cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Artificial selection of rams for sexual performance and its effect on the sexual behavior and fecundity of male and female progeny.

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a single generation of artificial selection for sexual performance in rams on the sexual behavior and fecundity of their male and female progeny. Ninety-two ram lambs born to sires selected for either high or low sexual performance were evaluated for their sexual behaviors at approximately 8 months of age when individually exposed to four estrous ewes for 30 min in four weekly serving capacity tests. Number of mounts and successful matings (ejaculations) were recorded. Fourteen of the 17 high-performing ram lambs identified were sired by high-performing sires, whereas 22 of 37 low-performing ram lambs were sired by low-performing sires ( P P P N =79) exhibited their first behavioral estrus approximately 8 days earlier than daughters ( N =61) of low-performing sires ( P P =0.55). It was concluded that there was sufficient genetic variation in the population of sheep studied to obtain a significant response to selection for ram sexual performance in both male and female offspring in a single generation.
Scalable, Real-Time Map-Matching Using IBM's System S

Vehicle GPS data is an essential "raw" material for a broad range of applications such as traffic management and control, routing, and navigation. To become useful, the data has to be related to the underlying road network by means of map matching algorithms, which are often computationally expensive. In addition, GPS data is not accurate and often needs to be cleaned to remove erroneous observations. In this paper, we describe how map matching can be run on IBM's System S, which provides a platform to run stream processing applications in a scalable manner. We show how various features of System S, including a component based programming model, data pipelining and parallelization of computation, help us to scale the map-matching and data cleaning processes, both as the rate of incoming GPS data increases and as the size of the underlying road network increases. We provide results of performance evaluations, where we show our system can match GPS data arriving at a rate of 1 million points per second onto a map with 1 billion links.
A micromechanically based couple–stress model of an elastic two-phase composite

Abstract The study reported in this paper concerns the determination of couple–stress moduli and characteristic lengths of heterogeneous materials. The study is set in the context of a planar (two-dimensional), two-phase composite with linear non-couple–stress (classical), elastic constituents, with a single microstructural length scale (inclusion spacing) in an equilateral triangular array. We use an approach which allows a replacement of this composite by an approximating couple–stress continuum. We determine the effective material parameters from the response of a unit cell under either displacement, displacement-periodic, or traction boundary conditions. We carry out computations of all the moduli by varying the stiffness ratio of both phases, so as to cover a range of very different materials from porous solids through composites with rigid inclusions. It is found that the three boundary conditions result in hierarchies of couple–stress moduli. In addition, we observe from our numerical computations that these three boundary conditions also result in a hierarchy of characteristic lengths.
Integral growth of submersed macrophytes in varying light regimes

The coverage, density, and species diversity of macrophytes in the shallow portion of lakes have important effects on water quality, ecosystem health, and sediment deposition, and are important factors in lake use for fishing, boating, swimming, and as waterfowl habitat. This significance and the complex requirements for macrophyte growth have stimulated the development of growth models to predict macrophyte biomass, oxygen production, nutrient cycling, etc. However, there is a lack of relationships that characterize the response of macrophyte growth to varying physical conditions. The growth model developed in this study relates the rate of production of rooted aquatic macrophytes to basic physiological parameters (growth and respiration rates) and controlling physical parameters (incident irradiance, water temperature, light attenuation by water and phytoplankton). The model is developed to be general, rather than specific to a particular plant species, with the intention of broadly characterizing macrophyte growth behavior as a function of a few key parameters. The growth equations are solved analytically using the assumption of uniform temperature and biomass over depth. Expressions for instantaneous rate of growth, daily production, and equilibrium biomass are found. A set of dimensionless parameters are defined and used to characterize four growth regimes. Model results are given in terms of the governing dimensionless parameters and then related to real world, dimensional parameters.
Projected impacts to the production of outdoor recreation opportunities across US state park systems due to the adoption of a domestic climate change mitigation policy.

Abstract Numerous empirical and simulation-based studies have documented or estimated variable impacts to the economic growth of nation states due to the adoption of domestic climate change mitigation policies. However, few studies have been able to empirically link projected changes in economic growth to the provision of public goods and services. In this research, we couple projected changes in economic growth to US states brought about by the adoption of a domestic climate change mitigation policy with a longitudinal panel dataset detailing the production of outdoor recreation opportunities on lands managed in the public interest. Joining empirical data and simulation-based estimates allow us to better understand how the adoption of a domestic climate change mitigation policy would affect the provision of public goods in the future. We first employ a technical efficiency model and metrics to provide decision makers with evidence of specific areas where operational efficiencies within the nation's state park systems can be improved. We then augment the empirical analysis with simulation-based changes in gross state product (GSP) to estimate changes to the states’ ability to provide outdoor recreation opportunities from 2014 to 2020; the results reveal substantial variability across states. Finally, we explore two potential solutions (increasing GSP or increasing technical efficiency) for addressing the negative impacts on the states’ park systems operating budgets brought about by the adoption of a domestic climate change mitigation policy; the analyses suggest increasing technical efficiency would be the most viable solution if/when the US adopts a greenhouse gas reduction policy.
Extent and impact of response biases in cross-national survey research

