cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calceolaria ascendens subsp. exigua, comb. et stat. nov. (Calceolariaceae), endémica de la cordillera de la Costa de Chile central

The new combination Calceolaria ascendens Lindl. subsp. exigua (Witasek) Nic.Garcia is made based on material collected at Central Chiles Coastal mountain range, around parallel 33o S. The new subspecies inhabits rock crevices at the high mountain between 1,600 and 2,100 m a.s.l.
Nephrolithiasis in identical twins: the impact of nature vs nurture

OBJECTIVE To assess possible underlying metabolic abnormalities in three sets of monozygotic twins, to evaluate the interplay among the factors of kidney stone formation, a complex multifactorial process influenced by environmental, genetic and anatomical factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS Three sets of identical twins with either cystine or calcium oxalate stones were identified. Demographic data, medical histories and the results of 24-h urine testing, with samples collected on self-selected diets, were reviewed and analysed. RESULTS The cystinuric twins had very similar cystine excretion rates, while stone activity was significantly more pronounced in one. Metabolic abnormalities were concordant in one set of twins with calcium oxalate stones, both being hypercalciuric and hyperuricosuric. However, metabolic abnormalities were discordant in the other pair, one twin with hypercalciuria and the other with hypocitraturia. Two of the three pairs had low urinary volume. CONCLUSIONS These results support previous observations that environmental, genetic and potentially, anatomical factors play roles in kidney-stone formation. Additional controlled studies of monozygotic stone-forming twins might help to define the interplay between environmental and genetic factors, and allow the identification of susceptibility genes involved in stone generation.
Electrical and Electrochemical Stimulation of the Hypothalamo- Adenohypophysial System with Stainless Steel Electrodes

Characteristics of electrical and DC electrochemical stimulation with stainless steel electrodes have been studied in vitro in an agar medium and in vivo in proestrous female rats. The transparent agar medium contained salts to display the Prussian Blue reaction if Fe+++ was deposited by the electric current. It was found that, to avoid Fe+++ deposition (which converts electrical to electrochemical stimulation), the stimulating tip of the bipolar concentric electrode should be made the cathode and the outer barrel the anode; to maintain this relationship the wave form should be monophasic; individual pulses should be of short duration, usually 0.5 msec or less, and the intensity of the stimulating current should generally be kept under 500 μA. Observing these criteria, we were able to induce the release of an ovulating quantum of pituitary gonadotrophin by electrical stimulation of either the arcuate nucleus-median eminence area or the medial preoptic region in the pentobarbital-blocked proestrous rat. El...
Optimal bidding in stochastic budget constrained slot auctions

We study optimal bidding strategies for advertisers in budget constrained multi-item multi-slot auctions. The classic application context is that of bidding in sponsored search auctions. In general, these auctions are run as variants of second-price auctions but have been shown to be incentive incompatible. Thus advertisers have to be strategic about bidding. Uncertainty in the decision-making environment, budget constraints and the presence of a large portfolio of candidate keywords makes the optimization problem non-trivial. We first present an analytical model to characterize the optimal bidding strategy and illustrate its application using real-world data. We find that the proposed strategies are very effective in practice.
TWO NEW SPECIES OF CHALCIDOID WASPS (HYMENOPTERA) PARASITIC ON THE BALSAM GALL MIDGE (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE) IN MAINE

Pseudencyrtus borealis and Tetrastichus cecidivorus n. spp. are described as parasites of Paradiplosis tumifex Gagne. Both were reared from balsam fir needle galls in late summer and fall.
Heavy-quark-antiquark potential in the MIT bag model

The MIT bag model for a meson composed of a heavy quark and a heavy antiquark is solved using the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. For fixed qq-bar separations the color-electric fields and bag shapes are determined by solving numerically the Yang-Mills equations with bag boundary conditions to lowest order in the quark-gluon coupling constant. Spin effects are not included. The resulting bag energy is used as a potential energy in the Schroedinger equation for the relative motion of the quarks. Good agreement with the experimental psi and UPSILON spectra and leptonic decay widths is found. When the same potential is applied to strange-quark systems, a consistent picture of the masses of the phi and F* mesons emerges. The relation between spectroscopy and the variation of the coupling constant with distance is explored.
Stability of neuraminidase in inactivated influenza vaccines

