cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of optical amplification and pulse interleaving in low phase noise photonic microwave generation

Using carefully constructed pulse interleavers, we demonstrate ~10 dB reduction in the quantum noise from optical amplification for short pulse detection, resulting in a phase noise floor on a 10 GHz microwave of -175 dBc/Hz.
Electrical behaviors for growth of LAST alloys using vapor phase deposition

Abstract The well-dispersed crystal structures of LAST (Lead Antimony Silver Tellurium) alloys grown by a vapor phase deposition method are demonstrated to have excellent electrical characteristics in this study. The atomic ratio of Pb to Te in the alloys are kept at 0.85–0.88. The distribution of component concentrations depends on the deposition temperature, and the Ag- and Sb-rich segments are fabricated at high deposition temperature. Experimental data suggest that the higher Sb content in the crystal increases carrier concentration up to ∼10 19 (per cm). The electrical behavior of the crystal is n-type under Sb doping, and it was transferred into p-type once the samples are dominated by Ag doping, which also raises the mobility to a level as high as ∼10 3 cm 2 /V. Test results of this study have indicated that both Ag and Sb elements contribute to the electrical conductivity enhancement, however, an excess amount of Ag may significantly deteriorate the electrical performance instead.
Thermomechanical performance of composite materials

A brief review of the status of modelling of thermostructural composites is given, emphasizing topics discussed at the workshop sessions. The perceived needs for new models and techniques to predict composite performance under loading conditions of importance in various industrial applications is discussed, with a summary of recommended areas for focussed near-term research.
Kernel regression based segmentation of optical coherence tomography images with diabetic macular edema

We present a fully automatic algorithm to identify fluid-filled regions and seven retinal layers on spectral domain optical coherence tomography images of eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). To achieve this, we developed a kernel regression (KR)-based classification method to estimate fluid and retinal layer positions. We then used these classification estimates as a guide to more accurately segment the retinal layer boundaries using our previously described graph theory and dynamic programming (GTDP) framework. We validated our algorithm on 110 B-scans from ten patients with severe DME pathology, showing an overall mean Dice coefficient of 0.78 when comparing our KR + GTDP algorithm to an expert grader. This is comparable to the inter-observer Dice coefficient of 0.79. The entire data set is available online, including our automatic and manual segmentation results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first validated, fully-automated, seven-layer and fluid segmentation method which has been applied to real-world images containing severe DME.
Biomechanics of cartilage articulation: effects of lubrication and degeneration on shear deformation.

Objective To characterize cartilage shear strain during articulation, and the effects of lubrication and degeneration. Methods Human osteochondral cores from lateral femoral condyles, characterized as normal or mildly degenerated based on surface structure, were selected. Under video microscopy, pairs of osteochondral blocks from each core were apposed, compressed 15%, and subjected to relative lateral motion with synovial fluid (SF) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as lubricant. When cartilage surfaces began to slide steadily, shear strain (Exz) and modulus (G) overall in the full tissue thickness and also as a function of depth from the surface were determined. Results In normal tissue with SF as lubricant, Exz was highest (0.056) near the articular surface and diminished monotonically with depth, with an overall average Exz of 0.028. In degenerated cartilage with SF as lubricant, Exz near the surface (0.28) was 5-fold that of normal cartilage and localized there, with an overall Exz of 0.041. With PBS as lubricant, Exz values near the articular surface were ∼50% higher than those observed with SF, and overall Exz was 0.045 and 0.062 in normal and degenerated tissue, respectively. Near the articular surface, G was lower with degeneration (0.06 MPa, versus 0.18 MPa in normal cartilage). In both normal and degenerated cartilage, G increased with tissue depth to 3–4 MPa, with an overall G of 0.26–0.32 MPa. Conclusion During articulation, peak cartilage shear is highest near the articular surface and decreases markedly with depth. With degeneration and diminished lubrication, the markedly increased cartilage shear near the articular surface may contribute to progressive cartilage deterioration and osteoarthritis.
Computational Simulation of Redox Reactions within a Metal Electrospray Emitter

A computational simulation of the oxidation of chemical species inside a metal emitter electrospray ion source, in the context of electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS), has been developed. The analysis code employs a boundary integral method for the solution of the Laplace equation for the electric potential and current and incorporates standard activation and concentration polarization functions for the redox-active species in the system to define the boundary conditions. This paper provides a demonstration of the capability of this simulation method. Due to the approximate nature of some of the input data, and certain simplifying assumptions, the present results must be considered semiquantitative. The specific system modeled consisted of a 100-μm-i.d., inert metal capillary ES emitter and a spray solution composed of an analyte dissolved in CH3CN/H2O (90/10 v/v). Variable parameters included the concentration (i.e., 5.0, 10, 20, and 50 μM) of the easily oxidized analyte ferrocene (Fc, dicyclopentadien...
Developing correlations between fibrinogen adsorption and surface properties using multivariate statistics

