cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low power 8051-MISA-based remote execution unit architecture for IoT and RFID applications

Using the existing microcontrollers in radio frequency identification (RFID)-based passive nodes requires too much power. There is a need to explore specific instruction sets of such microcontrollers based on target applications for low power. In this context, this paper describes a low-power wireless distributed single instruction multiple data (SIMD) architecture concept. This concept involves having the data and program instructions stored on a powered interrogator providing wireless supervisory control for the passive node that has a basic processing core called the remote execution unit (REU). This paper also proposes a novel REU architecture using a minimal instruction set architecture (MISA) based on 8051 µC with the goal of reducing power consumption of a wireless passive node. Post-layout simulation results indicate significant reduction in power consumption and the area occupied by REU when compared to an existing 8051 core design. This low-power programmable REU architecture targets internet of things (IoT) and passive RFID applications.
Suicide and Shame

But basically I've lost my mind completely that's all people have told me. I really am crazy. I think I am. I've heard tell the only people who commit suicide are real muts well I'm a nut. Always h...
An Animal Model of Epidural Compression of the Spinal Cord

A new model of subacute compression of the spinal cord is described. Using an expanding epidural mass, a gradual, progressive, and highly reproducible neurological deficit was induced in rats over a 7-day period, resulting in paraplegia. Studies of spinal cord edema, disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier, and somatosensory evoked responses, as well as histopathological and microangiographical studies, revealed a marked similarity to changes produced in other spinal compression models and in humans. The model may serve to answer some fundamental questions regarding the pathophysiology and efficacy of various treatment modalities of spinal cord compression.
Degradation and sorption of imidacloprid in dissimilar surface and subsurface soils.

Degradation and sorption/desorption are important processes affecting the leaching of pesticides through soil. This research characterized the degradation and sorption of imidacloprid (1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)-methyl]-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine) in Drummer (silty clay loam) and Exeter (sandy loam) surface soils and their corresponding subsurface soils using sequential extraction methods over 400 days. By the end of the incubation, approximately 55% of imidacloprid applied at a rate of 1.0 mg kg−1 degraded in the Exeter sandy loam surface and subsurface soils, compared to 40% of applied imidacloprid within 300 days in Drummer surface and subsurface soils. At the 0.1 mg kg−1 application rate, dissipation was slower for all four soils. Water-extractable imidacloprid in Exeter surface soil decreased from 98% of applied at day 1 to > 70% of the imidacloprid remaining after 400 d, as compared to 55% in the Drummer surface soil at day 1 and 12% at day 400. These data suggest that imidacloprid was bioavailable ...
The efficacy of postprostatectomy radiotherapy in patients with an isolated elevation of serum prostate-specific antigen

Purpose : To determine the efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with an isolated elevation of prostate specific antigen (PSA) after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods and Materials : Between November 1987 and May 1993, 53 patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate were referred for pelvic RT for an elevated PSA after RP. No patient had clinically or radiographically apparent local or distant disease, nor had any undergone prior androgen ablation. Patients received a median dose of 61.2 Gy to the prostatic bed. An undetectable PSA was required to be considered disease free (NED). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors predictive of becoming disease free after RT. Results : The median follow-up was 15 months. Of the 53 patients, 16 (30%) became NED after RT and 15 (28%) had a declining (n = 11) or stable (n = 4) PSA at last evaluation. The median time after RT to achieve an undetectable PSA was 9.3 months. At 12 and 24 months, the actuarial disease-free survival was 30 and 23%, respectively ; actuarial progression-free survival was 71 and 26%, respectively. By univariate analysis, the last PSA level before RT (i.e., the pre-RT PSA) and an undetectable PSA after RP were significant predictors of becoming NED (p = 0.00001 and 0.04, respectively). However, on multivariate analysis, only the pre-RT PSA remained significant (p = 0.01). The mean pre-RT PSA differed significantly between patients who became NED after RT and those who did not (1.5 ± 0.2 ng/ml vs. 7.6 ± 1.6 ng/ml, respectively ; p = 0.018). Fourteen of 27 (52%) patients with pre-RT PSA levels < 2.5 ng/ml became NED, vs. only 2 of 26 (8%) patients with higher levels. There were no severe acute or late sequelae of RT. Conclusion : Prostatic-bed RT for an elevated serum PSA after RP is most effective in patients with a pre-RT PSA < 2.5 ng/ml. Patients with significantly higher PSA values are unlikely to benefit from RT, possibly due to the presence of occult distant metastases. The optimal therapy for this latter group remains to be determined.
On failure of continuum plasticity theories on small scales

Abstract We argue that continuum plasticity theories cannot describe plastic behavior if the characteristic length of the problem becomes of the order of the decorrelation length of the dislocation structure.
Parental Influences on Adolescent Adjustment: Parenting Styles Versus Parenting Practices:

The study identified distinct patterns of parental practices that differentially influence adolescent behavior using the National Educational Longitudinal Survey (NELS:88) database. Following Brenner and Fox's research model (1999), the cluster analysis was used to classify the four types of parental practices. The clusters of parenting practices in the current study showed convergence with Baumrind's parenting style. The results indicated that these four clusters differentially affected students' self-concept, locus of control, and academic achievement. The authors discuss how these identified parenting behavior patterns are linked with children's adjustment, development, and achievement.
Specific Heat of Thin Helium Films in a Cylindrical Geometry.

