cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical determination of the risk of forced divestment to foreign owned enterprises in LDC's

Abstract Few models currently exist for the determination of political risk that are explicit in their underlying assumptions or in the methodology used in arriving at a risk assessment. The majority of current models are based on expert opinion with few, if any, linkages established explaining cause and effect. The remainder of current models are based on various social, political, and economic indicators. These multivariate models essentially measure a country's political instability on the macro level without assessment of the impacts of the measured instability to the firm on the micro level. In this research the Analytical Hierarchy Process has been incorporated to capture the best attributes of these two methods of political risk assessment in an easily used expert system. This system is based on a hierarchy derived from extensive research of political risk assessment techniques and results of empirical investigations into the causes of politically motivated expropriations. This basis hierarchy has been merged with the expert opinion of several experts on Latin America yielding a practical model useful for risk assessments with these countries.
Brief Solution Focused Therapy

This paper introduces the development of, and the key assumptions and practices associated with, Brief Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). Therapist and client collaborate to clarify the best ways to build on existing strengths and resources in order to move toward a future that the client would prefer. The benefits of this approach for children, adolescents, their carers and teachers, are highlighted. Recent developments in the practice of SFT are outlined.
Algology and algologists at Bowling Green, a short history

This paper summarizes the past 34 years of studies of algae by Rex Lowe and his students and collaborators at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA. Sixty-two students have received graduate degrees in this academic program focusing on systematics, ecology and environmental assessment. The taxonomic/floristic research initially focused on northern Ohio streams but is now continental to international in scope focusing on the algal flora of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on the South Island of New Zealand. Ecological research has focused on factors that regulate the structure and function of benthic algae. Variables that have been examined include abiotic resources (nutrients and light), grazers and physical disturbance. Studies on environmental assessment have focused primarily on the impact of pointsource loads of chemicals into water bodies.
Identification of the Gβ5-RGS7 Protein Complex in the Retina☆

The G protein beta subunit G beta 5 deviates significantly from the four other members of the G beta family in amino acid sequence, unique expression pattern (only in the CNS), and cytosolic localization. To identify the members of the G beta 5-mediated signaling pathway, we purified the native protein complex containing G beta 5 from the cytosolic fraction of bovine retina. Analysis of the isolated complex revealed that G beta 5 is tightly associated with RGS7, a member of the superfamily of negative regulators of G protein signaling. This finding, for the first time, demonstrates an interaction between a G beta subunit and an RGS protein. G beta 5 was not detected in the outer segments of photoreceptor cells, suggesting that the cytosolic G beta 5-RGS7 complex is not directly involved in phototransduction.
The impact of ENSO on coral heat stress in the western equatorial Pacific.

The Coral Triangle encompasses an extensive region of coral reefs in the western tropical Pacific with marine resources that support millions of people. As in all other reef regions, coral reefs in the Coral Triangle have been impacted by anomalously high ocean temperature. The vast majority of bleaching observations to date have been associated with the 1998 La Nina phase of ENSO. To understand the significance of ENSO and other climatic oscillations to heat stress in the Coral Triangle, we use a 5-km resolution Regional Ocean Model System for the Coral Triangle (CT-ROMS) to study ocean temperature thresholds and variability for the 1960–2007 historical period. Heat-stress events are more frequent during La Nina events, but occur under all climatic conditions, reflecting an overall warming trend since the 1970s. Mean sea surface temperature (SST) in the region increased an average of ~ 0.1 °C per decade over the time period, but with considerable spatial variability. The spatial patterns of SST and heat stress across the Coral Triangle reflect the complex bathymetry and oceanography. The patterns did not change significantly over time or with shifts in ENSO. Several regions experienced little to no heat stress over the entire period. Of particular interest to marine conservation are regions where there are few records of coral bleaching despite the presence of significant heat stress, such as in the Banda Sea. Although this may be due to under-reporting of bleaching events, it may also be due to physical factors such as mixing and cloudiness, or biological factors that reduce sensitivity to heat stress.
Laboratory prototype of a multiorder etalon sounder: from design to construction and laboratory testing

Multiorder Etalon Sounder (MOES) is an instrument concept investigated by the Space Physics Research Laboratory (SPRL) of The University of Michigan and the ITT Aerospace/Communications Division (ITT/ACD) at Fort Wayne, Indiana as a possible candidate for the next generation operational vertical temperature and moisture sounder. MOES exploits the high throughput, high resolution, and periodic transmission characteristics of the Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) and the periodic spectrum of CO2 to achieve high spectral resolution and high signal to noise. In this paper, we describe the MOES laboratory prototype project carried out by SPRL and ITT/ACD. The detailed design, construction, and laboratory testing of important instrument components are presented. The problems encountered, lesson learned, and the solutions applied to those problems during the laboratory prototype process are discussed.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Analysis of effects of sex and age in response to items on the CES-D scale

