cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic analysis of space-related linear and non-linear structures

Abstract In order to be cost-effective, space structures must be extremely light-weight, and subsequently, very flexible structures. The power system for Space Station ‘Freedom’ is such a structure. Each array consists of a deployable truss mast and a split ‘blanket’ of photo-voltaic solar collectors. The solar arrays are deployed in orbit, and the blanket is stretched into position as the mast is extended. Geometric stiffness due to the preload make this an interesting non-linear problem. The space station will be subjected to various dynamic loads, during shuttle docking, solar tracking, attitude adjustment, etc. Accurate prediction of the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the space station components, including the solar arrays, is critical for determining the structural adequacy of the components, and for designing a dynamic controls system. This paper chronicles the process used in developing and verifying the finite element dynamic model of the photo-voltaic arrays. Various problems were identified in the investigation, such as grounding effects due to geometric stiffness, large displacement effects, and pseudo-stiffness (grounding) due to lack of required rigid body modes. Various analysis techniques, such as development of rigorous solutions using continuum mechanics, finite element solution sequence altering, equivalent systems using a curvature basis, Craig-Bampton superelement approach, and modal ordering schemes were utilized. This paper emphasizes the grounding problems associated with the geometric stiffness.
Improved Image Wasserstein Attacks and Defenses

Robustness against image perturbations bounded by a $\ell_p$ ball have been well-studied in recent literature. Perturbations in the real-world, however, rarely exhibit the pixel independence that $\ell_p$ threat models assume. A recently proposed Wasserstein distance-bounded threat model is a promising alternative that limits the perturbation to pixel mass movements. We point out and rectify flaws in previous definition of the Wasserstein threat model and explore stronger attacks and defenses under our better-defined framework. Lastly, we discuss the inability of current Wasserstein-robust models in defending against perturbations seen in the real world. Our code and trained models are available at this https URL .
Looking for non-compliant documents using error messages from multiple parsers

Whether a file is accepted by a single parser is not a reliable indication of whether a file complies with its stated format and presents minimal risk to the user. Bugs within both the parser and the format specification mean that a compliant file may fail to parse, or that a non-compliant file might be read without any apparent trouble. The latter situation presents a significant security risk, and should be avoided. This paper suggests that a better way to assess format specification compliance is to examine the set of error messages produced by a set of parsers rather than a single parser. If both a sample of compliant files and a sample of non-compliant files are available, then we show how a statistical test based on a pseudo-likelihood ratio can be very effective at determining a file’s compliance and safety. Our method is format agnostic, and does not directly rely upon a formal specification of the format. Although this paper focuses upon the case of the PDF format (ISO 32000-2), we make no attempt to use any specific details of the format. Furthermore, we show how principal components analysis can be useful for a format specification designer to assess the quality and structure of these samples of files and parsers. While these tests are absolutely rudimentary, it appears that their use to measure file format variability and to identify non-compliant files is both novel and surprisingly effective.
Initial Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) Measurements of the Mars Surface and Atmosphere

NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft was inserted into an elliptical Mars orbit on September 11, 1997.
Green Moral Hazards

Moral hazards are ubiquitous. Green ones typically involve technological fixes: Environmentalists often see ‘technofixes’ as morally fraught because they absolve actors from taking more difficult s...
Inference of Granger-causal relations in molecular systems — a case study of the functional hierarchy among actin regulators in lamellipodia

Many cell regulatory systems implicate nonlinearity and redundancy among components. The regulatory network governing lamellipodia formation and lamellar actin structures is prototypical of such a system, containing tens of actin-nucleating and -modulating molecules with functional overlap. Due to instantaneous compensation, phenotyping the system response to perturbation of individual components provides limited information on the roles the targeted component plays in the unperturbed system. Accordingly, how individual actin regulators contribute to lamellipodial dynamics remains ambiguous. Here, we present a case study of perturbation-free reconstruction of cause-effect relations among actin regulators by applying Granger-causal inference to constitutive image fluctuations that indicate regulator recruitment and dissociation. Our analysis defines distinct active zones for actin regulators within the lamellipodia and lamella and establishes actin-dependent and actin-independent causal relations with actin filament assembly and edge motion. We propose that edge motion is driven by assembly of two independently operating actin filament structures.
ACE2 protein expression within isogenic cell lines is heterogeneous and associated with distinct transcriptomes.

