cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytical Expressions that Characterize Propellantless Capture with Electrostatically Charged Spacecraft

Spacecraft that intentionally maintain an electrostatic charge on their surface within a planetary magnetic field can manipulate the induced Lorentz force to perform propellantless maneuvers. Analytical expressions are developed that describe the process of capture with the Lorentz force and that demonstrate coupling among orbital elements (e.g., the eccentricity versus semilatus rectum) when the Lorentz force is the only perturbation on a Keplerian orbit. In equatorial orbits with a dipolar magnetic field, the relative evolution of the orbital elements notably depends on neither the charge nor on the magnetic field strength. The analytical solutions are applied to a capture at Jupiter, where, for example, a Galileo-like arrival requires ~0.2 C/kg of charge to effect capture. The analytical solutions agree with numerical propagations to within a fraction of a percent. A previous study, which numerically explored the parameter space of the Jupiter capture problem, identified trends and constraints on the motion that can now be explained by the analytical theory.
Specific serine proteases selectively damage KCNH2 (hERG1) potassium channels and IKr

KCNH2 (hERG1) encodes the α-subunit proteins for the rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr), a major K+ current for cardiac myocyte repolarization. In isolated myocytes IKr frequentl...
CT volumetric data-based left ventricle motion estimation: an integrated approach

This paper describes a novel approach to left ventricle motion analysis via the integration of image segmentation with shape deformation analysis using computerized tomography (CT) volumetric image data. This approach is different from traditional image analysis scenario in which the image segmentation and shape analysis were considered separately. The advantage of integrating the image segmentation with the shape analysis lies in the fact that the shape characteristics of the object can be used as effective constraints in the process of segmentation while original image data can be made useful along with the segmentation results in the process of shape analysis. In the case of left ventricle motion estimation, such an integration can be applied to obtain the estimation results that are consistent with both given image data and a priori shape knowledge. The initial segmentation of the images is obtained through adaptive K-mean classification and the region-of-interest is then identified based on the initial segmentation. The shape analysis is accomplished through fitting the boundary points of the region-of-interest to the surface modeling primitives. These two processes are integrated through the feedforward and feedback channels so that the surface fitting is constrained by the confidence measures of the boundary points and segmentation refinement is guided by the result of surface modeling. Global motion parameters are obtained by comparing the parameters of the fitted surface model at consecutive time instances. The segmentation and shape analysis results obtained show that the integrated approach is capable of providing promising improvement over traditional approaches.
Indian hedgehog, but not histidine decarboxylase or amphiregulin, is a progesterone-regulated uterine gene in hamsters

Implantation occurs only in the progesterone (P4)-primed uterus in the majority of species, but little effort has been given to identify P4-mediated molecules in these species. Using hamsters as a model for P4-dependent implantation and three well-known uterine receptivity-associated P4-regulated genes, Indian hedgehog (Ihh), histidine decarboxylase (Hdc), and amphiregulin (Areg), in mice that require ovarian estrogen for uterine receptivity and implantation, our strategy aimed to determine whether P4 regulates uterine expression of these genes in hamsters and whether the event- and cellspecific uterine expression patterns of these genes during the periimplantation period in hamsters follow similarly with their patterns in mice. We report here that P4-mediated Ihh signaling is important for uterine receptivity and implantation in hamsters because uterine epithelial Ihh expression was regulated by P4 and its expression patterns during the periimplantation period of hamsters closely follow its pattern in mice. In contrast, we noted no hormonal regulation of Hdc and Areg in the hamster uterus. However, this did not diminish their importance in hamsters because their expression patterns and functions are event and cell specific during the periimplantation period: whereas Hdc was expressed exclusively in d 4 uterine glands and regulated by the blastocyst, Areg was expressed on the decidual area adjacent to the embryo from d 5 onward and involved in stromal cell proliferation. We conclude that similarities and dissimilarities exist in uterine expression pattern of implantation-related genes, including hormonal regulation and their event-specific importance. (Endocrinology 147: 4079–4092, 2006)
Cultural values reflected in corporate pages on popular social network sites in China and the United States

Purpose – Social network sites (SNSs) have been recognized as an important marketing communication tool for marketers to connect with today's internet‐savvy consumers. At the same time, the popularity of SNSs has become a worldwide phenomenon with the rise of many local SNSs. The purpose of this paper is to examine cultural differences in the use of communication appeals on corporate pages of leading SNSs in two culturally distinct countries, China and the USA.Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a content analysis to identify cultural orientations observed in communication appeals of the corporate pages on leading SNSs in China (Renren) and the USA (Facebook).Findings – Appeals to interdependence, popularity, high social status, luxury, emotions, and symbolic association are more frequently used in societies with a more collectivistic, greater power distance, and high‐context culture such as in China; whereas appeals to individuality and hedonism are more frequently used in an individualistic ...
WHY DOES JUSTIFICATION MATTER