A multivariate model based on the partial least squares algorithm (PLS) was constructed in order to establish a correlation between the surface properties of common polymeric materials and the amount and retention of fibrinogen absorbed from a complex mixture. Surface characterization was performed by means of static secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), and by contact angle measurements of several liquids on those materials. 125I-fibrinogen was adsorbed from a 1% plasma solution in buffer and the amount adsorbed after 2 h was determined. After 5 days of residence time in buffer, the adsorbed fibrinogen was eluted with a 1% solution of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The percent of fibrinogen that remained on the surfaces after elution is referred to as fibrinogen retention. Correlations between surface properties and the amounts of fibrinogen adsorbed or fibrinogen retention were established. These models also show the most important variables that are related to the protein behavior on these surfaces.
SERT II 1979 extended flight thruster system performance

The SERT II spacecraft, launched in 1970, has been maintained in an operational, but intermittently active status since 1971. Periodic thruster status has been reported while waiting for normal orbit precession to return the spacecraft to continuous sunlight in 1979. Now, the thruster has been operated for 600 hours in the first quarter of 1979. Thruster startup and operation in 1979 is unchanged after 9 years in space. The ion thruster was gimbaled and used to maintain spin stabilization of the spacecraft. Minor components of the spacecraft have failed, but have not interfered with the functional status of the spacecraft.
A Novel Technique of All-Inside Arthroscopic Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Repair

Peripheral triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears are amenable to repair. Limitations of current repair techniques include prolonged recovery and button or knot intolerance. We present a novel technique of an all-inside repair using existing technology (FasT-Fix; Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, Andover, MA) to circumvent these complications. This technique is faster, easily performed, safe, and potentially stronger than current repairs. Earlier motion and rehabilitation are instituted after this repair. The tear is debrided to stimulate angiogenesis. The FasT-Fix is inserted through the 3-4 portal with the arthroscope in the 6R portal. The first poly-L-lactic acid block is deposited peripheral to the tear. Upon penetration of the wrist capsule, a distinct decrease in resistance is felt. The introducer is withdrawn, depositing the block outside the capsule. The trigger on the introducer advances the second block into the deployment position. It is advanced and deposited central to the tear, forming a vertical mattress configuration. The introducer is removed, leaving the pre-tied suture. The knot is tightened and cut by use of the knot pusher/cutter. Multiple implants may be inserted to complete the repair. Postoperative care involves a sugartong splint for 2 weeks followed by a short arm cast for 4 weeks. Range of motion is begun thereafter with strengthening started at 10 weeks.
Effects of background symmetry on same-different pattern matching: a compromise-criteria account.

Two experiments are reported, which were designed to test predictions of an account ofsame-different matching that assumes that bilaterally symmetric backgrounds provide extraneous evidence towardsame, whereas asymmetric backgrounds provide evidence towarddifferent. When all backgrounds within a block of trials are of the same type, appropriate adjustments of response criteria can be made to accommodate the irrelevant evidence and thus maintain acceptable levels of accuracy. However, when backgrounds of different types are mixed randomly, compromise criteria are adopted. This compromise-criteria account predicts distinctive interaction patterns for reaction times when blocked versus mixed presentations of various background types are compared. The predicted interactions were obtained for asymmetric- and no-noise backgrounds in Experiment 1 and forsymmetric-, asymmetric-, and no-noise backgrounds in Experiment 2. The findings support the general view that extraneous display attributes are weighted into the evidence for same anddifferent, with criteria settings used that minimize errors under the noisiest conditions.
Confined compression of dental composites for Class I restorations

This study focuses on the mechanical response of a particle-reinforced restorative dental composite (Renew™) under proportional transverse confinement to understand the effects of stress multiaxiality on its mechanical and failure behaviors. We describe the confining ring technique as an experimental tool to introduce multiaxial compressive stress states in dental composites that realistically mimic three-dimensional stress states commonly experienced by dental restorations in the oral cavity. Effect of initial radial misfit between confining ring and specimen is analyzed through computational finite element simulations, and an analytical treatment of problem is also provided to compute the confining stress during elasto-plastic expansion of confining ring. Experimental results suggest that inelastic response of Renew composite is significantly influenced by hydrostatic stress component, and pressure-dependent yield functions are required to analyze plastic deformations and internal damage accumulation process.
Divalent cations: effects on post-synaptic pharmacology of invertebrate synapses.