We report measurements of the specific heat of thin helium films adsorbed in the 0.2 µm pores of Anopore membranes. Over the temperature range of these studies, two specific heat anomalies, strongly dependent on helium film thickness, were found.
Neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic carcinoma: an update.

BACKGROUND Neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic carcinoma may be related to the growth and prognosis of prostate cancer, especially androgen-insensitive tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This update reviews new investigations relating to neuroendocrine differentiation of prostatic carcinoma building on two previous review articles. All relevant publications are systematically reviewed. RESULTS New developments include the detection of bombesin, calcitonin and serotonin receptors, as well as a clearer delineation of the role that neuroendocrine products play in the growth, invasiveness, and motility of prostate cancer. Prognostic studies are still somewhat contradictory, but those studies and studies related to serum/plasma levels of neuroendocrine products in prostate cancer suggest that neuroendocrine differentiation may be more important in androgen-independent tumors and metastatic tumors than in hormone-sensitive and locally recurrent tumors. New cell line xenograft and transgenic mouse models for neuroendocrine prostatic carcinoma are described and will provide the basis for further investigations into the role played by neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS Neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic carcinoma is of great potential significance but needs to be better defined before its significance can be accurately assessed. Prostate Supplement 8:74–79, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Relativistic Distorted Wave Collision Strengths for Excitation to the 88 n = 3 and n = 4 Levels in All 71 Neon-like Ions with 22 <= Z <= 92

Abstract Relativistic distorted wave collision strengths are given for the 88 possible transitions between the ground level and the excited levels with n = 3 and n = 4 in the 71 neon-like ions with nuclear charge number Z in the range 22 ≤ Z ≤ 92. The calculations are made for the six final, or scattered, electron energies E′ = 0.008, 0.04, 0.10, 0.21, 0.41, and 0.75, where E′ is in units of Zeff2 rydbergs with Zeff = Z − 7.5. In addition, the transition energies and electric dipole oscillator strengths are given. To our knowledge, the present work is the first comprehensive publication of the results of fully relativistic calculations of the collision strengths for excitation of neon-like ions to the n = 4 levels.
Role of cloud-surface interactions on the net surface solar flux in high latitudes: climatic implications

The Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer (DISORT) model of Stamnes et al. (1988) has been used to investigate the role of cloud-surface interactions on the net surface solar flux in various atmospheric and surface conditions. To that effect, we have analyzed the sensitivity of the net (down minus up) solar flux at top-of-atmosphere (TOA) and the net surface solar flux with respect to water vapor amount in the atmosphere and cloud properties (specified through optical thickness) and types (specified through the equivalent radius - RE) for two extreme (with respect to their reflecting properties) types of surface conditions: snow and ocean.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The neural processing of taste

Although there have been many recent advances in the field of gustatory neurobiology, our knowledge of how the nervous system is organized to process information about taste is still far from complete. Many studies on this topic have focused on understanding how gustatory neural circuits are spatially organized to represent information about taste quality (e.g., "sweet", "salty", "bitter", etc.). Arguments pertaining to this issue have largely centered on whether taste is carried by dedicated neural channels or a pattern of activity across a neural population. But there is now mounting evidence that the timing of neural events may also importantly contribute to the representation of taste. In this review, we attempt to summarize recent findings in the field that pertain to these issues. Both space and time are variables likely related to the mechanism of the gustatory neural code: information about taste appears to reside in spatial and temporal patterns of activation in gustatory neurons. What is more, the organization of the taste network in the brain would suggest that the parameters of space and time extend to the neural processing of gustatory information on a much grander scale.
Regional blood flow in human congestive heart failure.