: It has been claimed that justification, conceived traditionally in an internalist fashion, is not an epistemologically important property. I argue for the importance of a conception of justification that is completely dependent on the subject's experience, using an analogy to advice. The epistemological importance of a property depends on two desiderata: the extent to which it guarantees the epistemic goal of attaining truth and avoiding falsehood, and the extent to which it depends only on the information available to the believer. The traditional intermalist notion of justification completely satisfies the second desideratum and largely satisfies the first.
Differential Effect of Wall Tension on Matrix Metalloproteinase Promoter Activation in the Thoracic Aorta

Background Vascular remodeling relies upon extracellular matrix restructuring by the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Induction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by biological signaling molecules has been defined, but whether a mechanical stimulus such as elevated wall tension may generate MMP promoter activation remains unknown. Accordingly, this study examined whether MMP promoter activation would occur as a function of wall tension. Materials and Methods The MMP-2 or MMP-9 promoter sequences were fused to the reporter gene lacZ and inserted into the mouse genome. Thoracic aortic rings were harvested (6 preparations/construct) and maintained under physiological conditions at predetermined tension values corresponding to 0, 70, 85, and 100 mm Hg for 3 h. Relative gene expression of lacZ , directly reflecting MMP promoter activity, was then quantified by QPCR. Results MMP-2 promoter activity decreased to 0.42 ± 0.11 at 0 mm Hg and increased to 1.57 ± 0.24-fold at 100 mm Hg ( P Conclusions Using unique transgenic constructs with homology to human MMP promoters, this study demonstrated that a physiologically relevant mechanical stimulus was sufficient to differentially induce MMP promoter activation.
Modelling of fluid–structure interactions with the space–time finite elements: Arterial fluid mechanics

The stabilized space-time fluid-structure interaction (SSTFSI) techniques developed by the Team for Advanced Flow Simulation and Modeling (T*AFSM) are applied to FSI modelling in arterial fluid mechanics. Modelling of flow in arteries with aneurysm is emphasized. The SSTFSI techniques used are based on the deforming-spatial-domain/stabilized space-time (DSD/SST) formulation and include the enhancements introduced recently by the T*AFSM to increase the scope, accuracy, robustness and efficiency of these techniques. The arterial structures can be modelled with the membrane or continuum elements, both of which are geometrically nonlinear, and the continuum element can be made of linearly elastic or hyperelastic material. Test computations are presented for cerebral and abdominal aortic aneurysms and carotid-artery bifurcation, where the arterial geometries used in the computations are close approximations to the patient-specific image-based data.
Euclidean controllable realizations of linear hereditary systems

A realization problem for a class of linear hereditary systems is formulated and “state space” representations are constructed from inputoutput relations. The resulting hereditary models are shown to be Euclidean controllable, and comparisons are made between these hereditary realizations and other recently developed theories.
A Computational Study of the Nondissociative Mechanisms that Interchange Apical and Equatorial Atoms in Square Pyramidal Molecules

The lowest energy transition state for the nondissociative apical/equatorial atom exchange mechanism for three square pyramidal AEX5 molecular species was calculated (CCSD(T)/pVTZ; B3LYP/pVTZ, aug-cc-pV5Z) to have a hemidirected geometry with Cs symmetry for BrF5, IF5, and XeF5+. In contrast, holodirected C2v-symmetric transition states for this process were located for the AEX5 square pyramidal molecules ClF5, ICl5, and IBr5. Imaginary frequencies were calculated and examined in a visual/dynamic fashion to gain insight into these fluxional processes. Although both mechanisms exchange one apical for one equatorial atom in each cycle of motion, processes that pass through C2v transition states have characteristic features of the well-known Berry pseudorotation and Lever mechanisms while those which pass through transition states of Cs symmetry have features that are a mixture of Berry, Lever, and turnstile-like character. Two periodic trends are observed: as the atomic number on the central atom increases...
Periodicity of spore discharge in the Hymenomycetes.