Abstract Analyses of differences in response to individual items in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale based on sex and age breakdown are reported for a sample of 1,000 adults from Los Angeles Country. Overall, results are comparable to those obtained in other population studies. Analyses performed separately for age and sex groups show response differences on individual items which affect the summated score. The interitem correlations are shown to be much higher for women than men, but overall the index assesses a comparable underlying dimension of depression for the two sexes.
Real-time implementation of zoom tracking on TI DM processor

Zoom tracking involves the automatic adjustment of the in-focus motor position of a digital camera to maintain focus when the zoom lens is moved. This paper discusses and compares the real-time implementation of two widely used zoom tracking algorithms, namely geometric zoom tracking (GZT) and adaptive zoom tracking (AZT), on the Texas Instruments (TI) digital media (DM) processor. DM is a highly integrated, programmable dual-core processor manufactured by TI specifically for the digital still camera market. Extensive testing was carried out on the DM platform to obtain the performance of these algorithms in terms of zoom tracking accuracy and speed. The results show that AZT generates a better tracking accuracy while GZT provides a faster tracking speed.
Popular Culture and the Public Sphere in the Rhineland (1800–1850) – By James M. Brophy

It was “sheer happenstance,” as this author is quick to point out in his fascinating study, that revolution and carnival arrived jointly in the Rhineland in 1848 (215). Yet this happenstance illust...
A UNION OF THE REAL-SPACE AND RECIPROCAL-SPACE VIEW OF THE GaAs(001) SURFACE

A union of the real-space and reciprocal space view of the GaAs(001) surface is presented. An optical transmission temperature measurement system allowed fast and accurate temperature determinations of the GaAs(001) substrate. The atomic features of the GaAs(001)-(2×4) reconstructed surface are resolved with scanning tunneling microscopy and first principles density functional theory. In addition, the 2D lattice-gas Ising model within the grand canonical ensemble can be applied to this surface to understand the thermodynamics. An algorithm for using electron diffraction on the GaAs(001) surface to determine the substrate temperature and tune the nanoscale surface roughness is presented.
Fractional boundary value problems with integral boundary conditions

In this article, we study a type of nonlinear fractional boundary value problem with integral boundary conditions. By constructing an associated Green's function, applying spectral theory and using fixed point theory on cones, we obtain criteria for the existence, multiplicity and nonexistence of positive solutions.
Optimization-based limiters for the spectral element method

Abstract We introduce a new family of optimization based limiters for the h – p spectral element method. The native spectral element advection operator is oscillatory, but due to its mimetic properties it is locally conservative and has a monotone property with respect to element averages. We exploit this property to construct locally conservative quasimonotone and sign-preserving limiters. The quasimonotone limiter prevents all overshoots and undershoots at the element level, but is not strictly non-oscillatory. It also maintains quasimonotonicity even with the addition of a dissipation term such as viscosity or hyperviscosity. The limiters are based on a least-squares formulation with equality and inequality constraints and are local to each element. We evaluate the new limiters using a deformational flow test case for advection on the surface of the sphere. We focus on mesh refinement for moderate ( p = 3 ) and high order ( p = 6 ) elements. As expected, the spectral element method obtains its formal order of accuracy for smooth problems without limiters. For advection of fields with cusps and discontinuities, the high order convergence is lost, but in all cases, p = 6 outperforms p = 3 for the same degrees of freedom.
Delineation of thalamic nuclei immunoreactive for calcium-binding proteins in and around the posterior pole of the ventral posterior complex

Abstract An atlas of serial sections stained alternately for one of the three calcium-binding proteins, calbindin, calretinin or parvalbumin, or for markers that demarcate borders of thalamic nuclei in and around the posterior pole of the ventral posterior thalamic nucleus of a macaque monkey is presented. The concentrated focal zone of calbindin-immunoreactive fiber ramifications considered by others to form a specific pain and temperature relay nucleus is shown to be located entirely within the confines of the ventral posterior medial (VPM) nucleus. It contains a large population of calbindin-immunoreactive cells and overlaps a region of dense cell and fiber immunoreactivity for parvalbumin. In other parts of the ventral posterior complex, calbindin and parvalbumin immunoreactivity is complementary rather than co-extensive. It is unlikely that the zone of intense calbindin immunoreactivity in VPM forms the only thalamic relay for noxious thermal and mechanical inputs to the cerebral cortex.
Lymphatic sparing, laparoscopic varicocelectomy: a new surgical technique

Several surgical options are available for managing varicoceles. Although conventional surgery offers good surgical results, the most common long-term complication of surgery is the development of hydroceles, thought to be due to interruption in the lymphatic outflow from the subservient testis. The authors describe a new technique of in vivo methylene blue mapping of testicular lymphatic vessels at laparoscopy, allowing these vessels to be spared during laparoscopic varicocelectomy. This novel method of in vivo staining of lymphatic vessels should prevent damage to the lymphatic system and avoid the late development of hydroceles. A prospective multicenter trial is currently underway to evaluate the medium- and long-term results.
Writing Development as Seen through Longitudinal Research: A Case Study Exemplar