Influenza vaccines are effective in protecting against illness and death caused by this seasonal pathogen. Antibodies that block the function of either hemagglutinin (HA) or neuraminidase (NA) contribute to vaccine efficacy, however vaccine potency is based only on HA content. NA protein content in vaccines varies from season to season due to differences in the relative amounts of HA and NA in influenza A, H1N1 and H3N2, and influenza B viruses that are selected for each manufacturing campaign. This, as well as potential inherent differences in NA immunogenicity, may result in varying responses from year to year. Moreover, the antigenic stability of NA is likely to dictate whether similar antibody responses will be obtained to this antigen throughout the shelf-life of the vaccine. To address this factor, we subjected NAs of influenza A (subtypes N1 and N2) and B viruses to denaturing conditions to evaluate the stability of enzyme activity. Each NA type/subtype had unique sensitivity to denaturing conditions. The N2 enzyme activity was more thermostable than that of N1 or influenza B, while the NA activity of influenza B was most resistant to detergent. N1 enzyme activity was most resistant of the three NAs to freeze–thaw cycling. In these experiments, enzyme activity was indicative of the immunogenicity of NA, but was strain-dependent, with greater neuraminidase inhibiting (NI) antibody titers elicited following immunization with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus A/California/7/2009, than the previously circulating seasonal H1N1 strain, A/Brisbane/59/2007. Robust NI antibody titers against both N1 and N2 components were induced following vaccination of mice with a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. When stored under recommended conditions, the NA of both N1 and N2 subtypes remained immunogenic well after the vaccine expiry date.
Limitations of Self-assembly at Temperature One

We prove that if a set X ? ?2 weakly self-assembles at temperature 1 in a deterministic (Winfree) tile assembly system satisfying a natural condition known as pumpability, then X is a finite union of semi-doubly periodic sets. This shows that only the most simple of infinite shapes and patterns can be constructed using pumpable temperature 1 tile assembly systems, and gives evidence for the thesis that temperature 2 or higher is required to carry out general-purpose computation in a tile assembly system. Finally, we show that general-purpose computation is possible at temperature 1 if negative glue strengths are allowed in the tile assembly model.
On the brink: The resurgence of militant Islam in Central Asia

Since Operation Enduring Freedom, Central Asian militants, such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, have fled to Pakistan from their previous strongholds in Afghanistan. However, many militants have begun returning to Central Asia. Thus questions are raised as to what extent militancy has the potential to thrive with the pending North Atlantic Treaty Organization withdrawal from Afghanistan set for 2014? Is militancy a legitimate security threat to Central Asia? What strategies might militants implement? Thus, this article examines the current state of militancy, analyzes militant trends, introduces Afghanistan and Pakistan into the Central Asian equation, and determines the militants' capability and overall strategy. The article concludes that militant Islam, regardless of its current numbers, remains a viable threat to regional security, Afghanistan will be an essential factor for the future of Central Asian militancy, and the form this re-emergence will take becomes apparent.
A Factorized Extended Kalman Filter

Kalman filtering represents formidable computational linear algebra requirements for each new input measurement vector. The air-to-air missile guidance problem is addressed for which an extended Kalman filter (EKF) is required because the measurements are nonlinear in Cartesian coordinates. An explicit formulation is used. At the outset, we discretize the system dynamics and measurement model and incorporate a discrete-time EKF. A factorized L D LT algorithm is used to propagate the covariance matrices between sample times. A simulation analysis of the number of data bits required in the computations is provided. Comparison with other EKF algorithms shows that this method requires only 18 bit accuracy (compared to 32-40 bits for other methods). Quantitative position, velocity and acceleration estimates obtained for a highly maneuverable target are presented. A high-accuracy floating point optical processor is presented that is capable of computing the full EKF to allow a new measurement update each msec.
Thermal conductivity of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have measured the thermal conductivity (κ) of bulk samples of single-walled nanotube (SWNT) bundles. The thermal conductivity of SWNT's is found to be large, and dominated by phonons at all temperatures. κ(T) of SWNT's is linear in temperature from 7 K to 25 K, increases slope between 25 K and 40 K, and rises monotonically with temperature to above room temperature. The data can be fit by a single-scattering-time model; the model confirms that the low-temperature linear behavior is due to the thermal conductivity of a single one-dimensional phonon subband, and that the phonon mean free path is of order 100 nm.
Adoption of emergency planning practices for chemical hazards in the United States

Abstract Emergency preparedness for chemical hazards is a relatively recent phenomenon. The earliest plans were adopted in the late 1960's but more than half of the existing chemical plans were enacted after 1987. The central purpose of this paper is to examine factors underlying variations in levels of community preparedness for chemical hazards. Ideally, the implementation process would be observed directly in a number of communities to determine the events and factors that stimulate the adoption of various planning practices; However, such a study is probably unrealistic, expensive and unlikely to be able to observe enough of the process to be useful. This paper examines survey data collected in late-1987 and mid-1988, in support of the SARA Title III Section 305b Report to Congress. Five factors related to the adoption of state-of-the-art planning practices among local community emergency management organizations are examined: innovation, available resources, necessity, vicarious experience, and professionalism. While each of these factors exhibit relationships with the adoption of state-of-the-art planning practices, none is sufficient to explain the trends in the adoption of planning practices. Supporting evidence is presented that links the adoption of state-of-the-art planning practices to the evaluation of risk in the community and innovation in other related areas.
Bretylium and Diltiazem in Porcine Cardiac Procedures

