cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Random network learning and image compression

Digital image compression serves a wide range of applications. Encoding an image into fewer bits can be useful in reducing the storage requirements in image archival systems, or in decreasing the bandwidth for image transmission for applications such as teleconferencing and HDTV. Although some applications (e.g. medical imaging) require lossless compression, image compression usually introduces some loss in the original image. Another issue is the speed of compression and/or decompression, especially in real-time applications, In this paper the authors use a learning random neural network to achieve fast lossy image compression for gray level images. >
Recovery of Energy from Municipal Solid Waste in Fabricated Digesters

Summary The use of anaerobic digestion (AD) of the organic fraction (OF) of municipal solid waste (MSW) in fabricated digesters with the objective of both waste disposal and energy generation is reviewed. Various types of feeds are discussed in terms of composition, energy content and biodegradability in relation to potential gas evolution. Possibilities of increasing gas production by pretreatment of the OF/MSW or by use of multi-stage reactors are discussed and results from various pilot and commercial scale facilities used to illustrate the most important factors which determine gas production rates and economic viability. Advantages of thermophilic digestion of source-sorted material, admixed with organic sludges, at high solids concentration in simple digesters with low capital cost are stressed.
Katul Receives 2012 Hydrologic Sciences Award: Response

Thank you, Marc, for the kind comments and unwavering support as a mentor and friend. I am honored by this award, which I share with many people.
Support Vector Machines, Kernel Logistic Regression and Boosting

The support vector machine is known for its excellent performance in binary classification, i.e., the response y ? {-1, 1}, but its appropriate extension to the multi-class case is still an on-going research issue. Another weakness of the SVM is that it only estimates sign[p(x) - 1/2], while the probability p(x) is often of interest itself, where p(x) = P(Y = 1|X = x) is the conditional probability of a point being in class 1 given X = x. We propose a new approach for classification, called the import vector machine, which is built on kernel logistic regression (KLR). We show on some examples that the IVM performs as well as the SVM in binary classification. The IVM can naturally be generalized to the multi-class case. Furthermore, the IVM provides an estimate of the underlying class probabilities. Similar to the "support points" of the SVM, the IVM model uses only a fraction of the training data to index kernel basis functions, typically a much smaller fraction than the SVM. This can give the IVM a computational advantage over the SVM, especially when the size of the training data set is large. We illustrate these techniques on some examples, and make connections with boosting, another popular machine-learning method for classification.
IMPAIRMENT OF URINARY CONCENTRATION IN SICKLE CELL ANEMIA

In 14 out of 15 consecutive patients with sickle cell anemia no urine specimen with an accurately determined specific gravity above 1.016 was obtained. As a result of the responses of the patients to water deprivation and hypertonic saline intravenously, the impairment of urinary concentration appear to be of renal origin. The cause of the kidney defect is unknown. The need for special attention to fluid requirements because of the increased obligatory renal water requirement in such patients is brought out.
Perf-Sat: Runtime Detection of Performance Saturation for GPGPU Applications

Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) achieve latency tolerance by exploiting massive amounts of thread level parallelism. Each core executes several hundred to a few thousand simultaneously active threads. The work scheduler tries to maximize the number of active threads on each core by launching threads until at least one of the required resources is completely utilized. The rationale is, more threads would give the thread scheduler more opportunities to hide memory latency and thus would result in better performance. In this work, we show that launching the maximum number of threads is not always necessary to achieve the best performance. Applications have an optimal thread count value at which the performance saturates. Increasing the number of threads beyond this value results in no better and sometimes worse performance. To this end, we develop Perf-Sat: a mechanism to detect the optimal number of threads required on each core at runtime. Perf-Sat is integrated into the hardware work scheduler and guides it to either increase or decrease the number of active threads. We evaluate the performance impact of our scheduler on two GPU generations and show that Perf-Sat scales well to different applications as well as architectures. With performance loss of less than 1%, Perf-Sat is able to achieve core resource savings of 18.32% on average.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of reaction-formed joints in reaction-bonded silicon carbide ceramics

A reaction-bonded silicon carbide (RB-SiC) ceramic material (Carborundum's Cerastar RB-SiC) has been joined using a reaction f rming approach. Microstructure and mechanical properties of three types of reaction-formed joints (350 μm, 50–55 μm, and 20–25 μm thick) have been evaluated. Thick (∼350 μm) joints consist mainly of silicon with a small amount of silicon carbide. The flexural strength of thick joints is about 44±2 MPa, and fracture always occurs at the joints. The microscopic examination of fracture surfaces of specimens with thick joints tested at room temperature revealed the failure mode to be typically brittle. Thin joints (<50–55 μm) consist of silicon carbide and silicon phases. The room and high temperature flexural strengths of thin (<50–55 μm) reaction-formed joints have been found to be at least equal to that of the bulk Cerastar RB-SiC materials because the flexure bars fracture away from the joint regions. In this case, the fracture origins appear to be inhomogeneities inside the parent material. This was always found to be the case for thin joints tested at temperatures up to 1350°C in air. This observation suggests that the strength of Cerastar RB-SiC material containing a thin joint is not limited by the joint strength but by the strength of the bulk (parent) materials.
Lead-induced hypertension. II. Response to sequential infusions of L-arginine, superoxide dismutase, and nitroprusside.