This article presents insights about writing development of urban college students that can be gleaned from longitudinal research that examines both personal and academic histories. Factors in students' lives, revealed through ongoing interviews and classroom observations, influence both students' abilities to respond to certain types of reading and writing tasks and their potential to develop as successful college students. A set of categories developed by Larson is used to analyze the texts produced by a basic writing student in her first 3½ years of college to illustrate the richness and complexity of analysis available through longitudinal research.
The structure of a depth-3 lookup table representation for Prisoner's Dilemma

Fingerprinting is a mathematical technique that generates a representation-independent functional signature for a game-playing agent, allowing for systematic and automated analysis of strategies. In this study, the global structure and mutational connectivity network for a depth-3 lookup table with prior move history playing Prisoner's Dilemma is investigated at different choices of the time-scale parameter in the fingerprinting operator. All 2048 strategies are fingerprinted and pairwise distances computed, then principal components analysis and hierarchical clustering used to explore the time-scale-dependent structure; Hamming versus fingerprint distance and cluster-based mutational probabilities for the connectivity network. Results indicate well-separated clusters at very short scales, rearranging into different separated clusters at very long scales, with many indistinct ones in between; the fingerprint distance is not correlated with mutational distance.
Thermodynamics of noncritical M-theory and the topological A-model

Abstract In [P. Hořava, C.A. Keeler, Noncritical M-theory in 2 + 1 dimensions as a nonrelativistic Fermi liquid, hep-th/0508024 ], noncritical M-theory for two-dimensional type 0A and 0B strings was defined in terms of a double-scaled theory of nonrelativistic fermions in 2 + 1 dimensions. Here we study this noncritical M-theory at finite temperature. We derive the exact expression for the free energy of its vacuum solution, as a function of a coupling constant g M and the radius R of the thermal circle. We show that at high temperature, the theory is effectively described by another M-theory solution, whose effective loop-counting coupling scales in a novel way characteristic of M-theory, as T 3 . Our calculations further suggest that noncritical M-theory is dual to the closed string theory of the topological A-model on a Calabi–Yau, with the radius R of the Euclidean time circle in M-theory playing the role of the string coupling constant of the A-model. In this correspondence, T-duality on the Euclidean time circle of noncritical M-theory implies an S-duality for the topological A-model.
Visual, auditory and reaction time approaches to the measurement of speed of information processing and individual differences in intelligence

Abstract A battery of tachistoscopic, auditory, reaction time and microcomputer-generated measures of speed of information processing (inspection time, IT) were administered to 96 college students aged between 18 and 22 yr. In addition, each S was given a battery of tests designed to provide independent evaluations of right- and left-hemispheric functioning. Criterion measures included a verbal (Vocabulary) and a nonverbal (Block Design) measure of intelligence. Results revealed a general processing speed factor in addition to task-specific sources of variability. Moreover, the IT tasks loaded on the same second-order factor as did the traditional measures of intelligence and aptitude. The findings support the theoretical view that processing speed may be a general factor in individual differences in performance on complex intellectual solving tasks. An important objective for future work in this area is to seperate and evaluate the common and specific sources of variability on IT tasks.
Coupling and proximity effects in the superfluid transition in 4He dots

Some effects that have long been observed in superconductors are difficult to see in superfluid helium-4, despite the similar physics governing these systems, owing to the small correlation length in helium-4. Proximity effects have now been observed in that system, using an array of micrometre-size boxes linked by a thin helium film.
Sharp bounds on the density, Green function and jumping function of subordinate killed BM

Subordination of a killed Brownian motion in a domain D ⊂ R d via an α/2-sta- ble subordinator gives rise to a process Zt whose infinitesimal generator is −(−� |D) α/2 , the fractional power of the negative Dirichlet Laplacian. In this paper we establish upper and lower estimates for the density, Green function and jumping function of Zt when D is either a bounded C 1,1 domain or an exterior C 1,1 domain. Our estimates are sharp in the sense that the upper and lower estimates differ only by a multiplicative constant.
Environmental factors affecting geotextile filter design in coal refuse impoundments

The US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued the Second Edition of Engineering and Design Manual for Coal Refuse Disposal Facilities prepared by D'Appolonia in 2009. This second edition provides design guidance on the use of nonwoven geotextiles for drainage applications when replacing graded granular filters in coal waste impoundments. Coal refuse is susceptible to slaking that produces an increase in fine particles which may lead to geotextile clogging. This article presents the results of research which investigated the effects of slaking on the hydraulic conductivity of permeated refuse specimens in order to identify parameters influencing the design criterion for selecting candidate nonwoven geotextiles for drainage applications. Permeability tests were performed on refuse–geotextile samples at different compaction energies and varying moisture contents, followed by post-grain size distribution (GSD) tests. Conclusions indicate that (i) the k soil of the acid-permeated refuse samples is...
Localized drug application and sub-second voltammetric dopamine release measurements in a brain slice perfusion device.

