cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk-sensitive Markov decision problems under model uncertainty: finite time horizon case

In this paper we study a class of risk-sensitive Markovian control problems in discrete time subject to model uncertainty. We consider a risk-sensitive discounted cost criterion with finite time horizon. The used methodology is the one of adaptive robust control combined with machine learning.
A QuantCrit Analysis of Context, Discipline, Special Education, and Disproportionality:

Using a dis/ability critical race theory (DisCrit) and critical quantitative (QuantCrit) lens, we examine disproportionate application of exclusionary discipline on multiply marginalized youth, for...
Hardware Performance Counters: Ready-Made vs Tailor-Made

Micro-architectural footprints can be used to distinguish one application from another. Most modern processors feature hardware performance counters to monitor the various micro-architectural events when an application is executing. These ready-made hardware performance counters can be used to create program fingerprints and have been shown to successfully differentiate between individual applications. In this paper, we demonstrate how ready-made hardware performance counters, due to their coarse-grain nature (low sampling rate and bundling of similar events, e.g., number of instructions instead of number of add instructions), are insufficient to this end. This observation motivates exploration of tailor-made hardware performance counters to capture fine-grain characteristics of the programs. As a case study, we evaluate both ready-made and tailor-made hardware performance counters using post-quantum cryptographic key encapsulation mechanism implementations. Machine learning models trained on tailor-made hardwareperformance counter streams demonstrate that they can uniquely identify the behavior of every post-quantum cryptographic key encapsulation mechanism algorithm with at least 98.99% accuracy.
A Large-Scale Study of Language Usage as a Cognitive Biometric Trait

Abstract In this chapter, we discuss a novel biometric trait, called cognitive biometrics . It is defined as the process of identifying an individual through extracting and matching unique signatures based on the cognitive, affective, and conative state of that individual. Currently, there is an increasing need for novel biometric systems that engage multiple modalities because of the changing notion of privacy in today’s world. Also, cognitive biometrics will become essential as pervasive computing becomes more prevalent, where computing can happen anywhere and anytime. The use of cognitive traits for biometrics is relatively underexplored in the research community. We study whether the cognitive state of a person can be learned and used as a soft biometric trait and discuss our large-scale experimental setup, which yielded encouraging results.
Acid Sensitivity of the Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin

Influenza virus hemagglutinin was shown to be acid resistant if precipitates which form during acidification are first removed. Adsorption of virus to precipitates formed during acidification may cause a virus to be described incorrectly as acid sensitive.
Induction of diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice by Th2 T cell clones from a TCR transgenic mouse.

We have produced a panel of cloned T cell lines from the BDC-2.5 TCR transgenic (Tg) mouse that exhibit a Th2 cytokine phenotype in vitro but are highly diabetogenic in vivo. Unlike an earlier report in which T cells obtained from the Tg mouse were cultured for 1 wk under Th2-promoting conditions and were found to induce disease only in NOD.scid recipients, we found that long-term T cell clones with a fixed Th2 cytokine profile can transfer disease only to young nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice and never to NOD.scid recipients. Furthermore, the mechanism by which diabetes is transferred by a Tg Th2 T cell clone differs from that of the original CD4+ Th1 BDC-2.5 T cell clone made in this laboratory. Whereas the BDC-2.5 clone rapidly causes disease in NOD.scid recipients less than 2 wk old, the Tg Th2 T cell clones can do so only when cotransferred with other diabetogenic T cells, suggesting that the Th2 T cell requires the presence of host T cells for initiation of disease.
SOCIAL SUPPORT AND STRESS AMONG HOMELESS ADULTS IN SOUTHERN POLAND

The present study investigated the main and stress-buffering effects of social support in a representative sample of homeless adults (N = 200) obtained in a 2-city region of southern Poland. Two different measures of social support were used: the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) and the Social Network Interview (SNI). The findings support research in the United States and other nations, showing that (a) higher levels of reported stressful life events predicted all three outcomes assessed (i.e., symptoms of psychological distress, alcohol abuse and dependence, and physical health), (b) higher scores on ISEL perceived support and the SNI Family Index were associated with fewer symptoms on one or more of the outcomes, and (c) social support may be an important buffer protecting people from the negative impact of stress, even among a high-risk group such as homeless adults. Implications for future research, policy, and intervention are discussed.
Quantification of nuclear diversion risks Promises and problems

Abstract The spread or proliferation of nuclear weapons has been identified as a crucial risk associated with the worldwide deployment of nuclear power. However, little analytic work has been done to establish the degree of this risk as most policy discussions have been based on qualitative assessments. This paper suggests that a quantitative, risk analysis approach towards proliferation-related policy deliberations can help guide the decision making process. Review and application of independently derived risk analysis procedures, that quantify the resistance of various nuclear fuel cycles to diversion, reveals that a lesser degree of correlation between nuclear power and proliferation exists than has previously been suggested by qualitative analyses.
Mineralogical, Petrological, Stable Isotope, and Fluid Inclusion Characteristics of the Tuvatu Gold-Silver Telluride Deposit, Fiji: Comparisons with the Emperor Deposit