Abstract Despite the total-body consequences of congestive heart failure, little information is available on the distribution of cardiac output and regional-organ hemodynamics in this condition in humans. Technical and methodologic limitations probably account for the paucity of data in this area. Available data indicate that blood flow to the regions or organs studied, namely, the kidneys, hepatosplanchnic region, and upper limbs, decreases in proportion to the reduction in cardiac output. However, renal blood flow appears to be protected in human heart failure by a form of “autoregulation” during marked depression of cardiac output ( 2 ). Results of preliminary studies suggest that the regulation of regional-organ hemodynamics is disturbed in this human condition. Cardioactive drugs profoundly affect regional-organ hemodynamics independent of changes in central hemodynamics and cardiac output. The determination of regional blood flow responses in human heart failure will become more important as we expand our knowledge base of the pathophysiology of heart failure, learn more about local vascular control mechanisms, and pursue the potential therapeutic objective of selectively augmenting regional-organ hemodynamics and function.
Anthropogenic influences on the spatial genetic structure of black bears

Anthropogenic influences such as hunting pressure and habitat fragmentation can alter the demographic and spatial patterns of wildlife populations. Understanding the consequences of these impacts is a challenge for natural resource managers, which can be overcome by investigations using spatial genetic techniques. We used spatial autocorrelation and landscape genetic analyses to compare the impacts of anthropogenic forces on the spatial genetic structure of two female black bear (Ursus americanus) populations in northern New Hampshire with similar bear densities but varying human densities, hunting pressure and sex ratios. We found evidence of an impact of hunting mortality on the spatial genetic structure of female black bears. The population with greater hunting pressure and a heavily male-biased sex ratio (Milan) exhibited greater spatial genetic structure represented by a pattern of isolation by distance, kin clustering, and reduced dispersal in comparison to the population with a balanced sex ratio (Pittsburg). We did not find a strong effect of fragmenting landscape features on female spatial structure. Major roads were correlated with spatial genetic structure, but only in the population with lower human density and development (Pittsburg). Slope and elevation were also correlated with spatial genetic structure, suggesting terrain plays a role in structuring seasonal female home range boundaries. Our study revealed the utility of using spatial genetic techniques to identify anthropogenic influences on female social organization. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring the impacts of harvest pressure not only on demographics but also the spatial genetic structure of animal populations.
Effects of massive doses of α-MSH on thermoregulation in the rabbit

Abstract α-MSH-related compounds may prove to be clinically useful antipyretics since the parent peptide is extremely potent in reducing fever, it is effective when given orally, and it neither stimulates corticosteroid activity nor has marked melanotropic effects in man. To determine whether or in what doses α-MSH might cause harmful side-effects, we injected doses greatly exceeding those required to reduce fever into a lateral cerebral ventricle of afebrile rabbits. One hundred to seven hundred and fifty μg α-MSH caused large and prolonged reductions in body temperature and the dose-response relation was bell-shaped for both magnitude and duration. These doses caused no apparent injury to the animals. One mg α-MSH elicited hyperthermic responses that were variable in magnitude and duration. Animals that had previously received large doses of α-MSH (⩾ 100 μg) did not develop hyperthermia, even when given 2 mg, indicating an acquired tolerance to this hyperthermic action of α-MSH. All animals, tolerant or previously uninjected, showed symptoms with doses ⩾1 mg α-MSH that included: increased salivation, agitation, ataxia, respiratory distress, and death (in 30% of the animals); those that recovered from these large doses resumed outwardly healthy appearance and behavior. Although α-MSH is toxic when given centrally in large doses, the 5000-fold difference between antipyretic and toxic doses indicates a wide safety margin should this peptide be used clinically as an antipyretic drug.
Numerical simulation of melting of a horizontal substrate placed beneath a heavier liquid

Abstract In this work, the melting of a horizontal substrate placed beneath a heavier liquid is simulated numerically. A finite difference method is used to solve simultaneously the equations governing the conservation of mass, momentum and energy in the liquid liquid layers. The equations for the two phases are coupled through the matching of normal and tangential stresses and continuity of mass at the interface. A second-order projection method is employed for decoupling velocities from pressure. A numerical grid generation method is used to construct a grid system, which is aligned with the interface. The numerical results are compared with experimental data reported in the literature.
Hand-assisted laparoscopic microwave coagulation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Microwave coagulation therapy has been used for local ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma in the setting of liver cirrhosis. This technique can be performed laparoscopically when the tumor is located on the surface of the liver or attached to other intraabdominal organs. However, a laparoscopic approach becomes difficult when it is necessary to mobilize the liver or lyse adhesions to gain access to the tumor. We used a hand-assisted laparoscopic technique for the applicafion of microwave coagulation therapy in two cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma to ensure safe mobilization of the liver and adhesiolysis. The first patient presented with a 4.5-cm mass in the left lobe of the liver that was densely adherent to the lesser omentum. The use of a hand-assist device allowed us to perform a safe exptoration, adhesiolysis, and subsequent tumor ablation. In the second patient, the tumor was located on the posterior aspect of the right lobe of the liver. The handassist device allowed safe mobilization of the liver and exposure of the tumor. No significant postoperative complications were noted in either patient. Complete ablation of the tumors was confirmed with contrastenhanced computed tomography scanning. In conclusion, hand-assisted iaparoscopy is an effective adjunct to microwave ablation therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis. It enables the safe completion of the procedure under laparoscopic guidance, thereby averting laparotomy.
Cocaine withdrawal-induced trafficking of delta-opioid receptors in rat nucleus accumbens