Abstract 1. (1) The effects of divalent cations (Ca ++ , Mg ++ , Sr ++ and Co ++ ) were studied on the post-synaptic responses of crustacean neuromuscular junctions and identified molluscan neurons to bath and iontophoretic application of putative transmitters. 2. (2) The glutamate response of the crustacean muscle was parabolically dependent o on [Ca ++ ] 0 , while the ACh response of an identified molluscan neuron was inversely dependent on [Ca ++ ] 0 . Elevated [Ca ++ ] 0 depressed both glutamate and ACh depolarizations in a concentration-dependent, reversible manner. Low concentrations of Co ++ also depressed both depolarizations in a concentration-dependent, reversible manner. 3. (3) Double-reciprocal plot analyses of the Ca ++ and Co ++ depressions indicate that these agents were apparently not acting to reduce the affinity of the receptor for the agonist. Elevated concentrations of both Ca ++ and Co ++ shifted the inversion potential of the ACh response in a hyperpolarizing direction, suggesting a preferential block of the receptor-coupled Na + conductance. 4. (4) Neither Ca ++ nor Co ++ depressed Cl − - or K + -dependent responses coupled to the putative transmitters GABA, glutamate, dopamine or ACh. 5. (5) The selective inhibition of the ACh and glutamate responses by the general anesthetic pentobarbital was examined as a function of [Ca ++ ] 0 . Decreasing [Ca ++ 0 by 5-fold decreased the pentobarbital inhibition by about 50% while increasing [Ca ++ ] 0 by 5-fold produced an insignificant increase in the inhibition. 6. (6) The data indicate that divalent cations, like general anesthetics, selectively depress post-synaptic excitatory responses that are primarily Na + -dependent. This selective depression by Ca ++ could contribute to its anesthetic and anticonvulsant properties when present in elevated concentrations in the ventricular fluid. The mechanism by which divalent ions and general anesthetics selectively depress receptor-coupled conductances appear to be different: divalent ions preferentially attack the Na + component while anesthetics block Na + and K + conductances equally (possibly by affecting the kinetics of the mechanism).
5 Effect of Diet on the Ontongeny of Drug Biotransformation in Healthy Infants.

Drug biotransformation can be altered by diet in adults resulting in drug accumulation and toxicity, or in some cases, enhanced elimination. The cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) are a super family of heme-containing phase I enzymes responsible for biotransformation of a significant number of commonly used pharmacologic agents and a large array of endogenous substrates. Previous studies suggest that drug metabolism by CYPs differs between breast-fed and formula-fed infants. The effect of infant diet on the development of functional CYP activity is assessed in this report. Oral doses of caffeine and dextromethorphan were used as pharmacologic probes to track CYP enzyme activity in neonates seen at 6 visits over their first 6 months of life. The caffeine elimination rate constant (ke) was determined from serum caffeine levels obtained on alternating visits. At all visits, levels of caffeine, dextromethorphan, and their respective metabolites were determined by HPLC in urine samples collected over a 24 hr post-dose period. The serum caffeine ke of infants at their first study visit (2 weeks post-natal age) was unrelated to post-conceptional age. Caffeine elimination was low in infants at this first visit and displayed a significant positive linear correlation with increasing post-natal age (ke = .004 (Age [weeks]) + .001; p<0.001). Caffeine ke increased faster in formula-fed infants (slope = .005 95%CI: 0.004, 0.006) than in breast-fed infants (slope = .002 95%CI: 0.001, 0.002) (p<0.001) concomitant with increased conversion of caffeine to 3-demethylated metabolites. In contrast, breast feeding significantly increased the urinary fractional molar recovery of 3-methylxanthine (fr3X) [(fr3X) = .004 Age [weeks] + .016; p< 0.01] suggesting that this feeding modality produces a relative shunt in metabolism towards 7-demethylated metabolites. Dextromethorphan metabolism, assessed as the fractional molar recovery of 3-hydroxymorphinan (fr3HM), showed a similar marked increase with postnatal age [(fr3HM) = .014 Age [weeks] + .203; p< 0.001] that did not differ between diets. The maturation of caffeine elimination does not appear to begin until after birth. Formula feeding appears to accelerate the development of caffeine metabolism but not dextromethorphan. There may be specific ligand(s) unique to infant formula or human breastmilk that modify the developmental regulation of CYP1A gene expression and/or activity. Dietary modification of CYP activity may alter drug bioavailability and increase exposure to modified xenobiotics or endogenous metabolites from a very early age.
Influence of oxygen atmosphere on the crystal growth of copper(II) oxide

Single crystal growth of CuO, synthetic tenorite, was accomplished in oxygen atmosphere by the chemical vapor transport technique. We present the first systematic study of the growth of CuO in various partial pressures of oxygen. Crystals were grown using trace, 0.1, and 0.5 atm partial pressures of oxygen. The growth temperatures used were 820 and 865 °C. Typical dimensions of the crystals obtained were 1 × 2 × 0.25 mm. We have shown that the stoichiometry of single crystal CuO can be controlled during the growth process. The crystals exhibited cation deficient stoichiometry, Cu1−xO, with x increasing from less than 0.005 with no added oxygen, up to 0.05 with 0.5 atm O2 when grown at 865 °C.
An Approximate Ablative Thermal Protection System Sizing Tool for Entry System Design