The Tuvatu gold-silver telluride deposit with reserves of 13 t Au is the second largest gold deposit in Fiji after the large Emperor gold telluride deposit (production, and proven and probable reserves of 280 t Au). The deposits are 50 km apart and occur along the >250-km east-northeast–trending Viti Levu lineament. They are spatially associated with alkaline rocks of almost identical age (~5.4–4.6 Ma) and having a shoshonitic affinity. The gold mineralization in both deposits is spatially and genetically related to monzonite intrusions and to a low-grade porphyry copper-style system. The Emperor deposit occurs along the margins of the Tavua volcano whereas the Tuvatu deposit may occur adjacent to an eroded shoshonite volcano. At both locations, low-sulfidation, epithermal gold telluride mineralization occurs in flat-lying veins, steep faults, shatter zones, stock-works, and hydrothermal breccias. Mineralization in both deposits formed in multiple stages and is characterized by the presence of quartz-roscoelite telluride veins in which gold-rich tellurides were deposited prior to silver-rich tellurides. Gold tellurides and vanadium minerals were deposited at approximately 250°C from moderately saline fluids. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions of ore fluids at Emperor and Tuvatu are similar to the composition of waters exsolved from arc magmas. Previously published values of δ34S of sulfides (–20.3 to +3.9‰) from Emperor are like those obtained from the Tuvatu deposit (−15.3 to −3.2‰) and indicate, along with mineral assemblages, that the ore fluids were oxidizing and near the hematite-pyrite buffer. The similar igneous lithological units of almost identical age, transition from porphyry- to epithermal-style mineralization, paragenetic relationships, and comparable fluid inclusion and stable isotope data suggest a common origin for sulfide and gold telluride mineralization at the Tuvatu and Emperor deposits. Potential exists for additional epithermal gold telluride mineralization near volcanic centers in shoshonitic rocks (Ba and Koroimavua Volcanic groups) spatially related to the Viti Levu lineament in northern Viti Levu.
Phase-winding Solutions for Axisymmetric Convection between Rotating Planes Uniformly Heated from Below

Le concept d'enroulement de phase ou l'argument d'une fonction d'amplitude complexe varie lentement avec la position, peut fournir une explication theorique des changements observes dans la longueur d'onde de rouleaux concentriques dans des cylindres circulaires peu profonds chauffes uniformement par le bas
Fragile X syndrome: Neural network models of sequencing and memory

A comparative framework of memory processes in males with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and typically developing (TYP) mental age-match children is presented. Results indicate a divergence in sequencing skills, such that males with FXS recall sequences similarly to TYP children around five and a half years of age, but the males with FXS recall significantly worse when compared to TYP children around seven and a half years of age. Performance on one working memory measure, an n-back Card Task, is modeled with a neural network. To date, no network models explicate the sequencing and memory processes in those with FXS. Noise was added to various levels (weight matrices) in the FXS model and outputs approximated human FXS performance. Three models were compared: (1) FXS; (2) younger mental age-TYP matches; (3) older reading level-TYP matches. Modeling can help to reify conceptualizations of deficits and to guide in the creation of more valid, science-based remediations. The FXS model suggested that the levels of phonological representation and sequencing in memory were candidates for targeted therapies in males with FXS.
Social interactions of juvenile female bonnet monkeys,Macaca radiata

This study reports observations on juvenile female bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata) in a field cage environment. Interaction and proximity data collected on different age classes of juvenile females indicate distinct changes in social behavior from the time a female is weaned until her first pregnancy. Behavioral development includes an increase in solitary behavior, an early disinterest in younger animals, and a surprisingly low interaction rate with relatives. Important aspects of ontogeny are lost in analyses that treat all juvenile females as a single age-class.
A pulsed and continuous wave 250 MHz electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer

A 250 MHz electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer was constructed to be an engineering test facility for in vivo EPR imaging of physiological samples and for protein structure determination. Innovations relative to prior low-frequency EPR spectrometers include a four-coil, air-core magnet and gradient coils, a crossed-loop resonator, dynamic Q-switching to decrease dead time in pulsed EPR, and a narrow-band bridge based on circulators. The automatic frequency control system uses a signal separate from the EPR signal to make the frequency control independent of the radiofrequency (RF) phase. The design incorporates multiple excitation and signal paths to facilitate testing of a variety of resonators, two magnets, and both a locally built console described here and a Bruker console. Plug-in cards in the bridge facilitate using reflection or crossed-loop resonators in continuous wave or pulsed EPR modes. In the locally built console there is a microprocessor-controlled interface unit to handle magnetic field modulation and scan, tuning display, and other functions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts in Magnetic Resonance (Magn Reson Engineering) 15: 59–91, 2002.
Abstract 4632: Phosphatidylserine-targeting ‘betabodies’ for the treatment of cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Bavituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that is being combined with chemotherapy to treat patients with lung or pancreatic cancer in randomized Phase II clinical trials. Bavituximab targets the immunosuppressive lipid, phosphatidylserine (PS), which becomes exposed on the outer membrane surface of tumor blood vessels and tumor cells in tumors responding to therapy. The antibody acts by destroying tumor vasculature and by reactivating tumor immunity. Here, we generated new PS-targeting therapeutics by fusing domains of the PS-binding plasma protein, mouse β2-glycoprotein I (≥2GP1), to the Fc region of mouse IgG2a. Such ‘betabodies’ potentially have advantages over bavituximab. They bind directly to PS, whereas bavituximab requires a cofactor protein (≥2GP1) for binding; they can be made fully human; they are smaller in size (100KDa versus 250KDa for the bavituximab: β2GP1 complexes); and they have slower blood clearance rates. Many different constructions of betabodies were tested, each having different orientations, domains, and glycosylation patterns. Constructs were identified that bound strongly to PS-expressing cells and plates, localized to tumor vascular endothelium in vivo, and had α-phase blood half-lives of approximately seven days after intravenous injection into mice as compared with two days for a murine version of bavituximab. Betabodies could potentially be the next generation of PS-targeting cancer therapeutics. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4632. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4632
Multiple health behaviors and serum hepatic enzymes among US adults with obesity

Abstract Introduction This study was to examine the cumulative number and clustering patterns of low-risk health behaviors (i.e., not currently smoking, not excessive drinking, and physically active) associated with elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) among adults with obesity in the United States. Methods We estimated the age-adjusted prevalence of elevated ALT, AST, and GGT from 4547 adults with obesity aged ≥ 20 years who participated in the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The associations between the cumulative number or clustering patterns of low-risk health behaviors and measures of serum ALT, AST, and GGT were assessed using multivariate regression models. Results Adult men who reported having three low-risk health behaviors were 62%, 39%, and 48% less likely to have elevated serum ALT, AST, and GGT, respectively; adult women were 56% and 73% less likely to have elevated serum AST and GGT, respectively, when compared to their respective counterparts who reported having none of the low-risk health behaviors. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that, among adults with obesity, having multiple low-risk health behaviors is associated with decreased likelihoods of elevated hepatic enzymes, including ALT in men, AST and GGT in both men and women.
Detailed Conformational Changes Involved in TopoII DNA Binding, Bending and Cleavage

We have used Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation methods and two analytical approaches(the Gaussian Net- work Model(GNM) and Anisotropic Network Model (ANM)) to investigate the structural and energetic details of the S.cerevisiae topoII during the first step of its catalytic cycle. At the initial state of the first step of its catalytic cycle, the protein and 34 bp straight-DNA structure have no interaction. At the final state of the cycle, we have the bended-DNA/TopoII complex where the protein binds to DNA. The results show that DNA-gate and C-gate opening/closing mechanism causes the DNA-bending before the DNA G- gate cleavage. There is strong agreement between the theoratical and the experimental DNA-bending results where its global bending is ≈ 150∧0.The results also show that there is a hysteresis between DNA-bending and gate openings/closings. The transition of 3 helices on Winked Helix Domain during DNA bending and cleavage states has been also investigated because this transition might be important for the T-segment DNA passage through the G-Segment DNA. Normal mode analysis is ad- ditionally used to characterize the functional flexibity of the protein,especially C-gate domain closing/opening during the DNA binding process and before its cleavage.The Plastic Network Model(PNM) is also used to generate a conformational change pathway for S.cerevisiae topoII based on two (C-gate closed and open) crystal structures. PNM connects the energy basins corresponding to known two crystal structures at their lowest common energies. Analysis of PNM provides an identification of hinge motion upon DNA binding/bending. We also showed that ’trapdoor’ mechanism causes faster closing of C-gate domain of the protein than the closing of the same domain without TYR residue upward motion. Because of its clinical importance, our study may provide new insight into the dynamics and structure of TopoII-DNA complex.
Outpatient case presentations in the conference room versus examination room: results from two randomized controlled trials

