cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallel system scheduling with general worker learning and forgetting

Abstract Learning and forgetting models available in the literature are generally not intended for math programming formulations, thus their incorporation within worker-task assignment problem models leads to non-linearity in the objective function, producing a Mixed Integer Nonlinear Program (MINLP) that is difficult to solve. Even though Dynamic Programming and other alternate approaches have been implemented to solve assignment problems in production systems with independent stations and independent jobs while maximizing output, such solutions are generally not optimal. In this paper, we develop results that reveal the form of the optimal solution, which allows us to solve the problem as a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP), rather than the more complex MINLP. We examine the effectiveness of this information to reduce the time complexity of the problem. As the presented methodology is independent of the productivity model, it has general application, irrespective of the specific learning/forgetting models employed. The approach is relevant in the context of a set of tasks with some task similarity, learning and forgetting among the workforce, and equal or unequal numbers of workers and tasks.
Plant Nucleases: III. Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis of Corn Ribonuclease Isoenzymes.

Isoenzymes of RNase were detected in plant extracts after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a new buffer system. The gels were incubated in an RNA solution, then dipped for 30 seconds into 0.2% toluidine blue. The method is rapid and is sensitive to very small amounts of RNase. The effects of buffers and ethylenediaminetetraacetate on the different enzymes are illustrated by photographs and scans of the gels.RNase I, from endosperms and roots, was the fastest-moving corn RNase. Two isoenzymes of corn RNase II, from microsomes, were detected in the hybrid WF9 x M14, while each parental inbred had one of the isoenzymes. Three isoenzymes of corn Nuclease I, from crude mitochondria, had about the same mobility as the RNase II isoenzymes, but were inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate. RNases were also detected in tobacco and wild carrot tissue cultures.
Pleomorphic carcinoma of the pancreas. An analysis of 15 cases

Pleomorphic carcinoma of the pancreas is a well defined histopathological entity characterized by non-cohesive, sarcoma-like growth pattern, and bizarre mono- and multinucleated tumor giant cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Fifteen cases are identified in autopsy files of the Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, which represent 7.1% of all the non-endocrine pancreatic malignancies found at autopsy. Pleomorphic carcinoma is comparable to pancreatic adenocarcinoma in clinical features such as age, sex, and presenting symptoms except that it is more likely to occur in the body and tail of the pancreas, metastases invariably develop, hematogenous spread is more common, and the median survival is worse. Pleomorphic carcinoma could be distinguished from the pancreatic tumors that resemble giant cell tumor of the bone. Differential diagnostic features between it and amelanotic melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, pleomorphic liposarcoma, pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, fibroxanthosarcoma, poorly differentiated epidermoid carcinoma, and giant cell carcinomas of the lung and thyroid are discussed.
Comparative studies with Tribolium (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)—I: Productivity of T. castaneum (Herbst) and T. confusum Duv. on several commercially-available diets

Abstract Productivity (measured as the number of adult progeny produced in a given interval by a number of females) and relative developmental rates (the number of adult progeny found at specific intervals) have been determined for T. castaneum and T. confusum on a variety of different media. The media tested were flours of corn (C), rice (R), soy (S), whole wheat (W), a mixture of corn, rice, soy and whole wheat flour (M), white wheat (WW) and brown rice (BR) with and without a supplement of brewer's yeast. In T. confusum the ranking of productivity on these seven media was found to be M>W>C>BR>R>WW>S in both unsupplemented and yeast-supplemented media, but the performance on all media was somewhat increased by the addition of yeast. The order of productivity on these media with T. castaneum was similar to that obtained for T. confusum, except that the response to yeast supplements was much more pronounced for all media except soy. In particular, white wheat, brown rice and rice, which must be considered “poor” media for T. castaneum in the absence of yeast, compared very favorably, in terms of productivity, with whole wheat and corn when these media were supplemented with yeast. These data are summarized in Table 6 and Fig. 1. These productivity results are supported by information obtained about the developmental rates of the two species on these media-in general, developmental rate was much slower on those media showing the lowest productivity. From considerations of the content of the flours used, the data suggest that soy is more toxic to T. castaneum than to T. confusum, and that T. castaneum requires more vitamins and/or minerals than does T. confusum. This conclusion is largely judged by the performance of the two species on white and brown rice, and their performance on yeastless and yeast-supplemented media. The data are given in Table 5 and shown in graph form in Fig. 2. It is suggested that T. castaneum may require greater amounts of leucine, alanine, and aspartic acid than T. confusum, and that T. confusum requires larger amounts of threonine, tyrosine and possibly methionine than T. castaneum.
A toy model of quantum electrodynamics in (1 + 1) dimensions

