cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevention of Significant Deterioration: 'Control-Compelling' Versus 'Site-Shifting'

In the 1970s, Congress, in response to a judicial decision, codified what is known as the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. This program attempts to protect areas with clean air from increases in air pollution from new plants. My article takes up the various rationales that have been put forward for PSD, and concludes that only one -- protection of American's national parks and wilderness areas -- is justifiable. Thus arguably the program should be confined to safeguarding such areas rather than all clean air areas.
Mobile elements and the human genome

Genomic DNA is often thought of as the stable template of heredity, largely dormant and unchanging, apart from perhaps the occasional point mutation. But it has become increasingly clear that DNA is dynamic rather than static, being subjected to rearrangements, insertions and deletions. Much of this plasticity can be attributed to transposable elements and their genomic relatives.
Fossil Horses--Evidence for Evolution

The modern day horse Equus is a beloved icon but also, thanks to its many fossil relatives, has proved valuable for understanding macroevolution (that is, the long-term evolution of species). In his Perspective, MacFadden discusses fossil evidence supporting a branching family tree for the Family Equidae and points out why horse fossils have been beneficial for understanding evolution.
Piezoelectricity in Polymers

The diverse group of “smart” piezoelectric materials is distinguished by their ability to react actively to changing stimuli as a result of converting mechanical to electrical energy and vice versa. Synthetic piezoelectric polymers, an integral part of the “smart” materials group, exhibit a type of behavior that is often compared with biological reactions involving transformations of the sensed information into the desired response. Due to such special qualities, piezoelectric polymers have been increasingly used in a rapidly expanding range of applications. At present, these materials continue to offer unprecedented design opportunities, leading to the belief that the industry is on the verge of major technological breakthroughs. The diverse group of piezoelectric materials includes a variety of synthetic polymers such as polypropylene, polystyrene, and poly(methyl methacrylate); semicrystalline polyamides such as nylon-11; and amorphous polymers such as vinyl acetate. However, piezoelectric effects in these materials are relatively weak, often unstable, and are considered of limited practical significance. Strong piezoelectricity has been observed only in the synthetic polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride) and PVDF copolymers. Keywords: Overview; Synthetic piezoelectric polymers; Poly(vinylidene fluoride); Electromechanical properties; Nonlinear; Time-dependent effects; Applications
Simple new risk score model for adult cardiac extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: simple cardiac ECMO score

Abstract Background Although the use of cardiac extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasing in adult patients, the field lacks understanding of associated risk factors. While standard intensive care unit risk scores such as SAPS II (simplified acute physiology score II), SOFA (sequential organ failure assessment), and APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II), or disease-specific scores such as MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) and RIFLE (kidney risk, injury, failure, loss of function, ESRD) exist, they may not apply to adult cardiac ECMO patients as their risk factors differ from variables used in these scores. Methods Between 2010 and 2014, 73 ECMOs were performed for cardiac support at our institution. Patient demographics and survival were retrospectively analyzed. A new easily calculated score for predicting ECMO mortality was created using identified risk factors from univariate and multivariate analyses, and model discrimination was compared with other scoring systems. Results Cardiac ECMO was performed on 73 patients (47 males and 26 females) with a mean age of 48 ± 14 y. Sixty-four percent of patients (47/73) survived ECMO support. Pre-ECMO SAPS II, SOFA, APACHE II, MELD, RIFLE, PRESERVE, and ECMOnet scores, were not correlated with survival. Univariate analysis of pre-ECMO risk factors demonstrated that increased lactate, renal dysfunction, and postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock were risk factors for death. Applying these data into a new simplified cardiac ECMO score (minimal risk = 0, maximal = 5) predicted patient survival. Survivors had a lower risk score (1.8 ± 1.2) versus the nonsurvivors (3.0 ± 0.99), P Conclusions Common intensive care unit or disease-specific risk scores calculated for cardiac ECMO patients did not correlate with ECMO survival, whereas a new simplified cardiac ECMO score provides survival predictability.
Data Compression for Dynamic Image Sequences

The temporal modes from Principle Component Analysis (PCA) are an effective tool for compressing pre-segmented information. This paper estimates a dynamic model for these temporal modes based on a sequential set of pre-segmented data. In particular, we analyze the gait of a man walking in place on a tread mill. We then apply it to a system where an occasional frame comes through covered with noise, and in such a situation we use a Kalman-Filter to identify the temporal modes, and it provides estimates with smoother, more realistic, dynamics than those of non-dynamic estimates such as least-squares. Afterward, we break our code by showing that the estimates and models are only as good as the data set with which they were trained.
PHANTOM LIMB PAIN AND RELATED DISORDERS

Postamputation phenomena, including painful and nonpainful phantom sensations occur following loss of limbs and other body parts. Peripheral and central nervous system mechanisms play a role in persistent phantom pain. Understanding the pathophysiology of this syndrome has improved in recent years. Comprehensive evaluation and a multimodality treatment approach comprise the current standard of care of the patient with phantom pain.
Raman spectra of molten SbCl3/AlCl3 mixtures