Circadian patterns of spore discharge have been studied in 19 genera of Hymenomycetes in the field at various locations in Kansas, Colorado and Michigan. Spores were collected hourly with portable units of KramerCollins Spore Samplers. Relative humidity, availability of adequate soil moisture, temperature and light, under certain conditions and with certain species, are thought to have some influence on the patterns of spore discharge. Several distinct circadian patterns of spore discharge were found. In a number of studies of small forms of the genera Mycena, Inocybe and Psilocybe, where the basidiocarps were growing in a protected situation and the microenvironment remained relatively constant, spore discharge was continuous with little variation throughout the 24-hr period. Numerous species of Cortinarius, Lactarius, Collybia, Laccaria, Crepidotus, Panaeolus and Oudemansiella displayed a pattern of maximum spore discharge during the mid-part of the night with a minimum during the daytime. That pattern seemed to correlate with the usual fluctuations of rising nighttime humidity, influenced by decreasing temperature and perhaps alternating light and dark. In the genera Leccinum, Tylopilus, Suillus and Boletus of the Boletales, a similar pattern was found with the exception that peak spore discharge often began much earlier in the day and continued for only a short time into the night. A variation from the pattern of nighttime maxima was found to occur when young sporocarps (species of Lactarius, Collybia and Boletus) were subjected to a somewhat rapidly drying environment for several days that prevented their reaching maturity. However, if it rained before severe desiccation occurred, the basidiocarps revived, grew rapidly and released a single crop of basidiospores. In some cases those same species when found developing under more suitable conditions, discharged their spores in a pattern of maxima at night and minima at day. In several studies of the genera Ganoderma and Poria, spores were released in a pattern with double peaks, one occurring about 6 AM and the other about 6 PM.
A NEW HYPOTHESIS FOR THE TARGET IN PHOTOHEMOLYSIS: DIMERS OF THE BAND 3 PROTEIN

— Photohemolysis has been investigated extensively during the past 20 years, but the membrane target has eluded identification. It is proposed here that the target is the dimer of the band 3 anion exchange protein. This new hypothesis is based on three observations from the literature: (1) the kinetics of photohemolysis sensitized by exogenous sensitizers or induced by UV light obey a power dependence with light dose, with an exponent near two. From target theory this implies a two-component target. (2) Band 3 molecules exist in the erythrocyte membrane as dimers. (3) Binding of eosin to band 3 via an isothiocyano group markedly increases its potency to sensitize hemolysis. Experiments with eosin isothiocyanate bound to band 3 show that lytic rate varies as the 1.45 power of light dose, and that the bound sensitizer bleaches considerably, thereby blunting the effectiveness of higher light doses.
Multibranding Strategy: The Case of Yum! Brands

A case analysis examines the Yum! Brands strategy of cobranding. Yum! Brands may be the most aggressive of all restaurant franchisors in combining multiple concepts in one location. Intended to boo...
Directly modulated narrowband slab-coupled optical waveguide laser

A slab-coupled optical waveguide laser (SCOWL) is simultaneously wavelength stabilised with a fibre Bragg grating and characterised under a narrow pulse and high repetition rate direct modulation scheme that is suitable for efficient pulse position modulation format optical communication systems. The SCOWL exhibits a large, nearly circular, singlemode that couples efficiently to optical fibre. With a pulse width of 35 ns and a repetition rate of 2.5 MHz, a peak fibre-coupled output power of 1.6 W is achieved for a wavelength stabilised 965 nm SCOWL.
Effects of bucindolol in heart failure.

Abstract Bucindolol hydrochloride is a phenoxypropanolamine with potent nonselective β antagonist and mild vasodilatory properties. In humans with congestive heart failure, it is extremely well tolerated and produces improvements in left ventricular systolic (ejection fraction, systolic elastance, cardiac index, and stroke work) and diastolic (isovolumic relaxation) performance while reducin pulmonary artery pressures and heart rate. These improvements occur without an increase in myocardial oxygen extraction or oxygen consumption. In addition, functional class improves with this agent although exercise tolerance and maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ) does not change, an effect that is not unexpected with a β-adrenergic antagonist. Bucindolol produces a decrease in plasma renin activity and plasma norepinephrine, effects that may be beneficial for the long-term treatment of congestive heart failure. However, these effects are most marked in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy compared with patients with ischemic heart disease. This agent holds great promise for the treatment of heart failure patients.
Efficient method to prepare hydroxyethylamine-based aspartyl protease inhibitors with diverse P1 side chains

An efficient procedure for the solid-phase synthesis of hydroxyethylamine-based aspartyl protease inhibitors is described. The 1,2-bromo alcohol 4 is the key intermediate and is prepared in four-steps in good overall yield from commercial available amino acids.
Inhibition of prolidase by phosphoenolpyruvate is biphasic. avoidance of endogenous-metabolite inactivation by cooperativity within an enzyme dimer

A previously reported potent competitive inhibition of the dimeric enzyme prolidase by phosphoenolpyruvate is in fact biphasic. At pH 7.1 the first (partially) inhibiting moiety binds with a Ki of 0.30 μM, but a second binds more weakly, Ki′ of 0.24 mM. An explanatory cooperative interaction between enzyme monomers is postulated, so as to avoid inactivation of prolidase by prevailing physiological concentrations of PEP.
Shock-moderated chemistry: diffusion-controlled quenching in solutions at kbar pressures

Abstract The diffusion-controlled electron-transfer reaction of photoexcited rhodanrine 590 with iodide in isopropanol was studied following picosecond laser-driven shock compression using streak camera fluorometry. The diffusion rate varied linearly from 10.5 × 10 9 ρ/mole s at ambient pressure to 5.2 × 10 9 ρ/mole s at 18 kbar. The data are interpreted using an Einstein-Smoluchowski model of diffusion. Estimated shock viscosities for isopropanol, which varied from 2.4 cP at ambient to 7.6 cP at 18 kbar, were consistent with static pressure measurements when shock heating (10 K/kbar) was taken into consideration.
The relationship between food reward and satiation revisited.