Abstract Survey research is fraught with serious response biases. This study examines the extent and impact of three important response biases in cross-national research: socially desirable responding, yea-saying, and nay-saying. From a survey of 5569 respondents across 15 countries, the study finds evidence of substantial differences in response biases across countries. Socially desirable responding is highest in Singapore and Italy, yea-saying is highest in Brazil and India, and nay-saying is highest in the Netherlands and Japan. These response biases lead to erroneous conclusions about innovativeness based on surveys as compared to that based on the market penetration of new products. In particular, the biases lead to the over-reporting or under-reporting of innovative traits and the over-reporting of the adoption of new products. Overall, negatively valenced items that show the least susceptibility to these response biases can help predict both actual penetration at the aggregate level as well as individual probabilities of adoption and should be included in cross-national surveys.
Asthma severity and child quality of life in pediatric asthma: A systematic review

Abstract Objective To systematically review evidence of asthma severity as a correlate of child quality of life (QOL) in pediatric asthma. Methods Online bibliographic databases (PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and MEDLINE) were used to identify relevant studies that specifically considered the relationship between asthma severity and child QOL. Results Fourteen studies matching inclusion and exclusion criteria were reviewed. Asthma severity was significantly related to child QOL in nine of these studies. Informant of QOL and type of QOL measure were found to influence the strength of the relationship between severity and child QOL in pediatric asthma. Conclusions Findings suggest that asthma severity is a correlate of child QOL. Children whose asthma symptoms are not well-managed are likely to experience an impaired level of QOL. Findings also suggest the need to utilize asthma-specific QOL measures and an informant of QOL other than the child's parent in order to receive the most accurate information about the child's level of functioning. Practice implications Researchers and healthcare providers basing clinical outcomes on QOL assessments should consider asthma severity in their evaluations. Further, researchers and healthcare providers should recognize the continued need to reduce asthma severity and improve asthma symptom control in their attempts to improve the QOL of children with asthma.
Real-time CT-guided percutaneous placement of LV pacing leads.

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of real-time computed tomographic (CT) imaging to guide the percutaneous placement of left ventricular (LV) leads in an animal model. Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy has been shown to improve morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure. However, placement of the coronary sinus lead can be challenging and may require a more aggressive surgical approach. Methods Nine swine were placed in a real-time CT scanner to define the safest percutaneous access strategy. Under real-time CT guidance, a 3.5-F pacing lead was placed percutaneously in the anterolateral LV epicardium (n = 6 swine) or to the posterolateral wall after the creation of intentional left pneumothorax (n = 3 swine) in a tangential (n = 12) or perpendicular (n = 1) approach. Pacing parameters and CT images were assessed during 30-min follow-up. Necropsy findings were compared with real-time CT images. Results CT imaging successfully defined the safest percutaneous access route in all 13 lead placements and guided the therapeutic creation of pneumothoraces. Needle trajectory remained within 5 mm of the access route defined on CT imaging. LV lead placement under CT guidance was successful in all attempts within 19 ± 7 min. The mean pacing thresholds was 2.5 ± 1.5 V, the mean R wave amplitude was 11.2 ± 5.6 mV, and the mean impedance was 686 ± 103 Ω and remained unchanged after tangential placement during 30-min follow-up. Although no cardiac complications were observed with tangential lead placement (12 of 12), the perpendicular approach resulted in a pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis. At necropsy, CT images correlated well with the in situ pathological results. Conclusions Percutaneous placement of LV pacing leads under CT guidance is feasible and might offer an alternative to more invasive surgical approaches in patients with complicated coronary sinus lead placement.
Propagation of steady shock waves in non-linear thermoviscoelastic solids

Abstract T his paper is concerned with the dynamic response of a class of thermoviscoelastic solids. In particular a specific one-dimensional model, consistent with the laws of continuum thermodynamics, is proposed and applied to the problem of the propagation of steady shock waves. The governing equations are written in terms of material response functions which can be determined from shock wave, thermophysical, and bulk response data. The results of the analysis are compared with experimental steady wave studies involving the solid polymer, polymethyl methacrylate.
Low-pressure arc discharge motion between concentric cylindrical electrodes in a transverse magnetic field.