The use of miniature swine as a model for cardiovascular diseases of humans is becoming more popular for many reasons. One of the problems involved in using swine is their propensity for fatal cardiac arrhythmias during surgical procedures requiring general anesthetics, especially cardiac procedures. In preparation for use as a model of human atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, 30 three-month-old (15 kg) Hanford miniature swine underwent left heart catheterization, coronary angiography, and abrasion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. All pigs were treated with diltiazem HCl 30–60 mg (2–4 mg/kg) three times daily and aspirin 25 mg once daily, both given orally for three days before surgery. General anesthesia was induced with a combination of ketamine HCl 25 mg/kg, atropine sulfate 0.1 mg/kg, and acepromazine 0.22 mg/kg, all given intramuscularly. Halothane 1–2% and nitrous oxide 30% were used to maintain general anesthesia after endotracheal intubation. After successful cannulation of t...
Beyond 'Science as a Vocation': Civilisational Epistemology in Weber and Ibn Khaldun

Both Ibn Khaldun and Weber discuss science as a vocation, but their epistemologies go beyond it by incorporating the civilisational dimension. Commonly used as a unit of analysis by classical theorists, the term 'civilisation' has recently been rediscovered in social sciences. It has been argued that the 'epistemological paradigms of civilisations' produced by the mainstream intellectual traditions are fundamental factors shaping the minds of key intellectuals. This article tests this argument by analysing to what extent Ibn Khaldun and Weber's views of knowledge and science are influenced by Islamic and Western epistemological paradigms, respectively. Based on a close and critical reading of their relevant work, it argues that there are some resemblances, but also significant differences, between Ibn Khaldun and Weber, which can indeed be explained with reference to civilisational epistemological paradigms.
Google Sky Map: using your phone as an interface

Google Sky Map, an application for Android mobile phones, allows the user to discover and browse the sky by simply pointing the phone to space. Using the Android phone's orientation sensors, Sky Map shows a particular stellar map specific for each user's location. This paper describes the design principle used for Sky Map: the use of the mobile device as the main interface and the GUI as a secondary guidance. The GUI in Google Sky Map is kept as minimal as possible. The search GUI is an example of how an on-screen GUI and the physical movement of the phone can work in harmony to provide an accurate user experience. Google Sky Map was developed by five Google Engineers and one User Experience Designer.
Imaging of hippocampal and neocortical neural activity following intravenous cocaine administration in freely behaving cats

Abstract We examined spatial-temporal patterns of neural activity, as inferred from 700 nm light reflectance, from the dorsal hippocampus and surrounding neocortex in seven freely behaving cats following 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 5.0 mg/kg intravenous cocaine administration. Images were acqnired using a new technique which gathered reflected light from cortical and subcortical structures. Cardiac and respiratory patterning, collected simultaneously with optical images, revealed increased rates and diminished variation after intravenous cocaine administration. Cocaine increased reflectance correlates of hippocampal neural activity in a dose-dependent fashion over a 120 min period, with a lengthening time-to-peak effect (22–76 min). The largest dose resulted in an initial decrease, followed by the greatest enhancement in neuronal activity. Correlates of neural activation in the neocortex displayed an inverse dose-response curve to that found in the hippocampus; the time-to-peak effect was shorter (6–43 min) and the maximal change was reduced. Regional patches and bands of activation occurred during the period of the cocaine response, and were more pronounced in the hippocampus than the neocortex. Procaine, administered in a similar dose, slightly increased neural activity for 10 min in both the hippocampus and neocortex, and elicited a small increase in respiration. Cocaine induces a pronounced enhancement of neural activation in the neocortex and dorsal hippocampus; the time course of activation in the hippocampus parallels an increased respiratory pattern and outlasts the neocortical response. We speculate that hippocampal activation may be related to the profound respiratory acceleration found in response to cocaine.
In my own words: Misunderstanding of pap smears and colposcopy among Appalachian women

OBJECTIVE To evaluate knowledge of Pap smear screening and colposcopy among Appalachian women. MATERIALS AND METHODS English-speaking women (18 years or older) referred for colposcopy after abnormal Pap testing at a teaching hospital in the southeastern United States were studied. Structured interviews were conducted to assess demographic characteristics, health literacy skills using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine, understanding of the Pap smear and colposcopy, state anxiety, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia distress. RESULTS The mean age of women was 29.6 +/- 10.94, 93.2% white, 50.2% high school graduates or had an equivalency diploma, and 55.3% current cigarette use. Approximately one fifth (n = 22) of women had limited health literacy skills. Overall, womens' understanding of the Pap test, meaning of abnormal Pap test results, identification of risk factors contributing to abnormal Pap test results, and understanding of colposcopy was limited. Health literacy skills was the lone characteristic to significantly predict overall understanding of the Pap smear and colposcopy (unstandardized beta coefficient [SE] = 0.68 [0.02], p < .05). CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that Pap smear and colposcopy knowledge is associated with health literacy skills. Health care providers should be aware that many women lack sufficient knowledge of the Pap smear and colposcopy and tailor counseling during the clinical encounter accordingly.
Infrared laser absorption sensors for multiple performance parameters in a detonation combustor