The membrane protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a physiologic regulator of the renin-angiotensin system and the cellular receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Prior studies of ACE2 expression have primarily focused on mRNA abundance, with investigation at the protein level limited by uncertain specificity of commercial ACE2 antibodies. Here, we report our development of a sensitive and specific flow cytometry-based assay for cellular ACE2 protein abundance. Application of this approach to multiple cell lines revealed an unexpected degree of cellular heterogeneity, with detectable ACE2 protein in only a subset of cells in each isogenic population. This heterogeneity was mediated at the mRNA level by transcripts predominantly initiated from the ACE2 proximal promoter. ACE2 expression was heritable but not fixed over multiple generations of daughter cells, with gradual drift toward the original heterogeneous background. RNA-seq profiling identified distinct transcriptomes of ACE2-expressing relative cells to non-expressing cells, with enrichment in functionally related genes and transcription factor target sets. Our findings provide a validated approach for the specific detection of ACE2 protein at the surface of single cells, support an epigenetic mechanism of ACE2 gene regulation, and identify specific pathways associated with ACE2 expression in HuH7 cells.
Can machines learn capital structure dynamics

Abstract Yes, they can! Machine learning models predict leverage better than linear models and identify a broader set of leverage determinants. They boost the out-of-sample R2 from 36% to 56% over OLS and LASSO. The best performing model (random forests) selects market-to-book, industry median leverage, cash and equivalents, Z -Score, profitability, stock returns , and firm size as reliable predictors of market leverage. More precise target estimation yields a 10%–33% faster speed of adjustment and improves prediction of financing actions relative to linear models. Machine learning identifies uncertainty, cash flow, and macroeconomic considerations among primary drivers of leverage adjustments.
The Joint Influence of Information Push and Value Relevance on Investor Judgments and Market Efficiency

We use experimental markets to examine how pushing investment information and the value relevance of that information interact to influence investors’ value estimate accuracy and market price efficiency. Developments in technology allow information to be pushed to investors anytime and anywhere. However, in addition to value-relevant information, pushed information often includes information that is irrelevant for assessing firm value. Drawing on psychology theory, we find that pushing information has divergent effects depending on the value relevance of the information. Pushing only value-relevant information increases investors’ processing of the information and leads to more accurate value estimates and market prices than when not pushed. In contrast, pushing a mix of value-relevant and value-irrelevant information reduces investors’ processing of value-relevant information, leading to less accurate value estimates and market prices than when not pushed or when only value-relevant information is pushed. A supplemental experiment provides evidence that this differential processing is primarily attributable to differences in acquisition rather than integration of the value-relevant information. Collectively, our results reveal a dark side to push technologies, particularly with the growing presence of value-irrelevant information.
Drosophila STING protein has a role in lipid metabolism

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) plays an important role in innate immunity by controlling type I interferon response against invaded pathogens. In this work, we describe a previously unknown role of STING in lipid metabolism in Drosophila. Flies with STING deletion are sensitive to starvation and oxidative stress, have reduced lipid storage, and downregulated expression of lipid metabolism genes. We found that Drosophila STING interacts with lipid synthesizing enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FASN). ACC and FASN also interact with each other, indicating that all three proteins may be components of a large multi-enzyme complex. The deletion of Drosophila STING leads to disturbed ACC localization and decreased FASN enzyme activity. Together, our results demonstrate a previously undescribed role of STING in lipid metabolism in Drosophila.
Diametrical Risk Minimization: theory and computations

The theoretical and empirical performance of Empirical Risk Minimization (ERM) often suffers when loss functions are poorly behaved with large Lipschitz moduli and spurious sharp minimizers. We propose and analyze a counterpart to ERM called Diametrical Risk Minimization (DRM), which accounts for worst-case empirical risks within neighborhoods in parameter space. DRM has generalization bounds that are independent of Lipschitz moduli for convex as well as nonconvex problems and it can be implemented using a practical algorithm based on stochastic gradient descent. Numerical results illustrate the ability of DRM to find quality solutions with low generalization error in sharp empirical risk landscapes from benchmark neural network classification problems with corrupted labels.
LQG Control Performance with Low Bitrate Periodic Coding

Several specific low-bitrate coding strategies are examined through their effect on LQ control performance. By limiting the subject to these methods, we are able to identify principles underlying coding for control; a subject of significant recent interest but few tangible, i.e. implementable, results. In particular, we consider coding the quantized output signal deploying period-two codes of differing delay-versus-accuracy tradeoff. The quantification of coding performance is via the LQ control cost over a long but finite horizon up to a specified average \textit{escape time}. Infinite-horizon stabilization is replaced by a mean-time-before-failure property, which is a new viewpoint but allows contact with uncoded controllers. The feedback control system comprises the coder-decoder in the path between the output and the state estimator, which is followed by linear state-variable feedback, as is optimal in the memoryless case. The static quantizer is treated as the functional composition of an infinitely-long linear staircase function and a saturation. This permits the analysis to subdivide into estimator computations, seemingly independent of the control performance criterion, and
Simple assay for adsorption of proteins to the air-water interface.