We present a toy model of quantum electrodynamics (QED) in (1 + 1) dimensions. The QED model is much simpler than QED in (3 + 1) dimensions but exhibits many of the same physical phenomena, and serves as a pedagogical introduction to both QED and quantum field theory in general. We show how the QED model can be derived by quantizing a toy model of classical electrodynamics, and we discuss the connections between the classical and quantum models. In addition, we use the QED model to discuss the radiation of atoms and the Lamb shift.
Positron emission tomography assessment of effects of benzodiazepines on regional glucose metabolic rate in patients with anxiety disorder

Patients with generalized anxiety disorder (n = 18) entered a 21-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled random assignment trial of clorazepate. Positron emission tomography with 18F-deoxyglucose was carried out before and after treatment. Decreases in glucose metabolic rate in visual cortex and relative increases in the basal ganglia and thalamus were found. A correlation between regional changes in metabolic rate and regional benzodiazepine receptor binding density from other human autopsy studies was observed; brain regions highest in receptor density showed the greatest decrease in rate.
Near optimal rational approximations of large data sets

Abstract We introduce a new computationally efficient algorithm for constructing near optimal rational approximations of large (one-dimensional) data sets. In contrast to wavelet-type approximations, these new approximations are effectively shift invariant. We note that the complexity of current algorithms for computing near optimal rational approximations prevents their use for large data sets. In order to obtain a near optimal rational approximation of a large data set, we first construct its B-spline representation. Then, by using a new rational approximation of B-splines, we arrive at a suboptimal rational approximation of the data set. We then use a recently developed fast and accurate reduction algorithm for obtaining a near optimal rational approximation from a suboptimal one. Our approach requires first splitting the data into large segments, which may later be merged together, if needed. We also describe a fast algorithm for evaluating these rational approximations. In particular, this allows us to interpolate the original data to any grid. One of the practical applications of our algorithm is the compression of audio signals. To demonstrate the potential competitiveness of our approach, we construct a near optimal rational approximation of a piano recording.
Stress Corrosion Cracking of Carbon Steel in Ethanol

Abstract This paper presents the results of a study on the effects of water, acetic acid (CH3COOH), oxygen, corrosion inhibitor, chloride, methanol (CH3OH), denaturant, and corrosion product on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of steel in ethanol (C2H5OH). The factor that was found to have the greatest effect on causing SCC was corrosion potential, as influenced by oxygen. The lower critical potential for SCC ranges from 25 mV vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE) to 300 mVSCE, depending on the presence of chloride and methanol as impurities. Galvanic contact with precorroded steel appeared to exacerbate SCC by increasing the corrosion potential. Within the fuel ethanol specification limits, chloride had a less significant effect than oxygen. SCC was intergranular when the chloride concentration in ethanol (both laboratory and field samples) was low (less than 1 ppm) and it was transgranular when the chloride concentration was high (32 mg/L). A denaturant, a corrosion inhibitor, and acidity, within the...
Phase II trial of full-dose gemcitabine and bevacizumab in combination with attenuated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in patients with localized pancreatic cancer.

Purpose To evaluate response rate, survival, and toxicity in patients with nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine, bevacizumab, and radiotherapy. Methods and Materials Patients received three cycles of therapy over 10 weeks. In total, treatment consisted of intravenous (IV) gemcitabine, 1,000 mg/m 2 , every 1 to 2 weeks (7 doses), IV bevacizumab, 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks (5 doses), and 36 Gy of radiotherapy (2.4-Gy fractions during cycle two). Response was assessed by cross-sectional imaging and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) levels. Patients with resectable tumors underwent surgery 6 to 8 weeks after the last dose of bevacizumab. Maintenance gemcitabine and bevacizumab doses were delivered to patients who had unresected tumors and no progression. Results Twenty-eight of the 32 enrolled patients completed all three cycles. The median follow-up was 11.07 months. Most grade 3 or 4 toxicities occurred in the initial treatment phase; the most frequent toxicities were leukopenia (21%), neutropenia (17%), and nausea (17%). At week 10, 1 patient (4%) had a complete response, 2 patients (7%) had partial responses, 21 patients (75%) had stable disease, and 4 patients (14%) had progressive disease. The median pretreatment and posttreatment CA 19-9 levels (25 patients) were 184.3 and 57.9 U/ml, respectively ( p = 0.0006). One of 10 patients proceeding to surgery experienced a major complication. Two of 6 patients undergoing resection had complete pathologic responses. The median progression-free and overall survival durations were 9.9 months and 11.8 months, respectively. Conclusions The combination of full-dose gemcitabine, bevacizumab, and radiotherapy was active and was not associated with a high rate of major surgical complications.
Calculation of transonic flow in a linear cascade

Turbomachinery blade designs are becoming more aggressive in order to achieve higher loading and greater range. New analysis tools are required to cope with these heavily loaded blades that may operate with a thin separated region near the trailing edge on the suction surface. An existing, viscous airfoil code was adapted to cascade conditions in an attempt to provide this capability. Comparisons with recently obtained data show that calculated and experimental surface Mach numbers were in good agreement but loss coefficients and outlet air angles were not.
PRESERVATION OF THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF PLANT CELLS USING GLUTARIC ACID DIALDEHYDE AS A FIXATIVE.