Abstract The postingestive satiating action of food is often viewed as producing a positive affective state that rewards eating. However, in an early test of this idea, Van Vort and Smith [Physiol. Behav. 30 (1983) 279] reported that rats did not learn to prefer a food that was “real-fed” and satiating over a food that was “sham-fed” and not satiating. Subsequent investigators obtained similar findings with concentrated nutrient sources. With dilute nutrient sources, however, rats learned to prefer the real-fed to the sham-fed food. These and other findings demonstrate that nutrients have rewarding postingestive effects that enhance food preferences via a conditioning process. These reward effects appear separate from the satiating actions of nutrients, which may actually reduce food reward. Food intake and preference are controlled by a complex interaction of positive and negative signals generated by nutrients in the mouth and at postingestive sites.
A reinterpretation of the Odar and Hamilton data on the unsteady equation of motion of particles

The experimental data and correlations derived by Odar and Hamilton have been the basis of studies that included the history term in the expression of the unsteady drag. Recent studies have shown that the value of the added mass coefficient is constant and equal to ½ over a very large range of Reynolds numbers. Recent studies on the history term have proven that its form is not correct at high Re. However, the experimental data are accurate at low Re and, most probably, they represent the most reliable set of experimental data on the unsteady force on solid spheres. We conducted a study to re-calculate the functional form of the history term in the unsteady equation of motion at low Re and to derive a new correlation for the so-called “history force coefficient,” ΔH. The new correlation is expressed in terms of the Reynolds and Strouhal numbers of the particle. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
Corneal tissue ablation using 6.1 μm quantum cascade laser

High absorption property of tissues in the IR range (λ> 2 μm) results in effective tissue ablation, especially near 3 μm. In the mid-infrared range, wavelengths of 6.1 μm and 6.45 μm fall into the absorption bands of the amide protein groups Amide-I and Amide-II, respectively. They also coincide with the deformation mode of water, which has an absorption peak at 6.1 μm. This coincidence makes 6.1 μm laser a better ablation tool that has promising effectiveness and minimum collateral damages than 3 μm lasers. In this work, we performed bovine corneal ablation test in-vitro using high-power 6.1μm quantum cascade laser (QCL) operated at pulse mode. Quantum cascade laser has the advantages of low cost, compact size and tunable wavelength, which makes it great alternative Mid-IR light source to conventional tunable free-electron lasers (FEL) for medical applications. Preliminary results show that effective corneal stroma craters were achieved with much less collateral damage in corneal tissue that contains less water. Future study will focus on optimizing the control parameters of QCL to attain neat and precise ablation of corneal tissue and development of high peak power QCL.
Differential Effects of Studying versus Teaching on Teachers’ Attitude’

AbstractIn order to measure attitude changes as a function of studying and as a function of teaching the Minnesota Teacher Attitude Inventory (MTAI) was administered to fifty-two students in an experimental fifth-year graduate program in elementary education. Three test administrations followed the structure of the program: (1) before classes began, (2) after completing the academic program, (3) following a 4 Vi -month internship. During the academic program MTAI scores increase significantly, attitudes become more tolerant and more child-centered. In contrast, attitudes decline during the internship. Frustration in the internship is significantly correlated with a decrease in MTAI scores. Being placed in an inner city school or a school in a lower socio-economic neighborhood is not significantly correlated with a decrease in MTAI scores.
Disturbed critical surface waves in a channel of arbitrary cross section

Long waves in a current of an inviscid fluid of constant density flowing through a channel of arbitrary cross section under disturbances of pressure distribution on free surface and obstructors on the wall of the channel are considered. The first order asymptotic approximation of the elevation of the free surface satisfies a forced Korteweg-de Vries equation when the current is near its critical state. To determine the coefficients of the forced Korteweg-de Vries equation, we need to solve a linear Neumann problem of an elliptic partial differential equation, of which analytical solutions are found for constant current and rectangular or triangular cross section of the channel. It is proved that the forced Korteweg-de Vries equation has at least two solutions when the current is supercritical and the parameter λ is greater than a critical value λ c >0. It is also proved that there do not exist solitary waves in a current exactly at its critical state. Numerical solutions of steady state are obtained for both supercritical and subcritical currents.
Interne spannungen sowie schwind- und temperaturdeformationen des betons

Abstract The solution to some materials problems in concrete are developed. Among other things, some internal stresses and external strains are determined which appear under the action of shrinkage, temperature and external multi-axial stress. For practical use, some of the results are illustrated on graphs. The internal geometry of the concrete is approximated to be the one which applies for the composite spheres assemblage. The aggregates are linear-elastic. The matrix (mortar) is assumed to be linear-viscoelastic according to the corrected Dischinger equation, previously developed by the author.
The U(1)-higgs model in an external electromagnetic field