Abstract A rapid assay is described, based upon the Marangoni effect, which detects the formation of a denatured-protein film at the air–water interface (AWI) of aqueous samples. This assay requires no more than a 20 µL aliquot of sample, at a protein concentration of no more than1 mg/ml, and it can be performed with any buffer that is used to prepare grids for electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM). In addition, this assay provides an easy way to estimate the rate at which a given protein forms such a film at the AWI. Use of this assay is suggested as a way to pre-screen the effect of various additives and chemical modifications that one might use to optimize the preparation of grids, although the final proof of optimization still requires further screening of grids in the electron microscope. In those cases when the assay establishes that a given protein does form a sacrificial, denatured-protein monolayer, it is suggested that subsequent optimization strategies might focus on discovering how to improve the adsorption of native proteins onto that monolayer, rather than to prevent its formation. A second alternative might be to bind such proteins to the surface of rationally designed affinity grids, in order to prevent their diffusion to, and unwanted interaction with, the AWI.
Fluctuation bounds for ergodic averages of amenable groups

We study fluctuations of ergodic averages generated by actions of amenable groups. In the setting of an abstract ergodic theorem for locally compact second countable amenable groups acting on uniformly convex Banach spaces, we deduce a highly uniform bound on the number of fluctuations of the ergodic average for a class of Folner sequences satisfying an analogue of Lindenstrauss's temperedness condition. Equivalently, we deduce a uniform bound on the number of fluctuations over long distances for arbitrary Folner sequences. As a corollary, these results imply associated bounds for a continuous action of an amenable group on a $\sigma$-finite $L^{p}$ space with $p\in(1,\infty)$.
Neural basis for regulation of vasopressin secretion by anticipated disturbances in osmolality

Water balance, tracked by extracellular osmolality, is regulated by feedback and feedforward mechanisms. Feedback regulation is reactive, occurring as deviations in osmolality are detected. Feedforward or presystemic regulation is proactive, occurring when disturbances in osmolality are anticipated. Vasopressin (AVP) is a key hormone regulating water balance and is released during hyperosmolality to limit renal water excretion. AVP neurons are under feedback and feedforward regulation. Not only do they respond to disturbances in blood osmolality, but they are also rapidly suppressed and stimulated, respectively, by drinking and eating, which will ultimately decrease and increase osmolality. Here, we demonstrate that AVP neuron activity is regulated by multiple anatomically and functionally distinct neural circuits. Notably, presystemic regulation during drinking and eating are mediated by non-overlapping circuits that involve the lamina terminalis and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, respectively. These findings reveal neural mechanisms that support differential regulation of AVP release by diverse behavioral and physiological stimuli.
Optimally Secure Block Ciphers from Ideal Primitives.

Recent advances in block-cipher theory deliver security analyses in models where one or more underlying components (e.g., a function or a permutation) are ideal (i.e., randomly chosen). This paper addresses the question of finding new constructions achieving the highest possible security level under minimal assumptions in such ideal models. We present a new block-cipher construction, derived from the Swap-or-Not construction by Hoang et al. (CRYPTO ’12). With n-bit block length, our construction is a secure pseudorandom permutation (PRP) against attackers making 2n−O(logn) block-cipher queries, and 2n−O(1) queries to the underlying component (which has itself domain size roughly n). This security level is nearly optimal. So far, only key-alternating ciphers have been known to achieve comparable security using O(n) independent random permutations. In contrast, we only use a single function or permutation, and still achieve similar efficiency. Our second contribution is a generic method to enhance a block cipher, initially only secure as a PRP, to additionally withstand related-key attacks without substantial loss in terms of concrete security. ? © IACR 2015. This is the full version of a paper to appear in the proceedings of ASIACRYPT 2015 ?? Partially supported by NSF grant CNS-1423566 and by the Glen and Susanne Culler chair.
Inverse-Designed Photonic Crystal Circuits for Optical Beam Steering

The ability of photonic crystal waveguides (PCWs) to confine and slow down light makes them an ideal component to enhance the performance of various photonic devices, such as optical modulators or sensors. However, the integration of PCWs in photonic applications poses design challenges, most notably, engineering the PCW mode dispersion and creating efficient coupling devices. Here, we solve these challenges with photonic inverse design, and experimentally demonstrate a slow-light PCW optical phased array (OPA) with a wide steering range. Even and odd mode PCWs are engineered for a group index of 25, over a bandwidth of 20nm and 12nm, respectively. Additionally, for both PCW designs, we create strip waveguide couplers and free-space vertical couplers. Finally, also relying on inverse design, the radiative losses of the PCW are engineered, allowing us to construct OPAs with a 20° steering range in a 20nm bandwidth.
Domain decomposition and partitioning methods for mixed finite element discretizations of the Biot system of poroelasticity