RECENTLY, Sabatini et al.1 reported the use of glutaric acid dialdehyde (glutaraldehyde) and other aldehydes as fixatives for electron microscopy. Excellent preservation of the submicroscopic structure of pancreas and muscle cells was obtained when the tissues were fixed in 6.5 per cent glutaraldehyde. It was stressed that the value of this fixative lies in its application to ultrastructural cytochemistry, since it permits stabilization of the structural components of the cell without inactivating many of the enzymes.
The Other Edge of Ockham’s Razor: The A-PR Hypothesis and the Origin of Mind

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution characterized all life as engaged in a “struggle for existence”. To struggle requires internal data processing to detect and interpret patterns to guide behavior, a mechanism to struggle for existence. The cognitive bootstrapping A-PR cycle (Autonomy | Pattern Recognition) couples the origin of life and mind, enabling their symbiotic co-evolution. Life processes energy to create order. Mind processes data to create meaning. Life and mind co-evolve toward increased functional effectiveness, using A-PR feedback cycles that reflect the two Laws deduced from Ockham’s Razor. The Law of Parsimony is only one of two laws that have emerged from debate about Ockham’s Razor. Less well known is the “other edge of Ockham’s Razor”, the Law of Succinctness which, when viewed through the lens of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, enables the A-PR Hypothesis to fulfill the criteria of Ockham’s Razor.
Effects of pituitary hormonal treatment on responsiveness of anterior preoptic neurons in male leopard frogs,Rana pipiens

Responses of units in the anterior part of the preoptic nucleus (APON) to con-specific or hetero-specific mating calls were studied in intact, saline-injected or pituitary-injected leopard frogs,Rana pipiens. 1. Electrical activity of many APON units was excited by auditory stimulation through play-back ofR. pipiens mating calls. There were three different response patterns: on-phasic, on-tonic, and gradual incremental increase of discharges after a relatively long latency. A small number of APON units was suppressed by the con-specific mating call. 2. Injections of pituitary homogenate significantly increased the percentage of APON units excited byR. pipiens mating calls. 3. Playback of hetero-specific mating calls ofR. catesbeiana orR. nigromaculata was frequently stimulatory or inhibitory for APON units which were responsive to con-specific mating calls. Mating calls ofR. japonica orHyla arborea had little or no influence on unitary activity in the APON. Electrical activity of units indifferent toR. pipiens mating calls also was not affected by hetero-specific mating calls. 4. The excitation of APON neurons by con-specific mating calls indicates that they may play an important role in evocation of chorusing mate calling behavior in maleR. pipiens.
A motility mutant ofSpiroplasma melliferum induced with nitrous acid

The honeybee pathogen,Spiroplasma melliferum, growing on 1.2% agar medium, forms fried egg (umbonate) colonies surrounded by large numbers of satellite colonies. In liquid media, these helical, cell wall-free prokaryotes flex, twist, and rotate rapidly. A motility mutant was isolated as an umbonate colony without satellites after nitrous acid mutagenesis and an enrichment procedure with chemotaxis. The development of an efficient motility mutant enrichment procedure, easily applied to spiroplasmas, which is described here, will not only greatly expedite the accumulation of motility mutants, but will also be extremely useful for isolating chemotactic mutants.
A single-center review of the death notification form: Discontinuing dialysis before death is not a surrogate for withdrawal from dialysis

Abstract Background: Form 2746, the death notification form, is the primary source of data on cause of death for patients with end-stage renal disease in the United States. Since the revised form was introduced in May 1990, withdrawal from dialysis is no longer a specific cause of death code. A separate section of form 2746 asks whether dialysis was discontinued before death. Based on US Renal Data System data from form 2746, more than 20% of dialysis patients discontinue dialysis before death. It is not known whether stopping dialysis is a proximate cause of death in these patients. Methods: Two hundred twelve death notification forms completed between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 2000, from a single dialysis center were reviewed for location of death, primary and secondary causes of death, and whether dialysis therapy was discontinued before death. Dialysis unit and hospital billing records of patients who discontinued dialysis before death were reviewed to obtain the dates of hospitalization and last dialysis treatment before death. Results: Fifty-six patients (26%) discontinued dialysis therapy before death. In only 8 of those patients' deaths (8 of 212 deaths; 4% of all patient deaths), nephrologists used form 2746 to attribute the death to uremia from stopping dialysis therapy. Time in days from the last dialysis treatment to death in these 8 patients was longer than in the remaining 48 patients who stopped dialysis therapy before death, but in whom cause of death was not coded as uremia (median, 12.5 versus 5 days, respectively; P = 0.01). Patients who stopped dialysis therapy before death were more likely to have malignancy and less likely to have cardiovascular disease coded as cause of death. Most patients died in the hospital; only 2 patients died in hospice. Conclusion: There is physician variability in interpretation of discontinuation of dialysis before death. Thirty percent of patients who discontinued dialysis therapy before death died 3 or fewer days from their last dialysis treatment, making uremia an unlikely cause of death, but suggesting that nephrologists wanted to note that a decision not to continue dialysis therapy had been made before the patient died. Discontinuing dialysis therapy as noted on the death notification form is not a surrogate for withdrawal from dialysis as a cause of death. Providing criteria for reporting discontinuing dialysis therapy would allow us to clarify the incidence of withdrawal from dialysis as a cause of death. © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
Decay of 78As