Abstract Purpose Ambulatory case presentations occur typically in conference rooms, and attending physicians often have little contact with patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two different ambulatory case presentation formats that involve attending physicians more directly. Subjects and methods We conducted two randomized controlled trials in a community-based ambulatory internal medicine clinic. Participants comprised 393 adult patients, 40 house officers, and 14 attending physicians. In the first trial, patient encounters were assigned randomly to either exclusive house officer–attending physician conference room discussion or to house officer–attending physician conference room discussion plus attending physician–patient interaction. In the second trial, patient encounters were assigned randomly to either exclusive house officer–attending physician conference room discussion or to exclusive house officer–attending physician discussion in the examining room with the patient present. Patient satisfaction; attending physician contributions to teaching, diagnosis, and therapy; and house officer comfort and autonomy were assessed. Results Patient visit satisfaction and house officer assessment of attending physician teaching, diagnosis, and therapy were similar in the control and intervention groups of both trials. Patients involved in examination room discussions thought they were more comfortable with the discussion (mean ± SD, 4.3 ± 0.9 vs. 3.4 ± 0.9 on a one- to five-point Likert scale, P P P Conclusion Patients perceive that ambulatory examination room presentations are beneficial, whereas some house officers perceive that examination room presentations are associated with discomfort and diminished autonomy.
The stochastic dynamics of tethered microcantilevers in a viscous fluid

We explore and quantify the coupled dynamics of a pair of micron scale cantilevers immersed in a viscous fluid that are also directly tethered to one another at their tips by a spring force. The spring force, for example, could represent the molecular stiffness or elasticity of a biomolecule or material tethered between the cantilevers. We use deterministic numerical simulations with the fluctuation-dissipation theorem to compute the stochastic dynamics of the cantilever pair for the conditions of experiment when driven only by Brownian motion. We validate our approach by comparing directly with experimental measurements in the absence of the tether which shows excellent agreement. Using numerical simulations, we quantify the correlated dynamics of the cantilever pair over a range of tether stiffness. Our results quantify the sensitivity of the auto- and cross-correlations of equilibrium fluctuations in cantilever displacement to the stiffness of the tether. We show that the tether affects the magnitude of the correlations which can be used in a measurement to probe the properties of an attached tethering substance. For the configurations of current interest using micron scale cantilevers in water, we show that the magnitude of the fluid coupling between the cantilevers is sufficiently small such that the influence of the tether can be significant. Our results show that the cross-correlation is more sensitive to tether stiffness than the auto-correlation indicating that a two-cantilever measurement has improved sensitivity when compared with a measurement using a single cantilever.
On the CO2 permeation of uniaxially drawn polymers

The CO2 permeation coefficient and the difficient were measured using the permeation time-lag method for films of atactic polystyrene and high-density polyethylene, each as a function of uniaxial draw ratio. The reduction of permeability with draw ratio is observed for polystyrene and for polyethylene. In the latter it is associated with an increase in crystallinity. In both cases the premeability decreases and the solubility constant remains unchanged. The reduction of permeability is thus caused only by the reduction in diffusion of CO2 in the drawn polymers. The mechainism is different for the two polymers, as is confirmed by measurements of birefringence, glass transition temperature, and crystallinity.
The Measurement of Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Are We Assuming Too Much?

Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) is assessed by measuring how frequently employees display extra-role and discretionary behaviors. One hundred forty-four managerial employees responded to an OCB scale and indicated the number of behaviors on the scale they believed to be formally evaluated. None of the behaviors were believed to be unevaluated by all employees. Data suggest that a typical OCB scale is not measuring citizenship behaviors for everybody, and that OCB measurement needs refinement. Best prediction of other organizational variables was obtained when both the OCB and an index of “unevaluated” behaviors were used as predictors. Supervisor fairness interacted with OCB when predicting organizational commitment, and this interaction was contingent on the extent OCBs were believed to be unevaluated.
Open Resonant Cell for Measurement of Materials Permittivity and Permeability

The open resonant cell for absolute measurement of permittivity and permeability of cylindrical samples and thin film, put on a cylindrical surface is offered. The results of electromagnetic modelling and test experimental measurements of material constants for samples with known properties in 8-mm and 4-mm wavelength ranges are submitted.
Immunoregulation of murine leishmaniasis by interleukin-12

Summary Distinct phenotypic outcomes following infection of mice with Leishmania major are closely linked to the emergence of functionally dissimilar Th1 or Th2 CD4+ T-cell responses early in the course of disease. This model of T-cell-dependent microbial pathology has proven useful for the study of cytokine regulatory and effector functions in vivo. To this end, the causal relationships linking synthesis of IFNγ to cure and of IL4 to disease exacerbation have already been well characterized. IL 12 also has a defined role in shaping the immune response against L. major. Early treatment with recombinant IL 12, or vaccination using IL12 as an adjuvant, protects genetically susceptible hosts from progressive infection. Protective mechanisms include both suppression of deleterious Th2 cell responses and amplification of beneficial Thl cell activities. Although Leishmania are poor stimuli for macrophage-derived IL 12 when compared to bacteria and other protozoa, in vivo production during infection can be indirectly demonstrated by the worsening of leishmaniasis that follows anti-IL12 injection in normally resistant mice. Whether IL 12 production during infection represents constitutive or regulated synthesis by infected macrophages is unresolved and deserves further exploration.
GHS-R1A antagonism reduces alcohol but not sucrose preference in prairie voles