We develop non-overlapping domain decomposition methods for the Biot system of poroelasticity in a mixed form. The solid deformation is modeled with a mixed three-field formulation with weak stress symmetry. The fluid flow is modeled with a mixed Darcy formulation. We introduce displacement and pressure Lagrange multipliers on the subdomain interfaces to impose weakly continuity of normal stress and normal velocity, respectively. The global problem is reduced to an interface problem for the Lagrange multipliers, which is solved by a Krylov space iterative method. We study both monolithic and split methods. In the monolithic method, a coupled displacement-pressure interface problem is solved, with each iteration requiring the solution of local Biot problems. We show that the resulting interface operator is positive definite and analyze the convergence of the iteration. We further study drained split and fixed stress Biot splittings, in which case we solve separate interface problems requiring elasticity and Darcy solves. We analyze the stability of the split formulations. Numerical experiments are presented to illustrate the convergence of the domain decomposition methods and compare their accuracy and efficiency.
Utilization efficiency of human milk oligosaccharides by human-associated Akkermansia is strain-dependent.

Akkermansia muciniphila are mucin degrading bacteria found in the human gut and are often associated with positive human health. However, despite being detected as early as one month of age, little is known about the role of Akkermansia in the infant gut. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are abundant components of human milk and are structurally similar to the oligosaccharides that comprise mucin, the preferred growth substrate of human-associated Akkermansia. A limited subset of intestinal bacteria has been shown to grow well on HMOs and mucin. We therefore examined the ability of genomically diverse strains of Akkermansia to grow on HMOs. First, we screened 85 genomes representing the four known Akkermansia phylogroups to examine their metabolic potential to degrade HMOs. Furthermore, we examined the ability of representative isolates to grow on individual HMOs in a mucin background and analyzed the resulting metabolites. All Akkermansia genomes were equipped with an array of glycoside hydrolases associated with HMO-deconstruction. Representative strains were all able to grow on HMOs with varying efficiency and growth yield. Strain CSUN-19 belonging to the AmIV phylogroup, grew to the highest level in the presence of fucosylated and sialylated HMOs. This activity may be partially related to the increased copy numbers and/or the enzyme activities of the α-fucosidases, α-sialidases, and β-galactosidases. This examines the utilization of individual purified HMOs by Akkermansia strains representing all known phylogroups. Further studies are required to examine how HMO ingestion influences gut microbial ecology in infants harboring different Akkermansia phylogroups. Importance Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are the third most abundant component of breast milk and provide several benefits to developing infants including recruitment of beneficial bacteria to the human gut. Akkermansia are largely considered beneficial bacteria and have been detected in colostrum, breast milk, and young infants. A. muciniphila MucT belonging to the AmI phylogroup contribute to the HMO deconstruction capacity of the infant. Here, using phylogenomics, we examined the genomic capacity of four Akkermansia phylogroups to deconstruct HMOs. Indeed, each phylogroup contained differences in the genomic capacity to deconstruct HMOs and representative strains of each phylogroup were able to grow using HMOs. These Akkermansia-HMO interactions potentially influence gut microbial ecology in early life - a critical time for the development of the gut microbiome and infant health.
Interplay of rearrangements, strain, and local structure during avalanche propagation

A simplified model of plasticity exploits machine-learning techniques to connect particle-level behavior in deformed, disordered solids to observable, emergent behavior.
Combating Informational Denial-of-Service (IDoS) Attacks: Modeling and Mitigation of Attentional Human Vulnerability

This work proposes a new class of proactive attacks called the Informational Denial-of-Service (IDoS) attacks that exploit the attentional human vulnerability. By generating a large volume of feints, IDoS attacks deplete the cognition resources of human operators to prevent humans from identifying the real attacks hidden among feints. This work aims to formally define IDoS attacks, quantify their consequences, and develop human-assistive security technologies to mitigate the severity level and risks of IDoS attacks. To this end, we model the feint and real attacks' sequential arrivals with category labels as a semi-Markov process. The assistive technology strategically manages human attention by highlighting selective alerts periodically to prevent the distraction of other alerts. A data-driven approach is applied to evaluate human performance under different Attention Management (AM) strategies. Under a representative special case, we establish the computational equivalency between two dynamic programming representations to simplify the theoretical computation and the online learning. A case study corroborates the effectiveness of the learning framework. The numerical results illustrate how AM strategies can alleviate the severity level and the risk of IDoS attacks. Furthermore, we characterize the fundamental limits of the minimum severity level under all AM strategies and the maximum length of the inspection period to reduce the IDoS risks.
Quantifying the regulatory role of individual transcription factors in Escherichia coli.

