cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multivariate piecewise polynomials

This article was supposed to be on ‘multivariate splines». An informal survey, taken recently by asking various people in Approximation Theory what they consider to be a ‘multivariate spline’, resulted in the answer that a multivariate spline is a possibly smooth piecewise polynomial function of several arguments. In particular the potentially very useful thin-plate spline was thought to belong more to the subject of radial basis funtions than in the present article. This is all the more surprising to me since I am convinced that the variational approach to splines will play a much greater role in multivariate spline theory than it did or should have in the univariate theory. Still, as there is more than enough material for a survey of multivariate piecewise polynomials, this article is restricted to this topic, as is indicated by the (changed) title.
VAR management in power systems: Basic objectives, solutions and multi-level converters for STATCOM applications

This paper describes various problems in transmission and distribution systems and demonstrates the significance of reactive power management. Static VAR compensator and STATCOM principles of operation and power characteristics are described. The most common types of multilevel voltage source converters used in STATCOM applications are comparatively analyzed. The most promising topology of multi-level Hexagram converter is adduced. The efficiency of dual-core OCC controller for the non-active current management operational mode of Hexagram converter based STATCOM is proved
DYNAMIC CHARACTERIZATION OF AN INFLATABLE CONCENTRATOR FOR SOLAR THERMAL PROPULSION

Solar-thermal propulsion is a concept for producing thrust sufficient for orbital transfers and requires innovative, lightweight structures. This note presents a description of an inflatable concentrator that consists of a torus, lens simulator, and three tapered struts. Modal testing was discussed for characterization and verification of the solar concentrator assembly. Finite element shell models of the concentrator were developed using a two-step nonlinear approach, and results were compared to test data. Reasonable model-to-test agreement was achieved for the torus, and results for the concentrator assembly were comparable to the test for several modes.
On two-dimensional variational problems in parametric form

Abstract : The geometrical relationships between a closed surface and a solution surface are studied. The mapping of a solution surface S, into a closed surface in the case of regular variational problems gives rise to a canonical mapping of S onto the solution of a non-parametric, uniformly elliptic variational problem. The principal application is to show that solutions of some variational problems behave qualitatively like minimal surfaces, in the same sense that solutions of uniformly elliptic equations behave like solutions of the Laplace equation. (Author)
Analysis of conditional resource sharing using a guard-based control representation

Optimization of hardware resources for conditional data-flow graph behavior is particularly important when conditional behavior occurs in cyclic loops and maximization of throughput is desired. In this paper, an exact and efficient conditional resource sharing analysis using a guardbased control representation is presented. The analysis is transparent to a scheduler implementation. The proposed technique systematically handles complex conditional resource sharing for cases when folded (software pipelined) loops include conditional behavior within the loop body.
The Long Terminal Repeat-Containing Retrotransposon Tf1 Possesses Amino Acids in Gag That Regulate Nuclear Localization and Particle Formation

Tf1 is a long terminal repeat-containing retrotransposon of Schizosaccharomyces pombe that is studied to further our understanding of retrovirus propagation. One important application is to examine Tf1 as a model for how human immunodeficiency virus type 1 proteins enter the nucleus. The accumulation of Tf1 Gag in the nucleus requires an N-terminal nuclear localization signal (NLS) and the nuclear pore factor Nup124p. Here, we report that NLS activity is regulated by adjacent residues. Five mutant transposons were made, each with sequential tracts of four amino acids in Gag replaced by alanines. All five versions of Tf1 transposed with frequencies that were significantly lower than that of the wild type. Although all five made normal amounts of Gag, two of the mutations did not make cDNA, indicating that Gag contributed to reverse transcription. The localization of the Gag in the nucleus was significantly reduced by mutations A1, A2, and A3. These results identified residues in Gag that contribute to the function of the NLS. The Gags of A4 and A5 localized within the nucleus but exhibited severe defects in the formation of virus-like particles. Of particular interest was that the mutations in Gag-A4 and Gag-A5 caused their nuclear localization to become independent of Nup124p. These results suggested that Nup124p was only required for import of Tf1 Gag because of its extensive multimerization.
Transcriptional regulation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans lsrACDBFG and lsrRK operons and their role in biofilm formation

Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is required for biofilm formation and virulence of the oral pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and we previously showed that lsrB codes for a receptor for AI-2. The lsrB gene is expressed as part of the lsrACDBFG operon, which is divergently transcribed from an adjacent lsrRK operon. In Escherichia coli, lsrRK encodes a repressor and AI-2 kinase that function to regulate lsrACDBFG. To determine if lsrRK controls lsrACDBFG expression and influences biofilm growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans, we first defined the promoters for each operon. Transcriptional reporter plasmids containing the 255-bp lsrACDBFG-lsrRK intergenic region (IGR) fused to lacZ showed that essential elements of lsrR promoter reside 89 to 255 bp upstream from the lsrR start codon. Two inverted repeat sequences that represent potential binding sites for LsrR and two sequences resembling the consensus cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) binding site were identified in this region. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), purified LsrR and CRP proteins were shown to bind probes containing these sequences. Surprisingly, the 255-bp IGR did not contain the lsrA promoter. Instead, a fragment encompassing nucleotides +1 to +159 of lsrA together with the 255-bp IGR was required to promote lsrA transcription. This suggests that a region within the lsrA coding sequence influences transcription, or alternatively that the start codon of A. actinomycetemcomitans lsrA has been incorrectly annotated. Transformation of ΔlsrR, ΔlsrK, ΔlsrRK, and Δcrp deletion mutants with lacZ reporters containing the lsrA or lsrR promoter showed that LsrR negatively regulates and CRP positively regulates both lsrACDBFG and lsrRK. However, in contrast to what occurs in E. coli, deletion of lsrK had no effect on the transcriptional activity of the lsrA or lsrR promoters, suggesting that another kinase may be capable of phosphorylating AI-2 in A. actinomycetemcomitans. Finally, biofilm formation of the ΔlsrR, ΔlsrRK, and Δcrp mutants was significantly reduced relative to that of the wild type, indicating that proper regulation of the lsr locus is required for optimal biofilm growth by A. actinomycetemcomitans.
An Intelligent Feature Analyzer for Handwritten Character Recognition

This paper is concerned with the development of an efficient feature analyzer for handwritten character recognition. Feature analyzer presented in this paper can reduce the large domain of feature space and extract invariable information. Feature extraction has been viewed from multi dimensional perspective. To cope with the fuzziness of the recognition problem, a nonlinear classifier based on back propagation algorithm was used for classification. Generalizing capability of the system was increased by using ensemble of neural networks instead of using regular neural network. Training and testing using 10 fold cross validation and resultant impressive recognition accuracy (more than 90%) proves the effectiveness of the scheme
Efficient digital filtering architectures using pipelining/interleaving

A pipelining/interleaving (PI) technique is developed for efficient digital filtering. By using a clock rate that is K times the data rate and with interleaved feedback of the output samples, a single expanded digital filter H(z/sup K/) can be made equivalent to a cascade of k identical filters H/sup k/(z) 1/spl les/k/spl les/K. The PI technique is used for designing Kalser-Hamming sharpened linear-phase FIR filters with very high performance. It can also be applied in efficient IIR filtering to alleviate the critical-loop limitation on system clock rates. Furthermore, the PI technique is applicable to designing efficient multirate signal processing systems.
A Later Stage of Anomalous Coronary Circulation with Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery Coronary Artery Steal

A 45-year-old woman with angina pectoris, beginning at the age of 16 and progressing to produce incapacitation, was found to have an anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery. Because of the severity of symptoms and progression of disability, the anomalous artery was ligated at its origin from the pulmonary artery. Pressure in the left coronary system increased from 35/10 to 105/30 mm Hg. Since operation the patient has been relieved of her symptoms. There was no evidence of increased myocardial ischemia after ligation. This indicates that operative treatment of this anomaly can be carried out successfully in the older age group. It is also suggested that a fourth stage of progression of this anomaly occurs in which there is an exaggeration of the intercoronary communications between the right and left coronary systems. This produces such a large arteriovenous shunt that blood flow to the myocardium is again reduced, resulting in a "coronary steal syndrome."
Assessment of random and systematic errors in millimeter-wave dielectric measurement using open resonator and Fourier transform spectroscopy systems

Assessment of random and systematic errors is performed for the first time on the real part of permittivity (/spl epsiv/') and loss tangent (tan/spl delta/) of ceramics and polymers using two different measurement systems. Data measured from the full cavity length and the frequency variation techniques using the 60 GHz open resonator system and the millimeter-wave dispersive Fourier transform spectroscopy system (DFTS) are compared and analyzed. Data measured by the frequency variation technique were seen to be more accurate than those measured by the full cavity length variation technique with lower random errors for the specimens measured. The /spl epsiv/' of the specimens measured by the frequency variation technique followed closely with those measured by the millimeter-wave DFTS system with a slight difference of about 0.02%. Finally, for all the specimens measured in this paper, the DFTS system was seen to provide much better accuracy for /spl epsiv/' values. The frequency variation technique from the open resonator system generated the best tan/spl delta/.
Land Preservation: An Essential Ingredient in Smart Growth

The preservation of land for working rural landscapes, wildlife habitat, urban parks, recreational trails, and protecting water supplies and floodplains is emerging as an integral component of smart growth programs. Both the general public and nonprofit organizations have been willing to spend billions of dollars on land preservation because of a perception that traditional land use planning and regulation are not successfully accommodating growth or protecting valuable natural resources. The literature on smart growth has largely overlooked the potential of land preservation to curb sprawl and to foster livable communities. The literature on land preservation has focused on the mechanics of conservation easements and land purchases rather than on how land preservation can fit in the comprehensive planning process to achieve community smart growth goals. More research needs to be done on the strategic use of land preservation in shaping and directing growth as part of a comprehensive planning effort.
Information System Development: A Categorical Analysis of User Participation Approaches