Administration of 100 ppm lead acetate daily for 3 months caused hypertension in Sprague-Dawley rats, with reversal by treatment with 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)(0.5% for 2 weeks). Animals from each group were infused sequentially in 30-min intervals with saline (S),L-arginine (Arg), Arg+superoxide dismutase (SOD), S, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Baseline mean blood pressure (MBP) was elevated in lead-treated animals (Pb) compared to that in controls(C), returning toward normal after DMSA (105±2 mmHg, C, vs 149±2, Pb, and 124±1, DMSA,P<0.001). Infusion of Arg caused a fall in MBP in all animals, normalizing the MBP in Pb-treated animals. SNP caused a greater fall in MBP in all groups of animals, normalizing the MBP in Pb. Measurement of urinary nitrite+nitrate (NOx) by chemiluminescence revealed at baseline a reduced level in Pb, restored to normal by DMSA (6.6±1.5 nmol/min/100 g BW, C, vs 3.3±1.7, Pb,P<0.05, vs 5.8±2.6, DMSA,P=NS). Infusion of arginine increased urinary NOxin all groups, but to a lesser degree in Pb and DMSA. Assay of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) by HPLC, as a measure of reactive oxygen species (ROS), was elevated at baseline in Pb, reduced by DMSA (3.6±0.4 μmol/L, Pb, vs 1.9±0.2, C, and 1.9±0.3, DMSA,P<0.01). In the Pb group, SOD resulted in a significant fall in MDA (2.0±0.3 μmol/L, SOD, vs 3.1±0.1, Arg,P<0.01), but no further fall in MBP or increase in urinary NOx. Thus, hypertension in lead-exposed animals is related to both diminished NO and increased ROS. The elevation in MBP can be ameliorated by additional NO through infusion of substrate arginine or by treatment with the ROS scavenger, DMSA. Lead-exposed animals show enhanced MBP sensitivity to the NO donors, Arg and SNP, but no further response to SOD, despite a reduction in MDA to normal. We speculate that lead-induced hypertension may be caused by one species of ROS which enhances vascular reactivity, and that provision of additional NO acts to scavenge the ROS and/or acts directly as a vasodilator.
Muscular dystrophy summer camp: a case study of a non-traditional level I fieldwork using a collaborative supervision model.

Objective A shortage of traditional medical fieldwork placements has been reported in the United States. Alternative settings are being sought to meet the Accreditation Standards for Level I fieldwork. This study was designed to examine and report the outcomes of an alternative pediatric camp setting, using a group model of supervision to fulfill the requirements for Level I fieldwork. Participants Thirty-seven students from two Pennsylvania OT schools. Methods Two cohorts of students were studied over a two year period using multiple methods of retrospective review and data collection. Results Students supervised in a group model experienced positive outcomes, including opportunities to deliver client centered care, and understanding the role of caregiving for children with disabilities. Conclusion The use of a collaborative model of fieldwork education at a camp setting has resulted in a viable approach for the successful attainment of Level I fieldwork objectives for multiple students under a single supervisor.
iBLOB: complex object management in databases through intelligent binary large objects

New emerging applications including genomic, multimedia, and geospatial technologies have necessitated the handling of complex application objects that are highly structured, large, and of variable length. Currently, such objects are handled using filesystem formats like HDF and NetCDF as well as the XML and BLOB data types in databases. However, some of these approaches are very application specific and do not provide proper levels of data abstraction for the users. Others do not support random updates or cannot manage large volumes of structured data and provide their associated operations. In this paper, we propose a novel two-step solution to manage and query application objects within databases. First, we present a generalized conceptual framework to capture and validate the structure of application objects by means of a type structure specification. Second, we introduce a novel data type called Intelligent Binary Large Object (iBLOB) that leverages the traditional BLOB type in databases, preserves the structure of application objects, and provides smart query and update capabilities. The iBLOB framework generates a type structure specific application programming interface (API) that allows applications to easily access the components of complex application objects. This greatly simplifies the ease with which new type systems can be implemented inside traditional DBMS.
Decomposition and Limit Theorems for a Class of Self-Similar Gaussian Processes

We introduce a new class of self-similar Gaussian stochastic processes, where the covariance is defined in terms of a fractional Brownian motion and another Gaussian process. A special case is the solution in time to the fractional-colored stochastic heat equation described in Tudor (Analysis of variations for self-similar processes: a stochastic calculus approach. Springer, Berlin, 2013). We prove that the process can be decomposed into a fractional Brownian motion (with a different parameter than the one that defines the covariance), and a Gaussian process first described in Lei and Nualart (Stat Probab Lett 79:619–624, 2009). The component processes can be expressed as stochastic integrals with respect to the Brownian sheet. We then prove a central limit theorem about the Hermite variations of the process.
Effects of protein synthesis inhibition on memory for active avoidance training.