A computer tool to perform entry vehicle ablative thermal protection systems sizing has been developed. Two options for calculating the thermal response are incorporated into the tool. One, an industry-standard, high-fidelity ablation and thermal response program was integrated into the tool, making use of simulated trajectory data to calculate its boundary conditions at the ablating surface. Second, an approximate method that uses heat of ablation data to estimate heat shield recession during entry has been coupled to a one-dimensional finite-difference calculation that calculates the in-depth thermal response. The in-depth solution accounts for material decomposition, but does not account for pyrolysis gas energy absorption through the material. Engineering correlations are used to estimate stagnation point convective and radiative heating as a function of time. The sizing tool calculates recovery enthalpy, wall enthalpy, surface pressure, and heat transfer coefficient. Verification of this tool is performed by comparison to past thermal protection system sizings for the Mars Pathfinder and Stardust entry systems and calculations are performed for an Apollo capsule entering the atmosphere at lunar and Mars return speeds.
Comparing Conventional and Biotechnology-Based Pest Management

Pest management has changed dramatically during the past 15 years by the introduction of transgenes into crops for the purpose of pest management. Transgenes for herbicide resistance or for production of one or more Bt toxins are the predominant pest management traits currently available. These two traits have been rapidly adopted where available because of their superior efficacy and simplification of pest management for the farmer. Furthermore, they have substantially reduced the use of environmentally and toxicologically suspect pesticides while reducing the carbon footprint of pest management as reduced tillage became more common, along with fewer trips across the field to spray pesticides. The most successful of these products have been glyphosate-resistant crops, which cover approximately 85% of all land occupied by transgenic crops. Over-reliance on glyphosate with continual use of these crops has resulted in the evolution of highly problematic glyphosate-resistant weeds. This situation has resulte...
Joint data compression and error protection over wireless fading channels using LDPC codes

This paper presents an efficient and robust method for joint source and channel coding over wireless fading channels. In a hierarchical wireless network, we consider cases in which a mobile transmission may be simultaneously received by multiple regional processing centers, which then collaborate by sending distorted data to a common higher-level processing center. We propose a generic framework for the joint compression and error protection of these correlated bit-streams received by distributed receivers over wireless fading channels. We show that joint decoders can achieve significant improvement.
Less Is More Executive Function and Symbolic Representation in Preschool Children

Executive function is recognized as a critical component of children's cognitive and social development. In two studies, a measure of executive function that had been used in research with chimpanzees was adapted for preschoolers. On this task, called Less Is More, children must point to a smaller reward (two candies) to receive a larger reward (five candies). In Study 1 (N = 101), performance was significantly related to age (3 vs. 4), verbal ability, and established measures of executive function. In Study 2 (N = 128), symbolic representations substituted for real candies in this task. Three-year-olds' performance improved significantly as afunction of symbolic distancing. This research has implications for the role of symbol systems in the development of executive control over thought and action.
A Most Unusual Passage Per Rectum

Question: A 60-year-old man with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in remission relapsed and was admitted for salvage chemotherapy. He received induction with methotrexate, epirubicin and cisplatin. During the course of treatment, he became hypotensive and tachycardic, prompting transfer to the intensive care unit. Septic shock was empirically treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. His course was further complicated by persistent pancytopenia, atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, disseminated intravascular coagulation and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. He developed abdominal distension, proximal small bowel dilation, and mesenteric edema by computed tomography without pneumoperitoneum. Subsequent radiographic studies over several days revealed no interval changes; conservative therapy with nasogastric tube suction and methylnaltrexone was given. Five days later, he had an episode of melena accompanied by passage rectally of a 15-cm tubular structure (Figure A). Within hours of this event, he developed multisystem organ failure and hypotension followed by asystolic cardiac
The ultrastructure of the canine testicular interstitial tissue.

The seminiferous tubules of the dog testis are surrounded by a boundary tissue composed of a basal lamina and a layer of peritubular cells that is from one to six cells thick. Myoid cells, arranged in a layer only one cell thick. are the innermost cells of the boundary tissue. These cells are characterized by the presence of numerous microfilaments 5 nm in diameter. micropinocytotic vesicles, intracellular densities near the plasma membrane, and a basal lamina on both faces. In the interstitial tissue, clusters of Leydig cells are enveloped by a basal lamina. and the individual cells are separated by a varying intercellular space. Leydig cells are joined by gap junctions, septate-like junctions, and rudimentary desmosomes. Within their cytoplasm are many 5-nm wide microfilaments. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is seen either as tubules or simple cisternae separated by microfilaments in the less developed Leydig cells and as extensive whorls of fenestrated smooth endoplasmic reticulum surrounding lipid droplets or mitochondria in the larger Leydig cells. Another cell type is present in the dog testis that has many of the cytological characteristics of the Leydig cell. This cell, however, is located within the boundary tissue of the seminiferous tubules between the myoid cell layer and the lymphatic endothelium. These Leydig-like cells may represent a stage in Leydig cell differentiation. The testicular lymphatics occur both as vessels and as sinusoids and often separate the boundary tissue from the interstitial tissue.
Particle Creation in de Sitter Space