Abstract Interactions between the opioidergic and dopaminergic systems in the nucleus accumbens (NAcb) play a critical role in mediating cocaine withdrawal-induced effects on cell signaling and behavior. In support of this, increased activation of striatal dopamine-D1 receptors (D1R) results in desensitization of δ-opioid receptor (DOR) signaling through adenylyl cyclase during early cocaine withdrawal. A potential cellular substrate underlying receptor desensitization is receptor internalization. The present study examined the effect of cocaine withdrawal on subcellular localization of DOR in dendrites of the NAcb core (NAcbC) and shell (NAcbS) using immunoelectron microscopy. Female and male rats received binge-pattern cocaine or saline for 14 days and subsequently underwent 48 h withdrawal. Animals were transcardially perfused and tissue sections were processed for immunogold–silver localization of DOR. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed that cocaine withdrawal caused an increase in the percentage of DOR localized intracellularly in the NAcbS of male and female rats and the NAcbC of male rats compared to saline controls. In contrast, in the NAcbC of female rats, there was an increase in DOR associated with the plasma membrane following cocaine withdrawal. To determine whether modulation of D1R could directly impact DOR containing neurons, the hypothesis that DOR and D1R co-exist in common neurons of the NAcb was examined in naive rats. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed a subset of profiles containing both DOR and D1R immunoreactivities. The present findings demonstrate a redistribution of DOR in the NAcb following cocaine withdrawal and provide anatomical evidence supporting D1R regulation of DOR function in a subset of NAcb neurons.
A Case for Transforming Parallel Runtimes Into Operating System Kernels

The needs of parallel runtime systems and the increasingly sophisticated languages and compilers they support do not line up with the services provided by general-purpose OSes. Furthermore, the semantics available to the runtime are lost at the system-call boundary in such OSes. Finally, because a runtime executes at user-level in such an environment, it cannot leverage hardware features that require kernel-mode privileges---a large portion of the functionality of the machine is lost to it. These limitations warp the design, implementation, functionality, and performance of parallel runtimes. We summarize the case for eliminating these compromises by transforming parallel runtimes into OS kernels. We also demonstrate that it is feasible to do so. Our evidence comes from Nautilus, a prototype kernel framework that we built to support such transformations. After describing Nautilus, we report on our experiences using it to transform three very different runtimes into kernels.
A putative Ras GTPase activating protein acts as a negative regulator of signaling by the Sevenless receptor tyrosine kinase.

Abstract A Drosophila gene with similarity to the mammalian Ras GTPase activating protein has been isolated in screens for mutations that affect eye development. Inactivation of the locus, Gap1 , mimics constitutive activation of the Sevenless receptor tyrosine kinase and eliminates the need for a functional Sevenless protein in the R7 cell. Our results suggest that Gap 1 acts as a negative regulator of signaling by Sevenless by down-regulating the activity of the Ras1 protein, which has been shown to be a key element in signaling by Sevenless.
Comparison of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism linkage analyses in Caucasian and Hispanic NARAC families

We performed linkage analysis on families with rheumatoid arthritis, stratifying by ethnic origin. We compared results using either Kong and Cox nonparametric LOD scores or MOD score analysis using the software GeneHunter MODSCORE. We first applied SNPLINK to remove markers showing excess linkage disequilibrium from the SNPs in the Illumina IV SNP Linkage panel. In this analysis there were 659 self-reported Caucasian families and 29 self-reported Hispanic families in the NARAC collection. Chromosome 19 yielded MOD scores > 3.00 in the Hispanic group, while chromosomes 2, 6, 7, 11, and XY had MOD scores > 3.00 in the Caucasian group. We performed simulation studies to evaluate the empirical distribution of the MOD score for autosomal loci separately in Hispanics and Caucasians. Results showed genome-wide significant evidence for linkage in Caucasians for chromosomes 2q and 6p, but no significant evidence for any linkages in the Hispanics, including little evidence for linkage to chromosome 6p in this group. An examination of the difference of phenotypes in two ethnic groups suggested significantly earlier mean age of onset, higher percentage of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide positive people, and lower percentage of affected people carrying shared epitopes in Hispanics than those in Caucasians. A larger sample size of the Hispanic group is needed to identify linkage regions.
Forest‐cover effects on snowpack accumulation and melt, Central Sierra Snow Laboratory