Abstract I report on some preliminary Monte Carlo results obtained in collaboration with P.H. Damgaard. We find indications for symmetry restoration in the U (1)-Higgs model in a strong enough external electromagnetic field. Deep in the Higgs phase we observe the Meissner effect: the external field is expelled.
Energy-Adaptive Modulation for RF Power Management under Renewable Energy

This paper presents a new power management technique for RF circuits powered by renewable energy sources. Different from conventional systems, the performance of self-powered RF circuits is largely constrained by two factors: time-varying fading channel conditions and non-deterministic renewable energy levels. The proposed technique dynamically adjusts the base band modulation scheme to deal with these two factors in a coherent manner in order to maximize the data rate of RF circuits. Some practical issues, such as battery aging, have been investigated. The proposed technique is shown to be robust and insensitive to these issues. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed technique outperforms conventional approaches based on fixed modulation schemes under various conditions.
a capital idea

Christie Davies, of Reading University, proposes to stifle the clamour for Scottish independence by creating an additional British capital in Edinburgh.
Photocleavage of plasmid DNA by dibenzothiophene S-oxide under anaerobic conditions

The ability of dibenzothiophene S-oxide (1) to photochemically induce strand breaks in plasmid DNA was studied under anaerobic conditions. DNA cleavage is monitored by the conversion of closed circular pUC19 DNA (form I) to the nicked (form II) and linear forms (form III) using densitometer digital imaging of ethidium stained gels. In buffered aqueous–acetonitrile (9:1) solutions the single-strand cleavage is efficient and does not require an alkaline reaction workup. Photodeoxygenation of 1 in buffered aqueous–acetonitrile (9{:}1) solutions containing benzene led to the production of phenol. The effect of solvent deuteration does not support the involvement of 1O2 from a sulfoxide dimerization reaction nor a sensitized photooxygenation reaction. The results are interpreted in terms of a sulfoxide photodeoxygenation via oxygen atoms [O(3P)] where oxidation of DNA can lead to single-strand breaks. Since the reaction of O(3P) atoms with water itself is endoergic, we propose that hydroxyl radicals do not int...
The average time until bucket overflow

It is common for file structures to be divided into equal-length partitions, called buckets, into which records arrive for insertion and from which records are physically deleted. We give a simple algorithm which permits calculation of the average time until overflow for a bucket of capacity n records, assuming that record insertions and deletions can be modeled as a stochastic process in the usual manner of queueing theory. We present some numerical examples, from which we make some general observations about the relationships among insertion and deletion rates, bucket capacity, initial fill, and average time until overflow. In particular, we observe that it makes sense to define the stable point as the product of the arrival rate and the average residence time of the records; then a bucket tends to fill up to its stable point quickly, in an amount of time almost independent of the stable point, but the average time until overflow increases rapidly with the difference between the bucket capacity and the stable point.
Many-worlds browsing for control of multibody dynamics

Animation techniques for controlling passive simulation are commonly based on an optimization paradigm: the user provides goals a priori, and sophisticated numerical methods minimize a cost function that represents these goals. Unfortunately, for multibody systems with discontinuous contact events these optimization problems can be highly nontrivial to solve, and many-hour offline optimizations, unintuitive parameters, and convergence failures can frustrate end-users and limit usage. On the other hand, users are quite adaptable, and systems which provide interactive feedback via an intuitive interface can leverage the user's own abilities to quickly produce interesting animations. However, the online computation necessary for interactivity limits scene complexity in practice. We introduce Many-Worlds Browsing, a method which circumvents these limits by exploiting the speed of multibody simulators to compute numerous example simulations in parallel (offline and online), and allow the user to browse and modify them interactively. We demonstrate intuitive interfaces through which the user can select among the examples and interactively adjust those parts of the scene that do not match his requirements. We show that using a combination of our techniques, unusual and interesting results can be generated for moderately sized scenes with under an hour of user time. Scalability is demonstrated by sampling much larger scenes using modest offline computations.
What's New in Software? Computers and Educational Futures.