Gene regulation often results from the action of multiple transcription factors (TFs) acting at a promoter, obscuring the individual regulatory effect of each TF on RNA polymerase (RNAP). Here we measure the fundamental regulatory interactions of TFs in E. coli by designing synthetic target genes that isolate individual TFs' regulatory effects. Using a thermodynamic model, each TF's regulatory interactions are decoupled from TF occupancy and interpreted as acting through (de)stabilization of RNAP and (de)acceleration of transcription initiation. We find that the contribution of each mechanism depends on TF identity and binding location; regulation immediately downstream of the promoter is insensitive to TF identity, but the same TFs regulate by distinct mechanisms upstream of the promoter. These two mechanisms are uncoupled and can act coherently, to reinforce the observed regulatory role (activation/repression), or incoherently, wherein the TF regulates two distinct steps with opposing effects.
Federated Learning With Spiking Neural Networks

As neural networks get widespread adoption in resource-constrained embedded devices, there is a growing need for low-power neural systems. Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) are emerging to be an energy-efficient alternative to the traditional Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) which are known to be computationally intensive. From an application perspective, as federated learning involves multiple energy-constrained devices, there is a huge scope to leverage energy efficiency provided by SNNs. Despite its importance, there has been little attention on training SNNs on a large-scale distributed system like federated learning. In this paper, we bring SNNs to a more realistic federated learning scenario. Specifically, we design a federated learning method for training decentralized and privacy preserving SNNs. To validate the proposed method, we experimentally evaluate the advantages of SNNs on various aspects of federated learning with CIFAR10 and CIFAR100 benchmarks. We observe that SNNs outperform ANNs in terms of overall accuracy by over 15% when the data is distributed across a large number of clients in the federation while providing up to $4.3\times$ energy efficiency. In addition to efficiency, we also analyze the sensitivity of the proposed federated SNN framework to data distribution among the clients, stragglers, and gradient noise and perform a comprehensive comparison with ANNs. The source code is available at https://github.com/Intelligent-Computing-Lab-Yale/FedSNN .
Analytical Fully-Recursive Sensitivity Analysis for Multibody Dynamic Chain Systems

This paper presents a novel fully recursive method, a direct differentiation based approach, which facilitates first-order sensitivityanalysis in optimal design problems involving multibody dynamic systems. A state space O(n) dynamic analysis algorithm based on avelocity space projection method, as promoted by Kane [18], forms the foundation of the underlying formulation. This algorithm cansignificantly reduce the massive number of mathematical and associated computational operations involved in explicitly generatingand solving the sensitivity equations. This benefit is particularly evident for systems involving a combination of many state variablesand design parameters. The development presented in this paper focuses on chain systems to illustrate the recursive nature of thealgorithm. The computational efficiency and solution accuracy of the presented algorithm are investigated through the proceduresapplication to the simulation and design sensitivity determination of spatial chain systems involving 2, 4, 6, ..., 24 degrees offreedom, as well as a simple planar double pendulum.
Heterodyned likelihood for rapid gravitational wave parameter inference

Inferring the source properties of a gravitational wave signal has traditionally been very computationally intensive and time consuming. In recent years, several techniques have been developed that can significantly reduce the computational cost while delivering rapid and accurate parameter inference. One of the most powerful of these techniques is the heterodyned likelihood, which uses a reference waveform to base-band the likelihood calculation. Here an efficient implementation of the heterodyned likelihood is presented that can be used for a wide range of signal types and for both ground based and space based interferometers. The computational savings relative to direct calculation of the likelihood vary between two and four orders of magnitude depending on the system. The savings are greatest for low mass systems such as neutron star binaries. The heterodyning procedure can incorporate marginalization over calibration uncertainties and the noise power spectrum.
Influence of Picolinic Acid on the Uptake of 65Zinc-Amino Acid Complexes by the Everted Rat Gut

Three hundred fifty rats were used in three experiments to: 1) validate the everted gut procedure as an in vitro technique for estimating Zn absorption, 2) determine the effect of increasing ratios of picolinic acid (PA) to Zn on Zn absorption and 3) determine the effect of PA on absorption of Zn and amino acid complexes at pH 6, 7 and 8. In the first experiment the time delay between tissue collection with subsequent storage in ice-cold saline and start of tissue incubation was 0, 10, 20 or 30 min. A linear decrease was observed for 65Zn uptake with increasing delay time. Lysine absorption was not affected by delay time. In the second experiment, molar ratios of PA:Zn of 0, .5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 with Zn held constant were evaluated. A linear decrease in 65Zn absorption from 65ZnCl2 occurred as the molar ratio of PA to Zn increased. In the third experiment, 0 and 5 molar ratios of PA to a constant Zn level were evaluated using 65ZnCl2, 65Zn-14C-methionine (ZnMet) and 65Zn-3H-lysine (ZnLys) at pH 6, 7 and 8. The addition of PA decreased Zn absorption regardless of Zn source. The data suggest that the Zn sources used were of similar biological value. The data do not support the theory that PA facilitates Zn absorption.
A feminist approach to historical archaeology: Eighteenth-century fur trade society at Michilimackinac