Snowpack accumulation and melt at measurement points within snow courses were related to two forest-cover variables. Water equivalent of the snowpack on April 1 of each year and melt rate after April 1 per unit of degree-days above 35° F were studied. Cover variables were the amount of shade from trees to the south of a snow measurement point and the amount of shielding from trees to the north of the point. The amount of shade was expressed as the duration of shading between April 1 and June 15, multiplied by the amount of direct solar energy which would have struck the snow surface in the absence of shading. Shielding was expressed by the ratio of average tree height to distance of the trees from the measurement point. Datairom five points in each of five snow courses for three years of record were analyzed by the method of covariance. The analyses showed a high degree of association between the snowpack and forest-cover variables. The results are interpreted in terms of the timber-cutting pattern that would result in maximum accumulation of snow, minimum melt rate, and maximum prolonged release of snow water in the spring.
Blood banking and transfusion medicine for the apheresis medicine practitioner

This article provides a concise overview of blood banking and transfusion medicine (BBTM) for the therapeutic apheresis medicine practitioner. It addresses the complete pathway from blood donor qualification to blood collection, to processing and storing blood components, to patient testing, to ordering blood components for therapeutic apheresis (TA) procedures, to preparing the component for transfusion, and finally to transfusion. The nurses, technologists, and physicians orchestrate these activities in concert to best serve patients undergoing TA procedures. Enhancing knowledge of these processes may improve the quality of patient care and the utilization of blood products. J. Clin. Apheresis 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enamine oxidations. 2. Selective oxidative cleavage of β,β - disubstituted enamines using alumina supported permanganate. Synthesis of one-carbon dehomologated carbonyl compounds from enamines

Abstract Treatment of β,β-disubstituted enamines with potassium permanganste supported on neutral alumina leads to a mild and selective oxidative cleavage reaction which produces ketones and formamides. The ketones can be isolated in high yield and purity by a simple workup procedure. The oxidizing agent is selective and preferentially oxidizes an enamine carbon-carbon double bond in the presence of a distal carbon-carbon double bond. Other functional groups unaffected by this reagent include nitriles, secondary alcohols, and alkynes allowing a wide range of potentially selective oxidations.
Multifarious assembly mixtures: Systems allowing retrieval of diverse stored structures

Self-assembly has recently emerged as a powerful technique for synthesizing structures on the nano- and microscales. The basis of this development is the use of biopolymers, like DNA, to design specific interactions between multiple species of components, allowing the spontaneous assembly of complex structures. Our work addresses a fundamental limitation of the existing approaches to self-assembly: Namely, every target structure must have its own dedicated set of components, which are programmed to assemble only that very structure. In contrast, in biological systems, the same set of components can assemble many different complexes. Inspired by this, we extend the self-assembly framework to mixtures of shared components capable of assembling distinct structures on demand.
Supplier relationships: Emerging issues and challenges

Abstract There is evidence that relationships are very important in effective marketing strategies. This article focuses on the relationship that firms need to develop with their suppliers. We propose that effective relationship with suppliers will provide firms with next-generational competitive advantage. Toward this purpose, the article discusses the reasons for the emergence of relationship marketing and the future academic research needed in this area. The article concludes that organizational buying is dramatically shifting from the transaction oriented to the relational oriented philosophy, and will shift from a buying process to a supplier relationship process. This shift toward supplier relationships will change the role, processes, and strategies of firms and, therefore, new areas of inquiry will emerge. These include understanding suppliers as customers; cross-functional supplier teaming; economic value of supplier equity; supply experience curves; hub and spoke organization; bonding with suppliers; global sourcing processes; cross-cultural values in purchasing; cross-national rules and regulations; and service procurement.
Maximum a posteriori state estimation: a neural processing algorithm

A computational algorithm is presented for obtaining the maximum a posteriori estimates of the states of a stochastic dynamical system by programming a neural network. It is well known that for real-time control implementations, especially in such applications as multitarget tracking and vision-guided robots, the computational requirements for solving such state estimation problems attain particular significance, and parallel processing techniques are highly useful. The performance of the algorithm has been investigated by conducting several numerical experiments. It appears to be useful for handling state estimation problems arising in real-world applications. >
Image expansion by non-orthogonal basis functions extended for optimal multiple template matching

The DSNR (discriminative signal-to-noise ratio) optimization approach is extended to include more than one template. The optimal DSNR template matching filter can be designed to elicit any desired response for each training template image while optimizing the DSNR criterion. The approach used considers additive noise as a parameter and leads to a very general formulation, of which many previous approaches are special cases. In the case of a single training image, this formulation reverts to the Wiener restoration filter or the template-similar expansion approach. >
Sport Education for Teachers: Professional Development When Introducing a Novel Curriculum Model

The purpose of this study was to provide a description of an on-site professional development program for Russian teachers as they learned to teach Sport Education. A concurrent objective was to in...
Discharge of electrochemical energy storage devices at elevated rates for driving pulsed power applications