Raman spectra were obtained for nine molten mixtures of SbCl3 and AlCl3, as well as for the pure components. Also three molten mixtures of AlCl3/NaCl/SbCl3 were studied. Molten AlCl3 contains molecular Al2Cl6(D2h) while molten SbCl3 contains pyramidal (C3v) molecules aligned head to tail. The Raman spectra showed the presence of Al2Cl6 molecules in molten SbCl3/AlCl3 mixtures containing 40 mol% or more AlCl3 but gave no evidence for the formation of SbCl2+ and AlCl4−. However, SbCl3 is structurally modified by the addition of AlCl3 as seen from the shift of the highest SbCl stretching frequency. There is also spectral evidence that points to the formation of polymers that are different from those in pure SbCl3, and it cannot be ruled out that there may be a chloride-deficient antimony species in the AlCl3-rich mixtures. The molecular nature of the observed modifications in these mixtures cannot be deduced solely on the basis of the recorded spectra.
The learning environment and medical student burnout: A multicentre study

OBJECTIVES Little is known about specific personal and professional factors influencing student distress. The authors conducted a comprehensive assessment of how learning environment, clinical rotation factors, workload, demographics and personal life events relate to student burnout. METHODS All medical students (n = 3080) at five medical schools were surveyed in the spring of 2006 using a validated instrument to assess burnout. Students were also asked about the aforementioned factors. RESULTS A total of 1701 medical students (response rate 55%) completed the survey. Learning climate factors were associated with student burnout on univariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] 1.36-2.07; all P < or = 0.02). Being on a hospital ward rotation or a rotation requiring overnight call was also associated with burnout (ORs 1.69 and 1.48, respectively; both P < or = 0.02). Other workload characteristics (e.g. number of admissions) had no relation to student burnout. Students who experienced a positive personal life event had a lower frequency of burnout (OR 0.70; P < or = 0.02), whereas those who experienced negative personal life events did not have a higher frequency of burnout than students who did not experience a negative personal life event. On multivariate analysis personal characteristics, learning environment and personal life events were all independently related to student burnout. CONCLUSIONS Although a complex array of personal and professional factors influence student well-being, student satisfaction with specific characteristics of the learning environment appears to be a critical factor. Studies determining how to create a learning environment that cultivates student well-being are needed.
Geometric finiteness in large families in dimension 3

Abstract We prove a diffeomorphism type finiteness theorem in dimension 3 for families C covered by finitely many distance-like functions with bounded twist. C contains families of bounded isoembolic volume and twist. However, the subfamilies of C with fixed volume are not Hausdorff precompact. Our methods do not involve Hausdorff limits and they yield explicit estimates on upper bounds for the number of diffeomorphism types.
Necessary and sufficient conditions of unacceptable solutions in NLP discriminant analysis

Abstract Over the last ten years, there has been a growing interest in the application of mathematical programming techniques to discriminant analysis. Most research so far has focused on linear programming models. While many significant results in LP discriminant analysis have been obtained, little has been done on nonlinear programming models due to their complexity. This paper establishes necessary and sufficient conditions of unacceptable solutions for a number of nonlinear programming discriminant models.
Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers from lower generation amphiphilic monodendrons

Abstract Amphiphilic monodendrons of lower generations, AD12-N, containing a benzyl-15-crown-5 polar focal point, photochromic spacer and different number of dodecyl tails as peripheral groups ( n =1–8) have been investigated for their ability to form uniform monolayers at solid surfaces. The surface pressure–area behavior, photomechanical behavior and the morphology of the monomolecular films were investigated. We observed that all compounds studied are capable of forming stable Langmuir and Langmuir Blodgett monolayers, with virtually flat packing of molecules. Higher generation dendrimers form very uniform monolayers, without the usual domain microstructure. For AD12-4 monolayer on solid support, we observed stripped microstructure with several layers (3–6) bundled together. The periodicity of this structure of 8 nm was close to layered spacing, obtained from X-ray data for bulk material. For this compound, we proposed the model of double-layered packing of the molecules, with partial overlapping of the central segments and suggested that deposition on a solid substrate resulted in changing orientation of molecular fragments. Fast reversible photochromic response was observed for all monolayers with a conversion level of 50%.
A new mouse model for temporal- and tissue-specific control of extracellular superoxide dismutase.