Abstract Laser absorption sensors for temperature and H2O near 1.4 and 2.5 μm, CO2 near 2.7 μm, and CO near 4.8 μm were developed, validated, and deployed in an ethylene-fueled pulse-detonation combustor (PDC). Each sensor was fiber-coupled to enable remote light delivery to the PDC and photo-voltaic detectors were mounted directly to the PDC for improved light collection. Measurements were acquired simultaneously along two orthogonal lines-of-sight (LOS) in both the PDC combustion chamber and the throat of a converging–diverging nozzle located at the PDC exit. Measurements in the nozzle throat were combined with a choked-flow assumption to calculate the time-resolved enthalpy flow rate exiting the PDC. All sensors used first-harmonic-normalized wavelength-modulation spectroscopy with second-harmonic detection (WMS-2f/1f) to account for non-absorbing transmission losses and emission. Furthermore, strong mid-infrared absorption transitions were used to enable improved measurement accuracy and precision. These sensors were validated in non-reactive shock-tube experiments at temperatures and pressures up to 2700 K and 50 atm. There, these sensors exhibited a nominal accuracy of 3 to 5% with bandwidths from 2 to 20 kHz. Measurements in the PDC indicated peak temperatures near 3500 K with near-stoichiometric proportions of H2O and incomplete conversion of CO to CO2. The stagnation enthalpy flow rate was highly transient, but repeatable with peak flow rates near 25 MW.
Fresh frozen plasma and platelet concentrates may increase plasma anti-diphtheria toxin IgG concentrations: Implications for diphtheria fusion protein therapy.

We are developing two fusion proteins consisting of a diphtheria toxin (DT) linked to either granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (DT388-GMCSF) or interleukin-3 (DT388-IL3). In trials, patients with anti-DT IgG concentrations >2.5 μg/ml had significantly lower concentrations of either fusion protein. DT389-IL2 is currently FDA approved for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. We noted increased concentrations of anti-DT IgG after administration of platelet concentrates (PC). Because many of these patients require transfusions, we measured the anti-DT IgG content of FFP and PC. We assayed 14 bags of FFP and 12 bags of single-donor PCs for anti-DT IgG by an enzymoimmunoassay against DT389-IL2, DT388-IL3, DT388-GMCSF. The median (percent of samples positive) of anti-DT IgG concentrations in PC against DT388-GMCSF, DT388-IL3, DT389-IL2 was 0.8 μg/ml (83%), 0.7 μg/ml (83%), and 0.3 μg/ml (58%), respectively. The median (percent of samples positive) anti-DT IgG concentration in FFP against DT388-GMCSF, DT388-IL3, and DT389-IL2 was 2.1 μg/ml (86%), 1.9 μg/ml (93%), and 1.4 μg/ml (86%), respectively. There was a strong association between anti-DT389IL2 IgG, anti-DT388IL3 IgG, and anti-DT388GMCSF IgG concentrations in both the FFP (95.6%) and PC (76.3%). Assuming a plasma volume of 3 l in a 70 kg patient, a single FFP unit would increase the plasma anti-DT389IL2 IgG, anti-DT388IL3 IgG, and anti-DT388GMCSF IgG by 0.13 μg/ml, 0.17 μg/ml, and 0.19 μg/ml, respectively. For PC, a single unit would increase plasma anti-DT389-IL2 IgG, anti-DT388-IL3 IgG, and anti-DT388-GMCSF IgG by 0.03 μg/ml, 0.06 μg/ml, and 0.07 μg/ml, respectively. In conclusion, a single FFP or PC appears to minimally increase anti-DT IgG concentrations, but multiple units may significantly do such.
Temporal changes and factors influencing 137Cs concentration in vegetation colonizing an exposed lake bed over a three-year period