Abstract The decay of 91 min 78 As was studied using a Ge(Li) spectrometer and scintillation detectors. Fifty-four γ-rays were assigned to 78 As and several coincidence measurements were performed. A decay scheme incorporating 44 of the γ-rays is tentatively proposed. From singles β-spectra and βγ coincidence measurements, a γ-decay Q -value of 4.35±0.10 MeV was determined. Levels in 78 Se were established at energies (in keV) of: 613.7, 1308.5, 1499.2, 1502.0, 1693.4, 1721.7, 1854.0, 1997.1, 2327.6, 2508.0, 2681.2, 2798.0, 2839.2, 3144.8, 3227.1, 3232.5 and 3984.0. Spin and parity assignments were deduced for several levels.
Analytical formulas for interfacial transition zone properties

Abstract Two analytical results are presented that are of use to concrete material technologists. Using a model of concrete in which the aggregates are spherical, but with an arbitrary size distribution, a result from statistical geometry can be used to accurately give the total interfacial transition zone (ITZ) volume for any width ITZ and any volume fraction of aggregates. In reality, the ITZ contains a gradient of porosity and therefore a gradient of properties. When only a small volume fraction of aggregates is present (called the dilute limit), it is possible to analytically solve for the effect of the ITZ on the overall concrete properties. This calculation can be carried out for the effective linear elastic moduli, linear electrical conductivity/ionic diffusivity, and linear thermal/moisture shrinkage/expansion. The details of the calculation are summarized and applications described.
An Unusual Tumour of the Lesser Sac

A cystadenoma of the lesser sac, arising in aberrant pancreatic tissue in a young black female is described. The radiological and pathological features of pancreatic heteropia and cystadenomas are discussed.
Classification of forest growth stage using Landsat TM data

This study examined the utility of polytomous logistic regression in pixel classification of remotely sensed images by the growth stage of forests. For a population of grouped continuous categories, the assumption of normal distribution of independent variables, which is often required in multivariate classification methods, may not be appropriate. Two types of polytomous logistic regression procedures, multinomial and cumulative logistic regression, were used to classify Landsat TM data by growth stage (regeneration-immature, intermediate, and mature) of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forest in the east central Mississippi. Multinomial logistic regression is typically used for analysis of unordered categorical data. Cumulative logistic regression is one of the most commonly used methods of ordinal logistic regression which is generally preferred to analyze ordered categorical data, although, it imposes restrictions on the data. Three hundred sample points were located randomly throughout the study site and vectors of pixel values of four bands of Landsat TM data were used to predict growth stage at each sample location. The results were compared to that of parametric and nonparametric discriminant analysis, k-nearest neighbor method. Non-normal distribution of independent variables indicated a violation of the assumptions for parametric discriminant analysis. Classification with cumulative logistic regression using four bands was performed first. However, the assumption of the model was not met. So, the classification was also performed using only band 4 which appeared to meet the assumption. The error rate of cumulative logistic regression was 39.12% with all the bands and 37.70% with band 4 alone. Although error rate with cumulative logistic regression with band 4 alone resulted in the lowest error rate, the improvement over other methods was marginal. The error rate of k-nearest neighbor method varied from 38.68 to 48.06% depending on choice of the value of k.
Does pentagastrin suppress secretin induced pepsin secretion in Heidenhain pouch Dogs

Secretin-stimulated pepsin secretion from Heidenhain pouches was significantly depressed by concomitant pentagastrin. Pentagastrin by itself was without effect on pouch pepsin. Methacholine, on the other hand, did not antagonize secretin-stimulated pouch pepsin.
Transport equations in transfer coordinates

Abstract Transport equations are written either in a system of coordinates composed of independent solutions of the equation (transfer coordinates) or in a mixture of the usual and transfer coordinates. The mixtures formed of the time and two transfer coordinates and the coordinate x and two transfer coordinates led to convective-diffusion equations for which in the case u = u ( x,t ) and v = −(∂ u /∂ x ) y it is possible to obtain simple closed solutions. The system of coordinates formed of x and one transfer coordinate allows to solve the steady state convective-diffusion equation in cases in which u has a power-dependence on y . Various forms of the hydrodynamic equations of motion are also presented. Besides the problems for which a closed solution was obtained, the transfer system of coordinates may suggest in more complicated cases approximate methods.
Viking Lander Camera: Performance Characteristics And Data Reduction Techniques