Abstract Rationale Ghrelin has been shown to mediate food and drug reward in rats and mice, and the rewarding properties of sweet foods and alcohol are known to contribute to overconsumption of these substances. Objective To investigate the effects of GHS-R1A antagonism in a novel animal model of high alcohol consumption, the prairie vole, and to characterize the role of ghrelin in limited access consumption of a drug (alcohol) and non-drug (sucrose) reward. Methods Female prairie voles were given four 2-h two-bottle drinking sessions, occurring every other day. During drinking sessions, animals had access to 20% ethanol vs water or 10% sucrose vs water. Pre-treatment with the GHS-R1A antagonist JMV 2959 (i.p.; 0.0, 9.0 mg/kg Experiments 1 and 2; 0.0, 9.0, 12.0 mg/kg Experiments 3 and 4.) occurred 30-min before the fourth session. To determine if the amount of exposure to sucrose sessions affected the efficacy of JMV 2959, in Experiment 5 animals were given 16 daily 2-hr drinking sessions with 10% sucrose vs water. JMV 2959 treatment (0.0 or 9.0 mg/kg) occurred 30-min prior to the 16th session. Results JMV 2959 reduced alcohol but not sucrose preference. Even after extended experience with sucrose sessions, JMV 2959 had no effect on sucrose preference or consumption. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that GHS-R1A antagonism reduces alcohol preference, but suggest limitations on the role of ghrelin in the preference for and consumption of naturally rewarding substances.
disentangling strain, personal attributes, affective response and deviance: a gendered analysis

This paper uses General Strain Theory (GST) to explore the relationship among strain, personal attributes, negative emotions, deviant behavior, and gender. Theories of deviance are frequently teste...
Fabrication of polymeric microparticles for drug delivery by soft lithography

Soft lithographic techniques were used to fabricate polymeric microparticles for drug delivery applications. The microparticles were made of thermoplastics and thermosets from different types of precursors including reactive resin and polymer solutions in organic solvents or water. The microparticles produced using these methods were made of widely used polymers for drug delivery with highly uniform sizes, plate-like morphology, and well-defined lateral sizes and shapes, making them potentially useful for drug delivery applications and as platform for the construction of multi-functional drug delivery devices.
Opportunities for analysis of ring current composition change through observation of the equatorial aurora

Abstract Theoretical and observational work indicates that He+ and O+ ions eventually outnumber protons in the recovery phase ring current, owing to the different loss rates in each case for charge exchange with geocoronal hydrogen. Satellite and ground-based measurements of hydrogen, oxygen, and helium emissions in the resulting equatorial aurora provide a means of monitoring both composition and flux changes, and perhaps would yield some information on the mean ion energy in each case. Observations from Huancayo are discussed.
Physical properties of arabinofuranosylcytosine diphosphate diacylglycerol, an antitumor liponucleotide.

Abstract Dispersed from a dry film into buffer (5 mM phosphate, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.4), the liponucleotide 1-β- d -arabinofuranosylcytosine 5′-diphosphate l -1,2-diacylglycerol (ara-CDPdiacylglycerol) spontaneously forms vesicles which are several microns in diameter and probably unilamellar. Their average size immediately begins to decrease, and after 2 h none can be seen in the light microscope. During 1–2 days in unstirred solutions at 25°C, the vesicles are transformed to spherical or nearly spherical micelles having an apparent partial specific volume of 0.835 ml·g −1 , a maximum possible aggregation number of about 150, and an anhydrous radius of about 37 A. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) is about 10 μM in buffer and 20 μM in distilled water, but micelle-monomer equilibration requires at least 1 week at a total concentration of 66 μM. This exceedingly slow equilibration is unique among reported detergents. The standard enthalpy and entropy of micellization are −13 kJ·mol −1 and 87 J·mol −1 ·K −1 , respectively. These values are within the range reported for other detergents. Sonication accelerates the vesicle-micelle transformation to 30 min.
Distributed parameter e-modification for an aeroelastic torsion model

In this note we consider the closed-loop control of an aeroelastic torsion model where the control objective is to track a desired shape. A Lyapunov approach is utilized and an adaptive control algorithm using e-modification is proposed. The entire analysis is confined to the underlying infinite dimensional space and uniform ultimate boundedness of the closed-loop system is proved. Numerical simulation is provided to illustrate the performance.
Methods for computer-based operator training as a key element of training systems (Present-day trends)

The paper discusses new trends in computer-based operator training methodology. They are automated pre-training facilities, field operator training systems, and operator action evaluation systems. Prototype toolkits are described.
Ultrathin platinum films on mica and the measurement of forces at the platinum/water interface

The chemical stoichiometry and structure of 2-10-nm-thick Pt films deposited on molecularly smooth mica have been characterized by Auger electron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffractions, and direct-phase-detection microscopic interferometry. These analyses are correlated with electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties of the films with regard to their used in surface forces microbalance techniques. Large-area (1 cm/sup 2/), 4-nm-thick polycrystalline films are sufficiently conductive (sigma > 10/sup 4/ ohm/sup -1/ cm/sup -1/) and transparent (55% T at lambda = 550 nm) to allow measurement of forces between metallic phases. Preliminary measurements of electrostatic forces between two Pt films separated by a thin layer of water are presented.
Reliability Model for Planetary Gear Trains.