Activity concentrations of 137Cs in sediments, as well as extractable sediment concentrations of K, Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn and P, pH, percent organic matter and cation exchange capacity, were used as independent variables in an incomplete principal component analysis to identify factors affecting 137Cs activity concentrations in 12 species of native wetland and terrestrial plants invading a recently exposed lake bed. Sediments in the lake had been contaminated 35 years previously from discharges at a nuclear production reactor. 137Cs activity concentrations in plants were positively correlated with sediment concentrations of Na and 137Cs, and inversely correlated to K and pH. Significant decreases in concentrations of sediment constituents (from 3 to 77%), as well as a 42% decline in 137Cs activity concentrations in plants, occurred during the three-year period. Significant differences in 137Cs activity concentrations among plant species, driven by low concentrations in cattails (Typha latifolia), were observed. Terrestrial species had significantly lower activity concentrations of 137Cs than species classified as wetland (arithmetic mean±S.E. of 1069±151 and 2602±394, respectively). Concentration ratios (Bq kg-1 dry plant/Bq kg-1 dry soil) were among the highest reported in the literature (arithmetic mean±S.D.=12.5±28.9; geometric mean=1.6, geometric S.D.=1.4) and were attributed to kaolinitic sediments of pH<5, organic matter <5%, K concentrations <15 ppm and cation exchange capacity <5 meq (100 g-1). Even though 137Cs was released into the system over 35 years ago, lowering of the water caused 137Cs in the newly formed terrestrial system to behave like a fresh, rather than aged, deposit (initial uptake rates by plants were high and subsequent reductions in bioavailability were rapid). Implications for management of contaminated reservoirs from a public risk perspective are discussed.
Coincidence counting for PGNAA applications: Is it the optimum method?

One of the main advantages of γ-γ coincidence counting is the reduction of the background spectrum, pulse pile-up, and summing effects (for simple schemes). For prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA), the sources of background include the gamma-rays from the natural background, from surrounding materials, from the neutron source, and from detector neutron activation. While this counting approach effectively increases the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, it also decreases the signal counting rate. This adds some practical limitations to using this approach. In this work, two examples are presented for the efficient use of the coincidence counting approach.
Molecular Evolution in Thomomys: Phyletic Systematics, Paraphyly, and Rates of Evolution

The phylogenetic relationships among extant members of the bottae -group of Thomomys (subgenus Megascapheus , sensu Thaeler, 1980) are examined in the context of their relationships to two species of the talpoides -group (subgenus Thomomys ) by electromorphic biochemical analyses. a basic dichotomy of the extant species is supported. The phyletic position of the four bottae -group species is such that bottae and townsendii form a sister-group relative to umbrinus and this triad forms a sister-group relative to bulbivorus . T. bulbivorus is a monophyletic taxon; T. umbrinus is also monophyletic, although it may comprise more than one biological species. T. townsendii is monophyletic but stems from one geographic populational unit of T. bottae ; thus bottae is a paraphyletic taxon in relation to townsendii . Differential rates of molecular change across sampled populations are ascribed to historical and population processes, such as hybridization, population size, and degree of geographic isolation.
Ground-state potential energy curves of phenylenevinylene oligomers

Abstract In this paper we calculate the energies of the different configurations of a poly( p -phenylene vinylene) trimer (OPV3) using ab inito Hartree–Fock (HF) methods. In order to determine sufficiently the energy configurations of the trimer, we used two dihedral angles, θ and φ , as variables of the potential energy surface, as opposed to a single dihedral angle as commonly found in the literature. We also determine the effects of the number of monomer units to the rotational barrier. We show that stilbene is not long enough to fully account for conjugation effects in the rotation of a phenyl ring within a polymer. In addition to this, we also show that computationally intensive calculations of oligomers longer than trimers are unnecessary in determining the energetics of a segment in a PPV chain.
Plasma protein concentration and colloid osmotic pressure in nephrotic rats

Plasma protein concentration and colloid osmotic pressure in nephrotic rats. Colloid osmotic pressure (COP) was related to plasma total protein concentration in rats with adriamycin nephrosis. Nephrotic rats were divided into three groups on the basis of plasma albumin concentration. Measured values for COP were 6 to 8mm Hg below those predicted by the Landis-Pappenheimer equation in group 3 plasma samples with albumin concentrations 0.5 to 1.0 g/dl. In contrast, measured values for COP were only slightly below those predicted by the Landis-Pappenheimer equation in group 2 plasma samples with albumin concentrations 1.0 to 1.5 g/dl and in group 1 plasma samples with albumin concentrations 1.5 to 2.0 g/dl. The reduction in concentration of albumin was accompanied by an increase in the concentration of non-albumin proteins in each group of nephrotic rats. COP exerted by these non-albumin proteins partially offset the reduction in COP attributable to reduced albumin concentration. Results show that the Landis-Pappenheimer equation significantly overestimates COP only in nephrotic rats whose plasma albumin concentration is very markedly reduced.
Screening for HIV infection--benefits and costs.