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the Lorentz, stationary, and retrograde modes of motion of a low-pressure arc discharge is presented. It was found that an increase in the applied magnetic field strength will cause either an increase or a decrease in the arc's rotational speed, depending on the pressure. Experimental information obtained by highspeed photography reveals the nature of the low-pressure arc kinematics for the aforementioned three modes of motion. The films show the cyclic structure by which these modes progress under the action of an applied transverse magnetic field. The effects of temperature nonequiiibrium on the electrical conduction current density in the arc discharge are discussed. It is shown that in arc regions of high nonequiiibrium with large spatial gradients in the electron temperature, electrical currents can occur in a direction opposite to that produced by the electromagnetic field alone. The various characteristics of the arc discharge are discussed as the results of temperature nonequiiibrium.
Moral Autonomy and Divine Commands

A Divine Command Theory of Ethics is sometimes rejected on the grounds that such a theory is incompatible with human moral autonomy. If we assume that human beings are morally autonomous, the argument goes, then no human being can be obligated to perform any action simply because God (or any other agent) has commanded it. The incompatibility between a Divine Command Ethic and moral autonomy is a corollary of an argument James Rachels uses to deny the very existence of God. He argues that any being which can be denoted by the term God must be a being worthy of worship. But, in order to be a being worthy of worship it must be such that other beings owe it unconditional obedience. Since human beings are morally autonomous and cannot owe unconditional obedience to any other being, nothing can meet the criterion for being God. Hence, there is no possible state of affairs which includes both a being worthy of worship and morally autonomous human agents.
A modern approach to “dimensions”

Abstract The paper describes an investigation of some possible “dimensional” systems for the designation of physical concepts. The usual system, based on the primary concepts of length, mass , and time , results in a large number of ambiguities (Table II) and is therefore unsatisfactory. The introduction of an additional primary concept for heat and another for electromagnetism is an improvement, but many ambiguities still remain (Table III). The trouble is caused by our failure to distinguish between distances in different directions. By introducing two fundamental lengths l r and l t (radial and tangential) in place of the usual l , we eliminate the former difficulty and obtain distinct designation symbols for the concepts of energy and torque , for normal stress and shear stress , for pharosage (radiant energy per unit area) and hellos (brightness). There are six types of practical application for idon theory (“dimensions”), all of which are handled as well (or better) by the l r , l t -system as by the old method. Examples are given of the use of the new method in checking equations and in deriving new equations by idonic analysis. Tables of designation symbols are given for the principal concepts of physics (Table VI to X). Finally, an alternative system is outlined which employes the fundamental lengths l r , l t , and l , and which discriminates between vectors and scalars in physical space (Table XI). This vector system is useful in certain problems, though in most cases the simpler l r / l t -system is adequate.
Lamb Waves and Nearly-Longitudinal Waves in Thick Plates

We discuss waves created in relatively thick plates by edge excitation at frequency-thickness (fd) products that correspond, in principle, to multiple Lamb wave modes. For relatively low values of the fd product it is clear that Lamb wave modes will be generated, while at large values of the fd product we observe a bulk (longitudinal wave) in the solid, but influenced by reflections from the plate surfaces. We show that for a range of intermediate fd products a train of regularly spaced nearly-longitudinal waves is generated. The development of a lead pulse and trailing pulses, all traveling at the longitudinal (bulk) wave speed, is well known and has been explained in the literature. In this paper we describe the transition from Lamb wave generation to the formation of nearly-longitudinal waves with their trailing pulses. We report experimental results and theoretical results, with good correspondence between them. We also examine the transfer of energy from leading to trailing pulses, which means that such nearly-longitudinal waves will not propagate indefinitely; however, we show that they retain ample energy for flaw detection at distances of several meters. Most importantly, we study the interaction of these trailing pulses with cracks, again showing experimental results and theoretical predictions that are consistent with one another. The results suggest that these nearly-longitudinal waves are an attractive option for flaw detection because of their shorter wavelength (as compared to Lamb waves at low fd products) and because they preserve their pulse train characteristics after scattering.
Contribution of voltage-dependent K+ and Ca2+ channels to coronary pressure-flow autoregulation.