Abstract : A reliability model is presented for planetary gear trains in which the ring gear is fixed, the sun gear is the input, and the planet arm is the output. The input and output shafts are co-axial and the input and output torques are assumed to be co-axial with these shafts. Thrust and side loading are neglected. This type of gear train is commonly used in main rotor transmissions for helicopters and in other applications which require high reductions in speed. The reliability model is based on the Weibull distribution of the individual reliabilities of the transmission components. The transmission's basic dynamic capacity is defined as the input torque which may be applied for one-million input rotations of the sun gear. Load and life are related by a power law. The load-life exponent and basic dynamic capacity are developed as functions of the component capacities. (Author)
The anatomic basis for localized occipital thinning: a normal anatomic variant.

The radiographic evidence presented in this case confirms that the asymptomatic, incidentally found occipital radiolucencies previously described by Keats are not a problem in differential diagnosis of inner table erosion. The entity appears to be a developmental variant with typical features and occurring in a characteristic location.
Accumulation of Fluorides by Insects Near an Emission Source in Western Montana

Four major groups of insects (pollinators, predators, foliage feeders, and cambial region feeders) were collected near an aluminum reduction plant and analyzed for fluorides. Collections were made in June, August, and October in 1970 and in August 1971. From 58.0 to 585.0 ppm fluoride was found among the pollinators; from 6.1 to 170.0 ppm among the predators; from 21.3 to 255 ppm among the foliage feeders; and from 8.5 to 52.5 ppm among the cambial region feeders. Fluoride levels among the control insects sampled ranged from 3.5 to 16.5 ppm. The relatively high fluoride levels in the 100% predatory insects indicate fluorides are cither accumulated by respiration or are passed along the food chain.
Hydrogen storage capacity characterization of carbon nanotubes by a microgravimetrical approach.

An accurate gravimetric apparatus based on a contactless magnetic suspension microbalance was developed. This unit was used to measure the hydrogen storage capacity for a variety of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at room temperature and hydrogen pressures up to 11.5 MPa. The results show that regardless of their synthesis methods, purities, and nanostructures all investigated CNT products possess relatively low hydrogen storage capacities (<0.2 wt %). For comparison, the adsorption characteristics of theses samples were also measured at a pressure of 0.1 MPa and liquid nitrogen temperature (∼77 K) by a conventional volumetric approach. The methodological aspects related to the accuracy of the hydrogen uptake measurements are also discussed.
Terror of the talk: a new framework for countering terrorism within the institutionalisation of the terrorism industry

The “terrorism industry” that has been constructed by the war on terror has become institutionalised in the past decade, contributing in part to a significant increase in the overall public perception of terrorism and a dilution in meaning of the term “terrorist.” A linear regression analysis of the relationship of poll data collected from American citizens and frequency and lethality of terrorist attacks shows that this increased awareness has occurred despite the fact that terrorist attacks on American soil have decreased over the past decade. Considering the often-stated purpose of terrorists is to inspire fear, a central goal of the industry and the government should be to diminish these effects. However, the frequent and offhand use of the term “terrorist” fails to contextualise and counter the varied dispositions and motivations of terrorists and other non-state actors. To reduce public worry while working within the boundaries of the institutionalised terrorism industry, the study of terrorism shou...
Privacy-preserving license plate image processing

Advances in license plate detection and recognition software severely threaten privacy. Intended originally for video surveillance such as the law enforcement at automatic toll booths, license plate recognition software becomes so powerful that it can identify license plates from low-resolution and blurred images illegible to the human eye. However, the technology can be adversely used to track individuals regardless of suspicion, violating privacy, through ever present webcams, in Traveler Information Systems, for instance. This paper introduces a novel engineering solution to privacy-preserving license plate recognition. A trivial solution to protect the privacy of individuals in video surveillance data is to black out each license plate; it effectively thwarts license plate recognition but renders no practical use as all information being obscured. The new system presented in this paper enables privacy preservation in the images containing license plates as well as car features while allows identification of particular license plates with legitimacy similar to a specific search warrant. Such dual purposes are fulfilled with an orchestra of information technologies. Pseudo-anonymity, a disguised identity held by many individuals, preserves privacy by ensuring the failure of license plate recognition. Steganography, security through obscurity or information hiding, reveals the license plate of a suspect by a protocol of synchronized pseudo random number generation. The synchronization protocol is superior over both symmetric encryption problematic with key distribution and asymmetric schemes involving expensive computation. Experiments are conducted on a real world Traveler Information System with favorable results.
GTP binds to α-crystallin and causes a significant conformational change