Over the last several decades a number of electrochemical energy storage devices have been developed for use in portable applications. Traditionally devices such as lithium-ion batteries are very energy dense but only modestly power dense limiting their use in pulsed power applications. Recently however, new specialty lithium-ion battery technologies have been developed, such as those used in the Saft VL5U cell, with power densities as high as 28.5 kW/kg [1]. With these power densities, they are much more suitable for driving pulsed power applications than ever before. Additionally, advanced hybrid capacitors such as electric double layer capacitors and lithium-ion capacitors have been developed with high energy and power densities making them also suitable for use in pulsed power experiments. Previously, research using these types of devices in applications other than as storage in hybrid electric vehicles and renewable energy platforms has been limited. The University of Texas at Arlington is currently engaged in research to understand the limitations of these types of devices for use in pulsed high current experiments. A test stand, similar to that of Chen et. al [2], has been developed and used to further characterize the performance of these types of devices when they are discharged at rates several hundred times their rated C values. This paper describes the rationale behind the experiments, the experimental setup developed, and the research progress made thus far.
Breeding designs for recombinant inbred advanced intercross lines

Recombinant inbred lines derived from an advanced intercross, in which multiple generations of mating have increased the density of recombination breakpoints, are powerful tools for mapping the loci underlying complex traits. We investigated the effects of intercross breeding designs on the utility of such lines for mapping. The simplest design, random pair mating with each pair contributing exactly two offspring to the next generation, performed as well as the most extreme inbreeding avoidance scheme at expanding the genetic map, increasing fine-mapping resolution, and controlling genetic drift. Circular mating designs offer negligible advantages for controlling drift and exhibit greatly reduced map expansion. Random-mating designs with variance in offspring number are also poor at increasing mapping resolution. Given equal contributions of each parent to the next generation, the constraint of monogamy has no impact on the qualities of the final population of inbred lines. We find that the easiest crosses to perform are well suited to the task of generating populations of highly recombinant inbred lines.
Influence of carbon dioxide clouds on early martian climate.

Abstract Recent studies have shown that clouds made of carbon dioxide ice may have warmed the surface of early Mars by reflecting not only incoming solar radiation but upwelling IR radiation as well. However, these studies have not treated scattering self-consistently in the thermal IR. Our own calculations, which treat IR scattering properly, confirm these earlier calculations but show that CO 2 clouds can also cool the surface, especially if they are low and optically thick. Estimating the actual effect of CO 2 clouds on early martian climate will require three-dimensional models in which cloud location, height, and optical depth, as well as surface temperature and pressure, are determined self-consistently. Our calculations further confirm that CO 2 clouds should extend the outer boundary of the habitable zone around a star but that there is still a finite limit beyond which above-freezing surface temperatures cannot be maintained by a CO 2 –H 2 O atmosphere. For our own Solar System, the absolute outer edge of the habitable zone is at ∼2.4 AU.
Agent-based simulation of the diffusion of warnings

Diffusion occurs in various contexts and generally involves a network of entities and interactions between entities. Through these interactions, some property, e.g. information, ideas, etc., is spread through the network. The network may become dynamic as entities in the network interact and information, ideas, etc. flow through the network. This paper presents a general model of diffusion in dynamic networks. We use the model to examine how network structure, seeding strategy, and population inhomogeneity as defined with trust, affects the diffusion process. We simulate an evacuation scenario where the network structure represents a network of households. There are multiple sources that initiate the broadcasts of evacuation warnings and the goals are for the households to propagate the message and perform evacuation. The network dynamics observed are the result of the diffusion, where households may leave the network some time after receiving the warning. The results provide interesting observations on the effects of trust asymmetry and trust differentials. When we introduce population inhomogeneity using trust, the diffusion was more effective. The network structure and the seeding strategy used in delivering the initial broadcast also affect the effectiveness of the diffusion.
Trends in health insurance coverage in California, 1989-1993

Abstract: California's uninsurance rate of 22.7 percent is higher than the national average. The state's rate of employment-based insurance coverage—below the national average—is declining because ...
What Kind of Seed Dormancy Might Palms Have

Palm diaspores are reported to have various kinds of dormancy. However, (1) the embryo is underdeveloped; (2) the endocarp is water permeable; and (3) the diaspores take a long time to germinate. Thus, we conclude that the diaspores of the majority of palm species have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). The ones that do not have MPD are morphologically dormant.
Electrical Properties of Doped Tin Dioxide Thin Films Deposited Using Femtosecond Pulsed Laser Ablation