User participation is generally considered an important aspect of information systems development and a leading factor in systems success. However, results from earlier studies are inconsistent as to the significance of user involvement to system success, and suggest that perhaps new avenues need to be explored [6,12,15]. In this study, we extend the line of inquiry on user participation by extending the descriptive model of Cavaye [6] and including ideas from the complementary but separate social process model of Newman and Robey [21]. The result is a user participation approach (UPA) framework encompassing four worldviews that emerge from the four paradigms proposed by Hirschheim and Klein [10]. Thus, the UPA framework uses meta- theoretical assumptions to describe and explain the user participation process from a new angle. This framework can be adapted and customized to fit the needs of specific organizations and thereby facilitate more successful systems development.
Modelling and linear analysis of high-speed articulated trainsets

The success of high-speed rail systems in Europe and Japan has led to the consideration of deployment of such systems in the United States. Since operating conditions in the United States are different from those in Europe and Japan, questions arise as to the safety-related behaviour of such systems. To address questions of dynamic behaviour, linear simulation models have been developed to compute the lateral stability of articulated trainsets on tangent track. These models include the essential features of articulated trainsets such as shared trucks and suspension characteristics such as car-to-car connections and car-to-truck yaw dampers. Parameter studies have been conducted for a trainset consisting of ten vehicles and having a critical speed of approximately 310 km/h. The studies show that consist stability is sensitive to the yaw damping between the trucks and the carbody, the conicity of the wheel profile, and the primary suspension. Other parameters affect the stability but to a lesser degree. The modal behaviour of the consist suggests that instabilities can occur in the form of whole consist modes, in some cases a wave-like motion, especially at low conicities.
Slower Fibrosis Progression Among Liver Transplant Recipients With Sustained Virological Response After Hepatitis C Treatment.

Background: The natural course of hepatic fibrosis in HCV allograft recipients with sustained virological response (SVR) after anti-HCV therapy remains debatable. The aim of this study was to examine the progression of fibrosis in a cohort of patients who achieved SVR compared with those without treatment. Methods: The 167 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were chosen from a transplant database. All patients were required to have histological evidence of recurrent HCV infection post-liver transplantation and a follow-up biopsy. The 140 of these patients had received anti-viral therapy. Twenty-seven patients were identified as controls and were matched with the treatment group in all respects. The patients were categorized into four groups based on treatment response: 1) no treatment (control) (n = 27); 2) non-responders (n = 81); 3) relapsers (n = 32); and 4) SVR (n = 27). The endpoint was the stage of fibrosis on the follow-up liver biopsy. Results: The treated and untreated groups were similar in clinical characteristics at the time of transplantation and prior to the initiation of treatment. The 72% of the cohort showed a fibrosis progression of ≥ 1 stage; this change did not significantly differ between the patient groups. Nonetheless, the fibrosis progression rate was the highest in the untreated group and lowest in the patients who achieved SVR. A coefficient of determination was used. Improvements in fibrosis scores were found with greater treatment duration. These improvements were most evident with the achievement of SVR. Conclusions: In conclusion, SVR after anti-viral therapy for recurrent hepatitis C infection post-transplantation was associated with slower fibrosis progression and significantly improved graft survival. Gastroenterol Res. 2015;8(5):237-246 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/gr686w
ATP binding to neighbouring subunits and intersubunit allosteric coupling underlie proteasomal ATPase function

The primary functions of the proteasome are driven by a highly allosteric ATPase complex. ATP binding to only two subunits in this hexameric complex triggers substrate binding, ATPase–20S association and 20S gate opening. However, it is unclear how ATP binding and hydrolysis spatially and temporally coordinates these allosteric effects to drive substrate translocation into the 20S. Here, we use FRET to show that the proteasomal ATPases from eukaryotes (RPTs) and archaea (PAN) bind ATP with high affinity at neighbouring subunits, which complements the well-established spiral-staircase topology of the 26S ATPases. We further show that two conserved arginine fingers in PAN located at the subunit interface work together as a single allosteric unit to mediate the allosteric effects of ATP binding, without altering the nucleotide-binding pattern. Rapid kinetics analysis also shows that ring resetting of a sequential hydrolysis mechanism can be explained by thermodynamic equilibrium binding of ATP. These data support a model whereby these two functionally distinct allosteric networks cooperate to translocate polypeptides into the 20S for degradation.
A clinicopathologic correlation of the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. I. Hematologic manifestations

A retrospective blind study of 32 patients with the hypereosinophilic syndrome was undertaken utilizing a hematologic scoring system that was based on peripheral blood and bone marrow findings, cytogenetics B12 levels, and leukocyte alkaline phosphatase determinations. In addition to the grading system, which allowed formulation of a hematologic score, the date could also be normalized for individuals who did not have all tests performed by use of the hematologic quotient. This study clearly defined two groups of patients within the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. One group were those individuals with low hematologic scores and quotients who did not require therapy or who responded to prednisone therapy, while the second group of patients required cytotoxic therapy. These patients had significantly higher hematologic scores and quotients and a significant number of abnormalities similar to those seen in myeloproliferative syndromes, such as myelofibrosis and cytogenetic abnormalities. This type of hematologic scoring seems useful in predicting therapy and/or evaluating individuals or groups of patients with the hypereosinophilic syndrome.
6-Hydroxydopamine treatment and beta adrenergic receptor binding in kittens. Relation to visual cortical plasticity.