The use of fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) to measure the release and uptake of dopamine (DA) as well as other biogenic molecules in viable brain tissue slices has gained popularity over the last 2 decades. Brain slices have the advantage of maintaining the functional three-dimensional architecture of the neuronal network while also allowing researchers to obtain multiple sets of measurements from a single animal. In this work, we describe a simple, easy-to-fabricate perfusion device designed to focally deliver pharmacological agents to brain slices. The device incorporates a microfluidic channel that runs under the perfusion bath and a microcapillary that supplies fluid from this channel up to the slice. We measured electrically evoked DA release in brain slices before and after the administration of two dopaminergic stimulants, cocaine and GBR-12909. Measurements were collected at two locations, one directly over and the other 500 μm away from the capillary opening. Using this approach, the controll...
Opinion: What makes things humorous

In a familiar parable, a group of blind men try to discern the shape of an elephant, but each man’s perspective differs depending on whether he’s touching the trunk, tusk, or tail (Fig. 1). After 2,500 years of studying humor, scientists similarly have differing perspectives on what makes things funny (1). We present three common perspectives on humor. Although each is insightful, no one perspective suffices to explain why so many dissimilar things—tickle attacks, foolish behavior, puns, absurdities, and sitcoms—can be humorous. However, integrating the three perspectives into an account of humor as a response to benign violations discerns the whole animal from its parts and thus better explains how laughter and amusement come about.
Using temperature-sensing reticular boluses to aid in the detection of production diseases in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to investigate associations between increases in reticular temperature (RT) in dairy cows and the diagnosis of metritis, mastitis, lameness, and pneumonia by dairy personnel. A prospective case-control study was conducted on a 2,175-cow dairy operation in Colorado from May 2010 to April 2011. Each cow received an orally administered temperature sensing reticular bolus after parturition and RT measurements were recorded 3 times per day as lactating cows exited the milking parlor. A cow was identified as having an increased RT when a deviation of 0.8°C above baseline (average of readings of previous 10d) was recorded by the TempTrack software (DVM Systems, LLC, Greeley, CO). During the same study period, dairy personnel without access to RT data recorded health events and classified them according to clinical signs observed. A total of 201 health events (cases) were included in the data analysis. Cows with clinical mastitis and pneumonia had significantly higher odds (6.7 and 7.5 times higher, respectively) of having an increased RT of 0.8°C above their baseline within 4d preceding diagnosis when compared with control cows. Specificity and sensitivity for an increase of 0.8°C above baseline RT within 4d of disease diagnosis was 76.85 and 66.97% for mastitis, and 69.23 and 76.92% for pneumonia, respectively. No significant difference in RT was found for cows diagnosed with lameness or metritis. Results of this study suggest that RT monitoring can be a useful tool in the early detection of mastitis and pneumonia in dairy cows.
Origin of nascent lineages and the mechanisms used to prime second-strand DNA synthesis in the R1 and R2 retrotransposons of Drosophila

Background: Most arthropods contain R1 and R2 retrotransposons that specifically insert into the 28S rRNA genes. Here, the sequencing reads from 12 Drosophila genomes have been used to address two questions concerning these elements. First, to what extent is the evolution of these elements subject to the concerted evolution process that is responsible for sequence homogeneity among the different copies of rRNA genes? Second, how precise are the target DNA cleavages and priming of DNA synthesis used by these elements? Results: Most copies of R1 and R2 in each species were found to exhibit less than 0.2% sequence divergence. However, in many species evidence was obtained for the formation of distinct sublineages of elements, particularly in the case of R1. Analysis of the hundreds of R1 and R2 junctions with the 28S gene revealed that cleavage of the first DNA strand was precise both in location and the priming of reverse transcription. Cleavage of the second DNA strand was less precise within a species, differed between species, and gave rise to variable priming mechanisms for second strand synthesis. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the high sequence identity amongst R1 and R2 copies is because all copies are relatively new. However, each active element generates its own independent lineage that can eventually populate the locus. Independent lineages occur more often with R1, possibly because these elements contain their own promoter. Finally, both R1 and R2 use imprecise, rapidly evolving mechanisms to cleave the second strand and prime second strand synthesis.
Acute testosterone and cortisol responses to high power resistance exercise.