Abstract Inhibition of brain protein synthesis by anisomycin and acetoxycycloheximide was studied in mice for its biochemical and behavioral effects. By employing both drugs in low doses in a series of injections, we were able to maintain inhibition of protein synthesis of 80% or greater for up to 14 hr without causing detectable pemanent physiological impaiment. The drugs were employed as amnestic agents in mice trained to avoid footshock in a T-maze. As the duration of inhibition increased, the percentage of mice classed as amnesic increased. This amnesia could be reduced by increasing (a) the rate of acquisition, or (b) the number of training trials. Anisomycin was shown to cause a significant degree of amnesia for the escape component as well as the avoidance component of the learning. A single injection of anisomycin given 15 min prior to training did not cause significant changes in the acquisition or retention of avoidance conditioning, when comparison was made with saline-injected controls. Only additional injections given after training to prolong inhibition caused amnesia. Thus, those injections critical in obtaining amnesia were given at a time at which interference with acquisition could not have occurred, so the results bear clearly on memory processes.
Intensity of emotional content in dreams recalled by college students.

Stairs and Blick (3), in an attempt to determine what emotions were experienced during dreams, had college students complete dream diaries and indicate the number of ' emotions which occurred during those dreams. The purpose of the present survey was to determine the intensity of the emotions students experienced in dreams. It was hypothesized that the emotions reported (3) as occurring most frequently would be rated as more intense than those experienced less frequently.
Reducing bias in users' evaluations of information systems

Abstract Systematic biases occur when users evaluate an information system (IS). Such biases can have serious consequences for those involved in the development and acquisition of an IS. Some simple techniques are discussed for reducing evaluation bias. By using these techniques, system developers and managers could improve the quality of their decisions.
A double-blind trial of maprotiline (Ludiomil) and amitriptyline in depressed outpatients.

The results of a double-blind trial of a tetracyclic antidepressant, maprotiline (Ludiomil®) and a conventional tricyclic, amitriptyline (Elavil®), in 67 ambulatory depressives are reported. hamilton's Rating Scale for Depression was the main outcome criterion. No statistically significant differences were found between the drugs in onset of action, efficacy, side effects or predictors of response. Patients on either drug showed a significant reduction in symptoms after 1 week of treatment and at the end of the trial. Both drugs were tolerated well. A review of double-blind comparisons of maprotiline and tricyclic antidepressants, spanning 13 countries, and including over 900 patients, both ambulatory and inpatient, shows essentially similar results. The main outcome criterion in all these studies was manifest psychopathology assessed on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression by the treating physician. The absence of additional types of outcome criteria or assessment techniques, which may have detected differences in motor activity or drive as originally postulated, may have obscured results which were expected to be subtle.
Correlating defects to functional and I/sub DDQ/ tests

Functional tests and I/sub DDQ/ tests are studied to determine their effectiveness toward screening failures. A model is presented for curve fitting correlation data between fault coverages and defect quality employing the Williams and Brown defect level to fault coverage equation. The model is used for multiple test types. Empirical data were gathered to demonstrate its effectiveness over functional and I/sub DDQ/ tests. I/sub DDQ/ test data demonstrates two categories of I/sub DDQ/ defects: pattern sensitive and pattern insensitive defects.
Speaker, Partner and Observer Evaluations of Affect during Social Interaction as a Function of Interaction Tempo

Getting-acquainted conversations for 55 dyads were tape recorded. Speaker affect was evaluated by speakers, conversation partners and observers. On-off vocal activity was analysed to yield 14 interaction tempo variables. Factor analysis reduced these to four factor scores. Multiple regression analyses used these interaction tempo factors to predict speaker affect ratings made by speakers, partners, and observers. Speaker evaluations were significantly related to predictable patterning of talk within speaker and durations of interruptions and pauses. Partner ratings of speaker affect were significantly related to these two factors and to speaker talkativeness. Outside observer ratings were related to all four interaction tempo factors. Speakers who were more talkative, had longer interruptions and shorter pauses, whose amount of talk was more closely coordinated with partner talk, and whose amount of talk was predictably patterned over time, were rated more positively. A higher percentage of variance in ob...
The ideal and the feared self as predictors of psychological symptoms among geriatric care nurses.