Under some circumstances intraventricular administration of 6-OHDA decreases visual cortical plasticity of kittens; the mechanism for this change is not known, but depletion of norepinephrine (NE) is not the entire explanation. We have examined the effects of 6-OHDA treatment on beta adrenergic receptor binding in kitten visual cortex. Subjects were given vehicle solution alone, a low dose of 6-OHDA which depleted cortical NE without affecting visuocortical plasticity, or a higher dose of 6-OHDA which depleted cortical NE and decreased visuocortical plasticity. Drugs were administered in single daily injections via intraventricular cannulas. Saturation assays were performed on homogenates of visual cortical tissue using 125I-pindolol (30–400 pM) along w/isoproterenol (237 μM) as a cold competitor. We measured radioactivity bound to tissue and retained on filters and analyzed the data using the EBDA computer program (McPherson 1983, 1985); we determined the affinity constant (Kd) and receptor density (Bmax) in multiple assays for each animal. Despite 75–90% NE depletion in both experimental groups, only the group receiving the lower dose of 6-OHDA showed any evidence of supersensitivity. The Kds did not differ among the groups. The data suggest that the effects of 6-OHDA on visuocortical plasticity are not secondary to beta adrenergic supersensitivity.
Construction of prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression plasmids with Toxoplasma gondii GRA8

To construct the prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression plasmids containing the dense granule antigen GRA8 gene of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain,the gene fragment encoding GRA8 was amplified by PCR with special primers from genomic DNA of Toxoplasma gondii and was cloned into pMD18-T vector.The positive clones were identified by colony PCR,and undergone sequencing with ABI PRISM TM 377LX DNA sequencer.The right gene fragments encoding GRA8 in positive clones for prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression plasmid were digested with restrictive endonuclease,and were subcloned into pGEX-4T-2 and pVAX1 respectively.Then,the recombinant prokaryotic and eukaryotic plasmids(pGEX-GRA8 and VAX1-GRA8) were transformed into E.coli BL21 and JM109 respectively.The positive recombinant clones were characterized with PCR and digested with restrictive endonucleases and the pGEX-GRA8 in BL 21 was induced with IPTG to express target protein,which could be characterized by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis.BALB/c mice were immunized with pVAX1=GRA8 so as to evaluate the humoral immune responses.The experimental results showed that the specific fragment of GRA8 had been amplified by PCR with correct sequences in the positive clones and could be subcloned into prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-4T-2 and eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1 respectively.The inserts of GRA8 in two groups of positive clones were coincident with the original sequences of GRA8 gene from GenBank,and the pGEX-GRA8 and pVAX1-GRA8 were constructed through subcloning the right inserts of GRA8 into pGEX-4T-2 and pVAX1 respectively.Recombant fusion protein was expressed in colonies containing pGEX-gra8 when induced with IPTG,and it reacted with the goat polyclonal antibodies to Schistosoma japonicum 26kDa GST.Mice immunized with pVAX1-GRA8 developed antibodies to Toxoplasma antigen with a titre of 1∶100.It concludes that the prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression vectors for GRA8 gene of Toxoplasma gondii have been successfully constructed.
Diabetes and Depression Care: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

OBJECTIVE We examined the comparative effectiveness of an integrated intervention for Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and depression by employing patient prioritized planning (PPP) to incorporate patients' financial, social, and emotional needs versus an integrated intervention alone. METHODS A randomized controlled pilot trial randomly assigned 78 patients prescribed pharmacotherapy for T2DM in primary care to an integrated intervention for T2DM and depression employing PPP to incorporate patients' financial, social, and emotional needs (enhanced intervention) versus an integrated intervention alone (basic intervention). Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) assays measured glycemic control and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) assessed depression. RESULTS Patients in the enhanced intervention had a significantly greater mean change in HbA1C from baseline in comparison with the basic intervention at 12 weeks (enhanced intervention -0.63 vs basic intervention 0.15; p = .027). Patients in the enhanced intervention also had a significantly greater mean change in CES-D from baseline in comparison with patients in the basic intervention group at 12 weeks (enhanced intervention -3.75 vs basic intervention 0.93; p = .041). CONCLUSIONS Our pilot trial results indicate that an integrated care intervention employing PPP to incorporate financial, social and emotional needs for primary care patients with T2DM and depression may be effective.
MO-FG-CAMPUS-IeP1-01: Alternative K-Edge Filters for Low-Energy Image Acquisition in Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography

Purpose: In Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM), Rh filter is often used during low-energy image acquisition. The potential for using Ag, In and Sn filters, which exhibit K-edge closer to, and just below that of Iodine, instead of the Rh filter, was investigated for the low-energy image acquisition. Methods: Analytical computations of the half-value thickness (HVT) and the photon fluence per mAs (photons/mm2/mAs) for 50µm Rh were compared with other potential K-edge filters (Ag, In and Sn), all with K-absorption edge below that of Iodine. Two strategies were investigated: fixed kVp and filter thickness (50µm for all filters) resulting in HVT variation, and fixed kVp and HVT resulting in variation in Ag, In and Sn thickness. Monte Carlo simulations (GEANT4) were conducted to determine if the scatter-to-primary ratio (SPR) and the point spread function of scatter (scatter PSF) differed between Rh and other K-edge filters. Results: Ag, In and Sn filters (50µm thick) increased photon fluence/mAs by 1.3–1.4, 1.8–2, and 1.7–2 at 28-32 kVp compared to 50µm Rh, which could decrease exposure time. Additionally, the fraction of spectra closer to and just below Iodine's K-edge increased with these filters, which could improve post-subtraction image contrast. For HVT matched to 50µm Rh filtered spectra, the thickness range for Ag, In, and Sn were (41,44)µm, (49,55)µm and (45,53)µm, and increased photon fluence/mAs by 1.5–1.7, 1.6–2, and 1.6–2.2, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations showed that neither the SPR nor the scatter PSF of Ag, In and Sn differed from Rh, indicating no additional detriment due to x-ray scatter. Conclusion: The use of Ag, In and Sn filters for low-energy image acquisition in CESM is potentially feasible and could decrease exposure time and may improve post-subtraction image contrast. Effect of these filters on radiation dose, contrast, noise and associated metrics are being investigated. Funding Support: Supported in part by NIH R01CA195512. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not reflect the official views of the NIH or NCI.
Pankreas — nach vorausgegangener Nierentransplantation — eine Alternative zur simultanen Pankreas-/Nierentransplantation

Bislang waren die Ergebnisse nach simultaner Pankreas-/Nieren-transplantation (SPN) denen der Pankreas- nach vorausgegangener Nierentransplantation (PNN) uberlegen. Seitdem jedoch in der PNN-Gruppe das Spender/Empfanger-HLA-ABDR-Match berucksichtigt wird (Transplantation nur bei ≦2266 3 Mismachts), Quadruple-Immunsuppression zur Induktions- und Abstosungsbehandlung obligatorisch ist und Diagnostik und Therapie von Abstosungen fruhzeitig erfolgen, sind die Ergebnisse mit denen der SPN vergleichbar: Die 1-Jahres-Funktionsrate von blasendrainierten, technisch erfolgreichen Pankreastransplantaten betrug in unserem Krankengut zwischen 1/1988 und 12/1992 in der SPN-Gruppe (n = 99) 76% und in der PNN-Gruppe (n = 30) 75%. Bezuglich der Nierentransplantate wird der Spenderpool in der PNN-Gruppe durch Verwendung von Lebendspendernieren (perioperative Spendermortalitat 0%, n = 1803) vergrosert und zudem sind deren Langzeitergebnisse (10 Jahre) um ≦ 20% besser als die Funktionsraten von Nieren hirntoter Spender. Somit ist die PNN als Alternative zur SPN zu empfehlen.
The Bethel Boys Motif at the Dawn of Modernity

If Aries is at all correct in his account of the evolution of the modern, sympathetic idea of childhood, which he does not find fully developed until the eighteenth century, there are two complicating facts he does not take into adequate account. First, the old, Augustinian wariness towards children never disappeared. It persisted as a competing attitude, as reflected in the popularity of the tale of Elisha’s mockery and the Bethel boys motif among moralists and literary artists from the sixteenth century on. Aries acknowledges a ‘continuance of the archaic attitude to childhood’ up to the time of Moliere, qualifying only that ‘this survival, for all that it was stubborn, was precarious’. However, the ‘archaic attitude’ Aries has in mind is not the Augustinian view of children as wicked, but the view of them as constituting part of ‘adult society’, and the notion that any ‘infant who was too fragile as yet to take part in the life of adults simply “did not count” ‘.1
Long-Range Interactions in Free Space

Computation of long-range forces between multiple charged, polarized and/or magnetized particles is critical in a variety of molecular and nanoscale applications: analysis of macromolecules and nanoparticles, ferrofluids, ionic crystals; in micromagnetics and magnetic recording, etc.
Comparison of Nitrogen Adsorption and Mercury Penetration Results. Pore Size Distributions for a Series of Mo-A12O3 Catalysis with Increasing MoO3 Content:

