cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental characterization of a thermoelectrical model of photovoltaic modules

A better understanding of the factors that affect the performance of the photovoltaic (PV) modules will improve the design, optimization, and development of them. While it is true that the main input power to the PV module is the incident solar irradiance, various optical properties of module materials vary with wavelength. A model capable of predicting this wavelength-specific behavior will allow various filtering approaches to be assessed quantitatively. In previous work, a thermoelectrical model is proposed to study the effects of the individual wavelengths on PV module performance. In this work, a method of characterizing the model is proposed; experiments are conducted on a lab-built monocrystalline silicon PV module. The results of the characterized model are shown to agree with experimental measurements.
The relationship between gas phase and liquid phase electron photodetachment cross sections in the threshold region: Application to anthracene and perfluorobenzene anions

Abstract Previously we have presented a theory linking negative ion photodetachment cross-section data in the gas phase with that in the liquid. We combine this theory with applicable liquid phase data to estimate the gas phase threshold cross sections for electron photodetachment from perfluorobenzene and anthracene anions.
Dendritic cells under the spell of prostaglandins

Abstract In addition to their potential to modulate the maturation, interleukin-12 producing capacity and Th-cell-polarizing ability of dendritic cells, there is new direct evidence that prostaglandins (PGs) regulate chemokine receptor expression, cell migration and apoptosis of these important professional antigen-presenting cells. We discuss these new insights in relation to how PGs might influence innate and adaptive immune responses.
On Semisubmedian Functions and Weak Plurisubharmonicity

En esta nota son estudiadas intrinsicamente las funciones subarmonicas y plurisubarmonicas sobre un espacio complejo. Para aplicaciones, subarmonicidad es caracterizada mas eficientemente en terminos de propiedades que necesitan ser verificadas solamente localmente en un subconjunto analitico delgado; estas aplicaciones incluyen la desigualdad del valor-submedio, la monotonicidad esferica (respectivamente, solida), bien como subarmonicidad debil. Varios resultados de Gunning [9, K and L] son extendibles via regularidad a espacios complejos. En particular, plurisubarmonicidad (sobre un espacio normal) importa esencialmente para plurisubarmonicidad debil regularizada y similarmente para subarmoniciada (sobre un espacio general). Son dados un lema de Hartogs generalizado y un criterio de constancia para ciertas aplicaciones matriz-valuada.
Novel multi-scale retinex with color restoration on graphics processing unit

The multi-scale retinex with color restoration (MSRCR) was developed as a general-purpose image enhancement algorithm that provides simultaneous dynamic range compression, local lightness/contrast enhancement, and good color rendition, and has been successfully used for a wide variety of imagery from diverse fields. While the MSRCR performs good enhancement in most images, the output image can sometimes be further visually optimized during our experiments. An improved MSRCR+Autolevels (AL) algorithm is presented, which can eliminate the impact of a small number of outliers in the histogram of the image and further improve the contrast of an image. New extension significantly improves the visual performance of the MSRCR algorithm. However, the MSRCR+AL containing a large number of complex calculations is computationally expensive, limiting real-time applications. In this paper, a parallel application of the MSRCR+AL algorithm on a graphics processing unit (GPU) is presented. For the various configurations in our test, the GPU-accelerated MSRCR+AL shows a scalable speedup as the resolution of an image increases. The up to 45× speedup (1,024 × 1,024) over the single-threaded CPU counterpart shows a promising direction of using the GPU-based MSRCR+AL in large-scale, time-critical applications. We also achieved 17 frames per second in video processing (1,280 × 720).
Biogeochemistry: Taking stock of forest carbon

Forests take up and store large quantities of carbon. An analysis of inventory data from across the globe suggests that temperate and boreal forests accounted for the majority of the terrestrial carbon sink over the past two decades.
A Disciplined Approach to Spiritual Care Giving for Adults Living with Cystic Fibrosis

SUMMARY Adults living with cystic fibrosis are less likely than other pulmonary patients to describe themselves as religious, to attend worship services regularly, to use god language, to describe their spiritual life, and in general, to give any obvious, outward indications of their spiritual strength, concerns, and depth. And yet, they have consistently demonstrated in chaplain-patient encounters an awareness of the function and importance of their spirituality in relation to life choices, coping with illness, facing mortality, and expressing life meaning, beliefs, and values. A disciplined approach by chaplains is a key component to engaging these patients so that each person's unique spiritual story unfolds. Results from The Discipline demonstrate how adults with cystic fibrosis are different in their expression and approach to spirituality from other pulmonary patients.
Cavity clock experiments on space station

Abstract With the start of the Space Station era a new group of fundamental physics experiments is being developed to take advantage of the unique conditions available. Recently a microwave cavity clock experiment was selected to perform experiments in relativity. The project has four main goals: an improved test of Local Position Invariance, improved Kennedy–Thorndyke and Michelson–Morley type experiments, and an enhancement of the performance of atomic clocks being developed elsewhere for use in space. We describe the background and status of the project, which involves the development of superconducting microwave oscillators with high frequency stability. On the International Space Station unwanted cavity frequency variations are expected to be caused mainly by acceleration effects due to residual drag and vibration, temperature variations, and fluctuations in the energy stored in the cavity. At present, acceleration effects appear to be the predominant limit, and a new cavity support system has been fabricated to reduce the effect, and three assemblies are in test. Fractional frequency stabilities in the low 10−16 range are expected on time scales of minutes.
Adolescent Boys' and Girls' Block Constructions Differ in Structural Balance: A Block-Building Characteristic Related to Math Achievement.