Tin dioxide thin films are widely used as chemical sensors. The mechanism for gas sensitivity depends on the chemisorption characteristics of the oxide surface and on the electronic characteristics of thefilm. Chemical doping and the film microstructure can influence the electronic properties. In this paper tin dioxide thin films doped with rare earth and transition metals were deposited on the (10 1 2 -oriented sapphire substrates by femtosecond pulsed laser deposition. The resulting films were single crystalline with a thickness of about 15 nm and 30 nm. The response of the films to reducing gases was measured in a gas reactor at high temperature. The electrical transport properties of the films were determined by Hall effect measurements within the gas reactor. The valence and ionic radius of dopants have strong influence on the mobility and concentration of electrical carriers (i.e. electrons) and thus affect the response of the thin films to reducing gases. A model correlating the dopant characteristics to the electrical properties was developed.
Biochar as a Substitute for Vermiculite in Potting Mix for Hybrid Poplar

The purpose of this study was to evaluate biochar as a substitute for vermiculite in potting mixes for unrooted vegetative cuttings of hybrid poplar as represented by the clone ‘NM6’ (Populus nigra L. × Populus suaveolens Fischer subsp. maximowiczii A. Henry). We compared three treatments (peat moss (control), peat moss mixed with vermiculite, and peat moss mixed with biochar) at three times (pre-experiment, pre-fertilizer, and post-fertilizer). The biochar and vermiculite mixes had significantly higher cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pre-experiment exchangeable K than the control. Trees grown in the biochar and vermiculite mixes had significantly higher shoot K than the control at pre-fertilizer and post-fertilizer and significantly higher shoot and total biomass at post-fertilizer. The biochar mix was also associated with lower root biomass and higher shoot/root biomass ratio than the vermiculite mix at post-fertilizer. Vector analysis indicated that all treatments were deficient in N at pre-fertilizer, and the control was also deficient in K at pre-fertilizer and post-fertilizer. Linear regression confirmed that shoot biomass was strongly correlated (R2 = 0.97) with N and K uptake (in addition to initial cutting diameter), also, root biomass was strongly correlated (R2 = 0.96) with potting mix CEC (in addition to shoot biomass). Luxury consumption of K at pre-fertilizer indicates that the increases in shoot and total biomass observed with the biochar and vermiculite treatments arise from this nutrient being “pre-loaded” in both mixes. We conclude that biochar provides benefits equivalent to vermiculite in terms of key nutrient availability and total biomass productivity.
Development and evaluation of the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale

The Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale was developed to measure health beliefs related to osteoporosis. It is a 35-item self-report questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model which is specifically designed to assess beliefs related to exercise behaviors and calcium intake of elderly subjects. The instrument consists of seven subscales: Seriousness, Susceptibility, Health Motivation, Calcium Benefits, Calcium Barriers, Exercise Benefits, and Exercise Barriers. The instrument was tested on a sample of 150 elderly individuals. The psychometric properties of the scales are discussed along with recommendations for its use in research and practice.
Spirits of the Air: Birds and American Indians in the South

Review of Spirits of the Air: Birds and American Indians in the South . Shepard Krech III. 2009. University of Georgia Press, Athens. Pp. 245, copiously illustrated. $44.95 (hardbound). ISBN-13 978-0-8203-2815-7.
Suppression of innate immune cytokines and interferon regulatory factor-1 by endogenous interferon-alpha in response to respiratory syncytial virus in neonate mononuclear cells.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are extremely common in early childhood but are most severe in infants in the first few months of life. Unresponsive adaptive immunity and hyporesponsive innate immunity were previously found to be the typical responses of neonate mononuclear cells (MCs) to live RSV. Investigating the mechanism of innate immune hyporesponsiveness in neonate MCs to live RSV revealed that in contrast to the previously reported low expression of interferon (IFN)-γ, IFN-α expression in response to live RSV was significantly greater than that observed in adult MCs. Inhibition of live RSV-induced IFN-α with anti-IFN-α antibodies in neonate MCs led to significant increases in innate cytokine [IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-12, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] but not adaptive immune cytokine [IL-2] production. Although MCs from adults responded to live RSV with upregulation of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) mRNA, IRF-1 mRNA in RSV-treated neonate MCs was not detectable. Howev...
Inflation in Pakistan

This paper examines the factors that explain and help forecast inflation in Pakistan. A simple inflation model is specified that includes standard monetary variables (money supply, credit to the private sector), an activity variable, the interest and the exchange rates, as well as the wheat support price as a supply-side factor. The model is estimated for the period January 1998 to June 2005 on a monthly basis. The results indicate that monetary factors have played a dominant role in recent inflation, affecting inflation with a lag of about one year. Private sector credit growth and broad money growth are also good leading indicators of inflation which can be used to forecast future inflation developments.
Complications of Ultrasound-Guided Renal Transplant Biopsies.

