes in operative techniques, hospital cohorts, or transfusion thresholds.
Photovoltaic solar energy conversion

The basic technical feasibility is already well established, but problems of durability, reliability and low-cost mass production remain; by the end of the century rooftop solar collectors could be contributing significantly to the U.S. energy budget
Carbon fixed in leaves and twigs of field Larrea tridentata in two-hour exposure to 14 CO 2

Six Larrea tridentata (Sesse and Moc. ex DC) Cov. plants were exposed to /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ in a field experiment for 2 h. Three of the plants had been irrigated regularly in the preceding year. Ten small twigs from each plant were removed and counted for /sup 14/C activity at the end of 2 h. The stem portion of the twigs was of equal dry weight for the two sets of plants, but those irrigated had a greater weight of leaves per twig. The activity of /sup 14/C in leaves was equal for the two groups, but was higher in stems for watered plants than for unwatered plants. The results were best expressed as ratios. Dry weight of leaves divided by dry weight of stems was high for watered plants; cpm/g dry weight of leaves divided by cpm/g dry weight of stems was higher for unwatered plants. In another experiment in which leaves were removed before exposing stem portions of twigs to /sup 14/CO/sub 2/, small green stems accounted for about 1/8 the total photosynthesis for a plant; the coefficient of variation was around 100%.
Lipids in Larvae and Adults of the Dried-Fruit Moth, Vitula edmandsae serratilineella, Reared on Old Honeycomb

The dried-fruit moth, Vitula edmandsae serratilineella Ragonot, has been listed as 1 of the major lepidopterous pests of bee colonies (Okumura 1966). This account deals with the lipids of larval and adult stages of the dried-fruit moth reared on old honeycomb. Since tissue fatty acids of some animals can be influenced by dietary fatty acids, the major acids in honeycomb were determined for comparison with the major fatty acids in tissue lipids of larval and adult stages of the moth. The work reported here is part of a Western Regional Research Project on species differences in lipid metabolism.
Tetanus Toxin Production on a Simplified Medium

The routine preparation of tetanus toxin for the purpose of antitoxin production, or for conversion into toxoid, appears to offer difficulties similar to those formerly encountered in the case of diphtheria toxin, although perhaps in lesser degree. Active immunization against tetanus by means of toxoid, now coming into general use, demands that an attempt be made to place the manufacture of this important biological product on as satisfactory a basis as it has now been possible to reach in the case of diphtheria toxin.1, 2 The traditional explanation for failures and irregularities with the latter, namely the types of peptones and meat infusions used in the medium, has been shown to be completely erroneous, although still held to be applicable in dealing with tetanus. In this country, Witte, or the very similar Berna peptone is generally held to be indispensable, together with veal infusion. Elsewhere, enzymatic digests are employed, often with the addition of even more complex materials.The writers have ...
Racialised Masculinity and the Limits of Settlement: John Dunn and Natal, 1879-1883

Southeast Africa in the latter half of the nineteenth century witnessed the entrenchment of a settler colonial polity in Natal as well as the invasion and later annexation of the Zulu Kingdom by British forces. British settlers sought to make good their claims to control the land and labour of the region, particularly following the defeat of the Zulu military in 1879. Yet, these claims were frequently negotiated between erstwhile colonists and colonised peoples; such assertions of power took place in an atmosphere of constant negotiation, as evidenced in the life and career of Natal settler and ostensible Zulu chieftain John Dunn.
The SOC Estimation of a Lead Acid Rechargeable Battery

A model of a lead-acid battery is presented with an equivalent circuit and the parameters are determined with experiments. An inductor is added into the circuit with the consideration from the output of impedance spectrum. Extended Kalman filter for the nonlinear system is used to estimate three state variables and further to calculate the state-of-charge. The algorithm is simplified and it can be implemented for the real-time estimation with an error less than 1 % in the testing with the SOC range between 60 % and 100 %. The testing is also conducted with a battery not fully charged and the estimation error is higher, close to 2 %.
Networks of Power. An informal network among Chinese Communist Elites 1982-2007

This paper argues and provides evidence for how social network analysis can explain the internal workings of non-democratic regimes. It provides the intuition for a theory that relates network centrality to the formation of winning coalitions from the research of authoritarian regimes, and illustrates how central individuals have more negotiating power and more options when it comes to joining coalitions. The theory is tested on the members of the Chinese Communist Party's (CPC) Central Committees (CC) between 1982 and 2012 and their appointment to the Politburo (the inner circle or winning coalition). An informal network is inferred by assuming that those who have been promoted under other members during their earlier career are connected to their former superiors. An analysis with exponential random graph models shows that such \promotion ties" between members with the same provincial origin or with common pre-P.R. China experiences are more common than expected at random. This is consistent with China experts' account of how bureaucrats and supporters in their work environment. Furthermore, the network between the members of a given CC so inferred resembles that derived from other sources on factions within the CPC. The network approach indicates that it is the number of patrons that matter for ascension to the inner circle (and not just the fact of having a patron, as other papers have shown), but that being well-connected to peers and having one's own clients matter equally. Furthermore, even if the identity of the potential patrons is unknown, more complex centrality measures (which take into account the connections of one's connections) allow predicting who will enter the inner circle, and help identify patrons.
Relativistic Rotating Vector Model