By the year 2000, computers with access to all kinds of knowledge and curricula, quality educational software, and multimedia tools will be used for daily instruction. Educators must imagine that the next educational reform is going to include more technology, more networking, more telecommunications, more interactive learning with computers, a greater use of the interactive videodisk, more multimedia learning environments, more programs with the capability of interpreting speech and handwriting, more computer databases for education, more special materials for special learners, and more materials that are fun for the learner, that is, approaching video games. Read on for a view of the classroom of the future.
SU‐FF‐T‐196: Dosimetry for Linear Sources in Heterogeneous Prostate Phantom

Purpose: To characterize the light distribution from linear diffusing optical fibers in a prostate‐simulating phantom. The light distribution depends on the geometry and optical properties of the phantom and on the geometry of the light sources. Light distributions were measured in homogeneous and inhomogeneous phantoms. Method and Materials: Measurements were performed in homogeneous and inhomogeneous prostate simulating phantoms with linear light sources of lengths (1 – 5 cm) placed in the phantom through transparent catheters. The optical fluence rate was measured using isotropic detectors at various distances from the linear source using a computer‐controlled stepper motor. Results for a point source were also presented to predict the light fluence rate for linear sources with the intensity distribution of the linear sources taken into account. Attempts were made to predict the light fluence rate distribution in 3D using calculation with a kernel‐based method. Results: The profiles of linear sources with lengths between 1 and 5 cm were scanned at 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7cm away using isotropic detectors in homogeneous and inhomogeneous phantoms. The increase of light fluence in lower absorption region in an inhomogeneous phantom is due to the increase of effective optical penetration depth. Scans measured around a 5cm linear source show a clear difference in optical properties for the case when the detector passes through the urethra, prostate tissue and tumor.Conclusion: We have demonstrated the ability to characterize the light distribution inside the prostate using a methodology compatible with clinical measurement. Our method is sensitive enough to differentiate between the optical properties of the prostate, tumor and urethra in our model system.
Exceptional Cognitive Ability: The Phenotype

Characterizing the outcomes related to the phenotype of exceptional cognitive abilities has been feasible in recent years due to the availability of large samples of intellectually precocious adolescents identified by modern talent searches that have been followed-up longitudinally over multiple decades. The level and pattern of cognitive abilities, even among participants within the top 1% of general intellectual ability, are related to differential developmental trajectories and important life accomplishments: The likelihood of earning a doctorate, earning exceptional compensation, publishing novels, securing patents, and earning tenure at a top university (and the academic disciplines within which tenure is most likely to occur) all vary as a function of individual differences in cognitive abilities assessed decades earlier. Individual differences that distinguish the able (top 1 in 100) from the exceptionally able (top 1 in 10,000) during early adolescence matter in life, and, given the heritability of general intelligence, they suggest that understanding the genetic and environmental origins of exceptional abilities should be a high priority for behavior genetic research, especially because the results for extreme groups could differ from the rest of the population. In addition to enhancing our understanding of the etiology of general intelligence at the extreme, such inquiry may also reveal fundamental determinants of specific abilities, like mathematical versus verbal reasoning, and the distinctive phenotypes that contrasting ability patterns are most likely to eventuate in at extraordinary levels.
Mediated Facilitation as a Function of Relative Availability of Reinforcement for Mediation.

In a study of the effects of percentage of mediation-pairs and control pairs in a 3-list chaining paradigm, 5 groups of Ss learned lists in which 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80% of the pairs were chaining pairs, and the remainder were “warm-up” control-pairs. The results did not support a hypothesized direct relationship between mediation-effect and percentage of mediation-pairs. Rather, the 20 and 80% groups showed the greatest mediation-effect, the 60% group showed little mediation-effect, and the 40% group showed no mediation-effect. Results were interpreted in terms of intralist interference resulting from differences in the discriminability of mediation and control conditions.
Post-harvest storage effects on guayule latex quality from agronomic trials

Current guayule commercialization efforts are based upon the production of hypoallergenic latex. The objective of this study was to determine how latex yield and quality are affected by post-harvest plant storage in order to provide flexibility in the harvesting, chipping, and processing steps for guayule latex. The experiments were conducted on two lines (11591 and AZ-2) at the University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center, from March 2001, through December 2004. Weight-average molecular weight of guayule latex increased as the plants aged from 1.7 to 2.7 years. Guayule latex quality was affected by shrub storage conditions, and addition of moisture extended the storage time for guayule shrub without negatively impacting molecular weight for both varieties. However, under extreme conditions, for example, high temperatures and extended dry storage times, polymer molecular weight reduction of up to 30% occurred.
In-Flight Calibration Systems for Particle Detector Experiments

This paper briefly reviews some in-flight calibration systems used on satellite particle detector experiments and gives a detailed description of the technique used to calibrate the IMP-I Solar Proton Monitoring Experiment (SPME). A short discussion of each calibration technique is presented in an attempt to inform the reader of the potential uses of in-flight calibration systems. The SPME in-flight calibrator illustrates the trade-offs made in the design of a calibrator for an experiment which uses silicon solid state detectors. A meaningful measure of detector performance is obtained by use of a noise monitor which measures the effective average noise of the detectors with ± 2% accuracy over a 10:1 dynamic range and a 5 MHz bandwidth. In addition, the SPME incorporates a pulser which makes a ± 2% check of amplifier gains and discriminator level settings by applying a piecewise linear envelope of charge pulses to the charge sensitive preamplifiers.
Influence of a Truck Side Under-ride Guard Height on Cabin Intrusion and Occupant Injury Potential of a Small Car in Car/Large-Truck Side Crashes