A facsimile camera was selected over several other types of imaging systems that had been proposed for the Viking lander mission to Mars primarily because it could best meet stringent power and weight constraints. The reason is that the optical-mechanical scanning mechanism of this device provides both the image raster and the field of view. In addition, the Viking lander cameras feature electronic focus selection for high-resolution (0.04 instantaneous field of view) monospectral imaging, six survey channels between 0.4 to 1.0μm for lower resolution (0.12°) multispectral imaging, and a (0.12°) survey imaging mode for rapidly viewing the scene (for example, 60° x 180° in 5.5 minutes). Absolute radiometric accuracies of about 10 percent can be attained with the aid of an internal light source and external reference test charts. The cameras are the most versatile imaging systems ever developed for a planetary mission. However, their performance is not without peculiarities that require meticulous care in reducing spatial and spectral data.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Instrumental conditioning of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster.

Summary A demonstration of instrumental learning in Drosophila, long used in genetic studies, would permit genetic investigations of learning under conditions not previously possible. Subjects had been genetically selected for negative geotaxis (the tendency to move away from the pull of gravity). They were tested in a T-maze, where the reinforcer was their being allowed to ascend a vertical tube. Experiment I demonstrated acquisition and reversal training and that subjects could be trained to turn left or right. Experiment II showed differential effects on acquisition as a function of (a) whether an animal had been shocked for making the incorrect response, (b) whether he was required to correct an error, (c) whether a subject received neither correction nor shock. Experiment III demonstrated acquisition under each of four different conditions of magnitude and delay of reinforcement, although performance was not differentially affected by the four conditions. Reliability of response scoring method was estimated to be 0·925. On the basis of some eight independent demonstrations of reinforcement-correlated behavioural change over several experimental conditions, it was concluded that the fruit fly is able to acquire an instrumental habit.
Carotid plaque regression following 6-month statin therapy assessed by 3T cardiovascular magnetic resonance: comparison with ultrasound intima media thickness.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows volumetric carotid plaque measurement that has advantage over 2-dimensional ultrasound (US) intima-media thickness (IMT) in evaluating treatment response. We tested the hypothesis that 6-month statin treatment in patients with carotid plaque will lead to plaque regression when measured by 3 Tesla CMR but not by IMT. Methods: Twenty-six subjects (67 ± 2 years, 7 females) with known carotid plaque (> 1.1 mm) and coronary or cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease underwent 3T CMR (T1, T2, proton density and time of flight sequences) and US at baseline and following 6 months of statin therapy (6 had initiation, 7 had increase and 13 had maintenance of statin dosing). CMR plaque volume (PV) was measured in the region 12 mm below and up to 12 mm above carotid flow divider using software. Mean posterior IMT in the same region was measured. Baseline and 6-month CMR PV and US IMT were compared. Change in lipid rich/necrotic core (LR/NC) and calcification plaque components from CMR were related to change in PV. Results: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased (86 ± 6 to 74 ± 4 mg/dL, p = 0.046). CMR PV decreased 5.8 ± 2% (1036 ± 59 to 976 ± 65 mm 3 , p = 0.018). Mean IMT was unchanged (1.12 ± 0.06 vs. 1.14 ± 0.06 mm, p = NS). Patients with initiation or increase of statins had -8.8 ± 2.8% PV change (p = 0.001) while patients with maintenance of statin dosing had -2.7 ± 3% change in PV (p = NS). There was circumferential heterogeneity in CMR plaque thickness with greatest thickness in the posterior carotid artery, in the region opposite the flow divider. Similarly there was circumferential regional difference in change of plaque thickness with significant plaque regression in the anterior carotid region in region of the flow divider. Change in LR/NC (R = 0.62, p = 0.006) and calcification (R = 0.45, p = 0.03) correlated with PV change. Conclusions: Six month statin therapy in patients with carotid plaque led to reduced plaque volume by 3T CMR, but ultrasound posterior IMT did not show any change. The heterogeneous spatial distribution of plaque and regional differences in magnitude of plaque regression may explain the difference in findings and support volumetric measurement of plaque. 3T CMR has potential advantage over ultrasound IMT to assess treatment response in individuals and may allow reduced sample size, duration and cost of clinical trials of plaque regression.
High-Speed High-Current Copper Finger Brushes for Pulsed Homopolar Generator Service