This study examined the acute hormonal responses to a single high power resistance exercise training session. Four weight trained men (X ± SD; age [yrs] = 24.5 ± 2.9; hgt [m] = 1.82 ± 0.05; BW [kg] = 96.9 ± 10.6; 1 RM barbell squat [kg] = 129.3 ± 17.4) participated as subjects in two randomly ordered sessions. During the lifting session, serum samples were collected pre- and 5 min post-exercise, and later analyzed for testosterone (Tes), cortisol (Cort), their ratio (Tes/Cort), and lactate (HLa). The lifting protocol was 10 × 5 speed squats at 70% of system mass (1 RM + BW) with 2 min inter-set rest intervals. Mean power and velocity were determined for each repetition using an external dynamometer. On the control day, the procedures and times (1600–1900 h) were identical except the subjects did not lift. Tes and Cort were analyzed via EIA. Mean ± SD power and velocity was 1377.1 ± 9.6 W and 0.79 ± 0.01 m s−1 respectively for all repetitions, and did not decrease over the 10 sets (p < 0.05). Although not significant, post-exercise Tes exhibited a very large effect size (nmol L−1; pre = 12.5 ± 2.9, post = 20.0 ± 3.9; Cohen’s D = 1.27). No changes were observed for either Cort or the Tes/Cort ratio. HLa significantly increased post-exercise (mmol L−1; pre = 1.00 ± 0.09, post = 4.85 ± 1.10). The exercise protocol resulted in no significant changes in Tes, Cort or the Tes/Cort ratio, although the Cohen’s D value indicates a very large effect size for the Tes response. The acute increase for Tes is in agreement with previous reports that high power activities can elicit a Tes response. High power resistance exercise protocols such as the one used in the present study produce acute increases of Tes. These results indicate that high power resistance exercise can contribute to an anabolic hormonal response with this type of training, and may partially explain the muscle hypertrophy observed in athletes who routinely employ high power resistance exercise.
JSim, an open-source modeling system for data analysis and reproducibility in research (733.1)

JSim is a simulation system for developing models, designing experiments, and evaluating hypotheses on physiological and pharmacological systems through the testing of model solutions against data. It is designed for interactive, iterative manipulation of the model code, different data sets, parameter sets, and for making comparisons among different models running simultaneously or separately. Interactive use is supported by a large collection of graphical user interfaces handling model writing and compilation diagnostics, defining input functions, model runs, selection of algorithms solving ordinary and partial differential equations, run-time multidimensional graphics, parameter optimization (8 methods), sensitivity analysis, and Monte Carlo simulation for defining confidence ranges. JSim uses Mathematical Modeling Language (MML) a declarative syntax specifying ODEs and PDEs. The model coding and displaying of results is basically simply defining the parameters, variables, and writing the equations in M...
Moral Identity in Psychopathy

Several scholars have recognized the limitations of theories of moral reasoning in explaining moral behavior. They have argued that moral behavior may also be influenced by moral identity, or how central morality is to one’s sense of self. This idea has been supported by findings that people who exemplify moral behavior tend to place more importance on moral traits when defining their self-concepts (Colby & Damon, 1995). This paper takes the next step of examining individual variation in a construct highly associated with immoral behavior — psychopathy. In Study 1, we test the hypothesis that individuals with a greater degree of psychopathic traits have a weaker moral identity. Within a large online sample, we found that individuals who scored higher on a measure of psychopathic traits were less likely to base their self-concepts on moral traits. In Study 2, we test whether this reduced sense of moral identity can be attributed to differences in moral judgment, which is another factor that could influence immoral behavior. Our results indicated that the reduced sense of moral identity among more psychopathic individuals was independent of variation in moral judgment. These results suggest that individuals with psychopathic traits may display immoral behavior partially because they do not construe their personal identities in moral terms.
An unstable rocker-bottom shoe alters lower extremity biomechanics during level walking

Biomechanical data for gait in unstable rocker bottom shoes reported in the literature is not comprehensive across available shoe types. Purpose: The objective of this study was to comprehensively evaluate centre of pressure (COP), ground reaction force (GRF), joint kinematics and kinetics, and electromyography (EMG) of selected muscles while walking in an unstable shoe compared to a control shoe. Methods: Fifteen subjects performed five walking trials at 1.3 m/s and 1.8 m/s in control and unstable shoes. Kinematic, GRF and EMG data were simultaneously collected. Results: The unstable shoe caused an increased mediolateral COP displacement. Greater loading rate of initial peak vertical GRF, reduced ankle plantarflexion range of motion (ROM) and greater total sagittal-plane ankle ROM were also observed for the unstable shoe compared to the control shoe. Peak dorsiflexion and plantarflexion moments, peak knee flexion moment as well as EMG activation of tibialis anterior and rectus femoris were reduced in the...
Non-traditional irregular interconnects for massive scale SoC