Abstract Following the 1987 work of Higgins and of Ogilvie, we investigated whether discrepancies between one's actual self and ideal self predict psychological symptoms better than discrepancies between the actual and feared self. We also examined Ogilvie's 1987 finding that the feared self is a more concrete cognitive representation than is the ideal self. 51 geriatric nurses completed the SCL-90-R and a questionnaire designed to measure actual self, ideal self, and feared self. Discrepancies between scores for actual and ideal self predicted severity of reported depressive and global symptoms and discrepancies between the actual and feared self were correlated negatively only with scores on Hostility. Further, clinical judges rated the nurses' memories representing their feared self as more concrete than memories depicting their ideal self. Results are discussed in terms of self-discrepancy theory and how the ideal and feared selves might be studied further.
Orphanin FQ, agonist of orphan opioid receptor ORL1, stimulates feeding in rats

It has long been known that opioids, whether administered exogenously or released endogenously, play a role in feeding behavior, and that blockade of opioid receptors with various antagonists can inhibit feeding. Recently, the orphan opioid receptor, ORL1, and its presumed ligand, orphanin FQ, have been identified in human and rodent brain, and show structural similarity to classical opioid receptors and peptides, respectively. While it has been shown that central administration of orphanin FQ induces hyperalgesia, the effects of this peptide on food intake have not been studied. In the present study, we report that central injection of orphanin FQ induces feeding in satiated rats and that this effect can be blocked by peripheral administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone.
Design Potential Method for Robust System Parameter Design

A novel design potential method that integrates the probabilistic constraint evaluation closely into the design optimization process is presented for robust system parameter design. From a broader perspective, it is shown that the probabilistic constraints can be evaluated using either the conventional reliability index approach or the proposed performance measure approach. The performance measure approach is inherently robust and is more effective when the prohahilistic constraint is inactive. The reliability index approach is more effective for the violated probabilistic constraint, but it could yield singularity when the probabilistic constraint is inactive. Moreover, the close coupling of performance probability analysis and design optimization is illustrated in a proposed unified system space. The design potential method, which is developed to take full advantage of the important design information obtained from the previous probabilistic constraint evaluation, can significantly accelerate the convergence of the reliability-based design optimization process.
Explicit Indirect Predictive Control Algorithm in the Application of AWC Control

Using the characteristics of prediction model, rolling optimization and feedback correction, a AWC system based on explicit indirect predictive control was designed, and its control performance was simulated based on a hot strip continuous mill. The results show that explicit indirect predictive control achieves better control effects than the normal PID on response time and steady precision with matching model; when model mismatching is caused by inaccuracy of plastic coefficient and pure delay time, the normal PID is overshot or even oscillation, but the control performance of the explicit indirect predictive control is not influenced by model parameter variations [1].
Observation of ferroelectric domain boundaries in BaTiO3 single crystals by reflection electron microscopy

Abstract Ferroelectric domain boundaries on {100} cleaved surfaces of BaTiO3 have been investigated with REM. 90° a-c domain boundaries which are parallel to the incident electron beam are observed on the (001) surface when the incident electron beam strikes the surface along [100] direction. 90° a-a domain boundaries which are parallel to the incident electron beam can be observed when the incident electron beam strikes the (001) surface along [110] direction. The bending of 90° domain boundaries across the surface defects is observed, which implies an effect of surface defects on the domain boundaries. It is suggested that (1) the contrasts of the domains are related to the Bragg diffraction condition and surface resonance condition; (2) the contrast of the domain boundaries in REM images is related to the strain field or lattice distortions on the domain boundary. It is also found that 90° domain boundaries can move under electron illumination. It is suggested that such movement of 90° domain boundaries is related to charging effects of the surface.
Standards and codes for ceramic matrix composites

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and, in particular, continuous fibre ceramic composites (CFCCs) are targeted for industrial, aerospace and other high-technology applications that require the high-temperature properties and the wear/corrosion resistance of advanced ceramics while providing inherent damage tolerance (i.e. increased 'toughness') without the volume/ surface area-dependent strengths of monolithic ceramics. To utilize CFCCs designers need reliable and comprehensive data bases (and the design codes that contain them). Generating reproducible information for these data bases requires standards. Presently, there are relatively few (compared to metals) national (e.g. ASTM, CEN, JIS, etc.) or international standards (e.g. ISO) for testing CFCCs. In this paper, the various standards for CFCCs are reviewed and additional areas requiring normalization are discussed (e.g. mechanical, thermal, electrical, electro-magnetic, optical, and biological testing). 'Design codes' such as the ASME Boiler and Pres...
Chemical modification of mono-cysteine mutants allows a more global look at conformations of the ε subunit of the ATP synthase from Escherichia coli