Framed by feminist and historical materialist theory, this study puts forth a method for examining gender in historical archaeology and provides an example of this approach. Both written and archaeological records are utilized to examine subsistence in a past community, with the expectation that the social and economic relations operating in the larger community will be revealed when any aspect of daily life is examined in detail. The fur-trading community at Michilimackinac between 1761 and 1781 is the focus of the study. The results suggest several implications for an historical archaeology of gender.
High Efficiency Cooling System for High Temperature Superconducting Filters

We developed a high efficiency cooling system for high temperature superconducting (HTS) filters under high power operation over 1W at 2GHz in the front-end for a mobile telecommunication base station. A coaxial cable and a package were designed by optimizing the heat transfer. Then, a cooling system was assembled and its cooling properties were evaluated. Small modules were mounted in it. When the module was cooled to 50K, the system performed a good capability to maintain cooled circumstances in it.
Chemically modified polymeric resins for high performance liquid chromatography, solid-phase extraction and organic separation by LC and GC

ion of basic amines from a mixture of basic and neutral compounds A split injection was used in this method. The split liner in the gas chromatograph instrument was used for pre-column abstractor holder. The sulfonated resins were placed in the split liner to form an even column of different length from 2 mm to 5 mm, which was supported and covered with glass wool. The samples which contained amines and neutral compounds of about 0.3 ppm concentration were injected into the liner by automatic sampler and vaporized quickly. The basic compounds were retained on the sulfonated resin in the liner, while the neutral compounds passed through and were then separated in the GC column. If
Varicella Gangrenosa Due to Group A β-Hemolytic Streptococcus

Varicella is usually a well-tolerated disease in normal children. Pyogenic infections involving the skin are the commonest complications and their potential severity is emphasized by our recent experience with two children who suffered from gangrene as a result of cutaneous superinfection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. We present the recognition and management of these patients in an effort to reacquaint physicians with this potentially fatal infection.
School Audits and School Improvement: Exploring the Variance Point Concept in Kentucky

As a diagnostic intervention (Bowles, Churchill, Effrat, & McDermott, 2002) for schools failing to meet school improvement goals, Ken-tucky used a scholastic audit process based on nine standards and 88 associated indicators called the Standards and Indicators for School Improvement (SISI). Schools are rated on a scale of 1–4 on each indicator, with a score of 3 considered as fully functional (Kentucky De-partment of Education [KDE], 2002). As part of enacting the legislation, KDE was required to also audit a random sample of schools that did meet school improvement goals; thereby identifying practices present in improving schools that are not present in those failing to improve. These practices were referred to as variance points, and were reported to school leaders annually. Variance points have differed from year to year, and the methodology used by KDE was unclear. Moreover, variance points were reported for all schools without differentiating based upon the level of school (elementary, middle, or high). In this study, we established a transparent methodology for variance point determination that differentiates between elementary, middle, and high schools.
Peripheries in Kashmiri and Hindi-Urdu: The syntax of discourse-driven movement

This research monograph is an investigation of wh-movement and wh-expletive constructions in the Indic languages Kashmiri and Hindi-Urdu. It advances a novel theory of the periphery, or the clausal positions that mediate A-bar movement. In particular, a detailed study of wh-expletives and wh-expletive constructions reveals an underlying similarity of design between the A and A-bar systems, and indicates that the two can be understood as driven by the same basic set of mechanisms. The monograph offers an account of wh-movement and the clausal periphery in the two languages, informed by the latest strands of research on the syntax and semantics of A-bar movement. This micro-comparative analytical method yields an important result: we can understand a set of systematic contrasts between the two languages in terms of the properties of specifically the phase-defining heads C and v . Empirically, this work explores the lesser-studied language Kashmiri, bringing to the fore linguistic data not yet discussed in formal syntactic literature. The significance of these data for the development of the wider theoretical framework is stressed throughout, making the book of substantial interest for general linguistic research.
Phase shifts and linear dependencies