Now in its second decade, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic continues to escalate relentlessly. Approximately 1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV, and nearly a...
Parallel computer architectures for image processing

Abstract Image processing problems frequently involve large structured arrays of data and a need for very rapid computation. Special parallel processing schemes have evolved over the last 20 years to deal with these problems. In this paper many parallel systems which have been developed for image processing are outlined and the features of their underlying architectures are discussed. Most of these special architectures may be loosely classified as either SIMD or pipeline structures although some MIMD structures have been designed for high level image analysis. In recent years several multiple SIMD (MSIMD) schemes have been proposed as suitable architectures for image processing. The fundamental problems of developing an effective MSIMD system are discussed and a simple SIMD/MIMD computational model for comparison with such systems is proposed.
Moisture Tendency Equations in a Tropical Atmosphere

Abstract Direct diagnostic evaluation of the moisture tendency in the moisture equation is very difficult in practice because two poorly measured terms, moisture convergence and precipitation, dominate the equation. Using the near constancy in space and time of the tropical temperature profile, a variety of energy and entropy based equations have been employed to obtain indirect estimates of the moisture budget. In this paper rigorous versions of the energy and entropy equations are developed. The strengths and weakness of these two formulations are complementary, allowing the authors to estimate moistening and drying tendencies with high confidence when the two formulations are used together. This study applies the theory to data from Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE). The results demonstrate how convection regulates the tropospheric humidity, drying the atmosphere when it becomes too moist, and moistening it when it becomes too dry.
Thermal failure simulation for electrical overstress in semiconductor devices

Electrical overstress (EOS) and electrostatic discharge (ESD) constitute one of the most dominant threats to integrated circuits (ICs). A nonlinear 2-D/1-D thermal simulator suitable for ESD/EOS thermal failure modeling in ICs is reported. The unboundedness of the thermal problem is addressed by a special set of boundary conditions, making the thermal simulation task computationally efficient. Simulated power-to-failure vs. time-to-failure relationships (power profiles) for various combinations of major IC structural parameters are presented and compared with experimental data. >
Learning and decision: making for intention reconciliation

Rational, autonomous agents must be able to revise their commitments in the light of new opportunities. They must decide when to default on commitments to the group in order to commit to potentially more valuable outside offers. The SPIRE experimental system allows the study of intention reconciliation in team contexts. This paper presents a new framework for SPIRE that allows for mathematical specification and provides a basis for the study of learning. Analysis shows that a reactive policy can be expected to perform as well as more complex policies that look ahead. We present an algorithm for learning when to default on group commitments based solely on observed values of group-related tasks and discuss the applicability of this algorithm in settings where multiple agents may be learning.
Forest rodents provide directed dispersal of Jeffrey pine seeds

Some species of animals provide directed dispersal of plant seeds by transporting them nonrandomly to microsites where their chances of producing healthy seedlings are enhanced. We investigated whether this mutualistic interaction occurs between granivorous rodents and Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) in the eastern Sierra Nevada by comparing the effectiveness of random abiotic seed dispersal with the dispersal performed by four species of rodents: deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), yellow-pine and long-eared chipmunks (Tamias amoenus and T. quadrimaculatus), and golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis). We conducted two caching studies using radio-labeled seeds, the first with individual animals in field enclosures and the second with a community of rodents in open forest. We used artificial caches to compare the fates of seeds placed at the range of microsites and depths used by animals with the fates of seeds dispersed abiotically. Finally, we examined the distribution and survival of naturally establishing seedlings over an eight-year period. Several lines of evidence suggested that this community of rodents provided directed dispersal. Animals preferred to cache seeds in microsites that were favorable for emergence or survival of seedlings and avoided caching in microsites in which seedlings fared worst. Seeds buried at depths typical of animal caches (5-25 mm) produced at least five times more seedlings than did seeds on the forest floor. The four species of rodents differed in the quality of dispersal they provided. Small, shallow caches made by deer mice most resembled seeds dispersed by abiotic processes, whereas many of the large caches made by ground squirrels were buried too deeply for successful emergence of seedlings. Chipmunks made the greatest number of caches within the range of depths and microsites favorable for establishment of pine seedlings. Directed dispersal is an important element of the population dynamics of Jeffrey pine, a dominant tree species in the eastern Sierra Nevada. Quantifying the occurrence and dynamics of directed dispersal in this and other cases will contribute to better understanding of mutualistic coevolution of plants and animals and to more effective management of ecosystems in which directed dispersal is a keystone process.
Teaching parents effective discipline during a health supervision visit.

Parents tell us that they want information from pediatricians about how they can enhance the development, behavior, and learning skills of their children. Others are not comfortable asking questions in some of these areas during well-child care (WCC) visits. Some parents may not be aware that guidance in these areas is a major component of (WCC) visits.1,2 To address some of these concerns, innovative parent-education programs designed for traditional (WCC) visits have been promoted to increase knowledge and change parent behaviors in areas of child development, behavior, and learning.3 Examples of these programs are “Reach Out and Read,” previsit computerized screening questionnaires (for parent concerns, developmental milestones, and behavioral profiles), parent and teen group learning (including group WCC), family drawings to enhance communication during visits, and use of a developmental or behavioral theme as a guide for each WCC visit. Providing parents with knowledge about effective discipline of young children is a significant area of focus during WCC visits. Parents want to learn more about discipline.4,5 The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on discipline in young children6 and the new Bright Futures 7 guidelines encourage pediatricians to ask about discipline practices during WCC … Address correspondence to Martin T. Stein, MD, 824 Forward St, La Jolla, CA 92037. E-mail: mtstein{at}ucsd.edu
Latency analysis of the totem single-ring protocol