The extracellular isoform of superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD, Sod3) plays a protective role against various diseases and injuries mediated by oxidative stress. To investigate the pathophysiological roles of EC-SOD, we generated tetracycline-inducible Sod3 transgenic mice and directed the tissue-specific expression of transgenes by crossing Sod3 transgenic mice with tissue-specific transactivator transgenics. Double transgenic mice with liver-specific expression of Sod3 showed increased EC-SOD levels predominantly in the plasma as the circulating form, whereas double transgenic mice with neuronal-specific expression expressed higher levels of EC-SOD in hippocampus and cortex with intact EC-SOD as the dominant form. EC-SOD protein levels also correlated well with increased SOD activities in double transgenic mice. In addition to enabling tissue-specific expression, the transgene expression can be quickly turned on and off by doxycycline supplementation in the mouse chow. This mouse model, thus, provides the flexibility for on–off control of transgene expression in multiple target tissues. genesis 47:142–154, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A simple approach to assessing copper pitting corrosion tendencies and developing control strategies

Localized corrosion of copper premise plumbing in drinking water distribution systems can lead to pinhole leaks, which are a growing problem for many homeowners. Despite the fact that water quality is an important factor associated with localized copper corrosion, good approaches for predicting the tendency of water to support localized corrosion and for assessing water treatment options to address problems are not available. The objective of this research was to determine the effectiveness of a simple pipe loop system, installed in a drinking water distribution system, in predicting localized copper corrosion and to assess treatment alternatives in drinking water. Visual examination of the internal surface of copper pipes positioned in the loop revealed signs of localized corrosion (isolated 3 mm diameter mounds of corrosion by-products) after only 72 days. Examination of pipe sections removed from the loops after 101 days clearly showed that localized corrosion was taking place. Cross-section analysis of the pipe showed pits as deep as 0.150 mm that were covered by a thin membrane and a mound of blue-green corrosion products. An ortho- and poly-phosphate blended chemical fed to a second pipe loop, prevented pitting attack, and produced different corrosion by-products. The study showed that simple, inexpensive copper pipe loops can be useful in predicting pitting tendencies of drinking water and in assessing the effectiveness of treatment alternatives.
THE MENCIAN THEORY OF HUMAN XING RECONSIDERED1

Analyse des fondements de la theorie du Xing humain chez Mencius, qui designe ce que l'on appelle la nature humaine, mais qui peut se comprendre dans le sens d'un acte creatif ou de l'heritage d'une propriete, dans le sens d'un acquis culturel ou d'un don naturel, appartenant a l'individu ou a l'humanite universelle. S'inscrivant dans le cadre du debat opposant R. Ames et I. Bloom sur la propriete normative, biologique ou psychophysique de l'homme, l'A. propose une nouvelle interpretation de la doctrine dynamique du bien chez Mencius dans le sens d'un developpement historique de la notion de ren chez Confucius, designant a la fois l'etre et le devoir-etre de l'homme compris dans leurs carateres intentionnel, synchronique, logique et causal
Anger rumination across forms of aggression

Abstract Research on correlates of aggressive behavior has examined a wide variety of variables (Collins & Bell, 1997; Dahlen, Martin, Ragan, & Kuhlman, 2004; Joireman, Anderson, & Strathman, 2003). Recently, researchers have attempted to parse the construct of rumination into subcomponents focusing on particular types of affective experiences. Anger rumination, in particular, has been the subject of increased attention (Sukhodolsky, Golub, & Cromwell, 2001). Theoretical accounts suggest that people believe aggressive behavior improves mood, so if anger rumination intensifies anger, such cognitive styles may predispose individuals to aggressive behavior. In this study, we sought to examine the role of anger rumination in trait physical aggression, trait verbal aggression, hostility, and anger. We predicted that global anger rumination scores would predict trait physical and verbal aggression, hostility, and anger scores even when controlling for an extensive list of covariates. Results indicated that anger rumination significantly predicts physical and verbal aggression and hostility, but not anger. These findings imply that anger rumination plays an important role in physical and verbal aggression as well as hostility. Limitations include the use of self-report measures and cross-sectional data as well as a non-clinical sample. Implications include the potential utility in assessing anger rumination in aggressive clients.
Adolescent Development of the Reward System

Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by increased reward-seeking behavior. Investigators have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in conjunction with reward paradigms to test two opposing hypotheses about adolescent developmental changes in the striatum, a region implicated in reward processing. One hypothesis posits that the striatum is relatively hypo-responsive to rewards during adolescence, such that heightened reward-seeking behavior is necessary to achieve the same activation as adults. Another view suggests that during adolescence the striatal reward system is hyper-responsive, which subsequently results in greater reward-seeking. While evidence for both hypotheses has been reported, the field has generally converged on this latter hypothesis based on compelling evidence. In this review, I describe the evidence to support this notion, speculate on the disparate fMRI findings and conclude with future areas of inquiry to this fascinating question.
Nano and microscale surface and sub-surface modifications induced in optical materials by femtosecond laser machining