This article reports on a study that investigated the usefulness of a side guard attached to large trucks to reduce cabin intrusion and car occupant injuries in crashes. In collisions between cars and large trucks, the size, weight, and stiffness mismatch results in a much larger structural deformation of the car compared to that of the truck, and larger potential for car occupants’ injuries, particularly when the passenger vehicle trends beneath the rear or side of the taller truck. The authors note that, in the United States, under-ride guards are required only for the rears of large trucks. However, a review of fatal truck-car crashes in the NCSS/CDS indicates that fatal under-ride crashes involving the sides of large trucks are almost as common as fatal rear under-ride crashes. The authors’ study used validated finite element models of a passenger car and a truck to quantify the influence of a side guard attached to a large truck. They propose a formulation based on a normalized passenger compartment intrusion and its relation to the occupant injury potential. A NHTSA under-ride test was simulated first for model validation. Further simulations were then conducted at the speed range of 30 to 50 mph and for 90 and 45-degree impact angles. The results from a parametric study are used to identify the critical guard height resulting in severe cabin deceleration and compartment intrusion of the small car. This study quantifies the vulnerability of car occupants in truck side under-ride crashes and the effectiveness of side guard at different ground heights in reducing the injury potential to car occupants. The authors conclude that the size of the impacting car has a significant effect on the passenger compartment intrusion as well as the injury potential to the occupants. The smaller the size of the impacting car is, the lower the height of the side guard required to keep the impact in the safe region.
The effect of temperature on the male reproductive system of the common water snake (Nerodia sipedon)

The effect of various temperatures upon the male reproductive cycle of the common water snake (Nerodia sipedon) was studied. Snakes were divided into five groups and kept at five different temperature regimes and a 0L:24D photoperiod for ten weeks. Those kept in Chamber 1 were at 20°C the entire day while those kept in Chambers 2–5 were maintained at 21.3, 23.3, 27.4 and 29.3°C for eight hours per day respectively and 20°C for the remaining 16 hours each day. Interstitial cell nuclear diameters, renal sexual segment tubule diameters and epithelial heights were found to be unrelated to increasing temperatures. Testicular growth was positively correlated to increasing temperatures. Seminiferous tubule diameters increased rapidly between 20 and 21.3°C with a Q10 = 39. Tubule diameters continued to increase, although at a slower rate, with further increases in temperature, with a Q10 = 1.72 between 21.3 and 29.3°C. Spermatogenesis increased with increasing temperatures; the threshold temperature for initiation of spermatogenesis was between 20 and 21°C. Therefore, spermatogenesis and testicular recrudescence in Nerodia sipedon are temperature and not light dependent. Further, this report shows that weight of fat bodies does not affect normal spermatogenesis and testis growth in the presence of a sufficient food supply.
Local ordering in dilute ortho-para-hydrogen mixtures at low temperatures

We report experimental observations of the local orientational ordering of ortho-H2 molecules in dilute solid ortho-para mixtures for low temperatures. The results indicate a smooth, continuous freezing of the rotational degrees of freedom without any evidence for a distinct discontinuity in the temperature dependence of the local order parameters for the 37–600 mK temperature range.
Pulling off the comeback: shrink, expand, neither, both?

Purpose – In this paper, the authors aim to build a prescriptive framework to help managers in turning around their ailing organizations. Their framework focuses on the extent of contractionary and expansionary initiatives needed to rebuild long‐term competitive advantage. They make the case that managers engaging in a pro‐active and balanced approach to scaling down and growing their organizations can boost the success of their recovery efforts.Design/methodology/approach – The authors build their framework based on academic research on corporate turnarounds, their scholarly work on corporate restructuring, and their combined experiences and observations in industry. Their framework proposes four possible outcomes of the turnaround process: comeback, adrift, running‐on‐empty, and collapse. They provide examples to describe each outcome.Findings – The authors' framework suggests that the interaction between two restructuring actions – retrenchment and repositioning ‐ determines the outcome of corporate tu...
Wide-band evaluation of communications antennas using [Z] matrix interpolation with the method of moments

An important task associated with the evaluation and comparison of broadband antennas for communications applications involves performing simulations to predict the antenna performance over a wide range of frequencies. The method of moments (MoM) is one popular simulation methodology. Since the MoM impedance matrix must be computed at each frequency, the computation over a wide frequency range can take a long time. In the paper, a method proposed by Newman [1988] is revisited and applied to complex antenna structures being considered for modern personal communications applications. With this method, the impedance [Z] matrices for several relatively widely spaced frequencies are directly computed and stored. The elements of the impedance matrix at an intermediate frequency are computed by interpolating the elements of the stored [Z] matrices. This method is particularly well-suited for the analysis of antennas for personal wireless applications. Such antennas are either small and low-profile or consist of thin wires. The paper presents the results of the [Z] matrix interpolation method applied to both type of antennas; a planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) and a helix.
Molecular simulation of alkyl boronic acids: molecular mechanics and solvation free energy calculations