The Totem single-ring protocol provides reliable totally ordered multicasting of messages to processes in process groups over a single local-area network (LAN) using a logical token-passing ring. The protocol provides two levels of message delivery: delivery in agreed order and delivery in safe order. This paper presents the probability density functions (pdfs) for the latency to message delivery for the Totem single-ring protocol for these two levels of service in the presence of both message loss and token loss. These pdfs are calculated by repeated convolutions of the pdfs for the various components of the latency. The analysis shows that the mean latency to safe delivery is greater than the mean latency to agreed delivery and that the tail of the latency distribution for safe delivery is longer. It also shows that a deterministic arrival process for message generation exhibits lower mean latencies and shorter tails of the latency distribution than a Poisson arrival process.
Mutant Ras Elevates Dependence on Serum Lipids and Creates a Synthetic Lethality for Rapamycin

The conversion of normal cells to cancer cells involves a shift from catabolic to anabolic metabolism involving increased glucose uptake and the diversion of glycolytic intermediates into nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids needed for cell growth. An underappreciated aspect of nutrient uptake is the utilization of serum lipids. We investigated the dependence of human cancer cells on serum lipids and report here that Ras-driven human cancer cells are uniquely dependent on serum lipids for both proliferation and survival. Removal of serum lipids also sensitizes Ras-driven cancer cells to rapamycin—indicating that the enhanced need for serum lipids creates a synthetic lethal phenotype that could be exploited therapeutically. Although depriving humans of serum lipids is not practical, suppressing uptake of lipids is possible. Suppressing macropinocytosis in Ras-driven cancer cells also created sensitivity to suppression of the mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). It is speculated that this property displayed by Ras-driven cancer cells represents an Achilles' heel for the large number of human cancers that are driven by activating Ras mutations. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(3); 733–41. ©2014 AACR .
Leaf hydraulic conductance, measured in situ, declines and recovers daily: Leaf hydraulics, water potential and stomatal conductance in four temperate and three tropical tree species

Adequate leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) is critical for preventing transpiration-induced desiccation and subsequent stomatal closure that would restrict carbon gain. A few studies have reported midday depression of Kleaf (or petiole conductivity) and its subsequent recovery in situ, but the extent to which this phenomenon is universal is not known. The objectives of this study were to measure Kleaf, using a rehydration kinetics method, (1) in the laboratory (under controlled conditions) across a range of water potentials to construct vulnerability curves (VC) and (2) over the course of the day in the field along with leaf water potential and stomatal conductance (gs). Two broadleaf (one evergreen, Arbutus menziesii Pursh., and one deciduous, Quercus garryana Dougl.) and two coniferous species (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. and Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirbel]) were chosen as representative of different plant types. In addition, Kleaf in the laboratory and leaf water potential in the field were measured for three tropical evergreen species (Protium panamense (Rose), Tachigalia versicolor Standley and L.O. Williams and Vochysia ferruginea Mart) to predict their daily changes in field Kleaf in situ. It was hypothesized that in the field, leaves would close their stomata at water potential thresholds at which Kleaf begins to decline sharply in laboratory-generated VC, thus preventing substantial losses of Kleaf. The temperate species showed a 15-66% decline in Kleaf by midday, before stomatal closure. Although there were substantial midday declines in Kleaf, recovery was nearly complete by late afternoon. Stomatal conductance began to decrease in Pseudotsuga, Pinus and Quercus once Kleaf began to decline; however, there was no detectable reduction in gs in Arbutus. Predicted Kleaf in the tropical species, based on laboratory-generated VC, decreased by 74% of maximum Kleaf in Tachigalia, but only 22-32% in Vochysia and Protium. The results presented here, from the previous work of the authors and from other published studies, were consistent with two different strategies regarding daily maintenance of Kleaf: (1) substantial loss and subsequent recovery or (2) a more conservative strategy of loss avoidance.
Usefulness of parametric dynamic contours vs. level sets for real-time computer vision

This paper presents an overview of level set dynamic contours. We compare their usefulness to parametric dynamic contours for real-time constrained computer vision. While parametric models produce worse segmentations and cannot handle topological changes, they are markedly more efficient allowing for real-time implementations.
A phylogenomic analysis of turtles

Molecular analyses of turtle relationships have overturned prevailing morphological hypotheses and prompted the development of a new taxonomy. Here we provide the first genome-scale analysis of turtle phylogeny. We sequenced 2381 ultraconserved element (UCE) loci representing a total of 1,718,154 bp of aligned sequence. Our sampling includes 32 turtle taxa representing all 14 recognized turtle families and an additional six outgroups. Maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and species tree methods produce a single resolved phylogeny. This robust phylogeny shows that proposed phylogenetic names correspond to well-supported clades, and this topology is more consistent with the temporal appearance of clades and paleobiogeography. Future studies of turtle phylogeny using fossil turtles should use this topology as a scaffold for their morphological phylogenetic analyses.
A connectivity preserving containment control strategy for a network of single integrator agents