The mechanisms responsible for coronary pressure-flow autoregulation, a critical physiologic phenomenon that maintains coronary blood flow relatively constant in the presence of changes in perfusion pressure, remain poorly understood. This investigation tested the hypothesis that voltage-sensitive K+ (KV) and Ca2+ (CaV1.2) channels play a critical role in coronary pressure-flow autoregulation in vivo. Experiments were performed in open-chest, anesthetized Ossabaw swine during step changes in coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) from 40 to 140 mmHg before and during inhibition of KV channels with 4-aminopyridine (4AP, 0.3 mM, ic) or CaV1.2 channels with diltiazem (10 μg/min, ic). 4AP significantly decreased vasodilatory responses to H2O2 (0.3–10 μM, ic) and coronary flow at CPPs = 60–140 mmHg. This decrease in coronary flow was associated with diminished ventricular contractile function (dP/dT) and myocardial oxygen consumption. However, the overall sensitivity to changes in CPP from 60 to 100 mmHg (i.e. autoregulatory gain; Gc) was unaltered by 4-AP administration (Gc = 0.46 ± 0.11 control vs. 0.46 ± 0.06 4-AP). In contrast, inhibition of CaV1.2 channels progressively increased coronary blood flow at CPPs > 80 mmHg and substantially diminished coronary Gc to −0.20 ± 0.11 (P < 0.01), with no effect on contractile function or oxygen consumption. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that (1) KV channels tonically contribute to the control of microvascular resistance over a wide range of CPPs, but do not contribute to coronary responses to changes in pressure; (2) progressive activation of CaV1.2 channels with increases in CPP represents a critical mechanism of coronary pressure-flow autoregulation.
Genesis and maintenance of "Mediterranean hurricanes"

Abstract. Cyclonic storms that closely resemble tropical cyclones in satellite images occasionally form over the Mediterranean Sea. Synoptic and mesoscale analyses of such storms show small, warm-core structure and surface winds sometimes exceeding 25ms-1 over small areas. These analyses, together with numerical simulations, reveal that in their mature stages, such storms intensify and are maintained by a feedback between surface enthalpy fluxes and wind, and as such are isomorphic with tropical cyclones. In this paper, I demonstrate that a cold, upper low over the Mediterranean can produce strong cyclogenesis in an axisymmetric model, thereby showing that baroclinic instability is not necessary during the mature stages of Mediterranean hurricanes.
Local Political Institutions and Smart Growth An Empirical Study of the Politics of Compact Development

Using Florida survey data from 2002 and 2007, this article seeks to determine the characteristics of local governments that make them more or less inclined to engage in smart growth-related land-use regulations. The study draws on a range of theoretical traditions to motivate an empirical model of policy adoption, emphasizing the interaction between interest group politics and local political institutions as the primary explanatory factors. In addition, the article differentiates between types of smart growth regulations designed to promote a key smart growth principle—compact development—in terms of their redistributive consequences. The study finds some support for the notion that the adoption of smart growth practices is affected by the activism of interest groups and their interaction with local political institutions.
Model-Specific Radiative Kernels for Calculating Cloud and Noncloud Climate Feedbacks

AbstractRadiative kernels have become a common tool for evaluating and comparing radiative feedbacks to climate change in different general circulation models. However, kernel feedback calculations are inaccurate for simulations where the atmosphere is significantly perturbed from its base state, such as for very large forcing or perturbed physics simulations. In addition, past analyses have not produced kernels relating to prognostic cloud variables because of strong nonlinearities in their relationship to radiative forcing. A new methodology is presented that allows for fast statistical optimizing of existing kernels such that accuracy is increased for significantly altered climatologies. International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) simulator output is used to relate changes in cloud-type histograms to radiative fluxes. With minimal additional computation, an individual set of kernels is created for each climate experiment such that climate feedbacks can be reliably estimated even in signif...
Adverse left ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction: is there a simple treatment that really works?

This editorial refers to ‘Early short-term doxycycline therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction to prevent the ominous progression to adverse remodelling: the TIPTOP trial’†, by D. Cesarino et al. , doi:10.1093/eurheartj/eht420. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with its accompanying adverse sequelae, remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the world.1 Following AMI and secondary to the loss of functional myocardium, the heart undergoes adaptive responses in an attempt to maintain the same cardiac output. The physical changes to the heart that occur as a result of these responses is termed remodelling.2 This remodelling begins immediately after AMI and may continue for a lifetime. While this adaptive remodelling may be beneficial in the short term, over time it becomes deleterious, leading eventually to congestive heart failure. The physiology of remodelling includes infarct expansion, chamber dilatation, ventricular hypertrophy, scar formation, neurohormonal responses, cytokine activation, and oxidative stress ( Figure 1 ).3 The basic cellular mechanisms behind these changes include cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and death, inflammation, alterations of collagen matrix, and microvascular rarefaction.4 To overcome the adverse effects of post-infarct remodelling, scientists have attempted to use an understanding of the basic physiology to develop effective targeted pharmacological treatments for its prevention. Many of these proposed treatments, including adenosine, nicorandil, nitroprusside, and atrial natrietic peptide and statins, have been administered …
The paths we chose: to succeed or not to succeed.