Abstract Two studies were conducted on block building in adolescents, assessing middle school (Study 1) and high school students (Study 2). Students were asked to build something interesting with blocks. In both samples, the same pattern of gender differences were found; boys built taller structures than girls, and balanced a larger number of blocks on a small base of upright blocks (a new measure developed for this study). Gender differences in the height of structures were fully mediated by this measure of structural balance. These findings suggest that balance elements are key to understanding gender differences in block building. In Study 2, high-school students were given a second task, requiring them to apply structural balance principles (only four upright blocks were provided on which to build), and instructing them to build a tall, complex, well-balanced structure. Gender differences again were found, suggesting that gender differences in block building may be skill-based as well as stylistic. A separate question was whether block-building characteristics at this age have any relevance to math achievement. In both studies, the measure of structural balance was the only block-building characteristic that predicted math achievement. Additional research is needed to understand the cognitive underpinnings of this new spatial measure, how malleable it is, and its further practical significance for adolescent learners.
Daily college student drinking patterns across the first year of college.

Objective:Despite the long recognized importance and well-documented impact of drinking patterns on health and safety, college student drinking patterns are understudied. This study used a daily-level, academic-year-long, multisite sample to identify subpopulations of college student drinking patterns and to describe how these groups differ from one another before, during, and after their first year of college.Method:Two cohorts of first-year college students (n = 588; 59% female) reported daily drinking on a biweekly basis using web-based surveys and completed surveys before and after their first year of college.Results:Cluster analyses based on time series analysis estimates of within-person drinking differences (per weekday, semester, first 6 weeks) and other descriptors of day-to-day drinking identified five drinking patterns: two low (47% and 6%), two medium (24% and 15%), and one high (8%) drinking cluster. Multinomial logistic regression analyses examined cluster differences in pre-college characte...
Effects of opioid tolerance and withdrawal on the immune system.

Review of the robust literature using acute drug injection paradigms points clearly to the conclusion that morphine is immunosuppressive. In contrast, studies of the effect of subacute or chronic administration of morphine on immune function is limited, with variable results. In some cases tolerance to the immunosuppressive effects of the drug is clearly demonstrated, but in other cases, selected immune parameters do not demonstrate tolerance. Discrepancies in findings may result from differences in species or route and manner of drug administration. Even fewer studies (total of 10) have been published on the effects of withdrawal on immune function. Most immune parameters tested are suppressed following drug withdrawal. Recovery time to baseline response levels varies in the studies. In the single report of withdrawal in humans, immune function was suppressed for up to 3 years. It is clearly established that withdrawal suppresses capacity of murine spleen cells to make an ex vivo antibody response, which contrasts with evidence of polarization of the lymphocytes towards a Th2 phenotype. Several laboratories have shown that subacute and chronic exposure to morphine, as well as drug withdrawal, sensitize to the lethal effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Underlying sepsis, combined with morphine-induced hypofunction of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis, may be occult variables modulating immune responses during opioid administration and withdrawal. As episodes of withdrawal are common among drug abusers, more intensive investigation is warranted on the effects of withdrawal on immune function, on mechanisms of immune modulation, and on sensitization to infection.
An Analysis of the Development and Evolution of Roles in the Small Group

This article presents a critique of current conceptualizations of roles and their development and evolution in the small group. An alternative model is presented, one that is grounded in a structuration perspective and conceives of "role" as social practice. Roles are seen as being produced and reproduced in interaction. Such a conceptualization is helpful in ascertaining the dynamic nature of roles in the small group. Implications for small group research are presented.
Techniques and problems in the stereotaxic placement of subcortical lesions in infant rats

Abstract Techniques used in the stereotaxic placement of subcortical lesions in infant rat pups of the Long-Evans strain are outlined. Co-ordinates and lesion parameters for septal, hippocampal, caudate, and amygdaloid lesions at seven days of age are presented. Housing and handling procedures which increase survival rates are discussed.
Isolation and Characterization of a Pituitary Tumor-Transforming Gene (PTTG)

Pathogenesis of tumor formation in the anterior pituitary has been intensively studied, but the common mechanism involved in pituitary cell transformation and tumorigenesis remains elusive. In this study, we used mRNA differential display PCR to identify mRNAs that are differentially expressed in rat pituitary tumor cells compared with normal pituitary tissue. An mRNA exclusively expressed in pituitary tumor but not in normal pituitary was characterized. Using this pituitary tumor-specific PCR product as a probe to screen a cDNA library constructed from rat pituitary tumor GH4 cells, a cDNA of 974 bp was isolated. This cDNA encodes a novel protein of 199 amino acids, which contains no well characterized functional motifs. The mRNA of this cDNA is detected in normal adult testis and in embryonic liver, where the transcript is about 300 bp shorter and expressed at a much lower level than that detected from pituitary tumor cells. Overexpression of this protein in mouse 3T3 fibroblasts shows that it inhibits ...
Thoracic outlet syndrome in aquatic athletes.