ln continuing research into higher energy density, higher current rated pulsed homopolar generators (HPG's), solid copper fingers are explored as sliding electrical contacts to slip speeds of 300 m/s and collector area current densities above 75 MA/m2. Achieving increased compactness in HPG's is easily accomplished by spinning the inertial energy storage flywheel to higher tip speeds but generally involves brush operation at higher Slip speeds. Sintered copper-graphite brushes presently limit slip velocity to 220 m/s and collector area current densities to 7-15 MA/m2, if a reasonable brush wear rate is expected. Development of copper finger brushes began in 1981 by Marshall who performed low speed (15 mm/s) testing at current densities above 450 MA/m2. Based off encouraging results obtained by Marshall, the present investigation focused on characterization of copper finger brushes in an actual HPG operating environment. Experimental data were collected using the Compact HPG System Tester, a working 5-MJ HPG which can deliver current pulses in excess of 1 MA into resistive loads for the evaluation of brush performance. The copper finger brushes tested successfully transferred 1.15 MA at a slip speed of 100 m/s and currents of 600 kA at 180 m/s. Experimental evaluation of effective contact resistance as functions of slip speed, Current transferred, and brush normal force was performed, and the results are discussed. Interfacial heat fluxes due to friction and contact voltage drop for the test conditions were also determined, and then extrapolated to operating levels of 300 m/s and 3 MA. These projections were used to determine the feasibility of rejecting the heat flux through direct injection (transpiration) cooling methods. Although problems with coolant delivery and hydrodynamic forces do exist, the approach holds promise in the continuing effort to extend pulsed HPG brush operating limits.
The Role of Feeling Known for Team Member Outcomes in Project Teams

This research introduces the concept of feeling known—or the belief that others have developed accurate opinions of one’s traits and characteristics—to the team literature. Various theoretical stre...
SiteComp: a server for ligand binding site analysis in protein structures

Motivation: Computational characterization of ligand-binding sites in proteins provides preliminary information for functional annotation, protein design and ligand optimization. SiteComp implements binding site analysis for comparison of binding sites, evaluation of residue contribution to binding sites and identification of sub-sites with distinct molecular interaction properties. Availability and implementation: The SiteComp server and tutorials are freely available at http://sitecomp.sanchezlab.org Contact: roberto@sanchezlab.org; roberto.sanchez@mssm.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Meta-electromagnetics and meta-optics

Metamaterials and plasmonic optics have become exciting platforms for controlling and harnessing light and electrons in unprecedented ways. As these fields reach a certain level of development, new directions and novel possibilities are appearing in the horizon. Balancing the simplicity with the complexity in metamaterials becomes one of the key issues, and consequently modularization, functionalization, and parameterization of metamaterials may be exploited for new functionalities and possibilities in such interesting platforms that may include nonlinearity, anisotropy, chirality, non-reciprocity, and non-locality. The new paradigm of "metaelectromagnetism" offers new and transformative grounds for innovation in the field of electromagnetics and optics. In this talk I will give an overview of some of our most recent results in this area and will forecast some future possibilities.
External beam radiotherapy for painful osseous metastases: pooled data dose response analysis.

Abstract Purpose: Although the effectiveness of external beam irradiation in palliation of pain from osseous metastases is well established, the optimal fractionation schedule has not been determined. Clinical studies to date have failed to demonstrate an advantage for higher doses. To further address this issue, we conducted a pooled dose response analysis using data from published Phase III clinical trials. Methods and Materials: Complete response (CR) was used as an endpoint because it was felt to be least susceptible to inconsistencies in assessment.The biological effective dose (BED) was calculated for each schedule using the linear-quadratic model and an α/β of 10. Using SAS version 6.12, the data were fitted using a weighted linear regression, a logistic model, and the spline technique. Finally, BED was categorized, and odds ratios for each level were calculated. Results: CR was assessed early and late in 383 and 1,007 patients, respectively. Linear regression on the early-response data yielded a poor fit and a nonsignificant dose coefficient. With the late-response data, there was an excellent fit (R-square = 0.842) and a highly significant dose coefficient ( p = 0.0002). Fitting early CR to a logistic model, we could not establish a significant dose response relationship. However, with the late-response data there was an excellent fit and the dose coefficient was significantly different from zero (0.017 ± 0.00524; p = 0.0012). Application of the spline technique or removal of an outlier resulted in an improved fit ( p = 0.048 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Using BED of Conclusion: Our results demonstrate a clear dose-response for pain relief. Further testing of high intensity regiments is warranted.
AFTERWORDS: AN INTRODUCTION TO ARTHUR DANTO'S PHILOSOPHIES OF HISTORY AND ART*

This essay is written as an introductory essay to celebrate the third edition of Arthur Danto's Analytical Philosophy of History, first printed in 1965. It raises questions about what it means to write an introduction and whether it is possible to write an introduction-given Danto's own philosophical theses on history, the essay pays special attention to the connections between Danto's philosophy of history, philosophy of art, and the other areas of his philosophy that he regards to be all of a piece. It considers the nature of analytical philosophy and its heyday in America in the postwar period, when, to some degree, it was used as an antidote to an ideology of history that had perverted some of the most influential claims in a philosophy of history developed in Germany (mostly by Hegel) around 1800.
Lung Inflammation Clocks In and Out