The direction of polarization produced by a moving source rotates with the respect to the rest frame. We show that this effect, induced by pulsar rotation, leads to an important correction to polarization swings within the framework of rotating vector model (RVM); this effect has been missed by previous works. We construct relativistic RVM taking into account finite heights of the emission region that lead to aberration, time-of-travel effects and relativistic rotation of polarization. Polarizations swings at different frequencies can be used, within the assumption of the radius-to-frequency mapping, to infer emission radii and geometry of pulsars.
Production of dioxygen in the dark: dismutases of oxyanions.

O2-generating reactions are exceedingly rare in biology and difficult to mimic synthetically. Perchlorate-respiring bacteria enzymatically detoxify chlorite (ClO 2 − ), the end product of the perchlorate (ClO 4 − ) respiratory pathway, by rapidly converting it to dioxygen (O2) and chloride (Cl−). This reaction is catalyzed by a heme-containing protein, called chlorite dismutase (Cld), which bears no structural or sequence relationships with known peroxidases or other heme proteins and is part of a large family of proteins with more than one biochemical function. The original assumptions from the 1990s that perchlorate is not a natural product and that perchlorate respiration might be confined to a taxonomically narrow group of species have been called into question, as have the roles of perchlorate respiration and Cld-mediated reactions in the global biogeochemical cycle of chlorine. In this chapter, the chemistry and biochemistry of Cld-mediated O2 generation, as well as the biological and geochemical context of this extraordinary reaction, are described.
55-mW 300-MHz analog-digital converters using digital VLSI technology

To evaluate the potential of scaled CMOS technologies for analog application, a very high speed analog-digital converter (ADC) was designed and fabricated using a 3.6-V, 0.8-micron and a 2.5-V, 0.5-micron digital CMOS technology. The former was designed for sampling at 200 MHz and the latter at 300 MHz worst case. This paper describes the design issues and the performance of the ADC fabricated in two generations of CMOS.
Optimistic but Confused: Perceptions about the Mission and Core Values of Social Work in Vietnam by Vietnamese Policy-makers, Social Work Faculty and Practitioners

In 2010, the Vietnamese government officially recognized social work as a profession. This study explores whether key stakeholders in the development of social work in Vietnam (i.e. policy-makers, pioneering educators, and practitioners) had reached a shared understanding about the mission and core values of Vietnamese social work by the end of 2015. An exploratory survey was conducted with 65 participants representing key stakeholders of social work in Vietnam. Participants had a shared but rather generic, at times vague, and overly optimistic view of the mission of Vietnamese social work as a “helping profession” that would be able to solve every social problem and present in all areas. There was a strong, unanimous desire for Vietnamese social work to focus on human dignity, social justice, and individuals’ rights, mixed with the preservation of Vietnam's collective, community-based culture under the central guiding role of the state.
Review: Eden on the Charles: The Making of Boston by Michael Rawson

Michael Rawson. Eden on the Charles: The Making of Boston . Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2010, xii + 367 pp., 29 b/w illus. and 3 tables. $29.95, ISBN 9780674048416 The removal of cows from Boston Common was a burning political issue of 1830. The anti-cow faction saw the 631-acre pasture on the western edge of the Shawmut peninsula as a potential site of leisure, recreation, and refinement. These petitioners often resided in the wealthier adjacent areas of the city. A counter petition emerged from pro-cow advocates who more likely earned their living, in part, from the keeping of animals. Boston’s town council decided in favor of the petition to ban cows; the common people appealed that decision the following year and lost again. This seemingly benign change in agricultural and social practice is presented as a turning point in the attitude of Bostonians to nature in the most important book published in recent years on the city’s nineteenth-century environmental history. Michael Rawson’s Eden on the Charles succinctly summarizes the relevant literature, opens new research territory, and provides a larger context for understanding the human relationship to nature in American cities. The book features five fascinating and interlocking chapters: “Enclosing the Common,” “Constructing Water,” “Inventing the Suburb,” Making the Harbor,” and “Recreating the Wilderness.” An admirer of Raymond Williams’s writings on the social construction of nature, Rawson examines the ways that Bostonians redefined their …
4-H and 4-H Members in Motion Pictures