By using self-assembling fabrication techniques at the cellular, molecular, or atomic scale, it is nowadays possible to create functional assemblies in a mainly bottom-up way that involve massive numbers of interconnected components. However, such assemblies are often highly irregular, unreliable, and heterogeneous. A grand challenge for future and emerging electronics is thus to reliably and efficiently compute and communicate in such systems. The goal of this paper is to illustrate why non-traditional network-on-chip paradigms are promising for massive scale systems and what the limits are. We have previously shown that certain irregular 3D assemblies and interconnects have major advantages over regular 2D and 3D mesh fabrics in terms of latency, throughput, scalability, and the robustness against simple link failures. We present these results from a complex network perspective and look into the scaling properties of different interconnect topologies and routing algorithms in an abstract framework. We argue that only small-world topologies will scale up to massive scale systems. The long term goal in using irregular, fabrication-friendly, and non-traditional interconnects is to eventually be able to cheaply and easily assemble massive scale computing devices that are able to solve specific large- scale problems competitively with traditional top-down fabricated silicon technology.
A new GTS allocation scheme for IEEE 802.15.4 networks with improved bandwidth utilization

The IEEE 802.15.4 standard enables device level wireless connectivity in personal area networks. Its medium access control (MAC) protocol supports the exclusive use of a wireless channel through guaranteed time slot (GTS). However, the bandwidth underutilization problem occurs in GTSs when the used bandwidth is less than the available. In this paper, a new GTS scheme is presented to allow more devices to share the bandwidth within the same period. The evaluation and analysis reveals that the bandwidth utilization is improved.
Football Scores on the Big Five Personality Factors across 50 States in the U.S.

Despite the growing evidence of role personality plays on sport and exercise related behavior, little is known about the influence of personality traits on football players in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the big five personality traits on football achievements. Extraversion (E), Agreeableness (A), Conscientiousness (C), Neuroticism (N), and Openness (O) traits obtained from 619,397 U.S. respondents in a previous study were used as predictors to state-level football scores in this study. Across 50 states in the U.S., football ranks were positively correlated with state scores on the Big Five personality factors of conscientiousness and agreeableness. However, when applying multiple regression analyses to the prediction model for football ranks based on five independent variables of the Big Five personality factors, only conscientiousness and neuroticism would significantly predict football ranks. Agreeableness correlates with football ranks but does not contribute to the prediction model since agreeableness is collinear with conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness. Neuroticism insignificantly correlates with football ranks but contributes to the prediction because the suppressor effect of conscientiousness by neuroticism has improved its predictor of football ranks. The findings implied that in order to increase high ranks in football practice, selection for athletics would focus on persons with high conscientiousness and neuroticism.
The Process of Suicide Risk Assessment: Twelve Core Principles

Suicide risk assessment requires counselors to determine client risk factors, warning signs, and protective factors. The content of suicide assessment has received attention in the literature. The guiding principles of the process of suicide assessment, however, have not yet been articulated. This article contains 12 core process principles that highlight the broader overarching philosophical tenets that guide suicide risk assessment. The principles serve as a complement to the current focus on content in suicide assessment.
Position location by time reversal in communication networks

Multipath effects are significant in urban or indoor communications. Current position location techniques such as TDOA suffer from multipath effects, which reduces the estimation accuracy. In this paper we propose time-reversal in a wireless communication network, where a mobile terminal wants to determine, through feedback, its own position in the request of the base station. The proposed method improves the estimation accuracy and reduces the estimation variance compared with correlation based method. We derive the closed form of the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) on the time reversal estimation and the correlation estimation, showing that time reversal achieves a smaller CRB than the correlation method. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the behavior of these bounds.
Photodegradation of pentachlorophenol in room temperature ionic liquids

Abstract The photolytic degradation of chlorinated aromatics namely pentachlorophenol (PCP) in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM][PF 6 ] room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) has been investigated using UV radiation of 253.7 nm. At low concentrations (less than 1.57 mM), PCP could be degraded in this RTIL following pseudo-first-order kinetics. Addition of H 2 O 2 at different concentrations in the presence of UV 253.7 nm radiation showed an inhibition effect on the PCP degradation rate. The degradation of PCP was also studied using a radical-enhanced degradation process using Fe(II)/UV activation of Oxone. Initial studies showed that the enhancement of reaction rate in this case was approximately 72% when compared to only UV at a high PCP concentration of 0.225 mM. However greater Oxone concentrations exhibited an inhibition effect similar to H 2 O 2 addition. Quenching studies with tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) suggested the generation of hydroxyl radicals in the ionic liquid. In situ degradation of PCP extracted from soils, namely, montmorillonite (MT) and glacial till (GT), using [BMIM][PF 6 ] showed enhanced reaction rates compared to those of the samples prepared by dissolving the compounds directly in the ionic liquid solvent. It is suggested that some species co-extracted with the target compound could facilitate the photodegradation reaction. This technique has shown potential for further development into a method for the removal of organic compounds from solid surfaces in the laboratory or in industry. This would involve the extraction of organic compounds using RTILs followed by in situ photodegradation of extracted compounds in the ionic liquid phases and recycling the extractants used.
Tree Mortality and Collecting Botanical Vouchers in Tropical Forests