Shoulder pain is the most common musculoskeletal complaint among competitive swimmers. 27 , 28 , 29 , 37 Numerous reports have documented not only the basic impingement syndrome as the most common cause of shoulder pain in swimmers, but also have documented the underlying instability of the glenohumeral joint which predisposes to inflammation of the subacromial bursa and tears of the glenoid labrum. 27 , 28 , 29 , 46 Impingement syndrome also is well known among waterpolo players (swimming and throwing), divers (overhead position of the shoulder), open water (or marathon) swimming, and, to a lesser extent, synchronized swimming. Although often overlooked, the differential diagnosis of shoulder pain in aquatic athletes should include thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Several cases serve to illustrate.
Comparative study on the effect of thermal annealing on polymer/small molecule blend and copolymer light-emitting devices

The intrinsic deterioration in device performance of polymeric single layer OLEDs that were doped with a fluorescent emitter was studied. The specific focus was on the role that thermal aging, at sub-glass transition temperatures of the polymeric layer, has on the phase separation of the active layer. This was accomplished by the rational design of an oxadiazole-containing methylacrylate monomer that was energetically similar to the technologically important electron- transporting small molecule 2-biphenyl-4-yl-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (tBu-PBD). This monomer was copolymerized with a carbazole containing hole-transporting monomer 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl 2-methylacrylate (CE) and the resulting copolymer was utilized as the active layer with coumarin 6. With coumarin 6, the devices exhibited a stable mean luminance of ca. 400 cd/m 2 with thermal aging at temperatures ranging from 23 °C to 130 °C, while a comparable poly(9-vinyl-9H-carbazole)/tBu-PBD blend device exhibited a drop from an initial mean luminance of 2500 cd/m 2 to 1.6 cd/m 2 . The reduction in luminance and luminance efficiency for the blend system was attributed to phase separation in the blend.
RFI characterization for SMAP using L-band direct sampled data obtained during the SMAPVEX12 airborne campaign

NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission (scheduled for launch in 2014) will have an L-band radiometer to measure brightness temperature values for retrieving soil moisture information. Previous studies have shown that, although the 1400-1427 MHz frequency band is allocated for geophysical remote sensing applications, significant RFI corruption nevertheless occurs. The SMAP radiometer will utilize a digital backend to improve the detection and mitigation of RFI. The digital backend will use a 3.2 kHz sampling frequency to allow sub-milisecond pulse detection and mitigation techniques. In addition, the digital backend will also provide 16 frequency channels (1.5 MHz bandwidth each) so that spectral RFI detection methods can be applied. Finally, the SMAP digital backend will compute the first four moments of observed fields, making computation of the Kurtosis statistic possible as well.
A Matter of Style: Using the Teaching/Learning Cycle to Design Holistic Instruction

Education based on the Jesuit value of cura personalis, “care for the whole person,” requires approaches quite different from the “sit and get” formulas from academia‟s past (and sometimes the present). If learners are to master course content and develop ways to use course content to “do their lives better” and thus be in a better position to serve themselves, their families, and their communities better, learners must be actively engaged in the learning process. Learning styles theory and practice offer insights on how facilitators can structure learning sessions so that students participate in learning new things in active ways. This time-tested approach to designing instruction that helps learners better experience another Jesuit value, the magis—the “more” of learning, involves moving through a teaching/learning cycle that, at one time or another, meets the predominant learning styles in the class or course and actively engages students in the learning process. This approach also helps facilitators meet the challenge of designing course sessions that are lively and interactive and helps learners experience greater “unity of heart and mind”, another Jesuit value.
A New Systematic Framework for Autonomous Cross-Layer Optimization

Cross-layer optimization solutions have been proposed in recent years to improve the performance of wireless users that operate in a time-varying, error-prone network environment. However, these solutions often rely on centralized cross-layer optimization solutions that violate the layered network architecture of the protocol stack by requiring layers to provide access to their internal protocol parameters to other layers. This paper presents a new systematic framework for cross-layer optimization, which allows each layer to make autonomous decisions to maximize the wireless user's utility by optimally determining what information should be exchanged among layers. Hence, this cross-layer framework preserves the current layered network architecture. Since the user interacts with the wireless environment at various layers of the protocol stack, the cross-layer optimization problem is solved in a layered fashion such that each layer adapts its own protocol parameters and exchanges information (messages) with other layers that cooperatively maximize the performance of the wireless user. Based on the proposed layered framework, we also design a message-exchange mechanism that determines the optimal cross-layer transmission strategies, given the user's experienced environment dynamics.
Cathepsin Proteases in Toxoplasma gondii