Abstract Femtosecond laser and optoelectronic materials interaction is studied in this research. Particular focus is on diamond, lithium niobate, and gallium arsenide. The following unique, laser-assisted nano and micromachining findings were observed: (1) 3D periodic nano-writing on the surface and on diamond clusters in the form of periodic ripples shorter than the laser wavelength, (2) amorphous and defective areas in the nano/sub-micrometer vicinity of laser treated region, allowing selective light trapping, and (3) surface passivation without contaminating the surface. These findings demonstrate the suitability of ultrashort lasers to nano/micromachining of difficult-to-machine optoelectronic materials, and this manuscript discusses mechanisms responsible for these.
Utility of fractional flow reserve to determine treatment after recent large myocardial infarction with severe left ventricular dysfunction

Evaluation of ischemia and the extent of viable myocardium is required prior to consideration of revascularizing a lesion after a myocardial infarction in which there is hypo- or akinesis. We present a case in which we utilized fractional flow reserve (FFR) of a lesion in a patient whose nuclear study 7 days after infarction suggested minimal viability in the infarct zone. After FFR was positive, stenting was performed with recovery of a large amount of viable myocardium at 1 month as shown on nuclear study. This case illustrates that if ischemia is demonstrated by FFR in an infarct-related artery even with minimal viability by nuclear study, revascularization may result in significant myocardial recovery. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modeling and Impact Analysis of Football Helmets: Toward Mitigating mTBI

Head injuries, especially concussions, have become a subject of deep concern particularly in contact sports such as American Football. There is always a need to improve the design of football helmets in order to lower the risk of concussion. In this research, we developed a mathematical model to physically describe the head and helmet together against an impact load. The mechanical properties of helmet materials were obtained through compression tests and hysteresis loop experiments. These experimental data along with biomechanical data of head and brain available in literature were incorporated into our modeling and analysis. A code was developed to conduct impact analysis and the results are illustrated and discussed accordingly.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON RESPIRATION XVIII. RESPIRATION AND ANTAGONISM IN ELODEA

Previous studies in this series have dealt with the relation between antagonism and respiration, but have not included tissues of higher plants containing normal amounts of chlorophyll.1 The experiments here presented were designed to test the effects of mixtures of solutions of sodium and calcium chlorides on such tissues. For this purpose the leafy stems of Elodeca cancadensis were selected. This has proven to be excellent material since it is hardy in respect to climatic conditions and laboratory manipulation while sufficiently sensitive to reagents. The leaves are exceedingly thin, and gaseous exchange is very rapid. All the plants were collected from one place in a slowly flowing stream and, as long as it remained open, taken fresh at least once a week to the laboratory. The material used during the late winter and early spring was provided by a quantity of plants collected in December and kept in the greenhouse in large glass jars in a cool room. It thrived well and when tested gave normal results. The method used for most of the experiments was that developed by Haas2 in which the plants were immersed in solutions containing an indicator.3 The production of CO2 was measured by the change in color of the indicator. The standard buffer solutions containing the same indicator were mixtures of borax and boric acid. The final experiments were carried out by the use of the apparatus described by Osterhout.4 The curves closely resemble those obtained by the other method. The accuracy of measurement was greater. Since the two methods are alike in all but mechanical details, only the first will be discussed in full. The procedure consisted in measuring the normal rate of production of CO2 in tap water or distilled water and then testing the effect of a salt
Correlates of locus of control among male alcoholics

This study examined the relationship between internal-external control and several psychometric adjustment indices among 162 male alcoholics (mean age = 40.7) in an inpatient state vocational rehabilitation facility. Rotter's I-E scale was used to compare three subgroups of alcoholics (39 Internals, 82 Moderate scorers, and 41 Externals) on the Success-Failure Inventory, the Dogmatism Scale, the Future Outlook Inventory, the Alcadd Test, and the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List. Internal alcoholics were found to be significantly more success-oriented, less dogmatic and more optimistic in future adjustment outlook. I-E subgroup differences on these measures were not dependent on age and IQ variability present between I-E levels. Results suggest that locus of control-adjustment correlates exist within alcoholic as well as within previously studied "normal" samples.
Solid-state cavity lasing from poly(p-phenylene vinylene)–silica nanocomposite bulk

We have fabricated inorganic–organic nanocomposite bulk samples consisting of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and silica by in situ polymerization of a PPV salt monomer within a porous glass using a base-catalyzed polymerization reaction and subsequent heat treatment. The samples processed at temperatures above 200 °C showed a sharp reduction in fluorescence. Solid-state cavity lasing was achieved from the samples processed at 150 °C with optical efficiency as high as 11.4%. We report characteristic narrowing of the linewidth and the temporal profile.
Distribution-based statistical sampling: an approach to software functional test

Abstract Software testing uses both structural and functional strategies to ensure the delivery of quality products. Structural testing checks the implementation of the software design, whereas functional testing validates the correct implementation of the specified software requirements. Exhaustive functional testing for software of any reasonable complexity is recognized as being impractical; therefore, sampling strategies must be introduced to prioritize and optimize the requirements validation. Recent work with statistically based sampling techniques shows a potential for the systematic validation of requirements with the use of representative inputs from the software's planned operating environments. This article discusses the need for sampling strategies in functional testing, the characteristics of and experience with a statistical sampling approach, and the impact of a statistical approach on the functional test process.
Disintegration behavior of metal rods subjected to hypervelocity impact