Youth involved in Extension activities were portrayed on film as early as 1913. This paper provides a summary of the earliest motion pictures in which 4-H and 4-H members were a part. From the more than 400 early Extension films made by USDA, 22 4-H films were located and described. Hollywood films, with 4-H themes, were found. Reflections on film preservation and availability are addressed as well as the role of film and other media in the early twentieth century.
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL TRENDS IN SURGICAL AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT IN THE TAVR ERA

Introduction: Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) remains the definitive treatment for many patients with aortic valve disease. We sought to explore the national and regional trends in SAVR after FDA approval of TAVR in 2011. Methods: We examined the national inpatient sample database from
Malignant Bone Tumors

Musculoskeletal tumors can be broadly grouped into bony and soft tissue masses. Each of these groups can in turn be either benign or malignant. In this chapter we provide a summary overview of malignant bone tumors pertinent to the senior medical student on their orthopedic surgery clerkship.
Perspectives in Hiring Academic Librarians with Frequent Job Changes

Librarian candidates’ frequent job changes can affect the probability of being hired. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspectives of library administrators and other librarians...
Dynamic 3D volume element model of a parabolic trough solar collector for simulation and optimization

Abstract This paper presents a dynamic three-dimensional volume element model of a parabolic trough solar collector coupled to an existing semi-finite optical model for simulation and optimization. The spatial domain in the volume element model is discretized with lumped control volumes (i.e., volume elements) in cylindrical coordinates according to the predefined collector geometry. The spatial dependency of the model is therefore taken into account without the need to solve partial differential equations. The proposed model combines the laws of thermodynamics and heat transfer as well as empirical correlations to simplify the modeling and expedite the computations, and the resulting system of ordinary differential equations is integrated in time for temperature. The model was validated with the experimental data provided in the literature, and was employed to evaluate the sensitivity of the collector performance described by the first and second law efficiencies to receiver length, annulus gap spacing, concentration ratio, incidence angle, inlet fluid temperature and flow rate. This work also examined the effects of inlet fluid temperature and temperature differential on dynamic collector performance in the transient case study. Results showed that the first law efficiency was most sensitive to the inlet fluid temperature with the maximum variation of 30%, whereas the incidence angle and concentration ratio affected the second law efficiency the most with the maximum variations of 375% and 300%, respectively. The remaining parameters featured trivial effects in all cases. In the transient analysis, higher temperature differential and lower inlet fluid temperature yielded higher total heat gain while the total exergy gain was insensitive to both parameters. The first law efficiency should therefore be of greater importance than the second law efficiency in the control of dynamic collector performance based on these two parameters.
Counting Caste: Censuses, Politics, and Castelessness in India:

This article addresses the important question of how “upper”-caste power is reproduced in contemporary India, in the face of organized challenges from below. It argues that this process turns on th...
Bcl-2 Family: Translational Aspects

The Bcl-2 family of antiapoptotic and proapoptotic proteins serve as key regulators of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Multiple signals from a variety of cell death stimuli converge upon mitochondria to trigger the intrinsic apoptotic cascade. Bcl-2 family proteins are intimately related to prognosis and therapeutic resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), making them rational targets for drug development. Also, directly targeting Bcl-2 family proteins circumvents many of the problems associated with targeting upstream molecules. The Bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide oblimersen failed to live up to its initial promise in large phase III trials. The discovery of ABT-737, a novel, small-molecule inhibitor of specific protein–protein interactions, gave a much-needed impetus to the field of “BH3 mimetic” research. The demonstration that Mcl-1, an antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein that is not inhibited by ABT-737 or its analogs, is of crucial importance in AML, underscores the need for rational drug combinations that simultaneously target multiple arms of the apoptotic regulatory machinery.
Proliferation Stability and Instability: Conditioning Factors

Proliferation stability can be thought of in two dimensions. In the first, dimension we are concerned with the propensity of states, or other entities, to acquire nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction; we are concerned with factors that allow or encourage such proliferation versus factors that inhibit or discourage it. In the second dimension, we are concerned with the propensity of states who actually have weapons of mass destruction to use those weapons in conflict, that is, with factors that either encourage or discourage actual use. Stability can be said to be or associate with a low propensity to proliferate and to use; instability with a high propensity.
Semigroup Representations, Bilinear Approximation of Input-Output Maps, and Generalized Inputs

Our aim in this paper is to show how a number of interesting system-theoretic problems fit very naturally within the framework of representation theory. We will start from the rather trivial and well-known fact that a continuous-time bilinear system can be regarded as a finite-dimensional, linear representation of a semigroup, namely, the semigroup of all input functions (the semigroup operation being concatenation).