Scanning electron microscopic data, X-ray diffraction patterns and porosity measurements are consistent with a structure for an Mo-A12O3 catalyst series containing a single surface layer of Mo up t...
The Economic Voting Puzzle

[T]he economic voting paradigm has come to rival other political behavior models – party identification, social cleavages, and issue voting … [I]t appears a worthy adversary. – Lewis-Beck and Stegmaier (2007) Retrospective economic voting is as close to a “law” of political behavior as exists in the social sciences. Over the last five decades, this thesis has been poked and prodded, analyzed and reanalyzed, challenged and refined. Yet the simple notion that economic context drives election outcomes remains a cornerstone in the study of political behavior. Quite simply, economic voting theory argues that citizens hold elected officials accountable for national economic performance – using their votes to reward incumbents in good economic times and punish them amid economic downturns. Even in light of the power of party identification, policy preferences, or social cleavages, and regardless of what candidates do or say during the campaign, macroeconomic forces move individual vote choices. Consequently, the nation's recent economic performance drives election outcomes. Empirical evidence of this economic voting relationship is in no short supply. Even outside of academia, the belief that incumbent-party candidates win elections when times are good and lose when times are tough is conventional wisdom. Economic voting, it would seem, is ubiquitous. Yet, despite the near-axiomatic status of retrospective economic voting, electoral outcomes often defy the predictions of conventional theory. In perhaps the most infamous failure of the economic voting logic, a panel of top election forecasters convened at the 2000 annual meeting of the American Political Science Association to deliver their prognostications for the US presidential election just 70 days away. Armed with time-tested models of voting behavior and sophisticated econometric techniques, these experts unanimously predicted a victory for Al Gore. Although the polls had the race in a dead heat, economic voting theory held that voters would eventually cast their ballot for the Democrat as a reward for the unprecedented prosperity enjoyed under President Clinton. Banking on this conventional wisdom, the central question for the forecasters was not whether Gore would win, but rather by how much. While the consensus was that George W. Bush would lose by almost six points, the challenger overcame an extremely unfavorable economic context and won.
EBRP: energy band based routing protocol for wireless sensor networks

Distributed sensor networks are large-scale, autonomous resource constrained systems used for gathering data in an intelligent manner. We study the concept of energy fairness in routing in sensor networks so as to increase the network lifetime. Our model aims to construct a nearly stateless routing protocol, which can be used to route data based on the residual energy of the nodes. This algorithm divides the network into different energy bands and then constructs routing paths. This type of architecture is novel and more suitable to wireless sensor networks that generate a lot of traffic as it achieves nearly uniform load distribution across all the nodes. This model has the advantage of eliminating the bottlenecks in the network, because the nodes will be expending their energies at a constant measured rate. This mechanism has another advantage wherein the paths need not be computed every time the data is sent. Simulations show that our model achieves fairness and load balancing across the network and increases the lifetime considerably.
Understanding immune responses to the influenza vaccine

The quest to improve influenza vaccines is aided by research into the immune response that they generate. Two recent studies have focused their attention on the specificities of antibodies induced after vaccination with conventional inactivated influenza vaccines.
Comments on “The Significance of Asymmetrical Sexual Isolation”

The central thesis of the preceding chapter by Ehrman and Wasserman is that there is more than one mechanism for yielding asymmetrical isolation, and hence mating asymmetry alone cannot be used to infer the direction of evolution without qualification. We are in complete agreement with this central thesis. Indeed, the primary motivation behind the Giddings and Templeton (1983) review article was to argue that the Kaneshiro model is valid only within a limited context, and that when certain conditions are violated the predictions of Kaneshiro (1976, 1980) may and do fail.
Micro X-ray computed tomography and image analysis of frozen potatoes subjected to freeze-thaw cycles

Abstract Frozen products are subjected to freeze-thaw cycles during storage and shipping. These temperature fluctuations result in ice recrystallization, which causes undesirable quality changes, texture loss, and surface dehydration of frozen foods. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature fluctuations on ice crystal growth/decay in frozen potatoes. The potatoes, which were in a cuboid French fry shape, were frozen at −80 °C (control group) and fluctuated from −17 and −16 °C, −17 and −11 °C, and −17 and −7 °C for one and two weeks' duration. X-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) was used to observe the three-dimensional (3D) microstructure of frozen potatoes. Image analysis showed significant growth of ice crystals with increases in temperature fluctuations and duration of freezing. The total number of pores was reduced with increases in amplitude and duration of freeze-thaw cycles. These results demonstrate that micro-CT and image analysis can be used to analyze the microstructure of frozen materials and obtain valuable information for designing the freezing process.
The influence of periodic increases of human activity on crepuscular and nocturnal mammals: Testing the weekend effect