The alkyl boronic acid moiety is incorporated into many biologically interesting structures. To provide parameters for molecular mechanics and dynamics studies of compounds containing this group, we performed ab initio calculations at the 6-31G* level to obtain bond stretching, bending, and torsion constants. The hydrodynamic formulation of the time-dependent density functional theory was used to calculate the attractive part of van der Waals (VDW) 6–12 potential. The geometry of boronic acid moiety of the 6-31G* optimized methyl boronic acid was similar to that of the X-ray crystal structure of phenyl boronic acid. To test the reliability of nonbonded parameters, Monte Carlo free energy perturbation simulations and the thermodynamic cycle approach were used to estimate the differences in solvation free energy between alkyl alcohol and alkyl boronic acid, both in water and in chloroform. These free energy differences were also obtained experimentally by measuring the vapor–water and water–chloroform partition coefficients. The close agreement between experimental values and the results of our simulations suggests the reliability of new molecular mechanics force-field parameters for alkyl boronic acids. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
COPULATORY BEHAVIOR AND WEB OF INDICOBLEMMA LANNAIANUM FROM THAILAND (ARACHNIDA, ARANEAE, TETRABLEMMIDAE)

Abstract The present study reports for the first time on the behavior prior to, during and after the copulation of a member of the haplogyne spider family, Tetrablemmidae and describes the web of this species. Prior to copulation, male and female of Indicoblemma lannaianum from Thailand sometimes avoided each other or the female scared the male away, apparently by vigorous vibrations of her body. When first copulations were initiated, they lasted from 1.21 to 3.8 h with an average of 2.25 ± 0.71 h (n = 17). Some females accepted a second male for mating 3–9 days after first mating. There was no significant difference between the duration of first and second copulations but significantly more trials were needed to induce the second copulations. In the copulatory position, the male was inverted and faced in the same direction as the female. He seized the female's opisthosoma with apophyses on his chelicerae which fit into grooves on a female's ventral plate in this way building a locking mechanism during co...
Polarization-multiplexed LDPC-coded QAM robust to I-Q imbalance and polarization offset

Polarization-multiplexed LDPC-coded QAM robust to I-Q imbalance and polarization offset is proposed. Efficient mitigation of I-Q imbalance and polarization offset is demonstrated with LDPC-coded turbo equalization by simultaneous MAP detection of symbols transmitted over two orthogonal polarizations. The proposed scheme is much more efficient in I-Q imbalance and polarization offset compensation than conventional approaches.
What Is Tracking? Cultural Expectations in the United States, Germany, and Japan

On the basis of the TIMSS Case Study Project data collected in the United States, Japan, and Germany in 1994–1995, this article examines the phenomenon of tracking as part of curricular differentiation and student placement practices in public K–12 school systems. The authors document clear national differences in differentiation and placement measures and summarize the history of conflict over those measures. Analysis of respondent perceptions and beliefs about differentiation and placement (what people think “tracking” is) shows that nation-specific values and attitudes (i.e., cultures) determine which forms of curricular differentiation are legitimated and which contested. Dominant cultural beliefs about what students are capable of and the role that schools should play in educating them create different points of conflict over tracking.
An inner product space on irreducible and synchronizable probabilistic finite state automata

Probabilistic finite state automata (PFSA) have found their applications in diverse systems. This paper presents the construction of an inner-product space structure on a class of PFSA over the real field via an algebraic approach. The vector space is constructed in a stationary setting, which eliminates the need for an initial state in the specification of PFSA. This algebraic model formulation avoids any reference to the related notion of probability measures induced by a PFSA. A formal language-theoretic and symbolic modeling approach is adopted. Specifically, semantic models are constructed in the symbolic domain in an algebraic setting. Applicability of the theoretical formulation has been demonstrated on experimental data for robot motion recognition in a laboratory environment.
On sinusoid estimation in nonstationary noise

This note presents a sinusoid estimation algorithm, which will converge to the spectrum of the sinusoid process in nonstationary additive noise. The algorithm is in the framework of the tangential Nevanlinna-Pick setting. The procedure is a generalization of Capon's maximum likelihood estimate and some classical limit theorem for orthogonal polynomials. The method is used in an experimental example to find the natural frequencies of a lightly damped structure.
Time-Sequential Self-Organization of Hierarchical Neural Networks

Self-organization of multi-layered networks can be realized by time-sequential organization of successive neural layers. Lateral inhibition operating in the surround of firing cells in each layer provides for unsupervised capture of excitation patterns presented by the previous layer. By presenting patterns of increasing complexity, in co-ordination with network self-organization, higher levels of the hierarchy capture concepts implicit in the pattern set.