Abstract The disintegration behavior of projectile rods when impacting plates at velocities above 10 km/s is largely unexplored. Possible material responses include vaporization, melting, solid state phase changes, plastic flow, shear localization, and ductile and brittle tensile fracture. Two primary difficulties have prevented experimental studies of projectile response in this velocity regime, namely the lack of a technique for accelerating a projectile to velocities above 10 km/s, and the lack of a procedure for recovering the projectile remains after impact for examination. These difficulties were overcome recently by using an exploding foil technique to drive an impactor plate and by using a reverse ballistics test arrangement to allow projectile recovery. This paper describes this experimental procedure for investigating the disintegration behavior of projectile rods under hypervelocity impact conditions, presents preliminary results for steel, aluminum and lead, and discusses requirements for computational material response models.
Choline acetyltransferase immunocytochemistry of Edinger-Westphal and ciliary ganglion afferent neurons in the cat

The distribution of cholinergic neurons in the region of the cat Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EW) was determined by immunocytochemical localization of the acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Neurons containing ChAT-like immunoreactivity (ChAT-LI) were densely distributed within EW, the anteromedian nucleus (AM), and the oculomotor nucleus (III), and were also present in immediately adjacent regions of the periaqueductal gray and ventral tegmental region. The majority of labelled neurons in EW and AM showed a markedly lower intensity of ChAT-LI than the labelled neurons in III and adjacent regions. To determine the relationship of cells with ChAT-LI to the distribution of ciliary ganglion afferent neurons, a double labelling immunocytochemistry/retrograde transport technique was also used. These experiments showed that many of the cells located outside of III that stained intensely for ChAT-LI project to ciliary ganglion. Very few ciliary ganglion afferent neurons were found in EW or AM itself; instead, the distribution of lightly labelled ChAT-LI-positive neurons in EW and AM more closely matched the known distribution of peptide-containing cells that have descending, central projections.
Long-lived phonons.

We have demonstrated that long-lived transverse acoustic phonons exist, and that they can be observed as a product of three-particle anharmonic decay of polaritons in GaP. The long-lived phonons are found in a strongly dispersive region of the Brillouin zone and possess a frequency of \ensuremath{\sim}118 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and a lifetime of 66.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5 ns.
Insulin: Food for Thought

Insulin is commonly prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes to improve glycemic control, but what if insulin could also improve memory? Insulin is vital for glucose metabolism and critical for organism survival. Now, recent studies show that this hormone may also play an important role in optimizing cognitive function. Indeed, type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but the mechanisms for this phenomenon are not fully understood. One theory is that inadequate insulin delivery (or insulin resistance) in the brain may affect perfusion and neural activity in cognitive neurocircuitry. Novak et al . examined the effect of acute intranasal insulin administration on cognition and cerebral vasoreactivity in individuals with type 2 diabetes. In a randomized, double-blind study, 15 individuals with type 2 diabetes (mean age 62) and 14 healthy individuals (mean age 60) received intranasal insulin or saline (placebo) on two separate random-order days. Vasoreactivity (vasodilatation to hypercapnea) and regional cerebral perfusion were assessed with magnetic resonance imaging, and neuropsychological testing was conducted to assess cognitive function. Acute administration of intranasal insulin improved visuospacial memory in both groups. Cognitive performance was related to regional vasoreactivity after insulin administration; specifically, improvement in visospatial memory in the group with type 2 diabetes was related to vasodilatation in the region of the middle cerebral artery. The authors suggest that administration of intranasal insulin may acutely improve cognitive function in individuals with type 2 diabetes, perhaps owing to improved vasoreactivity mechanisms (vasodilatation). This proof-of-concept study provides evidence that in individuals with type 2 diabetes, intranasal insulin may play a role in acutely improving cognitive function. Certainly, larger studies must be conducted with administration of this medication over a longer period of time. Nevertheless, it is intriguing to speculate that intranasal insulin may be a potential pharmacologic agent for the improvement of cognitive function or perhaps for curtailing or slowing down of dementia in individuals with type 2 diabetes. V. Novak et al. , Enhancement of vasoreactivity and cognition by intranasal insulin in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care . 37 , 751–759 (2014).[[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2013/10/02/dc13-1672.abstract
Comparison theorem for embrasures in the integral theory of fire

For the system of equations of the integral theory of a fire in a room with open embrasures, we obtain comparison theorems that permit one to obtain relationships between solutions corresponding to various ignition conditions and hence compare the values of dangerous factors arising in fires under such conditions. These results are used for the practical problem of the replacement of a complicated system of embrasures by a single rectangular embrasure without diminishing the level of the fire danger.
High-throughput architecture and implementation of regular (2, d c ) nonbinary LDPC decoders