Cysteine proteases are important for the growth and survival of apicomplexan parasites that infect humans. The apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii expresses five members of the C1 family of cysteine proteases, including one cathepsin L-like (TgCPL), one cathepsin B-like (TgCPB) and three cathepsin C-like (TgCPC1, 2 and 3) proteases. Recent genetic, biochemical and structural studies reveal that cathepsins function in microneme and rhoptry protein maturation, host cell invasion, replication and nutrient acquisition. here, we review the key features and roles of T. gondii cathepsins and discuss the therapeutic potential for specific inhibitor development.
Effects of dietary cholesterol on serum cholesterol: a meta-analysis and review.

Attempts to estimate the effects of dietary cholesterol on serum cholesterol by meta-analysis have not pre- viously included baseline together with added dietary cholesterol in a mathematical model. Mean reported changes in serum cho- lesterol from 27 studies in which controlled diets were supplied by a metabolic kitchen provided 76 data points, each weighted by the number of subjects in nonlinear regression. A good fit to the data (P < 0.0005, and r = 0.617 between observed and pre- dicted points) was given by the equation y = 1.22(e_O��384x0) (1 - e#{176}#{176}#{176}'361 where v is the change in serum cholesterol (in mmol/ L), x is added dietary cholesterol, and x0 is baseline dietary cho- lesterol (both in mg/d). Possible reasons for the hyperbolic shape of the relationship between change in serum cholesterol and added dietary cholesterol, mechanisms for individual respon- siveness to dietary cholesterol, and important implications re- garding interpretation of prior studies and public health issues are discussed. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;55: 1060-70.
Charged polypeptide diffusion at a very high ionic strength

Two charged polypeptides of opposite charge, poly(glutamic acid) (negative charge) and polylysine (positive charge), were end-labeled with Alexa fluorescent dyes, and their translational diffusion coefficient (D) values in dilute solutions (� 10 � 4 mg mL � 1 ) were studied at the biological pH with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy as a function of the ionic strength (Cs) mediated by the addition of NaCl. At a moderate ionic strength, D increased consistently with expected chain contraction because of electro- static screening. At a very high ionic strength, D of poly(glutamic acid) increased more rapidly, following the empirical power law RHCs � 1/2 over a limited range of Cs, where the changes in D were interpreted as changes in the hydrodynamic radius, RH. However, D of polylysine at first decreased but eventually passed through a maximum followed by a decrease. These large increases implied that RH decreased considerably, in turn imply- ing a strong contraction of the chain conformations even though the polymer remained soluble and showed no evidence of aggregation. For polylysine, the unexpected minimum RH value may be related to the salting-in phenomenon. V C 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym
Diagnostic Decisions by Machine

A data-processing machine, programmed to simulate what is postulated to be the operation of a physician's mind when he makes a diagnostic decision, interprets patients' medical histories with such discrimination that it identifies the patient's disease as often as does a physician who interprets the same data. Although the diagnostic decisions made by the machine could not be distinguished from those made by the physician, it cannot be said that the machine is an analog of the human mind, which remains a black box of unknown operation.
A theoretical study of the low-lying electronic states of OIO and the ground states of IOO and OIO−

Several low-lying electronic states of OIO were investigated at the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) level of theory. The state, which is the origin of the absorption bands observed experimentally, is calculated to be bound with respect to dissociation to IO + O. A low barrier for dissociation to I + O2 is calculated for the state, which should lead to efficient I atom production. This indirect process would involve an initial spin–orbit interaction between the state and the nearby B2A1, followed by a strong vibronic interaction with the A2B2 state via an avoided crossing. Accurate near-equilibrium potential energy functions have also been determined for OIO, IOO, and OIO− using sequences of correlation consistent basis sets extrapolated to the complete basis set limit using MRCI or coupled cluster methods. These were then used to calculate rotational and vibrational spectroscopic constants. Accurate bond dissociation energies and enthalpies of formation have also been calculated. The use o...
Customized valve housing

Numerous remarkable advancements have been made in the area of voice prosthetics. A significant, persistent problem, however, has been the development of air leaks around the tracheostome housing. This problem is particularly apparent with patients having deeply recessed, irregular stomas. This paper describes a customized tracheostome valve housing that is fabricated to minimize or alleviate difficulties associated with maintenance of an airtight seal. Our experience with 12 patients revealed that they maintain adequate seals for 72 hours and enjoy the functional benefits provided by the customized housing.
Anaerobic digestion of poultry manure