Circadian rhythms can serve as a clock that helps govern important physiological functions, including how we control inflammation and fight infections. Disruptions of day-night circadian patterns such as shift work or jet lag can alter this clock into something more reminiscent of Salvador Dali, increasing susceptibility to infections. Many inflammatory lung disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma show time-of-day variation in symptomology and disease severity. Gibbs and colleagues found that the epithelial club (Clara) cells lining the pulmonary airways have their own clock that controls neutrophilic lung inflammation. The authors found that the circadian clock regulates the inflammatory responses to inhaled endotoxin in the lung in a manner that is different from systemic endotoxin challenges. With a focus on the local pulmonary inflammatory response, they generated animals with the clock gene Bma1 conditionally deleted in the pulmonary epithelium and found that the lung tissue’s baseline circadian rhythm was disrupted. Furthermore, the loss of the pulmonary epithelium clock resulted in more severe neutrophilic lung inflammation in response to endotoxin and Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterial infection. CXCL5 is a chemokine that attracts neutrophils to migrate into the lung. The authors found that the circadian regulation of neutrophilic inflammation was impaired in the absence of CXCL5. Endogeneous glucocorticoids, which are regulated by the adrenal gland–derived circadian clock signals, subsequently rhythmically suppressed CXCL5 and the associated inflammation. The effects of glucocorticoid on its receptor were substantially disrupted without the local clock gene Bma1 . Adrenolectomy eliminated the glucocorticoid signals, disrupting the circadian variation of CXCL5 and neutrophilic infiltration. They concluded that the actions of glucocorticoids are under the control of the local pulmonary clock. These findings have important implications in infections and in diseases that rely on the use of glucocorticoids. This could potentially explain the ineffectiveness of glucocorticoids in neutrophil-associated chronic lung diseases such as COPD and steroid-resistant asthma. The pulmonary responses to environmental insults need to be carefully balanced by controlling persistent inflammation so as to avoid excessive local tissue damages. One might be able to target the locally operating circadian rhythm in the lung in order to control the timing of inflammation and innate immunity. J. Gibbs et al ., An epithelial circadian clock controls pulmonary inflammation and glucocorticoid action. Nat. Med. 20 , 919–926 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v20/n8/full/nm.3599.html
Optimal resource allocation for MIMO ad hoc cognitive radio networks

Maximization of the weighted sum-rate of secondary users (SUs) possibly equipped with multiantenna transmitters and receivers is considered in the context of cognitive radio (CR) networks with coexisting primary users (PUs). The total interference power received at the primary receiver is constrained to maintain reliable communication for the PU. An interference channel configuration is considered for ad hoc networking, where the receivers treat the interference from undesired transmitters as noise. Without the CR constraint, a convergent distributed algorithm is developed to obtain (at least) a locally optimal solution. With the CR constraint, a semidistributed algorithm is introduced. An alternative centralized algorithm based on geometric programming and network duality is also developed. Numerical results show the efficacy of the proposed algorithms. The novel approach is flexible to accommodate modifications aiming at interference alignment. However, the stand-alone weighted sum-rate optimal schemes proposed here have merits over interference-alignment alternatives especially for practical SNR values.
Latitudinal and photic effects on diel foraging and predation risk in freshwater pelagic ecosystems

Clark & Levy (American Naturalist, 131, 1988, 271-290) described an antipredation window for smaller planktivorous fish during crepuscular periods when light permits feeding on zooplankton, but limits visual detection by piscivores. Yet, how the window is influenced by the interaction between light regime, turbidity and cloud cover over a broad latitudinal gradient remains unexplored. We evaluated how latitudinal and seasonal shifts in diel light regimes alter the foraging-risk environment for visually feeding planktivores and piscivores across a natural range of turbidities and cloud covers. Pairing a model of aquatic visual feeding with a model of sun and moon illuminance, we estimated foraging rates of an idealized planktivore and piscivore over depth and time across factorial combinations of latitude (0-70°), turbidity (0.1-5 NTU) and cloud cover (clear to overcast skies) during the summer solstice and autumnal equinox. We evaluated the foraging-risk environment based on changes in the magnitude, duration and peak timing of the antipredation window. The model scenarios generated up to 10-fold shifts in magnitude, 24-fold shifts in duration and 5.5-h shifts in timing of the peak antipredation window. The size of the window increased with latitude. This pattern was strongest during the solstice. In clear water at low turbidity (0.1-0.5 NTU), peaks in the magnitude and duration of the window formed at 57-60° latitude, before falling to near zero as surface waters became saturated with light under a midnight sun and clear skies at latitudes near 70°. Overcast dampened the midnight sun enough to allow larger windows to form in clear water at high latitudes. Conversely, at turbidities ≥ 2 NTU, greater reductions in the visual range of piscivores than planktivores created a window for long periods at high latitudes. Latitudinal dependencies were essentially lost during the equinox, indicating a progressive compression of the window from early summer into autumn. Model results show that diel-seasonal foraging and predation risk in freshwater pelagic ecosystems changes considerably with latitude, turbidity and cloud cover. These changes alter the structure of pelagic predator-prey interactions, and in turn, the broader role of pelagic consumers in habitat coupling in lakes.
Exchange Rate Policy and Liability Dollarization: What do the Data Reveal about Causality?