In this, the first of a series of papers on quantum field theory in de Sitter spacetime, the invariant vacuum state appropriate for inflationary models of the early universe is identified and shown to decay due to the Hawking effect. The created pairs have an energy-momentum which leads to a first-order decrease of the effective cosmological constant, independently of any matter phase transition. A mechanism for dynamically relaxing ..lambda../sub eff/..-->..0 is thereby suggested.
Optimal quality adaptation for scalable encoded video

The dynamic behavior of the Internet's transmission resources makes it difficult to provide perceptually good quality streaming video. Scalable video encoding techniques have been proposed to deal with this problem. However, an encoded video generally exhibits significant data rate variability to provide consistent visual quality. We are, therefore, faced with the problem of accommodating the mismatch between the available bandwidth variability and the encoded video variability. We investigate quality adaptation algorithms for scalable encoded variable bit-rate video over the Internet. Our goal is to develop a quality adaptation scheme that maximizes perceptual video quality by minimizing quality variation, while at the same time increasing the usage of available bandwidth. We propose an optimal adaptation algorithm and a real-time adaptation algorithm based on whether the network conditions are known a priori. Experimental results show that the real-time adaptation as well as the optimal adaptation algorithm provide consistent video quality when used over both TCP-friendly rate control (TFRC) and transmission control protocol (TCP).
The vanishing subaortic membrane.

A fixed subaortic membrane is a rare cause for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. This case report describes an unusual echocardiographic presentation of a subaortic membrane in which the membrane, initially not seen, was identified only after a linear shadow posterior to the membrane was seen on a transesophageal echocardiogram. This represents an unusual demonstration of an ultrasound beam ‘dropout’ of a subaortic membrane.
Breast and cervical cancer screening: sociodemographic predictors among White, Black, and Hispanic women.

Objectives. We evaluated the relationship between breast and cervical cancer screening and a variety of variables across race/ethnicity groups. Methods. Using logistic regression models, we analyzed data from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey to assess the relative importance of the independent variables in predicting use of cancer screening services. Results. Having a usual source of care was the most important predictor of cancer screening use for all race/ethnicity groups. Health insurance was associated with an increased likelihood of cancer screening. Smoking was associated with a decreased likelihood of cancer screening. Conclusions. Regardless of race/ethnicity, most women follow mammography and cervical cancer screening guidelines. The identification of specific factors associated with adherence to cancer screening guidelines may help inform screening campaigns.
Stability and Control of a Structurally Nonlinear Aeroelastic System

The authors examine the stability properties of a class of nonlinear controls derived via feedback linearization techniques for a structurally nonlinear prototypical two-dimensional wing section. In the case in which the wing section has a single trailing-edge control surface, the stability of partial feedback linearization to achieve plunge primary control is studied. It is shown for this case that the zero dynamics associated with the closed-loop system response are locally asymptotically stable for a range of e ow speeds and elastic axis locations. However, there exist locations of the elastic axis and speeds of the subsonic/incompressible e ow for which this simple feedback strategy exhibits a wide range of bifurcation phenomena. Both Hopf and pitchfork bifurcations evolve parametrically in terms of the e ow speed and elastic axis location. In the case in which the wing section has two control surfaces, the global stability of adaptive control techniques derived from full feedback linearization is studied. In comparison with partial or full feedback linearization techniques, the adaptive control strategies presented do not require explicit knowledge of the form of the structural nonlinearity.
On space-time block codes for linear MMSE decoders

Space-time coding (STC) promises improved performance in wireless fading channels. STC has been introduced successfully to direct-sequence code-division-multiple-access (DS-CDMA) systems. The large complexity of the jointly optimal multiuser space-time block decoder motivates the consideration of suboptimal decoders. We consider a two-stage suboptimal approach: a linear MMSE equalizer suppresses multiple access interference and spatial intersymbol interference, and a mapper maps the soft output to a valid space-time block code (STBC). The asymptotic behavior of two decoders is analyzed as the SNR and the number of receive antennas increases. Given the suboptimal scheme, we consider the task of finding STBCs which optimize the performance of the suboptimal decoder.
“Speaking Bitterness”: Autobiography, History, and Mnemonic Politics on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier

In the Tibetan Buddhist monastery town of Labrang, located in southwest Gansu Province, China, the past is a heavy, and very often hidden, burden for residents and visitors alike (figure 1). This is not readily apparent amidst the bustling ‘nowness’ of commercial activities in this tourist site and model town for the profitable coexistence of Tibetan Buddhist monasticism and Chinese state-sponsored development goals. But as I discovered over the course of my fieldwork there in the mid-1990s, and again in the summer of 2002, for a population living with unsanctioned memories of the traumatic ruptures of the Chinese Communist-led revolution beginning in 1949, the ‘unsaid’ of history spoke loudly in implication—in implied dialogue with multimedia official histories, in the gaps in written and oral chronologies of events, in the revived performance of the lay and monastic ritual calendars, and in the dodges and silences of my Tibetan interlocutors during our many conversations about their pasts: “I don't know anything! I'm too young, you know!” (Tibetan [Tib.] ngas shes ni ma red, nga lo chung gi mo). Ama Drolma, a village matriarch in her late fifties, repeated this adamantly to me after I and my Tibetan woman assistant had asked her for a taped interview about local “history” (Tib. lo rgyus). She would hear none of our explanations about my interest in people's personal histories and insisted that I seek out old men, they would know about “early, early, early times” (Tib. sngan na sngan na sngan na).
Deferred Executive Compensation Policies in Chinese State-owned Enterprises

Since the commencement of industrial reform in China, most Chinese state-owned enterprises have adopted a deferred executive compensation policy to provide incentives for their management teams. However, the effectiveness of such a policy needs to be evaluated. In this paper, we specify a model of deferred executive compensation policy, in which the compensation for executives is contingent on firms' future revenue. The model suggests that under deferred executive compensation policies, managers exhibit an increasing level of effort in every period. Furthermore, the deferred compensation policy encourages managers to make long-term investments, which might generate revenue even after the termination of managerial contracts.
Impacts of Organizational Culture and Personality Traits on Decision-making in Technical Organizations

Technical organizations in industries such as aerospace or automotive regularly make major decisions regarding software and other tools to support mission-critical activities. These decisions take place at the enterprise level where functional departments must work together in ways not common before. Usually, these are high-impact, tension-filled decision activities that have long term effects. The organization needs a successful decision that stands the test of implementation and a sustained period of effective operation. The processes used in such cases generally follow analytical decision methods aimed at maximizing objectives. Understanding the characteristics of the organization, including the culture and the affected parties, in addition to the technical aspects of the decision may significantly increase the likelihood of success. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Tessellation: refactoring the OS around explicit resource containers with continuous adaptation

Adaptive Resource-Centric Computing (ARCC) enables a simultaneous mix of high-throughput parallel, real-time, and interactive applications through automatic discovery of the correct mix of resource assignments necessary to achieve application requirements. This approach, embodied in the Tessellation manycore operating system, distributes resources to QoS domains called cells. Tessellation separates global decisions about the allocation of resources to cells from application-specific scheduling of resources within cells. We examine the implementation of ARCC in the Tessellation OS, highlight Tessellation's ability to provide predictable performance, and investigate the performance of Tessellation services within cells.
Fragmentation of the M6 Response

Calculations have been made to examine the effect of configuration mixing on the spectral distribution of “stretched” M6 strength in sd-shell nuclei. These calculations explain much of the observed reduction in strength of the lowest 6- states, relative to single-particle estimates, and predict that some of the missing strength should be found within a few MeV of the strong yrast state. Recent measurements with the 28Si(p,n) reaction are in surprising agreement with these predictions, as are the qualitative features of spectra from the 32S(e,e’) and (p,n) reactions. Experiments to study the isoscalar M6 response would be most valuable and interesting.
Model reduction by constraints, discretization of flow problems and an induced pressure stabilization†

For flow problems, turbulence models and numerical methods can be thought of as model reductions. Herein we consider reduction imposed as a constraint using Lagrange multipliers. Development of this last method recovers the subgrid eddy viscosity method and a new stabilization of the incompressibilty constraint. Analysis of the new incompressibility stabilization reveals that stabilization is only really needed for the finest pressure scales. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Big Five Traits Related to Short-Term Mating: From Personality to Promiscuity across 46 Nations:

1 Abstract: As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, 13,243 participants from 46 nations responded to self-report measures of personality and mating behavior. Several traits showed consistent links with short-term mating. Extraversion positively correlated with interest in short-term mating, unrestricted sociosexuality, having engaged in short-term mate poaching attempts, having succumbed to short-term poaching attempts of others, and lacking relationship exclusivity. Low levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness also related to short-term mating, especially with extra-pair mating. Neuroticism and openness were associated with short-term mating as well, but these links were less consistent across sex and nation. Nation-level links between personality and sexuality replicated within-region findings, such as the strong association between national extraversion and national sociosexuality. Discussion focuses on the origins of personality-sexuality links and their implications across nations.
A Superfund Lawyer's History