Abstract Human recreation can negatively affect wildlife, particularly on weekends when human activity is highest (i.e., the weekend effect). Much of what we understand about the weekend effect is based on research conducted on diurnal species, which have greater temporal overlap with humans. Because nocturnal species generally avoid times when humans are active, they are likely less affected by anthropogenic activity on weekends. Our objective was to test the weekend effect in relation to the degree of nocturnality of mammals in a recreational area. We predicted that as nocturnality increased, the effect of human activity would decrease. To address our objective, we placed 50 remote cameras along the Diamond Fork River in Utah from January to June 2015. We found that three out of the four focal species supported our predictions. Mule deer (crepuscular) reduced activity throughout our entire study area during weekends and avoided campgrounds. Beavers and mountain lions (both nocturnal) did not negatively respond to increased human activity. Raccoons (nocturnal) reduced activity during weekends, but only within campground areas. Our findings indicate that as the temporal overlap increases between wildlife and humans, so does the influence that humans have on wildlife.
A multi-dimensional new-market pricing paradigm

This study explores pricing methodologies, economic theories and various frameworks that influence the price-setting in different dynamic markets, while considering ways to minimise price discounting at a transactional level. Upper management in a small industrial supply firm, Shannon Hardware, recently discovered large losses in sales revenue due to price discounting at the transactional level from sales personnel due to the ever-changing dynamic markets they serve. This has made the company to look for a new price structure for their locations. A new pricing paradigm is created using a three-phase pricing methodology: 1) analyse pricing variables, economic theories and market conditions; 2) create and optimise the pricing paradigm; 3) execute the pricing paradigm and simulate what if scenarios. Once the pricing paradigm is implemented into Shannon Hardware's ERP system, the anticipated companywide benefit is to recapture an average of 7% in sales revenue per month for an increase of $140,000 dollars annually.
Constraints to College Students' Participation in Educational Travel

International study programs can contribute a great deal to the educational and personal development of students. This study investigates constraints to student participation in an international st...
The Measurement and Interpretation of Onset Energies

The measurement and interpretation of ionization energies and fragment ion appearance energies are discussed in the light of new experimental methods, including multiphoton ionization. The ionization energy of very cold molecules can now be measured with a precision of 0.1 meV. In order to use these data to determine equally accurate heats of formation, it will be necessary to know the vibrational frequencies of the molecule and ion. Fragment ion onsets cannot yet be measured with such high accuracy. In addition, the use of appearance energies in determining fragment ion and neutral heats of formation require a number of assumptions. These ideas are reviewed here. The problems associated with the interpretation of fragment ion onsets are illustrated for the case of methyl loss from the ethylbenzene ion.
Data Structure and Algorithms in the Primate Somatosensory Cortex

The three centuries since Newton have been devoted to a goal in the Natural Sciences which consists, in the words of Herbert Simon, in showing “that complexity, correctly viewed, is only a mask for simplicity”. An important tool in the realization of this goal was the idea of the model, viewed as an artifact of some sort, connoting “resemblance from without, rather than within” (Simon, 1969). Its purpose is to serve as a map, as it were, to many new statements; and its essential ingredient is that distinct and different physical systems can be organized to exhibit nearly identical behavior. Experience has shown that there is a direct relationship between the degree to which the system to be represented is poorly understood, and the heuristic power of simulating models.
Infection following penile prosthesis placement at an academic training center remains low despite involvement of surgeons-in-training

Purpose Primary care providers harbor misconceptions regarding penile prosthetic surgery, largely overestimating the rate of infection. Rates of infection following surgery for primary placement and revision are estimated as 1% to 3% and 10% to 18%, respectively. Our objective was to determine the contemporary incidence of infection following inflatable penile prostheses surgery at an academic training center where surgeons-in-training are routinely involved. Materials and Methods Review of a prospectively collected single-surgeon database was performed. All cases of inflatable penile prostheses placement from January 2011 through June 2017 were reviewed. Information regarding training level of assistant surgeon(s) was collected, and follow-up data was compiled regarding postoperative infections and need for revision surgery. Results Three hundred nine cases meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Mean patient age was 64.2 years, and mean follow-up was 28.7 months. Distribution involved 257 (83.2%) for primary placement, 45 (14.6%) for removal/replacement, and 7 (2.3%) in setting of prior device removal. Diabetes was noted in 31.1% of men. Surgeon-in-training involvement was noted in 100% of cases. Infection was confirmed in a patient who had skin breakdown over an area of corporal reconstruction with polytetrafluoroethylene. The overall postoperative infection rate was 0.3%. Conclusions In this series from an academic training center, infection following penile prosthetic surgery is low, similar to other centers of excellence, even with 100% involvement of surgeons-in-training. This data should be used to better inform primary care providers and members of the general public potentially interested in restoration of sexual function.
The Interaction of Environment and Chronological and Developmental Time