The process is described and the parameters to be optimised are noted. A design similar to a municipal heated, mixed, fixed cover digester is presented. It is calculated that at a loading rate of 3.2 g VS/l/day and a 23 day detention time that the digester capacity required per hen is 10.5 liters. A 20,000 hen flock would require a digester with 210 m/sup 3/ capacity, costing from $11,000 to $25,000. The income from using the gas produced at 150 m/sup 3//day would be between $900 and $1200 per year.
Contribution of ectomycorrhiza to the potential nutrient-absorbing surface of pine

summary The increase in potential nutrient-absorbing surface area of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings as a result of ectomycorrhizal development was quantified. In one experimental. In one experiment, loblolly pine seedlings were inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius Pers. Coker (Pt) after having first been grown from seed for 8 wk under a low phosphorus (P) nutrient regime. Eight weeks following inoculation, seedlings were harvested and ail components of the nutrient absorbing system (including the fungal mycelium) were quantified. External mycelium accounted for only 5% of the potential absorbing-system dry weight, but this mycelium comprised 75% of the potential absorbing system area and over 99% of the absorbing length. In a second experiment, the P uptake and contribution to potential absorbing surface of Pt was compared to Cenococcum geophilum Fr. (Cg). Seedlings inoculated with Pt differed from those inoculated with Cg in that they (i) absorbed almost twice the P. (ii) had a higher frequency of fine-root branching, (iii) developed an extensive network of rhizomorphs, and (iv) had over 1.5 times the mycelial absorbing surface area and over 3 times the mycelial length of Cg. We conclude that for both Pt and Cg inoculated plants, external mycelium made by far the greatest contribution to the overall potential absorbing surface area of the pine seedling. Differences in total mycelial surface area and mycelial length may account for differences in P uptake between seedlings inoculated with Pt and those inoculated with Cg.
Quality Issues in Biochemical Genetic Testing

• External quality assurance (EQA) is important in assessing accuracy, reliability and comparability of results of quantitative biochemical genetic tests as well as diagnostic proficiency and metabolite pattern recognition.
Identification of Genes Required for Chronic Persistence of Brucella abortus in Mice

The genetic basis for chronic persistence of Brucella abortus in lymphoid organs of mice, cows, and humans is currently unknown. We identified B. abortus genes involved in chronic infection, by assessing the ability of 178 signature-tagged mutants to establish and maintain persistent infection in mice. Each mutant was screened for its ability to colonize the spleens of mice at 2 and 8 weeks after inoculation. Comparison of the results from both time points identified two groups of mutants attenuated for chronic infection in mice. The first group was not recovered at either 2 or 8 weeks postinfection and was therefore defective in establishing infection. Mutants in this group carried transposon insertions in genes involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis (wbkA), in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, and in type IV secretion (virB1 and virB10). The second group, which was recovered at wild-type levels 2 weeks postinfection but not 8 weeks postinfection was able to establish infection but was unable to maintain chronic infection. One mutant in this group carried a transposon insertion in a gene with homology to gcvB of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, encoding glycine dehydrogenase, an enzyme whose activity is increased during the state of nonreplicating persistence. These results suggest that some mechanisms for long-term persistence may be shared among chronic intracellular pathogens. Furthermore, identification of two groups of genes, those required for initiating infection and those required only for long-term persistence, suggests that B. abortus uses distinct sets of virulence determinants to establish and maintain chronic infection in mice.
Mondays on the Dark Night of the Moon: Himalayan Foothill Folktales

Mondays on the Dark Night of the Moon: Himalayan Foothill Folktales. Kirin Narayan with Urmila Devi Sood. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. 262 pp.
Mutant K-ras Regulates Cathepsin B Localization on the Surface of Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

Cathepsin B protein and activity are known to localize to the basal plasma membrane of colon carcinoma cells following the appearance of K-ras mutations. Using immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionation techniques and two human colon carcinoma cell lines—one with a mutated K-ras allele (HCT 116) and a daughter line in which the mutated allele has been disrupted (HKh-2)—we demonstrate that the localization of cathepsin B to caveolae on the surface of these carcinoma cells is regulated by mutant K-ras. In HCT 116 cells, a greater percentage of cathepsin B was distributed to the caveolae, and the secretion of cathepsin B and pericellular (membrane-associated and secreted) cathepsin B activity were greater than observed in HKh-2 cells. Previous studies established the light chain of annexin II tetramer, p11, as a binding site for cathepsin B on the surface of tumor cells. The deletion of active K-ras in HKh-2 cells reduced the steady-state levels of p11 and caveolin-1 and the distribution of p11 to caveolae. Based upon these results, we speculate that cathepsin B, a protease implicated in tumor progression, plays a functional role in initiating proteolytic cascades in caveolae as downstream components of this cascade (e.g., urokinase plasminogen activator and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) are also present in HCT 116 caveolae.
Detecting Symmetries and Curvilinear Arrangements in Vector Art