Renal transplant biopsies to diagnose transplant pathology are routinely performed using ultrasound guidance. Few large studies have assessed the rate and risk factors of major biopsy complications. This study is a single-center 5-year retrospective cohort analysis of 2514 biopsies. Major complications occurred in 47 of 2514 patients (1.9%) and included hospitalization, transfusion of blood products, operative exploration and interventional radiology procedures. The complication rate among "cause" biopsies was significantly higher than in "protocol" biopsies (2.7% vs. 0.33%, p 24 h after the biopsy on days 2-14 is previously unreported. Specific patient characteristics associated with increased risk of a complication were increased age and blood urea nitrogen, decreased platelet count, history of prior renal transplant, deceased donor transplant type and use of anticoagulant medications but not aspirin.
Donor-derived marginal zone lymphoma following reduced-intensity allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant.

Post-transplant lympho-proliferative disorders (PTLD) pose significant therapeutic challenges accompanied by increase in morbidity and mortality. The timing and severity of PTLD is often variable; ...
The Effect of Fluoroethylene Carbonate as an Additive on the Solid Electrolyte Interphase on Silicon Lithium-Ion Electrodes

Fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) has become a standard electrolyte additive for use with silicon negative electrodes, but how FEC affects solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation on the silicon anode’s surface is still not well understood. Herein, SEI formed from LiPF6-based carbonate electrolytes, with and without FEC, were investigated on 50 nm thick amorphous silicon thin film electrodes to understand the role of FEC on silicon electrode surface reactions. In contrast to previous work, anhydrous and anoxic techniques were used to prevent air and moisture contamination of prepared SEI films. This allowed for accurate characterization of the SEI structure and composition by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profiling. These results show that FEC reduction leads to fluoride ion and LiF formation, consistent with previous computational and experimental results. Surprisingly, we also find that these species decrease lithium-ion solubility and increas...
Owning Up to Uncertainty in Macroeconomics

George von Furstenberg and Jin-Ho Jeong have provided a wide-ranging survey of the treatment of uncertainty in macroeconomic reasoning since the late sixties, reminding us of many articles we have read in the past or should have read. Clearly, macroeconomics has fruitfully departed from the relatively quiet world of nonstochastic theory and progressed into an exciting and, possibly, disturbing variety of theoretical and empirical approaches, designed to further our understanding of how private agents as well as policy makers try to cope with uncertainty by producing, organizing, disseminating, and evaluating information. As a general observation, it appears hard to tell at this time which of the great many different strands of ideas and research programs have taken a promising direction and which will turn out to be blind alleys.
Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Small-Molecule Reagents That Cooperatively Provide Dual Readouts for Triaging and, When Necessary, Quantifying Point-of-Need Enzyme Assays

A newly designed small molecule reagent provides both qualitative and quantitative readouts in assays that detect enzyme biomarkers. The qualitative readout enables rapid triaging of samples so that only samples that contain relevant concentrations of the target analyte must be quantified. The reagent is accessible in essentially three steps and 34% overall yield, is stable as a solid when heated to 44 °C for >1 month, and does not produce background signal when used in an assay. This paper describes the design and synthesis of the reagent, characterizes its response properties, and establishes the scope of its reactivity.
P3.144 STD Clinics Serve an Economically Disadvantaged Subset of the Wider Population of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) with Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)

Background U.S. STD clinics are closing. MSM are a priority population for STD treatment. We evaluated differences between MSM diagnosed with STI in an STD clinic and MSM diagnosed in other venues. Methods We randomly sampled and interviewed MSM reported with gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection, or early syphilis in King County, Washington, 2007–2012. We weighted for interview non-response based on race, ethnicity, STI diagnosis, STD clinic diagnosis (vs. elsewhere), and year. Results A total of 2,865 (38%) of 7,568 MSM cases were randomly selected, of whom 2107 (73.5%) were interviewed; 1275 (61%) interviewed men were STD clinic patients. STD clinic patients were less likely to have stable housing (91% vs. 95%, p = 0.003) or a college degree (34% vs. 44%, p Conclusion STD clinics serve an economically disadvantaged, high risk and disproportionately symptomatic subset of the larger population of MSM with bacterial STI.
Realization of Parity-Time-Symmetry Breaking in Delay Coupled Semiconductor Lasers

We present an experimental realization of PT-symmetry breaking in time-delay coupled semiconductor lasers and investigate the properties of the PT-threshold. A theoretical model is developed to explain the observations and agrees well with the data.
Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of Propulsion Airframe Integration While Matching Lift Distribution

We present a method for applying a direct constraint on the total lift distribution of a configuration while performing aerodynamic shape optimization. The formulation of this constraint relies on lift superposition. As a result this paper explores four different methods for computing aerodynamic influence coefficient matrices using the high fidelity inviscid flow solver Cart3D and the vortex lattice method code AVL. We also present results of matching a desired lift distribution using lift superposition and Cart3D for both a subsonic and transonic flow. Finally, a constraint on lift distribution during a wing-body optimization problem is performed and the results are presented.