As organisms develop from embryos to adults, adaptive phenotypes must emerge to meet the demands of the habitat. This physiological and morphological transformation occurs along a continuum, where the emerging traits are often illustrated as landmarks charted along a predictable chronological timeline. Chronological time is measured according to astronomical phenomena, in hours, days, weeks, months, and years. However, developmental timing is largely driven by innate molecular oscillators that are independent of chronological time and species-specific. Environmental stressors can alter the timing of emergence of developmental phenotypes, creating further discord between developmental time and chronological time. Further, variation in the timing of emergence of developmental phenotypes is the norm, rather than the exception both within and between species. Such examples of environmentally driven variation of developmental timing abound, including alteration in development speed within chronological time and alteration of the sequence of emergence of landmark traits. It follows that if treatment groups (or species) are at different developmental stages, experimental comparisons become increasingly complicated. Within the context of the growing use of developmental model organisms in environmental sciences, the effect of alteration of developmental timing is particularly relevant. This is well illustrated in several examples utilized here to describe how alteration of developmental time can be a maladaptive consequence, or an adaptive compensatory response to environmental stressors, which can be selected for during evolution. Thus, such alterations of developmental timing can be measured and accounted for when designing developmental studies and in the interpretation of resultant data.
Kinetic Equilibrium of Dipolarization Fronts

The unprecedented high-resolution data from the Magnetospheric Multi-Scale (MMS) satellites is revealing the physics of dipolarization fronts created in the aftermath of magnetic reconnection in extraordinary detail. The data shows that the fronts contain structures on small spatial scales beyond the scope of fluid framework. A new kinetic analysis, applied to MMS data here, predicts that global plasma compression produces a unique particle distribution in a narrow boundary layer with separation of electron and ion scale physics. Layer widths on the order of an ion gyro-diameter lead to an ambipolar potential across the magnetic field resulting in strongly sheared flows. Gradients along the magnetic field lines create a potential difference, which can accelerate ions and electrons into beams. These small-scale kinetic effects determine the plasma dynamics in dipolarization fronts, including the origin of the distinctive broadband emissions.
Metastable ion characteristics

Abstract A fully-automated system incorporating a Nier—Johnson geometry mass spectrometer and an on-line computer designed originally to collect high-resolution data has been modified to acquire and reduce metastable ion data produced by the Barber—Elliott—Major defocusing technique. Factors affecting system performance have been identified, and a variety of operating modes are proposed.
Substrate complex competition is a regulatory motif that allows NFκB RelA to license but not amplify NFκB RelB.

Signaling pathways often share molecular components, tying the activity of one pathway to the functioning of another. In the NFκB signaling system, distinct kinases mediate inflammatory and developmental signaling via RelA and RelB, respectively. Although the substrates of the developmental, so-called noncanonical, pathway are induced by inflammatory/canonical signaling, crosstalk is limited. Through dynamical systems modeling, we identified the underlying regulatory mechanism. We found that as the substrate of the noncanonical kinase NIK, the nfkb2 gene product p100, transitions from a monomer to a multimeric complex, it may compete with and inhibit p100 processing to the active p52. Although multimeric complexes of p100 (IκBδ) are known to inhibit preexisting RelA:p50 through sequestration, here we report that p100 complexes can inhibit the enzymatic formation of RelB:p52. We show that the dose–response systems properties of this complex substrate competition motif are poorly accounted for by standard Michaelis–Menten kinetics, but require more detailed mass action formulations. In sum, although tonic inflammatory signaling is required for adequate expression of the noncanonical pathway precursors, the substrate complex competition motif identified here can prevent amplification of the active RelB:p52 dimer in elevated inflammatory conditions to ensure reliable RelB-dependent developmental signaling independent of inflammatory context.
Platforms for Genetic Design Automation

Abstract Crucial to the success of synthetic biology is the development of platforms for genetic design automation (GDA). This chapter presents the current state-of-the-art in GDA tools. This chapter also briefly describes the standards used for data representation that enable these GDA tools to work together to complete a genetic design task and the emerging repositories that are available to archive and share these data. Finally, this chapter compares tool capabilities and discusses future requirements for a complete GDA workflow.
Sharing Real-Time Traffic Information With Travelers Using Twitter: An Analysis of Effectiveness and Information Content

Ubiquitous smartphone technologies and virtual social networks offer us a unique opportunity to instantly share information to a large number of people. Online social media platforms facilitate easy and rapid communication of real-time information by producing a huge amount of digital content. In this paper, we present an analysis of the data collected from 14 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Twitter accounts created for sharing real-time traffic information. We analyze the activities, influence, attention received, and the effectiveness of gaining attention by these accounts. We propose several metrics in disseminating real-time traffic information. Using topic models, we also analyze the content of the shared information given in the tweets. Finally, we estimate an ordered logit model to determine the information value of a shared content based on its chance of getting retweeted. Based on the study, we propose a framework called Social Media-based Adaptive Real-time Traffic feed (SMART-Feed) that will significantly improve the effectiveness of real-time traffic information sharing through social media. Moreover, it will help assessing the value of real-time traffic information to travelers and developing social media strategies for sharing information.