Understanding symmetries and arrangements in existing content is the first step towards providing higher level content aware editing capabilities. Such capabilities may include edits that both preserve existing structure as well as synthesize entirely new structures based on the extracted pattern rules. In this paper we show how to detect regular symmetries and arrangement along curved segments in vector art. We determine individual elements in the art by using the transformation similarity for sequences of sample points on the input curves. Then we detect arrangements of those elements along an arbitrary curved path. We can un-warp the arrangement path to detect symmetries near the path. We introduce novel applications in form of editing elements that are arranged along a curved path. This includes their sliding along the path, changing of their spacing, or their scale. We also allow the user to brush the elements that the system recognized along new paths.
A novel performance analysis for the copy network in a multicast ATM switch

We evaluate the performance of the copy network under three scenarios: (1) non-buffer non-splitting copy network (NBNS), (2) shared-input buffer-non-splitting copy network (SIBNS), and (3) shared-input-buffer-splitting copy network (SIBS). For NBNS, we derived the exact overflow and cell loss probabilities instead of the Chernoff bound. Furthermore, we propose a general Markov model, a novel theoretical approach, for the performance analysis of the shared-input-buffer copy networks. This analysis method can be applied for both SIBNS and SIBS. In our work, theoretical and simulation results are presented for every scenario. The comparison shows that improved performance of lower cell loss and higher throughput can be achieved by shared-input-buffer (SIBNS and SIBS). However the tradeoff is the long cell delay. With the splitting algorithm, SIBS can provide better performance than the NBNS and SIBNS.
Enhanced Th1 and Dampened Th2 Responses Synergize To Inhibit Acute Granulomatous and Fibrotic Responses in Murine Schistosomiasis Mansoni

In murine schistosomiasis mansoni, the CD4+ T-helper (Th)-cell population (12, 21, 26) initiates and maintains the granulomatous inflammatory response around disseminated worm eggs (6). Over the past several years, Th0, Th1, and Th2 subsets of lymphocytes have been implicated in the generation of granuloma formation (10, 32, 40). In the lung granuloma model, as well as in infected mice, analysis of cytokine mRNA message and expression showed an early Th0-Th1 profile, which shifted to a predominant Th2 pattern with the maturation of the granulomas (3, 11, 19, 37). Moreover, cross-regulation by Th1- and Th2-type cytokines has been demonstrated; gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) were shown to downregulate the IL-4-mediated granuloma response (20, 24), whereas IL-4 (9) and IL-10 regulated IFN-γ and IL-2 production (14, 15, 29, 38). Recently, a strong regulatory role has been described for IL-12 in the lung granulomatous response of naive or sensitized mice, which was mediated by IFN-γ (36). Thus, the generation of a strong Th1 response proved to be effective in the suppression of the florid development of the Th2-type granuloma. This impressive suppression could not be duplicated in infected mice, because repeated injections of exogenous recombinant IL-12 (rIL-12) into egg-primed and subsequently infected mice showed only moderate inhibition of liver granuloma development (33). Based on our previous observation that established the predominant Th1-type IFN-γ cytokine response of the early-developing liver granulomas (19), we intended to prolong this Th1 phase by the administration of exogenous rIL-12 and to examine its suppressive effect on the development of the granulomas and the cytokine production profile. Here we show that when we found the proper time window for treatment, prolonged Th1 responsiveness achieved significant suppression of the hepatic granulomatous response and decreased collagen deposition in the tissues.
Successful prolonged ex vivo lung perfusion for graft preservation in rats

OBJECTIVES: Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) strategies represent a new frontier in lung transplantation technology, and there have been many clinical studies of EVLP in lung transplantation. The establishment of a reliable EVLP model in small animals is crucial to facilitating translational research using an EVLP strategy. The main objective of this study was to develop a reproducible rat EVLP (R-EVLP) model that enables prolonged evaluation of the explanted lung during EVLP and successful transplantation after EVLP. METHODS: The donor heart–lung blocks were procured with cold low-potassium dextran solution and immersed in the solution for 1 h at 4°C. And then, the heart–lung blocks were flushed retrogradely and warmed up to 37°C in a circuit perfused antegradely with acellular perfusate. The perfusate was deoxygenated with a gas mixture (6% O2 ,8 % CO2, 86% N2). The perfusion flow was maintained at 20% of the entire cardiac output. At 37°C, the lungs were mechanically ventilated and perfusion continued for 4 h. Every hour, the perfused lung was evaluated for gas exchange, dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). RESULTS: R-EVLP was performed for 4 h. Pulmonary oxygenation ability (pO2/pCO2) was stable for 4 h during EVLP. It was noted that Cdyn and PVR were also stable. After 4 h of EVLP, pO2 was 303 ± 19 mmHg, pCO2 was 39.6 ± 1.2 mmHg, PVR was 1.75 ± 0.10 mmHg/ml/min and Cdyn was 0.37 ± 0.03 ml/cmH2O. Lungs that were transplanted after 2 h of R-EVLP resulted in significantly better post-transplant oxygenation and compliance when compared with those after standard cold static preservation. CONCLUSIONS: Our R-EVLP model maintained stable lung oxygenation, compliance and vascular resistance for up to 4 h of perfusion duration. This reliable model should facilitate further advancement of experimental work using EVLP.
Perceived Discrimination and the Adjustment of African American Youths: A Five-Year Longitudinal Analysis With Contextual Moderation Effects