There is growing concern about the potential impact of reseatchers on tropical forest ecology, but few data. The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of collecting botanical specimens from tropical forest trees on their subsequent survivorship, using mortality data from plots in Amazonian Peru that were established in 1989 and reinventoried in 1994. In total, 2017 trees were originally tagged and collections were made from 948 trees. Making voucher collections always involved using unsterilized telescopic plant collecting poles to cut representative small branches, and sometimes also involved using iron-spiked tree-climbing gear to gain access to the canopy. Annual mortality in the four plots averaged 1.99 percent. Among the whole population of dicotyledenous trees, there was no detectable difference between the mortality rate of collected trees (1.96%) and noncollected trees (2.29%). We conclude that in spite of the physical damage caused to collected trees, collecting voucher specimens from tropical moist forest trees may not affect their survivorship, at least in the short-term. Further studies are needed to fully evaluate the potential impacts of research activities on petmanent forest plots in the tropics. RESUMEN En este estudio se examina la tasa de tnortalidad anual en arboles colectados y no colectados en cuatro parcelas permanentes de una hectarea cada nna en la Amazon%iAa Peruana. Las parcelas fueron establecidas en 1989 y reevaluadas en 1994. En total, 2017 arboles fueron inicialmente marcados con placas de aluminio y especimenes de herbario fueron preparados para 948 arboles. La preparacion de los especimenes implico en todos los casos el uso de tijeras telescopicas para cortar pequenas ramas representativas, y en algunos casos se tuvo que usar subidores metalicos con espigas de acero para tener acceso al dosel. La mortalidad anual en las cuatro parcelas fue de 1.99 por cien en promedio. Entre la poblacion de arboles dicotildeones no hubo mayor diferencia entre la tasa de mortalidad de arboles colectados (1.96%) y no colectados (2.29%). Concluimos que a pesar del aparente dano en la corteza en algunos arboles, la coleccion de especimenes en bosques humedos tropicales probablemente no afecta la sobrevivencia de especies arboeas, al menos en el corto plazo. Se sugieren estudios adicionales para evaluar mas completamente los efectos potenciales de las actividades cientificas en parcelas permanentes en los tropicos.
Second-trimester pregnancy loss at an urban hospital.

Objectives: Second-trimester spontaneous pregnancy losses are less common than first-trimester losses, and are often associated with ascending infection and/or acute chorioamnionitis. A Medline search revealed only two large studies published in the recent literature, reporting incidences of chorioamnionitis of 39.3% and 58.2%, respectively. These studies did not address the use of histopathology for the identification of organisms. Since ascending infection is likely to be a significant cause of second-trimester loss in the inner-city population at the University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, we sought to evaluate the usefulness of stains for microorganisms, which are rarely utilized on these specimens. Methods: Retrospective review of the medical records and pathologic material for cases of spontaneous abortions seen at the University Hospital in Newark between January 1999 and March 2001 was undertaken. Stains for microorganisms were performed on archival placental tissue for cases with histologic acute chorioamnionitis. Results: A total of 67 cases were available for review, of which 38 cases (56.7%) showed histologic acute chorioamnionitis, similar to the rates in one previous study, but significantly higher than those in the other (p = 0.01). Of 25 cases with histological chorioamnionitis for which appropriate fetal material was available, 13 cases (52%) showed polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the fetal lungs, one case (4%) showed PMNs in the fetal stomach, and seven cases (28%) showed PMNs in both the lung and the stomach. Of the 38 cases with chorioamnionitis, Gram stains showed Gram-positive cocci in six cases, two of which were culture positive for group B streptococcus. Warthin–Starry stains showed filamentous organisms consistent with Fusobacterium sp. in the placenta in three cases. Conclusions: Acute chorioamnionitis is associated with second-trimester pregnancy loss at this inner-city hospital, and may be related to the high incidence of risk factors in this population. A small proportion of cases can be further characterized by the inclusion of Gram and Warthin–Starry stains in the evaluation. Selection of cases with histologic acute chorioamnionitis for further study with special stains may provide additional information on the causative organism.
ACCELERATING DISK DRAG: THEORY AND APPLICATIONS

We present a new model of the drag force generated by bluff bodies accelerating in a static fluid, and also accelerating in a headwind or decelerating in a tailwind, while sustaining an external force proportional to acceleration. Specific equations for the evolution of the drag coefficient are derived from the disk tow tank data of I versen and Balent ( Journal of Applied Physics , 22 , pp. 324 – 328, 1951). Expressions for the drag force caused by motions in a tailwind and in a headwind are then derived using Galilean transformations of the tow tank data, which involved a static fluid en vironment far ahead of the moving disk. Application of these results to powered disk -like bodies are discussed. The validity of applying disk data to other bluff bodies is shown to be strongly dependent on the acceleration modulus. Prandtl's mixing length hypothesis is used to derive a useful formula from which this assessment is made. Finally, the issue of dynamical similarity for turbulent flows is revisited and extended to account for the unsteadiness of the flow that exists ahead of the disks. Nomencla ture
Role for Endocytosis in Conjugation in Tetrahymena