Abstract Grabois M. The paths we chose: to succeed or not to succeed. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002;83:147-9. © 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Treatment for routine symptomatic carotid bulb atherosclerosis: Carotid endarterectomy is better than stenting

![Graphic][1] Symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis is a common cause of ischemic stroke. The goal of management is to decrease the risk of stroke. This objective can be reached with a combination of medical therapy and revascularization with either carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS). At this time, evidence-based medicine provides guidance for our decision regarding which revascularization procedure is the most appropriate for the patient with routine, symptomatic carotid stenosis, i.e., with no clinical or radiographic exclusions for either procedure. The choice of treatment for revascularization comes down to 3 questions: 1) If the goal is to reduce stroke, which treatment option provides the best short and long-term outcomes? 2) Which treatment is cost-effective? 3) Which treatment provides the best patient-centered outcomes? Two recent trials evaluating the difference between CEA and CAS are the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs Stent Trial (CREST)1 and the International Carotid Stenting Study (ICSS).2 In CREST, the primary composite endpoint of any stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), or death within 30 days following treatment plus any ipsilateral stroke during long-term follow-up (median 2.5 years) was similar for CAS and CEA (7.2% vs 6.8%, hazard ratio [HR] 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8–1.5). There was no differential treatment effect according to symptomatic status. In contrast, the ICSS interim safety analysis evaluating the 120-day rate of stroke, death, or procedural MI reported that more patients in the CAS group reached the combined endpoint of stroke, MI, or death than the CEA group (8.5% vs 5.2%, HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.16–2.45, p = 0.006).2 In addition, a subanalysis of 231 patients in ICSS underwent MRI and demonstrated more ischemic brain lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging after treatment with CAS than … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Noise Injection for Search Privacy Protection

To protect user privacy in the search engine context, most current approaches, such as private information retrieval and privacy preserving data mining, require a server-side deployment, thus users have little control over their data and privacy. In this paper we propose a user-side solution within the context of keyword based search. We model the search privacy threat as an information inference problem and show how to inject noise into user queries to minimize privacy breaches. The search privacy breach is measured as the mutual information between real user queries and the diluted queries seen by search engines. We give the lower bound for the amount of noise queries required by a perfect privacy protection and provide the optimal protection given the number of noise queries. We verify our results with a special case where the number of noise queries is equal to the number of user queries. The simulation result shows that the noise given by our approach greatly reduces privacy breaches and outperforms random noise. As far as we know, this work presents the first theoretical analysis on user side noise injection for search privacy protection.
A window-based editor for digital video and audio

The authors present a window-based editor for manipulating digital video and audio. The editor supports real-time recording, playback, and editing (cut, copy, and paste) of several multimedia objects. Using the X Window system, the authors have implemented the editor on an environment of Sun SPARCstations, and PC-ATs equipped with video compression hardware. The user interface of the multimedia editor consists of a main editing window for each display device, and rope windows, which represent synchronized sequences of digital video and audio being accessed, called ropes. Experience shows that the editor provides a simple and easy to use, but powerful system for multimedia document preparation, and it can act as a basis for supporting applications such as multimedia mail, electronic distribution of television news and video entertainment, etc. >
A new biological approach to vital pulp therapy

Molecular biology is providing opportunities to develop new strategies or agents for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. The availability of large amounts of highly purified proteins produced by recombinant DNA techniques is an obvious example. Recent evidence has implicated proteins belonging to the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) subgroup of the transforming growth factor beta supergene family in tooth formation and dentinogenesis. It has long been known that bone and dentin contain bone morphogenetic protein activity. Recently, recombinant human BMP-2, -4, and -7 (also known as OP-1), have been shown to induce reparative dentin formation in experimental models of large direct pulp exposures in permanent teeth. The manner in which these agents act appears unique. New reparative dentin replaces the stimulating agents applied directly to the partially amputated pulp. Hence, the new tissue forms contiguous with, largely superficial to, and not at the expense of the remaining vital pulp tissue. This suggests a therapeutic approach permitting the induction of a predetermined and controlled amount of reparative dentin. Additionally, OP-1 has been associated with the formation of reparative dentin after application to a freshly cut but intact layer of dentin. These findings may provide future clinicians with additional options for the treatment of substantially damaged or diseased vital teeth.
Expanding the pathologic spectrum of immunoglobulin light chain proximal tubulopathy.