Longitudinal links between perceived racial discrimination and later conduct problems and depressive symptoms were examined among 714 African American adolescents who were 10-12 years old at recruitment. Data were gathered 3 times over a 5-year period. Hypotheses were tested via latent curve modeling and multiple-group latent growth modeling. Increases in perceived discrimination were associated with increased conduct problems and depressive symptoms. This association was weaker when youths received nurturant-involved parenting, affiliated with prosocial friends, and performed well academically. For conduct problems, the association was stronger for boys than for girls; for depressive symptoms, no gender differences emerged. The findings thus identify contextual variables that moderate the contribution of perceived discrimination to African American youths' adjustment.
Diagnosis of convoluting systems by space-time compression

The paper investigates fault detection in butterfly networks by considering a space time compression technique proposed by M.G. Karpovsky, L.B. Levitin and E.S. Vainstein (1990). The method of the paper is to show that the time compression technique works for the FFT butterfly network. Reduced matrices for the case when the upper vertex of the tree is absent is also investigated. Details and examples are presented. Preliminary results show that the space time compression technique can be used to determine the fault coverage of the FFT butterfly network and that the reduction of the error matrix may not be achievable. >
Nursing publications outside the United States.

Purpose: To replicate a 1992–1993 study of the characteristics of English-language nursing journals originating in countries other than the United States and to compare findings. Such information heightens awareness of publishing opportunities globally and enhances dissemination of information throughout the world. Design: Descriptive survey with a questionnaire mailed to 159 editors of nursing and nursing-related journals. Data about the publication year, 1995, were collected from April 1996 through March 1997. Method: A 38-item questionnaire pertaining to journal, readership, manuscript review, and journal staff characteristics was used. Findings: Information about 82 journals from 13 countries was collected with an overall response rate of 55%. In the 1992–1993 study the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia accounted for the largest percent of publications. With few exceptions, results of the 1996–1997 and the earlier survey are remarkably similar. Differences include a higher total circulation, changes in circulation among journal categories, and more publications offering services to authors. Two main reasons for manuscript rejection continue to be that a manuscript is poorly written or poorly developed. Conclusions: Increased awareness of non-U.S. publishing outlets can lead to the acceptance of informative and well-written manuscripts and ultimately to the dissemination of information and knowledge.
Tunable Replica Bits for Dynamic Variation Tolerance in 8T SRAM Arrays

Infrequent dynamic events like VCC droops and temperature changes result in the use of a static VCC guardband in 8T SRAM arrays. This paper proposes the use of tunable replica bits (TRBs) as a potential solution to mitigating a part of the VCC guardband. Measured data on a 16 KB 8T array featuring tun able replica bits illustrate 9% reduction of the operating minimum VCC (VMIN) and correspondingly a 7.5% reduction in array power.
HigherOrder DeltaSigma Modulation

This chapter contains sections titled: High-Order Single-Quantizer Modulators Stability Considerations in High-Order Modulators Optimization of the NTF Zeros and Poles Loop Filter Architectures Multi-Stage Modulators Conclusions This chapter contains sections titled: References
A Framework for the Next Civil Rights Act: What Tort Concepts Reveal About Goals, Results, and Standards

This article anticipates that the next president and the current Congress will likely pursue civil rights legislation for the first time since 1991. Their most significant and difficult task will be determining whether to retain the Supreme Court’s intentional discrimination standard. Because this issue has so often led to polemic debates and court decisions in the past, this article attempts to provide a neutral framework for that discussion. Relying on tort concepts and their longstanding connection to constitutional torts, it demonstrates that the attempt to create a standard to prohibit immoral or “wrongful” conduct is both misguided and will prove fruitless. In fact, fault is not a normative concept and has no inherent meaning. Rather, being at fault simply means that one has transgressed some standard that a legislature or court has adopted. These standards are adopted to produce and pursue societal goals, not identify or punish wrongful conduct. A review of Supreme Court decisions on equal protection and antidiscrimination, however, reveals that the Court has tried to articulate much of its precedent in terms of fault, while at the same time pursuing a set of implicit societal goals. This approach has led to distractions with a normative concept of fault and an imprecise consideration of the goals of antidiscrimination and the standards that can produce them. The article clarifies this confusion by simply querying whether the intentional discrimination standard produces the Court’s desired results. However, the article emphasizes that the goals of antidiscrimination law must be those of Congress and the country, not the Supreme Court. Thus, in the upcoming legislative debate, the article calls for a serious discussion of the appropriate goals of civil rights, whether they be addressing racial inequities or maintaining current practices and patterns. Once those goals are settled through an open democratic process, the task of adopting a standard will become one of mere mechanics. The article assists legislators in that process by evaluating the various imputations of the intent and other standards to determine what results they can consistently and efficiently produce.Body]
Seventeen years’ growth of street trees in structural soil compared with a tree lawn in New York City