Personal history of Professor Fred Light during 1982-84 as law associate to George Clemon Freeman, Jr. in his capacity as a member of the Superfund Section 301(e) Study Group. The article traces the history of the Study Group as it impacted CTS v. Waldburger, a 2014 Supreme Court decision interpreting CERCLA Section 309, 42 U.S.C. Section 9658.
Design of Intelligent Service Management Platform Based on Service Lifecycle

The increase of information integration demands and the quantity of integrated services in smart grid causes a gap of service management and the decrease of service reusability. The intelligent service management platform is built on the basis of service lifecycle model. By setting up the technical platform and management flow, clearly defining management role and responsibilities, and providing high-quality, operational and controllable services, it realizes professional service management and promotes service reusability and optimization. The design of the intelligent service management platform based on service lifecycle management conforms to the current status of the application integration in SGCC. It can effectively solve the service spread problems and promote service sharing and business integration.
Military Application of Multisensor Image Synthesis Technology

This paper presents the basic principles and methods of multisensor image synthesis for military application and comprehensively analyzes the characteristics of different methods. Then its future is described.
Study on bile salt (GCDA)-induced survival and chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

OBJECTIVE To study the growth of HCC cell line HepG2 and its sensitivity to antitumor drugs under bile salt(GCDA)environment.METHODS HepG2 cells were treated with GCDA.HepG2 cell viability and proliferation were detected by MTT assay.Cells were treated with antitumor drug in presence or absence of GCDA.Cell apoptotic rate was assayed by Flow Cytometry(FCM).Expressions of apoptosis-regulating proteins were assessed by Western Blotting.RESULTS GCDA had obviously effect on cell proliferation.GCDA up-regulated anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 and down-regulated pro-apoptotic proteins(Bak,Bim,Bax).GCDA caused antitumor drug-induced apoptotic rate decreasing remarkably(P0.05).CONCLUSION GCDA can induce the HCC cell line HepG2 survival and proliferation.GCDA can cause chemoresistance of tumor cells through up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins and down-regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins.
The role of external and internal signals in E-commerce

Online markets present a challenging environment to evaluate experience products, especially products sold by unknown online sellers. To alleviate this problem, unknown online sellers may choose to signal quality using website signals. However, signals are not useful unless buyers notice these signals and believe that these signals are true. In this study, we evaluate the effect of the believability of external and internal website signals on the buyer's evaluation of seller and product quality and purchase intentions when interacting with unknown online sellers. The results suggest that external and internal signals, if believable, have a significant effect on buyer perceptions. While both types of signals are important, buyers find external signals more salient than internal ones. These results enhance our understanding of signals in e-commerce because they help online sellers to refine their digital business strategies and inform online buyers about the importance of website signals. We enhanced the literature review by adding discussion on trust and website signals.We strengthened the theoretical part of the paper by integrating trust and signaling theories by including trust transference theory and relating the theory to external signals.We revised the theoretical implications by including additional discussion on the role of external and internal signals and believability.We improved the research design and modified the model by adding the relationship between trust and perceived deception.We included post hoc analyses to demonstrate the differences by believability among respondents.
SWRL-IQ: A Prolog-based Query Tool for OWL and SWRL.

We present SWRL-IQ (SWRL Inference and Query Tool), a Protege plug-in that allows users to create, edit, save, and submit queries to an underlying inference engine based on XSB Prolog. The tool distinguishes itself from other reasoning tools by a number of features, including goal-oriented backward-chaining reasoning, flexible constraint handling that allows for very declarative rules and queries, powerful SWRL extensions, and tracing and debugging features for explanation of reasoning results. Together, these features allow SWRL to be used as a powerful Logic Programming language that is tightly integrated with OWL ontologies. SWRL-IQ was motivated by the needs of a very complex problem domain: distributed military training and testing. The system is implemented in a flexible way to allow for different syntax front ends and reasoning back ends.
Do we need the inherence heuristic to explain the bias towards inherent explanations

It is clear that people often make unwarranted inherence-based explanations, but it is less clear that explaining this fact requires the inherence heuristic. Instead, it can be explained by a more general explanatory apparatus operating on the most readily available information, which, depending on the nature of that information, outputs both inherent and noninherent explanations.
Control of bacteriophage lambda repressor establishment transcription: kinetics of l-strand transcription from the y-cII-oop-O-P region.