Abstract Context.—In plasma cell dyscrasias, involvement of the distal tubules is frequent and well characterized. In contrast, proximal tubules have only rarely been reported to show diagnostic pathology such as intracytoplasmic crystals. Objective.—To look for additional morphologic features that might be helpful in the diagnosis of proximal tubulopathy associated with an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. Design.—We examined patients presenting with nonspecific renal symptoms who were found to have light chain restriction limited to proximal tubular epithelium by immunofluorescence. We correlated these results with light microscopy, electron microscopy, and the clinical findings. Results.—By immunofluorescence, 5 patients had light chain restriction in proximal tubular epithelium. By light microscopy, only 1 patient had focal rhomboid crystals in the proximal tubular epithelium; all other biopsies failed to show any discernible pathology within the proximal tubules or elsewhere in the kidney. By electro...
A micro-architectural analysis of switched photonic multi-chip interconnects

Silicon photonics is a promising technology to scale offchip bandwidth in a power-efficient manner. Given equivalent bandwidth, the flexibility of switched networks often leads to the assumption that they deliver greater performance than point-to-point networks on message passing applications with low-radix traffic patterns. However, when optical losses are considered and total optical power is constrained, this assumption no longer holds. In this paper we present a power constrained method for designing photonic interconnects that uses the power characteristics and limits of optical switches, waveguide crossings, inter-layer couplers and waveguides. We apply this method to design three switched network topologies for a multi-chip system. Using synthetic and HPC benchmark-derived message patterns, we simulated the three switched networks and a WDM point-to-point network. We show that switched networks outperform point-to-point networks only when the optical losses of switches and inter-layer couplers losses are each 0.75 dB or lower; achieving this would require a major breakthrough in device development. We then show that this result extends to any switched network with similarly complex topology, through simulations of an idealized "perfect" network that supports 90% of the peak bandwidth under all traffic patterns. We conclude that given a fixed amount of input optical power, under realistic device assumptions, a point-to-point network has the best performance and energy characteristics.
Fish bioturbation of cadmium‐contaminated sediments: Factors affecting Cd availability to Daphnia magna

Benthic fish bioturbation of contaminated sediments is thought to enhance exposure and, potentially, bioaccumulation into planktonic organisms. Exposures were conducted with cadmium-spiked sediment, 1.0 mg/kg nominal concentrations, and koi carp (Cyprinus carpio). Daphnia magna were placed in aquaria with and without fish for 6 d and Cd bioaccumulation was measured every 48 h. Koi carp bioturbation increased mean total suspended solids (TSS) in two trials from 0.001 mg/L to 44.4 mg/L and 19.2 mg/L to 762.4 mg/L. Mean aqueous Cd concentrations increased from 1.4 μg/L to 2.8 μg/L, and from 1.6 μg/L to 13.2 μg/L. Cadmium binding capacity increased from 28.9 μg/L to 169.8 μg/L in with-fish treatments when compared to controls. However, Daphnia magna body burdens did not increase. Mean Cd residues of daphnids exposed with fish, 9.2 μg/g, were not statistically different from without-fish exposures, 8.0 μg/g. Body burdens slightly decreased in the first trial after the with-fish treatment, 9.4 μg/g to 8.3 μg/g. Fish size was partially correlated with TSS and aqueous Cd concentrations and TSS positively correlated with binding capacity. Because increased TSS in the with-fish treatment resulted in increased binding capacity, it is probable that cadmium bioavailability decreased. Although koi carp were capable of remobilizing Cd from sediment, Cd bioaccumulation into Daphnia magna was not significant.
Feedback coding for information-based control: operating near the data-rate limit

The paper begins with a restatement and proof of a tight bound on the data capacity a feedback channel must provide in order to stabilize a tight half-plane pole. This sets the stage for a treatment of some of the issues arising in the source coding of signals between controllers and plants in systems where feedback loops are closed using bandwidth limited communication links. In particular, we are interested in the qualitative dynamics of LTI feedback systems operating near the data-rate limit.
Geometric Modeling and Visualization of Corn Based on Morphological Characteristic Parameters

Reconstructing the morphological structure of 3D plant is the purpose of digital plant research. In the plant growth conditions, the morphological structure of plant was determined by the dynamic interaction of hybrid genetic characteristics and growth environment factors. We propose a new approach to the structural modeling of corn. In this study, we parameterized each organ of corn based on morphological structural characteristics, and using these parameters as the driven parameters of growth model to generate the 3D plant model. Although the algorithm was established on corn, it can be easily adapted to other crops such as grain sorghum and wheat.
Measurement Invariance of Cognitive Abilities Across Ethnicity, Gender, and Time Among Older Americans

OBJECTIVES The aim of this research was to test the invariance of the cognitive variables in the Health and Retirement Study/Asset Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old studies (HRS/AHEAD) across ethnicity, gender, and time. METHOD Analyses were conducted using a selected subsample of the HRS/AHEAD data set. The cognitive performance tests measuring episodic memory and mental status were used, and invariance of a two-factor structure was tested using confirmatory factor analyses and multilevel modeling for longitudinal data. RESULTS Results provided some support for "strict" factorial invariance of the episodic memory and mental status measures across ethnicity and gender. Further support of weak ("metric") measurement invariance was found across time. DISCUSSION Results of the research further our understanding of invariance of the HRS/AHEAD cognitive ability measures. Further implications are discussed.
Correlation of Flowfield and Acoustic field Measurements in High-Speed Jets