The e subunit of the ATP synthase from E. coli undergoes conformational changes while rotating through 360° during catalysis. The conformation of e was probed in the membrane-bound ATP synthase by reaction of mono-cysteine mutants with 3-N-maleimidyl-propionyl biocytin (MPB) under resting conditions, during ATP hydrolysis, and after inhibition by ADP-AlF3. The relative extents of labeling were quantified after electrophoresis and blotting of the partially purified e subunit. Residues from the N-terminal β-sandwich domain showed a position-specific pattern of labeling, consistent with prior structural studies. Some residues near the e-γ interface showed changes up to two-fold if labeling occurred during ATP hydrolysis or after inhibition by ADP-AlF3. In contrast, residues found in the C-terminal α-helices were all labeled to a moderate or high level with a pattern that was consistent with a partially opened helical hairpin. The results indicate that the two C-terminal α-helices do not adopt a fixed conformation under resting conditions, but rather exhibit intrinsic flexibility.
Managing Hip Pain in the Athlete

Hip and groin pain is commonly experienced by athletes. The differential diagnosis should include both intra-articular and extra-articular sources for pain and dysfunction. A comprehensive history and physical examination can guide the evaluation of hip pain and the potential need for further diagnostics. Treatment of athletes with hip disorders includes education, addressing activities of daily living, pain-modulating medications or modalities, exercise and sports modification, and therapeutic exercise. Surgical techniques for prearthritic hip disorders are expanding and can offer appropriate patients a successful return to athletic endeavors when conservative measures are not effective.
China's overseas investment in the energy/resources sector: Its scale, drivers, challenges and implications

Abstract Since 2005, China has greatly enhanced its presence in the global landscape of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI). The total volume of China's OFDI has exceeded $200 billion in the past five years. The number will further rise as China looks for outlets to spend its $3 trillion in foreign exchange reserves. China's emergence as a global direct investor entails a number of consequences, which are yet to be understood. This study seeks to shed light on how corporate China extends its reaches overseas, what are the policy drivers and who are the key decision makers, from the perspective of the energy/resources sector. The goal is to better understand how to reap the financial benefits of corporate China's marching into the global marketplace.
Magnetic monitoring of fetal heart activity

We have measured fetal magneto-cardiograms in three subjects of gestation ages 33–37 weeks. Maternal interference was negligible in all recordings. Accurate measures of heart rate, beat-to-beat variability, and averaged MCG waveforms were derived. The results confirm that magnetic monitoring offers significant advantages for antepartum monitoring and deserves further investigation.
Characterization of the Linkage between the Type III Capsular Polysaccharide and the Bacterial Cell Wall of Group BStreptococcus

Abstract The capsular polysaccharide of group BStreptococcus is a key virulence factor and an important target for protective immune responses. Until now, the nature of the attachment between the capsular polysaccharide and the bacterial cell has been poorly defined. We isolated insoluble cell wall fragments from lysates of type III group B Streptococcus and showed that the complexes contained both capsular polysaccharide and group B carbohydrate covalently bound to peptidoglycan. Treatment with the endo-N-acetylmuramidase mutanolysin released soluble complexes of capsular polysaccharide linked to group B carbohydrate by peptidoglycan fragments. Capsular polysaccharide could be enzymatically cleaved from group B carbohydrate by treatment of the soluble complexes with β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, which catalyzes hydrolysis of the β-d-GlcNAc(1→4)β-d-MurNAc subunit produced by mutanolysin digestion of peptidoglycan. Evidence from gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and 31P NMR analysis of the separated polysaccharides supports a model of the group BStreptococcus cell surface in which the group B carbohydrate and the capsular polysaccharide are independently linked to the glycan backbone of cell wall peptidoglycan; group B carbohydrate is linked to N-acetylmuramic acid, and capsular polysaccharide is linked via a phosphodiester bond and an oligosaccharide linker to N-acetylglucosamine.
Functional consequences of trophic specialization in pufferfishes

1. Trophic breadth may be correlated with behavioural and functional versatility or flexibility (Liem 1984), such that species with limited diets would be predicted to be less versatile or flexible in their feeding capabilities than would trophic generalists. The relationship was examined between the trophic breadth of a species and the degree to which muscle activity is influenced by prey type in two species of pufferfishes: Chilomycterus schoepfi, a specialist on hard-shelled prey, and Sphoeroides nephalus, a generalist predator. It was predicted that the specialist would show a decreased ability to alter its motor pattern in response to prey type and an increased amount of motor-pattern variability when feeding on different prey. 2. Electromyographic recordings of five feeding muscles were made from five individuals per species feeding on four prey types that differed in their hardness and escape abilities. Muscle-activity duration, relative onset and integrated rectified area were analysed for prey capture and manipulation behaviours for each prey type. 3. Prey-type effects on mean motor-pattern variables for capture were limited to one of 14 variables in each species. Prey effects on buccal manipulation were not significant for any of the 14 variables for C. schoepfi, but S. nephalus exhibited prey effects for seven out of 14 variables. No differences in motor-pattern variation were found for the strike, but species differed significantly in overall motor-pattern variability during buccal manipulation; C. schoepfi, the dietary specialist, exhibited greater motor variability than S. nephalus, the dietary generalist. 4. The results therefore support a direct relationship between the trophic breadth of a species and its functional versatility for buccal manipulation. In contrast, prey capture was a relatively stereotyped behaviour for both species, as few prey-type effects were found.
Build-up and Repair of Light-cured Composites: Bond Strength