We examined the effect of inhibitors of receptor-mediated endocytosis on cell pair formation during conjugation in Tetrahymena thermophila. Dansylcadaverine (20 microM), methylamine (20 mM), and bacitracin (2 mg/ml) prevented cell pair formation even when added poststarvation, after mixing of cells of opposite mating types (during the preparing interaction). Chloroquine (10 and 25 microM) did not inhibit cell pair formation, leading to the conclusion that inhibition by dansylcadaverine, methylamine, and bacitracin is not due to an alkalinization of the lysosome. These results did not allow us to define the time in the preparing interaction at which inhibition occurs, nor to identify the cellular components involved, but they did support the hypothesis that an endocytotic event(s) plays a role in the cell contact-mediated recognition which occurs during the preparing interaction.
Survey of state-of-the-art vibration isolation research and technology for space applications

A broad survey of current literature detailing the current state-of-the-art and future research trends in vibration isolation for current and proposed space systems is presented. Terminology for vibration control is first defined. Next, the vibration isolation problem is discussed taking into account nonlinearities of variable parameters. It is followed by a discussion of some current space specific applications, illustrating the tremendous importance of vibration control technology for space and the challenges these applications present. Next, a discussion of vibration control elements is provided. Finally, a summary of semi-active control strategies is presented and conclusions are drawn about the state of the art.
The effect of temperature on meiotic loss of the Y chromosome in the male Drosophila.

GERSHENSON (1933) and SANDLER and BRAVER (1954) have clearly shown that following nondisjunction of X and Y in the Drosophila mehnogaster male, the frequency of recovery of XY sperm is markedly lower than that of nullo-X-nullo-Y sperm. Their suggestion to account for this discrepancy was to suppose that a chromosome which fails to pair with its homologue may be lost at meiosis. Such loss was found to be most pronounced in cases in which the X chromosome was deficient for a large portion of the basal heterochromatin ordinarily involved in pairing with the Y chromosome. Preliminary data ( ZIMMERING 1962 and unpublished) have suggested that (1 ) from situations in which the homology between X and Y is greatly reduced, the rate of chromosome loss at meiosis can be appreciably decreased by temperature treatment, and furthermore, that (2) such a decrease in the rate of loss need not necessarily involve an increase in the frequency of X-Y synapsis prior to anaphase I separation. A detailed account of these and subsequent experiments is presented below.
Thalamic Glutamate/Glutamine in Restless Legs Syndrome

Investigators at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, studied glutaminergic activity and arousal in 28 adults with restless legs syndrome (RLS) and 20 matched controls, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Amino Acid Sequence of Bovine β2-Microglobulin

Crystalline bovine β2-microglobulin (β2-m) was prepared from colostrum and its complete primary structure elucidated, β2-m is a low molecular weight protein (11,600) widely found in various body fluids and bound to cell surface proteins. It is structurally related to the immunoglobulins and is non-covalently associated with histocompatibility antigens. Bovine β2-m was isolated from colostrum casein by DEAE- and CM-cellulose chromatography, gel filtration and finally by crystallization. The bovine protein is the only reported crystalline homologue.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Charles Darwin, T. H. Huxley, the Origin of Cotton and Gregor Mendel (Inventor of X-rays)

The drawing Untitled (Charles Darwin) (1983), by the late Jean-Michel Basquiat, incorporates portraits of biologists, geneticists and genetical terms. What follows is a personal reflection on how the text and symbolism of Untitled affected the authors as plant breeders, causing them to pause and reflect on their own work and that of their field. They learned how art speaks to the spectator differently from direct conversation, allowing for subtler, but perhaps more effective, criticism and a unique opportunity for public peer review. By employing emotion and invoking empathy, art places scientists in the depths of the ethical, sociopolitical and historical contexts in which their work unfolds, urging them to see more fully. In the end, the authors expose their own biases.
Ambient Intelligence Based Context-Aware Assistive System to Improve Independence for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can face great challenges in learning and maintaining basic living skills. This not only reduces their possibilities of independent living and employment, but also continuously brings social and financial burdens to their caregivers/mentors. Although research has been proposed to help autism users, most of them focus on improving social and communication skills or providing help for emergency situations. In this paper, we propose a novel portable context-aware assistive system to help autism users in their daily activities such as cooking and cleaning. To make it easily accessible and cost effective, we employ mobile devices and cheap context sensors. Our care system has been implemented and tested under different settings, and a user study involving ten pairs of autism users and their caregiver/mentors has been carried out to evaluate our approach. User feedback is highly positive.