Two-dimensional scan design is a widely used BIST architecture for pseudo-random and pseudo-exhaustive testing. However, linear dependencies that arise due to the properties of the test-pattern generators in use have a negative impact on fault coverage. To alleviate this problem, networks of XOR gates known as phase shifters are often used. Existing techniques for selecting phase shifts, such as those based on large channel separations, lead to inadequate removal of linear dependencies. In this paper we present for the first time a method for the selection of appropriate channel phase shifts to explicitly minimize linear dependencies. Experimental results corroborate the effect of the approach in increasing fault coverage.
Apoptosis (Programed Cell Death) Studied by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Several analytical methods, many of which rely on fluorescence processes, have been developed to study apoptosis (programmed cell death). Apoptosis is a highly regulated biological event and is a vital process that helps regulate tissue growth, normal cell turnover, immune response, and tissue development. However, diseases such as cancer and heart disease are associated with malfunctions in the apoptosis machinery. There is therefore a need to elucidate the processes of apoptosis induction and inhibition. Fluorescence assays continue to play a major role in apoptosis assays, and developments in probe and fluorescent methods for assaying apoptosis are ongoing. There are several standard techniques, such as flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, for apoptosis study in cells. In addition, new techniques such as superresolution microscopy, multiphoton excitation, and single-cell−single-molecule spectroscopy are quickly emerging. This article explores several fluorescence approaches used in apoptosis studies as well as describes the mechanisms and hallmarks of the apoptotic cascade. As apoptosis plays a very important role in both healthy and diseased organism functions, the need to develop and apply sensitive analytical methods continues to be of the utmost importance.
Acceleration of greater than 47 keV ions and greater than 2 keV electrons by interplanetary shocks at 1 AU

It is pointed out that collisionless shocks may be responsible for much of the particle acceleration which occurs in the interplanetary medium. The present investigation is concerned with the conditions for acceleration of particles by interplanetary shocks near 1 AU. Interplanetary shocks near 1 AU have large scale sizes, radii of curvature on the order of 1 AU, or about 1000 times the size of the earth's bow shock. At the considered heliocentric distance the shocks are primarily associated with solar flares and/or solar coronal transients. Observations of magnetic fields, solar wind plasma, and energetic ions and electrons from the ISEE 3 spacecraft are used to study the interplanetary shocks occurring in the period from launch in August 1978 through November 1979. Attention is given to the method of analysis, the determination of the normal to the shock, and energetic particle results.
A Waldenström Macroglobulin Which Binds Nitrophenyl Ligands

Abstract The binding properties of a human Waldenstrom macroglobulin (γMwag), which was fortuitously found to bind nitrophenyl derivatives, have been studied. The valences of the pentamer γM, the cysteine-produced subunit γMs, and the tryptic fragments F(ab')2µ and Fabµ were 10, 2, 2, and 1, respectively. The association constant was homogeneous and equalled 3.8 x 104 m-1 for the fragments, the subunits, and the pentamer. Binding was manifested by a shift in the absorption spectrum of the bound ligand and by the ability of the latter to partially quench the fluorescence of the protein. The relative affinity of γMwag for over 60 ligands was studied by equilibrium dialysis, inhibition of 125I-γMwag precipitation with a dinitrophenyl-bovine γ-globulin conjugate, or both. Considerable evidence for stereospecific binding was found. By virtue of the specificity of the binding activity, the location of the binding sites in the Fab portion of the molecule, and the valence of one combining site for each heavy-light chain pair, this protein has the fundamental characteristics associated with conventionally induced antibodies.
Expression of a whey acidic protein transgene during mammary development. Evidence for different mechanisms of regulation during pregnancy and lactation.

Expression of the mouse whey acidic protein (WAP) gene is specific to the mammary gland, is induced several thousand-fold during pregnancy, and is under the control of steroid and peptide hormones. To study developmental regulation of the mouse WAP gene, a 7.2-kilobase (kb) WAP transgene, including 2.6 kb of 5‘- and 1.6 kb of 3‘-flanking sequences, was introduced into mice. Of the 13 lines of mice examined, 6 expressed the transgenes during lactation at levels between 3 and 54% of the endogenous gene. Although expression was dependent on the site of integration, the transgenes within a given locus were expressed in a copy number-dependent manner and were coordinately regulated. The WAP transgenes were expressed specifically in the mammary gland, but showed a deregulated pattern of expression during mammary development. In all six lines of mice, induction of the WAP transgenes during pregnancy preceded that of the endogenous gene. During lactation, expression in two lines increased coordinately with the endogenous gene, and in three other lines of mice, transgene expression decreased to a basal level. These data indicate that the 7.2-kb gene contains some but not all of the elements necessary for correct developmental regulation. At a functional level it appears as if a repressor element, which inactivates the endogenous gene until late pregnancy, and an element necessary for induction during lactation are absent from the transgene. Complementary results from developmental and hormone induction studies suggest that WAP gene expression during pregnancy and lactation is mediated by different mechanisms.
Pharmacy provision of emergency contraception to men: A survey of pharmacist attitudes in Rhode Island