Interfacial bond strengths of light-activated composites were measured as a function of age using a transverse strength test. Bond strength between layers decreased with the age of the initial layer and reflected the setting curves of the composites. The highly-filled composites exhibited the greatest bond strengths. Uncut surfaces provided a better substrate for bonding than did ground surfaces. Use of a bonding agent on both uncut and ground surfaces improved bond strengths. Mean repair strengths of light-activated composites were similar to those of selfcuring composites. Composites with ground surfaces aged for one wk had mean repair strengths 27% of the cohesive strength without bonding agent and 48% with bonding agent.
The Serrialis Bone, Interparietals, “X” Elements, Entotympanics, and the Composition of the Notoungulate Caudal Cranium

ABSTRACT The composition of the caudal cranium in Notoungulata, an extinct group of endemic South American “ungulates,” has never been properly clarified. Some investigators have claimed that socalled “adventitious” elements, or elements not known to occur in other placentals, existed in the auditory regions of certain typotheres and toxodontians. Others have disputed this, arguing that sutures or other indicia that supposedly provide evidence of the developmentally independent origins of these alleged ossifications are either misinterpreted or inconstant. This study attempts to resolve the question of composition, as far as it is possible to do in the case of a wholly extinct clade, with detailed micro-CT investigations of several key taxa, including Oldfieldthomasia (Oldfieldthomasiidae), Paedotherium (Hegetotheriidae), and Cochilius (Interatheriidae). Results show that Santiago Roth was incorrect in asserting that certain notoungulates, such as pachyrukhine hegetotheres, possessed cranial elements (ser...
Bacterial Wheel Locks: Extracellular Polysaccharide Inhibits Flagellar Rotation

Published ahead of print 30 November 2012 The views expressed in this Commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the journal or of ASM.
ψ ′ polarization due to color-octet quarkonia production

We calculate the polarization of ${\ensuremath{\psi}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ due to $\mathrm{gg}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Q\overline{Q}{[}^{2S+1}{L}_{J}^{(8)}]g\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\psi}}^{(\ensuremath{\lambda})}$ color-octet quarkonia production. We find that at low transverse momenta the ${\ensuremath{\psi}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ is unpolarized due to the contributions proportional to the $L=S=0$ and $L=S=1$ color-octet matrix elements. As ${p}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ increases, the ${\ensuremath{\psi}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ mesons become $100%$ polarized, as predicted by fragmentation calculations. Polarization due to lowest-order color-singlet production is also considered, which qualitatively has a similar shape to the color-octet production.
White dwarf stars with chemically stratified atmospheres

Recent observations and theory suggest that some white dwarfs may have chemically stratified atmospheres - thin layers of hydrogen lying above helium-rich envelopes. Models of such atmospheres show that a discontinuous temperature inversion can occur at the boundary between the layers. Model spectra for layered atmospheres at 30,000 K and 50,000 K tend to have smaller decrements at 912 A, 504 A, and 228 A than uniform atmospheres would have. On the basis of their continuous extreme ultraviolet spectra, it is possible to distinguish observationally between uniform and layered atmospheres for hot white dwarfs.
Resistant components of the cortex of animal hair.

THE possibility that there exists beneath the scaly layer or cuticle of animal hair another peripheral layer has been discussed both in these columns1,2 and elsewhere3,4. The supposed layer has been named variously subcutis, between-membrane, and cortical mantle. The most convenient way to show that there does exist a resistant non-keratinous residue beneath the cuticle was described by Alexander and Earland4. Hair or wool is oxidized with weak aqueous peracetic acid and then extracted with dilute ammonia solution. The oxidation destroys the disulphide cross-links which stabilize the keratin, rendering it soluble in alkali. The non-keratinous residue consists of (a) thin tubes each looking like a cast of the cuticle and consisting mainly of the thin membrane, the epicuticle, which envelops the scales externally, and (b) a cortical residue, which seen from the side looks like a rather tenuous tube of cortical cells2. This latter was thought to be the new morphological component, the subcutis4.
Restless legs syndrome and central nervous system gamma-aminobutyric acid: preliminary associations with periodic limb movements in sleep and restless leg syndrome symptom severity