Nonbinary LDPC codes have shown superior performance, but decoding nonbinary codes is complex, incurring a long latency and a much degraded throughput. We propose a low-latency variable processing node by a skimming algorithm, together with a low-latency extended min-sum check processing node by prefetching and relaxing redundancy control. The processing nodes are jointly designed for an optimal pipeline schedule. This low-latency, high-throughput architecture is applied to a class of high-performance (2, d c )-regular nonbinary LDPC codes constructed based on their binary images. A conflict-free memory is proposed to resolve data hazards caused by the non-structured nature of these codes. A complete (2, 4)-regular, (960, 480) GF(64) nonbinary LDPC decoder is demonstrated on a Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA. The decoder delivers an excellent error-correcting performance at a 9.76 Mb/s coded throughput, representing a significant improvement of state-of-the-art extended min-sum decoder implementations.
Sparsity-Directed Decomposition for Gaussian Elimination on Matrices

This is a concise critical survey of the theory and practice relating to the ordered Gaussian elimination on sparse systems. A new method of renumbering by clusters is developed, and its properties described. By establishing a correspondence between matrix patterns and directed graphs, a sequential binary partition is used to decompose the nodes of a graph into clusters. By appropriate ordering of the nodes within each cluster and by selecting clusters, one at a time, both optimal ordering and a useful form of matrix banding are achieved. Some results pertaining to the compatibility between optimal ordering for sparsity and the usual pivoting for numerical accuracy are included.
Stimulation of glucose transport by thyroid hormone in ARL 15 cells: increased abundance of glucose transporter protein and messenger ribonucleic acid.

We have studied regulation of the glucose transporter by thyroid hormone in ARL 15 cells, a thyroid hormoneresponsive cell line derived from rat liver. T3 treatment (5 × 10-8 M for 48 h) of confluent cell monolayers grown in thyroid hormone-deficient medium increased the rate of uptake of [3H] 2-deoxyglucose by 2.3 ± 0.2-fold; this effect was half-maximal at a T3 concentration of 5 nM. The uptake of the nonmetabolizable hexose [3H]3-0-methylglucose was comparably increased, confirming a stimulation of glucose transport by thyroid hormone in these cells. In addition to enhancing glucose transporter activity, T3 increased the utilization of medium glucose to a similar degree. To elucidate the mechanism of the stimulation of glucose transport by T3, the number of glucose transporter units in crude membrane preparations was quantitated by measuring the glucose- inhibitable binding of [3H]cytochalasin-B. The Kd for specific (glucose-inhibitable) binding of [3H]cytochalasin-B was 50- 60 nM, a value typical for ...
Estimating instream constituent loads using replicate synoptic sampling, Peru Creek, Colorado

Summary The synoptic mass balance approach is often used to evaluate constituent mass loading in streams affected by mine drainage. Spatial profiles of constituent mass load are used to identify sources of contamination and prioritize sites for remedial action. This paper presents a field scale study in which replicate synoptic sampling campaigns are used to quantify the aggregate uncertainty in constituent load that arises from (1) laboratory analyses of constituent and tracer concentrations, (2) field sampling error, and (3) temporal variation in concentration from diel constituent cycles and/or source variation. Consideration of these factors represents an advance in the application of the synoptic mass balance approach by placing error bars on estimates of constituent load and by allowing all sources of uncertainty to be quantified in aggregate; previous applications of the approach have provided only point estimates of constituent load and considered only a subset of the possible errors. Given estimates of aggregate uncertainty, site specific data and expert judgement may be used to qualitatively assess the contributions of individual factors to uncertainty. This assessment can be used to guide the collection of additional data to reduce uncertainty. Further, error bars provided by the replicate approach can aid the investigator in the interpretation of spatial loading profiles and the subsequent identification of constituent source areas within the watershed. The replicate sampling approach is applied to Peru Creek, a stream receiving acidic, metal-rich effluent from the Pennsylvania Mine. Other sources of acidity and metals within the study reach include a wetland area adjacent to the mine and tributary inflow from Cinnamon Gulch. Analysis of data collected under low-flow conditions indicates that concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn in Peru Creek exceed aquatic life standards. Constituent loading within the study reach is dominated by effluent from the Pennsylvania Mine, with over 50% of the Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn loads attributable to a collapsed adit near the top of the study reach. These estimates of mass load may underestimate the effect of the Pennsylvania Mine as leakage from underground mine workings may contribute to metal loads that are currently attributed to the wetland area. This potential leakage confounds the evaluation of remedial options and additional research is needed to determine the magnitude and location of the leakage.
The Tragedy of the Coffeehouse Costly Riding and How to Avert It

This study reports and analyzes the results of three trials of a one-shot collective game—a variety of the assurance game—conducted via the World Wide Web. In the first two trials, most players apparently mistook the assurance game for a prisoner's dilemma and consequently attained the worst possible outcome. After contemplating appropriate strategic considerations, players who participated in the third trial attained a better outcome but did so in a surprising way. This report accounts explicitly for the unexpected results. Implicitly, it also reveals some potential for social experimentation in cyberspace.
Age and genetic strain differences in response to chronic methylphenidate administration