This paper is concerned with the distributed control strategies for a group of single integrator agents with static leaders. The information flow graph of the underlying multi-agent network is assumed to be static, undirected, and connected. A bounded control law is proposed which is shown to have strict connectivity preservation property. The containment of the followers by leaders is subsequently proved by using the LaSalle invariance principle. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is demonstrated by simulations.
Guidelines for Processing Emulsion-Based Foods

Emulsions are dispersions of one liquid into the second immiscible liquid in the form of fine droplets. Emulsions can be classified as either oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions depending on whether oil or water is the dispersed phase. Milk, cream and sauces are some examples of oil-in-water emulsions whereas butter and margarine are examples of water-in-oil emulsions. This chapter discusses the physical principles that are involved in the formation and stability of food emulsions. Prediction of droplet size distribution for food emulsions that are formed in colloid mill (predominantly by shear) and high pressure homogenizer (predominantly by turbulence) in terms of operating conditions in these equipments is discussed. The fluid mechanics of droplet breakage and coalescence in shear and turbulence are discussed and applied to the formation of food emulsions and to the prediction of drop size. The role of proteins and surfactants on the stability of emulsions is discussed. The effect of interfacial dilatational and shear elasticity on thin film stability and drop coalescence is described. Some recent results of a new technique, layer by layer deposition, to improve the shelf life of emulsions by using alternate layers of proteins and polysaccharides is presented. Thermodynamics and phase behavior of microemulsions and its application to food is discussed.
A methodology for determining a hospital's expected costs for changes in patient load and service mix

This paper describes a methodology that demonstrates how specific types of patient/cost data can be used to construct a model that predicts the expected increase or decrease in costs associated with a change in patient load, expansion of an existing patient service department, closure of an existing patient service department, or installation of a specific patient service department. Data from a group of New York State hospitals are used to illustrate the development of the model's components that produce cost estimates. A computer-based model is used to demonstrate the methodology's application to a specific hospital. Additionally, a number of program runs that simulate the cost impact of patient load and/or service mix changes are presented. Finally, the methodology's potential management and regulatory applications are discussed.
Resistance to synthetic blood penetration of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirators and surgical N95 respirators.

Background Surgical N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a respirator and cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a surgical mask, are often used to protect from the inhalation of infectious aerosols and from splashes/sprays of body fluids in health care facilities. A shortage of respirators can be expected during a pandemic. The availability of surgical N95 FFRs can potentially be increased by incorporating FDA clearance requirements in the NIOSH respirator approval process. Methods Fluid resistance of NIOSH-approved N95 FFRs, and FDA-cleared surgical N95 FFRs and surgical masks was tested using the ASTM F1862 method at 450 and 635 cm/sec velocities and compared with the results from a third-party independent laboratory. Blood penetration through different layers of filter media of masks were also analyzed visually. Results Four N95 FFR models showed no test failures at both velocities. The penetration results obtained in the NIOSH laboratory were comparable to those from the third-party independent laboratory. The number of respirator samples failing the test increased with increasing test velocity. Conclusions The results indicate that several NIOSH-approved N95 FFR models would likely pass FDA clearance requirements for resistance to synthetic blood penetration.
A motivational system for regulating human-robot interaction

This paper presents a motivational system for an autonomous robot which is designed to regulate human-robot interaction. The mode of social interaction is that of a caretaker-infant dyad where a human acts as the caretaker for the robot. An infant's emotions and drives playa very important role in generating meaningful interactions with the caretaker, and regulating these interactions to maintain an environment suitable for the learning process (Bullowa 1979). Similarly, the learning task for the robot is to apply various communication skills acquired during social exchanges to manipulate the caretaker such that its drives are satisfied. Toward this goal, the motivational system implements drives, emotions, and facial expressions. Although the details of the learning itself are beyond the scope of this paper, this work represents an important step toward realizing robots that can engage in meaningful bi-directional social interactions with humans.
American Sign Language as a Foreign Language in U.S. High Schools: State of the Art

The last 2 decades witnessed a growth in American Sign Language (ASL) as a foreign language in U.S. secondary schools. This overview of the current state of ASL as a foreign language in the schools consists of a history and a survey. The information on history was drawn from a study conducted by Rosen (2006). This history is followed by a national survey compiled by Rosen (2005) on U.S. secondary schools offering ASL for foreign language credit. The survey provided information on the number and distribution of schools, teachers, classes, students, departments, and the process for program implementation. The information is used to ascertain the current breadth and scope of, and to discern trends in, ASL as a foreign language in public high schools nationwide.