ATP was previously reported to bind to the chaperone α-crystallin resulting in a significant effect on the protein's ability to suppress the aggregation of a thermally denatured protein. Here, we have investigated the binding of GTP to α-crystallin. Unlike ATP, binding of GTP to α-crystallin did not affect its ability to suppress the aggregation of thermally denatured rhodanese. GTP binding induced a conformational change on α-crystallin, however the degree of exposed hydrophobic surfaces, which are believed to be involved in the binding of the chaperone to denaturing proteins did not change. Here, we report that GTP binds to α-crystallin and this results in a decreased stability of the chaperone as indicated by urea denaturation.
Potassium fertilization of broccoli transplants

Increased potassium fertilization may be important in broccoli transplant growth. Recommended amounts of water soluble 20N-8.7P-16.6K were supplemented with varying concentrations of K as KCl applied at intervals during broccoli transplant development. Transplant growth and subsequent broccoli yields were studied in greenhouse and field tests. Fertilization with supplemental K significantly increased broccoli transplant fresh and dry weight, leaf area, stem diameter and plant height over the control. Effect of number of applications was generally dependent on K concentration and age of the broccoli seedling at the first fertilization. High K concentrations (> 2098 ppm) applied two weeks after planting were detrimental to broccoli transplant growth. In two field tests, supplemental K applied to transplants had no effect on broccoli yield. No significant differences were found between supplementing fertilizer with K and hardening transplants in a cold frame for two weeks. Incidence of hollow stem was increased in one test by application of 1000ppm K. Two applications per week caused significant increases in yield, head diameter and hollow stem when compared with one application per week.
A non-integral technique for the approximate solution of transport problems

Abstract An approximate method for solving transport problems, called the ‘non-integral’ method, has been presented. The method is based on the criterion that the total error over the domain of interest which results from introducing an approximate solution into the governing equation of a transport problem must be kept to a minimum. The method was demonstrated in three examples. Comparisons of the results with corresponding existing solutions were given.
Hybrid linear-iterative detection algorithms for MIMO CDMA systems in multipath channels

We assume a CDMA downlink multiuser scenario, where the base station is equipped with multiple transmit antennas, and each user has multiple receive antennas. For this setup we propose a new, computationally effective MIMO multiuser detector for frequency selective channels. We exploit the fact that the interference mainly comes from the spatial domain, while the residual interference is due to temporal dispersion and multiuser interference. This motivates us to suppress the residual interference in a linear fashion, while combating the spatial interference iteratively. This approach is an efficient performance-complexity tradeoff between fully iterative and linear detectors.
Pairwise Broadcast Clock Synchronization for Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper proposes an energy-efficient clock synchronization scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) based on a novel time synchronization approach. Within the proposed synchronization approach, a subset of sensor nodes are synchronized by over-hearing the timing message exchanges of a pair of sensor nodes. Therefore, a group of sensor nodes can be synchronized without sending any extra messages. This paper brings two main contributions: 1. Development of a novel synchronization approach which can be partially or fully applied for implementation of new synchronization protocols and for improving the performance ofexisting time synchronization protocols. 2. Design of a time synchronization scheme which significantly reduces the overall network-wide energy consumption without incurring any loss of synchronization accuracy compared to other well-known schemes.
Thresholding semilinear phase-conjugate mirror.

We have demonstrated thresholding in a semilinear self-pumped phase-conjugate mirror by introducing grating motion within the photorefractive crystal and using the dependence of photorefractive response time on the intensity of the incident beam. The threshold level Ith was found to be a function of the grating velocity. This property has potential applications in optical computing and optical signal processing.
Calibration of a Field Spectroradiometer

The processes used to calibrate a field spectroradiometer are described. The spectro-radiometer uses four CVF's and four detectors with two of each in two separate instruments. Wavelength calibration procedure was to illuminate the aperture of the spectroradiometer with energy containing spectral lines at known wavelengths, and to note the linearity of the wavelength signal over the range of the spectral lines. Spectral radiance calibration consisted of comparing analog signals from the detectors to calibrated external references under known conditions.
The social value of mid-scale energy in Africa: Redefining value and redesigning energy to reduce poverty

Abstract This short communication suggests the need to attend carefully to the social value of energy in designing projects to reduce energy poverty. We define the social value of energy in terms of the total value derived by an individual or community from the use of energy, including economic and other forms of value, less any risks or burdens that accompany energy production, transmission, and consumption. This simple definition enables two significant assessments. First, the social value of energy projects can be compared to their costs, to evaluate whether projects are worth investing in, even if they may appear uneconomic in narrower terms. This is especially significant in contexts such as off-grid or renewable energy projects that may have higher energy costs. Second, the socio-technical design of energy projects can be evaluated to determine whether the project will deliver the kinds of energy services, via appropriate strategies, that enhance social value.
The macrostructure of informal arguments: a proposed model and analysis.