Abstract Methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPD) is a psychostimulant used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) in adolescents and adults alike. Adolescence involves a period of neural development that is highly susceptible to environmental and pharmacological influence. Exposure to a psychostimulant like MPD during this crucial time period may cause permanent changes in neuronal function and formation. Another factor that may influence changes in neuronal function and formation is genetic variability. It has been reported that genetic variability affects both the initial behavioral response to drugs in general and psychostimulants in particular, and subsequently whether tolerance or sensitization is induced. The objective of the present study is to investigate the dose-response effects of repeated MPD administration (0.6, 2.5, or 10.0 mg/kg, i.p.) using an open field assay to investigate if there are differences between adolescent and adult Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), Spontaneously Hyperactive rat (SHR), and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, respectively, and if the genetic variability between the strains influences the degree of change in locomotion. The acute and chronic administration of MPD resulted in unique differences in the level of increasing intensity in locomotor activity in each rat strain, with adult rats for the most part having a more intense increase in locomotor activity when compared to their adolescent counterparts. In conclusion, significant response differences among rat strains and age to acute and chronic MPD administration were observed only following the 2.5 and 10.0 mg/kg i.p. doses and not following the lower MPD dose (0.6 mg//kg i.p.). In addition the variability in activity among the rat strain and age suggests that MPD may affect the same neuronal circuit differently in each strain and age. The unique differences among the individual locomotor indices suggest also that each locomotor index is regulated by different neuronal circuits, and each affected differently by MPD.
W. H. Hutt and The economics of the colour bar

Long before the international climate of opinion made South Africa’s system of legalized racial discrimination untenable, it was under attack from within. A tiny part of that struggle was waged on moral grounds by decent South Africans both white and nonwhite. The much larger part of the war was waged not on moral grounds but on the economic battlefield where the stakes were profit and losses. As W. H. Hutt so aptly points out, the major disadvantages of apartheid were borne by South Africa’s nonwhite population, but the disadvantage was shared by whites as well. As such it produced widespread tensions leading to resistance, evasion, contravention, and modi-fication of apartheid law. Often evasion and contravention of apartheid law was led by the very people who shared the ideology of white supremacy. The final abolition of apartheid law may indeed reflect a change in heart by South African whites but the coup de grace was, as Hutt put it, the liberating forces “released by what is variously called the ‘free market system,’ the ‘capitalist system,’ or the ‘profit system.’”
On the schedulability of real-time discrete-event systems

We consider end-to-end latency specifications for hard real-time embedded systems. We introduce a discrete-event programming model generalizing such specifications, and address its schedulability problem for uniprocessor systems. This turns out to be rather idiosyncratic, involving complex, time-dependent release predicates and precedence constraints, quite unlike anything we have seen in the hard real-time computing literature. We prove the optimality of the earliest-deadline-first scheduling policy, and provide an algorithmic solution, reducing the schedulability problem to a reachability problem for timed automata.
The gallium–gallium triple bond in a realistic model. A density functional theory study of Na2[(C6H5)2C6H3GaGaC6H3(C6H5)2]

Abstract Density functional theory is employed to study the model molecule Na 2 [(C 6 H 5 ) 2 C 6 H 3 GaGaC 6 H 3 (C 6 H 5 ) 2 ] as a means to address the question of Ga–Ga triple bond formation in the recently reported gallyne, Na 2 [{( i -Pr 3 C 6 H 2 ) 2 C 6 H 3 }GaGa{C 6 H 3 ( i -Pr 3 C 6 H 2 ) 2 }]. The structure is fully optimized with the B3LYP method utilizing a substantial basis set of 836 contracted Gaussian functions. Natural bond order analysis and a NLMO/NPA bond order of 2.79 for Na 2 [(C 6 H 5 ) 2 C 6 H 3 GaGaC 6 H 3 (C 6 H 5 ) 2 ] are in support of a weak Ga–Ga triple bond in the model compound and in the gallyne.
AFM imaging of ALYGNSA polymer–protein surfaces: evidence of antibody orientation

Previous investigations found the combination of recombinant bacterial protein G (rProG) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to produce a greater proportion of oriented antibodies. PMMA–rProG yielded a sixfold greater availability of antibody Fab regions compared with other bacterial affinity linker protein and polymer pairings, including commercially available polystyrene (PS) high-binding 96-well microplates. Given the name ALYGNSA, the PMMA–rProG combination was developed into a fluorescence assay and evaluated in conjunction with commercially available cancer biomarker enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). In each study, a lower limit of detection was seen with the ALYGNSA assay. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the ALYGNSA substrate in contrast with a commonly used ELISA substrate and analyze the affinity-immobilized antibodies for additional evidence of orientation. Non-contact atomic force microscopy is a logical method as it operates in ambient conditions, can be used directly on biological samples without modification, and offers the resolution necessary to identify the position of the antibody on the surface. Dynamic contact angle studies were employed to examine untreated PMMA and PS samples and revealed important differences in their surface characters. Comparative height threshold grain analysis of the prepared ALYGNSA surface, a similarly treated mica surface, and a gold colloid sizing standard evaluated and confirmed the antibody orientation of the ALYGNSA system.
Thermotaxis in a slime mold, Physarum polycephalum.