The present study demonstrates the capabilities of an optical deflectometry (OD) technique to provide flow field turbulence measurements that can be successfully correlated with far-field acoustic field measurements. Results from supersonic fully expanded jets are presented and show variations in the frequency content of the coherence between the flow field and the acoustic field with OD positioning. The method is applied to jets with supersonic convection speed, producing Mach wave radiation, and show the strong directionality of the emitted noise. Similar measurements performed in shock-containing jets with microphones in the forward arc reveal enhanced coherence at the same frequency as the Broad Band Shock Associated Noise. Measurements are also made with the optical sensors scanning radially outside of the jet in an attempt to obtain a measurement of the spectra in the acoustic near field. These results show an exponential decay of the signal characteristic of the hydrodynamic region, where an evanescent pressure field dominates the total pressure fluctuation. The high level of skewness in these signals also support the concept that the crackle observed in the far-field originates in the near field. Further radially, acoustic pressure fluctuations are measured and successfully correlated to the acoustic far-field, thus demonstrating another application of this non-intrusive measurement technique in jet acoustics diagnostics.
ETHNIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP: STUDYING CHINESE AND INDIAN STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Current literature has not touched upon the topic of entrepreneurial intention among international students. Using the theory of planned behavior as a theoretical framework, this study addresses this gap by looking at the entrepreneurial intentions of Chinese and Indian students at a top university located in the Midwest United States. This study also explores their perceived barriers of being entrepreneurs in the United States and expected help from the university. Both survey and interviews are used for data collection and analysis. The research finding implications for educators are also provided.
Improving MapReduce performance in heterogeneous environments with adaptive task tuning

The deployment of MapReduce in datacenters and clouds present several challenges in achieving good job performance. Compared to in-house dedicated clusters, datacenters and clouds often exhibit significant hardware and performance heterogeneity due to continuous server replacement and multi-tenant interferences. As most Mapreduce implementations assume homogeneous clusters, heterogeneity can cause significant load imbalance in task execution, leading to poor performance and low cluster utilizations. Despite existing optimizations on task scheduling and load balancing, MapReduce still performs poorly on heterogeneous clusters.In this paper, we find that the homogeneous configuration of tasks on heterogeneous nodes can be an important source of load imbalance and thus cause poor performance. Tasks should be customized with different settings to match the capabilities of heterogeneous nodes. To this end, we propose an adaptive task tuning approach, Ant, that automatically finds the optimal settings for individual tasks running on different nodes. Ant works best for large jobs with multiple rounds of map task execution. It first configures tasks with randomly selected configurations and gradually improves tasks settings by reproducing the settings from best performing tasks and discarding poor performing configurations. To accelerate task tuning and avoid trapping in local optimum, Ant uses genetic functions during task configuration. Experimental results on a heterogeneous cluster and a virtual cluster with varying hardware capabilities show that Ant improves the average job completion time by 23%, 11%, and 16% compared to stock Hadoop, customized Hadoop with industry recommendations, and a profiling-based configuration approach, respectively.
The Effects of Localized Inactivation of Somatosensory Cortex, Area 3a, on Area 2 in Cats

In cats and primates, area 3a of the somatosensory cortex is the primary recipient of proprioceptive input (Phillips et al., 1971). Neurons in area 3a project to area 2 (Pons and Kaas, 1986; Porter, 1991), where somatic input relayed from the cortex and the thalamus may be integrated (Iwamura and Tanaka, 1978a,c). The goal of the present study was to determine the effects of area 3a input on neuronal activity in area 2 of cats. Extracellular recording techniques were used to identify neurons in area 2 that responded to deep stimulation of the contralateral forepaw. Neurons in area 3a that responded to the same receptive field modality and location as those in area 2 were also isolated. Single-unit or multiunit responses and evoked potentials to electrical stimulation of the shared peripheral receptive field and spontaneous activity were recorded from areas 2 and 3a. Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, was injected at the area 3a recording site to block neuronal activity. Spontaneous activity and receptive fields were abolished and evoked potentials were considerably diminished at the injection site, immediately after lidocaine was administered. Changes in unit responses, spontaneous activity, and evoked potentials in area 2 were monitored following inactivation of the somatotopically "matched" site in area 3a. Unit activity was recorded at 15 matched sites. In area 2, changes in unit responses to the peripheral stimulation and/or in spontaneous activity were observed at most of the recording sites following inactivation of area 3a. Spontaneous activity rates changed at 63% of the sites (mean change = 85%). Unit responses to the peripheral stimulation changed at 57% of the recording sites (mean change = 47%). The remaining sites in area 2 did not show lidocaine-induced changes. These sites may not have been connected with the matched sites in area 3a. Spontaneous activity and unit responses were not always similarly altered at a given site; sometimes one increased while the other decreased. Decreases in unit responses and spontaneous activity following inactivation of area 3a input were the predominant effects, indicating that area 3a has a facilitatory effect on neuronal activity observed in some regions of area 2. However, increases in neuronal activity at some sites indicated that the effects of area 3a input on area 2 are nonuniform. Evoked potentials were recorded at 19 matched sites, before and after injection of lidocaine. Evoked potentials also changed at some area 2 recording sites following area 3a inactivation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Early-summer inhibition of reproduction in wild white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis): influence of supplemental food