Abstract In 1997, Quercus bicolor and Quercus phellos in a New York City streetscape were planted in CU-Structural Soil under a concrete sidewalk and in a tree lawn with the intention of observing long term plant response as a comparative study of an early installation of the new designed soil method. The trees have been measured nine times since the second year post-installation. We present the growth of trunk diameter, height and slenderness ratios. To verify root colonization in the structural soil under the sidewalk, tree root presence was measured using ground-penetrating radar in 2009, year 12. In the 17th year, trees in the sidewalk were similar in size with a higher level of survivorship as compared to the trees in the tree lawn. Adjusting for year of replacement in the tree lawn, model predictions for diameter of trees 15 years post-installation were no different for Q. bicolor in either the sidewalk (21.38 cm) or the tree lawn (22.05 cm). Q. phellos in the tree lawn were predicted to be slightly larger, 34.29 cm versus 31.34 cm in the sidewalk. Roots had colonized the structural soil under the sidewalk to 60 cm, its full depth. This provided evidence that the structural soil medium served as an acceptable rooting environment.
The Highway Spiral as a Centerline for Structures

Method for computing geometry of structure with spiral centerline; method is simple and precise enough for steel work; amount of computation is no greater than that required for multicentered curve which customarily replaces spiral structure.
Utilization of Novel Techniques to Measure Ion Composition of Condensed Nucleosome Core Particles

Chromatin packing has been intensely studied due to its role in epigenetic regulation. Much has been learned about the role of DNA linker length, DNA modifications (e.g. methylation), and the role of histone tails in this compaction. However, the fundamental questions of the electrostatic forces and physical mechanisms that drive chromatin compaction remain largely unanswered. We have investigated the physics underlying the first step in compaction which is nucleosome-nucleosome attraction. Utilizing a novel technique of Differential Phase-Separated Optical Emission Spectroscopy (DPS-OES), we present a direct measurement of the number of ions surrounding condensed nucleosome core particles and use this to extract vital information about the electrostatic interactions between electrostatically-condensed nucleosomes. These measurements should prove an important step in determining the role of ions in nucleosome-nucleosome attraction and shed light on a major contributor to chromatin compaction.
Ground-State Properties of Nonspherical Nuclei

A knowledge of the wave functions and energy levels for nucleonic motion in a nonspherical force field is a prerequisite to any detailed comparison between the empirical data and the model of Bohr and Mottleson. An extremely simple model for this internal problem is provided by the motion of independent particles in an ellipsoidal oscillator potential. By minimizing the total energy of such a system, we are led to conclude (1) that deformations which possess an axis of symmetry are always preferred by low-lying states, and (2) that this model cannot reproduce the observed preponderance of positive quadrupole moments. This last conclusion is unaltered by the surface tension or Coulomb repulsion.The oscillator model is too simplified for the computation of spins or magnetic moments ($\ensuremath{\mu}$). We have therefore determined wave functions and energy levels for independent-particle motion in a spheroidal square well, including spin-orbit coupling. Because of the approximations made in this calculation, we cannot use our levels to compute the equilibrium shape, but only to assign the ground-state level and wave function. Thus the present scheme is intended to replace that of the shell model in the region of large deformations.With the exception of ${\mathrm{W}}^{183}$, we have been able to correctly assign the spin to all the odd-$A$ nuclei for which $150\ensuremath{\lesssim}A\ensuremath{\lesssim}190$. The ease and consistency with which such an assignment can be made leads us to conclude that our scheme is essentially correct for those nuclei which possess large deformations, and whose odd particle lies in the 50-82 shell or the lower part of the 82-126 shell. In addition, we have computed $\ensuremath{\mu}$ in this region. Here the agreement is more limited, but there are a number of important successes: we reproduce the large difference in $\ensuremath{\mu}$ for the europium isotopes, the ratio of the magnetic moments of the two hafnium isotopes, both $\ensuremath{\mu}$ and the decoupling coefficient for ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{169}$, and $\ensuremath{\mu}$ for ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{171,173}$, Re, ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{151}$, and ${\mathrm{Os}}^{189}$. The properties of the ground state and first excited state of ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{109}$ are also found to be in good agreement with the theory.
Search for an anisotropy between Ll x rays and γ rays in the decay of 243 Cm

The anisotropy of $\mathrm{Ll}$ x rays and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays of $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}$ following the decay of $^{243}\mathrm{Cm}$ has been investigated. A Ge(Li) crystal with 250 eV resolution at 5.9 keV was used to detect $\mathrm{Ll}$ x rays. A NaI(T1) crystal was used to detect six $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays between 210 and 285 keV. The measured anisotropy is $A=(3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. This is less than 2% of the maximum predicted anisotropy assuming that the magnetic substate alignment has been completely retained in the coupling of cascade $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays and x rays.RADIOACTIVITY $^{243}\mathrm{Cm}$; measured $\mathrm{Ll}$ x-$\ensuremath{\gamma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$. Ge(Li) and NaI(T1) detectors.