The kinetics of γ l-strand repressor establishment RNA synthesis were measured from the y-cII region of induced tof- prophage. The activity of the repressor is epistatic to the expression of gene tof coding for the antirepressor (Tof). The activity of Tof, is epistatic to the expression of repressor gene cI transcription from Prm and the expression of repressor establishment transcription from a site 600 to 800 nucleotides upstream from Prm. Three modes of l-strand rex-cl-tof-y-cII-oop transcription occur: (a) Prm promoted cI-rex mRNA synthesis from noninduced prophage, (b) coordinate lit and oop synthesis from induced tof+ prophage and (c) establishment transcription from induced tof- prophage. The synthesis or stability of oop RNA is much reduced from induced tof-, compared with tof+ prophage. The oop transcription from tof- prophage is not coordinate with RNA synthesis from the y-cII interval. The y-cII-(oop) portion of the establishment transcript appears more unstable than the translated downstream copy of genes rex-cI. The initiation of any repressor establishment transcription requires the products of γ genes cIII, cII, P and Escherichia coli genes dnaB, dnaG, but not actual γ DNA synthesis. This result demonstrates that common factors, i.e. replication gene products, are required for the initiation of estaboishment transcription, γ replication and lit, oop RNA synthesis; and explains why cIII+cI+cII+ replication defective phage lysogenize poorly at low multiplicities of infection. The cIII and cII products were shown to act after an earlier replication initiation or activation event. Repressor establishment transcription and repressor mRNA synthesis from Prm (from induced cI-tof-, cIII-cI-tof- or cI-tof-cII- prophage) are amplified by gene dosage. The extent of lysogenization of E. coli by γ cIII-, cII- or replication minus mutants, defective for initiation of establishment synthesis, is attributed to gene dosage dependent transcription from Prm. The mechanism by which T of inhibits the initiation of establishment transcription does not appear to require repression of RNA synthesis from PL and PR. RNA synthesis from these promoters is blocked by renaturation of the repressor 5 min after induction, before establishment transcription is detected; however, establishment RNA synthesis measured between 12–13 min after induction, i.e. 7 min after renaturation of the repressor, is only partially reduced.
Alternating Tip Splitting in Directional Solidification

We report experimental results on the tip splitting dynamics of seaweed growth in directional solidification of succinonitrile alloys. Despite the random appearance of the growth, a tip splitting morphology was observed in which the tip alternately splits to the left and to the right. The tip splitting frequency $f$ was found to be related to the growth velocity $V$ as a power law $f\ensuremath{\propto}{V}^{1.5}$. This finding is consistent with the predictions of a tip splitting model that is also presented. Small anisotropies are shown to lead to different kinds of seaweed morphologies.
The Negative Effects of Teaching the Academic Discourse to Latino Students

When we teach writing to Latino students we are teaching more than just writing. We are asking them to change their cultural identity. I suggest that cultural differences play a part in Latino students struggle with writing, and these struggles affect these students impressions about writing academic papers, about school, and ultimately harm their ability to succeed. For this paper, I focus on the cultural schemata of academic discourse and why this is a difficult task for many minority students, in particular Latino students. I show how teaching to tri-partite structural schemata suggests a rationale for the pervasiveness and function of this structure in education, especially when teaching writing to minority students, in particular Latino Students.
Access to Family Planning and Women’s Health

Family planning is one of the most cost-effective health interventions to reduce maternal mortality. In addition, the benefits of family planning can be seen in the reduction of infant and child mortality as well as poverty, and in the empowerment of women to exercise their reproductive choices. In many parts of the developing world, organized family planning programs have been effective in reducing fertility and affecting population growth. During fertility declines, the resulting changes in the age structure of the population can provide countries with a demographic window of opportunity, which can help them grow economically if able to benefit from a first demographic dividend (DD). This is exactly what should be happening in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the region’s population continues to grow rapidly and access to family planning is still limited or totally unavailable to many women. As a result, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest fertility in the world, the lowest contraceptive prevalence rates, and the poorest women’s health indicators. Only realistic access to correct information and expansion of the range of available contraceptive methods can accelerate fertility decline and bring changes in the age structure composition of the population, thus allowing countries to capture a first DD. At the same time, this would also help to improve women’s health in SSA and allow societies to develop at a faster pace.
Symbolic model extraction for web application verification

Modern web applications use complex data models and access control rules which lead to data integrity and access control errors. One approach to find such errors is to use formal verification techniques. However, as a first step, most formal verification techniques require extraction of a formal model which is a difficult problem in itself due to dynamic features of modern languages, and it is typically done either manually, or using ad hoc techniques. In this paper, we present a technique called symbolic model extraction for extracting formal data models from web applications. The key ideas of symbolic model extraction are 1) to use the source language interpreter for model extraction, which enables us to handle dynamic features of the language, 2) to use code instrumentation so that execution of each instrumented piece of code returns the formal model that corresponds to that piece of code, 3) to instrument the code dynamically so that the models of methods that are created at runtime can also be extracted, and 4) to execute both sides of branches during instrumented execution so that all program behaviors can be covered in a single instrumented execution. We implemented the symbolic model extraction technique for the Rails framework and used it to extract data and access control models from web applications. Our experiments demonstrate that symbolic model extraction is scalable and extracts formal models that are precise enough to find bugs in real-world applications without reporting too many false positives.