Physarum polycephalum is thermotactic toward 29 ± 1°C avoiding both higher and lower temperatures. 29°C appears to be a- combined optima for growth and locomotion. It is likely that thermotaxis is a more efficient way of avoiding unfavorable temperature than transforming into spherules.
Nylon 7, ein faserbildendes Polyamid

7-Aminoheptansaureester lassen sich in vier Stufen aus ϵ-Caprolacton darstellen. Diese Synthese zusammen mit einem einfachen Verfahren zur Polykondensation gibt die Moglichkeit zur grostechnischen Produktion von Nylon 7. Dieses Polyamid unterscheidet sich von Nylon 6 und 6.6 nur wenig, zeigt aber in einigen Eigenschaften (Nasfestigkeit, Elastizitatsmodul, Dehnungserholungsvermogen usw. nach dem Tempern in kochendem Wasser) ein etwas gunstigeres Verhalten.
A cascade of protein kinase C isozymes promotes cytoskeletal polarization in T cells

Polarization of the T cell microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) toward the antigen-presenting cell (APC) is driven by the accumulation of diacylglycerol (DAG) at the immunological synapse (IS). The mechanisms that couple DAG to the MTOC are not known. By single-cell photoactivation of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR), we found that three distinct isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) were recruited by DAG to the IS in two steps. PKC-ɛ and PKC-η accumulated first in a broad region of membrane, whereas PKC-θ arrived later in a smaller zone. Functional experiments indicated that PKC-θ was required for MTOC reorientation and that PKC-ɛ and PKC-η operated redundantly to promote the recruitment of PKC-θ and subsequent polarization responses. Our results establish a previously uncharacterized role for PKC proteins in T cell polarity.
A Causal Model of Linkages Among Environmental Dimensions, Macro Organizational Characteristics, and Performance

An integrative model of relationships among environmental dimensions, diversification strategy, firm size, structural divisionalization, and economic performance was developed and tested using environmental and organizational data from 110 large manufacturing firms. The results suggested that among those organizations, (1) higher levels of environmental instability were associated with lower levels of divisionalization and diversification, (2) strategy followed structure, and (3) size did not mediate the strategy-structure relationship. Furthermore, both environmental instability and diversification were positively related to market-determined performance, and instability was negatively related to operating performance. The results provided support for portions of each of three models, the external control, strategic management, and inertial models.
Direct simulation Monte Carlo calculation of a jet interaction experiment

This study deals with the development of a methodology for numerically simulating the interaction of a reaction control system (RCS) jet with a low-density external flow. A European Space Agency experiment was chosen as a test case, since it provided experimental data that could validate some of the numerical results. The initial approach was to focus on several subproblems having direct relevance to the full interaction problem. This enabled different numerical methods to be investigated separately and validated for each part of the interaction problem. In this manner, the best methodology for solving the full interaction problem was developed. The subproblems considered in this study included typical RCS nozzle and plume flows, a flat plate at zero incidence, and the flow past the experimental test model without the control jet firing. Once these calculations were completed, a simulation was performed of the test model with the control jet operating at the experimental density. The results from this final simulation were compared with experimental measurements. Nomenclature = reference diameter, m = Knudsen number at nozzle throat = Knudsen number at nozzle lip = Mach number = number density, molecules/m3 = freestream number density, molecules/m3 = pressure, Pa = Reynolds number T^ef = reference temperature, K 7"waii = temperature of nozzle wall T^ = freestream temperature, K X, Y, Z = Cartesian body coordinates p , - density, kg/m3 Poo = freestream density, kg/m3 Kn\ip M
Marine nekton off Oregon and the 1997–98 El Nino

Abstract Several species of migratory, warm-water, oceanic fishes invaded Oregon waters during the summer of 1997. Also, the jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas), common in the eastern tropical Pacific, was reported for the first time in 1997 and was caught in large numbers. The occurrence of these oceanic nekton was associated with inshore advection of anomalously warm water. During 1998, after arrival of the main El Nino signal, some warm-water coastal fishes appeared off Oregon. However, unlike observations off California, fewer species of warm-water coastal fishes were noted during the 1997–98 El Nino than during the 1982–83 El Nino.
Female Bicyclus anynana butterflies choose males on the basis of their dorsal UV-reflective eyespot pupils.

Sexual and natural selection pressures are thought to shape the characteristic wing patterns of butterfly species. Here we test whether sexual selection by female choice plays a role in the mainten...