Adults of wild white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis) populations in southeastern Virginia have been shown to be reproductively suppressed during May–July compared with other months of the reproductive season. The gonads and sex accessory glands are also significantly smaller during May–July than at other times of the year. The causes of this early summer reproductive suppression are unknown. In this study, food (Agway 3000) that could not be hoarded was supplied in feeding stations on one-half the 11-ha wooded study area during 1990 and 1991. Food consumption (g) was positively but not significantly correlated with population density (adults/ha) during both years. Population density was higher during 1991 on the food-supplemented area than on the nonsupplemented area, but the statistical significance was marginal. Mice of both sexes living on both areas during 1990 and 1991 exhibited significant reproductive suppression during May–June. Further, mice of both sexes living on both areas during both years had significantly smaller gonads and sex accessory glands during May–June compared with other months of the year. Thus, during both years, surplus food did not prevent suppression of reproductive function in this wild population, and this phenomenon remains unexplained.
Phosphorylation Alters Oestrogen Receptor β-Mediated Transcription in Neurones.

Nuclear steroid hormone receptors are ubiquitously expressed transcription factors whose activity can be altered by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation. The consequences of post-translational modifications have been described for several members of the nuclear steroid hormone receptor superfamily; however, little is known about the effects of oestrogen receptor (ER)β phosphorylation in the brain. Moreover, to our knowledge, the presence of phosphorylated ERβ has not been detected in the brain of any species to date. Oestrogen receptor β is highly expressed in several regions of the brain and in vitro studies have demonstrated that it can be phosphorylated at two serine residues (S87 and S105) in the N-terminal AF-1 region. The present study aimed to determine whether phosphorylated ERβ is detectable in the hippocampus of aged female rats, as well as the functional consequences of ERβ S87 and S105 phosphorylation on transcriptional activity in neuronal cells. First, we used a novel PhosTag(™) approach to detect phosphorylated forms of ERβ in the dorsal hippocampus of aged female rats. The data obtained demonstrated abundant forms of phosphorylated ERβ in the dorsal hippocampus, suggesting that this post-translational modification might be an important regulator of ERβ function. To assess the functional consequences of ERβ phosphorylation in neuronal cells, we created phospho-mimetic (S87E, S105E) and phospho-null (S87A, S105A) ERβ receptors that were transiently transfected in a hippocampal-derived cell line. Collectively, our results showed that phosphorylation of S87 and S105 altered both ligand-independent and ligand-dependent ERβ transcriptional regulation. Overall, these data demonstrate that phosphorylated forms of ERβ are present in the brain of aged female rats and that phosphorylation of ERβ could differentially alter ERβ-mediated gene expression.
A Contrastive Corpus Analysis of Modern Art Criticism and Photography Criticism

In this study, we analyze two corpora of art critiques: one on the subject of photography and the other on the subject of modern art. We use two computational tools, the Gramulator and GPAT to analyze both sets of texts. The Gramulator was used to show the indicative linguistic features that make photography criticism a distinct genre from modern art criticism. Results suggest that lexical features, structural formats, and genre consistency differed significantly between the two corpora. The findings provide information for teachers, students, publishers, and curriculum developers for creating more effective writing and teaching materials. This includes material for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in the form of textbooks, workbooks and other external learning material.
Juvenile Justice: A Vision for the Millennium

This paper reviews the historical development of juvenile justice, provides critical analysis of the governmental perspective, identifies current and prospective programme models and examines trends that will shape juvenile justice in the 21st century. These trends include changing demographics, escalating perceptions of adolescent violence, increasing public frustration with crime and evolving conservative and punitive philosophies towards problem youth. International comparative data is also included. This paper was orginally presented at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, March 1998, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On Resilience of IoT Systems: The Internet of Things (Ubiquity symposium)

At the very high level of abstraction, the Internet of Things (IoT) can be modeled as the hyper-scale, hyper-complex cyber-physical system. Study of resilience of IoT systems is the first step towards engineering of the future IoT eco-systems. Exploration of this domain is highly promising avenue for many aspiring Ph.D. and M.Sc. students.