Abstract Objective To describe pharmacy staff members's attitudes and practices related to male emergency contraception (EC) requests, as well as the occurrence of male purchases in Rhode Island. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Pharmacies throughout Rhode Island during April to August 2008. Participants 226 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Intervention Participants were mailed a 21-item closed-ended questionnaire. Main outcome measures Demographics, EC provision practices, recall of male EC purchases, and attitudes toward male EC access. Results Of 151 pharmacies surveyed, 91 responded, providing 226 individual pharmacy staff member surveys. Among this population, 95.6% sold EC. Although 59.7% believed male EC purchases occurred rarely, 63.3% sold EC to a man in the previous year. Ten (4.4%) respondents refused sale of EC to a man. Respondents were less likely to agree that men should always have access if they also believed that access would decrease regular contraceptive use ( P = 0.008) and if they could not verify the female recipient'ss consent ( P Conclusion Pharmacists and technicians commonly believed that male EC purchases did not occur or occurred rarely; however, more than one-half of this population sold EC to men. Although the majority expressed personal reservations against providing EC to men, they still agreed that men should have access to EC. These findings suggest that pharmacies are an acceptable setting for male EC access and that although refusal exists, it may not be a barrier to access.
Spin physics highlights from STAR

As the world’s only polarized proton collider, the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven plays an important role in understanding the spin structure of the proton. The STAR detector, with its large acceptance for calorimetry and tracking, has been used to study polarized proton collisions for more than a decade with a range of jet, meson, and boson probes. We will discuss jets, neutral pions, and W bosons as probes of the proton’s helicity structure. Here STAR measurements have significant impact on global fits of sea quark polarizations and have provided the first firm evidence of non-zero gluon polarization within the proton. We will discuss W/Z bosons, jets, pions, and pion-jet correlations as probes of the transverse spin structure of the proton, and we will use the example of a proposed dijet measurement with an upgraded STAR detector to peer into the future.
Optical Coherence Tomography Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Nobori Stent Implantation in Patients With Non–ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction (OCTACS) Trial Difference in Strut Coverage and Dynamic Malapposition Patterns at 6 Months

Background—Incomplete strut coverage has been documented an important histopathologic morphometric predictor for later thrombotic events. This study sought to investigate whether optical coherence tomography (OCT)–guided percutaneous coronary intervention with Nobori biolimus-eluting stent implantation in patients with non–ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction would provide improved strut coverage at 6 months in comparison with angiographic guidance only. Methods and Results—One hundred patients were randomized 1:1 to either OCT-guided or angio-guided Nobori biolimus-eluting stent implantation. Postprocedure OCT was performed in all patients. In the OCT-guided group, prespecified criteria indicating additional intervention were related to (1) stent underexpansion, (2) strut malapposition, (3) edge dissection(s), and (4) residual stenosis at the distal or proximal reference segment(s). A final OCT was performed in case of reintervention. Six-month OCT follow-up was available in 85 patients. Twenty-thr...
A fast plasma induced damage monitoring method

We have developed a new and Fast Feedback Plasma Monitoring Technique (FPMT) to monitor and evaluate the plasma reactor and processes. The FPMT technique measures the slope of flat-band voltage (Vfb) versus oxide thickness of an oxide wafer, and gives reliable results. We discuss the new technique and report some experimental results on plasma charging damage characterization for different commercial available plasma reactors. Furthermore, we discuss the correlation results between full flow Predator data and FPMT data.
Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 3 and Hemoglobin Concentration in Older Persons Living in the Community

A decreased hemoglobin concentration is a common clinical condition in elderly subjects, and in at least 20% of the cases it is not possible to directly attribute the anemia to specific factors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship of different levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) with the blood concentration of hemoglobin in persons aged 80 years and older. Data are from a baseline evaluation of the Aging and Longevity in the Sirente Geographic Area (ilSIRENTE) study (n = 253). Analysis of covariance was used to examine the effect of different IGFBP-3 levels on hemoglobin concentration. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, which included age, sex, number of diseases, renal failure, cancer, gastric ulcer, albumin, and iron concentrations, individuals in the group with higher IGFBP-3 concentrations showed a significantly higher mean hemoglobin concentration than participants in the group with lower IGFBP-3 concentrations (13.4± 1.4 g/dL versus 12.9± 1.9 g/dL, respectively; P = .03). In conclusion, the present study has shown that a higher IGFBP-3 level is associated with a higher hemoglobin concentration among older people living in the community. This finding suggests that the growth hormone/IGF axis may play an important role in hematopoiesis, and it may be implicated in the age-related decline in hemoglobin concentration.