The paper identifies the contemporaneous relationship between exchange rate policy and liability dollarization using three different definitions of dollarization. The presence of endogeneity makes the empirical identification elusive. We use identification through heteroskedasticity to solve the endogeneity problem in the present context (Rigobon, 2003). While we find that countries with high liability dollarization (external, public, or financial) tend to be more actively involved in exchange rate stabilization operations, we do not find evidence that floating, by itself, promotes de-dollarization.
Designing a Nitrate Monitoring Program in a Heterogeneous, Carbonate Aquifer

Multilevel, double-packer slug tests were performed in open core holes to characterize heterogeneity within a flat-lying, fractured carbonate aquifer. Hydraulic conductivity was measured to vary by approximately three orders of magnitude in the vertical direction and by as much as two orders of magnitude in the horizontal direction. In general, hydraulic conductivity decreased with distance from the bedrock free-surface, as the degree of fracturing decreased. The results of the multilevel slug tests provided the basis for hydraulic conductivity zonation within a two-dimensional finite-element model, which simulated nitrate transport in cross section. In simulation of steady-state flow, several shallow, local ground-water flow systems occurred with exit points that are consistent with springs observable in the field. Yearly rotating crops of corn and soybeans were simulated with nitrate source concentrations based on pore water measurements in the lower soil zones of the field site. The majority of simulated nitrate movement occurred within shallow, localized ground-water flow systems, where much of the nitrate exited the system relatively soon after entering, without appreciable accumulation of nitrate through the years. Based on these results, a monitoring program with a relatively high spatial and temporal resolution in the shallow, localized ground-water flow systems was required in order to characterize nitrate concentrations in the ground water. Regional water quality surveys that involve a random sampling of existing, widely spaced wells would likely miss detecting the locations and times of high nitrate concentrations in ground water.
Single chip decoder design for large numeric displays

The author describes an integrated decoder design for displaying large English numeric digits using four clusters of standard seven-segment displays. The viewing area for each digit in the proposed design is four times the size of a standard display. It is also shown that the net power consumed by displaying any numeric digit using the proposed four-cluster display layout is less than that consumed by a single seven-segment display. >
Quantitative projections of reliability and performance for low-k/Cu interconnect systems

This paper presents a methodology for quantitative analysis of the role of electromigration (EM) reliability and interconnect performance in determining the optimal interconnect design in low-k/Cu interconnect systems. It is demonstrated that EM design limits for signal lines are satisfied once interconnect performance is optimized.
An Autonomous and AdaptableWireless Device for Flood Monitoring

Wireless devices can be used to monitor and record a broad range of phenomena. Their advantages include ease of installation and maintenance and considerable reduction in wiring costs. The addition of battery power and radio communication to such wireless devices can result in a completely autonomous system. The operating environment of monitoring systems is often hostile, due to temperature fluctuations, humidity, electromagnetic noise, and other interfering phenomena. The system should be able to adapt to changing conditions to maintain dependability in its operations. This paper presents the case study of adapting a flood detection device to the environmental threat of submersion
Relationships between leaf chemistry and reflectance for plant species from Jasper Ridge Biological Reserve, California

The authors' study examined the statistical relationships among a number of foliar biochemicals including carbon, cellulose, lignin, nitrogen, and water on a leaf area (content) and dry weight basis (concentration). Foliar reflectance measurements of 484 samples taken from 17 naturally occurring species from Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve were made over five dates during 1992-1993. Chemical determinations of total carbon, nitrogen, lignin, cellulose, and water were made on a subset of the data (26-38 samples depending on chemical). The contents and concentrations of some of these biochemicals were highly correlated with one another, but the degree of correlation varied with the weight or area basis used. Stepwise multiple linear regression between 800 and 2498 nm with a maximum of six regressors explained at least 89% of the variance when the second derivative of log(1/R) was used as the independent variable, where R is reflectance at a given wavelength. However, the bands selected by the regressions did not correspond to known absorption features and were completely different if the chemical data were expressed on a dry weight or an area basis. In general, more of the variance was explained using an area basis than a weight basis. Principal components analysis separated individual species from one another. Stepwise multiple linear regression using the first five principal component scores explained lower proportions of the variance than did regression using log(1/R) and its derivatives. However, this approach may be preferred because it retains information from all spectral bands. >
Family Support in Home-Based Family Businesses

The home-based family business draws in family members on both formal and informal levels. This article focuses on the role that families play, particularly when home-based work is chosen as a means to reconcile work and family demands. The article outlines the mechanics by which families become involved, noting the importance of spouses and children in providing both ideological and practical support for the business.