Abstract Background Previous research has demonstrated abnormalities in glutamate and N -acetyl aspartate (NAA) in the thalamus in individuals with restless legs syndrome (RLS) compared with healthy matched controls. However, levels of these transmitters in other RLS-related brain areas and levels of the most common inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), have not been assessed. Methods This study examined GABA, glutamate, and NAA levels in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), thalamus and cerebellum with the use of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS) at 4 tesla (4 T) and Megapress difference-editing in 18 subjects with RLS and a matched control group without RLS. Actigraphy was performed on the nights before scans to assess periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). Results Levels of GABA, glutamate, and NAA were no different between RLS and control subjects in any of the three voxels of interest. However, GABA levels were positively correlated with both PLM indices and RLS severity in the thalamus and negatively with both of these measures in the cerebellum in RLS subjects. In addition, NAA levels were higher in the ACC in RLS than in controls. Conclusion Our preliminary data suggest that known cerebellar–thalamic interactions may modulate the intensity of RLS sensory and motor symptoms. In addition, anterior cingulate cortex may be associated with the affective components of the painful symptoms in this disorder.
Improved file handling for discrete-event models with event cancellation

Discrete-event models written in general-purpose simulation languages often run slowly because of the ways in which these languages file and search for events. For example, files may regularly be searched starting from the wrong end, newly created events may be assumed to occur later than events already filed, next events for particular entities may not be directly accessible, and events that must be cancelled may re quire extensive searches. Improved filing procedures include automatic selection of backward or forward searching, main tenance of a matrix of next events for particular entities, and saving of events in a FIFO file until their occurrence times near. In the case of a GASP IV model of electrical power generating systems, improving file handling reduced its run time by an order of magnitude. This model involves frequent creation and cancellation of events as units are turned on and off. Furthermore, the operator must select the particular units to be started or removed from operation on the bas...
Gonadotropin release as a function of mating and steroid feedback in the female rat.

Abstract The aim of this investigation was to study possible relationships between mating-induced and steroid-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) release in spayed Long-Evans rats. Large amounts of LH were released approximately 7 hr following progesterone injection in rats primed with estradiol benzoate (EB). The amount of LH release varied widely depending on (1) the interval between the time of the progesterone injection and the EB priming; (2) the progesterone dose; and (3) the time of day when blood samples were collected. These findings provided confirmation of those of Caligaris, Astrada and Taleisnik (1971a). Females, prepared with estrogen-progesterone treatment in a variety of schedules in which the three above-mentioned variables were altered systematically, were allowed to mate with vigorous males. Mating under these various conditions did not significantly increase plasma LH levels even when the females showed high degrees of sexual receptivity. Sodium pentobarbital prevented the afternoon LH rise resulting from progesterone treatment 3 days after EB priming. Pituitary sensitivity to LRF was not enhanced in the afternoon and the mating did not significantly increase plasma LH in these barbiturate-blocked rats. Following administration of 5 large daily doses of EB without progesterone, however, significant increases in LH were produced by mating on the sixth day. Postcopulatory LH release in these circumstances was dependent on a diurnal factor since the effect of mating was greater in the afternoon than in the morning. Thus, although major LH release can be readily induced by mating in estrogen-treated spayed rats, this effect could not be obtained under conditions of progesterone administration to estrogen primed rats.
Social Quality of Life Indicators for Small Metropolitan Areas in America

The American society is undoubtedly in a great transition period towards a post‐industrial state. While wholeheartedly celebrating the bi‐centennial birthday, uncertainty and confusion still pervade the United States, and a discontent with the quality of life seems to have been growing concomitantly with the technological know how and material wealth among people in America. These phenomena have developed as a result of conflicting values: “operative values” in the industrial state and the “declared values” important in the founding of the nation. While the former is characterised by the indefinite economic persuasion, the latter is highlighted by concerns with equality, justice and freedom and the pursuit of happiness.
Molecular line observations of AFGL sources

HCN and (with three exceptions) CH emission lines have been detected from 14 molecular clouds associated with AFGL sources and/or Sharpless regions. Eleven are molecular cloud-H II region complexes. The remaining three appear to be similar (perhaps younger) objects; they are strong in the far infrared, but have no visible H II regions. Enhancement of the lower satellite transition of CH is seen in most cases. CH was also detected in association with the Herbig B8-A2e star V380 Ori. This emission was the most intense of all the CH detections. An effort was made to find a maser transition for a carbon-bearing molecule in late-type stars. A search was made for rotational transitions in the HCN bending mode (first overtone at 89.1 GHz) and stretching mode (fundamental at 88.0 GHz) as well as the CH ground state lambda-doublet in carbon stars.
The Division of Household Labor: Longitudinal Changes and Within-Couple Variation

This study examined how the division of household labor changed as a function of marital duration and whether within-couple variation in spouses' relative power and availability were linked to within-couple variation in the division of labor. On 4 occasions over 7 years, 188 stably married couples reported on their housework activities using daily diaries. Multilevel models revealed that wives' portions of household responsibilities declined over time, and that changes in spouses' relative income and work hours were linked to changes in housework allocation. Wives with husbands who perceived greater marital control, on average, did proportionally more housework, and for couples with husbands who had highly autonomous jobs, changes in spouses' relative psychological job involvement were linked to changes in housework allocation. Findings highlight the importance of understanding household division of labor as a lifespan phenomenon, the distinction between within- versus between-couple associations, and the multidimensional nature of power and availability.
Error-free garbage collection traces: how to cheat and not get caught