Theories of informal reasoning and critical thinking often maintain that everyday, informal arguments can be classified into types based on the specific organization that the premises or reasons enter into in their support for the conclusion (Snoeck Henkemans, 2000; Vorobej, 1995b). Three general types are identified: convergent, coordinately linked, and subordinately linked arguments. There has been no empirical research, however, to determine whether these structural distinctions have any psychological reality. In the first two of four experiments, college students were presented with premise pairs from larger, informal arguments and were asked to judge the nature of the relationship between the premises in a pair. The judgments involved applying "tests" of linkage, subordination, and so on, that have been proposed in the theoretical literature on argument analysis (e.g., Walton, 1996a; Yanal, 1991). Results suggest that adults can effectively distinguish between linked (interdependent) and convergent relationships and can further distinguish between interdependencies that are full and those that are merely partial. Adults also distinguished between subordinate and nonsubordinate relations. Experiments 3 and 4 provide evidence that adults make use of information about argument structure in evaluating argument strength and in categorizing arguments. Experiment 4 further suggests that facility with macrostructure is only modestly related to deductive reasoning competence. Findings are framed in terms of a speculative account of how argument structure is identified and mentally represented.
Soluble and membrane-associated heat shock proteins in soybean root

Localization of heat shock proteins (Hsp) in endomembranes and determination of whether they are integral or peripheral membrane proteins will aid in understanding the physiological function of the heat shock response. Radiolabeled endomembranes (endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and plasma membrane), obtained by sucrose gradient centrifugation of heat-shocked soybean (Glycine max L.) root tissue were solubilized and the polypeptides separated by two-dimensional IEF-SDS-PAGE. Autoradiography revealed three groups of Hsp. A diverse group fo 25 low mol wt Hsp (18 to 24 kDa) with isoelectric point (pI) between 5 and 7; an intermediate mol wt group (30 to 47 kDa) with pI of 5.5 to 6.0; and a group of two high mol wt Hsp (75 to 80 kDa) with pI 4.8 to 5.2. The plasma membrane fraction lacked the Hsp pair of 47 kDa detected in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi fractions but possessed a unique Hsp of 30 kDa, pI 5.5.
Review of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women. Women with PCOS frequently have metabolic complications including insulin resistance (IR), early diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Recent studies have demonstrated an association between PCOS and another metabolic complication: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD occurs as a result of abnormal lipid handling by the liver, which sensitizes the liver to injury and inflammation. It can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is characterized by hepatocyte injury and apoptosis. With time and further inflammation, NASH can progress to cirrhosis. Thus, given the young age at which NAFLD may occur in PCOS, these women may be at significant risk for progressive hepatic injury over the course of their lives. Many potential links between PCOS and NAFLD have been proposed, most notably IR and hyperandrogenemia. Further studies are needed to clarify the association between PCOS and NAFLD. In the interim, clinicians should be aware of this connection and consider screening for NAFLD in PCOS patients who have other metabolic risk factors. The optimal method of screening is unknown. However, measuring alanine aminotransferase and/or obtaining ultrasound on high-risk patients can be considered. First line treatment consists of lifestyle interventions and weight loss, with possible pharmacologic interventions in some cases.
Gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in experimental diabetic neuropathy

Chronic hyperglycemia results in a large deficit in nerve blood flow. Both autoxidative- and ischemia-induced lipid peroxidation occurs, with resultant peripheral sensory neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in the rat. Free radical defenses, especially involving antioxidant enzymes, have been suggested to be reduced, but scant information is available on chronic hyperglycemia. We evaluated the gene expression of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase (cuprozinc and manganese separately) in L4,5 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and superior cervical ganglion, as well as enzyme activity of glutathione peroxidase in DRG and sciatic nerve in experimental diabetic neuropathy of 3 months and 12 months durations. We also evaluated nerve electrophysiology of caudal, sciatic-tibial, and digital nerves. A nerve conduction deficit was seen in all nerves in experimental diabetic neuropathy at both 3 and 12 months. Gene expression of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, cuprozinc superoxide dismutase, and manganese superoxide dismutase were not reduced in experimental diabetic neuropathy at either 3 or 12 months. Catalase mRNA was significantly increased in experimental diabetic neuropathy at 12 months. Glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity was normal in sciatic nerve. We conclude that gene expression is not reduced in peripheral nerve tissues in very chronic experimental diabetic neuropathy. Changes in enzyme activity may be related to duration of diabetes or due to post-translational modifications.