Programmers are writing a large and rapidly growing number of programs in object-oriented languages such as Java that require garbage collection (GC). To explore the design and evaluation of GC algorithms quickly, researchers are using simulation based on traces of object allocation and lifetime behavior. The brute force method generates perfect traces using a whole-heap GC at every potential GC point in the program. Because this process is prohibitively expensive, researchers often use granulated traces by collecting only periodically, e.g., every 32K bytes of allocation.We extend the state of the art for simulating GC algorithms in two ways. First, we present a systematic methodology and results on the effects of trace granularity for a variety of copying GC algorithms. We show that trace granularity often distorts GC performance results compared with perfect traces, and that some GC algorithms are more sensitive to this effect than others. Second, we introduce and measure the performance of a new precise algorithm for generating GC traces which is over 800 times faster than the brute force method. Our algorithm, called Merlin, frequently timestamps objects and later uses the timestamps of dead objects to reconstruct precisely when they died. It performs only periodic garbage collections and achieves high accuracy at low cost, eliminating any reason to use granulated traces.
Historical Advances in Spark Emission Spectroscopy

Major developments in the understanding of the physics and chemistry of the atmospheric pressure spark discharge are presented and commented upon. These include work in the areas of equipment, initial gap breakdown, spark channel formation, electrode sampling phenomena, sample propagation phenomena, excited state production, related plasma physics, and counter electrode phenomena.
Gas-Sampling Glow Discharge for Optical Emission Spectrometry. Part I: Design and Operating Characteristics

A spectrochemical source for optical emission spectrometry, based on an atmospheric-sampling glow discharge, is described. Operating parameters that affect the performance of the glow discharge are investigated; the most important is the source pressure. Helium and argon are studied as plasma support gases. Simple to build and operate, the glow discharge is fairly robust to introduced organic vapors and produces equivalent signals from carbon-containing species regardless of the original molecular form of the carbon.
The effect of polymer concentration on drag reduction

Abstract The effect of polymer concentration on drag reduction was studied experimentally with dilute distilled water solutions of a polyacrylamide and a polyethyleneoxide, molecular weights 4·7 and 1·3 × 106 respectively, in a 0·945 cm i.d. pipe. During drag reduction the polymer solutions obeyed friction factor relationships that were linear on semilogarithmic Prandtl-von Karman coordinates: the difference in slope between a polymer solution and the solvent was found proportional to the square root of polymer concentration over two decades of the latter. The square root relationship inferred from the present experiments was applied to and found to hold approximately for the results of other investigators for five different polymer-solvent systems over concentration ranges from one to three decades.
The Unreality of Realization

This paper argues against the realization principle, which reifies the realization relation between lower-level and higher-level properties. It begins with a review of some principles of naturalistic metaphysics. Then it criticizes some likely reasons for embracing the realization principle, and finally it argues against the principle directly. The most likely reasons for embracing the principle depend on the dubious assumption that special science theories cannot be true unless special science predicates designate properties. The principle itself turns out to be false because the realization relation fails the naturalistic test for reality: it makes no causal difference to the world.1 1This paper resulted from work done at John Heil's 2006 Mind and Metaphysics NEH Summer Seminar at Washington University in St. Louis. An early version of it was presented in a special symposium on realization at the 2007 meeting of the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology. I owe thanks to all the participants in ...
Interacting viscous instabilities in microfluidic systems

We discuss the formation, evolution, and stability of microfluidic flows involving two or more miscible fluids that have different viscosities. When two liquids that have widely different viscosities are injected into a rigid microfluidic device, their flow streams can naturally rearrange to form lubricated threads or stratified flows depending on the geometry and history of injection. An overview of two-fluid and three-fluid flow configurations in microchannels having square cross-sections is given for a variety of injection geometries. Miscible viscous fluid threads in confined microsystems can experience a range of viscous instabilities, such as folding and swirling. We show that microfluidics can be used to cause two or more instabilities to interact and co-evolve in diverging microchannels, thereby creating a variety of complex flow patterns.
A rigorous and efficient method of moments solution for curved waveguide bends

An accurate and computationally efficient method of moments solution together with a mode-matching technique for the analysis of curved bends in a general parallel-plate waveguide is presented. In order to exemplify the techniques, the method is applied to study the transmission characteristics of single and cascaded curved E- and H-plane bends in a rectangular waveguide. It is shown that the effect of the orientation of cascaded bends on the transmission properties can be significant, and examples to demonstrate this effect are included. Results of the convergence with increasing number of expansion functions illustrate that only a few terms need to be considered for accurate evaluation of the transmission characteristics of structures with single and multiple bends. Comparison with measurements for single and cascaded curved H-plane bends in a WR-90 waveguide show good agreement with the predicted result. >